BNN Report
News from the CBO, Minors, CCBL, and CYL
by Nat Wright-Kawolski
26 October 2311
CBO Draft
The CBO draft will be conducted on November 5, 2311, with 15 rounds of players selected from the youth and college ranks. Each week leading up to the draft, we will take a look at the OSA Mock Draft and break down players to watch in each of the first three rounds. The first three rounds are considered CBO-probable players, so we want to see who is projected where and what it might mean.
Mock 2nd Round
Analysis
Looking at the 2nd round mock, there are still lots of good players available, including some pitchers who can still make their mark, even if they are going to take longer to develop than the positional players.
With that stated, let's feature three players that are good enough to be 1st round picks.
SP Jared Porch of the Freeplat Wicked Goods may not have as much raw talent as some of the other pitchers, but he has been a pitcher of results, pitching well despite little run support. Porch has a five-pitch repertoire with all pitches being about equal in effectiveness. OSA scouts believe he may need to leave his curve behind, but he should still have enough pitches to keep hitters guessing. While he may never develop into an ace, his ceiling is as a #2 starter. OSA predicts him to be the 4th player taken in the 2nd Round by Easy Town.
At #7 in the 2nd Round (Concord) is SS Alex Bragman of Thompson Heights. A great defensive player with good raw talent, a team may want to move him to 3B as their middle-of-the-lineup hitter. Scouts rank him as a 2nd-rounder because his overall contact potential is behind other hitters. Should he learn to find the gaps in addition to his longball, he could be a perennial All-Star.
Another pitcher that could develop into an ace but probably has a ceiling as a second pitcher is SP Aaron Noluh of the Sandwich Screamers. Noluh will be drafted as a currently-injured pitcher. He had the chance to improve his draft stock, but instead got injured which brings some durability concerns. Still, if Quincy drafts him as the 14th pick of the 2nd Round, he will be in a good situation. Assuming that he can stay healthy, scouts love his ability to make hitters miss with his four-pitch array.
Other players to watch in the 2nd round:
2B Kevin Deux-Gas, Salem Werewolves - Younger brother of The Slog's Gavin, Kevin Deux-Gas is in the same mold but a little less talented. He could play anywhere in the infield but projects best as a 2B. He does not have much power, but he can find the gaps for singles and doubles. Scouts project him to be a starter in the CBO, though he is expected to be more of a support hitter late in the lineup with his glove being what keeps him on the field. OSA Prediction: #9 to Goodneighbor.
SS Brass Well, Glowing Sea Prep Venom - Well was a four-year starter for the Veniom who showed in his senior season that he has tons of talent. Well is considered by scouts to be a jack of all trades, master of none. He can hit well and showed some pop with his 22 home runs his senior season. He also has a decent glove, though he will probably never win a defensive award. OSA Prediction: #10 to The Slog.
SP Jacques Of'Ten, Jamaica Plain Treasures - Of'Ten saw his stock drop in 2311 after he regressed while trying to work in extra pitches. He projects as a SP but may be a top RP if his drafting team goes that route. His ceiling is as a #2 starter, though, so some good development to go with the right coaching staff could help him reach that rank. OSA Prediction: #15 to Bunker Hill.
2B Odd Todd Walker, Brown Bubblers - Like Well, Walker showed huge gains in development during his senior season for the Bubblers, including hitting 28 home runs. Scouts think he is a good all-around player who will help with his bat and be good enough at either 2B or 3B for his team. He has pretty good speed on the base path, which can help him to bat early in the lineup and swipe bases when he gets on. OSA Prediction: #16 to Sunshine Tidings
LF Tallahassee Vice, Taunton Giants - Vice is yet another player who saw his stock rise, and scouts believe he is not even close to his ceiling. He has seen steady improvement, including hitting .272/23/42 his senior season with the Giants. Scouts believe he may need some time to develop to become CBO-ready, but they think the team he goes to will try to develop him as a CF and get him to hit the weight room to improve his punch with the bat. OSA Prediction: #24 to University Point
CBO Transactions
Thursday, October 26th , 2311
Concord Radstags: Signed RF La`nh Bilh.
Wednesday, October 25th , 2311
Lexington Synths: Signed SS Cowboy Flores.
Egret Ninjas: Signed 3B Putty Twoloose.
The Easy Town Assaultrons traded 27-year old RHP Closecall Hubb, 21-year old minor league LF Jwin Bigler, and 18-year old minor league LF Mandirali Tasilova to the Lexington Synths, getting 20-year old minor league 1B Alf Zimmerman in return.
Monday, October 23rd , 2311
University Point Deathclaws: Signed free agent RP Zaggy Whitewater to a minor league contract.
Concord Radstags: Signed RF Clapper Vigil.
The Bunker Hill 75ers traded 19-year old C Luff Gurr, 24-year old RHP Matt Gatekeeper, 23-year old 2B Cale Craycray, and 23-year old minor league LF Sting McGee to the Sunshine Tidings Chemists, getting 30-year old C Red Sone in return.
Sunday, October 22nd , 2311
Oberland T-51s: Released RP Zaggy Whitewater.
Goodneighbor Hancocks: Signed LF Flagg Randallson.
The Southie Brews traded 18-year old minor league 1B Chris Neverson and a 9th round draft pick to the University Point Deathclaws, getting 24-year old RHP Zane Zorro and 21-year old minor league RHP Diamond Calmhead in return.
Saturday, October 21st , 2311
Fort Hagen Silver Shroud: Released 2B Waggs McBiskitt.
Goodneighbor Hancocks: Signed LF Safety Langer.
Friday, October 20th , 2311
Concord Radstags: Signed RF Vic Vaati.
Egret Ninjas: Signed 3B Austin LaFleur.