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ayaghmour2 · 01-23-2024, 09:24 PM

CF Henry Norman (52nd Overall)
Acquired: Via Trade with Chiefs (1948)
Drafted: 3rd Round, 36th Overall (1947)
Alma Mater: Cleveland Tigers

Just like in year one, Henry Norman had a five week injury, but he looked good when healthy and held his own in a full season of A-ball. Norman appeared in 113 games, hitting an a bit above average .319/.377/.382 (105 OPS+) with 10 doubles, 7 triples, 2 homers, 7 steals, and 50 RBIs. A natural center fielder, that's where Norman spent most of his time, but he performed better in right (11.9, 1.074) then in center (0.9, .993). That's to be expected once someone is familiar with the corner position, something Norman hasn't had much time doing. Less then a quarter of his innings in right field came before this season, and he's managed to catch on quick. I do think he has the range for center, but since he'll be moving up the system with our second ranked prospect Jerry Smith, center may be occupied most of the time. Dixie isn't as enthused, not expecting him to be much more then average. The offense is where most of the talent lies, as he grades out as a plus contact hitter and his speed will always have him looking to take an extra base. Power isn't to be expected, but he should make up for it in other ways. Right now he's also walking (43) about as often as he strikes out (45), and pair that with speed and hopefully plus defense, and you have all the ingredients for a stable career as a big league player.

CF Johnny Peters (53rd Overall)
Acquired: Via Draft: 1st Round, 3rd Overall (1945)
Alma Mater: Liberty College Bells

After absolutely tearing the cover off the ball in Milwaukee, Johnny Peters could not make contact to save his life. He went just 2-for-34, striking out 10 times while drawing 4 walks. This couldn't be further from his performance in the Century League, where he slashed a gaudy .307/.405/.502 (136 OPS+) with a 150 WRC+ and 4.3 WAR. He added 70 runs, 69 walks, 19 doubles, 13 triples, 11 homers, 7 steals, and 70 RBIs. With numbers like that, I thought for sure he'd make an instant impact in our lineup, but Peters' floundering has made me rethink his role on the 1950 team. The initial plan was for him to play everyday in one of the corners, but with Leo Mitchell's resurgence and Peters' struggles, we may look outside the organization for an upgrade. If we stick with Peters, the hope is more offensive production, as both Dixie and OSA are huge fans of his game. They love his patient approach and reliable defense, and he has an above average contact tool that allows him to drive the ball hard when he makes contact. Right now, he's penciled into the eight spot, but I think his future is batting second or fifth. He doesn't quite have the power for cleanup, and I don't think he'll ever be the best bat in a lineup, but he's a great support bat who can work counts and create runs.

SS Elmer Grace (71st Overall)
Acquired: Via Draft: 4th Round, 52nd Overall (1948)
Alma Mater: St. Dominic's Padres

Another guy who fought injury, a bone spur in Elmer Grace's elbow cost him nearly a month of the season. Luckily there seemed to be no sign of ware, and in 69 games at short he posted a Skipper Schneider-like 10.7 zone rating and 1.108 efficiency. He looked good at second (0.8, 1.071) too, a position he may be stuck with because of Skipper Schneider, as on another team Grace might be in the lineup everyday at short. Our minor leaguers think he's been ready since draft day, and he produced a 113 WRC+ and 3.7 WAR in 106 games with the Blues. He hit an average .264/.371/.395 (100 OPS+), drawing six more walks (67) then strikeouts (61). Grace even hit 9 home runs, with 22 extra base h its in 471 trips to the plate. A former 4th Round Pick, he ranks as the fourth best shortstop prospect in all of baseball, and Dixies profiles him as "an above average player." Shortstops are always a hot commodity, which makes Grace an intriguing trade candidate. The hardworking shortstop is a skilled defender who's always out taking grounders and working on ways to improve his overall game. The bat may never be above average, but he's a switch hitter and he spends plenty of time in the cage. He could continue to draw more walks then strikeouts, but this little jump in power is likely something reserved for the minors. I think his power is more like Skipper then a double digit home run hitter, but he's going to find plenty of gaps instead. He's an advanced hitter who always gives good at bats, and if our middle infield depth takes a hit next year, he's an option for additional time. He's still not Rule-5 eligible, but even after additions we still have three empty spots and should carry a few into Opening Day. Grace is overdue a big league opportunity, and he might be the most developed position player yet to debut in our organization.

LHP Dixie Gaines (91st Overall)
Acquired: Via Draft: 4th Round, 55th Overall (1948)
Alma Mater: Capital University Catamounts

For the life of me, I cannot fathom Dixie Gaines being ranked 91st in the prospect rankings. All he did was enter the season ranked 25th and then go 8-0 with a 1.21 ERA and 1.02 WHIP through 59.2 innings. He walked just 16 and struck out 57, quickly earning a promotion to Class A Lincoln. Obviously, that level of production cannot be expected, but his 16 start stint with the Legislators was impressive. 22 this August, Dixie went 8-6 with a 3.50 ERA (112 ERA+), 1.32 WHIP, 47 walks, and 73 strikeouts. Not sure what's wrong with that, especially in your first full season as a professional, but Gaines quick rise led to an equally quick fall. I don't think anything changed with the young southpaw, but perhaps this was some sort of overcorrection by the prospect pickers. I never really thought he was a top of the rotation arm, but maybe middle rotation is the best hope now. The game doesn't always like soft tosser, but even if he's sitting in the 84-86 range, three to five properly located plus pitches can really work in a guys favor. Assuming no changes in his pitch speed, his strategy will be throwing strikes with the sinker to get guys to chase the change. It's a great pitch that OSA goes as far to call "dominant," giving him two excellent pitches to pick between. But what could make him special is the remainder of the arsenal, as he mixes in a curve, splitter, and "fast" ball. If one of those three pitches, especially the curve, approaches the level of his other two, he could emerge as one of the better pitchers in the league. But for now, I'm just hoping for serviceable starter, as we already have plenty of candidate for the top three spots.

CF Jeff King (106th Overall)
Acquired: Via Draft: 3rd Round, 40th Overall (1948)
Alma Mater: Millville Middies

Our first non-top 100 prospect, Jeff King actually moved up a bit, checking in at 106 in the initial rankings. Taken a round before Dixie last year, King spent all of his season in La Crosse. so he only appeared in 60 games. That's not uncommon for most high school draftees, as the 19-year-old is one of our most under developed prospects. It showed both at the plate and in the field, as he posted negative metrics at all three outfield spots and hit just .285/.336/.372 (74 OPS+). Prospects like King are why I wish the UMVA was full season again, as project prospects like him could use the extra reps. Despite the uninspiring triple slash, Dixie actually thinks King can hit .350, which only two qualified FABL hitters did this season, and is something really only Leo Mitchell has done in a Cougar uniform since league averages have gone down. I'd be happy with just a consistent .300 hitter, something we don't have much of, and with his speed he's best when putting the ball in play. Despite the early results, he actually projects to draw walks and limit strikeouts, which will make up for the low power. But as a 6'3'' 19-year-old, you have to imagine there's more strength coming, so adding power to his game would make him a force. He's not as hard working as some of our other guys, but if we can get him to bulk up and stop hitting the ball on the ground, he could end up a legit middle-of-the-order hitter. It's fun to get excited like that, but odds there are slim, as King has a lot of developing to even be a serviceable fourth outfielder at this point.

01-23-2024, 09:24 PM	#1306
ayaghmour2 Hall Of Famer Join Date: Mar 2018 Posts: 3,011	Top Prospects: 6-10 CF Henry Norman (52nd Overall) Acquired: Via Trade with Chiefs (1948) Drafted: 3rd Round, 36th Overall (1947) Alma Mater: Cleveland Tigers Just like in year one, Henry Norman had a five week injury, but he looked good when healthy and held his own in a full season of A-ball. Norman appeared in 113 games, hitting an a bit above average .319/.377/.382 (105 OPS+) with 10 doubles, 7 triples, 2 homers, 7 steals, and 50 RBIs. A natural center fielder, that's where Norman spent most of his time, but he performed better in right (11.9, 1.074) then in center (0.9, .993). That's to be expected once someone is familiar with the corner position, something Norman hasn't had much time doing. Less then a quarter of his innings in right field came before this season, and he's managed to catch on quick. I do think he has the range for center, but since he'll be moving up the system with our second ranked prospect Jerry Smith, center may be occupied most of the time. Dixie isn't as enthused, not expecting him to be much more then average. The offense is where most of the talent lies, as he grades out as a plus contact hitter and his speed will always have him looking to take an extra base. Power isn't to be expected, but he should make up for it in other ways. Right now he's also walking (43) about as often as he strikes out (45), and pair that with speed and hopefully plus defense, and you have all the ingredients for a stable career as a big league player. CF Johnny Peters (53rd Overall) Acquired: Via Draft: 1st Round, 3rd Overall (1945) Alma Mater: Liberty College Bells After absolutely tearing the cover off the ball in Milwaukee, Johnny Peters could not make contact to save his life. He went just 2-for-34, striking out 10 times while drawing 4 walks. This couldn't be further from his performance in the Century League, where he slashed a gaudy .307/.405/.502 (136 OPS+) with a 150 WRC+ and 4.3 WAR. He added 70 runs, 69 walks, 19 doubles, 13 triples, 11 homers, 7 steals, and 70 RBIs. With numbers like that, I thought for sure he'd make an instant impact in our lineup, but Peters' floundering has made me rethink his role on the 1950 team. The initial plan was for him to play everyday in one of the corners, but with Leo Mitchell's resurgence and Peters' struggles, we may look outside the organization for an upgrade. If we stick with Peters, the hope is more offensive production, as both Dixie and OSA are huge fans of his game. They love his patient approach and reliable defense, and he has an above average contact tool that allows him to drive the ball hard when he makes contact. Right now, he's penciled into the eight spot, but I think his future is batting second or fifth. He doesn't quite have the power for cleanup, and I don't think he'll ever be the best bat in a lineup, but he's a great support bat who can work counts and create runs. SS Elmer Grace (71st Overall) Acquired: Via Draft: 4th Round, 52nd Overall (1948) Alma Mater: St. Dominic's Padres Another guy who fought injury, a bone spur in Elmer Grace's elbow cost him nearly a month of the season. Luckily there seemed to be no sign of ware, and in 69 games at short he posted a Skipper Schneider-like 10.7 zone rating and 1.108 efficiency. He looked good at second (0.8, 1.071) too, a position he may be stuck with because of Skipper Schneider, as on another team Grace might be in the lineup everyday at short. Our minor leaguers think he's been ready since draft day, and he produced a 113 WRC+ and 3.7 WAR in 106 games with the Blues. He hit an average .264/.371/.395 (100 OPS+), drawing six more walks (67) then strikeouts (61). Grace even hit 9 home runs, with 22 extra base h its in 471 trips to the plate. A former 4th Round Pick, he ranks as the fourth best shortstop prospect in all of baseball, and Dixies profiles him as "an above average player." Shortstops are always a hot commodity, which makes Grace an intriguing trade candidate. The hardworking shortstop is a skilled defender who's always out taking grounders and working on ways to improve his overall game. The bat may never be above average, but he's a switch hitter and he spends plenty of time in the cage. He could continue to draw more walks then strikeouts, but this little jump in power is likely something reserved for the minors. I think his power is more like Skipper then a double digit home run hitter, but he's going to find plenty of gaps instead. He's an advanced hitter who always gives good at bats, and if our middle infield depth takes a hit next year, he's an option for additional time. He's still not Rule-5 eligible, but even after additions we still have three empty spots and should carry a few into Opening Day. Grace is overdue a big league opportunity, and he might be the most developed position player yet to debut in our organization. LHP Dixie Gaines (91st Overall) Acquired: Via Draft: 4th Round, 55th Overall (1948) Alma Mater: Capital University Catamounts For the life of me, I cannot fathom Dixie Gaines being ranked 91st in the prospect rankings. All he did was enter the season ranked 25th and then go 8-0 with a 1.21 ERA and 1.02 WHIP through 59.2 innings. He walked just 16 and struck out 57, quickly earning a promotion to Class A Lincoln. Obviously, that level of production cannot be expected, but his 16 start stint with the Legislators was impressive. 22 this August, Dixie went 8-6 with a 3.50 ERA (112 ERA+), 1.32 WHIP, 47 walks, and 73 strikeouts. Not sure what's wrong with that, especially in your first full season as a professional, but Gaines quick rise led to an equally quick fall. I don't think anything changed with the young southpaw, but perhaps this was some sort of overcorrection by the prospect pickers. I never really thought he was a top of the rotation arm, but maybe middle rotation is the best hope now. The game doesn't always like soft tosser, but even if he's sitting in the 84-86 range, three to five properly located plus pitches can really work in a guys favor. Assuming no changes in his pitch speed, his strategy will be throwing strikes with the sinker to get guys to chase the change. It's a great pitch that OSA goes as far to call "dominant," giving him two excellent pitches to pick between. But what could make him special is the remainder of the arsenal, as he mixes in a curve, splitter, and "fast" ball. If one of those three pitches, especially the curve, approaches the level of his other two, he could emerge as one of the better pitchers in the league. But for now, I'm just hoping for serviceable starter, as we already have plenty of candidate for the top three spots. CF Jeff King (106th Overall) Acquired: Via Draft: 3rd Round, 40th Overall (1948) Alma Mater: Millville Middies Our first non-top 100 prospect, Jeff King actually moved up a bit, checking in at 106 in the initial rankings. Taken a round before Dixie last year, King spent all of his season in La Crosse. so he only appeared in 60 games. That's not uncommon for most high school draftees, as the 19-year-old is one of our most under developed prospects. It showed both at the plate and in the field, as he posted negative metrics at all three outfield spots and hit just .285/.336/.372 (74 OPS+). Prospects like King are why I wish the UMVA was full season again, as project prospects like him could use the extra reps. Despite the uninspiring triple slash, Dixie actually thinks King can hit .350, which only two qualified FABL hitters did this season, and is something really only Leo Mitchell has done in a Cougar uniform since league averages have gone down. I'd be happy with just a consistent .300 hitter, something we don't have much of, and with his speed he's best when putting the ball in play. Despite the early results, he actually projects to draw walks and limit strikeouts, which will make up for the low power. But as a 6'3'' 19-year-old, you have to imagine there's more strength coming, so adding power to his game would make him a force. He's not as hard working as some of our other guys, but if we can get him to bulk up and stop hitting the ball on the ground, he could end up a legit middle-of-the-order hitter. It's fun to get excited like that, but odds there are slim, as King has a lot of developing to even be a serviceable fourth outfielder at this point.