Coming out of the computer run era the Chiefs find themselves near the bottom of the prospect list sitting at 14 out of 16(not counting the four
expansion teams as they have not had a chance to draft yet). Not only is our farm system considered bad by OSA but we are very much pitcher-heavy with our top seven prospects and ten of our top eleven being
hurlers. The only position player slotted in the top ten for us is SS Tom
Spruill who we just recently traded for...you guessed it, we gave up a pitcher for him. Spruill just turned 21 and he projects to be a solid fielder
whom we are hoping can learn to hit. He already has a pretty good eye for the strike zone posting a .390 OB% in 218 AA plate appearances.
Charlie Green, our scout, thinks his glove is ready for the big leagues now but we will let him finish out the year in the minors unless injuries force
our hand.
21 years old/Round 1, 11th overall 1959 draft
4-2, 3.43 ERA, 1.43 WHip between 55 AA/A innings
Andrews is not as far along as the front office would have liked him to be at his age but they are determined to be patient with him considering the
veterans we have at the big league level. He only has three pitches but he induces a lot of ground balls and Green swears he'll be an ace some
day. GM Herb DeSpain hopes the team can move him up to AAA before the end of the 1962 season.
19 years old/Round 2, 30th overall 1961 draft
3-1, 2.17 ERA, 58 IP, 1.19 WHiP, 1 HR/18 IP, AAA
Thomas just turned 19 this past January but he is pitching above his age right now by dominating AAA. DeSpain doesn't like to rush his draft picks
to the big leagues but what Thomas is doing is hard to ignore. He's the youngest player in the Century League by over two years and the second
youngest player in all of AAA behind the Wranglers' Joe Harrison.
21 years old/Round 3, 43rd overall 1958 draft
1-2, 2.43 ERA, 63 IP, 39/3 K/BB ratio, 1.03 WHiP
Brandt is too good for B ball where he is pitching well and soon will get called up to A where the team will give him a look. The front office is
hoping he can make the jump to AA by the end of the year and maybe even AAA. Just like with the rest of the pitchers there is no rush to make
it to Chicago but AAA rotation consisting of Andrews, Thomas, and Brandt would make everyone happy in the front office.
18 years old/Round 1, 14th overall 1961 draft
0-1, 7.13 ERA, 17.2 IP, 2.04 WHiP
Jack Turner has been the disappointment of the top four pitchers in the system so far this year. He'll turn 19 in August and there's a good
chance he'll be sent down to C ball once the draft is finished. Green still considers him a sure bet to make the rotation although not near the top.
He throws seven pitches; at least five are expected to be average or better.
Four Position Players Out Performing Expectations
C Bill Riley(19 years old) B .356/.389/.667, 95 PA, 7 2B, 7 HR, 14 RS, 17 RBI
IF Eddie Kellum(20 years old) B .338/.367/.524, 221 PA, 11 2B, 8 HR, 34 RS, 22 RBI, 12 SB
OF Howie Bryant(24 years old) AAA .290/.355/.565, 76 PA, 9 XBH, 11 RS, 16 RBI
UT Jim Thomas(20 year old) A .320/.402/.433, 224 PA, 14 XBH, 29 RS, 12 RBI, played six positions
Next we will take a look at the Chiefs' 1962 draft results and see where those players will fall into the organization and if they will stick around or be released.