Success can be fickle and fleeting in the minors. The nature of the minor leagues is that it is an affiliate’s job is to develop players and send them up the system, ideally to the majors. Players that make a team can often destroy it when they are promoted. Be it pitchers or hitters, the void left may at first seem unfillable. That has not been true this year at Myrtle Beach, South Bend, and, in today’s case, Eugene.
The Eugene Emeralds cruised to a first half title in the Northwest League with a 28-10 record. Along the way, the team lost the services of their top hitter, their home run leader, three starting pitchers, and their closer.