Health was always going to be the key to the 2022 Honolulu Hammerheads season. When you employ Jacob deGrom, Chris Sale and Byron Buxton, there's no bigger storyline to follow. The results were unfortunately not what GM Ross Horiuchi hoped for. Buxton avoided lengthy absences, but while his power shined, his on-base percentage dipped to .293 which limited his overall production.
The Heads maneuvered around several other injuries, forcing their way back into the Wild Card picture in early July with the return of Sale. A dominant start in Tampa Bay had Horiuchi focused on buying, but Sale would last just one more inning as a line drive broke his finger and ended his season in New York the following start.
The club's biggest hurdle was the $66 investment in deGrom which resulted in zero starts and points as the right-hander's shoulder injury in Spring Training lingered and sidelined him until late July when he was dealt to the Alamo Short Stacks in a blockbuster move before his season debut.
A young nucleus remains with substantial cap space to produce another contender in 2023 with rumors already circling of a potential reunion with deGrom to lead the club's rotation. Though a change in Athletic Trainers might be in store before the start of next season.
Catching
For a club that held the rights to Salvador Perez, Willson Contreras and Tyler Stephenson last off-season, currently starting the combo of Jason Delay and Seby Zavala should give an indication of how things went injury-wise for the Heads this season. With Perez and Contreras traded away, Stephenson will step into the lead role after an injury-plagued season prevented a breakout. While on the field, Stephenson slashed .319/.372/.482 and looks the part of a Top-5 backstop entering 2023 provided he has a clean bill of health on his surgically repaired shoulder.
The club is hopeful deadline acquisition Ivan Herrera can play his way into an Opening Day spot while Drew Romo is likely to be making a push for a promotion to Colorado late next summer.
Infield
Austin Riley has been one of the biggest breakouts in baseball, solidifying his surprise 2021 season and taking the turn into stardom as one of the game's top sluggers. He will anchor the infield alongside fellow superstar and deadline acquisition Paul Goldschmidt who currently ranks second in hitter scoring on the season.
The star duo will be joined by multi-positional threat Jurickson Profar and Harold Ramirez (.328/.349/.409) while Jose Iglesias (.311/.349/.409) could get a long look, especially if he continues to call Coors Field home.
Outfield
The $74 combined investment in Jesse Winker (.227/.343/.363) and Bryan Reynolds (dealt to Hops) is unlikely to produce a 2023 Keeper, leaving deadline acquisition Seiya Suzuki (1/$22) as the lead outfielder.
The clock is ticking on 2022 activation Alex Kirilloff who has showed glimmers of serious upside, but is fresh off his second consecutive season-ending wrist surgery. With a 2017 Tommy John surgery on his resume as well, Kirilloff will need to shake off the injury concerns to take the next step in 2023.
Jarren Duran (Minors) has logged 181 big league at-bats this season with mixed results (.221/.281/.370), but is a likely activation if he's handed the starting center field job in Boston to start 2023.
Pitching Staff
The Heads will have a reworked starting rotation as they look to replace deGrom, Carlos Rodon and Corbin Burnes. The group will be led by Chris Sale (1/$1) who will look for better luck on the injury front in 2023 after just five innings logged this season.
Deadline addition Pablo Lopez (1/$13) will slot in behind Sale as he looks to get back on track after a hot start to 2022. Lopez dominated through April, but owns a 4.55 ERA over his last 20 starts and 7.20 mark over his last six outings. A return to the form that made him the National League's Pitcher of the Month in April would be a welcome sight to end 2022 for the Heads.
The club will have a close eye on Kutter Crawford (4.17 ERA in 64.0 IP) and Jake Junis (3.53 ERA in 71.0) innings as potential options to round out their Keeper Roster while Paul Blackburn (8.94 ERA after the All-Star Break) likely pitched himself out of contention.
Ian Anderson (2R/$3) once looked like one of the more promising arms in the big leagues, but a 5.00 ERA earned him a demotion to Triple-A which leaves his future in Atlanta and Honolulu up in the air.
The Heads hold six pitchers in the Minor Leagues with Brandon Pfaadt likely serving as the closest to a potential activation. A breakout Spring Training could put him in the mix for Opening Day next season.
Farm System
The Heads made a push as a buyer in June and July, losing top prospects Michael Busch, Josh Lowe and their 1st Round Pick for 2023. Horiuchi was able to recoup some of the lost talent just before the deadline, adding Robert Hassell III and Quinn Priester from the Stacks with both fighting for the top prospect label in the club's system while Jace Jung (acquired from Hops) isn't far behind.
Catching looks like a strong suit for future Heads rosters as Drew Romo has been on the league's biggest risers in prospect circles while acquisition Ivan Herrera could have a significant big league role as soon as next season.
The Heads have a glut of pitching prospects behind Priester who stands tall above the others. On talent alone, Sam Bachman has the highest upside though he's been limited due to back injuries in his first full professional season. Brandon Pfaadt is internally loved in the Heads Front Office and will be one to watch over the remainder of this season and into Spring Training as he knocks on the big league door.
Current 2023 Heads Projected Keepers
*With 2023 Contract Status, Ranked by Value
1. 3B Austin Riley (3/$5)
2. 1B Paul Goldschmidt (3/$36)
3. C Tyler Stephenson (2R/$3)
4. LHP Chris Sale (2/$1)
5. RHP Pablo Lopez (2/$13)
6. OF/1B Alex Kirilloff (2R/$3)
7. OF Seiya Suzuki (2/$22)
8. 1B/OF Harold Ramirez (2FA/$5)
9. IF/OF Jurickson Profar (2D/$5)
10. RP Jason Adam (2FA/$5)
11. SS Jose Iglesias (2FA/$5)
12. OF Jarren Durran (1R/$1)
13. C Ivan Herrera (1R/$1)
2023 Draft Picks Moves
Dealt Away 1st Round Pick to Fightin' Fish
Acquired 4th Round Pick from Devils
Dealt Away 2nd Round Pick to Grapes
Acquired 2nd Round Pick from Stacks
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