Boardwalk Empire - 2049.7 - 6 Minor League Retirements

[Joshua Biddle]

Gamblers Announce Six Minor League Retirements

The Atlantic City Gamblers have formally announced six player retirements for minor league players who spent part of the 2048 season with the Gamblers organization: shortstop Martín Luján (Class-AAA Brooklyn), outfielder Earnest Heredia (Class-AA Trenton), right-handed relief pitcher Marcos Aguilar (Class-A Long Island), right-handed relief pitcher Derek Ganesvoort (Class-A Long Island), catcher Bob Hunter (Class-A Long Island), and infielder Tim Cooper (Class-Short Season A Bogota).

Luján, 25, was drafted by the Gamblers with the 12th pick in the 20th round (655th overall) of the 2045 BBA Amateur Draft. Although he was drafted in the 20th round and was released on 5/26/2048, Luján actually finished his minor league career with the Gamblers as a positive-WAR player. He was a highly skilled defensive player at shortstop, which also ended up being his downfall as he was hastily promoted to Class-AAA from Rookie Class Albany due to the need for the skill at the Class-AAA level; however, his bat never developed, which made him expendable. He posted a 0.5 WAR season during the 2046 season with Class-AAA Brooklyn (.219/.286/.391, 2 HR, 13 RBI in 70 PAs; +1.6 ZR, 1.013 EFF in 167 2/3 innings at SS) and followed it up with another 0.5 WAR season during the 2047 season with Class-A Long Island (.224/.297/.388, 2 HR, 8 RBIs in 74 PAs; +2.5 ZR, 1.083 EFF in 197 innings at shortstop). However, his struggles started during the 2047 with Class-AAA where he slashed .128/.200/.174 in 95 plate appearances, warranting his demotion to Class-A Long Island; and finished his 2048 season with the team hitting .127/.176/.152 in 85 plate appearances prior to his release on 5/26/2048.

Heredia, 27, was drafted by the Gamblers with the 12th pick in the 7th round (222nd overall) of the 2043 BBA Amateur Draft. Previously, Heredia was drafted with the 27th pick in the 4th round (159th overall) of the 2040 BBA Amateur Draft by the Phoenix Talons. Heredia spent three seasons with Class-AA Trenton from 2046 to 2048, finishing his Class-AA career hitting .216/.281/.336 with 106 runs scored, 39 doubles, 10 triples, 24 home runs, 121 RBIs, 44 stolen bases in 57 attempts (.772 success rate), and a -1.1 WAR in 1,207 plate appearances. The 2048 season was particularly disappointing, finishing his worst season within the Gamblers organization hitting .197/.257/.270 with 24 runs scored, 14 doubles, 1 triple, 2 home runs, 32 RBIs, 17 stolen bases in 21 attempts (.810 success rate), and a -0.8 WAR in 334 plate appearances, which ultimately resulted in his release on 08/18/2048. Prior to his promotion to Class-AA Trenton, he had two successful seasons with Class-A Long Island in 2044 (.272/.370/.429, 16 HR, 2.3 WAR) and 2045 (.271/.367/.425, 19 HR, 71 RBI, 2.1 WAR). Heredia provided above average outfield defense in left field, but the lack of production at the plate as he ascended through the Gamblers halted a potential career at the BBA level.

Aguilar, 29, was drafted by the Gamblers with the 6th pick in the 15th round (493rd overall) of the 2042 BBA Amateur Draft. Aguilar produced solid seasons for much of his minor league tenure within the Gamblers organization at the Rookie Class, Class-Short Season A, and Class-A levels, recording positive-WAR seasons in all but his final two seasons with the organization. His best season was his 2043 season with Class-Short Season A Bogota, where he finished the season 6-1 with a 3.82 ERA, a 1.33 WHIP, a 3.88 FIP, a .240 opponents' average, a .680 opponents' OPS, 78 strikeouts, and a 1.9 WAR in 68 1/3 innings pitched (13 starts). Aguilar finished his four season stint with Class-A Long Island from 2045 to 2048 13-18 with 3 saves 3 attempts (1.000 save percentage), a 4.89 ERA, a 1.41 WHIP, a 5.43 FIP, a .246 opponents' average, a .793 opponents' OPS, 256 strikeouts, and a 0.1 WAR in 300 innings pitched (74 appearances, 38 starts). He finished the 2048 season 2-0 with a 4.14 ERA, a 1.26 WHIP, a 5.45 FIP, a .231 opponents' average, a .793 opponents' OPS, 39 strikeouts, and a -0.5 WAR in 41 1/3 innings pitched (15 appearances). Aguilar was released by the Gamblers on 07/21/2048.

Ganesvoort, 25, was drafted by the Gamblers with the 4th pick in the 5th round (184th overall) of the 2041 BBA Amateur Draft. Ganesvoort had mixed performance throughout his tenure in the Gamblers' minor league system, but had his most productive season with Class-Short Season A Bogota during the 2045 season. Ganesvoort finished the 2045 season 2-3 with a 3.67 ERA, a 1.68 WHIP, a 3.00 FIP, a .277 opponents' average, a .723 opponents' OPS, 49 strikeouts, and a 1.2 WAR in 41 2/3 innings pitched (26 appearances). After posting a 1-0 record / 2.08 ERA / 1.19 WHIP / 4.62 FIP during the 2047 season with Class-A Long Island, Ganesvoort struggled during his 2048 season to the tune of a 0-0 record, 5.06 ERA, 1.41 WHIP, a 5.33 FIP, a .194 opponents' average, a .646 opponents' OPS, 7 strikeouts, and a -0.1 WAR in 10 2/3 innings pitched (5 appearances). Ganesvoort was released by the Gamblers on 06/02/2048.

Hunter, 24, was drafted with the 10th pick in the 15th round (477th overall) of the 2046 BBA Amateur Draft by the Gamblers. Hunter never established ground as a starter during his tenure with the Gamblers organization, but did find success at the Class-A level in his final season with the organization. Hunter finished his 2048 season hitting .261/.407/.326 with 5 runs scored, 3 doubles, 8 RBIs, and a 0.5 WAR in 59 plate appearances (17 games / 16 starts). Hunter was released on 06/02/2048. The lack of consistent offensive production, mixed defensive metrics, and a supply of younger catching prospects led to Hunter's release in the midst of his best season with the organization.

Cooper, 21, was drafted with the 7th pick in the 22nd round (698th overall) of the 2046 BBA Amateur Draft. Cooper struggled in all three years with the Gamblers organization, which included two seasons with Rookie Class Albany and one season with Class-Short Season A Bogota. Cooper finished his two-season career with Rookie Class Albany hitting .152/.204/.174 with 1 run scored, 1 double, and a -0.5 WAR in 49 plate appearances; and his 2048 season with Class-Short Season Bogota hitting .108/.150/.162 with 1 run scored, 2 doubles, 5 RBIs, and a -0.7 WAR in 40 plate appearances. Cooper was released by the Gamblers on 06/16/2048.