[ayaghmour2]

LHP Duke Bybee (#4 Overall)
Acquired: Via Draft: 4th Round, 49th Overall (1940)
AAA: 14-6,175.1 IP, 2.05 ERA (190 ERA+), 1.12 WHIP, 40 BB, 100 K
CWL: 1-0, 9 IP, 0.00 ERA (999 ERA+), 0.67 WHIP, 2 BB, 9 K

I was almost 100% positive that Duke Bybee would throw a shutout in his first Cuban Winter League start. I was not disappointed. The 24-year-old southpaw was the only pitcher to pitch in the Santa Clara Stallions inaugural game, as our talented rookie allowed just 4 hits and 2 walks with 9 strikeouts in a 4-0 win over the Manzanillo Palms. The Palms actually won their next two games, so it's not like he was facing a bad team, but Bybee is far and away the best player in the Cuba. These winter games will show what I already know, Bybee is more then ready for the majors, but its been almost two months and Billy Riley is still a Cougar. The offseason trade market has been very quiet, but even if Riley doesn't find a new home, Bybee will be in Chicago. He's just too good to keep in the minors, as he's got ace potential with excellent stuff, movement, and control. He won't walk many guys, he doesn't allow many homers, and the whiffs! Oh so many whiffs! Add in the fact that he's a team captain, and the only real weakness Bybee has is that he's stuck on an organization with a lot of good pitchers.

C Eddie Howard (#36 Overall)
Acquired: Via Draft: 2nd Round, 20th Overall (1941)
AAA: .325/.380/.428 (119 OPS+), 536 PA, 37 2B, 2 3B, 3 HR, 58 RBI
AAA: 4-0, 2 SV, 30.1 IP, 3.86 ERA (101 ERA+), 1.45 WHIP, 14 BB, 20 K
CWL: .273/.273/.273 (93 OPS+), 11 PA,
CWL: 0-1, 7.2 IP, 3.52 ERA (59 ERA+), 1.30 WHIP, 5 BB, 5 K

While I may have expected the Bybee situation, I did not expect Eddie Howard to make a start, and be slotted in as the #2 member of the Stallions rotation. Our catcher of the future got the lone loss, allowing 5 hits, 3 runs, and 5 walks with 5 strikeouts in 7.2 innings pitched. Howard started the other two games behind the plate, going 3-for-11 with a run scored. The 23-year-old will use this time as an early audition for the Opening Day roster, as Howard will be in competition with Homer Guthrie for the right to backup Harry Mead. Howard has plenty of upside, with an elite contact tool and capable defense behind the plate, but he doesn't hit for much power. It's interesting to see if he can pitch well too, but he's never started in the minors. Coming into his start he had 41.1 minor league innings, with 30.1 with the Blues this season. Having a backup catcher who can mop up is a plus, and could make it easier for him to claim the backup spot.

RF Ducky Cole (Not Ranked)
Acquired: Via Draft: 7th Round, 97th Overall (1942)
A: .286/.347/.402 (114 OPS+), 124 PA, 4 2B, 3 3B, HR, 14 RBI
CWL: .429/.636/.571 (325 OPS+), 11 PA, 2B, RBI, SB

Offense as a whole as been very low in the Cuban Winter League, but don't tell that to Ducky Cole. The 22-year-old outfielder is off to an outstanding start, going 3-for-7 with a double, run, RBI, and 3 walks in his first 3 games. For someone who missed almost four months during the season and has just 7 games above A ball, the CWL is a blessing for him as he'll get more playing time and a chance to showcase his skills. Cole is playing right for the Stallions, a position he's recently converted to and looked very capable at. Not one of our top prospects, Ducky is at risk of losing playing time, but he has a nice bat and hits plenty of line drives to right field. A strong showing here could entice someone to take a chance on him, as we won't be protecting him in the Rule-5 Draft.