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Meet the Future Maniacs - Top Prospects Edition
In this bonus segment we will take a closer look at the future of the Toronto Maniacs. GM Ryan Stewart has been at the helm for 3 drafts now and has taken a barren farm system and turned it into one of the top minor league systems in the draft. For brief periods in 2030 the Maniacs held the #1 spot in the farm system rankings but would drop back to 7th after having one of their top prospects in SP Juan Pina graduate from the list as he spent most of the 2030 season in the Maniacs starting rotation.
GM Ryan Stewart will have a chance to add another haul of prospects to the minors as the First Year Player Draft is set to take place in few short days and the Maniacs hold the 3rd overall selection in the draft this season.
Top Prospects
#1 CF Manuel Hinestroza
Age: 20 Bats: 20 Height: 6'3" Weight: 190 Lbs
Acquired: 2nd round pick 23rd overall in 2030 by the Maniacs out of West Palm Beach High School.
2030 Stats: .247 6 HR 54 RBI (Corner Brook, Rookie League)
GM Comments: Hinestroza is a defensive wizard in the outfield with huge range, and a rocket for an arm. He scouts as a prototypical leadoff hitter at the big league level, he has great speed and base stealing instincts. His one downfall is he is a little undisciplined at the plate and a bit of a free swinger. He does see a lot of pitches and is not afraid to take a walk. At just 20 years old he is still a few years off being considered for a spot on the MLB roster and is ticketed for a second season in rookie ball and depending on his performance could see short season A ball by seasons end.
#2 SP Joe 'Live Wire' Payne
Age: 23 Throws: RHP Velocity: 97-99 MPH Height: 6'1" Weight: 205 Lbs
Acquired: 1st round pick 2nd overall in 2030 out of Cal State Fullerton by the Maniacs.
2030 Stats: 7-4 2.89 ERA 26 BB 86 K 1.07 WHIP (A, Kelowna)
3-4 3.86 ERA 27 BB 58 K 1.25 WHIP (AA, Medicine Hat)
GM Comments: Payne is the complete package as a starter. He has a big arm and very good control. His pitches are hard and heavy in the zone and they have great movement. He throws a cutter, slider and splitter and is able to use all of them for a strike. He will be in camp this spring but is most likely headed for AAA Milton to start the season. GM Ryan Stewart would like him to get at least a few AAA starts under his belt before he is called up to the big club. He scouts as a top of the rotation arm and the Maniacs have high hopes for him.
#3 SP Carlos Padilla
Age: 21 Throws: RHP Velocity: 97-99 MPH Height: 6'1" Weight: 205 Lbs
Acquired: 1st round pick 6th overall in 2029 out of Aurora Highs School by the Maniacs.
2030 Stats: 8-3 2.45 ERA 51 BB 103 K 1.21 WHIP (RL, Corner Brook)
4-0 1.80 ERA 28 BB 62 K 1.07 WHIP (SA, North Bay)
GM Comments: Padilla was GM Ryan Stewarts first choice in his inaugural draft in 2029. Padilla is another hard throwing righty with a good assortment of three pitches. He features a fastball, curve and slider and all three are plus pitches. He had great success across two levels last season and will start the season in A ball with Kelowna. He scouts as a future #1 or 2 starter at the MLB level and GM Ryan Stewart is hoping to pair him with SP Joe Payne at the top of the Maniacs rotation for years to come.
#4 RF Stanford Ruse
Age: 22 Bats: LHB Height: 5'11" Weight: 185 Lbs
Acquired: 2nd round pick 26th overall in 2029 by the Maniacs out of Bronx High School.
2030 Stats: .275 41 HR 111 RBI (SA, North Bay)
GM Comments: Ruse really came into his own last season after struggling in his pro debut in 2029. He showed tons of power belting a team record 41 HR in 385 at bats in short season A ball last year. He took home the United League Batter of the Year Award and was also named the United League Gold Glove winner in right field. Ruse has all of the defensive tools to be a starting outfielder at the MLB level with good range and a great arm. Offensively he could be a force but is a bit of a free swinger and tends to strike out quite a bit. The Maniacs will be monitoring him closely as he will get his first chance at a full season league starting the 2031 season in Kelowna.
#5 SP Alex "Dir" Castillo
Age: 21 Throws: RHP Velocity: 97-99 MPH Height: 6'6" Weight: 220 Lbs
Acquired: 1st round pick 14th overall in 2029 out of Mountainview High School by the New Orleans Pelicans. Traded to Toronto in 2029.
2030 Stats: 11-7 4.29 ERA 93 BB 108 K 1.43 WHIP (SA, North Bay)
GM Comments: Castillo was acquired in a offseason deal from New Orleans in 2029, he is big hard throwing righty who features four pitches, three of which grade out as plus (sinking fastball, slider and forkball) and he is working on a change up but it is a way below average pitch at this point. He scouts as a middle of the rotation work horse who should be able to give the team some solid innings every year. The only concern GM Ryan Stewart has about him right now has been his control. He has almost as many walks as strikeouts and they would really like him to work on locating his pitches better.
#6 LF Eric Garrett
Age: 23 Bats: LHB Height: 6'2" Weight: 185 Lbs
Acquired: 5th round pick 82th overall in 2030 by the Maniacs out of Baylor University.
2030 Stats: .305 26 HR 70 RBI (SA, North Bay)
GM Comments: Garrett isn't likely going to be a star at the MLB level. He can play all 3 outfield positions and is very good defensively. Offensively he can struggle at times to make contact and is a bit of a free swinger. He struck out 80 times in 311 at bats last season against 67 walks. He has tremendous power and the Maniacs believe he will make a very potent offensive weapon off the bench at the next level.
Honorable mention: CL Adrian Sheehan a 23 year old is expected to be the Maniacs closer of the future. He has 3 good pitches and the command and control to be a stopper at the MLB level. SP John Jackson scouts as a middle of the rotation arm with 4 decent pitches. A talent boost here could propel him into the conversation as an elite pitching prospect.
Up Next: 2031 First Year Player Draft Preview
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