Rookie Debuts

[Delandis]

J.J. Cahill (SS)

As an 8th round pick in the recent 2018 draft, J.J. gets the call up because he's the most polished defensive shortstop in our minors. Never known for his batting prowess, J.J. was a defensive wiz while at Clemson. My scout also believes that J.J. has a little ability at the plate, particularly he says that he has a bit of potential patience at the pate. We don't expect J.J. to singlehandedly change our fortunes but we hope he can hit better than Perry does against RHP. Also a lefty, we hope he'll enjoy the Phillips Field boost. This was always the plan when Kroll was traded to Chicago and through this 22 year old's first week, he's hit .400/.471/.937 and proving he is at least a solid defender at shortstop.

[Delandis]

A.J. Nardi (C)

Another late round selection will get his taste of the show following an injury. This time our 9th round pick in 2018, A.J. Nardi, will get a taste of the BLB as veteran catcher, Willie Lara will be out for at least the next two weeks with a muscle injury. Nardi is just one of those guys who just always seems to out work the more talented players on the field. The Lincoln, California native has performed well at every level and now, he'll get a chance to show if he can out work BLB level players too.

A.J. will play a backup role to J.J. Hanson, who will take the lion's share of at-bats during Lara's stint on the DL.

[Pat]

Ron Rosenthal (OF)

This will be my fourth player named "Ron" to debut in the last two sims. Glad we changed that name file, wow.

Rosenthal, however, is hardly a prospect. A former 9th round pick of Maine in 2014, was released last season. This year the 27-year-old is posting a .326/.921/154+/2.6 WAR through 63 games in Triple-A. My scout says "It looks like he has never played baseball before" but we need another OF with the trade of Dave Robinson to Morgantown and Rosenthal was our highest performer up in Vancouver.

OSA and my scout agree that he has high avoid K, is a great LF (ok at CF/RF) and decent speed. He's durable. High work ethic. Very high Greed and Loyalty, which is an interesting combo. He also won the CWS in 2013 with Pacific.

On a good team, Rosenthal might make the roster as a 5th OF/swing call-up using his option years. During the Seattle rebuild, he will cost $280k for three years while we save money to spend on UDFA's.

[Delandis]

This will be my fourth player named "Ron" to debut in the last two sims. Glad we changed that name file, wow..

I'm ok with not having another AJ, DJ or JJ in Baltimore.

[liquidcrash]

Ernie Porterfield

The Bats will make a change in their outfield this week as Ernie Porterfield will make the short trip up I-95 from Richmond and join the big club in DC.

Originally selected with the 94th overall selection in the 2016 draft, Porterfield has steadily climbed the Bats' system, hitting at an above average level at each stop. This season with the AAA Rams, he's hitting .288 with 12 HRs, good for 2nd in the Blue Chip Coalition in homers. Power has always been his calling card - he hit 28 bombs in his 2 seasons in the Cape League and hit 21 in AA last season.

Porterfield will be part of the mix at both LF and RF, adding a right-handed bat to the lineup as well as generally solid defense at either spot. He won't be an everyday player, but figures to see the lineup 2-3 times per week if all goes to plan.

[Delandis]

Dave Sloper (SP)

Maintaining the current Baltimore motif of promoting late round draft picks, we are going to call up 22 year old Houston native, Dave Sloper. Sloper was the 236th pick of the 2015 draft and while not know as a particularly hard worker, Dave has primarily used his knowledge of the game to get him this far.

Less than a month after being drafted in 2015, Sloper threw a 6-hit shut out over the Single A Seattle Pilots (now Mosse Jaw Moose) which obviously caught the eyes of our scout. Sloper had a labrum tear a month after that, temporarily halting his progress.

Fast forward five years, and Sloper has progressed up the Baltimore minor league system at a decent pace and is currently ranked as one the Top 100 Prospects in the minors at #75.

We will start Sloper with bullpen work, but we hope to eventually see him in the starting rotation within the next 1-2 years.

[Guest]

P Tommy Meek

Tommy Meek is getting the call up to the big leagues for the first time in his career. This is a kid who throws hard at 97+ mph, but his best pitches are a Curveball, Changeup and Cutter. Management isn't too sure why he hasn't worked more on his Fastball more seeing as he's naturally gifted at throwing hard, but after spending three years in AAA we're ready to see if he has what it takes against real hitters.

The original intent was to bring him up slowly as a relief pitcher, but after consulting with both the manager and bench coach it's been determined that Meek will be given a chance to start, albeit it on a limited pitch count. We expect him to thrive in that role.

To make room for Meek, fellow rookie P Jimmie Davis is being given a chance to rest his arm a bit and is now slotted in as long relief. We here appreciate the eleven good starts he gave us this season and look forward to his long and productive career in the majors.

[Pat]

Chaz Brooks (P)

#15 overall prospect, Chaz Brooks has been "ready for BLB" on the system report for over a month but the player himself finally expects to be in the pros. He still has some development left and with a fragile, young arm, he will start in the pen. Either way, Seattle fans should be pleased to see a better team in the 2nd half.

[Delandis]

J.J. Hall (C)

With the recent shakeup that sent C Willie Lara to Pawtucket and brought Sonny Mason to Baltimore, the former 2018 6th round pick, .J. Hall gets the call up to the BLB. A good player during his junior and senior years at Pacific University, J.J. has progressed well in our minor league system, selected for the AA All-Star game in 2019. Hall has good leadership skills and on the field, a decent glove and bat. The 23 year old will start as a backup to J.J. Hanson (C) who will move into a full-time catcher's role with Lara's departure.

[Delandis]

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SP Tom Tetrault

Another opportunity opened following the recent Baltimore-Pawtucket trade and was given to 25 year old pitcher, Tom Tetrault. Tetrault is a former 3rd round draftee by the Maine organization traded to Baltimore back in 2018 for OF Dave Southerland. Shortly after his trade, Tetrault lost the entire 2019 season to injury. The Phoenix, Az native bounced back with a strong 2020 AAA season and will start in the bullpen next week.

[Delandis]

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CF B.J. Lumkowski

Following the injury to veteran defensive specialist, CF Walt Nichol, we call up 24 year old center fielder, B.J. Lumkowski. A former 9th round selection of the Washington organization, the natvie Californian was traded to the Bulldogs in 2019 for a 3rd round pick. Offensively, Lukomski can swing the bat from both sides of the plate and has decent speed coupled with great baserunning instincts. Finally, had we decided to keep B.J. in Annapolis until the end of the AAA season, he'd very likely win the the AAA DWI in CF. He's been that good roaming center field.

However, it is now time to take off the training wheels.

[funclown]

CF T.J. Wilkins

Probably need to start doing more of this if anything since we are now in shuttle mode with players. In this case CF T.J. Wilkins is a feel good story. 2017 9th round after thought of the Carolina farm system he was released in 2019 after in appropriate locker room behavior. Once released TJ did the normal pit stop in Seattle like all released players do. Finally came to Pawtucket where in limited time batted .321 in AA. Got a nice development bump this season when the BLB went thru "the change" and despite a mid season injury has batted above .307 and playing above average defense (10.4 zone/ 1.072 eff) So why move him up? Well we suck, he's pretty much performed at a high level past few seasons even after the jump to AAA and it gives us some flexibility in the OF having a second defensive CF in the day to day lineup. A born leader, he's also cheap and we just released LF Jarod Farrow.

Happy hunting TJ!!!!!

[Sharkn20]

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CF B.J. Lumkowski

Following the injury to veteran defensive specialist, CF Walt Nichol, we call up 24 year old center fielder, B.J. Lumkowski. A former 9th round selection of the Washington organization, the natvie Californian was traded to the Bulldogs in 2019 for a 3rd round pick. Offensively, Lukomski can swing the bat from both sides of the plate and has decent speed coupled with great baserunning instincts. Finally, had we decided to keep B.J. in Annapolis until the end of the AAA season, he'd very likely win the the AAA DWI in CF. He's been that good roaming center field.

However, it is now time to take off the training wheels.

I always liked him, will follow closely what he is able to do in the BLB! Good luck!!

Sent from my SM-G920F using Tapatalk

[Delandis]

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LF Eli Fernandez

The rookie train rolls on in Baltimore as 22 year old outfielder, Eli Fernandez gets his chance to show what he can do while OF Sonny Mason heals up from a hip strain. The former 2018 5th round pick was fast tracked through the Baltimore minor league system, starting in Camden (AA) immediately. Our scouting staff believes that he has the potential to hit .290/.340/.490 someday, obviously believing that the kid has some power potential. In Annapolis (AAA), Eli was able to hit .272/.302/.435 with 13 home runs, inching closer to the solid potential described by our scouting team.

Eli will learn and platoon from former Baltimore star and team captain, OF Malik Roberson for the remainder of the regular season.

[Delandis]

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3B Pat Femrite

Oh you thought we were done? Not hardly.

Another injury means another young call up and this time 21 year old infielder, Pat Femrite gets a chance to help out the cause. A 5th round pick in 2016, the switch-htting infielder has blossomed into an intelligent, hard working professional player. Currently ranked as the 97th ranked prospect in the BLB, this Texas native has good speed and above average defense at 3rd base. With the injury to 3B DJ LaRossa, Femrite will platoon third base with teammate, 3B J.J. Carver who is having an outstanding year but still seems to struggle vs. RHP. While I don't expect Femrite to match LaRossa's bat, Femrite is a much better defender who should help out our pitchers' rising ERA's.

Femrite marks the 8th rookie promoted by the Bulldogs this season.