Jose Fernandez: Death Shocks Baseball World

Reports are pouring in that Miami Marlins star pitcher Jose Fernandez has sadly died in a tragic boating accident.

Details are sparse at this point but the death has been confirmed by multiple sources. Baseball has lost one of its youngest and brightest stars.

The 24-year-old right-handed native of Cuba (later came to the United States) came to the Marlins as a first-round draft choice in 2011 out of high school. He made the majors just two years later (winning  Rookie of the Year Award), and despite undergoing Tommy John surgery in 2014, came back as good as ever.

2016 was Fernandez’s first full season in the majors since his rookie campaign. In 29 starts this year, he had gone 16-8 with a 2.86 ERA and 253 strikeouts in 182.1 innings. His 2.29 FIP and 12.5 strikeouts per nine innings both currently lead the National League, and he made the All Star team.

In 76 career starts, he was 38-17 with a 2.58 ERA and 589 strikeouts in 471.1 innings.

Because of it being his first full year back from surgery, the team was still being cautious with his workload. Despite his dominance, the way he was handled with kid gloves meant that he never threw a complete game during his career. However, it is likely that he would have been turned loose in 2017, having reached a safer point in his recovery to let it all hang out.

With a mid-to-upper 90s fastball and a devastating slider, Fernandez possessed an arsenal that made him a candidate to be one of the best pitchers in baseball for the next decade. A frequent target of trade rumors because of his value to the lower-budget Marlins, the team had elected to keep him to date, which was not only a testament to what he meant to the Miami community but also his immense talent.

Any death is tragic. That Fernandez was one of baseball’s best rising stars only takes that to a new level. Major League Baseball’s history is peppered with a number of in and out of season deaths but this immediately takes on historical significance. Other than Thurman Munson and Ray Chapman, one would be hard-pressed to think of another player of greater renown that passed away during a season.

The baseball world will be in shock for some time, and rightly so. One of its best and brightest has been lost. Fernandez’s star did not burn as long as many but in its abbreviated crest it burned so bright. He is leaving an indelible mark on the game and a sad legacy of what might have been. Rest in peace.

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Boston Red Sox Ending 2016 Regular Season on Many High Notes

The Boston Red Sox have put their fans in a glass case of emotions this year. The time is quickly counting down on the illustrious career of beloved slugger David Ortiz. Additionally, even though they are currently in first place in the American League East, the team is still fighting for their playoff spot with their finger nails, as a veritable pack of hopefuls nip at their heels. That being said, no matter what happens the rest of the way there are a number of positives that will come out of the 2016 campaign and can be applied to the future.

When starting pitcher David Price was signed to a massive $217 million contract this past offseason there was the assumption he would lead the team’s pitching staff for years to come. To the contrary, he stumbled out of the gate, posting a 4.34 ERA in the first half of the season and allowing 16 home runs in his first 19 starts. A collective sigh of relief can be taken given his performance since the All Star break. In those 11 starts he has gone 7-2 with a 3.30 ERA and has permitted just nine home runs. A slight decline in his fastball velocity (92.9 average MPH represents a career-low) and a lower strikeout rate 10.1/7.9 per 9 innings before/after the All Star break suggests the previous blip in results may have simply been an adjustment to pitching with slightly less octane stuff for the former Cy Young winner.

Veteran second baseball Dustin Pedroia is another player who had seen diminished results in recent years. A team stalwart for a decade, injuries and age seemed to be creeping up on the 33-year-old. However, he has proven that there is definitely something left in the tank. Putting up one of his best seasons ever, he has appeared in 142 games, batting .327 with 13 home runs and 66 RBIs. Although he is no longer much of a threat on the base paths, he is still one of the best defensive players in the game.

Instead of slowing down as the season has progressed, Pedroia has only gotten stronger. In 57 games since the All Star break, he has hit a robust .362 and contributed a .900 OPS. He is simply hitting the ball with authority, as 32.6% of the balls he has put in play this year have been with hard contact, a figure he has not matched since his rookie year in 2007. Signed to a team-friendly deal through the 2012 season, there is still plenty of reason to hope he will finish out his tenure in Boston on a high note similar to his teammate Ortiz.

Even without the veterans, Boston looks to be sitting pretty with their triumvirate of young stars on the offensive side of the ball. Shortstop Xander Bogaerts and outfielders Mookie Betts and Jackie Bradley Jr. can all hit for average and power and play defense that ranges from good to outstanding. Additionally, all three made the American League All Star team in 2016 and will all be 26 or younger at the start of next season. Even better, Bogaerts (2020) and Betts/Bradley Jr. (2021) have a ways to go before they are eligible for free agency.

Rick Porcello was brought in via trade prior to last season to help shore up the rotation. The team thought so highly of him that they signed him to a lucrative four-year extension before he ever made an official start with the team. When he went on to lose 15 games and post a 4.92 ERA there was a collective groan emitted from Red Sox Nation. However, not content to sit on his laurels and count his money, Porcello has roared back in 2016 with his best season to date. The 27-year-old right hander has gone 20-4 with a 3.12 ERA in 30 starts. Blending four pitches, he has also seen his walk and hit rates plummet to career lows. It appears he is exactly the pitcher the team thought they were getting and should be an important cog for years to come.

Another young pitcher expected to do great things was 23-year-old left-hander Eduardo Rodriguez, who impressed with 10 wins as a rookie last year. Unfortunately, lingering injuries caused him to miss time to start this year, and to be ineffective when he did finally return (8.59 ERA in his first six starts). Although he has gone just 1-4 in his next 11 starts, his 3.25 ERA, climbing strikeout rate and falling home run rate show that without a doubt he is back on track. Much like Porcello, he could very well be a lynchpin of the Boston rotation for years to come.

Another pitcher ending the 2016 seasons on a positive note is right-hander Clay Buchholz. An enigma of extraordinary proportions for the past decade, over the years he has in turns pitched brilliantly and disappointingly along with regularly missing time due to a litany of injuries. A miserable first half this season saw him post a 5.91 ERA and allow 17 home runs in just 80.2 innings. Being in the final of year of his contract, the countdown literally began as salivating fans all but tarred and feathered him and rode him out of town on a rail.

Initially demoted to the bullpen, Buchholz has since shuttled back and forth between starting and relieving and has made great strides in redeeming his season. In 45.2 innings since his disastrous first half, he has put up a very good 3.94 ERA and allowed just four homers. Although his contract is ending, a 2017 team option for $13.5 million (or $500,000 buyout) is in place and the once unthinkable is starting to look extremely possible. With starting pitching at such a premium across the league, the strong finish to this season is putting the 32-year-old in position to return to Boston for at least one more year. His recent results are making the proposition of committing another year’s salary (his 2017 rate is now quite reasonable given the current market) much more palatable.

As the Red Sox wind up their 2016 season, there are still a lot of possibilities and potential glory left for the taking. However, no matter what happens there is already plenty to look forward to for anyone wanting to take a peek at next year.

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Minor League Baseball Attendance Tops 41.3 Million in 2016

September 12, 2016 

Minor League Baseball Attendance Tops 41.3 Million in 2016 

54 teams post average attendance increases over 2015 

ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. — A total of 41,377,202 fans passed through the gates at Minor League Baseball games in 2016, marking the 12th consecutive year the organization drew over 41 million fans. 

The 2016 season saw eight teams set single-season franchise attendance records and seven set franchise records for largest single-game attendance. The 176 Minor League Baseball clubs across 15 leagues combined to record the ninth-largest attendance total in Minor League Baseball history. 

“In cities large and small, our teams continue to offer their communities the very best in affordable, family-friendly entertainment in a clean and safe environment,” said Minor League Baseball President & CEO Pat O’Conner. “Minor League Baseball continues to offer what I believe is the best entertainment value in sports, and we are very appreciative of the tremendous fan support received again this year.” 

The Triple-A Indianapolis Indians led all teams in total attendance, as 636,888 fans visited Victory Field this season. The Triple-A Charlotte Knights recorded the largest average attendance at 8,974, edging Indianapolis by four fans per game. The Columbia Fireflies drew over 260,000 fans in the inaugural season at Spirit Communications Park, the only new ballpark to open in Minor League Baseball in 2016. Since 2000, Minor League Baseball clubs have opened 62 new ballparks, with new, or significantly renovated, stadiums scheduled to open in Hartford, Kinston, Lakeland and Tampa for the 2017 season. 

The attendance leaders in each classification of Minor League Baseball and their overall numbers were: Triple-A — Indianapolis Indians (636,888), Double-A — Frisco RoughRiders (463,564), Class A — Dayton Dragons (548,574), Short Season-A and Rookie — Vancouver Canadians (222,363)

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About Minor League Baseball Minor League Baseball, headquartered in St. Petersburg, Florida, is the governing body for all professional baseball teams in the United States, Canada and the Dominican Republic that are affiliated with Major League Baseball clubs through their farm systems. Fans are coming out in unprecedented numbers to this one-of-a-kind experience that can only be found at Minor League Baseball ballparks. In 2015, Minor League Baseball attracted 42.5 million fans to its ballparks to see the future stars of the sport hone their skills. From the electricity in the stands to the excitement on the field, Minor League Baseball has provided affordable family-friendly entertainment to people of all ages since its founding in 1901. 

For more information, visit www.MiLB.com. Follow Minor League Baseball on Facebook, Instagramand Twitter. 

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Eddie Gaedel: His Meteoric Rise and Tragically Mysterious End

https://medium.com/top-level-sports/the-biggest-guy-in-the-room-the-life-baseball-career-and-mysterious-death-of-eddie-gaedel-a80011638f52

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Minor League Baseball Announces its August Players of the Month

PRESS RELEASE from Minor League Baseball

ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. — Minor League Baseball today announced the August Player of the Month Award winners for each of its 16 leagues. Each player will receive an award from Minor League Baseball in recognition of the honor. 

Lehigh Valley IronPigs (Phillies) right-hander Phil Klein led the International League in strikeouts (46), batting average against (.154) and WHIP (0.65) in August. He was 4-0 with a 1.06 ERA during the month as he allowed 18 hits and four walks over 34.0 innings pitched. Klein, 27, was originally selected by Texas in the 30th round of the 2011 First-Year Player Draft out of Youngstown State University. 

Sacramento River Cats (Giants) outfielder Austin Slater led the Pacific Coast League in total bases (77) and home runs (nine), was second in hits (43), on-base percentage (.444) and OPS (1.126) and was third in RBI (26), extra-base hits (16) and slugging (.681). Slater, 23, posted 14 multi-hit games in August, including a stretch of four consecutive games with three or more hits. Slater was selected by the Giants in the eighth round of the 2014 First-Year Player Draft out of Stanford University. 

Altoona Curve (Pirates) outfielder Barrett Barnes led the Eastern League in slugging (.709) and OPS (1.144) in August and tied for second in home runs (eight) and third in on-base percentage (.434). He batted .360 for the month, reached base safely in 23 of his 26 games and posted 10 multi-hit games. Barnes, 25, was selected by the Pirates in the Compensation Round A of the 2012 First-Year Player Draft out of Texas Tech University. 

Chattanooga Lookouts (Twins) left-hander Stephen Gonsalves led the Southern League in ERA (0.28), batting average against (.125) and WHIP (0.73) in August. He allowed just one earned run in 32.2 innings in August en route to a 4-0 record in five starts. Gonsalves, 22, was selected by the Twins in the fourth round of the 2013 First-Year Player Draft out of San Diego’s Cathedral Catholic High School. 

Springfield Cardinals first baseman Luke Voit led the Texas League in batting average (.366), on-base percentage (.440) and OPS (1.320). He finished second in extra base hits (12), RBI (20), total bases (55) and slugging percentage (.591). Voit, 25, was selected by St. Louis in the 22nd round of the 2013 First-Year Player Draft out of Missouri State University. 

High Desert Mavericks (Rangers) outfielder Jairo Beras led the California League in RBI (29), extra-base hits (21), total bases (68) and slugging (.731), while finishing second in doubles (11) and OPS (1.097). Beras, 21, was signed by the Rangers as a non-drafted free agent in 2012 out of San Pedro de Macoris, Dominican Republic. 

Salem Red Sox right-hander Michael Kopech led the Carolina League in wins (four), strikeouts (50) and batting average against (.115), while finishing second in WHIP (0.84). Kopech allowed just 11 hits in 29.2 innings pitched and did not allow more than three hits in any of his six starts. Six of his nine earned runs allowed in August came in his last start of the month. Kopech, 20, was selected by Boston in the first round of the 2014 First-Year Player Draft out of Mount Pleasant (Texas) High School. 

Dunedin Blue Jays first baseman Ryan McBroom led the Florida State League in home runs (seven), RBI (29), total bases (57), slugging (.640), OPS (1.052) and was second in batting average (.348). McBroom, 24, was selected by Toronto in the 15th round of the 2014 First-Year Player Draft out of West Virginia University. 

South Bend Cubs first baseman Matt Rose led the Midwest League in extra-base hits (15) and home runs (seven), was second in runs scored (19) and RBI (22) and finished third in doubles (eight), slugging (.573) and OPS (.935). Rose, 22, was selected by the Chicago Cubs in the 11th round of the 2015 First-Year Player Draft out of Georgia State University. 

Augusta GreenJackets (Giants) right-hander Jake McCasland led the South Atlantic League in WHIP (0.69) and batting average against (.155) and finished second in wins (four) and strikeouts (38). His 1.13 ERA was fourth-best in the league and he allowed just five walks in his five starts while working six or more innings in each outing. He did not allow an earned run in three of his five starts. McCasland, 24, was selected by the Giants in the 26th round of the 2013 First-Year Player Draft out of the University of New Mexico. 

 Lowell Spinners (Red Sox) third baseman Bobby Dalbec led the New York-Penn League in home runs (six), RBI (27), doubles (10), extra-base hits (18), slugging (.680) and OPS (1.094). His league-best 70 total bases were 18 more than the second place finisher. Dalbec recorded 12 multi-hit games and hit safely in 14 of his last 15 games in August. The 21-year-old was selected by Boston in the fourth round of the 2016 First-Year Player Draft out of the University of Arizona. 

Everett AquaSox (Mariners) rightfielder Eric Filia led the Northwest League in batting average (.424), hits (42), runs (24), doubles (10) and on-base percentage (.500), while finishing second in total bases (55) and OPS (1.045). Filia recorded 13 multi-hit games in August, including a five-hit game Aug. 27 against Vancouver. He posted 18 hits in a six-game span Aug. 26- 31. Filia, 24, was selected by the Mariners in the 20th round of the 2016 First-Year Player Draft out of UCLA. 

Bluefield Blue Jays first baseman Bradley Jones led the Appalachian League in home runs (nine), RBI (36), total bases (77), extra-base hits (21), slugging (.720) and OPS (1.109), while finishing second in hits (37) and doubles (11). Jones hit .346 with 13 multi-hit games in August and homered three times on August 25 against Pulaski. The 21-year-old was selected by Toronto in the 18th round of the 2016 First-Year Player Draft out of the College of Charleston. 

Great Falls Voyagers (White Sox) right-hander Alec Hansen dominated the Pioneer Baseball League in August, allowing just five hits in 23.0 innings over four starts while striking out 38. Hansen did not allow an earned run and led the league in WHIP (0.65) and average against (.069). He struck out 10 or more batters three times and held opponents to one hit or fewer in three of his five August outings. Hansen, 21, was selected by the White Sox in the second round of the 2016 First-Year Player Draft out of the University of Oklahoma. 

Gulf Coast Phillies right-hander Mauricio Llovera was 4-0 with a 0.72 ERA in five August appearances (four starts) and allowed just two extra-base hits (both doubles) over 25.0 innings. Llovera’s 30 strikeouts and .161 batting average against led the Gulf Coast League in August. He did not allow an earned run in his last three starts. Llovera, 20, was signed by Philadelphia as a non-drafted free agent out of El Tigre, Venezuela. 

Arizona League Rangers third baseman Kole Enright led the Arizona League in hits (30), doubles (10) and total bases (43), while finishing second in OPS (.956), extra-base hits (11) and batting average (.366). Enright, 18, was selected by Texas in the third round of the 2016 First-Year Player Draft out of West Orange High School in Winter Garden, Florida. 

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About Minor League Baseball Minor League Baseball, headquartered in St. Petersburg, Florida, is the governing body for all professional baseball teams in the United States, Canada and the Dominican Republic that are affiliated with Major League Baseball clubs through their farm systems. Fans are coming out in unprecedented numbers to this one-of-a-kind experience that can only be found at Minor League Baseball ballparks. In 2015, Minor League Baseball attracted 42.5 million fans to its ballparks to see the future stars of the sport hone their skills. From the electricity in the stands to the excitement on the field, Minor League Baseball has provided affordable family-friendly entertainment to people of all ages since its founding in 1901. 

For more information, visit www.MiLB.com. Follow Minor League Baseball on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter. 

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You can check me out on Facebook or follow me on Twitter @historianandrew