2022 Items of Note
News, Notes & CommentsJose FloresWith the retirements of 43-year old first baseman
Greg Shepherd and 35-year old outfielder
Jose Flores this off-season, the Maryland Bridegrooms still have 7 original members of the California Golden Eagles roster from 2013: 34-year old closer-turned-starter
Artie Gregory, 34-year old closer
Lyndon Shortt, 37-year old reliever
Devin Lee, 39-year old second baseman
Jorge Perez, 33-year old first baseman/outfielder
Steve Pike, 34-year old catcher
Jim Smith, and 36-year old first baseman
Mike Brown.
A trio of young players who spent the bulk of last season with the AA Ocean City Crabpots should be with the big club at the start of the season:
Jeremy EmeryMaryland has two traditions with their big prospects: either bring them up too early and expose them to injuries where they never fulfill their potentials, or trade them away so they can be stars for another club. In
Jeremy Emery?s case it?s the former, as the just-turned-22-year old will be asked to be part of the Bridegrooms rotation at the start of the 2022 season. The #4 overall pick of the 2020 First-Year Player Draft, Emery rocketed through the organization last year after putting up an 11-1 record and 1.82 ERA in 12 starts for the Rookie League Redington Beach Panic. He finished the season with a 6-1 mark and 2.73 ERA in 9 starts for the AA Ocean City Crabpots. If the guy can stay healthy he should be a mainstay of the Maryland rotation for years to come.
Jeff Cahill 22-year old left fielder
Jeff Cahill has consistently been ranked among the top prospects in the AFBL after being selected as a 17-year old out of high school in the 2016 First-Year Player Draft. He?s been able to hit the ball just fine during his years in the minors although the big-time power potential that scouts love in him has been slower to develop.
Jeff Wells25-year old outfielder
Jeff Wells, a Maryland native, looks set to win a job with the Bridegrooms in 2022. Drafted In the 3rd round of the 2019 First-Year Player Draft, Wells is an award-winning defensive center fielder who put up a .300/.373/.462 line with 7 HR, 28 RBI, 47 runs scored, and 14 stolen bases in 284 plate appearances with the AAA Annapolis Destroyers last season.
And finally, in 2021, the Maryland Bridegrooms management conducted focus-group research and open-voting from fans about a possible nickname change and re-branding of the club. The organization?s favored nickname of ?Panic? was trounced in multiple polls by ?Bacon Jackals? leaving the organization silent about the results. It remains to be seen if ?Bacon Jackals? will be the club?s new name, but just about everyone associated with the club feels it is time for the ?Bridegrooms? name to go.