4 June 2063
Boise, Idaho
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by Tony Toney
Boise Pitching is Full of RookiesIf a pitcher from Boise fails to win a rookie award this season, rookie of the month or year, it won't be for lack of candidates. As the staff and bullpen are currently configured three rookies are slotted to book their first full year this season:
23yo P Felipe Ledesma
(AAA) 9 G, 9 GS, 3-3, 4.24 ERA, 57.1 IP, 3.2 K/BB, 1.28 WHIP, +0.9 WAR
Ledesma has been ranked as high as #92 in the BBA Top 100 Prospects list. He's a lefty who gets the opportunity to take Niegloslaw Woywitka's spot in the rotation. He was slated to be a bullpen fixture for his first full year, but he is much more valuable as a starter and will get his chance to settle in for Boise. He started 26 games at AAA Salt Lake City in 2062 logging a 13-10 record with a 3.77 ERA, 1.28 WHIP, 3.6 K/BB, and +4.3 WAR in 167.0 innings. He still has plenty of room to develop his stuff that includes a nasty mix of a 98mph fastball and a deadly curveball and cutter.
22yo P Máximo Rivera
11 G, 1.10 ERA, 16.1 IP, 2.6 K/BB, 0.98 WHIP
Rivera is a power pitcher, relying on a wicked fastball and curveball, who was called up in mid-April. The righty was a 6th round pick by the Spuds in the 2060 amateur draft. He is only good for short inning situations due to his problems with control as he struck out 17 hitters in 16 innings and walking 8 at AAA last season while making the jump from class A Tulsa. "He is what he is," said Boise GM Ben Teague. "We won't ask him to cover more than an inning at a time until he can prove that walks won't be a concern."
22yo P Alfredo Morán
(AAA) 18 G, 0-1, 13 SV, 2.70 ERA, 23.1 IP, 3.7 K/BB, +0.8 WAR
Boise is very high on Morán who makes the jump this season after 18 appearances at Salt Lake City where he posted a 2.70 ERA and 1.11 WHIP with 26 K's in 23.1 innings of work. Said Teague, "He's raw. Very raw. But he has grabbed our attention this young season and we'll see if his numbers translate well to the majors."
P Cornelio 'Deathblow' Martínez
(COL) 6 G, 1-0, 4 SV, 2.45 ERA, 1.1 K/BB, 1.64 WHIP
'Deathblow' comes to Boise as a raw project fresh out of university. He was the Spuds first-round pick this year and the 14th overall. It's impossible to separate risk from reward with players fresh out of college, Martínez is a complete package ready to show what he can do in the pros. He's tossed 3.0 innings in as many games at AAA allowing no runs on 2 hits with 2 strikeouts and 0 walks.
BONUS:
1B William Coleman
(AAA, 2062) 121 G, 22 2B, 1 3B, 14 HR, 73 RBI, .337/.412/.474, 2 SB, +2.4 WAR
Coleman is not yet a finished product, but he has earned his shot. He was slated to be a starter from day one and, after a shaky April, has begun to round into form as he displaces DH Perry Taylor. "I don't mind admitting that we are very excited to see what Coleman can accomplish at the ML level," said Teague.