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Cincinnati Flying Pigs
Overview: The Pigs drafted defensive whiz SS Donaldo Flores with the #22 pick in the draft. Flores can also hit a little bit as well, but will never make an all star team with his bat, but a row of Gold Gloves in his trophy case isn't out of the question. Supplemental pick 2b Heinie Olmos should become a fan favorite of the beer elite in the Queen City, and should be an everyday player in the infield as well, as he should be able to hit for a decent average. Cincinnati also picked up an intriguing CF in Zach Ross, who can really hit right handed pitching well, and 2 more very good defensive shortstops in Clyde Singleton and Macbeth Presley, who both have ML potential. Not a bad draft considering the talent available.
Grade: B+
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Minnesota Blue Oxen
Overview: With the 19th pick, the Blue Oxen took SP James Simmons, a control pitcher with excellent pitches and good skills vs. right handed hitting. He should eventually make the bigs as a 3-4 starter in the rotation, he's got potential to be pretty decent. Supplemental round pick Leo Abbey is pretty similar except that his skill is vs. left handed hitting and his pitches aren't quite as good. The Blue Oxen also drafted two more solid pitching prospects with their their second supplemental and second round picks in Yorrick Nathan and Bob Johnston, who both could find a role in a ML bullpen. 3rd round pick SS Jumbo Oliva has a very good glove that could get him to the bigs, and 5th round pick 1B Al Crosby has a decent bat. Not a great draft, but one that yielded solid prospects top to bottom.
Grade: B+
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Syracuse Sycophants
Overview: With the 5th overall pick, the Sycophants took SP Brendan Fowler, who was one of the best pitchers in the draft this season. Fowler boasts near perfect control, 4 good pitches, good splits, and some seriously high heat. He doesn't have the stamina or durability to make a true #1, but he will be a very good pitcher in any capacity once he makes it to the show. Supplemental pick RF Alan Reed is will hit for a high average with his batting eye and splits, and 2nd round pick SP Ichiro Kim should be a solid starter as well if he can get over his slight control issues. Pitchers Jacob Blauser and Dan Whiten both could make it to the pen in the ML, and 1b pick Chuck Donovan has incredible power and a very nice batting eye, and could make it as a 1B or DH. The Sycophants should be happy with their draft, it yielded a fair amount of talent in what was thought to be a weak draft.
Grade: A-
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Rochester Rolling Rocks
Overview: The Rolling Rocks went for pitching with the 8th overall pick this season, and took Sherm Gates, an SP with above average skills across the board. Gates isn't elite in any category, but he is good enough to make it as a 3-5 starter in the bigs if he fully develops. In a draft that was very weak in pitching, he wasn't a bad pick. 2nd round pick Dude Dillion actually projects to be a better prospect than Gates, with better control and splits, and roughly the same pitch quality, making him a very nice value pick for his position. 3rd round pick RP Elston Yacko has great control, above average splits, and an awesome name, but his hampered by his pitch quality. 4th round pick SP George Shaw doesn't have the movement to make it past AA, and 5th round pick SS Eric Barry was taken for his awesome glove, which is good because he can't hit his weight. This was an ok draft for the Rolling Rocks, it could have been a little better, but the Dillon pick was a score in a draft lacking good pitching prospects.
Grade: B