by Francis Ferry, NLN baseball beat writer
August 2, 2032: Aurora, Colorado – Brian Clark was drafted 5-years ago by the Borealis, 76th overall in the 2027 draft (36-pitchers would be drafted ahead of him, including current Aurora reliever Paul de Kook) – a young man from Bishop Moore HS, tall and lean (much as he is today, 6’11”, 210 lbs) – remeniscent of Randy Johnson from back in the MLB days. Back in high school, Clark was a reliever as he entered the draft – making just 35 appearances in his junior and senior seasons, for a combined 1.52 ERA and a WHIP of 0.73. Aurora deemed him a starter, and the 18-year old struggled at Mokule’ia – complete with 19 K and 35 BB in 58.2 IP – contributing to a 5.37 ERA – a level he hasn’t come close to since. The Borealis showed patience, though, and by the end of the 2031 season, he was the best arm in the organization – posting a 3.04 ERA (which could have been lower had Thornton been a better team), and he struck out 119 in 156.2 IP – both career bests by far.
‘Slug’, as he came to be known in the low minors, was invited to spring training this year with a shot of earning a spot – though truth be known, he would have made the squad despite his fine spring performance (he allowed 3-runs in 3-starts, walking just 1). Going into yesterday’s start he was 8-6 with a sparkling 2.13 ERA, a WHIP of 1.01 and 92 K in 110 IP. With an ERA that is 4th best in the SL – and tops amongst rookies, Aurora saw a cornerstone of the future – and the now - as with 57-games to play, Aurora is still hanging around – 7-games back of Reno and 2.5 back of Toyama in the wildcard.
And then, disaster struck. 1-pitch into his start against Niihama-shi, he was done. An early morning MRI has shown a partially torn ulnar collateral ligament, ending his season, and way-laying his career until the start of spring training – if that. Suddenly, the 7-games in the Desert Hills look unsurmountable. Even the 2.5-games in the wildcard looks dicey. In a season where the margin of error was going to be a narrow one, a steady youth movement had begun, with the club hoping that youth may be served – and another Sovereign League title to be won.
It’s been no secret that the Borealis have been one of the older teams in the League – mostly a lingering remnant of their championship hey-day – where success bred an older roster, a pricy roster and low draft picks. Through trades and some draft (and Rule 5) success, Aurora has a core of youngsters currently on the roster, looking to lead the Borealis into the future. Patience is the name of the game, as they waited for the moment to come – where they could shift gears, seamlessly, and let the younger set lead the wave of renewed Aurora success. While the Clark injury is a set-back (and another, less worrisome, yet promotion-delaying injury lies in the outfield), drifting playoff chances will only enhance the movement.
Nowhere in the Organization has the youth movement been more pronounced than on the mound. Aurora’s titles were more about pitching than offense, and Aurora knew that the likes of ‘Train Arollin’’ and ‘Tugboat’ would eventually need to be replaced – along with changes in the bullpen. Aurora in recent seasons has nurtured a group of youngsters who have come from various sources. There was Clark, drafted by the club, as was Armando Batista – the 33rd overall in the 2028 draft. The 21st pitcher taken, Batista was taken before Florida chose Ryan Tate as the 22nd arm in the draft. Tate came to Aurora in a quick turn-a-round deal with Yuma, shortly after they had acquired him from the Featherheads. Aurora turned former-first round pick, ‘Fudd’ Martinez to Toyama in exchange for Henry Cluett and Pedro Morales (and Howard Joyce). Then there is Orinosuke Fujii, who was an international scouting find.
Cluett, of course, will be remembered for making his PEBA debut in the 2030 playoffs – and performing well (3.52 ERA in 7.2 IP over 4 appearances). Last year he split time between Aurora and Thornton, but despite the 4.44 ERA in 13 GS with the Borealis, it was clear the soon-to-be 25-year old was here to stay. That awareness made it easier to let 36-year old Bartolo Esquivel and the ancient 39-year old Randy Smith loose. Henry is 11-5 with a 2.27 ERA – though his last couple of starts have been shaky, allowing 4-runs to both Tempe and Fargo. The combination of Cluett and Clark lends hope for the future, and confidence that their aforementioned AAA rotation mates can step in and do the job. It also gives Aurora confidence in AAA pitching coach, ‘Stork’ Holbrook, who has moved upwards in the organization, as the team begins determining if he’s ready for Aurora’s bench.
With Clark’s injury, Aurora will resist the temptation to move current closer Mark Powers into the rotation – despite his hint dropping that he’d prefer to pitch there, and recalled Batista from AAA, facing the Badgers in tomorrow’s critical clash. Armando has his work cut out for him, as Clark has allowed 0- or 1-run in his last 8-starts and 13 of his 20 GS. This will not be Batista’s debut – he had two starts earlier when Aurora placed Clark on the DL as a precaution (back tightness, so much for that). He allowed 4-runs to Neo-Tokyo in a short 4.2-inning outing, but in his next start, against Okinawa, he threw 6.2-innings, allowing a run on 5-hits, with 6 K and a walk. One of the ‘older’ gents in the youth movement (25-years, 212 days), Armando has been itching to make his mark with Aurora. Now he has a possible 10- to 11-games to do just that. A successful season-ending run by Batista would likely guarantee a 2033 spot in the rotation – furthering the youth movement.
Tate, Morales and Fujii are a combined 26-20 for the 55-53 FasTrax, with a combined 2.59 ERA (2.88, 2.33 amd 2.56) – and each with something to prove. Tate had struggled at Mexicali (A Ball, a combined 5.19 ERA), leading Florida to lose faith and trade him away, but he has been a solid arm (a combine 2.79 ERA at SLRC, Gatineau and Thornton) for the Borealis in his second full-season for Aurora – to the point that the coaching staff is considering calling him up to pitch in relief, if need be. Morales never got a chance to throw a pitch for the organization that signed him to his first big-league contract. After excellent seasons at Mokule’ia (2028), and SLRC and Gatineau (2029), his 2030 season was cut short with elbow surgery. Last year, post-injury, he posted a bloated 3.78 ERA – thanks to 19 HRA in 143 IP, but this year, he looks back on track, as he’s posted a 2.33 ERA over 119.2 IP – with just 4 HRA. It is not beyond the realm of possibility that he, too, may find his way to the ML roster as a reliever – to begin with. Fujii is simply looking to prove that Aurora’s IC can produce quality talent. He had a 2.01 era at SLRC last year (24 GS) and this year a 2.08 at Gatineau (2 GS) and 2.56 for Thornton (19 GS).
Those three at AAA may not get a chance to make a difference in the rotation this season, but as Aurora’s youth movement continues into 2033, it’s worth noting that Richard Neely has a contract that is expiring, Man Sim has a pair of team options for 2033-34, and the elder statesman of the rotation, (soon-to-be) 34-year old Julio Diaz can opt-out of his contract after 2033. It’s quite probable that Batista may be the old man in 2033. Neely, reportedly, has cut off negotiations on an extension – for now, and Man Sim, who was one of last season’s few positive surprises (15-9, 3.29 ERA), has struggled quite a bit this year (4.37 ERA in 21 GS) – to the point that, with the young arms in the wings, that $1.4M buy-out must be looking quite tempting.
How ever you slice it, with Batista and Tate at just 25, Cluett 24, and Morales, Clark and Fujii at 23, Aurora is looking like they may be set with a young, successful rotation for years to come – with that year beginning quite possibly in 2033 – and I haven’t even mentioned a serving of ‘Haggis’. Perhaps the biggest questions might be, who get’s relegated to the ‘pen and who get’s traded for depth elsewhere?
Aurora’s bullpen has become a mix of aged vets and callow youth. John Gray (35), Cleve Douglas and He Ling (both 34) have pitched efficiently enough to not be released outright – Ling will be a free agent at the end of the year, Douglas has a deal for next season, and Gray – who has 49 K and just 4 BB in 35 IP, and yet a frustrating 4.37 ERA (and when was the last time John Gray wasn’t frustrating?), has a team option on next year. Throw in 30-year old Jesus Cantu, currently on a rehab assignment at Thornton, who has a team option for next year – and hasn’t done much to install great confidence from the coaching staff. Although the efforts of these four have been sufficient enough to allow Aurora to hang close in the races (3.76 combined ERA, higher than the bullpen’s SL 7th ranked 3.08), one can certainly ask the question – could they get the same – or better, from younger arms?
That question has already begun to be answered, as 23-year old Paul de Kook joins 25-year old Rafael Benitez and ‘Don’t throw me into your youth movement’ 27-year old Jesus Solis – both of whom have finally come to the Aurora roster for good. Solis (#38 overall for Aurora in 2026) was long thought to be a starter, but his July 2030 rotator cuff injury killed his career as a starter, and since then, he’s been effective for Aurora out of the ‘pen – a 1.91 post-injury ERA in 28 games last year, and a 2.70 thus far in 38 relief opportunities. Benitez (a 2023 international FA) moved quickly through the system, reaching Thornton in 2030, and he’s appeared in 41 games since for Aurora – 18 of which are this year. His limited opportunities the past two years were not exciting at all, but this year he’s been valuable, with a 2.34 ERA, with 47 K in 34.2 IP. de Kook came to Aurora as a Rule 5 pick from New Orleans last November, whom they subsequently traded with to retain de Kook’s rights and ability to send him back to the minors. Aurora liked his skill set – but they were uncertain as to his ability to last the year on the 40-man – and yet, he’s done just that – posting a 2.57 ERA over 42 IP.
Making the IC look like a viable avenue for talent is the latest call-up to the major league roster – the ‘Hyena, MR Yellel Twia. Signed in the summer of ’28, Twia plowed through the lower minors and it wasn’t until the latter part of last year, at AAA, before he looked ‘human’. This year, though, in 40 appearances he is 4-4 with 26-saves and a 2.47 ERA – leading the team to release the oft-injured 31-year old Dan Ross in exchange for the 22-year old South African. Though he’s only appeared in two games, his three innings have been dynamic. Lurking in the wings is Washichi Yamada, 46th overall from 2029’s draft, who has moved up the organizational ladder in Twia’s shadow. Not blessed with the best of stuff, Yamada has depended upon excellent control to keep hitters off balance – to the tune of a 1.46 ERA at AAA this year, and career minor league 1.61 ERA. Washichi will be Rule 5 eligibile, and undoubtably will be on the 40-man roster next spring – so with at least one of the four ‘old-timers’ gone at the end of this year, the 24-year old Yamada will be on the spring roster and, expectantly, on the Opening Day roster.
For the most part, the 25-and-younger set has out pitched their older counterparts – and they’ve kept the Borealis competitive up to this point. Now that one of those youngsters is gone for the year, one of those in the wings needs to step it up and fill the void – be that Batista, or perhaps Tate (as the likely next in line). Tate performed well in his 8 spring appearances, so there’s some hope there. In either event, historically, Aurora’s success has started on the mound, and the evidence seems clear – this year’s playoff push – and future success, will be strongly influenced the Organization’s young arms.
Aurora has made their prime focus on building the future of the ball club pitching-centric – that’s clear, but they haven’t totally ignored the otherside. Aurora’s infield is clearly old – Loetzsch, McIntyre, Dickson and Barton all members of the 30-something crowd – and even 1B Jose Torres, who seems like it was only yesterday that he was drafted (and in his 5th full season on The Front Range), will be 30 this November. While McIntyre is currently the only hitter on the SL leader board hitting .300 (exactly), Loetzsch is pulling his weight - .265 and a league-leading 12-3B (6th All-Time at 74), but while Dickson is hitting .265 in limited play, Barton is hitting .225. Perhaps most of all, Aurora had counted on further progress on Jose Torres’ part. While he is hitting exactly what he finished 2031 at (.246), last year he had 31 HR and 80 RBI – and so far he has just 8 HR and 37 RBI.
Torres’ failures to produce this year has led Aurora to dip into their narrow talent pool and pull out 1B Raul Munoz, who had spent the previous 115-games (over two seasons) at AAA. During that time he hit 28-2B, 3-3B and 14 HR with a .280 average. Aurora had really hoped that the 24-year old, 15th overall pick in the 2030 draft would bring that magic to the big leagues, but a slow start has him mired at .263, but with 14-2B. Munoz will never hit with the power that Torres possesses, but if he can get his average closer to .300, the extra base hits will come. If nothing else, Torres and Munoz are arguably providing more offense together in the lineup, than Aurora was getting with someone else in the DH spot, where Jose has landed.
Other than Munoz, the cupboard is mostly bare when it comes to the future infield – and certainly no relief in sight for 2032. Recently acquired Jose Aleman (20, from San Antonio) has some promise to be able to provide enough offense to complement what should be a very solid defensive shortstop. In 11-games since he was acquired he’s hitting .289 at SLRC. At AA is Alonso Gallegos – soon to be 21, a former-international scouting find, who is much like Aleman in offensive skill set, and capable of playing solid defense at 2B, SS and 3B. Last year he hit .279 at Mokule’ia and .285 at SLRC, before recently being promoted to AA, with an 8-game slash of .371/.421/.600. Whether or not this pair makes an impact won’t be known for at least another year – and maybe two, as at best they will travel through Thornton at some point next year.
Rumors float that Aurora has tried to make a move for a young infielder, though there is no concrete evidence to substantiate the rumors. Barton and McIntyre (his agent says ‘it’s time to get paid’) will be free agents, and Dickson has a team option – as does Loetzsch (though it’s a solid bet Teddy will be back in 2033). Minimally, Aurora will be in search for at least a pair of middle infielders, and one can bet they will be in search for someone in his mid-20’s. Whether that happens or not, for now, with the trade deadline passed, the calvary is not riding in to the rescue.
Another spot the club has suddenly become ‘older’ is behind the plate. Both ‘Fido’ and Domingo are over 31 – and when did that happen? Castro, the 10th overall pick in 2022 and Gutierrez, the Contraction Draft selection, will have combined to caught over 1,100 games by seasons end, as both have spent their 8-year major league careers taking turns beng the starting catcher for Aurora. Gutierrez has a team option after 2033, and Castro (and his $13.5M contract) can opt out after ’34. Barring an unexpected injury, both will be there at season’s end – and beyond – as they have currently settled into a righty-lefty platoon. Bad news if you are the catcher in the wings. That would be Pedro de la Cruz, the 23-year old backstop acquired from New Orleans in the Bob Burns deal. Cruz is a strong, powerful hitter, who has a habit of swinging at most pitches, but usually making contact. He hit 31 homers at AA Delaware in 2030, and this year he already has 14 for Thornton while hitting .269. He is a plodder – both on the bases and behind the plate – and you can bet Aurora will have him spending the offseason working on his defensive skills at winterball.
de la Cruz is the future, and it’s a matter of days – September 1, worse case, before he makes his first start for Aurora. In the long run, his defensive liabilities my cause him to be more suited for DH, and thus open the way for another, young catcher. There are plenty in the system that are better defensively, but not a one who has the offensive capabilities of Pedro. As long as Castro and Gutierrez continue to handle the position sufficiently, the push to get young here hasn’t been quite as strong. Pedro de la Cruz will not, purposefully, be part of a 2032 youth movement, but 2033? Don’t be shocked if he is there next season.
If you wanted to pinpoint the start of the youth movement, perhaps you need to look towards the outfield and the arrival of Stewart Arundale. Now in his third year, ‘Litterbug’ burst onto the scene with a strong rookie season (2030), but since, his late season 2030 slump seems to have carried over the past two, as he’s currently hitting .262 and finds himself nearly in a platoon situation as he’s hitting .218 against lefties. There were high expectations for a high average-high on-base type player who would stimulate the offense. Now 26, and into arbitration at season’s end, Aurora is starting to wonder if Arundale is a part of a younger Aurora club.
The rest of the outfield is still on the right-side of 30 – for now. Shane Willis and his big contract is likely to remain for at least a portion of that contract – 28-2B, 8-3B and 8 HR, along with 35 SB demand so. Howard Joyce, the third cog in the Toyama trade that brought Cluett, has done nothing but improve during his time with Aurora, finds himself hitting .284 and playing CF – not his preferred spot, while CF ‘old-timers’ Nick Heath and Harry Hutchins mend their aches on the DL. Heath will be a free agent, unless his demands diminish, and Hutchins, who has a player option for 2033, possibly leaving Aurora with no quality, young, CF in the system – at least for now, with the best option years away at Montserrat, 18-year old Tony Munoz (who in his first pro season is hitting .355, with 7 HR and 30 RBI in 43-games). Joining Munoz at Rookie Ball is LF Jose Gonzalez, who like Munoz, was an international find. Gonzalez grades out much like Ricardo Zamora – powerful, fleet and a solid defender, who had a slow start at Short A, to get the ABs, but was back in the Caribbean once the IBC season began. For the Mystique, he is hitting .374, with 15 HR.
That leaves us with the mysterious case of Zamora. Very much like Torres, Ricardo seemed to have settled into a spot on the team and was productive – 15 HR, 39 SB, a .251 average in 2031, but once again he seems to have fallen back into bad habits and poor production (a .233 average). The 28-year old former-29th overall selection in 2025 has kept the coaches shaking their heads – and his tenure with the club may finally have reached it’s conclusion – or at least, it was near that, until fate stepped in.
Toiling away at AAA was the 2030 32nd overall selection – 24-year old OF Gabriel Rodriguez – who was hitting .311 with 8 HR, and was going to be promoted this week, before a sever ankle sprain put him on the shelf for the next 5 weeks. Though not a fleet of feet player, he is a quality fielder and one whose offensive skills the club needs. Once healthy, he may even take time in CF – just for flexibility.
Aurora has missed the playoffs just five times in PEBA history – but never in consecutive seasons – and this year it appears this may be a historic season – and not in the right way. A deep dive into the lineup and the organization suggests that the time is now, to bring in young, fresh faces – and not simply bring in experienced vets to simply chase another playoff spot. The time has come to develop that next championship run – from within, as they had mostly done in the past – only 5 of the players on the 2019 championship team had come from the outside, and of those, it was ‘Sawmill’ and Anastasio Lopez who made the significant contributions (excuse us if we count Jose Rivera as an original Auroran – only his Inaugral year season at A Ball kept him from being such). Aurora seems to have the core talent to begin the process – and with the likes of Tony Munoz and Jose Gonzalez at Rookie Ball, the Now in the ‘Future is Now’ may not be that far into the future. Maybe, just maybe, the future may just be now.
