TRENTON- With the playoffs in sight now, after the Thunder took two out of three from the Hartford Yard Goats this weekend, the thoughts can start to turn to the preparations for postseason play. Trenton should be back in the Eastern League playoffs for the first time since 2013. The Thunder used a six-run top of the fourth to...
TRENTON- With the playoffs in sight now, after the Thunder took two out of three from the Hartford Yard Goats this weekend, the thoughts can start to turn to the preparations for postseason play.
Trenton should be back in the Eastern League playoffs for the first time since 2013. The Thunder used a six-run top of the fourth to take the rubber game of the series 10-2 from the Yard Goats. It puts Trenton (78-49) seven games up on the nomadic team from Hartford (70-55), with just 15 games left on the schedule.
With seven home games left, including three starting Monday night at 7 p.m. with Bowie, it is time to start thinking about the season-long awards for the Thunder. Here are the top five candidates for the 2016 Trenton Thunder Player of the Year, taking into account players that may be in Scranton Wilkes-Barre but played a significant role for the Thunder.
1. Dustin Fowler, CF- The 21-year-old Fowler had some, including Thunder manager Bobby Mitchell, raving before the season. But he has been better than advertised, in almost every aspect of his play.
The speedy center fielder has made some spectacular plays in the outfield to the delight of the strong Trenton pitching staff. But where he has shined the most is on the base paths, after putting the ball in play. Fowler has blazing speed, and has turned singles into doubles, and doubles into triples.
Fowler leads the Eastern League in triples with 12, and leads the current Thunder roster in average (.284), doubles (28), hits (137), total bases (216) and RBI (77). He has carried the offense at times.
It seems like a no-brainer here the Fowler is the best candidate for the award.
2. Tyler Wade, SS- One of the other mainstays of the Thunder this year with Fowler (both have played 119 games), Wade is the stabilizing force for the infield. With Mitchell focusing on pitching and defense, Wade has played shortstop very well. He can also move across the bag to second base, which has helped the team this year.
Offensively, the 21-year-old has been a catalyst at the top of the lineup in front of Fowler. Wade leads the team with 82 runs scored and 23 stolen bases, and has his average at .274 coming into Sunday.
Thunder on the road, at ARM & HAMMER Park
3. Chance Adams, P- The first-year starter has been nothing but spectacular this season with Tampa and Trenton. He is 8-1 with the Thunder (13-1 overall), with a 2.07 ERA in 12 starts. Adams has also set himself up to be the number one starter for the Thunder in the playoffs.
But more so than this year, the righty with electric stuff has the chance be a major leaguer at some point in the near future. With four pitches, including a fastball topping in the upper 90's, Adams can only get better in a role that he has embraced wholeheartedly.
If the Thunder can get two starts from him in a playoff series, it would be difficult for any opponent to advance.
4. Jordan Montgomery, P- Although the starter is currently in Scranton, he has to get some mention for the work he did in the first four months of the season for Trenton.
Montgomery was so solid in the first half that he got the start in the Eastern League All-Star Game, and came away with the win as well. He went 9-4 (12-5, 2.19 ERA overall), with a 2.55 ERA, in 19 starts for the Thunder. Montgomery is still the Eastern League leader in ERA as of Sunday.
The big lefty is another one of the vast pool of New York Yankees pitching prospects that should make an impact on the major league level, maybe as soon as this September.
5. Ronald Herrera, P- With a no-hitter under his belt on April 26, Herrera has been instrumental to the Thunder season. His record, which sits at 10-7, does not indicate how strong Herrera has been for half of the year. His first month was dominant, but with a couple of injuries sustained in May and June, Herrera struggled for fitness. But he is back to the pitcher he was early, with a 4-1 record since July 24. Herrera lowed his ERA by almost a run over that stretch, and will be counted on in the playoffs.
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Contact Sean Miller at seanmillertrentontimes@gmail.com. Follow him on Twitter @TheProdigalSean