Explorer: A person who explores an unfamiliar area; an adventurer

Montana management certainly went on an adventure on draft day and also jumped into unfamiliar, unknown territory – the future of young baseball players, especially pitchers!

After getting ping pong ball #23 in the draft lottery the decision was made to ignore this season and build for future. Selecting Busch Stadium in the BP draft, an even, pitcher friendly park, it was further decided to focus on defense, speed, and, of course – pitching. Set a priority on up the middle defense as most every team did.

Knowing all the good position players would be gone by #23 I hoped one of the few young #1 starters would be there to grab. Was very happy to take Tarik Skubal. A dreaded lefty, I know, but this dude just looks like an ace for the next 5-10 years. Only 92 IP this card and 3.0 WAR so there was no turning back on the “future” strategy.

Three picks later I was happy to get a guy that checked all the boxes – 22 Yrs old – SS1 – plays in Coors field – having a great offensive year this season (has tailed off since draft) Ezequiel Tovar.

Perhaps followed the strategy to a fault for some picks but ended up with a lot of speed and not much power –Turang, Duran, Friedl, Edman, Kiner-Falefa, even our catcher Connor Wong can steal bags! We may lose 95 games but we should lead the league in SB. The Explorers will be wearing track shoes so be ready!

Also targeted starting pitchers who did not have a proven track record but were doing good this season – Tanner Houck, Reynaldo Lopez, Jack Flaherty, Gavin Stone. This caused us to make picks based on IP later in the draft that doomed any chance of competing for anything this year.

If these guys can pitch as good the rest of the season (a big if) the Explorers will have one of the best staffs in the league next year with Skubal headlining. We may still be somewhat offensively challenged but we will be looking to make it to the Premier league for the 2026 season for sure.

Best pick may have been SEA Closer Andres Munoz in Round 12.

2024 Montana Explorers Lineup

Our meager projected lineups this season:

Vs LH                                                       Vs RH

Wiemer/Edman – RF                     Turang – 2B

Joe – 1B                                       Edman – DH

Friedl – CF                                  Friedl – CF

Ward – LF                                   Duran – RF

Tovar – SS                                    Tovar – SS

Turang – 2B                                 Bleday – LF

Kiner-Falefa – 3B                           Urias – 3B

Profar – DH                                 Cronenworth – 1B

Wong/McCann – C                         Wong/McCann – C

SP – Skubal, Houck, Smyley, Flaherty, Blackburn, Henry

BP – Lopez, Walker, Suter, Merryweather & more

CL – Munoz