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Columbia Fireflies Season Review: Tebow, Injuries, Breakout Performances

By John Sheridan

September 18, 2017 11 Comments

Photo Credit: Tom Priddy

Through each and every recap of a minor league season, there is much to unpack.  That goes double for Jose Leger’s Columbia Fireflies squad that had many distractions, record attendance, a rain shortened All Star Game at their home ballpark, and the normal ups and downs that come with a typical season.

But this wasn’t a typical season.  It couldn’t be one with Tim Tebow starting his professional baseball career in Columbia.  As if the hype and hysteria couldn’t reach a higher crescendo, Tebow would homer in his first ever at-bat.  As if it wasn’t going to be the case, the focus of the season was constantly on Tebow until his unexpected promotion to St. Lucie in the end of June.  In those 64 games, Tebow hit .220/.311/.336 with three homers and 23 RBI.

While many focused on Tebow’s exploits, it was easy to overlook the myriad of injuries that would befall the team.

Jacob Zanon‘s hot start was curtailed by an April injury the kept him out until the end of June.  While he missed a good chunk of time, he wasn’t the only one who suffered a serious injury. He at least got to play more than Blake Tiberi, who was only able to play five games before he needed season ending Tommy John surgery.  In fact, three extremely promising seasons for top Mets prospects were cut short by injuries requiring major surgery.

Jordan Humphreys was the most dominant starting pitcher in the South Atlantic League.  Through 11 starts, he was 10-1 with a 1.42 ERA, 0.718 WHIP, and a 10.3 K/9.  It led to him getting promoted to St. Lucie.  Two starts with St. Lucie, and his season would soon end as he needed Tommy John surgery.

Another pitcher who needed Tommy John was top prospect Thomas Szapucki.  Szapucki was having a good year, albeit one as dominant as he had in his first two years in the Mets organization.  Like Humphreys, he’s likely going to miss all of next year while rehabbing.

It wasn’t just the pitchers who suffered these injuries.  For the second straight year, Ali Sanchez struggled with hand injuries.  This season ended with a surgery to repair a fracture in the hamate bone of his left hand.

Finally, there was Desmond Lindsay‘s turbulent season.  He had a slow start to the season, but he turned it on in June and July.  His hot streak ended there as he needed season ending ulnar nerve transposition surgery.  Like the players before him, he is expected to to make a full recovery.  Fortunately, he is expected to be able to be ready for Spring Training.

Now, the season wasn’t all Tebow and injuries.  In fact, there were a number of outstanding performances that gave you hope for the Mets future.

That begins with the 19 year old Andres Gimenez, who skipped short season ball, and played well in his first season in the United States.  Through 92 games, Gimenez hit .265/.346/.349 with nine doubles, four triples, four homers, and 31 RBI with 14 stolen bases.  With him being young for the level, and his relative lack of inexperience, Gimenez showed why he has a high ceiling.

His double play partner for much of the season, Michael Paez, had a breakout year himself flashing the offensive potential that caused the Mets to make him the team’s fourth round pick last year.  Paez showed a good knowledge of the strike zone and the ability to hit for extra base power.  At the time of his promotion to St. Lucie, he was leading the league in doubles, and he was fourth in OPS.

There was also breakout seasons in the bullpen.  Struggling starter Adonis Uceta was made a reliever this season, and he was near unhittable.  In fact, all season long opposing batters only hit .166/.246/.244 off of him.  He had a 20 appearance scoreless stretch which led to him promotion to St. Lucie.  His dominance continued there leading to his promotion to Binghamton.  Overall, he was 6-0 with 14 saves, a 1.51 ERA, 0.905 WHIP, and a 10.1 K/9.

Uceta was far from the only dominant reliever in the bullpen.  Max Kuhns didn’t become a full time pitcher until his final season with Santa Clara.  He was absolutely in his 17 games for the Fireflies going 1-0 with a 2.10 ERA, 0.896 WHIP, and a 13.0 K/9.  Alas, because he’s a pitcher in the Mets organization and because he was a Firefly, Kuhn’s season would end with Tommy John surgery.

That really brings the season full circle.  Through the distractions, injuries, and breakout seasons, the Fireflies were 68-70 on the season.  It should come as no surprise that while the team finished just a half game back in the standings in the first half, they were dead last in the second half.  Overall, the Fireflies saw big attendance and significant development for many of their players.

Coaching Staff

Manager: Jose Leger

Assistant Coach: Josh Kozuch

Pitching Coach: Jonathan Hurst

Hitting Coach: Joel Fuentes

MMN Top 40 Players

3 Andres Gimenez

6 Thomas Szapucki

11 Desmond Lindsay

19 Luis Carpio

33 Quinn Brodey

35 Ali Sanchez

36 Blake Taylor

Awards

GM of the Year: John Katz

Female Executive of the Year: Abby Naas

All Stars: Dash Winningham, Merandy Gonzalez, Michael Paez, Adonis Uceta

All Star Game MVP: Winningham

Pitcher of the Week: Szapucki (6/19/17)

Batting Leaders

PA: Carpio 535
AB: Carpio 474
R: Carpio 53
H: Carpio 110
2B: Michael Paez 21
3B: Gimenez & Ian Strom 4
HR: Dash Winningham & Brandon Brosher 13
RBI: Winningham 70
SB: Jacob Zanon 28
BA: Strom .294
OBP: J.J. Franco .381
SLG: Paez .509
OPS: Paez .885

Starting Pitching Leaders

W: Humphreys 10
ERA: Humphreys 1.42
GS: Gabriel Llanes 24
CG: Harol Gonzalez 3
SHO: Humphreys 1
IP: Llanes 142.2
K: Gonzalez 91
WHIP: Humphreys 0.718

Relief Pitching Leaders
(Minimum 10 Appearances)

W: Matt Pobereyko & Darwin Ramos 2
ERA: Adam Atkins 0.86
G: Joseph Zanghi 41
SV: Adonis Uceta 11
IP: Zanghi 61.2
K: Matt Blackham 82
WHIP: Max Kuhns 0.896

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