2054-0007: Talons Three Best Single-A Players Are Below Age Limit; Also The Only Three Players Below Age Limit

[jiminyhopkins]

Toledo, OH--

What with many folks requesting more Toledo Liberty content, we here at the Phoenix Sun Times Post Dispatch (One of Phoenix's Best Newspapers^TM) decided to do a little more research into the most dominant team at any BBA level ever in history. So we reached out to our fellow print journalistic colleagues at the Toledo Times Record Eagle Free Press to see if there was anything cool about this year's squad.

Age limits are coming. So, like, is there anyone on the team that is actually below the pending age limit of 25 for Single-A? Turns out there are exactly three such players. And they are all starting pitchers. And, as it turns out, they are the best players on the roster, leading the Liberty to the CPL's best record so far despite some tough competition from Wise, Topeka, and Hollywood. Here they are:

SP Nick Rivers Age: 24
Rivers was the 14th overall pick of the 2050 draft and signed with the Talons for a cool 2.5 million. Although his control is not nearly what it was when he was first drafted, the righthander has gained movement and pitch ratings and sits as the franchises #1 prospect (48th overall). Rivers has pitched in 7 games with a 3-0 record and 2.20 ERA in 32 innings to go with 38 strikeouts, a 1.07 WHIP and 1.1 WAR.

SP Angel Villanueva Age: 22
Villanueva was acquired in 2051 from Twin Cities in exchange for 3B Murray Healey, who was made expendable by the Talons' signing of a certain Hall of Fame third baseman. He's no longer listed as a prospect due to having 87 days of ML service, but he was ranked #56 overall last year. Despite a stamina rating of 4, Villanueva has thrown 35 innings in 6 starts, to go with a 3-0 record, 2.06 ERA, 0.80 WHIP, and 1.5 WAR as befitting an over 10 to 1 K:BB ratio.

SP Tian-bai Chio Age: 24
A scouting discovery by Jacksonville, the Hurricanes lost patience with Chio, who still has development left to do. The Talons threw a minor league bonus at him in hopes that he can someday harness that 14 potential stuff rating. So far, so good, as the righthander is 5-0 so far with a sterling 1.31 ERA in 34 innings, with 37 Ks, a 0.96 WHIP and 1.2 WAR. It could be a tall order for Chio to max out all of his pitches, but it just might pay off in the end for Tian-bai and his employer.

go Talons!

[Trebro]

I tried to get Chio but you offered a way higher bonus. Definitely saw the potential.