Since last time the drafted USA players were covered pretty in-depth, I figured now would be the appropriate time to talk through the 2000 IFAs, especially since a few of them have since debuted.
As a reminder, the class consisted of players from the following countries:
Mexico - 8
Canada - 5
Costa Rica - 1
Curacao - 1
Dominican Republic - 1
Japan - 1
Panama - 1
Of that group, the six players that have debuted are either from Mexico (4) or Canada (2). Here are some of their stories:
Analysis
Henry Swerdlow (CAN) leads the pack in WAR, with a 0.1 mark in 14 career games, all with San Francisco. Swerdlow is a catcher from Saskatchewan and is currently backing up Carlos Aguilaz (more below). In 31 plate appearances, he is hitting .290 with 1 HR and 5 RBI.
Bob Peyton (CAN) has perhaps the weirdest story of anyone in this group. The Halifax native has played in 16 games for Dallas in his rookie year, backing up All-Star Aaron Klink. The thing is, he has never been to the plate! All of his appearances have come late as a defensive replacement.
Alejandro Salinas (MEX) started the year in the Dallas bullpen, but just recently made his first start for the team. The Mexico City native has a 6.98 ERA and a 1.97 WHIP in 11 games, but does have a 9.3 K/9 rate in 19.1 innings. He has decent potential and has done everything the team has asked of him.
Jesus Ordoņez (MEX) made history last year as the first non-American player to ever play in any IBF league (which includes the USABL, of course). Ordoņez pitched in 5 games for New York, going 0-1 with 1 save. He had a 3.68 ERA and 1.64 WHIP, striking out 6 in 7.1 innings. He's currently on the Los Angeles reserve roster.
Pepe Pineda (MEX) has the most potential of any Mexican pitcher in this class. He started the year with Los Angeles, putting up a 0.82 ERA in 8 relief outings before getting dealt to San Francisco in a deal for All-Star centerfielder Dave Ortiz. Since the trade, San Fran has jerked his role around, but he seems to have landed in the bullpen for now, where he has a 5.40 ERA for the club so far.
Carlos Aguilaz (MEX), who has just a -0.6 WAR for San Francisco, has also played the most of anyone in the group so far. Initially a Chicago team member, Aguilaz was released prior to the 2005 season due to spatial issues on the reserve roster. He signed with San Francisco shortly after and quickly won the starting catcher job. To date, he is hitting just .191 with 1 HR and 9 RBI with a .437 OPS in 135 plate appearances. He still has very good potential, which is likely why San Francisco is sticking with him for now.
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Standings Update - August 19, 2005
Now 11 games to go and... yeah good luck trying to parse through this mess at the top! Poor San Francisco though...
After the next update, I'll start to look at the final series/matchups for each of these teams left.
And as of today... it'd be Los Angeles, Chicago, and New York in the playoffs. Poor Philadelphia!