The Daily Jumper - 2030

[MikeB]

Roger Keller Returns Home to PR

San Juan signed 34-year old Puerto Rican native Roger Keller to a one-year $2.8 million deal in what is likely to be the final move of a busy offseason.

Keller’s PEBA career was resurrected in Scotland the last two years after the right hander merged to the World Independent League with Niihama-Shi in 2024. He proved a solid starter for the Claymores although he battled injuries both seasons.

“He’s a guy who has been a bit under the radar,” said Coqui General Manager Mike Best. “But he has a 100 mile-per-hour fastball and an elite wicked curve. And his sinker is big league as well. He’s had some control problems in the distant past but it hasn’t really hurt him in recent years. And he’s been given a clean bill of health.”

Keller is among four players on San Juan’s active roster that grew up on the Island, joining Roberto Salazar, César Herrera and José Gómez. Four other players in the organization are Puerto Rican natives as well.

Keller is one of five professional baseball players to hail from Humacao, a city of 60,000 on the southeast coast. In the late 20th Century both Junior Ortiz and Edwin Nunez were the local rage, both breaking into Major League Baseball in 1982 and exiting together in 1994. The town’s most noted celebrity birth however is actress Rita Moreno.

A heated battle for spots on the pitching staff is expected at spring training. The Coqui have 17 hurlers on the active roster, including seven who started regularly in the PEBA last year and three rookies penciled as potential starters.

[Lions]

Some solid moves for San Juan this offseason, including bringing Pearson back. Never realized Keller was from Puerto Rico!

[MikeB]

2029 PITCHING PREVIEW

While lacking in stars, the Coqui have collected a deep group of pitchers going into spring training and word from inside the front office is that outside of Jose Gomez filling the closer role there are no guarantees as to who will start, set up or make the squad. Here’s a look:

STARTING PITCHING:

Edgardo Diaz - Going 32-9 with a 3.26 e.r.a. the past two seasons, Terror would seem to be the pundits’ pick to top the staff. While that is likely to be the case, if the team feels comfortable about its rotation, the 31-year old could wind up in a key bullpen role.

Masaru Kouki - The 28-year old Kouki appears to have made a successful transition to the big leagues, going 14-4 with a 3.16 e.r.a. last season after suffering some bad luck as a rookie starter (1-6, 3.21). He threw well in a brief 2026 stint as a reliever as well (1.46 e.r.a.) but got buried in AAA with the Neo-Tokyo organization despite little left to prove at that level.

Hou Hao - The 31-year old righty was another who got buried in the minors after a 12-6, 3.34 season with Duluth in 2026. San Juan initially signed him to a make-team-or-be-released deal in 2028 and he made the best of it going 15-12, 3.29, and earning an all-star game appearance. He tailed off the second half of 2028 though and then struggled at times last year, winding up 10-15, 4.31. Despite that, he still gave the Coqui 209 innings and more than 60% of his starts were quality.

Juan Santana - The hard throwing righty struck out 189 batters last year but was also pummeled for a league leading 35 home runs, a year after allowing 34. Nonetheless, his overall numbers were respectable at 12-13, 3.78 and an improvement from 10-16 4.21 in his first full season. While he can pitch deep into games, his fastball might be more useful in a relief role.

Roger Keller - The 34-year old was another reclamation project, although one by the rival Scottish which plucked him from the World Independent League and got two productive seasons from him (13-8, 2.94). He has struggled with injuries, however, and rarely pitched past the middle innings. While he has great stuff for a starter, the Coqui may try to lessen his load by using him in the pen.

Fernando Castro - The Coqui are not quite sure what they have with the moody Castro; the guy who threw a no-hitter in his big league debut or the one who is otherwise 20-24, 4.00, over two seasons. At age 26, this likely will the year the team finds out. Castro has excellent control but lacks a dominant out pitch. He relies mostly on having three equally good pitches to keep hitters guessing. Like Santana, he is also prone to the long ball although his numbers improved last season (30 HR in 2028 to 18).

Pete Scammell - The righty, who had been a closer until reaching AAA, had an impressive rookie season, posting a 2.46 e.r.a. primarily as a starter. However, his lack of decisions (4-3 in 18 starts) indicates his failure to get deep into games. Scammell collected 100 saves in the minors and could be headed for a setup role if the others earn starting berths.

CLOSER

Jose Gomez - Once deemed lazy by the organization, Gomez has emerged as a dominant reliever the past two seasons, striking out 246 and walking just 41 in 206 innings with an arm that doesn’t seem to tire.

SETUP

Otis Pearson - A closer himself with 60 saves the past three seasons, Pearson had an off year in 2029, his e.r.a. ballooning to 3.61.

Gary Walker - Walker emerged as the lefty setup option in his rookie season last year but tailed off late in the year, his e.r.a. winding up at 3.12 in 78 innings.


MIDDLE RELIEF

Marty Bernard, a 27-year old former first round pick who has posted a 3.49 e.r.a. over two seasons in the Coqui pen.

Domingo Vazquez,a 25-year old who converted to relief last year (3.91 in 25 innings) after being a starter in the minors.

THE ROOKIES

Ray Medrano - A a former first round pick who climbed the minors as a relief ace but who the Coqui are likely to experiment with as a starter in AAA to begin the year. Either way, the team will be disappointed if the 24-year old is not in the big leagues by mid-season.

Robby Parker - The only thing that could hinder Tag from making the big leagues (33-11 as a starter thus far in the minors) is his control issues. The team is hoping winter ball helped in that regard.

Jorge Pagan - Climbed the minors quickly but has stalled in AAA. Torn ligaments two years ago hindered his progress but at age 22 he already has 34 starts in AAA. If he hits his stride again, he could be called up quickly.

Toshinobu Nakayama, a 32-year old career minor leaguer (51-20, 2.67 in AAA) who got a brief stint last year in San Juan (3.68 in 15 innings). Coaches seem to want him to have a larger role but the front office is less certain.

Steve Jackson - A former second round pick, Jackpot, now 27, is making a bid for the Show. His fastball and forkball might be good enough for big league relief but his slider and changeup got him in trouble too often as a starter in the minors.

[MikeB]

Coaches Noticing Off Season Improvements

The Coqui coaching staff is raving about 2025 first-round pick Wally Glasser and national scouts have concurred that the 23-year old looks to have taken a big leap in the offseason. Glasser’s flashes over five minor league seasons were brief and he has yet to play his way out of AA ball but is 3-for-6 in spring training thus far and swinging the bat well in practice.

Glasser is a centerfielder and, despite a crowded Coqui outfield, there could be room for him to make the team although it would be an unusual leap. Caspar Gray is the only natural centerfielder in camp and, while the Coqui make the claim he is possibly the top glove man in the league at the position, he can barely hit his weight. The team is hoping to shift free agent signee Kelvin McDonald, a former All-Leather left fielder to center.

“I’d say he is almost a 50 percent better contact hitter than what we saw last year,” San Juan Scouting Director Robert Franklin says of Glasser. “He struck out just 16 times in 498 minor league plate appearances last year but he is placing the ball in hit zones now.”

Asked about other players who have shown improvement, Franklin cited 28-year old outfielder Mike Rose and 26-year old shortstop Roberto Salazar. Rose has struggled to become a regular in the PEBA but did hit .304 platooning against lefties last year. Scouts say he has ironed out a kink in his swing and seems to have bulked up. Salazar’s numbers dropped a bit after being obtained from Canton mid-season but the team is high on him filling the shortstop slot for years to come.

Glasser.png

The conflicting scouting reports for Wally Glasser over his career

[MikeB]

Pagán Seizes Opportunity; Makes Coqui

Jorge Pagán will be missing the boat to the Dominican Island with his Tourist teammates this week. The 22-year old unexpectedly made the Coqui roster after a brilliant spring. After allowing just one hit in four innings of relief, the right hander got a shot in the rotation and gave up just two earned runs in 12 innings.

Pagan appeared to be a phenom two years ago, climbing to the AAA level at age 20 but tore a ligament in his elbow at the end of the 2028 season. Coaches say he worked hard to get back to form. Prior to his injury he was listed as the #51 prospect.

He also caught a break when the Coqui placed Pete Scammell on the DL for just a mild calf strain. It meant Scammell would miss the first week of the season, putting a pitching slot up for grabs, at least for one turn of the rotation.

Some other Spring Training positives:

*The Coqui need a repeat season from Bob Vollmer, who after five subpar seasons emerged as a solid 3-4-5 slugger last year (.292, .331, .441). The third baseman hinted 2029 wasn’t a fluke, hitting .431 with seven doubles in 58 at bats.

*There are some who believe 28-year old outfielder Mike Rose is poised for a bigger season, a hope that has been attached to him before. Rose slugged .676 for the spring.

*San Juan appears to have a centerfielder in waiting after 23-year old Toju Samurakami hit .294 this spring. A two-time college all-star and three-time college playoff series MVP, the former second-round pick hasn’t disappointed in the minors either, hitting well for average and power.

The negatives:

*After a promising rookie season that at times saw him in the cleanup spot, Kelsey van Wingerden hit a mere .176 with one extra base hit.

*Not a guy particularly noted for playing hard when it doesn’t count, Fernando Castro posted a 9.00 e.r.a. this spring. It means he will be starting what the Coqui consider a make or break year in the bullpen. One silver lining was that he looked better in his last start.

[MikeB]

Veteran Torres Waived

With heavy hearts, San Juan this week waived 37-year old Francisco Torres who is unlikely to return to the team. In his three seasons in San Juan, Torres compiled OBPs of .338, .355 and .347 while stealing 62 bases in 75 attempts. Despite declining speed as he aged, the Coqui let him loose on the basepaths; he had only 55 steals in his previous six seasons.

Alas, that declining speed was more noticeable in his outfield range and the Coqui opted to keep 33-year old Flint Butler, another declining fielder, as its left-handed DH. Butler also offers more line drive power.

The team also has another comparable left-handed hitter in Jack Speed who had a good spring (.367, .459, .567). Speed is designated as the backup at first and third base.

“Francisco was one of our most consistent batters the past three seasons,” said General Manager Mike Best. “We knew everyday what we were going to get from him. It’s tough to cut a guy still contributing - his batting average actually increased each season with us - but we’ve got a deep and younger outfield on the rise.”

Over 9 PEBA seasons, Torres has a .271 average and a .342 on-base percentage. However, his slugging has diminished over the years. He hit between 20 and 22 doubles each season for San Juan, down from his career-high 41 in 2023

San Juan should be better defensively in the outfield without the temptation to put Torres or Butler there but it will still fall short of the team’s philosophy of strong defense. Kelvin McDonald is adjusting to being moved to center and doesn’t have the strongest arm. The regulars to his left and right will be solid but none are All-Leather material. Expect Caspar Gray to get a lot of late inning action, sometimes coming in as pinch runner.

[MikeB]

Hao Injury Opens Door for a Rookie

Hou Hao has given the Coqui an average of 215 innings the past two years but his 2030 season ended after just 53 pitches. A partially torn UCL takes seven months to heal.

The hole in the starting rotation will almost certainly be filled by a rookie even after Pete Scammell returns from injury rehab in AAA. Jorge Pagán is the man now but he looked jittery in his big league debut. Keith Dupree is emerging as the leading candidate to challenge Pagán after going 2-0, 1.38 in his first AAA action. Robby Parker got a look in spring training but was merely average due to struggles to find the plate. He has a 2.31 e.r.a. in his first two AAA starts (he went 10-6, 3.66 last season). The outside shot is Ray Medrano, who has been more effective as a reliever in the minors. Medrano looked sharp in spring training but came down with a sore shoulder, limiting his chance to make the roster. All are 24 years old except Pagán who is 22.

The general belief in the front office is that all four are a year away; Medrano has yet to pitch at the AAA level and Dupree has just the two starts. But it is hoped that one will develop quicker.

As for the bullpen, it looks promising out of the gate as the top five guys out of the pen have thrown 14 scoreless innings thus far, allowing five hits and three walks while collecting 13 strike outs.

[MikeB]

Elbow Issues Sideline Starting Pitching

Less than a month into the season the San Juan’s starting pitching staff is getting hit hard by injuries and, judging by dropping attendance figures, the season’s hope is fading with fans.

After Hou Hao torn his UCL in his first start and was lost for the season, San Juan’s number one, Edgardo Diaz, went down April 20th with bone chips in his elbow. He’s expected to be out until June.

Pete Scammell also missed the start of the season with a calf strain and then left his third start with a sore elbow April 22nd after throwing just six pitches. Scammell hasn’t lasted deep into games in his other two starts either but has a 1.00 e.r.a. this season nonetheless.

The rest of the staff hasn’t shown the same promise. The starting staff e.r.a. now ranks 14th in the Imperial League.

The hitters haven’t bailed the team out either. Despite some impressive slugging in the first half of the lineup the team ranks 11th in the IL in runs scored.

After getting swept at home in a four game series with Havana, attendance dropped to the teens for the remaining four games of the homestand.

From the Minors: Outfielder Alberto Moran, a 2027 fourth round pick, has been lighting it up in Santurce (AA) hitting .355 with seven home runs and eight doubles this month. The Puerto Rican native has shown flashes in the past including 31 home runs over two partial seasons in A ball and he spent just 13 games in SA before being promoted with a .364 batting average.

[MikeB]

Unlikely Stars in Nine Game Streak

In just over a week San Juan erased its dreadful start, riding a nine-game win streak to climb from fourth to second to now sit at 21-23.

Among the leaders of this turnaround has been rookie starting pitcher Keith Dupree who has won his last three starts (now 3-2, 2.25 since his April 19 debut). Dupree, a 29th overall pick in 2027 who had fallen in the draft due to an injury that kept him out for that season, has been consistent throughout his pro career and his move up to the PEBA proved no exception. He has pitched at least six innings in his last five starts. And he went five but allowed just one earned run in his PEBA debut.

At the plate the unlikely hero has been 31-year old veteran Jack Speed who has a nine-game hitting streak of his own going. Speed, known more for his ability to draw walks, has hit .444 over the streak with nine RBI and six stolen bases. Speed has taken over from the slumping Bob Vollmer at third base, at least against right-handed pitching. Speed lacks the glove acumen of Vollmer but it hasn’t been a noticeable issue yet.

The Coqui are running wild on the basepaths leading the Imperial League with 91 steals. In contrast they have just 28 home runs, which ranks 13th in the league.

FROM THE MINORS: Santurce (AA) starting pitcher Barney Stone had a 34 1/3 scoreless inning streak ended after giving up a leadoff homer in the fifth inning against Beaufort May 19. Stone still managed to collect the win, his fifth in five starts and is 7-1, 1.40 on the season. The 24-year old was a 2nd round pick in 2027.

The streak is bested by teammate Mike Parker who has yet to give up a run this season in 36 1/3 innings. Parker threw 27 of those as a starter with Kingston (A) before moving up to Santurce where he has thrown 9 1/3 in relief. He's been dominant out of the pen, allowing just three hits while striking out 16 and walking just one.

The 23-year old Parker, who went undrafted before signing with San Juan in July, 2028, has drawn accolades since he joined the organization. He went a respectable 4-4, 3.17, as a starter with Homer (SA) in 2028 and was 7-3, 2.84, as as swingman with Kingston last year.

[MikeB]

Coqui Off and Running Again

The Coqui are 25-12 since May 10 and, after going 5-2 against wild card rivals Hartford and Charlestown this past week, have climbed within a game-and-a-half of the race. The only two series lost in the past five weeks has been to playoff contenders Florida and West Virginia.

Led by a breakout year from 26-year old shortstop Roberto Salazar (.303), San Juan has leaped to the league lead in stolen bases (150). Mike Rose has hit .356 in June to climb to .313 for the season, Jack Speed is getting on base at a .418 clip and the banged up starting pitching has quality starts in 12 of the last 14 games. And in one of those Juan Santana pitched seven shutout innings before giving up five runs in garbage time.

“We’re starting to see our identity emerge,” says Manager Sergio Manetti . “We had a lot of new faces and, with the heavy platooning we do, we are just starting to see who can do what.”

Righty Fernando Castro , who many believe was in a make-or-break year, was in the doghouse after spring training but has gone at least seven innings in his last six outings, spacing out just eight runs. He is 4-3, 2.07 since reclaiming a spot into the starting rotation.

“There was a gut feeling it could be Castro’s year. It’s really up to him,” said one scout of the general appraisal in front office meetings.

Three top three calls out of the bullpen, José Gómez , Otis Pearson and Marty Bernard , have e.r.a.’s under 2.00. And Gary Walker's e.r.a. in May and June is a mere 0.86 to drop to 2.43.

“This was no surprise,” said General Manager Mike Best. “We felt pretty deep there. People forget Marty was once a first round draft pick.”

As for where improvement can come, the main weakness has been catcher where three-time all-star Jesús Negrete appears to have hit a wall at age 34 hitting .146 with noticeable weakened defense. Ju-Chan Park (.196) hasn’t been much better at the plate. Catching is a problem for the organization all the way down to rookie league where a 16-year old is slated to be the starter.

FROM THE MINORS:
Former college superstar Toju Samurakami, now 23, had struggled since being called up to AAA late last season after proving himself in the lower ranks with .303 and .292 seasons respectively. He’s turned it around in the month of June with .478, .538, .609 numbers.

Twenty-three year old António Ávila, a former first round pick with a better change up than fastball, has won four straight starts to move his record to 8-1, 1.56 at Kingston (A) while 22-year old Jorge Pagán is 5-0 in his last seven starts, dropping his e.r.a. from 5.68 to 2.22 at Santo Domingo (AAA).

[MikeB]

Trainer Under Fire in San Juan

A herniated disc, a torn UCL, another ongoing elbow issue, a strained hamstring and a dead arm. The joke in San Juan is that trainer Annan Mathaathi can field a better starting pitching rotation than manager Sergio Manetti.

Mathaathi’s specialty is in preventing and healing arms, which, if it wasn’t, could be putting his job in jeopardy. “The issue isn’t a training one,” said one front office insider. “It’s simply bad luck.”

Nonetheless, Pete Scammell (3-1, 1.83) has been cleared to return to action twice this season, only to have his elbow flare up again. And popular talk radio host, Alfredo Bocazas, raised the question this week that there clearly must be a disconnect in evaluation or communication going on inside the team.

A bright spot is the rookies that have had to step in have, for the most part, looked good. Keith Dupree, whose dead arm may only cost him one start, is 7-5, 3.56 as a starter and Jorge Pagán, who was blasted in his lone start, has looking calmer in relief (6 2/3 innings, one run, eight strikeouts).

COQUI CONTINUE THEFT PACE:
The Coqui continue to lead the PEBA in stolen bases (231) opening up a large lead on every team except Crystal Lake (222). Roberto Salazar and Roberto Martinez are leading the Imperial League with 57 and 53 steals respectively. For Martinez it is a career high. But neither match the efficiency of Jack Speed who is getting on base at a .409 clip and is 28 of 29 on the basepaths. Since 2026, Speed has swiped 134 bases and been caught just eight times.

FROM THE MINORS:
Ray Medrano, the 11th overall pick in the 2027 draft, wasn’t ready for prime-time this season and had been only moderately effective as a starter this year in AAA. But since moving to the closer role has thrown 11 1/3 scoreless innings while striking out 18 and walking just one. Medrano is widely expected to be on the major league roster next season.

António Ávila, another first round pick, has thrown 24 consecutive scoreless innings and won 10 of his last 11 starts for Kingston (A) (he left one game after throwing only one inning). He is now 14-1, 1.16, both tops in the Amber Waves. In his last six starts he has given up just two runs, one on a home run, while striking out 34 and walking just three. The 23-year old throws in the sub-90s but has kept hitters off balance with a wicked change-up and an improving curveball.

[MikeB]

San Juan Adds Pitcher at Deadline

It wasn’t the boldest trade deadline move: a 32-year old coach-killing AAA hurler, a year removed from a back injury, and whose best pitch is an off-speed one.

But word out of the Coqui front office is that the team wasn’t willing to give too much to make a wild card push this year. Not with low funds. Not with six teams vying for two spots. And not when it feels next season the team will be more competitive.

That San Juan has a history of falling apart late in the season team officials claim had nothing to do with it.

With injuries hammering the San Juan pitching staff, Wil Garza , obtained from Bakersfield for a sixth round pick, undoubtedly could help the back of the pen and, in the cavernous confines of PRTC Stadium, maybe even get a few starts in. Garza has not pitched in the big leagues since 2028 but is 16-13 with a 3.18 e.r.a. over 75 PEBA games. An independent leagues signee by Palm Springs in 2026, Garza’s only other action is AAA ball where he is 26-7, 2.42, primarily as a starter.

While Garza certainly is deserving of another shot, he could soon be crunched by the numbers again. San Juan feels it is loaded with pitching prospects that will soon be vying for the major league roster. At least the team has to believe so because if those arms don’t pan out, the team is in for the 2030s looking like the lost years of the 2020s.

San Juan’s bullpen goes four deep right now with stopper José Gómez (2.00, 19 saves) supplemented by Otis Pearson (1.86, 8 saves), Gary Walker (2.51) and Marty Bernard (2.95). But with injuries, the back of the pen hasn’t fared as well. It was hoped former first rounder Ray Medrano would make the jump to the PEBA this year but he has been hammered in two call-ups. Twenty-two year old rookie Jorge Pagán has been better in relief (0.69 e.r.a. in 13 innings) but is 0-3, 11.12 as a starter.

[MikeB]

Large Bullpen/Starter Disparity in San Juan

Juggling injuries to the starting rotation this season, the Coqui could use someone to step up but the contenders thus far have had trouble getting their head into the game early.

The starting vs. bullpen disparities have been stark this year. Newcomer Will Garza is the latest in a long line of failed starters posted a 8.71 e.r.a. in two starts but has since pitched scoreless ball over four innings of relief. Jorge Pagán has a 11.40 e.r.a. in four starts but is 0.47 in 19 innings of relief. Cristián Contreras was pummeled in one start but is 3.04 as a reliever since June. Roger Keller was the best plug-in before going down with a torn flexor tendon but not by much. He went 4.63 in six starts while being far more effective in relief (2.19).

San Juan even rolled out stopper José Gómez for one start and he gave up three runs on nine hits in five-plus innings; a far cry from his 1.74 mark as a reliever.

Word is the Coqui considered moving Pete Scammell, who has struggled with an elbow injury since spring training, to the pen to preserve him but Scammell has been brilliant as a starter (5-1, 1.85) although he has made it to the 7th inning in just two of his 13 starts.

Injuries Continue to Pile Up
A 6-1 week has left San Juan four games out of the wild card with just over a month to play. But injuries continue to mount with outfielders joining pitchers on the disabled list.
Mike Rose’s fine season (.301) has been halted by a herniated disc while Kelvin McDonald has been shelved for the moment due to a strained rib can muscle. Both could be back by mid-September. The burden has fallen on Roberto Martinez but Fudd is operating at 29% now according to trainer metrics.

Rookie centerfielder Wally Glasser will make his debut this week. Glasser began the season in AA (.298, 33 steals) before getting a brief look in AAA (.300, 18 steals) where he suffered a herniated disc that kept him out for five weeks.

[Lions]

Pete Scammell needs a nickname

[MikeB]

Salazar Emerges as Elite Leadoff Hitter

Puerto Rico native Roberto Salazar is at the top of reasons for San Juan’s late season playoff surge, The 27-year old has likely just had the best six weeks of his career as he makes a case for being among the league’s top leadoff men. Since Aug. 1, the shortstop who fans call Dracula has has hit .325 and posted a .416 OBP.

In fact, Salazar has reached base in 38 of his last 40 games, including all 13 of his games in September. And the last time he was held hitless/walkless, Aug. 28, he drove in the game winning run with an eighth-inning sacrifice fly.

His 90 stolen bases this season is the sixth best ever in a PEBA season and he is likely to catch two guys ahead of him who had 93. Clarence Carpenter, who also has 93 this year to lead the majors, holds the all-time mark at 114.

McDonald Still Out
Kelvin McDonald remains unable to play from a rib cage muscle he strained on Aug. 14 and he is over a week past his expected return. Manager Sergio Manetti said the hope is that McDonald is cleared for pinch hit duty in five days and that he would be slated to start against lefties although the Coqui are not projected to face any late this week.

In his absence, Manetti has been leaning more on rookie Wally Glasser who has hit .296 since being called up in late August. Glasser has taken at bats away from veteran Flint Butler who is likely on his way out after disappointing year (.227, .304) and Kelsey van Wingerden who is experiencing a sophomore slump (.394 slugging) after a promising rookie season (.507). Standout defensive center fielder Caspar Gray (21 SBs, 2nd in IL in def. eff.) tends to get the call when fly ball pitchers Juan Santana (10-9, 4.37) and Fernando Castro (8-6, 4.11) are on the mound.

Bonilla Waking Up?
What San Juan could really use in the last 12 games as it stands one game back from the wild card is for first basemen Luis Bonilla to start hitting again. Bonilla’s batting average plummeted from .263 in 2029 to .212 this season and his extra base hits are down from 74 to 47. And while his 26 home runs lead the team, they don’t come often enough to warrant batting him at the top half of the order.

However, Bonilla has hit .279 in September so far. One change made two weeks ago is that the team, which has been using the hit and run heavy this season, decided to have Bonilla be more choosy at the plate. Advice came from a scout who said Bonilla can post a respectable batting average if more patient.