Jejomar Butardo, #63, switch-hitting corner outfielder for the San Diego Hops.
Created from a sketchbook image worked in Corel Painter, June, 2016
Dateline, Del Mar, CA
June 29, 2016
ABL Date: April 2, 2028
San Diego faces one of its toughest seasons as Opening Day,
2018, looms in Chicago’s, South Side Park. With perhaps the exception of young
star, Jejomar Butardo, the expectations for the Hops’ nine, lead most
prognosticators to rightfully place San Diego in the cellar of the CLatillupe
Division. As spring training wound down, former stars, Stan Cheslin, Carlos
Avila, Lorenzo Pueblo, and veterans like Cip Sousa, were all designated for
assignment. All were rumored to be on the trading block, but it seems that the
Hops’ management is willing to mortgage the financial present for some relief
in years to come.
Rotation:
The top of the rotation, James Thompson, has an 8-20 career
won lost record, and he’s the ace of the staff. However, perhaps he has been
rushed, and is still a mere 23 years old. The rest of the forgettable five are,
Walt Lawson, career ERA north of 5.2 in close to 200 career starts; Mal
Tosewell, 72-41 lifetime, but a career marred by serious injuries; Gonzalo
Dieguez, 4-6 career with a 6.98 ERA; and finally, Jorge Ortiz, 38-33 in a San
Diego uniform. The brightest star in the minors, is only 16 years old, one
Javier Sanchez, so sometime in the next decade there is a big arm headed to SD.
Bullpen:
The new name is, Son “Little Bull” Mai, a closer who starred
in spring training, and is the bright spot resulting from the Leeder trade. In
a 40 man roster move, last season’s closer will start the year in AAA. Adjir
Kasakya is reported to be none too happy at the way he has been moved around.
Jose Ramos, Jesus Ramirez, and Kendrick Dobson are all awaiting their trials in
the rotation while they spit seeds in the Hops’ pen. Shiro Hatsutori and
Zong-Yuan Sang are both opening the season on the major league roster because
they’ve run out of minor league options.
Catcher:
John Calderon has wrestled the starting backstop job into
his locker, now he needs to step up in the prime of his career to shine. A
career .269 hitter with little pop, we’ll see. He’s backed up by young rookie,
24 year old, Devin Davis, who not only catches, but can man 1b and the outfield
in a pinch, though never in the big leagues.
1b:
Kyle Reader is a career .341 hitter, and held off the
challenge in spring of young 1b, Toku Taniguchi. Like many of the moves made by
San Diego, this seems to be to appease the veteran, despite evidence that the
batting title seasons of ’21 and ’22 are more distant in the rear-view mirror.
2b:
Akira Kato comes in to replace Gerard Leeder at the keystone,
in the controversial trade with Maple. However, Kato has one of the most solid
career batting pedigrees of most anyone on the Hops, and is 28, so still
possible that there is a decent season on the horizon.
3b:
Ken Abbot is 33, and has never broken into the super star
level in a workmanlike career. If he falters, there is not much support at the
hot corner.
SS:
There are four legitimate shortstops on the SD roster,
Donald Cameron, San-Pao Chio, Tae-Kyun Hong, and Taro Omori. Chio has the most
potential, while Cameron will probably be the starter at 36.
LF:
Tom Cassidy is one of the few real power threats on the
opening day roster, but has fought injuries throughout his career. Ricardo Romo
will probably DH as like Cassidy, he swings right handed.
CF:
Jim Wood made the opening day roster after signing in ’27 as
a minor league free agent. Xavier Encarnacion is his backup, but has not shown
a major league bat.
RF:
One of the only bright young stars on San Diego is Jejomar
Butardo. The 25 year old switch hitter had the best season of his young career in
’27, and hopes to break out in ’28. Daniel Lopez or Romo will back him up.
San Diego struggles with financial consistency, and it is
showing in the aging roster. The goal for ’28 is to avoid 100 losses.
