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reds1 · 04-16-2023, 02:14 AM

Hespeler, Dec. 6 – After coming off a 63-91 season where they finished in last place in the West for the first time in 19 years, the Wolseley Unions will be making their first overall pick in the annual Amateur Draft. From 1945-46 to 1953-54, the Unions finished no lower than third and finished first four years in a row, winning a remarkable five Western league Pennants and three United Cups during that stretch.

Those heady days seem like an eternity ago, but the Union faithful are heartened by that fact that last year’s 2nd overall pick, 22-year old CF Jonathan Higgins (.305/.359/.489, 4 HR, 33 RBI, 23 BB, 9 SB, 2.4 WAR – 50/70) is thriving in his first full season as the Unions’ cleanup hitter. The man responsible for his selection, 57-year old GM Tzu-yu Jin, now has a chance to build upon that shrewd selection with the first overall pick this year.

The ornate and expansive ballroom of Hespeler’s Hotel Pacific hosts the Amateur Draft for the first time since the 1940-41 season, where the likes of Stratford’s C Aaron Skidmore (15-time all-star, 1949-50 Babe Ruth Award winner) and Fort Richmond’s RHP Roberto Taváres (8-time all-star, two-time Satchel Paige Award winner) were selected and embarked on their legendary careers in the United Leagues.

Following the Unions on the draft board will be the Fort Richmond Generals, another team in the middle of a rebuild, and the Cobourg Redlegs.

Amateur scouts throughout the United Leagues ranked the following players as the Top 10 picks for this year’s draft:

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Here is a brief overview of the 16 players taken in the first round:

1st Pick – Wolseley Unions:

IF/OF Jack Jarrom (42/80) – 22-years old; 6’-0”, 180 lbs.; Bats RH/Throws RH.
Status: CO Junior

GM Tzu-yu Jin ultimately picks the 4th overall ranked Jarrom out of Baryass, Oxford in south-west Braeland. Jarrom has tantalizing offensive skills and speed that could easily see him challenge for batting crowns one day. He has an elite eye that should see him draw plenty of walks. He is projected to become an above average fielder either in the outfield or at second base. But it looks as though the Unions have an elite big-league outfielder in the fold.

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2nd Pick – Fort Richmond Generals:

P Kenete Yuri (31/77) – 23-years old; 6’-6”, 200 lbs.; Bats SH/Throws RH.
Status: CO Junior

The Generals have had plenty of quality pitchers in their 20-year history and they appear to be adding to that legacy by selecting the American Samoan Yuri, who was rated No. 1 overall in this season’s draft. Yuri throws four pitches, with his best being a good changeup. His pitches have plenty of movement that should help keep the ball in the park. Yuri throws four quality pitches and has the potential to be an ace one day. Although originally assigned to their Double-A farm club, Yuri in fact was promptly promoted to the Triple-A Marleton Scouts, where he is serving as the team’s ace. The Scouts are currently the top club in the Amethyst Leagues with a 51-25 record.

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3rd Pick – Cobourg Redlegs

OF Michizane Aoki (20/67) – 19-years old; 6’-0”, 170 lbs.; Bats RH/Throws RH.
Status: HS Senior

Cobourg selects the Kingston-born Aoki, the highest-rated position player in the draft. Aoki has a balanced, rhythmic swing and is a talented contact hitter. He has blazing speed and outstanding baserunning skills to go along with good plate discipline. He is projected to become a productive regular on a contending team.

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4th Pick – Kingston Pelicans:

OF Puck Zwager (20/76) – 17-years old; 6’-3”, 190 lbs.; Bats RH/Throws RH.
Status: HS Senior

The Pelicans go with the young Zwager from Curaçao. Zwager’s greatest strength is his bat, as he is projected to be blessed with very high contact to go along with tons of raw power. He should also draw a decent share of walks. Zwager has a high ceiling and projects well on the field and at the plate.

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5th Pick – Hespeler Stars:

2B Hidekazu Kudo (20/77) – 19-years old; 5’-11”, 165 lbs.; Bats RH/Throws RH.
Status: HS Senior

The host Hespeler Stars select the infielder Kudo from Japan. He has plus-plus speed with advanced instincts on the basepaths. He has a fluid swing and shows above average power potential, which should make him an elite hitter one day. If Kudo fully develops, he could become a regular fixture at annual all-star games.

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6th Pick – Balmoral Giants:

P Ashley Tazewell (20/68) – 20-years old; 5’-10”, 165 lbs.; Bats LH/Throws RH.
Status: JuCo Sophomore

The Giants select the 8th overall ranked Tazewell from Fullarton, Dunwich with their first pick. The second pitcher taken in the first round, Tazewell has a four-pitch repertoire with the changeup being his best. His strike throwing ability and movement should limit the long ball and he has the stuff to generate swings and misses. He is projected to be a front-of-the-rotation starter one day.

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7th Pick – Downie Chiefs:

P Jim Harbaugh (20/76) – 18-years old; 6’-6”, 200 lbs.; Bats RH/Throws RH.
Status: HS Senior

The Chiefs follow the Giants by selecting a pitcher themselves, the tall, lanky Harbaugh from Ethel, Oxford. He throws three pitches with his fastball currently his best, although he could boast a devastating curveball if it fully develops. Scouts are raving about his elite stuff. If it all comes together, Harbaugh has a chance to be the ace of a major league rotation one day.

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8th Pick – Braeland City Monarchs:

2B Carlos Cruz (30/62) – 21-years old; 5’-10”, 175 lbs.; Bats RH/Throws RH.
Status: CO Junior, Fresno State

Originally ranked third overall coming into the draft, the San Francisco-native Cruz fell into the lap of the Monarchs for their first pick. Demonstrating plus contact ability and solid base running skills should make Cruz a future lead-off hitter. He is also projected to be an excellent defensive infielder at second base.

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9th Pick – Brunswick Legends:

OF Brendan Doyle (33/55) – 22-years old; 5’-11”, 185 lbs.; Bats RH/Throws RH.
Status: CO Senior

The Legends select the outfielder Doyle from Monkton, Oxford in Western Braeland. Doyle’s greatest asset is his base running ability. But he is demonstrating good contact potential which should translate into an above average batting average. If his home run potential develops as well, he should become an above average major leaguer.

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10th Pick – Embro Suns:

IF Benjamin Browne (40/59) – 22-years old; 5’-11”, 180 lbs.; Bats RH/Throws RH.
Status: CO Senior

The Suns go with the infielder Browne from Brunswick. Browne is an elite defender with tremendous speed. His contact skills should peak around league average. By hitting line drives in lieu of flyballs, Browne has a chance to become a lead-off hitter one day.

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11th Pick – Queensland Eagles:

3B Vaughan Oakley (20/74) – 19-years old; 6’-0”, 175 lbs.; Bats RH/Throws RH.
Status: HS Senior

The Eagles take the young Oakley from Craigieburn, Australia with their first selection. Oakley has a significant projection for very high contact and grades out as an above average runner on the basepaths. If he develops his defense at third base, Oakley should have a very high ceiling on the field and at the plate.

--------

12th Pick – Cambria Cannons:

OF Danilo Barretto (31/62) – 22-years old; 5’-10”, 170 lbs.; Bats LH/Throws LH.
Status: CO Senior

For the rest of the first round, the focus was on players who were primarily outfielders. The first of these was selected by Cambria, the Manila-born Barretto. Barretto is an outstanding outfielder with blazing speed who is projected to be a plus-.300 hitter. He projects to be a valuable cog both on the field and at the plate at the major league level.

--------

13th Pick – Sherburn Tigers:

OF Christie Eldred (31/57) – 21-years old; 6’-0”, 185 lbs.; Bats RH/Throws RH.
Status: CO Junior

The Tigers take the Brunswick-born Eldred for their first pick. Eldred has a lot of talent – he is an above-average runner on the basepaths and grades out as a plus contact hitter. He’s also a pull hitter who can hit an average number of home runs who could also lead-off one day.

--------

14th Pick – Stratford Barons:

IF/OF Kosaku Fukushima (33/53) – 22-years old; 5’-11”, 180 lbs.; Bats RH/Throws LH.
Status: CO Senior

Stratford picks Fukushima, the second Japanese-born player selected in the first round. Fukushima has the speed and instincts to be a threat on the basepaths every time he gets on base. He is a very sure-handed and reliable outfielder who can also play first base. With the potential for plus contact, Fukushima is projected to become an above average, everyday big-league player.

--------

15th Pick – Wellington Athletics:

OF José Salas (35/52) – 23-years old; 6’-1”, 195 lbs.; Bats RH/Throws RH.
Status: CO Senior, University of Notre Dame

Wellington reaches all the way out to Grand Rapids, Michigan for their first pick in José Salas. Salas has plenty of speed and will be aggressive on the basepaths. He profiles as an above average defensive outfielder and as an above average power hitter.

--------

16th Pick – Pulberry Trolleys:

IF/OF Tim Scott (33/61) – 22-years old; 5’-11”, 180 lbs.; Bats RH/Throws RH.
Status: CO Senior

The Trolleys don’t go far as they take the Pulberry-born Tim Scott as the final selection of the first round. Scott is one of the fastest players in the game, with outstanding base stealing skills. He is projected to grade out as a superior defensive outfielder and does a great job at the plate working the count and frustrating opposing pitchers. Scott is viewed as a worthwhile development project for a future starting role in the outfield.

04-16-2023, 02:14 AM	#778
reds1 Hall Of Famer Join Date: May 2002 Location: Winnipeg Posts: 3,919	Hespeler, Dec. 6 – After coming off a 63-91 season where they finished in last place in the West for the first time in 19 years, the Wolseley Unions will be making their first overall pick in the annual Amateur Draft. From 1945-46 to 1953-54, the Unions finished no lower than third and finished first four years in a row, winning a remarkable five Western league Pennants and three United Cups during that stretch. Those heady days seem like an eternity ago, but the Union faithful are heartened by that fact that last year’s 2nd overall pick, 22-year old CF Jonathan Higgins (.305/.359/.489, 4 HR, 33 RBI, 23 BB, 9 SB, 2.4 WAR – 50/70) is thriving in his first full season as the Unions’ cleanup hitter. The man responsible for his selection, 57-year old GM Tzu-yu Jin, now has a chance to build upon that shrewd selection with the first overall pick this year. The ornate and expansive ballroom of Hespeler’s Hotel Pacific hosts the Amateur Draft for the first time since the 1940-41 season, where the likes of Stratford’s C Aaron Skidmore (15-time all-star, 1949-50 Babe Ruth Award winner) and Fort Richmond’s RHP Roberto Taváres (8-time all-star, two-time Satchel Paige Award winner) were selected and embarked on their legendary careers in the United Leagues. Following the Unions on the draft board will be the Fort Richmond Generals, another team in the middle of a rebuild, and the Cobourg Redlegs. Amateur scouts throughout the United Leagues ranked the following players as the Top 10 picks for this year’s draft: -------- Here is a brief overview of the 16 players taken in the first round: 1st Pick – Wolseley Unions: IF/OF Jack Jarrom (42/80) – 22-years old; 6’-0”, 180 lbs.; Bats RH/Throws RH. Status: CO Junior GM Tzu-yu Jin ultimately picks the 4th overall ranked Jarrom out of Baryass, Oxford in south-west Braeland. Jarrom has tantalizing offensive skills and speed that could easily see him challenge for batting crowns one day. He has an elite eye that should see him draw plenty of walks. He is projected to become an above average fielder either in the outfield or at second base. But it looks as though the Unions have an elite big-league outfielder in the fold. -------- 2nd Pick – Fort Richmond Generals: P Kenete Yuri (31/77) – 23-years old; 6’-6”, 200 lbs.; Bats SH/Throws RH. Status: CO Junior The Generals have had plenty of quality pitchers in their 20-year history and they appear to be adding to that legacy by selecting the American Samoan Yuri, who was rated No. 1 overall in this season’s draft. Yuri throws four pitches, with his best being a good changeup. His pitches have plenty of movement that should help keep the ball in the park. Yuri throws four quality pitches and has the potential to be an ace one day. Although originally assigned to their Double-A farm club, Yuri in fact was promptly promoted to the Triple-A Marleton Scouts, where he is serving as the team’s ace. The Scouts are currently the top club in the Amethyst Leagues with a 51-25 record. -------- 3rd Pick – Cobourg Redlegs OF Michizane Aoki (20/67) – 19-years old; 6’-0”, 170 lbs.; Bats RH/Throws RH. Status: HS Senior Cobourg selects the Kingston-born Aoki, the highest-rated position player in the draft. Aoki has a balanced, rhythmic swing and is a talented contact hitter. He has blazing speed and outstanding baserunning skills to go along with good plate discipline. He is projected to become a productive regular on a contending team. -------- 4th Pick – Kingston Pelicans: OF Puck Zwager (20/76) – 17-years old; 6’-3”, 190 lbs.; Bats RH/Throws RH. Status: HS Senior The Pelicans go with the young Zwager from Curaçao. Zwager’s greatest strength is his bat, as he is projected to be blessed with very high contact to go along with tons of raw power. He should also draw a decent share of walks. Zwager has a high ceiling and projects well on the field and at the plate. -------- 5th Pick – Hespeler Stars: 2B Hidekazu Kudo (20/77) – 19-years old; 5’-11”, 165 lbs.; Bats RH/Throws RH. Status: HS Senior The host Hespeler Stars select the infielder Kudo from Japan. He has plus-plus speed with advanced instincts on the basepaths. He has a fluid swing and shows above average power potential, which should make him an elite hitter one day. If Kudo fully develops, he could become a regular fixture at annual all-star games. -------- 6th Pick – Balmoral Giants: P Ashley Tazewell (20/68) – 20-years old; 5’-10”, 165 lbs.; Bats LH/Throws RH. Status: JuCo Sophomore The Giants select the 8th overall ranked Tazewell from Fullarton, Dunwich with their first pick. The second pitcher taken in the first round, Tazewell has a four-pitch repertoire with the changeup being his best. His strike throwing ability and movement should limit the long ball and he has the stuff to generate swings and misses. He is projected to be a front-of-the-rotation starter one day. -------- 7th Pick – Downie Chiefs: P Jim Harbaugh (20/76) – 18-years old; 6’-6”, 200 lbs.; Bats RH/Throws RH. Status: HS Senior The Chiefs follow the Giants by selecting a pitcher themselves, the tall, lanky Harbaugh from Ethel, Oxford. He throws three pitches with his fastball currently his best, although he could boast a devastating curveball if it fully develops. Scouts are raving about his elite stuff. If it all comes together, Harbaugh has a chance to be the ace of a major league rotation one day. -------- 8th Pick – Braeland City Monarchs: 2B Carlos Cruz (30/62) – 21-years old; 5’-10”, 175 lbs.; Bats RH/Throws RH. Status: CO Junior, Fresno State Originally ranked third overall coming into the draft, the San Francisco-native Cruz fell into the lap of the Monarchs for their first pick. Demonstrating plus contact ability and solid base running skills should make Cruz a future lead-off hitter. He is also projected to be an excellent defensive infielder at second base. -------- 9th Pick – Brunswick Legends: OF Brendan Doyle (33/55) – 22-years old; 5’-11”, 185 lbs.; Bats RH/Throws RH. Status: CO Senior The Legends select the outfielder Doyle from Monkton, Oxford in Western Braeland. Doyle’s greatest asset is his base running ability. But he is demonstrating good contact potential which should translate into an above average batting average. If his home run potential develops as well, he should become an above average major leaguer. -------- 10th Pick – Embro Suns: IF Benjamin Browne (40/59) – 22-years old; 5’-11”, 180 lbs.; Bats RH/Throws RH. Status: CO Senior The Suns go with the infielder Browne from Brunswick. Browne is an elite defender with tremendous speed. His contact skills should peak around league average. By hitting line drives in lieu of flyballs, Browne has a chance to become a lead-off hitter one day. -------- 11th Pick – Queensland Eagles: 3B Vaughan Oakley (20/74) – 19-years old; 6’-0”, 175 lbs.; Bats RH/Throws RH. Status: HS Senior The Eagles take the young Oakley from Craigieburn, Australia with their first selection. Oakley has a significant projection for very high contact and grades out as an above average runner on the basepaths. If he develops his defense at third base, Oakley should have a very high ceiling on the field and at the plate. -------- 12th Pick – Cambria Cannons: OF Danilo Barretto (31/62) – 22-years old; 5’-10”, 170 lbs.; Bats LH/Throws LH. Status: CO Senior For the rest of the first round, the focus was on players who were primarily outfielders. The first of these was selected by Cambria, the Manila-born Barretto. Barretto is an outstanding outfielder with blazing speed who is projected to be a plus-.300 hitter. He projects to be a valuable cog both on the field and at the plate at the major league level. -------- 13th Pick – Sherburn Tigers: OF Christie Eldred (31/57) – 21-years old; 6’-0”, 185 lbs.; Bats RH/Throws RH. Status: CO Junior The Tigers take the Brunswick-born Eldred for their first pick. Eldred has a lot of talent – he is an above-average runner on the basepaths and grades out as a plus contact hitter. He’s also a pull hitter who can hit an average number of home runs who could also lead-off one day. -------- 14th Pick – Stratford Barons: IF/OF Kosaku Fukushima (33/53) – 22-years old; 5’-11”, 180 lbs.; Bats RH/Throws LH. Status: CO Senior Stratford picks Fukushima, the second Japanese-born player selected in the first round. Fukushima has the speed and instincts to be a threat on the basepaths every time he gets on base. He is a very sure-handed and reliable outfielder who can also play first base. With the potential for plus contact, Fukushima is projected to become an above average, everyday big-league player. -------- 15th Pick – Wellington Athletics: OF José Salas (35/52) – 23-years old; 6’-1”, 195 lbs.; Bats RH/Throws RH. Status: CO Senior, University of Notre Dame Wellington reaches all the way out to Grand Rapids, Michigan for their first pick in José Salas. Salas has plenty of speed and will be aggressive on the basepaths. He profiles as an above average defensive outfielder and as an above average power hitter. -------- 16th Pick – Pulberry Trolleys: IF/OF Tim Scott (33/61) – 22-years old; 5’-11”, 180 lbs.; Bats RH/Throws RH. Status: CO Senior The Trolleys don’t go far as they take the Pulberry-born Tim Scott as the final selection of the first round. Scott is one of the fastest players in the game, with outstanding base stealing skills. He is projected to grade out as a superior defensive outfielder and does a great job at the plate working the count and frustrating opposing pitchers. Scott is viewed as a worthwhile development project for a future starting role in the outfield. __________________ United Leagues of Braeland Last edited by reds1; 04-16-2023 at 05:13 AM.