[ayaghmour2]

CF Jeff King (117th Overall)
Acquired: Via Draft: 3rd Round, 40th Overall (1948)
Alma Mater: Millville Middies

This marks two seasons in a row where Jeff King is are highest ranked non-top 100 prospect, as he drops from 10th to 11th in our system. A former third rounder, King spent his second full pro season in La Crosse, but saw his batting line drop from .285/.336/.372 (83 OPS+) to just .236/.368/.319 (65 OPS+) as he appeared in nine less games and made almost fifty fewer PAs. The versatile King spent most of his time in left, but along with his natural center, he appeared at first, second, third, and right. King can play all over, even short in a pinch, and I expect him to continue to move all around the diamond to fill in where best needed. Just 20, it may be too soon to push him up to San Jose, and with how little he hit, I think he's best served at least starting the season once more in La Crosse. That would be his fourth season, but he got into just 9 games his draft year due to elbow inflammation, so he's already somewhat behind. Despite the poor triple slash, he did rack up the counting stats (including 67 strikeouts), recording 6 doubles, 2 homers, 15 RBIs, 10 steals, 26 walks, and 29 runs in 174 trips to the plate. With decent defense and great base running he finished with a positive WAR, a personal first for him. With any young prospect, it's easy to get discouraged over poor results, but it's always smart to stay patient. The tools are there: he's got a smooth swing, knows the zone well, and has excellent speed, but he's still trying to figure out pro pitching. Once he gets that figured, he'll be able to progress up our system, and with his versatility he's sure to get every chance he can before we decide to move on.

2B Andy Robinson (137th Overall)
Acquired: Via Draft: 1st Round, 12th Overall (1950)
Alma Mater: Fredericksburg Chargers

No one had a swifter prospect decline post-conversion then Andy Robinson, who went from a top-20 prospect to 137th, as whatever new formula the fine folks at OSA use does not like him as much. I think part of that has to do with hitting .246/.371/.401 (85 OPS+), though with how bad he started, it's almost impressive he got his line up that high. What helped was a huge power jolt, as Robinson hit six homers in 170 trips to the plate, adding 4 doubles, 22 RBIs, and 24 runs. That's great run production even with 48 strikeouts, which were somewhat offset by his 26 walks. This mix of eye and power helped keep his overall production respectable, and considering he's still not 18 (that will happen two in game weeks from now), perhaps I should be happy with his performance. Sure, he looked poor defensively in the middle infield, but he's a developing player who's still growing into his talent. A gifted hitter, he's a line drive hitter who sprays the ball to all fields, and his raw power is probably equivalent to a prime Leo Mitchell. A good comp might be Billy Woytek, the Keystones consistent 15-20 homer second basemen, though Woytek almost never strikes out and Robinson may. Otherwise they seem quite similar, decent glove, solid eye, enticing pop. The type of guy you have no trouble slotting into your lineup knowing he's going to help you win games, even if he's not the best guy on the field.

1B Dudley Sapp (145th Overall)
Acquired: Via Draft: 3rd Round, 45th Overall (1947)
Alma Mater: Union City Bulldogs

After a disappointing 1949 season that held him to just 52 games, Dudley Sapp spent his entire season in San Jose, where he hit a bit below average .282/.377/.346 (92 OPS+) with 13 doubles, 5 homers, and 64 RBIs. While an improvement on previous seasons, just five homers is discouraging, as Sapp is a buff 6'4'' slugger who should be absolutely pounding the ball every time he makes good contact. Instead of punishing mistakes, he's getting under them, but scouts still project for him to hit for above average power. That's the goal for a first basemen like him, and with his discipline, 20+ homers is going to be huge. This season he even walked (63) a few more times then he struck out (61), and since he's displaying above average bat speed, there's all the tools for an above average hitter. He may be stuck in San Jose to start the season, but I really want him to end up in Lincoln. He just turned 22, but he can't get past San Jose, and I really want to see double digit homers this coming season.

LHP Dixie Gaines (160th Overall)
Acquired: Via Draft: 4th Round, 55th Overall (1948)
Alma Mater: Capital University Catamounts

The prospect people don't like pitchers very much, so despite being our 14th ranked prospect, he's actually third among pitchers. Now 23, Dixie spent his entire season in Lincoln, going 10-9 with a 4.22 ERA (91 ERA+) and 1.50 WHIP. He had a much better 3.32 FIP, with his 86 FIP- even lower then his ERA+, as he struck out 127 hitters in 145 innings. Sure, it came with 93 walks and a 14.4 BB%, which could be a cause for concern, but he's an extreme groundballer who's adept at fixing his own mistakes. Double plays seem to happen every time he gets into a jam, and he allowed just five balls to reach the seats. A short southpaw, he's got a deep five pitch mix, headlined by a dominant change. When he's on, he's unhittable, as he disguises the pitch with his fastball well. The issue is his command can cause some problems, as aside from his sinker, which he wants low and out of the zone, his other offerings could use some work. The split and curve are nice, when he has a feel for them, and when he doesn't they're at risk of being hit hard. OSA is way higher on him then Dixie, as they think at "his peak Gaines can occupy a spot in the middle of a rotation." Dixie thinks spot starter, which is crazy considering how much he used to love his name buddy, and I think his future lies firmly in a rotation. Even without the command, his stuff is amazing, and I can see him striking out 100+ batters a season. I'm really excited for his future, and even though we don't need another quality arm, he seems to fit the mold of a quality Cougar starter.

SS Cecil Burr (165th Overall)
Acquired: Via Draft: 5th Round, 71st Overall (1948)
Alma Mater: Anacortes Seahawks

It was a tale of two stints for Cecil Burr, who impressed in La Crosse and depressed in San Jose. With the Lions, Burr hit a decent .315/.425/.416 (101 OPS+) with a 112 WRC+ and 1.6 zone rating (1.081 efficiency). Not many extra base hits, just a double, triple, and two homers in 106 trips to the plate, but he drew 17 walks, stole 9 bases, scored 12 runs, and drove in 15. This earned him a promotion to San Jose, where he hit just .192/.231/.274 (34 OPS+). If there is a plus, it came in just 78 trips to the plate, and his walk rate plummeted from 16 to 3.8. Interestingly, he had four extra base hits again, this time a homer and three doubles, and his strikeout rate improved from an elevated 35.8 to 12.8. Looking at his tools, the young infielder has shown the skills to stick at short, and his speed is a big part of his game. Paired with an above average contact tool, he should be able to make the most of balls in play, and Dixie thinks he can hit around .270. Middle infield is a strength of ours, so someone like Burr could be an intriguing trade candidate. He may not be a first division starter, but half the league could use a guy like he's projected to become, and slick fielding shortstops will always be in demand.