Aranda was one of those who “could have been”. He was drafted 13th overall in 2037 and spent less than three years in the minors before making is debut in 2040 for the big club. His first season with the Kernels he managed to put up a 2.4 WAR before breaking his kneecap in late July 2040 and missing the season. He missed most of 2041 after suffering complications from that injury and never fully regained that 2040 form. Add to that a position change from 2B to CF (due to the arrival of Chua-kah Yang) added to his misery. This experiment in CF did not go well for the Kernels as Aranda simply looked to out of place captaining the outfield.
By 2044, it was clear that Aranda’s bat was not going to make up for his lack of fielding prowess. He recorded career lows in BA (.224), OBP (.270) and SLG (.386). This coupled with horrendous defence led to a -1.1 WAR.
Aranda was a great pick in 2037, he even lived up to that billing by making the BBA in three years and having a positive impact at such a young age. Now, he’s a victim of injuries, reduced potential and club priorities. If he experiences a resurgence, Kernels fans will likely cheer and be a bit nostalgic for what could have been, but it was time for both parties to move on.
