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FuzzyRussianHat · 05-14-2025, 06:44 AM

Pitcher Charan Asoka was South Asia Baseball’s only Hall of Fame addition in 2030, debuting on the ballot at 81.8%. SP Siddhant Shakya was the best returner with 61.8% on his third ballot, falling narrowly short of the 66% threshold. Also above 50% was CF Chris Saandeep at 57.4% on his fifth ballot and CL Khon Aye Ko with 51.0% for his seventh try. No players were removed following ten failed ballots in 2030.

Charan Asoka – Starting Pitcher – Lucknow Larks – 81.8% First Ballot

Charan Asoka was a 6’4’’, 200 pound right-handed starting pitcher from Jatni, India; a town of around 64,000 people in the southeastern Odisha state. Asoka had impressive stuff and control along with above average movement. His arsenal included a 96-98 mph fastball along with a slider and changeup. Each option was equally potent, although his changeup probably got the most whiffs.

By SAB ace starts, Asoka’s stamina was subpar with his was split between starting and relief. He had excellent durability though, so he wouldn’t miss dates even if you didn’t get as many complete games. Asoka had good glove work on the mound, but he was terrible at holding runners. He wasn’t going to take up the leadership mantle, but Asoka was a reliable teammate.

Asoka was taken fourth overall by Lucknow in the 2011 SAB Draft. The Larks were a 2004 expansion team and had been largely mediocre since their introduction. For most of Asoka’s tenure, they hovered around the middle of the standings. Asoka was lousy in his rookie year with a 4.94 ERA over 89.1 innings. He saw a greater role in 2013 and looked respectable, continuing to improve as his tenure progressed. In April 2016, the Larks signed Asoka to a four-year, $19,560,000 extension.

In 2017, Asoka was second in Pitcher of the Year voting with career best in ERA (1.84) and WAR (8.5) along with his first 300 strikeout season. As of 2037, his is one of only 69 qualifying seasons in SAB with a sub-two ERA. The next two years, Asoka was the Indian League’s leader with 2.10 in 2018 and 2.44 in 2019. He also had the best WHIP both years, earning repeat Pitcher of the Year honors.

In 2019, Lucknow earned their first-ever playoff berth at 89-73 atop the Central Division. They made it to the ILCS, but were denied by Pune. In 16 playoff innings, Asoka had a 2.25 ERA with 26 strikeouts. His stock was at an all-time high and to the disappointment of Larks fans, Asoka declined his contract option. Thus, he became a highly touted free agent at age 31.

For Lucknow, Asoka had an 88-72 record, 66 saves, 2.69 ERA, 1416.1 innings, 1917 strikeouts, 293 walks, 134 ERA+, and 40.1 WAR. His #9 uniform would ultimately be the first number retired by the franchise. Asoka picked up and moved from India to Vietnam on a five-year, $52 million deal with Da Nang. However, he still would return home to India to represent his country in the World Baseball Championship. Asoka was quite efficient in the WBC from 2015-23 with a 1.61 ERA over 72.2 innings, 4-4 record, 4 saves, 112 strikeouts, 16 walks, 222 ERA+, and 2.4 WAR.

Asoka led the Southeast Asia League in K/BB from 2020-23 and had the best WHIP in 2022. He had 7+ WAR efforts in 2021-22 and had his finest strikeout tallies at 314 and 311, respectively. Asoka was third in 2021’s Pitcher of the Year voting, but wasn’t a finalist otherwise. Da Nang was also a 2004 expansion team and like Lucknow, they mostly struggled in their earliest years apart from a stunning LCS trip in the inaugural season. Asoka’s arrival helped the Nailers earn their first sustained success.

Da Nang won division titles in 2020, 21, and 23 and earned a wild card in 2024. The Nailers couldn’t get over the hump with LCS losses in 2021 and 2023 and first round exits otherwise. Asoka was solid in the 2021 playoff run with a 2.86 ERA over 22 innings with 29 strikeouts. He was iffy in 2023 and absolutely got shellacked In 2024, giving him a 5.14 ERA over 35 innings for his playoff career with Da Nang.

Asoka fell off in 2023 and 2024 with only 2.0 and 2.8 WAR despite being healthy. He had declined his contract option after the 2023 season, but Da Nang gave him a new four-year, $31,600,000 deal. After his horrendous playoff start in 2024 with Bangkok with eight runs allowed in 2.2 innings, Asoka opted to retire shortly after his 36^th birthday. With the Nailers, he had a 78-39 record, 3.33 ERA, 1020 innings, 1260 strikeouts, 119 walks, 125 ERA+, and 25.0 WAR.

In total, Asoka had a 166-111 record, 89 saves, 2.96 ERA, 2436.1 innings, 3177 strikeouts, 412 walks, 199/303 quality starts, 36 complete games, 10 shutouts, 130 ERA+, 71 FIP-, and 65.1 WAR. As of 2037, Asoka ranks 45^th in wins, 77^th in innings, 39^th in strikeouts, and 22^nd in pitching WAR. Among those with 1000+ innings, Asoka is 89^th in ERA, 77^th in opponent’s OPS (.625), and 43^rd in WHIP (1.01). He’s also 51^st in K/9 (11.74) and 63^rd in BB/9 (1.52).

Asoka didn’t have the longevity or accumulations to be an inner-circle Hall of Famer. However, he was certainly one of the most efficient arms of his era. Two Pitcher of the Year wins and two ERA titles in 13 seasons sold most voters. At 81.8%, Asoka was a first ballot pick and the lone inductee for South Asia Baseball’s 2030 class.

05-14-2025, 06:44 AM	#2247
FuzzyRussianHat Hall Of Famer Join Date: Dec 2020 Posts: 2,789	2030 SAB Hall of Fame Pitcher Charan Asoka was South Asia Baseball’s only Hall of Fame addition in 2030, debuting on the ballot at 81.8%. SP Siddhant Shakya was the best returner with 61.8% on his third ballot, falling narrowly short of the 66% threshold. Also above 50% was CF Chris Saandeep at 57.4% on his fifth ballot and CL Khon Aye Ko with 51.0% for his seventh try. No players were removed following ten failed ballots in 2030. Charan Asoka – Starting Pitcher – Lucknow Larks – 81.8% First Ballot Charan Asoka was a 6’4’’, 200 pound right-handed starting pitcher from Jatni, India; a town of around 64,000 people in the southeastern Odisha state. Asoka had impressive stuff and control along with above average movement. His arsenal included a 96-98 mph fastball along with a slider and changeup. Each option was equally potent, although his changeup probably got the most whiffs. By SAB ace starts, Asoka’s stamina was subpar with his was split between starting and relief. He had excellent durability though, so he wouldn’t miss dates even if you didn’t get as many complete games. Asoka had good glove work on the mound, but he was terrible at holding runners. He wasn’t going to take up the leadership mantle, but Asoka was a reliable teammate. Asoka was taken fourth overall by Lucknow in the 2011 SAB Draft. The Larks were a 2004 expansion team and had been largely mediocre since their introduction. For most of Asoka’s tenure, they hovered around the middle of the standings. Asoka was lousy in his rookie year with a 4.94 ERA over 89.1 innings. He saw a greater role in 2013 and looked respectable, continuing to improve as his tenure progressed. In April 2016, the Larks signed Asoka to a four-year, $19,560,000 extension. In 2017, Asoka was second in Pitcher of the Year voting with career best in ERA (1.84) and WAR (8.5) along with his first 300 strikeout season. As of 2037, his is one of only 69 qualifying seasons in SAB with a sub-two ERA. The next two years, Asoka was the Indian League’s leader with 2.10 in 2018 and 2.44 in 2019. He also had the best WHIP both years, earning repeat Pitcher of the Year honors. In 2019, Lucknow earned their first-ever playoff berth at 89-73 atop the Central Division. They made it to the ILCS, but were denied by Pune. In 16 playoff innings, Asoka had a 2.25 ERA with 26 strikeouts. His stock was at an all-time high and to the disappointment of Larks fans, Asoka declined his contract option. Thus, he became a highly touted free agent at age 31. For Lucknow, Asoka had an 88-72 record, 66 saves, 2.69 ERA, 1416.1 innings, 1917 strikeouts, 293 walks, 134 ERA+, and 40.1 WAR. His #9 uniform would ultimately be the first number retired by the franchise. Asoka picked up and moved from India to Vietnam on a five-year, $52 million deal with Da Nang. However, he still would return home to India to represent his country in the World Baseball Championship. Asoka was quite efficient in the WBC from 2015-23 with a 1.61 ERA over 72.2 innings, 4-4 record, 4 saves, 112 strikeouts, 16 walks, 222 ERA+, and 2.4 WAR. Asoka led the Southeast Asia League in K/BB from 2020-23 and had the best WHIP in 2022. He had 7+ WAR efforts in 2021-22 and had his finest strikeout tallies at 314 and 311, respectively. Asoka was third in 2021’s Pitcher of the Year voting, but wasn’t a finalist otherwise. Da Nang was also a 2004 expansion team and like Lucknow, they mostly struggled in their earliest years apart from a stunning LCS trip in the inaugural season. Asoka’s arrival helped the Nailers earn their first sustained success. Da Nang won division titles in 2020, 21, and 23 and earned a wild card in 2024. The Nailers couldn’t get over the hump with LCS losses in 2021 and 2023 and first round exits otherwise. Asoka was solid in the 2021 playoff run with a 2.86 ERA over 22 innings with 29 strikeouts. He was iffy in 2023 and absolutely got shellacked In 2024, giving him a 5.14 ERA over 35 innings for his playoff career with Da Nang. Asoka fell off in 2023 and 2024 with only 2.0 and 2.8 WAR despite being healthy. He had declined his contract option after the 2023 season, but Da Nang gave him a new four-year, $31,600,000 deal. After his horrendous playoff start in 2024 with Bangkok with eight runs allowed in 2.2 innings, Asoka opted to retire shortly after his 36^th birthday. With the Nailers, he had a 78-39 record, 3.33 ERA, 1020 innings, 1260 strikeouts, 119 walks, 125 ERA+, and 25.0 WAR. In total, Asoka had a 166-111 record, 89 saves, 2.96 ERA, 2436.1 innings, 3177 strikeouts, 412 walks, 199/303 quality starts, 36 complete games, 10 shutouts, 130 ERA+, 71 FIP-, and 65.1 WAR. As of 2037, Asoka ranks 45^th in wins, 77^th in innings, 39^th in strikeouts, and 22^nd in pitching WAR. Among those with 1000+ innings, Asoka is 89^th in ERA, 77^th in opponent’s OPS (.625), and 43^rd in WHIP (1.01). He’s also 51^st in K/9 (11.74) and 63^rd in BB/9 (1.52). Asoka didn’t have the longevity or accumulations to be an inner-circle Hall of Famer. However, he was certainly one of the most efficient arms of his era. Two Pitcher of the Year wins and two ERA titles in 13 seasons sold most voters. At 81.8%, Asoka was a first ballot pick and the lone inductee for South Asia Baseball’s 2030 class. __________________ Baseball: The World's Game fictional world reports Continental Baseball Federation world reports (8-tier promotion/relegation sim and college feeder)