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ayaghmour2 · 02-13-2023, 08:12 PM

LHP Duke Bybee (6th Overall)
Acquired: Via Draft: 4th Round, 49th Overall (1940)
Alma Mater: Brooklyn Friends Quakers

Currently ranked below just five other prospects in the entire FABL, Duke Bybee spent the last month or so stateside after nearly four years in the Marines Corp. He made two starts in Lincoln before being called up when rosters expanded, allowing just 11 hits and 4 walks with 15 strikeouts and just one earned run in 17 dominant innings pitched. His time with the Cougars didn't look anything like that, as he allowed 28 hits, 14 runs, and 16 walks with 9 strikeouts in a rough 19.1 inning sample. While certainly a minor setback, Bybee still is one of the most exciting young pitchers in the game, as has everything you look for in an ace. He has stellar command, jaw-dropping movement, and elite stuff, all while throwing in the mid-to-upper 90s. Add in his leadership and work ethic, and it's hard to craft a more talented pitcher then Bybee. Rather unlucky for him, Clyde Meyer ranks him as our #7 starter, which means the 23-year-old will likely start the next season in Mobile or Milwaukee. It won't be a long trip, as he's definitely going to end up in Chicago at some point, but unless we get a major injury or trade, there's no rotation spot open for him in 1946. That's not to say he won't force his way in, as if Joe Brown, Billy Riley, and/or Johnnie Jones start to struggle, Bybee will get be ready to grab a rotation spot and I can't see the towering southpaw ever letting go.

CF Johnny Peters (14th Overall)
Acquired: Via Draft: 1st Round, 3rd Overall (1945)
Alma Mater: Liberty College Bells

The first ever draft lottery treated us very well, as we jumped from 11th to 3rd, and got to acquire a potentially elite talent in Johnny Peters. On draft day, I thought Peters might be able to go straight to the majors, but that turned out to be far more optimistic then what reality had in mind. He struggled a bit to start the season, but Peters flashed some of the bat talent I expected in A ball, slashing .275/.383/.415 (114 OPS+) in 75 games. While there was some stuff to like, there were a fair share of worries. I always knew defense wouldn't be his strong suit, but the 21-year-old posted a -11.2 zone rating and .956 efficiency out in center. That doesn't mean he's destined for a corner, not everyone comes in with a high positional rating, but this leads me to believe a corner is just as likely as him sticking in center. The bigger concern was the drop in power, as after 10 longballs as a junior, he hit just two in 313 trips to the plate. He did have 23 doubles and 4 triples, but Peters was projected to be a big league slugger. He also struck out (67) more often then he walked (47), completing the trio of three things I really didn't expect from Peters' first taste of minor league baseball.

Time to panic? Of course not!

Peters is oozing with big league potential, and it's a bit unfair to expect every potential star to hit the ground running. Peters is a strong and lean fighting machine who's got the brains of a bookworm and the charisma of a motivational speaker. At the plate, he features plus contact potential and does a tremendous job controlling the strike zone. He shouldn't strike out nearly as much as he did in his first stint, and he projects to walk far more frequently then he strikes out. He has good speed and should steal double digit bases a season, and I really think he'll develop the range to stick in center. Add in at least average power, which I think should be plus or better, and you have the makings of an elite center fielder. Tom, OSA, and the prospect people all believe it, and things are looking very promising for our young outfielder of the future.

C Eddie Howard (44th Overall)
Acquired: Via Draft: 2nd Round, 20th Overall (1941)
Alma Mater: St. Joseph Chiefs

He's back! After three years overseas, our catcher of the future returns, and I am very excited to welcome back the likely big league ready backstop Eddie Howard. He won't debut right away, Harry Mead is still our catcher in the short term, but his potential is unmatched in our system and he's getting closer to passing up the rest of the depth behind the plate. I'm not sure where he'll start, as he went just 6-for-23 with the Legislators in a 7 game stint, but the now 22-year-old could fill in anywhere from Lincoln to Milwaukee. What makes Howard special is that he can also pitch, with Tom Weinstock viewing him as a potential lockdown closer with an excellent sinker. This should help him manage a staff well, as he doesn't need to get into the heads of pitchers, he is one! Most of his value is at the plate, however, as he has batting title contact potential with a nice eye and plenty of gap power. Howard won't hit many homers, but he'll live on the basepaths, and will drive in plenty of runs. Add in great value behind the plate, and Howard could be one of the best two-way catchers in the league. I'm hoping the time he spent in the Navy will help buff him up a bit, as add in some home runs and Howard could be a very dangerous player.

3B Otto Christian (47th Overall)
Acquired: Via Draft: 1st Round, 13th Overall (1941)
Alma Mater: Walla Walla Warriors

The "Walla Walla Walloper" returns! Of all the guys who were overseas as prospects, Otto is the one I wish we got more time with. I have absolutely no idea what to expect with him when he comes back. Is it the prolific slugger? Did he stall out? Something in between? Can he hit big leaguers? Or are the minor ones still giving him fits?

Recently 23, Otto doesn't have much ambition, so I'm not sold that he was working all that hard away from his coaches. That may slow him down a bit, but with Hank Barnett entrenched at third, there's no immediate rush to get Christian walloping in Chicago. A potential game changer at the plate, Tom Taylor's 31 homers in 1934 seem destined to be broken by Otto before he turns 30. Tom is still a big fan, expecting him to be a reliable big leaguer, but what will take him from slugger to Bobby Barrell-esque game changer is the hit tool. He swings the bat hard and fast, but we don't yet know if he's going to whiff too much. In his last gametime in 1942, he struck out just 22 times in 76 games in C Ball, but that jumped to 31 in 63 in San Jose. He should do a good job knowing when to swing and when to take, but the lack of experience may hurt him. His glove is solid at the hot corner too, so while he may spend time at first due to guys like Barnett or even George Sutterfield, he'll always have the ability to field his position. If everything goes right, he could end up in Chicago by season's end, but my guess is his big league debut is still ways away. But when he reaches the show, we might need to invest a lot more in batting practice balls as he's sure to deposit plenty to early birds at Cougars Park.

CF Carl Clark (54th Overall)
Acquired: Via Draft: 2nd Round, 18th Overall (1945)
Alma Mater: Springfield Panthers

The second of three 1945 draftees to crack the top 100, the now 18-year-old Carl Clark had one of the better seasons from our prep-heavy class down in La Crosse. Appearing in 81 games, "Fish" hit just .263/.336/.294 (84 OPS+), but he was 17 most of the season and facing guys who have been toiling around systems for a few seasons. His 92 WRC+ was better, and he added 5 doubles, 2 triples, 6 steals, and 25 RBIs with 33 walks. He played passable defense in center, and I expect that to improve as the youngster gets more time on the grass. I'm more excited for the bat, however, as Clark projects to be an elite contact hitter with excellent command of the strike zone. He'll end up walking more then he strikes out, something he almost did this season, and he hits the ball hard on a line. He's cool under pressure, and while he won't hit many homers on the fly, he could leg out a few if placed well or a lesser outfielder misplays it. He'll get another go of things with the Lions next year, and I'd bet he'll have plenty of success with another year under his belt.

02-13-2023, 08:12 PM	#1016
ayaghmour2 Hall Of Famer Join Date: Mar 2018 Posts: 3,016	Top Prospects: 1-5 LHP Duke Bybee (6th Overall) Acquired: Via Draft: 4th Round, 49th Overall (1940) Alma Mater: Brooklyn Friends Quakers Currently ranked below just five other prospects in the entire FABL, Duke Bybee spent the last month or so stateside after nearly four years in the Marines Corp. He made two starts in Lincoln before being called up when rosters expanded, allowing just 11 hits and 4 walks with 15 strikeouts and just one earned run in 17 dominant innings pitched. His time with the Cougars didn't look anything like that, as he allowed 28 hits, 14 runs, and 16 walks with 9 strikeouts in a rough 19.1 inning sample. While certainly a minor setback, Bybee still is one of the most exciting young pitchers in the game, as has everything you look for in an ace. He has stellar command, jaw-dropping movement, and elite stuff, all while throwing in the mid-to-upper 90s. Add in his leadership and work ethic, and it's hard to craft a more talented pitcher then Bybee. Rather unlucky for him, Clyde Meyer ranks him as our #7 starter, which means the 23-year-old will likely start the next season in Mobile or Milwaukee. It won't be a long trip, as he's definitely going to end up in Chicago at some point, but unless we get a major injury or trade, there's no rotation spot open for him in 1946. That's not to say he won't force his way in, as if Joe Brown, Billy Riley, and/or Johnnie Jones start to struggle, Bybee will get be ready to grab a rotation spot and I can't see the towering southpaw ever letting go. CF Johnny Peters (14th Overall) Acquired: Via Draft: 1st Round, 3rd Overall (1945) Alma Mater: Liberty College Bells The first ever draft lottery treated us very well, as we jumped from 11th to 3rd, and got to acquire a potentially elite talent in Johnny Peters. On draft day, I thought Peters might be able to go straight to the majors, but that turned out to be far more optimistic then what reality had in mind. He struggled a bit to start the season, but Peters flashed some of the bat talent I expected in A ball, slashing .275/.383/.415 (114 OPS+) in 75 games. While there was some stuff to like, there were a fair share of worries. I always knew defense wouldn't be his strong suit, but the 21-year-old posted a -11.2 zone rating and .956 efficiency out in center. That doesn't mean he's destined for a corner, not everyone comes in with a high positional rating, but this leads me to believe a corner is just as likely as him sticking in center. The bigger concern was the drop in power, as after 10 longballs as a junior, he hit just two in 313 trips to the plate. He did have 23 doubles and 4 triples, but Peters was projected to be a big league slugger. He also struck out (67) more often then he walked (47), completing the trio of three things I really didn't expect from Peters' first taste of minor league baseball. Time to panic? Of course not! Peters is oozing with big league potential, and it's a bit unfair to expect every potential star to hit the ground running. Peters is a strong and lean fighting machine who's got the brains of a bookworm and the charisma of a motivational speaker. At the plate, he features plus contact potential and does a tremendous job controlling the strike zone. He shouldn't strike out nearly as much as he did in his first stint, and he projects to walk far more frequently then he strikes out. He has good speed and should steal double digit bases a season, and I really think he'll develop the range to stick in center. Add in at least average power, which I think should be plus or better, and you have the makings of an elite center fielder. Tom, OSA, and the prospect people all believe it, and things are looking very promising for our young outfielder of the future. C Eddie Howard (44th Overall) Acquired: Via Draft: 2nd Round, 20th Overall (1941) Alma Mater: St. Joseph Chiefs He's back! After three years overseas, our catcher of the future returns, and I am very excited to welcome back the likely big league ready backstop Eddie Howard. He won't debut right away, Harry Mead is still our catcher in the short term, but his potential is unmatched in our system and he's getting closer to passing up the rest of the depth behind the plate. I'm not sure where he'll start, as he went just 6-for-23 with the Legislators in a 7 game stint, but the now 22-year-old could fill in anywhere from Lincoln to Milwaukee. What makes Howard special is that he can also pitch, with Tom Weinstock viewing him as a potential lockdown closer with an excellent sinker. This should help him manage a staff well, as he doesn't need to get into the heads of pitchers, he is one! Most of his value is at the plate, however, as he has batting title contact potential with a nice eye and plenty of gap power. Howard won't hit many homers, but he'll live on the basepaths, and will drive in plenty of runs. Add in great value behind the plate, and Howard could be one of the best two-way catchers in the league. I'm hoping the time he spent in the Navy will help buff him up a bit, as add in some home runs and Howard could be a very dangerous player. 3B Otto Christian (47th Overall) Acquired: Via Draft: 1st Round, 13th Overall (1941) Alma Mater: Walla Walla Warriors The "Walla Walla Walloper" returns! Of all the guys who were overseas as prospects, Otto is the one I wish we got more time with. I have absolutely no idea what to expect with him when he comes back. Is it the prolific slugger? Did he stall out? Something in between? Can he hit big leaguers? Or are the minor ones still giving him fits? Recently 23, Otto doesn't have much ambition, so I'm not sold that he was working all that hard away from his coaches. That may slow him down a bit, but with Hank Barnett entrenched at third, there's no immediate rush to get Christian walloping in Chicago. A potential game changer at the plate, Tom Taylor's 31 homers in 1934 seem destined to be broken by Otto before he turns 30. Tom is still a big fan, expecting him to be a reliable big leaguer, but what will take him from slugger to Bobby Barrell-esque game changer is the hit tool. He swings the bat hard and fast, but we don't yet know if he's going to whiff too much. In his last gametime in 1942, he struck out just 22 times in 76 games in C Ball, but that jumped to 31 in 63 in San Jose. He should do a good job knowing when to swing and when to take, but the lack of experience may hurt him. His glove is solid at the hot corner too, so while he may spend time at first due to guys like Barnett or even George Sutterfield, he'll always have the ability to field his position. If everything goes right, he could end up in Chicago by season's end, but my guess is his big league debut is still ways away. But when he reaches the show, we might need to invest a lot more in batting practice balls as he's sure to deposit plenty to early birds at Cougars Park. CF Carl Clark (54th Overall) Acquired: Via Draft: 2nd Round, 18th Overall (1945) Alma Mater: Springfield Panthers The second of three 1945 draftees to crack the top 100, the now 18-year-old Carl Clark had one of the better seasons from our prep-heavy class down in La Crosse. Appearing in 81 games, "Fish" hit just .263/.336/.294 (84 OPS+), but he was 17 most of the season and facing guys who have been toiling around systems for a few seasons. His 92 WRC+ was better, and he added 5 doubles, 2 triples, 6 steals, and 25 RBIs with 33 walks. He played passable defense in center, and I expect that to improve as the youngster gets more time on the grass. I'm more excited for the bat, however, as Clark projects to be an elite contact hitter with excellent command of the strike zone. He'll end up walking more then he strikes out, something he almost did this season, and he hits the ball hard on a line. He's cool under pressure, and while he won't hit many homers on the fly, he could leg out a few if placed well or a lesser outfielder misplays it. He'll get another go of things with the Lions next year, and I'd bet he'll have plenty of success with another year under his belt.