The first bit of silverware arrived with the Louisville franchise curtsy of rookie Vince Osborn. He picked up his first BBA trophy when he was awarded the Johnson League Rookie of the Month Award for May.
Osborn was picked in the second round of the 2034 amateur draft, 60th overall out of Lincoln college and after picking up a $450,000 signing bonus he headed for Louisville’s A-ball affiliate in Mobile. There he confirmed his high ranking being selected to the 2034 Spike Nolan All-Star game, winning a Player of the Week Award in late June and finishing the year with Spike Nolan League FL Pat Carter Glove Award at RF after his ZR was 12.2 in his professional rookie year. He had made 87 appearances in Mobile colours and hit .313/.384/.588 with 22 homers and 60 runs driven in. He also scored 56 times with 36 walks. The only slight downside was he was only successful in 12 out of 22 stolen base attempts.
He continued straight on to Daytona and the Florida Prospect League where he played 25 more times, hitting three homers, 13 RBI and being successful on four out of five steal attempts. His busy first year continued in the new year when he received a non-roster invite to the 2035 Sluggers Spring Camp.
Osborn played in 21 games in spring training and in 47 plate appearances he hit .395/.447/.488 and dialled in a homer, four RBI, three walks and was successful in four out of six attempts to steal bases. It was a small sample size but it showed what he could perhaps do and he broke camp still with Louisville.
Now he’s played a quarter of a season up in the BBA and the fans are digging his skills. A tripleslash of .318/.379/.506, only one CS in eight attempts, five homers and 23 RBI is making him an integral part of the Sluggers outfield. The Rookie of the Month Award was a result of his hitting .344 with four of his homers and 16 of his RBI coming in his second ever BBA month, the fans at Waterfront Park believe it won’t be the last silverware in his trophy cabinet.
