Season In Review: Jupiter Hammerheads

JUPITER, FL- The Jupiter Hammerheads had a strong 2008 season in which the team accomplished a lot along the way. Manager Brandon Hyde led the Hammerheads to an overall record of 74-64 in his first year as Jupiter's skipper. Jupiter bounced back from a difficult 33-36 record for the first half of the season to finish 41-28 in the second half. The team was in an exciting second half pennant race right down to the last day of the season, but fell short to the Daytona Cubs by a ½ game. Jupiter was full of many young players that possessed a lot of talent and showed that they have potential to be part of the Florida Marlins in the years to come.

Hammerheads first baseman Logan Morrison had a monstrous year. Under the watchful eyes of Manager Brandon Hyde and Hitting Coach Anthony Iapoce, Morrison blossomed and had one of the most productive offensive years in Florida State League history. Morrison was named the 2008 Florida State League Most Valuable Player after he batted .332 with 13 home runs and 74 RBI in 488 at bats. Along with being named MVP, the infielder was voted to the 2008 Florida State League Mid-Season All-Star Team as well as the Florida State League Post-Season All-Star Team. Morrison led the Florida State League in many categories. His .332 average was a league-high, as well as his 162 hits, 38 doubles, and .402 on-base percentage. He surpassed former Hammerhead Matt Watson's club-leading .330 batting average, making him the club's new batting average leader. He was named the Florida State League TOPPS Player of the Month for July 2008 after he amassed a .396 average with four home runs and 16 RBI. He also posted a .442 on-base percentage and a .614 slugging percentage for the month. The first baseman was the Florida State League Player of the Week for the period of July 28th - August 3rd.

Infielder Kevin Randel shined with Jupiter this season, and provided the club with veteran leadership on and off the field. He was released by the Florida Marlins just before the conclusion of Spring Training, but the Marlins offered him the opportunity to return to the organization as a Player/Coach with Jupiter. He made the most of his opportunity and finished the year with a .298 batting average along with 15 home runs and 62 RBI. His 15 home runs were a team-high. He had a huge month of July, which earned him the honor of being named the Florida State League TOPPS Player of the Month for June 2008. Clubs could not get him out, and he finished June with a .423 batting average with nine home runs and 30 RBI in 78 at bats.

Jupiter's pitching staff had a great season under the tutelage of Pitching Coach Reid Cornelius. The 2008 season was his fifth consecutive year with Jupiter. The club finished fourth in the Florida State League with a 3.56 ERA and 903 strikeouts. The Hammerheads had a potent rotation that consisted of Sean West, Graham Taylor, Kyle Winters, Jeff Allison, Derell McCall, and Cristhian Martinez. Allison and West were former first-round draft picks of the Florida Marlins.

2007 Florida Marlins Organizational Pitcher of the Year Graham Taylor had a terrific year as a Hammerhead. In 22 starts, he was 11-6 with a 3.46 ERA. His 11 victories and 95 strikeouts led the club. He was one win shy of finishing in a four-way tie with Dylan Owen, Jonah Nickerson, and Reidier Gonzalez for the league-lead in wins. The left-hander was fifth in the league with 140 1/3 innings pitched. Taylor was a 2008 Florida State League Mid-Season All-Star as well as a Florida State League Post-Season All-Star. He earned Florida State League Pitcher of the Week honors for the period of June 2-8. He was 1-0 with a 1.29 ERA and 14 strikeouts in two starts over that period of time.

Adalberto Mendez had a career year as the Hammerheads closer. Mendez recorded 29 saves and finished tied for the league-lead with Palm Beach closer Francisco Samuel. He passed former Hammerhead closer Todd Doolittle's mark of 28 saves back in the 2007 season. In 57 innings pitched, Mendez compiled a 3.47 ERA along with 59 strikeouts. He held opposing batters to a .215 batting average. He was tied with fellow teammate Chris Leroux for the league-lead in appearances with 57. Mendez was named to the 2008 Florida State League Mid-Season All-Star Team.

The feel-good story of the 2008 Minor League Baseball season was the return of Jeff Allison. Allison was a former 2003 first-round draft pick (16th overall) of the Florida Marlins. He last pitched in 2005 with the Greensboro Grasshoppers (A), where he was 5-4 with a 4.18 ERA in 17 starts. Allison had a good year with the Hammerheads. In 25 starts, Allison was 9-8 with a 5.22 ERA. His nine wins were second highest on the club behind Graham Taylor. The right-hander had a tremendous month of April. In six starts, he compiled a 1.88 ERA and held opposing batters to a .184 batting average. His productive first half of the season earned him a spot on the 2008 Florida State League Mid-Season All-Star roster.

2005 first-round draft pick Sean West had a tough first half of the year, but shined for Jupiter down the stretch. West spent much of the first half on the Disabled List, but made up for lost time when he returned. He had a terrific month of August in which he was 3-0 with a 1.16 ERA in six starts. He finished the year 6-5 with a 2.41 ERA and 92 strikeouts. Hitters could not figure out West and were held to a .224 average.

It was a great 2008 season for the Hammerheads, and they have a lot to be proud of. Fans were treated each time they came to Roger Dean Stadium because they got to see the league MVP and five Florida State League All-Stars. Jupiter played well in front of the home crowd and amassed an overall record of 40-29 at Roger Dean Stadium. It is always tough when the baseball season comes to an end, but Hammerheads fans have a lot to look forward to when the team takes the field in April of 2009.