Boardwalk Empire - 2047.11 - Prospect Injury Updates

[Joshua Biddle]

Kevin Shepard Makes Triumphant Return from Injury; Enrique López Re-Injured

After pitching a no-hitter in his first career minor league start, and then suffering a season-ending injury last season in his second career minor league start, right-handed starting pitcher Kevin Shepard was unsure of what to expect in his first season removed from a torn flexor tendon. But Shepard's story of resilience has been one of the big stories for the Gamblers Class-AAA affiliate - the Brooklyn Bombers. Although the team struggled to a 62-82 (.431) record and a last place finish in the GL East Coast Division, Shepard flashed the brilliance that made him the Gamblers' 2046 first round pick, finishing the 2047 season 5-7 with a 3.61 ERA, a 1.07 WHIP, a 2.22 FIP, a .236 opponents' average, a .618 opponents' OPS, 108 stirkeouts, and a 4.1 WAR in 124 2/3 innings pitched (21 starts). Perhaps even more importantly, Shepard stayed healthy and showed no signs of injury during his 2047 campaign. His performance certainly will have him in the conversation for making the Gamblers' roster in 2048.

On the other side of the spectrum is the disappointment in the situation right-handed starting pitcher Enrique López has experienced over the past couple of seasons. Lopez entered the 2046 season as the BBA's #39 prospect and suffered a torn labrum in July 2046. He finished the 2046 season 3-10 with a 4.21 ERA, a 1.20 WHIP, a 4.41 FIP, a .223 opponents' average, a .706 opponents' OPS, 92 strikeouts, and a 0.7 WAR in 126 innings pitched (21 starts). After a grueling offseason of rehabilitation, the clubhouse leader entered the 2047 season with high expectations as he hoped to pitch his way into Atlantic City at some point during the 2047 season. López was still rated well by scouts as he entered 2047 as the BBA's #36 prospect, and he delivered solid performances. However, he went down again with a torn labrum in August 2047, leaving him to claw his way back yet again. López finished the 2047 season 2-7 with a 3.64 ERA, a 1.23 WHIP, a 3.28 FIP, a .242 opponents' average, a .700 opponents' OPS, 62 strikeouts, and a 1.2 WAR in 71 2/3 innings pitched (13 starts).