2033 Las Vegas Hustlers Preview
GM Matt Rectenwald (Since the Dawn of Time)
Matt has taken the Hustlers to the playoffs a BBA best 37 times, with 12 LMS appearances and 9 wins.
Fun Fact: LV has won at least 100 games in three straight years, and in six of the last seven seasons.
Franchise Facts:
Playoff Appearances: 37
Landis Memorial Series Appearances: 12
Landis Memorial Series Wins: 9
2032 Results
100-62 1st JLS
*LV has won their division in 12 of the past 16 seasons.
Offseason Summary
Key Losses
SP Gary Estes
Key Additions
3B Diego Moreno (5/5/5/7/6 Ratings)
RP Eric Trujillo (9/7/6 Ratings)
Quick Hit
Matt's expert leadership of the Hustlers cannot be overstated. The team is a perennial favorite for the Landis, and this year is no different. Coming off a 100 win season, the only significant loss was Gary Estes, who has passed his prime. They brought in Moreno to man the hot corner, and an offseason trade with Long Beach brought in a potential impact reliever in Trujillo. With most other teams in the division in either rebuilds or retools, it's hard to imagine LV not repeating as division winner. 2033 Predicted Starters
Catcher
Hank Brewer (8/7/6/7/7 Ratings), 27. Arguably the best catcher in the league since his debut in 2027, Brewer has done nothing but produce in every season. Despite a down 2032, his career OPS+ is 136. A switch hitter who hits righties only slightly less hard than he hits lefties, the only question behind the dish in Vegas is who starts the 20-30 games when Brewer has to rest.
First Base
Gervasio Ridder (9/8/8/6/8 Ratings), 28. He may not be the best first baseman in the league, but he sure is consistent. He's only had one full season with an OPS+ below 150 and is as good a lock to play 160 games in 2033 as anyone. He's not going to win a Zimmer, but his hands are sure enough, and he gets to enough ground balls to not be a liability. Finally, as a lefty with a career 138 OPS+ vs LHP, there's no need for a platoon, saving the Hustlers a valuable roster spot.
Second Base
Alfredo Bermudez (7/6/5/5/8 Ratings), 28. Bermudez debuted in 2026 as a 21 year old and was well established as a league average hitter that provided plus contributions with his glove. Not a superstar, but a player that any team would be happy to have at the keystone. However in 2031, he had a breakout season at age 26. He posted a career best 116 OPS+ and contributed 4.8 WAR to the team. He followed that up with a 115 OPS+ in the 2032 season, and is now considered among the best second basemen in the league. Unlike Brewer and Ridder, he has yet to be locked up to an extension by the team, though if he has a hot start to the year, we may see Las Vegas lock up yet another young star.
Third Base
Third base is, well, less than ideal. Offseason acquisition Diego Moreno (5/5/5/7/6 Ratings) is 37 years old, and while he can still defend the position, his days as an above average bat seem to be behind him. Then there's Barney Everhart (6/7/6/6/9 Ratings) a 22 year old with a decent enough bat, but hardly enough glove for 1B. We imagine a platoon based on the days pitcher, or some heavy use of early defensive substitutions. Perhaps they'll give Moreno a shot in April to see if his bat is rejuvenated in the warm desert clime, but we're less than optimistic here.
Shortstop
The left side of the infield is just not a strength for the Hustlers going into 2033. No player started more than 42 games at short last season, and the position looks no better this season. 23 year old Kaoru Kouda (6/5/5/6/7 Ratings) will likely see the bulk of the playing time, but 22 year old prospect Jay-hoon Ch'oe (5/5/6/6/5 Ratings) had a cup of coffee last year, and posted a 124 OPS+ in 13 starts. He looks to be more of a league average bat in the long term, but his excellent glove would make him worth a roster spot if Kouda isn't able to improve over his .240/.271/.432 line from 2032.
Outfield Corners
Adrian Young (6/8/6/6/6 Ratings), 21.
Jerome Pichon (7/7/7/5/8 Ratings), 22.
Alfredo Martinez (8/6/10/10/6 Ratings), 27.
Travis Lara (5/6/6/5/6 Ratings), 23.
Well this is certainly a step up from the left side of the infield. Martinez is merely one of the best bats in the BBA, and is an excellent right fielder to boot. Young is a natural CF, but looks to be ready to take LF full time this year, and has a great bat against RHP. Pichon will serve as a capable backup in the corners, though he can't hit lefties despite being a switch hitter. If there's a weakness here, it's against left handed pitching. Lara got a taste of the BBA last year, but didn't do so well. He looks to need more seasoning in AAA but could be a good platoon partner in the corners (mostly LF) when he is ready.
Center Field
Juan Sweetworld (8/7/6/4/9 Ratings), 24. The one and only, one of the best CF in the game today. The sweet-swinging lefty can do it all, even stealing 101 bases last season (though he could stand to cut back on the caught stealing). He's a below average hitter against lefties, but with his defense he's easily a plug-and-play center fielder for as many games as his body can stand. No problems in the outfield in Vegas.
DH
Jack Gulliver (9/7/7/6/7 Ratings), 32. Gulliver had a very disappointing season in 2032, not able to crack a .700 OPS and posting an OPS+ 28% below league average. We'll assume it's a blip however, with scouts keeping his ratings mostly intact. If he does falter, LV has no shortage of corner guys to fill the spot in lieu of a trade.
Offensive Summary
The team scored the second most runs in the JL last season and brings back pretty much all of the same pieces. The only guys over 30 are Gulliver and Moreno, so there's not much concern about performances dropping off. We would be surprised if the team finished outside of the top 5 in runs for 2033.
Starting Pitchers
(in no particular order)
Hyun-sik Chang (9/7/8 Ratings), 24
Chang gave the 2032 Hustlers 200 league average innings, with a FIP slightly better than that in his first full season. We anticipate a step forward in 2033, maybe not to the level of a number 1, but a solid #3 with #2 potential.
Jesus Ramos (10/8/8 Ratings), 28
Ramos started his career pitching mostly out of the pen, but stepped into the rotation full time in 2031. He's pitched to a league average ERA, with an 85 FIP- last season. We could see Ramos take a step forward this season and establish himself as a #2 starter for this first-division team.
Julio Velasco (9/7/10 Ratings), 25
Velasco, a re-acquisition prior to the 2032 season, appeared to be thrilled to be back in the desert. His 165 ERA+ put him among the best starters in the BBA, and that's without a completely filled out changeup. We would bet that he doesn't repeat his performance this season, but should prove to have a floor of solid #3 starter for quite some time.
Ken Bates (9/7/7 Ratings), 21
The young Bates started 14 games in '32 and we could easily see him start the season in the rotation and pitch a full season. His ceiling is probably solid #2 starter in a good year, but with good stuff and good enough control, his floor is very high. Can't complain about having him make 30 starts.
Pierre Legrand (8/7/6 Ratings), 21
Legrand is on the 40 man roster but has yet to debut. He's fighting for the 5th starter/swingman/first guy up from Milwaukee role with Hirotada Miura (7/7/8 Ratings). Well, at least until Romero returns from the DL.
Hirotada Miura (7/7/8 Ratings), 23
Miura has been league average in limited BBA time, and we imagine he's the fifth starter until Romero returns. Along with Legrand, it's a pair of above average 5th starters that any team would be happy to have.
Sam Romero (10/7/8 Ratings), 28 (DL)
The veteran Romero is recovering from a torn flexor tendon, but looks to be back soon to regain his role as staff ace. We'll see if he starts the season in Milwuakee on a rehab assignment, but surely he'll be back in Vegas before long. His return will move the staff as a whole from above average to top tier in the JL.
Relief Corps
Augate Balun (10/7/6 Ratings), 21
Mingo Boone (6/7/9 Ratings), 40
Rafael Cruz (8/6/7 Ratings), 29
Shawn Huber (10/7/7 Ratings), 21
Hiroyuki Rin (10/7/9 Ratings), 27 (CL)
Eric Trujillo (9/7/6 Ratings), 28 (DL)
Rin is a top-flight closer, and Huber broke out in '32 as a top shelf setup man. Balun had an out-of-this-world debut and looks to be an excellent setup parter with Huber, giving opposing teams fits from each side of the mound.
Boone is still plugging along at 40, and Cruz is a good southpaw. Trujillo will look to follow in Velasco's footsteps and have a breakout season after being traded from Long Beach.
Pitching Summary
The rotation is excellent and deep. I don't see a Nebraska winner on the staff, but in all they are well above average and should help keep the team in the top 5 in run prevention. The bullpen is top-heavy and a bit shallow, but it's a common strategy around the league. The could be in trouble if Rin or Huber go down for a significant amount of time, but Rectenwald is not shy about mid-season trades and the offense is so good that it may not matter too much.
Summary
The Johnson League Southern is a very winnable division this year, though it's not like the Hustlers will need much help. The offense has a couple of holes, but the good hitters are so good, and the bad hitters are such good defenders that I can't find a reason why they shouldn't be the favorites to win the division.
Prediction
It's so hard to predict a team to win 100 games, so I wont.
101-61, 1st JLS. Landis contenders once again.
