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WeagleWeagle · 10-07-2022, 10:10 PM

Opening Day is finally here. The Stars make their debut at home in Music City Park against the formidable Los Angeles Angels this Thursday to start the season. While expectations are low for this inaugural squad, excitement is still high in the home of country music as the journey really begins.

So let’s take a look at the first ever edition of the Nashville Stars.

Starting Rotation

RHP Jacob Nix | 29 years old | Fullerton, CA | 2.5 (Overall)/2.5 (Potential)
Acquired via Expansion Draft from San Diego

Nix arguably had the best spring among our starters which is how he earned the Opening Day start. Until 2 rough finishes he was flirting with a sub 1 ERA. He’s coming off an excellent 2024 campaign in AAA and is hoping to prove this fall he belongs in the big leagues. He’s a ground baller without great stuff but the ability to throw strikes and keep the ball in the park.

RHP Johan Oviedo | 27 years old | Cuba | 2.5/2.5
Acquired via Expansion Draft from St. Louis

While Nix exhibits excellent control and works down in the zone hoping to force ground balls to offset the lack of stuff, Oviedo is looking for a strikeout every at bat. He throws a fastball that can touch 97 and has a wicked slider for his strikeout pitch. The curve and changeup need work but he’s an interesting contrast to a lot of the other arms we have in this rotation.

RHP Cal Quantrill | 30 years old | Canada | 2.5/2.5
Acquired via Expansion Draft from Arizona

No one in our rotation has as much big league experience as Quantrill. In fact, he might have the most MLB experience of any player on our 26 man roster. He’s also coming off his best season as a pro with the D-Backs where he went 4-3 with a 2.49 ERA while posting a 7.7 K/9. Quantrill started the spring poorly but got better as the month went on. He’s also well respected by the team being named captain for the 2025 season.

LHP Jesus Gonzalez | 23 years old | Venesuela | 2/2.5
Acquired via Rule 5 Draft from San Diego

Gonzalez got knocked around a good bit during spring training posting a 6.59 ERA. He’s young though and this is his first taste of MLB action. Gonazalez has a 4 pitch repertoire built off his sinker that sits in the mid 90s. The hope is he can generate a lot of ground balls and let our defense make some plays.

LHP Austin “Big G” Gomber | 31 years old | Winter Garden, FL | 3.5/3.5
Acquired via Trade with Baltimore

Gomber will anchor the rotation to start the 2025 campaign. The lefty has 4 good pitches in a 91-93 mph fastball offset by a curveball, slider and changeup. His movement and stuff isn’t great so liable to give up some long balls but unlikely to walk a lot of folks. Don’t expect ace stuff from him just asking for competency.

Bullpen

LHP Justin Bruihl | 27 years old | Petaluma, CA | 2.5/2.5
Acquired via Expansion Draft from Los Angeles Dodgers

Bruihl will serve as our lefty specialist to start the 2025 season. He’s been brutally effective against lefties in his limited MLB career holding them to a WHIP of 0.73. He’s not an overpowering arm but instead relies on great control and movement to confused left handed batters. Another sinker baller, Bruihl will get a chance to throw a career high innings this season.

RHP Corbin Martin | 29 years old | Houston, TX | 2.5/2.5
Acquired via Expansion Draft from Arizona

I thought Martin might end up in a starting role when we drafted him back in November but he will start in the bullpen as a long reliever and emergency spot starter. His career high in innings pitched in the majors came back during his debut season in 2019 so this is a big opportunity for the journeyman to prove he belongs.

RHP Randy Dobnak | 30 years old | South Park Township, PA | 2.5/2.5
Acquired via Expansion Draft from Minnesota

Another sinker baller who lives to force groundballs, Dobnak will also see time as a long reliever and spot starter. He lacks major league stuff but has elite control and movement which should theoretically allow him to keep the ball in the park and runners off the bases. Very interested to see how his skillset translates to the MLB.

LHP Ben Bowden | 30 years old | Lynn, MA | 2.5/2.5
Acquired via Expansion Draft from Texas

Bowden is the inverse of Dobnak. He’s all stuff and he’s looking for K’s each at bat. The lefty sports a devastating changeup he loves to go to when looking for a strikeout in a critical situation. Over his career he’s posted a 10-8 record with 5 saves and an ERA of 4.54 in 109 IP. So he’s no young pup seeing his first action.

RHP J.P. Freyereisen | 32 years old | Stillwater, MN | 3/3
Acquired via Expansion Draft from Tampa Bay

The elder statesmen of the bullpen, Freyereisen dealt with some soreness in his throwing shoulder during spring training limiting his opportunities. But he’s experienced having thrown over 146 innings of major league ball and has a career ERA of 3.81. His 3 pitch repertoire of fastball, slider and changeup all have great stuff and movement. It’s all about limiting the amount of free passes.

RHP Andres Munoz | 26 years old | Mexico | 3.5/4
Acquired via Expansion Draft from Seattle

I thought Munoz would be the closer especially coming off a 38 save season for the Mariners but Butera wants to use him more as a high leverage guy which I won’t argue. No one in this bullpen has better stuff and his 1-2 punch of fastball and slider is as good as any in this league. Just have to dial that cannon of his in and throw strikes. Because when he does his stuff can tough 101 and leave batters looking silly in the box.

RHP Jordan Romano | 31 years old | Canada | 4/4
Acquired via Expansion Draft from Milwaukee

I really like the backend of this bullpen. Munoz will be the 7th inning, high leverage guy while Romano will work in that 8th inning setup role. He spent time there the past few seasons with the Twins so it’s a role he’s comfortable with. Only 2 pitches, fastball and changeup, but he knows how to throw them and knows how to strike people out.

RHP Nick Robertson | 26 years old | Rocky Mount, VA | 3/4.5
Acquired via Expansion Draft from Boston

Robertson isn’t the guy I had pegged for that closer role but Butera likes his potential and his stuff. Like Romano, he relies on a fastball and slider to get the job done. His spring training audition went well where he recorded 2 saves and only surrendered 2 runs over 13 innings pitched.

Lineup

C Cam Gallagher | 32 years old | Lancaster, PA | 2.5/2.5
Acquired via Trade with Kansas City

Gallagher will serve as our backup catcher and sub in for Hunt every 3rd game. Not a very impressive spring from him so hoping to see more this fall.

C Blake Hunt | 26 years old | Costa Mesa, CA | 2.5/2.5
Acquired via Expansion Draft from Pittsburgh

An excellent defensive catcher, Hunt is still developing as a hitter at the plate but has flashed some early gap power. He will be making his major league debut on Opening Day so I imagine there will be a few butterflies that first inning.

IF Tyler Black | 24 years old | Canada | 2/3
Acquired via Rule 5 Draft from Milwaukee

Black can play 1B, 2B or 3B. Butera elected to play him where he’s most comfortable and effective which is 1B to start the year. Like Hunt, he’s making his MLB debut against the Angels. He’s coming off 2 huge seasons in the minors and we are hoping to see that success carry into the big leagues. Not a power hitter, Black will be acting more as a table setter for this offense in 2025.

IF CJ Chatham | 30 years old | Fort Lauderdale, FL | 2/2
Acquired via Expansion Draft from Arizona

A defensive specialist, Chatham will serve as a spot starter for much of the infield and a late defensive sub when needed. I don’t expect much out of his bat but that’s ok as long as he makes plays in the field.

IF Jeremiah Jackson | 25 years old | Mobile, AL | 2.5/3
Acquired via Expansion Draft form Los Angeles Angels

The first pick in the Expansion Draft, Jackson is someone we think long term can be a part of this organization. He’s an excellent defensive 2nd basemen with the potential to hit for plus power. He’s been raking in AAA for a few years now with only 68 MLB plate appearances. Excited to see what he can do as a full season starter.

3B Eugenio Suarez | 33 years old | Venezuela | 2.5/2.5
Acquired via Free Agency

Suarez is a HR hitting 3B with a good glove. He will strike out a lot. He won’t hit for a high average but he has proven he can consistently slug 20+ home runs in a season. Our offense lacks a lot of power. Suarez will be asked to provide a lot of it this season.

3B Willy Vazquez | 23 years old | Dominican Republic | 2.5/3.5
Acquired via Rule 5 Draft from Tampa Bay

Ya’ll know I am excited about this kid. A potential 5 tool player with his whole career ahead of him, Vasquez is definitely someone I am hoping can be a building block for this roster in the years to come. He’s another bat in this lineup that will be making his major league debut on Thursday in Music City Park.

SS Ismael Rivera | 24 years old | Dominican Republic | 2/2.5
Acquired via Free Agency

This man does not strike out. He might not hit many home runs or put up a .300 average but he’s gonna put the ball in play and make the defense get him out. He’s also an elite defender who will get his shot as the starting SS this fall. We signed Rivera early in the off-season to a minor league deal. He got a spring training invite and outplayed some of the guys we thought would earn that spot. So let’s see what the youngster can do.

LF Willie “June” Calhoun | 30 years old | Vallejo, CA | 1.5/1.5
Acquired via Free Agency

Calhoun was another minor league free agent pickup who got a spring training invite and won a roster spot. No one looked better in the batter’s box for the Stars during spring than Calhoun so he’ll get his chance to revitalize his career in 2025. He spent all of 2024 in Texas’s AAA affiliate where he slugged 20 HRs and hit .325. Time to see if he can still play in the big leagues.

LF/RF Oscar Gonzalez | 27 years old | Dominican Republic | 2.5/2.5
Acquired via Expansion Draft from Cleveland

I think Gonzalez is intriguing. He’s got plus power potential and is a very good defender in those corner OF spots. Can he be a .280 with 25+ HRs type of guy? That remains to be seen but that’s the profile we think he has long term.

OF Kyle Isbel | 28 years old | Fontana, CA | 2/2
Acquired via Expansion Draft from Kansas City

Isbel won his roster spot with a solid spring training where he posted the 2nd best OPS for the Stars. Defensively he can play any 3 of the OF spots and provides a running threat off the bench when needed. A useful OF utility player who can wear a lot of hats for us this fall.

OF Michael “Miggy” A. Taylor | 34 years old | Fort Lauderdale, FL | 2.5/2.5
Acquired via Free Agency

Taylor was a late pickup after the budget increase. I wanted to ensure we had an elite defender in centerfield and that’s what we got in Miggy. He hasn’t hit he ball well in awhile so I don’t necessarily expect that to change but hopefully he can win us a few games this fall purely by running down some fly balls that would have been doubles with someone else out there.

LF/RF Nelson Velazquez | 26 years old | Puerto Rico | 2.5/2.5
Acquired via Waivers from Chicago Cubs

We snagged Velazquez off waivers just before spring ball. He’s a corner outfielder with a big bat who likely won’t hit for a high average. But we need some HR power in this lineup and Velazquez has the ability to provide some of it. The Cubs gave him a single AB in MLB last season so he’s chomping at the bit for some real action this fall.

vs RHP

1.) L Kyle Isbel LF

2.) R Tyler Black 1B

3.) R Willy Vazquez 3B

4.) R Oscar Gonzalez DH

5.) R Jeremiah Jackson 2B

6.) R Nelson Velasquez RF

7.) R Blake Hunt C

8.) R Michael A. Taylor CF

9.) R Ismael Rivera SS

vs LHP

1.) R Tyler Black 1B

2.) R Willy Vasquez 3B

3.) R Jeremiah Jackson 2B

4.) R Eugenio Suarez DH

5.) R Nelson Velazquez RF

6.) L Kyle Isbel LF

7.) R Blake Hunt C

8.) R Michael A. Taylor CF

9.) R Ismael Rivera SS

Season Expectations

Our owner Don Cocci has given us the goal of “not sucking completely” which I respect. BNN has us projected to win 68 games which maybe qualifies? We are probably gonna suck regardless so I will be extra sure to obey his wishes on upgrading the catcher position and finding a top prospect. Would be cool to find someone that was both!

I don’t expect us to win very many games. Opening the season with the Angels is brutal but at least it’s at home. My hope is some of these pieces prove to be better than most folks think (Jeremiah Jackson, Willy Vasquez, Jesus Gonzalez) but it’s not the end of the world if they are not. The goal this fall is simply to find anyone that’s of value and ship them off for young talent. My goal is to see our minor league system ranking make a big leap forward by this time next season.

Let’s play ball!!!

10-07-2022, 10:10 PM	#19
WeagleWeagle Major Leagues Join Date: May 2015 Posts: 448	2025 Nashville Stars Season Preview Opening Day is finally here. The Stars make their debut at home in Music City Park against the formidable Los Angeles Angels this Thursday to start the season. While expectations are low for this inaugural squad, excitement is still high in the home of country music as the journey really begins. So let’s take a look at the first ever edition of the Nashville Stars. Starting Rotation RHP Jacob Nix \| 29 years old \| Fullerton, CA \| 2.5 (Overall)/2.5 (Potential) Acquired via Expansion Draft from San Diego Nix arguably had the best spring among our starters which is how he earned the Opening Day start. Until 2 rough finishes he was flirting with a sub 1 ERA. He’s coming off an excellent 2024 campaign in AAA and is hoping to prove this fall he belongs in the big leagues. He’s a ground baller without great stuff but the ability to throw strikes and keep the ball in the park. RHP Johan Oviedo \| 27 years old \| Cuba \| 2.5/2.5 Acquired via Expansion Draft from St. Louis While Nix exhibits excellent control and works down in the zone hoping to force ground balls to offset the lack of stuff, Oviedo is looking for a strikeout every at bat. He throws a fastball that can touch 97 and has a wicked slider for his strikeout pitch. The curve and changeup need work but he’s an interesting contrast to a lot of the other arms we have in this rotation. RHP Cal Quantrill \| 30 years old \| Canada \| 2.5/2.5 Acquired via Expansion Draft from Arizona No one in our rotation has as much big league experience as Quantrill. In fact, he might have the most MLB experience of any player on our 26 man roster. He’s also coming off his best season as a pro with the D-Backs where he went 4-3 with a 2.49 ERA while posting a 7.7 K/9. Quantrill started the spring poorly but got better as the month went on. He’s also well respected by the team being named captain for the 2025 season. LHP Jesus Gonzalez \| 23 years old \| Venesuela \| 2/2.5 Acquired via Rule 5 Draft from San Diego Gonzalez got knocked around a good bit during spring training posting a 6.59 ERA. He’s young though and this is his first taste of MLB action. Gonazalez has a 4 pitch repertoire built off his sinker that sits in the mid 90s. The hope is he can generate a lot of ground balls and let our defense make some plays. LHP Austin “Big G” Gomber \| 31 years old \| Winter Garden, FL \| 3.5/3.5 Acquired via Trade with Baltimore Gomber will anchor the rotation to start the 2025 campaign. The lefty has 4 good pitches in a 91-93 mph fastball offset by a curveball, slider and changeup. His movement and stuff isn’t great so liable to give up some long balls but unlikely to walk a lot of folks. Don’t expect ace stuff from him just asking for competency. Bullpen LHP Justin Bruihl \| 27 years old \| Petaluma, CA \| 2.5/2.5 Acquired via Expansion Draft from Los Angeles Dodgers Bruihl will serve as our lefty specialist to start the 2025 season. He’s been brutally effective against lefties in his limited MLB career holding them to a WHIP of 0.73. He’s not an overpowering arm but instead relies on great control and movement to confused left handed batters. Another sinker baller, Bruihl will get a chance to throw a career high innings this season. RHP Corbin Martin \| 29 years old \| Houston, TX \| 2.5/2.5 Acquired via Expansion Draft from Arizona I thought Martin might end up in a starting role when we drafted him back in November but he will start in the bullpen as a long reliever and emergency spot starter. His career high in innings pitched in the majors came back during his debut season in 2019 so this is a big opportunity for the journeyman to prove he belongs. RHP Randy Dobnak \| 30 years old \| South Park Township, PA \| 2.5/2.5 Acquired via Expansion Draft from Minnesota Another sinker baller who lives to force groundballs, Dobnak will also see time as a long reliever and spot starter. He lacks major league stuff but has elite control and movement which should theoretically allow him to keep the ball in the park and runners off the bases. Very interested to see how his skillset translates to the MLB. LHP Ben Bowden \| 30 years old \| Lynn, MA \| 2.5/2.5 Acquired via Expansion Draft from Texas Bowden is the inverse of Dobnak. He’s all stuff and he’s looking for K’s each at bat. The lefty sports a devastating changeup he loves to go to when looking for a strikeout in a critical situation. Over his career he’s posted a 10-8 record with 5 saves and an ERA of 4.54 in 109 IP. So he’s no young pup seeing his first action. RHP J.P. Freyereisen \| 32 years old \| Stillwater, MN \| 3/3 Acquired via Expansion Draft from Tampa Bay The elder statesmen of the bullpen, Freyereisen dealt with some soreness in his throwing shoulder during spring training limiting his opportunities. But he’s experienced having thrown over 146 innings of major league ball and has a career ERA of 3.81. His 3 pitch repertoire of fastball, slider and changeup all have great stuff and movement. It’s all about limiting the amount of free passes. RHP Andres Munoz \| 26 years old \| Mexico \| 3.5/4 Acquired via Expansion Draft from Seattle I thought Munoz would be the closer especially coming off a 38 save season for the Mariners but Butera wants to use him more as a high leverage guy which I won’t argue. No one in this bullpen has better stuff and his 1-2 punch of fastball and slider is as good as any in this league. Just have to dial that cannon of his in and throw strikes. Because when he does his stuff can tough 101 and leave batters looking silly in the box. RHP Jordan Romano \| 31 years old \| Canada \| 4/4 Acquired via Expansion Draft from Milwaukee I really like the backend of this bullpen. Munoz will be the 7th inning, high leverage guy while Romano will work in that 8th inning setup role. He spent time there the past few seasons with the Twins so it’s a role he’s comfortable with. Only 2 pitches, fastball and changeup, but he knows how to throw them and knows how to strike people out. RHP Nick Robertson \| 26 years old \| Rocky Mount, VA \| 3/4.5 Acquired via Expansion Draft from Boston Robertson isn’t the guy I had pegged for that closer role but Butera likes his potential and his stuff. Like Romano, he relies on a fastball and slider to get the job done. His spring training audition went well where he recorded 2 saves and only surrendered 2 runs over 13 innings pitched. Lineup C Cam Gallagher \| 32 years old \| Lancaster, PA \| 2.5/2.5 Acquired via Trade with Kansas City Gallagher will serve as our backup catcher and sub in for Hunt every 3rd game. Not a very impressive spring from him so hoping to see more this fall. C Blake Hunt \| 26 years old \| Costa Mesa, CA \| 2.5/2.5 Acquired via Expansion Draft from Pittsburgh An excellent defensive catcher, Hunt is still developing as a hitter at the plate but has flashed some early gap power. He will be making his major league debut on Opening Day so I imagine there will be a few butterflies that first inning. IF Tyler Black \| 24 years old \| Canada \| 2/3 Acquired via Rule 5 Draft from Milwaukee Black can play 1B, 2B or 3B. Butera elected to play him where he’s most comfortable and effective which is 1B to start the year. Like Hunt, he’s making his MLB debut against the Angels. He’s coming off 2 huge seasons in the minors and we are hoping to see that success carry into the big leagues. Not a power hitter, Black will be acting more as a table setter for this offense in 2025. IF CJ Chatham \| 30 years old \| Fort Lauderdale, FL \| 2/2 Acquired via Expansion Draft from Arizona A defensive specialist, Chatham will serve as a spot starter for much of the infield and a late defensive sub when needed. I don’t expect much out of his bat but that’s ok as long as he makes plays in the field. IF Jeremiah Jackson \| 25 years old \| Mobile, AL \| 2.5/3 Acquired via Expansion Draft form Los Angeles Angels The first pick in the Expansion Draft, Jackson is someone we think long term can be a part of this organization. He’s an excellent defensive 2nd basemen with the potential to hit for plus power. He’s been raking in AAA for a few years now with only 68 MLB plate appearances. Excited to see what he can do as a full season starter. 3B Eugenio Suarez \| 33 years old \| Venezuela \| 2.5/2.5 Acquired via Free Agency Suarez is a HR hitting 3B with a good glove. He will strike out a lot. He won’t hit for a high average but he has proven he can consistently slug 20+ home runs in a season. Our offense lacks a lot of power. Suarez will be asked to provide a lot of it this season. 3B Willy Vazquez \| 23 years old \| Dominican Republic \| 2.5/3.5 Acquired via Rule 5 Draft from Tampa Bay Ya’ll know I am excited about this kid. A potential 5 tool player with his whole career ahead of him, Vasquez is definitely someone I am hoping can be a building block for this roster in the years to come. He’s another bat in this lineup that will be making his major league debut on Thursday in Music City Park. SS Ismael Rivera \| 24 years old \| Dominican Republic \| 2/2.5 Acquired via Free Agency This man does not strike out. He might not hit many home runs or put up a .300 average but he’s gonna put the ball in play and make the defense get him out. He’s also an elite defender who will get his shot as the starting SS this fall. We signed Rivera early in the off-season to a minor league deal. He got a spring training invite and outplayed some of the guys we thought would earn that spot. So let’s see what the youngster can do. LF Willie “June” Calhoun \| 30 years old \| Vallejo, CA \| 1.5/1.5 Acquired via Free Agency Calhoun was another minor league free agent pickup who got a spring training invite and won a roster spot. No one looked better in the batter’s box for the Stars during spring than Calhoun so he’ll get his chance to revitalize his career in 2025. He spent all of 2024 in Texas’s AAA affiliate where he slugged 20 HRs and hit .325. Time to see if he can still play in the big leagues. LF/RF Oscar Gonzalez \| 27 years old \| Dominican Republic \| 2.5/2.5 Acquired via Expansion Draft from Cleveland I think Gonzalez is intriguing. He’s got plus power potential and is a very good defender in those corner OF spots. Can he be a .280 with 25+ HRs type of guy? That remains to be seen but that’s the profile we think he has long term. OF Kyle Isbel \| 28 years old \| Fontana, CA \| 2/2 Acquired via Expansion Draft from Kansas City Isbel won his roster spot with a solid spring training where he posted the 2nd best OPS for the Stars. Defensively he can play any 3 of the OF spots and provides a running threat off the bench when needed. A useful OF utility player who can wear a lot of hats for us this fall. OF Michael “Miggy” A. Taylor \| 34 years old \| Fort Lauderdale, FL \| 2.5/2.5 Acquired via Free Agency Taylor was a late pickup after the budget increase. I wanted to ensure we had an elite defender in centerfield and that’s what we got in Miggy. He hasn’t hit he ball well in awhile so I don’t necessarily expect that to change but hopefully he can win us a few games this fall purely by running down some fly balls that would have been doubles with someone else out there. LF/RF Nelson Velazquez \| 26 years old \| Puerto Rico \| 2.5/2.5 Acquired via Waivers from Chicago Cubs We snagged Velazquez off waivers just before spring ball. He’s a corner outfielder with a big bat who likely won’t hit for a high average. But we need some HR power in this lineup and Velazquez has the ability to provide some of it. The Cubs gave him a single AB in MLB last season so he’s chomping at the bit for some real action this fall. vs RHP 1.) L Kyle Isbel LF 2.) R Tyler Black 1B 3.) R Willy Vazquez 3B 4.) R Oscar Gonzalez DH 5.) R Jeremiah Jackson 2B 6.) R Nelson Velasquez RF 7.) R Blake Hunt C 8.) R Michael A. Taylor CF 9.) R Ismael Rivera SS vs LHP 1.) R Tyler Black 1B 2.) R Willy Vasquez 3B 3.) R Jeremiah Jackson 2B 4.) R Eugenio Suarez DH 5.) R Nelson Velazquez RF 6.) L Kyle Isbel LF 7.) R Blake Hunt C 8.) R Michael A. Taylor CF 9.) R Ismael Rivera SS Season Expectations Our owner Don Cocci has given us the goal of “not sucking completely” which I respect. BNN has us projected to win 68 games which maybe qualifies? We are probably gonna suck regardless so I will be extra sure to obey his wishes on upgrading the catcher position and finding a top prospect. Would be cool to find someone that was both! I don’t expect us to win very many games. Opening the season with the Angels is brutal but at least it’s at home. My hope is some of these pieces prove to be better than most folks think (Jeremiah Jackson, Willy Vasquez, Jesus Gonzalez) but it’s not the end of the world if they are not. The goal this fall is simply to find anyone that’s of value and ship them off for young talent. My goal is to see our minor league system ranking make a big leap forward by this time next season. Let’s play ball!!!