Pedro Gongora (3.4 WAR, 17.1 ZR, 18 HR, 28 SB) will return as the Kernels starting shortstop for the 2064 campaign, marking his fifth straight year with that honor. His WAR has climbed each season with Des Moines: 0.6, 1.0, 2.0, 2.7, and 3.4. This season's .214 average and 18 home runs were highs for his time in Des Moines. The team has executed his contract option, and for the fourth year running the 5' 10" 170 pound Allentown native will earn $3.24MM.
"We got him at a steal," JR said, "and we hope to keep here him at a manageable contract figure." JRamirez signed Gongora to a minor league extension weeks after Omaha (now Brook Park) dropped outright its three-time Zimmer Glove Award-winning second baseman. I recall sitting bolt upright when I read he was dropped and I thought, that man can play short [for Des Moines]." This was in JRs second year as GM. Gongora, drafted by Twin Cities in the second round of the 2053 draft, had hit .182 for Omaha in 2059, a plummet of forty points off the previous season. He came over to Des Moines and hit .196 in 2060, which he did again two years later; he hit above the Gongora Line in 2061 and 2062 as well as this season.
The braintrust of the Kernels have nothing but positive things to say about Gongora's contributions to the ball club's success the last four years. We won't repeat the cliches here. "The pitching staff have loved him," coach Tristan Barber said.
Now it's on to evaluating his worth, his age, what else is out there, and how well he could pair up with second basemen, including 35-y.o. Rich Dares and high rising 20-y.o. Juan Sierras, DMO's number one draft pick this June.