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ayaghmour2 · 07-19-2020, 06:47 PM

CF Buck Waldrop (133rd Overall)
Acquired: Via Draft: 4th Round, 50th Overall (1928)
Alma Mater: Hartford HS Blue Sox
Last Year Rank: 25th

Former 4th Rounder Buck Waldrop shot up our prospect list, moving up 14 spots during the season. Of course, we already have a top prospect in center with Joe Johnson, but I've been a big Waldrop fan since draft day. He's an excellent defender out in center, really breaking out in 1930 with an elite +12.9 zone rating. He's got a ton of bat speed with excellent hustle makes him a prime candidate to be a starting big league center fielder. He's just 21, and I'm debating starting him in A Lincoln or AA Mobile after hitting 24 homers with a decent 104 OPS+ in San Jose.

3B Tom Spitzer (134th Overall)
Acquired: Via Draft: 7th Round, 97th Overall (1929)
Alma Mater: Houston HS Hurricanes
Last Year Rank: 18th

Another guy who made a jump, the former shortstop Tom Spitzer has been given a lot of playing time at third base. He spent time last season with La Crosse, San Jose, and Lincoln, but the best performance came in San Jose. Spitzer slashed .327/.352/.484 (127 OPS+) with 5 homers, 4 steals, and 26 RBI's in 159 trips to the plate. He didn't have much success in Lincoln, so I'm not sure if the newly 21-year-old is ready for A ball, but he'll get a chance to start a progression up the ladder. Behind John Kincaid, we don't really have many viable third base options, so Spitzer's development could be extremely important.

SP John Hartz (142nd Overall)
Acquired: Via Draft: 2nd Round, 31st Overall (1931)
Alma Mater: Denver HS Mountaineers
Last Year Rank: New

One of two second rounders we had this year, the six foot righty John Hartz had an excellent senior year, recording a 1.88 ERA (188 ERA+) and 1.00 WHIP with 62 strikeouts in 72 innings pitched. Hartz doesn't throw too hard yet, sitting in the 85-87 range with his fastball. It's one of four pitches, including a curve, slider, and change. His command looks good and his stuff at least average, so a future in the rotation seems likely for Hartz. He's young and risky, but he's got a lot of time to reach his vast potential.

1B Leo Mitchell (148th Overall)
Acquired: Via Draft: 2nd Round, 28th Overall (1931)
Alma Mater: Atlanta HS Peaches
Last Year Rank: New

And here's the other second rounder! Mitchell was actually taken three picks higher, but he sits six spots lower in the top 200. Mitchell is a lefty swinger with a high OPS. He slashed .359/.400/.566 (177 OPS+) with 18 homers and 111 RBI's in about 550 high school plate appearances. He projects to be an extremely dependable defender and he could steal a base or two. He's got a nice swing at the plate with developing gap power. He went from 4 doubles as a sophomore to 13 and 15 as an upperclassmen. It's going to be hard for him to progress up the system with Bill Ashbaugh and Phil Vaughan in the majors and Jim Hatfield on his way up, so he might have to try out another position.

LF Billy Marshall (149th Overall)
Acquired: Via Draft: 10th Round, 145th Overall (1929)
Alma Mater: Birmingham HS Bulldogs
Last Year Rank: 9th

One of the few prospects on the list to fall, Marshall spent all of last season in La Crosse. He hit .289/.384/.389 (111 OPS+) with 8 homers, 37 steals, and 44 RBI's. Marshall also started to work out in left, and he was passable for someone just learning the position. He's a really fast runner with a quick stroke at the plate, and the lefty will lace balls out to right. He will have his issues with strikeouts, but he has done an excellent job drawing walks. I think the 20-year-old is ready for San Jose, especially with Ed Reyes down in La Crosse, but it's going to be a tough rise up the system for him.

07-19-2020, 06:47 PM	#167
ayaghmour2 Hall Of Famer Join Date: Mar 2018 Posts: 3,010	Top Prospects 11-15 CF Buck Waldrop (133rd Overall) Acquired: Via Draft: 4th Round, 50th Overall (1928) Alma Mater: Hartford HS Blue Sox Last Year Rank: 25th Former 4th Rounder Buck Waldrop shot up our prospect list, moving up 14 spots during the season. Of course, we already have a top prospect in center with Joe Johnson, but I've been a big Waldrop fan since draft day. He's an excellent defender out in center, really breaking out in 1930 with an elite +12.9 zone rating. He's got a ton of bat speed with excellent hustle makes him a prime candidate to be a starting big league center fielder. He's just 21, and I'm debating starting him in A Lincoln or AA Mobile after hitting 24 homers with a decent 104 OPS+ in San Jose. 3B Tom Spitzer (134th Overall) Acquired: Via Draft: 7th Round, 97th Overall (1929) Alma Mater: Houston HS Hurricanes Last Year Rank: 18th Another guy who made a jump, the former shortstop Tom Spitzer has been given a lot of playing time at third base. He spent time last season with La Crosse, San Jose, and Lincoln, but the best performance came in San Jose. Spitzer slashed .327/.352/.484 (127 OPS+) with 5 homers, 4 steals, and 26 RBI's in 159 trips to the plate. He didn't have much success in Lincoln, so I'm not sure if the newly 21-year-old is ready for A ball, but he'll get a chance to start a progression up the ladder. Behind John Kincaid, we don't really have many viable third base options, so Spitzer's development could be extremely important. SP John Hartz (142nd Overall) Acquired: Via Draft: 2nd Round, 31st Overall (1931) Alma Mater: Denver HS Mountaineers Last Year Rank: New One of two second rounders we had this year, the six foot righty John Hartz had an excellent senior year, recording a 1.88 ERA (188 ERA+) and 1.00 WHIP with 62 strikeouts in 72 innings pitched. Hartz doesn't throw too hard yet, sitting in the 85-87 range with his fastball. It's one of four pitches, including a curve, slider, and change. His command looks good and his stuff at least average, so a future in the rotation seems likely for Hartz. He's young and risky, but he's got a lot of time to reach his vast potential. 1B Leo Mitchell (148th Overall) Acquired: Via Draft: 2nd Round, 28th Overall (1931) Alma Mater: Atlanta HS Peaches Last Year Rank: New And here's the other second rounder! Mitchell was actually taken three picks higher, but he sits six spots lower in the top 200. Mitchell is a lefty swinger with a high OPS. He slashed .359/.400/.566 (177 OPS+) with 18 homers and 111 RBI's in about 550 high school plate appearances. He projects to be an extremely dependable defender and he could steal a base or two. He's got a nice swing at the plate with developing gap power. He went from 4 doubles as a sophomore to 13 and 15 as an upperclassmen. It's going to be hard for him to progress up the system with Bill Ashbaugh and Phil Vaughan in the majors and Jim Hatfield on his way up, so he might have to try out another position. LF Billy Marshall (149th Overall) Acquired: Via Draft: 10th Round, 145th Overall (1929) Alma Mater: Birmingham HS Bulldogs Last Year Rank: 9th One of the few prospects on the list to fall, Marshall spent all of last season in La Crosse. He hit .289/.384/.389 (111 OPS+) with 8 homers, 37 steals, and 44 RBI's. Marshall also started to work out in left, and he was passable for someone just learning the position. He's a really fast runner with a quick stroke at the plate, and the lefty will lace balls out to right. He will have his issues with strikeouts, but he has done an excellent job drawing walks. I think the 20-year-old is ready for San Jose, especially with Ed Reyes down in La Crosse, but it's going to be a tough rise up the system for him.