November 5, 2063 — Golden Honors, Hard Questions
The dust has barely settled on Johannesburg’s magical 93-win campaign and first trip to the Grand Slam Cup, and already the hardware is being handed out, contracts extended, and tough arbitration calls looming.
First, though, we pause to celebrate.
The Gold held their annual postseason awards ceremony this past weekend, and for the first time in franchise history, the mood matched the moment. These weren’t “nice try” trophies. These were earned in a season that changed the very DNA of the club.
Hitter of the Year: Adam MacDonald
.290/.408/.523, 6.4 WAR, 24 HR, 109 BB, 54 SB
If you watched a Gold game this year, you probably saw MacDonald sprinting down the line, working a ten-pitch at-bat, or stretching a double into three bases when no one thought it possible.
For the second straight season, the Michigan-born sparkplug led the league in walks (109) while swiping 54 bags, scoring 121 runs, and playing Great Glove-worthy defense in left. He even filled in admirably at right and first when called upon.
MacDonald isn’t just a stat line. He’s a tone-setter, and at 25, he’s already one of the most indispensable player in Johannesburg. This isn’t just a Hitter of the Year. This is the face of a franchise.
Pitcher of the Year: Kiminobu Seki
11-7, 3.55 ERA, 1.33 WHIP, 180 IP, 4.7 WAR
No pitcher in the AfSAmOc stopped the home run ball better than Kiminobu Seki, and in a year where power was everywhere, that mattered. His 0.8 HR/9 led the league, and his 9.1 K/9 made him the division’s most efficient strikeout artist.
In many ways, Seki was the ace the Gold lacked since their inception. He set the tone in April, steadied the ship in August, and nearly willed the team through October.
The torn labrum in the Grand Slam Cup was a cruel twist, robbing both him and the team of the chance to finish what they started. His 2064 status is murky. But if this year proved anything, it’s that Johannesburg finally has a true frontline arm.
Rookie of the Year: Emilio Cordero
.290/.365/.519, 23 HR, 73 RBI in 118 games
He wasn’t even supposed to be here. When the 22-year-old Cordero jumped from Double-A Falkland Island to the bigs in late April, most assumed he’d be a placeholder. Instead, he became a fixture.
Cordero hit 23 homers, drove in 73, and played solid defense. His solo shot in Game 1 of the Grand Slam Cup was the perfect exclamation mark on a rookie season that announced: the kid can play.
He’ll be a middle-of-the-order bat for years.
Prospect of the Year: Cesar Roman
.281 AVG, 23 HR, elite defense in Single-A Hiroshima
At 24, Roman is a bit older than your typical Single-A prospect, but don’t let that fool you. The young shortstop was a human vacuum this year, posting a league-leading 16.6 Zone Rating and a defensive efficiency north of 1.11.
The bat, meanwhile, came alive: 23 homers and a .281 average across 140 games. He even showed versatility, logging time at second and third with plus-plus metrics.
The plan for 2064? A full season in Double-A, likely as the everyday shortstop. But don’t be surprised if Graham Luna has him playing all over the infield to maximize reps for the Gold’s crowded pipeline.
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Contract News: Rozinov & Bridges Stay Put
The Gold locked up two key pieces for the future this week.
Dima Rozinov, the defensive wizard acquired at the trade deadline, signed a three-year, front-loaded extension worth $16.25 million. His bat cooled slightly after the trade (.261/90 OPS+ in Johannesburg vs. .291/97 OPS+ in Cairo), but his glove never did. He remains the best defensive shortstop in the GBC, and pairing him with Essam bin Eisa gives the Gold a double-play duo worthy of highlight reels.
Aaron Bridges, steady if unspectacular, re-upped for two years at $1.5 million AAV. Coming off a 13-8 season with a 3.80 ERA, Bridges gives the rotation a dependable mid-rotation presence as the Gold await clarity on Seki’s recovery.
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Arbitration Watch: Five Big Calls
With the parade of champagne bottles cleared, GM Graham Luna now faces the brass tacks of arbitration. Here’s how I see it playing out:
Kiminobu Seki (SP) – 25 years old, 11-7, 3.55 ERA/1.33 WHIP/4.7 WAR (180 IP)
Prediction: Tendered, and possibly extended. Luna will want to avoid arbitration. With the injury, maybe a two-year “prove-it” deal in the $3.5–4M range. Risky, but worth it.
Jeff Bannon (SP) – 33 years old, 13-8, 4.50 ERA/1.27 WHIP/2.5 WAR (168 IP)
Prediction: Tendered. Veteran innings-eater who earned his keep after being claimed off waivers from Sydney. Expect a one-year deal around the $1.3M mark.
Abdul-Sami bin Ya'qub (RP) – 34 years old, 4.65 ERA/1.42 WHIP/0.3 WAR (31 IP)
Prediction: Non-tendered. The arm is fading, the numbers were underwhelming, and at 34, $650K could be better spent elsewhere.
Joe Burton (RP) – 33 years old, 5.60 ERA/1.83 WHIP/-0.1 WAR (27 IP)
Prediction: Non-tendered. He cost $1.27M last year to pitch most of the season in Triple-A. No chance Luna repeats that mistake.
Manny Costello (RP) – 25 years old, 7.45 ERA/1.99 WHIP/-0.3 WAR (38 IP)
Prediction: Non-tendered. The midseason experiment from Sydney didn’t work. At 25, he may catch on somewhere else, but not here.
In short: expect Luna to bring back Seki and Bannon, cut bait with the aging or ineffective bullpen arms, and shop the market for younger, sturdier relievers.
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Final Thoughts: From Pretenders to Contenders
Johannesburg’s season ended with heartbreak in Tokyo, but don’t forget how far this team traveled in a year. From preseason afterthoughts to division champs. From arbitration fodder to award winners. From never having sniffed the postseason to nearly tasting champagne in the Cup.
Graham Luna’s first season wasn’t perfect. But it was transformative.
And if 2063 was the dress rehearsal, 2064 is opening night.
—JvW
