Time to head for Palm Bay again
Having looked at the 2042 infielders in the last article, we proceed to look at the outfielders and the DH in this article. I wasn’t too happy with our OF pool heading for Palm Bay, we had far too many centre field only players that would have benefited from time in Palm Bay, but with so few games we couldn’t send any of them to train in the OF corners so we had to cobble together an outfield crew.
Outfielders
21-yr-old CF Chris Jenkins is the centerfield star we wanted to get the extra reps in Palm Bay. The 20th overall pick in the 2042 draft is pencilled in for a stay in Palm Bay, a non-roster invite to 2043 Spring Training and a year in Albuquerque. Following that he should get a BBA cup of coffee and it’s up to him where he spends 2044, his effort determines his career path going forward. His defence is almost honed, his speed is where he needs it to be, it’s a little bump to his contact, power and plate discipline that will determine whether he’s an All-Star BBA CF or just a good one on a crappy BBA team.
24-yr-old LF Aloisio Prudente probably wasn’t originally ticketed to be here after a good FPL stint in his first pro year, but his development didn’t go as well as hoped in Columbus. His 131 walks and 34 successful steals from 39 attempts makes him a good lead-off candidate, what doesn’t look so good on his resume in his defence. A -2.4 ZR in left needs to be improved which is what landed him back in the FPL. His contact could do with a bump too and a bit more finding the gap more often wouldn’t go amiss.
20-yr-old RF Mike Sears is a bit of a wildcard. A second round pick, 105th overall, in 2041 suggests he should go somewhere, but it’s just not happening so far. Negative WAR, a batting average below .220 and a tick below average defence isn’t cutting it. So, he gets a ticket to the FPL to attempt to kick start his development. He will spend 2043 redoing his year in Topeka as a last chance saloon, if he doesn’t switch the lightbulb on, his future will likely lay elsewhere
21-yr-old OF Elmer Lomond is progressing reasonably well. A good 2041 FPL was followed by a good 2042 in Topeka, what makes him valuable is his ability to produce solid defence all across the outfield. That solid defence, good speed, his ability to find the gap and developing power will guarantee him at least a 2043 start in Columbus and a brief appearance in Wichita Spring camp. If he aces all that he could well finish the year in Albuquerque. His path is mapped out, he won’t get many FPL reps this time round, just a few cover appearances here & there.
24-yr-old OF Valentinius Mirumian has bounced around the UMEBA before they gave up on him. He probably hasn’t much of a future beyond an organisational foot soldier, time is now against him. He can play all across the outfield which is always prized and can speed across the grass and around the bases. These qualities will keep him as a “27th man” somewhere until age and players coming through will finally end his baseball career.
DH
21-yr-old Bill Burke is the only specific DH carried on the Palm Bay roster this year. In a year in Springfield & one in Topeka he has really started flashing his bat and has developed into a 3 WAR player. He’s now clubbing 20 homers a year and walked nearly 70 times last year. There’s a lot of competition up and down the organisation for the DH roles, Wichita has some good young candidates, both Paul Cash & Matt Chambers made their debuts in the role this year. So Bill will be getting extra reps here and will be expected to turn in a good season in Columbus in 2043