Seven Brooklyn Knights were on the roster for the League 1 All-Stars. The Luisville Beasts, however, had an even more impressive ten all-stars on the team. The starting lineup was filled with four Beasts, four Knights, and Mabon Beninger of the Dunedin Otters. Brooklyn’s Tony Tamayo was named the starting pitcher for League 1. The League 2 All-Stars had a bit more balanced representation from various teams. The Maples’ Tyler Stivers was named League 2’s starter.

League 1 got on the scoreboard first by putting up three runs. The inning was keyed by the Knights players as Gómez singled, Conley doubled, and Ramos singled. In the sixth inning, the Slam’s Aramis Jáquez tied the game with a three-run homer. Luisvillle’s Manuel Montaya put League 1 ahead for good in the seventh inning with a solo home run. The Firecats’ Stokley McGruder closed out the game to preserve the 4-3 victory. Despite his team losing the game, League 2’s Jáquez was named the player of the game.

                     1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9   R  H  E
League 1 All-Stars   0 0 3 0 0 0 1 0 0   4  9  1
League 2 All-Stars   0 0 0 0 0 3 0 0 0   3  6  0

W: B. Alazardo
L: T. Sanders
S: S. McGruder

The Brooklyn Knights had a tremendous June, winning 23 out of 28 games. Unfortunately, the Knights suffered a series of injuries over the latter part of the month. Dan Conley went to the DL with an abdominal strain and a sore wrist. Next, ace starter Porfírio Portio was lost for the season; he will require surgery to address radial nerve compression in his elbow. Maurílio Godim strained a hamstring and will miss about 6 weeks. Versatile utility player Roberto Hernández also found himself on the DL due to a herniated disc.

The Beasts cooled off a bit but easily held on to first place over the Firecats. In League 2 Division 1, the Allies lost ground as the Key West Corals roared from last to first to grab a share of the lead with the Stade Maples. Likewise, the Vancouver Wild went from worst to first to edge the Richmond Slam for the League 2 Division 2 lead.

June 2017 awards:

League 1
Batter of the Month: Lariel Goméz (Brooklyn Knights)
Pitcher of the Month: Aaron Patterson (Brooklyn Knights)
Rookie of the Month: Ángel Padilla (St. Rock Mudcats)

League 2
Batter of the Month: Hsiao-lou Yuan (Vancouver Wild)
Pitcher of the Month: Ernesto Estero (Vancouver Wild)
Rookie of the Month: Marc Keefe (Richmond Slam)

The Grizzlies closed to within a half game of the Knights, thanks in part to a 4-2 record against Brooklyn. Continuing to outpace all other teams, the Luisville Beasts ended May with a 39-14 record and a very comfortable 10.5 game division lead. League 2 has two very tight division races after two months into the season. Several teams have been trading places atop their respective divisions.

May 2017 awards:

League 1
Batter of the Month: Manuel Montaya (Luisville Beasts)
Pitcher of the Month: Juan Miranda (Dayton Grizzlies)
Rookie of the Month: Paul Hutchesson (St. Rock Mudcats)

League 2
Batter of the Month: Aramis Jáquez (Richmond Slam)
Pitcher of the Month: Heath MacKissock (Quebeck Sky Chiefs)
Rookie of the Month: Chi-ju Fong (Key West Corals)

The Brooklyn Knights had to put two starting pitchers on the disabled list in April. Staff ace Porfírio Portio suffered a partially torn labrum while José Arisa’s elbow strain landed him on the DL. Even worse, top bullpen lefty Rikiya Kiyomizu tore his elbow’s flexor tendon and will miss the rest of the season. Despite the injuries, the Knights ended April in first place. The team of the month, however, was unquestionably the Luisville Beasts. Possessing a 22-3 record, the Beasts won 18 straight and were close to unstoppable. Luisville’s lineup was truly a murderers’ row. Through 25 games, the Beasts hit 51 home runs and batted an amazing .326. In League 2, the Maples and Allies both got off to strong starts. As they did last season, Washington ended April atop its division. Traditionally the weaker division in League 2, all four Division 2 teams finished April under .500.

April 2017 awards:

League 1
Batter of the Month: Manuel Montaya (Luisville Beasts)
Pitcher of the Month: Darius Luxton (Brooklyn Knights)
Rookie of the Month: Jaime Nieto (Dunedin Otters)

League 2
Batter of the Month: Kurt Johnson (Stade Maples)
Pitcher of the Month: Mike Wolfe (Washington Allies)
Rookie of the Month: Marc Keefe (Richmond Slam)

The Brooklyn Knights had a successful spring training with a league best 21-9 record. After a dismal 2016 season, the Cornfield Axemen looked much improved this spring. They were 16-14. Likewise, the Stade Maples are eager to put 2016 behind them after posing an NALB worst record of 64-98. They played much better this spring, posting a 17-13 record. League 2’s best record last season was the Vancouver Wild. They had League 2’s best record this spring as well, 19-11.

The Knights had relatively few injuries. Starter Juan Fuentes has some should inflammation that will prevent him from pitching at least the first week of the regular season. The most serious injury belonged to relief pitcher Matthew Lemay. He has a herniated disc, which will keep him on the DL for about seven weeks.

Key injuries in spring training:

• Dayton Grizzlies: RF Abelardo Daroca’s back spasms will keep him out of action for another 3 weeks.
• Dunedin Otters: SP Gerald Lavin tore a flexor tendon in his elbow and will miss the entire 2017 season.
• Key West Corals: SP Brian Harding strained his should on March 23. He is expected to miss 5 weeks.
• Las Vegas Luck: CL J.C. Somodevilla tore his elbow’s flexor tendon. The prognosis is an 8 month recovery, which will cause him to miss the season.
• Las Vegas Luck: 2B Quilvio Martínez suffered a broken hamate bone in his hand. The injury will sideline him for at least 7 weeks.
• Phoenix Rattlers: RP Fernando Landaes has a torn flexor tendon in his elbow. He is facing a 7 month recovery.
• Quebeck Sky Chiefs: LF Bruno Payton was the unfortunate recipient of a season ending injury, a broken bone in his elbow.
• St. Rock Mudcats: SP Fortunato Cidade fractured his elbow and will be out 4 months.
• St. James Crusaders: C MacMorris Holter was placed on the disabled list with biceps tendinitis. He is eligible to return in 10 days.
• Stade Maples: RP Adney Buntain suffered a partially torn labrum on March 4. He will miss the first 3 weeks of the regular season.
• Stade Maples: 2B Smoky Wortman tore a hamstring on February 28. He is expected to return by early June.

There were some notable roster moves before spring training began for the 2017 NALB season.

The Brooklyn Knights made relatively few offseason moves:

• The Knights traded RP Luís Monjarro to the Luisville Beasts in exchange for C Dan Conley, SP Ramón Madriz, RF Jaime Benabise, LF José Burgoa, and CF Wolfe Lucas. Dan Conley was the key acquisition. He is a fine catcher with a career batting average over .300. With the departure of Alvino Flores, Conley is expected to see extensive playing time behind the plate.
• Brooklyn extended the contracts of ten players through salary arbitration: Juan Fuentes, Romeo Usquiano, Porfírio Portio, Xerxes Scaife, Bruce MacOmish, Blas Ramos, Tony Tamayo, Maurílio Godim, Lariel Gómez, and Alberto Pescador.
• Arbitration was offered to Ángel Santago and Alvino Flores. Both declined and opted to file for free agency.
• Arbitration was not offered to Alexis Schmidt.
• Signed RP Rikira Kiyomizu to a three year extension at $2 million per year.
• Signed RP Bernard Gastelu for another year for $720,000.
• Signed international amateurs SP Santiago Decristino from Panama and CF Namboku Shimohira from Japan to minor league contracts.

Notable offseason free agent signings:

• The Stade Maples acquired the top player on the free agent market when they signed starter Tyler “Grits” Stivers to a $81.4 million, 6 year contract. That is the third largest contract in NALB history.
• Starter Kid Wilson found a new home in Nashville. He agreed to a one year deal with the Firecats worth $5.5 million.
• Gene Noke was the most desired catcher available. The Dunedin Otters scooped him up early. Noke got a 5 year commitment worth $33.5 million.
• Shortstop Larry Arceniaga was one of the most sought after players in this year’s free agent class. He decided to sign with the Nashville Firecats for $46.1 million over 4 years.
• Feliciano Gómez is an athletic player who played several infield positions for the Sky Chiefs over his six year NALB career. The Corals inked a 3 year $15.02 million deal with Gómez to bring him to Key West. What some fans may not be aware of is that Gómez is also an excellent pitcher with a blazing 100 mph fastball. The Corals may put his valuable arm to use in their bullpen.
• The Beasts added a big name to its starting rotation by signing pitcher Whitney Sanders for $48 million. Assuming he plays out his contract, Sanders will spend 5 seasons in Luisville.
• After seven seasons in Phoenix, superstar closer Stokley “Pumpkin” McGruder has found a new home in Nashville. The Firecats showed their commitment to winning by locking McGruder up for 4 seasons with a $21.4 million contract.
• The Richmond Slam will certainly miss their long time second basemen, Edmundo Ovelha. He tested free agency and was rewarded with a 6 year $58.4 million by the St. Rock Mudcats.
• In a surprising move, the Dunedin Otters awarded free agent closer D’Ángel Guzmán with a big pay day. His $28.4 million over 3 years surpassed closer Stokley McGruder’s contract, which was signed just nine days before.
• Goodbye Brooklyn; hello Vancouver! Left fielder Ángel Santago agreed to a 5 year deal with the Wild worth $48.8 million.
• After he was unable to come to terms on an extension with the Brooklyn Knights, catcher Alvino Flores declared free agency. The Phoenix Rattlers eagerly offered him $25.68 million for his services over the next 6 years.
• Starting pitcher George Manzo has the distinction of signing the longest contract out of this year’s free agent crop. He and the Vancouver Wild agreed to a 7 year deal for $55.3 million.

Notable offseason trades:

• The Washington Allies traded 33-year-old first baseman Pete Porter (retaining 20% of his salary) and 18-year-old minor league starting pitcher Ric Lenhart to the Nashville Firecats, getting 26-year-old catcher Doug Daly in return.
• The Las Vegas Luck traded 30-year-old reliever Paul Thompson (retaining 70% of his salary), 21-year-old minor league catcher Heriberto Galarita and $620,000 in cash to the St. James Crusaders, getting 19-year-old minor league starting pitcher Octávio Chávez and 24-year-old minor league shortstop Mark Ferguson in return.
• The St. Rock Mudcats traded 25-year-old shortstop Kazuki Sai to the Nashville Firecats, getting 25-year-old reliever Cordero Decena and 22-year-old minor league catcher Iorweth Crease in return.
• The Quebeck Sky Chiefs traded 28-year-old starting pitcher Dan Eckenrode and 22-year-old minor league starting pitcher Kearney Snipes to the Washington Allies, getting 21-year-old minor league starting pitcher Dave Kirby and 19-year-old minor league third baseman Kane Wyckoff in return.

North American League Baseball has its first member of the Hall of Fame—Dave Hambright!

When you think about some of the greatest names in NALB history, Dave Hambright’s name inevitably comes to mind. The recently retired hurler, who struck out 1665 batters on his way to a 182-77 record, was a dominating figure on the mound, frustrating hitters and opposing fans everywhere. Now, Hambright takes his rightful place among the greats in the North American League Baseball Hall of Fame.

Lifetime, Dave Hambright appeared in 341 games, hurled 2266.2 innings and put up a 3.34 ERA. He retired at the age of 41.



2017 Hall of Fame Voting Results (Top 10):

1. SP Dave Hambright 75.9% (2nd year) Inducted HOF
2. SP George Rodriguez 45.1% (1st year)
3. RP Tony Barber 28.8% (1st year)
4. RP Cal Owchinko 24.4% (1st year)
5. CL Jeff Ramirez 19.8% (1st year)
6. 1B Jeff Castino 17.2% (1st year)
7. SP Lou Leach 17.2% (1st year)
8. RP Spec Poole 15.4% (1st year)
9. SP John Hamilton 15.1% (1st year)
10. SP Gene Battle 14.0% (1st year)