2019 Trinidad Triggers Season Recap - A Difficult Summer Ends Trinidad's Decade of Pecos League Baseball
The 2019 Trinidad Triggers season represented a dramatic change from the success the franchise had enjoyed throughout much of its first decade in the Pecos League. One year after winning 45 games and fielding one of the most explosive offensive teams in franchise history, Trinidad struggled to find the same consistency in 2019 and finished the regular season with a 25-31 record.
It was an unusual position for the Triggers.
Since arriving at Trinidad Central Park in 2012, the franchise had become accustomed to winning baseball. Trinidad had reached the playoffs repeatedly, won a division, appeared in the Pecos League Championship Series and developed a reputation as one of the league's most stable and competitive organizations. The Triggers had also been the centerpiece of "The Pecos League" television series filmed during the 2013 season and later aired nationally on Fox Sports 1.
The 2019 season didn't follow the familiar script.
Trinidad still had talented players and remained capable of putting together impressive stretches of baseball, but the Triggers never developed the sustained momentum that had characterized their best teams. Pitching became increasingly difficult as the summer progressed, and a season filled with close losses prevented Trinidad from building the type of winning streak necessary to remain among the league's elite.
When the summer ended, the Triggers had experienced their first significant step backward after years of remarkable consistency.
Following One of the Best Teams in Franchise History
The expectations entering 2019 were understandable because of what Trinidad had accomplished one year earlier.
The 2018 Triggers finished 45-21 and produced extraordinary offensive performances throughout the season. Trinidad scored 36 runs in one game, 30 in another and 27 in another. Joba Ferrell drove in 95 runs, Matt Eureste collected 103 hits, and Joseph Broderick and Matt Stuart each finished 8-0 on the mound.
That club had demonstrated how overwhelming Trinidad could be when its offense and pitching worked together.
The 2019 roster was different.
There were still familiar players, including Abel Arocho, Tim Henry, Nick Stoll, Matt Eureste, Cody Strayer and David Gates, but Trinidad would have to replace a tremendous amount of production from the previous season.
The transition proved difficult.
A Difficult Beginning to the Season
Trinidad's opening stretch immediately demonstrated that 2019 wasn't going to be another easy 40-win season.
The Triggers opened with consecutive losses, falling 9-3 and 11-4 before responding with a 14-6 victory. Trinidad then lost 14-9, won 8-3 and dropped another close game 9-8.
That pattern would repeat throughout the summer.
The Triggers were capable of producing convincing victories but had difficulty stringing them together. Close games frequently went against Trinidad, and losses would interrupt promising stretches just as the club appeared ready to establish momentum.
The early schedule included a 10-4 loss followed by a 6-5 victory, then a difficult 17-1 defeat followed immediately by a 13-2 win.
The extremes illustrated the unpredictable nature of the club.
One day Trinidad could struggle in every phase of the game. The next day the same team could dominate an opponent.
Thomas Jefferies IV Provides an Offensive Spark
One of Trinidad's best hitters during the season was Thomas Jefferies IV.
Jefferies appeared in 33 games and collected 47 hits in 123 at-bats, finishing with a .382 batting average. He scored 35 runs while hitting four doubles, one triple and six home runs.
His overall offensive production was even more impressive when considering his ability to reach base. Jefferies posted a .483 on-base percentage and a .577 slugging percentage for a 1.060 OPS.
He also stole 16 bases.
Jefferies gave Trinidad a combination of average, power, patience and speed. Although he didn't play enough games to accumulate the largest counting totals on the roster, he was one of the most productive hitters whenever he was in the lineup.
Nick Shumpert Makes an Immediate Impact
Nick Shumpert also produced an outstanding offensive season in limited action.
Shumpert appeared in 30 games and hit .377, collecting 46 hits in 122 at-bats. He hit nine doubles and six home runs while scoring 33 times and driving in 23.
He also became Trinidad's most aggressive baserunner.
Shumpert stole 24 bases in only 30 games, giving the Triggers another player capable of changing games with his speed.
His .432 on-base percentage and .598 slugging percentage produced a 1.030 OPS, making him one of the most dangerous offensive players on the roster during his time with the club.
A full season from Shumpert might have produced some of the biggest numbers on the team, but even in 30 games his impact was substantial.
Scott Stetson Provides Consistency
Scott Stetson became one of Trinidad's most consistent everyday players.
Stetson played 48 games and hit .337, collecting 59 hits in 175 at-bats. He scored 41 runs, hit 11 doubles, two triples and three home runs while driving in 30.
He also drew 23 walks and struck out only 20 times.
That combination of contact ability and plate discipline made Stetson a dependable part of the lineup. He finished with a .417 on-base percentage and gave Trinidad another hitter capable of keeping innings alive.
The Triggers needed that consistency because the roster changed considerably throughout the summer.
Abel Arocho Reaches Base at an Exceptional Rate
Abel Arocho returned to Trinidad and produced one of the most unusual statistical lines on the team.
Arocho played 56 games, the most among Trinidad's primary hitters, and collected 60 hits. He scored a team-high 52 runs while hitting eight doubles and nine home runs.
But the most impressive number was 55 walks.
Arocho's patience helped him post a .473 on-base percentage despite a .308 batting average. He also stole 14 bases and provided nine home runs, giving Trinidad a combination of power and on-base ability near the top and middle of the lineup.
His nine home runs ranked among the team leaders, and his ability to consistently reach base gave the hitters behind him opportunities to produce runs.
Jakob Shuler Leads Trinidad in Home Runs
Jakob Shuler emerged as Trinidad's leading home-run hitter.
Shuler played 50 games and hit 10 home runs, the highest total on the team. He collected 45 hits and drove in 36 runs while drawing 41 walks.
Like Arocho, Shuler's ability to draw walks significantly increased his offensive value. He posted a .455 on-base percentage and a .534 slugging percentage, producing a .989 OPS.
Shuler gave the Triggers an important power threat in a season when Trinidad didn't possess the overwhelming home-run production of some previous clubs.
In 2018, the Triggers could rely on multiple hitters to produce huge power numbers. The 2019 lineup was more dependent upon getting runners on base, using speed and creating offense throughout the order.
Tim Henry Continues Producing Runs
Tim Henry remained a familiar and productive part of the Trinidad lineup.
Henry appeared in 38 games and collected 42 hits in 138 at-bats. He hit .304 while scoring 29 runs and driving in 40.
His 40 RBIs were particularly important because they led the primary Trinidad hitters listed in the season statistics.
Henry also drew 30 walks, helping him post a .423 on-base percentage.
By 2019, Henry had become one of the recognizable returning players from Trinidad's previous successful teams. His continued presence provided some continuity as the roster around him changed.
Nick Stoll and Matt Eureste Return
Nick Stoll also returned after playing an important role on the 2018 club.
Stoll appeared in 49 games and collected 52 hits, including 11 doubles and two home runs. He scored 31 times and drove in 23 while stealing 13 bases.
Matt Eureste, who had led the 2018 Triggers with 103 hits and 80 runs, returned for 21 games in 2019.
Eureste remained productive when available, hitting .337 with 31 hits in 92 at-bats. He scored 20 runs, hit five doubles and two home runs and drove in 15.
The limited number of games meant Trinidad couldn't receive the same full-season production Eureste had delivered one year earlier.
That became part of the larger challenge facing the 2019 team. There were good hitters throughout the roster, but Trinidad didn't have the same combination of continuity and overwhelming production that had driven the 2018 offense.
The Triggers Put Together Their Best Early Stretch
Despite the uneven beginning, Trinidad produced a strong stretch during June.
After a 17-1 loss, the Triggers responded with a 13-2 victory. They followed that with wins of 14-5, 8-7 and 13-0.
Four consecutive victories had Trinidad moving in the right direction.
The 13-0 win was particularly encouraging because it represented something the Triggers needed more frequently: a game where the offense and pitching dominated simultaneously.
Trinidad then lost consecutive road games 5-2 and 3-1 before responding again.
The Triggers won 6-5, 9-7 and 7-6 during another three-game winning streak.
For a period in June, Trinidad appeared capable of turning the season around.
Close Games Define the Summer
One of the defining characteristics of the 2019 season was the number of close games Trinidad played.
The Triggers won games by scores of 6-5, 8-7, 6-5, 9-7, 7-6, 8-7, 9-8 and another 9-8.
They also lost 9-8, 17-16, 11-10, 8-7, 9-8, 2-1 and several other games decided by only a few runs.
Those results explain how thin the margin was between a winning and losing season.
The 2018 Triggers had frequently overwhelmed opponents. The 2019 team found itself playing far more games where one pitch, one defensive play or one late-inning at-bat could determine the result.
Too many of those games went the other way.
Cody Strayer Becomes the Most Dependable Pitcher
Cody Strayer continued to be one of Trinidad's most dependable pitchers.
Strayer appeared in 25 games and threw 44 innings. He finished 2-3 with a 3.88 ERA while striking out 50 hitters and walking only 11.
He also recorded three saves.
In the offensive environment of the Pecos League, Strayer's 3.88 ERA was an excellent number. His 1.25 WHIP reflected his ability to limit baserunners, and his strikeout-to-walk ratio was among the best on the staff.
Strayer had already been a valuable member of previous Trinidad teams, and in 2019 he again gave the Triggers innings in a variety of situations.
David Gates Remains Perfect in the Closer Role
David Gates returned as Trinidad's closer and was nearly impossible to score against.
Gates appeared in six games and recorded six saves.
He threw 5.1 innings and didn't allow an earned run. Gates surrendered only two hits and one walk while maintaining a 0.00 ERA.
His role was limited, but when Trinidad was able to get a lead to Gates, he finished the game.
It continued an impressive run for a pitcher who had already recorded 12 saves with a 1.05 ERA for Trinidad in 2017 and four more saves in 2018.
Gates had become one of the most reliable late-inning pitchers in the franchise's recent history.
Ryan Patrick Strengthens the Bullpen
Ryan Patrick also gave Trinidad excellent work out of the bullpen.
Patrick appeared in 15 games and threw 20 innings, finishing 1-0 with a 1.80 ERA.
He allowed only four earned runs while walking six and striking out 14.
The combination of Patrick, Strayer and Gates gave Trinidad legitimate options late in games.
The larger difficulty came from getting leads to them consistently.
Gabriel Estrada Becomes the Strikeout Leader
Gabriel Estrada provided one of the most interesting pitching performances of the season.
Estrada made nine starts and threw 49 innings. His 2-5 record and 6.24 ERA reflected some of the difficulties he experienced, but his ability to miss bats was exceptional.
Estrada struck out 80 hitters in only 49 innings.
That was easily the highest strikeout total on the Trinidad pitching staff.
The numbers showed both his potential and the challenges of pitching in the Pecos League. Estrada could dominate hitters with strikeouts, but walks and run prevention remained issues.
Still, 80 strikeouts in 49 innings made him one of the most intriguing arms on the roster.
Calvin Luk and Jacob Cobb-Adams Lead the Starters in Wins
Calvin Luk and Jacob Cobb-Adams each finished with four victories.
Luk went 4-1 in eight starts while throwing 49.2 innings. He posted a 4.71 ERA and struck out 37.
Cobb-Adams also went 4-1, making eight starts and throwing 44 innings. He struck out 36 hitters.
Sean Kiley contributed 47 innings over eight starts and struck out 51.
The rotation had capable pitchers, but it lacked the dominant combination Trinidad had enjoyed in 2018 when Joseph Broderick and Matt Stuart each finished 8-0.
That difference was significant.
A Difficult Midseason Stretch Changes the Season
The turning point came when Trinidad entered a prolonged losing stretch.
After a 2-0 victory, the Triggers lost nine consecutive recorded games.
The defeats came by scores of 5-2, 11-3, 16-14, 17-16, 6-3, 11-10, 6-3, 18-9 and finally 32-7.
Several of those games were painfully close.
Trinidad lost 16-14, 17-16 and 11-10 during the streak. A few timely hits or pitches could have dramatically changed the direction of the season.
Instead, the losses accumulated.
The final game of the streak was the most difficult, a 32-7 defeat that represented the opposite of the huge offensive victories Trinidad had produced during previous seasons.
For the first time in years, the Triggers found themselves on the wrong side of an extended stretch where almost nothing seemed to work.
Trinidad Refuses to Quit
The 2019 season could easily have collapsed completely after that losing streak.
It didn't.
Trinidad responded to the 32-7 loss by winning five consecutive games.
The Triggers won 16-11 and followed with back-to-back 4-1 victories. They then won 7-5 and 10-7.
The five-game streak demonstrated the resilience that had defined Trinidad throughout its history.
The season wasn't going according to plan, but the Triggers continued competing.
That stretch brought Trinidad back toward respectability and provided one of the most encouraging moments of the summer.
The Final Weeks Become a Battle
Trinidad couldn't maintain the momentum.
Three consecutive losses followed the five-game winning streak. The Triggers later alternated between victories and defeats, winning 7-5, losing 9-0, winning 19-6 and 4-1, then losing 17-7.
The pattern continued through the final portion of the schedule.
Trinidad won consecutive one-run games 8-7 and 9-8 before losing 2-1, 4-2 and 14-4.
The Triggers responded once more with victories of 9-8 and 10-3 before losing 16-4.
A 5-1 victory was followed by losses of 12-7 and 10-8. Trinidad then produced one final convincing 10-1 win before closing the recorded schedule with a 9-2 loss.
It was a fitting conclusion to an inconsistent season.
Every time Trinidad appeared ready to build momentum, another difficult stretch followed.
A 25-31 Finish
When all of the recorded results were complete, Trinidad stood at 25-31.
For many franchises, a 25-win season might simply have represented another rebuilding year.
For Trinidad, it felt different because of the standard established during the previous seven seasons.
The Triggers had become accustomed to winning records and playoff races. The 2018 club had won 45 games. The 2016 team had played for the Pecos League championship. The 2015 team had won 43 games and captured its division.
The 2019 season therefore represented a genuine downturn.
It didn't erase what Trinidad had built, but it demonstrated that continued success in independent baseball could never be taken for granted.
The Offense Changes Its Identity
Statistically, the 2019 offense looked very different from the overwhelming Trinidad teams of previous seasons.
There was no 30-home-run hitter like Caleb Bryson in 2015. There was no 95-RBI performance like Joba Ferrell produced in 2018. There was no player collecting more than 100 hits like Matt Eureste had done one year earlier.
Instead, the 2019 offense relied upon balance.
Jefferies hit .382. Shumpert hit .377. Stetson hit .337. Arocho reached base at a .473 rate. Shuler hit 10 home runs. Henry drove in 40 runs. Stoll contributed 52 hits.
There were productive players throughout the roster.
What Trinidad lacked was the overwhelming offensive force capable of carrying the team through periods when the pitching struggled.
Pitching Becomes the Central Challenge
The pitching statistics tell much of the story of the season.
Trinidad had excellent individual performances from Strayer, Gates and Patrick. Luk provided a solid 4-1 record, while Estrada demonstrated tremendous strikeout ability.
But the staff as a whole struggled to consistently prevent runs.
Several pitchers finished with ERAs above 6.00, and the schedule included too many games where Trinidad allowed double-digit run totals.
The 32-7 loss was the most extreme example, but it wasn't an isolated problem. The Triggers surrendered 17 runs multiple times, 18 in another game and 16 on several occasions.
Even a productive offense couldn't overcome those totals consistently.
That ultimately separated the 2019 team from the best Trinidad clubs of the decade.
The End of Trinidad's First Decade of Pecos League Baseball
The conclusion of the 2019 season also marked an important historical point for the franchise.
The Pecos League would not play its normal season in Trinidad in 2020, making 2019 the final traditional Triggers season of the league's first decade.
Looking back at what had happened since 2012 made the accomplishments of the franchise remarkable.
Trinidad had entered the Pecos League as an expansion team and immediately become competitive. The Triggers had been followed by a national television production crew, appeared on Fox Sports 1, sent players to higher levels of professional baseball, won a division and reached the Pecos League Championship Series.
Central Park had become one of the ballparks most closely associated with the league.
The 2019 season wasn't the ending Trinidad would have chosen for that first chapter.
But one losing season couldn't erase everything that had come before it.
A Different Kind of Triggers Season
The 2019 Trinidad Triggers weren't one of the great teams in franchise history.
That is precisely what makes the season an important part of the story.
Independent baseball isn't a continuous climb upward. Rosters turn over. Successful players leave. Pitchers advance to other opportunities. Managers change. A dominant team one summer can look completely different the next.
Trinidad experienced that reality in 2019.
One year after winning 45 games, the Triggers won 25.
Yet there were still memorable performances.
Thomas Jefferies IV hit .382. Nick Shumpert hit .377 and stole 24 bases in only 30 games. Abel Arocho reached base at a .473 rate. Jakob Shuler led the team with 10 home runs. Cody Strayer posted a 3.88 ERA while striking out 50 hitters. Ryan Patrick finished with a 1.80 ERA. David Gates didn't allow an earned run and converted six saves. Gabriel Estrada struck out 80 hitters in only 49 innings.
There was still talent at Central Park.
There were still dramatic games.
And even during the most difficult stretch of the season, when Trinidad lost nine consecutive games and endured a 32-7 defeat, the Triggers responded by winning five straight.
That resilience was perhaps the most fitting characteristic of the 2019 club.
The Triggers weren't dominant.
They didn't repeat the success of 2018.
But they continued competing until the final game of the summer, completing another season of professional baseball at Trinidad Central Park and closing the first decade of the Pecos League as one of the organizations that had helped define it.
2019 Trinidad Triggers
Regular Season Record: 25-31
Home Field: Trinidad Central Park
Leading Batting Average, Minimum 100 AB: Thomas Jefferies IV - .382
Thomas Jefferies IV: 47 Hits, 6 HR, 18 RBI, 16 SB, 1.060 OPS
Nick Shumpert: .377 AVG, 46 Hits, 6 HR, 24 SB, 1.030 OPS
Hit Leader: Abel Arocho - 60 Hits
Runs Leader: Abel Arocho - 52 Runs
Home Run Leader: Jakob Shuler - 10 HR
RBI Leader: Tim Henry - 40 RBI
Abel Arocho: .308 AVG, .473 OBP, 9 HR, 55 BB
Scott Stetson: .337 AVG, 59 Hits, 30 RBI
Cody Strayer: 2-3, 3.88 ERA, 44 IP, 50 SO, 3 Saves
Calvin Luk: 4-1, 4.71 ERA
Jacob Cobb-Adams: 4-1
Gabriel Estrada: 80 Strikeouts in 49 Innings
Ryan Patrick: 1-0, 1.80 ERA
David Gates: 6 Saves, 0.00 ERA
Longest Recorded Winning Streak: 5 Games
Longest Recorded Losing Streak: 9 Games
Largest Victory: 19-6
Most Runs Allowed: 32 in a 32-7 Loss
Historical Significance: Final Trinidad Triggers season before the interruption of the traditional Pecos League schedule in 2020