October 28, 2041
For the sake of these Awards, we are limiting the Position Player/Out-Getter of the Year Awards to players under the age of 25.
Orlando Oranges (AAA) 91-53, 1st Place, Lost In Finals
Position Player of the Year:
Javier Bultron, 3B/1B/DH OA: 40 POT: 50
.316/.393/.599/.992, 22 HR, 71 RBI, 199 TB, 3.4 WAR
Bultron, 22 years old, conquered RHML pitchers all season en route to winning this award. He'll figure into the Nashville bench mix next season and beyond.
Out-Getter of the Year:
Gerald Abbott, LHP OA: 40 POT: 45
9-5, 4.06 ERA, 21 G, 21 GS, 126.1 IP, 25 BB, 98 K, 1.15 WHIP, 2.2 WAR
Between stints with the big league club, the now 22 year old lefty was crafty and effective all season long with the Oranges. Figures to be a backend starter or versatile reliever moving forward for Nashville.
High Point Hammers (AA) 75-65, 3rd Place
Position Player of the Year:
Wei-liang Zhao, RF OA: 30 POT: 45
.317/.388/.571/.959, 32 HR, 87 RBI, 288 TB, 4.2 WAR
In order to make a name for yourself as a 12th round pick you have to produce in the minors. All Zhao (20 years old) has done over the past three years is shred pitching at four levels. Eyes have been opened in the Nashville system for sure. He could find a niche as a backup OF who plays against LHP. Next season's mission? Produce at AAA.
Out-Getter of the Year:
Roberto "Piano Legs" Rodriguez, RHP OA: 35 POT: 40
11-7, 4.16 ERA, 28 G, 28 GS, 171.0 IP, 51 BB, 162 K, 1.26 WHIP, 4.6 WAR
How do you follow up a 2040 season in which you dominated Short A ball and then the FPL? Move up to AA High Point and do it again. The comps between the two seasons are uncanny- especially when you look at the 3.66 FIP he posted this year. Can a guy with a 2 movement be a BBA pitcher? We'll see.
Springdale Roosters (A) 80-60, 2nd Place
Position Player of the Year:
Domingo Rivera, RF OA: 30 POT: 30
.283/.357/.448/.805, 11 HR, 45 RBI, 200 TB, 2.7 WAR
Lefty contact/eye player who may have been a little old for the level (22), but there wasn't a lot of offense to choose from here. Backup type future if there is one.
Out-Getter of the Year:
Chris "The Wolf" Moran, RHP OA: 30 POT: 55
10-11, 4.19 ERA, 29 G, 29 GS, 174.0 IP, 23 BB, 103 K, 3.3 WAR
The Bluebirds' #1 pick in the 2040 Ammy Draft (17th overall), Moran jumped a level from Rookie Ball to Class A at age 19 and didn't miss a beat. The future outlook remains very high for the righty, who figures to be a #3 starter with an estimated BBA arrival of late 2043.
Santo Domingo Sea Turtles (S A), 46-30, 2nd Place
Position Player of the Year:
Zach Ford, C OA: 20 POT: 40
.260/.378/.504/.882, 15 2B, 5 HR, 20 RBI, 1.6 WAR
PIcked in the 6th round this year, Ford started in Rookie ball but was quickly moved up to the Short A level as you would expect from a 21 year old college draftee. He not only supplied good defense behind the dish with a decent 30% CS rate, but also produced offensively. Most impressive was his plate discipline (22 BB vs 22 K). Projects as a backup catcher who would play against LHP, a job that currently exists on the big league level to partner with Rodriguez. He may be fast tracked.
Out-Getter of the Year:
Juan Ruiz, RHP OA; 35 POT: 50
5-7, 4.20 ERA, 15 G, 15 GS, 90.0 IP, 15 BB, 98 K, 1.07 WHIP, 2.6 WAR
Ruiz was a 10th round pick out of college this year. Like Ford, he started in rookie ball and also got promoted to Short A shortly thereafter. The 21 year old Ruiz is intriguing- with a lack of pitching prospects a club like Nashville will look for Ruiz to continue to move up the ladder with all the tools except movement.
Lynchburg Whiskeyjacks (R) 32-36, 5th Place
Position Player of the Year:
Alonso "Gorilla" Lopez, 1B OA: 20 POT: 30
.250/.276/.471/.748, 10 2B, 7 HR, 31 RBI (in 38 G), 0.6 WAR
The numbers don't look especially impressive from the 2041 15th rounder, but a deeper look tells more of the story. Lopez turned it on in August, with a 1.150 OPS to finally get the bat started. The 18 year old is a lottery ticket at this point, but one to keep an eye on.
Out-Getter of the Year:
Armando Castro, RHP OA; 25 POT: 45
6-4, 2.78 ERA, 12 G, 12 GS, 77.2 IP, 6 BB, 50 K, 0.98 WHIP, 1.9 WAR
Nashville's 2nd rounder from 2040 was just 18 years old last year when he pitched well in Rookie ball. The Nashville front office decided to have him repeat the level this year and he pitched even better. His six-pitch arsenal is rare and for that reason, he's on Nashville's internal top prospects list.
