Sticking Points 2059.4: See You in September?

[JimSlade]

It's always tomorrow in Rockville. While the Pikemen have been playing .500 ball in August, including taking 3 of 4 from the New Orleans Crawdads in both blowout (19-1) and nailbiting (1-0) fashion, the coming September roster expansion has organization leaders focusing on the future. Let's see what September might bring in terms of players to wait on next year.

The Pikemen starting rotation has tightened up, led by the resurgence of veterans Nathaniel Davis and Jon Keys, but one of the established starters may have to skip a turn to give the organization a look at 22-year-old Jorge Ramirez, who's been having yet another solid-if-not-spectacular season with the AAA Dodge City Gunslingers. The tall, hard-throwing sidewinder, a third-round pick from 2054 who's succeeded at each tier, generates a nearly 65% groundball rate with his assortment of 5 pitches.

Last offseason, the Pikemen barely made any moves in free agency, which did not go over well with a win-starved fanbase. Early into this season, the team did take a flyer on former #1 overall GBC pick Han-i Kim, who had been languishing in Johannesburg's minor league system. In 14 starts at Dodge City, the 31-year-old Kim has gone 9-3 with a 2.62 ERA and a 62% groundball rate. Rockville has had a good run of low-profile pitching acquisitions the last 2 seasons, like Logan Hill, Claudio Garcia, and Bill Mills. Perhaps Kim will join the ranks of bargain-basement finds. Jimmy Fisher, who spent most of 2058 last season but who's been stuck at AAA on "next man up" call all season thanks to some younger pitchers out of options, is another low-profile pickup from recent years who also awaits a September callup.

Rockville's young outfielders have taken a step forward in 2059. Although centerfielder Kyle Ray has taken a step back since his debut last season and is accumulating a variety of bumps and bruises, the near-future has already been in sight. Rookie rightfielder Octavio Martinez has been a steady, dynamic force, putting up a 2+ WAR and generally filling up the boxscore with everything but bases on balls. His 10:1 K:BB rate is not helping his OBP. Fellow corner outfielder Arturo Caro, a third-round pick in the 2057 draft, joined the Pikemen in mid-May, to the tune of 9 HR and 41 RBI in part-time play. The organization's second-round pick from the 2054 draft, Roberto Soliz, made his big league debut during a Ray IL stint. Soliz should be back up in September. Centerfielder Anuranjana Jeoomal, who had a taste of the bigs last September, should get another look, but the most-intriguing prospect at AAA may be corner outfielder and first baseman Antonio Correa. The 22-year-old 9th-round pick from the 2057 has leapt through each tier of the organization. With a 2.4 WAR and an .870 OPS, he looks as balanced a young hitter as anyone on the current Rockville roster. He holds his own at the corner OF spots, but his first baseman's mitt alone isn't going to unseat anyone at that corner of the infield.

Cather Celik Lufi, moved to Dodge City from AA Winston-Salem at the end of May. The switch-hitter hasn't missed a beat from his usual offensive game, slashing .323/.391/.471. His defense behind the plate has been outstanding. Rockville's backup catcher and coach on the field, Bob Passell, about whom it might be said has exceeded his humble expectations in his first full season in the major leagues, may want to investigate future coaching opportunities. Like, for real.