#and i am So Excited for fastball specials

[pride-of-storm]

v excited for new dnd character. they are a fighter with a -2 strength modifier!

[thekitchenismykingdom]

Take Me Out to the Ball Game - Lovestruck Fanfiction

Relationship: Lucien Rivercrest/Roman Tarrenglade Rating: G Summary: Roman is a huge baseball fan and goes with Lucien to see the Mariners play against the Blue Jays. A catch, a kiss, and a fun date. A/N: Lucien and Roman have such a fun dynamic  in the series. Of course I’d end up shipping them. Roman is the “idiot sandwich” to Lucien’s Gordon Ramsay lol

Cheers rang out in the stadium as the sun shone down on the rowdy fans of Seattle. Beer sloshed in cups, popcorn flew through the air, and vendors waved their pretzels around for sale. A couple, one dressed appropriately for the occasion and the other more casual, sat in the middle of the stadium behind second base. The clear baseball fan of the two held a jumbo, overpriced hot dog in one hand and a small container of a bright red jam, the same colour as his hair in fact, in the other. He poured some of the jam onto the hot dog, and when satisfied, snapped the container closed and put it away.

Examining the hot dog carefully, from the line of yellow mustard to the jam he had just put on, Roman finally took a bite.

"Mmm, I can't believe I haven't tried a hot dog until now," he said between chews. "Human food really isn't that bad!"

Lucien hummed and munched on his peanut snacks. A little too sweet for his taste, but they would do for a ball game.

"Perhaps I could convince Liora to add these to the menu..." Roman continued, musing to himself after each bite. 

Lucien stopped chewing and glanced at Roman.

"Yes, because these 'jumbo' hot dogs in tasteless buns belong next to my petit fours and raspberry charlotte."

"I would make them just as fancy as your petit fours, Lucien! They would be gourmet."

"Assuming I baked the perfect bun to go with them, maybe."

"I can jazz up any food and you know it," Roman countered with a huff. "This jam I whipped up from cooked gengan fruit adds a wonderfully complex spice and sweetness that pairs perfectly with the tangy mustard and this, ah, all beef hotdog."

Lucien smirked, but put his hand on top of Roman's and gave it a small squeeze.

"Come on, the bottom of the seventh is about to start."

--

Lucien could see the excitement in Roman's face, feel it in the way Roman gripped his hand as the game wound down to its final inning. It was the bottom of the ninth and the Mariners were losing to the Blue Jays by one run, with only one man out, and one of their best hitters was at bat.

"The Mariners are so close! A run would tie it, and another would win the whole thing!"

"I didn't think they were any good," Lucien mumbled, and Roman glared at him.

"The true point is to go on a date and watch a baseball game, but they have a chance at victory! Even bottom teams win sometimes."

The Blue Jays were also in the bottom, a fact Roman was well aware of, and Lucien sighed. 

His eyes were drawn back to the diamond with a CRACK as the batter swung and hit the ball, sending it into the corner of right field.

"Oh, oh! Fair ball! FAIR BALL!!!" Roman shouted and cheered as the batter ran across first, then second, and finally slid into third plate just as the ball went sailing into the third baseman's glove.

"SAFE!"

Roman whooped and punched his hand into his shiny baseball glove.

"Come on boys, get a homerun. A homerun!"

"Yell a little louder and maybe they'll hear you," Lucien teased, settling into his seat and stealing a sip of Roman's drink.

"Oh Lucien, at least pretend to have fun," Roman muttered, eyes rolling as he focused on the game.

"I am," he defended. "I always have fun with you." When Roman didn't respond, Lucien turned back to the game.

The second batter stepped up to the plate and rolled his shoulders before setting up. After a moment the pitcher wound up and sent a nasty screwball straight into the catcher's glove. The batter didn't even twitch.

The second pitch was a fastball, and this time the batter swung. He just missed the ball as that too went flying into the catcher's mitt. 

Roman had a hand over his mouth, rubbing his face as he shimmied to the edge of his seat. One more strike and the batter would be out.

Taking some time to loosen up, the batter kicked at some dirt on the plate and set up once more, the bat moving loosely in his grip. The pitcher wound up and unleashed a slider. The batter swung and missed as the ball suddenly dropped, once more into the catcher's mitt.

A collective groan could be heard in the stands, but Roman stayed focused on the game. The next batter made his way to home plate, a fresh trade from another team. Roman turned to Lucien and said, "This guy will do it. I know he will."

"You can predict the future now?"

"Laugh all you want, but I know we're winning this thing," Roman sniffed and turned back to the game. Lucien stared at him before looking back to the game himself, and watched a bad pitch almost miss the catcher entirely. A ball on the first pitch. 

The second pitch was a fastball and the batter just got a piece of it, fouling it. Lucien looked around to make sure no one was watching and quickly drew his sigil for a luck spell. He then sat back and watched a curveball go past the batter as the umpire signalled for a second strike.

"Oh come on, come on..." Roman said through gritted teeth. Lucien almost laughed at the sight, not really understanding Roman's interest in this human sport but happy to go to games with him all the same. He refrained from laughing, however, wanting Roman to enjoy the experience. 

The batter finally set up, planting his feet into the dirt and staring down the pitcher. With the ball in hand and having received the signal from the catcher, the pitcher finally wound up and threw a hard fastball. With the loudest CRACK of the game the ball hit the bat and went sailing into the air and over the field.

"Roman, get your glove ready! It looks like-"

"I GOT IT!!!" Roman yelled as he jumped up from his seat and caught the ball. He cheered and whooped and held up the ball in his glove as the announcers went wild.

"A two-run homerun and the Mariners take it 5-4 over the Blue Jays! What a spectacular finish!!!"

--

"Oh Lucien, I can't believe it! I knew they were going to win, of course, but to actually catch a ball from a homerun? A ball from the game-winning homerun!? It's a dream come true!" 

"And what are the odds you would catch the homerun baseball after predicting a Mariners win?"

They were walking back to the cafe hand-in-hand and Roman briefly let go to once again examine the baseball, turning it over in his hands and running his fingers over the red lacing. It seemed to Lucien he had done that at least 15 times since leaving the stadium.

"I know you had something to do with it," Roman said.

"Perhaps, but I had nothing to do with that homerun. Your man came through."

"That he did! I told you he would."

"Was it the highlight of the game for you?" Lucien asked, and Roman nodded.

"Of the game? Yes, definitely the best part. The whole thing was fantastic, except the fourth inning, and we had such great seats, and the food! I always love trying out human food when we go out."

Roman was gushing about the sheer amount of food one could purchase at a sporting event, talking about the hot dogs covered in chili and cheese, the giant salty pretzels, and massive bags of popcorn. Lucien smiled to himself, watching Roman's already bright eyes sparkle as he talked and talked about everything he liked at the game.

"-And I know it's not your favourite thing to do, but going to games together truly is some of the best time I've spent with you, Lucien. Putting up with my extreme enthusiasm and the human food-"

They stopped abruptly just outside the café and Roman grabbed Lucien's hand, turning to face him. 

"It means the world to me, and I will always be grateful for every day we spend together, every meal we eat together, just...everything. It is all so, so special to me, and I love you all the more for it."

Roman leaned forward and gave Lucien a soft kiss on the cheek, and Lucien turned his face to capture Roman's lips in a stronger kiss, chest tight with emotion at the sweet words Roman said just for him.

"You're special to me, too," Lucien murmured, keeping Roman close. "The most special person in my life. That won't change."

Roman's cheeks reddened as deep as his hair, only overshadowed by the brilliant smile on his face.

"You sweet-talker, you. Come on, I think there are some leftovers in the kitchen. Those peanuts aren't exactly filling." His smile turned into a devilish grin then, as he added, "Unless you'd prefer a different kind of-"

"Just get inside," Lucien grumbled, rolling his eyes at Roman's antics and the untimely shattering of the moment. Roman followed Lucien into the cafe, snickering all the while.

[missfinefeather]

Nefronis

I'm looking for some, I'm sure it exists

https://www.deviantart.com/decapiteight/art/Sugar-Rush-597395578

https://www.deviantart.com/cadhla182/art/Fastball-Special-RWBY-edition-

https://bbbutterfingers.tumblr.com/post/141112078428/all-sad-volume-3-stuff-aside-i-am-so-excited-to

https://epryne-moved.tumblr.com/post/164842536243/have-yall-even-considered

https://bee-calm.tumblr.com/post/182346893182/how-romantic

https://epsilonc.tumblr.com/post/173093326439/theyre-so-gay

DNGFQrow

I wonder how a Huntsmen is supposed to prove they killed a specific Grimm? They evaporate into ash so it's not like they can bring back a trophy.

GhastlyGhifin

I guess they just wait to see if it shows up again.

Nefronis

Same way you prove you killed mobs in WoW for quests I assume, they hear the fighting sounds in the distance

Wakraya

I mean if the Huntsman in question hasn't killed the Grimm, likely the whole town is going to die soon.So is not like they were doing much with that reward

Z.R. Stein

Yeah, it's probably an honor system.

Thanotos Omega

You gonna argue with the people who make a living killing monsters?

[cwsdjt]

Ryan Burr Interview

Special Blog Interview Alert!

Below is my interview with Ryan Burr, reliever for the Chicago White Sox. It has great insight into Ryan's journey to the MLB and some detail about his experiences. Enjoy!

D.J.: I know you were drafted by the Rangers and then the Diamondbacks, but what did it feel like getting that call that you would be a professional baseball player?

Ryan: Getting drafted was one of the best feelings I’ve ever felt. Knowing that you are one step closer to realizing a dream you have had your whole life is an amazing and humbling experience.

D.J.: Which MLB player was your idol growing up?

Ryan: My favorite player growing up was actually a position player. Growing up in Colorado, I rooted for the Rockies and was the biggest Troy Tulowitzki fan out there. I played shortstop until I got to high school when I realized I wasn’t that good.

D.J.: Who was your favorite MLB team growing up?

Ryan: The home town Rockies.

D.J.: Which MLB pitcher would you say is your closest comparison as far as mechanics/release?

Ryan: I don’t really know, I have heard a couple different comparisons. Greg Holland has come up a few times. That’s a career I would love to match.

D.J.: What’s your go to pitch?

Ryan: More than likely I am going to come at you with the pitch that got me to the big leagues which is my fastball.

D.J: How was it playing in Kane County? I’m from about 30 minutes east of there, so I went to games as a kid.

Ryan: I played in Kane County for parts of three seasons, I would say that it was one of my favorite stops along the way. I loved the people at the ball park, great fans, great host families and I was surrounded by players that were drafted the same year as me. This all created an environment that made it fun to come to the field every day. However, spending parts of 3 seasons in low a can be very frustrating, and it was. But it made me the player I am today.

D.J.: What ran through your head in your first MLB appearance?

Ryan: I honestly just tried to be as calm as possible and tried to not over think the situation which was very difficult. You think about that moment your whole life up to that point. It exceeded any expectations I had by a long shot. I was given advice by some of my coaches and teammates which was to try and take it all in, because you only make your debut once. I couldn’t have asked for a better experience especially being able to share that moment with my parents and some of my best friends.

D.J.: How does it feel being a potential bullpen centerpiece of an MLB team’s future for the next 5-10 years?

Ryan: Potential doesn’t get you anywhere, I’m focused on trying to do what I can to help the team win this year. The rest will take care of itself.

D.J.: How exhausted are you of the Hamilton and Burr jokes? Man, I don’t have either last name but I couldn’t imagine, especially given the recent broadway play haha.

Ryan: To be honest, it doesn’t really bother me. If something brings attention to the game from people and places that aren’t traditionally baseball related, it can only be good for the game and for us.

D.J.: What’s your favorite MLB park? My buddies and I go to a different stadium each year. I know you’re from Colorado. Coors is up there for me. Love the background scenery with the mountains.

Ryan: Coors Field is definitely in my top 3. Kaufman stadium in Kansas City was actually my favorite stadium I played in, in my short time in the big leagues. Beautiful stadium, good fans, and really good food. A packed yankee stadium is like nothing else I’ve ever seen in baseball though.

D.J.: Is there a lot of positivity around the team knowing the White Sox will be adding some savvy veterans this offseason?

Ryan: I think there is a huge positivity around the organization. Everyone knows where we are headed with the amount of young talent we have. Adding some veteran leadership will definitely help us younger guys grow into our own and help push the Sox over the edge.

D.J.: How would you grade your 2018 season?

Ryan: 2018 had a lot of ups and Downs. I am proud that I was able to weather the storm of middle summer slumps, and see my goal of the big leagues come back to life. If you told me in the middle of May when my ERA was closer to my age then to zero, that I would be making my big league debut a few short months later, I would never believe you. But that’s the game of baseball. It was great for me to experience success, but the failure is what re lit the fire for me and helped to propel me forward.

D.J.: What’s your expectation for the 2019 season and the future?

Ryan: I expect myself to work as hard as I can and to put myself in the best position for success. Everything else is out of my hands and I won’t focus on it. I do expect the upward trajectory of our organization to continue on that path, and I am excited to be a part of it.

D.J.: Have you been to Little Miss BBQ? I know you went to ASU. This is without a doubt the best bbq place I’ve been to (went there while I was in the area for spring training)

Ryan: I’m a big fan of Little Miss BBQ! If you’re ever in Tempe, let me know, I will point you in the right direction when it comes to food!

Thank you to Ryan for his time. We look forward to seeing him play this 2019 season!

[stretchjournalemerson]

Te Amo Abuela

By Sebastian Germosen

Play Ball

It was the championship game. It was the 9th inning and we were losing by 2 runs. I was next up to hit and as I stood on the on-deck circle, the nerves crept in. The cheers of the crowd, the smell of hot dogs from the concession stand, and the torching sunlight that made me sweat so much. So much was going through my mind at that moment. I was practicing my swing and timing the pitcher, but I was so nervous. I was next up to bat and if I didn’t get a hit, my team would lose the championship. My teammate drew a walk, so now it was my time. My parents were standing right behind home plate. My mom cheered me on, screaming my name as loud as she could. My dad, the one whose dream was to play professional baseball, stared at me with such intensity that I could feel it as I walked up to the plate. He always did that.

There was someone missing from the crowd, but I couldn’t think about it at that moment. I stepped up to the plate and stared at the pitcher. I wanted to get in his head and I wanted to intimidate him. I was on a mission and no one would stop me. I wiped the dripping sweat from my eyes and forehead, rubbed my gloves together, and dug my feet in the dirt. The umpire signaled to the pitcher. He was ready and unfortunately for him, so was I. The cheering grew even louder and my teammates roared in the dugout. Everyone’s eyes were on me. “The best player on the team.” “The man to win us the championship.” As the pitcher began his windup, I took a deep breath and remembered that this was for her. For the person that wasn’t in the crowd that day. The ball was thrown, its spin telling me that it's a fastball. As I waited for it, the world turned silent. I only saw the ball and I heard nothing. Then the screaming and cheering happened. My teammates scored and we won the game. The coaches and team ran to me and huddled over me, celebrating. They dumped water on me and tried ripping my jersey off. I looked at my mom and dad, and they were crying. They were crying because they were so happy. They were proud. They were also crying because someone was missing. I looked up at the sky, made the sign of the cross, kissed my chain of the cross, and said, “That was for you. I love you abuela.”

Christmas Time Is Here

I was reading a book from one of my favorite novel series, Captain Underpants. It was a couple weeks before Christmas and I was so excited. I already sent my letter to Santa. I used blue construction paper and wrote it with a pencil. I always asked Santa to sign my letter after he finished reading it. A lot of gifts were under the tree and my mom was finishing up the rest of the decorations. My mom is one of those Dominican moms that completely transforms the house for an upcoming holiday. Dominican moms go crazy about decorations for holidays and they’d decorate a month ahead of time, depending on the holiday. She hung some lights on the windows, put the stockings up, and put little Santa plushies around the house. I was most excited about going to my abuela’s house for Christmas. The whole family was going. My mom’s side of the family is huge, so I didn’t know how everyone was going to fit in the house. I didn’t care, as long as I got to spend Christmas with my abuela and the family. I loved abuela’s house. As soon as you walked in, you’d smell the food she was cooking. That rice with habichuela and the scented candles she had all over the house. There was a portrait of Jesus on the living room wall and some other paintings. Sometimes, I’d look at the portrait and stare into Jesus’ eyes and move back and forth, because I always thought he was staring at me. I don’t think he was though. My favorite part of abuela’s house was this couch she had. It was leopard skinned and I always sat there. That was my spot and everyone in the family knew that.

Tears

I had reached the part of the book when Captain Underpants was battling the villain, Wedgie Woman, and I heard my mom’s phone ringing. It was her sister, so she picked it up. A minute into the conversation, my mom ran outside. I was scared because my mom had never done that before. I wondered if my aunt was okay. My mom came back to the house ten minutes later and was crying. My dad was on his way home from work, so there was nothing he could do at that moment. I had to put on my big boy pants and do something. I went over to my mom, hugged her, and asked what’s wrong. She looked at me and said, “Everything will be okay. Just go to your room and watch some TV.” So I went to my room and watched my favorite show, Power Rangers. It didn't feel right to just go and watch tv, but I was scared. The show reached the point where the rangers got their megazords to defeat the villain. A couple minutes later, I heard the door and it was my dad. I ran out the room and hugged my dad. When I looked at his face, I saw tears streaming down his cheeks. Why was I the only one that wasn’t crying?

Is The Price Right?

My parents had to work, so I had to go stay at abuela’s house. She lived in Brooklyn. Not a bad part of Brooklyn, but it wasn’t great either. My mom didn’t like Brooklyn that much; all the graffiti, crime, and stuff didn’t make her comfortable. It’s where my parents grew up. It’s where they met and it’s where the majority of my family was born and grew up. Brooklyn was home to everyone else, except for me.

My mom dropped me off, talked to abuela, and kissed me on the cheek goodbye. When she left, my grandmother told me the plan for the day. She spoke to me in English and Spanish, but mostly in Spanish, since her English wasn’t the best. I could already smell the food she was cooking. It smelled like eggs or something. I was amazed I could smell her cooking from upstairs, since the kitchen was downstairs. I guess the scent was very strong. I sat down on the leopard skinned couch and turned on the television. It was a really old-fashioned television. It had like a little antenna, and I would usually play around with it for fun. Every time I turned on the television, I looked for our favorite show. The Price is Right! We watched the show every time I was at abuela’s. I never knew why abuela loved watching the show. I still don’t know to this day. My parents say it’s because it helped her with her English. I try not to think or talk about the show anymore. When the episode finished, we went to go pick up my little cousin, Ryan, from daycare. It was a short walk from the house and abuela always said that walking is good exercise. On our way to the daycare, we saw a homeless man sitting on a bench. The man was short, with a scruffy beard and he was wearing glasses. I looked at the man and felt bad for him. “It’s awful that people live like that, abuela,” I said. “Yo sé,” abuela said. We walked up to the man and she handed him five dollars. He was shocked. He said thank you and God bless. We crossed the street and I asked abuela why she did that. “Dios dice que ayudemos a los necesitados,” she said. God says to always help those in need.

I Love my Dad and I Hate Asthma

I turned down the radio and opened the car window. It was sunny with that type of breeze that, when you take a deep breath, you feel relaxed. My dad was driving. It was only me and him in the car; my mom was in another car. My dad was wearing this nice suit and he got a haircut two days before. He wore some really nice glasses too. We were talking about baseball. That was probably the only thing that could distract us from what the day was about. My dad always talks about his love for baseball. His dream was to be a professional baseball player, but that dream wasn’t supported. He had the talent to play professionally, but he was forced to work at a young age at his dad’s restaurant. His dad wasn’t the best at caring for his kids and their dreams. As he drove, he was telling me that his dream of playing baseball in the MLB lives through me. “Your mom, abuela, and I sat down one day and discussed your future. I don’t want you to have a childhood like mine. Skipping school to work and not being able to do what I wanted to do sucked. I didn’t want you to play baseball because I feared that I would act like my father. Abuela looked me in the eyes and said that I am better than my father and you will make this family better no matter what you do. What you’ve accomplished at this point in your life is beyond what any of us could’ve dreamed of. I’m proud of you, your mom is proud of you, and so is abuela.” My dad parked the car. We did our special handshake and got out of the car. Everyone proceeded into the funeral home.

“Name him Sebastian. Sebastian is a name for a boy that will do great things. He will be someone special,” abuela said. I saw her in the casket and I couldn’t process what was happening. How did she die of an asthma attack if she didn’t have asthma? How would God let this happen to her? My dear abuela. She looked so peaceful in the casket. Her eyes were closed, her hands folded together holding a bible, and she was wearing like a dress or something. I leaned over and kissed her on the cheek. Now she can make some rice with habichuela for God, the angels, and everyone else there. She can watch The Price is Right with all them too. That’ll be fun. She’ll be able to watch my games from heaven too. Watch me get the game-winning hit for the championship.

Author’s Note

I was hesitant to write this memoir. I’m not an “open person.” I don’t like to get personal or tell people about things like this. I pondered what I should write about for the longest. I’m writing this right now and I see a picture of me and my abuela on my desk. It’s a picture of her holding me. I’m wearing a cute, little outfit with a spongebob hat. Spongebob was my favorite when I was a baby. I think about her everyday. How different would life be if she were still alive? It’s a question I’ll never have the answer to.

Acknowledgements

I would like to acknowledge and say thank you to the class for workshopping my memoir, and providing thoughts and opinions that helped me improve it. I would also like to acknowledge my abuela for being the superhero she was.

[ukulelewrites]

Home Run

A/N: So I actually know nothing about baseball, but I’m trash for Kim Jonghyun so look at where we are now,,,,,anyways, ty @smols-n-tols for helping me with figuring out if baseball jerseys are a thing or not, @heochannies for giving me the idea, and @onibugi-jr bc why not tag you in some jonghyun content?

Pairing: NU’EST’s JR x Reader

Genre: Fluff, Baseball!AU, Friends to Lovers!AU

Word Count: Roughly 2k 1k

Summary: You hate baseball, ever since the concussion of 3rd grade, you’ve hated it. However, it just so happened to be your best friend’s favorite sport, and when he makes the team, you’re forced to go to his game. However, maybe baseball won’t be that bad….

“Jonghyun, how many times do I have to tell you, I don’t like baseball,” you said, closing your book and placing it on your desk. You swivelled your chair around to find yourself looking at your very pouty best friend. 

“But whyyy?” he whined, plopping himself onto your bed. You rolled your eyes at his childish antics, 

“Because it’s boring, I’d rather listen to Minki screech all of Lady Gaga’s discography than watch baseball.” 

Jonghyun shot up from your bed, placing a hand on his chest in offense, “You would not!” 

You solemnly nodded, “Just because we’re best friends, Jonghyun, doesn’t mean we have to like the same things.” It was common knowledge for everyone in your friend group that Jonghyun absolutely loved baseball; it was also common knowledge for everyone to know that you absolutely hated it. “Trauma from the third grade when Jonghyun gave me a concussion via accidentally hitting me with a baseball bat during recess,”  you explained to everyone who asked. 

“Okay, I know you hate it, but you can’t even come to the first home game to support me?” he reverted back to pouting. 

“You don’t even know if you made the team yet, Jonghyun,” you replied, now turning back to your desk, rummaging for a pen. 

He scoffed, “Wow, who knew I had such a supportive best friend.” 

You turned back around to give him an apologetic smile, “Sorry, here, if it makes you feel better, if, and I mean if, you make the team, I’ll go to the first game. And knowing how great my best friend is pitching, it looks like I’ll have to go anyways,” you sighed, feigning defeat. Jonghyun beamed at you, and you could feel your heart skip a beat. 

“Thanks, Y/N! I’ll drop off my jersey next week then!” You could only look at him in confusion. “That’s when I know if I made the team or not, idiot. Gosh, it’s like you haven’t been listening to me at all for the past two weeks,” he crossed his arms over his chest. 

“Sorry, Jonghyun, I’ll make it up to you at the game,” you replied, shooting him a smile. 

He only gulped and turned his head away from you, scratching at the back of his neck, “Yeah, yeah, just come to the game.”

“It looks cute on you,” Minki commented as you stood in the stands, looking for Minhyun and Dongho. 

“Yeah,” Aron chimed in, “the cap was a nice touch, really brought the outfit together.” 

Your cheeks turned beet red, “Can the two of you please just shut up, it’s bad enough I have to be here; now everyone probably thinks I’m Jonghyun’s girlfriend or something.” 

The two boys looked at each other, puzzled, “Isn’t that what you want?” Minki asked, “To be Jonghyun’s girlfriend?” 

Your ears turned pink, “You know what? I’m gonna go get a soda.” You left the two idiots on their own as you trekked to the concession stand. 

“Y/N!” you whipped your head around to see Minhyun and Dongho running towards you. They instantly shot you identical shit-eating grins when they noticed what you were wearing. 

“Shut up, I don’t want to hear it,” you started. Minhyun began to open his mouth, “Hwang, I swear to god I’ll break your perfect face if you say anything, you little shit.” Dongho broke out into laughter at your threatening tone. 

Minhyun leaned over to mock whisper to his friend, “I don’t know why Jonghyun likes her so much, I’d be scared shitless if she was my girlf- Shit, Y/N! That hurts!” he groaned after you kicked him in the shin. 

“Dongho, if you don’t keep him quiet, your shins are next,” you threatened. Dongho instantly kneeled down to protect his shins, sending you a scared look. You patted his head and smiled, “Good boy, now, before you losers interrupted me, I was on my way to get a soda.”

You’ve obtained your drink and was now walking back to your seat before being interrupted by a shout. “Hey, you!” You turned around to see one of Jonghyun’s team members approaching you. 

“Uh, hi? You are?” you asked, eyeing him warily. 

“I’m Seongwoo, and I’m assuming you’re Jonghyun’s girl?” he smiled as he spoke to you. 

“Uh, what makes you think that?” 

He gestured up and down your body, “You’re wearing his lucky cap and his jersey; it’d take an idiot not to notice,” he paused when you shot him a questioning look, “Jonghyun wore that cap for tryouts, and everyone knows you give someone special your jersey.” 

You gave him an apologetic smile, “Ah, no, we’re just friends. Sorry for misleading you.” 

He only hummed, “You say that now, Y/N, you say that now.” He walked away from you, and you called after him, “How’d you know my name?” He only shot you a wave as his back retreated from you view.

“What took you so long?” Minki whined, “I had to sit here and listen to the rest of them talk about baseball. Baseball, Y/N! I don’t even like baseball!” 

You chuckled at his exasperation, “And yet here we are. Hey look, it’s Jonghyun!” He was walking up to the pitcher’s mound, decked out in his new uniform. Your mouth went dry, “Uh, Minki,” your friend hummed in response, “when were baseball uniforms so, er, tight?” 

Minki followed your line of sight and sent you a sly smile right away, “The boy’s got cake doesn’t he?” You blushed furiously and punched him on the arm. 

“Shut up,” you muttered, “the others will hear you.” He only laughed before refocusing his attention back onto the actual game. You actually had no clue what was going on, but you cheered whenever the opposing team’s batter missed, smiling whenever you caught a glimpse of Jonghyun’s eyes lighting up at his perfect pitches.

The game ended with Jonghyun’s team winning 3-1. “Let’s go Turtles, let’s go!” the crowd chanted as everyone filed out of the stands. 

“How sad is it that our university’s mascot is a turtle?” Dongho asked. 

“Very,” Aron answered, “very sad.” 

Minhyun just laughed, “At least it’s fitting for Jonghyun.” Your eyes crinkled as you smiled too. 

Minki stretched his arms upwards and yawned, “Well, I don’t know about you guys, but I’m going back to the dorms.” The other boys mumbled in agreement. “Do you need me to walk you back to your dorm, Y/N?” Minki asked; you were about to reply when you felt your phone buzz. 

You looked down to see a text from Jonghyun, asking you to meet him on the field. “Nah, you guys go ahead. I have to go congratulate my best friend,” you waved goodbye before heading back to the field.

“Congratulations, nerd! You won!” you shouted as you ran towards him, arms flung wide open, ready to envelope him in a hug. He chuckled at your excitement and caught you in his arms, spinning you around for good measure. “Okay, ew, you’re sweaty, hug’s over,” you said, pushing yourself off of him. 

Jonghyun’s lips broke into a smile, and his gaze softened when he looked down, “You’re wearing the jersey,” he then noticed the cap perched on your head, “and the cap!” 

You swiped a fist at his arm, “Well of course, gotta bring your cap, it’s your good luck charm after all.” You smiled up at him, and Jonghyun swore he felt a flurry of butterflies in his stomach. 

“Hey, can you help me with some pitches?” he suddenly asked. 

Your face scrunched up in disgust, “I don’t do sports.” 

Jonghyun just chuckled, “I know you don’t, but I need to work on my form.” 

You pouted at him, “But, you just finished a game. Plus remember the last time you asked me to play baseball with you? It ended with me in a concussion, so no.” 

He pretended to think about, “Yeah, no,” when your pout intensified, he shot you a smile, “We’ll start easy; I promise.” 

You grumbled as you trudged all the way to home plate; “I’m only doing this because I love you,” you yelled. 

“I know!” he shot back. 

Jonghyun did a couple stretches before pulling his arm back and throwing the ball; you instantly ducked. “I thought you were starting off easy,” you whined, stomping your foot for emphasis. 

“I am!” he said, merriment lacing his voice. 

“It was like 90 miles per hour. Start easy, my ass…” you grumbled before getting back into position. He pulled another fast ball on you. “I swear to god, Kim Jonghyun, if you try decapitating me with another one of your fastballs again, I’ll fight you,” you screeched, two steps away from storming all the way to the pitcher’s mound and beating him to a bloody pulp. 

Jonghyun laughed at your fury, “Okay, okay,” he walked forward until he was halfway between home plate and the pitcher’s mound, “I’ll start from here then.” You muttered a “much better” and steadied yourself, ready for his pitch. This time, however, Jonghyun didn’t go into perfect form, choosing to lazily throw the ball at you instead; of course, you easily caught it. 

“What the hell, Jonghyun? If I was your coach, I’d be beating your ass right now for that half-assed pitch.” This time he wasn’t smiling at you; his head was facing the ground as he awkwardly rubbed the back of his neck. You heard him say something. “What’d you say? I can’t hear you,” you said, walking towards him. 

When you reached him, he cleared his throat before speaking, “Read the ball.” You tilted your head before looking down at the baseball, rolling it in your hands until you noticed, in Jonghyun’s handwriting, a note. “If you go out with me, I’ll call this night a home run.” 

You stared at the ball blankly before bursting out into laughter, “Oh my god, this is so cheesy.” 

Jonghyun’s face flushed a deeper scarlet, “I-it’s not like I thought of it. Seongwoo recommended it after I couldn’t figure out what to write.” 

Your laughter subsided, and you took Jonghyun’s face in your hands, lifting it up so he could face you. “Listen here, idiot, you didn’t need to use a cheesy baseball pick up line or give me two life-threatening experiences in one night, just to ask me out. Honestly, if you asked me anytime for the past five years, I would’ve said yes.” 

His eyes widened at your words, “Seriously? I could’ve avoided the merciless teasing of my best friends and teammates?” 

You solemnly nodded, “That is why, my darling, I’m the brains of our relationship.” He gave you a deadpanned look. You shot him a smile, easily melting his expression into one of fondness. “But in all seriousness, you can call this night a home run.” 

His eyes lit up, cheekbones instantly rising at your words, “Seriously? Like, I can take you out on dates now?” 

You giggled at his excitement, “Yeah, except there’s one more thing.” You wrapped your arms around his neck and pulled him down for a kiss. 

After a while, Jonghyun paused, “You know, you should wear my jersey more often,” he mumbled upon your lips. 

“You know, you should kiss me more often,” you mumbled back, instantly shutting him up. And as the two of you stood there, on the field, kissing, you couldn’t help but think to yourself, maybe baseball isn’t so bad.

[tessatechaitea]

The Flash #33

There's a whole voyeuristic shit eating fetish thing going on here that I don't want to think about too deeply.

Afterward, The Flash gives Steel the "I have a huge boner" eyes.

After Superman disappears into a black hole which certainly leads to the Dark Universe because reasons, Gorilla Grodd attacks the city. But it turns out it's not Grodd at all but a hungry person who just needed to eat a Snickers. It's a weird moment but it's good to see superheroes actually doing some good and helping regular folks for a change. Steel contemplates fucking the Anti-Monitor's giant butt plug but The Flash argues against it. It's too dangerous! He points out that Batman fiddling with it is why they're in the mess they're in. I'm not sure they can really blame Batman though. Didn't they read Dark Nights: Batman Lost #1? Batman was manipulated by Barbatos for his entire life. I bet Barbatos even manipulated the radiation around Thomas and Martha Wayne so that Martha only had one viable Bat-egg and Thomas, one viable Bat-sperm. The other members of the Justice League are all on missions to find Nth Metal. Remember when that happened in Metal? It was just before Detective Chimp was murdered by BatJoker. I know that Detective Chimp never dies on-panel but what other result should readers expect?! That maybe Detective Chimp jerked off all the Bat-monsters so he'd be spared? I suppose that's something that would take place off-panel, so I can't argue against that being what happened. Also I don't want to argue against that being what happened. It doesn't matter what the other Justice League members were doing because they all get sucked up in Evil Boom Tubes. I'm sure they'll get back to their missions in the next issue of Metal. But for now, they need to fight some of the Bat-monsters to a stalemate so it seems like Metal is full of more action than it really needs. I'd like to scan a picture of some of the big battles that take place but I can't because they don't exist. Okay, one exists. Doombat and Cybat beat the shit out of Steel and send The Flash into a dark room. The other Justice League members also find themselves in this room. This is probably the hell that the bats must get out of. And by bats, I don't think the title refers to the Batmonsters. I think the bats refer to the Justice League members who aren't Batman. It makes sense because fuck you. It's a clever take on a known phrase! People read it and go, "Oh yeah! I've heard people say that! It was even a Meatloaf album!" The hells they wind up in are different versions of the Batcave where they're all individually attacked by the Batmonster inspired partly by each of them. And that's where the issue ends because this was all prologue to the big action scene. And in comics, the big action scene is the only reason people keep reading them! So exciting! The Flash #33 Rating: 4 out of 10. It might earn a higher score if it had left out all of that Narration Boxing. A writer's use of Narration Boxes tends to make it so the writer doesn't need to write a script for a comic book. They just write the plot out through the character's rendition of what happened and leave it like that. It's also the way a writer can force a theme into the story's unwilling orifice. So The Flash, through Narration Boxes, tells a story about how he races Superman. Then that leads to him saying that Batman always advises him to run faster which leads to the big twist conclusion where The Flash points out that he's hearing Batman again but he's telling him there's nowhere to run! It's classic Flash storytelling! Just mention running as much as you can and equate it to whatever the fuck else is going on. Then finish it off by saying, "See? See what I did there? Clever, right?!"

[mrcoreymonroe]

Minor League Preview : Low-A Charleston

Charleston is always one of the hardest rosters to predict because so much changes in Spring Training. There are injuries, people show up to camp either in great shape or totally out of shape. Players either gain or lose traction based on their Spring Training performance. This year, there is another wrench as well. The Yankees are rumored to be planning to piggy back starters. They have gone as far as to say they are not opposed to piggy backing all five starters. That would mean 10 starters for one team. This is wildly exciting.

Anyway, here is my best guess assuming a traditional roster. Since there may be as many as five piggy backers, I will go ahead and predict who those guys would be as well.

C Anthony Seigler – Seigler held his own in his first taste of professional baseball as a teenager. The Yankees even put his feet to the fire and moved him up a level to Pulaski after his first 12 games. He struggled there, but this should allow him to hit the ground running in 2019. He finished his first professional season with a .266/.379/.342/.721 line, including one homerun and three doubles. Seigler is an excellent contact hitter, a solid defensive backstop in every way, and a tremendous athlete. The Yankees feel he will develop above average power as well. He has the potential to be a special player.

C Josh Breaux – While Seigler held his own in the rookie leagues, Breaux was busy holding his own in Staten Island. Breaux is more advanced offensively and has more power potential. Defense, on the other hand, is not his strong suit. He will have to work hard to remain behind the dish, although by all accounts he is already an average catcher and has a cannon for an arm. He finished with a .269/.289/.352/.641 line in 2018.

1B Mickey Gasper – He is bound to be a fan favorite because of his name, his height (5-foot-10), and his position. Aside from that though, he packs a punch. Gasper hit .257/.393/.493/.886 with nine homeruns and six doubles in just 43 games in Pulaski. He was the 27th round pick in 2018. Clearly he has the patience and polish to play in Charleston, but he’s the type of player who has the potential to remain in the system for a long time given his power and patience combo. He reminds my of an even smaller Mike Ford.

2B Ezequiel Duran – Compared to the hype leading up to the season, Duran’s season was disappointing last year. He finished with a .201/.251/.311/.562 line with four homeruns, eight doubles, and two triples in 53 games. All of the things that made him a hyped prospect are still true though. He has speed, power, exit velocity, and ability to barrel the baseball. Duran can play defense at second to boot. If he makes the team with Charleston he could make a splash this year.

SS Oswald Peraza – Peraza is an excellent fielder at SS and has all the tools in place to be a high average hitter. He’s a bit on the light hitting side, but scouts believe he may develop modest homerun power in the future. He played in Pulaski this past year and held his own, hitting .250/.333/.321/.655 with one homerun, three doubles, and two triples in 36 games. He struck out 41 times in 36 games. If he starts in Charleston, he too could be in for a breakout season.

3B Nelson Gomez – The biggest change between 2017 and 2018 for Gomez was his attitude. He showed up to camp mature and had done some work on his body in the offseason. While he still struggled to hit for average, the power is still legit. Gomez hit .213/.289/.425/.714 with 11 homeruns and 14 doubles in 58 games for Pulaski. Word on the street is that he went from having a poor work ethic to one of the best in the system, completely transforming his body this offseason. He also allegedly looked fantastic at instructs, both offensively and defensively. If all of this is true, Gomez could be in for a breakout in 2019. I won’t hold my breath, but the tools are still there to dream on.

LF/CF Antonio Cabello – Initially signed as a catcher, the Yankees converted Cabello to centerfield due to his athleticism and the fact that his bat was so polished that they wanted to be able to advance him rapidly and let him hit. The results, so far, have been fantastic. He hit .308/.427/.522/.949 with five homeruns, nine doubles, and five triples in 46 games. He also stole 10 bases. The Yankees found a good one with Cabello. He should start in Charleston in 2019 and there’s a good chance he plays well enough to put himself in the top 100 prospect category.

CF Everson Pereira – Speaking of top 100 prospects, Pereira held his own as a 17-year-old in Pulaski, with a .263/.322/.389/.712 quad slash and three homeruns, eight doubles, and two triples in 41 games. He struck out more than you would expect, with 60 K, but it was a successful season for him. It was his first one under the lights and he was successful. Pereira is a 5-tool athlete and has a good head on his shoulders.

RF Canaan Smith – Reports out of Spring Training last year were that Canaan Smith was primed for a breakout. That never quite happened, and Smith ended up in Staten Island with a .191/.281/.316/.596 line, and just three homeruns, eight doubles, and one triple in 45 games. This line was not at all indicative of what Canaan is capable of though. A fourth-round pick in 2017, Smith has serious power and much more hit-ability than he showed in 2018. I don’t know whether he will have a breakout season in 2019, but I am certain it will be a much better season than last year for Smith. If he starts hitting his potential though, 20 homeruns are within his reach.

DH Miguel Flames – Flames is another one of the 2014 international signings whose talent has still not materialized. Last year he had a .272/.295/.359/.653 line with one homerun and five doubles in 30 games. In terms of his bat, it is now time for him to put up some numbers. He’s 21-years-old and his bat is really his only carrying tool. If he doesn’t start to swing it well, he’s going to quickly become a forgotten man.

INF Jesus Bastidas – Bastidas is a slick fielding smallish kid who the Yankees believe will eventually develop a good hit tool. For now, he has struggled to do that. He hit .246/.313/.298/.611 in Staten Island last year. His fielding skills will allow him to continue to move up through the system, but he will have to develop with the bat if he ever wants to be taken seriously as a prospect.

INF Eduardo Torrealba – everything that you can say about Bastidas goes double for Torrealba. The fielding, the light hitting, and the need to improve the bat to be taken seriously all apply. Torrealba hit .236/.295/.298/.593 in Staten Island last year with 11 doubles and a triple.

3B/1B Andres Chaparro – The one thing Chaparro has shown in his career is moderate power. Other than that, he has not been able to make enough hard contact. He hit .191/.249/.348/.597 with seven homeruns and 11 doubles in 60 games in 2018. He will have to do better than that to earn playing time with Charleston.

1B/3B Eric Wagaman – The Yankees took Wagaman in the 13th round in the 2017 draft. He hit the ground running in his first season and played well as a 19-year-old in Pulaski. In 2018 he stumbled in Staten Island. He hit just .194/.244/.333/.577 with five homeruns, 14 doubles, and one triple. Much like Chaparro, the power is there but he needs work on his hitting. I have him listed in the Charleston preview, but there’s a good chance he ends up back in Staten Island for more seasoning.

OF Evan Alexander – Alexander had his best season yet in Pulaski in 2018. He hit .257/.382/.456/.838 with five homeruns, one double, and nine triples. He also stole 11 bases. The Yankees picked Alexander out of high school in the 19th round in 2016. Alexander is an athletic outfielder with all kinds of tools. As he physically matures there’s a chance he could put all of those tools together one of these years and take a big leap forward.

OF Frederick Cuevas – Cuevas had an opportunity to play in Charleston last season and had a disappointing season. He was ultimately demoted and played the rest of his time in Staten Island, where he was great in 18 games. With the talent coming to Charleston this year he may have missed his window now. It’s going to be tough to find at bats with the players you see above potentially playing in front of him. It’s gonna take a big breakout for Cuevas to carve his way back into the prospect picture. He’s not done yet though.

OF Juan De Leon – De Leon is another one of these 2014 international signings with tremendous tools that have not clicked yet. He did have his best season yet as a pro in 2018 though. He finished with a .243/.339/.438/.777 quad slash with five homeruns, nine doubles, and two triples in 43 games for Pulaski. He also stole six bases. He is still striking out way too much, but this was a big step forward for him in his career. He is now 21-years-old though, and if he doesn’t start producing in the long season leagues he will soon be forgotten. 2019 very well may be his last chance, and much like Cuevas the at bats are not going to be easy to come by.

SP Roansy Contreras – He’s the early candidate for the biggest breakout player of the 2019 season for the Yankees’ farm system. Contreras threw 57.1 innings last season, and had a 2.67 ERA and 54 K : 18 BB. He touches 96-97 mph with his fastball already and has a solid curveball with a progressing changeup. There’s not much to dislike about this kid, and the Yankees are really high on him. If I could only pick one kid on the farm to be top 100 by next year, it would be him.

SP Glenn Otto – He’s a big kid who throws hard and has a devastating curveball. The Yankees drafted him with a plan to teach him a changeup. If he can do that, the floor of a middle reliever with the ceiling of a shutdown reliever becomes the floor of a 5th starter and the ceiling of a mid-rotation starter. Last year he suffered a blood clot in his arm at the beginning of the season. He could be a breakout guy this year as well.

SP Harold Cortijo – He has rapidly progressed since being drafted and increased his stock significantly. He had a 2.63 ERA and 60 K : 12 BB in 51.1 innings in 2018. Cortijo sits 93-95 mph and even got as high as 97 mph in 2018. He also has a dominant changeup and a nice, developing breaking ball. He is already starting to make noise, but if he continues to see this level of improvement, he could even start to approach elite prospect territory.

SP Frank German – German was drafted in the 4th round in 2018 and subsequently had a bump in velocity. He was a low 90’s guy, and now he is a mid-90’s guy. He also has a curveball and a changeup. He pitched well in Staten Island last year, with a 1.65 ERA in 27.1 innings. He also had 38 K : 5 BB. Another great draft find for the Yankees.

SP Tanner Myatt – When the Yankees drafted Myatt, he was already a power pitcher who could hit 100 mph. Unfortunately, he also had trouble with control and not much in the way of secondary pitches. The Yankees tightened up his curveball at instructs and he was making guys look silly. If the Yankees can get him to develop a changeup too, he would have ace potential. That’s a big if though because his long limbs might make mastering multiple pitches a difficult task. Worst case scenario, he already has the necessary ingredients to be a shutdown reliever.

RP/Piggyback Shawn Semple – Semple has a low-90’s fastball, a curveball, and a changeup. He pitched well in 61 innings last year. He finished with a 2.95 ERA and 62 K : 14 BB in 61 innings. It’s going to be tough to find innings as a starter for him with all the talent in High-A and Charleston. He could find himself in a piggyback role with either team, or maybe will be moved strictly to relief where he can sell out for more velocity. If he is sent to the bullpen, I’d expect him to move quickly with his stuff. He was a great pick for the Yankees in the 11th round. He’s one of these guys who could show up to camp having made some improvements and surprise everyone by stealing a spot in the rotation.

RP/Piggyback Jio Orozco – He had a down year in 2018, and the stuff is not coming around like the Yankees had hoped. He had a 4.5 ERA and 36 K : 13 BB in 46 innings in Low-A. Orozco throws a 92-95 mph sinking fastball, a curveball, and a changeup. If he finds the right adjustments, he’s another one who could steal a spot in the rotation. If not, he’s a great candidate to go to the bullpen where he could sell out for more velocity and focus on two pitches to perfect.

RP/Piggyback Nolan Martinez – Martinez could end up in the rotation, as one of the piggy back starters, or in the bullpen. There’s really no telling. The reason for this is because he has low-90’s velocity that everyone thinks is going to improve over time. He already has two plus secondary pitches to go along with it, and track record of success in 2018. He had a 2.72 ERA and 39 K : 22 BB in 56.1 innings. When you’re competing against the likes of the competition above, it’s tough to predict what will happen with him. He belongs in the rotation conversation but it all depends on how he shows up to camp.

RP/Piggyback Rodney Hutchinson – Hutchinson was the 6th round pick for the Yankees last year. He is apparently a power pitcher with excellent spin rates to his breaking pitches. He went the opposite direction as Frank German after being drafted, with his velocity dipping. His performance did not dip though. He had a 1.97 ERA and 31 K : 6 BB in 32 innings. Where Hutchison begins 2019 totally depends on how he shows up to camp. He could be anywhere from High-A Tampa as a starter or piggy back to Extended Spring training to work on his mechanics. He has a starter’s repertoire, so I’d be surprised to see him as strictly a bullpen arm. Wherever he goes, he is a polished college starter who should be successful and durable.

RP/Piggyback Miguel Yajure – Yajure is a control first pitcher who has developed some serious stuff to go along with it. For now he sits 92-95 mph and has a curveball and changeup. He too could be anywhere from High-A Tampa SP/Piggy back to Extended Spring Training. He had a 3.9 ERA with 56 K : 15 BB in 64.2 innings last year in Low-A.

Piggyback/Staten Island SP Luis Gil – Gil could be in Charleston or Staten Island this year. Wherever he is, he is now a premium prospect and will most certainly start if he is healthy. Between Pulaski and Staten Island in 2018, he had a 2.14 ERA and 61 K : 31 BB in 42 innings. He has a 94-97 mph fastball that hits 99 mph. He also has a power curveball and a changeup he is improving rapidly. The only thing preventing him from being a surefire starter at Charleston is that he will be on an innings restriction.

Piggyback/Staten Island SP Yoendrys Gomez – Gomez has a 93-95 mph fastball, curveball, and changeup. He has good control and is still just 18. He might have more left in the tank. He threw 47.2 innings and had 50 K : 22 BB with a 2.08 ERA between the DSL and GCL. He has the stuff to be in Charleston, but could go to Extended Spring Training and then Staten Island in order to build up his innings and arm strength. Wherever he goes, Gomez has breakout written all over him.

Piggyback/Staten Island SP Juan Then – Then had a nice year with the GCL Yankees, finishing with 42 K : 11 BB and a 2.7 ERA in 50 innings. He was frequently hitting mid-90’s and has a changeup that flashes plus and a curveball that comes and goes. Sounds like he could probably use more seasoning in Staten Island, but if he shows up to camp having improved, he could go straight to Charleston. He too would be on a strict innings limit though.

RP Daniel Bies – He’s a massive, 6-foot-8 7th round pick out of Gonzaga. Bies was successful in year one with 43 K : 7 BB and a 3.3 ERA in 30 innings. He has a mid-90’s fastball and an average curveball. At his size, it would be surprising if he wasn’t in the upper 90’s by the time he reaches the upper levels of the minors. Bies has the potential to be a shutdown reliever for the Yankees if he continues to get better.

RP Brooks Kriske – He has a mid-90’s fastball with questionable secondary pitches. Kriske has had major trouble staying healthy since being drafted. If he is healthy this year, he could get a shot at Charleston. Tough to predict what kind of performance the Yankees could get from him.

RP Garrett Mundell – It’s hard to envision Mundell being anything other than an organizational guy at this point, given that he was fantastic in Charleston in 2017 and still couldn’t earn a promotion to Tampa. In fact, when he showed up in 2018 he was demoted to Staten Island. It is possible this was due to an injury, especially given that his strikeout numbers were lower in Staten Island than they were in Charleston a year before. That said, he’s 26-years-old and hasn’t left the lower minors. He also does not have the mid-90’s stuff of the other Yankees relievers. He has an uphill climb going forward. In the meantime, Charleston will have an excellent performer on their hands who can lock down opponents and help the team win.

RP Ron Marinaccio – The Yankees drafted Marinaccio out of University of Delaware in 2017 and he has had mixed results. He can hit mid-90’s with his fastball but got hit around in Staten Island badly in 2018. If he continues to work hard and follows the Yankees development program he could make his way through the system.

RP Austin Gardner – The Yankees took Gardner in the 9th round of the 2017 draft. He was a senior sign and didn’t have much ceiling to him at the time. As far as I know, that has not changed. He has a 90 mph fastball but did manage to generate a ton of strikeouts last year, with 48 in 35.1 innings. At the very least he should be a useful piece for Charleston in 2019 who can help them win games. He is 6-foot-2 though, so it’s still possible he could add a couple of ticks to his velocity and become a legitimate prospect.

RP Aaron McGarity – He was virtually untouchable in Staten Island last year, with a 0.35 ERA and 32 K : 3 BB in 25.2 innings. McGarity was hitting mid-90’s with his fastball when he played in the Cape Cod League, but then suffered some injuries. If he can get back to that, perhaps the Yankees will have something here.

from Bronx Baseball Daily https://ift.tt/2T6MSO5

[mrcoreymonroe]

Minor League Preview : Low-A Charleston

Charleston is always one of the hardest rosters to predict because so much changes in Spring Training. There are injuries, people show up to camp either in great shape or totally out of shape. Players either gain or lose traction based on their Spring Training performance. This year, there is another wrench as well. The Yankees are rumored to be planning to piggy back starters. They have gone as far as to say they are not opposed to piggy backing all five starters. That would mean 10 starters for one team. This is wildly exciting.

Anyway, here is my best guess assuming a traditional roster. Since there may be as many as five piggy backers, I will go ahead and predict who those guys would be as well.

C Anthony Seigler – Seigler held his own in his first taste of professional baseball as a teenager. The Yankees even put his feet to the fire and moved him up a level to Pulaski after his first 12 games. He struggled there, but this should allow him to hit the ground running in 2019. He finished his first professional season with a .266/.379/.342/.721 line, including one homerun and three doubles. Seigler is an excellent contact hitter, a solid defensive backstop in every way, and a tremendous athlete. The Yankees feel he will develop above average power as well. He has the potential to be a special player.

C Josh Breaux – While Seigler held his own in the rookie leagues, Breaux was busy holding his own in Staten Island. Breaux is more advanced offensively and has more power potential. Defense, on the other hand, is not his strong suit. He will have to work hard to remain behind the dish, although by all accounts he is already an average catcher and has a cannon for an arm. He finished with a .269/.289/.352/.641 line in 2018.

1B Mickey Gasper – He is bound to be a fan favorite because of his name, his height (5-foot-10), and his position. Aside from that though, he packs a punch. Gasper hit .257/.393/.493/.886 with nine homeruns and six doubles in just 43 games in Pulaski. He was the 27th round pick in 2018. Clearly he has the patience and polish to play in Charleston, but he’s the type of player who has the potential to remain in the system for a long time given his power and patience combo. He reminds my of an even smaller Mike Ford.

2B Ezequiel Duran – Compared to the hype leading up to the season, Duran’s season was disappointing last year. He finished with a .201/.251/.311/.562 line with four homeruns, eight doubles, and two triples in 53 games. All of the things that made him a hyped prospect are still true though. He has speed, power, exit velocity, and ability to barrel the baseball. Duran can play defense at second to boot. If he makes the team with Charleston he could make a splash this year.

SS Oswald Peraza – Peraza is an excellent fielder at SS and has all the tools in place to be a high average hitter. He’s a bit on the light hitting side, but scouts believe he may develop modest homerun power in the future. He played in Pulaski this past year and held his own, hitting .250/.333/.321/.655 with one homerun, three doubles, and two triples in 36 games. He struck out 41 times in 36 games. If he starts in Charleston, he too could be in for a breakout season.

3B Nelson Gomez – The biggest change between 2017 and 2018 for Gomez was his attitude. He showed up to camp mature and had done some work on his body in the offseason. While he still struggled to hit for average, the power is still legit. Gomez hit .213/.289/.425/.714 with 11 homeruns and 14 doubles in 58 games for Pulaski. Word on the street is that he went from having a poor work ethic to one of the best in the system, completely transforming his body this offseason. He also allegedly looked fantastic at instructs, both offensively and defensively. If all of this is true, Gomez could be in for a breakout in 2019. I won’t hold my breath, but the tools are still there to dream on.

LF/CF Antonio Cabello – Initially signed as a catcher, the Yankees converted Cabello to centerfield due to his athleticism and the fact that his bat was so polished that they wanted to be able to advance him rapidly and let him hit. The results, so far, have been fantastic. He hit .308/.427/.522/.949 with five homeruns, nine doubles, and five triples in 46 games. He also stole 10 bases. The Yankees found a good one with Cabello. He should start in Charleston in 2019 and there’s a good chance he plays well enough to put himself in the top 100 prospect category.

CF Everson Pereira – Speaking of top 100 prospects, Pereira held his own as a 17-year-old in Pulaski, with a .263/.322/.389/.712 quad slash and three homeruns, eight doubles, and two triples in 41 games. He struck out more than you would expect, with 60 K, but it was a successful season for him. It was his first one under the lights and he was successful. Pereira is a 5-tool athlete and has a good head on his shoulders.

RF Canaan Smith – Reports out of Spring Training last year were that Canaan Smith was primed for a breakout. That never quite happened, and Smith ended up in Staten Island with a .191/.281/.316/.596 line, and just three homeruns, eight doubles, and one triple in 45 games. This line was not at all indicative of what Canaan is capable of though. A fourth-round pick in 2017, Smith has serious power and much more hit-ability than he showed in 2018. I don’t know whether he will have a breakout season in 2019, but I am certain it will be a much better season than last year for Smith. If he starts hitting his potential though, 20 homeruns are within his reach.

DH Miguel Flames – Flames is another one of the 2014 international signings whose talent has still not materialized. Last year he had a .272/.295/.359/.653 line with one homerun and five doubles in 30 games. In terms of his bat, it is now time for him to put up some numbers. He’s 21-years-old and his bat is really his only carrying tool. If he doesn’t start to swing it well, he’s going to quickly become a forgotten man.

INF Jesus Bastidas – Bastidas is a slick fielding smallish kid who the Yankees believe will eventually develop a good hit tool. For now, he has struggled to do that. He hit .246/.313/.298/.611 in Staten Island last year. His fielding skills will allow him to continue to move up through the system, but he will have to develop with the bat if he ever wants to be taken seriously as a prospect.

INF Eduardo Torrealba – everything that you can say about Bastidas goes double for Torrealba. The fielding, the light hitting, and the need to improve the bat to be taken seriously all apply. Torrealba hit .236/.295/.298/.593 in Staten Island last year with 11 doubles and a triple.

3B/1B Andres Chaparro – The one thing Chaparro has shown in his career is moderate power. Other than that, he has not been able to make enough hard contact. He hit .191/.249/.348/.597 with seven homeruns and 11 doubles in 60 games in 2018. He will have to do better than that to earn playing time with Charleston.

1B/3B Eric Wagaman – The Yankees took Wagaman in the 13th round in the 2017 draft. He hit the ground running in his first season and played well as a 19-year-old in Pulaski. In 2018 he stumbled in Staten Island. He hit just .194/.244/.333/.577 with five homeruns, 14 doubles, and one triple. Much like Chaparro, the power is there but he needs work on his hitting. I have him listed in the Charleston preview, but there’s a good chance he ends up back in Staten Island for more seasoning.

OF Evan Alexander – Alexander had his best season yet in Pulaski in 2018. He hit .257/.382/.456/.838 with five homeruns, one double, and nine triples. He also stole 11 bases. The Yankees picked Alexander out of high school in the 19th round in 2016. Alexander is an athletic outfielder with all kinds of tools. As he physically matures there’s a chance he could put all of those tools together one of these years and take a big leap forward.

OF Frederick Cuevas – Cuevas had an opportunity to play in Charleston last season and had a disappointing season. He was ultimately demoted and played the rest of his time in Staten Island, where he was great in 18 games. With the talent coming to Charleston this year he may have missed his window now. It’s going to be tough to find at bats with the players you see above potentially playing in front of him. It’s gonna take a big breakout for Cuevas to carve his way back into the prospect picture. He’s not done yet though.

OF Juan De Leon – De Leon is another one of these 2014 international signings with tremendous tools that have not clicked yet. He did have his best season yet as a pro in 2018 though. He finished with a .243/.339/.438/.777 quad slash with five homeruns, nine doubles, and two triples in 43 games for Pulaski. He also stole six bases. He is still striking out way too much, but this was a big step forward for him in his career. He is now 21-years-old though, and if he doesn’t start producing in the long season leagues he will soon be forgotten. 2019 very well may be his last chance, and much like Cuevas the at bats are not going to be easy to come by.

SP Roansy Contreras – He’s the early candidate for the biggest breakout player of the 2019 season for the Yankees’ farm system. Contreras threw 57.1 innings last season, and had a 2.67 ERA and 54 K : 18 BB. He touches 96-97 mph with his fastball already and has a solid curveball with a progressing changeup. There’s not much to dislike about this kid, and the Yankees are really high on him. If I could only pick one kid on the farm to be top 100 by next year, it would be him.

SP Glenn Otto – He’s a big kid who throws hard and has a devastating curveball. The Yankees drafted him with a plan to teach him a changeup. If he can do that, the floor of a middle reliever with the ceiling of a shutdown reliever becomes the floor of a 5th starter and the ceiling of a mid-rotation starter. Last year he suffered a blood clot in his arm at the beginning of the season. He could be a breakout guy this year as well.

SP Harold Cortijo – He has rapidly progressed since being drafted and increased his stock significantly. He had a 2.63 ERA and 60 K : 12 BB in 51.1 innings in 2018. Cortijo sits 93-95 mph and even got as high as 97 mph in 2018. He also has a dominant changeup and a nice, developing breaking ball. He is already starting to make noise, but if he continues to see this level of improvement, he could even start to approach elite prospect territory.

SP Frank German – German was drafted in the 4th round in 2018 and subsequently had a bump in velocity. He was a low 90’s guy, and now he is a mid-90’s guy. He also has a curveball and a changeup. He pitched well in Staten Island last year, with a 1.65 ERA in 27.1 innings. He also had 38 K : 5 BB. Another great draft find for the Yankees.

SP Tanner Myatt – When the Yankees drafted Myatt, he was already a power pitcher who could hit 100 mph. Unfortunately, he also had trouble with control and not much in the way of secondary pitches. The Yankees tightened up his curveball at instructs and he was making guys look silly. If the Yankees can get him to develop a changeup too, he would have ace potential. That’s a big if though because his long limbs might make mastering multiple pitches a difficult task. Worst case scenario, he already has the necessary ingredients to be a shutdown reliever.

RP/Piggyback Shawn Semple – Semple has a low-90’s fastball, a curveball, and a changeup. He pitched well in 61 innings last year. He finished with a 2.95 ERA and 62 K : 14 BB in 61 innings. It’s going to be tough to find innings as a starter for him with all the talent in High-A and Charleston. He could find himself in a piggyback role with either team, or maybe will be moved strictly to relief where he can sell out for more velocity. If he is sent to the bullpen, I’d expect him to move quickly with his stuff. He was a great pick for the Yankees in the 11th round. He’s one of these guys who could show up to camp having made some improvements and surprise everyone by stealing a spot in the rotation.

RP/Piggyback Jio Orozco – He had a down year in 2018, and the stuff is not coming around like the Yankees had hoped. He had a 4.5 ERA and 36 K : 13 BB in 46 innings in Low-A. Orozco throws a 92-95 mph sinking fastball, a curveball, and a changeup. If he finds the right adjustments, he’s another one who could steal a spot in the rotation. If not, he’s a great candidate to go to the bullpen where he could sell out for more velocity and focus on two pitches to perfect.

RP/Piggyback Nolan Martinez – Martinez could end up in the rotation, as one of the piggy back starters, or in the bullpen. There’s really no telling. The reason for this is because he has low-90’s velocity that everyone thinks is going to improve over time. He already has two plus secondary pitches to go along with it, and track record of success in 2018. He had a 2.72 ERA and 39 K : 22 BB in 56.1 innings. When you’re competing against the likes of the competition above, it’s tough to predict what will happen with him. He belongs in the rotation conversation but it all depends on how he shows up to camp.

RP/Piggyback Rodney Hutchinson – Hutchinson was the 6th round pick for the Yankees last year. He is apparently a power pitcher with excellent spin rates to his breaking pitches. He went the opposite direction as Frank German after being drafted, with his velocity dipping. His performance did not dip though. He had a 1.97 ERA and 31 K : 6 BB in 32 innings. Where Hutchison begins 2019 totally depends on how he shows up to camp. He could be anywhere from High-A Tampa as a starter or piggy back to Extended Spring training to work on his mechanics. He has a starter’s repertoire, so I’d be surprised to see him as strictly a bullpen arm. Wherever he goes, he is a polished college starter who should be successful and durable.

RP/Piggyback Miguel Yajure – Yajure is a control first pitcher who has developed some serious stuff to go along with it. For now he sits 92-95 mph and has a curveball and changeup. He too could be anywhere from High-A Tampa SP/Piggy back to Extended Spring Training. He had a 3.9 ERA with 56 K : 15 BB in 64.2 innings last year in Low-A.

Piggyback/Staten Island SP Luis Gil – Gil could be in Charleston or Staten Island this year. Wherever he is, he is now a premium prospect and will most certainly start if he is healthy. Between Pulaski and Staten Island in 2018, he had a 2.14 ERA and 61 K : 31 BB in 42 innings. He has a 94-97 mph fastball that hits 99 mph. He also has a power curveball and a changeup he is improving rapidly. The only thing preventing him from being a surefire starter at Charleston is that he will be on an innings restriction.

Piggyback/Staten Island SP Yoendrys Gomez – Gomez has a 93-95 mph fastball, curveball, and changeup. He has good control and is still just 18. He might have more left in the tank. He threw 47.2 innings and had 50 K : 22 BB with a 2.08 ERA between the DSL and GCL. He has the stuff to be in Charleston, but could go to Extended Spring Training and then Staten Island in order to build up his innings and arm strength. Wherever he goes, Gomez has breakout written all over him.

Piggyback/Staten Island SP Juan Then – Then had a nice year with the GCL Yankees, finishing with 42 K : 11 BB and a 2.7 ERA in 50 innings. He was frequently hitting mid-90’s and has a changeup that flashes plus and a curveball that comes and goes. Sounds like he could probably use more seasoning in Staten Island, but if he shows up to camp having improved, he could go straight to Charleston. He too would be on a strict innings limit though.

RP Daniel Bies – He’s a massive, 6-foot-8 7th round pick out of Gonzaga. Bies was successful in year one with 43 K : 7 BB and a 3.3 ERA in 30 innings. He has a mid-90’s fastball and an average curveball. At his size, it would be surprising if he wasn’t in the upper 90’s by the time he reaches the upper levels of the minors. Bies has the potential to be a shutdown reliever for the Yankees if he continues to get better.

RP Brooks Kriske – He has a mid-90’s fastball with questionable secondary pitches. Kriske has had major trouble staying healthy since being drafted. If he is healthy this year, he could get a shot at Charleston. Tough to predict what kind of performance the Yankees could get from him.

RP Garrett Mundell – It’s hard to envision Mundell being anything other than an organizational guy at this point, given that he was fantastic in Charleston in 2017 and still couldn’t earn a promotion to Tampa. In fact, when he showed up in 2018 he was demoted to Staten Island. It is possible this was due to an injury, especially given that his strikeout numbers were lower in Staten Island than they were in Charleston a year before. That said, he’s 26-years-old and hasn’t left the lower minors. He also does not have the mid-90’s stuff of the other Yankees relievers. He has an uphill climb going forward. In the meantime, Charleston will have an excellent performer on their hands who can lock down opponents and help the team win.

RP Ron Marinaccio – The Yankees drafted Marinaccio out of University of Delaware in 2017 and he has had mixed results. He can hit mid-90’s with his fastball but got hit around in Staten Island badly in 2018. If he continues to work hard and follows the Yankees development program he could make his way through the system.

RP Austin Gardner – The Yankees took Gardner in the 9th round of the 2017 draft. He was a senior sign and didn’t have much ceiling to him at the time. As far as I know, that has not changed. He has a 90 mph fastball but did manage to generate a ton of strikeouts last year, with 48 in 35.1 innings. At the very least he should be a useful piece for Charleston in 2019 who can help them win games. He is 6-foot-2 though, so it’s still possible he could add a couple of ticks to his velocity and become a legitimate prospect.

RP Aaron McGarity – He was virtually untouchable in Staten Island last year, with a 0.35 ERA and 32 K : 3 BB in 25.2 innings. McGarity was hitting mid-90’s with his fastball when he played in the Cape Cod League, but then suffered some injuries. If he can get back to that, perhaps the Yankees will have something here.

from Bronx Baseball Daily https://ift.tt/2T6MSO5