2019 NYPL Champions/John Finkelstein (MMO)
Rattling ones head eternally, one could still not produce a word for not knowing something will end. We just don’t have one. Perhaps one should be made, or even borrowed from another language. Opportune it would be to have that word, as none of us could have expected that this would be famed-Met, Edgardo Alfonzo‘s, last year as the Brooklyn Cyclones manager. Manager of the Cyclones since 2017, and formerly the bench coach since 2014, Alfonzo managed the Cyclones to the best record (43-32) in the New York Penn League (tied with the Hudson Valley Renegades), and their first championship since they were named co-champions in 2001. Coincidentally, a team managed by Alfonzo’s older brother Edgar Alfonzo. (Note: the 2001 championship was called early due to the attacks on New York City on September 11th, 2001.)
In his final season as manager, Alfonzo led the Cyclones to the second best team batting average in the Penn League with a .242 average in addition to sitting in the middle of the pack in other offensive categories (8th in OBP; 7th in SLG and OPS).
Wilmer Reyes was a notable breakout among the team this year. Reyes was 6th in the league in batting average hitting .323, and was among the league’s best hitters with a 136 wRC+. Despite not taking many pitches (3.3% walk rate) Reyes used with contact ability and speed to his advantage.
Cyclones’ catcher, Jose Mena, also had a notable season hitting .299/.352/.433 in 105 plate appearances. Mena showed the most power he’s had in a season this year with a .134 isolated power. Mena pulled the ball a lot more this year at 53.4% compared to 38.3% in 2018, and the change in approach did not take a toll on his batting average (.295 in 2018; .299 in 2019) or his on base percentage (.353 in 2018; .352 in 2019).
There were also some notable performers among this year’s draft crop. Seventh-round pick, first-baseman Joe Genord was sixth in the Penn League in home runs (9 and ninth in isolated power (.185). Fourth-round center fielder, and quick fan favorite Jake Mangum, may be known for his defense, but was able to maintain league average offense as well with a 100 wRC+ over 210 plate appearances. He also showed his wheels with 17 stolen bases.
Seventh-rounder Luke Ritter impressed in other ways. Showing some of the best plate discipline among the recent crop, the second baseman held a 12.1% walk rate which boosted him to a .351 on base percentage. Ritter had a 122 wRC+ on the year over 272 plate appearances. Ritter was top 10 in the Penn League in doubles and walks among qualified players.
Of course everyone wants to know about first rounder Brett Baty. Baty showed his advanced approach in his brief, 17 PA stint in Brooklyn walking 35.3% of the time for a gaudy .529 OBP, but of course sample sizes. Baty did also see action in three contests during the Cyclones Championship run hitting .333/.455/.444.
There were certainly some standouts in regards to pitching for the Cyclones.
Cyclones’ 20-year old Garrison Bryant was among the most consistent this season. Holding a 2.39 ERA (2.69 FIP; 2.90 xFIP) over 75.1 innings and 14 games (12 starts) he was good for fourth on the leader board among pitchers with at least 40 innings pitched, and second among qualified starters. Bryant also had a respectable 5.36 K-BB ratio while striking out 25.7% of all batters and walking just 4.8%, helping him hold a league leading 0.86 WHIP among qualified starters. The 2016, 36th-round-pick also had threw six shutout innings in game one of the Penn League championship.
Michel Otanez spent half of his season in Kingsport and half in Brooklyn. The strikeout numbers did drop in Brooklyn (20.0%) from his time in Kingsport (33.1%) but held a 2.97 ERA in Brooklyn compared to his 3.31 in Kingsport. Still, Otanez showed a stellar ability to keep the ball on the ground in Brooklyn with a 50% ground ball rate, and allowing just two home runs in 30.1 innings. The concern is his ability to control the ball. His walk rate spiked from 8.3% in Kingsport to 13.1% (5.04 BB/9) in Brooklyn and his WHIP jumped from 1.13 to 1.42. The hope is for Otanez be able to recover some of the swing and miss in his pitches, as well as continue to produce soft contact, and not fall behind as many hitters.
Daison Acosta spent just 4 games in Brooklyn before being called up to Columbia as he held a 0.98 ERA while striking out a corpulent 36.2% of all hitters over 18.1 innings of work.
While top prospect Matthew Allen only had one appearance during the regular season for Brooklyn, he was a bit of a playoff hero pitching 5 shutout innings over 2 games, including the championship clincher.
Nelson Leon had himself quite a time in Brooklyn pitching 19.2 innings of 2.75 ERA while striking out 38.4% of hitters he faced. Leon also saved four games for the Cyclones in as many opportunities. His performance merited a promotion, and he did not finish the year with Brooklyn.
One man that should have gotten a chance at the closer role was Jared Biddy. The righty pitched 28 innings for Brooklyn to the tone of a 0.96 ERA and striking out 31.5% of all hitters. Biddy also pitched three shutout innings during the playoffs striking out a man per innings.
We’ve mentioned the playoff performances of some players here, but here’s a few honorable mentions:
Randy Adon: .421/.450/.737
Yoel Romero: Go-ahead single in clincher
Corey Gaconi: 5.2 IP, 0 R, 9 K
Andrew Edwards: 4 IP, 0 R, 8 K
As we look towards 2020 and beyond, Alfonzo’s absence may not be the only unforeseen change. With the proposed plan to cut 26% of minor league teams, the Cyclones may well move to the soon to be defunct New York-Penn League to replacing the Binghamton Rumble Ponies in the Double-A Eastern League. However, much like who the new manager will be in 2020, there is a lot which is uncertain.
MMN Top 30 Prospects
3 – Brett Baty, 3B
4 – Matthew Allan, RHP
23 – Daison Acosta, RHP
25 – Jake Mangum, OF
30 – Michel Otanez – RHP
Coaching Staff
Manager- Edgardo Alfonzo
Coach- Endy Chavez
Hitting Coach- Delwyn Young
Pitching Coach- Josue Matos
Athletic Trainer- Vanessa Weisbach
Team Batting Leaders
G: Luke Ritter 68 (3rd)
PA: Luke Ritter 272 (9th)
AB: Luke Ritter, Wilmer Reyes 229
R: Luke Ritter 39 (Tied 5th)
H: Wilmer Reyes 74 (3rd)
2B: Luke Ritter 15 (Tied 8th)
3B: Antoine Duplantis 15 (Tied 1st)
HR: Joe Genord 9 (Tied 6th)
RBI: Joe Genord 44 (3rd)
SB: Jake Mangum 17 (8th)
TB: Wilmer Reyes 101 (Tied 6th)
BB: Luke Ritter 33 (7th)
BA: Wilmer Reyes .323 (6th)
OBP: Luke Ritter .351
SLG: Wilmer Reyes .441 (8th)
OPS: Wilmer Reyes .791 (10th)
Team Pitching Leaders
W: Garrison Bryant 5 (Tied 5th)
ERA: Garrison Bryant 2.39 (2nd)
SV: Matt Mullenbach 5 (Tied 7st)
HLD: Justin Lasko 4 (Tied 5th)
G: Matt Mullenbach 19
GS: Matt Cleveland 14 (Tied 5th)
IP: Garrison Bryant 75.1
K: Garrison Bryant 75 (6th)
WHIP: Garrison Bryant 0.84 (1st)
Previous Season Reviews
