2017 Trinidad Triggers Season Recap - A New Era Begins After the Championship Run

The 2017 Trinidad Triggers entered the season facing something the franchise had rarely experienced during its first five years: significant change. Trinidad was coming off the greatest postseason run in team history, having reached the 2016 Pecos League Championship Series and coming within three outs of winning the championship before the Tucson Saguaros rallied in the bottom of the ninth inning of the deciding game.

That heartbreaking loss ended one era of Triggers baseball and created the challenge facing the 2017 club. Royce Holder's tenure as manager had ended after two extremely successful seasons, including the dominant 2015 Northern Division championship team and the 2016 club that finally carried Trinidad into the Pecos League Finals.

The 2017 Triggers therefore weren't simply trying to put another competitive team on the field at Central Park. They were attempting to maintain the standard established during the first five seasons of the franchise while building around a new collection of players.

They succeeded.

Trinidad finished the 2017 regular season 37-26, producing another winning season and once again establishing one of the most dangerous offensive teams in the Pecos League. The Triggers featured a lineup built around Phildrick Llewellyn, Javion Randle, Eric Ferguson and Tim Henry, while Teddy Henderson emerged as the winningest pitcher on the staff and David Gates developed into a dependable closer.

It wasn't the championship run of 2016, but the 2017 season demonstrated that Trinidad wasn't going to disappear from the Pecos League landscape simply because the previous era had ended.

Moving Forward After 2016

There was no easy way for the Triggers to follow what had happened the previous summer.

The 2016 team had reached the championship series for the first time in franchise history and traveled to Tucson for the final games against a Saguaros club that had won 51 regular-season games. Trinidad entered the bottom of the ninth inning of the deciding championship game leading 4-2 before Tucson scored three times to win 5-4.

Three outs had separated Trinidad from its first Pecos League championship.

The 2017 team couldn't change that result. Its responsibility was to begin writing the next chapter.

By this point, expectations in Trinidad had changed dramatically from those of the inaugural 2012 season. Simply completing a professional baseball season was no longer considered an accomplishment. The Triggers had established a tradition of winning baseball at Central Park and had become one of the Pecos League's recognizable franchises.

The new group had to live up to that history.

The Triggers Start the Season on the Road

Trinidad opened its official regular-season schedule with a road trip and immediately showed that the 2017 team could win.

The Triggers opened with consecutive victories on May 25 and May 26, winning 9-5 and 3-1. The next two games demonstrated the unpredictable nature of Pecos League baseball. Trinidad lost 25-11 and then dropped a much closer 9-8 game before returning home.

The Triggers responded by winning three consecutive games to finish May, scoring nine runs in victories on May 29 and May 30 before winning 7-6 on May 31.

Through the opening portion of the schedule, one characteristic of the team was already becoming obvious.

Trinidad could score.

That would remain true throughout the summer.

Phildrick Llewellyn Becomes the Centerpiece of the Offense

No Trinidad hitter produced more consistently throughout the 2017 season than Phildrick Llewellyn.

Llewellyn played 60 games and accumulated 269 at-bats, finishing with 116 hits. He scored 75 runs, hit 15 doubles, two triples and 15 home runs while driving in 77 runs.

His 116 hits in only 60 games illustrated how consistently he reached base and created offense. Llewellyn wasn't simply a power hitter. He could collect multiple hits, drive the baseball into the gaps and provide run production in the middle of the Trinidad lineup.

He became one of the players opposing pitchers had to account for every time Trinidad came to the plate.

The 15 home runs tied him for the team lead, while his 77 RBIs ranked among the best totals on the roster.

But Llewellyn wasn't carrying the offense alone.

Javion Randle Produces a Huge Season

Javion Randle gave Trinidad another elite offensive threat.

Randle played 59 games and collected 106 hits in 244 at-bats. He scored 50 runs, hit 16 doubles, two triples and 14 home runs while leading the Triggers with 79 RBIs.

He also stole 21 bases.

That combination of hitting, power and speed made Randle one of the most complete offensive players on the Trinidad roster. Pitchers couldn't simply work around Llewellyn because Randle provided another hitter capable of driving in runs immediately behind or around him in the lineup.

Together, Llewellyn and Randle combined for 222 hits, 29 home runs and 156 RBIs.

That production formed the foundation of the 2017 Trinidad offense.

Eric Ferguson Adds Power and Speed

Eric Ferguson gave the Triggers another dimension.

Ferguson appeared in 45 games and collected 77 hits in 203 at-bats. He scored 62 runs, hit 20 doubles, two triples and seven home runs while driving in 48.

He was particularly dangerous once he reached base.

Ferguson stole 30 bases, the highest total on the Trinidad roster. His ability to create offense with his legs gave the Triggers a different weapon from the pure power provided by some of the other hitters.

With Ferguson getting on base and creating pressure, followed by the run-producing ability throughout the lineup, Trinidad could manufacture runs or simply wait for someone to drive the baseball out of the park.

Tim Henry Provides Another Power Bat

Tim Henry was another major contributor to the offense.

Henry played 60 games and finished with 84 hits, 13 doubles, three triples and 12 home runs. He scored 57 runs and drove in 59 while providing another consistent presence in the lineup.

His 12 home runs gave Trinidad another legitimate power threat and made it extremely difficult for opposing pitchers to navigate the middle of the Triggers batting order.

Kenneth Fudge added nine home runs and 36 RBIs while also drawing 46 walks. Kyle Rodriguez collected 61 hits and drove in 34 runs, while Justin Busekrus and Lucas Owens helped provide additional depth.

Jordan Van Atta was especially productive in limited action. In only 80 at-bats, Van Atta collected 33 hits, seven doubles and seven home runs while driving in 25.

There was no single easy portion of the Trinidad lineup.

Central Park Becomes an Offensive Showcase

The power of the Triggers offense was evident in the scores throughout June.

Trinidad defeated opponents 15-13, 13-9, 25-10, 18-10, 17-7 and 27-5 during different stretches of the month. The Triggers also recorded victories of 16-2, 11-3 and 8-4.

The June 13 game was one of the most explosive performances of the season, with Trinidad scoring 25 runs in a 25-10 victory.

Four days later, the Triggers did even more damage.

On June 17, Trinidad scored 27 runs in a 27-5 victory, one of the largest offensive outputs on the entire schedule.

Those games demonstrated both the strength of Trinidad's lineup and the offensive nature of the Pecos League during this era.

When the Triggers started hitting, games could get out of control quickly.

A Four-Game Winning Streak Highlights June

One of Trinidad's strongest stretches came in the middle of June.

The Triggers won 18-10 on June 15 and followed with a 17-7 victory the next night. Then came the 27-5 explosion on June 17.

Trinidad completed the four-game winning streak with an 8-7 victory on June 18.

During those four games, the Triggers scored 70 runs.

That stretch perfectly summarized the identity of the 2017 club. Trinidad was capable of overwhelming opponents with offense and turning virtually any game into a scoring explosion.

The challenge was producing enough pitching to complement it.

Teddy Henderson Emerges as Trinidad's Winningest Pitcher

Teddy Henderson provided Trinidad with one of its most reliable starting pitchers.

Henderson made 10 starts and finished the season with an outstanding 8-1 record. He threw 69.1 innings, including one complete game, and struck out 59 hitters.

His 5.19 ERA has to be viewed within the context of the Pecos League's extremely offensive environment. Trinidad regularly participated in games where both teams scored in double figures, making traditional pitching statistics look dramatically different from those produced in lower-scoring professional leagues.

What mattered most was that Trinidad won when Henderson pitched.

Eight victories against only one loss made him the most successful starting pitcher on the staff by record.

Brandon Erickson Carries the Largest Starting Workload

Brandon Erickson became another important part of the rotation.

Erickson started 12 games and threw 74 innings, the highest total on the Trinidad staff. He finished 6-3 with a 5.35 ERA and struck out 74 hitters.

Like Henderson, Erickson gave Trinidad innings and victories during a schedule that required pitchers to consistently take the baseball despite difficult travel and hitter-friendly conditions.

Nate Harmon went 4-0 in six starts, while Andrew Reardon made nine starts and struck out 59 hitters in 51 innings.

Zach Kirby was also extremely effective in his opportunities, going 2-0 with a 4.37 ERA while striking out 56 in 37 innings.

Together, the rotation provided enough stability for Trinidad's offense to do what it did best.

Score runs.

Cody Strayer Becomes a Valuable Multi-Inning Weapon

Cody Strayer provided one of the most valuable performances on the pitching staff because of his versatility.

Strayer appeared in 30 games, making three starts, and threw 50.1 innings. He finished 4-3 with a 3.57 ERA, recorded three saves and struck out 65 hitters.

Those numbers were exceptional for the league environment.

Strayer could pitch in a variety of situations and gave Trinidad an experienced arm capable of working multiple innings out of the bullpen or starting when necessary.

Matt Picucci provided another strong bullpen option, posting a 3.69 ERA across 23 appearances and 31.2 innings.

But when Trinidad needed to finish a close game, one pitcher became the primary option.

David Gates Slams the Door

David Gates emerged as Trinidad's closer and produced one of the strongest statistical seasons on the pitching staff.

Gates appeared in 17 games and recorded 12 saves.

He allowed only two earned runs in 17 innings, producing a 1.05 ERA while striking out 20 hitters.

In a league where high-scoring games were routine, a 1.05 ERA was remarkable.

Gates gave Trinidad something particularly valuable: confidence late in close games.

If the Triggers could carry a lead into the final innings, they had a pitcher capable of protecting it.

That became especially important because not every Trinidad victory was a blowout.

The schedule was filled with one-run games.

The Triggers Learn How to Win Close Games

For all of Trinidad's offensive explosions, some of the most important victories were decided by a single run.

The Triggers won 7-6 on May 31, 15-13 on June 4, 7-6 on June 8 and again 7-6 on June 12. They won 8-7 on June 18 and 4-3 in the second game of a June 27 doubleheader.

The pattern continued in July.

Trinidad won 9-7 on July 3, 4-3 on July 6, 7-6 on July 22 and 11-9 on July 24.

Those games mattered because they demonstrated that the 2017 Triggers weren't simply a team capable of beating opponents 25-10 or 27-5.

They could survive close games as well.

That ability helped Trinidad remain above .500 even when the offense wasn't dominating.

July Becomes a Grind

The final full month of the regular season tested the Triggers.

Trinidad opened July with a 9-7 loss before responding with victories of 14-5, 9-7 and 6-2. A wild 13-12 loss followed on July 5 before the Triggers won another one-run game, 4-3, on July 6.

The inconsistency continued through the middle of the month.

Trinidad lost 17-5, responded with consecutive victories of 12-5 and 12-3, then later endured losses of 12-11, 11-3, another 12-11 defeat and an 8-6 loss.

The Triggers never completely collapsed.

After losing 7-5 on July 20, Trinidad responded by winning three consecutive road games, 3-1, 7-6 and 12-5. The Triggers then won 11-9 on July 24.

It was exactly the type of resilience necessary to survive a Pecos League season.

The Final Road Trip

Trinidad finished the regular season away from Central Park.

After a 14-3 victory on July 26, the Triggers won again on July 27 by a 5-3 score. The closing stretch then became more difficult, with Trinidad losing 13-3 and 6-0.

The Triggers responded one final time on August 1 with a 6-2 victory before dropping their final scheduled game 3-2 on August 2.

When the regular season was complete, Trinidad had played 63 games with recorded decisions.

The final record was 37-26.

It was another winning summer at Central Park.

A Remarkably Balanced Offensive Team

One of the most impressive aspects of the 2017 Triggers was the number of players who contributed offensively.

Llewellyn led the team with 116 hits and tied for the club lead with 15 home runs. Randle finished with 106 hits, 14 home runs and a team-high 79 RBIs. Henry added 12 home runs and 59 RBIs. Ferguson scored 62 runs, collected 20 doubles and stole 30 bases. Fudge hit nine home runs and drew 46 walks.

Even players who weren't everyday starters provided significant production.

Van Atta hit seven home runs in only 80 at-bats. Lucas Owens collected 48 hits in 140 at-bats. Justin Busekrus had 46 hits and scored 42 runs.

Trinidad had power, speed and depth.

The numbers explain why the schedule contains so many games in which the Triggers scored in double figures.

Pitching Was the Difference Between Winning and Losing

The season also demonstrated how difficult pitching could be in the Pecos League.

When Trinidad received quality pitching, the combination was extremely difficult to beat. Henderson's 8-1 record, Erickson's six victories, Strayer's 3.57 ERA and Gates' remarkable 1.05 ERA gave the Triggers a dependable core.

When the pitching struggled, however, games could quickly become offensive shootouts.

Trinidad lost games by scores of 25-11, 19-12, 17-11, 17-5 and 17-3. The same club capable of scoring 20 or more runs could find itself on the opposite side of those totals.

That volatility became one of the defining characteristics of the season.

Few Trinidad games were predictable.

Another Winning Season at Central Park

The 37-26 record continued an extraordinary opening run for the Trinidad franchise.

Beginning with the team's inaugural season in 2012, Trinidad had established itself as one of the Pecos League's most durable and competitive markets. The Triggers had experienced playoff runs, national television exposure, affiliated player signings, a division championship and a trip to the Pecos League Championship Series.

The 2017 club inherited that history but wasn't defined by the players who had come before it.

Llewellyn, Randle, Ferguson, Henry, Henderson, Erickson, Strayer and Gates created their own identity.

They produced another winning team.

A New Chapter in Triggers History

The significance of the 2017 season becomes clearer when viewed alongside the season that preceded it.

The 2016 Triggers had come within three outs of winning the Pecos League championship. Royce Holder's departure closed that chapter of franchise history.

It would have been easy for Trinidad to experience a major decline.

Instead, the Triggers won 37 games.

They developed one of the most productive offensive combinations in the league with Phildrick Llewellyn and Javion Randle. Teddy Henderson emerged as an eight-game winner. Brandon Erickson gave the rotation 74 innings. Cody Strayer became one of the team's most dependable pitchers, and David Gates gave Trinidad an outstanding closer with 12 saves and a 1.05 ERA.

The season included enormous offensive performances, close victories, difficult losses and the type of unpredictable baseball that had become part of the identity of the Pecos League.

Most importantly, Trinidad continued winning.

The Triggers Remain One of the Pecos League's Established Franchises

Six seasons into the history of the Trinidad Triggers, the organization had moved well beyond the experimental stage.

Central Park had become an established professional baseball home. The Triggers had become one of the league's recognizable brands, and Trinidad had proven that it could continue fielding competitive teams even as managers and players changed.

The 2017 season wasn't the championship season Trinidad had nearly experienced one year earlier.

It was something different.

It was proof of stability.

The Triggers lost the manager who had taken them to the championship series, turned over much of the roster and still finished 37-26.

A new collection of players arrived at Central Park and continued the winning tradition.

Phildrick Llewellyn and Javion Randle became the stars of the offense. Teddy Henderson became the staff's biggest winner. David Gates became the closer. Around them was a deep roster that made the 2017 Triggers one of the most entertaining offensive teams in franchise history.

The previous season had shown how close Trinidad could come to winning a championship.

The 2017 season showed that the franchise could survive change and keep winning.

That made 2017 another important chapter in the history of the Trinidad Triggers.

2017 Trinidad Triggers
Regular Season Record: 37-26
Home Field: Trinidad Central Park
Leading Hit Total: Phildrick Llewellyn - 116 Hits
Home Run Leader: Phildrick Llewellyn - 15 HR
RBI Leader: Javion Randle - 79 RBI
Stolen Base Leader: Eric Ferguson - 30 SB
Pitching Wins Leader: Teddy Henderson - 8-1
Innings Leader: Brandon Erickson - 74 IP
Strikeout Leader: Brandon Erickson - 74 SO
Saves Leader: David Gates - 12 Saves
David Gates ERA: 1.05
Cody Strayer: 4-3, 3.57 ERA, 65 SO, 3 Saves
Largest Recorded Offensive Output: 27 Runs on June 17
Historical Significance: First season following Trinidad's 2016 Pecos League Championship Series appearance and the beginning of a new era after Royce Holder's departure