Torren' Up Cards: Month-End TTM Roundup: 11/05

Received On: 11/05/2018

My first return this period came from top D-Backs prospect, Jon Duplantier.
Duplantier was drafted by the Arizona Diamondbacks in the third round of the 2016 MLB Player Draft. Armed with a low 90's fastball, slider, changeup and curveball, Duplantier has the potential to be a really good top of the rotation starter. A really solid number two starter, possibly even an ace on a bad D-Backs team. Duplantier's climb up the ladder has been marred by a few injuries and time missed due to fatigue, but he's flashed glimpses of brilliance in the time he has been on the mound. If he can stay on the diamond he might just become one of the best pitchers in the NL West.

Received On: 11/05/2018

Next up is a return from Red Wings defenseman, Joe Hicketts.
Hicketts was signed by the Detroit Red Wings as a non-drafted free agent after going undrafted in the 2014 NHL Player Draft. The young defenseman made enough of an impression on Detroit's front office that they decided to bring him on board. After that he spent a few years in the minors hustling his way to a NHL callup in 2018. He made his NHL debut earlier this year in January and managed to get in five games. For the 2018-19 season he started the season with the Red Wings but was reassigned to the Grand Rapids Griffins last week. Tough break for now but hopefully he can make it back up again soon. He's accomplished so much as a non-drafted free agent and it'd be a shame if his story ended here.

Received On: 11/05/2018

Here's my first NFL return since 2013. Courtesy of wide receiver Trey Quinn.
Quinn was drafted by the Washington NFL club with the 256th pick of the 2018 NFL draft. That pick was the very last pick of the draft, making him the newest "Mr. Irrelevant". Quinn played in one regular season game before going down with an ankle injury during that game and went on the injured reserve list. Whether or not he returns this season remains to be seen. Early in November Jay Gruden suggested that he would return to practice soon. Hopefully he recovers soon.

Received On: 11/05/2018

Here's the signed photograph of the entire Detroit Lions cheerleading squad again.
Once again thanks to Alexandria, Alexis, Alexis P., Alie, Alison, Amber (Captain), Angela, Austin, Autumn, Ashley, Brittany B., Brittany C., Caity, Courtney, Courtney, Danielle, Dianne, Holly (Captain), Jazzmine, Jenna, Karoline, Kathryn, Lauren, Lexi, Lindsey, Mary (Captain), Micah, Nicole (Captain), Paige, Peyton, Sammi, Savannah, Shelby, Tianna, Veronica and Zarah for taking the time to sign this behemoth.

Received On: 11/09/2018

Here are a couple of returns from Cleveland prospect Tyler Freeman.
Freeman was drafted by the Cleveland baseball club in the second round of the 2017 MLB Player Draft. Drafted out of high school, Freeman passed on a college scholarship and jumped to pro ball where he had (by most measures) a successful first full calendar year. Earning NYPL All Star honors this season and making it onto most Cleveland-centered top prospect lists. The shortstop/second baseman projects to be a solid up the middle defender with a good enough bat to play as an everyday regular or be a really good bench guy. For a second rounder that's good value if he can deliver on his promise, that's as good a high floor can get when it comes to high school draftee's too. Good luck Tyler!

Received On: 11/14/2018

Next up is a return from Panthers rookie Maxim Mamin.
Mamin hails from Russia and was drafted by the Florida Panthers in the sixth round of the 2016 NHL Player Draft. After getting a lot of seasoning in the KHL (the Kontinental Hockey League in Russia) he made it stateside in 2017-18 and made his NHL debut the same year. The forward (primarily centre) is one of the Panthers' top prospects and projects to be a key supporting player of the Panthers' next good team. He's a really solid center if you're playing him on the third or fourth line and he's definitely worth longer looks as time goes on.

Received On: 11/19/2018

Here's a return from Golden Knights winger, Reilly Smith.
The Canadian Smith was originally drafted by the Dallas Stars in the third round of the 2009 NHL Player Draft. After a few seasons in the minors Smith made his NHL debut in the 2011-12 season. Smith was with the Stars for one more season before being traded to the Boston Bruins as part of the Tyler Seguin trade. Smith managed to turn into a pretty good player with the Bruins but was traded to the Panthers and signed a five year deal with them. After that he was traded to the Las Vegas Golden Knights as the Panthers ran out of salary cap space. He's been with the Knights since.

Received On: 11/24/2018

Here's a return from Wyatt Mills.
Mills was drafted by the Seattle Mariners in the third round of the 2017 MLB Player Draft. Drafted out of Gonzaga, Mills made it as high as double-A in his first full year of pro ball this year. Mills is a reliever who projects to contribute to the big league club sooner rather than later. Armed with a low-to-mid 90's fastball, and a slider, he projects to be a really solid reliever for the big league club. Considering how the Mariners are in a bit of rebuild they're going to need every prospect that can pan out even a little bit. So good luck to Mills, hopefully he can take advantage and force his way to a MLB callup soon.

Received On: 11/30/2018

Hark my second NFL return! Courtesy of my favorite player in the NFL, Aldrick Rosas.
Rosas is a kicker who played both soccer and football growing up but by the time he graduated high school was a full time kicker. He went to play for Southern Oregon University (which is not part of the NCAA) and an ACL injury really jeopardized his chances of being recognized by an NFL team. Dan Duggan of NJ.com had a really great piece on his journey to being an NFL kicker so you can read his journey from the injured kicker to the guy who got his first big break with the Tennessee Titans here. He went undrafted in the 2016 NFL player draft but the Titans signed him as a free agent based off of his potential with his kicking leg. Despite having a pretty good preseason for the Titans he ended up getting cut early, but then the New York Giants swooped in and nabbed him. He won a job with the Giants in 2017 and made his NFL debut on September 10th against the Dallas Cowboys. He made a field goal and scored the only three points the Giants managed to put up that day. After that his rookie season was a bit rocky and in the world of kickers there is virtually zero job security, so his career looked like it was in jeopardy again. But here in 2018 he's rebounded nicely. As of the time this writeup was written he'd made 23-of-24 field goals (6-of-7 from beyond 50 yards). If you've watched the Giants at all this season you'll notice that the offense has basically been Saquon Barkley and Rosas. Just them. Anyway hopefully Rosas can keep this momentum going and carve out a nice career for himself. He became a father on the day he made his NFL debut, he made some buzz by watching the birth over FaceTime so he's got mouths to feed in one of the most cutthroat professions in football. I'm a fan and I'm rooting for him. Good luck Aldrick!