[ayaghmour2]

CF Bill Rich (230th Overall)
Acquired: Via Draft: 3rd Round, 44th Overall (1940)
Alma Mater: Grange College Mustangs

Our regional selection in January of 1940, it was a big jump in the draft from 1937 where we selected him in the 20th Round and decided he'd be better served in college. It turned out to be good for everyone, as Rich became a much more skilled player at the prestigious Grange College then he would have been sitting on the bench in La Crosse. In fact, Rich skipped La Crosse entirely, and slashed an elite .353/.393/.667 (166 OPS+) in 168 PAs with San Jose. He wasn't very good in center, with a -3.7 zone rating and .937 efficiency, so he may end up in a corner, but he more then made up for it with the bat. Not only did he hit at an extremely high level, the 21-year-old from Quincy hit 8 doubles, 4 triples, and 11 homers with 35 RBIs. He's set to start next season in Lincoln, and I think I'll have him get more reps out in right then center. Rich has a well above average eye and the potential to make consistent contact, which should help him hit his way up. I doubt he'll ever match this power output, but he could end up with double digits each season. We have a lot of talented outfield prospects, so Rich definitely has his work cut out for him, but he's at worst a reliable bat for the bench with the potential to hit his way to a starting role.

LHP Harl Haines (239th Overall)
Acquired: Via Draft: 10th Round, 149th Overall (1935)
Alma Mater: Niagara Falls Big Red

He may have dropped a bit in the prospect rankings, but that didn't stop me from saving a 40-Man roster spot for him. Our 10th Rounder in the 1935 Draft, Haines has worked his way up the ladder, and spent all season with Milwaukee. He made 29 starts and went 13-12 with a 3.72 ERA (109 ERA+), 1.38 WHIP, 66 walks, and 105 strikeouts. One of the most interesting pitchers in the league, Haines is a 6'3'' southpaw who throws submarine style, with his fastball and cutter sitting comfortably in the 95-97 range. His stuff is really good, allowing him to consistently miss bats and record swings and misses. His advanced control allows him to limit walks as well, leading him to maintain high K/BB ratios while keeping runners off base and out of scoring position. He can roll up a grounder when needed, and his slider and screwball are reliable secondary offerings. He can also pitch deep into games, tallying 225 innings this season with multiple starts of over 130 pitches. Tom Weinstock thinks he can be a middle of the rotation arm, and right now he's our closest prospect to starting in the big leagues, so with a few injuries he may end up getting some starts. I expect him to start next season in Milwaukee, but I'd be surprised if he doesn't at least get a September call up for an inevitable FABL debut.

LF Harry Harris (245th Overall)
Acquired: Via Draft: 7th Round, 108th Overall (1939)
Alma Mater: DuPont Manual Crimsons

This was the first full pro season for Harry Harris, who again spent most of his time out in left field. He was average out there, working to a -3.9 zone rating and .991 efficiency in 956.1 innings, and with very few outfielders in our low minors, he will probably continue to play left for the Lions. He turns 20 in November, but his age will likely make it take longer for him to move up the system. I think he'll be in San Jose after the draft, but he'll have to hit better then the .297/.363/.415 (98 OPS+) he showed this season. He did have 34 doubles, 2 triples, 5 homers, and 75 RBIs, but I'll need to see a lot more from him before I'm comfortable moving him up. He does have a lot of promising characteristics, including above average contact ability and good patience, but he's likely never going to hit for much power. As a switch hitter he does have more value, and can be very handy off the bench, which I think is his likely ending spot. Still, he's young and with a lot of upside, so some hard work and a few nice talent bumps could help him develop into one of our more interesting prospects.

LHP Bob Hobbs (265th Overall)
Acquired: Via Draft: 8th Round, 119th Overall (1939)
Alma Mater: Brookhaven Panthers

An 8th Rounder last season, Bob Hobbs was just 17 when drafted and didn't turn 19 until this October. He'll spend all of next season as a teen, and unlike Skipper Schneider, will likely spend it at one of our lowest levels. He did look advanced for his age in his 23 starts, 13-9 with a 3.63 ERA (123 ERA+), 1.44 WHIP, 74 walks, and 100 strikeouts, so perhaps after the draft he could move up to San Jose. Hobbs isn't a very hard thrower, just 85-87 with the fastball, but he did strike out nearly 5 per 9 in his first full season. His command does cause problems at times, and sometimes he can't locate his curve or change. Both are good pitches, so if he gets his command under control, they can be really effective as all three pitches should be big league quality. Still, he's a very raw prospect and we will have to take our time with him, as he is very far from being a big league arm, even as a reliever.

RHP Roscoe Brown (268th Overall)
Acquired: Via Draft: 8th Round, 113th Overall (1940)
Alma Mater: Covington Cougars

From one Cougars to another, we selected the 18-year-old righty out of Covington, where their mascot is also a Cougar. He started as a Lion, and may not be a Cougar until next season, but I was pleasantly surprised with how effective the youngster was. Brown made 10 starts for La Crosse, finishing 6-3 with a 3.32 ERA (135 ERA+), 1.16 WHIP, 11 walks, and 50 strikeouts. His command was superb, just a 1.3 BB/9 despite being a very inexperienced arm. Tom's not a fan of his command, which I think is a bit funny, as it hasn't looked like he's had any issues so far. Brown has been throwing harder, sitting in the 91-93 range as well, and I'm hoping he has a few more velocity boosts in him as his two main pitches are his fastball and sinker. The third is a curve with really nice break that is arguably his best pitch. Right now he looks like nothing more then a spot starter, but we've done a good job developing young high school arms, and Brown is a lot further along then most. Young pitching is extremely valuable, which makes Brown a potential trade candidate as well, but with such a long time to develop, he may be staring at the peaks of Pete and the Jones Brothers (almost sounds like a band) while he's the same age as fellow top prospects Duke Bybee and Mel Haynes who look like much more exciting arms.