#77 Nick Wanderlingh

The Wanderlingh brothers were interesting to watch this summer to say the least. From Nick telling his coach that he's staying in to pitch when Coach Wanderlingh was halfway to the mound to give his little brother the hook, to threatening to bench the shortstop for one game after a wrestling match with McArdle after a win, to Nick speaking freely even when his brother was trying to address the team, they were the entertainment on this team for sure. 

Nick's season got off to a crazy start, as he walked a ridiculous 10 times in the opening three game tournament. But once he started seeing pitches to hit, he went off. Wanderlingh finished the season batting .279, just fifth highest on the team, but with an unheard of .476 OBP, thirty points higher than any other starter. He led off every game last summer for the Jays, stealing a team high 17 bases in the process. Despite just a .279 batting average, he hit an incredible .389 with runners in scoring position, best on the team. The everyday shortstop finished third on the team in RBIs (12), second on team in runs scored (18), and he led the team in both HBP (5) and walks (18). 

Defensively, Wanderlingh and Dobkowski were automatic in the middle of the infield together. Their chemistry was outstanding all season long, which is why they were very rarely broken up. As far as pitching, Wanderlingh was the #1 reliever for this team. He threw 10.2 innings in 7 appearances, all relief outings. He recorded a win and a save to add to his resume, as well as an ERA under 1 (0.65). He struck out 11 but walked 8 in those 10.2 innings, so the control is going to need to improve if he wants a crack at the 3rd and final spot in the starting rotation. 

Wanderlingh knows his spot on this team... First and foremost, he is the everyday shortstop. Second, he is the leadoff hitter to get this team going offensively. Finally, he is a guy to certainly keep an eye on as far as pitching is concerned... He throws sneaky fast and is a force to be reckoned with when he gets into the zone. As a leader of this championship team looking to repeat, this team starts and finishes with him.