For many baseball programs it’s a year-to-year process. Some are lucky enough to reload, but some teams have to rebuild. After the loss of their senior battery and a lot of offense, the Jordan Panthers and coach Marc Prager are trying to do both.
“We didn’t expect to start like this,” said Prager whose team is 0-9 after playing good tournament opponents like Yucaipa, Palos Verdes and North Torrance. “We’re not playing bad, we’re just not hitting well. The defense is much approved and we’re able to put out lineups for right and left handed pitchers… that’s something we couldn’t do last year. This year we have the depth.”
The Team
A big reason for the depth and the catalyst on offense is Robert Hurtado. The 5’7” senior moved over from second base and is one of the fastest players in the Moore League. He will need to continue to set the table as the Panthers wait for the bats to wake up.
Replacing Robert at second base is his younger brother Christian Hurtado. The sophomore leads the team in RBI hitting from the second spot in the order. Needless to say, the way the Hurtado’s go, so will the Panthers, but that could be a long winding road if the performances on the mound don’t keep them in games.
Rodger Hockenson and David Aispuro will do the majority of the pitching for Jordan and they have very similar styles. Aispuro pitched last year and will continue to try and work that powerful curve down and away from right-handed hitters. Hockenson can touch the low 90s and has a dangerous splitter, but right now he’s working back slowly from an arm injury. He should be ready to “let it go” when league starts this week, according to Prager. The two pitchers will also rotate with Jaime Reyes in the outfield, so the Panthers have a great group of arms roaming the spacious confines of Blair Field.
Working with Hockenson and Aispuro will be catcher Richard Gallegos. The senior will be catching for the first time after playing right field last season. “He’s doing it for the good of the team, and that’s all you can ask of a kid,” said Prager. Gallegos has a very good arm, and might be the fastest catcher in the Moore League.
One thing for Jordan fans to keep an eye on will be the talent at third base. Ruben Ortiz played a lot last season and will work at the hot corner once again, but sophomore Jovanni Quintero will also get some playing time.
Defense and consistency may be the deciding factor as to who gets more playing time. But in the big picture, defense and consistency will decide this team’s season.
Click here to see where Jordan stands in the 2010 Moore League Coaches’ Poll, and click here for the full 2010 Moore League schedule.