COQUI - SEASON END EVALUATION
BRIGHT SPOTS – San Juan improved from 2024 by winning 12 more games as the team batting average went up 31 points but the squad still fell short of a playoff berth. Injuries took their total with one week in September featuring a cast of AAA players and new signees in the starting lineup.DH-1B Richie Norman (.299, 25 HR) was the team’s most consistent offensive performer.
Twenty-four year old OF Dean Walden proved himself. He was streaky but hard to argue with final numbers of .309, .331, .497.
It was noticeable the two times LF Flint Butler went down with injuries. The free agent signee fit in well at the top of the order hitting .290 with a .346 on-base average. His stolen base total (27 in 33 attempts) was easily a career high for the 28-year old.
To-wai Zhou (13-7, 2.91) was a leading Golden Arm candidate through July but tailed off at the end of the season.
Jorge Nunez (38 saves, 2.39) was unhittable for much of the season but did lose concentration for a stretch in July.
BIGGEST DISAPPOINTMENT – The team believed it was rich in pitching coming out of spring training but all of the youngsters- Luis Reyes, Otis Pearson, Naoki Hayashiand Jose Gomez – proved inconsistent. The first three are former PEBA first rounders while Gomez was a top 11 prospect at one point. When Nunez was not available, the pen blew as many games (11) as it saved.
FUTURE OUTLOOK – Norman is unlikely to be resigned before free agency begins as General Manager Mike Best is reluctant to commit big bucks long term to a 31-year old first baseman. The team also is not expected to submit an arbitration offer to 3B Richard Kelly. Even with those two off the books, however, the team lacks the funds to make a splash in free agency. It is likely that it will tread water for another season and try build in the draft.