Hall Of Famer
Join Date: Mar 2018
Posts: 2,992
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Top Prospects: 16-20
LF Harry Carr (184th Overall)
Acquired: Via Draft: 10th Round, 156th Overall (1938)
Alma Mater: Buchtel Griffins
It was another strong offensive season for Harry Carr, who spent most of his season with the Lincoln Legislators. A former 10th Round selection, Carr made 416 trips to the plate with Lincoln, hitting an impressive .333/.388/.526 (147 OPS+) with 20 doubles, 22 triples, 3 homers, 14 steals, and 64 RBIs. This was the best offensive output in any of his minor league stops, and it happened at the highest one he's visited so far. Carr's speed is evident, and this year he tripled more then I even thought was possible, 34 total including 12 in just 32 games with San Jose. He's a solid outfielder as well, strong enough range to stick in center, but his future might be in a corner instead. He's not a flashy defender, but he's consistently solid and can always fall back as a fourth outfielder. His best asset is his speed, and could end up as an elite base stealer. Carr has a decent bat too, with improving pitch recognition and the hit tool to consistently hit above .300 in the big leagues. Tom thinks he's a bunch player at best, but I think that's a little too low for Carr. He projects to be a similar player to Tony Mullis, just with more speed, and he looks to be a reliable big league outfielder. Carr has the tools needed to start in the majors, but his lack of power could mean he'll need to stick in center and not move off to a corner.
RHP Harry Stewart (196th Overall)
Acquired: Via Draft: 5th Round, 69th Overall (1940)
Alma Mater: Bell Academy Big Red
One of the most dominant pitchers in Class C this season, Harry Stewart allowed just a single run in his first two starts, followed by three consecutive shutouts. He finished the year with 9 starts in La Crosse, going 5-2 with an outstanding 1.96 ERA (212 ERA+) with a 1.23 WHIP, 26 walks, and 15 strikeouts. He made more starts in San Jose, 14 with the Cougars, and he was an average 7-4 with a 4.00 ERA (106 ERA+), 1.36 WHIP, 30 walks, and 36 strikeouts. Pretty solid numbers for a 19-year-old, and the tall and slender righty will return to San Jose for next season. He's pitched better then his age, and he'll have a chance to continue to work his way up the organizational ladder. I thought he'd move up, not down, the prospect rankings, but there is a lot to like with him. He has a reliable low-to-mid 90s fastball, but other three pitches have a lot of work before they can be consistent offerings. His change and splitter may end up surpassing his fastball, but I'm not too keen on his curve. Plus, he does run into control issues now, which will continue to hurt him if he can't polish up his stuff. If he can develop a swing and miss pitch, likely his change, he could pitch his way into a big league rotation. As with all young arms, you have to be patient with them, and I think Stewart will be worth the wait.
RHP George Oddo (209th Overall)
Acquired: Via Draft: 8th Round, 125th Overall (1941)
Alma Mater: Pawtucket Raiders
One of the more shocking top prospects, George Oddo was our second of two 8th Rounders this season, and he just missed cracking the league's top 200. When I selected him, I did mention he was risky, but with a lot of upside, and I think I was on the right track. He built off a dominant senior year, where he went 10-0 with a 0.95 ERA, 0.76 WHIP, 15 walks, and 153 strikeouts in a near perfect season. Oddo got 8 starts in La Crosse, and while the 18-year-old was 2-4, he held his own on the mound. He worked to a 3.97 ERA (105 ERA+) and 1.50 WHIP with 25 walks and 19 strikeouts in 56.2 innings pitched. He managed to top 100 pitches in all but one of his starts, and while errors did hurt him, he did do a good job working around base runners. He has a decent mid 80s fastball with a money curve, and if his change comes around, he'll have a really nice three pitch arsenal. He has good raw stuff and could end up striking out a lot of batters, but the walks are in the way right now. The best part about Oddo is his size, as he's a towering 6'4'' who I can imagine will end up throwing much harder before he turns 21. He added 3 miles on his fastball this season, and while I don't expect that every year, he's already on the right track. If we can get him consistently in the 90s, his change will be an extremely valuable weapon, but he's a raw prospect with a lot of room for improvement.
LHP Harl Haines (210th Overall)
Acquired: Via Draft: 10th Round, 149th Overall (1935)
Alma Mater: Niagara Falls Big Red
It was some sort of a dream debut for the most interesting southpaw in our system, who had to relieve Peter the Heater in the midst of a no-hitter. Haines was almost as lockdown as our young ace, allowing just a walk and strikeout in 3.2 hitless innings, to complete the combined no hitter. It was his only big league appearance this year, but it certainly won't be the last. The fireballing submariner put together 24 strong starts in Milwaukee before his debut, going 11-9 with a 3.29 ERA (113 ERA+), 1.20 WHIP, 37 walks, and 82 strikeouts in his second season with the Blues. He'll likely get a third season next year, but Haines will be in big league camp, and depending on how many pitchers we lose, he could earn one of our rotation spots. I do think the now 24-year-old would be a remarkable reliever, but I think his future is in the rotation, and I want to give him everyday starts. Right now he is in competition for the 5 spot with Joe Brown, Eddie Quinn, and the Jones brothers, but we could be losing some more arms and Milt Fritz and Dick Lyons are coming off up and down seasons. Even if he doesn't earn a rotation spot out of the Spring, one could open up during the season due to injury of poor performance, and Haines has been the picture of reliability and durability. His command and control are elite, his stuff is reliable, and it's very easy for him to keep the ball on the ground. Haines isn't someone you want leading your rotation, but if you need good innings and a guy who can take the mound every five days, Harl is your guy.
CF Bill Rich (211th Overall)
Acquired: Via Draft: 3rd Round, 44th Overall (1940)
Alma Mater: Grange College Mustangs
It wasn't the best first full season for Bill Rich, who started in Lincoln, got demoted, but eventually returned to Lincoln to finish his season. Rich wasn't as great as I thought he could be after hitting .353/.393/.667 (171 OPS+) in San Jose last year, but at 22 I was hoping he'd do better in Lincoln. He made one shy of 300 PAs in Lincoln, hitting just .246/.301/.373 (82 OPS+) with 4 doubles, 5 triples, 7 homers, and 48 RBIs. He'll get another go of things in Lincoln next season, and I'm hoping he can have a season much closer to he did last year. The Quincy native has a nice bat, with potentially above average contact and power, and he's managed to record double digit homers in each of his seasons. I'm not sure that power will last as he moves up the system. Rich isn't the best defender either, putting up below average numbers in all three outfield positions. A natural center fielder, he's really struggled up the middle, and I'm expecting him to end up in left. He did look better there in 18 games with the Legislators, but with more experience, he should be above average out there. For now, I think Rich's ceiling is a bench role, but if his power comes around, he may be able to steal a lineup spot somewhere.
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