The Norfolk Tides head into the inaugural season of the Champions League with some work to do having been designated to the National League. Pick 18 proved to be too difficult to overcome. Ownership’s plan was to draft a core of young players with their first 4 picks. Mission accomplished. It took them 9 picks before they drafted their first player who was over 30. “Nolan Arenado doesn’t generate a lot excitement in the lineup, but he’s good defensively” says Tides GM Mike Jimenez. The strategy for the rest of the draft was focused on filling out the roster with the hopes of backdooring into the Premier league. It didn’t work out, but they believe they found some value in Carlos Rodon and Luis Severino with picks 22 and 23. “Our pitching is lacking, but I think we have some guys on offense who can fill out the ballpark and make a run at the playoffs” said Jimenez. The projected team goes as follows.

Starters
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C Nick Fortes
1B Vladimir Guerrero
2B Ozzie Albies
3B Nolan Arenado
SS Orlando Arcia
LF Yordan Alvarez
CF Michael Harris
RF Maurico Dubon
DH Pete Alonso

Six Man Rotation
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SP Clarke Schmidt
SP Hunter Brown
SP Andrew Heaney
SP Austin Gomber
SP Brandon Pfaadt
SP Tristan Beck

Bench
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Lourdes Guirrel
Jeff McNeil
Gio Urshella
David Peralta
Christian Betancourt

Bullpen
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Rafael Iglesias
Paul Sewald
Hector Neris
Adam Ottavino
Daniel Lynch
JT Chargois
Trevor Megil

“We’re excited to get the season started. The pressure is high in the Champions league. Our hope is to get into the Premier Conference, but things can easily go sideways and we could be out of the league in a couple of seasons. It’s like baseball’s version of The Bachelor. We just hope there’s a rose waiting for at the end.