2046 Spring Camp opens as Chilis are still adding to Roster
El Paso opened camp with 50 players including their latest addition to the 25-man roster. Signed just a month ago, Anastasio Lopez has had a seven-year BBA career in Mexico City before spending last year in Jacksonville where he hit .307, 30 homers and posted 3.2 WAR. He arrived on a three-year deal, earning just $5.5 million this year, rising to $10.5 million next year and an option year for $11.5 million tacked on as a third year. His most ideal role would be probably be DH but there’s not the room in El Paso for him to get many AB’s there so he will in all probability take the LF role from sophomore Elmer Lomond who could be a decent backup at the outfield corners.
The opening couple of weeks saw El Paso start with a four-game winning streak before faltering second time round the rotation. The record of 5-5 after 10 games was the best start to ST in my time at the franchise, obviously not that important but at El Paso every little win is still a win. Phil Cole is attending his first ever spring camp and has so far made two start, going the full four innings in both. Against Edmonton he gave up a run & two walks but struck out his first three players in a BBA camp and picked up his first win. His second start, against Mexico City with the Chilis mired in a bad run of form, he left after four innings having nothing but two hits & three strikeouts. It’ll be an interesting battle the rest of the way as he goes head-to-head with Gerald Sizemore for the ball on Opening Day. Josh Hayworth had a reasonable BBA cup of coffee last September and has carried on his push for a roster spot by winning both his first two starts. Nine hits and two runs was a bit high in four innings against Charlotte but he came back with three hits and one run against Las Vegas; his claim for a 25-man roster spot has been strengthened by Chris Sackett being ruled out until June with shoulder inflammation. Reliever Paul Burton, back from a year out with Tommy John surgery and his second Rule 5 selection, is in his first senior camp: in three outings he’s given up three hits, one walk, one run and has struckout four batters. The plan is for him to see his first year of Triple-A in 2046.
Mike England suffered an injury scare but luckily enough it turned out to be a sore hip and he scarcely missed any time at all. 2045 second round draft pick Don Keagle split his first pro year between rookie ball, A ball and Double-A and now is in camp as a non-roster invitee. He’s made a promising start with an OPS of .850 and has driven in three runs in his first five outings at this level, depending on what centre fielders we cut he will be ticketed for Albuquerque or Columbus to start 2046. Anastasio Lopez has been showing his power, already launching three balls over the fences (the second of which was a grand slam against Charlotte) with an OPS of 1.055. Kade Lebowski, picked up in the 2045 Rule 5 draft, looks to have kicked on for his year in the BBA and has been hitting .278 whilst successfully stealing three bases out of three attempts in his opening 10 games. One of this years Rule 5 picks, Arturo Ahumade, has hit .348 in his ten appearances with three RBI, three stolen bases and four runs scored, if he carries on in this vein he may well become more than the defensive bench guy we have ticketed him for. We’re now thinking maybe he can steal a few AB’s at SS from the lighter hitting Jeremy Webb. Jason Bowen had an off year in 2045 but looks ready to come back to form this year, hitting successfully in five out of his limited eight AB’s so far.