BNN Report
News from the CBO, Minors, CCBL, and CYL
by Nat Wright-Kawolski
5 February 2311
CBO Feature: Malden Grognaks
Looking at the four expansion teams, we have rated Malden as the most likely to succeed earliest, though we are putting that time for success after 2315. They were also the first expansion team to finish out of last place, outpacing Brotherhood League opponents, the Easy Town Assaultrons by a game in 2311, to finish in sixth place in the league.
One stat that stood out to us as an anomaly was the stat that Malden led the NCA in, Bullpen ERA (4.34). No one in their bullpen stands out or is scouted as one of the top relievers in the league, so it was a surprise that the Grognaks had such numbers through 130 games. Three relievers with ERAs below 4.00 were Justin Bridges (2-1, 3.19), Ponda Baba (8-2, 3.69), and Dingo Brown (0-1, 3.81). Baba was tied for 2nd on the team in wins.
The lineup does not have much going for it overall, but there is some young talent there. 1B Andy Stamey is the unquestioned team leader with young prospects 2B Breha Queen, 3B Prince Campbell, SS Noctyss Eternus, and RF Bucky Tampa already expected to contribute to the team.
Malden is currently ranked 13th in their minor league system with four players in the Top 100 prospects: RF Keepuh Knockin (39th), SS Sean Whitfield (40th), CF Dump Truck Matthews (52nd), and LF Inge Sixfingers (71st). Other prospects who scouts think will one day be in the CBO are CL Uncle Robbie Robinson, CF Taffy Dare, 2B Homer Chronicler, RP Chockablock Business, 1B Raul Strikes, 2B Kevin Deux-Gas, LF Matt Batts, and 1st-round pick in 2311, RF Floren Habern.
CCBL Players to Watch for CBO Draft
The new class of the Commonwealth Collegiate Baseball League is about to enter their freshman season. Before they do, we would like to look at five players who have played one or more seasons in the CCBL and what their prospects for the pros may be.
1. SS Finnan Hunt, SO, Stonehill College - Hunt burst onto the scene in his freshman season last year, hitting .383 with six home runs, 26 RBI, and 54 stolen bases for the Skyhawks. Scouts project him as a 2B who could go in the 1st round when he declares for the draft. Scouts have raved about his smooth, natural swing that they think will regularly launch him above .350 in the CBO once he hits full potential. He is super quick, too, so a high average or OBP will lead to him challenging for batting and stolen base titles for his team. Some scouts think he could go #1 overall if he declared for the draft this season.
2. 3B Donovan Mackey, SO, Northeastern University - The Huskies' three-bagger had a good first season in the CCBL, hitting .388 with 16 home runs and 44 RBI. Scouts have rated Mackey as having 1st-round talent and project him to be an all around high average-OBP-OPS hitter. He also can play anywhere in the infield, though he is projected to be a good corner IF as his main position(s). He can also jump to the outfield in a pinch.
3. CF Brandon Brown, SO, Holy Cross - The Crusaders' CF hit .370 with 25 home runs, 57 RBI, and 23 SB. Brown is speedy and rangy, showing natural instincts as an OF at the next level, though he may be best suited as a LF when he gets his callup. Scouts think he will be a decent hitter at the next level but see him maximizing his skills by bulking up some and concentrating on power hitting.
4. 2B Jack of Diamonds Cordero, JR, Holy Cross - Another Crusaders star, Cordero hit .441/22/73 as a Sophomore, showing that he is a talented hitter. He is also a versatile IF whose best position is probably 2B because of arm strength. While his home run numbers are impressive, scouts see him more as a high average/OBP guy than a high slugging guy at the next level. Still, given the right situation, he could develop into a power threat, too.
5. 1B Sheedy Smith, SO, Plymouth University - Smith was a terror for the Pioneers as a freshman, finishing second in voting for the Top Collegiate Hitter Award after batting .441/28/78. Scouts love his discipline at the plate, allowing him to maximize his at bats. They project him to be a good all-around hitter with the expectation that his home run numbers will land him in the middle of a CBO lineup. He will never be the best 1B in the league, but he also will never be the worst.
CYL Players to Watch for CBO Draft
Looking at the CBO draft, there are 11 senior (draft-eligible) players we see as true 1st-round talent heading into the 2312 season. Of those 11, here are the five we think are most adapted for quicker success.
1. 1B Topher Spark, Pawtucket Paw Sox - Spark is a dynamic hitter who will be projected to hit in the middle of the lineup. However, despite being a large kid, Spark also has a graceful, even swing that could lead to a .350+ batting average in the CBO. He is still growing into his body, so we will see where he lands, but we are expecting this guy to be somewhere in the top of the draft in 2312.
2. LF Fervus Dullus, Marblehead Mess - Dullus tried to reinvent himself during his junior year, using different techniques to generate more power. While there were a number of failures on his part, including watching his average drop from .344 to .262 and his strikeouts increase from 23 to 83. Dullus also saw a jump in power production. He upped his home runs from 9 to 19 and his extra-base hits from 16 to 35. Scouts see him as a cleanuo hitter prospect, so he will want to hit the weight room more his senior season in preparation for the draft. Those 19 homers are likely to be his second-best in his career as he will likely hit 25+ during his senior season.
3. RF Lipson Frank, Georgetown Scholars - Frank has already established himself as a top power hitter in the CYL hitting 24-30-28 in his first three seasons with the Scholars. Currently tied for 22nd all-time in the CYL in homers, Frank has a chance to catch the current all-time leader, Tobias Hoffman (118). With just 18 homers, Frank would become just the sixth player with 100+ career home runs: Hoffman, Jacob Tarberry (117), Family Sam Partridge (110), Syd Thriftstore (110), and Missile Crews (107).
4. SP Siltbean Ferguson, Taunton Giants - Ferguson enters his senior season looking to build on an already successful youth career. In his first three seasons, he has a career ERA of 1.76 which currently ranks him 1st all-time in the CYL. Right now, Jazz Delgado holds the career record of 2.26, meaning a third sub-2.00 season would land Ferguson at the top. He is also on pace to set the Hits/9 IP (5.56), Opp Avg (.176), Opp OBP (.258), and Opp OPS (.532) records.
5. SP Richard Burns, South Charles Bank Moonies - The high-velocity rightie, Burns has terrorized youth league hitter for three years. he has won at least 10 games all three seasons, with his 10 wins last season being his lowest after missing a few games due to injury. Should he hit his average of 12 wins this season, he would tie Paul Stains (48) for the all-time wins total. For active pitchers, Ferguson listed above is second with 30 wins.
CBO Transactions
Sunday, February 18th , 2312
Spectacle Island Reapers: Signed free agent SP Veni Vidi Johnson to a minor league contract.
Concord Radstags: Signed 2B Rob Sims.
Concord Radstags: Signed RF Cheap Diehl.
Saturday, February 17th , 2312
Concord Radstags: Released RF Think Toms.
Concord Radstags: Released RF Sam Noob.
Concord Radstags: Released RF Jeremy Gillespie.
Concord Radstags: Released RF Chief McGowan.
Concord Radstags: Released RF Poop Strohbehn.
Lexington Synths: Released SS Kevin Zeller.
Lexington Synths: Released SS Julian Roughneck.
Diamond City Swatters: Released SP Veni Vidi Johnson.
Goodneighbor Hancocks: Released LF Melvin Trujillo.
Goodneighbor Hancocks: Released LF Greg De Groot.
Goodneighbor Hancocks: Released CF Danny Honeycutt.
Egret Ninjas: Released 3B Shane Bush.
Egret Ninjas: Released SS Eric Frost.
Egret Ninjas: Released 3B Austin LaFleur.
Goodneighbor Hancocks: Signed LF Anvil Harrison.
Friday, February 16th , 2312
Concord Radstags: Signed 2B Bobby Mohr.
Concord Radstags: Signed RF Think Toms.
Thursday, February 15th , 2312
Goodneighbor Hancocks: Released RP Joseph Pussycat.
Salem Witch Hats: Released RP Naveen Frogg.
Egret Ninjas: Signed 3B Er Temptation.
Concord Radstags: Signed 2B Z.X. Holloway.
Concord Radstags: Signed RF Mat Sutor.
Wednesday, February 14th , 2312
Starlight Killers: Released 2B Harkon Volkihar.
Quincy Gunners: Released RF Euphrat Socrates.
Lexington Synths: Released RP Penry Pooch.
Lexington Synths: Signed SS Kevin Zeller.
Goodneighbor Hancocks: Signed LF Melvin Trujillo.
Tuesday, February 13th , 2312
Egret Ninjas: Released RF Victor Valverde.
Egret Ninjas: Released CL Ball Mellowman.
Egret Ninjas: Released RP Fearless Carneon.
Egret Ninjas: Released C Cheese Gomolka.
Monday, February 12th , 2312
Egret Ninjas: Signed 3B John Summers.