OOTP Developments Forums - View Single Post

FuzzyRussianHat · 02-17-2025, 10:13 AM

Bruno “Riot” Gallant – Starting Pitcher – Virginia Beach Vikings – 89.2% First Ballot

Bruno Gallant was a 5’10’’, 180 pound right-handed pitcher from Washington, DC. Nicknamed “Riot,” Gallant was a well-rounded ace with good to great stuff, movement, and control. All four of his pitches were equally potent with a 99-101 mph fastball, slider, curveball, and splitter. Gallant’s stamina was impressive and he had fantastic durability, starting 32+ games in all 16 of his seasons.

The one real weak spot in Gallant’s game was a below average pickoff move and unimpressive defense, but he was otherwise considered good to great across the board. Gallant was also incredibly scrappy, known for his sparkplug work ethic, adaptability, and leadership. He was appreciated by teammates and fans alike throughout his run.

Gallant went to the University of Wisconsin and over three years had a 19-13 record, 2.89 ERA, 290 innings, 349 strikeouts, 59 walks, 113 ERA+, 62 FIP-, and 9.9 WAR. Scouts were impressed by his potential and Gallant went second overall to Virginia Beach in the 2004 MLB Draft. He was a full-time starter immediately and held his own in his rookie campaign. Gallant posted 7+ WAR four times with the Vikings over the following six years.

In 2011, Gallant was third in Pitcher of the Year voting, leading the National Association in WAR (9.9) and innings (276). This year also saw Gallant’s career bests in wins (20-11), ERA (2.35), and strikeouts (293). 2011 also saw his lone no-hitter in a nine strikeout game against Pittsburgh on July 23. He led with 9.4 WAR in 2010 and 286 strikeouts in 2009.

It was hard for Gallant to get much publicity though as Virginia Beach stunk during his tenure generally. The Vikings finally got back above .500 in 2010 and just missed the playoffs in 2011, dropping a tiebreaker game to Baltimore for the last wild card. VB hoped they were on the right track with Gallant as the ace, but they couldn’t come to terms with him beyond that. He left for free agency for 2012 at age 28.

Gallant posted a 110-90 record, 2.87 ERA, 1827.1 innings, 1773 strikeouts, 331 walks, 83 complete games, 24 shutouts, 121 ERA+, and 47.7 WAR for the Vikings. He was still liked by fans, but the organization didn’t spend a ton of time highlighting Gallant as a past icon because of his abrupt departure. As of 2037, he is the only inductee in Virginia Beach colors.

He would be much more famous for his second stop in Philadelphia with similar numbers between the two. Gallant did have slightly more innings and WAR with the Vikings in the regular season, thus his induction in blue and gold. His role specifically in the playoffs though with the Phillies played a large part in cementing his status as a Hall of Famer despite never winning Pitcher of the Year. His deal with Philadelphia was worth $152,600,000 over seven years.

The Phillies had been a playoff regular to start the 21^st Century with National Association pennants in 2001, 2005, and 2010. They hadn’t won in the World Series in that stretch and had just missed the playoffs in 2011. Philadelphia was the last wild card in 2012, but went on a big playoff run en route to the World Series title upset of Phoenix. In four playoff starts, Gallant had a 1.97 ERA over 32 innings, 31 strikeouts, and 1.1 WAR, earning NACS MVP. He made his presence felt despite actually seeing his regular season production drop significantly from his last two years with WB.

In the Baseball Grand Championship, Philly was in a five-way tie for the top spot at 12-7, officially placing fourth after the tiebreakers were sorted. Gallant had a 3.58 ERA and 47 strikeouts in 32.2 BGC innings. The Phillies again won the NACS as a wild card, but this time lost the World Series to Denver. Over six starts and 45.1 innings, Gallant had a 2.58 ERA and 45 strikeouts. He posted a 3.76 ERA over 40.2 BGC innings with 57 Ks as Philadelphia finished 9-10.

The Phillies made the playoffs four more times with Gallant, but never got beyond the second round. For his playoff career there, he had a 2.21 ERA over 122 innings, 6-4 record, 121 strikeouts, 13 walks, 3 shutouts, 154 ERA+, and 3.4 WAR. Gallant’s best regular season production came in 2018 at age 34 with league and career bests in WHIP (0.83), K/BB (11.3) and quality starts (30). He matched his best ERA at 2.35 and posted 7.8 WAR, taking second in Pitcher of the Year voting. Gallant was also above 7 WAR back in 2013.

Gallant also had his World Baseball Championship appearances come primarily during the Phillies run. From 2011-18, he posted a 13-3 record, 2.93 ERA, 150.2 innings, 211 strikeouts, and 3.2 WAR. He won world titles with the United States team in 2011, 2014, and 2017. Gallant’s general reputation as a “big game pitcher” became well deserved between the WBC and his time in Philadelphia.

For the Phillies, Gallant finished with a 108-82 record, 2.86 ERA, 1777.1 innings, 1748 strikeouts, 220 walks, 120 ERA+, and 39.6 WAR. His deal expired following his best season for them, upping his value as a 35-year old free agent for 2019. Defending World Series champ Kansas City wanted to add another big game pitcher to the rotation, signing Gallant for three years and $60,600,000.

Gallant’s velocity started to dip and he was below 200 strikeouts for the first time since his rookie year, but he still had enough control and stuff for a solid 2019. The Cougars repeated as National Association champ at 107-55, but lost the World Series to Houston in an upset. Gallant was surprisingly poor in the postseason run with a 5.00 ERA in 27 innings. He fared much better in the Baseball Grand Championship with a 2.31 ERA over 35 innings. KC went 12-7 for a third place finish.

In 2020, Gallant posted career worsts in ERA (4.39) and strikeouts (141) over 233.2 innings. He had a 4.15 ERA in two playoff starts as Kansas City lost in the NACS to Cincinnati. Gallant wasn’t interested in overstaying his welcome and retired that winter at age 37. In two years for KC, he had a 22-27 record, 3.63 ERA, 478.1 innings, 330 strikeouts, 96 ERA+, and 8.3 WAR. For his playoff career total, Gallant had a 2.80 ERA over 157.2 innings, 8-6 record, 148 strikeouts, 123 ERA+, and 3.6 WAR. As of 2037, Gallant ranks 23^rd in postseason pitching WAR in MLB.

The final tallies had a 240-199 record, 2.96 ERA, 4083 innings, 3851 strikeouts, 620 walks, 386/532 quality starts, 172 complete games, 45 shutouts, 117 ERA+, 80 FIP-, and 95.6 WAR. As of 2037, Gallant ranks 69^th in wins, 81^st in innings, 45^th in shutouts, 15^th in strikeouts, and 37^th in pitching WAR. His 1.02 career WHIP ranks 22^nd among all pitchers with 1000+ innings. Gallant’s BB/9 of 1.37 ranks 42^nd.

Gallant didn’t have the big flashy stats or awards, but he was remarkably consistent and high quality for his run. Almost quietly, he put together stats for a rock solid resume. Gallant’s playoff successes with Philadelphia certainly put him over the top for all but the stuffiest of voters. At 89.2%, Gallant easily earned his first ballot selection as part of an impressive three-player Hall of Fame class for Major League Baseball in 2026.

Mike Harris – Starting Pitcher – Oklahoma City Outlaws – 81.0% First Ballot

Mike Harris was a 6’1’’, 195 pound right-handed pitcher from Waco, Texas; a city of around 295,000 located halfway between Dallas and Austin. Harris had excellent stuff along with above average-to-good movement and stuff. His 99-101 mph fastball was a strong one, but his fantastic slider and dangerous curveball also led to a lot of whiffs. Harris also had a changeup as a fourth option.

Harris’ durability and stamina were both terrific with 200+ innings in all 16 of his seasons. He was a respectable defensive pitcher, but his pickoff move was subpar. Harris was a high-character player known for his leadership, loyalty, and work ethic. He wasn’t the biggest superstar of his era, but few players were more universally liked amongst their peers.

From 2002-04, Harris pitched for the University of Louisville with a 3.20 ERA over 273 innings, 16-19 record, 271 strikeouts, 101 ERA+, 76 FIP-, and 6.9 WAR. Most scouts thought his upside was well above his production with the Cardinals. Oklahoma City was especially enamored and picked Harris with the #1 overall pick in the 2004 MLB Draft. Harris was a full-time starter right away and led the American Association with seven shutouts as a rookie. After the 2008 campaign, OKC signed him to a six-year, $55,500,000 extension.

It wasn’t until his fifth season that Harris got more league-wide attention, winning 2009 Pitcher of the Year honors. He was the leader in complete games (25) and shutouts (7) and posted his career bests in ERA (2.50), and WAR (6.8). This effort helped end a 25-year playoff drought for Oklahoma City and earned a South Central Division title, although they lost in the first round. Harris’ one playoff start was quality with one run allowed in 7.1 innings. The Outlaws hovered around .500 for the remainder of his run there.

Some were disappointed that as the #1 pick, Harris didn’t completely reverse the fortunes of a generally hapless franchise. He was quite solid in his nine years for OKC, topping 5+ WAR five times. Harris also was third in 2012’s Pitcher of the Year voting. Most fans respected his efforts and his #7 uniform would later be retired. For the Outlaws, Harris finished with a 148-102 record, 3.06 ERA, 2430 innings, 2088 strikeouts, 626 walks, 124 ERA+, 168 complete games, 33 shutouts, and 45.1 WAR.

Harris was entering the last year of his deal for 2014 and Oklahoma City wasn’t confident that the 29-year old righty would re-sign. In the offseason, they traded him to Nashville straight up for 1B Veto Alva. The Knights weren’t looking for a rental and signed Harris to a six-year, $137,200,000 extension in May. He was never an awards finalist for Nashville, but his production was generally steady with four seasons at 4.5+ WAR.

Nashville saw some team success to end the 2010s with division titles in 2016, 2018, and 2020. The Knights lost in the AACS for 2016 and 2019 with a first round exit in 2018. In the playoffs, Harris had a 3.51 ERA over 59 innings with a 3-5 record, 54 strikeouts, 110 ERA+, and 0.5 WAR.

Harris’ notably fell off in 2020, the last year of his Nashville deal. He had career worsts in ERA (4.98), strikeouts (148), and WAR (0.5). Figuring his future prospects were limited, he retired that winter at age 36. For the Knights, Harris posted a 103-96 record, 3.91 ERA, 1765 innings, 1427 strikeouts, 98 ERA+, and 24.2 WAR. In that last year, he became the 43^rd MLB pitcher to reach 250 career wins and the 25^th to 3500 strikeouts.

The final stats saw a 251-198 record, 3.42 ERA, 4195 innings, 3515 strikeouts, 1102 walks, 309/518 quality starts, 263 complete games, 41 shutouts, 112 ERA+, 94 FIP-, and 69.3 WAR. As of 2037, Harris ranks 47^th in wins, 62^nd in innings, 19^th in complete games, 67^th in shutouts, and 30^th in strikeouts. He does miss the top 100 for pitching WAR.

For many voters, counting stats like 250+ wins, 4000+ innings, and 3500+ strikeouts got you across the line. Having a Pitcher of the Year win as well clinched it for many voters who felt Harris’s dominance was lacking compared to other Hall of Famers. Advanced stats do suggest he might be on the lower end of the inductees, but his steady production and high character easily won the day. At 81.0%, Harris was a first ballot pick to cap off MLB’s three-player class for 2026.

02-17-2025, 10:13 AM	#2077
FuzzyRussianHat Hall Of Famer Join Date: Dec 2020 Posts: 2,887	2026 MLB Hall of Fame (Part 2) Bruno “Riot” Gallant – Starting Pitcher – Virginia Beach Vikings – 89.2% First Ballot Bruno Gallant was a 5’10’’, 180 pound right-handed pitcher from Washington, DC. Nicknamed “Riot,” Gallant was a well-rounded ace with good to great stuff, movement, and control. All four of his pitches were equally potent with a 99-101 mph fastball, slider, curveball, and splitter. Gallant’s stamina was impressive and he had fantastic durability, starting 32+ games in all 16 of his seasons. The one real weak spot in Gallant’s game was a below average pickoff move and unimpressive defense, but he was otherwise considered good to great across the board. Gallant was also incredibly scrappy, known for his sparkplug work ethic, adaptability, and leadership. He was appreciated by teammates and fans alike throughout his run. Gallant went to the University of Wisconsin and over three years had a 19-13 record, 2.89 ERA, 290 innings, 349 strikeouts, 59 walks, 113 ERA+, 62 FIP-, and 9.9 WAR. Scouts were impressed by his potential and Gallant went second overall to Virginia Beach in the 2004 MLB Draft. He was a full-time starter immediately and held his own in his rookie campaign. Gallant posted 7+ WAR four times with the Vikings over the following six years. In 2011, Gallant was third in Pitcher of the Year voting, leading the National Association in WAR (9.9) and innings (276). This year also saw Gallant’s career bests in wins (20-11), ERA (2.35), and strikeouts (293). 2011 also saw his lone no-hitter in a nine strikeout game against Pittsburgh on July 23. He led with 9.4 WAR in 2010 and 286 strikeouts in 2009. It was hard for Gallant to get much publicity though as Virginia Beach stunk during his tenure generally. The Vikings finally got back above .500 in 2010 and just missed the playoffs in 2011, dropping a tiebreaker game to Baltimore for the last wild card. VB hoped they were on the right track with Gallant as the ace, but they couldn’t come to terms with him beyond that. He left for free agency for 2012 at age 28. Gallant posted a 110-90 record, 2.87 ERA, 1827.1 innings, 1773 strikeouts, 331 walks, 83 complete games, 24 shutouts, 121 ERA+, and 47.7 WAR for the Vikings. He was still liked by fans, but the organization didn’t spend a ton of time highlighting Gallant as a past icon because of his abrupt departure. As of 2037, he is the only inductee in Virginia Beach colors. He would be much more famous for his second stop in Philadelphia with similar numbers between the two. Gallant did have slightly more innings and WAR with the Vikings in the regular season, thus his induction in blue and gold. His role specifically in the playoffs though with the Phillies played a large part in cementing his status as a Hall of Famer despite never winning Pitcher of the Year. His deal with Philadelphia was worth $152,600,000 over seven years. The Phillies had been a playoff regular to start the 21^st Century with National Association pennants in 2001, 2005, and 2010. They hadn’t won in the World Series in that stretch and had just missed the playoffs in 2011. Philadelphia was the last wild card in 2012, but went on a big playoff run en route to the World Series title upset of Phoenix. In four playoff starts, Gallant had a 1.97 ERA over 32 innings, 31 strikeouts, and 1.1 WAR, earning NACS MVP. He made his presence felt despite actually seeing his regular season production drop significantly from his last two years with WB. In the Baseball Grand Championship, Philly was in a five-way tie for the top spot at 12-7, officially placing fourth after the tiebreakers were sorted. Gallant had a 3.58 ERA and 47 strikeouts in 32.2 BGC innings. The Phillies again won the NACS as a wild card, but this time lost the World Series to Denver. Over six starts and 45.1 innings, Gallant had a 2.58 ERA and 45 strikeouts. He posted a 3.76 ERA over 40.2 BGC innings with 57 Ks as Philadelphia finished 9-10. The Phillies made the playoffs four more times with Gallant, but never got beyond the second round. For his playoff career there, he had a 2.21 ERA over 122 innings, 6-4 record, 121 strikeouts, 13 walks, 3 shutouts, 154 ERA+, and 3.4 WAR. Gallant’s best regular season production came in 2018 at age 34 with league and career bests in WHIP (0.83), K/BB (11.3) and quality starts (30). He matched his best ERA at 2.35 and posted 7.8 WAR, taking second in Pitcher of the Year voting. Gallant was also above 7 WAR back in 2013. Gallant also had his World Baseball Championship appearances come primarily during the Phillies run. From 2011-18, he posted a 13-3 record, 2.93 ERA, 150.2 innings, 211 strikeouts, and 3.2 WAR. He won world titles with the United States team in 2011, 2014, and 2017. Gallant’s general reputation as a “big game pitcher” became well deserved between the WBC and his time in Philadelphia. For the Phillies, Gallant finished with a 108-82 record, 2.86 ERA, 1777.1 innings, 1748 strikeouts, 220 walks, 120 ERA+, and 39.6 WAR. His deal expired following his best season for them, upping his value as a 35-year old free agent for 2019. Defending World Series champ Kansas City wanted to add another big game pitcher to the rotation, signing Gallant for three years and $60,600,000. Gallant’s velocity started to dip and he was below 200 strikeouts for the first time since his rookie year, but he still had enough control and stuff for a solid 2019. The Cougars repeated as National Association champ at 107-55, but lost the World Series to Houston in an upset. Gallant was surprisingly poor in the postseason run with a 5.00 ERA in 27 innings. He fared much better in the Baseball Grand Championship with a 2.31 ERA over 35 innings. KC went 12-7 for a third place finish. In 2020, Gallant posted career worsts in ERA (4.39) and strikeouts (141) over 233.2 innings. He had a 4.15 ERA in two playoff starts as Kansas City lost in the NACS to Cincinnati. Gallant wasn’t interested in overstaying his welcome and retired that winter at age 37. In two years for KC, he had a 22-27 record, 3.63 ERA, 478.1 innings, 330 strikeouts, 96 ERA+, and 8.3 WAR. For his playoff career total, Gallant had a 2.80 ERA over 157.2 innings, 8-6 record, 148 strikeouts, 123 ERA+, and 3.6 WAR. As of 2037, Gallant ranks 23^rd in postseason pitching WAR in MLB. The final tallies had a 240-199 record, 2.96 ERA, 4083 innings, 3851 strikeouts, 620 walks, 386/532 quality starts, 172 complete games, 45 shutouts, 117 ERA+, 80 FIP-, and 95.6 WAR. As of 2037, Gallant ranks 69^th in wins, 81^st in innings, 45^th in shutouts, 15^th in strikeouts, and 37^th in pitching WAR. His 1.02 career WHIP ranks 22^nd among all pitchers with 1000+ innings. Gallant’s BB/9 of 1.37 ranks 42^nd. Gallant didn’t have the big flashy stats or awards, but he was remarkably consistent and high quality for his run. Almost quietly, he put together stats for a rock solid resume. Gallant’s playoff successes with Philadelphia certainly put him over the top for all but the stuffiest of voters. At 89.2%, Gallant easily earned his first ballot selection as part of an impressive three-player Hall of Fame class for Major League Baseball in 2026. Mike Harris – Starting Pitcher – Oklahoma City Outlaws – 81.0% First Ballot Mike Harris was a 6’1’’, 195 pound right-handed pitcher from Waco, Texas; a city of around 295,000 located halfway between Dallas and Austin. Harris had excellent stuff along with above average-to-good movement and stuff. His 99-101 mph fastball was a strong one, but his fantastic slider and dangerous curveball also led to a lot of whiffs. Harris also had a changeup as a fourth option. Harris’ durability and stamina were both terrific with 200+ innings in all 16 of his seasons. He was a respectable defensive pitcher, but his pickoff move was subpar. Harris was a high-character player known for his leadership, loyalty, and work ethic. He wasn’t the biggest superstar of his era, but few players were more universally liked amongst their peers. From 2002-04, Harris pitched for the University of Louisville with a 3.20 ERA over 273 innings, 16-19 record, 271 strikeouts, 101 ERA+, 76 FIP-, and 6.9 WAR. Most scouts thought his upside was well above his production with the Cardinals. Oklahoma City was especially enamored and picked Harris with the #1 overall pick in the 2004 MLB Draft. Harris was a full-time starter right away and led the American Association with seven shutouts as a rookie. After the 2008 campaign, OKC signed him to a six-year, $55,500,000 extension. It wasn’t until his fifth season that Harris got more league-wide attention, winning 2009 Pitcher of the Year honors. He was the leader in complete games (25) and shutouts (7) and posted his career bests in ERA (2.50), and WAR (6.8). This effort helped end a 25-year playoff drought for Oklahoma City and earned a South Central Division title, although they lost in the first round. Harris’ one playoff start was quality with one run allowed in 7.1 innings. The Outlaws hovered around .500 for the remainder of his run there. Some were disappointed that as the #1 pick, Harris didn’t completely reverse the fortunes of a generally hapless franchise. He was quite solid in his nine years for OKC, topping 5+ WAR five times. Harris also was third in 2012’s Pitcher of the Year voting. Most fans respected his efforts and his #7 uniform would later be retired. For the Outlaws, Harris finished with a 148-102 record, 3.06 ERA, 2430 innings, 2088 strikeouts, 626 walks, 124 ERA+, 168 complete games, 33 shutouts, and 45.1 WAR. Harris was entering the last year of his deal for 2014 and Oklahoma City wasn’t confident that the 29-year old righty would re-sign. In the offseason, they traded him to Nashville straight up for 1B Veto Alva. The Knights weren’t looking for a rental and signed Harris to a six-year, $137,200,000 extension in May. He was never an awards finalist for Nashville, but his production was generally steady with four seasons at 4.5+ WAR. Nashville saw some team success to end the 2010s with division titles in 2016, 2018, and 2020. The Knights lost in the AACS for 2016 and 2019 with a first round exit in 2018. In the playoffs, Harris had a 3.51 ERA over 59 innings with a 3-5 record, 54 strikeouts, 110 ERA+, and 0.5 WAR. Harris’ notably fell off in 2020, the last year of his Nashville deal. He had career worsts in ERA (4.98), strikeouts (148), and WAR (0.5). Figuring his future prospects were limited, he retired that winter at age 36. For the Knights, Harris posted a 103-96 record, 3.91 ERA, 1765 innings, 1427 strikeouts, 98 ERA+, and 24.2 WAR. In that last year, he became the 43^rd MLB pitcher to reach 250 career wins and the 25^th to 3500 strikeouts. The final stats saw a 251-198 record, 3.42 ERA, 4195 innings, 3515 strikeouts, 1102 walks, 309/518 quality starts, 263 complete games, 41 shutouts, 112 ERA+, 94 FIP-, and 69.3 WAR. As of 2037, Harris ranks 47^th in wins, 62^nd in innings, 19^th in complete games, 67^th in shutouts, and 30^th in strikeouts. He does miss the top 100 for pitching WAR. For many voters, counting stats like 250+ wins, 4000+ innings, and 3500+ strikeouts got you across the line. Having a Pitcher of the Year win as well clinched it for many voters who felt Harris’s dominance was lacking compared to other Hall of Famers. Advanced stats do suggest he might be on the lower end of the inductees, but his steady production and high character easily won the day. At 81.0%, Harris was a first ballot pick to cap off MLB’s three-player class for 2026. __________________ Baseball: The World's Game fictional world reports Continental Baseball Federation world reports (8-tier promotion/relegation sim and college feeder)