LHP Toshinobu Nakayama: Largely overlooked since being drafted in the fifth round by Aurora in 2019, Nakayama is vying for a chance to make his big league debut at age 31. He is 77-34 in the minors since 2021, including 47-19 in AAA. Smart with a good work ethic, 0.7 HR/9 and 1.8 BB/9 in 676 innings of AAA ball, one would think he would have climbed the ladder quicker.
RHP Gerardo Juárez: A 14th round pick in 2023, Juarez has been an overachiever with 116 saves in the minors and is coming off his best season (34 saves, 1.95 at Santo Domingo). He has control problems but hasn’t had to pay for it, allowing just 17 home runs over 311 minor league innings. Both Manager Sergio Manetti and bench coach Pat Maxwell want to try Juárez in the closer role this spring although he is more realistically vying for a middle reliever spot if he makes the team.
1B César Herrera – A five-time minor league all-star and former NAFTA MVP, the Puerto Rican native is a local favorite. Now 27, his rise has mainly been thwarted by being slow to adjust to each level as he has climbed the ranks but he has eventually got there. He was the Platinum Stick winner at first base in the GBB last year.
SS Oscar Wetherby – He had an injury plagued campaign after being claimed off waivers last June which kept him from showing much at the AAA level so the 23-year old is essentially attempting to make the jump from AA. Already possessing a big league glove, Wetherby also crushed AA pitching last year (.351, .446, .511) in limited action.