2033 North Carolina Aviators News & Notes

[Chappy]

Goppy Named Team MVP for 2033
He is the first Aviator to win the award 4 times.

The great Ahilocana Gopalakrishnan wins the team MVP award again for 2033. 

He led the Aviators with 31.8 Win Shares and is currently leading Patriot League in MVP voting.

Goppy hit .347 and scored 110 runs while stealing 25/34 bases and committing just 4 errors in over 1400 innings at 3rd base.

[Chappy]

Aviators Defeat Knights, Take Series 4 games to 1
North Carolina gets first postseason series win since defeating Ohio 3-1 in 2017

Sal Belcher hit a whopping .619 with 2 HR and 6 RBI as the Aviators defeated the Ohio Knights in 5 games to advance to the League Championship Series for the first time in 16 years.

Last season, the Knights defeated North Carolina in 7 games.  Coming out on the winning end over the same club that sent them home last year adds to the sweetness of the victory. 

GAME 1 - Aviators 15, Knights 11

The first game of the series was a wild one, with the Knights jumping out to a 3-0 lead before surrendering 5 runs in the bottom of the 2nd.  After 3 innings, it was 11-6 Aviators, and the runs just kept coming.  Sal Belcher was player of the game with a 4-for-5 day including 5 RBI.  Yu-zeng Sung picked up the win in relief of Jorge Luna, who would probably rather forget this game. 

GAME 2 - Aviators 7, Knights 2

The Aviators jumped out to a 2-0 series lead at home behind Ruben Soto, who allowed 1 ER in 6.1 innings to pick up the win.  Cristobal Castillo was player of the game, going 1-for-2 with 2 walks and 3 RBI. 

GAME 3 - Knights 3, Aviators 1

Dave Haug of Ohio silenced the NC bats, allowing just 1 ER on 6 hits in 7.1 innings.  Sal Belcher was 2-for-4 with a solo HR for the Aviators.

GAME 4 - Aviators 5, Knights 0

NC pulled off their first road win of the series, thanks in part to a great start by veteran Don Wilson.  The 38-year-old righty allowed 6 hits in 6 innings of shutout baseball, and a trio of Aviators each had a three hits to power the offense. Sal Belcher, Slappy Orozco and Cristobal Castillo combined to scored 3 runs on their 9 hits, while DH Shane Schute added a 2-for-5 line with a run scored and 2 RBI. 

GAME 5 - Aviators 6, Knights 2

Jorge Luna was player of the game, making up for his awful opening game start with a much better performance.  Luna lasted 6 innings, allowing 2 ER on 5 hits and picking up the win as the Aviators took the series in front of the home crowd.  Sal Belcher was 3-for-4 to finish the series with a .619 average and series MVP honors. 

The Aviators now await the winner of the Georgia-Ontario series, which is currently knotted up 3-3.  Everyone should be rested when the next round begins, so North Carolina will be able to choose from any of their SPs for game 1. 

[Chappy]

Aviators Breeze Past Blue Pirates before Falling to Bears
NC takes PLCS 4-2 against Ontario, loses to Colorado in 5 games

Not having a top-end pitcher finally caught up with the Aviators.

North Carolina defeated Ontario in 6 games thanks to solid pitching by Ron Carmichael and the bullpen, and also due to a barrage of hits from Sal Belcher (.333), Goppy (.348), Bob Hopkins (.458), and Slappy Orozco (.481).   

But in the all-important Federation Cup Series, the Aviators never overcame the hangover from an opening 11-0 loss.  Colorado managed to win the second game 8-6 before the Aviators took game 3 7-2.

The final 3 contests were all decided by 1 run, but Colorado came out on top in all 3.

A 6.12 team ERA will haunt the Aviators all off season.  The team was 2nd in the PL in ERA this season, but was without team ERA leader Bertil Aarden all postseason.

There is no mourning in North Carolina though.  This was a season to be celebrated, and when Aviators fans look in Baseball America and see the NC Minor League system ranked #2, they know this is just the beginning of a long, successful run for the franchise.  Whether they flip some youth for a top end arm will be the top topic at hot stove meetings this winter.

[Chappy]

Fall Purge
Annual roster trimming leaves players in limbo.

There's a sudden shift in mood in the NC organization each fall.  In preparation of the incoming draft class, aging players and minor league duds are granted their release.  There would be less pain and uncertainty if more players would choose retirement, but for some reason, few within this organization leave voluntarily each year.

Nine players in addition to whomever retires are on their way out.  Here's an homage to them...

RP Curt McCall - Raleigh
Originally an undrafted FA who signed with Ohio, McCall came to NC as a free agent claim late in 2030.  He appeared in 34 games for the Aviators, all during the 2031 season, going 2-3-2 with a 4.86 ERA.  McCall, now 35, did good for an undrafted guy, racking up career big league numbers of 18-16-8 with a 4.94 ERA in 357 games, mostly with Ohio.

P Tim Wilder - Raleigh
Wilder was a 3rd round pick (58th overall) in 2022.  He rose through the system quickly, making his big league debut with the Aviators at age 22.  He spent the 2025-2028 seasons full time with the big league club, but as the team improved, there was no longer room for him on the staff.  He's been a AAA pitcher with September call-ups to the bigs for the past 5 seasons.  The 31-year-old chose not to retire, so we're sending him packing.  Career AFBL line - 35-51-5, 5.06 ERA, 221 games (87 starts).

SP Robbie Parker - Greensboro
The 2025 draft's 29th overall pick (by Illinois), Robbie Parker, has never pitched above AA.  Let go by Illinois in 2029 and picked up by NC in 2030 Parker was a mediocre pitcher for Greensboro for 3 seasons.  The 28 year old has run out of time in the Carolinas.

RP Noel Spargo - Greensboro
A scouting discovery cut lose by the Idaho club before appearing in a single game, Spargo signed with NC as a raw 24-year-old FA and looked good early.  But two straight seasons of 5+ ERAs in A and AA weren't enough to get the 27-year-old a shot at AAA.

C Johnny Travis - Greensboro
Travis was the Avaitors 4th round selection in 2021, and went on to be a pretty good hitting catcher.  In 232 games with the Aviators, he hit .302-6-79.  A lack of power and lackluster defensive play led to Travis falling to AAA and then to AA, but I wouldn't be surprised to see a team take a chance on him.

1B Noel Campbell - Raleigh
A two-time all-star, this 2013 3rd round pick hit .583 for the Aviators in 15 games this season.  He's hit 172 HR in 4,285 career at bats and was the Aviators starting 1B from 2023-2031.  Now 35, we've got enough talent in the system that there's no room for Campbell to take up playing time in AAA, and we'd rather let him go than send him to AA.

2B Toyokazu Ishii - Greensboro
A 5th round pick in 2028, there's not much to say about Ishii except that there's no room in AA for 28-year-olds.  He did pick up 3 minor league fielding awards.

SS Alan Ratzlaff - Greensboro
The same applies to Ratzlaff, our 8th round pick in 2027.  He did not pick up any fielding awards, but he was a slightly better hitter than Ishii.  .249 career minor league average is nothing to write home about though.

OF Edgar Rivas - Raleigh
There was a time when Rivas looked like a potential Aviator outfielder, but after hitting .333 and .320 in successive seasons in AAA Raleigh, he fell off a bit.  Last year, he hit .297-8-64 for the Explorers.  But at age 27, we know he's not a long term answer and are moving on from him.  He was originally a scouting discovery from within our own organization.

[Chappy]

Aviators Take Wheeler in First Round
Santa Ana star leaves college early to pursue AFBL dream.

You could say Eddie Wheeler had nothing left to prove in college.  The Manhattan, NY native hit .325-22-73 as a freshman at Santa Ana College in 2032, collecting All-American and Outstanding Hitter Award honors at age 19.  His sophomore year 'slump' landed him a Glove Wizard Award at SS and the Outstanding Hitter Award runner up.   

Scouts rave about the young shortstop's range, glove and speed.  He's a leader on the field and works hard every day.  While he may not have the potential you'd see at the top of the first round, he's closer to big-league ready than many players his age.

With SS being one of the positions the Aviators need help at, be sure to keep an eye on Wheeler.

[Chappy]

Aviators Draft Young Righty in Second Round
Venezuelan teen Jorge Ramirez will join Delray Beach staff for upcoming season

There's a high risk/reward factor when taking a 16-year-old player.  Such is the case with Jorge Ramirez, who will leave his family and come to the United States to play baseball in a league filled with 18-22-year-olds.  It's late in the second round, so why not take a risk?

Scouts like Ramirez's curve ball and cutter and think he has more wisdom on the mound than most players twice his age.  But he doesn't have a lot of stamina, doesn't hold runners well, and has a change-up that can't retire many little league players.

Ramirez will probably wind up in the bullpen, but has the potential to be a starting pitcher if things go well.

[Chappy]

New Orleans Catcher Aviators' Third Round Choice
Seattle native Juan Rodriguez led New Orleans High to 2032 HS Championship victory

North Carolina claimed a catching prospect with winning pedigree with their 3rd pick in the draft.  Juan Rodriguez hit .304, .342 and .324 in his three seasons with the varsity club, hitting 41 HR and driving in 150 runs during his career.

NC scouts liked his patience at the plate and feel he can develop into a solid defensive backstop as well.  Good power - for HR and driving the ball into the gaps - mixed with the ability to draw walks will make him a complete player if he fills out his 6'4" frame.

The knocks on Juan deal mainly with his personality.  He's slow, but most catchers are, but he also has a low baseball IQ and doesn't lead well. 

[Chappy]

Aviators Spend 4th Round Pick on Free Agent Pitcher


Josh Brantley left Corpus Christi College after 2 seasons and spent a year in the wilderness before being picked in the 4th round of the 2033 draft by the Aviators.

While Brantley was not very effective in college (5-10 record, 5.23 ERA), his time away from the game has helped him develop some pretty good stuff, most notable a nasty slider.  People are naturally drawn to him, and he's a good influence on all that surround him.

Brantley will skip rookie ball and go straight to single-A OBX, where he will work out of the bullpen.  That team needs the kind of leadership that Brantley provides.

[Chappy]

Aviators Add Outfielder and Pitcher
Take Cooke in 5th round and Montagne in 6th

The North Carolina Aviators used their 5th round pick to claim 18-year-old outfielder Brad Cooke, confusing many fans and pundits. 

Cooke, starting right fielder for the Detroit High Red Wings, was not known as a productive player.  He hit just .254 for his career and .250 as a senior, totaling 17 HR and 75 RBI in 134 games.  His outfield play was remarkable, but not in a good way.  He committed 9 errors in 70 chances to post one of the worst fielding percentages anywhere.  But NC scouts think Cooke has lots of room for improvement.  He's a good leader, he's brilliant, and he works hard on his game.  He just doesn't have as much natural ability as the other kids.

Sometimes high school doesn't give you the whole picture.

Take the Aviators 6th round pick, Jacky Montagne, for example.  Montagne pitched for Nashville High, going 1-3 with a 7.96 ERA in 9 games.  The only 9 games of his entire high school career.  But the El Paso College coaches saw enough potential in Montagne to offer him a scholarship, and he posted a 3.64 ERA in 57 appearances over two season in El Paso.  The Aviators plan on sending Montagne straight to single-A OBX. 

Meanwhile, Cooke will be starting out in R-league Delray Beach.