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Moses Ajaero – Designated Hitter/Right Field – Dakar Dukes – 73.7% First Ballot

Moses Ajaero was a 6’1’’, 195 pound left-handed hitter and outfielder from Kano, Nigeria’s second-largest city with more than four million citizens. Ajaero was a solid contact hitter overall who had a good pop in his bat especially against right-handed pitching. He had a career .959 OPS and 142 wRC+ against RHP compared to .760 OPS and 97 wRC+ against lefties. Ajaero’s ability to get walks and avoid strikeouts were both below average at best.

Ajaero was skilled at getting extra base hits with a 162 game average of 29 doubles, 17 triples, and 31 home runs. He often could leg out an extra base as he had rock solid speed. Ajaero was also one of the craftier base stealers who stole successfully nearly 75% of the time. His speed didn’t translate into range though and his arm and glove work were both mediocre. Ajaero made about 60% of his starts as a designated hitter. Most of the rest came in right field where he graded as a lousy defender.

Wherever you placed him, Ajaero was almost always going to be ready to go. His excellent durability gave him 150+ starts each year from 2009-21. Few were going to outwork Ajaero and he was one of the smartest guys in the game. He wasn’t going to take on an active leadership role, but you knew you’d always get Ajaero’s absolute best effort on the diamond.

Although he grew up in Kano, it would be rival Port Harcourt who snagged Ajaero as a teenage amateur in April 2004. His time with the Hillcats was limited with 62 games and 15 starts from 2007-08. Ajaero’s time there ended thanks to the 2008 expansion draft, as he was picked in the seventh round, 26^th overall, by Yaounde. He was a full-time starter in his three seasons with the Yellow Birds, leading the Eastern League with 25 triples in 2011.

For Yaounde, Ajaero had 470 games, 537 hits, 252 runs, 89 doubles, 60 triples, 66 home runs, 269 RBI, .309/.351/.544 slash, 137 wRC+, and 10.6 WAR. In January 2012, the Yellow Birds traded Ajaero to Dakar for prospects RF Shafiu Hassan and P Cledilson Henrique. Both teams won in the deal as Hassan would become a 16-year starter and MVP winner for Yaounde who most expect will get his own Hall of Fame induction once eligible. Henrique was never amazing, but he had his own 14-year career as a journeyman pitcher.

Ajaero’s most famous run came with Dakar, who was in “win now” mode. The Dukes had ended a 16-year playoff drought the prior year and were hoping to become a regular contender. Ajaero helped them achieve that goal as their playoff streak extended through 2017. In his 2012 debut, Ajaero won a Silver Slugger at DH and led the Western League in homers (36) and total bases (358). He also hit for the cycle in September against Banjul.

In the playoffs, Ajaero made his presence especially known, winning Western League Championship Series MVP in Dakar’s upset of top-seed Abidjan. The Dukes did fall in the WAB Championship to Lome. Ajaero’s playoff stats saw 15 starts, 21 hits, 9 runs, 4 doubles, 5 homers, 14 RBI, 1.079 OPS, and 0.9 WAR. Dakar was happy with their acquisition and the next spring gave the soon-to-be 26-year old Ajaero a four-year, $23,580,000 extension. He won his second Silver Slugger in 2013 and was reliably productive after that, although he wasn’t a league leader or awards winner.

Dakar took the top seed in 2013 and won the WL pennant again, falling to Cotonou in the WAB Championship. The Dukes were denied in the 2014 and 2015 WLCS. In 2016, Dakar set a franchise record at 112-50 and finally won it all for the first time, besting Libreville in the final. The Dukes would take last at 4-15 in that year’s Baseball Grand Championship. A second round exit in 2017 was the final playoff berth of the run.

Ajaero’s playoff stats were strong in his first three runs, but weak in the latter three. On the whole he was good with 47 starts, 55 hits, 29 runs, 11 doubles, 4 triples, 13 home runs, 38 RBI, .296/.321/.608 slash, 130 wRC+, and 1.5 WAR. In the BGC, Ajaero posted 20 hits, 11 runs, 6 doubles, 4 homers, 16 RBI, .282/.316/.535 slash, 157 wRC+, and 0.7 WAR over 19 starts. His efforts in Dakar’s 2010s success led to Ajaero’s #27 uniform later getting retired.

In 2015, Ajaero joined the short list to hit for the cycle twice in a career, doing it against Freetown in September. He also had a 27-game hit streak that ended in late April 2016. 2015 had Ajaero’s career highs in WAR (6.9), homers (42), triple slash (.360/.399/.709), and OPS (1.108). He had 42 homers again in 2016 with a career best 125 runs and 137 RBI. Ajaero scored 125 again in 2017 and 119 in 2018. After the 2016 season, Dakar signed the still only 29-year old Ajaero to a seven-year, $88,600,000 extension.

Dakar missed the playoffs by one game in 2018, then collapsed hard and spent the next five years below 70 wins. Ajaero continued to do his job admirably until regressing significantly in 2022 to a -0.8 WAR season. He was reduced to a backup role for 2023 and retired that winter at age 36. With Dakar, Ajaero had 1779 games, 2043 hits, 1198 runs, 313 doubles, 183 triples, 377 home runs, 1165 RBI, 709 steals, .302/.343/.570 slash, 129 wRC+, and 40.1 WAR.

Ajaero ended with 2311 games, 2608 hits, 1468 runs, 408 doubles, 243 triples, 448 home runs, 1449 RBI, 471 walks, 1850 strikeouts, 884 steals, .303/.344/.563 slash, 130 wRC+, and 50.8 WAR. As of 2037, Ajaero ranks 33^rd in games, 34^th in hits, 27^th in runs, 27^th in total bases (4846), 12^th in triples, 43^rd in homers, and 37^th in RBI. In part due to being a primary DH, Ajaero ranks only 93^rd in WAR among position players.

His numbers were good, but not overwhelming. It was also hard to stand out considering the many great DHs of the era, including his Hall of Fame classmate Lawrence Nassif. What put Ajaero over the top for most voters were solid playoff stats. He was a key starter in a Western League dynasty run for Dakar and helped them to their first WAB title. Ajaero’s 73.7% didn’t cross the 66% requirement by a lot, but it earned a first ballot induction for West African Baseball’s 2029 class.



Kevin “Cushion” Ge – Second Base/Designated Hitter – Monrovia Diplomats – 69.8% Fourth Ballot

Kevin Ge was a 6’3’’, 200 pound switch-hitting second baseman from Praia, the capital of Cape Verde. Ge wasn’t amazing at any one thing, but was generally above average to good in terms of contact, power, and eye. His 162 game average got you 38 doubles, 8 triples, and 28 home runs. Ge’s strikeout rate was subpar, but had enough high quality hits to make up for it. He was stronger facing lefties (.926 OPS, 143 wRC+) over righties (.858 OPS, 127 wRC+).

Baserunning was one of Ge’s few skills where he was truly great, although his speed was merely good. Like his Hall of Fame classmates, Ge spent a lot of time as a designated hitter. Just over half of his starts came as a second baseman and he graded as a decent defender. Ge’s knees and back did cost him a lot of starts, although his strong work ethic pushed him to an 18-year career regardless.

Ge moved to Niger as a teenager after getting signed to a developmental deal in May 1997 with Niamey. He spent the better part of six years in their academy, officially debuting with three plate appearances in 2002 at age 22. Ge saw part-time use over the following two years before becoming a full-time starter in 2005. That year, he earned an all-star selection and had 4.1 WAR.

However, he was surprised in February 2006 when Niamey traded him to Monrovia straight up for pitcher Ndala Baba. The Diplomats wanted hitting depth fresh off their 2005 pennant win. Ge would be best known for his run with Monrovia, debuting with a Silver Slugger (2B) and third place in MVP voting. 2006 had Ge’s career highs in WAR (7.2) and stolen bases (63).

Monrovia dominated in 2006, winning the WAB Championship over Niamey with a 111-51 record. Ge’s playoff debut was awful with a .459 OPS in nine games, but his overall production earned him an eight-year, $24,500,000 extension that winter. The Diplomats ended up winning the WL pennant again in 2007 and 2008. They lost in a rematch with the Atomics in 2007, then earned their second title over Lagos in 2008. Monrovia had the top seed in 2009 but was upset in the WLCS by Abidjan. The Diplomats made the playoffs again in 2010 and 2011, but lost both times in the second round.

Ge fared better in his later postseason trips, winning WLCS MVP in 2007. In 42 playoff starts for Monrovia, he had 52 hits, 34 runs, 10 doubles, 4 triples, 8 home runs, 32 RBI, 22 steals, .297/.317/.537 slash, 132 wRC+, and 1.9 WAR. He won his second Silver Slugger in 2010, but was never a league leader or in awards conversations beyond that.

Injuries also began to bother Ge more in his later years with the Diplomats. A knee sprain cost him six weeks in mid 2011. Later that year, Ge suffered a ruptured MCL that kept him out for a major chunk of 2012. Once back from that, Ge’s overall production was noticeably down from his prior standard. Monrovia didn’t re-sign him after his contract expired with the 2014 season, sending Ge to free agency for his age 35 season.

With Monrovia, Ge had 1178 games, 1371 hits, 722 runs, 266 doubles, 54 triples, 202 home runs, 731 RBI, 383 steals, .302/.349/.518 slash, 134 wRC+, and 37.7 WAR. It was a strong nine year run to help the Diplomats go on a dynasty run. Ge remains very popular in Liberia years later and his #14 uniform would later be retired by Monrovia.

Ge ended up back where his career started by signing with Niamey at $29,200,000 over four years. He returned to form in 2015 and posted career highs in homers (40), RBI (135), runs (118), triple slash .356/.387/.656), and OPS (1.043). A fractured hand cost Ge part of 2016, but he again was solid in 2017. Torn ankle ligaments cost him most of 2018. Niamey was mostly rebuilding then with a lone first round playoff exit in 2017.

Between stints for the Atomics, Ge had 787 games, 896 this, 477 runs, 195 doubles, 45 triples, 144 home runs, 511 RBI, 228 steals, .314/.353/.566 slash, 137 wRC+, and 20.1 WAR. Coming up on age 39, Ge signed a two-year, $12,200,000 deal with Lome. They were happy to have a veteran as the Lasers were rebuilding after their own early 2010s successes.

Ge was a decent starter in 2019, then was reduced to a part-time role with mediocre 2020 results. Over 275 games, Ge had 291 hits, 131 runs, 59 doubles, 14 triples, 36 homers, 148 RBI, 76 steals, .286/.326/.477 slash, 104 wRC+, and 1.3 WAR. Ge wanted to play in 2021, but didn’t have enough to offer other teams. He finally retired at age 41 after going unsigned.

The final tallies for Ge had 2240 games, 2558 hits, 1330 runs, 520 doubles, 113 triples, 382 home runs, 1390 RBI, 535 walks, 2053 strikeouts, 687 steals, .304/.347/.529 slash, 131 wRC+, and 59.0 WAR. As of 2037, Ge ranks 43^rd in games, 36^th in hits, 40^th in runs, 44^th in total bases (4450), 38^th in doubles, 79^th in homers, 43^rd in RBI, and 59^th in WAR among position players.

His totals were good, but definitely a bit on the borderline. Ge also didn’t have any black ink and limited personal accolades, along with the “DH penalty.” Working in his favor was a starting role in a dynasty run for Monrovia. Being a key contributor during a team’s reign of dominance often could make the difference when compared to a similar player who instead was on middling teams.

Ge debuted on the 2026 ballot at 58.6%. He just missed the 66% cut in 2027 at 63.8%, then dropped back to 57.8% in 2028. In a way, the 2029 Hall of Fame ballot having other DHs might have helped Ge also get over that stigma. His resume was comparable to Moses Ajaero and many voters figured if one belonged, both did. Ge bumped across the line at 69.8% for a fourth ballot selection to cap off West African Baseball’s 2029 crew.