The Toyama Wind Dancers Blog

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Leones
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Re: The Toyama Wind Dancers Blog

#31 Post by Leones »

Enjoyed reading this team overview :clap:
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Re: The Toyama Wind Dancers Blog

#32 Post by Wind Dancers »

It’s Not THAT Bad
April 24, 2028
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We are three weeks into the 2028 season and the Wind Dancers sit at the bottom of the Rising Sun with a 7-13 record. Despite the harrowing record, Toyama hasn’t played THAT bad in their current situation. Three players coming off of long-term injuries, the team’s closer going down for the year, and a transition of talent already set low expectations for 2028. While the poor record can be blinding, it’s important to look at the entirety of the organization and the individual play.

The Story so Far

The 2028 season has down exactly how you would expect looking at the schedule. Winning series against Kalamazoo & Canton while dropping a few against Shin Seiki, Palm Springs, Okinawa, and Duluth. Upcoming games against Yuma and Bakersfield will round out April, both opportunities to grab a few more wins. Toyama has stood out across the league in a few facets of play, including being ranked 1st within the SL in Bullpen ERA (1.56) and Stolen Bases (30).

The Standouts

LF Ramiro Salinas
“Footloose” has taken his 2nd season by storm and is doing so all across the board. The 25-year-old is hitting .313 with 4 HR’s, 8 RBI’s, and 7 multi-hit games in April while batting in the #2 spot. Along with his success at the plate, Salinas has also provided 7 SB’s and a whopping 44 Total Bases (4th in the SL). As one of the future faces of Toyama, Salinas is quickly becoming a fan favorite.

1B Dwight Carver
Driving in runs was a big issue in 2027 but Carver has been a stop-gap to that problem this season. Despite only hitting .224, Carver has 5 HR’s and 16 RBI’s making the biggest run producer on the team. His 5 doubles and 37 total bases have made his inconsistent ability at the plate worth it so far. With a front 3 of Juarez, Salinas, and Ishikawa, Carver has played perfectly into his clean-up role.

RP Kyuso Yoshida
After CL Dan Ross went down for the season with an injury, Yoshida has very much filled the role of consistent closer. Despite not earning a save yet, Yoshida has a solid 1.42 ERA and is currently averaging 1.9 BB/9, 9.9 K/9, and has yet to give up a home run in 6.1 innings of relief. Yoshida leads an overperforming bullpen that has provided some much-needed stress relief in late innings.

On the Farm

AAA Yokohama Plumbers
The Plumbers saw an influx of veteran talent join this offseason as Toyama looked to beef up their depth in case of injury. In the tough RML Pacific division, Yokohama has started a bit flat going 10-9 in the first few weeks of the season. SP John Gillard leads the way with a 0.33 ERA across four starts, which equates to 1 run in 27.1 innings. RF Nakazo Oka, formerly of Neo-Tokyo, has flashed in veteran status hitting .280 with 5 doubles. Oka has also been busy on the base paths swiping 6 bases having not been caught yet.

AA Beppu City
In the resort city of Beppu, the Pandas have hit the ground running leading the league with a 15-4 record. 2B Bernardo Alvarado (#78 prospect) picked up where he left off last year with a .365 OBP and 3 SB’s on the season. Starting pitchers Silvio Bolt, Daichi Chishu, and Tadanobu Yamasaki have a combined 13 runs allowed across 76.5 innings resulting in the lowest ERA and runs allowed in the league.

A Takaoka
The Shiko started their season this past week going 4-2. 1B Francisco Alejandrez hit .421/.542 while SP Tsurayuki Harada threw 8 scoreless innings in his Single-A debut.
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Re: The Toyama Wind Dancers Blog

#33 Post by Vic »

Courage, Wind Dancers faithful! Root for “Footlose” and lose your blues!*




*Gratuitous ‘80s reference.
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Re: The Toyama Wind Dancers Blog

#34 Post by Fishermen »

15-4 record lol? Our boys in the Hartford organisation can only dream of such a glorious total :lol:
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Re: The Toyama Wind Dancers Blog

#35 Post by Wind Dancers »

‘Fudd’ Enters the Fray
April 24, 2028
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Trade whispers were echoing around Toyama last night with word that the Wind Dancers were eyeing up a deal that would send a handful of prospects out of Toyama. Those whispers became fruition this morning when Toyama finalized a deal for Aurora OF Roberto ‘Fudd’ Martinez. Fudd, as well as OF Lawrence Justice will cross the Pacific while OF Howard Joyce, P Henry Cluett, and P Pedro Morales go the other way.

‘Fudd’ was a first-round draft pick in 2023 by the Borealis but has struggled to break into a full-time role for the powerhouse Aurora. Splitting time between AAA and PEBA for the past 2 years, Fudd has had mixed results ranging from a .358 OBP in AAA across 85 games and a .256 OBP during that same year in PEBA. With a plethora of talent ahead of him in Aurora, it was difficult for Fudd to get a full season to show his stuff.

Toyama had been sniffing around for some additional help at the plate, something they have struggled with last year, and Fudd was the exact type of player they were looking for. At only 26, Fudd fits into the goal of a younger roster and the hope is a full-time role will allow him to finally find some consistency and elevate his game. Fudd’s raw talent is clear as day, a potential 5-tool player on a good day and his speed is elite. Solid contact and power could be unleashed in the hitter-friendly Castle of Cagliostro and his cannon arm with fit into right field where there has been a serious lack of production. The corner combo of Martinez/Salinas could be very dangerous in a few seasons.

Henry Cluett and Pedro Morales were both highly touted prospects within the league, but sometimes those types of prospects become bargaining pieces. With the team desperately needing a young hitter, Cluett and Morales became casualties to fill that need. Howard Joyce, who recently arrived from Shin Seiki, was also swapped in the deal for a similar, yet older, Lawrence Justice. Justice has a similar outlook as Joyce but with a proven track record as a platoon outfielder, Justice will bring some additional depth to the Toyama organization.
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Re: The Toyama Wind Dancers Blog

#36 Post by Borealis »

This may turn into one of those trades that truly fills both team's needs - we'll have to check back in come 2031...
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Re: The Toyama Wind Dancers Blog

#37 Post by Wind Dancers »

Ken Thomson Traded
April 24, 2028
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In what has been a busy day in the Toyama front office, the Wind Dancers have announced a deal that will send pitcher Ken Thompson head south to rivals Shin Seiki. The announcement was initially met with surprise, not because of the trade itself rather the team is he going to. Thompson was the 30th overall draft pick back in 2021 who eventually broke into PEBA in 2024. In his 4 years with the team, Thompson spent much of the second half on the DL with a series of back and elbow injuries that include surgery to remove bone chips last June. He has a career 28-16 record along with a 4.01 ERA while splitting time as a starter and relief option. Thompson has had a hot start to 2028 sporting a 1.99 ERA in his first four starts, but the question has been if/when the chronic injuries will flame up again.

Heading to Toyama in the trade is RP Yaichiro ‘Kiwi’ Ohayashi, 2B Shuji Suzuki, and a 5th round pick in the upcoming draft.

Ohayashi, originally from Miyakonojo, Miyagi Prefecture, was a highly touted reliever who was recruited by the renowned Hoorn Schooners in the Netherlands. He was drafted 53rd overall in 2021 which saw him return to his home country to play in the Ovas organization. Despite not quite hitting is expected ceiling, Ohayashi still has the opportunity to step up and improve in the Toyama pen. Much of his 2027 season was spent in AA where he had a 1.93 ERA over 32.2 innings. His raw stuff isn’t much to write home about, but his control and the movement on his pitches could make him a consistent option in the near future.

Shuji Suzuki is also from the Miyagi prefecture having grown up in Miyazaki (now known as the Kami District). Suzuki is an OBP heavy second baseman who can also play at first confidently. Originally drafted by the Morioka Aeros in 2022, Suzuki went on to bounce around Long Beach, Kuwana, Kure, Marseille, and Manchester before settling in the minors of Shin Seiki. His plus power and eye offset his below average contact, but a hitter-friendly ballpark could benefit Suzuki down the road.
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Re: The Toyama Wind Dancers Blog

#38 Post by Wind Dancers »

Nine in a Row
June 2, 2028
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The PEBA draft is less than a week away and we are in the heart of the PEBA season. With low expectations heading into the 2028 season, May was not looking like the month to pick up wins with series against some of the best teams in the Sovereign League. But even the worst team can get hot at the right time which can lead to a few surprises. The Wind Dancers have been red-hot in the 2nd half of the month already taking 2 off of Shin Seiki, winning two series against Fargo, and winning 2 of 3 against Aurora.

The final week in May saw the Wind Dancers travel to Crystal Lake for a 4 game series against the ‘Gnats. Game 1 was nothing short of a marathon covering 20 innings and essentially giving fans 2 games for the price of 1. Since his shaky start to the year, starter Dylan McIntosh has pitched well as of late and his form continued throwing 7 innings and giving up 1 run while walking 0. ‘Footloose’ and ‘Fudd’ lead the way with a combined 6 hits and 7 walks including a key 2-run single from Salinas in the 7th. As the 2-2 game stretched into extras, it was Katai Nomura who broke the deadlock in the 20th driving in Salinas to make it 3-2 which is how it ended.

Game 2 against the Gnats again went to extras, pushing 14 innings before finally wrapping up. Ivan Juarez went 3 for 8 as he continued to find his form, but it was Okikura Ishikawa who stole the show going 3 for 4 with a HR (6) and 4 RBI’s. SS Edison Terry also provided a multi-hit game to put away the Gnats. SP John Gillard, filling in for injured pitchers, surprised again holding his own and only giving up 3 runs over 5.1 innings. Yaichiro Ohayashi (1-1) earned his first win as a Wind Dancer since joining from the Evas last month.

Game 3 was the first of the series to last the intended 9 innings as the Wind Dancers’ bats came alive in a 9-5 win. DH Willie Edmonds hit his team-leading 10th HR and drove in 5 to earn player of the game. Catcher Michinaga Ueda, who starts lefties, went 2 for 5 with a 2 HR’s (5) while RF Ivan Rosa also hit one out of the park (2). SP Clayton Lewis pitched 6.2 innings giving up 3 runs and striking out 4. Toyama ended May with a 15-14 record.

The final game of the set kicked off June as Toyama finished off Crystal Lake 6-3. The sweep extended Toyama’s win streak to 9 games and showed off another great performance by some of the younger Wind Dancers. LF Ramiro Salinas went 3 for 5 pushing his batting average up to .270 on the season. ‘Footloose’ also stole his 20th base of the season, of which he is now tied for 4th in the SL. Francois Gosselin was solid on the mound throwing 7.2 innings and giving up 3 runs. Home Runs continue to be an issue, giving up 2, but his 6 K’s and 2 BB’s are valuable enough.

Minor League Highlights

SP Shinobu Takeuchi began his rehab program in AAA Yokohama as he recovers from elbow inflammation. Takeuchi has had major injury issues over the past few seasons and the Wind Dancers are easing him back into play and they remain cautious with his health. Toyama’s 2nd all-time in innings pitched threw 2.2 scoreless innings in relief racking up 3 K’s.

CF Guang Lui (A), of the Toyama’s brightest prospects, had a great week going 7 for 17 with 2 HR’s (2) and 6 RBI’s (13). Lui has had a slow start since the call-up to Takaoka but has recently started to find his form. The CF spent time with the Wind Dancers in the spring who hope he becomes a real force at CF.
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Re: The Toyama Wind Dancers Blog

#39 Post by Wind Dancers »

Toyama Signs Veteran Higgins
June 2, 2028
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The Wind Dancers announced this morning the signing of second baseman Duane Higgins to a 1-year contract. The 36-year-old was last seen playing for San Juan in 2027 and is set to replace Carlos Marino who has been sent down to AAA Yokohama.

Duane Higgins is best known for his 6 seasons with the Manchester Maulers between 2018-2023. During that time, Higgins made the all-star team (2020,2022,2023) and racked up a 14.9 WAR in those six seasons. His tendencies floated around 15 HR’s a year while hitting around .285. During his time in Manchester, Higgins played at every infield position and was praised for his versatility.

After it had been announced that the Maulers would be leaving the PEBA, Higgins was drafted in the 2023 contraction draft by Arlington. Higgins continued his production for the ‘Crats hitting a career-high 18 home runs in 2023. Following the 2024 season, Higgins had received a lot of interest and with his contract expiring, opted to test free agency.

Free Agency paid off when Higgins signed a $61million contract to join San Juan for 3 years. But while Higgins was warmly welcomed, is production began to decline in the pitcher-friendly PRTC Stadium in San Juan. Higgins hit a low .258 with a low.305 OBP in 2025, but was able to set career highs in doubled (34) and RBI’s (72). In 2026, injuries began to ail the then 34-year-old. Just weeks into the regular season, Higgins broke his left kneecap, sidelining him for 4 months. Higgins returned but was shutdown again in late September with back spasms. All-in-all, Higgins finished the year with just 202 plate appearances and a .202 batting average. He returned to a healthy season in 2027 but the time off and general regression nagged at him all season. In 128 games Higgins hit .226 and only managed 5 HRs and 42 RBI’s. But with a desperate need at 2B for the Wind Dancers, Higgins gets another shot.

Higgins is widely expected to replace Carlos Marino in the lineup after the 24-year-old has struggled to adapt to PEBA level baseball. Marino has played in 100 games over the past 2 seasons including the starting gig this season. But he has failed to hit over .180 and his flexibility is better suited to a platoon role that Katai Nomura currently occupies. Marino will spend some time in AA to determine whether he can again try to make the difficult jump into the PEBA.
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Re: The Toyama Wind Dancers Blog

#40 Post by Vic »

Enjoyed learning about Higgins - someone to root for going forward!
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Re: The Toyama Wind Dancers Blog

#41 Post by Wind Dancers »

2028 Draft
June 7, 2028
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In the darkened draft room at PEBA HQ, Toyama selected it’s 2028 class of draftees as Hurricane John petered out over Asheville, North Carolina. Toyama executives lead by GM Dylan Krupilis selected their 16 players in what has been a much-anticipated draft year. Now the question becomes which of these new Wind Dancers will we see wearing the red & gold of their parent club in the coming years.

Round 1 - Pick 7 (7th Overall)
SP Zenko Okada - Meiji University

Okada was drafted out of the famous Meiji University after putting up career numbers in his senior season. The 2-time college all-star is known for his flashy, strikeout-heavy pitching style and for his academic excellence. After missing half of his freshman season with Tommy John surgery, Okada came firing back and silenced any doubt about his health. In his 4 years with the Troika, Okada through 222.2 innings and maintained a 1.74 ERA with a 10.3 K/9 as a starter. The 6’7” Hirakata, Osaka native will stay in Japan with a projected $2.6million signing bonus.

Round 2 - Pick 6 (40th Overall)
RF Okakura Tomita - Aoyama Gakuin University

Okakura Tomita comes in as the 2nd Toyama pick behind some solid college stats. Despite a poor junior year after going down with a torn meniscus, Tomita has a resume worth such a high pick. Over the past 4 years, Tomita has racked up a .301 batting average and 38 home runs in 166 games. Hailing from Arao, Kumamoto Prefecture, Tomita has plus power potential and has been commended by former coaches for his willingness to put in extra work to improve. 2 all-star appearances and a Glove Wizard award in RF underline Tomita’s impressive potential. He is expected to sign with a signing bonus just under 600k.

Round 3 - Pick 6 (74th Overall)
SP Juan Encarnacion - Canuck HS

Quiet & raw are two ways of describing Encarnacion, but the talent ceiling for this 18-year-old gave a reason for Toyama to swipe him up in the 3rd round. High school picks are always a risk, hoping that an extended stay in Short-A will be enough to help these young talented guys hit their peak. Despite his calm demeanor, Encarnacion is electrifying on the mound averaging 12.2 K/9 in his four years of high school. Questions have been raised regarding his ability to keep the ball in the park and keep pitches in the strike zone, but he can dial things up like the best of them. Encarnacion will rely on his forkball and slider as out pitches and is projected to sign for just over $300k.

Round 4 - Pick 6 (91st Overall)
SP Hachemon Suzuki - Hoorn HS

Suzuki is a risky pick, with many experts expecting him to attend college. After consistent improvement throughout high school, Suzuki regressed a bit in his senior year struggling with command. If he develops, Suzuki is an end of the rotation starter but his dedication to learning the game means anything can happen. Suzuki, as mentioned before, is widely expected to turn down any Toyama offer.

Round 5 - Pick 7 (117th Overall)
3B Neal ‘Bullet’ Roach - Marshall University

A controversial pick, Toyama selected defensive wiz Neal Roach with their first 5th round pick. Roach played 4 years at Union City HS before going undrafted in the 2025 PEBA draft. He then joined Marshall but failed to play in a single game during the 2025 season and only played in 3 games the year after that. Roach finally got a run as a starter this past season only hitting .196/.318. His claim to fame is his solid defensive ability at third base which earned him his starter role in college. Whether or not he will make it in the Wind Dancer system remains to be seen, but if anything, pitchers will enjoy having him in the field.

Round 5 - Pick 25 (135th Overall)
RP Elton Evison - Delft University

Evison is a reliever with nasty stuff but struggles with the other aspects of pitching. Limiting walks and home runs are paramount for this Crook, England native. A reliever for his 4 college years, Evison averaged an 11.2 K/9 and earned himself an all-star selection in 2027. He senior year saw him split time as a closer, racking up 6 saves and 4 wins across 22 games. An inexpensive pick, Evison is projected to sign with a $140k bonus.

Round 6 - Pick 7 (143rd Overall)
SP J.R. Bennett - UAB

J.R. Bennett, the Van Wilder of the draft, is unlikely to sign as he wants to continue his education despite attending college for the past 4 years. Bennett has been a regular starter for UAB earning a 13-8 record and 2.46 ERA. His future seems to be set on a relief role, but it will be a long road to PEBA if he wants to make it there.

Round 7 - Pick 7 (169th Overall)
C Dale Conway - Rice University

Dale Conway out of Texarkana, Arkansas is another unexpected pick for the Wind Dancers. I career .179 hitter in college, the 21-year-old has decent potential according to Toyama scouts. Stuck as the backup catcher at Rice, Conway had limited opportunity to show his stuff. But Toyama has decided to take a chance on what they see as a decent catcher when given a chance.

Round 8 - Pick 7 (195th Overall)
CF Caleb Simmons - University of Illinois

Simmons played just one season at Illinois after spending time playing outside of the US collegiate system. A .218 hitter in 2028, Simmons was praised by coaches for his defensive flexibility and the effort he puts into improving. Despite a lack of top-level college experience, Simmons is viewed as a contact-heavy hitter who can get a be hit and be dangerous on the basepaths.

Round 9 - Pick 7 (221st Overall)
RP Curt Alvarado - Notre Dame

Alvarado is a middle reliever with mixed results in college that resulted in a 4.61 ERA in 3 seasons. His repertoire consists of 4 average to below average pitches that rely on quality command to take down batters. Home runs have been a problem for the 22-year-old but he expected to turn down an offer and return to school for his senior year.

Round 10 - Pick 7 (247th Overall)
RP Ramon Arellano - University of Windsor/Free Agent

One of the rare free agent draft picks, Arellano last played college ball in his 5th season with the Goths in 2027. He went undrafted last season but redeclared for this season’s draft. A hard worker with advanced stuff, Arellano could make an early jump up the organization, but his potential will be limited.

Round 11 - Pick 7 (273th Overall)
RP Yoshihiro Ogawa - Pontificia Universidad

Ogawa, originally from Shibukawa, Gunma Prefecture, was a part of the Padres team that had transferred from Nihon University after they left the ICOL. Ogawa has middling talent and stats but does sport 6 pitches which could be effective in lower minor leagues.

Round 12 - Pick 7 (299th Overall)
RP Genpaku Yoshizaki - Osaka Toin HS


Round 13 - Pick 7 (325th Overall)
RP Ryuichi Yoshida - Waseda University


Round 14 - Pick 7 (351th Overall)
RP Azumamaru Matsuura - Chuo University


Round 15 - Pick 7 (377th Overall)
C Yuu Kimiyama - Waseda University
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Re: The Toyama Wind Dancers Blog

#42 Post by Wind Dancers »

Keeping Pace
June 19, 2028
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Last week was a mixed bag of results for the Wind Dancers which is still an improvement over their very low season expectations.

Recap

The WinD’s opened the week with a poor 3-game series against the Codgers that saw them get swept decisively. Despite 21 hits across the 3 games, Toyama only managed 5 runs in what was a cold week for the lineup. During game 1, SP Francois Gosselin held the Codgers in check for 5.1 innings giving up 2 runs, walking 2 and striking out 5 but a lack of runs quelled any chance of a win as it ended 3-1. Game 2 saw some improvement, as ‘Fudd’ Martinez lead the way again going 4 for 4 with an RBI. Lefty-hitting catcher Michinaga Ueda also had 2 hits with a homerun (7) and 2 RBIs. But Paul Norris (L, 3-9) continued his up-and-down season giving up 6 runs over 5.1 innings before the bullpen was able to stop the bleeding as it ended 6-4. Game 3 was a wash, despite SP Dylan McIntosh holding Palm Springs to 1 run over 5.2 innings. No offense again resulted in a 5-0 beat down.

Following a rough series in Palm Springs, Toyama returned home to host the Aurora Borealis in a 3-game set. The recent giant-slayers kept their form snagging two of three from the powerhouse Borealis. SP John Gillard continued to surprise many in game 1 by holding Aurora to 1 run over 7 innings and earning his third win of the season (3-1). Ramiro Salinas provided a 3-run home run (11) in the 5th which was enough to put the Borealis away 3-2. Game 2 turned into a slugfest with both sides amassing 18 runs off of 34 hits in the 8-10 loss for the WinD’s. SP Clayton Lewis struggled with 7 runs over 13 hits but 5 Toyama players had a multi-hit game to keep things close. Toyama slipped by in game 3, 5-4, after a Mike Britt error in the 13th innings brought the winning run in. 3B Ivan Juarez was responsible for the game-winning hit as he returns to form.

Key Players

3B Ivan Juarez has struggled in the early part of the 2028 campaign but has recently shown signs of improvement. Juarez hit .273/.429 last week chipping in 2 doubles and 1 RBI. He is now hitting .225 over the season.

SP Francois Gosselin, despite going 0-1, had a solid 2-game week. Gosselin threw 9 strikeouts over 10.1 innings and limited himself to 2 walks and no home runs.

RP Shinobu Takeuchi returned from his rehab assignment caused by elbow inflammation. The vet threw 3.2 innings of relief giving up 0 runs and 1 hit while striking out 3.

Drafted Players Signing

Each of the draftees that were expected to sign have done so throughout the week. 5/9 eligible players put pen to paper while the other 4 are expected to turn down any contract. The signings are listed below:

SP Zenko Okada (7th Overall) - $2,600,000
RF Okakura Tomita (40th Overall) - $580,000
SP Juan Encarnacion (64th Overall) - $320,000
3B Neil Roach (117th Overall) - $140,000
RP Elton Evison (135th Overall) - $140,000

Minor League Highlights

AAA Yokohama Plumbers (5-2 Week): SP Daichi Chishu continues to dominate in Yokohama, throwing another 7 innings and giving up 1 run, 0 walks, and 6 strikeouts. Chishu is now 4-0 in 5 starts since being called up in May with a 0.77 ERA as he knocks on the door to PEBA.

AA Beppu City Pandas (5-2 Week): 2B Bernardo Alvarado had a red-hot week hitting .435 with 1 HR, 6RBIs, and 4 SBs. Alvarado has a 4.1 WAR in 300 plate appearances and it was announced this morning that the 23-year-old has been called up to AAA Yokohama.

A Takaoka Shiko (2-1 Week): 1st round pick SP Zenko Okada made his debut, throwing 6.1 innings giving up 0 runs, 1 walk, and 9 strikeouts.

SS-A Osakasayama Swamp Dragons (2-3 Week): The Swamp Dragons opened up their season going 2-3.
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Re: The Toyama Wind Dancers Blog

#43 Post by Wind Dancers »

Back to Reality
June 26, 2028
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Recap
Fresh off of a series win over Aurora, Toyama was quickly reminded of where they stand against the rest of the league. A visit to Crystal Lake to open the week saw the Wind Dancers return home with 4 more losses. Game 1 mimicked most TOY/CL games recently and went deep into extra innings. Despite a solid 5 runs, a walk-off single in the bottom of the 13th sealed the 6-5 loss. During games 2 and 3, the Toyama lineup went dark getting shutout back-to-back for the first time all season. SP Dylan McIntosh held the Gnats to 3 runs over 6 innings in game 2 but no offense lead to his 8th loss of the year. During game 4, SP Clayton Lewis struggled giving up 6 runs over 5 innings and digging a deep hole early. Catcher Reynaldo Garcia hit a solid 3 for 4 with 2 runs but was not enough to overcome the 7-3 final score.

Returning home, the Wind Dancers entered a 3-game set with the Duluth Warriors who has also struggled on and off the field in 2028. After going dark against Crystal Lake, the Toyama bets woke up in game 1 dropping 8 in their 32nd win of the season. SP Francois Gosselin earned player of the game for 7 solid innings of 2-run ball and 6 strikeouts. CF Okakura Ishikawa leads the line with 2 hits, 2 runs, and an RBI. Game 2 was similar to game 1 as the WinD’s put up 9 and gave up 5. DH Ivan Rosa, who is allegedly unhappy with his playing time, smacked 2 home runs and 2 doubles while bringing in 5 runners and scoring 3-times himself. Toyama won the series but game 3 came crashing down with the Warriors running wild for 10 runs to Toyama’s 1. SP Dylan McIntosh gave up 7 over 4 and the relief staff couldn’t help after that. ‘Fudd’ managed another 2 hits and an SB as consolation.

Players of the Week:
3B Ivan Juarez - .276/.364, 2 doubles, 3 RBI’s, 2 SB’s
RP Jorge Martinez - 6.2 IP, 1.35 ERA, 1 HA, 11 K’s

Minor League Highlights:
Currently, all four minor league affiliates are above .500, 3 of which sit at the top of their respective divisions:

AAA Yokohama (45-27)
AA Beppu City (43-32)
A Takaoka (33-22)
S-A Osakasayama (7-5)

SP Daichi Chishu (AAA) isn’t slowing down anytime soon, throwing an 8-inning shutout to drop his ERA to 0.63 over 6 starts since promotion. The 5-0 SP is dangerously close to his first PEBA call up with it possibly coming in a few weeks.

Francisco Alejandrez (A) has moved into the catcher’s role as Takaoka coaches see a future for him there. Hitting .292, Alejandrez has spent most of his minor league career at 1B but will test his affinity behind the mask for the remainder of the season.
Dylan Krupilis
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3x Sovereign League Champion (2034, 2037, 2038)
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Re: The Toyama Wind Dancers Blog

#44 Post by Wind Dancers »

Lewis to West Virginia
July 31, 2028
Toyama Wind Dancers Blog

Breaking news dropped this morning as team officials announced a late deadline-day trade sending Toyama frontman SP Clayton Lewis to the West Virginia Alleghenies. The Wind Dancers will send Lewis and an undisclosed amount of cash in exchange for SP Jose Castillo and minor leaguer RP Mauro Hernandez. Rumors began swirling early in the season that the Wind Dancer’s were looking to offload the veteran pitcher to clear his hefty $26million contract off the books. These rumors kicked up again a few weeks ago when Lewis allegedly let the team know that he would not be signing a contract extension and would like to test free agency.

Lewis signed for then Lupin as a free agent in 2023 after leaving Amsterdam. He would go on to honor his 6-year contract with the Wind Dancers and became a solid, consistent option in the rotation. Lewis held a 3.32 career ERA with the Wind Dancers and was best known for his pinpoint control that resulted in a 0.9 BB/9 throughout his 6 seasons in Toyama. Lewis has struggled a bit in recent times along with the rest of the WinD’s, but his time spent here has earned him a round of applause from Toyama fans should he ever return to the Castle of Cagliostro.

Joining the Wind Dancers immediately in the trade is SP Jose Castillo who is in his 3rd season of PEBA ball. Castillo was a free agent signing out of the Liga Dominicana de Beisbol Invernal in 2026 and has been in the West Virginia rotation since. Castillo brings a controlled style of pitching with him, not striking out many batters but also not giving up many home runs or walks. Castillo will be an affordable, reliable option as the Wind Dancers prep to re-tool their team in the offseason.
Dylan Krupilis
GM - Toyama Wind Dancers
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1x PEBA Champion (2038)
3x Sovereign League Champion (2034, 2037, 2038)
1x GM of the Year (2034)
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Re: The Toyama Wind Dancers Blog

#45 Post by Wind Dancers »

End of Season Recap - 2028
October 3rd, 2028
Toyama Wind Dancers Blog

As the playoffs kick off in the PEBA, Toyama players have packed their bags and dispersed to their respective homes. The season wasn’t great, but it was much better than the disaster of 2027. 73-89 and 1 game behind Okinawa all while playing some very difficult competition in the SL this year. With young talent making waves and financial flexibility on the way. The Wind Dancers will finally see some off-season movement after spending 3 seasons clearing players off the books and developing prospects.

Carry a Big Stick
The Toyama bats steadily improved this season, with a few key, young players stepping up into a more pronounced role. 2028 witnessed a return to form as the Wind Dancers improved their runs scored, home runs, stolen bases, and plenty of other stats across the board. While batting average remained about the same, it was the sorely missed run production that came back in force. Early in the season, Toyama went out and traded for RF Roberto ‘Fudd’ Martinez who had been on their radar for quite awhile. Fudd started a bit slow but quickly became the best hitter on the team slotting into the 3rd spot in the lineup. After having difficulty digging in while in Aurora, the 27-year-old hit .293/.363 in Toyama while hitting 14 HR’s and 62 RBI’s. On the cusp of being a 5-tool player, Fudd also stole 44 bases at a 91.7% success rate AND was solid in Right Field. His partner in the other corner outfield spot, LF Ramiro Salinas improved on his rookie season and came back with a bang. “Footloose” hit .260/.331 with 17 HR’s and 60 RBI’s while stealing 50 bases. Salinas eventually took over the leadoff spot from a struggling Ivan Juarez and never looked back.

Top Bats: (All 3 Career-Highs)
LF Ramiro ‘Footloose’ Salinas - 603 AB’s, .260/.331, 17 HR, 60 RBI, 50 SB, 81 R, 4.5 WAR

RF Roberto ‘Fudd’ Martinez - 518 AB’s, .293/.363, 14 HR, 62 RBI, 44 SB, 77 R, 4.3 WAR

SS Edison Terry - 543 AB’s, .278/.308, 6 HR, 59 RBI, 11 SB, 59 R, 3.3 WAR

Struggles on the Mound
The Toyama starters had major problems throughout the year, finishing 14th in ERA in the SL. The bullpen actually played well in 2028 backed by the return of a club legend. RP Shinobu Takeuchi finally played baseball for the first time since midway 2026 when he ruptured a disc in his back leading him to miss 8 months. Unfortunately, upon returning, Takeuchi tore his UCL in Spring Training and missed all of 2027. But Toyama’s all time greatest pitcher came back in force this season, though in a relief role to avoid further injury problems. Takeuchi threw 55.1 innings with a 1.63 ERA, 8.8 K/9, and without giving up a single home run. The 33-year-old “outplayed” all but one Toyama pitcher earning himself his first PEBA all-star appearance (4 LRS Apps). Despite a poor ERA, SP Dylan McIntosh was the pitcher of the season. McIntosh returned for his sophomore year with a 4.91 ERA, 3.53 FIP, and astounding 1.1 BB/9. His pinpoint control struggled with defensive problems behind him, but McIntosh still showed steady improvement across the board.

Top Arms:
SP Dylan McIntosh - 190.2 IP,. 6-15, 4.91 ERA, 3.53 FIP, 1.1 BB/9, 5.9 K/9, 2.8 WAR

RP Shinobu Takeuchi - 55.1 IP, 3-3, 1.63 ERA, 1.64 FIP, 0 HR/9, 8.8 K/9, 2.1 WAR

RP Junzo Inagaki - 78 IP, 5-3, 3 SV, 3.23 ERA, 3.08 FIP, 0.5 HR/9, 2.5 BB/9, 0.9 WAR.

On the Farm:
Toyama prospect-filled minor league system was elite this season, placing ¾ team in the playoffs of their respective leagues.

AAA Yokohama Plumbers, 90-50, Currently in the Ambassador’s Cup

AA Beppu City Pandas, 83-57, Lost in LCS

A Takaoka Shiko, 80-48, Lost in Division Series

SS-A Osakasayama Swamp Dragons, 33-57
Dylan Krupilis
GM - Toyama Wind Dancers
Web Admin/Tech Guru

1x PEBA Champion (2038)
3x Sovereign League Champion (2034, 2037, 2038)
1x GM of the Year (2034)
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