BRONX ROYALS
NEW YORK
TOURNAMENT ROSTER
Nick Martinez (c) - RHB - Age 28 - New York
Vin Lea – RHP/RHB – Age 23 – New York
2019 NWLA Tournament champion
Rob Longiaru - RHP/RHB - Age 33 - New York
Cooper Ruckel - RHP/RHB - Age 19 - Texas
2019 Fast Plastic national championship Cy Young winner
Connor Young - RHP/LHB - Age 23 - New Jersey
2019 Mid Atlantic Wiffle® champion; 2019 RPWL champion; 2019 RPWL MVP
TEAM OVERVIEW
All four members of the 2019 Bronx Royals squad that finished in the top half of the Fast Plastic NCT field are back together for the 2020 United Wiffle®Ball National Championship. In addition to those returning players, the Royals went outside and added Connor Young to take advantage of the fifth roster spot available at this tournament. The resulting roster is an eclectic yet well-rounded mix of young players, veterans, bats, and arms.
After two years of turning heads in Texas at Fast Plastic but seeing his teams make relatively early exits, Cooper Ruckel helped lead the Royals to a top eight appearance in 2019 while also earning the tournament pitching award. The Royals could turn to Ruckel early and often during the tournament and use Vin Lea in the other big spots, which would allow them to be selective in how they utilize Connor Young and Rob Longiaru. While Ruckel will draw most of the attention on this team – justifiably so – for what he can do with a Wiffle®Ball in his hands, the offense could be the difference maker. Longiaru, Young, and Martinez are all veteran hitters who won’t be fooled or intimidated by too many opponents. Lea is already a quality hitter and likely still has room left between his current production and his ceiling. It is not an overpowering offense, but it is one that could potentially pack a punch, especially if two or three of their hitters get rolling at the same time.