Ghastly Gazette

[Ghosts]

Big Changes, Uncertain Outlook For New Look Ghosts

Niihama, Japan - 13 March, 2031

With the close of Spring Training and the onset of a new season nigh, the new front office, led by recent Bakersfield cast-off GM Dan Vail, has made dramatic changes to the organization. Will they result in more wins? Maybe, but despite the high profile signing of PEBA cast off 2B Dave Hurley for an astounding $21.5M per year, the Ghosts have refused to commit much money beyond 2031. Even Hurley's apparent $43M deal includes a team option for 2031, making it essentially a one year deal. What does this mean for the future of the long-tortured Ghosts? It's hard to be sure.

Rumor has it that most of the young talent is being sequestered to the reserve roster, while the major league roster has been filled with misfits and never-has-beens. The developed talent, including 1B Bernardo Gonzalez, CF Jose Delgado, and SS Julian Bleazzard, will apparently be anchoring the lineup led by Hurley. The pitching staff might be a randomly generated list of names after a few notables: first of which is the lone exception to the Ghosts general refusal to commit money past 2031, SP Jose Torres. Coming from the Acapulco Zambullidores del Acantilado of the ABSF, Torres is a 26-year-old starter that the Ghosts apparently believe can make the jump from ABSF to WIL to PEBA. His five year, $24M deal make him one of three Ghosts with guaranteed money past 2031, the other two of which were inherited.

Who are some of these new misfits and cast offs that are likely to see playing time?

CF Ed Wade: 1-year contract worth a total of $800,000
This defensive stalwart has spend time in the Yuma and Shin Seiki systems at the AAA level, struggling with batting average and power. He won't unseat Delgado from CF, though he may spell him against LHP and can play all three positions with a golden glove - making him an ideal 4th outfielder candidate.

C Ed Burry: 1-year contract worth a total of $900,000
Ed aged out of the Fargo system after making just 19 appearances at the AAA level. He enjoyed some success at both the AA and AAA levels, and so he may be able to keep that going as a shareholder in the Ghosts backstop rotation.

RP Ramón Gómez: 1-year contract worth a total of $850,000
This wild fireballer comes from Kure to be the heir apparent to the Ghosts closer role. He's pitched well in the WIL, but has a sordid history with the free pass and the long ball that could send new manager Roberto Ortega to the medicine cabinet for some Tums.

RP Celestino Corisca: 2-year contract worth a total of $1,650,000
The 25-year-old Corisca aged out of the Havana system without ever having made it to AAA. Although he pitched well in AA as a starter, it's unclear where he'll pitch for the Ghosts. He made several starts in spring training, so it's likely that he's viewed as the team's only lefty starter.

Two splashy free agent signings aside, this team will struggle if it can't get either exceptional production from their expensive talent, or find production where others have found none. That said, it does appear as though the Ghosts faithful will have more wins to look forward to than they have recently.

[Ghosts]

May Update: This Team May Not Be So Bad

Niihama, Japan - 31 May, 2031

With Team Captain Dave Hurley tearing the cover off the ball and some solid pitching, the Ghosts find themselves wrapping up May in an unfamiliar position - tied for second in the WIL three games over .500. Owners of 4th, 6th, and 5th place finishes over the last three years with a combined record of 200-286, the Ghosts are not accustomed to winning. Their only WIL division title came in 2025, where they failed to win it all. They only made the playoffs five times in 14 years of LRS play, and their PEBA record in three seasons is 199-287. This year may not end up very differently - the Gloucester Fisherman appear to be the class of the 2031 WIL, but in a wide open playoff format, anything can happen.

Let's take a look over the key contributors to this young season.

2B Dave Hurley: .342/.421/.968
The talk of the WIL offseason, the former Leones 2-time PEBA all-star is crushing WIL pitching as the Ghosts $22M DH. His glove may not be what it once was, but at nearly 38, Hurley can still stroke. Hurley's .342 average is impressive, but is 31 walks, 19 doubles, and 9 dingers through the first two months of the season are all the more.

1B Bernardo Gonzalez: .269/.328/.786
While we hoped for a bit more from the budding power hitter, his 10 HRs lead the team and he's been nearly as important as Hurley in powering the upgraded Ghosts offense.

OF Kiyomitsu Kobayashi: .291/.374/.424
Our speedy RF is off to a hot start and turning heads. If he can keep hitting like this, his defensive prowess will make him one of the more valuable players on the team.

SP Jose Torres: 2.81 ERA, 1.34 WHIP
Jose has been the quiet leader of the pitching staff through the first 14 starts of 2031. Keeping the ball in the park (2 HRs allowed) has been his key to success.

SP Ray Bond: 4.08 ERA, 1.08 WHIP
His ERA might not be eye-popping, but he's been a solid #2 behind Torres. His 60 Ks lead the team.

CL Ramon Gomez: 1.34 ERA, 0.83 WHIP, 17 Saves
Ramon has been en fuego, striking out an incredible 51 in just 33 2/3 IP. With his 100 mph arm closing out games, the Ghosts have been resting with late leads.

RP Jose Flores: 2.87 ERA, 0.90 WHIP
Setting up behind Gomez, Flores is having a season of his own. He's struck down 41 so far and opponents are hitting just .192 off him to date.

[Ghosts]

Ghosts Giving In or Gambling?

Niihama, Japan - 31 July, 2031

With a disappointing June and July leaving the Ghosts just a half game over .500, the team traded highly regarded shortstop Julian Bleazzard to the surging New Jersey Hitmen. The return included a 38-year-old Leon Brunelle, who was very much showing his age by posting his worst offensive numbers since his disastrous 2026 campaign with Reno, which degraded his perceived value so much that he sat out the 2027 season waiting for the phone to ring. Of course the Ghosts weren't primarily interested in Brunelle - they clearly coveted the young pitching that came along in the package - but with a solid team and a winning season in hand for the first time in years, selling at the deadline is a sad, sad sight. Brunelle, meanwhile, lasted just one game in a Ghosts uniform before heading to the IL. The Ghosts were to be forced to employ one of their hapless other middle infielders at perhaps the most important position in the field while trying to stay above .500. A breath of relief, though, may be in order, as the Ghosts have acquired lefty middle infielder Julien Michaud from Kuwana. His glove and plate discipline should be enough to salvage a position that wasn't broken just 11 days ago.

Niihama did have to give up their star closer, Ramon Gomez, as well as the solid bullpen presence of Frank Moody and a handful of prospects to acquire Michaud and stud pitching prospects Derrick Harvey and Jonathan Andrews. Harvey and Andrews both appear to be well rounded relief prospects, and only time will tell if swapping Bleazzard - a young shortstop many considered PEBA level in talent - was worthwhile.

With the Ghosts sitting just a sad game over .500 with 61 games remaining on the schedule, will they improve or continue to middle as the season approaches a close? There do not appear to be many huge opportunities for improvement, as this roster is not rife with underachievers, with the exception of perhaps CF Jose Delagado, whose .248/.284/.700 slash is less than impressive given his talent level. The Ghosts are a mediocre club, and that's not so bad considering the last two seasons. Which players are contributing the most to this fun if disappointing team?

LF Juan Mojica: .270/.344/.448
A late season minor league signing last year, Mojica has come into his own at the tender age of 31. His 11 home runs are tied for third on the team with Delgado, and he's shown no specific weaknesses in his game. He's a solid player all around and has not disappointed at any point this season.

2B/DH Dave Hurley: .320/.415/.515
The captain has cooled a bit since his blazing start to the season, but he continues to be the heart of the Ghosts offense.

1B Bernardo Gonzalez: .263/.318/.474
"Kung Fu Pand" leaves you guessing if his nickname is a typo or an inside joke, but his 23 bombs are certainly no joke to opposing pitchers. He's struggled with consistency, but when he's on, the Ghosts usually win.

C Dan Harris: .234/.375/.701
He doesn't wow anyone with his glove or his bat, but somehow the old man finds himself on base more than most of his teammates. He's been given more responsibility as he's started more games and jumped up the batting order recently.

RF Kiyomitsu Kobayashi: .274/.357/.789
Convicted felon Kobayashi has been caught stealing at an embarrassing rate, but his bat and glove have made him a valued member of the Ghosts this season.

[Ghosts]

Ghosts Take Early Round 1 Lead Over Tempe

Tempe, AZ - October 10, 2031

The Niihama-shi Ghosts are up 2-0 over their soon-to-be-PEBA counterparts in Tempe. Taking two road playoff games to open a playoff series is a powerful statement. The Ghosts have done just that behind a strong showing by the offense against Tempe ace Ben McLaughlin in game one and an outstanding start by Celestino Corisca in game two.

Game one started with an early lead for the Ghosts. A 1-out double by Dave Hurley and a subsequent single by Stephen Inman put Niihama up one. That lead would evaporate in the bottom of the third, as a shaky Jose Torres walked Logan Malone and then gave up a triple to Yasuhio Fujii, who would go on to score on a fielder's choice. After another run for the Knights in the 4th, Dan Harris opened the 5th with a single. Stephen Inman would come up big again as his double was enough to score the sluggish backstop, closing the Tempe lead to one. The 7th inning saw the game's turn as the 38-year-old shortstop Leon Brunelle smashed a 412 foot home run to open the Ghosts frame. Several Ghosts and even a Knight's errant arm would contribute three more runs for the good guys and the inning would close with the game's ultimate score, 6-3 Ghosts. More bad news for the Tempe faithful came when McLaughlin, who had pitched fairly well through five, turned out to have strained back. That injury may keep him from starting a potential game five at worst and will likely hamper him regardless.

The second game was a much simpler tale. Celestino Corisca dominated the Knights through 7 innings, giving up only two hits and two walks as he struck out five and put nothing but zeroes on the scoreboard. Two 2-run blasts by Bernardo Gonzalez and Leon Brunelle were the only offense the game saw as a 21-year-old Mitchell Drewry took over for Corisca and continued the shutout in the final two frames. The two game lead gives Niihama a chance to close the series at home.

[Ghosts]

Ghosts Move on to Round 2

Niihama, Japan - October 15, 2031

After failing to make any progress in games 3 and 4 in Japan, the Ghosts finally made it to three wins in round 1 after game 5. Game three went to extra innings but ultimately went to the Knights after 11 scoreless innings. Game four was another close contest that the Knights stole in Niihama, and so as game five came around, the soon-to-be PEBA expansion teams were tied 2-2 in the round one WIL playoff series. Due to an odd choice by the Ghosts to start Celestino Corsica in BOTH games 2 and 3, the rotation was off kilter, but Ghosts #1 SP Jose Torres was ready to roll. He would go 7 and 1/3 innings, striking out 7 and giving up two runs in the 8th after a Logan Malone triple and back to back singles by the Knights. The Ghosts, though, had already scored the three runs that would carry them to the win after a 2-run homer by Leon Brunelle and a Dan Harris RBI single. The victory would leave the Ghosts one away from the series win and a date with the WIL-leading Gloucester Fisherman.

The series would continue in Arizona with the Knights owning home field advantage for the series' final stretch. Game 6 would feature Celestino Corsica's 3rd start of the series and a matchup with Tempe's Ben McLaughlin. Corisca did not perform up to the standard he'd established earlier in the series. He failed to complete 5 innings, giving up 8 hits, 3 walks, and 4 earned runs. Fortunately, McLaughlin also struggled, giving up 5 in 3.2 innings, and so Corisca exited with the lead. Toshiki Miyata also struggled, and the Ghosts took a commanding 10-4 lead in a 6th that featured five runs scored on 4 hits as all 9 Ghosts made it to plate. Despite no Ghosts reliever going unscathed, they would ultimately end up as 10-7 victors in the game and would escape a hard fought series against Tempe to move on to round 2.

[Ghosts]

Fisherman Fear No Ghost, Seize Commanding Lead in Round 2

Niihama, Japan - October 21, 2031

Exhausted. Battered. Beaten. The Ghosts have an 0-3 deficit to show for three close games in the WIL's Round 2 series. While the Arsenal lead the Dragons and the Knights and Hitmen look on from home, the Ghosts appear to be on the edge of defeat yet again during their WIL tenure.

Game one featured solid pitching anchored by a Ghosts offense that could never get moving. Only Bernardo Gonzalez could make anything happen, and his solo shot wasn't enough to overcome Gloucester's three runs. Game two had the opposite problem, as the Ghosts scored five but gave up seven. Ace Jose Torres was hammered for 7 hits and 2 homers, only making it part way through the 5th inning and earning the loss. Much of the blame goes to the defense - several terrible errors cost Torres the chance to get out of innings and resulted in most of the Fisherman's damage.

Game three was a more exciting affair, as the Ghosts grabbed a 2-0 lead in the bottom of the 5th on a 2-out Dave Hurley 2 RBI single. They would pad that lead in the 7th off a Julien Michaud and Anastasio Moran back-to-back doubles and a Dan Harris RBI single made it a 4-0 game. With Corisca cruising and a solid bullpen, the Ghosts appeared to be in the driver's seat. In the top of the 8th, Corisca would finally give up the mound after retiring Juan Ayala and walking William Allen. Rookie phenom fireballer Mitchell Drewry would then come on.

Unfortunately, Mitchell would proceed to give up a single and two walks to force in a run. A Lee Ray double would score two more before Drewry finally managed to retire a Fisherman. A second four pitch walk would force manager Roberto Ortega's hand, and Drewry was replaced by lefty specialist Armando Gomez to face LHB Joe Barton. A timely single would score yet another, and the four run lead fully evaporated to yield a tie game after a disastrous inning. Closer Jose Garcia came on in the 9th, retired three in a row, and then started the 10th by walking Harris Albury. Catcher Lee Ray would once again play the hero, as he send a 1-1 offering into the stands and gave the Fisherman a 6-4 lead that would hold.

So here we sit, after a roller coaster of a season, and the Ghosts sit just one loss from elimination and the loss of their (hopefully) last chance to win a WIL championship. Can they pull out a miracle? We're dubious.

[Mike Dunn]

Go Ghosts!

Any updates?

[Ghosts]

Ghosts Swept in Round 2, Turn Focus to PEBA

Niihama, Japan - October 28, 2031

Another Round 2 game, another 2 run loss. It was an outcome that seemed predestined, as the Ghosts clearly had an eye (or two) on the future. As the move to PEBA looms, the Ghosts have protected and grown a core of young talent that will hopefully one day propel them to success on the game's highest stages. As we review this budding core, we may just be looking into future of the Niihama-shi Ghosts. Let's begin here with pitching, the strength of the core so far. We'll cover the hitters in a follow-up piece.

RHP Derrick Harvey
Acquired in July alongside Jonathon Andrews, Harvey was one of the best arms available in his WIL draft class. Unfortunately for the Ghosts, he didn't last until the second round as they'd hoped. Selected 4th overall by New Jersey, Harvey's arsenal includes a solid fastball and a plus-plus curve. His changeup isn't a weapon that's likely to develop, and so it appears Harvey is best suited for the bullpen long term. His stuff has good movement and both his delivery and his high school stats suggest he can develop solid command. We look forward to seeing the 19-year-old mature in the reassembled Ghosts minor league system. He is set to debut with the Shirone Tornado in short season A ball.

LHP Jonathan Andrews
One year senior to Harvey is southpaw Jonathan Andrews. Chosen 7th overall in 2029, Andrews is a balanced groundballer with deceptive spin on his excellent curve and a decent fastball to balance his breaking ball. His changeup appears dead in the water, making Andrews another two-pitch prospect likely headed to the bullpen. He is set to debut with the Gakidou Onryou in A ball as his stuff is more mature than Harvey's.

RHP Yuji 'Mjølnir' Yamada' Yamashita
While it's unclear if Yuji's nickname is a prank, his scouting report is no joke. Niihama believes he will develop three plus-plus pitches and anchor the front end of the Ghosts rotation within the next several seasons - if he can develop his command. If the 100mph fastball, as well as his perhaps superior slider and excellent changeup, can be consistently thrown for strikes, Yuji will frustrate many a PEBA batter for many years. At 22, Yuji is likely to begin at A ball with the organization itching to move him to AA during the 2032 season.

RHP Alonso 'Shocker' Hernández
The 20-year-old 'Shocker' is perhaps an even better prospect than Yuji, as his four-pitch arsenal includes a plus-plus 98mph fastball, a plus-plus slider, and excellent changeups and forkballs. A leader among this developing core, Hernandez is slated to debut at SS-A.

RHP Huibrecht Ubbens
Another 2031 trade acquisition, Ubbens is solid if unspectacular in all areas. He has the potential to be a solid mid-rotation starter, as his best pitch - a beauty of a changeup - is accented by a 96mph fastball and a slider that should develop into a plus pitch. Known to work closely with coaching and respected as one of the most clever prospects in the Niihama system, Ubbens could certainly make a leap to a higher ceiling, but for now is viewed as perhaps the highest floor pitching prospect the Ghosts have. The 21-year-old will debut in A ball.

RHP Yajirobei Matsunaga
The Ghosts 2nd pick in the 2031 draft, Matsunaga is projected to make the back end of a future Ghosts rotation. He is a solid prospect, but is limited by velocity. His fastball currently tops out around 88mph. If the 19-year-old doesn't figure out how to better leverage his 6'3" frame, his ceiling will remain relatively low. To his credit, Matsunaga has pitched very well by relying on a plus curve and an even better slider, and so even if he can't manage an uptick in velocity, he is expected to be a part of the Ghosts future. Yaji will debut in short season A.

[Ghosts]

Go Ghosts!

Any updates?

Thanks for reading Mike! The above is just for you!

[Ghosts]

Inaugural PEBA Off-season Off to Whirlwind Start

Niihama, Japan - November 17, 2031

It's official - the Ghosts are back in PEBA as the 5th member of the Rising Sun Division of the Sovereign League. That's the good news. The bad news is, it looks like the best team in the newly (re)assembled organization is the Dawson City Gunslingers, the Short Season A squad featuring a bevy of prospects several years from helping the big league team. The re-introduction into the PEBA wild was accompanied by a series of trades apparently aimed at improving the low levels of the organization's talent pool. Those trades, a few other moves, and a number of trades within the scope of the WIL during the 2031 season, have left the big league squad bereft of high impact talent. We review these moves here:

Released P Ricardo Garcia
Marketed as a big time free agent acquisition by the previous regime, Garcia struggled to live up to his substantial paycheck. It's likely that the front office was very eager to execute the "Transition to PEBA" clause that became standard language in all WIL free agent contracts under the last collective bargaining agreement. This allows a one-time contract cancellation for a WIL team transitioning to PEBA which is funded by a jointly managed WIL/PEBA fund.

Arbitration
The Ghosts had a very simple approach to arbitration this year: pass. Niihama non-tendered all of their arbitration eligible players that were not traded. Among these were last year's starters at CF, catcher, and SP3: Jose Delgado, Dan Harris, and Mo Mitford. Other key contributors to the 2031 Ghosts were also not offered arbitration: Steven Martinez, Marvin Howe, and Jose Flores. This appears to have been a series of purely financial decisions, but none of these players appear to be poised for breakout PEBA campaigns.

Traded Victor Torres to Manchester
This was a big time trade for both clubs. Manchester controlled a coveted high first draft pick (#4 overall) while Niihama had the WIL's #1 ranked prospect in SS Victor Torres. It's likely that the Ghosts traded Torres not for lack of talent, but because he was well ahead of his peers in development and would have arrived at the big league level alone. Instead, the Ghosts will select a talent more in line with the rest of the young talent that will start donning Ghosts unis some time around 2034 or 2035. Also included for the Ghosts was young catching prospect Julio Elias, a well-rounded prospect that will debut in Rookie League for Gohueng.

Traded Bernardo Gonzalez to Neo Tokyo
This one stung, as Gonzalez's breakout talent was on full display in 2031. He crushed a league leading 43 homers for the Ghosts and also led the WIL in RBI and SLG percentage. At only 25, he has many years of excellent baseball left. It looks likely that Ghosts pitching will pay the price for trading the slugger to a powerhouse division rival. Still, the return could be a net win for the Ghosts. Gonzalez, nor any player for that matter, cannot carry an offense alone, so he wasn't going to be able to make the Ghosts a winner by himself. Instead, that responsibility will fall in part to P Bartolo Baca, OF Harold Stowe, and OF/IF Miguel Fernandez.
Baca, a first round selection, has wicked stuff with a fastball topping out around 97mph - but concerns surrounding his stamina cloud his long term role. Placed immediately into AA in 2031, Baca struggled and will be allowed a chance to regain his confidence by starting off 2032 with the Gunslingers.
Stowe, a lefty RF, is a guy the organization is excited about. He made a leap from his age 19 to 20 seasons in Rookie League, improving his skills and statistical totals in all areas of his game. The Ghosts expect him to play a prominent role with the organization as he continues to develop his aggressive approach at the plate. Stowe can hit for average and power, features a cannon for an arm, and appears to be comfortable as a leader.
Fernandez is perhaps the most interesting talent of the bunch. His bat would be great for a middle infielder or average for a corner outfielder. He appears to be a fringe candidate for sticking at shortstop and might ultimately be best suited for left field. His development could take him down several divergent paths. He's spent time at three levels (R/SSA/A) for each of 2030 and 2031. While still eligible at barely over 20 years of age, his bat is more advanced than Rookie League level, and maybe not ready for A, so he well be a key member of the Gunslingers as 2032 begins. Where he plays will be up to manager Roberto Ortega and GM Dan Vail.

Traded SP Cesar Silva to Yuma
This one strikes us as odd. Trading a young, controllable player at a position of need for a young, controllable player at a position of need seems like swapping deck chairs on the Titanic for the Ghosts. Perhaps they like newly acquired 2B Vaughn Davidson a little more than they did Cesar Silva, but both appear of similar caliber to outside scouting. It's unclear if Davidson will make the opening day roster, but he will be perhaps the most watched player at Spring Training this year. Cesar is expected to compete for a chance to start for a Yuma club that will feature a roster with a large influx of young talent. The hope appears to be that these youth may change the culture in Yuma as the renamed organization tries to rise of the ashes of another tough season in 2031.

[Ghosts]

The Lost Season, Part 1

Niihama, Japan - May 10, 2032

Six wins in 32 games - and there's little hope for better anytime soon. The Ghosts are no strangers to losing, but losing like this? It's unprecedented. Maybe unprecedented pain now can lead to unprecedented gain later, or perhaps this is just a new low. The former is the hope, the latter the fear as Niihama fans everywhere cringe at this hodgepodge of has-beens, never-weres, can-never-bes, and maybe-just-maybe-in-two-years's. So let's do our best to find some hope in this desolation without looking to Alaska and 2035.

Few players on the current Ghosts roster are likely to ever play winning baseball in Niihama. While transients like Jack Allen may in fact play winning ball in Niihama, it's not likely to be for the Ghosts, so we'll ignore those types. Instead, let's look toward a pair of promising young arms the Ghosts nabbed in the Rule 5 draft.

Theo Holder is a 24-year-old RHP acquired from San Antonio. Originally entering PEBA is a promising International Amateur Free Agent out of England, Holder signed for a prodigious bonus of $2.9M with Arlington back in 2024. His first action came in 2027 before he was traded to the Borealis in 2028 for Pedro Vega and Robert Thomas. He lasted just a year in the Aurora organization, as he was flipped alongside Bob Pinksen and Mario Flores for Richard Neely. Theo had been with San Antonio ever since before being drafted to the bigs by Niihama in December. As a Rule 5 selection, he's entitled to remain on the major league roster for one entire season. To date, Theo Holder is holding his own - he posted a 3.86 ERA in six relief appearances before being moved into the rotation. Ghosts coaching hopes this will force him to rely on, and improve, his very raw off speed pitch. So far, so good: in two starts, Holder has posted a 2.92 ERA and defeated the powerhouse Neo Tokyo Akira. Holder was able to limit the Akira to 3 hits and 1 run in 6.1 IP, relying on his overpowering fastball and his defense to secure a rare win.

Hubert Jacobs is oddly another Rule 5 draft selection from San Antonio. A former first round pick in the 2028 amateur draft, Jacobs hails from the Iowa Archers. He spent three seasons in the San Antonio system before being drafted by the Ghosts. Scouts believe Jacobs has two plus-plus pitches in his 96mph fastball and his lively curve, but he's known to have command issues. Those issues are playing out so far, as Jacobs has walked an incredible 25 batters in 21.2 IP while striking out just 10. Clearly overmatched for the time being, hopefully Jacobs can start to locate better and trust himself to offer strikes. There's a possible ray of light in his young season, has he made back-to-back walkless appearances for the first time to open up May - both against a surprisingly good Duluth club.

There's plenty to bemoan for Ghosts fans this season, so finding little victories will be key to surviving this difficult season. Hopefully, Jacobs and Holder can provide their share.

[Ghosts]

The Lost Season, Part 2

Niihama, Japan - May 10, 2032

Not to discount players at other levels, but virtually all eyes within the Ghosts front office are trained regularly upon the A-level Gakidou Onryou, the short season A-level Dawson City Gunslingers, and the R-level Gohueng Gom. It's natural when every effort has been made to acquire young prospects that can be fully developed within the Niihama organization. Perhaps no other Ghosts prospect is quite so heralded as Yuji Yamashita. Because the WIL does not have a minor league system, Yuji has not pitched outside of Niihama since being drafted first overall in the 2030 WIL amateur draft. Plenty of intrigue and effort has shaped the 22-year-old's training in house to date, and yet there is no test like game competition.

How did our aspiring young ace perform after a two year, non-injury game hiatus? In a word, dominantly.

In four games so far, the power-armed Yuji sports a 0.91 ERA with 3 wins, 35 Ks, and 9 BBs. He's posted game scores of 64, 73, 73, and 88. That 88 was a gem - Yuji struck out 13 Escondido Stone Brews while allowing just 3 hits and a walk en route to an 8-inning, shutout performance. How else can we describe how dominant he's been? He's yet to give up more than one run. He's only given up one HR. His last three outings have each gone at least 7 innings and yet each only featured 3 hits by opponents. The kid has been incredible.

Yuji's teammates, Huibrecht Ubbens and Alonso Hernandez, are also very highly regarded within the organization. Ubbens is a 21-year-old righty and a prototypical SP prospect that came to the organization in a blockbuster 2031 trade. He's tall. His 3 pitch aresnal, a solid fastball and slider paired with a dominant changeup, is as though drawn from a textbook. His spin rates are solid. He's a smart, confident player and his coaches rave about him. He has a lot of work to do on command, but the scouts in Niihama believe that's only a short term issue. Once he develops some better bite on his slider and can locate more efficiently, his coaches believe he'll rapidly find his way to a high position in the Niihama rotation. For now, his results are good if unspectacular. His 2.52 ERA and 1.16 WHIP are good, but pitching coach Paul Poole is working closely to reduce his 4.0 BB/9 walk rate while increasing his already solid 8.6 K/9 strikeout rate. Ubbens has been steadily improving in his four starts, having posted game scores of 41, 51, 61, and finally 89. That final effort included 9 Ks, 1BB, and just 3 hits en route to a complete game shutout of the Escondido Stone Brews.

Alonso Hernandez is the youngest member of this trio of talent, and so it is of little concern that he's struggled a bit as a 20-year-old making his professional debut at the A-level. His coaches are confident his incredible fastball and slider combination, offset by a solid forkball and changeup, can yield impressive results quickly. Alonso has struggled with command and consistency so far as evidenced by high walk rate (3.9 BB/9) and game scores (38, 63, 41, 84). His coaches are equally quick to highlight his excellent starts against Marduk and Chula Vista as they are to dismiss the others. The latter of those gems was a two hitter complete game shutout against a 14-6 powerhouse Chargers team that is #1 in almost every offensive category and features one the planet's most talented young hitting prospects in Tsuginori Takahashi. That is to say, there's plenty of reason to agree with his coaches and look favorably upon the future of Mr. Hernandez.

We eagerly await the start of the short season A schedule as the Dawson City Gunslingers roster many of the Ghosts most promising young bats.

[Ghosts]

The Lost Season, Part 3

Asheville, North Carolina - June 7, 2032

If it isn't clear by now, the Ghosts brass has a type. Be Japanese, be American, be Scottish, be righty, be lefty, be whatever, as long as you can throw hard. It appears the Ghosts solution for challenging the powerhouse lineups of the Rising Sun is to dare them to make contact. If the alignment of the growing core of talent in the Ghosts mid minors around fireball hurlers Yuji Yamashita and Alonso Hernandez wasn't enough, the Ghosts just spent their first three picks - numbers 4, 9, and 42 overall - on three 21-year-old power pitchers, each capable of topping out near or above 100mph.

At 4th overall, the Ghosts selected lefty Connor "Tapper" Leith out of Hosei University. The Edinburgh, Scotland native stands a lean 6'2" and is a four year starter. His senior year has been remarkable - he's sporting a 0.94 ERA, 0.56 WHIP, and a 13.6 K/9 rate. He missed a perfect game on an errant base runner as he struck out 16, walked none, and gave up no hits during the April 2nd no-hitter against Meiji University. Connor utilizes a three pitch arsenal, relying most heavily on his 100+ mph fastball and plus-splitter and balancing those out with a changeup in need of some work.

Just five picks later, the Ghosts selected pitcher Earl Lucas from the Memphis Belles. The Florida native features likely the best fastball in the pitching heavy 2032 amateur draft class as well as a plus-plus slider. The righty started his sophomore year, performing well in the role, but has since pitched out of the bullpen for the Belles. In an impressive feat, Lucas made 23 appearances in 2031 and did not give up a single run the entire season. His peripherals remained excellent in his senior year as he posted an excellent 0.57 WHIP and earning 18 saves in 25 total appearances. It's unclear whether the Ghosts intend to start Lucas or keep grooming him to anchor their future pen, but it's quite clear that Lucas can do pretty much anything he wants with that fastball.

With their first pick in the second round, the Ghosts added Japanese native Tsuruki Shimizu from the University of Tokyo. The relatively weak armed Shimizu can only reach 99 mph with his plus-plus fastball and balances that pitch with his plus splitter that has been embarrassing his competition. Shimizu has posted 14.8 and 14.5 K/9 rates during his final two seasons with the Imperials. Shimizu's limitation is his control - he's prone to high walk rates - but with his impressive ability to miss bats, hopefully his tendency to miss targets doesn't hold him back.

The next selection in the second round broke the above outlined mold, as they selected Cuban high schooler Roberto Alicea. The lefty throws a sinker and slider combination that feature incredible spin rates, but his velocity is borderline as he tops out around 90 mph. Between the velocity issue, some potential character concerns, and a recent shoulder injury, Alicea is clearly a project player outside the SS-A / A / AA core the Ghosts are developing in anticipation of a competitive window opening at some point in the next three seasons.

The Ghosts finished the day in the 5th round by selecting another soft tossing lefty high schooler, Will Hawkins, out of Annapolis High. Hawkins relies on a fastball, curveball, and slider arsenal and will join the Goheung Gom should he sign.

[Ghosts]

Minor League Players of the Year Preview (Pitching)

On the verge of ending the worst season in Ghosts history, it's time to focus on the good that's coming from this nightmare. The organization has amassed a substantial amount of minor league talent in a relatively short amount of time. Watching the maturation of those potential future Ghosts has been a joy this year, one that the fans of Niihama-shi haven't been able to enjoy for years since the WIL lacks minor leagues. Some of the most interesting talent amassed has yet to emerge from the International Complex, but much of it has reached the AA level (with respect to the AAA Namuko Puckmen). As those AA Ikari Warriors charge on into the League Championship round of the playoffs, let's take a look at some of the most prolific of the young talent that might one day grace Oikake Maze.

Since this organization is apparently adopting a pitching-first philosophy, let's review this year's outstanding pitching performances. We'll exclude this year's draft class, since they had to split time between collegiate and amateur play.

CL Armando Gomez
A 3rd round pick in the 2028 WIL draft, the Cuban lefty played at the A and AA levels in addition to making his PEBA debut during a brief September stint. He pitched well in three PEBA appearances, earning three saves, walking three, and striking out in three innings. That oddly symmetrical week was not an anomaly. After a somewhat disappointing 19.1 innings at A ball (4.19 ERA), the organization decided to challenge him in AA and was rewarded 16 saves and a 0.99 ERA, 0.72 WHIP, and 1.3 WAR in 36.1 innings.

SP Carlos Colon
The 2031 6th round pick from Puerto Rico made his debut for the R Gohueng Gom at the age of only 18. He would play the entire season there as a stabilizing force in the rotation, earning 2.9 WAR and striking out 109 in 17 starts. His walk rates and HR rates were notably low (2.1 / 0.3) and helped match his 2.88 FIP and opponents' OPS of .583.

SP Huibrecht Ubbens
The current leader of the playoff rotation in Ikari, Ubbens debuted at A ball and struggled a bit before settling in and producing 1.1 WAR over 10 starts. Once he made the leap to AA, however, he improved further, producing 2.1 WAR over 16 starts and moving in to the team's #1 rotation slot. He somehow dropped his BB rate from 3.4 BB/9 in A to 2.4 in AA. His combined A/AA 2.88 FIP and 4.8 K/BB is that much more impressive knowing his best numbers came after making the very difficult leap to AA.

SP Yuji Yamashita
The Ghosts' native son and the #1 overall selection in the 2030 WIL draft, Yuji started his professional debut in A ball and dominated the competition. He earned an astounding 2.5 WAR in only 8 starts before being promoted to AA at age 22. While his performance took a dip at the next level, he appears to be adjusting. His ERA+ moved from 63 in July to 137 in August, following stark drops in HR and BB rate while also seeing an increase in K rate. In two postseason starts, he's posted a game score of 74 and earned Player of the Game honors to accompany his 1.38 ERA. The #29 overall PEBA prospect is at the center of the Ghosts' hopes for a brighter future in Niihama, and his 3.3 WAR in 2032 is just the start of it.

SP Anthony MacDonald
No pitcher was quite so productive as 21-year-old Anthony MacDonald. The Illinois native was acquired from Palm Springs in a salary dump, and proceeded to embarrass SS-A hitting to the tune of a 279 ERA+ and 92 Ks in 11 starts and 78 innings. While his post-promotion numbers weren't quite as illustrious, he still posted 2.5 WAR in the second half of his season at A ball while also decreasing his BB rate. If there's a knock on MacDonald, it's that he wasn't asked to advance as aggressively as his above-mentioned counterparts, but the front office appears comfortable demonstrating patience with MacDonald. Providing the organization a combined 5.3 WAR, by far the most of any pitcher at any level in the organization, may either accelerate his ascent or reinforce a patient approach, but regardless we're all thrilled to see these results.

[Ghosts]

Minor League Players of the Year Preview (Hitting)

The first wave of incoming Ghosts prospects, likely due to Niihama sometime in 2034, may be dominated by pitchers, but there's no dearth of hitters in this system either. As we continue our preview of potential 2032 player of the year awardees, we'll now focus on the most prolific of Ghosts hitting prospects. We would normally need to place a caveat about excluding this year's draftees from this list, but as we recall, Niihama selected 58 pitchers and 0 hitters this year, so it's irrelevant.

1B Gerardo Casillas
This 6'8" behemoth from New York came to Niihama as a 5th round selection in the 2031 WIL amateur draft. Scouts question his contact ability and ceiling, but his age 19/20 season at the R and SS-A levels demonstrated advanced gap power and solid contact skills. His season began in Gohueng, where he slashed .336/.410/.460 and showcased a well-rounded offensive profile. His defense, even at first, is poor, but if he can maintain a similar output as he progresses, managers will find at bats for him. He continued on to Dawson City, Alaska with his promotion to SS-A. His time with the Gunslingers resulted in a .268/.433/.420 line that is even more impressive when one notes the general dominance of pitching at that level (as evidenced by his 153 OPS+). In total, Casillas earned 2.8 WAR and a highly impressive .398 wOBA.

CF Jose Rivera
A lefty speedster from the deep American South, Rivera was the #2 overall selection in the 2031 WIL amateur draft. Debuting in SS-A, the 22-year-old contributed largely with his glove on his way to 1.1 WAR over 44 games. His .240/.305/.365 slash and 4 SBs would not be anywhere near enough to get him PotY consideration, but after his coaches suggested he should be challenged at the A level, his bat awoke. Rivera would start 54 games and play in 6 more over the rest of the 2032 season, hitting 20 XBHs en route to a 137 OPS+ and 2.5 WAR. He also managed a +2.1 ZR as the Onryou centerfielder while earning the trust of coaches and teammates alike with his steady, calm, and dutiful approach. In total, Rivera amassed 2.8 WAR and a .348 wOBA.

C Julio Elias
Acquired from Manchester in the trade of former #1 rated WIL prospect SS Victor Torres, the 19-year-old righty from Mexico punished R pitching all season long. Julio's impressive slash (.314/.370/.508) and excellent defense behind the plate yielded 3.4 WAR in just 72 games. His impressive early power is of particular note, as he slugged 24 2B, 2 3B, and 10 HRs for a total wOBA of .379.

C Nolan McMahon
Another notable catching prospect acquired via trade, the 23-year-old McMahon played most of the year in A ball before taking over backstop duties for the playoff-bound Ikari Warriors in AA. McMahon was impressive at A ball, with 28 XBHs in 79 games and a 124 OPS+, but he caught fire once he reached AA. In 10 games, he hit 4 HRs en route to a 228 OPS+ and 0.9 WAR. He also earned player of the game honors in Ikari's 10-2 route of the Hamilton Industrialists, going 2-3 with a HR and 2 BBs. McMahon has earned himself strong consideration for the starting job in Niihama as his pitching peers form the tip of the proverbial spear for Niihama's hopefully competitive window in the coming years with his combined .347 wOBA and 3.8 WAR in 2032.

3B Darius Freeman
Last but certainly not least in our list is 25-year-old Darius Freeman. Freeman started the year at the A level before forcing his way to two promotions before returning to AA level for playoff experience. In total, the speedy 3B with a very good glove played about 2/3 of his season for the AA Ikari and totaled 29 SBs, 18 HRs, and an impressive 5.1 WAR in 502 PAs. His .351 wOBA, speed, and glove will earn him a shot at the starting 3B job in Niihama next season.