[ayaghmour2]

The draft was taken care of in-game, and below are the new Cougars joining the system. Five of our post 11th Round picks are impossible to sign and I'll let them go, but I do have a lot of draftees to sign. We need to agree to contracts with all of our picks in the first five rounds, the impossible 6th Rounder Bob Rogers, and 10th Rounder Barney Gunnells. I will meet demands for everyone other then Rogers, who I'm going to have to throw a lot of money at. Just one new Cougar in the top 500, with 7th Rounder Alex Snyder checking in at 414. The regular weekly report will still come out later today.

11th Round, 173rd Overall: RHP Jack Maxwell
School: Amsterdam
1943: 6-2, 83.1 IP, 1.73 ERA, 0.97 WHIP, 17 BB, 119 K
Career: 22-7, 291.2 IP, 1.85 ERA, 1.01 WHIP, 67 BB, 347 K

No, we did not get a Dutch pitcher from the Netherlands; Jack Maxwell is from Amsterdam, New York. An always intriguing 11th Round pitcher, Jack Maxwell had his best of three seasons as a senior, setting personal bests for ERA, WHIP, hits, earned runs, walks, BB/9 (1.8) and K/9 (12.9) in his first season without 15 starts and 104 innings pitched. He made 12 starts and threw just 83.1 innings, but I like how his strikeouts and walks went in the right direction. Maxwell isn't your prototypical pitcher, weighing just 140 pounds despite being 5'10''. He does throw in the high 80s with a nice pitch mix, featuring a sharp curve and average cutter, but unless he improves his change up, he's probably not starting every day. He'll at least get a few starts before the better arms join the system, and while he's likely just a filler starter, he'll get a shot to prove he's a little bit more.

12th Round, 189th Overall: C Bob Bendick
School: Opelika State
1943: .270/.374/.365, 272 PA, 7 2B, 5 HR, 46 RBI, 5 SB
Career (HS): .407/.508/.548, 488 PA, 37 2B, 2 3B, 5 HR, 93 RBI, 19 SB
Career (COL): .273/.379/.390, 720 PA, 20 2B, 17 HR, 115 RBI, 10 SB

It's always fun when we get an Illinois kid to join our ranks, and that's exactly what Bob Bendick provides. The Danville native was originally a four year starter in high school, but instead of signing as a 14th Rounder with the Cannons, he decided to go to Opelika State and give it another got this year. He wasn't great, and just got selected two rounds earlier, but Bendick hit above .270 in each of his three season with 5 or more home runs. He's a patient hitter who can take a walk, but he doesn't make consistent contact yet. I'm not sold on his defense, but Tom thinks he could be a decent supplemental piece, and you can never really have too many catchers.

13th Round, 205th Overall: LHP Charlie Dominick
School: Palestine
Commit School: Northern Mississippi
1943: 11-1, 114 IP, 1.89 ERA, 1.04 WHIP, 27 BB, 141 K
Career: 25-7, 324 IP, 1.78 ERA, 1.04 WHIP, 90 BB, 395 K

No, I did not draft Charlie Dominick out of Palestine in the Middle East, but the one down in Texas. The southpaw was actually on my shortlist due to an excellent junior year where he went 7-2 with a 1.10 ERA, 0.84 WHIP, 14 walks, and 113 strikeouts in 90 impressive innings pitched. Unfortunately for Dominick, his senior year was closer to his very uninspiring sophomore season (2.17 ERA, 1.18 WHIP, 3.7 BB/9), which is probably why he made it clear he'll be going to Northern Mississippi. I think he's got a chance to breakout there, as he's a hard worker who will use those three seasons to improve his craft. He's got some blocks to build on, as he has a great change that will continue to improve if he adds speed to his mid 80s cutter and sinker. His control looks good too, so if he can keep the ball in the park, he may develop into an intriguing option for a big league rotation.

14th Round, 221st Overall: LHP Bud Sloane
School: Eastern Kansas
1943: 3-5, 86 IP, 5.76 ERA, 1.71 WHIP, 43 BB, 50 K
Career:7-12, 199 IP, 6.15 ERA, 1.84 WHIP, 133 BB, 104 K

The numbers don't look good for Bud Sloane, who was actually worse as a sophomore. To make things worse, the 6'3'' lefty is listed as "Strictly Bullpen" despite his four pitches. Not a lot to like here, but supposedly he can throw all four of them consistently for strikes. They just must not be very good pitches... We need depth, so he'll hand around in the pen for now. He may end up getting cut, I just don't see that happening before the season ends, as I'm sure he can make the jump to San Jose, where we have a lot of older and equally uninspiring pen arms hanging out.

15th Round, 237th Overall: C Jack Lumpkin
School: Noble Jones College
1943: .273/.376/.374, 222 PA, 7 2B, 4 HR, 29 RBI, 3 SB
Career: .273/.376/.374, 222 PA, 7 2B, 4 HR, 29 RBI, 3 SB

A one year starter at Noble Jones, Jack Lumpkin looked decent behind the plate, hitting rather similar to 12th Rounder Bob Bendick. OSA thinks he can hold a backup catcher role, liking his patient approach and average contact tool. He shouldn't strike out too much, although I doubt he'll hit for a very high average, and there's not much to say about his power or defense. He'll fill a bench spot for now, but I'm not sure he'll see much playing time in his time as a Cougar farmhand.

16th Round, 253rd Overall: C Ralph Grant
School: Denmark
Commit School: Warrensburg State
1943: .398/.509/.581, 114 PA, 7 2B, 2 3B, 2 HR, 26 RBI, 5 SB
Career: .398/.509/.581, 114 PA, 7 2B, 2 3B, 2 HR, 26 RBI, 5 SB

Okay Tom, were you trying to scout internationally? A guy from Denmark! But the one in Wisconsin! Come on...

That's about all that's interesting about Hamlet, who couldn't hit over .400 in his only season of high school ball. He did walk a lot, 20 times in 22 games, but he does not put the ball in play much. He's going to head to Warrensburg State and look to build more value in a full time role, and if he can do something other then draw walks, he could find himself taken in the first 10 rounds next time around.

17th Round, 269th Overall: SS Bill Parent
School: Westinghouse
Commit School: Grange College
1943: .440/.500/.560, 110 PA, 11 2B, 25 RBI, SB
Career: .440/.500/.560, 110 PA, 11 2B, 25 RBI, SB

I'm usually big on switch hitting shortstops, but Bill Parent doesn't have much to offer. No power or speed in his single season at Westinghouse, so he's off to Grange College to prove he's big league worthy. Good eye but no contact, and I'm not sold on his defense.

18th Round, 285th Overall: RHP Ike Hoyt
School: Arkansas A&T
1943: 4-8, 114.2 IP, 5.18 ERA, 1.70 WHIP, 66 BB, 70 K
Career: 4-8, 114.2 IP, 5.18 ERA, 1.70 WHIP, 66 BB, 70 K

A teammate of Alex Snyder's at Arkansas A&T, Ike Hoyt started 17 games for the Badgers as a junior. They didn't go too well, as Hoyt had a BB/9 and ERA above 5 and allowed 10 homers in his lone season. A soft tossing righty with five pitches that aren't all that great, Hoyt is under developed for a college arm, but he at least has the potential to one day start. He nibbles too much at the plate, which leads to all the walks, and my guess the high strikeout numbers are more because he faces a lot of batters then quality stuff. He'll likely hand around our system for a few seasons eating innings in the pen, but we have far more promising pitching options with far less question marks.

19th Round, 301st Overall: 2B Walt Conner
School: Bluegrass State
1943: .259/.314/.319, 237 PA, 8 2B, 3B, HR, 31 RBI, 40 SB
Career: .292/.369/.361, 237 PA, 26 2B, 4 3B, 4 HR, 114 RBI, 111 SB

A three year starter at the prestigious Bluegrass State, a rough junior season caused Walt Conner to drop significantly on draft boards. The now 21-year-old second basemen hit over .300 as a freshman and sophomore with a near .400 OBP, but he just never got things going this season. A speedy second basemen, Conner might have the range for short, but I think he could handle the outfield well if second base doesn't work out for him. He'll steal a ton of bases and is always looking to take advantage of the defense, and if he hits one on the ground they better be on their toes. He's not set to get every day at bats yet, but depending on where I move my more exciting prospects, he could find himself getting some playing time, or at least making the occasional start when a starter is tired. His ceiling is a late game pinch runner, but if he can make harder contact, he could work his way into a lineup.

20th Round, 317th Overall: 3B Pete Jackson
School: Wyoming
1943: .402/.495/.524, 106 PA, 5 2B, 3B, HR, 21 RBI, 21 SB
Career: .402/.495/.524, 106 PA, 5 2B, 3B, HR, 21 RBI, 21 SB

No, this isn't a guy from the state of Wyoming... He went to a school called Wyoming that happens to be in Cincinnati, Ohio. As expected, that's all that's notable about Pete Jackson, who barely hit .400 in his lone season as a starting third basemen. He had just 7 extra base hits in his 21 games, and while he has some speed, you want power from your third basemen. He hits lefties good, just is terrible against righties, but like Conner before him, his speed could allow him to hang around.

21st Round, 333rd Overall: RHP Don McCabe
School: Newport
Commit School: Shenandoah Valley State
1943: 8-4, 111.1 IP, 2.59 ERA, 1.27 WHIP, 46 BB, 124 K
Career: 27-11, 391 IP, 2.39 ERA, 1.21 WHIP, 148 BB, 431 K

High school didn't go too well for Don McCabe, who started 55 of his 63 appearances at Newport while managing an ERA below 2 in just one of his four seasons. That was last year, where he was 7-3 with a 1.94 ERA, 1.12 WHIP, 41 walks, and 130 strikeouts. Most of his career bests came that season, but none of those bests are all that exciting. He did start striking out a decent amount of hitters as an upper classmen, but he's not exciting enough to convince foregoing his commitment to Shenandoah Valley State. He's throwing a big harder now then he did as a senior, up to 87-89 with his fastball, but average stuff and poor command tend to not pair very well. A few more velo boosts and perhaps he'd be worth a pick, but for now he'd be lucky to be filler.

22nd Round, 349th Overall: CF Bill Thames
School: Clarkesville
Commit School: Coastal State
1943: .441/.477/.551, 132 PA, 9 2B, 2 3B, 32 RBI, 2 SB
Career: .444/.494/.590, 364 PA, 30 2B, 5 3B, 2 HR, 86 RBI, 17 SB

A switch hitting center fielder, Bill Thames is probably the best of our non-Dan Rogers impossibles, projected by Tom Weinstock and OSA to end up as a 4th outfielder. Thames isn't fast, which doesn't bode well for his defense, and the scouting reports don't mention anything about his range. He's a strong free swinger, so you'd like to think there is some power, but both of his home runs came in his sophomore season. He can play a little third base, which means he likely has a good arm, and Thames could be an interesting project to watch at Coastal State. He could end up a June pick with a productive college career, and we'll keep our eye on him before the 1946 draft.

23rd Round, 365th Overall: CF Jim Moyer
School: Shreveport
1943: .408/.450/.525, 129 PA, 9 2B, 3B, HR, 31 RBI, 34 SB
Career: .410/.474/.530, 389 PA, 25 2B, 3 3B, 3 HR, 83 RBI, 83 SB

One of the youngest players in the class, Jim Moyer turns 18 on July 3rd. He's also one of the smallest, just 5'7'' and 135 pounds soaking wet, so there may be a lot of room for growth. A speedy switch hitter, Moyer is a defensive marvel, playing plus defense with a plus arm and he could likely patrol center in the big leagues now if absolutely necessary. Sure, he can barely handle batting practice pitching, but we'll never have to worry about his glove! He's a useful depth piece with room to grow, and he might survive 10 or so seasons as a defensive specialist in our organization. Just don't expect big league at bats...

24th Round, 381st Overall: 2B Billy Mills
School: Portsmouth
1943: .424/.476/.598, 105 PA, 11 2B, 3B, HR, 24 RBI, 19 SB
Career: .432/.500/.641, 227 PA, 22 2B, 6 3B, 2 HR, 52 RBI, 32 SB

Billy Mills didn't start until he was an upperclassman, but he didn't quite do enough to warrant a higher pick. He can play both middle infield spots and he has good speed, but he lacks power and won't walk too much either. We don't have too many guys capable of playing shortstop in the lower minors, so Mills will be a relatively useful bench piece, at least for this season.

25th Round, 397th Overall: 3B Paul Reinhardt
School: Far Rockaway
1943: .411/.448/.509, 128 PA, 7 2B, 2 3B, 24 RBI, 10 SB
Career: .408/.474/.505, 387 PA, 26 2B, 3 3B, 75 RBI, 25 SB

Rounding out a class that had a ton of prep players, Paul Reinhardt is officially the youngest member of the Cougar organization, turning 18 just one week after 1st Rounder Tommy Seymour. While Seymour is one of the more promising prospects, Reinhardt might also be the worst, dubbed by Tom Weinstock as the guy who "fails to hustle out of the box, blunders on the basepaths, and shows a general lack of intensity" while OSA gives a more exciting description that "Reinhardt has no real future to speak of, other than providing minor league depth." That's exactly what he'll do for us, and since we don't need to cut someone yet, he can hang around for at least a week. He failed to hit .400 last year and didn't hit a home run in three seasons at Far Rockaway, two things you don't want for a bat only third basemen. There are plenty of more exciting prospects in La Crosse alone, so I'd be surprised if he cracks 10 minor league PAs before his eventual release.

With all the new catchers in our system, I made a minor trade, sending AA catcher Walter Loera to the Wolves for an 11th Round Pick. Class C rosters were expanded to 50, so I don't envision having to cut more then five guys once all are unsigned draftees join the system. Before the Art White trade our system ranked 8th, but I'd be surprised if we stick in the top 10 once all teams are able to agree to bonuses with their top prospects.