Sugar Land has solidified the middle of their 2020 lineup by re-signing DH/1B Denis Phipps and 3B Juan Silverio to play their 3rd seasons with the Skeeters. Both players were vital to Sugar Land’s playoff runs in 2018 and 2019, including the team’s 2018 League Championship.
The 34-year-old Denis Phipps returns to the team that named him their 2019 MVP. Phipps led the Skeeters in OPS while hitting 21 home runs and contributing 81 RBI. The right-hander is on a great run right now. He’s followed up a .328/.429/.448 month of September with a .300/.447/.800 slash line in the playoffs. Even now, Phipps is enjoying a very strong showing in the Venezuelan Winter League. It’ll be difficult for Phipps to keep his batting average around .300, but the power he has been showing over the past 5 months looks promising. At this rate, Denis is projected to post a .259/.347/.434 season, which would be a welcome return on Sugar Land’s investment.
Juan Silverio enters his age 29 season coming off an all-star team selection in 2019. Last year, Silverio was top 10 in the Atlantic League in both average and OBP (.293/.358/.447). This year, the right-handed infielder projects at .297/.355/.463, a slash that would make him an anchor in the heart of the Sugar Land lineup.
Indy Ball Nation 