18 Mar 2063
Boise, Idaho
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by Danny Diefenderfer
2B Fernando Segura
The plan was a simple one. Segura had been given every chance necessary to seize the job at second base with then starter Ryan Geauxinue went on the IL for what would turn out to be a total of 9 weeks in 2062.
Traded to Boise by the San Fernando Bears in 2059 for P Kujapa Vellanki and LF Mudawar bin Khaleel, Segura was acquired to supplant ASAP then starter Bruce Yelland. Teague is widely known to employ utility players in the infield and outfield and that means starters have to be able to hold down a large number of innings. Yelland had the defensive chops, but struggled mightily on offense at the ML level tagging a .114/.200/.200 and .400 OPS in 26 games in 2061.
Searching for a solution, GM Ben Teague focused in on Segura who was not only masterful at 2B (he currently possesses a +50.3 ZR and 1.035 EFF for his career at all levels) but he was showing some more than solid production at the plate. At AAA Brooks, affiliate of the Bears, the youngster posted a +2.6 WAR. At Salt Lake City, Boise AAA affiliate, he continued turning heads with a +2.9 WAR and +2.4 WAR in 2061 & 2062, respectively. He was also a lefty and that was an unexpected plus to the lineup.
Valuing defense up the middle as much as Teague does he still had moved on to Geauxinue as a solution hoping his offense would offset his defensive shortcomings. He was productive at the plate boasting a mid-.700 OPS and a WAR as high as +1.3 but his defense was atrocious to the tune of a -14.6 ZR and .857 EFF in 2062. But every home plate in the BBA was intimidating Segura in a way that no one could predict from his AAA production. Given 83 games in 2060, the youngster slashed .205/.278/.245 and a -0.9 WAR. After giving him another season at AAA to mature, Teague turned to him with the daily 2B job again last season with him booking a .166/.234/.225 slash and -1.3 WAR.
Boise gave Geauxinue an extension for 2063 and acquired both SS Quintin Trewartha and Zhi-fu Huang via free agency intended that one of them could play most innings at second with Geauxinue filling in sparingly. But Segura has pulled his trick again in Spring Training this year.
With 10 games remaining, Segura has posted a slash of .296/.333/.667, 1.000 OPS, 5 doubles, 5 HR, and 8 RBI having appeared in all 20 of the Spuds games. If Segura has really solved his issue at the ML level, the Geauxinue becomes expendable, if not an albatross, and the uses for Trewartha and Huang are more flexible. But will Teague give him the opening day shot? He's holding his cards close to his chest at this point, but it would seem to make sense at least for the beginning of the year.
