As season 74 came to a close on Tuesday, the Louisville Lions have hope in their future. After a rough season 73 that saw the team struggle to a 26-34 finish, the team managed to flip their record to a 34-26, the team’s best record since season 67, when they finished 36-24 at the end of a streak of four winning seasons, including two divisional titles. This season could have ended even better for the Lions, as they led the division with only 9 games remaining, but a poor 2-8 finish dropped them to third in the Ocean Star East division. With a win differential of 8 games relative to last season, it is clear that recent transactions have led to the team’s success.
The most notable roster change has been the promotion of Karson Hatcher to starting 3B, over the team’s long-time guard of the hot corner, Geoffery Donahue. After hitting near the top of the league for many seasons, Donahue floundered last season, hitting under .200. Hatcher, 31, who previously had only played for one season despite being on the Lions’ roster for 11 seasons, finally got his shot, and he took full advantage of it. In 195 at bats, Hatcher hit to a .323 batting average with 27 home runs and 70 runs batted in, finishing 11th overall in the league in hitting. Only 31, the Lions hope to get several more seasons in Hatcher’s prime. Donahue, a long-time asset, looks poised for some work as a designated hitter next season, but the hot corner seems to be in Hatcher’s control for the time being.
Other notable transactions include shortstop Valentin Delapaz, who was acquired last season in player bidding and was granted a 4-year contract this year. Delapaz hit at the top of the potent Lions lineup, working his way to a .293 average with 16 home runs. Although his numbers aren’t among the elite, his contributions to the team are undeniable, providing a spark to the team’s lineup. At only 22 years old, Delapaz looks to be the shortstop of the future for a team known for producing quality shortstops (see: Shamar Bueno, Jacoby Oquendo, Kendall Dennis). Juan Lerma, a right fielder acquired last offseason from division rival Miami crazybear, hit .289 with 15 home runs, another quality asset who is only 26 years old.
The team also added to their pitching rotation, adding Reese Keaton and Salvador Mora last offseason. Keaton, 33, served as the team’s ace last season and pitched to a 3.44 ERA with a 7-4 record. With a 99/13 K/BB ratio, Keaton has proven to be a dominant pitcher with elite control. Mora has not had quite the same level of success, though his 4.32 ERA, 1.17 WHIP, and 99/27 K/BB ratio are all very solid numbers. Mora is only 25 years old, so he has plenty of room for improvement as well.
Beyond these transactions of the past season, the team also added three players in this offseason bidding spree. The most impressive player who should make the most impact on the team is CF Montay Soria, who was the 12th ranked hitter last season. A center fielder from Miami crazybear, Soria has a career .303 average with 40 home runs in 2 full seasons. He is only 25 years old and has made a great impact on team scouts, who describe him as “clutch” and “a consistent threat to get on base and hit for power”. The team also added more pitching depth to their rotation, signing Segundo Limon from the Sacramento Solons. Playing for tree teams throughout his 13 season career, Limon has a 3.26 ERA with 76 wins and 985 strikeouts. He has been a consistent force on the mound for over a decade, and the Lions hope to get a few more solid seasons out of him.
Finally, the team acquired a player that fans have been ecstatic about. First baseman Tyler Schmidt, who played for the Lions from seasons 64-68, has returned to Louisville after 6 seasons with the San Diego Bombers, has returned to likely play out the rest of his career. At 37, Schmidt is well past his prime, although he may get some work every once in a while for the Lions as a DH next season. A career .307 hitter with 215 home runs and 311 stolen bases, Schmidt has a valid claim for the Franchise Ball Hall of Fame. If he were to get in, he would have a tough decision to make, as he split his career evenly between his original team, the Colorado Springs Mountaineers, the Lions, and the Bombers, although perhaps retiring as a Lion will influence his decision. Either way, fans are thrilled to have him back, as he led the team to a pair of division titles.
All in all, the Lions are very optimistic about their future thanks to new transactions and the development of current players. Whether they will make the playoffs is a more difficult task, as they are stuck behind season 73 world champions Baltimore Orioles, and rival Miami crazybear poses a worthy challenge as well. Either way, the team expects to improve further on their record from last season and is optimistic for many seasons to come.