[ayaghmour2]

7th Round, 97th Overall: 3B Buddy Brumbaugh
School: Wallingford
Commit School: Piedmont University
1944: .430/.513/.580, 119 PA, 12 2B, HR, 28 RBI, 3 SB
Career: .440/.517/.590, 241 PA, 24 2B, 2 HR, 57 RBI, 8 SB

We started out the 7th Round with our first of three picks with a guy I think lasted a bit longer then he should have. That would be 18-year-old third basemen Buddy Brumbaugh, who both OSA and Tom Weinstock are huge fans of. OSA says reliable hitter, Tom think's he deserves a lion's share of the account, but the stats don't quite agree. He didn't impress too much in his two seasons at Wallingford, and he managed just two longballs in 241 trips to the plate. That's not too inspiring for someone who mans at the hot corner, and Buddy is more one of those guys who puts the ball in play all the time. He struck out just 13 times, using his great swing to make consistent contact. He's not a great defender, but well above average at third, as while his range isn't shortstop level, he makes little-to-no errors and he has a very nice arm. Brumbaugh ranks high on Tom's list too, checking right outside the top 30, which more or less translates to a second round pick. We'd like him to show more hustle, but he's young and has a lot of room to grow, and we're excited to work with the youngster.

7th Round, 108th Overall: C Bill Martin
School: St. Francis de Sales
Commit School: Darnell State
1944: .464/.524/.670, 128 PA, 8 2B, 5 HR, 32 RBI, 2 SB
Career: .446/.508/.647, 256 PA, 18 2B, 9 HR, 66 RBI, 10 SB

As a diehard Toronto Blue Jays fan, I almost feel like it is my obligation to follow in my favorite team's footsteps and acquire as many players with big league connections as possible. This one's still playing, as Bill's dad Bob doesn't live to far from Cougars Park, as he suits up every day for the crosstown Chiefs. Since he was selected in the 3rd Round way back in 1925, Bob Martin has been a huge force for the Chiefs, appearing in 2,003 games since a cup of coffee back in 1928. From 1929-1938, "Mr. Automatic" has appeared in 145 or more games, with just the 1938 season coming with less then 150 games. A pair of injuries in ;'39 cost him the streak, and then after a major injury in 1940, Martin has yet to appear in 145 contests again. Despite all that, he's been a consistently well above average hitter, slashing .329/.371/.448 (119 OPS+) with 403 doubles, 127 triples, 110 homers, 262 steals, and 1,030 RBIs. The now 37-year-old has had some issues, dealing with a strained rib cage muscle while hitting just .273/.311/.299 (75 OPS+), but from '29-'38 he was one of the most consistent hitters in baseball, and he holds the Chief's career records for average (.329), at bats (8,310), runs (1,344), hits (2,735), and total bases (3,722), and he's just two games shy of Jim Hampton's 2,005.

Now it would be foolish to expect "Mr. Semi-Automatic" to come anywhere near that level of success, but we are really excited to add the young catcher to our system. A two year starter at St. Francis de Sales, a Catholic school in Chicago, Martin showcased some decent pop, coming a homer away from 10 in his two seasons there. Just like his dad, he should also hit for a high average, but if he can showcase the power in the minors, that would be a huge add. Defense may be his strong suit, however, as both OSA and Tom Weinstock rave about his defense. Tom calls him a natural defender, which may mean he can handle third and first like his dad (and maybe even second!), while OSA raves about his receiving skills and arm. Add in his intensity, poise, and thorough preparation skills, and the sky may be the limit for the young backstop. Tom and OSA both view him more as a bench guy then a starter, but I think they're not giving him enough credit. I think he's got all the tools to play everyday, and while he's not currently a threat to top 50 prospect and likely heir apparent to Harry Mead, you can never have too many quality catching prospects. He'll have La Crosse all to himself, getting everyday time behind the plate, but as time goes by, if there's ever a positional crunch I may try to work him out at first and third as well.

7th Round, 112th Overall: LHP Ron Berry
School: Elm Springs
Commit School: California Catholic
1944: 7-1, 83 IP, 1.19 ERA, 0.88 WHIP, 20 BB, 138 K
Career: 19-2, 2 SV, 1.30 ERA, 0.91 WHIP, 64 BB, 370 K

We got to start and finish the 7th, grabbing southpaw Ron Berry with the final pick in the round. A three year starter at Elm Springs in Arkansas, Ron Berry took a huge leap from a sophomore to a junior, as after splitting time in the pen and rotation, he finished his high school career with 26 consecutive starts. He was dominant as a junior, going a perfect 9-0 with a 0.94 ERA, 0.82 WHIP, 23 walks, and 176 strikeouts in 95.1 innings pitched. His 0.57 FIP and 14 FIP- were absolutely absurd, as Berry allowed just 2 homers and had a stellar 7.7 K/BB and 6.6 WAR. A three pitch pitcher, it's hard to get to the young southpaw, who has the classic short term memory you need in baseball, as he knows his stuff can get him through any slump or tough inning. His command isn't the greatest, but his changeup is elite and will only get better as he works past the mid 80s. His slider is a plus pitch, and while his fastball is just average, a bump in velo would solve that problem. Berry also isn't built like your prototypical starter, just 5'7'' and weighing 135 soaking wet, but he's got a decent ceiling and could push past just a spot starter. As with any young arm, there is a ton of risk, but his stuff is incredible and he has the chance to put up huge strikeout numbers at each level.