The last day of the BBA regular season is usually reserved for the elimination of the Talons' playoff chances. But this year, with the math being taken care of much earlier in the month, was notable for another milestone: Talons veteran and future BBA Hall-of-Famer 3B Angel Zalapa ticked over to 25 years and zero days of major league experience on September 27th.
A legendary player with a storied career, Zalapa's 25th season had its ups and downs, from May when he hit .316 with 6 homers and 15 RBI, to a rough July when he recorded a mere .535 OPS. He rebounded slightly in August, but only recorded 12 at bats in September and tallied a mere two hits in that last month. And though success on the field was waning, there were more than enough gold watches, parting gifts and home plate ceremonies at various ballparks to end his career on a high note.
But the real reason Zalapa didn't play much in September wasn't just so his career could wind down gracefully. It was because one of the BBA's brightest young phenoms was knocking on the door to take his job.
Some would say its about time, since al Din was signed as a free agent to a major league contract. But it's the only way the Talons could acquire a legit top ten prospect. So yes, the man is getting paid. But if the early signs we've seen recently are true and he does hit his 80-rated ceiling, bin Salah al Din will likely be a worthy successor to a legend like Zalapa.
Do you think al Din has a chance of recording even half of Zalapa's 90 career WAR? Let us know in the comments!
