Eureka snuck into the playoffs last season, surging at the end. Will they do it again? Halfway through the season the Hornets were 10 games back in the standings and looking listless. An injury to the reliable #3 starting pitcher Paul Green and injury and ineffectiveness by Nick Hawkins, as well as an inconsistent offense, hurt the team. However, following trades of veteran stalwart Eduardo Gomez and middle reliever Ambrosio Cuco, and a commitment to a full-fledged youth movement, the team began to turn it around.
Manual Sanchez, acquired in the Gomez trade, is currently playing first base, batting 2nd in the order, and providing some spark near the top of the order. Reliever Cal Henry, also acquired in the Gomez trade, is 4-0 with 1 save and a 1.08 WHIP with a 2.36 ERA in a setup role. Bob Hennessey, in his first professional season, has moved all the way from A ball to third base for the Hornets, and is batting .291 as the new thirdbaseman.
It remains to be seen if the Hornets will make the playoffs this year, but the team has not folded despite the early-season troubles.
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