Top 5 Free Agent Hitters
1. 2B Jackie Robinson ($88,125)
Robinson debuted with a strong 4.4 WAR campaign in 1946 and has only gotten better. He heads into free agency after winning the MLB Silver Slugger at 2B thanks to a 7.3 WAR/144 OPS+ season.
2. C Yogi Berra ($83,000)
The 24 year old has quickly established himself as the best Catcher in baseball after putting up 5.4, 4.7, and 5.6 WAR the past 3 seasons along with back to back Silver Sluggers.
3. OF Larry Doby ($76,667)
Doby shredded USBA pitching in 1947 with a 182 OPS+ after Houston's relegation, and he continued his torrid performances once Houston returned to the MLB, with a 6.5 WAR 1948 season and 7.7 WAR campaign in 1949. Like Berra, he has won back to back Silver Sluggers.
4. C Roy Campanella ($52,778)
The 28 year old struggled in his rookie season with Phoenix in 1946, posting only 0.5 WAR and slumping to a 76 OPS+. After being traded to Cincinnati, Campanella blossomed, with two consecutive 2.7 WAR seasons, followed by a breakout 5.4 WAR year in 1949.
5. OF Richie Ashburn ($28,500)
At 22, Ashburn is the youngest high-level player available, and should have no shortage of suitors despite a disappointing injury-shortened 1949 season. He broke out in his rookie year with 5.0 WAR but has steadily produced less each year, but scouts say he hasn't reached his potential yet.
Top 5 Free Agent Pitchers
1. SP Harry Brecheen ($55,000)
The 35 year old is getting up there in age, but his performance hasn't suffered. After the WBF began, he posted seasons of 8.0, 9.2, 7.4, and 7.3 WAR for Louisville.
2. SP Magali Vick ($55,375)
The 28 year old Venezuelan found his footing in his sophomore year in 1947 with 4.7 WAR for Los Angeles, and improved that to 4.8 and 5.3 WAR in each of the next two seasons.
3. SP Virgil Trucks ($56,143)
The 32 year old has battled an elbow and shoulder injury each of the past two seasons, but when he's been on the field, he's been effective. Trucks has just one season with an ERA above 3.00 since the end of the war and posted seasons of 5.1, 6.1, 4.2, and 5.9 WAR for Cincinnati.
4. SP Howie Pollet ($61,167)
The 28 year old southpaw won't overpower anyone, as evidenced by his career 3.7 K/9 statline. Despite that, he knows how to get batters out and is durable, having thrown at 236 IP the past 4 years and producing between 6.1 and 6.6 WAR for the White Sox every season.
5. SP Hal Newhouser ($43,000)
Newhouser will be an interesting test for MLB teams, as he spent the past 4 seasons in the USBA, trying his best to get Santa Barbara promoted. Once they were demoted to the CBL, he said enough was enough and opted out. A key question will be whether his pitching talent has dropped off, or if it's a motivation question - Newhouser's production has steadily decreased from 14.9 to 12.8 to 10.6 and finally to 7.1 WAR this past season.
MLB Draft Recap - Top Hitter & Pitcher Selected
#1 Overall Selection - OF Hugh Hamil, Boston Braves
Top Pitcher Selection - SP Floyd Woolridge, #29 overall to New York Yankees
PLC Draft Recap - Top Hitter & Pitcher Selected
#1 Overall Selection - OF David Cornejo, Tivoli Gardens B.C.
Top Pitcher Selection - SP Israel Zarazua, #16 overall to Sultanes de Monterrey
BC Draft Recap - Top Hitter & Pitcher Selected
#1 Overall Selection - OF Vincent Masson, Winnipeg Frostbite
Top Pitcher Selection - SP Jesus Murray, #4 overall to Calgary Avalanche
EPL Draft Recap - Top Hitter & Pitcher Selected
#1 Overall Selection - OF Henrique Valejo, Standard Liège
Top Pitcher Selection - SP Piero Volpe, #8 overall to Beisebol Clube do Porto
APBL Draft Recap - Top Hitter & Pitcher Selected
#1 Overall Selection - SP Toru Watanabe, Daejeon Eagles
Top Batter Selection - SS Jin-ho Lee, #2 overall to Hiroshima Carp
CSB Draft Recap - Top Hitter & Pitcher Selected
#1 Overall Selection - 3B Pio Maanico, Toros de Sincelejo
Top Pitcher Selection - SP Joseph Palmer, #13 overall to Clube de Regatas do Flamengo
EBL Draft Recap - Top Hitter & Pitcher Selected
#1 Overall Selection - 3B Marcos Rivera, F91 Diddeleng
Top Pitcher Selection - SP Raphael Alighero, #19 overall to F91 Diddeleng
AuBL Draft Recap - Top Hitter & Pitcher Selected
#1 Overall Selection - 3B Russell Brusnahan, Canberra Cavalry
Top Pitcher Selection - SP Quentin Kent, #9 overall to Canberra Cavalry
BASR Draft Recap - Top Hitter & Pitcher Selected
#1 Overall Selection - 1B Edik Mityagin, BK Ural Yekaterinburg
Top Pitcher Selection - SP Nestor Zapatrin, #37 overall to BK Ural Yekaterinburg
CPBL Draft Recap - Top Hitter & Pitcher Selected
#1 Overall Selection - SP Feng Leong, Chiayi City Whales
Top Batter Selection - OF Lieh Cheng, #2 overall to Dalian Professional B.C.
ArBL Draft Recap - Top Hitter & Pitcher Selected
#1 Overall Selection - 3B Ka'im Sayyid, Al Ahed Baseball Club
Top Pitcher Selection - SP Khaldun Mdogo, #15 overall to Al Ahed Baseball Club
