BNN Youth Leagues Monthly Report
This Month in the BYDL, CCYL, and PJPL
by Nat Wright-Kawolski
1 April 2302
Questions About Sustainability of Youth League Talent Forces Change
And just like that, the CBO has changed its draft again. CBO commissioner Nate Howard announced today that the CBO was moving back to just a five-round draft for the 2302 season.
"It became obvious that we just do not have enough players yet," Howard said. "We had to wipe out a lot of talent in the youth leagues and travel teams in the area just to get the 240 players drafted for 2301. I think we hurt those teams a lot."
There are some travel players in the area that will be eligible and capable for the 2302 Rookie Draft to be held in November, but Howard indicated he wanted to nip the problem of pulling players out of the youth leagues too soon.
"We're going to find a lot of our talent having to leave the area to play baseball if we're pulling potential high picks out of the youth leagues just to get drafted in the 9th or 10th rounds. They're not ready yet, and they'll end up getting cut and going to the NWL or Vim! League."
The CBO will have to draft more juniors, or third-year youth players, in 2302 because there are few seniors in the youth leagues. Howard also feels there is not enough first-round talent for the 2302 draft.
"While we had some surges in talent in the last few drafts, we feel this year will be a dip. I suspect there will be a lot of haggling to get those 5 or 6 top guys in 2302."
Some youth league players that are expected to be draft-eligible and the "top prospects" for 2302 include SS Stormin Normin MacDonald (Jr, BYDL, Circle Jerks), 3B Rico Tub (Jr, BYDL, Lynn Pier Gamers), RF Magnum Peaeye (Jr, BYDL, Diamond City Newsboys), CF Beckett Quantum (Sr, Independent Teams, Commonwealth Fallouts), 1B Anyday Stevenski (Jr, BYDL, South Beach Waves), and 1B Nuke Lebowitz (Jr, BYDL, Wattz Ups).
Top Players - Boston Youth Development League
Top Hitter - 2B Aaron Squire, Spectacle Island Reapers - Taking the BYDL by storm as a freshman in 2301, Squire returns to show even more skills. Squire will probably work on his defense to become a SS in the CBO, though the time may not be yet. Still, in 41 games in 2301, he batted .412 with 13 home runs and 47 RBI. He will be a force and a possible future #1 overall pick.
Top Pitcher - SP Kyle Gunnels, Diamond City Newsboys - Gunnela comes into his sophomore season looking to build on his pitching in 2301. First, he will need to develop a third pitch to make him a top prospect. Right now, he relied heavily on his fastball and slider, which were good enough to propel him to a 10-3 record, but he needs to bring down the runs allowed from his 4.70 ERA.
Top Players - Cape Cod Youth League
Top Hitter - LF Giggy Larabee, Harwich Fishheads - Larabee shows a lot of pop in his bat, and he is sure to improve on his 14 home runs in 39 games in 2301. A few are questioning the junior's desire to be great, but there is no doubt that he is talented with a lot of potential to hit well.
Top Pitcher - SP Nate Vandermeulen, Chatham Lighthouse - The junior pitcher returns after an injury sidelined him most of the 2301 season. Still, in just three games pitched, he showed the ability to mow down batters, collecting a 1-0 record and 2.55 ERA. In 17.2 innings pitched, he struck out 16 and walked five.
Top Players - Providence Junior Pro League
Top Hitter - 1B Lock Ness, West Seekonk Quahog - The Quahog junior, Ness did not thrive in 2301 but scouts are expecting him to make a jump up in his bid to be a draft pick in 2302 or 2303. A patient hitter, Ness expects his home run numbers to make a big jump. In just 33 games in 2301, he hit five home runs, but he is now the star for West Seekonk.
Top Pitcher - SP Ogre Olmstead, Freeplat Wicked Goods - At the youth level, Olmstead can dominate thanks to a 98-MPH fastball that he blows by opposing batters. He is not considered a top draft prospect due to him not developing more pitches, but when his fastball is on, he is hard to hit. He will probably be drafted to be a closer or relief pitcher in the CBO.