2025 Season in Review
It’s now mid-November and Hartford has been knocked out of the playoffs, but not before vastly exceeding expectations. Entering the year, Hartford was coming off of a 79-83 season of mediocrity and was widely known as an offensive threat that struggled on the mound. Stuck in a division with Arlington and West Virginia, things weren’t looking too well for Hartford. But with a few additions, players returning from injury, and surprise development of prospects Hartford found success. The Harpoon managed a 91-71 record, beat division rivals West Virginia, and went to 6 games against Florida in the LCS. Here’s how they did it.
Offseason Additions:
Without a lot of cash to spend in the offseason, Hartford decided to reinforce the depth on the roster. But they were able to pick a desperately needed reliever in the form of
P He Ling who had just arrived as a free agent from China. Ling immediately fit in as the 8th inning setup man, a role that was highly sought after entering the 2025 season. Ling compiled a 5-1 record with 3 saves and a 3.31 ERA over 49 innings.
The offseason didn’t come without worried though as another pickup, pitcher
P Jun'ichi 'Hobo' Yoshino, struggled early as a starter. After racking up a 5.47 ERA, Yoshino’s already risky 4-year deal seemed like a total bust. But a move to the pen helped Hobo find his groove, finishing the year with a 3.59 ERA over 47.2 innings of relief.
Despite having an excellent group of hitters, their defense was not quite up to par.
Mike Harris &
Gordon Stenger were brought in to solve that problem. Ron Myers was moved to DH to allow Harris to take over as the starting first baseman while Stenger is able to play every infield position at a quality level. Stenger would excel in his super utility role, filling in whenever needed and finishing with a positive Zone Rating in all 4 infield positions. Harris would also excel defensively but turned out to be an even larger threat at the plate (.274/.363/.404, 16 HRs).
Carrying the Load:
The core of this Hartford roster was expected to step-up and become a force in the league and that’s exactly what they did. Ace
P Ray Graham made his first all-star appearance after dominating early in the season. Performance dipped towards the end yet he finished at 11-8 with a 3.61 ERA and a career high 144 K’s. Not bad for a 34-year-old.
2B Luis Cedeno was always the star in the eyes of the media and he didn’t disappoint. Finishing the year first in SB’s (49) was just a small portion of his importance to this team. Cedeno ended the year batting .276/.348/.453 with 28 HR’s and 88 RBI’s and has settled into his role as #3 in the lineup though defensively he still struggles.
CF Carlos Ryan was the focal point for Hartford this season, laying down the hurt on opposing pitchers. Hitting .275/.367/.506 with 34 HRs and 93 RBIs, Ryan ended the year with a league leading 8.1 WAR with a cushion between him and #2 on that list. When other were slumping, Ryan was swinging. Add in a ridiculous +20.6 ZR at CF and some wonder if Ryan should be legally classified as a weapon.
Youth Movement:
A key piece in the vast improvement that was made this year was the presence of young talent. A mix of rookies and inexperienced players showed up in a big way and were integral to Hartford making it deep into the playoffs.
P Otto Coleman entered 2025 as a long relief/spot starter, a role he had the year before. Coleman has always been viewed as an end of the rotation guy but this season he proved himself. Due to injuries and poor play, Coleman was granted a shot in the rotation early in the season, and he never looked back. Otto finished at 11-6 with a 3.24 ERA, the lowest out of all starters on the roster in only his second year in PEBA. Coleman isn’t flashy (5.03 K/9) but above average movement and control makes him a consistent options who rarely get blown out.
RP Matt Brown made his debut in August and showed why he is one of the most sought after relief prospects in the league. Brown finished 3-0 with an impressive 2.45 ERA over 33 innings in his debut season along with a 10.36 K/9. Brown is projected to become an all around relief star and heading into 2026 looks to be on the right track.
Easily one of the best rookie performances seen in awhile,
LF Walter Daniel exploded on the scene in 2025. After being drafted as a pitcher, Daniel was only moved to the field full-time last season. But he has already cemented himself as a key piece in the Hartford Lineup. Despite some injury problems, Daniel hit .354/.381/.690 with 19 HRs and 60 RBIs in only 229 ABs. His production carried over into the playoffs, before getting injured in the final game win over West Virginia. It’s obvious the kid can hit, and Hartford will be looking to keep him healthy next season.
Hartford Season Awards:
Hitter of the Year:
CF Carlos Ryan; .275/.367/.506, 34HRs, 93RBIs
Pitcher of the Year:
P Ray Graham; 11-8, 3.61 ERA, 1.15 WHIP, 144 Ks
Wonderkid:
LF Walter Daniel; .354/.381/.690, 19HRs, 60RBIs