WHIV 2037.1- Opening Day Roster!

[recte44]

Las Vegas announced their Opening Day Roster for the 2037 season today, so let’s take a look at the decisions that were made. There are definitely some surprises!

Starting Rotation:
1) Hao Kun (8/6/7 Ratings)
2) Hyun-sik Chang (8/7/8 Ratings)
3) Chin Kim (9/6/7 Ratings)
4) Alvin Chartrand (9/7/6 Ratings)
5) Jesus Lopez (9/6/8 Ratings)

CUT: John Hughes (6/7/5 Ratings) , Guenther Poppmeier (7/6/6 Ratings)
DL: Gerardo Fajardo (7/7/8 Ratings) (7-day)

With Gerardo Fajardo (7/7/8 Ratings) starting the season on the Disabled List, it left an opening that was surprisingly given to the rookie Chartrand despite him not appearing in a Spring Training Game. Kun established himself as a Nebraska caliber pitcher last season, and Chang is the workhorse of the rotation. The Hustlers will look for more consistency from Kim and Lopez, as they along with Chartrand are still effectively fighting for a permanent rotation spot.

Hughes needs more time in the minors, but it’s not out of the question that he could make it to the big leagues this season. Poppmeier, a late waiver claim from Phoenix, was designated for assignment and could remain with the Hustlers’ organization if not claimed on waivers.

Bullpen:
CL- Shawn Huber (10/7/7 Ratings)
SU- Augute Balun
SU- Wayne Muirhead (10/7/7 Ratings)
MR- Manuel Orozco (8/7/8 Ratings)
RH- Javier Garcia (10/7/7 Ratings)
RH- Tony Medine (10/7/7 Ratings)
LH- Alphonse Salvarani (8/6/6 Ratings)
LR- Joey Flannery (7/6/8 Ratings)

CUT: Ryosei Akahori (10/6/6 Ratings) , Guomez Berge (9/7/4 Ratings) , Pierluigi Luiso (9/7/4 Ratings) , Steven Bobovnik (8/7/6 Ratings) , Rafael Mata (5/6/8 Ratings) , Masahiko Nemoto (7/8/6 Ratings) , Wayne Jackson (8/7/6 Ratings)

Huber is the anchor of the bullpen, as always. Balun finally began to pitch to his abilities last season. The Hustlers are excited to see a full season from the uber-talented Muirhead. Orozco was in the mix for a rotation slot and could be called upon in that role at some point, but figures to be a often used member of the bullpen. Garcia and Medine are electric arms who are best used against righties. Salvarani is back for his second season as the Hustlers’ LOOGY. Flannery again makes the club largely due to his lack of options, but he will have to show development at some point this year to improve his long term chances of sticking with this talented pen.

Akahori figures to be a part of this pen at some point in the 2037 season, as do Bobovnik and Nemoto. Jackson made his big league debut last season and is capable of pitching at this level if needed. Mata is the veteran insurance policy. Berge could be a factor if his control improves. Luiso was an interesting non-roster invitee who looks to be nothing more than minor league depth at this point.

Catcher:
Starter: Hank Brewer (8/7/7/7/7 Ratings)
Backup: Robinson Lopez (5/5/8/4/6 Ratings)

CUT: Benjamin Clark (6/7/6/4/9 Ratings) , Logan Simms (5/5/6/5/6 Ratings)

Brewer is one of the best catchers of his generation and nothing has changed there. Like last year, Lopez wins the backup catcher job out of Spring Training but that is always subject to change.

Clark is still just one step away from the bigs, and Simms got his first invite to big league camp. As a lefty who can hit a little bit he has a chance.

Infield:
1B: Gervasio Ridder (8/7/6/6/8 Ratings)
2B: Quant Kouros (9/8/2/7/10 Ratings)
3B: Valeri Kharlamov (7/7/5/8/5 Ratings)
SS: Miguel Rodriguez (7/6/2/7/7 Ratings)
IF: Antonio Cruz (7/8/6/5/7 Ratings)
CO: Richard Wishart (6/4/9/6/8 Ratings)

CUT: Akinori Oshima (7/7/6/5/7 Ratings) , Raul Alilea (6/8/5/5/6 Ratings) , Julian Fernandez (6/7/5/4/8 Ratings) , Sancho Castillo (6/7/4/5/7 Ratings) , Bart Cluett (6/7/1/6/6 Ratings) , Ron Dumont (7/7/6/4/8 Ratings) , Kagehisa Echi (6/6/3/4/9 Ratings) , Kazou Yamamoto

DL: Antonio Baca (7/8/7/5/7 Ratings) (7-day)

That collective sigh of relief you heard last November was Ridder re-signing with the Hustlers. It’s hard to imagine him in another uniform. Kouros will play second base every day, hopefully his defense is good enough to get by. The return of Rodriguez from injury will go a long way to cover the range of Kouros at second base. In an upset, not only did non-roster invitee Kharlamov make the club, but it looks like he’ll be playing third base for the first time in his career with Yamamoto a surprising cut and Baca on the DL to start the year. Cruz will play third against lefties, and serve as the top utility player on the bench. Lone offseason trade acquisition Wishart will be a big bat off the bench and play extensively (probably at DH) against left-handed pitching.

Everything will change a bit when Baca returns. Yamamoto is a proven commodity at this point and will factor into the season before it is over. Dumont got some major league time last year and is a decent bench bat. Echi is the next middle infielder up, and will probably be on the big league club sooner than later. Oshima has been a major disappointment since being acquired a couple years ago. Vegas got a glimpse of the future with the trio of Alilea, Fernandez and Castillo who are all a lot closer to the big leagues than most think they are. Cluett is a future super utility player who could probably serve in that role now, if needed.

Outfield:
LF: Brian Bender (7/6/7/6/6 Ratings) (vs RHP)/ Hector Gomez (7/7/7/4/6 Ratings) (vs LHP)
CF: Juan Sweetworld (7/6/6/3/9 Ratings) (vs RHP)/ Miguel Gil (6/5/5/4/8 Ratings) (vs LHP)
RF: Henry Rectenberg (8/7/7/7/7 Ratings)
DH: Sadaharu Oh III (7/8/8/7/6 Ratings) (vs RHP)/ Wishart (vs LHP)

CUT: Ines Cloots (6/6/6/3/8 Ratings) , Carlos Torres (5/4/4/6/6 Ratings) , Chad Garrett (6/7/6/5/6 Ratings) , Niek Verboven (5/6/7/6/5 Ratings) , Antonio Cortez (7/7/5/4/7 Ratings)

DL: Jayden Harsnett (6/7/7/8/5 Ratings)

Rectenberg is the everyday player of the group. As stated last season, he’s viewed as the Hustlers’ most valuable player and looks to improve off his awesome 2036 season. He’ll start in right field but likely will move to left field when Harsnett returns. In the meantime, Bender and Gomez are a more than capable platoon in left field. Bender is now out of options so he’ll have to hit to stick around. Sweetworld is still sweet in center field, and Gil returns as his perfect platoon partner. All of Vegas is stoked to see what Oh III will do with a full season in the majors.

Torres was the big cut, having been on the Vegas roster the last two years out of camp. With Gil on the roster he had an uphill battle to make it this year. Cortez also has been on the outside fringes of the roster in recent years and that trend continued. Garrett is the newest up and coming corner outfielder, less than a year out of college he’s probably ready for the big leagues right now. Cloots and Verboven got courtesy looks this spring.

[Ted]

I'm not crazy right? You we're bemoaning a lack of relievers mid last season, weren't you? Good grief, man. Fixed that problem.