Rookie Debuts

[Pat]

Ian Slone (P)

The time has finally come. 33-year-old pitcher Ian Slone will make his BLB debut this week.

Originally drafted in the 4th round by the Seattle Reign (now Wilmington Wildcats), Slone has thrown 1,348.2 innings in the NCAA and minor leagues combined. While in Triple-A Vancouver the past two seasons, Slone made the All-Star team, once as a reliever and once as a starter.

After the flurry of trades in Seattle, the Pilots find themselves in need of additional arms to fill out the roster. Sloan is armed with a 94 MPH slider but is prone to give up the long ball.

[Z]

Is he the first Seattle Reign draftee/player to play for the Pilots?

[Pat]

Is he the first Seattle Reign draftee/player to play for the Pilots?

No. Dave Monks.

[Z]

Oh! T.J. "The Other One" Dunn pitched for both the Reign and Pilots!

[Delandis]

D.J. Gallagher (MR)

Do you see that goofy smile?

That is the look of a Bulldogs' Unicorn and by "Bulldogs' Unicorn," I mean someone over the age of 26 who actually gets promoted out of the Baltimore farm system. This 29 year old minor league veteran went undrafted way back in the 2008 draft over a decade ago, and was finally promoted to the show this past June.

D.J. earned his chance after toiling the last 11 years in the Baltimore minor league system, going to the AA All-Star Game in 2013 and voted to the 2019 AAA All-Star Game this past June. Although he's started most of his professional career, he's been in bullpen for the Bulldogs and has made the most of his time in the majors posting a .96 WHIP and 2.16 ERA in 8.1 innings of work.

Or maybe we just promoted him to have the most players named "D.J." on any BLB roster.

[liquidcrash]

OF Tom Roseboom

#18 Prospect in BLB

Drafted - 2018, 18th overall

AAA: .341/.429/492, 8 HR, 49 RBI

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With rosters expanding, the Washington Bats have called up their top hitting prospect, Tom Roseboom. Team scouts have been excited about Roseboom since he was draft with in the first round of last year's draft and believe that the young outfielder has a "sky-high" ceiling.

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After hitting .339 in his collegiate career at Stanford, Roseboom's bat hasn't cooled off in the minors. He lit up AAA pitchers this season for a .341 average, leading the Blue Chip Coalition in AVG and OBP. Scout are optimistic about his power potential, but so far he's more of a doubles hitter, with 24 2B to just 8 HR this season. With time, the Bats believe he'll be a very good, well-rounded batter. Defensively, he's capable in CF but should be a plus defender in either corner spot. Roseboom also brings excellent speed to the basepaths.

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For the remainder of 2019, Roseboom will join the Bats roster as a backup CF and will rotate in to the starting lineup 2-3 games per week. With Jamie Urmson heading to free agency and Israel Morales facing a player option for the 2020 season, Roseboom will take a starting spot alongside New Brew candidate Dave Schneider next season.

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(I realize Roseboom was in the BLB to end last season).

[liquidcrash]

SP - CJ Thompson

#17 Prospect in BLB

Drafted - 2017, 40th overall

AAA- 12-4, 2.49 ERA, 135 K, 49 BB

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The Bats will bring up a second top prospect to help down the stretch - CJ Thompson has gotten the call. The 6'2" lefty ranks one spot ahead of Roseboom on the Top 100 Prospects list and will be counted on to provide some help in the bullpen and possibly a spot start or two.

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Eyebrows were raised in the BLB when the Bats selected Thompson in the second round of the 2017 draft. Some wondered why anyone would risk a high pick on a guy who could barely get on the field. Indeed, Thompson suffered two major arm injuries at Baylor, even having a setback during his first recovery. His career line in college isn't pretty - 2 seasons, 2 starts, 1+ IP, 9.00 ERA, 6 BB.

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Despite the injuries, the Bats believed in his talent and appear to have been rewarded. Thompson has suffered only a single, day-to-day injury since joining the organization. His results on the field have seen him move quickly through the system and up the Top Prospects list. He can be found near the top of most pitching leaderboards in AAA and ranks as the #6 pitcher at the AAA level.

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Edgar Fajardo (age 39) and Armando Fuentes (age 36) are the only lefties currently in the Bats bullpen. Thompson will hopefully provide another reliable option from that side of the mound and allow the old guys to rest a little more often.

[Andrew]

Dave McClain (RF)

Dave McClain will be the first of what we're hoping will be many call-ups in KC over the next two seasons. McClain hit .349 in his career at North Carolina and finished 3rd in the 2017 NCAA Outstanding Hitter award voting. He was drafted 40th overall in 2018. McClain was rushed through the minors but has performed well at every level. KC scouts are hoping he will develop into a top of the lineup hitter.

[Pat]

It's sad when I actually know these prospects by name without looking them up.

I was a big McClain fan in the draft. Fun times in KC!

[Andrew]

Tom Clark (CF)

Next up for the Comets will be CF Tom Clark. He was drafted in the 4th round in 2018 after winning an NCAA championship as a member of the UNLV Rebels. Clark has performed well at every level with the highlight coming in 2019 when he posted a 4.2 WAR and finished 2nd in the AA Outstanding Hitter Award voting. KC scouts are expecting Clark to be a solid all around CF.

With Viger and Guercio on the horizon the Comets could be sporting an entirely new outfield by the end of this season.

[Sharkn20]

OF T.J. Leiden

What not to like about the Omaha native? Almost turning 23 Years old, Leiden did rocket through the system in 2020 and I want to ride his wave a little bit longer, now in the BLB, my Scout loves him, OSA is also very keen on him and his stats this year in AA and AAA have been really good so far.

The injuries are decimitating our Outfield this year and thatīs why I am calling him up. In other circunstamces I would like him to spend some more time in AAA adjusting to a higher level of pitching, but my Scout sees him as fully developed 5/5/5/5/6 hitter and 5/5/7 defensively. His above average ratings in LF and RF make him a perfect fit for the 4th OF spot at this point in his career, I always like to see what my prospects have inside, so it will be a good chance for T.J..

[Nemesis]

How many T.J. Leiden's we gonna end up with? ;)

[Sully]

Didn't I just draft this kid?!?!

[Sharkn20]

Mine is the real T.J. Leiden... OBP of .333 in his debut

Sent from my SM-G920F using Tapatalk

[Pat]

Ron Erickson (P)

Ron 'Mailman' Lenzini

Ron Moniz (2B)



Donnie Benoit (3B)

Now you can see why Matt changed the name file. The new era of Pilots brings us three Ron's and a Don.

Ron Erickson technically made his debut this sim. The 28-year-old rookie is armed with a 100 MPH fastball, 63% groundball, very high work ethic, high intelligence and OSA rates him 6-5-5 as a SP and 7-5-5 as a RP. What's not to love?! Well, this is OOTP17 baby! And 6-5-5 isn't what it used to be. Just a year ago those "5s" were "4s" and he isn't projected to be a great player.

Ironically, born on 4-20, Erickson has never quite "lived up to his abilities." He will bounce from rotation to bullpen depending on need going forward. Not projected to make a huge impact but at $280k, he will get some outs during the rebuilding years.

The "Mailman" however, is the Pilots highest ranked prospect to reach the BLB level in franchise history. The 2017 3rd round pick is armed with 6 pitches and currently ranks #29 on the prospect list.

Not only a great nickname, but this kid has some skill, too. He made the Triple-A All-Star team after posting a 7-1, 1.80, .89 stat line. He has been "ready for" the BLB according to the system report for a few weeks now but I wanted him to get the accolades. He cares a lot about winning and not a lot about working hard or books, and stuff, so we shall see how he feels about joining the leagues worst team.

Moniz is a bit of a surprise seeing him here. Formerly a 5th round pick of Los Alamos in 2012, the infielder hadn't really shown much ability beyond Single-A. After five Double-A stints, he was hitting just .225 with a .597 OPS.

This season, given the bump to Triple-A, Moniz has been pretty outstanding. A .318 average and .798 OPS are his highest marks since his 2017 season in Single-A as a 22-year-old. He also made the Triple-A 2020 All-Star game. He's a switch-hitter but his game is defense. OSA ranks him as an 8 at 2B, 6 at SS and 5 at 3B. He will likely see time at all three spots going forward.

And lastly, the Don, Donnie Benoit! After hitting 42 HR in 96 games at Florida State, and winning the 2018 Hitter Award, Benoit was selected 49th overall by Seattle. Also, a 2020 All-Star, Benoit has been mashing: 146 OPS+, 11 HR, 2 3B, 8 2B in 59 games.

He too isn't known for working hard and cares the most about winning. Hopefully, these rookies are just happy to be here and won't get too caught up in the standings.