2053.2 Bringing up the Kids
Posted: Wed Jan 04, 2023 12:34 pm
In a rarely seen move, two members from the previous year's draft have been called up to the big league starting lineup/rotation for a team that is pushing for a divisional title. Starting pitcher Marshall Taylor was the 12th pick of the 2052 draft, and at the time Weigand was ecstatic to get him, saying that he had been considering picking with the 5th pick when they took young 1B Bane McCoy instead. Taylor had high end pedigree and he showed it by zipping through the Kernel system and earning a call-up when some members of the big league rotation were scuffling in the early season. The early returns have been promising as Taylor has a 4-2 record through 10 starts with a 40:12 K/BB ration and .94 WAR in those starts. Hardly elite numbers, but for a young lad who was pitching in college ball 12 months before his BBA debut it is more than respectable.
His fellow rookie classmate was a bit more of a surprise, as LF Sonny Bigalow was a 3rd round pick with modest but hardly eye popping pedigree. However once he signed his professional contract, he hit the turbo button on his development and blew away any expectations the team placed on him. His path still seemed blocked however as all 3 starting OF for the Kernels were voted starters at their respective positions for the all-star game. However a decision was made to shift LF Hasheem Makin to 1B and promote Bigalow to take his place. His start has been a bit rockier than Taylor, but the team has confidence in the young lad to continue his development and more importantly in the short term help the franchise end their historic playoff drought.
His fellow rookie classmate was a bit more of a surprise, as LF Sonny Bigalow was a 3rd round pick with modest but hardly eye popping pedigree. However once he signed his professional contract, he hit the turbo button on his development and blew away any expectations the team placed on him. His path still seemed blocked however as all 3 starting OF for the Kernels were voted starters at their respective positions for the all-star game. However a decision was made to shift LF Hasheem Makin to 1B and promote Bigalow to take his place. His start has been a bit rockier than Taylor, but the team has confidence in the young lad to continue his development and more importantly in the short term help the franchise end their historic playoff drought.