San Juan Coqui 2025 Blog

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San Juan Coqui 2025 Blog

#1 Post by MikeB »

BATTLES LOOM IN SPRING TRAINING
Pitching
Unless a veteran gets usurped, there are likely 10 spots already filled on the pitching staff going into spring training. Some of those on the bubble:

Right-hander Luis Reyes, the 38th overall pick in 2018 looked ready to hit the PEBA after starting 10-5 with a 2.03 last year at Santo Domingo (AAA) but bone chips in his elbow ended his season in July. The 25-year old Reyes mixes up his pitches well making his 92-mph fastballer look better. This spring he is getting a shot at a job on the rotation but will need to replace some established guys:.

Seon-keun Li is another pitcher who relies on fooling hitters, mixing junk in with a decent forkball. The 32-year old Li failed to make the Coqui last season despite a 3-3, 3.32 showing in the big leagues in 2023. He's been a starter his entire career but Manager Jesus Gilbert will be looking at him as a middle reliever this year.

Former 2020 2nd round pick Dan Field stumbled in his PEBA debut in 2024, posting a 4.72 e.r.a. in seven appearances out of the pen. However, armed with a big-league sinker and curveball, the 26-year old southpaw was tough to hit in Santo Domingo (AAA) last year (1.97 e.r.a.). He keeps the ball low and on the ground which makes him ideal for coming in to get that double play (in fact he's averaged just one home run every 33 innings dating back to college). His main obstacle may be his control, which hindered him in his call-up last September.

Another 2nd rounder from that 2020 draft is Makoto Shimuzu. The right-handed swingman has been called up to the PEBA a couple times in his career and has posted 8-8, 3.80 numbers but hasn't shown enough to stay. He will mainly be looking to land a long relief slot. Going for him is that he is a guy coaches love having in the locker room.

Former 2020 overall number one pick Naoki Hayashi has yet to see the PEBA but has had good showing in the minors the last two years. At 25 it's his moment to live up to his billing but the left-hander has been hampered by injuries at times. He has been used as a swingman in his pro career but has the ceiling to eventually be a quality starter.

Felix Romano at age 30 made progress with pitching coach Keiji Hagi last year and proved a decent option in long relief and as a spot starter (3.58 with 6 quality starts out of 13). However, the numbers game may not be working in his favor to keep that job.

Hitting
As for the hitters, the battles are far more complex. The good news is that 10 outfielders have a legitimate shot at making the team. The bad news is that only Flint Butler and Orlando Reyes are proven capable options.

One player to watch is 1B/DH Jon Lange. The 28-year old saw action in 58 games in the big leagues in 2023 and posted a .513 slugging percentage but failed to make the roster last spring. He has 160 minor league home runs.
Last edited by MikeB on Fri Apr 07, 2017 9:31 pm, edited 1 time in total.
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Re: San Juan Coqui 2024 Blog

#2 Post by Morris Ragland »

I have to believe that Reyes will come around this year, given time and good health. Just too much talent there.
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Baldwin Out Two Months

#3 Post by MikeB »

BALDWIN OUT TWO MONTHS


Veteran Robin Baldwin's stay in San Juan continued to be a disappointment after he tore his hamstring beating out a double in spring training. Baldwin, who was hitting .167 this spring before a home run and the double in the game against San Antonio, saved the Coqui from the tough decision (for the moment) of releasing him at a cost of $30.5 million. Baldwin, who has a .420 lugging percentage over seven PEBA seasons, hit just .208 with 4 HR last season and was on the bubble to make the squad.
Last edited by MikeB on Mon Apr 24, 2017 6:22 pm, edited 1 time in total.
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Re: San Juan Coqui 2024 Blog

#4 Post by Leones »

That's a tough break. Never like to see guys getting paid so much not able to provide a return. He's had a history of hammy strains over the years but it didn't really look like a big a problem before this.
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Re: San Juan Coqui 2024 Blog

#5 Post by MikeB »

I'd be willing to pony up $10 million for someone to take him off my hands but now I can wait and see with him. Maybe he is needed. Maybe not. Problem with the buyout is the third year I probably wouldn't have to pay him if I waited it out due to the vesting option so I hate to pay that year by cutting him.
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Re: San Juan Coqui 2024 Blog

#6 Post by MikeB »

FINAL ROSTER FILLED FOR SEASON OPENER

YI TO START IN INFIELD: Twenty-five year old Min-u Yi has climbed the ranks as a glove man but with Bob Vollmer being sent down after a poor spring, Yi may get the initial nod at either shortstop or third base. Yi, who has been bounced around leagues like a ping-pong ball, hasn't had a decent offensive campaign since A-ball in 2019 but hit .300 this spring. General Manager Mike Best indicated Yi would have been assured a roster spot based on defense alone but will now join starters Duane Higgins (1B), Shigekazu Shimuzo (2B) and Jose Rivera (SS), all superb fielders, on opening day. Richie Norman (1B) is the only other infielder on the roster so expect the Coqui to move an outfielder at some point to make room for Vollmer to return or highly-touted Antonio Correa, who suffered a setback in his development last year in AAA.

DREW DRAWS SPOT IN OUTFIELD - Thirty-year old Michael Drew, who was a long shot of 11 outfielders to make the squad, will be starting the season with San Juan after hitting a torrid .457 in preseason. Flint Butler, Orlando Reyes, Barton MacLugash, Dean Walden and Chris Jensen round out the squad. The Coqui needed to keep a slot for the 23-year old Jensen, who was picked up in the Rule 5 draft although he would likely benefit from a year in AAA. The Coqui had the same issue with Ed Lee last year and, although Lee will get a year in AAA now, he flashed that he has grown from last year's difficult campaign by posting a .750 slugging percentage in the preseason. The Coqui hope to improve Lee's fielding skills by sending him down to Santo Domingo.

PITCHING LOOKS DEEP - The pitching depth did not disappoint in the preseason and the Coqui were faced with some nice-to-have tough decisions. The team is still trying to move swingman Felix Romano and may be considering moving a starting pitcher. For now, Alfredo Valazquez, Dave Parkinson, To-Wai Zhou, Hollywood Hernandez and Atilio Gaivo make up the starting rotation but there were strong challenges from prospects Luis Reyes (2.19 e.r.a.) and Naoki Hayashi (1.53 e.r.a.) and both are expecting to be called up before too long. The bullpen also looked sharp with Jorge Nunez, Jose Gomez, Shawn Marshall, Otis Pearson, Dan Field and Makoto Shimizu all having good springs. Romano had a strong starting outing on April 2 (one hit in four scoreless innings) to avoid the waiver wire. Field, a former 2nd round pick who struggled in his PEBA debut last September, was the team's most impressive reliever although he will likely be limited to being a left-handed specialist for the moment.

GM Mike Best cautioned that the team isn't reading too much into spring training play and that it will likely continue to be evaluating players for at least the first month of the regular season.
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Re: San Juan Coqui 2025 Blog

#7 Post by MikeB »

ATTENDANCE UP AS COQUI JUMP OUT THE GATE

The city of San Juan is abuzz with the team's 9-1 start, its only loss so far a game it led Canton 4-1 going into the 9th. Despite Jorge Nunez botching that game, the next day when he loaded the bases in the top of the 10th with on out, Manager Jesus Gilbert stuck with the closer. Nunez responded with a strike out and ground out and collected a win after light-hitting Min-u Yi of all people collected an RBI single in the bottom of the inning.

The Coqui have had some help. London walked in the go-ahead run and allowed another to score on a passed ball in back-to-back one-run games over the weekend. Nonetheless, there is no doubt the Coqui are hot.

Not surprisingly, attendance for the first homestand was up nearly 4,000 from last year's season average, at 45,008.

NO MORE DREW LITE: Nobody is quite sure what has gotten into Michael Drew. After the 30-year old outfielder made the squad by hitting .457 in the spring, he has followed by hitting .500 with three doubles, a triple and two homers in eight games. In his previous 149 games, Drew had just 3 home runs. When a reporter quipped to Gilbert why Drew only played one game in the opening series, Gilbert scratched his head and chuckled. "I don't know. It was like some force was making me hesitate while filling out the lineup card. I guess I didn't read too much into preseason. Won't be sitting him again for a while though."

FROM THE MINORS: It may be a version of Murderer's Row or maybe Quatros Hombres Jonroneros. The Santo Domingo (AAA) front office is seeking a nickname it can market. They are hitting 3rd through 6th in the batting order. They being Rick Wilson, who hit 47 home runs in AA ball in 2023; Ed Lee, who hit 48 between A ball and the PEBA the same season; Dominican native Jorge Mojica, who has 152 career minor league home runs and another 43 in the PEBA; and Jon Lange, who has 163 in the minors and 8 in the bigs. Wilson has four this season, Lee and Lange three and Mojica two.
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Re: San Juan Coqui 2025 Blog

#8 Post by MikeB »

Valezquez Lost For Season

Investing in a 36-year old pitcher who a month into the season goes down with a season-ending injury is often a death blow for a general manager.

"In this job, you can't worry about things you can't control," San Juan GM Mike Best told a reporter during batting practice Saturday before ending the conversation by walking away.

The Coqui are hoping that four-time all-star Alfredo Velazquez's inflamed shoulder will heal and not be a chronic problem the remainder of his career.

With reliever Jose Gomez out with a torn labrum for four months, San Juan will be relying on two rookies called up from AAA: Luis Reyes and Naoki Hayashi. Both are former first-round picks, Hayashi being first overall in 2020.

The injuries will also be a blow to the marketing department as Velazquez and Gomez are both from the San Juan metro area.

FROM THE MINORS: Rumor is Santurce (AA) pitcher Pedro Alfaro was about to be sent down to Kingston (A) but was thrust into an emergency start first. Three starts and no earned runs later, Alfaro's 23-inning scoreless streak to start the season came to an end this week. The 23-year old flamethrower is now 20-10 with 30 saves over his minor league career. With Santurce having good depth the belief was that he would get more work in A-ball but Alfaro should be holding down the job for a while with Jaguar Suzuki being called up to AAA. The surprising Suzuki, a former first round pick of the former Kawaguchi Federals (WIL), is 16-10, 2.31 as a starter for Santurce after being signed in 2024. Opponents have hit just .231 against him.
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Re: San Juan Coqui 2025 Blog

#9 Post by Sandgnats »

Good Ole Alfredo had a lot of injuries last season. That's why I let him go. Sorry to see him go out like that. Bummer.
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Re: San Juan Coqui 2025 Blog

#10 Post by MikeB »

LONG BALL HAUNTING PARKINSON

While San Juan is pleased to be in first place at this point in the season, there are concerns the pitching staff may not be as strong as hoped. The team is particularly worried about lefty Dave Parkinson who uncharacteristically has been torched by the long ball so far. After a shutout in his first start, he gave up eight home runs over the next three games. He also gave up four in his final start of spring training. He appeared to have settled down May 10 against New Orleans, carrying a 3-1 lead into the 7th until Jack Collins sent him to the showers with a two-run blast. San Juan eventually took back the lead and won the game.

The Coqui also will have a tough decision to make when Michael Drew (.321) comes off the disabled list next week. There are voices in the front office wondering whether claiming Chris Jensen in the Rule 5 draft may have been a mistake but General Manager Mike Best has silenced them by stating that the team will be happy it kept Jensen in a year or two. Still don’t be surprised to see Drew or Jensen in trade discussions.

FROM THE MINORS: Kingston (A) has jumped out to a 14-2 start buoyed by 1B Cesar Herrera (.305, 9 HR), 2B Jaime Juarez (.343) and OF Gary LeClair (.328). The Suns lead the league in e.r.a. led by starters Steven Jackson (4-0, 0.38) and Senechi Kaneko (2-0, 0.45) who have each given up just one earned run this season. Jackson, who had a 37-inning scoreless streak last year at Homer (SA), has an 18-inning scoreless streak going now. While scouting reports were mixed for the lefty, who was a late bloomer at the University of Michigan, the Coqui drafted him in the second round last year and it seems to be paying off.
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Re: San Juan Coqui 2025 Blog

#11 Post by MikeB »

Big Bucks For Beleaguered Baldwin?

There is a front office battle going on in San Juan over what to do with OF Robin Baldwin when he comes off the disabled list in two weeks. General Manager Mike Best would like to move on from what he feels was a mistake not of his making but owner Luis Munoz Rivera has been overheard wondering why he should reward Baldwin with $28 million if the team cuts him, particularly since Baldwin has refused to play in the minor leagues. At issue is an $11.5 million vesting option for 2027 should Baldwin reach 450 plate appearances in 2026. If the team cuts him now, he gets all of it. San Juan would love to pay someone to take him away but so far there have been no suitors for the 33-year old who hit just .208 last season. Over his career Baldwin has hit .257 with a .420 slugging percentage.

FROM THE MINORS: Santo Domingo (AAA) hurler Mito Nomura has a 32-inning scoreless streak going. The 23-year old righty (4-1, 0.65) has allowed just 18 hits in that stretch. Nomura has risen quickly up the minors with a 31-14 record since being drafted in the second round in 2022.
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Re: San Juan Coqui 2025 Blog

#12 Post by MikeB »

San Juan Considering Change to Coqui Chant

With San Juan leading the Imperial League in stolen bases (43) and having about the same number as home runs (42), ballpark officials are considering starting the coqui call after a stolen base rather than after a long ball. The thought it is might disrupt the opposition more.

The considered change is due to Manager Jesus Gilbert having the Coqui jumping around the basepaths this year like…well…their name would attest. Flint Butler leads the team in stolen bases with 11 in 12 chances, more than halfway to his career high of 19; Orlando Reyes is 7 of 7; Michael Drew, whose career high is 8, is 5 of 5; and even cement-footed 39-year old Jose Rivera is 4 of 4. Game play-by-plays also reveal Rivera has been taking extra bases on hits as well.

Only Shigekazu Shimuzu, the team leader last year with 17, hasn’t gotten the message being just 3 of 7 so far. Min-u Yi, who has seen some pinch running action, is also just 5 of 9, his exact total from last year, suggesting perhaps the manager is catching teams off-guard by sending less predictable runners.

FROM THE MINORS: All three active minor league teams continue to lead their divisions, with two entering the all-star break. Sources say GM Mike Best has been most impressed by Santurce (AA) pitching coach Tomas Martinez, who has done well the last two seasons with middling prospects, including Juan Santana being named the organization’s minor league pitcher of the year last year. This year it is the previously thought uncoachable Pedro Alfaro who earned an all-star spot after posting 5-1, 2.05 marks so far.
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Re: San Juan Coqui 2025 Blog - Nunez Saving at All-Star Brea

#13 Post by MikeB »

Nunez Salvaging Coqui Bullpen as Team Hits All-Star Break

While it hasn’t been a good season for two hometown heroes - Alfredo Velazquez and Jose Gomez are both out with injuries – a third San Juan native is enjoying his best season. Not only is Jorge Nunez leading the Imperial League in saves, since April he has only given up ten hits, one walk and two runs in 28 2/3 innings. He has been the savior in a bullpen that outside of Shawn Marshall (6-1, 1.91) has been an adventure.

The starting rotation, however, has been solid and two starting pitchers also earned All-Star honors. To-Wai Zhou (7-2, 2.51) has been the Coqui’s ace this season while Hollywood Hernandez (5-3, 2.72) made the team on the basis of early voting.

Although the team has cooled off from its hot start, there are few concerns outside of the bullpen depth as the team reaches the break. There are some questions from the fan base about how long the team can keep up its clutch hitting, considering San Juan ranks next to last in the IL in home runs, but General Manager Mike Best said he isn’t worried. “We went into the season with the mindset of being pesky on offense and that is what we’ve been. Whatever nine Jesus has put put out there, they've contributed. Even guys who seem to be struggling have still consistently delivered big hits when it counts.”

The latest was third baseman Bob Vollmer, called up for the Kentucky series as reliever Otis Pearson went on the DL and the team didn’t need a full slate of pitchers with the break looming. In his second at bat, Vollmer hit a two-run homer to lead the Coqui to a 2-1 victory.

The biggest surprises this season have been DH Richie Norman (.306, 11 HR) and 24-year old outfielder Dean Walden (.319, .488 slugging pct.).

FROM THE MINORS: The three highest level teams continue to lead their divisions as June closes. Homer (SA) also has a winning record out the gate at 7-5. It’s unclear what the team will do with Robin Baldwin who slugged .750 in his AAA rehab stint. The Coqui could use some additional power but Baldwin has not enamored confidence in the new GM and with the five outfielders on the team performing well, there is no space for him. If the team releases him it will have to pay his vesting option year. So far no takers have emerged to trade for him despite the Coqui offering to pay his salary through 2026.
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Re: San Juan Coqui 2025 Blog

#14 Post by MikeB »

BULLPEN FATE RESTS WITH FOUR ROOKIES


With Shawn Marshall tearing his rotator cuff, the Coqui are going to have to rely on rookies in the bullpen to get them through the stretch run. With five pitchers now on the disabled list San Juan will turn to Luis Reyes, Naoki Hayashi, Yoichibei Suzuki and when he returns at the end of the month, Jose Gomez. Outside of closerJorge Nunez the bullpen had been shaky early in the season until Marshall (6-1, 1.79) stepped up as the setup guy.

“It’s a major blow. No question about it,” said General Manager Mike Best. “We are going to need one of these young arms to emerge.”

Suzuki is not such a young arm at 27 but he will be making his PEBA debut after getting called up to replace Marshall. An unknown when he was signed out of Japan, he has gone 25-13 in two minor league seasons, mostly as a starter.

How the other three will fare is anyone's guess . Reyes (2-2, 4.64), who has been with San Juan since the end of April, has been inconsistent. Hayashi (1-0, 6.30) looked nervous in his initial outings, uncharacteristically having trouble finding the strike zone. However, his last two relief appearances he struck out seven in 5 2/3 innings without allowing a walk or a run. Gomez (0-1, 3.00), the only one who was with the team out of spring training, is still an unknown with just 26 big league innings behind him before going down with a shoulder injury.

TEAM BACK IN GOOD SPIRITS: At his weekly press conference, Best began by joking the Coqui were a team in perfect sync. “Going back to last season, it is apparent we hit together and pitch together but when we slump, we do that as a team as well.” The 2-13 crash at the end of July, including a 1-8 home stand, brought memories of last September’s collapse. Even closer Nunez was not immune. After giving up just six hits and no runs in 16 appearances, he gave up six runs in three outings, blowing a save in one and losing the other two.

FROM THE MINORS: Sixth round hurler John Sullivan has been the best performer from the 2025 draft so far. In five of his 10 starts, three in the SA and two in A ball, he has not given up a run. And he has two no-hitters, one at each level!
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Re: San Juan Coqui 2025 Blog

#15 Post by MikeB »

WILL CAREER YEAR FOR NORMAN BE MET WITH BIG PAYDAY?


At age 31, 1B-DH Richie Norman is having a career year. He is hitting .330, slugging .556 and shares the PEBA's longest hitting streak this season with 20 games. He has been San Juan's best and most consistent hitter all year. If the Coqui don't make the playoffs, however, it might hit extra hard for the fans when they discover the team may not sign Norman to another deal. Norman, currently earning $3.6 million is reportedly asking for a $97 million contract over five years. Negotiations are dead in the water.

Sources say Norman was asking less a short while ago but it was still beyond what San Juan was willing to pay for a 31-year old player who had been coming off a merely serviceable year. The team also was planning to see how well 3B Richard Kelly, who arrived in an early season trade, was going to fit in. Only one slow DH was going to make General Manager Mike Best's renewal list. Norman started the season sitting against lefties but is now firmly locked into the number three spot in the order. Kelly, meanwhile, has been a bust in his transition to the IL and will likely not be offered a deal in arbitration.

The team will have a tough decision to make and a tough explanation to fans if they decide to let the veteran walk.
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