Trendsetters name 2038 Minor League Hitter and Pitcher of the Year

[Trendsetters]

Oct. 5th, 2038
by Peter Barroqere
for the Times Picayune

NEW ORLEANS, LA – The future may be close at hand for the New Orleans faithful as the Trendsetters organization today named their 2038. 22-year old OF, Michel Bastide, was named the Minor League Hitter of the Year and was joined by SP, David, “The Rat” Sanz Both award winners were September call ups and both award winners made a good showing in their month at the PEBA level.
Bastide batted a combined .294 with 27 HR and 110 RBI between AA, AAA and New Orleans with the bulk of the season spent at AAA Fayetteville. The 2037 2nd round pick moved up the ranks quickly, showing good progress along the way. Bastide showed improvement at every level while playing 160 games total. Bastide received his first taste of the PEBA on September 1st and managed to hit .310-2-12 over 26 starts. More than holding his own at the major league level. Unless he disappoints in the spring, look for Bastide to see time in RF, CF and at DH next season.

David Sanz, known as ‘The Rat’ in the clubhouse, apparently due to his penchant for keeping every little thing in his locker much like a packrat, put up stellar numbers this season. Much like Bastide, Sanz, after being acquired in a spring training trade with the Toyama Wind Dancers, started the year with the AA Delaware Diamonds and excelled, going 4-2 with a 1.44 ERA before being promoted to AAA in early May. With the Fayetteville Braggarts, Sanz continued to impress the coaches with a solid 3.68 ERA before making his New Orleans debut with a less than stellar five runs allowed in 4.2 IP at new Jersey. After that Sanz settled down and over his last three starts allowed just four runs over 22.2 innings for a 1.62 ERA in that span. What impressed the New Orleans front office was Sanz’s ability to throw strikes and keep the ball in the park while remaining unfazed by the long season. While Sanz had never thrown more than just over 166 innings in any season, this year Sanz buckled up and threw 221 innings with his last three starts being some of his best work of the year. Over the course of the season, Sanz also walked just 58 batters while striking out 196. Sanz had earned a role in the New Orleans rotation in the fall and there is no reason he will not start in the rotation in 2039.