The Daily Harpooner - Official Blog of the BBC of Hartford

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Re: The Daily Harpooner - Official Blog of the BBC of Hartfo

#16 Post by Sandgnats »

:bang:
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Re: The Daily Harpooner - Official Blog of the BBC of Hartfo

#17 Post by Leones »

Ahoy!
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Re: The Daily Harpooner - Official Blog of the BBC of Hartfo

#18 Post by Wind Dancers »

Harpoon Sign Gonzalez to 3 Year Extension
10/31/2024

This morning, the Hartford Harpoon confirmed that closer Marcos González has signed an extension with the team. The contract is rumored to be around $29,700,000 over 3 years with the final year being a team option. González joined the Harpoon from San Juan on New Year's Day this year and has gone on to become a fan favorite in Hartford. His work ethic encapsulates the meaning of "Hartford Baseball" and is a great role model for developing players in the community. González finished the season with 31 saves over 66.1 innings with a 3.12 ERA, 1.21 WHIP, & 58 strikeouts. With significant question marks in the pitching staff, González has cemented himself as an anchor in the bullpen.

The off-season on the horizon so locking down a key player will undoubtedly be a good sign moving forward as the new Harpoon staff looks to improve heading into 2025.
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Re: The Daily Harpooner - Official Blog of the BBC of Hartfo

#19 Post by Wind Dancers »

Hartford Avoids Arbitration with 10, extends Shiskikura
12/10/2024

With the offseason officially in full swing, the Hartford Harpoon announced today they have avoided arbitration with 10 players. This news was well met by fans looking for an improved 2025 structured around the current core group of players. Out of the 10 players, a few key names stood out as key players from the 2024 campaign.

Luis Cedeno, 2B - After discussions involving a long term contract fell through, Cedeno agreed on a 1 year deal worth $10,000,000 for his services heading into 2025. After 2 terrific seasons, Cedeno took a step back in 2024 with a slash line of .259/.337/.450, his lowest since becoming a full time starter in 2022. Cedeno also chipped in 28 HR’s and 77 RBI’s while swiping 44 bases reminding us all of his ability to fill a stats sheet. After splitting time between second and third in 2024, Cedeno will return to second base full time under new GM Dylan Krupilis.

Ray Graham, P - Graham will return to Hartford in 2025 with a $4,350,000 deal. Graham has been a reliable piece in the rotation for Hartford and is known for his excellent control and consistency. Ray finished with a 3.32 ERA last season while chalking up 120 K’s and only 30 walks over 190 innings. His stats were overshadowed by an 8-10 record, something Graham will look to improve in 2025.

Scott Francis, C - Since being selected in the 2023 contraction draft, Francis has managed to keep up his HR and RBI production despite struggling everywhere else. Francis slashed a career worst .212/.254/.381 while striking out 122 times across 515 AB’s. But Scott’s most valuable asset is his rock solid defense and cannon arm behind the plate. Francis will return to his role with Hartford on a $3,700,000 deal.

Juan 'Grinder' Garcia, P - $3,350,000
Roberto Ruiz, LF - $2,750,000
Dwight Carver, 3B - $2,250,000
Wayne Pryor, P - $1,570,000
Jorge Martinez, P - $1,250,000
Yin-zhen 'Stinky' Kan, P - $775,000
Kiyohira Kojima, C - $625,000


Hartford was also very excited to announce the re-signing of Takiji 'Bad News' Shiskikura on a $38,610,000 deal over 3 years with a player option in the final year. The news was initially met with some concern after signing 36 year old to a 3 year deal, but GM Dylan Krupilis was adamant that ‘Bad News’ was in fact Good News. Shiskikura pitched 156 innings in 2024, his highest since entering PEBA in 2021. He also boasted a 3.40 ERA and finished with a 7-7 record. His low strikeout count of 84 reflects his groundball tendencies and his lack of reliance on K’s will help him as continues to age.
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Re: The Daily Harpooner - Official Blog of the BBC of Hartfo

#20 Post by Wind Dancers »

Connecticut Kid Returns Home
12/11/2024
1 month ago, it was announced that the Harpoon had completed a deal to bring 1B Mike Harris to Hartford. This marks Harris's return to Connecticut after 3 seasons in Duluth and 1 overseas. Harris was born Highland Park Illinois, a suburb on the northern shore of Chicago. His family moved to Naugatuck, Connecticut early on in Mike's life, where he would go on to play high school ball for Union City High School. Harris emerged as a star in high school, and immediately drew attention in the draft, being picked as the 16th overall pick in the 2013 draft by Fargo. But Harris was determined to attend a college, something his family had always wanted out of Mike. So Harris declined to sign with Fargo and instead accepted a scholarship to the University of Connecticut.

At UCONN, Harris became a fan favorite as a hard-hitting first baseman who wasn't afraid to gloat about his accomplishments. His outgoing attitude overshadowed a kid with a great work ethic and brilliant mind. During his 3 years playing college ball Harris hit an astounding 41 home runs and 119 RBI's in only 132 games, all while batting with a .390/.569/.773 slash line. While most of his teammates disliked his cocky/selfish attitude, there was no denying his importance to success in UCONN. Each of his three season earned Harris a spot on the United States Collegiate Baseball Association All-Star team. Unfortunately Harris was never able to translate his ability to team-wide success as UCONN floated around .500 for his 3 seasons. It was at this point, that Harris decided to forgo his senior season and declare for the 2016 first-year player draft.

Having grown up on Connecticut, there was one team above all others that peaked Mike's interest, the Nutmeggers. As a young guy entering professional baseball, you must be prepared to go anywhere and anywhere but there was something about staying close to home that Harris loved. Harris met with scouts and made it very clear his interest in joining the Nutmeggers organization, but was left with uncertainty up until draft day. Surrounded by family, Harris received the call stating that he had been drafted 18th overall by the Connecticut Nutmeggers. Harris spent 3 full years in the Nutmeggers minor league system, before being called up halfway through his 4th season. He impressed in his first season hitting 5 homers and 38 RBI's while hitting .247 in a limited period of 81 games. In 2020, Harris earned a starting spot as the team's first baseman, a role that earned him 16 homers and 68 RBI's while slashing .273/.373/.433. It looked like a bright future for Harris until a shocking revaluation was made in 2021. The Nutmeggers would be moving out of the country to Amsterdam while a different organization would be forming in Hartford Connecticut. This news broke the heart of one of Connecticut's brightest young players and severely impacted his game, eventually earning himself a demotion to AAA back in Providence. A season of woes resulted in Harris being traded to Duluth in exchange for a draft pick in 2022. Harris had a great season in return to the United States, but soon found himself down on the depth chart. While still managing decent numbers, his role in Duluth wasn't enough and it seemed he had reached his peak. The Connecticut Kid just wasn't able to become a mainstay since leaving his home state and it seemed it would soon fade into obscurity.

But a month ago, the unthinkable happened. The Hartford Harpoon, the organization that took over in Connecticut, reached an agreement on a deal that would bring Harris back home. For Harris, the news could not be better as he prepared to return home to family and friends. It's still early in the off-season, but new Hartford GM Dylan Krupilis had made it clear he wanted to find a more defensively inclined first baseman while star Ron Myers continues as the designated hitter. It seems Harris will slot in as the starting first baseman in his home state, a situation he didn't think he would find himself in again. 2025 will be an interesting season in Hartford, but for Harris, he's glad to be home.
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Re: The Daily Harpooner - Official Blog of the BBC of Hartfo

#21 Post by Sandgnats »

Very good article. I love learning background stories on the players. Well done.
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Re: The Daily Harpooner - Official Blog of the BBC of Hartfo

#22 Post by Wind Dancers »

2025 Offseason/Spring Training
March 10, 2025
With spring training right around the corner, the Hartford Harpoon are looking to improve on a disappointing 79-83 finish in 2024. Despite having a lot of quality players, the Harpoon weren’t able to string together wins in a tough Seaboard Division. Pitching was a clear issue in 2024 and changes were needed to improve.

Offseason:

Out -
Alberto Gonzalez, SP
Juan Martinez, RP
Carlos Contreras, CF
George Arias, SS
Roberto Ruiz, LF (Traded to Crystal Lake)

Hartford was able to unload what was deemed “dead weight” in order to make room for incoming talent. George Arias is the biggest name out of the group after spending 3 seasons in Hartford. Arias heavily regressed in 2024 and would’ve been a 3rd middle infielder this coming season if he had re-signed. But after asking for a $16 million contract, the decision was made to find infield depth elsewhere. Roberto Ruiz split time in left field with up-and-coming talent Masakado 'Stubblebeard' Kato who will be taking over as the starter in 2025. With Ruiz reduced to a backup, Hartford offloaded him to Crystal lake for a minor leaguer and a draft pick to make room for a plethora of outfield talent currently in AAA. Gonzalez both had an average 2024 season, but with a need to improve, were not extended for the upcoming season. Carlos Contreras has been an offensive liability for 4 seasons but was masked by his ability to excel in centerfield. But after asking for a hefty pay increase, Hartford decided he was not worth the price tag.

In -
Gordon Stenger, SS
He ‘Firecracker’ Ling, RP
Jun’ichi ‘Hobo’ Yoshino, SP
Mike Harris, 1B (Traded from Duluth)

Image Image Image Image

Despite not signing any major stars, Hartford spent this offseason finding needed talent via free agency and trades. Early in the offseason, Hartford made a deal with Duluth bringing in Mike Harris. Harris is a solid bat who also provides decent ability at first base, something Hartford desperately needed with star Ron Myers in the DH slot. Harris is a big personality who will add some flair for the upcoming season and has terrific plate vision. With the departure of George Arias, Hartford needed a cheaper platoon infielder and they found that in SS Gordon Stenger.
Stenger has been regressing over the past few seasons in Shin Seiki, but was once a .300+ hitter. Stenger’s true value is shown in his ability to field all 4 infield positions with AT LEAST and above average capacity. Hartford highly values Stenger’s ability to fill in on a regular basis along with his immense gap power. Pitching was a key area for improvement this offseason and Jun'ichi 'Hobo' Yoshino will look to slot into the rotation after joining this offseason. At 33, Hobo has 9 years of major league experience in the League of the Rising Sun (JPN) and PEBA. He spent 2024 with West Virginia where he started the season in the pen before moving into the starter role in late July. He excelled, finishing at 10-6 with a 2.84 ERA, something that caught Hartford’s eye. Hobo is extremely hard working and works with a consistent, albeit unspectacular, approach that works best as a middle/end of the rotation pitcher. The “biggest” catch for Hartford this offseason was the recent signing of He 'Firecracker' Ling who has just joined PEBA from China. Firecracker received attention from multiple teams but ended up in Hartford. Not much is known in the way of stats for Firecracker, but word coming out of Hartford is that he is a high-velocity reliever with an incredible cut fastball and a solid circle change. At only 26, Firecracker could turn into a key piece for Hartford and should rack up K’s over the next few seasons.


What to Watch - Spring Training

The Battle for the Ace:
Spring Training could end up deciding who the ace of the 2025 Harpoon will be. Ray Graham and Takiji Shiskikura both played well last season but with Shiskikura getting a pay increase during the offseason, the #1 spot is still up in the air.

Image Image

5th OF spot:
The final spot on the 25 man roster belongs to a currently undetermined outfielder. In AAA, John Howe, Walter Daniel, & Shojiro Kotara all have a shot at that final spot and Dewitt Barry could even appear in the majors at some point once he fully recovers from his injury. Howe was the Harpoon minor league hitter of the year after an impressive season in AAA but many still question if he has the ability to succeed at the major league level. Kotara tore up AA last season, hitting with a .311/.414/.535 slash line along with 12 homers over 73 games. After being traded away and then back to Hartford, Kotara is ready to make an impression. Walter Daniel is an interesting story, having been a pitcher up until 2024 when he exploded onto the scene as an OF/DH. Hitting .290 with 19 homers in AA, Daniel is looking to start the season in AAA but could potentially earn a spot in the majors. While still developing a feel for the plate, Daniel has immense power to go along with the ability to make solid contact. He will have to improve vs. lefties and develop defensively if he wants to continue to move up the system.

Image Image Image Image

Too many cooks in the kitchen - Relievers
A limited amount of spots on the roster will likely result in one of last season's bullpen arms being moved to AAA. Relief pitching in Hartford was in need of a big upgrade, resulting in the signing of ‘Firecracker’. 3 underperforming relievers will be competing for 2 spots in the pen during spring training. Otto Coleman is currently favored by Hartford media after having a decent season in his first year as a major league starter. Coleman started 22 of the 35 games he pitched in and put up a 4.34 ERA across 151 innings. As a reliever, Coleman had a sub 4 ERA and pitched well in short bursts leading many to believe he would be a good asset in 2025. At only 25 years old, Coleman has a little bit of upside as a consistent end of the rotation guy despite not being too flashy. Yin-zhen 'Stinky' Kan is the second pitcher in the running for a spot after an unlucky 2024 season. Historically, the 26-year-old has put up horrid numbers as a major league level starter but showed signs of hope last season in the pen. A 4.82 ERA is deceiving as Stinky also had a 3.92 FIP flashing some of the talent Hartford will hope to see in 2025. Stinky has exceptional control, but his failure to develop a 3rd pitch has reduced his upside away from its original starter potential. And finally, Curt Mills will be the last pitcher competing for a spot. Mills has struggled heavily the past 2 seasons and registered a 4.98 ERA last season as a reliever and spot starter. Mills has the lowest upside of the 3 and has failed to improve.

Image Image Image

Full Spring Training Roster:

C Scott Francis (ML)
C Kiyohira Kojima (ML)
C John Woods (A)
1B/DH Ron Myers (ML)
1B Mike Harris (ML)
1B Bob Jackson (AAA)
2B Luis Cedeno (ML)
2B Jack Allen (AA)
3B Dwight Carver (ML)
SS Mark Edwards (ML)
SS Gordon Stenger (ML)
LF Masakado Kato (ML)
LF John Howe (AAA)
CF Carlos Ryan (ML)
RF Dewitt Barry (AAA) *injured
RF/DH Walter Daniel (AAA)
RF Edgardo Estrada (ML)
RF Shojiro Kotara (ML)
RF John Martin (ML)
SP Ray Graham (ML)
SP Yukinaga Kikuchi (ML)
SP Masaharu Konishi (AAA)
SP Takiji Shiskikura (ML)
SP Ryan Sims (ML)
SP John Yates (AAA)
SP Jun’ichi Yoshino (ML)
RP Otto Coleman (ML)
RP Julian Dixon (AAA)
RP He Ling (ML)
RP Juan Garcia (ML)
RP Yin-zhen Kan (ML)
RP Jorge Martinez
RP Curt Mills (ML)
RP Lawrence Newman (AAA)
RP Wayne Pryor (ML)
RP Jose Moreno (AA)
CL Marcos Gonzalez (ML)
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Re: The Daily Harpooner - Official Blog of the BBC of Hartfo

#23 Post by Sandgnats »

:clap:
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Re: The Daily Harpooner - Official Blog of the BBC of Hartfo

#24 Post by Wind Dancers »

Opening Day Roster
April 7th, 2025

Spring Training has wrapped up and the regular season begins in just a few days. The Hartford Harpoon will look to bounce back from a mediocre 2024 where they finished a measly 79-83. In fact, Hartford has had a losing record in 6 of the past 7 seasons, the only winning season coming in 2023. But in 2025, Hartford has struck a good balance of youth & experience which they hope will bring them back into the fold. While not a championship team yet, the Harpoon have definitely set the goal of improvement for 2025. With the final cuts made, the Harpoon 25 man active roster is set for opening day.

Infield

C Scott Francis
C Neil Avery
1B Ron Myers
1B Mike Harris
2B Luis Cedeno
3B Dwight Carver
SS Mark Edwards
SS Gordon Stenger

The “Core 3” will return for another season to lead the Hartford infield again. All eyes are on Luis Cedeno once again as the 27-year-old looks to improve after a taking a small dip in 2024. Arguably the top second baseman in the league, Cedeno is viewed as the captain of this Harpoon squad and his potential is limitless. Ron Myers will also play a key role for 2025 hot off of a 30hr, 100rbi season in 2024. In the offseason, Hartford brought in Mike Harris to play at first allowing Myers to concentrate on solely hitting in the DH slot. The final member of the core 3, Mark Edwards will be entering his 2nd year as the starting SS in Hartford. While going a little under the radar compared to Myers and Cedeno, Edwards is all about consistency and getting on base enabling his teammates to drive in runs. Scott Francis & Dwight Carver bring big bats to the lineup and are key to protecting the top hitters. Neil Avery & Gordon Stenger add depth and could surprise while in such a strong lineup.

Outfield

LF Masakado Kato
LF John Howe
CF Carlos Ryan
RF Edgardo Estrada
RF John Martin

A mix of new and old will comprise the outfield this season and will be lead by Carlos Ryan. A string of random injuries in 2024 prevented Ryan from finding a groove and reduced his play time to only 109 games. But when he’s healthy, Carlos is a potential 30hr hitter as seen 2 years ago. Right field remains the same with John Martin and Edgardo Estrada returning for 2025. Both can be seen as “what you see is what you get” Martin is a consistent contact hitter and Estrada is a valuable fill-in. Left Field will be the place to watch this year, with Masakado Kato taking over the reigns as the full-time LF AND rookie John Howe making his debut. Kato has been brought along slowly over the past 3 years, but after hitting .275 he is ready to be a regular for Hartford. Despite a disappointing spring, John Howe made the 25 man roster. Howe has the potential to be a decent hitter and will hopefully find his way in 2025, but his ability to play all 3 outfield positions well makes him a must have in Hartford.

Rotation

SP Ray Graham, R
SP Jun’ichi 'Hobo' Yoshino, L

SP Takiji 'Bad News' Shiskikura, L
SP Ryan Sims, R
SP Yukinaga Kikuchi, R

Hartford’s goal in the offseason was to upgrade pitching. They achieved that goal but not nearly as much as wished and the rotation is still a bit of a concern. With no “true” ace, Hartford boasts a few decent guys that should hold the tide and allow for the offense to take over. Ray Graham has emerged as the #1 in Hartford progressing each season and playing well in spring. He’s not flashy, but his superior control usually makes him a safe bet to play well. Despite shoulder inflammation in the spring, new signing Jun’ichi “Hobo” Yoshino played well and will claim the #2 spot in the rotation. He definitely won’t strikeout a bunch but his split-finger fastball is tough to hit and keeps the game firmly in his control. Shiskikura struggled heavily in the spring after initially being considered for the #1 spot. After signing a new contract in the offseason, he will need to fight age regression to remain relevant. Sims is coming off of a 17 win 2024 and remains a consistent number 4 guy. Kikuchi missed most of 2024 with shoulder inflammation and will be brought back in slowly as the #5.

Bullpen

RP Otto Coleman, L
RP Yin-zhen 'Stinky' Kan, R
RP Wayne Pryor, R
RP Jorge Martinez, L
RP He 'Firecracker' Ling, R
RP Juan 'Grinder' Garcia, R
CL Marcos González, R

2025 presents an improved & flexible bullpen for Hartford. Closer Marcos González signed a 3-year extension in the offseason and has developed into a fan favorite. His 4-pitch repertoire is key when closing games and making solid contact is difficult. 31 saves last season was a career high and Marcos will play a pivotal role in 2025. PEBA newbie He ‘Firecracker’ Ling joined Hartford in the offseason after coming over from China. Ling is an ideal relief pitcher with a cannon arm and nasty stuff. It may take time to adjust to PEBA batters, but Ling should have a bright season and career ahead of him. Wayne Pryor returns as the middle relief “workhorse” capable of eating innings. After having the best season of his career in 2024, Pryor will look to cement himself as a top reliever. Coleman & Martinez bring left-handed arms to the pen adding to the overall flexibility of the roster. Kan & Garcia need to improve after last season and will be expected to become threats out of the pen.
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Re: The Daily Harpooner - Official Blog of the BBC of Hartfo

#25 Post by Wind Dancers »

Big Bats in April
May 5th, 2025

With the season in full swing, Hartford has found themselves at the top of the Seaboard Division & one spot off of the Imperial League leaders Florida. Coming into 2025 expectations were mixed for this squad with hitting an obvious strength and pitching a big question mark.

Hartford struggled to start April, losing the opening series against Canton 3-1. And despite, surprisingly, winning against West Virginia, Hartford lost again to Kentucky resulting in a questionable 4-7 record one and a half weeks in. The early season can be an indicator of where teams stand in the place of the league, and 4-7 was disappointing for a team looking to finish above .500 in 2025. But the second half of April and the first few days of May have changed the perception around the team. Hartford rebounded immediately, putting away San Antonio 2-1, San Juan 2-1, and New Orleans 3-0. 2 more wins to end April finished Hartford’s month with a positive 13-9 record. And just this past weekend, a 3-0 against Amsterdam boosted the Harpoon to the 16-9 record we see now on top of the division. One of the more intriguing facts about this run is Hartford’s astounding 8-1 home record making Mack Stadium one of the last places that other teams want to go to.

The season expectations mentioned earlier have played out with Hartford boasting the best offense in the Imperial League to go along with a bottom half pitching staff. The Harpoon hitters have lit up the stats sheet as they lead the league in BA, OBP, OPS, runs, hits, and walks. To put things in perspective, in all major offensive stats, Hartford lowest rank is 6th which is in strikeouts. This has been a team effort but 2 significant standouts are 1B Ron Myers and 2B Luis Cedeno. Ron Myers currently has a whopping 7 homers to go along with a league-leading 23 RBI’s. And all of this comes while hitting a respectable .284/.309/.529 slash line. While Myers has been playing incredible, it is Cedeno who is playing out of his mind. Cedeno has 5 HR’s and 14 RBI’s but is hitting a whopping .354/.411/.563 and has a league-leading 13 stolen bases to start the year.

Of course, there are plenty of mentionable batters that have been playing well in 2025. Newcomer 1B Mike Harris has exceeded expectations hitting .300/.393/.470 with 4 HRs in his return to Connecticut. Contact hitter Mark SS Mark Edwards is batting .305/.400/.378 while catcher Scott Francis has knocked in 3 HRs and 7 RBI’s. Platoon OF John Howe is hitting .318 in his rookie season of major league ball.

Pitching has been an obvious problem, but even that has a silver lining. A team ERA of 4.26 isn’t pretty as Hartford has relied heavily on run support in 2025. Newcomer Jun’ichi Yoshino hasn’t found his groove yet (6.85 ERA) and veteran Takiji Shiskikura has also struggled (5.67 ERA). Relief pitching has done alright but unspectacular but that too has its positives. One positive to come out of this staff is their excellent control, surrendering only 57 walks so far this season. In the world of uncertainty that is Hartford pitching, Ace Ray Graham is Captain America. Graham impressed in the offseason and was given the ace role for 2025 and he has more than pulled his weight. The 33-year-old is 3-1 with an impressive 1.62 ERA and only 3 walks over 44.1 innings. His Walks per 9 is an incredible .6, an off-product of his pinpoint control. In addition to Graham, CL Marcos Gonzalez sports a 0.82 ERA with 7 saves while lefty RP Otto Coleman has a 1.59 ERA over 5.2 innings.
May will be an interesting month, with series against Florida, West Virginia, Kentucky, San Juan and Arlington all on tap.
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Re: The Daily Harpooner - Official Blog of the BBC of Hartfo

#26 Post by Wind Dancers »

2025 Season in Review


It’s now mid-November and Hartford has been knocked out of the playoffs, but not before vastly exceeding expectations. Entering the year, Hartford was coming off of a 79-83 season of mediocrity and was widely known as an offensive threat that struggled on the mound. Stuck in a division with Arlington and West Virginia, things weren’t looking too well for Hartford. But with a few additions, players returning from injury, and surprise development of prospects Hartford found success. The Harpoon managed a 91-71 record, beat division rivals West Virginia, and went to 6 games against Florida in the LCS. Here’s how they did it.

Offseason Additions:
Without a lot of cash to spend in the offseason, Hartford decided to reinforce the depth on the roster. But they were able to pick a desperately needed reliever in the form of P He Ling who had just arrived as a free agent from China. Ling immediately fit in as the 8th inning setup man, a role that was highly sought after entering the 2025 season. Ling compiled a 5-1 record with 3 saves and a 3.31 ERA over 49 innings.

The offseason didn’t come without worried though as another pickup, pitcher P Jun'ichi 'Hobo' Yoshino, struggled early as a starter. After racking up a 5.47 ERA, Yoshino’s already risky 4-year deal seemed like a total bust. But a move to the pen helped Hobo find his groove, finishing the year with a 3.59 ERA over 47.2 innings of relief.

Despite having an excellent group of hitters, their defense was not quite up to par. Mike Harris & Gordon Stenger were brought in to solve that problem. Ron Myers was moved to DH to allow Harris to take over as the starting first baseman while Stenger is able to play every infield position at a quality level. Stenger would excel in his super utility role, filling in whenever needed and finishing with a positive Zone Rating in all 4 infield positions. Harris would also excel defensively but turned out to be an even larger threat at the plate (.274/.363/.404, 16 HRs).

Carrying the Load:
The core of this Hartford roster was expected to step-up and become a force in the league and that’s exactly what they did. Ace P Ray Graham made his first all-star appearance after dominating early in the season. Performance dipped towards the end yet he finished at 11-8 with a 3.61 ERA and a career high 144 K’s. Not bad for a 34-year-old.

2B Luis Cedeno was always the star in the eyes of the media and he didn’t disappoint. Finishing the year first in SB’s (49) was just a small portion of his importance to this team. Cedeno ended the year batting .276/.348/.453 with 28 HR’s and 88 RBI’s and has settled into his role as #3 in the lineup though defensively he still struggles.

CF Carlos Ryan was the focal point for Hartford this season, laying down the hurt on opposing pitchers. Hitting .275/.367/.506 with 34 HRs and 93 RBIs, Ryan ended the year with a league leading 8.1 WAR with a cushion between him and #2 on that list. When other were slumping, Ryan was swinging. Add in a ridiculous +20.6 ZR at CF and some wonder if Ryan should be legally classified as a weapon.

Youth Movement:
A key piece in the vast improvement that was made this year was the presence of young talent. A mix of rookies and inexperienced players showed up in a big way and were integral to Hartford making it deep into the playoffs.

P Otto Coleman entered 2025 as a long relief/spot starter, a role he had the year before. Coleman has always been viewed as an end of the rotation guy but this season he proved himself. Due to injuries and poor play, Coleman was granted a shot in the rotation early in the season, and he never looked back. Otto finished at 11-6 with a 3.24 ERA, the lowest out of all starters on the roster in only his second year in PEBA. Coleman isn’t flashy (5.03 K/9) but above average movement and control makes him a consistent options who rarely get blown out.

RP Matt Brown made his debut in August and showed why he is one of the most sought after relief prospects in the league. Brown finished 3-0 with an impressive 2.45 ERA over 33 innings in his debut season along with a 10.36 K/9. Brown is projected to become an all around relief star and heading into 2026 looks to be on the right track.

Easily one of the best rookie performances seen in awhile, LF Walter Daniel exploded on the scene in 2025. After being drafted as a pitcher, Daniel was only moved to the field full-time last season. But he has already cemented himself as a key piece in the Hartford Lineup. Despite some injury problems, Daniel hit .354/.381/.690 with 19 HRs and 60 RBIs in only 229 ABs. His production carried over into the playoffs, before getting injured in the final game win over West Virginia. It’s obvious the kid can hit, and Hartford will be looking to keep him healthy next season.

Hartford Season Awards:

Hitter of the Year: CF Carlos Ryan; .275/.367/.506, 34HRs, 93RBIs

Pitcher of the Year: P Ray Graham; 11-8, 3.61 ERA, 1.15 WHIP, 144 Ks

Wonderkid: LF Walter Daniel; .354/.381/.690, 19HRs, 60RBIs
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Re: The Daily Harpooner - Official Blog of the BBC of Hartfo

#27 Post by Sandgnats »

Congrats on a successful first season! :clap:
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Re: The Daily Harpooner - Official Blog of the BBC of Hartfo

#28 Post by Morris Ragland »

Nice mix of youth and experience on the Hartford squad.

Can't wait to see what a full season of Walter Daniel will look like.
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Re: The Daily Harpooner - Official Blog of the BBC of Hartfo

#29 Post by Leones »

Hartford is one tough club to play. Nice summary of the season.
How is it that Ray Graham NOT nicknamed 'Moonlight' ? :D
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Re: The Daily Harpooner - Official Blog of the BBC of Hartfo

#30 Post by Wind Dancers »

Hartford deal Carver and Younger to Neo-Tokyo for Gil Sterling and minor leaguers


3B Dwight Carver was traded today as Hartford shifts around their infield for the 2026 season. Carver signed with Hartford in 2022 and had an up and down career with the Harpoon.
In 4 seasons, Carver hit 101 HRs along with 304 RBIs but was never able to hit above a .312 OBP. Carver was drafted out of Lakewood HS by the Tempe Knights and will be moving on to his 3rd PEBA team. Also making the trip to Tokyo in the deal is Bill Younger, who was signed to a minor league deal last offseason.

Hartford got a decent haul for Carver with 2B Gil Sterling being the key piece in the deal. Sterling was less than stellar in Toyko this past season hitting .219/.302/.337 with 9 HRs but he should improve at Mack Stadium.
Sterling has struggled since leaving Kalamazoo in 2023 but will look forward to playing in one of the best hitting teams in baseball. Despite his poor hitting, Sterling’s ultimate value in Hartford will be his defensive ability at second base, something star Luis Cedeno struggled with in 2025.

In the deal with Sterling, Hartford receives 2 prospects in the form of P Kojiro Hirose and P Dave Tate.
Hirose (AA) was a 5th round pick in 2023 could end up as an end of the rotation starter and falls in line with Hartford’s apparent philosophy of non-glamorous starting pitchers. Hirose started 14 games in AA last season and will likely start the season with the Laval Islanders.
Dave Tate is a similar pitcher and was drafted in the 4th round of the same 2023 draft. Scouts question whether Tate will stay in the rotation or will be bumped to the pen as he only has 2 quality pitches out a 4 pitch repertoire. Tate is another control heavy pitcher who excels at placing his pitches though he may not rack up a lot of strikeouts.

This deal marks the first offseason move in what should be a quiet few months before 2026.
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