June 16, 2064 — Jimmies Riding Summer Surge to the Top
By Calvin “Cal” Booker | The Baltimore Sun
The summer warmth has arrived in Maryland, and the Jimmies are just as hot. What began as a stop-and-start spring has melted into a June surge. At 45-25, they’ve opened a six-game lead on Montreal and pushed nine clear of Cobble Hill, riding the steady hum of a rotation in form, a bullpen cooled and calmed under Miguel Reyes, and an offense that, though uneven at times, still crackles with enough thunder to light up the Atlantic skies.
June 9 – Romero Powers Jimmies Past Bombers
Charm City 8 – Rosenblatt 7
Mario Romero had himself a night, going 3-for-5 with a homer and three RBIs, including a seventh-inning blast that stretched the lead to 8-2. That cushion mattered. Rosenblatt stormed back with five runs across the eighth and ninth, but Miguel Reyes struck out Juan Palmer with the tying run on second to slam the door. The two clubs combined to leave 41 runners on base in a wild second game in a series of four.
June 10 – Castillo Clears the Bases
Rosenblatt 8 – Charm City 5
Malik bin Mazin rapped out four hits and Pablo Castillo’s three-run double in the third off Hector Silva gave Rosenblatt all they’d need. Silva’s rollercoaster season continued, chased after just three innings with seven runs on the board. The lone bright spot for the Jimmies' was Matt Bamber's three doubles and three RBI.
June 11 – Partyka Stung in Relief
Rosenblatt 6 – Charm City 1
Ace starter David Molina baffled Jimmies hitters for seven innings, striking out eight and allowing just three base hits. Ian Tolley pitched well (6.2 innings, one run allowed) but the game unraveled late when Evgeny Partyka gave up five runs in the eighth, turning a 2-1 nail-biter into a rout.
Pitching coach Domingo Aquino tried to keep perspective: “Geno’s stuff is still there, but right now his confidence and control are an issue. We’ll work with him to get the command back, and I'm sure the moxie will follow.”
June 12 – Heregger’s Four-Hit Night
Charm City 6 – San Antonio 1
Catcher Max Heregger, filling in at starter while Edgardo Reyes remains shelved on the I.R., starred with a 4-for-4 performance including his second homer of the year. Allen Davidson went 7.2 sharp innings to notch his league-leading thirteenth win. Matt Bamber added a two-run single in the fifth, and Charm City looked refreshed returning home.
June 13 – Bamber Keeps It Rolling
Charm City 7 – San Antonio 2
Bamber stayed hot, homering in the first inning and finishing with three RBIs. Dave Ackerman’s home run pace has slowed slightly, but he continues to tally stolen bases, as the fleet footed veteran swiped his 32nd bag of the year. The bullpen was spotless across four innings to seal the series.
June 14 – Perez Walks It Off
Charm City 6 – San Antonio 4
Arturo Perez ended it with a two-run homer in the ninth, sending OLD BAY Park into bedlam. The bullpen of Joe Hulton, Ramiro Friaz, and Reyes combined for 4.2 shutout innings, holding the Outlaws in check long enough for Perez’s heroics.
June 15 – Chikafuji Hits No. 400
Charm City 6 – San Antonio 4
Kazunari Chikafuji etched his name deeper into Charm City history with his 400th career home run, a no-doubt shot in the second inning. The game paused for a celebration as teammates mobbed him at the plate. “I’ve been proud to wear this uniform my whole career,” Chikafuji said. “The records matter, sure, but being part of winning baseball here is what drives me.”
Silva delivered a bounce-back outing (7.1 IP, one run), and Reyes notched his 16th save, lowering his ERA to a sparkling 1.47.
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Draft Class Spotlight
The 2064 First-Year Player Draft is in the books, and Charm City’s front office made twenty selections aimed at reloading the system. Pinch Hits has a full breakdown of the top-10 picks, noting that the Jimmies targeted athleticism and arms with upside, setting the tone for development down the line:
Round 1 (33rd overall) - Raul Castro | LF | 6’1”, 175 | 18
Castro is a switch-hitting line-drive machine with speed and feel for contact that should keep trending as he fills out. He sprays hard contact to all fields and already shows real doubles juice, with a chance for sneaky homer power as his body matures. Plate skills are a work in progress—he’ll chase at times and doesn’t yet draw many walks—but the ingredients suggest an at-least average hitter who piles up extra-base hits. An above-average runner with savvy on the bases, Castro fits cleanly in left field, where his efficient routes, solid range, and a playable arm point to steady defense. If the on-base skill set continues to climb, he projects as an everyday regular.
Round 2 (67th) - Charlie Frost | LHP | 6’0”, 180 | 19
Frost’s fastball sits in the mid-90s and plays at the top of the zone, setting up a tight mid-80s slider that flashes plus when he drives it out front. His changeup shows late fade and could become a reliable third pitch as he gains consistency. He fills the zone better than most teenage lefties, and when the tempo is right he sequences like a veteran, missing bats with a fastball/slider mix that tunnels well. A fly-ball profile and merely average raw life mean mistakes can leave the yard, but his sturdy delivery, competitive makeup, and stamina point to a dependable back-end starter.
Round 3 (103rd) - Jim King | 3B | 6’3”, 195 | 17
King may be the best bat in Charm City’s class. A decorated high school slugger, he posted gaudy offensive numbers, with legit power projection. His hit tool is trending up, and he’s already shown the ability to drive the ball to all fields. The big drawback: defense. King has limited range and an arm that doesn’t wow evaluators. His home is likely at 1B at best, if not designated hitter. As of now, King remains unsigned, as the two parties seem to be far apart in signing bonus talks.
Round 4 (135th) - Steve Duncan | 2B | 6’7”, 190 | 20
Duncan is a unique look: a towering middle infielder with some hit-tool projection. He’s shown the ability to put the bat on the ball, though with minimal power. His advanced eye and gap power give him a chance to contribute offensively in a limited role. Defensively, he'll likely move off of shortstop where he played as an amateur, however he’s versatile enough to play second and third. If his bat holds up, he could profile as a utility infielder.
Round 5 (167th) - Luis Moya | LHP | 6’8”, 200 | 20
Moya is an imposing presence on the mound with elite size and the ability to reach 97–99 mph. His fastball is a potential weapon, and his curveball could be an average second pitch, but he hasn’t harnessed them consistently. Command is spotty, and his ERA has ballooned at times, though his strikeout rates remain strong. If it clicks, Moya could be a late-inning lefty, but risk remains.
Round 6 (199th) - Juan Arroyo | 1B | 6’5”, 200 | 17
Arroyo has prototypical size and his bat is extremely raw with limited contact ability and average power. His arm is one of the best in the draft class, able to handle hot corner and right field, however his range and fundamentals project him as an error-prone third baseman. A project pick who will need massive offensive growth to sniff the majors.
Round 7 (231st) - Rafael Gutierrez | RHP | 6’4”, 200 | 18
Gutierrez is another power reliever archetype with mid-90s heat (93–95) and a promising fastball. He pairs it with a developing curveball and cutter, though neither projects as more than fringe-average. While his stuff grades fine, the red flag is his makeup: reports suggest he doesn’t always give full effort. Even so, his early pro results (1.12 ERA, 16 K in 16 IP) are eye-catching. With a sturdy frame and workable movement, he has a chance to rise as a setup man if the effort level ticks up.
Round 8 (263rd) - Miguel Angel Gonzalez | LHP | 6’3”, 185 | 21
Gonzalez brings a relief profile with premium velocity (94–97 mph) and two playable pitches, a hard fastball and slider. His changeup shows flashes but lacks consistency, while his control remains below par. He’s an extreme flyball pitcher who can get burned by the long ball. At 21, he’s older than typical draftees, narrowing his runway. Best-case outcome: a middle-relief arm with durability.
Round 9 (295th) - Pancho Perez | LHP | 6’2”, 180 | 18
A lefty power arm from Manhattan, Perez can already dial it up at 95–97 mph with flashes of 98. The heater has life, and his slider has the makings of an average offering, but the rest of his arsenal lags. Control and command are poor, with flyball tendencies that make him homer-prone. His stuff could make him a late-inning reliever; without progress in command, he may flame out quickly. Currently Perez remains unsigned with just over two weeks left until the deadline.
Round 10 (327th) - Chris Alexander | CF | 6’4”, 200 | 17
Alexander is an athletic, long-limbed center fielder whose game is built more on tools than polish at this stage. His best present skills are his wheels and instincts on the bases, which give him a chance to wreak havoc despite modest offensive ability. The bat is raw with limited upside, though he’s shown a surprisingly advanced eye for his age. Defensively, he can cover ground in center but profiles best in left field. If his bat never comes, he may top out as a defense-and-speed fourth outfielder.
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Miners’ Magic: Resendez No-Hits Wise
Excitement reigned at Ballpark of Tampa as Cumberland Miners right-hander Felipe Resendez delivered a gem: a complete-game no-hitter in a 3-0 win over the Wise Heaters.
Resendez, a 15th-round pick by Des Moines in 2052 who came to Charm City later that year in a trade, struck out seven and walked three. He was mobbed by teammates afterward, a defining moment in his first season at Single-A.
“I just attacked hitters with everything I had,” Resendez said. “The defense had my back all night.”
His catcher, Sarsour Abdul-Sabur, praised his batterymate: “Felipe’s sinker had late bite and his curveball kept them guessing. He trusted me and never wavered. Nights like this don’t happen without total commitment from both of us.”
Resendez (2-0, 0.00 ERA/0.45 WHIP) was promoted to the Frederick Travelers after his incredible performance and he's scheduled to make his Double-A debut tonight against Peoria.
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Final Word
Charm City’s week showcased resilience. After stumbling in Rosenblatt, the Jimmies swept San Antonio behind steady pitching, timely homers, and milestone moments.
Up next: two huge four-game series at home. First against Phoenix, the best team in baseball at 46-24, then against Las Vegas, currently second in the Frontier Division. June is about proving whether the Jimmies can measure up against the league’s elite.