Another overall disappointing season, from a team perspective, securing a 68-94 record and dropping back to a 4th place finish for the second time in three seasons.
However, fans saw a glimmer of what is to come, with a few trades that were made either before the season or during. The players mentioned below made their ABL debut with the Bombers this past season and are expected to hold down a full time job in 2015.
Injuries, while a part of the game, decimated the team through all levels, but injuries gave players a chance to shine, maybe even sooner than originally planned and anticipated.
The Bombers acquired Jeremy "Cushion" Fisher for Juan Marin during the off-season. What was perceived at the time as a salary dump, was actually used to strengthen the rotation and give it depth. Fisher was called up on 8/23, due to John "Flipper" Martin being placed on the DL, for a second time this season, started 9 games and finished the season 4-2 with a respectable 4.30 ERA. The 21 year old SP showed great promise and will force the Bombers to make a decision about him going north after Spring Training.
Another beneficiary of the Marin trade was CF'er Martin Evans. Evans, developed rather splendidly, moving up in the organization a level at a time. In 2013 Evans raked to a tune of .333 with 91 BB's, 45 SB's, a whopping .442 OB and a 57.6 VORP.
In Evans' rookie season with the Bombers, primarily batting leadoff, the 25 year old hit .270, with 34 BB, and 39 SB's. Those SB's easily lead all rookies (Mark Reid, JAX second with 14), and is a leading candidate for Rookie of the Year. He pulled a hamstring on the same day Fisher made his debut (8/23) and was finished for the season. Evans finished 5th in the TML for SB's, and 8th in the ABL. Finally, Evans' Gold Glove defense was something that was sorely missed in the South Carolina's first two seasons. His production is what made Marin expendable, and allowed the team to take some criticism for moving the popular Marin.
Roy "ROQ (pronounced ROCK)" O'Quinn, received from Texas in the Rogers/Nelson trade might go down as biggest trade the Bombers will ever make. On June 30th the trade was consummated. O'Quinn, stunned that he was leaving the Texas organization was absolutely floored when he was summoned from AAA and immediately inserted into LF where he would be in the lineup a majority of time. On July 8th, ROQ hit his first ABL HR, at 21 years old. Roy was a key player received when the decision was made to move one of the Young Guns. ROQ plays a quality LF but his bat is what Fast-Tracked him to the ABL. ROQ would have been a solid Rookie of the Year candidate if he would have played the full season in the ABL. In just 85 games, ROQ amassed 16 HR's, 61 RBI's and 58 RS, as well as 13 SB's. For the season, combined AAA and ABL numbers Roy hit 38 HRs, 112 RBI's and 111 RS. O'Quinn is a superstar in the making.
Another player received in the Rogers trade was SS Stephen Cook. Cook, 25, and on July 21st, against Cabo San Lucas, Cook singled in his very first at bat in the ABL. Of course he was promptly thrown out trying to steal 2nd base, but that didn't take away from the excitement he brought to the Bombers. In 64 games, Cook hit at a .295 clip, got on base at .356 rate and over all had a .728 OPS to go along with 9 SB's, 20 RBI's and 30 RS. Cook batted 9th vs RHP's and leadoff vs., LHP's and gave a little more offensive output than Angelo Casas the 2013 Gold Glove winner, and adequate defense. Cook might or might not stay at SS for his career, but for the foreseeable future looks to be a part of the Bomber infield for quite a while.
C, Stu "Thurman" Yarbrough, 22 years old was summoned from AAA on June 3rd against the Las Vegas Jokers. Stu went 1 for 5 in his debut and was steady behind the plate. Stu would have needed to have been put on the 40 Man Roster in the off season due to Rule V requirements, but with him spending the parts of 2012, 13 and 14 in AAA ownership felt he was ready for the ABL. With Jayson O'Neill mired in a slump from the beginning of the season it seemed logical to just get Stu ABL experience now. Yarbrough, hit 13 HR's, 53 RBI's and a .243 Avg in just 101 games. His VORP in 2/3's of season was 14.2
SP, Reijiro "Hit Squad" Yamaguchi was the third player from the Texas trade to make the ABL. Yamaguchi was pressed into service because of some injuries and lack of performance by other members of the staff. While the ERA of 6.40 was much higher than what we expect of an ABL SP, the 500 record (5-5) for a team that finished 28 games under 500 showed that this kid is a gamer. In 64 IP he needs to work on a few aspects of his game, but will be given a shot in ST to win himself a role in the rotation. If not, his numbers translate very well to a role in the bullpen to hone his craft. Either way, it is anticipated that Yamaguchi makes the Opening Day 25.
Players that will have a shot to earn a spot onto the ABL roster from AAA out of Spring Training will be the 4th and 5th players from Texas, 2B Walt Dobson and CL Jose Parra. Also MR Glen Rush, MR Hiroaki Ine, and LF Eugene White.
Should be an exciting time in South Carolina over the next season!
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