10/1/2012: Reno, NV – While watching “Bull Durham” on the night after the close of another horrific season of Reno baseball, this reporter came across two revelations:

1. No one in Reno’s organization comes to mind as someone who could be the next “Nuke” – Reno has to go after pitching in the next draft.
2. It would be interesting to see if there is a PEBA version of Crash Davis – someone who has put up big-time power numbers, while never hitting a big league bomb.

Our friends in the stat office did some research and came up with five PEBA versions of Crash Davis.  The rules were simple…

1. Player may have appeared in the big leagues for a cup of coffee, but must have never hit a big league home run in either the PEBA or LRS;
2. Only professional homers count – any collegiate or prep bombs did not count in the totals.

Therefore, let me introduce you to the closest thing the PEBA has to Crash Davis…

#5 with 123 career minor league home runs is Ken Winter of Arlington.  An inaugural draft pick by Arlington, Winter has been a two-time minor league All-Star at different levels.  He helped lead Newport News to a 2011 Ambassador’s Cup.  At only 22, Ken still has plenty of time to get a chance in the big show.

#4 with 136 career minor league home runs is Carlos Colón of Crystal Lake.  At 31, Carlos has spent most of his career south of the border.  Just signed this past year by the Gnats, Carlos spent a little bit of time at every level of the organization.  Carlos is a three-time All-Star in the Alianza Béisbol Al Sur de la Frontera, as well as the recipient of the ABSF Outstanding Hitter Award in 2011.  Here is your prototypical Crash Davis – unlikely to ever get the chance to stare at a long bomb in a PEBA stadium someday.

#3 with 149 career minor league home runs is José “Eeyore” Pérez of Yuma.  At 28, Eeyore is another Mexican transplant into the PEBA minor leagues.  Crystal Lake brought Pérez to the U.S. in 2011 and then traded him to Yuma.  Six years in the minors – six All-Star appearances.  This one will be interesting to watch in the future – will Eeyore get a chance someday?

#2 with 150 career minor league home runs is Arturo Torres of Crystal Lake.  Torres has given his passport a workout during his career:

• 2007 & 2008 – Played in the ABSF
• 2009 – Played in Aurora’s minors
• 2010 – Traded to Manchester; wound up back in Mexico in the end
• 2011 – Headed back to America with the Calzones before returning again to Mexico
• 2012 – Spent in Mexico until recently signing with the Sandgnats

He is 30 and has some outfield versatility, so it’s possible Crystal Lake might find a place for him someday.  It’s also possible he’ll cross the Rio Grande sometime soon as well.

And finally… #1 with 151 career minor league home runs is Salvador Reyes of, you guessed it… Crystal Lake!

This four-time All-Star and two-time Outstanding Hitter came to the Crystal Lake organization in 2011.  At 30 years old and limited to playing first base, it will be hard for Salvador to reach the bigs – especially given the fact he spent this last season in Double-A.

It will be interesting for this reporter to look back in a year or two to find out if any of these five long ball machines actually reached the bigs… and if any of them got to trot around the bases for the first time in a big league game.

Coming soon: A look at who the next Nuke Laloosh of the PEBA will be…