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C Woodie Dudley
Acquired: Via Draft: 3rd Round, 43rd Overall (1924)
Alma Mater: Elmira HS Emeralds
Last Year Rank: Not Ranked

24 in April, Woodie Dudley has a good chance to earn a roster spot by the end of the season as he will be eligible for the Rule-5 Draft. My scout is a big fan, who believes he's a great defensive catcher with solid contact skills. He hasn't played above A ball, however, and spend most of his time in San Jose last season where he hit .321/.376/.433 (104 OPS+) with a homer and 72 RBI's. We've traded a few catchers out of our system including Ben Richardson and Barnie Green, so Dudley's importance increased. He looks to be a dependable backup option behind Fred Barrell and he could find himself on the big league roster next season.

LF Earl Johnson
Acquired: Via Draft: 12th Round, 180th Overall (1925)
Alma Mater: Chicago HS Wildcats
Last Year Rank: 20th

Stuck in a system crowded with outfielders, especially in the corners, Earl Johnson was stuck mashing AA pitching last season. He hit .332/.388/.554 (140 OPS+) with 7 homers, 15 steals, and 73 RBI's. With Vince York and George Johnson on the way up, the lefty Johnson will likely man left for Milwaukee this season. He's not much of a defender, but Johnson has a great bat with a smooth swing and excellent plate recognition. He has good speed and the potential to hit double digit homers, but I really don't see a spot for him. I would like to find a trade partner to send him somewhere else, but for now, Johnson will face an uphill battle for a big league roster spot.

C Herman Rachford
Acquired: Via Draft:8th Round, 139th Overall (1923)
Alma Mater: Austin HS Senators
Last Year Rank: Not Ranked

Recently 26, Rachford was actually a 3rd Round pick of the Kings back in 1922, however, he did not sign. We took him in the 8th round the year after, but Rachford has flown mostly under the radar. He did hit well in 37 games with Milwaukee last season, hitting .321/.363/.500 (123 OPS+) with 3 homers and 17 RBI's. He's a decent defender who can hit a little, but Rachford profiles as a backup catcher with not much upside.

SP Joe King
Acquired: Via Trade with Philadelphia (1929)
Drafted: 10th Round, 160th Overall by the Philadelphia Keystones (1927)
Alma Mater: Lubbock State Hawks
Last Year Rank: Not in organization

Acquired in the Johnny Douglas trade, I was willing to part with Rabbitt Forest if it meant also getting King. The 23-year-old was excellent with Lincoln, going 9-4 with a 3.02 ERA (146 ERA+), 1.12 WHIP, and 33 strikeouts in 122.1 innings. King may only have two pitches, but I've noticed pitchers in this league can survive without a third option. He throws in the low 90s with his fastball and he also can throw a quality curveball. He should start his season in Mobile, but he has all the tools needed to progress even farther up. He's got a really good track record statistically and now he's showing up on top prospect lists.

CF George Alt
Acquired: Via Minor League Free Agent (1925)
Alma Mater: Tulsa HS Tomcats
Last Year Rank: Not Ranked

Undrafted out of High School, Alt was signed as a filler player for San Jose. Playing time hasn't always been easy for him to find, but he hit a solid .292/.367/.388 (101 OPS+) with 3 homers and 38 RBI's in his first extended attempt in Lincoln (325 at bats). Alt does an excellent job of drawing walks and he's a pretty great outfield defender. He has a little experience on the dirt too, playing first and second in a handful of games as well. My scout is a huge fan of his, but he's already 23 and has a little less then 300 games played since the 1926 season. His versatility is a great plus, however, and he's a useful depth player.