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The Rowley Aviators are getting ready to kick off their inaugural season in affiliated baseball, with 98 players reporting to Spring Training at the team’s complex in Seattle, Washington this week.

The team played out the 2037 season as an independent Park team, playing a total of 102 contests during the regular season. The Aviators finished with a 33-69 record, showing signs of potential after losing their first eleven games (including four Spring contests) and finishing their first week of play with a dismal 1-21 record. After the team finished strong with wins in their final two games of the season, Aviators GM Elliot Ash believes the team is ready to make the leap to Major, as the team will join the Eastern-Independent League in 2038. Also joining the affiliated ranks will be the Lowell Dragons, a Rookie level team which will enter the Dead Man’s Hand League and play at McDougal Field. Three Park-level teams will remain: the Fresno Flyers, Carnation Cougars, and Garfield Arrowheads.

The Fresno Flyers are the main Park team starting in 2038, and will feature players fighting for a future with the Aviators. Among players expected to suit up for the Flyers are RHP Brian Petterson, who posted a 6.78 ERA in six starts, third baseman Jeffrey Hearn, who flashed leather but offered just a .281 OBP, and right fielder Carter Nicholson, a fan favourite whose defense made him a popular substitute in late-game situations, and who is believed to possess leadoff potential, though his .185 OBP for the season indicates that he has plenty of work to do to reach that lofty ceiling. Most of the Flyers roster will be experienced, and would be likely long-term callups if the need arises with the Aviators.

The Carnation Cougars, playing in northern Colorado, will be the primary developmental squad for the organisation. This is where many of the young players will be assigned to practice. While most of the players on the Cougars’ roster will be inexperienced, and some are viewed as long-term projects, a few players who break camp with Carnation do possess experience, as the Aviators employed 107 players last season, with 33 players recording at least 50 plate appearances, and 22 pitchers starting at least one game. Carnation is expected to play a few exhibition games, but will primarily practice and train for future success.

The Garfield Arrowheads, sharing a complex with Rowley, will be the team’s taxi squad. A few players will be selected to practice with the team and will be emergency callup options for the Aviators. The Arrowheads are unlikely to field a full roster, and won’t play in any games during the upcoming season.

As the team convenes for Spring Training, its first order of business will be voting on team captains and leaders. Players and coaches will nominate one or two teammates who they believe possesses the skills to lead the Aviators into a new era. Any player receiving at least five nominations will then be named semifinalists, from which one team captain and one alternate captain will be elected. Additional team leaders will be selected to represent each positional group (starting rotation, bullpen, catchers, infield, outfield).

We’ll report back soon with more information as the team prepares its roster for Opening Day at Aviator Park!

The Rowley Aviators today have announced a first round of cuts as they prepare for the upcoming 2038 season. These moves get the team down to a roster of 42 players looking to make the initial 25-man roster for the season.

Assigned to Fresno: Infielders Brandon Michaud, Scottie Redrick, Jeffrey Hearn, Lawrence Espinosa, George Dane, Brian Dicarlo, and Kenneth Mayberry; outfielders Andrew Montano, Edwin Black, Roy Sexton, and Carter Nicholson; catchers Roberto Bonner and Taylor Dean; left-handed pitchers Robin Carl, Oscar Medina, Thomas Fiorentino, Ryan Francis, Carlos Millar, Patrick Nelson, Matthew Porter, and Isaias Sidhu; and right-handed pitchers James Blizzard, Anthony Carrillo, Felipe Dinh, Robert Miller, Ronald Morton, Brian Petterson, Robert Zamora, Christopher Pulido, Gregory Sholar, and Warren Skidmore.

Assigned to Carnation: Infielders Son Camp, Ronald Chavis, Rolando Hannan, Cedric Rivera, John Weston, Gregory Jackson, Roger McIntosh, Don Perez, Phil Malone, Darryl Lee, and Keith Mansour; outfielders Michael Beckwith, Harvey Estes, Alvin Mascarenas, and Robert Silva; designated hitter Edward Burgess; catchers Daniel Bullard and Larry Shelton; left-handed pitchers Carroll Cohen, Jim Wiggins, and Maurice Bell; and right-handed pitchers William Abbott, Ronald Britton, Marcos Moore, and Marvin Pang.

The remaining 42 players will be participating in Winter League play. Among those making favourable impressions early on are outfielder Paul Schneider (.455/.510/.727) and second baseman Lawrence Mosley (.478/.520/.783). During the 2037 regular season, Schneider tied for the team lead with 5 home runs and led the team with 8 stolen bases, while Mosley saw limited action as a reserve, making 17 starts at the keystone and finishing with a .981 fielding percentage, best among his peers at the position.

Players who the team would like to see more out of include outfielders Billy Boss and Frank Johnston, shortstop Raymond Bond, and first baseman Timothy Allen. All four could be in the mix for starting roles in the field or at designated hitter, joining a crowded group that also includes second basemen Brian Smith and Alberto Bardwell, catcher Eric Thomas, and third baseman Hugh Saucier. Of that group, Thomas and Smith have been the most impressive in winter ball, but there is plenty of time remaining for the others to make a splash.

An additional bit of roster news for the Aviators as they have made another series of moves today.

Assigned to Fresno: infielders Timothy Allen, Joseph Marco, and Hugh Saucier; and outfielder Julio Leibowitz.

With these moves, the roster is down to 38 as the Aviators continue preparations for the regular season, their first in league play as we have mentioned before.

Allen and Saucier being included among the first wave of cuts is highly surprising, as they both were among the team’s best hitters in the 2037 Park season, however both right-handed corner bats flopped during Winter League, and it’s obvious that they were on the outside looking in when it comes to playing time. Neither is a particularly good defender, and the Aviators brass clearly favoured the skill and versatility of other infielders such as Kevin Miller, who’s seen time at both corner spots, and Thomas Moore, who’s played on the left side of the infield thus far, but has also seen time on the right side in his career.

Marco and Leibowitz were unsurprising cuts, as the two young players looked generally overmatched in winter ball, and were probably always destined for Fresno to begin 2038, with the organisation simply looking to get them a few more reps against live arms before sending them south.

Of note, the team will transition into Spring Training soon, the final days of preparation before they must trim the roster to 25. We mentioned two names as having impressed in yesterday’s column, and we’ll mention a few more who have stood out as Winter League play wraps up:

Shortstop Raymond Bond leads the team with 3 home runs, and has started four games in the field, in an effort to show that he’s capable of playing in the dirt, rather than being limited to the DH position or a pinch-hitting role.

Southpaw German Richmond has made a strong case for a spot in the rotation with three scoreless starts running 16.2 innings in total. His 0.83 WHIP is also among team leaders.

Fellow lefty Russell Noyes has shown why the team trusts him as its primary closer, with three hitless innings and two saves.

Right-hander Bruce Hammond leads the team in innings pitched at 23.2 and strikeouts with 24. He’s posted a 1.89 ERA and 1.01 WHIP in four starts.

The team will certainly have some tough decisions to make as cutdown day approaches!

The Rowley Aviators, today have announced their Opening Day roster, as well as the players who will be starting 2038 with their Park-level affiliates.

(Key: C- Captain, LC- Leadership Committee, LH- Left-handed, T- Taxi Squad)

Starting Pitchers: James Blizzard (T), Bruce Hammond, Joseph Mederos, Zachary Pickering (LC), Young Rivas (LH), Josue Strickland, David Till (LH) (C), Kristopher Velazquez

Relief Pitchers: Tommy Dove, Chad Maughan, Russell Noyes (LH), James Richter, Lonny Watson (LC), James Williams (LH), Jeremy Woodard (LH)

Catcher: James Todd (LC)

Infielders: Raymond Bond (LH), Mark Johnson, Kenneth Mayberry (T), Kevin Miller, Thomas Moore (LC), Lawrence Mosley, Brian Smith (LC)

Outfielders: Nicholas Atwood, Billy Boss, Frank Johnston (LH), Paul Schneider (LC)

Commentary: It’s a bit peculiar to see the team go so light on position players after constantly talking up their depth and ability to substitute for weaker defensive players in late-game situations. That said, Spring Training isn’t even over yet and the team certainly has time to make adjustments, and there’s no telling what moves they might make in-season. Still, the team had to make several tough cuts on the pitching staff, including a number of talented arms with high upside. German Richmond, a left-hander with extreme polish, flashed brilliance in the winter and spring circuits but it just wasn’t enough for him to beat out his competition. For now, Young Rivas has a tenuous grip on the fifth starter spot. The bullpen is nine deep and every pitcher is capable of going multiple innings. Tommy Dove, a 23-year-old power arm is definitely a name to watch. On the offensive side, Nicholas Atwood is much improved and looks to play a key short-side platoon role. He’s got the range and glove for any position, but his arm is fringy even in left. Mark Johnson at first base is expected to carry this offense.

As for the leadership positions, it was lefty David Till getting the nod as the team’s first captain. Till led the team in innings pitched and games started last year with 24 starts, 20 of those coming in the regular season with a 5-10 record and 3.94 ERA. He currently slots in fourth in the Aviators’ rotation, but it’s a volatile bunch and he could easily vault to the top of that ranking.

The two names making the Garfield taxi squad are fairly unsurprising. James Blizzard is a 20-year-old with some upside but put up an ugly 8.34 ERA in 19.1 innings pitched last season, starting two games and appearing in relief three times. Kenneth Mayberry saw some starts mainly at shortstop, but some at first base as well, but he finished with just a .125 batting average in 35 games.

We won’t print the entire rosters of the Fresno Flyers or the Carnation Cougars here, but here are some notable names who could contribute to the Aviators in some capacity this season:

2B Alberto Bardwell: The team clearly is high on the 20-year-old from Venezuela, but his numbers just weren’t up to snuff, and he’s admitted a need for more athleticism and flexibility in his approach. He’s assigned to Fresno, where he’s already begun work with a private trainer and daily yoga sessions. Bardwell showed a great eye with 24 walks last season.

RHSP Oren Palazzolo: Palazzolo was literally the last cut as the team struggled to get down to 25. The tall, lanky right-hander wears number 92 and posted a 3.01 ERA and 35:10 K/BB in 5 starts and 5 relief appearances last season, and he posted a 5-1 record. A balanced pitcher, Oren wants to improve the mental side of his game.

RHSP Matthew Torres: Torres, a Puerto Rican right-hander, is a finesse pitcher who wears uniform number 89 with the Flyers. He’s viewed as a bit of a project, as he struggled with control last season, walking 16 to just 18 strikeouts, and posting a 4.95 ERA. In a bright spot, he didn’t allow a single home run over 25.1 innings (8 games/5 starts), and never complained about having to come in during lopsided games.

LHSP Carroll Cohen: A 19-year-old assigned to Carnation, Cohen saw action in three games last season, starting one. His numbers weren’t flashy, but his poise stood out, and the southpaw has greatly improved his mechanics and skill this offseason. He’s not a likely contributor in 2038, but he could get a look when rosters expand, or if the team falls out of contention.

After sweeping their season-opening series against the Riverview Gardeners, the Rowley Aviators have taken a step back, with a 7-8 record through the first half of April.

GM Elliot Ash has decided to mostly stick with their Opening Day roster for now, with only one roster move being made during the recent off day. Second baseman Lawrence Mosley, off to a dreadful start to the season (.105/.164/.123, team-high 18 K, team-high 5 E in 15 starts), was reassigned to Garfield. Alberto Bardwell was recalled from Fresno, and left-hander Robin Carl was moved from Garfield to Fresno.

Bardwell is expected to slot right in to Mosley’s starting role at the keystone. He’s been moved to the five-spot in the order, with Billy Boss moving up from fifth to cleanup. Brian Smith is also on the roster, but he’s expected to continue as a part-time DH, with the team preferring Bardwell’s defensive skills to Smith’s.

Other moves were considered with third baseman Kevin Miller and shortstop Thomas Moore also scuffling at the plate, but both were retained due to their defensive chops. Right-hander Bruce Hammond is also a candidate to be assigned to Fresno as the team would prefer him to get playing time in Park rather than riding the pine in the Major league. (Hammond has yet to make an appearance.)

A few additional moves have been made by the Rowley Aviators, who sit at a 10-16 record with the month of April, 2038 nearly in the books.

Reassigned were right-handed pitchers Bruce Hammond (to Fresno) and Chad Maughan (to Garfield). No reinforcements were recalled in their place as the team has chosen to go with a 23-player roster for the time being.

Brian Smith will enter the starting lineup at second base, taking the place of Alberto Bardwell who has struggled with four errors in 11 games and a .355 OPS to boot. Nicholas Atwood will also enter the lineup replacing Frank Johnston in left field.

Kristopher Velazquez, a right-hander with 14 scoreless innings and a 0.50 WHIP this season, will take Young Rivas’s spot in the rotation. Rivas has a respectable 3.10 ERA, but has allowed 13 unearned runs and has a 1.95 WHIP in three starts.

Other organisational moves included the assignment of third catcher Roberto Bonner from Fresno to Carnation, along with lefty Robin Carl, who took a no-hitter into the 8th inning of his first start this season before being reassigned. Shortstop Willie Marshall was recalled from Garfield to provide the team with some additional infield depth. GM Elliot Ash said Marshall's defensive skills are good for the position, but they would like to see his bat take a step forward.

:')

With the month of May, 2038 nearly in the books, it’s time to take another look at how the Rowley Aviators are holding up.

A pair of new additions have joined the roster, with Matthew Nadel taking over at third base and Michael Owen filling in at shortstop. Thomas Moore, who had made 48 starts at shortstop this season, is said to be suffering from a hamstring ailment. It sounds like he’ll be able to return to the lineup soon. As for the performance of the new infielders, Nadel was off to a hot start but has cooled off slightly, still ranking fifth on the team with a .345 slugging percentage. Owen has started the last six games for the Aviators, all losses, with a punchless .053/.100/.053 batting line. He’s committed two errors in 32 chances, while Nadel has registered a .946 fielding percentage.

Also of note, Alberto Bardwell and Brian Smith have continued to split time at second base. Mark Johnson continues to shine at first base, with his .299 batting average, .356 OBP, and .407 SLG all leading the team. Johnson (4 HR, 20 R, 19 RBI) and catcher James Todd (5 HR, 21 R, 20 RBI) have been the team’s top run producers so far. Paul Schneider has also recorded 4 HR, 18 R, and 24 RBI, and leads the team with 11 stolen bases.

The pitching staff has continued to be a bright spot for the Aviators, with both the starters and bullpen performing well. Right-hander Dustin Dales, promoted from Fresno recently, has pitched well in the absence of Jeremy Woodard, the southpaw assigned to Fresno to work on his mechanics.

Of particular note is the team’s bullpen trio of left-handers, Thomas Mozingo, James Williams, and closer Russell Noyes. All three hold ERAs below 1 on the season, with Noyes 11 for 12 in save opportunities. They’ve combined for 49 strikeouts against just 10 walks. Noyes holds 13 strikeouts and is the only Aviators pitcher not to walk a batter this season (though he has plunked two).

As for the team’s record, they’re 22-32 with a -22 run differential. They sit sixth out of eight teams in the Eastern - Independent League’s Second Division, though with two of the teams ahead of them leaving for the 2039 season, they may have a real chance to make a move going into next season.

The Rowley Aviators are red-hot, having won 11 of their last 12 games and a season-high 9 in a row. While some may chalk this up to favourable scheduling, GM Elliot Ash thinks they’ve finally got the team clicking on all cylinders.

The Aviators are still just 40-51 but their pitching staff has dominated the league with their worst regular starter sporting a 3.21 ERA. The team’s defensive woes seem to have receded significantly with Lawrence Mosley and Michael Owen holding down the middle infield. First baseman Mark Johnson still paces the team with a .306/.361/.419 slash and a team-high 20 doubles and 40 runs scored. He’s among four players with at least 10 stolen bases, with Paul Schneider leading the way at 20.

As for the team’s lower-level affiliates:

The Rookie-level Lowell Dragons drafted their first roster. The team’s first pick was left-handed starting pitcher Thomas Oliver, followed by righty reliever Elbert Call and shortstop David Zendejas. The team is particularly high on Zendejas, who’s third on the team in AVG, OBP, and SLG while hitting leadoff in every game. The team’s posted a 21-12 record with its explosive offense powering the way.

The Fresno Flyers are 17-35 in Park, as their roster has started to solidify the past few days. The Flyers have qualified for the Park standings but are roughly 15 points out of a wildcard spot, sitting 67th out of 77 total qualifiers. Nonetheless, Ash is proud of their team’s resilience. Infielder George Dane has seen time at every spot on the dirt and has excelled at bat with a .278/.343/.412 line, all of those numbers leading the team. On the pitching side, the team has trotted out a variety of arms, but has been most impressed with the performances of left-hander Oscar Medina (2-0, 1.42 ERA, 27:11 K/BB) and righty reliever Marcos Moore (7.2 scoreless IP).

The Carnation Cougars have also played quite a few games, sitting at 13-22 after a tough recent stretch. Outfielder Julio Leibowitz, infielder Darryl Lee, and designated hitter Edward Burgess performed well enough to earn callups to the Fresno camp, while others, like lefty relievers Thomas Fiorentino and Daniel Arnett, are simply pitching for a future in the organisation. Southpaw Carroll Cohen has greatly impressed, with a 1.81 ERA in six starts and more than three strikeouts per walk.

late but Oliver and Zendejas are legit. Nice picks

thanks!! yeah they're absolute studs. I'm pretty happy with this whole group of rookies tbh

sorry for the lack of updates recently, mental illness has been kicking my ass yet again but I promise I'm still alive

After a successful inaugural season in affiliated baseball, the Rowley Aviators are gearing up for the 2039 season with many of the organization’s players taking part in winter leagues.

The Aviators finished 75-87 in their first season at the Major league level, with a positive, +79 run differential, finishing sixth of eight teams in the Eastern-Independent League’s Second Division. With every team that finished ahead of them leaving the league after the season, the Aviators could be poised for a deep playoff run this year.

Let’s take a look at a few players who could be difference-makers for the Aviators in 2039.

1B Mark Johnson: The right-handed slugger led the team with 80 runs scored, 43 doubles, and a .351 OBP, .406 SLG, and .299 AVG. He also finished second in walks (49) and home runs (9), and third in RBI (72). His .990 fielding percentage was instrumental to him starting all 162 games at first base.

CF Paul Schneider: Another righty bat, Schneider led the team with 13 home runs and 40 stolen bases, and was second in RBI (76) and runs scored (77). He was third in AVG (.289), OBP (.327), and SLG (.400).

RHSP Joseph Mederos: Mederos anchored the Rowley rotation, starting 35 games, and finishing with a team-high 14 wins and 207 strikeouts in 218.0 innings. Mederos also led the rotation with a 2.28 ERA.

LHRP James Williams: Williams was the team’s relief ace, with a stellar 1.11 ERA tops among significant contributors. (Righty Raul Miller did not allow a run, earned or unearned, but only pitched 4.2 innings across two appearances.) His 3.82 K/BB was second behind only closer Russell Noyes.

The team’s new frontline acquisitions, second baseman Ronald Human and left fielder Eddie Streeter (both right-swinging 21-year-olds), could also be a big part of this Aviator attack, while righty reliever David Schiller put up a 0.78 ERA with the Fresno Flyers (Rowley’s top Park affiliate) and seems poised to take on a big role with the big club in 2039.

Also of note within the organization: the team’s 2038 rookie class, along with a few extra players, were assigned to the new affiliate, the Alternia Carapacians, who will play in the Atlantic Semi-Pro League, an AAA-level classification.