2057.07 - The Long Beach Independent - Greg Clover Here to Stay?

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CLOVER REPLACES BRIGANTE AFTER INJURY

June 10, 2057
Long Beach, CA

The Surfers are back home today after a quick four game road trip to Madison, WI where they won three games before being shut out 7-0 yesterday. After posting identical 17-10 records in April and May, the team remains hot in June with a record of 6-2 since the calendar flipped.

A new face is making positive contributions to the Surfers' continued success. Outfielder Greg Clover was called up as a replacement for the oft-injured Carlito Brigante. Clover, 21, is a right handed hitter drafted just last year and rose quickly through the minor league ranks this season. After 73 games at Short Season A ball following the draft, he played in just 48 more games before his call-up, with just one third of those being at AA and AAA.

Despite a dropoff in performance during his junior year of college, Long Beach trusted the scouts and selected him in the first round (15th pick) with the goal of him contributing to the team quickly. He grades out as an 8/7/6/6/6 bat against left handed pitching, but does not hit righties as well, at just 7/6/5/5/5. He'll fill the short side corner outfield platoon spot that has been Brigante's since 2051; at least when he has been healthy.

Brigante had taken a step back this season after an excellent for him 2056 campaign. At age 30, and approaching his final arbitration season, the Italian-America from The Bronx could have already played his final game in a Surfers uniform.

Clover provides an upgrade defensively, and potentially offensively as well. He's not a dynamic baserunner like Brigante, but his contact and power skills should help him surpass the incumbent's production.