A multiple-part series leading up to the start of the 2042 season, "Position Battles Royale" will examine multiple players vying to make the Boise Spuds 27-man roster, either within the starting line-up or the active roster as a reserve/platoon. Part three of five is the open competition for the 4th and 5th outfield spots.Heading into the spring, the Spuds outfield is set with Ricardo Ruíz in left, Dennis French in center and all of right field (and more) with Félix Román. The trio is one of the best, if not the very best (20.4 WAR in 2041), in the league along with Atlantic City (20.1), Vancouver (18.0) and Louisville (17.3). So the real battle will be the reserves to the three stars and those in the running for likely two spots include 40-man occupiers Ernesto Germán, Ricardo Hernandez and Júlio Medina, and minor league veterans Dean Ludlam, Abay Omoruyi, Vince Osborn, Corey Scott and Juan Sweetworld. Phew.
LAST YEAR BY THE NUMBERS (AGE IS 2042 OPENING DAY)
| NAME | AGE | BATS | LEVEL | AVG/OBP/SLG | HR | SB | OPS+ | WAR | SCOUTING GRADES |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Ernesto Germán | 28 | R | AAA | .284/.356/.455 | 15 | 35 | 109 | 3.4 | 5(5) / 5(5) / 3(3) / 6(6) / 5(5) |
| Ricardo Hernandez | 32 | L | AAA | .244/.388/.563 | 36 | 19 | 135 | 4.3 | 2(2) / 4(4) / 7(7) / 8(8) / 5(5) |
| Dean Ludlam | 30 | L | AAA | .321/.401/.664 | 14 | 0 | 161 | 1.1 | 4(4) / 6(6) / 8(8) / 5(6) / 4(4) |
| Júlio Medina | 25 | L | AAA | .251/.323/.450 | 22 | 4 | 96 | 1.3 | 5(5) / 6(6) / 5(5) / 5(5) / 6(6) |
| Abay Omoruyi | 27 | R | BBA | .261/.320/.435 | 0 | 0 | 85 | -0.1 | 4(4) / 5(5) / 4(4) / 3(3) / 6(6) |
| Vince Osborn | 27 | L | AA | .237/.349/.429 | 21 | 8 | 107 | 2.5 | 4(4) / 5(5) / 5(5) / 6(6) / 6(6) |
| Corey Scott | 30 | S | AA | .227/.325/.354 | 10 | 9 | 82 | 0.2 | 4(4) / 6(6) / 4(5) / 8(8) / 3(3) |
| Juan Sweetworld | 33 | L | AAA | .292/.353/.479 | 23 | 39 | 107 | 4.1 | 4(5) / 5(5) / 5(5) / 3(4) / 7(7) |
Aside from their production in 2041, the Boise starting outfield can -- if pressed -- rotate around the outfield in case injuries strike. Ruíz is an excellent left fielder, league-average in center and above-average in right. French is excellent in center and could be even better in left. Román is elite in right, winning his second consecutive Zimmer last season, and might be even better than French in center. That all said, with a bevy of options for the 4th and 5th spots, manager Millard Davis could easily mix-and-match depending on which players services are needed. Omoruyi started last season on the 27-man as a defensive specialist, however after all of Triple-A Salt Lake City's outfield had fine seasons, it's no guarantee Omoruyi even stays with the Boise organization come roster cuts, let alone a spot on the active roster. Sweetworld, a BBA veteran with two Puckett Awards to his name from his earlier days, provides excellent speed and defense, plus clubhouse leadership, to warrant a long look no matter how he plays during the spring. Similarly, Germán is a younger, and certainly less experienced, version of Sweetworld, but he'll be heading into camp to make a serious impression on the coaching staff. The one name to watch is Hernandez, a three-true-outcomes type player who's best suited for left field duty only. Medina is young enough to warrant sending to Triple-A as a starter, whereas veterans Ludlam, Osborn and Scott may be best served as back-ups in Boise, rather than take at-bats away from younger players in Salt Lake City. One more wrinkle: 2B Calvin Clohessy is competing for playing time this spring and if he makes the roster as a back-up, his ability to play all over the diamond, including the outfield -- albeit not that well -- could factor into final roster cuts.
VERDICT
In looking at the roster construction in General Manager Joe Lederer's first three seasons, it's clear he prefers speedy, defensive-minded outfielders as back-up to his starters, which makes Ludlam and Omoruyi less likely to stick. Sweetworld showed he still had something to prove after his season in AAA and his experience could be considered valuable for a team trying to reach the postseason for a second straight year. Don't be shocked if Hernandez is given a long look as a potential platoon-partner with Ruíz in leftfield. Davis could run out a lineup against right-handed pitchers with Hernandez in left with Ruíz penciled in as the DH, moving the slightly lower-rated defender out of the field where he can focus on offense. Against southpaws, Ruíz could start in left and bat atop the lineup with Hernandez's role limited to pinch-hitter and pinch-runner and late-inning defensive substitute.
