Blowing in the Wind 2058.12: Pepper Gets Hit #3000

[aaronweiner]

Daniel Pepper earned his 3000th hit on August 23rd, 2058, hitting a game-winning single in the top of the 11th inning to bring the Jacksonville Hurricanes to a 66-66 record. Pepper is one of the all-time greatest players in the history of the BBA by any objective measure; he has more career wins above replacement than Manobu Shimizu and Angel Zalapa, for example, and should be a first-ballot Hall of Famer. Let's look back at some of the notable moments of Pepper's career.


Joe Gillstrom Runner Up, 2041: Pepper posted one of the greatest half-seasons in the history of the BBA that year, hitting .418 with a 1.202 OPS.

First All-Star Appearance, 2043: Pepper played in 140 games that year and posted his first season at six wins above replacement. This also began a six-year run of All-Star appearances, including Pepper's greatest achievement...

Runner-up, Sawyer Silk, 2048: Pepper was robbed of yet another award in 2048, posting the second highest wins above replacement since 2032 but still losing the award anyway to Pedro Bustamente. He also won his first Yogi Zimmer Award at second base and his fourth consecutive Golden Bat; the first two were won at shortstop, where Pepper played out of position for his first few years. Also his second to last year in Rockville.

Runner-up, Sawyer Silk, 2052: Pepper posted the second highest WAR of his career, winning what would be his last Golden Bat with 8 WAR, this time for Vancouver. This would also be his last year in Vancouver.

Comeback Player of the Year, 2054: Pepper went to Valencia in 2053, and his production fell off the map. At age 32, there were discussions that he had hit the downside of his career. However, Pepper popped right back up to 5 WAR the next season, beginning a run of three such consecutive seasons.

2057: Passes a quarter billion dollars in career earnings.

2058: Now with Jacksonville, Pepper gathers his 3000th hit, becoming the 42nd BBA player to do so.

So what's ahead for Pepper? Scouts agree that he is clearly on the downside of his career, and the second baseman has an opt-out in his contract that will allow him to retire at the end of this year; however, he has one more guaranteed season at $15 million and seems unlikely to do so. He needs six home runs by the end of next year to hit the 500 home run mark, a mark achieved by only two other middle infielders (Bopper Kengos and Zalapa), and assuming he keeps his starting job he should have no problem getting to that number.

"It's been a fantastic career and a great run, and I can't wait to see what happens next year," said Pepper in the press conference after his milestone night. "I'm very excited to still be playing the game I love every day."

[trmmilwwi]

One of the all timers. Great player.

[BaseClogger]

The other thing to look for is whether he gets enough PAs for that $4M bonus.

[mragland]

A slightly above-average infielder.

Valencia (3 yrs) .249/.318/.469, 105 wRC+, 10.64 WAR.

[Dington]

Fantastic career and I was glad to see his resurgence because I thought he had fallen off, too. Tony Frost kinda did the same thing when I traded him to Vancouver.

[BaseClogger]

Angel Gonzalez was trending that way too. Vancouver has been reviving careers this decade. Helps it was a hitters park there for a few years before reverting back to a pitchers' paradise.

[aaronweiner]

The other thing to look for is whether he gets enough PAs for that $4M bonus.

Probably happens this year. I'm just gonna let him play for now.

Perhaps not next year, especially if he keeps lumping.