We Got Wood - 42.03 - 2041 Top Starting Pitcher

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When the Lumberjacks signed Feliciano Rafael last off-season, it was for a variety of reasons. One reason was to add a little bit of credibility to the starting rotation. The second reason was to acquire a possible trade chip in helping the team improve in the future. With Rafael still on the Portland roster, the latter didn't happen. Despite injuries that shortened his season in 2041, Rafael did add a little bit of credibility to a weak starting rotation en route to claiming the team's top pitcher award this season.

Despite missing about 10 starts to a pair of injuries (injured hamstring in April forced him out for 4-5 weeks; herniated disc in his back forced him out for September), Rafael still led the pitching staff with a solid 2.3 WAR over the course of 131.1 innings pitched. Rafael's record wasn't solid as he went 6-12 for the year. That could be just as much a sign of the Wolves' weak offense as much as Rafael's performance. Rafael struck out 110 batters this season while walking 48. The walk total was the most since his rookie campaign with Havana.

The only other candidate for the award this season was Alejandro Soto. Soto had the second highest WAR behind Rafael with a 1.5 clip. He was the only starter to have a winning record at 8-7 on the year and one of only two pitchers to have a winning record on the staff. Soto is arbitration eligible and should probably be let go, but the team will be forced to keep him around based on those numbers.

Rafael will enter the 2042 season with a possible opt-out looming at the end of it.