2054-5 Donadoni or Long in 2055

[indiansfan]

Donadoni or Long in 2055

The Pioneers have a choice to make next year. Do they stay with power hitting converted third baseman Carlomaria Donadoni or bring up top prospect Ollie Long to take over. Donadini was having a tremendous season, before he tore his rotator cuff on August 25th. Long has steadily moved up through the organization and while only 19, he might be ready next year.

Donadini made the change to third base after playing there very rarely in his career. Many thought that switching from one corner of the infield to the other, at 33 years old, was going to be a doomed experiment. However, he did play 43 games at the hot corner for Atlantic City in 2051, so he wasn’t a complete stranger to the neighborhood.

Donadini gave the team a third power bat. He clubbed 34 homers and drove in 99 runs while missing a fourth of the season. The team was going to have 3 hitters with over 100 RBIs, for probably the first time in it’s history. While not great with the glove, he got better over time and was still better than lead handed Alfonso Trinidad who held down the position for years. Donadini has 3 more years left on his contract so if the team’s moved toward Long he would most likely be put on the block.

Long was drafted by the team in the 1st round of the 2052 draft and has moved rapidly through the minors. After spending his first year in Rookie Ball, Long moved up to Quebec in 2053. Last year he started in AA Duluth, but finished in AAA St. Paul. He is a player that hits for average and would give the team an upgrade in defense. He has played in the BBA All Star Prospects game the past two years and has very little left to prove in the minors. Long will get invited to Spring Training, but most likely he will spend next year honing his skills in St. Paul.

[Trebro]

Long definitely looks ready to go.

[indiansfan]

Yep I think we will have 2 good rookie hitters in 56 with him and Little.

[RonCo]

Good problem to have.

[jleddy]

If Long wins out, you should find plenty of takers on Donadoni come the Winter Meetings!