[ayaghmour2]

RHP Harry Parker (126st Overall)
Acquired: Via Draft: 7th Round, 108th Overall (1934)
Alma Mater: Bushwick

Despite being a 7th Round selection, I've given a lot of love to Harry Parker in my report already. He was a guy I bet really hard on last draft, and of those picks, just last year's first Carlos Montes ranks ahead of him. I do think Pug Bryan is the better pitcher, but Parker has really blossomed in his first season with us. He's sitting comfortably in the 91-93 range with his fastball and cutter, but he has three really good secondary pitch. He also throws a curveball, the only pitch my scout doesn't think is average or better. That may not sound like much, but since we are in the 30s, the stuff ratings of our pitchers are very low. The fact that my scout says Parker has four average pitches and a good changeup, is a pretty high compliment. Parker is 20, so a little older then most high school draftees, but that's really helped him climb the ladder. The 6'6'' righty started the year in San Jose and made 9 strong starts. He was 6-3 with a 2.39 ERA (190 ERA+), 0.94 WHIP, 13 walks, and 36 strikeouts in 75.1 innings before a promotion up to Class A Lincoln. Parker continued to excel there, and even against the tougher competition was 6-5 with a 4.15 ERA (133 ERA+), 1.43 WHIP, 29 walks, and 48 strikeouts in 93.1 innings pitched. Parker's strikeout numbers are really strong and he did a great job limiting walks. Of course, there is a downside to every pitcher, and for Parker, it's his flyball tendencies. Still, I'm not even phased. He may be good enough that it won't even matter.

2B Tommy Wilson (129th Overall)
Acquired: Via Draft: 2nd Round, 31st Overall (1933)
Alma Mater: Elmira HS Emeralds

I really thought the 1933 draft class was going to be a decent one, until I realized all the guys I thought were good were actually eligible for the 1934 draft. That really threw off my draft strategy, so the fact that I was able to salvage Tommy Wilson in the 2nd is a blessing. A natural shortstop, the recently turned 20-year-old spent nearly all season at second base with the extremely gifted fielder (and next ranked prospect) Ivan Cameron spending time at short. I do think Wilson has the glove to stick at short, and his numbers at second (with no prior experience) were elite. He had a +13.2 zone rating and 1.069 efficiency. He had an okay season at the plate, batting .277/.349/.456 (89 OPS+) with 13 homers, 14 steals, and 76 RBI's. It can take a few seasons for a young hitter to get off the ground in C ball as there tend to be a lot of older prospects on the mound, but Wilson has shown strong plate discipline, 102 strikeouts and walks in his two seasons with the Lions. I'm not yet sure if he's going to move up before the season starts, but I do know that even with a lot of new bodies entering the system, Wilson will not get lost in the shuffle.

SS Ivan Cameron (131st Overall)
Acquired: Via Draft: 3rd Round, 74th Overall (1934)
Alma Mater: Meridian

Our third round selection last season, the thing that got be attached to Cameron was his glove. Despite turning 19 during the season, Cameron looked like Harry Barrell in the UMVA. He put up an astronomical +26.1 zone rating and 1.139 efficiency at short. He held his own at the plate too, batting .275/.364/.436 (88 OPS+) with 15 homers and 93 RBI's. I mentioned the glove, but there is a little chance that Cameron can develop into a really good hitter. He weighs just 170, but stands 6'2'' and still managed to walk (56) twice as much as he struck out (28). As he matures he could add power, and while all C ball hitters will hit a lot of home runs, he might be able to maintain at least a portion of it. One of my favorite things, however, is his personality: "Relaxed and confident. Aggressive when needed." Exactly what you want from your shortstop.

RF Marty Roberts (135th Overall)
Acquired: Via Draft: 2nd Round, 23rd Overall (1932)
Alma Mater: Brunswick Knights

Not too long ago Roberts was a top 70 prospect, but has dropped a lot since the season started. Roberts is a natural center fielder, but he struggled a little in Mobile last season so we moved him to right for this year. He spent about two thirds of his season with the Commodores, batting .282/.373/.443 (111 OPS+) with 7 homers, 6 steals, and 40 RBI's. The power dropped when he moved up to Milwaukee, but he doubled his steal total. His .289/.393/.397 (93 OPS+) batting line was deflated a bit as the power disappeared, but I'm hoping it's just adjusting to the competition. Last year in the same amount of games with AA Mobile (81), he also had just one homer and saw that jump up when he repeated the level. He's 24. and with the ability to play center, he'll have just as much of a shot as anyone to win the starting job. One thing he does do a good job of his walking, a combined 80 walks to just 21 strikeouts this season. He's patient, fast, and consistently drives and lines the ball through the left side of the infield. Even though the prospect evaluators have dimmed their view of Roberts, my opinion has not changed very much. I do think he'll end up in right now and the early results have been extremely promising.

CF Roy Moore (137th Overall)
Acquired: Via Draft: 4th Round, 63rd Overall (1931)
Alma Mater: Hartford HS Blue Sox

A poorly timed oblique strain cost him a late season callup to be the starting center fielder for the Chicago Cougars, but even though the 22-year-old is extremely adept with the glove, he didn't hit all that well this year. His .317/.380/.387 (87 OPS+) line wasn't that inspiring, and he watched his strikeouts spike up to 80 as it looked like he got them back down. Still, he swiped 30 bags and had a nice +8.0 zone rating and 1.054 efficiency out in center. He's a high intensity player with great instincts, but he's not as naturally talented as most prospects that reach AAA. I still have faith the bat will come around, but it may take a season or two of fighting big league pitchers before it happens. Like Roberts, Moore will be in the hunt for our starting center field job, and I'd argue Moore is one of the favorites.