We Got Wood - 44.01 - Top Rookie Goes To.....

[7teen]

The 2043 season saw the Lumberjacks throw two promising young rookies into the big league fire for their first big league action. Both performed up to expectations and helped the Lumberjacks avoid losign 100 games for the first time in franchise history. Those two guys, Francisco Franco and Terrence Kelly are expected to be mainstays in the Lumberjacks rotation for many seasons to come. But in this particular season, only one of them could be named the team's top rookie of the season.

The duo put up very comparable seasons. Kelly made 33 starts and finished with an 11-15 record. He logged 195.1 innings pitched where he posted a 4.42 ERA and 1.26 WHIP. He struck out 81 while walking 51. A surprisingly low strike out total for a guy with above average movement on his pitches.

On the other side, Franco made 22 starts and finished with a 9-10 record. He logged 188.2 innings pitched where he posted a 4.15 ERA and 1.14 WHIP. He struck out 130 compared to 35 walks. His higher stuff rating along with 3 outstanding pitches led to the higher strike out total.

It is that higher K total that landed Franco the award. The strikeout total led to Franco producing a 2.9 WAR on the season compared to Kelly's 2.1 overall WAR. Franco also posted more quality starts and had a lower FIP compared to Kelly's.

"I'm honored to win the award and pleased that I'll be battling out top pitcher awards with Terrence for many more seasons" commented Franco from his home in Panama through a press release. "Hopefully the two of us can help bring winning baseball to Portland very soon!"

[recte44]

Sweet 1-2 punch