[ayaghmour2]

CF Harley Dollar (214th Overall)
Acquired: Via Draft: 7th Round, 131st Overall (1947)
Alma Mater: Nutley Maroon Raiders

Despite being just 19, Harley Dollar pretty much skipped C ball, as his week involved him going 6-for-17 with 2 doubles, a homer, 2 RBIs, and 3 walks. He was then moved up to San Jose, where he still provided above average offensive production. The 7th Rounder hit .237/.318/.421 (106 OPS+) with 7 doubles, 3 triples, 5 homers, 27 RBIs, and 18 walks. A natural center fielder, Dollar spent almost all his time in the corners, with a majority of his outings coming in right field. While he doesn't steal many bases, he has decent foot speed and could stick in center. I do think he's best suited for a corner, but he won't kill you up the middle. What "Easy Money" does best is put the ball in play, as he has an above average contact tool that pairs well with excellent strike zone recognition. There's some swing and miss in his game early on, but most teens have huge strikeouts numbers in their first few seasons. I expect him to be one of those guys who walks more then he strikes out, but what surprised me was the power he showed. After just 3 high school homers in 62 games, I was impressed with his 6 in the 51 post-draft. Sure, I expected some doubles and triples, but if he's hitting home runs he's going to force himself into our future plans. He's more then just a cool name regardless, as he's got big league talent, with the floor of a fourth outfielder and the ceiling as an every day player. Just maybe one you'll have in the back-half of the order.

SS Roy Gass (244th Overall)
Acquired: Via Draft: 4th Round, 64th Overall (1947)
Alma Mater: Council Grove Braves

A lot of our young infielders struggled either in La Crosse or San Jose this past season. Roy Gass was not one of them. One of our 4th Rounders in the most recent draft, Gass didn't turn 18 until late August, but still posted a 120 WRC+ in 45 games for the Lions after finishing his four year prep career at Council Grove. The Lions everyday shortstop hit a strong .265/.349/.408 (111 OPS+) with 3 doubles, 3 triples, 4 homers, 4 steals, and 16 RBIs. Like with Dollar, the power from Gass was somewhat of a shock, as he had just 13 extra base hits as a senior. At 6'2'', he's not your prototypical shortstop, but perhaps the Topeka native will continue to hit the ball out of the park. If we can get him in the weight room, perhaps their double digit home runs locked away, but it may be tough. Not because he's lazy, but because he practically lives on the baseball diamond. One of the hardest workers in the system, Gass takes extra grounders before and after games, and it shows in his play at short. He'll take extra reps in the cage as well, which shows in his long and tough at bats and his plus contact tool. With Gass, we're betting hard on the upside and less on the current project, but what I saw this year really impressed. Dixie Marsh thinks he'll develop into an "above average, everyday big league player" and I don't think this is as good as we'll see him. His work ethic will push him past his current ceiling, and with a little muscle building in the offseason I can see him forcing his way up the prospect rankings. If I had to bet on one of our "middle tier" prospects making the jump by next year, it would be Gass, and he's a guy we have a close eye on. He's no Skipper, but he does remind me a bit of Ollie Page, but with the upside we though he had when we grabbed him from the Eagles. Shortstop is not going to be open, but with some added pop, Gass could be our everyday third basemen once Otto Christian has his time in the sun.

SS Willie Watson (243rd Overall)
Acquired: Via Draft: 10th Round, 157th Overall (1947)
Alma Mater: Evansville Eagles

Another one of our numerous young shortstops, Willie Watson did struggle. A lot. But it's not his fault.

The Illinois native was pushed up to San Jose, because he was one of the few infielders that did not have a down arrow. Although he labored at the plate, hitting a pitcher-like .151/.248/.198 (26 OPS+) in 123 trips to the plate. Yes, there's no silver lining there, but he did play plus defense at third (0.5, 1.060) and short (0.3, 1.007), and he still managed to draw 11 walks. 19 in December, he may start the season in San Jose again, but if a Roxy Hilts or John Price has a good offseason, we may let Watson get back on track in C ball. But for a guy known more for his glove then the bat, it may be worth letting Watson struggle on the fly. He gives good at bats and is composed under pressure, and he doesn't take his offensive struggles onto the field with him. He's a marvelous shortstop and his arm is more then strong enough for third, and any offense he provides will be a plus. As a groundball hitter, there's never going to be much pop, so putting the ball in play is a must. Lucky for Watson, there's no where to go but up, and I'm sure if he spent the season in La Crosse he would have been somewhat production in the aggregate as his defense can make up for a lot of offensive shortcomings. Just nothing can excuse a 22 WRC+...

LF Clyde Parker (244th Overall)
Acquired: Via Draft: 7th Round, 103rd Overall (1945)
Alma Mater: Liberty Bluejays

Recently turned 21, Clyde Parker seems to have stalled out a bit. The former 7th Rounder flashed some Leo Mitchell when he first came up, but like Mitchell this year, the results were very disappointing. He spent all season in San Jose, and hit a bit below average .240/.320/.382 (96 OPS+) in 104 games. The 24 doubles and 11 triples were nice, but he hit just 3 homers with 43 RBIs, 45 walks, and 85 strikeouts. As a corner outfielder, that's not going to cut it, and with Parker's hit tool he should be hitting consistently over .300. Instead, he hasn't hit above .280 at any stop yet, and he had his worst power showing so far. We're going to need him to hit more, but it's easy to forget how young he is. Not everyone is a quick riser so we'll have to be patient here, but he's got the build of a batting title winner. He's a line drive hitter who can hit both lefties and righties, and until this season he's never really had strikeout problems. With the right motivation, a big season could be in his future, but for now my expectations have been tempered.

3B Bill Nash (253rd Overall)
Acquired: Via Draft: 11th Round, 177th Overall (1947)
Alma Mater: Piedmont University Pipers

Despite being an AI pick, I was very happy to add Bill Nash to our system. A third basemen at Piedmont University, Nash should've been a human round pick, but all 16 (well, this year 15) of us passed on the Pipers star hitter. The 21-year-old then skipped C ball, and put together a strong season for the Cougars in the second half of the year. The Cali kid hit .261/.327/.428 (111 OPS+) with 3 doubles, 4 triples, 4 homers, and 21 RBIs. A strong athlete who hits a ton of line drives, I think there's power to be exploited in Nash, who even without it could be a capable every day third basemen. He's got a good, reliable glove and he's always a tough out. He'll draw his share of walks and he's improving his pitch selection, and a more filled out Nash should be a very disciplined hitter. He doesn't have a great contact tool, but since he hits the ball hard a .270 or so hitter isn't out of the question. What will make things tough for Nash is eventually some of our shortstops will have to move off, which could take some time away from Nash. The power will be the key to his success, as if he can scare pitchers to pitching around him, he won't chase the bad pitches, and can punish the mistakes. Right now he's a borderline starter, but the pieces are in place for a borderline All-Star instead.