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ayaghmour2 · 10-31-2023, 10:55 AM

The draft just finished as I was prepping this post, but I'll still do the final three picks sometime tomorrow. We're still about two months away from Spring Training, but the Cuban Winter League will keep me interested for the next month or so. Zane Kelley finally had a hiccup, well, two, and it's caused the Stallions to fall out of first. More on that tonight!

5th Round, 77th Overall: SS Freddie Hutchison
School: North Carolina Tech Techster
1948: .281/.367/.384, 212 PA, 8 2B, 3B, 3 HR, 37 RBI, 39 SB
Career (COL): .268/.359/.367, 456 PA, 15 2B, 3 3B, 6 HR, 67 RBI, 76 SB
Career (HS): .422/.508/.620, 506 PA, 42 2B, 9 3B, 7 HR, 110 RBI, 118 SB

It took not only five rounds for a shortstop, but also a college player, as Freddie Hutchison was the first Cougar selection enrolled in a collegiate institution this fall. This is not the first selection for Hutchison, who has made great strides since being selected by the Sailors in the 23rd Round out of high school. It could be a reach here at five, but there were very few exciting shortstops left and and OSA was a huge fan of him last year. They credit his speed, contact, and eye, predicting him to be a "reliable hitter in the organization's grand scheme." That's more Tom Perkins or John Wells then Freddie Hutchison, but he made significant strides from his freshman to sophomore season. His average jumped up from .257 to .281 and upped his OPS 45 points. This increase in contact ability could help forward his career, as he now has another tool to pair with his discipline and speed. If he can follow up or even improve his performance as a junior, he could be another Elmer Grace type, going up quick the organizational ladder quick due to his defense and approach at the plate. Hutchison is similar, just only from the left side, which could allow them to become the new Billy Hunter and Clark Car. It's a stretch to expect him to rank in the top 100, but I think they have similar floors and ceilings. I'm not as keen on his glove as I am with Grace, so he'll have to hit to keep his spot. I'll play him at short until he tells me he can't. There's plenty of risk with this pick, but I like enough of our later picks to think that taking him is worth the chance.

6th Round, 93rd Overall: CF Lou Jackson
School: College of San Diego Friars
1948: .267/.333/.427, 232 PA, 9 2B, 9 3B, 2 HR, 25 RBI, 73 SB
Career (COL): .268/.336/.451, 434 PA, 17 2B, 16 3B, 7 HR, 48 RBI, 73 SB
Career (HS): .425/.487/.736, 224 PA, 21 2B, 12 3B, 5 HR, 54 RBI, 63 SB

One of the most interesting prospects in the draft, Lou Jackson is a switch hitter who's appeared at games not only in center, but in left, right, second, first, and short. Another college kid, Jackson has also been drafted previously, selected 209th Overall by the Chiefs back in 1946. An athletic outfielder from California, he's yet to truly breakout at the plate, but I couldn't resist his versatility. A gifted athlete, Jackson has excelled in center field and he's one of the fastest guys on the field. I may want to get him a lot of innings on the infield to see how he can handle it, but his best position may still be center field. He doesn't have a ton of upside and profiles mainly as a utility man, but he's 6'2'' and could develop legitimate power if he can fix his workout routines. He doesn't put the ball in play enough to be a light hitter too, but with his speed and plate discipline he could really succeed as a slugger. He gives off some Carlos Montes vibes, who if you remember used to play the infield too, but without the power Montes displayed out of the gate. That's the absolute best case for Jackson, but there's a reason he lasted long, as the chance of him becoming that are quite low.

7th Round, 109th Overall: C Danny Noonan
School: Huntington State Miners
1948: .272/.359/.417, 211 PA, 8 2B, 6 HR, 35 RBI, 13 SB
Career (COL): .272/.372/.431, 412 PA, 13 2B, 14 HR, 71 RBI, 27 SB
Career (HS): .444/.547/.650, 345 PA, 25 2B, 4 3B, 8 HR, 78 RBI, 21 SB

That's three-for-three! After no college picks, the last three have all been college bats, The only difference between Danny Noonan and the other two, are he actually fell in the draft. A three year starter at Sts. John and Paul in Ohio, Noonan was on our draft list for 1946, but he was selected in the 3rd Round by the Pioneers. When he couldn't agree to terms with them, he went to Huntington State, and probably had his eye set on the first two rounds this year. Instead, Noonan slipped and slipped, before we finally made the backstop our 7th Round selection. 21 in February, Dixie thinks he can develop into an average big leaguer, but I'd be happy with a useless backup who can hit a little to go with a great glove. Both Dixie and OSA comment on his plus defense, and that alone should allow him to stick in our system until potentially earning a big league callup. The bat is unrefined, as he doesn't make enough contact, but his patient approach at the plate should lead to a lot of good at bats. He takes the tough pitches and works his share of walks, and in college he walked (54) more then he struck out (35). He's shown a little power too, and its always good for backup catchers to be able to put one over the fence. With Bill Martin leaving the system, there is some room for catchers, and Noonan has a chance to secure a majority of at bats at one of our minor league levels. At worst, he'll get a timeshare with someone like Ernie Frost or Alex O'Dailey, but I could see him moving up the system quick and caddying Garland Phelps in a season or two.

10-31-2023, 10:55 AM	#1250
ayaghmour2 Hall Of Famer Join Date: Mar 2018 Posts: 3,010	1949 Draft: Rounds 5-7 The draft just finished as I was prepping this post, but I'll still do the final three picks sometime tomorrow. We're still about two months away from Spring Training, but the Cuban Winter League will keep me interested for the next month or so. Zane Kelley finally had a hiccup, well, two, and it's caused the Stallions to fall out of first. More on that tonight! 5th Round, 77th Overall: SS Freddie Hutchison School: North Carolina Tech Techster 1948: .281/.367/.384, 212 PA, 8 2B, 3B, 3 HR, 37 RBI, 39 SB Career (COL): .268/.359/.367, 456 PA, 15 2B, 3 3B, 6 HR, 67 RBI, 76 SB Career (HS): .422/.508/.620, 506 PA, 42 2B, 9 3B, 7 HR, 110 RBI, 118 SB It took not only five rounds for a shortstop, but also a college player, as Freddie Hutchison was the first Cougar selection enrolled in a collegiate institution this fall. This is not the first selection for Hutchison, who has made great strides since being selected by the Sailors in the 23rd Round out of high school. It could be a reach here at five, but there were very few exciting shortstops left and and OSA was a huge fan of him last year. They credit his speed, contact, and eye, predicting him to be a "reliable hitter in the organization's grand scheme." That's more Tom Perkins or John Wells then Freddie Hutchison, but he made significant strides from his freshman to sophomore season. His average jumped up from .257 to .281 and upped his OPS 45 points. This increase in contact ability could help forward his career, as he now has another tool to pair with his discipline and speed. If he can follow up or even improve his performance as a junior, he could be another Elmer Grace type, going up quick the organizational ladder quick due to his defense and approach at the plate. Hutchison is similar, just only from the left side, which could allow them to become the new Billy Hunter and Clark Car. It's a stretch to expect him to rank in the top 100, but I think they have similar floors and ceilings. I'm not as keen on his glove as I am with Grace, so he'll have to hit to keep his spot. I'll play him at short until he tells me he can't. There's plenty of risk with this pick, but I like enough of our later picks to think that taking him is worth the chance. 6th Round, 93rd Overall: CF Lou Jackson School: College of San Diego Friars 1948: .267/.333/.427, 232 PA, 9 2B, 9 3B, 2 HR, 25 RBI, 73 SB Career (COL): .268/.336/.451, 434 PA, 17 2B, 16 3B, 7 HR, 48 RBI, 73 SB Career (HS): .425/.487/.736, 224 PA, 21 2B, 12 3B, 5 HR, 54 RBI, 63 SB One of the most interesting prospects in the draft, Lou Jackson is a switch hitter who's appeared at games not only in center, but in left, right, second, first, and short. Another college kid, Jackson has also been drafted previously, selected 209th Overall by the Chiefs back in 1946. An athletic outfielder from California, he's yet to truly breakout at the plate, but I couldn't resist his versatility. A gifted athlete, Jackson has excelled in center field and he's one of the fastest guys on the field. I may want to get him a lot of innings on the infield to see how he can handle it, but his best position may still be center field. He doesn't have a ton of upside and profiles mainly as a utility man, but he's 6'2'' and could develop legitimate power if he can fix his workout routines. He doesn't put the ball in play enough to be a light hitter too, but with his speed and plate discipline he could really succeed as a slugger. He gives off some Carlos Montes vibes, who if you remember used to play the infield too, but without the power Montes displayed out of the gate. That's the absolute best case for Jackson, but there's a reason he lasted long, as the chance of him becoming that are quite low. 7th Round, 109th Overall: C Danny Noonan School: Huntington State Miners 1948: .272/.359/.417, 211 PA, 8 2B, 6 HR, 35 RBI, 13 SB Career (COL): .272/.372/.431, 412 PA, 13 2B, 14 HR, 71 RBI, 27 SB Career (HS): .444/.547/.650, 345 PA, 25 2B, 4 3B, 8 HR, 78 RBI, 21 SB That's three-for-three! After no college picks, the last three have all been college bats, The only difference between Danny Noonan and the other two, are he actually fell in the draft. A three year starter at Sts. John and Paul in Ohio, Noonan was on our draft list for 1946, but he was selected in the 3rd Round by the Pioneers. When he couldn't agree to terms with them, he went to Huntington State, and probably had his eye set on the first two rounds this year. Instead, Noonan slipped and slipped, before we finally made the backstop our 7th Round selection. 21 in February, Dixie thinks he can develop into an average big leaguer, but I'd be happy with a useless backup who can hit a little to go with a great glove. Both Dixie and OSA comment on his plus defense, and that alone should allow him to stick in our system until potentially earning a big league callup. The bat is unrefined, as he doesn't make enough contact, but his patient approach at the plate should lead to a lot of good at bats. He takes the tough pitches and works his share of walks, and in college he walked (54) more then he struck out (35). He's shown a little power too, and its always good for backup catchers to be able to put one over the fence. With Bill Martin leaving the system, there is some room for catchers, and Noonan has a chance to secure a majority of at bats at one of our minor league levels. At worst, he'll get a timeshare with someone like Ernie Frost or Alex O'Dailey, but I could see him moving up the system quick and caddying Garland Phelps in a season or two.