That's What Cheesehead: 37.32 - Bopper Kengos Top Rookie Award

[7teen]

The 2037 Madison Wolves did dress a few rookies in 2037 so unlike the depleted pitching ballots, we had a few decent options for the team's top rookie in 2037.

Axel DeGiusti started the season with the big league club and was surrounded by many question marks. The club hoped he could be a decent, bottom of the rotation starter despite his low movement. He had a very good April but May and June weren't as kind and as the season progressed, DeGiusti found himself in the bullpen where he saw a return to some success. His overpowering fastball mixed with good stuff and control led to short game successes. For the season, Axel finished with a 3-7 overall record in 35 games, 17 of which were starts. He logged 116.2 innings pitched with a 4.55 ERA, 1.31 WHIP, and 108 strikeouts. For the season, he ended with a 1.4 WAR but did not win the team's top rookie award.

The award instead goes to Andrew Torres. Despite playing just 62 games this season, Torres with his 2.0 WAR takes the Kengos Award. Torres got the call late into the season when injuries started depleting the Wolves outfield and the heralded prospect needed very little time getting acquainted to big league pitching. In 246 at-bats, he hit .333/.381/.528 with 7 homeruns and 56 runs batted in.

"Torres was a monster for us down the stretch" said Wolves GM Chris Wilson. "I think he'd have been a true Gillstrom contender had he played a full 162 games with the big league club. But we just didn't need him early on nor think he was quite ready. Clearly he was. Inexplicably though, he was left off the Frick Gillstrom ballot. We can only assume he didn't log enough games to qualify even though his 2.0 WAR would have probably gotten him some top 5 votes in the end. Nevertheless, the youngster made a name for him self in a short span and fans will get to see him patrolling LF daily beginning in 2038."

Torres made himself a household name in game 1 of the Geoghegan Series against Omaha. Torres went 4-5 with a homerun, run scored, and 6 runs batted in. His short post-season success brought back memories of Joe Thomas of Wolves past fame. Thomas had a rookie run in 2004 that earned him the nickname "Big Show Joe" during the Wolves Landis run that season.

[RonCo]

Torres is a helluva player. RHP masher and probably at least semi-able to hold his own against LHP, too.