Medicine Hat Drillers Miss Playoffs

[ScottH]

Medicine Hat Drillers 2032 Season Recap 68-72 2nd Place 5 Games Back

Dallas Pollard is a proven professional baseball Manager finishing first or second in seven of his 11 seasons as skipper. The 2032 Drillers were a bit short on ability but an 18-11 August put the squad within reach of their third consecutive Pacific Alliance title but they came up just short. Pollard, the 2031 Manager of the Year with Class A Rapid City, is 16 games above .500 in his career.

The young talent of the Duluth farm system have begun to matriculate up the organizational ladder with Juan Velasquez, Antonio Herrera, and Sergio Campos all finding their way to Medicine Hat in 2032. Velasquez is the #5 rated prospect within the Warriors system and appears to be apprenticing for the future center field job to be played between Campos and Jacob Gill, the organization’s most recent two first round selections. Playing the entire 2032 campaign with the Drillers, Velasquez found himself on a few Class A leaderboards, finishing with 8 triples (1st in Class A), 34 doubles, and 30 stolen bases (both top 5 in the Pacific Alliance). Add to that his 15 home runs and 67 walks and the Columbian had a solid season. It remains to be seen if he can patrol center field but run, hit, and throw the sky is the limit for this guy.

Antonio Herrera found his power stroke during 75 games in Rapid City before coming to Medicine Hat in July just after winning the Futures Game MVP. After clouting 16 homers he moved to AA and put up a slash line of .348/.407/.585 over 43 games and finished 2032 with a combined 7.5 WAR. “Dandy” can play both corner infield positions and he is still refining his skills, not turning 21 for 7 more months. Duluth brass expect Herrera to soon be receiving throws from 2032 rookie third baseman Noah Hill very soon.

2031 first round selection Sergio Campos had such a good Class A season going he led the level in both home runs and slugging even though he left early and played his last 25 games in Class AA. Campos hit 38 homers in 99 games at Rapid City and slugged .617 before moving on to help the Drillers put together an exciting finish to their season. Overall, the left fielder finished with 43 Jimmie-Jacks with 97 Rbi and a combined 5.7 WAR.

Victor Thomas is not a guy you hear much about, being the #36 prospect in the Duluth system but he has put back-to-back seasons together to make you say, “hmm?” After hitting 17 homers in 2031, Thomas moved to AA and hit 20 while playing both third and second. The more he plays, the more impressed you are with his ability to play multiple positions and driving in runs (74 in 2032). An attempt is currently under way to see if he can become a super utility player.

Tommy Burris hit 15 home runs in Rapid City before being promoted to AA where he added another 15 homers. Coming out of Indiana University there was never any doubt about his ability to hit the long ball or his speed. Making contact more often would help the tall (6’6” 210) Texan’s chances and he will be attempting to do that at Racine next year as the youth push him forward.

“Sleepy” Bill Miller has really done nothing since being drafted in the 14th round of the 2029 draft. When not catching bullpens he can often be seen catching naps behind the field tarp. With over 500 at bats in Class A where he it .202 Miller moved up to AA for the final 18 games and put up a slash line of .344/.359/.689. Those three weeks saved his career.

Not much good happened on the mound this season in Medicine Hat. The staff allowed 142 homers (15th) in a 140 game season and walked 496 batters (13th). Grown men walked almost 500 people in 140 games. They have been pitching all their lives and can not find the strike zone? We need to shake up that staff.

We averaged 16,636 fans at Municipal Stadium in 2032. Two goals for Medicine Hat next season. Win a championship and draw more fans than at least one PEBA club, doubling attendance for the season.

[Sandgnats]

One might say "Miller lacks drive."