[ayaghmour2]

2nd Round, 23rd Overall: RHP Wilson McKinney
School: Colonel White Cougars
1948: 4-0, 52.1 IP, 1.38 ERA, 0.94 WHIP, 13 BB, 85 K
Career: 4-0, 52.1 IP, 1.38 ERA, 0.94 WHIP, 13 BB, 85 K

Again, the pick in the moment felt devastating, but just like with Biff we still get a very talented player. There were two pitchers I really wanted with this pick. The first was Ike Brannan, who went 19th, and then I kid you not, Dick Champ, who was taken directly ahead of us by the Miners. Champ is a very interesting prospect, who Dixie Marsh not only calls a "#2 starter", but played short, third, second, and left in his three years at Middlesex in New Jersey. Two way players are always fun, and he was talented enough to make it to FABL either way.

I'm not as high on Wilson McKinney as Dixie Marsh, who lists him as the 9th best player in the draft. That's a bit high, but in a deep class like this one there are plenty of good players available, and despite minimal innings as a junior, he gives off some Harry Parker vibes. No, he's not a lazy towering righty who's arm doesn't work anymore, but he's a five pitch prep arm who looks to be far more development then the rest of his class. He doesn't have the "Starter" current rating, but McKinney has five intriguing pitches and his cutter already hits 89. He added a knuckle curve this winter, but the crown jewel is his splitter. He's an athletic kid with elite stuff and his command (5.8 BB%; 6.5 K/BB) has impressed in his small sample of innings. There's a lot of risk chasing someone like this, but he's a brilliant kid who will always look to find ways to improve. I think him and Garland Phelps may be the perfect combo, as their combined brainpower would put most to shame. They have the mental aspect of the game mastered and could end up fooling the best of batters. If they can share their knowledge with the team, they could make those around them better, but in the minors I'm okay with focusing on themselves. The kids eager to learn and I could even see a sixth pitch coming in his future. Depending on how his senior year goes, he could start with a second Cougar team, San Jose, as if all goes well he could be a quick riser in the system.

Our next pick won't come until 45th, and for the remaining eight rounds we'll be picking 13th in the round. Depending on what the other teams do, we may get a lot of players I like, as this is one of the deeper classes in recent years. There's a lot of guys left I would have taken here had McKinney been taken as well, so we should get a few more useful pieces to add to the third ranked system. I've also been thinking some about the season, as it looks less and less likely that we're going to be making any additional acquisitions. There aren't many players available, so we'll have to run it back with most of what we have. My idea now is to move Hal Sharp to left, allowing Carlos Montes to play every day in right field. Chubby Hall and Luke Berry can fight for the right side of the left field platoon, pushing Leo Mitchell back to the bench. It's sad to see a team legend end up this way, but he's no longer the same hitter he once was. We need to win a title, and this may give us the best shot in the coming season.