2059-010: Talons Top Prospects Lead Toledo Liberty to 21st Consecutive Division Title
Posted: Thu Jun 27, 2024 8:39 am
Toledo, OH--
The days of 100-win seasons may be over for the Toledo Liberty, but their division winning streak continues.
Despite not reaching the 90-win mark for the first time since 2043, the Liberty managed to improve from a troubling June, where a 13-12 monthly record briefly saw the vaunted Single-A juggernaut reduced to second place in the Baxter League Upper Midwest division. The club rebounded to a 20-win July, and continued roster tweaks ensured the team finished the season strong.
What's even more encouraging is that this team, for perhaps the first time in decades, was led by legit Talons prospects actually drafted in the first round by the big club. Phoenix's #2 and #3 prospects, RF Adrian Tallent and C Tony Lopez, combined for 7.2 WAR, despite Tallent spending 6 weeks in Short-A and Lopez visiting the injured list for 4 weeks with a broken finger.
The 23 year old Lopez, who is slated for a big league job as soon as next season, slashed .336/437/.495 in 74 games to account for his 4.2 WAR. After returning from his injury, he had a .950 OPS in August and overall saw his defense improve. Tallent, for his part, has so far spent only 41 games in Toledo, but has responded with 3.0 WAR during that time and is slashing .350/.389/.583 as the Liberty's leadoff hitter. This is after 2.5 WAR in just 130 at bats for Short-A Daytona Beach.
Playoffs are always a crapshoot, and the days of stacked Toledo teams are long gone. But the Liberty keep finding ways to win, this time with actual, real life prospects leading the way.
GO Liberty!
The days of 100-win seasons may be over for the Toledo Liberty, but their division winning streak continues.
Despite not reaching the 90-win mark for the first time since 2043, the Liberty managed to improve from a troubling June, where a 13-12 monthly record briefly saw the vaunted Single-A juggernaut reduced to second place in the Baxter League Upper Midwest division. The club rebounded to a 20-win July, and continued roster tweaks ensured the team finished the season strong.
What's even more encouraging is that this team, for perhaps the first time in decades, was led by legit Talons prospects actually drafted in the first round by the big club. Phoenix's #2 and #3 prospects, RF Adrian Tallent and C Tony Lopez, combined for 7.2 WAR, despite Tallent spending 6 weeks in Short-A and Lopez visiting the injured list for 4 weeks with a broken finger.
The 23 year old Lopez, who is slated for a big league job as soon as next season, slashed .336/437/.495 in 74 games to account for his 4.2 WAR. After returning from his injury, he had a .950 OPS in August and overall saw his defense improve. Tallent, for his part, has so far spent only 41 games in Toledo, but has responded with 3.0 WAR during that time and is slashing .350/.389/.583 as the Liberty's leadoff hitter. This is after 2.5 WAR in just 130 at bats for Short-A Daytona Beach.
Playoffs are always a crapshoot, and the days of stacked Toledo teams are long gone. But the Liberty keep finding ways to win, this time with actual, real life prospects leading the way.
GO Liberty!