Bench Jockey Hardball League

Rookies

On the Opening Day ML Rosters there are 14 rookies as starters.

I have excluded position players on the bench. I have corresponding polls that go with this article. Please cast you votes when you get a chance.

“To qualify for rookie status, a player must not have exceeded 130 at-bats or 50 innings pitched in the Major Leagues, or accumulated more than 45 days on the active roster of a Major League club or clubs during the 25-player limit period, excluding time on the disabled list or in military service.”

By Jim Molony / MLB.com

I do not have the time to figure out who was called up when so I altered my criteria to:

“Accumulated less than 75 days ML Service Time.”

If anyone knows a quick way to confirm Service Time to adjust for September call ups I will adjust the article accordingly.

Here is a rundown of the opening day position players, I will post the pitchers in the next few days and that report will be accompanied with its own polls.

Yannigan League

Decatur Wolves

CF- Shushen Sato 20/20

45/42/50/33/57 CF 84

Manhattan Crime

CF- Hector Rojas 56/57

49/66/79/26/34 CF- 41

Cheyenne grabbed Hector with the 12th pick of the 2024 draft. A few POT downgrades later he was moved to the Crime for an above average MR. Not the ideal option in center, unless you have Cousin and Perze to choose from. He looks really good after those 2 chase a few into the gaps. Last season was an average year in AAA for Hector, he may be a little too much of a free swinger to an effective ML starter but when he gets the bat on the ball it should go a long way. For being a bit lazy and about 60 Watts at full power he looks to get a good amount out of his average talent.

Portland Seadogs

CF- T.R. Winger 25/74

64/42/50/27/43 CF- 57

“Totally Rad” has seen his potential jump by leaps and bounds since the Dogs picked him in the 3^rd round of the 2026 amateur draft. When he was rated the #2 prospect in the BJHL this New Years General Manager  K. Dub described him as “The most brilliant couch potato I have ever seen, he is the Einstein of the homeless shelters, a veritable Steven Hawkins of panhandlers”. A throw back to the late 80s, She's only seventeen.  

Scottsdale Scorpions

1B- Carlos Dominguez 29/29

57/70/51/70/58 1B- 49

C- Jeff Smith 64/64

67/54/61/60/90 C- 73

When interviewed about Smith G.M. Neo had to be contacted 13 times over various cell phones, pay phones and land lines. He kept muttering to himself about White Rabbits. We referred him to Alice, our in house record coordinator but that didn’t seem to settle him down any. This Wisconsin native may not put his nose to the grindstone but he will be keep it close. Smith is as sharp as Valyrian Steel and has an eagle eye for quality pitches.

Vancouver Orcas

3B Johnny Garretson 47/70

50/62/73/42/33 3B- 70

Vancouver selected Johnny with the 247^th pick of the 2023 draft. Since then he has worked his way through the organization and received some sizable potential increases. A good worker, 3^rd guy in- 3^rd to last guy out, and an iron trap for a memory, not quite steel but close. Garretson has a rocket launcher for a right shoulder, decent hands and the potential to crush the ball. He may more than double his HR total with his K total though. 

A.L.

London Cutthroats

2B- Tony Dewar 33/60

52/56/11/67/46 2B- 53

Another slothful and brilliant type of guy. Dewar was taken by Louisville in 2026. Since then he has learned to hit. Initially he looked like a career career minor leaguer. A wet noodle for an arm, not the softest of hands and occasionally trips over his own feet turning 2. He can get to almost anything hit his way he just doesn’t seem to know what to do with it once it is in his glove. Think, drunk Labrador retriever.

Long Island Beagles

LF- Julian Aragon 23/78

47/65/46/34/35 LF- 93

One season is SA and Aragon is starting in left for the Beagles. This smacks of desperation. Last season he was the #2 pick overall and this winter he was listed as the #4 prospect in the league. Works overtime and is a quick learner. Long term he looks to be a beast at the plate, he may just need a season or two more in the minors before he is ready, then again he may hold his own and develop his skills at this level. I’m betting on the former.

CF Glynn Knifton 20/20

42/66/38/41/39 CF- 90

Louisville Thoroughbreds

1B- Luther Cyrus 57/74

55/69/74/65/61  1B- 61

Luther has a 1^st step that some sloths would admire. He throws like a straight womens softball star and I do not see any 3-6-3 double plays in his future. With his bat he should more than make up for his fielding. Three seasons in the minors and some sweet talent boosts have brought Billie Ray to the bigs. The 15^th rated prospect may give Louisville fans a reason to TIVO Nascar. All of his offensive potentials look good except power, it looks great.

Montreal Orignaux

2B- Kyle O’reilly 20/20

36/44/21/26/29 2B- 43

SS- Manny Ochoa 20/20

39/55/20/29/29 SS- 79

Wichita Outlaws

1B Quinto Rodriguez 34/34

60/72/62/56/65 1B- 42

3B- Alin Reinke 38/68

70/73/27/47/51 3B- 52

Busts his ass, 1^st in last out kind of prospect. Projects to do well at the plate except for the longball. The number 6 pick in 2027 Alin was rated the 25^th prospect this offseason. His defense his average and will probably remain that way. A 1^st baseman by trade Wichita executives have decided to try him out on the opposite corner. He still has room to grow identifying good pitches and putting the ball in play. His intangibles hint that he will fulfill his promise of a slow, high OBP non slugging 1^st baseman for the Outlaws.

Don’t forget to cast your votes.

Thanks,

LP

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