[rink23]

The debut season of the St. Louis River Walkers in the fledgling Midwest Baseball League could not have gone any better.
They not only posted the best record in the league (106-56) by a wide margin while winning the National League West by 14 games over the Springfield Prairie Fighters.
They also literally coasted through the postseason downing the Chicago G-Men in five games in the National League Championship Series and the Dayton Fighter Pilots in six games to take the title in the World Series.
But change is inevitable, as is the never-ending pursuit of making your team better.
So some players are gone, some new players are here and some others are going to get their first legitimate shot.

Returning players
Starting pitcher
Departures
SP -- Alex Cobb: Age 31, B-R, T-R.
2018 statistics: 24 G, 24 GS, 125.1 IP, 10-5, 4.09 ERA
Reason for departure: Pitched very well but was injured six times accounting for 58 regular-season days miss.
Landing spot: Two-year contract with Cincinnati worth a total of $10.7 million
RP -- Sean Doolittle: Age 32, B-L, T-L
2018 statistics: 37 G, 35.1 IP, 2-2,1.78 ERA, 21 Svs.
Reason for departure: Combined with right-hander Keone Kela to give the Walkers' the best closing tandem in the league. However, four relievers in the bullpen proved too manu and perhaps limited his opportunities. Wanted too big of a contract to justify resigning.
Landing spot: Remained a free agent at end of spring training. Still a possibility he could return.
CF: Lorenzo Cain: Age: 32. B-R, T-R
2018 statistics: 143 G, .279, 12 HRs, 49 RBIs, 25 steals, 76 runs scored
Reason for departure: Demanding a high-dollar contract at age of 32 with younger, cheaper options available. Look for combination of Albert Almora and Andrew Tholes to take over center field and lead-off spot in order.
Landing spot: Signed a one-year deal worth $5.9 million with Indianapolis.
3B: Alex Bregman: Age: 24. B-R, T-R
2018 statistics: 142 G, .269, 10 HRs, 70 RBIs, 76 runs
Reason for departure:A three-star player with four-star potential Bregman was dealt to Milwaukee for All-Star starting pitcher Kyle Hendricks. During the season, I thought Bregman may have been outplayed by Nicky Delmonico (.247 with 19 homers and 48 RBIs in 128 games). The fact Delmonico is Bregman's defensive equal at third base and also is a plus defender in left field and first base also swayed the decision.

Landing spot: Traded to Milwaukee for right-handed starting pitcher Kyle Hendricks.

RP: Jake McGee: Age 32. B-L, T-L

2018 season: 63 G, 58.1 IP, 6-0, 4.17 ERA, 2 Svs., 63 Ks
Reason for departure: McGee had a good 2018 season, but the decision to go to a three lefty bullpen left him as the odd-man out. Although that third pitcher has yet to be determined.
Landing spot: Signed a one-year deal worth $950,000 with the Columbus Golden Bears.



Newcomers
2B: Jin-Hwan Chung: Age: 31, B-R, T-R
2018 statistics: None available
Why acquired:While the River Walkers' offense ranked fourth in the National League in runs scored, it sat in the bottom third in home runs. Chung, a five-star prospect from South Korea could help alleviate that. His rankings with the bat are high across the board. Chung also is considered an above average second baseman. The signing of Chung will move Brock Holt into more of a super-sub role.

SP: Kyle Hendricks: Age: 29. B-R, T-R
2018 statistics: 32 G, 32 GS, 193.0 IP, 17-6, 3.59 ERA, 174 Ks
Acquired why: With Alex Cobb allowed to leave because of durability issues, the River Walkers wanted to upgrade with a proven winner and innings eater. They should get that in Hendricks, who led the Natonal League in wins in 2018 and has pitched more than 180 innings on three occasions.


Stepping up:
3B: Nicky Delmonico: Age: 26. B-L, T-R
2018 statistics: 128 G, .247, 19 HRs, 48 RBIs, 48 runs scored
What's expected: Delmonico got starts all over the diamond -- primarily at third base, but also first base and left field -- and ended up ranking third on the team with 19 homers. This year, he'll get a chance to be the everyday third baseman.
OF: Albert Almora: Age: 24. B-R, T-R
2018 statistics: 90 G, .237, 1 HR, 17 RBIs, 20 runs scored
What's expected: Will combine with Andrew Tholes to handle center field and provide depth in the outfield. Plus defender in center. Missed end of regular season and much of spring training with a broken elbow suffered August 12.
OF: Andrew Tholes: Age: 26. B-L, T-R
2018 statsitics: 22 G, .327, 2 HRs, 8 RBIs, 10 runs scored.
What's expected: Impressed after being called up following Almora's injury. Strong defender at all three outfield positions. Will likely get the bulk of the starts against right-handed pitchers.
RP: Phil Maton: Age: 26. B-R, T-R
2018 statistics: 11 G, 1-0, 1.50 ERA, 12.0 IP, 15 Ks
What's expected: Although he didn't have the best season at Memphis, going 2-6 with a 4.94 ERA and 11 saves, Maton pitched very well in the time he spent in the majors. With the decision to go back to five right-handers in the bullpen, Maton will get the first shot.

Other returning players
Starting pitchers
Jacob deGrom: Age: 32, B-L, T-R
2018 statistics: 32 G, 32 GS, 14-5, 3.07 ERA, 202.0 IP, 217 Ks
What's expected: The 2018 NL Cy Young winner, deGrom was a workhorse for the World Series champions. It's hoped he can do the same thing again.
Aaron Nola:Age: 25, B-R, T-R
2018 statistics: 30 G, 29 GS, 12-6, 3.47 ERA, 171.1 IP, 161 Ks
What's expected: Nola was nothing short of outstanding in 2018 and at his young age (25), you'd hope he can continue to improve.
Trevor Bauer:Age: 28. B-R, T-R
2018 statistics:32 G, 32 GS, 9-7, 3.43 ERA, 202.1 IP, 209 Ks
What's expected: Bauer turned in some of the best pitching performances of 2019 topping the MBL with three shutouts. Like Nola, he's young and should only get better. Most team's could
Zach Godley: Age: 28. B-R, T-R
2018 statistics:31 G, 31 GS, 8-10, 4.75 ERA, 172.1 IP, 153 Ks
What's expected:He may not put up the eye-popping numbers of his counterparts in the starting rotation, but Godley went the mound every time he was asked and averaged more than five innings per start. Not bad for a No. 5 guy.

Relief pitchers
Keone Kela: Age: 25 B-R, T-R
2018 statistics: 54 G, 56.2 IP, 9-4, 20 Svs., 2.06 ERA, 78 Ks
What’s expected: Combined with Sean Doolittle to give the Walkers the best back-end of the bullpen in the league. While the team is still searching for another lefty for the pen, Kela again will probably get more of the save opportunities. At the age of 25, he should only get better.
Brad Boxberger: Age: 30, B-R, T-R
2018 statistics: 72 G, 72 IP, 8-3, 5 Svs., 2.13 ERA, 109 Ks
What’s expected: There may not have been a pitcher in the league more dominating against right-handed batters. (He had his issues with the long ball against lefty hitters). If he can do that again, he’ll be just fine.
Jake Diekman: Age: 32, B-L, T-L
2018 statistics: 76 G, 62.2 IP, 7-5, 2 Svs., 2.74 ERA. 94 Ks
What’s expected: The Walkers originally were prepared to let Diekman walk in free agency, only to re-sign him to a three-year deal worth $11.5M. He’s the lefty reliever, the team will go to in the sixth through eighth inning with the confidence he can also get out right-handed hitters.
Chaz Roe: Age: 32, B-R, T-R
2018 statistics: 65 G, 66.2 IP, 5-2, 4 Svs., 3.64 ERA, 87 Ks
What’s expected: Roe was a dependable reliever against right-handed batters and proved able to handle more than an inning when necessary. As evidenced by his high strikeout total, opponents had trouble making contact against him.
Jerry Blevins: Age: 35. B-L, T-L
2018 statistics: 66 G, 51.5 IP, 4-3, 2 Svs., 2.45 ERA, 63 Ks
What’s expected: The team’s left-handed specialist. Rarely faced right-handed hitters but did his job against southpaw swingers.
Josh Holder: Age: 25. B-R, T-R
2018 statistics: 58 G, 67.2 IP, 1-1, 2 Svs., 2.93 ERA, 73 Ks
What’s expected: Another young pitcher who stepped up in a big way. He was often brought in when the starting pitcher came up short, taking the mound in the fifth or sixth inning and often handling more than an inning.
Catchers
Tucker Barnhart: Age: 28. B-S, T-R
2018 statistics: 124 G, .25, 5 HRs, 51 RBIs, 48 runs scored
What’s expected: Struggled at the plate for much of the first half, hitting under .200, but finished strong. His real value was his leadership behind the plate as he led the league in catcher’s ERA by a wide margin and ranked in the top four of throwing out potential base stealers.
Manny Pina: Age: 31. B-R, T-R
2018 statistics: 44 G, .283, 6 HRs, 25 RBIs, 20 runs scored
What’s expected: Although he only played once every four games, the Walkers didn’t see much of a dropoff in the games where Pina was behind the plate. Not only was he strong defensively, but was probably better with the bat than Barnhart.
Infielders
1B: Rhys Hoskins: Age: 26. B-R, T-R
2018 statistics: 142 G, .264, 36 HRs, 90 RBIs, 95 runs scored
What’s expected: Sandwiched between MVP candidates Andrew Benintendi and Michael Conforto, Hoskins proved to be one of the better No. 3 hitters in the NL. The best thing, he’s only 26 years old and should only improve.
2B/UT: Brock Holt: Age: 30. B-L, T-R
2018 statistics: 143 G, .288, 7 HRs, 66 RBIs, 60 runs scored
What’s expected: Projected to be a utility player, Holt started strong and never took his foot off the gas as he found his way into the lineup virtually every game. Usually it was at second base, but he also can play defense well enough to play first base, third base, shortstop and left field. With the acquisition of Jin-Hwan Chung to play second, Holt will probably be playing all over the diamond if he performs like he did in 2018 as it will be tough to keep him out of the lineup.
UT: Jedd Gyorko: Age: 30. B-R, T-R
2018 statistics: 90 G, .251, 7 HRs, 38 RBIs, 24 runs scored:
What’s expected: Envisioned as the right-handed utility counterpart to Holt, Gyorko saw his playing time limited by Holt’s year-long strong performance. His role will be the same this season, offer depth at multiple positions and a dependable bat off the bench against left-handed pitching.
Outfielders
Andrew Benintendi: Age: 24. B-L, T-L
2018 season: 151 G, .343, 23 HRs, 91 RBIs, 106 runs scored, 18 SB
What’s expected: In a championship season many players had big roles in winning the title but none was bigger than Benintendi. He ranked among the league leaders in batting average and run scored throughout the season and was a top-notch defender in left field. When Benintendi played well, the Walkers were almost impossible to beat.
Michael Conforto: Age: 26. B-L, T-R
2018 season: 153 G, .268, 36 HRs, 107 RBIs, 93 runs scored
What’s expected: Hitting behind Beninendti and Hoskins, Conforto’s job was to clean up and he did, ranking seventh in the NL in RBIs with 107. He also was among the top defensive right fielders in the game.
Overall: This team was mind-boggling good in 2018, winning 113 games and losing just 59, but what’s even more surprising is that the bulk of its players are under 30 and some of them closer to 25. If they improve like they should, this team will be tough to beat for a long time.,