Rotation of the Future Looks Studly

Eureka is really, really struggling this year.  This was expected, since the focus early was youth, pitching, character, youth, fielding, hitting.  However, there are some young bucks who should load up a quality rotation in the very near future.  The prospects:

4-5 Star Potential:
1. Royce Butterfield (age: 21).  After seven AAA starts during which he was lights-out (3-1, 1.41 ERA), Royce was called up the the big leagues.  He has had some ups and downs, and currently stands at 3-4 with a 6.70 ERA.  However, he did show his potential on July 3rd when he pitched a six-hit shutout.

2. Jake Nelson (age: 18).  After 18 A starts and a 9-5 record with a 2.21 ERA, he was promoted to AA.  He has struggled some there, which is to be expected at this point in his career, going 3-1 with a 4.79 ERA.

3. Anthony "Pongo" Atkinson (age: 18).  He has spent the season in A ball, going 11-5 with a 2.71 ERA.

4. Dave Blake (age: 17).  He has spent the season in A ball also, going 8-9 with a 4.57 ERA.

3 Star Potential:

5. Jeff "Havoc" Olsen (age: 22).  He has struggled in AAA ball, with a 5-4 record and 5.12 ERA, but he is still very much in Eureka's plans.

The plan is to have all of them, with the possible exception of Olsen, move up a level next season.  In 2-3 years, the major league team should have a solid rotation.

Ouch!

Adding to Eureka's injury woes, firstbaseman Michael Brown suffered a broken kneecap, and will miss seven months.  Starting pitchers Francis Baker and Jerome Burnett, as well as outfielder Orlando Carranzo, were already lost for this season.

"It has been a tough season," Eureka GM Dalfiume said.  "We knew we were playing mostly young this season, but the injuries made what was going to be a challenging season even more challenging.  The upside is that other young players have had some opportunities to get their feet wet in the major leagues.  A bit ahead of schedule, but that is the way it works sometimes."

Gnats (A) Bat, Arm Both Players of the Month

18-year-old Martin Rivera, OF on the Nichols Gnats, won the player of the month award as the best Batter in the BOL for the month of June.  He batted .313 with 8 home runs, 16 RBIs, and 21 runs scored.  He has won the player of the week award three times this season, and has now added Batter of the Month.

Less of a surprise was that SP Anthony Atkinson, considered one of Eureka's top prospects, won the player of the month award as the best Pitcher in the BOL for the month of June.  He was 5-1 in six starts, 39.1 innings, with 42 Ks, and a miniscule 1.37 ERA. 

The Gnats are now 53-30 for the season.

Injuries Slamming Eureka!

Eureka has been beset by the injury bug.  Two of the five season-opening starters, Francis Baker and Jerome Burnett, are already out for the season.   OF and DH Orlando Carranzo is also.  Star Mike Bergeron is halfway through a month of inactivity, as are rightfielder Willis Parks and shortstop Dylan Foster.  The young team, which already had something of a AAA look, has an even stronger AAA look now!

Down on the farm, AAA reliever Eric Phillips and A reliever Gary Prince are out for the season.  AA reliever Sam Evans will be missing half the season.