Toyama End of August Update
As the final month of the season approaches, Toyama has struggled to push on towards a playoff spot. Sitting at a disappointing 58-66, injuries and glaring weaknesses led to a sale of players at the end of the trade deadline.
Moving Pieces
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1B Roberto Cisneros was the first casualty as he was shipped off to Duluth for a handful of young prospects. Cisneros wasn’t having a bad year, but his 1-dimensional ability and a bottleneck of talent at 1B made him expendable. Cisneros joined us from the Connecticut Nutmeggers in 2020 and was with the team for the past six seasons. In return, Toyama was given three promising prospects with the hope they will develop into quality players. Topping the list is
CF Carlos Marino who has already appeared in 3 games in PEBA. Marino can play a swath of positions and is best known for his ability to get on base and his immense speed when ON base. Joining him in Toyama is
SS Bernardo Alvarado another speedster, and a 17-year-old
1B Mushanokoji Sakei who is expected to make an impact sometime in the future.
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The other major deal was a lot heavier for Toyama fans as they witnessed star
CL Raul Cruz leave for West Virginia. Cruz struggled with injuries early in the season, and with an expiring contract, it was clear this was his final season in Toyama regardless. In return, the Wind Dancers received
1B Skip Jordan, a 26-year-old with a quality bat. Pundits tip Jordan to step into the 1B role once Pablo Prado leaves this season or next, though Jordan likely needs another season of AAA ball. In this deal, Toyama also received a 2nd and 6th round draft pick for 2027 as they continue building a decent farm system.
Key Players
Despite the poor record, a handful of Toyama players have had a great season.
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2B Jose Escobido continues to defy all odds by staying healthy and his .364 average and .424 OBP show just what kind of season he is having. The talent had always been there, but the past 2 seasons have been riddled with injuries. 2026 has been a new start for Jose as he’s on track for a career-high year.
3B Ivan Juarez is another name that raises eyebrows for having a great season. In 2024, Juarez had a career year followed by a significant drop in 2025. But 2026 has been a resurgence for the 27yo Cuban who has a .360 OBP and is 23/24 in stolen base attempts. Toyama will be pleased that a younger member of their core has re-established himself in the league.
SP Clayton Lewis, despite sitting out a few weeks, is pitching like his normal self though he may not be getting the end result to show. In 21 starts, Lewis has a career-best 2.21 ERA while holding an 8-4 record. The veteran continues to lead a struggling pitching staff as the one glimmer of hope.
On the Farm
The Toyama farm system has received a boost from the aforementioned trades right before the deadline. There have also been some eye-catching performances in the ranks of players that are expected to become Toyama regulars.
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Top Prospect
LF Ramiro Salinas has made a September call-up a possibility with his play this season. Many worried about the jump from A to AAA but the movement has met success for the 23-year-old. Salinas is hitting .293/.385/.440 with 6 homers, 51 RBIs, and a whopping 37 SBs over 512 plate appearances. Salinas has significantly picked up his game both at the plate and in the field as he looks to fill the gap of quality in Left Field for the Wind Dancers.
Newly drafted
Jeffrey Mendoza was selected in the first round and has impressed for the Takaoka Shiko at the A level. Mendoza sports a 7-4 record with a 2.65 ERA and has shown off his stamina often pitching 100+ pitches in each game. His 3-pitch repertoire has progressed well all while keeping a high velocity that tops out around 100mph.
P Dylan McIntosh, Toyama’s #1 pick in 2025, has been dominant in AA for the Beppu City Pandas. Despite a 7-8 record, McIntosh boasts a 2.47 ERA and is throwing only 1.9 walks per 9 innings flashing the control that got him drafted. Beppu City is fighting for a playoff spot and McIntosh has been a key piece in that success after progressing quickly through the Toyama system.