Baseball Research International Contributor
We continue our tour of UMEBA rosters with a look at the Unified's second basemen. All referenced 2046 stats are current as of 6/16.
Takechi Eida (65/65), Tripoli
Eida is a home grown talent for the Pirhanas, drafted out of Japan in 2039, and making his major league debut in '44. Last season was his first full year as a major leaguer, where he posted an OPS+ of 133 and a WAR of 6.7, much to the delight of Pirhanas fans. A solid defender with very good speed (though he needs to learn to pick his spots on the base paths) and excellent on-base tools, the twenty-four year-old looks like a classic table setter. This year's results do indicate a bit of a sophomore slump, however, with Eida posting a more pedestrian 109 OPS+ through 67 games.
Jeremy Owbridge (55/55), Bucharest
Bucharest drafted Owbridge in 2041 and called him up to the parent club in '43. He impressed in the twenty games he played (notching a hefty 154 OPS+ in 72 ABs), and has been on the big club ever since. Now a ripe old twenty-one, Owbridge is putting up some impressive offensive numbers in 2046 as well, not quite super human, but very good nonetheless (OPS+ 134). Solid offensive production, along with superlative defense both at second and occasionally on the other side of the bag at shortstop, must please the home crowd. There's a lot to like about this young Australian.
William Drew (55/60), Mumbai
Drew is a BBA retread who spent seven seasons in Baltimore and Montreal before signing a one-year deal with Mumbai in December. While he had one good season with Charm City (a 3.6 WAR in 2040) he'd otherwise been at or near replacement level. A good, but not great, defender who occasionally shows some pop with the bat, Drew sets a good example for teammates with his work ethic and energy. So far with Mumbai he's looked good at the plate, putting up a 114 OPS+ in 68 games. Pleased with how well Drew has adjusted to playing in India, management has recently extended him through 2049.
Wally Geoghegan (50/50), Manama
This twenty-five year-old Adelaide native has spent his entire professional career with UMEBA organizations. Manama acquired him in a trade with Beirut in '41. He features decent, but by no means spectacular, defense and a plus hit tool. Geoghegan speaks softly, but he's hitting .320 with his stick, good for an OPS+ of 135 in 67 games for the Pearls. It will be interesting to see if he can maintain that level of production all year.
Luis Álvarez (45/45), Beirut
Álvarez had several unimpressive seasons in the BBA under his belt before being picked up by Athens for 2045. He was then acquired through trade by the Cedars that same year. The twenty-nine year-old Hondruan has never stuck with a club for long, despite his reputation as a model citizen and good teammate. He can play the position and has shown brief flashes at the plate in the past, but offensive consistency has eluded him. This season looks like more of the same, with Álvarez putting up an OPS+ of 99 so far for Beirut. He won't embarrass you, but he won't wow you either.
Jim Abernathy (45/45), Athens
A career .219 hitter in the BBA, the expectations for Abernathy in Athens must have been modest. Abernathy is a very good defender, but his offense in 2045 was unsurprisingly woeful, to the tune of a 63 OPS+, however, 2046 has been another matter entirely. Abernathy is the proud owner of a 102 OPS+ through 56 games so far this season and it looks like the Centaurs' patience with this player has paid off.
Danny Glatz (45/45), Jerusalem
Drafted and developed by Jerusalem, Glatz is another young Australian player in the Hammers' lineup. Glatz can field second base competently and might some day hit for average, but the offense hasn't quite materialized yet. Still, he's just twenty-one and might come around. Currently his OPS+ sits at 81, and he's contributing a tick above replacement value.
Guillermo Fuentes (45/50), Baghdad
Scouts say that Fuentes shouldn't be a disaster of a hitter, but he's never been able to hit major league pitching. An excellent fielder, the twenty-six year-old Mexican just can't figure it out at the plate. His OPS+ so far in 2046 sits at 50, and there's just no way to put a shine on that. If he could just hit at a replacement level, he'd be an asset to his team. We'll see how patient the Kings are while he tries to develop as a hitter in the UMEBA.
Leonardo Rincón (40/40), Riyadh
This thirty-one year-old utility player and Minnesota native potentially gives the Red Crescents replacement level performance at multiple positions. He's a bit better in the outfield defensively, but has been pressed into service at second (because the manager bears a personal grudge against Freddy McCord, perhaps?). With an unimpressive OPS+ of 73, Rincón's natural position is on the bench.
Eric Bigalow (35/35), Cairo
Nothing about Bigalow's game stands out. Acquired by Cairo in the UMEBA Rule 5 draft this winter, Bigalow has provided Cairo with a near-replacement level performance in 32 appearances. Average hitting coupled with below average fielding is what he brings to the table. The twenty-six year-old Canadian is not a long-term solution for the Pharaohs.
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