Steelheads 2030 Season Thread

[LT]

After missing the playoffs by 1 game in 2029, the 2030 season is off to a rough start. A knee injury to starting catcher Dan Dixon, sustained late last season, has him out until May and now star LF Jesus Hernandez has a broken finger that will see him sidelined until the All Star Break.

So the starting lineup is changing and we will see the debut of former #3 overall pick, CF, Shojiro Chouda. He will bat 7th.

The new catcher, Luis Alfonso is a former free agent singed to the international complex out of Mexico back in 2020. He got a cup of coffee with the big club last season, going 5-13 in 3 starts. The new backup catcher is Octavio Hernandez, another free agent from Mexico, this time from 2021. He hit .206 in 34 at bats late last season.

Cesar Morales is the new second baseman after the Steelheads traded away Mal Parks. Morales had a good rookie season hitting .279 with 33 steals. He is a versatile defender able to play 2B, SS, and 3B with excellent proficiency.

Lineup

DH Dawson
LF Pegas
SS Dobson
RF Cameron
3B Allen
1B Read
CF Chouda
C Alfonso
2B Morales

Pitching Staff

Changes in the starting rotation in 2030. Former #1 starter Zach Anderson is now the #3 starter. He is coming off an injury that cost him most of the 2029 season. Brad Anderson was traded and Luis Trujillo, a 2022 signee out of Mexico is the new #5 starter.

SP Fish
SP Price
SP Anderson
SP Taylor
SP Trujillo

The bullpen remains mostly the same. Doug O'Brien gets another go after a stellar Spring Training run.

[LT]

Looks like the 2030 season is going to be a battle against injuries.

Catcher, Dan Dixon missed the first 20 games due to the lingering effects of a torn ACL suffered in the summer of 2029.
All star LF, Jesus Hernandez, is out until the all star break with a broken finger and has yet to play in 2030.
Cesar Morales, starting 2B, is out a month with a bone bruise suffered when he was hit by a pitch.
Cesar Farias, middle reliever is out a couple of weeks as well with back tightness.

Others have missed a game here or there due to minor bumps and bruises. Fortunately the depth has stepped in and the club sits at 25-19, in second place.

Milestone Games Pitched
Congrats to Eric Osborne, a New Mexico 8th round pick in the 2016 draft who pitched in his 600th career game this past week. Osborne was acquired by Idaho in their inaugural season, 2017, in an 8 player swap. He debuted in 2019 as a 27 year old and has been going strong ever since. The 11 year vet has a career record of 26-37 with 69 saves and a 3.92 ERA. He has posted 10.1 K/9IP over his career. The 2021 all star has been an integral part of the Idaho bullpen and we hope he continues in his role for years to come.

[LT]

2030 - a tough season. Idaho has limped to a 43-46 record thus far. Injuries have been the main theme, recently losing Zach Anderson for most of the rest of the season and now Brad Allen for the duration of 2030.

Both Anderson and Allen were having below their standards seasons, but it just adds to the 2030 list.

Despite the struggles, Idaho remains just 2 games out of the wildcard so the club has made a trade to bolster the pitching staff, sending AAA 1B Dan Hart and young OF - Ruben Vazquez to Kentucky in exchange for veteran SP - Eric Brown. Hopefully Brown can find some of his earlier career success in the thick of the playoff chase and help lead Idaho back to the post season.

[LT]

A hip strain will cost 3B Brad Allen the remainder of the 2030 season. The 27 year old, having his worst season will be replaced by 25 year old Steve Harris.

[LT]

Recently acquired Eric Brown has suffered a season ending (and potentially career ending) injury. The 38 year old left made only 5 starts for Idaho, recording 2 losses.

The season is slipping away for the Steelheads who are now 5 games out of the wildcard spot and have not been able to string together any winning streaks in a long time.

In other news, congrats to star SS Dobson on getting his 1000th career hit.

[LT]

The 2030 season is going to end with a sub .500 record and no playoffs for Idaho. An injury plagued season from the start, 2030 was marred with poor pitching and untimely hitting.

Injuries

Starting C - Dixon tore his ACL late last year and it carried over into a generally poor 2030 season. His worst since becoming a full time starter in 2025.
Starting LF - Hernandez missed the first 70 games due to a broken finger.
Starting 3B - Allen missed 4 months.
Starting 2B - Morales missed a month.
Starting P - Anderson missed 3 months.
Starting P - Taylor missed 4 months.
All Star SS Dobson went down late in the year, kind of a final reminder of the season of injuries.

A season recap is coming after the final 2 games.