2036.15 - The Long Beach Independent - Rojas Called Up

[Lane]

SP PROSPECT TO JOIN BULLPEN

May 13, 2036
Honolulu, HI

Luis Rojas, a top SP prospect for the Long Beach Surfers was spotted getting off of the team plane in Honolulu early this morning. The Surfers' 13 inning game last night both necessitated his call up, and allowed him to join the team at LGB for the flight to Honolulu after he departed Santa Fe, NM. He's made 8 starts this season for the Young Guns, and has been struggling recently. Hopefully this trip to the bigs is a refreshing break and confidence booster.

Rojas, 21, was drafted in the second round of the 2031 amateur draft, and has seen his stock rise rapidly since then. When drafted, his cut fastball sat in the low 90s, but these days he's pushing 100 MPH on the gun regularly. In combination with his screwball, he's a nightmare for opposite handed batters, which should be an asset once he becomes a big league starter.

As a reliever, OOTP OSA rates him 9/6/7 which should be plenty to succeed in the BBA 'pen in the short term. His presence was necessitated by yesterday's 13 inning game, and last weeks 17 inning game, which in combination with the Surfers' standard low pitch counts have stressed the bullpen. Additionally, reliever Jesus Casas has been placed on the DL with a shoulder strain, joining Mike Bailey who is on the shelf with back tightness.

Young lefty Manny Gabriel was again recalled from Santa Fe to take the place of Bailey in the rotation. It had been rumored that the Surfers were planning on cutting down the size of the bullpen by one, but with the addition of Gabriel, and the numerous extra innings over the past week, it seems that the organization is prioritizing pitching over an extra bench bat for the time being.

[7teen]

Shew a weak 3rd pitch and a stuck change-up.

Not sure he's quite ready.

[Lane]

well he's definitely not ready for the rotation. and he wouldn't even be up at all except that the last sim destroyed my bullpen. he should be fine out of the pen for a brief visit before going back to AAA to not work on his changeup.