Winnipeg Goldeyes Hook Jose Sermo in Run for Three-Peat
American Association Daily provides insights and features on the American Association of Professional Baseball League, as well as player and coaching profiles and transactions going on with teams around the league. In today’s edition, the Winnipeg Goldeyes hook Jose Sermo, adding a key piece for a run for a third straight title.
Goldeyes Hook Jose Sermo
The Winnipeg Goldeyes had a very tough March, as key members of their American Association championship team in 2017 either retired or moved on. League MVP Josh Romanski left for Mexico, as did Mitch Lambson. RHP Mikey O’Brien was released, and Casey Turgeon, Shawn Pleffner, and David Rohm all opted to retire.
Those are some big shoes to fill, but Manager Rick Forney made a move that will likely keep this team near the top of the North Division, signing 1B Jose Sermo. This should make the middle of this order as good as any in the league.
Jose All the Way!
Jose Sermo is a name that is familiar to American Association fans. He began the 2016 season with the Gary Southshore RailCats, before having his contract purchased by the Boston Red Sox organization.
After three seasons in the Milwaukee Brewers organization, Sermo was released and began 2015 with the Greys in the Frontier League. He was a late addition to the RailCats that season, hitting .290 in 49 games with 13 doubles and 26 RBI.
He began 2016 in Gary, where the first baseman got off to an incredible start. Through the first 29 games, Sermo hit .311 with 5 homers and 24 RBI. His contract was purchased by the Red Sox, who assigned him to High-A Salem where he hit .292 in 59 games with 8 homers and 35 RBI.
In 2017, he returned to Salem where his numbers were solid. In 110 games, the switch-hitter hit .250 with 14 homers and 58 RBI. His numbers were solid, but were not enough for the organization to decide to keep him.
A Big Piece of the Pie
Hitting 5 homers in 29 games may not seem like a big deal, but in Gary it is. Just as a reference, the 5 home runs hit by Jose Sermo was the third most on the team that season, and he wasn’t even there for the final 70 games of the year.
The infielder has the potential for 15 home runs, which would fit so nicely into this lineup. Sermo will likely bat between Reggie Abercrombie and David Bergin. In 2017, those two combined for 36 homers, 159 RBI and 144 runs scored, plus both players appeared in all 100 games for the Goldeyes. This trio could easily hit 50-plus homers and drive in over 230 runs, giving the Winnipeg Goldeyes a real chance for a third straight American Association title.
American Association Daily Notes
The St. Paul Saints added infielder Dante Bichette, Jr. on Monday. Bichette was a first round pick by the New York Yankees in 2011, and spent seven years in the organization, playing in AA-Trenton in each of the last four years. Last year, the infielder hit .262 in 72 games with 4 homers and 33 RBI. He is the son of former Major League outfielder Dante Bichette, Sr…The Lincoln Saltdogs announced that the Miami Marlins purchased the contract of RHP Josh Roeder.
Listen to Sioux City Explorers Manager Steve Montgomery on Mound Talk.
By Robert Pannier
Member of the IBWAA