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ayaghmour2 · 10-24-2021, 12:14 AM

6th Round, 84th Overall: RHP Jimmy Ballard
School: Donora
Commit School: Cowpens State
1939: 8-2, 107 IP, 1.26 ERA, 0.92 WHIP, 29 BB, 177 K
Career: 25-5, 315.1 IP, 1.43 ERA, 0.96 WHIP, 92 BB, 445 K

After back-to-back seasons with ERAs around 1.50, the recently turned 17-year-old took things to the next level this season. The skinny 6'4'' righty dropped his ERA down to 1.26, while setting career bests for strikeouts, K/9 (14.9), BB/9 (2.4), WHIP, and WAR (6.7) as well. A sidewinder from Weston, West Virginia, Ballard projects to have a strong three pitch arsenal with a nice slider and average change and fastball. His fastball sits in the 87-89 range now, but I imagine as he ages and fills out, he'll be throwing much harder. Command could develop into a problem, but he's done a decent job so far limiting free passes. An inquisitive lad, he's always asking questions, and hopefully he'll be looking to his teammates for advice or potential new pitches. OSA thinks he may pitch his way into a back-end rotation role while Tom thinks he shouldn't be used as more then a spot starter, but that's pretty good praise compared to what is left over right now. The wiry Ballard has loads of upside, and I think he's going to develop into a much more interesting arm then he's showing right now.

6th Round, 86th Overall: SS Arnie Scurlock
School: Cumberland University
1939: .288/.357/.384, 258 PA, 9 2B, 2 3B, 3 HR, 40 RBI, 35 SB
Career: .284/.353/.372, 765 PA, 23 2B, 5 3B, 9 HR, 120 RBI, 106 SB

I'm actually a little surprised I didn't consider the switch hitter from Cumberland for my regional pick, but I eventually settled on the versatile Oak Park native over another versatile collegiate shortstop, who I may or may not use one of my 7th Rounders on. Of course, being an Illinois kid, he has a built in advantage over most other prospects, but there are a lot of things to like about the 22-year-old. Not only is he a surehanded shortstop, but Scurlock can handle second, third, left, center, and right, making it really easy to find at bats for him no matter who else is on the roster with him. I already envision him in a Tip Harrison role, but that's not to say that his only value is versatility. He's got a good eye, great foot speed, and OSA really likes his swing, explaining how he shows a knack for barreling the ball up, using his compact swing to spray the ball around the field. Sure, there may be a lot of grounders, but when they go towards the left side of the infield, he's got a great chance to beat them out. No one will every mistake him for Billy Hunter or even Ollie Page, but he actually checks in at 3.5 on the Mock Draft. Tom thinks he'll force his way into a lineup, but my guess that only happens with injuries, and because he doesn't have to wait for just one position to need filling.

7th Round, 103rd Overall: CF Edmund Mann
School: Chadsey
Commit School: Richmond State
1939: .417/.453/.635, 109 PA, 11 2B, 5 3B, 23 RBI, 35 SB
Career: .436/.494/.697, 445 PA, 45 2B, 21 3B, 5 HR, 96 RBI, 131 SB

As consistent as it got for his first three seasons, 18-year-old Edmund Mann had his average between .440 and .446 with on base percentages between .508 and .514, before his line came crashing down as a senior. His posted his lowest average, on base, and slugging my a significant margin as a senior at Chadsey, and like 1937, failed to hit a single home run. Mann stated walking and striking out less as well, and while his RBIs were close to his norm, he scored fewer runs as well. I'm hoping it was just a fluke for Mann, who launched three homers last year with a 1.251 OPS, there is a reason he fell to the 7th Round of the draft. He's a sound defender with great range in center, and he's more then passable in either corner. He has a good combination of bat speed and barrel control as well, which should lead to a nice batting average. Another switch hitter, he has some exciting, yet definitely underdeveloped, tools at the plate, and even without much improvement, he should turn into a suitable utility player. A lot of the players left are just lottery tickets that likely won't cash out, but he was actually the guy in the mock right in front of our second sixth rounder Arnie Scurlock.

7th Round, 108th Overall: 3B Harry Harris
School: DuPont Manual
Commit School: Western Florida
1939: .482/.558/.800, 104 PA, 13 2B, 3B, 4 HR, 29 RBI, 5 SB
Career: .485/.565/.722, 419 PA, 45 2B, 3 3B, 10 HR, 106 RBI, 29 SB

I promise, I'm not just drafting switch hitters! Add another one to the list in Louisville's Harry Harris, who was a four year starter at DuPont Manual. His best season came as a sophomore where he hit .500/.571/.802 with 14 doubles, 4 homers, and 27 RBIs in 107 trips to the plate. He did match that 4 homer total this year, but hit just a single one as a freshman and junior. He may not develop the power you like to see from a third basemen, but Harris his versatile enough to fill in at second, first, left, and right as well. I'm not sure he has the speed for the outfield, but depending on his eye and range, second base could be his final resting spot. He does have a very good eye and gets above average bat speed on his swings, which should allow him to hit for a high average. OSA thinks he'll be a .310 hitter, and I think that is a fair assessment. Whether or not he becomes a reliable big leaguer, however, depends on if he's the 1 or 4 home run hitter that he's shown so far. He is absent from the Mock Draft, but I do have to say he's better then a lot of the listed third basemen.

10-24-2021, 12:14 AM	#635
ayaghmour2 Hall Of Famer Join Date: Mar 2018 Posts: 3,071	1939 Draft: Round 6 and 7 6th Round, 84th Overall: RHP Jimmy Ballard School: Donora Commit School: Cowpens State 1939: 8-2, 107 IP, 1.26 ERA, 0.92 WHIP, 29 BB, 177 K Career: 25-5, 315.1 IP, 1.43 ERA, 0.96 WHIP, 92 BB, 445 K After back-to-back seasons with ERAs around 1.50, the recently turned 17-year-old took things to the next level this season. The skinny 6'4'' righty dropped his ERA down to 1.26, while setting career bests for strikeouts, K/9 (14.9), BB/9 (2.4), WHIP, and WAR (6.7) as well. A sidewinder from Weston, West Virginia, Ballard projects to have a strong three pitch arsenal with a nice slider and average change and fastball. His fastball sits in the 87-89 range now, but I imagine as he ages and fills out, he'll be throwing much harder. Command could develop into a problem, but he's done a decent job so far limiting free passes. An inquisitive lad, he's always asking questions, and hopefully he'll be looking to his teammates for advice or potential new pitches. OSA thinks he may pitch his way into a back-end rotation role while Tom thinks he shouldn't be used as more then a spot starter, but that's pretty good praise compared to what is left over right now. The wiry Ballard has loads of upside, and I think he's going to develop into a much more interesting arm then he's showing right now. 6th Round, 86th Overall: SS Arnie Scurlock School: Cumberland University 1939: .288/.357/.384, 258 PA, 9 2B, 2 3B, 3 HR, 40 RBI, 35 SB Career: .284/.353/.372, 765 PA, 23 2B, 5 3B, 9 HR, 120 RBI, 106 SB I'm actually a little surprised I didn't consider the switch hitter from Cumberland for my regional pick, but I eventually settled on the versatile Oak Park native over another versatile collegiate shortstop, who I may or may not use one of my 7th Rounders on. Of course, being an Illinois kid, he has a built in advantage over most other prospects, but there are a lot of things to like about the 22-year-old. Not only is he a surehanded shortstop, but Scurlock can handle second, third, left, center, and right, making it really easy to find at bats for him no matter who else is on the roster with him. I already envision him in a Tip Harrison role, but that's not to say that his only value is versatility. He's got a good eye, great foot speed, and OSA really likes his swing, explaining how he shows a knack for barreling the ball up, using his compact swing to spray the ball around the field. Sure, there may be a lot of grounders, but when they go towards the left side of the infield, he's got a great chance to beat them out. No one will every mistake him for Billy Hunter or even Ollie Page, but he actually checks in at 3.5 on the Mock Draft. Tom thinks he'll force his way into a lineup, but my guess that only happens with injuries, and because he doesn't have to wait for just one position to need filling. 7th Round, 103rd Overall: CF Edmund Mann School: Chadsey Commit School: Richmond State 1939: .417/.453/.635, 109 PA, 11 2B, 5 3B, 23 RBI, 35 SB Career: .436/.494/.697, 445 PA, 45 2B, 21 3B, 5 HR, 96 RBI, 131 SB As consistent as it got for his first three seasons, 18-year-old Edmund Mann had his average between .440 and .446 with on base percentages between .508 and .514, before his line came crashing down as a senior. His posted his lowest average, on base, and slugging my a significant margin as a senior at Chadsey, and like 1937, failed to hit a single home run. Mann stated walking and striking out less as well, and while his RBIs were close to his norm, he scored fewer runs as well. I'm hoping it was just a fluke for Mann, who launched three homers last year with a 1.251 OPS, there is a reason he fell to the 7th Round of the draft. He's a sound defender with great range in center, and he's more then passable in either corner. He has a good combination of bat speed and barrel control as well, which should lead to a nice batting average. Another switch hitter, he has some exciting, yet definitely underdeveloped, tools at the plate, and even without much improvement, he should turn into a suitable utility player. A lot of the players left are just lottery tickets that likely won't cash out, but he was actually the guy in the mock right in front of our second sixth rounder Arnie Scurlock. 7th Round, 108th Overall: 3B Harry Harris School: DuPont Manual Commit School: Western Florida 1939: .482/.558/.800, 104 PA, 13 2B, 3B, 4 HR, 29 RBI, 5 SB Career: .485/.565/.722, 419 PA, 45 2B, 3 3B, 10 HR, 106 RBI, 29 SB I promise, I'm not just drafting switch hitters! Add another one to the list in Louisville's Harry Harris, who was a four year starter at DuPont Manual. His best season came as a sophomore where he hit .500/.571/.802 with 14 doubles, 4 homers, and 27 RBIs in 107 trips to the plate. He did match that 4 homer total this year, but hit just a single one as a freshman and junior. He may not develop the power you like to see from a third basemen, but Harris his versatile enough to fill in at second, first, left, and right as well. I'm not sure he has the speed for the outfield, but depending on his eye and range, second base could be his final resting spot. He does have a very good eye and gets above average bat speed on his swings, which should allow him to hit for a high average. OSA thinks he'll be a .310 hitter, and I think that is a fair assessment. Whether or not he becomes a reliable big leaguer, however, depends on if he's the 1 or 4 home run hitter that he's shown so far. He is absent from the Mock Draft, but I do have to say he's better then a lot of the listed third basemen. Last edited by ayaghmour2; 10-24-2021 at 07:51 PM.