Erik Breum, who handles the organization’s pitching, was all smiles today as he stood next to the team’s new stopper, 29-year-old Tae-kyun Yi. The veteran Yi is a power arm who will be tasked with entering the game in high leverage situations. Scouts describe his pitches as “an elite curveball and a fastball with explosive life.” They say that “he not only won’t serve up many long-balls, but his stuff can only be described as elite.”
Tae-kyun Yi
Yi came over from the Tokyo organization. London sent 24-year-old starting pitcher Veikko Aravirta to the Pearls. Aravirta started 33 games for London last season, going 9-10 with a 3.48 ERA. Sources say that Aravirta did not fit in the team’s long term plans, as Erik Breum prioritizes movement when evaluating pitchers, and Aravirta was prone to surrendering home runs.
Bob Breum, who handles the position player side of the organization, was equally delighted to show off 25-year-old Butrus bin Issam, who came over from the Cairo Pharaohs. A young catcher with an old soul, bin Issam is expected to immediately assume a leadership role in the Monarchs’ clubhouse, an area of concern for the new management team. Teammates at every stop have sung the praises of his work ethic and leadership, and he is accustomed to wearing a C on his jersey. He is expected to platoon with the team’s veteran catcher, Antonio Ruiz, starting against left-handed pitching.
Butrus bin Issam
In return for bin Issam, Cairo received 34-year-old veteran shortstop Jim Herrick and 24-year-old pitching prospect Vinayak Keyush. During the offseason, London signed star shortstop Francisco Otero to boost production at the position, leaving the Gold Glove-caliber but light-hitting Herrick expendable. Keyush has been used in both starting and relief roles over the years, so it is unclear what plans that the Pharaohs’ organization have for him.
