[ayaghmour2]

May 3rd, 2031: The Nashville Vultures were in town. This was the first time we'd play the Vultures, although we played the Boston Doves (their old name) the past two seasons. Esteban Aguirre (3-0, 2.21 ERA, 0.85 WHIP) took on Steve Caprio (2-2, 6.48 ERA, 1.44 WHIP) in the opener. We have the position advantage at every lineup slot, and it really isn't close. As expected, we went on to win the opener, by a score of 7-2.

Crazy story: I noticed the leadoff hitters name, Jonathon Trytek, but I could't remember why. Turns out, I selected him in the 39th Round of the 2025 draft, and somehow, he made it to the big leagues six years later as a 26-year-old. Turns out, I released him later in June the year I drafted him. He played a little in the Padres organization, but didn't last long. In 2027, after being released, he signed with the Giants and played the 2027 and 2028 season with the Giants affiliate. He was released in the offseason, before signign with the Senators. In the latest offseason, he was selected by the Vultures 2nd in the Rule-5 Draft. And now he's hitting .204/.316/.429 with 6 homers, 4 steals, and 9 RBI's in 98 at bats. So my 39th Round Picks that never play for me can make the majors, but half my 1st rounders can't...

My report in 2025:

39th Round, 1,179th Overall: CF Jonathan Trytek (0.5): The Desert Christian junior can flat out fly on the basepaths, and has gold glove potential in the outfield. He doesn't have the best bat, but his value is off the bench as a fourth outfielder.

Ha, I spelled his name wrong. But he couldn't be farther from a 4th outfielder. He's now an infielder, rated 90 at first, 54 at second, 62 at third, and 53 at shortstop. He's rated just a 7 in center and 10 in right. Wow I am an excellent drafter!

(He does have defensive ratings, rated a 55 for range, 90 for error, and 98 for arm).

I had two first rounders in that draft, Juan Mariscal and Gabe Suppa, but neither of them amounted to much. And haven't played in the majors. 2nd Rounder Luis Nevi, has debuted for me, but I doubt anyone else has debuted.

Back to baseball: Esteban Aguirre was brilliant, 8+ innings with 1 hit, an unearned run, a walk, and 9 strikeouts. Ken Adeniran finished the 9th, allowing a hit, run, and he got a strikeout.

Ernie Frye was 2-for-3 with 2 runs, an RBI, walk, and steal. Luis Mora was 2-for-4 with a homer, 2 runs, and 3 RBI's. Juan Simental was 2-for-4 with 2 doubles, 2 runs, and a run scored. Mac Horvath was 1-for-3 with a sac-fly and 2 RBI's. Jon Reid was 1-for-3 with a double, walk, and run scored. Jackson Miller was 1-for-3 with a walk.

Checked back on the 2025 class: That's where Andy Neidig was drafted, a former 3.5/4.5* releiver for me who made appearences in 2029 and 2030. He tore his flexor tendon in September, and now is both fragile and a 3*. He was actually a great pick, so I can't complain, but it's hillarous that at least the 3rd most productive player from this class will be the 39th Round pick who went undrafted out of high school, attended Desert Christian for college, and was only selected because of his speed.

May 5th, 2031: The White Sox will be without LHP Demario Morales for the rest of the year. The 27-year-old partially tore his UCL. In his first year in Chicago, he threw 15 innings out of the pen in 14 games. He was 1-0 with a save, 13 strikeouts, and 8 walks. He also had a 4.80 ERA and 1.00 WHIP.

We remained third in the Power Rankings. At 21-10, we have a 4 game lead over the Phillies.

Prospect Watch: SP Juan Mariscal (A+ Jupiter):

Here's a fun one: here's the 1st Round Pick in the 2025 draft that is still in my organization and isn't retired...

No knock to Mariscal, who is putting together a solid season with the Hammerheads. In 5 starts, he's just 1-2, but has a 2.36 ERA and 1.39 WHIP with 24 strikeouts and 8 walks. Mariscal's prospect hype has dropped a ton, and the durable southpaw is just rated a half star with no third pitch, but he still has plus-plus stuff. His future is likely in the bullpen, where he's rated a passable 1.5/3* and his stuff turns elite. He's got a plus-plus fastball and plus-plus sinker that he throws from a deceptive sidearm position. He only averages 91-93, but it's hard to get a read off his pitches. He doesn't have more then average control and movement, but he can be an effective LOOGY (or however you spell it) in the majors.

Take that Jonathon Trytek!

We looked to take the series a game early with Dursun Erbakan (2-1, 4.91 ERA, 1.52 WHIP) facing Ryder Green (1-2, 4.32 ERA, 1.16 WHIP). They actually have a position advantage today, with my worst player Luis Mora hitting fourth, the spot of their best player Sincere Lahens. It didn't matter, as we scored 17 to thier 8th, and we'd look to sweep them out of town tomorrow.

Erbakan did not have a good start, allowing 4 hits and 5 runs with 4 walks and 5 strikeouts. Not sure why, but he really sucks early in the year. Rodolfo Esquilin "earned" the win, tossing 1.1 innings with 2 hits, a run, walk, and strikeout. Shiro Hiraki, Josh Cronin, and Juan Razo got holds before we scored 8 in the 8th. C.J. LaFever pitied them, and allowed 2 runs off 2 hits and 2 strikeouts in the 9th.

Jackson Miller was 3-for-5 with a run scored, double, and 2 RBI's. Takeshi Kino****a was 2-for-4 with 2 runs, 2 RBI's, a walk, hit by pitch, and homer. Ernie Frye was 2-for-4 with 3 runs, a RBI, walk, hit, **** by pitch, steal, and double. Luis Mora was 2-for-4 with 2 runs, a RBI, and walk. Rodolfo Solorzano had a pinch hit grand slam in the 8th. Mike Smedley had a pinch hit solo homer in the 8th as well. Mac Horvath was 1-for-3 with a run scored, double, and 2 walks. Jon Reid was 1-for-4 with 2 runs scored, an RBI, and walk.

Mariners RF Janisel Rivera hit his 400th career homer. A 22nd Round Pick of the Astros from 2016, he has a .286/.393/.567 career line with 401 homers (hit two in the game) and 960 RBI's. He's a 7 Time All-Star and the 2028 AL MVP.

May 6th, 2031: Luis Alcantra's diagnosis is still pending, but I'm going to place him on the 10-Day DL to recall Dan-zu Hoong from his rehab assignment.

More bad news, but it comes for RHP Joe Perez, who's career will end due to his torn labrum in his shoulder. In his career, he pitched 190 games (84 starts), going 18-34 with 9 saves, a 4.19 ERA, and 1.30 WHIP. He walked 183 and struck out 423 in 462.1 innings with the Astros, Cubs, and Blue Jays. He was in his second stint with the Astros, (2028 with Cubs, 2029 with Jays, 2022-2027, 2030-2031 with Astros), who took him in the 2nd Round in 2017.

Better news! The Draft Pool is released! Here's the top 10 rated by OSA!

1. LHP Eric Cowden (2/4)
2. SS Chris Tyburski (0.5/4)
3. RHP Jaheem Quintyne (0.5/5)
4. SS Jorge Trujilo (2/4.5): Selected by us last year with the 38th Overall Pick
5. RHP Chris Rhoades (0.5/4.5): Selected in the 3rd Round by the Phillies in 2028
6. CF Chris Campbell (3/4.5)
7. RHP Sergio Figueroa (1.5/5)
8. RHP R.J. Parmer (2.5/4)
9. RHP Mike Solarz (0.5/4)
10. RHP Jon Davey (2.5/4)

I'm not a big fan of the pool, but there is a stud reliever Eddie Erdman who my scout views as a 1/5. Billy Riebe is another 5* potential reliever. The only 4+ non reliever is Joel Rainge, who's a 4*. A pair of 3.5* starters Freddy Brooks and O.D. Lee are solid, but no hitter is higher then a 3*. I'm hoping more guys will appear with more scouting...

Here's what my unsigned Class of 2028 looks like now:

3rd Rounder: RHP Sergio Arenas (2/2.5)
8th Rounder: CF Sean Moody (1.5/1.5)
13th Rounder: CF Jake Maxey (2.5/2.5)
17th Rounder: CF Mike Klein (0.5/0.5)
21st Rounder: CF Eric Watts (1/0.5)
24th Rounder: C Ezra Morris (0.5/1.5)
30th Rounder: 3B Bobby Gollihue (0.5/0.5)
34th Rounder: 3B Murdock Laviolette (0.5/0.5)
35th Rounder: RHP Redmond Norling (0.5/0.5)
36th Rounder: LHP Chad Monk (0.5/0.5)
40th Rounder: LHP Jeremy Lapes (0.5/0.5)

Sergio Arenas and Jake Maxey could both be taken in the first three rounds. Perhaps Mooody, Morris, or Watts in the Top 10.

We looked to finish the sweep with Steve Paustian (1-2, 5.23 ERA, 1.58 WHIP) facing Santiago Elizondo (0-2, 5.50 ERA, 1.44 WHIP). It was a tight one, but we edged them 2-1 for the sweep.

Paustian tossed 7 innings with 5 hits, a run, 3 walks, and 6 strikeouts. Juan Razo got the hold, allowing just 1 hit as he struck out the side in the 8th. Chad Scoles earned his 7th save, a perfect 9th with a pair of strikeouts.

Juan Simental was 1-for-3 with a walk, steal, and solo homer. Paustian was 1-for-2. Pat Hughes was 1-for-3. Ernie Frye and Jarred Kelenic were both 1-for-4.

Fresh off his milestone homer, Janisel Rivera was 5-for-5 in a 8-5 win over the White Sox.

Off to San Francisco for three with the Giants. We'll face Dan Poinsette (2-0, 4.25 ERA), Tra'Mayne Blackburn (0-2, 8.53 ERA), and Juan Tafoya (3-1, 3.27 ERA).

May 7th, 2031: Luis Alcantra was diagnosed with a sore shoulder, but will miss 5-6 weeks. When I can/remember, I'll option him to AAA and place him on the DL there.

I claimed 2B Pat Wetter off waivers from the Red Sox, but I intend to sneek him through waivers and outright him to either AA or AAA. A former 10th Round selection from Boston, he hit just .154/.185/.231 in 26 at bats this season. He's a 0.5/3* with plus-plus eye, plus-plus speed, plus power, and a plus defender at second.

We opened the series in San Francisco with C.J. Jorgensen (1-3, 3.89 ERA, 1.47 WHIP) taking on Dan Poinsette (2-0, 4.25 ERA, 1.25 WHIP). Tied at 8 in the 9th, we scored two and went on to win 10-8.

Jorgensen had a horrible start, 2.2 innings with 8 hits, 6 runs, a walk, and strikeout. Ken Adeniran tossed 2.2 innings with 2 walks and a run scored. Dan-zu Hoong went 0.2 innings in his return to the majors, allowing 2 hits, a walk, and runs. Esquilin improved to 6-1, tossing a scorless 8th with a strikeout. Scoles allowed a hit in the 9th while earning the save.

Juan Simental was 4-for-5 with 4 runs, 3 RBI's, a double, and two hoemrs, including a clutch solo shot in the 9th. Takeshi Kino****a went 3-for-5 with 2 runs, 2 RBI's, and a home run. Mac Horvath was 2-for-5 with a run scored and RBI. Sergio Tello was 1-for-4 with a triple, run scored, walk, and RBI. Luis Mora was 1-for-5 with a double and RBI. Jackson Miller was 1-for-4 with 2 runs, a RBI, walk, and double.

Phillies superstar 1B Xavier Carter launched his 300th homer. The 30-year-old was taken by the Phillies in the 8th Round back in 256th, but even with his injry problems, he's been one of the best hitters in the past decade. He's won 3 MVP's and has been selected to 4 All-Star Games. He's a career .303/.408/.626 hitter in 873 games with the Phils.

We looked to extend our win streak to 5 with Juan Maya (5-0, 4.65 ERA, 1.39 WHIP) facing former #1 overall pick Tra'Mayne Blackburn (0-2, 8.53 ERA, 1.89 WHIP). Both teams scored just 1 run in the first 9 innings. Jackson Miller gave us a 2-1 lead with a RBI single and then Sergio Tello tripled home three to give us a 4-1 lead. They got one back in the 9th, but we won 4-2.

Maya pitched an amazing game, 8.1 innings with a hit, run, walk, and 7 strikeouts. Esquilin got the win, going 0.2 innigns with a strikeout. Juan Razo got the save, a hit, run, and 2 strikeouts.

Jackson Miller was 2-for-5 with a run scored and RBI. Rodolfo Solorzano was 2-for-5. Jon Reid was 2-for-4 with a run scored. Gregorio Alvarenga was 1-for-3. Tello's hit was his only at bat.

May 9th, 2031: We looked to finish off another sweep in a high class ace-off. Estevan Aguirre (4-0, 1.81 ERA, 0.74 WHIP) took on a better 1st Overall Pick in Juan Tafoya (3-1, 3.27 ERA, 1.19 WHIP). We got four in the first, and won the finale 7-2.

Aguirre was an brilliant as ever, 6.1 innings with 3 hits, 2 walks, and 6 strikeouts. Shiro Hiraki gave up both runs, allowing 4 hits despite 2 strikeouts in an inning of work.

Luis Mora was great, 4-for-5 with 2 runs, 3 RBI's, a double, and homer. Sergio Tello was 2-for-5 with a two run homer. Takeshi Kino****a was 2-for-5 with 2 doubles and 2 runs scored. Gregorio Alvarenga and Ernie Frye were both 2-for-5 with a run scored. Rodolfo Solorzano was 1-for-3 with a sac-fly.

The milestone homers keep on coming as Expos 3B Anderson Franco hit his 400th career homer. The 33-year-old is most known for his time in Washington, where he hit a league best 59 homers in 2022. He owns a .241/.318/.473 batting line across 7,011 plate appearences.

We got tomorrow off and will head home happy! Hope the momentum doesn't expire...