2072 Season:
The
HELENA BREWERS were World Champions, defeating the New York Yankees in 7 games. They erased a 3-1 deficit to become the first rookie level team to win the World Series. They went 29-133 in their first season and finished 63-99 just two years ago.
The
CEDAR RAPIDS KERNELS were relegated to the Pit of Despair. They finished 50-112, nine games behind the Syracuse Chiefs for last place.
135 teams remain in Major League Baseball...
In Memoriam: Cedar Rapids Kernels
A- Minnesota Twins
A Teams Remaining: 20
Twins Affiliates Remaining: 4/5
All Time Record: 4023-4859 (.453)
Best Season: 2060, 93-69, 24th place
Best Hitter: Pat Suppes (2045-2055)
Passed over until the 729th pick in the 2043 draft, Suppes was thrice a top 100 prospect. He developed into a great home run hitter, hitting 20 or more twelve seasons in a row. Later playing for the Angels and Twins, he retired with 554 longballs. But he wasn't just a slugger. Suppes won three consecutive gold gloves in right field from 2048 to 2050. He received 57% of the Hall of Fame vote last year in his 2nd year on the ballot.
Best Pitcher: Eric Hammond (2040-2049)
Eric "Dixie" Hammond, a Boise native despite his nickname, was drafted by the Kane County Cougars. Two years later, they sent him to Cedar Rapids for Sam Dale, an uninteresting first baseman. Hammond was a great pitcher for some Kernels teams that could not win games for him. He won just 6 of his 30 starts in 2044 despite a 3.26 ERA, 0.97 WHIP, and 13.0 K/9. The rest of his career was decimated by injuries. A torn labrum in 2048 cut his best season short. After a couple years as a reliever with Beloit, Hammond tore his UCL prior to the 2052 season. It turned out to be a career ending injury.
Notes:
Vermont CF Andy Dombrosky led the league with a .359 batting average. He struck out just 37 times this season and stole 54 bases.
Pensacola 1B Sean Hindman led the league with 55 home runs and a 1.060 OPS.
Albuquerque SS Phil Jones led the league with 8.4 WAR.
Mississippi CF Juan Montecinos struck out 263 times. Despite his 4 star rating, he slashed .189/.258/.320 with a -0.9 WAR.
Louisville SP Sean Clark led the league with a 2.23 ERA and 2.46 FIP.
SP Curt Murphy signed a 7-year deal with the Astros and led the league with 331 strikeouts.
SP Deshawn Togba, now with the Rangers, moved up to 18th all time with 3647 strikeouts. He is under contract for two more seasons.
Three minor league teams finished with 100 or more wins, including the perennial losers Orem Owlz
The Los Angeles Angels were the worst MLB team, going 68-94 and finishing in 116th place. They had the 28th highest payroll in the league.
Teams eliminated:
2018:
Princeton Rays
2019:
Bristol Pirates
2020:
Aberdeen Ironbirds
2021:
Hickory Crawdads
2022:
Mobile Bay Bears
2023:
Reading Fightin Phils
2024:
Bowie Baysox
2025:
Potomac Nationals
2026:
Biloxi Shuckers
2027:
Lake Elsinore Storm
2028:
Grand Junction Rockies
2029:
South Bend Cubs
2030:
Modesto Nuts
2031:
Tri-City Valley Cats
2032:
Reno Aces
2033:
Staten Island Yankees
2034:
Portland Sea Dogs
2035:
Lexington Legends
2036:
Batavia Muckdogs
2037:
Frederick Keys
2038:
Hillsboro Hops
2039:
Tri-City Dust Devils
2040:
Tennessee Smokies
2041:
Norfolk Tides
2042:
Vancouver Canadians
2043:
Buffalo Bisons
2044:
Jupiter Hammerheads
2045:
Eugene Emeralds
2046:
Myrtle Beach Pelicans
2047:
New Orleans Baby Cakes
2048:
Hagerstown Suns
2049:
Sacramento River Cats
2050:
Corpus Christi Hooks
2051:
Salem Red Sox
2052:
Kane County Cougars
2053:
Jackson Generals
2054:
Lake County Captains
2055:
Bradenton Marauders
2056:
Stockton Ports
2057:
Dunedin Blue Jays
2058:
Everett Aqua Sox
2059:
Johnson City Cardinals
2060:
Idaho Falls Chukars
2061:
Toledo Mud Hens
2062:
Springfield Cardinals
2063:
Charleston RiverDogs
2064:
Asheville Tourists
2065:
Peoria Chiefs
2066:
Lowell Spinners
2067:
Las Vegas 51s
2068:
Binghamton Rumble Ponies
2069:
Jacksonville Jumbo Shrimp
2070:
Lakeland Flying Tigers
2071:
Richmond Flying Squirrels
2072:
Cedar Rapids Kernels
