May 27, 2036
Injuries have devastated the Hustlers rotation this year in a storyline that's been told over and over. Manager Edward Allen has mixed and matched and taken advantage of off days to mainly use four starters thus far. With a tougher schedule moving forward, it's back to a five man rotation for now and that means that rookie Manuel Orozco is going to get his shot at starting.
As was featured in the 2036 BBA Media Guide, Orozco made the 25-man roster out of Spring Training in a decision that went down to the wire. He's pitched out of the bullpen for the first two months of the year and has pitched quite well (17 G, 28.2 IP, 24 H, 9 ER, 3 HRA, 8 BB, 29 K, 2.83 ERA, 1.12 WHIP, 3.03 FIP, 0.6 WAR). Now he's getting a chance to be a major league starting pitcher.
Ironically, the nod comes after his worst outing of the year. Against the Huntsville Phantoms on May 25th, he allowed 2 hits and 3 earned runs with a walk while recording no outs and took the loss. Allen called Orozco into the office after the game, and the rookie they call "Wonder Boy" feared the worst.
"I thought I was being sent down," Orozco admitted. "Skip told me not to worry about it, and that he was going to give me a chance to start next week. Talk about a chance in mood!"
It appears Orozco will get his first start 5/27 in Montreal against the Blazers. "Montreal has been good at home, and they have some really good hitters in the lineup- it's going to be a challenge for sure but this is what I've been working for."
