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ayaghmour2 · 08-05-2023, 09:45 PM

9th Round, 132nd Overall: LHP Joe Oates
School: Narragansett Navigators
1947: 8-5, 123.2 IP, 3.93 ERA, 1.52 WHIP, 64 BB, 95 K
Career: 8-5, 123.2 IP, 3.93 ERA, 1.52 WHIP, 64 BB, 95 K

Narragansett is a small city in Rhode Island on the Atlantic where lefty Joe Oates spent his past summer pitching for the Navigators. Once officially selected with our first of two ninth rounders, the New Jersey native will be the first Navigator selected since one Sal Pestilli went #1 back in 1936. Oates had a decent sophomore season, going 8-5 in his 18 stats with a 3.93 ERA. He struck out 95 in 123.2 innings, which is impressive considering his fastball tops out at 85. I'm hoping that's not his top, as the hard worker has spent all offseason in the gym prepping for his senior year. Oates has a deep five pitch arsenal, including a sinker, which could end up countering his home run issues. The harder he throws that, the more effective it will be, and the same can be said of his changeup. That headlines the arsenal, and is currently the only plus pitch he offers. That's not to say he's not an interesting pitcher, as if he can solve his command issues or add speed to his arsenal, he could pitch his way into a big league role.

9th Round, 135th Overall: C Sam Bird
School: Northwest Knights
1947: .419/.475/.600, 120 PA, 9 2B, 2 3B, 2 HR, 30 RBI, 8 SB
Career: .409/.470/.588, 353 PA, 22 2B, 4 3B, 8 HR, 85 RBI, 12 SB

I was a bit shocked to see Sam Bird still available in the 9th, and since I was looking for a catcher I quickly stopped the search when I saw the Naperville native still available. Perhaps its due to his lack of success in high school, but Dixie Marsh is very intrigued by the son of future Hall of Famer Tom Bird. He expects the young catcher to hit for average power with a good feel for the zone. There is some swing and miss in his game, but that's something his dad once struggled with when he was young. If he can make more contact he could become a pretty solid hitter, and there's always a shortage of catchers who can hit. We're lucky we have two potential catchers of the future in Eddie Howard and Garland Phelps, but there's nothing wrong with a quality backup. A good defensive catcher with power is a nice option off the bench, but there's no guarantee he becomes anything better then a career minor leaguer. We don't really have anyone getting regular at bats in La Crosse, and with Phelps ticketed to Lincoln there may be room in San Jose too. If Bird can hit, he'll play, and having a big league father is a good way to get a roster spot.

10th Round, 148th Overall: RF Gene Dibblee
School: Canton State Bulldogs
1947: .269/.316/.328, 274 PA, 7 2B, 3B, 2 HR, 36 RBI, 40 SB
Career: .282/.346/.351, 490 PA, 14 2B, 2 3B, 4 HR, 70 RBI, 71 SB

As you might expect, I just couldn't pass up a chance to select the son of the great number 19 himself; John Dibblee. Dibblee has nearly every Cougar record, and while Gene isn't even a quarter of the player his dad his, it would feel weird if he got drafted by any other team. Already 22, Gene is hoping to have a strong junior year, as after hitting .301 as a freshman he hit just .269 last year. Even worse, he went from walking (25) more then he struck out (19) to striking out (28) more then he walked (16). He also doesn't have the glove of the elite center fielder John was, and unless it's an emergency I don't think he'll ever start in center. He spends most of his time in right, although he's gotten some time at first and in left. Don't expect much here, he's a no-hit, no-field outfielder, but it would be cool if he got at least one big league at bat with the team his father stared for.

10th Round, 151st Overall: RHP Nick Tomlinson
School: Mobile Leopards
1947: 7-4, 122.1 IP, 2.06 ERA, 1.11 WHIP, 35 BB, 150 K
Career: 27-6, 366 IP, 1.82 ERA, 1.07 WHIP, 111 BB, 444 K

The pickings were slim at this point, so when there's a 6'4'' righty who keeps the ball on the ground, the lottery ticket might actually be worth the money. While not the hardest thrower, Tomlinson's cutter hits 87 and his curveball has a lot of break. Both are solid options, but his third pitch is a fastball that doesn't fool many hitters. That could prevent him from starting, and the odds that he adds a fourth pitch are pretty low. He reminds me a lot of Charlie Kelsey, who ended up having his third pitch (a sinker) turn into a good one. Tomlinson needs to harness his command as well, and like some of these other late round picks, he needs to get one of his two weaknesses fixed just for a shot. You can never have too much pitching depth, and with his height it wouldn't be too hard for him to hit the 90s.

10th Round, 156th Overall: LF Johnnie Cloud
School: Eastern Oklahoma Pioneers
1947: .262/.359/.446, 303 PA, 10 2B, 3B, 12 HR, 52 RBI, 26 SB
Career: .273/.369/.451, 582 PA, 19 2B, 2 3B, 22 HR, 103 RBI, 48 SB

Rounding things out is slugging outfielder Johnnie Cloud, who hit 22 homer and drove in 103 runs in his two seasons at Eastern Oklahoma. At just 5'9'', it's pretty impressive he can hit so many out. Dixie doesn't think it will translate, but he is impressed with how hard he can hit the ball. He has a quick bat and can hit most pitches. He's also a pretty capable defender in left, and he's even gotten work in center and right. He's not the most exciting prospect, but he look to be pretty well developed, and could quickly work his way up our system. It's a stretch to expect him to play regularly, but he could be a useful righty bat off the bench. If the power he's shown in school is legit, we could have a real steal here, but right now it looks like the deck is stacked against him.

08-05-2023, 09:45 PM	#1177
ayaghmour2 Hall Of Famer Join Date: Mar 2018 Posts: 3,015	1948 Draft: Rounds 9 and 10 9th Round, 132nd Overall: LHP Joe Oates School: Narragansett Navigators 1947: 8-5, 123.2 IP, 3.93 ERA, 1.52 WHIP, 64 BB, 95 K Career: 8-5, 123.2 IP, 3.93 ERA, 1.52 WHIP, 64 BB, 95 K Narragansett is a small city in Rhode Island on the Atlantic where lefty Joe Oates spent his past summer pitching for the Navigators. Once officially selected with our first of two ninth rounders, the New Jersey native will be the first Navigator selected since one Sal Pestilli went #1 back in 1936. Oates had a decent sophomore season, going 8-5 in his 18 stats with a 3.93 ERA. He struck out 95 in 123.2 innings, which is impressive considering his fastball tops out at 85. I'm hoping that's not his top, as the hard worker has spent all offseason in the gym prepping for his senior year. Oates has a deep five pitch arsenal, including a sinker, which could end up countering his home run issues. The harder he throws that, the more effective it will be, and the same can be said of his changeup. That headlines the arsenal, and is currently the only plus pitch he offers. That's not to say he's not an interesting pitcher, as if he can solve his command issues or add speed to his arsenal, he could pitch his way into a big league role. 9th Round, 135th Overall: C Sam Bird School: Northwest Knights 1947: .419/.475/.600, 120 PA, 9 2B, 2 3B, 2 HR, 30 RBI, 8 SB Career: .409/.470/.588, 353 PA, 22 2B, 4 3B, 8 HR, 85 RBI, 12 SB I was a bit shocked to see Sam Bird still available in the 9th, and since I was looking for a catcher I quickly stopped the search when I saw the Naperville native still available. Perhaps its due to his lack of success in high school, but Dixie Marsh is very intrigued by the son of future Hall of Famer Tom Bird. He expects the young catcher to hit for average power with a good feel for the zone. There is some swing and miss in his game, but that's something his dad once struggled with when he was young. If he can make more contact he could become a pretty solid hitter, and there's always a shortage of catchers who can hit. We're lucky we have two potential catchers of the future in Eddie Howard and Garland Phelps, but there's nothing wrong with a quality backup. A good defensive catcher with power is a nice option off the bench, but there's no guarantee he becomes anything better then a career minor leaguer. We don't really have anyone getting regular at bats in La Crosse, and with Phelps ticketed to Lincoln there may be room in San Jose too. If Bird can hit, he'll play, and having a big league father is a good way to get a roster spot. 10th Round, 148th Overall: RF Gene Dibblee School: Canton State Bulldogs 1947: .269/.316/.328, 274 PA, 7 2B, 3B, 2 HR, 36 RBI, 40 SB Career: .282/.346/.351, 490 PA, 14 2B, 2 3B, 4 HR, 70 RBI, 71 SB As you might expect, I just couldn't pass up a chance to select the son of the great number 19 himself; John Dibblee. Dibblee has nearly every Cougar record, and while Gene isn't even a quarter of the player his dad his, it would feel weird if he got drafted by any other team. Already 22, Gene is hoping to have a strong junior year, as after hitting .301 as a freshman he hit just .269 last year. Even worse, he went from walking (25) more then he struck out (19) to striking out (28) more then he walked (16). He also doesn't have the glove of the elite center fielder John was, and unless it's an emergency I don't think he'll ever start in center. He spends most of his time in right, although he's gotten some time at first and in left. Don't expect much here, he's a no-hit, no-field outfielder, but it would be cool if he got at least one big league at bat with the team his father stared for. 10th Round, 151st Overall: RHP Nick Tomlinson School: Mobile Leopards 1947: 7-4, 122.1 IP, 2.06 ERA, 1.11 WHIP, 35 BB, 150 K Career: 27-6, 366 IP, 1.82 ERA, 1.07 WHIP, 111 BB, 444 K The pickings were slim at this point, so when there's a 6'4'' righty who keeps the ball on the ground, the lottery ticket might actually be worth the money. While not the hardest thrower, Tomlinson's cutter hits 87 and his curveball has a lot of break. Both are solid options, but his third pitch is a fastball that doesn't fool many hitters. That could prevent him from starting, and the odds that he adds a fourth pitch are pretty low. He reminds me a lot of Charlie Kelsey, who ended up having his third pitch (a sinker) turn into a good one. Tomlinson needs to harness his command as well, and like some of these other late round picks, he needs to get one of his two weaknesses fixed just for a shot. You can never have too much pitching depth, and with his height it wouldn't be too hard for him to hit the 90s. 10th Round, 156th Overall: LF Johnnie Cloud School: Eastern Oklahoma Pioneers 1947: .262/.359/.446, 303 PA, 10 2B, 3B, 12 HR, 52 RBI, 26 SB Career: .273/.369/.451, 582 PA, 19 2B, 2 3B, 22 HR, 103 RBI, 48 SB Rounding things out is slugging outfielder Johnnie Cloud, who hit 22 homer and drove in 103 runs in his two seasons at Eastern Oklahoma. At just 5'9'', it's pretty impressive he can hit so many out. Dixie doesn't think it will translate, but he is impressed with how hard he can hit the ball. He has a quick bat and can hit most pitches. He's also a pretty capable defender in left, and he's even gotten work in center and right. He's not the most exciting prospect, but he look to be pretty well developed, and could quickly work his way up our system. It's a stretch to expect him to play regularly, but he could be a useful righty bat off the bench. If the power he's shown in school is legit, we could have a real steal here, but right now it looks like the deck is stacked against him.