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ayaghmour2 · 04-14-2020, 07:48 PM

SP Art Black (189th Overall)
Acquired: Via Draft: 5th Round, 67th Overall (1927)
Alma Mater: Berkeley Bears
Last Year Rank: 6th

Art Black was ready to pitch in AA, before recurring back spasms (and a setback) cost him over 2 months. Eventually I had to send him down to Lincoln after his struggles continued, and he seemed to get back on track. He was 2-2 with a 2.81 ERA (144 ERA+), 1.29 WHIP, and 27 strikeouts in 48 innings with the Legislators. Black is a two pitch starter, something that is a little less uncommon in this league then in most, with an elite cutter and curve with excellent movement. He's 21, but I might have to keep him down in Lincoln an extra season before returning him to Mobile.

RF Ed Rhoden (194th Overall)
Acquired: Via Draft: 13th Round, 196th Overall (1925)
Alma Mater: Nashville HS Hawks
Last Year Rank: 20th

It was an excellent season for Rhoden, who I never anticipated would make his big league debut this season. He didn't do too well, going just 2-for-12, but he doubled, drove in a run, and walked five times. Rhoden got to the bigs after tearing up AA, hitting .373/.432/.567 (157 OPS+) with 5 homers and 37 RBI's before his promotion to Milwaukee and eventually Chicago. Known for his defense out in right, Rhoden has an impressive +43.4 ZR in about 4,400 innings out in right. He doesn't have much experience in left and center, but he can fill in at either spot if needed. He's also just 23, so he has time to grow even more, and my scout thinks he can be a productive big league regular. Even better, with his excellent defense in right, he can fill in late game for York who can always use some help on defense.

SP Mickey Williams (196th Overall)
Acquired: Via Draft: 5th Round, 67th Overall (1926)
Alma Mater: Coastal California Dolphins
Last Year Rank: 13th

Taken with the exact same pick that got us Art Black a year before Black, it was an awful season for Williams as well. Normally a starter, 20 of his 21 appearances came out of the pen. He had just a 6.42 ERA (65 ERA+), 1.77 WHIP, and 49 strikeouts in 40.2 innings. This was the first season in his professional career the lefty had a stint with an ERA+ below 100, generally in the 110-117 range. I've soured a bit on Williams, and I'm not expecting anyone to take him in the offseason Rule-5 Draft, but a lefty groundballer with four decent pitches makes for good depth in the upper levels.

SP Bill Kline
Acquired: Via Draft: 2nd Round, 19th Overall (1926)
Alma Mater: Birmingham HS Bulldogs, Niagara Falls HS, and Golden Gate Grizzlies
Last Year Rank: 15th

Interesting enough, the AI Cougars took Kline in the 1st Round of the 1923 draft before cutting him loose before he ever pitched for them. Then the Saints drafted him 11th Overall that year, but weren't able to sign him before he eventually went to college. After two years in college, we grabbed him in the second round and he's been with us ever sense. Recently 25, Kline has been a starter his whole career, but we see him as a dominant reliever. He was solid in AA, going 14-9 with a 4.43 ERA (104 ERA+), 1.43 WHIP, and 44 strikeouts in 203.1 innings with the Blues before a single start in Milwaukee. I plan on adding him to the 40 to protect him from the Rule-5 draft and giving him a shot to make the pen. He's got good stuff with a nice cutter, keeps the ball on the ground, and almost pinpoint control. He's likely going to continue to start in the minors, but I don't expect him to ever start a big league game.

1B Jim Hatfield
Acquired: Via Draft: 6th Round, 81st Overall (1929)
Alma Mater: Buffalo HS Bison
Last Year Rank: High School

Our 6th Round Pick last year, Jim Hatfield has an up and down first season in the minors, finishing with a .311/.379/.429 (94 OPS+) batting line as well as 10 homers, 39 steals, 115 runs, and 75 RBI's. Hatfield has a very interesting profile. Most first basemen are slow, hit absolute bombs, and don't hit for a high average. Hatfield, on the other hand, is extremely fast, hits for high contact, and doesn't really have much power. He's a decent defender as well, but with Ashbaugh at first, he doesn't really have a spot on the major league roster. He's a decent defender and could probably move off first, but for now he's going to be here long term at first.

04-14-2020, 07:48 PM	#100
ayaghmour2 Hall Of Famer Join Date: Mar 2018 Posts: 3,078	Top Prospects: 11-15 SP Art Black (189th Overall) Acquired: Via Draft: 5th Round, 67th Overall (1927) Alma Mater: Berkeley Bears Last Year Rank: 6th Art Black was ready to pitch in AA, before recurring back spasms (and a setback) cost him over 2 months. Eventually I had to send him down to Lincoln after his struggles continued, and he seemed to get back on track. He was 2-2 with a 2.81 ERA (144 ERA+), 1.29 WHIP, and 27 strikeouts in 48 innings with the Legislators. Black is a two pitch starter, something that is a little less uncommon in this league then in most, with an elite cutter and curve with excellent movement. He's 21, but I might have to keep him down in Lincoln an extra season before returning him to Mobile. RF Ed Rhoden (194th Overall) Acquired: Via Draft: 13th Round, 196th Overall (1925) Alma Mater: Nashville HS Hawks Last Year Rank: 20th It was an excellent season for Rhoden, who I never anticipated would make his big league debut this season. He didn't do too well, going just 2-for-12, but he doubled, drove in a run, and walked five times. Rhoden got to the bigs after tearing up AA, hitting .373/.432/.567 (157 OPS+) with 5 homers and 37 RBI's before his promotion to Milwaukee and eventually Chicago. Known for his defense out in right, Rhoden has an impressive +43.4 ZR in about 4,400 innings out in right. He doesn't have much experience in left and center, but he can fill in at either spot if needed. He's also just 23, so he has time to grow even more, and my scout thinks he can be a productive big league regular. Even better, with his excellent defense in right, he can fill in late game for York who can always use some help on defense. SP Mickey Williams (196th Overall) Acquired: Via Draft: 5th Round, 67th Overall (1926) Alma Mater: Coastal California Dolphins Last Year Rank: 13th Taken with the exact same pick that got us Art Black a year before Black, it was an awful season for Williams as well. Normally a starter, 20 of his 21 appearances came out of the pen. He had just a 6.42 ERA (65 ERA+), 1.77 WHIP, and 49 strikeouts in 40.2 innings. This was the first season in his professional career the lefty had a stint with an ERA+ below 100, generally in the 110-117 range. I've soured a bit on Williams, and I'm not expecting anyone to take him in the offseason Rule-5 Draft, but a lefty groundballer with four decent pitches makes for good depth in the upper levels. SP Bill Kline Acquired: Via Draft: 2nd Round, 19th Overall (1926) Alma Mater: Birmingham HS Bulldogs, Niagara Falls HS, and Golden Gate Grizzlies Last Year Rank: 15th Interesting enough, the AI Cougars took Kline in the 1st Round of the 1923 draft before cutting him loose before he ever pitched for them. Then the Saints drafted him 11th Overall that year, but weren't able to sign him before he eventually went to college. After two years in college, we grabbed him in the second round and he's been with us ever sense. Recently 25, Kline has been a starter his whole career, but we see him as a dominant reliever. He was solid in AA, going 14-9 with a 4.43 ERA (104 ERA+), 1.43 WHIP, and 44 strikeouts in 203.1 innings with the Blues before a single start in Milwaukee. I plan on adding him to the 40 to protect him from the Rule-5 draft and giving him a shot to make the pen. He's got good stuff with a nice cutter, keeps the ball on the ground, and almost pinpoint control. He's likely going to continue to start in the minors, but I don't expect him to ever start a big league game. 1B Jim Hatfield Acquired: Via Draft: 6th Round, 81st Overall (1929) Alma Mater: Buffalo HS Bison Last Year Rank: High School Our 6th Round Pick last year, Jim Hatfield has an up and down first season in the minors, finishing with a .311/.379/.429 (94 OPS+) batting line as well as 10 homers, 39 steals, 115 runs, and 75 RBI's. Hatfield has a very interesting profile. Most first basemen are slow, hit absolute bombs, and don't hit for a high average. Hatfield, on the other hand, is extremely fast, hits for high contact, and doesn't really have much power. He's a decent defender as well, but with Ashbaugh at first, he doesn't really have a spot on the major league roster. He's a decent defender and could probably move off first, but for now he's going to be here long term at first.