2065.02 - Reunited as Coaches

[R.Umali]

Juan Hernández had spent 4 years in the D.R. pitching for the Green Sox. In 2057, he was just twenty years old, a graduate of the U.S. Navy Academy, and a promising pitcher. Good enough to skip Rookie ball entirely but still considered a long shot to make the Black Sox. Few tenth rounders do.

In his third year as a pro, he took a step forward in his development and helped the Green Sox to win the Supremacy Series. It was the Green Sox's first championship in their long history. Juan pitched in a couple of games, allowed zero runs, struck out 4 over 5 innings, earned a save, and won a ring.

León Romero was a bench bat outfielder for that team. León saw limited time in that post-season, receiving only 3 plate appearances, striking out once but walking and scoring in another. Point is, León was on the roster and received a ring, too. Things were looking up for the Round 13 pick.

The Green Sox made the playoffs again in 2060, with both players playing greater roles. The team not only led the Big Island division with a 54-22 record, but also the entire Angela Drake. In that post-season Romero went 5-for-13 with a home run in 5 games, but were ousted in The Showdown by the Havana Cigars.

Both players kept climbing: next year they were 2061 in Single-A Huntsville, and two years after that, they were in AA-Peoria. At that point Hernández, 26, was reaching his development limit. Control was always an issue and the horrendous 52:100 BB:K ratio he had in 2062 only got worse in 2063. The organization was committed to him. Despite his control problems, he made 23 starts and went 6-10, earning a ticket to Triple-A Rockford in 2064 as a reliever. Hernández knew that was the last chance, was grateful for it, and proceeded to give up 13 home runs in 52 innings, and walk 26 batters while striking out only 34 in AAA. He managed a 3-7 record with 3 saves. End of the line.

The org was similarly committed to Romero, who earned a promotion to Rockford in the middle of 2064. There, he made his fair share of starts, and slashed .260 / .316 / .390 with 6 HR over 246 ABs. But at this point, he was already 27 years old and with the Black Sox outfield occupied by Dave Matthes, Tony Cochran, and a bevy of other power hitters, León Romero could see the cliff edge.

Neither man really had financial ambitions, and both retired from baseball at the end of the season.

The Green Sox hadn't matched their 2060 peak since. Low-level rosters churn, outcomes swing—it’s the nature of dev ball—but the org seized a chance to bottle the old magic: they sent Hernández and Romero to coaches’ school and, this offseason, installed them as pitching coach and hitting coach.

Juan Hernández was awarded a "good" for teach pitching and outfield defense, and four "excellent" ratings: influence mechanics, handles aging, catching defense, and infield defense.

León Romero arguably emerged with better results. Despite only an "average" for teach hitting, he earned an "outstanding" for handles development, and a legendary for outfield defense. He was a not so bad outfielder in his day, rated 7 in the corners (only 3/4 in center), with a 6 range and error, and an 8 arm. The faculty at coaching camp did note the 27-year old's high work ethic.

Perhaps the friends can earn their second ring as coaches.

[Lane]

good stuff. i like to see the guys that weren't stars get attention like this.

my current AAA pitching coach Kevin Graham was only able to make 18 BBA appearances with Long Beach before a CEI. I always think about improving his ratings but never pull the trigger.