[ayaghmour2]

LHP Duke Bybee (3rd Overall)
Acquired: Via Draft: 4th Round, 49th Overall (1940)
Alma Mater: Brooklyn Friends Quakers

There was so much that went wrong this season, and everyone can make similar claims, but imagine if we had Duke Bybee this season... Tom Weinstock has his ceiling ahead of all of our pitchers except Pete Papenfus and Donnie Jones, who ranked #1 and #2 in the top 20 pitchers list all season, and then in line with Harry Parker on current ratings. You know, the same guy that deserves the Allen Award but might not get it (Butch Smith is a very deserving candidate) and led the league in strikeouts, WHIP, K/BB, FIP-, and WAR. It is insane the amount of pitching talent we will get back, but I don't think that's going to stop Bybee from going to straight to the big league rotation. Now 22, Bybee's Marine Corp training have built both his strength and leadership, and his baseball talent is through the roof. He has elite stuff, featuring six average or better pitches, as well as pinpoint command. He has everything you look for in a top of the rotation arm, and I think he's going to be one of the best pitchers in the next decade.

RHP George Oddo (31st Overall)
Acquired: Via Draft: 8th Round, 125th Overall (1941)
Alma Mater: Pawtucket Raiders

Arguably no pitcher pitched better on the farm then George Oddo, who dominated both A ball and AA. Oddo took a ginormous step forward, as last year with the Legislators he went 5-3 with a 5.35 ERA (89 ERA+), 1.52 WHIP, 41 walks, and 48 strikeouts in 13 starts to finish the year. He started off his season much better, going a near prefect 8-1 in 11 starts. Oddo went deep into games, going 90 innings with an elite 2.50 ERA (178 ERA+), 1.23 WHIP, 28 walks, and 65 strikeouts. That was good enough to earn the call to Mobile, where he didn't seem phased by tougher competition. The former 8th Rounder went 13-5 with a 2.56 ERA (155 ERA+), 1.07 WHIP, 43 walks, and 95 strikeouts in a dominant 154.2 inning sample. He was worth nearly 4 wins above replacement and his FIP- was actually two points lower with the Commodores. Like Duke, he stands at an imposing 6'4''. and he'll turn 22 this November. Oddo is likely ready for AAA, but we have a lot of young pitchers who won't make the big league roster, and he might get a few more starts in AA. There's also a chance Oddo may not be a Cougar this time next season, as he's easily our most enticing trade piece if we need to make an upgrade in the offseason or at the deadline. His change is off the charts and nearly unhittable, while his curveball and fastball have impressive movement. He doesn't throw very hard though, sitting in the 89-91 range, but he's maintained well above average strikeout rates. Add in the fact that he's a max effort guy who can pitch deep into games, and there's really no obvious weakness in his profile. It's always tough moving a young pitcher with top of the rotation potential, but with so many other talented arms in our system he's likely going to be blocked once he's ready for the big leagues. Being the rawest of the bunch, he's the most expendable, but Tom thinks he'll be better then all the pitchers in our current rotation.

3B Otto Christian (34th Overall)
Acquired: Via Draft: 1st Round, 13th Overall (1941)
Alma Mater: Walla Walla Warriors

Now 22, Otto had another season in the Air Force, stopping me from seeing just how many home runs he could hit against minor league pitchers. The "Walla Walla Walloper" still seems a bit raw and will probably start in Lincoln or Mobile when he's back stateside. I'm in no rush to move him to the big leagues, as Hank Barnett isn't showing any signs of decline while putting up back-to-back 5 WAR seasons with WRC+ of 140 or higher. I don't think Christian will ever be able to match up to Barnett's overall talent, but Otto's home run power is unrivaled. I don't think there is a single player in baseball with more raw power, and that should play very well in our park. If he can develop at least average contact and discipline he could be one of the best hitters in the game, but he lacks polish and isn't the most ambitious youngster. Still, the Cougars seem to have a reputation for talented third basemen, ranging from John Kincaid to John Lawson, and Otto should be the next one to follow.

SS George Sutterfield (52nd Overall)
Acquired: Via Draft: 4th Round, 49th Overall (1944)
Alma Mater: Georgia Baptist Gators

I'm not surprised George Sutterfield was the highest ranked prospect from our recent class, as he was a guy I had my eye on for my first round selection, but figured he'd have a decent chance of sliding out of the first two rounds. Plus, as a Nashville native, he couldn't be a regional round selection, so I knew if he lasted I could grab him with the first pick in the 4th Round. Being a one year starter, there was a lot of risk involved, but he had a strong junior year in a tough conference, and started his season in A ball. He didn't stay for very long, getting a promotion after just 17 games. He looked good in Mobile, slashing .333/.409/.400 (119 OPS+) with 7 doubles, 3 triples, 9 steals, and 23 RBIs. while sporting an elite 18 zone rating and 1.159 efficiency at short. He's ready for Milwaukee, and I think he'll start there next season. He's more then good enough to play short, but with Skipper entrenched there I may start to work Sutterfield out at second. Since Billy Hunter was healthy most of the season, chances are he won't be next year, so Sutterfield could get a lot of time in Chicago next season. The prospect people have his ETA for 1944 while we see green arrows in AAA, but this may be because he's such a good defender. His work ethic is very impressive, so I expect he'll continue to impress as he ages. He has good speed and can hit the ball hard up the middle, but sprinkle in a little power and perhaps we have a star.

C Eddie Howard (56th Overall)
Acquired: Via Draft: 2nd Round, 20th Overall (1941)
Alma Mater: St. Joseph Chiefs

With no stats for service players, there's no way to know if he actually developed a lot, but the prospect people think he's big league ready and Tom Weinstock thinks he's already better then Gene Lee, who occupies a 40-man roster spot. Now 21, Tom Weinstock profiles Howard as a premier catcher and projects that he'll be even better then Harry Mead, who hit .324 with a 145 WRC+ and twice as many walks (40) as strikeouts (19). I think Mead is the better defender, but Howard should still be average or better behind the plate. Howard's hit tool is much better, although coming with less power, and he could challenge for a batting title or two. Howard's strong arm also allowed him to pitch a pit, but he only has 10.2 pitched in his season and a half. 9 years the former of Mead, they should be able to coexist, and I expect he'll learn plenty form our veteran All Star.