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The 2000 Beisbol Sudamerica Hall of Fame class was an impressive one with four inductees earning the honor in their ballot debuts. Three of the players were no-doubters with RF Emanuel Ajanel at 98.35, 2B Kip Flores at 97.9% and SP Ruben Garcia at 96.9%. DH Lincoln Ruvalcaba wasn’t as much of a lock, but still crossed the 66% requirement with 71.9%. Two other debuting players were above 50% with 1B Bastian Martin at 56.2% and RF Yago Prata at 55.2%. The top performing returner to the ballot was C Sancho Sanchez at 48.6% in his second try.



Dropped after ten ballots was pitcher Clark Castro, who had a 13-year career with five teams. He posted a 197-112 record, 3.04 ERA, 2764.2 innings, 2562 strikeouts, 699 walks, a 118 ERA+, and 47.5 WAR. A solid career, but fairly firmly in the Hall of Good. He still managed to hover in the low 40% for much of his time on the ballot before dropping to a low of 12.5% in his last try.



Emanuel “Pop” Ajanel – Right Field/First Base – Barquisimeto Black Cats – 98.3% First Ballot

Emanuel Ajanel was a 6’6’’, 205 pound left-handed hitter from Jujuy, Argentina; a city of around 235,000 people in the country’s northwest. Ajanel was a well-rounded batter with solid contract, power, and eye. His 162 game average saw around 40 home runs and around 30 doubles/triples per season. Ajanel’s speed and baserunning were below average, but not atrocious. Most of his career defensively was at right field, although he moved to first base in his final few seasons. Ajanel graded out as above average defensively. He was a quiet and humble player, which endeared him to many among his various stops.

Ajanel was a bit of a late bloomer as he didn’t come into Beisbol Sudamerica through the draft or as a teenage amateur. He picked up the game in his early 20s and started to shine in Argentina’s independent scene. He also had a late growth spurt, shooting up to 6’6’’. Ajanel and his big frame managed to catch the attention of someone from Barquisimeto, who offered him the chance to play in the big time. Ajanel agreed and moved up to Venezuela at age 24 to begin his official pro career. He was a full-time starter for the Black Cats and a very effective one, hitting 42 home runs with 120 RBI in his rookie season. That earned Ajanel the 1978 Rookie of the Year.

Ajanel posted nine straight seasons worth 4.5 WAR or better with Barquisimeto. He wasn’t a league leader, but he picked up a Silver Slugger in 1980, 1981, and 1986. Ajanel played a big role in the Black Cats finding success with three division titles from 1979-82. Barquisimeto won the Bolivar League pennant in 1980 and 1982; also winning Copa Sudamerica in 1982. Ajanel was BLCS MVP both years they took the pennant, posting 30 hits, 13 runs, 9 home runs, and 19 RBI over 22 playoff starts.

After the 1981 season, Ajanel signed a seven-year, $3,238,000 contract extension with Barquisimeto. Ajanel was now a star in Venezuelan baseball, but he didn’t forget his Argentine roots. From 1979-94, he played 146 games for Argentina in the World Baseball Championship, posting 115 hits, 77 runs, 25 doubles, 40 home runs, 83 RBI, a .229/.348/.522 slash, 143 wRC+, and 5.6 WAR.

After their championship in 1982, Barquisimeto spent the next few seasons in the middle tier. By 1987, the Black Cats collapsed and began a full rebuild, ultimately winning only 57 games that year. Ajanel was moved at the deadline to Caracas for three prospects and a draft pick. For his Barquisimeto run, Ajanel had 1527 hits, 832 runs, 230 doubles, 335 home runs, 911 RBI, a .300/.370/.556 slash, 151 wRC+, and 55.9 WAR. He’d be viewed fondly by Black Cats fans for years to come and his #20 uniform would eventually get retired.

Caracas hoped Ajanel could help with their pennant aspirations. They were right, as the Colts took the Bolivar League title. Caracas lost to Concepcion in Copa Sudamerica, but Ajanel held up his end as he was finals MVP even in defeat and won his third BLCS MVP. In 16 playoff games, Ajanel had 22 hits, 12 runs, 8 home runs, and 16 RBI.

Ajanel had one more solid season with Caracas, but the Colts didn’t make it back to the playoffs. He became a free agent for the first time at age 35. This enabled him to return home to Argentina, inking a three-year, $3,480,000 deal with Rosario. Ajanel moved to first base and debuted with the best season of his career. He led the Southern Cone League in runs, home runs, RBI, total bases, slugging, OPS, and wRC+; his first time leading in any of those stats. His career bests of 54 homers, 108 runs, 129 RBI, 1.024 OPS, and 9.1 WAR earned Ajanel MVP honors and his fourth Silver Slugger.

Statistically, Ajanel’s time with the Robins was his strongest seasons. They gave him a three-year, $3,900,000 extension after the 1990 season. He led again in runs and homers in 1992, taking third in MVP voting that season. Rosario won their division in 1991, but lost in the first round of the playoffs.

In 1992, the Robins were the wild card, but went on a tear and claimed their first-ever Copa Sudamerica. Ajanel again excelled in the postseason, getting 16 hits, 17 runs, 6 home runs, and 12 RBI over 14 starts. For his playoff career, Ajanel had 56 games, 74 hits, 44 runs, 24 home runs, 50 RBI, a .338/.393/.703 slash, 210 wRC+, and 3.9 WAR. Few players were more effective in their playoff at-bats than Ajanel.

Ajanel missed nearly all of the 1993 season, suffering a broken bone his elbow. This ended his Rosario run and his career was never the same. In only four seasons and change with the Robins, Ajanel had an impressive 32.5 WAR and 184 wRC+ with 697 hits, 402 runs, 104 doubles, 192 home runs, 432 RBI, and a .295/.368/.599 slash.

He still wanted to play and his last full season still had elite numbers. Salvador signed him on a one-year, $1,920,000 deal. Ajanel started most of the season for the Storm, but put up very middling numbers. He would cross the 2500 hit and 1500 career RBI thresholds with Salvador. After the 1994 campaign, Ajanel retired from the game at age 41.

Ajanel’s career stats saw 2523 hits, 1388 runs, 376 doubles, 592 home runs, 1516 RBI, 940 walks, a .295/.365/.560 slash, 158 wRC+, and 98.1 WAR. At induction, he was tenth all-time in home runs. As of 2037, he’s still 42^nd best in WAR among position players. Ajanel’s great playoff numbers also helped make him a Hall of Fame lock, leading off the 2000 ballot at 98.3%.



Kip “T-Bone” Flores – Second Base - Buenos Aires Atlantics – 97.9% First Ballot

Kip Flores was a 5’11’’, 185 pound right-handed second baseman from Dr. Pedro P. Pena, Paraguay; a village of around 6,000 in the country’s northwest. Nicknamed “T Bone” for his love of steaks, Flores was an outstanding contact hitter who regularly put the ball in play. He rarely walked and had a decent strikeout rate. Flores had plenty of quality hits, averaging around 25-30 home runs and around 40 doubles/triples per season. He was a very smart baserunner and had solid speed in his younger years.

Flores was a career second baseman and viewed as a great defender, winning six Gold Gloves in his career. He was very popular with fans, but was a bit polarizing in the clubhouse. Flores was viewed as smart and adaptable, but was also viewed as a loner who didn’t care about the team. Regardless of his flaws, he is viewed pretty universally as a top five second baseman in Beisbol Sudamerica history.

It was a scout for Buenos Aires who managed to notice Flores despite his humble begins in rural Paraguay. He signed a teenager amateur contract in 1975 at age 16. Flores officially debuted in 1979 at age 20, but he would see very limited action early in his career. From 1979-82, he played 93 games with 69 starts. The Atlantics were also in the midst of a dominant run, making it hard to crack their lineup. Buenos Aires would win the Southern Cone League title in 1980 and 1982. They took Copa Sudamerica in 1980 as well. Flores struggled in the 1980 playoffs, but was 9-18 in 1982.

Although he didn’t earn the starting gig with Buenos Aires until 1983, Flores returned to his native Paraguay starting in 1981 for the World Baseball Championship. From 1981-98, he had 129 games and 123 starts in the WBC, posting 127 hits, 74 runs, 19 doubles, 37 home runs, 84 RBI, a .269/.318/.553 slash, 5.2 WAR, and 150 wRC+.

After their 1982 pennant, the Atlantics would become a very mid-tier team for the rest of the 1980s. But Flores would start to shine, winning six consecutive Silver Sluggers from 1983-88 and four straight Gold Gloves from 1985-88. With Buenos Aires, Flores had seven straight 7+ WAR seasons with two above 10+. He led in batting average, hits, and total bases in both 1984 and 1987. Flores also had the best OPS in 1984 and was the WARlord that season. Flores won MVP twice with Buenos Aires, taking the award in 1984 and 1987. He was second in 1986 voting as well.

Flores was a popular player with the fans and they would retire his #3 uniform in Buenos Aires eventually. But the team wasn’t contending at this point and Flores was looking to cash in soon in free agency. The Atlantics didn’t expect to be able to keep him beyond 1988, so he was traded that winter to Santiago for two prospects. For his run with the Atlantics, Flores had 1289 hits, 576 runs, 198 doubles, 176 home runs, 577 RBI, a .346/.372/.574 slash, 175 wRC+, and 56.9 WAR.

His success carried over smoothly to the Saints, who quickly gave him a six-year, $9,680,000 contract. Flores won MVP twice more, taking the honor in 1992 and 1993. He was also third in 1990 and 1994 voting. He won four additional Silver Sluggers and two Gold Gloves, giving him six GGs and ten Sluggers for his career. Flores won a third batting title in 1992 and with Santiago twice was the WARlord and led in runs in 1993.

Santiago was back to contending with Flores, although they didn’t break through in his run. They had four division titles from 1990-94, but suffered first round exits thrice and a LCS loss in 1992 to Sao Paulo. Flores held up his end in 22 playoff starts with 36 hits, 12 runs, 7 doubles, 3 home runs, 10 RBI, a .383/.408/.553 slash, and 1.4 WAR. In total with the Saints, Flores had 1215 hits, 574 runs, 157 doubles, 164 home runs, 540 RBI, a .341/.372/.548 slash, 171 wRC+, and 53.3 WAR.

Flores remained consistently great in his Santiago run, making him a prized free agent still at age 36 when his contract came up. He left for the United States, inking a three-year, $9,840,000 deal with the Denver Dragons. He looked great in his debut season with 5.6 WAR in only 91 starts. However, the second half of the season was cursed by injuries. First, he had a bone bruise in his knee that cost him two months. Shortly after returning, a severe concussion kept him out the next eight months.

Flores would earn a World Series ring with Denver in 1995, but he was at home dealing with post-concussion issues. Flores was never the same after that sadly. He saw limited play in 1996 and 1997, dealing both with injuries and poor production when healthy. Flores played only 174 games in three seasons with Denver. His deal expired and he wanted to still play, but no one signed him in 1998. Flores played in that winter’s WBC, but ultimately had to retire at age 40.

For his Beisbol Sudamerica career, Flores had 2504 hits, 1148 runs, 355 doubles, 106 triples, 340 home runs, 1117 RBI, 610 stolen bases, .344/.372/.561 slash, 173 wRC+, and 110.2 WAR. At induction, he had the best batting average of any Hall of Famer in BSA and was 12^th in WAR by a position player. He’s still 22^nd in WAR as of 2037 and has the third most amongst second basemen. Flores is one of Paraguay’s finest-ever baseball products and was an easy first ballot pick for the 2000 ballot at 97.9%.