(And we're back. Sorry for the long silence as I was on vacation. I just didn't get as much opportunity to play the game as I hoped and even less opportunity to keep up around here.)
The BNN recently featured an article about 41-year old relief pitcher John Velasco breaking camp with the Washington Night Train, the second stint with that club for the much-traveled veteran righthander. And while Velasco is no spring chicken, he is not the oldest player expected to occupy an active roster position when the regular season starts. That distinction belongs to another Washington reliever, Vinny Aguilar, who turned 42 this past January.
Another 42-year old is still hoping to find a place on a WPK roster this season. Billy Turner, a 2-time All-Star third baseman is currently a free agent but isn't ready to hang up the spikes just yet. And while the hard-working veteran still appears to have some good bat skills, with above average power and an excellent eye, most teams are concerned that his body is telling him it is time to retire. (His injury proneness is described by the word Wrecked.)
On the other end of the spectrum is 20-year old catcher Elvis Iniguez. Iniguez older brother is the 30-year old left fielder for the Baltimore Lords, Jose Iniguez. (Elvis is a created player through my relative creation process and I may have given him some ratings that are a bit too inflated. Still working on perfecting this process.
) Iniguez played in 53 games for the Boston Berserkers in 1972 at the age of 19. He is one of only 4 20-year olds currently occupying spots in big league spring training camps, including the Brewers pitching prospect John Weaver, but he is the only one on a WPK 40-man roster and likely to start the season on a big league active roster.