Has no other Cyclone hitter or Grasshopper or Hawk or Riverbat for that matter ever actually had a season in which they launched 40 home runs and managed to also swipe more than 40 stolen bases?
We dug all the way back to the year 2000 before stopping the search and just running with the idea that it truly hadn’t happened before. If it hadn’t happened in Omaha before, how many other franchises have had it occur? How many in BBA history have occurred? Is it truly a elite membership?
Well, add two Cyclones to that club.
Both left fielder Jim Antolin and center fielder Orlando Ordonez managed that feat in 2044.
Antolin, who finally put it all together after being traded from Montreal this season, finishes the regular season with a .238/.361/.543 triple slash that includes 51 home runs (1st in the Frick), 93 RBI, 110 walks, and yes 48 steals(2nd in the Frick). Not bad for a guy making just $750,000 this season. It’s not likely too often that the league HR leader finishes 2nd in stolen bases. Antolin also was tied for 1st in times caught attempting to steal as well. Normally we wouldn't who he tied with for fear of losing readers but in this case it's necessary. He was tied with YS9's Dong-POO Thum so let's all laugh at them together. Thum stole just 48 bases however, and hit a bunch of less home runs but who is counting. Let's not dismiss that Antolin also struck out 196 times, second in the Frick so he truly was a boom or bust.
Ordonez, who if your like me can’t believe he is just 24 still as it feels he has been around forever, finished the regular 2044 campaign with a .265/.332/.520 triple slash with an even 40 home runs, 89 RBI, and 40 stolen bases. He also finished with a career high 5.3 WAR. Ordonez signed an extension with Omaha back in May that guarantees him another 4 seasons and 51 million dollars.
Let’s give a hand to Ordonez and Antolin. Two Cyclones players that have done what no other player in franchise history has accomplished this season.
