OOTP Developments Forums - View Single Post

reds1 · 02-29-2020, 06:43 AM

January 1, 1953

Looking Back: The 1942-43 Amateur Draft

After a rather disappointing 1941-42 draft class, things got back on track in 1942-43. In fact, in reviewing this class I was pleasantly surprised at the number of quality pitchers that emerged. This is a group that is definitely making an impact in the United Leagues today. No less than four players are currently rated in the Top 20 (1 position player and 3 pitchers). Not too shabby. Add to that, there were several players in the later rounds that went on to enjoy very respectable careers. The following is a review of a few players that stood out for me:

Cream of the Crop:

3B Alexander Tolmie – 1st overall pick by the Cobourg Red Stockings

Career: .298/.377/.444, 1324 G, 5,004 AB, 1490 H, 258-2B, 25-3B, 141 HR, 760 RBI, 682 R, 670 BB, 578 K, 5 SB, .821 OPS, 125 OPS+, 129 wRC+, 40.0 WAR

Achievements:

• 5-time All-Star
• Finished 2nd in the 1951-52 Eastern League Babe Ruth Award voting
• 3 selections to the All-Braeland Team
• 3 times Player of the Week
• 2 times Batter of the Month

What the original scouting report said:

“Tolmie is a fantastic prospect: tremendous contact potential, grade ‘A’ power and a terrific eye. He is also a strong defensive player at 2B and 3B. He has ‘future star’ written all over him.”

Comments: Tolmie (80/80) has been everything the Red Stockings could have hoped for when they selected him first overall that year. He is the top-rated third baseman in the United Leagues and 5th overall among all position players. He is described as a cornerstone player by scouts and that’s exactly what he is. After a few relatively up and down years, Tolmie took the next step in the 1950-51 season, when he earned 6.3 WAR. The following year, he racked up 7.2. And this season he is on pace for 8.2. Cobourg’s cleanup hitter is a big reason why the club has been so dominant this year.

--------

RHP Jesús Chapa – 4th overall pick by the Sherburn Tigers.

Career: 135-112, 7 SV, 3.08 ERA, 282 GS, 2309.0 IP, 113 CG, 16 SHO, 1.21 WHIP, .268 BABIP, 3.14 FIP, 55.7 WAR, 132 ERA+

Achievements:

• 6-time All-Star
• 2 Western League Satchel Paige Awards (1946-47, 1947-48)
• Finished 2nd in the 1945-46 Western League Satchel Paige Award voting
• 1 selection to the All-Braeland Team
• 1-time Pitcher of the Month

What the original scouting report said:

“The Puerto Rican Chapa has all the tools to be a successful pitcher in the ULB. Chapa combines above-average stuff with incredible movement and excellent control.”

Comments: Chapa (60/60) has been a tremendous, reliable ace for the Tigers over the past nine seasons. Only this year has he struggled a bit. A finesse pitcher, Chapa continues to have solid stuff, movement and control (60/60/65) with three reliable pitchers: fastball (55), sinker (55) and changeup (50). And he has been an iron man: over the course of 2,309.0 innings and 113 complete games over nine seasons, he has been out of commission for all of 3 days (back spasms three years ago). His best season was perhaps in 1946-47 when he won his first Satchel Paige Award. He went 16-14, 2.13 ERA, 1.02 WHIP, 2.46 FIP, 160 ERA+. He made just 16 minor league starts before being promoted to the big time. Chapa is currently rated 10th overall among all pitchers in the ULB, but he is not the highest from this draft class (more on that player below).

--------

RHP Jeremy Albury – 7th overall pick originally by the Queensland Eagles.

Career: 118-72, 3.29 ERA, 225 GS, 1815.2 IP, 108 CG, 13 SHO, 1.24 WHIP, .265 BABIP, 3.34 FIP, 39.4 WAR, 122 ERA+

Achievements:

• 3-time All-Star
• Finished 3rd in the 1949-50 Western League Satchel Paige Award voting
• 1-time Player of the Week
• 3 times Pitcher of the Month
• 3 United Cup Championships

What the original scouting report said:

“Albury combines above-average stuff with OK movement and outstanding control. He currently has five pitches in his repertoire.”

Comments: While he has not been quite as dominant as Chapa, Albury (59/59) nevertheless has been a very productive starter for the Unions, despite his recent injuries. The ‘fragile’ pitcher made only 14 starts last season due to shoulder injuries. While his stuff and movement are nothing special (50/50 & 45/45), he has good control (60/60). His best season was in 1949-50, when he went 18-12, 2.74 ERA, 1.11 WHIP, 3.06 FIP, 150 ERA+. His work in the playoffs has been solid as well: 6-4, 2.33 ERA, 1.14 WHIP, 3.26 FIP, 1130 IP in 13 games. He spent just two seasons in AA (28 starts overall) before getting called up to the majors. He has been there ever since. Albury is currently rated as the 11th best pitcher in the United Leagues, just behind Chapa.

--------

RHP Nicky Sherlock – 27th overall pick (Round 2, Pick 11) originally by the Kingston Pelicans.

Career: 102-83, 11 SV, 3.08 ERA, 201 GS, 1702.1 IP, 103 CG, 18 SHO, 1.19 WHIP, .251 BABIP, 3.36 FIP, 34.0 WAR, 130 ERA+

Achievements:

• 4-time All-Star
• 1948-49 Western League Satchel Paige Award
• 1947-48 United Cup MVP
• 1 selection to the All-Braeland Team
• 2 times Player of the Week
• 3 times Pitcher of the Month
• 1 United Cup Championship

Comments: The Fort Richmond Generals did not have a memorable draft, but they did acquire one of the draft’s best pitchers in a block-buster trade with the Pelicans a year later. That trade saw superstar C Danny Trowbridge head to Kingston, but Sherlock (64/64) has prevented the Generals from ever regretting making the trade. Although his stuff (45/50) is on the ‘fringy’ side and his three pitches (fastball – 45/45; cutter – 50/50; changeup – 35/45) are not exactly dominant, his movement (55/55) and control (70/70) make up for any shortcomings he may have. Sherlock spent three seasons in the minors before getting his permanent promotion in 1945. Rated the No. 2 prospect that year, he is currently rated the No. 2 pitcher in the entire United Leagues, behind only Stratford Barons’ 26-year old RHP Magtanggol Jaojoco (67/69). His best season was in 1948-49 (18-7, 2.48 ERA, 1.15 WHIP, 165 ERA+), when he won the WL Satchel Paige Award. But his current season may prove to be his best yet. He is on pace to go 22-8, 1.86 ERA, 0.96 WHIP, 186 ERA+. Another Satchel Paige Award could be in the offing if he keeps it up.

--------

Biggest Draft Disappointment

Its par for the course that not all highly-touted draft picks will pan out. As in real life, there’s so many variables involved in a player’s development that a once promising prospect can suddenly hit a brick wall and progress no further for no apparent reason. That was true in this draft class, despite the number of fine players that emerged. There were a few players in upper half of the first round that I could have singled out as the biggest disappointment, but I went with just one player:

CF Ramón Corona – 5th overall pick originally by the Fort Richmond Generals.

Career: .178/.260/.356, 22 G, 45 AB, 8 H, 0-2B, 1-3B, 2 HR, 4 RBI, 7 R, 5 BB, 10 K, 2 SB, .616 OPS, 73 OPS+, 61 wRC+, 0.1 WAR
Achievements:

• 1947-48 United Cup Winner

What the original scouting report said:

“Corona projects to be a pretty average contact hitter with above-average power and great speed on the base paths. He should also be a pretty good, although not flashy, defender.”

Comments: “Pretty average” was an overly optimistic description of Corona’s hitting ability. Corona (38/38) remains an outstanding defensive outfielder with a strong, accurate arm and could probably have been one of the best base-stealers in the United Leagues, but he just couldn’t develop into a disciplined hitter. The scouting report says that he “will swing at anything and will get himself out.” Thus, the Dominican Corona spent six years bouncing between AA and AAA before finally getting a promotion to the big leagues. His timing couldn’t have been better, as he was on the playoff roster when the Generals won the United Cup. But he was soon down in AAA and that’s where he remains. He is now with the Stratford Barons organization after becoming a free agent and signing a minor league contract in 1950. Not the career arc you would expect from a first-rounder, but it’s a reminder that there’s no guarantees.

--------

Later-Round Standouts

There were a couple of players from the later rounds that I wanted to single out. One appeared on the cusp of big things while the other is carving out a very decent career:

LHP Jamie Wigley – 85th overall pick (Round 6, Pick 5) originally by the Fort Richmond Generals.

Career: 35-25, 1 SV, 3.53 ERA, 73 GS, 535.0 IP, 13 CG, 5 SHO, 1.33 WHIP, .284 BABIP, 3.36 FIP, 11.5 WAR, 125 ERA+

Achievements:

• 1-time All-Star
• 1-time Player of the Week
• Finished 2nd in 1950-51 Western League Satchel Paige Award voting
• 1 United Cup Championship

Comments: Wigley (24/24) toiled in the minors for nearly seven years after being drafted. Like Ramón Corona though, he arrived in the majors just in time to earn a championship ring with the Generals. Then he was traded to the Cambria Cannons a couple of seasons later. With Cambria, Wigley quickly established himself as a major-league starter. In 1949-50 he showed promise, going 11-4, 3.93 ERA, 1.50 WHIP, 102 ERA+. The following season, the Australian southpaw became the Cannons’ undisputed ace, going 15-10, 2.44 ERA, 1.15 WHIP, 163 ERA+. That earned him an all-star selection and serious consideration for the Satchel Paige Award. But during ‘spring’ training in September 1951, Wigley suffered a torn labrum and missed a good chunk of the season. Although he returned to the rotation (8-10, 4.98 ERA, 1.50 WHIP, 79 ERA+), he was not the same pitcher he was before and this year finds him back in AAA. It’s looking increasingly doubtful that he will ever return to the majors. Would he have repeated that success the following season had he not gotten injured or would he have proven to be a ‘one-year wonder’ either way? Alas, we may never know.

--------

3B Viera Kewini – 76th overall pick (Round 5, Pick 12) originally by the Braeland City Monarchs.

Career: .280/.331/.364, 389 G, 1363 AB, 381 H, 67-2B, 9-3B, 10 HR, 164 RBI, 136 R, 104 BB, 70 K, 6 SB, .695 OPS, 95 OPS+, 99 wRC+, 6.7 WAR

Comments: Kewini spent five seasons in the Monarchs’ farm system after being drafted. By 1947 however, his potential cratered (23/23) and Braeland City released him in October of that year. After being out of baseball for over a year, the Balmoral Giants signed him to a minor league contract in November 1948. Balmoral brought him up to the majors full-time in 1949 where he started showing signs of being a decent player. But it was after his trade to Sherburn in August 1951 that Kewini (50/50) began to blossom. His first season with the Tigers saw him produce 2.6 WAR; this year he is on pace for 3.6. The 30-year old Fijian has good contact (55/55) and is tough to strike out (70/70). But his developing discipline at the plate (45/75) and solid defense at the hot corner has really turned him into an everyday starter. And with an ‘iron man’ constitution, Kewini may have the opportunity to continue developing – maybe even into an all-star.

02-29-2020, 06:43 AM	#566
reds1 Hall Of Famer Join Date: May 2002 Location: Winnipeg Posts: 3,925	January 1, 1953 Looking Back: The 1942-43 Amateur Draft After a rather disappointing 1941-42 draft class, things got back on track in 1942-43. In fact, in reviewing this class I was pleasantly surprised at the number of quality pitchers that emerged. This is a group that is definitely making an impact in the United Leagues today. No less than four players are currently rated in the Top 20 (1 position player and 3 pitchers). Not too shabby. Add to that, there were several players in the later rounds that went on to enjoy very respectable careers. The following is a review of a few players that stood out for me: Cream of the Crop: 3B Alexander Tolmie – 1st overall pick by the Cobourg Red Stockings Career: .298/.377/.444, 1324 G, 5,004 AB, 1490 H, 258-2B, 25-3B, 141 HR, 760 RBI, 682 R, 670 BB, 578 K, 5 SB, .821 OPS, 125 OPS+, 129 wRC+, 40.0 WAR *Achievements:* • 5-time All-Star • Finished 2nd in the 1951-52 Eastern League Babe Ruth Award voting • 3 selections to the All-Braeland Team • 3 times Player of the Week • 2 times Batter of the Month What the original scouting report said: “Tolmie is a fantastic prospect: tremendous contact potential, grade ‘A’ power and a terrific eye. He is also a strong defensive player at 2B and 3B. He has ‘future star’ written all over him.” Comments: Tolmie (80/80) has been everything the Red Stockings could have hoped for when they selected him first overall that year. He is the top-rated third baseman in the United Leagues and 5th overall among all position players. He is described as a cornerstone player by scouts and that’s exactly what he is. After a few relatively up and down years, Tolmie took the next step in the 1950-51 season, when he earned 6.3 WAR. The following year, he racked up 7.2. And this season he is on pace for 8.2. Cobourg’s cleanup hitter is a big reason why the club has been so dominant this year. -------- RHP Jesús Chapa – 4th overall pick by the Sherburn Tigers. Career: 135-112, 7 SV, 3.08 ERA, 282 GS, 2309.0 IP, 113 CG, 16 SHO, 1.21 WHIP, .268 BABIP, 3.14 FIP, 55.7 WAR, 132 ERA+ *Achievements:* • 6-time All-Star • 2 Western League Satchel Paige Awards (1946-47, 1947-48) • Finished 2nd in the 1945-46 Western League Satchel Paige Award voting • 1 selection to the All-Braeland Team • 1-time Pitcher of the Month What the original scouting report said: “The Puerto Rican Chapa has all the tools to be a successful pitcher in the ULB. Chapa combines above-average stuff with incredible movement and excellent control.” Comments: Chapa (60/60) has been a tremendous, reliable ace for the Tigers over the past nine seasons. Only this year has he struggled a bit. A finesse pitcher, Chapa continues to have solid stuff, movement and control (60/60/65) with three reliable pitchers: fastball (55), sinker (55) and changeup (50). And he has been an iron man: over the course of 2,309.0 innings and 113 complete games over nine seasons, he has been out of commission for all of 3 days (back spasms three years ago). His best season was perhaps in 1946-47 when he won his first Satchel Paige Award. He went 16-14, 2.13 ERA, 1.02 WHIP, 2.46 FIP, 160 ERA+. He made just 16 minor league starts before being promoted to the big time. Chapa is currently rated 10th overall among all pitchers in the ULB, but he is not the highest from this draft class (more on that player below). -------- RHP Jeremy Albury – 7th overall pick originally by the Queensland Eagles. Career: 118-72, 3.29 ERA, 225 GS, 1815.2 IP, 108 CG, 13 SHO, 1.24 WHIP, .265 BABIP, 3.34 FIP, 39.4 WAR, 122 ERA+ *Achievements:* • 3-time All-Star • Finished 3rd in the 1949-50 Western League Satchel Paige Award voting • 1-time Player of the Week • 3 times Pitcher of the Month • 3 United Cup Championships What the original scouting report said: “Albury combines above-average stuff with OK movement and outstanding control. He currently has five pitches in his repertoire.” Comments: While he has not been quite as dominant as Chapa, Albury (59/59) nevertheless has been a very productive starter for the Unions, despite his recent injuries. The ‘fragile’ pitcher made only 14 starts last season due to shoulder injuries. While his stuff and movement are nothing special (50/50 & 45/45), he has good control (60/60). His best season was in 1949-50, when he went 18-12, 2.74 ERA, 1.11 WHIP, 3.06 FIP, 150 ERA+. His work in the playoffs has been solid as well: 6-4, 2.33 ERA, 1.14 WHIP, 3.26 FIP, 1130 IP in 13 games. He spent just two seasons in AA (28 starts overall) before getting called up to the majors. He has been there ever since. Albury is currently rated as the 11th best pitcher in the United Leagues, just behind Chapa. -------- RHP Nicky Sherlock – 27th overall pick (Round 2, Pick 11) originally by the Kingston Pelicans. Career: 102-83, 11 SV, 3.08 ERA, 201 GS, 1702.1 IP, 103 CG, 18 SHO, 1.19 WHIP, .251 BABIP, 3.36 FIP, 34.0 WAR, 130 ERA+ *Achievements:* • 4-time All-Star • 1948-49 Western League Satchel Paige Award • 1947-48 United Cup MVP • 1 selection to the All-Braeland Team • 2 times Player of the Week • 3 times Pitcher of the Month • 1 United Cup Championship Comments: The Fort Richmond Generals did not have a memorable draft, but they did acquire one of the draft’s best pitchers in a block-buster trade with the Pelicans a year later. That trade saw superstar C Danny Trowbridge head to Kingston, but Sherlock (64/64) has prevented the Generals from ever regretting making the trade. Although his stuff (45/50) is on the ‘fringy’ side and his three pitches (fastball – 45/45; cutter – 50/50; changeup – 35/45) are not exactly dominant, his movement (55/55) and control (70/70) make up for any shortcomings he may have. Sherlock spent three seasons in the minors before getting his permanent promotion in 1945. Rated the No. 2 prospect that year, he is currently rated the No. 2 pitcher in the entire United Leagues, behind only Stratford Barons’ 26-year old RHP Magtanggol Jaojoco (67/69). His best season was in 1948-49 (18-7, 2.48 ERA, 1.15 WHIP, 165 ERA+), when he won the WL Satchel Paige Award. But his current season may prove to be his best yet. He is on pace to go 22-8, 1.86 ERA, 0.96 WHIP, 186 ERA+. Another Satchel Paige Award could be in the offing if he keeps it up. -------- Biggest Draft Disappointment Its par for the course that not all highly-touted draft picks will pan out. As in real life, there’s so many variables involved in a player’s development that a once promising prospect can suddenly hit a brick wall and progress no further for no apparent reason. That was true in this draft class, despite the number of fine players that emerged. There were a few players in upper half of the first round that I could have singled out as the biggest disappointment, but I went with just one player: CF Ramón Corona – 5th overall pick originally by the Fort Richmond Generals. Career: .178/.260/.356, 22 G, 45 AB, 8 H, 0-2B, 1-3B, 2 HR, 4 RBI, 7 R, 5 BB, 10 K, 2 SB, .616 OPS, 73 OPS+, 61 wRC+, 0.1 WAR Achievements: • 1947-48 United Cup Winner What the original scouting report said: “Corona projects to be a pretty average contact hitter with above-average power and great speed on the base paths. He should also be a pretty good, although not flashy, defender.” Comments: “Pretty average” was an overly optimistic description of Corona’s hitting ability. Corona (38/38) remains an outstanding defensive outfielder with a strong, accurate arm and could probably have been one of the best base-stealers in the United Leagues, but he just couldn’t develop into a disciplined hitter. The scouting report says that he “will swing at anything and will get himself out.” Thus, the Dominican Corona spent six years bouncing between AA and AAA before finally getting a promotion to the big leagues. His timing couldn’t have been better, as he was on the playoff roster when the Generals won the United Cup. But he was soon down in AAA and that’s where he remains. He is now with the Stratford Barons organization after becoming a free agent and signing a minor league contract in 1950. Not the career arc you would expect from a first-rounder, but it’s a reminder that there’s no guarantees. -------- Later-Round Standouts There were a couple of players from the later rounds that I wanted to single out. One appeared on the cusp of big things while the other is carving out a very decent career: LHP Jamie Wigley – 85th overall pick (Round 6, Pick 5) originally by the Fort Richmond Generals. Career: 35-25, 1 SV, 3.53 ERA, 73 GS, 535.0 IP, 13 CG, 5 SHO, 1.33 WHIP, .284 BABIP, 3.36 FIP, 11.5 WAR, 125 ERA+ *Achievements:* • 1-time All-Star • 1-time Player of the Week • Finished 2nd in 1950-51 Western League Satchel Paige Award voting • 1 United Cup Championship Comments: Wigley (24/24) toiled in the minors for nearly seven years after being drafted. Like Ramón Corona though, he arrived in the majors just in time to earn a championship ring with the Generals. Then he was traded to the Cambria Cannons a couple of seasons later. With Cambria, Wigley quickly established himself as a major-league starter. In 1949-50 he showed promise, going 11-4, 3.93 ERA, 1.50 WHIP, 102 ERA+. The following season, the Australian southpaw became the Cannons’ undisputed ace, going 15-10, 2.44 ERA, 1.15 WHIP, 163 ERA+. That earned him an all-star selection and serious consideration for the Satchel Paige Award. But during ‘spring’ training in September 1951, Wigley suffered a torn labrum and missed a good chunk of the season. Although he returned to the rotation (8-10, 4.98 ERA, 1.50 WHIP, 79 ERA+), he was not the same pitcher he was before and this year finds him back in AAA. It’s looking increasingly doubtful that he will ever return to the majors. Would he have repeated that success the following season had he not gotten injured or would he have proven to be a ‘one-year wonder’ either way? Alas, we may never know. -------- 3B Viera Kewini – 76th overall pick (Round 5, Pick 12) originally by the Braeland City Monarchs. Career: .280/.331/.364, 389 G, 1363 AB, 381 H, 67-2B, 9-3B, 10 HR, 164 RBI, 136 R, 104 BB, 70 K, 6 SB, .695 OPS, 95 OPS+, 99 wRC+, 6.7 WAR Comments: Kewini spent five seasons in the Monarchs’ farm system after being drafted. By 1947 however, his potential cratered (23/23) and Braeland City released him in October of that year. After being out of baseball for over a year, the Balmoral Giants signed him to a minor league contract in November 1948. Balmoral brought him up to the majors full-time in 1949 where he started showing signs of being a decent player. But it was after his trade to Sherburn in August 1951 that Kewini (50/50) began to blossom. His first season with the Tigers saw him produce 2.6 WAR; this year he is on pace for 3.6. The 30-year old Fijian has good contact (55/55) and is tough to strike out (70/70). But his developing discipline at the plate (45/75) and solid defense at the hot corner has really turned him into an everyday starter. And with an ‘iron man’ constitution, Kewini may have the opportunity to continue developing – maybe even into an all-star. __________________ United Leagues of Braeland