The Baby Tropics finished the Winter Season 18-10, 3 games back of Tampa. The ‘Boys in Naples scored 148 runs with a .271 average. The got on base at a .355 clip and slugged .412 creating a team Batting WAR of 3.8 As a team they hit 28 homers and stole 36 bases. The pitchers allowed 120 runs with the starters sporting a 4.66 ERA and the bullpen 3.45. They posted a 4.1 Pitching WAR and struck out 254 batters. The defense committed just 9 errors and put up a Zone Rating of +8.1.
CF Tashfin Modupe (AAA Death Valley Scorpions) finished the season leading the team in batting average at .330. He added a .458 OBP and .433 Slugging %. He stole 10 bases and was caught 4 times. He hit 2 homers, scored 18 runs, drove in 14, struck out 22 times and walked 19 times.
Modupe was taken in the Rule V Draft by the Calgary Pioneers. GM Jim Walker said of Modupe, “ We liked what we saw this winter at the plate and we love his defense. He is a not a good teammate though and we made the decision to leave him off the 40. We had guys that we really needed to put on there and he lost out. It would be nice to keep everyone.”
1B/DH Pat Farley (A Medford Mules) finished the season with 8 homers and 25 RBI. He slashed .274/.338/.489, scored 25 runs, added 17 doubles, a SB, 15 walks and struck out 28 times.
GM Walker said of Farley, “Pat had a good performance at Medford and he just replicated it in Naples. He punched his own ticket for AA.”
SP Niccolo Destefani (AAA Death Valley Scorpions) finished the season with a flourish. He made 2 starts pitching a combined 11 2/3 innings and allowing no runs on 8 totals hits, a walk and he struck out 13 batters. He ends the winter league season 3-0 with a 2.12 ERA over 34 innings of work. He struck out 37 hitters against 7 walks.
GM Walker gushed, “ Nicky was great and will make an impact this upcoming season. Whether in the ‘pen or starting he will contribute.”
