This Team Bites: Blog of the Crystal Lake Sandgnats

[Sandgnats]

This Team Bites: Blog of the Crystal Lake Sandgnats

Gnats Sign New Team Medical Staff after Retirement of Natsu Kanno (31/4)
By: Stephanie Dole
November 26, 2031 at 09:59 PM CST

The Gnats announced today the retirement of team doctor Natsu Kanno who has been with the Gnats since 2023 and also the hiring of Dr. Rafael Aguirre to a 5-year, $244,000 per year contract. Kanno was well known for his focus on recovery and injury prevention. Kanno also was a key part of the Gnats health evaluation for any player acquired by free agency, draft or trade.

Rafael Aguirre is no stranger to PEBA baseball as he was in employ San Antonio from 2016 until the end of the 2031 season. Why San Antonio would let a doctor and his training staff of great renown is unknown, but the Gnats are excited to have another training team in the fold with strong results with fatigue and injury prevention. "It's a lot easier to prevent injuries than repair them." Dr. Kanno stated at the press conference today.

Aguirre also revealed his philosophy as follows, "Decision-making about training and competing is essential and sporting bodies should embrace a new developing culture where performance coaching is integrated into a holistic approach to comprehensive health management and decision-making. Successful performance outcome is to take a broad view of the athlete's health, not only pathology driven but also at a functional level. This holistic approach includes strategies to reduce the risk of injury and illness as well as the management of existing health issues. Our belief is that medical teams should also be prepared to prioritise the utilisation of sports medicine and science to optimise and improve performance especially for elite athletes."

[Sandgnats]

This Team Bites: Blog of the Crystal Lake Sandgnats

Gnats Avoid Arbitration With Key Players (32/1)
By: Stephanie Dole
November 7, 2032 at 09:00 PM CST

The Gnats were able to avoid arbitration with multiple players over the last two weeks:

Sunday, October 24th, 2032

Signed 1B António Vega to a 1-year contract extension worth a total of $8,500,000. The prototype power hitting first baseman has hit over 31 homeruns each season since 2028. He will achieve free agency eligibility next season.

Friday, October 22nd, 2032

Signed LF River McCausland to a 1-year contract extension worth a total of $6,250,000. With 28 HRs and batting .276/.306/.478 last season. McCausland will return at Left Field.

Wednesday, October 20th, 2032

Signed CF Cal Morrissey to a 1-year contract extension worth a total of $1,050,000. Back up outfield defensive specialist will return for 2033.

Monday, October 18th, 2032

Signed 2B Gareth Bugler to a 1-year contract extension worth a total of $1,250,000. Bugler will be in discussion for starting second base again after winning the role full time half way through the season. This affordable contract keeps him for 2033.

Signed SP José Trejo to a 1-year contract extension worth a total of $6,000,000. Breakout season in 2032 for Trejo pitching 2.45 ERA with 213.1 innings pitched. WAR 3.0.

Signed RP Joe Arnold to a 1-year contract extension worth a total of $850,000. 2030 PEBA SL Wunderkind Award returns after 2 average seasons.

Signed C Larry Lambright to a 1-year contract extension worth a total of $670,000. Solid season for the backup catcher will return for 2033.

Signed RP Carlos Morales to a 1-year contract extension worth a total of $725,000. Left pitching specialist earns a return spot in the bullpen.

[Sandgnats]

This Team Bites: Blog of the Crystal Lake Sandgnats

Gnats Announce Minor League Players of the Year (32/2)
By: Stephanie Dole
November 7, 2032 at 10:00 PM CST

The Sandgnats announced their minor league players of the year today at a press conference at their guest headquarters at the Streets Palace Casino Sports Book International today.

• Crystal Lake Minor League Hitter of the Year: CF Kata 'Claws' Iitsuka (SA) .283/.381/.484 with 32 2Bs with 322 at bats

Born in Toyonaka, Japan, Kata is a graduate of Hunting Hills High School after which he was drafted in the 2030 first-year player draft Round 2, Pick 23, 58th overall pick by the Crystal Lake Sandgnats. He was part of the 2031 Intercontinental Baseball Coalition IBC Cup championship team with the Mogadishu Pirates. After a stellar 2031 in rookie level ball - he was selected to the 2032 Surf and Snow Amalgamation All-Star Game and won the 2032 SS-A HL Platinum Stick Award at CF. Gnats Development Manager Pepe Espinosa is quoted as saying, "Never hangs his head during slumps or losses. He's a good kid with a bright future."

• Crystal Lake League Minor League Pitcher of the Year: SP Vincent Orr (SA) ERA of 2.69 in 110.1 innings pitched 108 strikeouts with 55 walks.

Born in Tucson, AZ, Vincent is a graduate of Bishop Moore High School after which he drafted in the 2028 first-year player draft Round 12, Pick 25, 317th overall pick by the Shin Seiki Evas. The Evas were unwilling to give Vincent a chance to play in their system and released him after only allowing him 3.1 innings pitched. Since joining the Sandgnats organization Vincent has impressed his coaches. Coaches have called him a worm killer who will generate a high amount of ground balls.

[Sandgnats]

This Team Bites: Blog of the Crystal Lake Sandgnats

Gnats Announce Minor League Players of the Year (33/1)
By: Stephanie Dole
December 9, 2033 at 10:24 AM CST

Crystal Lakes announces 2033 Minor League Players of the Year:

• Minor League Hitter of the Year: 1B António Cortéz R

António Cortéz played the full season at R Mogadishu hitting .336/.408/.639/1.048 for a 177 OPS+ with 21 HRs in 280 AB.

• Minor League Pitcher of the Year: SP Derek 'Freeze' Meadmore R

Derek 'Freeze' Meadmore posted 23 saves in 24 opportunities this season. He finished 34 of 35 games he appeared in as well. He posted 32Ks and only 9 walks.

[Sandgnats]

This Team Bites: Blog of the Crystal Lake Sandgnats

Gnats Recent Transactions (33/2)
By: Stephanie Dole
December 10, 2033 at 10:59 PM CST

Re-signings and Free Agent Declarations:

• RF Clarence Carpenter has exercised his contract opt-out and also rejected a qualifying offer becoming a free agent.

• RF Paul Carlisle has executed his contract year option and remains for one more season at $9.5M.

• Signed C Scott Phillips to a 1-year contract extension worth a total of $650,000.

• Signed SP Ty Evans to a 6-year contract extension worth a total of $61,500,000.

• SP Dean McNeil rejected the qualifying offer and becomes a free agent.

• 2B Gareth Bugler was not offered arbitration, becomes a free agent.

• 1B António Vega rejected the qualifying offer and becomes a free agent.

Retirements:

• 1B James Brown (A El Cajon) retired from professional baseball.

• C Miguel Angel Ramos (AAA Evansville) retired from professional baseball.

• RP Raúl Rocha (AA Brampton) retired from professional baseball.

• SS David Sánchez (AAA Evansville) retired from professional baseball.

• C Oda Aoki (AA Brampton) retired from professional baseball.

Free Agent Signings:

• Signed free agent RP Naoki Hayashi to a minor league contract.

• Signed free agent RP Pedro Blanco to a minor league contract.

• Signed free agent SP Bob Erickson to a minor league contract.

• Signed free agent CL Kimi Yamasaki to a minor league contract.

• Signed free agent RP Pancho Medina to a minor league contract.

• Signed free agent SP José De Jesús to a minor league contract with a $16,969 signing bonus.

• Signed free agent SP Luis Martínez to a minor league contract with a $16,969 signing bonus.

• Signed free agent SP José Solís to a minor league contract with a $16,969 signing bonus.

Personnel:

• Signed Pitching Coach Joe Gillespie to a 2-year contract extension.

• Signed Scouting Director Pablo Durango to a 4-year contract extension.

[Sandgnats]

This Team Bites: Blog of the Crystal Lake Sandgnats

Gnats Recent Transactions (33/3)
By: Stephanie Dole
December 17, 2033 at 8:35 PM CST

Saturday, December 17th, 2033

• Signed free agent RP Marty Snijders to a minor league contract.

• Signed free agent LF Yosai Kouki to a minor league contract.

• Signed free agent SP Rafael Benítez to a minor league contract.

• Signed free agent SP Kan-goo An to a minor league contract.

Marty Snijders returns to the Crystal Lake Sandgnats organization after previously drafted in the 2022 first-year player draft (Round 4, Pick 28, 137th overall pick) by the with a $170,000 bonus.

He had previously finished Finished 2nd in 2022 IHS SL1 Outstanding Hitter Award voting and also Finished 2nd in 2022 IHS SL1 Outstanding Pitcher Award voting that same year he was drafted.

He was traded by the Crystal Lake Sandgnats to the Neo-Tokyo Akira, along with RP Junzo Inagaki, RP Martín Rosado, in exchange for SP Tony Cuellar on June 5, 2024 and suspiciously released 12 days later where he was acquired as a free agent by the Toyama Wind Dancers. In 2026 he was drafted in the rule 5 draft (Round 3, Pick 4, 56th overall Pick) by the Canton Longshoremen, from the Toyama Wind Dancers. In 2029 he was traded by the Canton Longshoremen to the Hartford Harpoon, along with RP Iwao Rin, in exchange for SP Maxime Labrie, RP Juan García, SP Jorge Camarillo, a 3rd draft pick. That same year he pitched a 8-hit shutout against the Arlington Bureaucrats with 4 strikeouts and 1 BB allowed! Unfortunately in 2032 he sustained an Injured Torn flexor tendon (elbow) and was out for 9 months.

After pedestrian numbers in the last 3 years with Hartford, Marty "Don't call me McFly" looks to get a fresh start at age 30 with the club that first drafted him.

Wednesday, December 14th, 2033

• Signed free agent SP Luis Ríos to a minor league contract with a $16,969 signing bonus.

The international free agent out of Guatemala with the Arlington Bureaucrats organization looks to as a free agent get a new start with Crystal Lake. Nothing ever uncommon about Luis and neither is his lack of control.