[illeracula]

This is my 6th year in Norfolk and when I started here I drafted Pablo Freitas and Don Sweetapple thinking they would be the cornerstone of this franchise for their years. When Sweetapple left via Free Agency, it took me by surprise... I was always a fan of Mauro Candelaria and kept him around even when I didn't have a place for him to play. I just never expected he would end up being the Face of this Franchise.

The Cavaliers first 10 picks in the inaugural draft:
R1/P14/14: Don Sweetapple (SP) - Richmond Cardinals - Left via Free Agency after 2016
R2/P3/19: Pablo Freitas (LF) - Georgetown Sixteens - Traded after 2017
R3/P14/O46: Carlos Mateo (SP) - Lewes Braves - Traded after 2016
R4/P3/O51: Karl Armstrong (SP) - Ocean City Tourists - Traded after 2017
R5/P14/O78: Mauro Candelaria (SS) - Norfolk Cavaliers since 2013
R6/P3/O83: Julio Romero (C) - Newark Millers - Traded after 2017
R7/P14/O110: Tsuneo Sato (SP) - Chesapeake Blue Crabs - Traded during 2016
R8/P3/O115: Brian Cline (LF) - New Castle Colonials - Traded after 2015
R9/P14/O142: Yasutoki Ine (2B) - Salisbury Ports - Traded prior 2018
R10/P3/O174: Danny Rigsby (SP) - Richmond Cardinals - Traded during 2013

Mauro Candelaria
Norfolk Cavaliers All-Time Leader in:
Games: 763
At-Bats: 2939
Runs: 422
Hits: 850
Total Bases: 1142
Singles: 645
Walks: 329

Later this season he will become the all-time RBI leader, he trails Jose Rodriquez by 34.

Was just thinking about this, so I decided to do a little research. I am glad we signed Mauro to a long-term deal and hopefully he will retire as a Cavalier. He is well liked in the Norfolk area and is sort of a cult-hero. The player who once didn't have a position, finally settled down to play a gold-glove caliber 1B. I do think he will win a gold glove there before his career is over. Just wanted to give a tribute to a guy who turned into the face of the franchise...