Baseball: The World's Game (OOTP 22 Fictional World)

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  • MrNFL_FanIQ
    MVP
    • Oct 2008
    • 4980

    #2521
    For the first time since 2019, Major League Baseball didn’t add any players into the Hall of Fame. SP Rowney Simpson was the closest to the 66% induction threshold with 62.7% on his second ballot. CL Heihachiro Okasawa was next at 59.5% on his eighth try, then it was 3B Kwang-Sik Oh at 55.3% for his second go. 1B Gilbert Windemere was the only debut above 50% at 52.8%. Two other returners were above 50% with SP Luke Harrison at 51.8% for his seventh ballot and SP Storm de Ruyter at 51.1% with his fourth attempt.



    Dropped after ten failed ballots was SP Trevor Ford, who finished with a peak of 45.8% and was never below 35%. He won 2009 Pitcher of the Year with Columbus, which was his lone outstanding season or time as a league leader. In 17 seasons, Ford had a 244-210 record, 3.46 ERA, 4106 innings, 3684 strikeouts, 926 walks, 162 complete games, 100 ERA+, 90 FIP-, and 74.9 WAR.

    Ford’s longevity ranked him 57th in wins, 89th in losses, 75th in innings, and 21st in strikeouts; but he missed the top 100 for WAR among pitchers. He was also on mostly forgettable teams and had a 5.44 ERA in his six career playoff starts. Ford certainly had a commendable career, but one more suited towards the Hall of Pretty Good. No one else was dropped after ten failed ballots in the 2037 MLB voting.

    Comment

    • MrNFL_FanIQ
      MVP
      • Oct 2008
      • 4980

      #2522
      Four players were added into the Central American Baseball Association Hall of Fame for 2037, although none of them were quite “inner-circle” level guys. 1B/2B Jonas Pimentel was the headliner at 89.9% for his first ballot. 1B Ruben Cabrera was next with a first ballot 80.2%. SP Amauris Huerta on his third ballot got the big bump to 78.4% and OF/1B Raul Ibarra was a first ballot nod at 74.5%. The other guy above 50% was RF Jose Leal at 63.7% on his fifth try, just falling short of the 66% induction threshold.



      SP Yadier Trujillo was dropped after ten failed ballots, debuting at 48.3% but falling to 11.5% by the end. In 14 seasons mostly with Guadalajara, Trujillo had a 186-120 record, 3.12 ERA, 2887 innings, 2849 strikeouts, 121 ERA+, 84 FIP-, and 57.9 WAR. His pace was comparable to some lower-end inductees, but he wasn’t ever a league leader and was buried on mostly bad teams. Trujillo needed either more dominance or a few more years of accumulations to make the cut.

      LF Alva Cervantes also made it ten ballots, peaking with his 33.3% debut and ending at only 5.4%. In 16 seasons, he had one Silver Slugger, 2541 hits, 1271 runs, 391 doubles, 168 triples, 402 home runs, 1356 RBI, .305/.342/.538 slash, 137 wRC+, and 59.7 WAR. Cervantes was a tenured solid starter, but wasn’t a league leader or considered MVP level. He also needed either more dominance or longevity to have had a chance at the HOF.




      Jonas “Whitey” Pimentel – First/Second Base – Merida Mean Green – 89.9% First Ballot

      Jonas Pimentel was a 6’0’’, 195 pound switch-hitting infielder from Doctor Arroyo, Mexico; a town of around 33,000 people located between Monterrey and San Luis Potosi. Nicknamed “Whitey,” Pimentel was the traditional leadoff man known for great contact skills, speed, and gap power. He was especially dangerous on the basepaths and was the league leader in stolen bases six times.

      Relative to other CABA batters, Pimentel was average at drawing walks but above average at avoiding strikeouts. His 162 game average got you 28 doubles, 17 triples, and 11 home runs. Pimentel was notably a bit better facing right-handed pitching (.879 OPS, 137 wRC+) versus facing lefties (.769 OPS, 111 wRC+). He was one of the game’s great ironmen and never missed significant time to injury.

      75% of Pimentel’s starts came at first base, where he graded as a reliably average defender. He had starts at each other infield spot, but only really saw significant time at second base. Pimentel had poor defensive metrics away from 1B. He had an impressive work ethic, but Pimentel was very outspoken and not afraid to share his hot takes to anyone that would listen. This made him a polarizing figure, but he certainly had a large share of fans that appreciated his hubris.

      Pimentel emerged as a top prospect by the 2014 CABA Draft and was picked 11th overall by Merida. He only saw 19 games in 2015, then was rostered full-time and a part-time starter in 2016. After showing promising results, Pimentel had the full-time gig from 2017 onward. 2017 was his best season by several metrics, including hits (219), WAR (7.3), OPS (.958), and wRC+ (158).

      He led the Mexican League with career highs for runs (132), and triples (36) in 2017 and was the steals leader for the first time at 109. Pimentel was one triple short of the then CABA record and his season still ranks as fifth-best. He led in triples again the next year with 28, but wouldn’t be a league leader again outside of for steals. Pimentel settled into around 4-6 WAR per season reliably for the next decade.

      Pimentel provided excitement for Merida, who was generally a mid-to-lower tier franchise. They would earn wild cards in 2019 and 2021, but failed to win a playoff series. After the 2018 season, Pimentel signed a five-year, $44,200,000 extension with the Mean Green. In 2021, he had his career best 131 steals, breaking Tito Infante’s single-season CABA record of 126 from 1999. Pimentel remains CABA’s single-season swipes leader and it is one of only 45 seasons in all of pro baseball history of 130+ steals.

      Merida missed the playoffs at 88-74 in 2022 and Pimentel declined his contract option, becoming a free agent at age 30. For the Mean Green, Pimentel had 1131 games, 1385 hits, 693 runs, 171 doubles, 130 triples, 87 home runs, 546 RBI, 310 walks, 661 steals, .331/.378/.497 slash, 142 wRC+, and 36.1 WAR. He maintained strong fan support even after leaving and eventually got his #2 uniform retired.

      Pimentel signed a seven-year, $84,400,000 deal with Havana and spent about as many games in Cuba as he did with Merida. The Hurricanes had missed the playoffs by one game in 2022 and had been a Caribbean champ in the 2010s. Havana was above .500 in six of Pimentel’s seven seasons, but only once made the playoffs with a first round exit in 2025. Pimentel ended up with only eight playoff starts for his entire career.

      He maintained steady production with Havana, although he was less efficient than his Merida peak. Pimentel did lead in steals thrice and climbed quickly up that leaderboard, becoming the tenth CABA player with 1000 steals. He passed Mario Bueno’s 1070 for the #2 spot, but had a tall task of trying to catch Matias Esquilin’s 1606 for the CABA record.

      With Havana, Pimentel played 1088 games with 1379 hits, 740 runs, 217 doubles, 112 triples, 74 homers, 471 RBI, 325 walks, 662 steals, .320/.369/.474 slash, 123 wRC+, and 31.7 WAR. His lone Silver Sluggers came in 2024 and 2029 when he played second base. Getting the honor when he was at 1B was nearly impossible considering the many big boppers at that spot. Pimentel was also never an MVP finalist.

      He was back to free agency for 2030 at age 37 and hadn’t seen any big drop off to that point. Salvador signed Pimentel for a two-year, $26,400,000 deal. They were the CLCS runner-up the prior year, but missed the playoffs in 2030 at 89-73. Pimentel’s lone season with the Stallions had 161 hits, 86 runs, 74 steals, .823 OPS, 120 wRC+, and 2.9 WAR. That year, he did become the 25th in CABA to score 1500 career runs.

      In the offseason, Pimentel was traded straight up for SS Gideon Musungu to Aguascalientes. The Cactus were an expansion team entering only their second season. Pimentel had his weakest season with .706 OPS, 69 steals, 104 wRC+, and 1.9 WAR; but did notably become CABA’s 16th member of the 3000 hit club. Pimentel wanted to still play, but he went unsigned in 2032 and retired that winter at age 40.

      Pimentel finished with 2501 games, 3047 hits, 1584 runs, 439 doubles, 258 triples, 172 home runs, 1084 RBI, 705 walks, 1350 strikeouts, 1466 steals, 659 caught stealing, .323/.371/.479 slash, 130 wRC+, and 72.6 WAR. Pimentel ranks 54th in games, 21st in runs, 14th in hits, 71st in total bases (4518), 38th in doubles, 23rd in triples, 2nd in steals, 11th in caught stealing, and 77th in walks. He doesn’t make the top 100 for WAR among position players.

      Among all players in world history, Pimentel ranks 21st in stolen bases, proving truly elite on the basepaths. He’s also 95th in batting average for CABA batters with 3000+ plate appearances. Pimentel was never an MVP level player, but to that point, any eligible CABA player with 3000+ hits and/or 1500+ runs made the Hall of Fame. Pimentel wasn’t going to be an exception to that rule, earning 89.9% to headline a four-player 2037 class for the Central American Baseball Association.




      Ruben Cabrera – First Base/Designated Hitter – Santo Domingo Dolphins – 80.2% First Ballot

      Ruben Cabrera was a 6’1’’, 195 pound switch-hitting first baseman from San Rafael, El Salvador; a municipality of around 12,000 people. Cabrera was known for his steady and consistent power from both sides of the plate, posting a 162 game average of 37 home runs, 29 doubles, 4 triples, and 106 RBI. He was an above average contact hitter and had a strong eye for drawing walks, although he was subpar at avoiding strikeouts.

      Cabrera scored a lot of runs despite being an absolutely putrid baserunner with terrible speed. Despite that sluggishness and not being exceptionally tall, he graded as a reliably average defensive first baseman. Cabrera made around 70% of his career starts at 1B with the rest as a designated hitter. He showed very good durability over a 20-year career, playing 140+ games in all but three seasons. Cabrera was never disruptive or a troublemaker, but he was viewed as someone more motivated by his paycheck than by the team’s success.

      In January 2011, a teenaged Cabrera left El Salvador on a developmental deal with Torreon. Most don’t realize he started there, since he never played with the Tomahawks. In December 2013, Cabrera was one of three prospects traded to Mexicali for 3B Alexander Trinidad, who had a firm Hall of Pretty Good career. Cabrera debuted in 2015 at age 21 with 21 games and three starts.

      Cabrera was a full-time starter in 2016 and kept that role for the rest of his CABA run when healthy. He won 2016’s Rookie of the Year with 32 homers, .837 OPS, and 3.9 WAR. Cabrera’s first Silver Slugger came in 2018 with his career highs for home runs (52), slugging (.649), and OPS (1.053). 2019 would be his best for WAR (8.7), hits (200), and wRC+ (185). However, he was never an MVP finalist and his only times as a league leader were twice in walks.

      He didn’t get a ton of attention with Mexicali, as the Maroons were atrocious at this point, averaging 65.1 wins per season during his tenure. They definitely weren’t in a position to keep Cabrera as he became a free agent for 2022 at age 28. With Mexicali, he had 986 games, 1071 hits, 568 runs, 184 doubles, 235 homers, 618 RBI, .303/.376/.567 slash, 156 wRC+, and 34.1 WAR.


      Cabrera signed a four-year, $41,100,000 deal with Haiti and maintained his steady production in three years for the Herons. He won Silver Sluggers in 2022 and 2023 and the Herons won division titles all three years. They had little playoff luck with their deepest run a 2024 Caribbean League Championship Series defeat to Guatemala. In 17 playoff starts, Cabrera had .784 OPS, 114 wRC+, and 0.5 WAR.

      Prior to that, he had been a regular on the World Baseball Championship stage for his native El Salvador. From 2017-34, Cabrera played 178 WBC games with 117 hits, 76 runs, 25 doubles, 31 homers, 73 RBI, 86 walks, .216/.335/.445 slash, and 4.0 WAR. Cabrera has the 3rd-most games played for the Salvadoran national team and ranks 3rd in hits, 4th in runs, 3rd in doubles, 5th in homers, 4th in RBI, 2nd in walks, and 6th in WAR for position players. The small nation never earned a playoff spot despite his efforts.

      Cabrera declined the fourth-year player option with Haiti, returning to free agency for 2025 at age 31. With the Herons, he played 474 games with 547 hits, 310 runs, 95 doubles, 118 home runs, 375 RBI, 173 walks, .307/.368/.576 slash, 153 wRC+, and 17.7 WAR. Cabrera stayed on Hispaniola and signed a four-year, $56,700,000 deal with Santo Domingo. His most famous run would be with the Dolphins, who were in contention at this point.

      His first year saw Santo Domingo at 108-54, although they lost to 115-win Guatemala in the CLCS. The Dolphins were a 101-win wild card with a first round exit in 2026. Cabrera continued his steady production, but suffered his first major injury setback in July 2027 with a torn quadriceps. This ultimately kept him out for the entire fall and postseason.

      Still, Cabrera got a ring as the 98-win wild card Dolphins made a surprise run to the CABA Championship, beating Guadalajara in the final. He was back by the Baseball Grand Championship, but struggled with .504 OPS, 42 wRC+, and -0.2 WAR as Santo Domingo finished 9-10. Cabrera was healthy in 2028 and looked like his normal self. SD won the division at 107-55, but suffered a divisional round exit. The Dolphins were happy with Cabrera’s results and gave him a three-year, $51,400,000 extension that winter.

      Cabrera remained remarkably consistent through 2031 for Santo Domingo. They missed the playoffs in 2029, then had back-to-back wild cards and first round exits. Cabrera’s playoff numbers in the small sample size were solid with 20 starts, 21 hits, 18 runs, 8 homers, 21 RBI, .937 OPS, 145 wRC+, and 0.9 WAR. He joined the 1500 RBI club while in the Dominican Republic, but fell just short of 1500 runs and 600 homers in CABA.

      For Santo Domingo, Cabrera had 1023 games, 1066 hits, 613 runs, 178 doubles, 226 homers, 671 RBI, 403 walks, .284/.353/.527 slash, 134 wRC+, and 26.5 WAR. He was a free agent again for 2032 at age 38, but at this point CABA teams felt they could find similar results from younger and cheaper players. Cabrera opened a worldwide search to continue his pro career, eventually finding a home with Ibadan of West African Baseball on a three-year, $21,300,000 deal.

      Cabrera had his usual 30s production in his Iguanas debut, but was middling by 2033 and benched for 2034. In 397 games, he had 364 hits, 206 runs, 77 doubles, 87 home runs, 264 RBI, .257/.325/.502 slash, 105 wRC+, and 3.1 WAR. This did get Cabrera to 3048 hits, 666 home runs, 1928 RBI, 1697 runs, 534 doubles, and 81.4 WAR for his combined pro career. After going unsigned in 2035, he retired that winter at age 42.

      In CABA, Cabrera had 2483 games, 2684 hits, 1491 runs, 457 doubles, 65 triples, 579 home runs, 1664 RBI, 987 walks, 2023 strikeouts, 5008 total bases, .296/.365/.552 slash, .917 OPS, 146 wRC+, and 78.3 WAR. Cabrera ranks 57th in games, 30th in runs, 42nd in hits, 34th in total bases, 31st in doubles, 35th in homers, 21st in RBI, 16th in walks, 44th in strikeouts, and 83rd in WAR among position players.

      Cabrera was never an MVP-level guy, but he had remarkable consistency and reliability. Many Hall of Fame voters were surprised to find how high his tallies were and found it hard to argue against a guy who was in the top 50 in all the big counting stats through more than a century of history. Cabrera received 80.2% for a first ballot nod as part of the four-player 2037 class for the Central American Baseball Association.

      Comment

      • MrNFL_FanIQ
        MVP
        • Oct 2008
        • 4980

        #2523


        Amauris “Cats” Huerta – Starting Pitcher – San Luis Potosi Potros – 78.4% Third Ballot

        Amauris Huerta was a 6’2’’, 200 pound left-handed pitcher from Mexico City. He was nicknamed “Cats” for his love of felines and was known to bring some of his cats with him on road trips. Huerta had excellent pinpoint control, allowing him to success despite having merely above average-to-good stuff and movement. His velocity peaked in the 95-97 mph range with a fastball, change, cutter arsenal.

        Relative to other CABA aces, Huerta’s stamina was average at best. However, he had excellent durability and rarely missed a start. Huerta was excellent at holding runners, but weak defensively. The biggest knock on him was that he was considered selfish. Huerta wasn’t one to look at for leadership and his intelligence was unimpressive.

        Huerta’s pitching potential was noticed as a teenager though and he signed a developmental deal with San Luis Potosi in July 2010. The Potros were still a newer franchise at this point, having started play with the 2003 expansion. Huerta spent around five years in their academy before debuting with 133.2 innings in 2015 at age 21. He was a full-time starter after that, although didn’t settle into the ace role until 2017.

        2019 was his only season as a Pitcher of the Year finalist, placing third with Mexican League bests for wins (20-5) and quality starts (25). Huerta also had his best ERA at 2.57. San Luis Potosi was above .500 for most of the 2010s, but their only playoff trip with Huerta was a wild card round exit in 2018. By the 2020s, the Potros had plummeted to the bottom of the standings and stayed there most of the decade.

        It became clear heading into 2021 that SLP wouldn’t be able to afford the type of extension Huerta was looking for with free agency looming. Thus, the Potros traded him to Leon for three prospects. For San Luis Potosi, Huerta had a 91-56 record, 3.29 ERA, 1303.2 innings, 1143 strikeouts, 185 walks, 116 ERA+, 86 FIP-, and 25.3 WAR. He was the second player inducted in SLP colors, although Huerta really isn’t viewed as a franchise icon.

        In his one year with the Lions, he had a 14-14 record, 3.93 ERA, 233.2 innings, 177 strikeouts, 96 ERA+, and 3.3 WAR. Leon had won 105 games the prior year, but struggled in 2021 to 74-88. Huerta was now a free agent heading towards his age 28 season and signed a five-year, $48,500,000 deal with Juarez. The Jesters had been the powerhouse in Mexico with five league titles and three CABA crowns since 2012.

        Huerta was iffy in his debut with a 4.10 ERA in 2022, but posted sub-three ERAs the next three seasons. 2025 would have his career highs for wins (22-4), strikeouts (281), and WAR (6.8). Juarez’s playoff streak continued with MLCS appearances from 2022-25 and Mexican League titles in 2022 and 2025. The Jesters lost the 2022 CABA Championship and won in 2025; facing Guatemala both seasons.

        For his playoff career, Huerta had respectable innings with a 3.13 ERA in 74.2 innings, 3-3 record, 74 strikeouts, 11 walks, 117 ERA+, and 1.4 WAR. He was used for relief in the 2022 Baseball Grand Championship with a 1.80 ERA in 10 innings as the Jesters went 11-8, one of five teams tied for fourth. Huerta had an excellent run starting in the 2025 BGC with a 1.29 ERA over 28 innings with 27 Ks and 1.1 WAR. Juarez finished in the middle at 10-9, but Huerta received Best Pitcher honors for the event.

        Huerta fell off to a 4.40 ERA in 2026, the final year of Juarez’s 13-yaar playoff streak. In total, he had a 73-43 record, 3.39 ERA, 1111.2 innings, 1130 strikeouts, 141 walks, 109 ERA+ 80 FIP-, and 25.0 WAR. Now coming up on age 33, Huerta signed a two-year, $13,400,000 deal with Monterrey. The Matadors were .500 in 2027 with Huerta posting a 3.73 ERA, 178.1 innings, 151 Ks, and 2.7 WAR.

        In March 2028, Monterrey traded Huerta to Guatemala for two prospects. He got his 200th win with the Ghosts, posting a 3.42 ERA, 18-10 record, 229 innings, 219 Ks, and 4.5 WAR. Guatemala got the Caribbean League’s top seed at 108-54, but were upset in the divisional round. Huerta’s lone playoff start saw four runs allowed over an 8.2 inning no decision.

        Haiti gave Huerta a one-year, $5,700,000 deal in 2029 and split him between starting and relief. He had a 13-7 record, 19 saves, 2.99 ERA, 165.1 innings, 152 Ks, and 2.9 WAR. The Herons had a first round playoff exit, but Huerta wasn’t used in the brief postseason. Huerta seemed to still have some utility, but he decided to retire that winter at age 35.

        Huerta finished with a 221-142 record, 3.39 ERA, 3221.2 innings, 2972 strikeouts, 452 walks, 245/408 quality starts, 83 complete games, 22 shutouts, 111 ERA+, 85 FIP-, and 63.6 WAR. Huerta ranks 36th in wins, 67th in innings, 93rd in strikeouts, and 86th in WAR among pitchers. His ERA was definitely on the higher end compared to other CABA Hall of Famers, but he wasn’t completely out of place. Detractors felt Huerta simply wasn’t dominant enough to belong and was a notch short of the induction threshold.

        Traditional supporters were big on Huerta’s win total; every eligible pitcher who had 220+ wins had made it in, although not all 200+ guys did. Being part of the Juarez dynasty in his later years also gave him a bump with certain voters. Still, Huerta’s lack of overwhelming dominance made him wait. He barely missed the 66% requirement with his 2035 debut ballot. Huerta dropped to 51.8% in 2036, but saw a steep turnaround to 78.4% in 2037. With that, he was a third ballot HOF selection for the Central American Baseball Association.



        Raul Ibarra – Left Field/First Base – Tijuana Toros – 74.5% First Ballot

        Raul Ibarra was a 6’1’’, 195 pound switch-hitting outfielder and first baseman from Ciudad Juarez, Mexico. Ibarra was one of the most powerful home run hitters of his era and had an excellent eye for drawing walks. Despite that, he was an average-at-best contact hitter with a poor strikeout rate. You’d put up with it for 47 home runs per his 162 game average. Ibarra had four seasons of 50+ dingers and twice had 60+. He posted similar results from both sides of the plate.

        Ibarra’s power was all for dingers though, as he only got you 15 doubles and 6 triples per 162 games. 44% of his plate appearances were one of the three true outcomes. Despite the slugger profile, Ibarra was actually a fantastic baserunner with very good speed, successfully stealing on 73% of his attempts. He was one of the era’s most dangerous bats despite a middling average and high strikeout rate.

        He had just over half of his starts in left field, where he graded as a subpar but passable defender. Around 30% of the starts were at first base with the rest in center field. Ibarra graded as a good defender at 1B, but he was awful in CF. He had his share of injuries, but held up pretty well over a 19-year career. Ibarra’s personality didn’t stand out, but his talent made him one of Mexico’s most popular stars of the 21st Century.

        Ibarra went fifth in the 2012 CABA Draft to Tijuana and was a starter right away, although he struggled as a rookie with a league-worst 190 strikeouts and only 19 homers. He found his power the next year with 58 homers, 134 RBI, and a Mexican League best 9.2 WAR, winning a Silver Slugger in CF. Ibarra signed an eight-year, $87,900,000 extension with the Toros after the 2015 campaign.

        It was hard to stand out in the North Division during the Juarez dynasty, but Tijuana was above .500 each year from 2014-27. Ibarra won Silver Sluggers in LF in 2015-16 and was on pace for his best season in 2017, but his missed most of the spring with a fractured finger. Ibarra notably on July 27, 2017 had a six-hit game against Hermosillo. Tijuana ended a 17-year playoff drought in 2017, but had a wild card round exit. They won 85 games in both the next two years.

        In 2018, Ibarra won his lone MVP and fourth Slugger, leading with 60 homers, .678 slugging, and a career-best 9.5 WAR. He was second in 2020’s MVP voting and had another Slugger, posting his career bests for homers (64), RBI (141), runs (128), slugging (.709), and OPS (1.097). Tijuana went 100-62, but again had a first round exit as they fell to 112-win Juarez.

        2021 was the breakthrough for the Toros as the top seed at 103-59. They beat the Jesters to win the Mexican League title, then defeated Puerto Rico for their first CABA Championship win since their 1910s dynasty. Ibarra was a stud in the playoffs and won finals MVP. In 14 starts, he had 16 hits, 17 runs, 8 homers, 13 RBI, 1.321 OPS, 248 wRC+, and 1.2 WAR.

        In the Baseball Grand Championship, Tijuana was one of five teams tied for fourth at 11-8. Ibarra had a nice showing with 11 hits, 14 runs, 5 homers, 12 RBI, 20 walks, 1.001 OPS, and 0.9 WAR. His role in the 2021 championship cemented his status as a beloved icon for Tijuana. Ibarra’s #29 uniform would be retired at the end of his career.

        The Toros were just outside the playoffs for the next two years. Ibarra left for free agency after the 2023 campaign at age 33. For Tijuana, he had 1575 games, 1540 hits, 1124 runs, 150 doubles, 66 triples, 500 home runs, 1088 RBI, 695 walks, 1625 strikeouts, 605 steals, .275/.363/.594 slash, 165 wRC+, and 73.2 WAR. He left Mexico as the allure of Major League Baseball money was strong, signing a five-year, $91 million deal with Raleigh.

        Ibarra remained very popular with Mexican fans and returned home regularly for the World Baseball Championship. From 2015-27, Ibarra played 167 games with 104 hits, 97 runs, 15 doubles, 49 homers, 86 RBI, 68 steals, 82 walks, .200/.338/.515 slash, and 7.0 WAR. Among Mexicans in the WBC, Ibarra is 6th in batting WAR, 6th in runs, and 7th in homers. Mexico’s deepest run was his first WBC as a part-time starter, helping them to a runner-up finish. They also finished 3rd in 2018 and 2nd in 2020.

        Raleigh was one of MLB’s expansion teams from 2021. Ibarra helped bring them their first team successes with playoff trips in 2025, 26, and 28 and division titles the latter two. The Raptors never got beyond the second round, although Ibarra had a .974 OPS and 0.6 WAR in his 13 playoff starts. Ibarra didn’t win any awards in MLB, but he fared very well. He led the National Association in walks for both 2025-26 and in steals in 2024. He had 7.4 WAR in 2024 and 52 homers in 2026.

        Ibarra’s numbers dipped somewhat in his final two seasons as he dealt with plantar fasciitis in 2027 and a torn quad in 2028. In five seasons for Raleigh, he had 710 games, 595 hits, 488 runs, 59 doubles, 207 homers, 408 RBI, 419 walks, 180 steals, .246/.372/.535 slash, 155 wRC+, and 26.6 WAR. The deal was certainly considered a success and Ibarra was very popular in North Carolina.

        Now 38-years old, Ibarra returned to the Mexican League on a two-year, $28 million deal with Ecatepec and ended up extended for a third season. His stats were well down from his prime, but Ibarra was still a respectable starter with 398 games, 357 hits, 257 runs, 44 doubles, 66 homers, 173 RBI, 184 walks, 194 steals, .262/.357/.467 slash, 137 wRC+, and 10.4 WAR.

        In 2029, Ecatepec was a 100-62 wild card and upset defending champ Leon in the MLCS. The Explosion then toppled reigning CABA champ Honduras in the final for the franchise’s ninth CABA ring. Ibarra had another strong playoff run with a .963 OPS and 0.7 WAR in nine games. In the Baseball Grand Championship, he had .915 OPS, 150 wRC+, and 0.7 WAR in 14 games; although Ecatepec finished at 9-12.

        The Explosion had a division title but first round exit in 2030. They would win the Mexican League crown again in 2031, but lost to Haiti in the CABA Championship. Ibarra unfortunately missed the entire playoff run with a broken kneecap suffered on August 20. It was a major injury, but he was originally expected to be able to return by the start of 2032. Puebla gave him a one-year, $3,920,000 deal, but Ibarra never took the field for the Pumas. He suffered a setback in recovery in March 2032 and was told by doctors to retire. Ibarra officially filed the papers that winter at age 42.

        For his combined pro career, Ibarra had 2683 games, 2492 hits, 1869 runs, 253 doubles, 95 triples, 773 home runs, 1669 RBI, 1298 walks, 2766 strikeouts, 979 steals, .266/.365/.560 slash, 158 wRC+, and 110.0 WAR. For his CABA run, Ibarra had 1973 games, 1897 hits, 1381 runs, 194 doubles, 85 triples, 566 home runs, 1261 RBI, 879 walks, 2043 strikeouts, 799 steals, .273/.362/.569 slash, 159 wRC+, and 83.6 WAR.

        Ibarra ranks 48th in runs, 39th in homers, 33rd in walks, 50th in steals, 41st in strikeouts, and 68th in WAR for position players. His .931 OPS ranks 93rd among CABA batters with 3000+ plate appearances. Still, Ibarra did lose positioning on the CABA leaderboards since he had the five-year gap to Raleigh. There were a few voters who felt his raw tallies weren’t quite high enough.

        Far more Hall of Fame voters remembered Ibarra as a premier slugger and as a critical piece for Tijuana’s 2021 championship. The rings at the end with Ecatepec gave him an extra boost as well, plus he was incredibly well-liked by fans. Ibarra’s 74.5% was the lowest of the four inductees in 2037, but he earned a first ballot spot and a deserved place among the legends of the Central American Baseball Association.

        Comment

        • MrNFL_FanIQ
          MVP
          • Oct 2008
          • 4980

          #2524





          Two starting pitchers entered the East Asia Baseball Hall of Fame in 2037 with Nobuyoshi Yamauchi the clear headliner at 98.7%. Hiroshi Yama****a got a big bump up on his third ballot to join him with 80.6%. The only other guy above 50% was SP Naotake Nishisawa at 51.6% on his second try. No players were dropped after ten failed ballots.



          Nobuyoshi Yamauchi – Starting Pitcher – Osaka Orange Sox – 98.7% First Ballot

          Nobuyoshi Yamauchi was a 6’3’’, 185 pound left-handed pitcher from Funabashi, Japan; a city of around 645,000 inhabitants in the Chiba Prefecture. Yamauchi had excellent stuff with average movement. His control was good for his prime years and got better with age even as his stuff faltered. Yamauchi’s velocity peaked in the 96-98 mph range with a four-pitch arsenal of fastball, slider, changeup, cutter; each pitch was equally potent.

          Yamauchi was especially dominant facing left-handed batters with a 2.24 ERA, 149 ERA+, and 60 FIP-. He was plenty good though with a 2.48 ERA, 134 ERA+, and 76 FIP- against righties. Yamauchi’s stamina was merely decent compared to most EAB aces, but he had ironman durability and was good for 200+ innings each year from 2012-29. He was excellent at holding runners and was solid at fielding the position.

          By the 2008 EAB Draft, Yamauchi was a highly ranked prospect from Yukiya High School in Tokyo. Chiba picked him with the 11th overall pick, but they couldn’t come to terms and Yamauchi opted to attend Kyushu International University. Yamauchi was next eligible for the 2011 EAB Draft and went third overall to Osaka, where he became one of the Orange Sox’s most popular players ever.

          Yamauchi was a full-time starter immediately and won 2012 Rookie of the Year with a 2.52 ERA, 4.2 WAR effort. His sophomore season saw a Japan League best 302 strikeouts, taking second in Pitcher of the Year voting. Yamauchi signed a five-year, $41,500,000 extension with Osaka after the 2013 campaign. In 2014, he threw his lone no-hitter on May 15 with 14 Ks and 1 walk facing Niigata.

          In 2015, Yamauchi won his first Pitcher of the Year with a league and career best 314 strikeouts and 28 quality starts. It was his only time as the WARlord at 7.5 and it was one of three seasons with an ERA below two. Yamauchi was at 1.89 in 2015, then 1.90 in 2016. He was third in 2016’s POTY voting, then won again in 2017. That year had league-bests for wins (23-7) and Ks (301).

          With Yamauchi as the ace, Osaka became a contender again with six straight playoff trips from 2015-20. After first round exits in 2015-16, the Orange Sox began a dynasty. They won the Japan League title in 2017, 2018, and 2020. Osaka fell to Changwon in the 2017 EAB Championship, then beat Seongnam for the 2018 crown. In 2020, they had their best record of the run at 102-60 and topped Hamhung for the EAB crown.

          Yamauchi was steady in the playoffs with 122.1 innings, 2.87 ERA, 7-6 record, 144 Ks, 19 walks, 116 ERA+, 77 FIP-, and 3.2 WAR. He was a mixed bag in the Baseball Grand Championship, posting an impressive 1.29 ERA in 2018 over 28 innings, but a 4.97 ERA in 2017 and 3.41 in 2020. Osaka was 5-14 in 2017, then was one of four tied for fourth in 2018 at 11-8. The Orange Sox finished 7-12 in 2020. Yamauchi finished with 82.1 BGC innings , 3.17 ERA, 6-4 record, 87 strikeouts, 31 walks, and 1.0 WAR.

          He also pitched from 2013-17 and from 2022-26 for Japan in the World Baseball Championship. Yamauchi’s stats were unremarkable there with a 3.43 ERA in 57.2 innings, 3-6 record, 92 strikeouts, 23 walks, and 1.5 WAR. It was a rare down period for a normally strong Japanese team, who didn’t have any playoff berths with Yamauchi on roster.

          In May 2018, Yamauchi signed a seven-year, $133 million extension with Osaka. The Orange Sox remained above .500 through 2027, but the dynasty ended with the 2020 title. They wouldn’t make the playoffs again with Yamauchi there. He continued to thrive generally, including a career-best 8.7 WAR in 2022 and an ERA title in 2024 at 2.05. 2024 also had his best WHIP at 0.81 and he was third in POTY voting for both 2022 and 2024.

          In 2024, Yamauchi also crossed the 200 win and 3500 strikeout milestones. Despite being very popular and still successful, Osaka surprised many by trading the 34-year old Yamauchi in March 2025 to Kobe for three prospects. One of them, 1B Takahide Sagara, would be a good starter through 2030 for the Orange Sox and won 2026’s Rookie of the Year.

          With Osaka, Yamauchi had a 206-94 record, 2.37 ERA, 2896.2 innings, 3627 strikeouts, 517 walks, 140 ERA+, 70 FIP-, and 79.0 WAR. His #35 uniform would later be retired by the Orange Sox. The trade to Kobe was especially surprising since the Blaze were the top divisional rival. 2022 started a playoff streak for Kobe that carried through 2032.

          In his Kobe debut, Yamauchi won his third Pitcher of the Year by leading in WHIP, quality starts, and shutouts. He also won a Silver Slugger as he hit .325 that year. By pitcher standards, Yamauchi was a decent batter with a career .216/.224/.251 slash. Kobe gave him a four-year, $96,800,000 extension after the 2025 season. Yamauchi wouldn’t be a POTY finalist again, but he remained very good through 2029, including his career-best 1.88 ERA in 2028.

          Although the Blaze had an impressive playoff streak, they didn’t have any postseason success. Their deepest runs with Yamauchi were JLCS defeats in 2025 and 2029. The 2029 exit against Niigata was especially frustrating, as Kobe was the top seed at 109-53. Yamauchi’s playoff stats saw a 2.73 ERA in 62.2 innings, 1-3 record, 78 strikeouts, 0 walks, 120 ERA+, 59 FIP-, and 2.1 WAR. In his later years, he relied more on control as his velocity was starting to dip.

          In total, Yamauchi had 185 playoff innings with a 2.82 ERA, 8-9 record, 222 strikeouts, 19 walks, 117 ERA+, 71 FIP-, and 5.3 WAR. He ranks 4th in WAR among pitchers and 5th in innings. For nearly his entire run, Yamauchi was part of successful teams in contention.

          By 2030, Yamauchi’s velocity was peaking in the 91-93 mph range and he started to struggle for the first time. He was reduced to a relief role with a 3.36 ERA over 112.2 innings, 106 Ks, and 1.3 WAR. With Kobe, Yamauchi had a 93-42 record, 2.38 ERA, 1275 innings, 1422 strikeouts, 207 walks, 139 ERA+, 74 FIP-, and 31.8 WAR. While there, he became only the 2nd in EAB history with 5000 strikeouts, although he wouldn’t catch Sang-Hun Joon’s 5694.

          Yamauchi also finished the Kobe run at 299 wins, one away from being the 5th in EAB to the 300 club. He wanted to get there and Nagoya signed him to a two-year, $25,600,000 deal. Yamauchi got the 300th win in early April, but struggled in limited use for the Nightowls in 2031 with a 4.67 ERA over 81 innings, 58 Ks, and 0.3 WAR. Yamauchi retired that winter just after his 41st birthday.

          In total, Yamauchi had a 302-145 record, 2.42 ERA, 4252.2 innings, 5107 strikeouts, 740 walks, 378/534 quality starts, 71 complete games, 26 shutouts, 138 ERA+, 72 FIP-, and 111.1 WAR. Yamauchi ranks tied for 4th in wins, 12th in innings, 55th in shutouts, 2nd in strikeouts, and 8th in pitching WAR.

          Among EAB pitchers with 1000+ innings, Yamauchi is 44th in ERA and his 0.94 WHIP is 37th. His 6.92 H/9 is 54th, his 10.81 K/9 is 49th, and his .582 opponent’s OPS is 53rd. Yamauchi’s .212/.252/.330 triple slash ranks 49th/49th/72nd. On the world leaderboard for all pitchers ever, Yamauchi ranks 41st in wins and 35th in strikeouts, although he misses the top 50 for WAR.

          Yamauchi is an obvious inner-circle Hall of Famer, although there is a fierce debate when ranking East Asia Baseball’s best-ever pitchers. He makes the majority of top ten lists and some put him into the top five. Yamauchi isn’t usually placed in the #1 spot, but EAB doesn’t have an undisputed GOAT like some other leagues. He’s one of the game’s immortals in any case and was a big part of a dynasty run for Osaka. Yamauchi headlined the 2037 HOF ballot at 98.7%.



          Hiroshi Yamashita – Starting Pitcher – Changwon Crabs – 80.6% Third Ballot

          Hiroshi Yamashɨia was a 6’2’’, 200 pound right-handed starting pitcher from Sakaide, Japan; a small city of about 49,000 people in the Kagawa Prefecture. Yama****a was known for great control and above average movement, allowing him to succeed despite merely average stuff. His velocity peaked in the 92-94 mph range with an arsenal of fastball, changeup, splitter, and curveball.

          Yama****a
          had excellent stamina and great durability for most of his career, tossing 220+ innings each year from 2013-28. He did struggle defensively and was below average at holding runners. Yama****a was known in the clubhouse as a huge prankster, although he didn’t always understand when it was appropriate to joke around and when not to.

          He attended Akashi Shogyo High School and earned plenty of attention from scouts. Yama****a
          went 16th to Kawasaki in the 2009 EAB Draft, although his time in the Killer Whales organization was brief. In June 2010, he was one of three prospects traded to Changwon for reliever Seung-Min Song. Yama****a debuted in 2012 with 45.2 relief innings for the Crabs, although he struggled initially at age 20.

          Changwon made him a full-time starter after that, but he did have mixed results especially early on. Yama****a
          settled into giving reliable innings, but his results were never exceptional. 2015 had his highest single-season WAR at 5.2. He was usually good for 3-4 WAR per year with the Crabs, but he never had an ERA below three.

          After eight straight losing seasons, Changwon rebounded to 83-79 in 2015. Then they stunned the Korea League with back-to-back championships in 2016-17. In 2016, the Crabs went 92-70, beat Seoul in the KLCS, then dethroned reigning champ Yokohama in the EAB Championship. Changwon was better at 100-62 in 2017 and again beat the Seahawks for the KL pennant, followed by a victory over Osaka in the East Asian Championship.

          Changwon had limited luck in the Baseball Grand Championship, going 6-13 in 2016 and 8-11 in 2017. Yama****a
          had a 3.58 ERA over 32.2 innings in the former and a 2.28 ERA over 27.2 innings in the latter. His playoff stats were a mixed bag as well with a 3.94 ERA over 32 innings in 2016 and a 4.76 ERA in 34 innings for 2017. Still, the Crabs were pleased with their dynasty run and gave Yama****a a three-year, $33,300,000 extension in March 2018.

          2018 saw a franchise best record of 110-52 for Changwon, but they were upset in the first round by Seongnam. The Crabs got the #1 seed again in 2019 at 97-65, but yet again were one-and-done. They then missed the playoffs via a tiebreaker in 2020 at 92-70. Yama****a
          kept on chugging along as Changwon bounced back with a 100-62 wild card in 2021. They upset 109-win Busan in the KLCS, but fell to Kyoto in the EAB Championship. The Crabs were 6-13 in the BGC with Yama****a struggling to a 6.75 ERA in 25.1 innings.

          For his playoff career with Changwon, Yama****a
          had a 5-6 record in 18 starts, 3.97 ERA, 127 innings, 97 strikeouts, 15 walks, 93 ERA+, 108 FIP-, and 1.3 WAR. Even if he wasn’t exceptional, he was appreciated for his role in their dynasty run. The Crabs eventually retired Yamashita’s #6 uniform. He wouldn’t be re-signed though after the 2021 season, entering free agency at age 30. For Changwon, Yamashita had a 138-121 record, 3.84 ERA, 2232.1 innings, 1838 strikeouts, 418 walks, 81 complete games, 13 shutouts, 97 ERA+, 98 FIP-, and 30.6 WAR.

          Yama****
          a signed a five-year, $60,500,000 deal with Chiba. From 2023-25, he led the Japan League in innings pitched, peaking with 274 in 2025. That year also had his career best ERA of 2.73. Yama****a led in win for the only time at 19-8 in 2023 and had his high for strikeouts with 227 in 2022. Still, he was never a Pitcher of the Year finalist. But with the Comets, he reliably ate innings just as he had with Changwon.

          Chiba had a breakout 97-65 season in 2023 and got to the JLCS as the top seed, but was defeated by reigning champ Fukuoka. They were a one-and-done wild card in 2025 and just missed with 90 and 91 wins in 2024 and 2026. The Comets were the top seed again in 2027 at 100-62, but fell in the divisional series. Yama****
          a was 0-2 in his four playoff starts for Chiba, but had a 3.03 ERA in 29.2 innings with 23 Ks and 0.3 WAR. He missed the 2027 playoff run because of a ruptured disc in August, the only big injury of his career.

          With the Comets, Yamashi
          ta had a 112-69 record, 3.26 ERA, 1672 innings, 1386 strikeouts, 291 walks, 56 complete games, 10 shutouts, 104 ERA+, 93 FIP-, and 26.0 WAR. On July 4, 2028, Yama****a became only the 16th in EAB history with 250 career wins. Three days later, he was traded to Sapporo for two prospects. The Swordfish used him mostly in relief to close the year with a 4.50 ERA in 36 innings. They made the playoffs, but had a wild card round exit.

          Now 37-years old, Yamash
          ita signed a one-year, $6 million deal with Niigata. He had a limited role with a 4.09 ERA over 101.1 innings, 84 Ks, and 0.1 WAR. Although he wasn’t used in the playoffs, Yama****a got a ring as the Green Dragons won the EAB title. He wasn’t expected to be used for that winter’s Baseball Grand Championship, so Yama****a retired after the championship win at age 38.

          Yama****a
          had a 258-197 record, 3.61 ERA, 4041.2 innings, 3348 strikeouts, 741 walks, 305/507 quality starts, 137 complete games, 28 shutouts, 99 ERA+, 96 FIP-, and 57.1 WAR. He ranks 13th in wins, 18th in losses, 16th in innings, 70th in strikeouts, and 38th in complete games. Yama****a doesn’t make the top 100 for pitching WAR and his ERA was higher than all previous EAB Hall of Famers. The only one who was above 3.50 was Sang-Hun Joon at 3.51, but he also had 346 wins.

          Traditionalists pointed to wins and innings as the big selling point for Yama****a
          . Being in the top 15 in wins in a league with more than a century of history was plenty for some voters. Yama****a also had the rings with Changwon and was remembered for being a part of their dynasty run. Those who looked at Sabermetrics felt Yama****a was the ultimate compiler. He was almost certainly the only HOFer in the world with an ERA+ below 100; a 100 grade suggests league average.

          Yama****a
          was also never a Pitcher of the Year finalist and wasn’t considered a top five level guy at any point in his run. Those who favored exceptional peaks over longevity were loudly against Yama****a’s candidacy. For the majority, 250 wins and the rings couldn’t be ignored. He debuted in 2035 at 63.9%, just missing the 66% requirement. Yama****a dropped to 55.9% in 2036, but got a huge bump up to 80.6% in 2037. He’s a polarizing pick between old school and new school voters, but Yama****a regardless joined the East Asia Baseball HOF on his third ballot.

          Comment

          • MrNFL_FanIQ
            MVP
            • Oct 2008
            • 4980

            #2525
            Beisbol Sudamerica had a big four-man Hall of Fame class for 2037, each earning the first ballot nod. 1B Juan Carlos Rivera and SS/1B Eddy Corunha were the no-doubters, co-headlining at 99.0% and 97.9%, respectively. 1B/3B Elijah Reuter was next at 78.0% and CL Ronaldo Navarette breached the 66% requirement at 71.1%. No one else was above 50%.



            Dropped after ten ballots included SP Rodrigo Quiroz, who got as high as 55.4% in 2029 before ending at a low of 34.1%. In 14 years with Medellin, Quiroz had a 168-113 record, 88 saves, 3.57 ERA, 2205 innings, 2367 strikeouts, 113 ERA+, 76 FIP-, and 55.5 WAR. Injuries forced him out of the rotation in his early 30s and out of baseball by age 35. Quiroz was a Pitcher of the Year finalist thrice in his prime, but he wasn’t successful long enough to have the necessary numbers. Still, he played an important role in back-to-back Bolivar League titles in 2013-14 for the Mutiny with a Copa Sudamerica win in 2014.

            Closer Samuel Andrade also dropped after ten ballots, getting as close at 57.5% in 2029 before closing at only 15.0%. He was hurt by bouncing between different leagues and teams in his later years. In BSA, Andrade had 368 saves, 87-83 record, 2.39 ERA, 1012.2 innings, 1360 strikeouts, 265 walks, 154 ERA+, 55 FIP-, and 39.3 WAR.

            Andrade won Reliever of the Year twice and helped Brasilia to a Copa Sudamerica win in 2002. He ranks 16th in saves and 57th in ERA among pitchers with 1000+ innings. Andrade’s resume is comparable to some of the lower-end inducted relievers, but he wasn’t quite dominant enough to stand out enough to receive the nod.




            Juan Carlos Rivera – First Base – Fortaleza Foxes – 99.0% First Ballot

            Juan Carlos Rivera was a 6’2’’, 195 pound left-handed first baseman from the capital of Paraguay, Asuncion. In his prime, Rivera was an incredibly efficient batter with good-to-great grades for contact, power, and eye overall. He absolutely raked against right-handed pitching with a career 1.100 OPS and 205 wRC+. Rivera was by no means bad against lefties with a .889 OPS and 153 wRC+. He was also better than most in BSA at avoiding strikeouts.

            Rivera’s power wasn’t prolific, but he got a solid dose of extra base hits with 34 home runs, 24 doubles, and 9 triples per his 162 game average. His speed was also quite good and he was one of the craftier baserunners and thieves in the game. Rivera led the Southern Cone League five times in runs scored, regularly making the most of his times on base.

            His value definitely came from his offense, as he graded as a terrible defender as a career first baseman. Although Rivera had a 19-year career, injuries limited him at various points. He was a very quiet and humble man, perhaps not always advocating for himself when he could have. Rivera’s fierce loyalty and talent though made him a very popular player both in Brazi where he spent his prime and back home in Paraguay.

            From 2014-31, Rivera did regularly return to Paraguay to represent his country in the World Baseball Championship. He played 126 games with 119 hits, 78 runs, 14 doubles, 31 homers, 63 RBI, 83 walks, 50 steals, .275/.390/.528 slash, and 5.9 WAR. He did help Paraguay to its second-ever playoff trip in 2025.

            Rivera’s pro career started in Uruguay, picked 23rd by Montevideo in the 2009 BSA Draft. He was a very late bloomer though and rarely saw the field during his six years employed by the Venom. From 2010-15, Rivera played 244 games and started only 19 with 83 hits, 46 runs, 13 doubles, 4 triples, 9 homers, 47 RBI, .854 OPS, 123 wRC+, and 1.6 WAR. He also went 4-10 as a playoff pinch hitter. Montevideo notably was the top seed in 2015 at 104-58, but lost in the LCS to Recife.

            It seemed clear that they didn’t see much in Rivera. In January 2016, he was traded straight up to Fortaleza for SP Jose Innocenti, a back-end pitcher. The Foxes had kept an eye on him and though he had tons of potential, making Rivera a full-time starter immediately in 2016. They were rewarded quickly as he had an OPS above one and 5.5+ WAR each year from 2016-26 with Fortaleza.

            In Rivera’s second year with the Foxes, he won his first Silver Slugger and was second in MVP voting. He led the league with career highs for runs (132), and RBI (136) and had his best home run total of 52. Rivera also led in slugging (.711), OPS (1.114), and wRC+ (220). He would again lead in those three starts in 2020, 22, 23, and 25. Rivera won Silver Sluggers each of those years and in 2021.

            In June 2019, Fortaleza extended Rivera for seven years and $55,200,000. Two days after putting ink to paper, he hit for the cycle against Manaus. The Foxes had won titles before he got there in 2013-14, but had a brief lull in the middle of the decade. Fortaleza returned to the playoffs in 2019 at 102-60, but fell in the divisional round. They would drop to 80-82 in 2020 and miss the playoffs.

            Rivera was third in MVP voting for 2021 and was the All-Star Game MVP, leading the league with 123 runs. The Foxes got a wild card at 95-67 and got hot, winning the Southern Cone League Championship over reigning champ Santiago. Rivera was series MVP and had 20 hits, 15 runs, 5 doubles, 4 homers, 10 RBI, 1.095 OPS, and 0.9 WAR over 17 playoff starts. Fortaleza was ultimately denied in Copa Sudamerica by Valencia. They finished 9-10 in the Baseball Grand Championship with Rivera posting 19 hits, 13 runs, 4 homers, 10 RBI, .931 OPS, 158 wRC+, and 1.0 WAR.

            In 2022, Rivera was again third in MVP voting and led in runs, walks, OBP, slugging, OPS, and wRC+. Fortaleza won the division at 95-67 and upset 103-win Santiago in an LCS rematch for repeat pennants. They fell to 114-win Caracas, the eventual Grand Champion, in Copa Sudamerica. Rivera had a .873 OPS and 0.5 WAR in the playoffs. The Foxes finished 8-11 in the BGC despite a dominant run for Rivera with 22 hits, 16 runs, 8 homers, 1.233 OPS, 264 wRC+, and 2.0 WAR. His WAR is one of only 27 times in BGC history at or above two for a position player.

            A fractured hand kept Rivera out for the start of the season and limited him to 128 games, but he still was second in MVP voting with by far his most efficient season. He had league and career bests for triple slash (.380/.476/.805), OPS (1.281), wRC+ (256), and WAR (9.8). At the time, this set BSA single-season records for both OBP and OPS. At induction among qualifying seasons, Rivera’s OBP ranks 5th, slugging 3rd, and OPS 2nd in BSA. On the world leaderboard, it ranks 14th in OBP, 32nd in slugging, and 16th in OPS.

            Fortaleza finished 101-61, but had a divisional round upset loss. They barely got a wild card at 86-76 the next year, but got to the 2024 LCS where they lost to Sao Paulo. Rivera lost part of the summer in 2024 to a strained abdominal muscle as injuries started to become a concern. He was third in 2025’s MVP voting, leading again in OPS. A torn labrum in September kept Rivera out for the entire postseason run. Without him, Fortaleza won another pennant, but lost Copa Sudamerica to Barranquilla. They finished 10-9 in the BGC.

            A torn quad cost Rivera some games in 2026, but he led in runs once more and was third in MVP voting. Even with the recent injuries and Rivera ‘s 37th birthday coming in December, the Foxes gave him a three-year, $33,700,000 extension. This was the last gasp for Fortaleza’s six-year playoff streak, winning the division title at 97-65 but falling in the divisional round. The Foxes fell to 78-84 the next year and wouldn’t be back above .500 until 2034.

            In his playoff career, Rivera finished with 67 games, 57 starts, 61 hits, 38 runs, 13 doubles, 4 triples, 10 homers, 30 RBI, 36 walks, .296/.404/.544 slash, 160 wRC+, and 2.2 WAR. He was certainly one of the key reasons Fortaleza won three pennants in the 2020s and his #28 uniform would later be retired.
            Rivera still had a good pace in 2027, but strained abdominal muscles kept him out almost half of the year.

            2028 was his final full season starting, leading in OBP for the fifth time. His power had dropped significantly, but he was still good for .916 OPS, 163 wRC+, and 4.6 WAR. Out of respect, Fortaleza gave him another three-year, $33,700,000 extension that winter. Rivera’s bat declined sharply, especially against lefties. He was mostly a pinch hitter in his final three years with 292 games, but only 66 starts. Rivera retired after the 2031 season just after his 42nd birthday.

            Rivera finished with 2368 games, 2440 hits, 1473 runs, 357 doubles, 135 triples, 492 home runs, 1329 RBI, 955 walks, 1129 strikeouts, 749 steals, .340/.417/.634 slash, 1.051 OPS, 193 wRC+, and 94.6 WAR. Between being a late bloomer and later injuries, Rivera’s accumulations weren’t exceptional. He ranks 32nd in runs, 77th in total bases (4543), 76th in homers, 84th in RBI, 67th in steals, 23rd in walks, and 48th in WAR among position players.

            Among BSA batters with 3000+ plate appearances, Rivera’s triple slash ranks 36th/5th/13th and his OPS is 5th. Among world Hall of Famers and retired locks, his triple slash is 27th/5th/32nd and his OPS is 11th. In that same group, Rivera’s wRC+ is tied for 17th best. There is no doubt that he was one of the most efficient hitters to ever swing a bat.

            Even voters that were stingy about accumulations knew Rivera was well deserving of joining Beisbol Sudamerica’s enshrined greats. He never won MVP, but was a regular finalist in his prime and a huge part of a dynasty run for Fortaleza. The humble Rivera received a near unanimous 99.0% to co-headline the four-player 2037 class.




            Eddy “Matchbox” Corunha – Shortstop/First Base – Brasilia Bearcats – 97.9% First Ballot

            Eddy Corunha was a 6’4’’, 200 pound switch-hitting infielder from Sao Leopoldo, Brazil; a city with about 239,000 inhabitants in the southern state of Rio Grande do Sul. Nicknamed “Matchbox,” Corunha was known for being a solid contact hitter with excellent home run power especially facing right-handed pitching. He had a career 1.004 OPS and 180 wRC+. On the downside, Corunha was very middling against lefties with a .790 OPS and 99 wRC+.

            Even with his LHP issues, Corunha was good for 45 homers, 21 doubles, and 8 triples per 162 games. His strikeout rate and ability to draw walks were merely okay. In his prime, Corunha was a dangerous baserunner with rock solid speed. He did run into some injuries, but still managed to hold up fairly well over an 18-year career.

            About 60% of Corunha’s starts came at shortstop, but he was a poor defender there. His bigger frame fit much better at first base where he had great defensive grades and most of his other starts. Corunha was definitely far better than most shortstops in terms of bat and Brasilia was often willing to put up with bad defense to get great offense. His personality was a bit enigmatic with high marks for loyalty and intelligence, but low marks for work ethic, adaptability, and greed.

            Corunha was picked eighth by Brasilia in the 2017 BSA Draft and spent his entire South American career there. He was immediately popular and immediately successful, winning 2018 Rookie of the Year honors with a 1.029 OPS, 6.5 WAR debut. Corunha’s second year was his finest, winning his lone MVP and first Silver Slugger (at 1B). He led the Southern Cone League in runs (120), homers (58), total bases (430), slugging (.708), OPS (1.112), wRC+ (210), and WAR (10.6). Those were all career highs, as was his 213 hits, 132 RBI, and .404 OBP.

            He never had a year quite that good again and only sporadically was a league leader, but Corunha was a reliably strong starter. He had ten more seasons with 40+ homers and three with an OPS above one. Corunha wasn’t an MVP candidate again, but won Silver Sluggers at SS from 2023-31. He led with 117 runs in 2030 and with both 46 homers and a .669 slugging in 2027. Corunha also hit for the cycle in 2022 against Rosario.

            When Corunha arrived, Brasilia had only made the playoffs once since 2005. The worst of these seasons was a 56-106 debacle in 2025. The Bearcats bounced back as a surprise 95-win wild card in 2026, although they didn’t get beyond the divisional series. Brasilia signed Corunha to a five-year, $95 million extension in April 2027 with the hopes that they’d become a contender.

            They fell two wins short of a wild card in 2027, then posted 111, 107, and 102 win seasons from 2028-30 with three division titles. Frustratingly, Brasilia lost in the divisional round all three years and again as a wild card in 2031. In his 16 career playoff starts, Corunha was unremarkable with a .230/.277/.475 slash, 98 wRC+, and 0.2 WAR.

            Corunha was 37-years old after the 2031 season and still playing at his usual strong pace. He decided not to re-sign with Brasilia and wanted to seek out the MLB bag. Corunha remained very popular with Bearcats fans even after leaving and his #50 uniform would later get retired. He got the big paycheck on a three-year, $96 million deal with San Francisco. His previous best annual salary was $19.4 million; he’d get $32 million per year with the Gold Rush.

            With San Francisco, Corunha was a decent starter, but wasn’t exceptional. He also started to miss some time with more consistent back issues. SF was in a rebuilding period and wouldn’t make the playoffs with Corunha. He played 356 games with 341 hits, 185 runs, 42 doubles, 13 triples, 77 home runs, 209 RBI, .258/.303/.484 slash, 104 wRC+, and 5.1 WAR.

            Big league teams generally felt Corunha was cooked, but he wasn’t willing to call it quits yet. He eventually had to settle for Katowice of European Tier Three for a measly $940,000. He played 101 games with a .726 OPS, 114 wRC+, and 1.3 WAR. No one signed Corunha for 2036 and he eventually retired in the winter shortly after his 42nd birthday.

            With Brasilia, Corunha had 2021 games, 2325 hits, 1340 runs, 226 doubles, 109 triples, 599 home runs, 1408 RBI, 479 walks, 1554 strikeouts, 735 steals, .308/.350/.611 slash, 171 wRC+, and 89.7 WAR. Corunha ranks 62nd in runs, 72nd in total bases (4606), 25th in homers, 60th in RBI, and 58th in WAR for position players. His .962 OPS is 53rd among BSA batters with 3000+ plate appearances and his slugging is 26th.

            Corunha’s impressive power and dominance specifically against right-handed pitching made him stand out to Hall of Fame voters. He was regularly viewed as the top hitting shortstop in the league for his prime and did help turn Brasilia around, even if they had no playoff luck. Corunha was a slam dunk inductee at 97.7%, co-headlining a four-player 2037 class for Beisbol Sudamerica.

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