Hops preview 2029
San Diego, gutter-dwelling poor, looks to improve to at
least middle-class as the rebuild of a dismal team begins. For the first time
in many seasons, the Hops had an opportunity to spend money, and landed former
SD stalwart, Tom Cassidy, signed to a three year deal during the off-season.
The other addition was curious, Rule 5 selection, Dong Soo Bruce, a 25 year old
righthander with solid minor league credentials in the Jersey system.
Otherwise, a 57-105 squad returns virtually the same roster. How does a team
plunged 16 games worse last system, hope to move back to a .500 squad?
Catcher:
Hae-nim Kim, after an 18 game rookie debut in ’28, has been
handed the starting job behind the plate. This is a major shift from the now
backup backstop, ‘Tangles’ Calderon.
Season to Season Foresight Rating: ++
1b
Tokuhei Taniguchi blasted 24 homeruns in the bigs in ’28 with
nine more in AAA. If he can get 30 during the ’29 campaign, the Hops will win
some games. If he stalls at the plate, look for Yamamoto lurking in the AAA
wings.
2b
Akira Kato, at 29, is maturing into a steady presence at the
keystone position. He will be hitting lead-off, and will be expected to set the
table for the Hops’ heart of the order.
SS
Donald Cameron, at 36, appeared in a career high 132 games.
Now, at 37, Cameron is expected to at least repeat his .300 batting pace. San
Pao Chio backs up.
3b
Ken Abbott, 34, set career highs in hits, batting average
and slugging percentage with a slash of .326/.365/.453. If he can be anywhere
near those marks, he will be a centerpiece in the Hops’ offense.
OF/Dh
As usual, a lot of great candidates for the corner outfield
positions, and nobody who can really play is in the middle of the diamond.
Christian Chevalier, who has 36 career starts in CF over eight seasons, is
slated to begin the season in center. If he falters, the next best option is 17
year old, Martin “Bizarre” Arias, down in single A, though SD may opt for the
much abused Jim Wood or Xavier Encarnacion, or the trade and waiver route.
LF and RF will feature two hitting stars of SD’s recent
past, Tom Cassidy and Jejomar Butardo. That relegates Ricardo Romo to the DH
slot. All three should hit close to .300 with double digit pop.
SP
Salah bin Atif, 1-12 in his big league career, will be atop
the rotation, but he has electric stuff with a fastball that touches triple
digits. Juan Vasquez, also young, is 5-17 career. Gonzalo Dieguez is 6-11 with
30 career starts, which says something about the Hops’ bullpen, not in a good
way. Jorge Ortiz is the vet of the five, with a 71-63 career mark over 257 big
league games including 182 starts. He’s the best of the current crop, having
tallied an 8-8 mark in ’28. Jesus Ramirez has more career starts, at 233 in 400
games, but is perhaps headed to the bullpen eventually.
Bullpen
Mal Tosewell starts the year in the bullpen, but has an
80-48 record over 171 starts in his 202 appearances. Newcomer, Ernesto Lopez,
brings a veteran presence to the relief corps. Rule 5 pickup, Dong soo Bruce
hopes to prove he belongs in the bigs. Son Mai is the closer after saving 18 in
the second half of 2028. Displaced closer, Ajdir Kasakya sets up from the
southpaw side, and youngster Zong yuang Sang will be the right-handed setup
man. That leaves middle relief to Jose Ramos and Kendrick Dobson. The latter
went 7-13 as a starter in ’28 and is filling a new role as a long man.
Names to watch include Jim Phillips and Yo Watanabe in AAA,
and 17 year old Javier Sanchez in Bethesda, single A.
The best hope for SD is to not lose 100 games. Anything
beyond those 62 wins is garrulous gravy.
