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RHP Willie Gonzalez Jr. (321st Overall)
Acquired: Via Trade with New York (1938)
Drafted: 1st Round, 6th Overall (1937)
Alma Mater: Capital Academy Colts

This was a huge season for Willie Gonzalez Jr., who just recently added his third velocity boost of the 1940 season. When he tore his rotator cuff in May of 1938, his fastball and cutter were just low 90s pitched. Now, however, those both sit comfortably in the high 90s and if he really tried he could hit triple digits. He has an effective four pitch mix, all average or better, with a curve and change mixed in. He used all his pitches effectively, and was flat out dominant in his first 10 starts with San Jose. They earned him a promotion, as he went 7-1 with a 2.75 ERA (176 ERA+), 1.12 WHIP, 15 walks, and 27 strikeouts. The concern was he just threw 59 innings, but those concerns were alleviated a bit when he managed 101 innings in just three more starts with Lincoln. The production was great there too, as the 21-year-old went 8-3 with a 2.94 ERA (137 ERA+), 1.14 WHIP, 26 walks, and 56 strikeouts. I have a lot of good arms sitting in Lincoln right now, so I know someone will have to move up, and it may end up being Gonzalez. I like his stuff and he does a good job locating his pitches, leading Tom to think he could fill out the back of a rotation. It will be tough for him to add any more speed, as he's done it eight times already, but he's shown the willingness to improve and he could force his way into our future picture with a few more seasons like this one.

RF Cy Howard (332nd Overall)
Acquired: Via Draft: 6th Round, 92nd Overall (1940)
Alma Mater: Daniel Boone College Frontiersmen

Sure he was on one of the Mock Drafts, even as a first rounder, but that's not why I took Cy Howard in the 6th Round. I took him because he's a Chicagoan! Just kidding, well partially, as there is a lot to like about the 22-year-old. He's an extremely hard worker, labeled a "Baseball Rat" by his coaches and teammates, and he's got the positional versatility to man third, left, second, short, center, and right. I took advantage of that versatility, giving him 12 games at second, 14 at third, 13 at short, and 30 out in right. Best part is, his efficiency was actually best at short, with a 1.055 in a small 102.1 inning sample. He was above average at all four positions, as well as his three games out in center. If he continues his glovework like this, he could force his way into the lineup at any spot, and gives him the high floor of a very useful super utility player. Unfortunately, he didn't hit all that well, just a .245/.322/.303 (61 OPS+) line, so he clearly has a lot of work. The coolest part of his season was the trio of 27s, his walk, strikeout, and RBI total, but unfortunately this isn't poker so three of a kind doesn't help too much.

RHP Bill Tuttle (350th Overall)
Acquired: Via Minor League Free Agency (1938)
Drafted: 14th Round, 209th Overall (1935)
Alma Mater: Easton Eagles

Last season Bill Tuttle made just 6 appearances due to shoulder inflammation, so this ended up being Tuttle's first full season as a starter. The 21-year-old made 16 starts in San Jose, finishing 10-3 with a 3.14 ERA (154 ERA+), 1.17 WHIP, 24 walks, and 47 strikeouts before a late season promotion to Lincoln. He didn't maintain that dominant level, but his 7 starts there were still very effective. The almost 22-year-old was 4-2 with a 3.63 ERA (111 ERA+), 1.25 WHIP, 19 walks, and 22 strikeouts. The main issue here was the jump in walks, from a 1.8 to 3.0 BB/9. To be fair, the 1.8 BB/9 was likely an outlier, considering he's even had high walk numbers in the pen, but I'm hoping once his pitches develop a bit more, he'll find the zone a bit more. His stuff is average, the best his change, but that's also the pitch with the most work. His mid 90s cutter and splitter are decent enough, but he does have a tendency to allow more then his share of homers. Technically we could lose him in the Rule-5 Draft, but I can't see a team wasting a pick on a pitcher with just 57 innings in A ball, especially one as underdeveloped as Tuttle. He has a bright future, but I'm not sure he'll develop quickly enough to become a major asset for us.

RHP King Price (362nd Overall)
Acquired: Via Draft: 9th Round, 135th Overall (1939)
Alma Mater: Bluegrass State Mustangs

We have a few Bluegrass State alum in our organization, and King Price was actually teammates with Bill Graham in 1937 and 1938. Price is surprisingly a few months older, despite Graham graduating the year before Price was selected in the 9th Round. They were also teammates for part of the season, with both starting in San Jose and both ending in Lincoln. It was a tail of two seasons for Price, as he was great in San Jose, going 7-3 with a 3.93 ERA (123 ERA+), 1.20 WHIP, 25 walks, and 50 strikeouts. He then seemingly hit a wall against A ball hitters, slumping to 2-4 with a 4.94 ERA (81 ERA+), 1.57 WHIP, 23 walks, and 29 strikeouts. Strikeouts fell, hits jumped, and of course, runs did as well, which is concerning as someone his age shouldn't have too much trouble with A ball. I mean, Peter the Heater is a full year younger and led the CA in strikeouts and K/9! Yes, Price is no Papenfus (although, who really is?), but the intelligent sidearmer does excite in his own ways. He has a polished three piece mix with a consistent change, nifty knuckle curve, and soft biting cutter. He doesn't overwhelm with speed, but his pitches move a lot, and his sidearm delivery makes him tough for righties. I also liked how he was able to pass 100 most starts, even passing 150 in a pair of complete game victories. He has a pretty high floor, but very limited upside, as I can't see Price as a regular starter, but he could develop into an Allen Purvis type of pitcher who can keep run of the board late in the game and fill in with the occasional spot start. I have no doubt he can pitch much better in Lincoln next year, but with a lot of talented arms starting to reach the upper minors, Price may be stuck in Nebraska all season.

LRHP Ron Sexton (363rd Overall)
Acquired: Via Trade with Pittsburgh (1939)
Drafted: 5th Round, 79th Overall (1938)
Alma Mater: Canarsie Chiefs

Ron Sexton may round out our Offseason Top 30, but two months later he's already moved up to 20. Sure, a lot more of our guys have dropped, but it's encouraging for a guy who tore his UCL in July. Of course, that means he will miss the start of next season, and will likely have to start it in La Crosse to easy him back into things. He's still just 20 and won't turn 21 until August, but if he stayed healthy he likely would have finished his year in San Jose. Sexton made 13 starts for the Lions, going 6-5 with an adjusted league average 4.48 ERA, 1.44 WHIP, 40 walks, and 49 strikeouts. Like a lot of our guys, the walks were a bit concerning, but his 4.8 K/9 was a personal best and he's now bumped his velo to 90-92. These are all encouraging signs, but with the major injury it is still yet to be seen if the can avoid regressing, let alone mature more. He will need to locate his pitches better, as while his stuff should be good, it is still very raw. He lacks that one out pitch, but as more of a finesse pitcher, I think it's the multiple options that helps him strike out hitters. Sometimes it's okay if you have four similar pitches, as the hitters really have to look for all four, and finesse pitchers can get away with lower stuff if none of the pitches are weak. He's got a lot of talent, but it may take him longer then most to develop, and that was the thought even before the setback of getting hurt. I think Sexton will be an interesting prospect to follow once he regains his fitness, but I'm tempering my expectations in the short term.

We haven't had much action lately, as the offseason isn't always the most interesting, but we have the Rule-5 Draft tomorrow and the Independent Draft the day after. Those are just the appetizers for the main course, the January Draft, which we'll look to complete over the weekend. Thanks to our trade of Leon Drake, we have the Gothams 2nd Rounder, so the Cougars should be picking 13th, 20th, and 29th. Then for the regional round, the Chiefs again have priority in Illinois and all our other shared regions, so chances are someone I want will be taken. There are still players to be added to the pool, but there are a lot of suitable options for us even after factoring those taken in the first two rounds and those snapped up by our Midwestern rivals.