Amy Amanda 'Triple A' Allen - Contributing Reporter
Winner Winner Chicken Dinner
Big congrats season 45's Major League champion - Oklahoma City Barons!
And congrats to the Minor league champions as well:
AAA: Boston Massacre (AL)
AA: Jackson Flaxon-Waxon (AL)
A+: Jackson Flaxon-Waxon (AL)
A-: Houston Space Cowboys (AL)
Rookie: Buffalo Bison (NL)
International spending
The major league AL champs went into international spending to prove a point, spending top money ($23M) on 18 yr old pitching prospect Felipe Hernandez. Many scouts feel it was a bit of an overpayment, but hard to argue with the man behind the reigning AL champs. 10 other international players received $10M+ signing bonuses.
The top pitching prospect according to many was lefty Frank Kim by the Cincinnati Dragons for $8.3M. Many agents feel he wanted to long to make his decision and cost him ~$5-8M in bonus money. But he has great health, splits, velocity and a groundball pitcher. He should do well in the majors. However he may walk a fair share of batters as well. The games he limits those, you better watch out!
Top international bat has been highly debated. Some think it's center fielder Julio Pascual with the Pittsburg Yinzers for $13.6M. The scouts that doubt his ability as the top bat point to his high general ratings but low arm strength and accuracy as well as his slightly above average batting ratings. Those who disagree with Pascaul typically place 3B Ignacio Estrada at the top. His contact might struggle a bit versus top ML pitchers but his power, splits, and eye favor well. He also has great speed and base running ability.
The top glove, and likely future Rule 5 draft selection in 5 yrs was rightly Victor Castillo of the Tucson Tappers at $1.7M. 80 grade range and accuracy, 75 grade glove and arm strength. Not much is going to get past this guy in field but that's only when his health or poor bat skills allow him to find a spot.
After speaking to a few goats, here are the best they saw at each position.
C: Vic Chavez - Florida Springbreakers - $13.5M
1B: Jose De Los Santos - Florida Springbreakers - $2.3M
2B: Hideki Gao - Helena Hot Dogs - $15.1M
SS: Yan Ozuna - Florida Springbreakers - $18.5M
3B: Ignacio Estrada - Houston Space Cowboys - $15.2M
OF: Julio Pascaul - Pittsburgh Yinzers - $13.6M
P: Frank Kim - Cincinnati Dragons - $8.3M
A Cobbfather first, Gerald Kojima has won the AAA AL Cy Young! You may ask, why is this import Amy; that's because it will be his 3rd Cy Young. So Dizzy never won a Cy Young, why should I care about them? That's because Gerald won the ML AL Cy Young last year, AAA AL this year. Next year I hear he's going after the AA AL Cy. Teams, are you officially on alert for next season! Unfortunately he and follow former teammates Francisco Bonilla and Del Bailey were unable to secure revenge for last year's AAA World Series sweep as they lost to Boston in the AAA ALCS.
And the Cobb goes to...
We've covered Kojima's AAA Cy, but what about the other awards? Who else has a bright future ahead of them? Let's start with his AAA counterparts.
AAA
AL Cy - Kojima - NY
AL MVP - after sweeping the top 5, Francisco Bonilla came away with the award.
AL Fireman - Benji Rodriguez - Tucson
NL Cy - George Farley - Vancouver
NL MVP - Harry Gonzalez - Vancouver
NL Fireman - John Jung - Austin
AA
AL Cy - Nigel Torres - Cincinnati
AL MVP - Peaches Vaughn - Colorado
AL Fireman - Blake Spilborghs - Tampa Bay
NL Cy - Juan Rios - Oklahoma
NL MVP - Yoslan Azocar - Columbus
NL Fireman - Lyle Pennington - Austin
A+
AL Cy - Santiago Cora - Jackson
AL MVP - Harry Martin - Colorado
AL Fireman - Luigi Martin - Cincinnati
NL Cy - Victor Ortega - Scranton
NL MVP - Peter Lee - Scranton
NL Fireman - Kenny Farley - Austin
A-
AL Cy - Andy Flynn - Houston
AL MVP - Glenn Rizzuto - Charlotte
AL Fireman - William Iwamura - Houston
NL Cy - Tim Timmons - Florida
NL MVP - John Lavarnway - Washington DC
NL Fireman - Dan Giles - Austin
Rookie
AL Cy - Rodney Lord - Helena
AL MVP - Chick Pfeffer - Cincinnati
AL Fireman - Wilmer Santos - Anaheim
NL Cy - Roy Dydalewicz - Trenton
NL MVP - Grayson Lowry - Chicago
NL Fireman - Garry Beckham - Austin
Until next year, good luck to all those players try to make The Show!