2061-0010: Talons 1st Round Pick Pedro Toro: Did... Did He Just Have The Greatest Rookie League Season of All Time????
Posted: Fri Jan 03, 2025 9:52 am
Phoenix, AZ--
Talons OF Pedro Toro represents the first top ten draft pick in franchise history, excepting the initial expansion draft of course. Drafted as a left fielder, Toro's 8 rated range caused the Talons to try him out and attempt to develop him as a center fielder. It was seen as a no lose scenario, he could either be an average CF or a gold glove left fielder. But why not try and stretch out the 18 year old and see what he can do?
The bat, though well developed, was seen as secondary to the possibility of him being a center fielder, a somewhat rare commodity in today's BBA. Toro, as an 18 year old, was assigned to rookie league Traverse City, like all Talons draft picks are, with a developmental emphasis on defense. What followed, however, was indeed historic.
As usual these days, the Traverse City Talons went 53-15 and won their 8th Spike Nolan League Championship in a landslide. Along the way, Toro played in 66 games (out of a possible 68) and started 53 of those games in Center, for a ZR of +2.3. Marginal, not ideal, but he's learning. In any case, his offensive output was massive, slashing .391/.457/.709 for a 238 OPS+, 7.2 WAR, and a 3.53 WPA, with the latter two leading the Rookie League by a wide margin.
Where does his season rank all time? Many of the SNL counting stats are from the early 2030's, when the league played more games and age limits were not in place. In fact, Toro's 7.2 WAR is only second all time, behind BBA hall of famer Mark Simpson's 7.67 tally in 2029. Not bad company. But Toro achieved his WAR in 66 games as opposed to Simpson, who played in 110 games in his record setting campaign. The fact that Toro did his damage in far less games should be enough to mark his season as historic. But in reality, he was just getting started.
The regular season is one thing, but the playoffs are a whole 'nother thing. And that's where Toro truly became great. In 16 playoff games, the 18 year old CF hopeful recorded an astounding .559/.597/.956 line, for a mind-boggling 3.5 WAR. In the playoffs. In 68 at bats. Then, the awards started rolling in. Two playoff round MVP's. An All Star selection. A Platinum Stick in CF. And just last week, a League MVP award was added to his already burgeoning trophy case.
Can it last? Already, he is being penciled in for a 2062 starting spot on the legendary Toledo Liberty, where his winning ways will doubtless continue. Will he actually be a BBA center fielder? The development lab will tell the tale, and hopefully his high work ethic will help matters. No matter what happens, Toro's 2061 season will have people talking for a long, long time to come.
Go Talons!
Talons OF Pedro Toro represents the first top ten draft pick in franchise history, excepting the initial expansion draft of course. Drafted as a left fielder, Toro's 8 rated range caused the Talons to try him out and attempt to develop him as a center fielder. It was seen as a no lose scenario, he could either be an average CF or a gold glove left fielder. But why not try and stretch out the 18 year old and see what he can do?
The bat, though well developed, was seen as secondary to the possibility of him being a center fielder, a somewhat rare commodity in today's BBA. Toro, as an 18 year old, was assigned to rookie league Traverse City, like all Talons draft picks are, with a developmental emphasis on defense. What followed, however, was indeed historic.
As usual these days, the Traverse City Talons went 53-15 and won their 8th Spike Nolan League Championship in a landslide. Along the way, Toro played in 66 games (out of a possible 68) and started 53 of those games in Center, for a ZR of +2.3. Marginal, not ideal, but he's learning. In any case, his offensive output was massive, slashing .391/.457/.709 for a 238 OPS+, 7.2 WAR, and a 3.53 WPA, with the latter two leading the Rookie League by a wide margin.
Where does his season rank all time? Many of the SNL counting stats are from the early 2030's, when the league played more games and age limits were not in place. In fact, Toro's 7.2 WAR is only second all time, behind BBA hall of famer Mark Simpson's 7.67 tally in 2029. Not bad company. But Toro achieved his WAR in 66 games as opposed to Simpson, who played in 110 games in his record setting campaign. The fact that Toro did his damage in far less games should be enough to mark his season as historic. But in reality, he was just getting started.
The regular season is one thing, but the playoffs are a whole 'nother thing. And that's where Toro truly became great. In 16 playoff games, the 18 year old CF hopeful recorded an astounding .559/.597/.956 line, for a mind-boggling 3.5 WAR. In the playoffs. In 68 at bats. Then, the awards started rolling in. Two playoff round MVP's. An All Star selection. A Platinum Stick in CF. And just last week, a League MVP award was added to his already burgeoning trophy case.
Can it last? Already, he is being penciled in for a 2062 starting spot on the legendary Toledo Liberty, where his winning ways will doubtless continue. Will he actually be a BBA center fielder? The development lab will tell the tale, and hopefully his high work ethic will help matters. No matter what happens, Toro's 2061 season will have people talking for a long, long time to come.
Go Talons!
