[ayaghmour2]

5th Round, 70th Overall: LHP Ray Paulson
School: Forest Park Foresters
Commit School: CC Los Angeles Coyotes
1947: 6-3, 89.1 IP, 1.61 ERA, 1.00 WHIP, 16 BB, 95 K
Career: 22-4, 261.2 IP, 1.34 ERA, 0.93 WHIP, 53 BB, 329 K

After taking a huge step forward as a junior, "Half-Pint" saw pretty much everything move in the wrong direction. He had his worst record, ERA, WHIP, K/9 (9.6), and WAR (4.2), while also allowing more hits (73) and runs (16) in 89.1 innings pitched. It's somewhat a cause for concern, but what drew me to Paulson is less the raw tools and more the makeup. The skinny southpaw has a great personal makeup, combining hard work, confidence, and composure that should allow him to always pitch better then his stuff. Like Duke Bybee, who never really put up good numbers in high school, he has that intangible will to win, and the command has been very impressive. Despite all the struggles, he matched his BB/9 (1.6) form last season, and even with the drop in strikeouts, his K/BB was an even six. The hurdle for him will be the stuff, as while the slider has wicked bite, his fastball is a little flat and his splitter may not end up all that great. He doesn't throw hard, just 84-86 right now, but most 17-year-olds aren't fully filled out. If he keeps hitting the gym, the velocity will come, and if he can hit 90 this kid could be really effective. If not, he'll have to really lean on his command, and I'm not sure it will be enough to get him into a big league rotation. We have a lot of young pitchers, so he may not be starting all his games, but he has the makeup of a late innings reliever or at least a really good lefty specialist. We'll have to take our time with him, but as someone like Charlie Kelsey showed, it can take a few years for some high schoolers to find out the type of pitcher they are. With all the extra picks we had, the risk is more then worth it, as you really can't lose with a good personality like his. If he pitches great, great! If not, maybe he can rub off on some of the more troublesome guys in the system.

5th Round, 77th Overall: SS Buddy Jenkins
School: Whitman Panthers
Commit School: Garden State Redbirds
1947: .431/.517/.725, 120 PA, 13 2B, 4 3B, 3 HR, 31 RBI, 17 SB
Career: .435/.517/.712, 324 PA, 35 2B, 11 3B, 6 HR, 74 RBI, 65 SB

If our class had an award for biggest riser, it would have to go with Buddy Jenkins. While he hit for a personal low in average, the 6'2'' shortstop had a huge power surge, setting personal bests in triples, homers, and extra base hits (18) after setting lows for doubles (8), homers (1), and extra base hits (13). Ironically, I initially thought I reached taking Jenkins here, and of course, the tiebreaker for him over eventual Miners 6th Rounder King Allen and our eventual 7th Rounder Marty Czyzewski was the name, but the initial mock draft thinks we got a steal. They have Jenkins ranked 28th best player in the pool, above all but the first three players we selected. The versatile Jenkins has tremendous athleticism, and he started games for Whitman at second, third, center, right, and his natural position of shortstop. Shortstop seems to be a good fit for him, as he has a strong glove and good range, but I imagine he'll be bouncing around a lot. We already have three shortstops on the La Crosse roster, and while I may force one or more of them up, we have Ray Gass, 8th Rounder Johnny Dickinson, and 10th Rounder Willie Watson all joining later this month. Plus, there may be another John Price or Ike Cartwright, two AI picks that I really liked. Jenkins' versatility will make him an organizational favorite, but don't think that is all he's good for. Dixie thinks he has all the tools you want from a shortstop while OSA projects him to "fill a key role for a contending team." This is a lot of praise for the glove first youngster, but the bat is far from polished. He should eventually hit for a high average, but he has yet to display that. I think he's going to be a very slow riser, but he feels like a lock to secure a spot on a big league roster.

6th Round, 93rd Overall: CF Ed Sutton
School: College of Cairo Pharaohs
1947: .289/.380/.439, 298 PA, 11 2B, 6 3B, 5 HR, 52 RBI, 33 SB
Career: .278/.372/.435, 883 PA, 33 2B, 17 3B, 17 HR, 139 RBI, 99 SB

I missed this yesterday, but 6th Rounder Ed Sutton actually made the initial mock, checking it at 11th in the 5th Round, and one of our 8th rounders Johnny Dickinson was right behind him. The first college player after seven high schoolers, Sutton produced his best triple slash as a junior, and once again cracked 30 steals. The speedy outfielder did fall one steal short of 100 for his career, but he was crazy consistent in terms of extra base hit production and he walked (114) far more frequently then he struck out (79). That trend may not continue, but he's very patient at the plate, and will draw more then his share of walks. The contact tool is decent, but I do think big league pitchers will be able to get him to whiff more. I can see similar walks and strikeouts, with maybe a few more Ks, but he's going to be one of the best at working counts. When on base, his speed will be huge, and it's played really well out in center. He's one of those low floor guys who can be on worse then a fourth outfielder, but OSA is rather surprisingly high on him. Not only do they think he will turn into an "above average contact hitter," but they go as far to declare he'll "fill a key role for a contending team." I'm not nearly as optimistic, siding closer with Dixie's rough assessment of an average FABL level position player, as he doesn't elevate the ball enough. At least with his speed, grounders to the left side can turn into hits, but I'm just not sold on him being an extra base threat. One advantage for Sutton compared to our high school guys is our outfield depth from B to AA is on the thinner side, and there's a legit chance he can finish the season in Mobile. I bet he'll start in Lincoln, likely supplanting son of Hall of Famer T.R. Goins Art Goins, but even if he starts in San Jose he could get some time in the corners with Frank Reece in center. I think Sutton is the better fielder, but when you have a top 50 outfield prospect who can hit, you want to let him play center until he tells you he can't. And while Sutton is talented, the more time he can get in all three spots, the better, as it would be pretty hard for him to not end up filling a backup outfield role for one of the 16 big league organizations.