BNN Report
News from the CBO, Minors, CCBL, and CYL
by Nat Wright-Kawolski
17 February 2319
The Youth Rises
The 2319 Commonwealth Youth League season is set to begin with each of the North and South regions adding a new division and multiple new teams.
In the North Region, the Franklin Pierce Division joins the fray, while the South Region added the Nathan Hale Division. Several teams have moved around, but there are also some new youth teams joining the CYL. Divisions and teams are at the end of this update.
North Region additions:
Andover Radhaunts
Beverly Burglars
Burlington Sweet Tooths
Dover Gentleboys
Rutland Glow
South Burlington Astrokids
South Region additions:
Bridgeport Gears
Narragansett Noises
New Shoreham Drifters
Stamford Wraiths
Waterbury Waterwalkers
Westerly Circuits
Top Freshmen
1. CF Huge Jack Mann, Taunton Giants - Mann is a beast with getting on base and then extending to extra bases, at least according to scouts. Scouts think that he will be a top-of-the-order staple throughout his career, with an excellent ability to turn any LCF/RCF base hit into a double. He is not overly aggressive on steals, but can swipe as many as he wants. While he still needs to improve defensively, he should also not have trouble running down fly balls, meaning he is likely to be a CF, though he came in listed at RF.
2. LF Orel Gep, Sudbury Celebs - Son of Oren Gep, the youngest has made his claim to the outfield, currently listed as the a top newcomer for the Celebs. Scouts think that he is a cleanup hitter type who can work the count. Defensively, he is considered solid. He has some speed, though he is not expected to steal a lot of bases.
3. SP Justin Nightwatch, Bridgewater Baristas - The son of former outfielder Jace Nightwatch, the younger Nightwatch is a talented pitcher with an effective four-pitch arsenal. Scouts believe his splitter will one day be elite. he is expected to develop a well-rounded ability to blast pitches past hitters, keep them off balance to prevent home runs, and hit his spots. In other words, Nightwatch, should he fully develop, will be a staff ace.
4. 3B David Pageturner, Haverhill Detectives - Another son of a CBO veteran (Mace), and in this case, also the nephew of one (Matt), Pageturner follows neither in his father's outfield prowess or his uncle's pitching arm. Instead, Pageturner is a corner IF who could play the middle. He is also a premier power hitter who should start on his power journey as a freshman with the Detectives.
5. 2B Alex Noob, Boston Harbor Fellows - The 4th son of a veteran listed, though it is important to note that Alex is related to Sam Noob, not Josh. Two unrelated Noobs played at the same time. Alex is a baseball nut, willing to do whatever it takes to succeed. He loves to get the bat on the ball, though he swings more to make contact than drive balls to the gap or over the fence. As a pull hitter, that could mean teams play him down the line, so he needs to work on patience and driving the ball to the opposite field. He has excellent range and an arm. Once he learns how to handle his glove better, he will move to SS.
Top of the Draft
Here are the five seniors we expect to be taken earliest in the 2319 Rookie Draft.
1. SP Starlight Ball, Salem Werewolves - He has not been as dominant in his youth career as he is projected to be later, but Ball has shown flashes of being a star. Scouts think that he will eventually become a pitcher whose pitch movement on his four-pitch repertoire will frustrate and overmatch most hitters. They see nothing but ace potential in his future, giving him a high ceiling and high floor. A dominant senior season to improve on his career 15-11, 3.33 ERA stats would push him up draft boards.
2. 1B Rocket Rooth, New Haven Sailors - Like father, like son, Rooth is expected to be one of the CBO's premier power hitters. He is tall at 6'6" but is still too lean, meaning muscle gain will make the difference. Rooth may also be all name, since he dropped to just 9 home runs his junior season versus the 25 he hit as a freshman. Returning to a 20-plus homer season is what he will need to go high in the draft.
3. SP Wand Engill, Castle Freedom - Health is the key for Engill, who will not play until mid-April, early-May. In the past two seasons, he has had 15 starts compared to his 14 as a freshman, so he has never been able to show all he's got. However, he has shown dominance at times, compiling a 13-4 record with a 2.65 ERA to go along with 270 Ks in 203.2 innings.
4. LF Yeller Cocoa, Newsburyport Cubs - Scouts are starting to warm up to the fact that Cocoa may not be his legendary dad, but he can play ball. Stats do not scream superstar, though his .342/.449/.466 line is both promising and concerning. Cocoa could develop power but has not shown very much. He has been a singles machine, though, and that could lead to a job at the top of a batting order at the higher levels.
5. SS Pattie Pembroke, Barrington Chess Knights - Pembroke is probably the best all-around baseball player in the entire class of '19. He can play any position well except catcher on the field. He is also a great top of the lineup hitter who had elite contact and the ability to avoid strikeouts. His average dipped a little in 2318, but scouts think he will bounce back strong, seeing .300 as a regular number in his batting stats at the next level.