Ancestors Added in 1952:
Jack Caufield, RF, Brooklyn Dodgers
Many considered Caufield to be the top amateur hitter available. He has all the tools to be a great major league player some day. He hits for high average, has 30 HR power, a good batting eye, solid defense and decent speed. He is young and still needs several years to develop. Depending on just how quickly that happens, he could form an excellent OF someday with Bob Ferry and Mark Silcox.
Lukas Dietrich, SP, St. Louis Browns
Several scouts knocked this European export because he had only average control. However, his stuff is so nasty that even at age 18, some other scouts are raving that his is the best pure stuff they've ever seen. He throws a very hard fastball and mixes in three difficult breaking pitches. Again, his only real weakness is his lack of ability to command the strikezone. He will walk his share of batters and leave more balls over the heart of the plate than any pitching coach would like, but then, there's still that amazing natural stuff of his. His will certainly be a career worth following to see how it all pans out. The Browns are deep in the AL cellar, so he should not feel rushed to the majors.
Bob Netsky, SP, Philadelphia Phillies
There are a lot of baseball people out there that think the Phillies got the real amateur gem with Netsky. He has three nasty pitches highlighted by a hard 12-to-6 curve. He also has good command. He will probably start his career at Single-A Reidsville, but a promotion to AA Schenectady is very likely to happen. He is a pitcher who may have the talent to be rushed to the majors in 2-3 years.
Cornelius Grant, P, New York Yankees
"Sockless" is another hard-throwing stud pitcher. He too has three nasty pitches, but unlike either Netsky or Dietrich, Grant gives up much fewer homeruns. He will team up with Mitch Seevers as a tough 1-2 punch in the Single-A Dainville rotation.
Vodka Allen, CF, Pittsburgh Pirates
Every team out there was drooling over the HR potential this kid has displayed. However, most of those teams were equally frightened by his lack of contact. The Pirates decided to take a shot on him. In their mind, he could be a .200 hitter with 30 HR (a la Denny Caneer or Joe Rodabaugh) or he could develop into a .250-.270 hitter and someday challenge the 500 HR mark. That's how much power they think this kid has. There is no need to rush him, and Pittsburgh wants to be very careful here, doing all they can to help him improve his contact along the way.
Oliver Sharkey, 1B, Chicago White Sox
The White Sox now have a trio of first baseman at Single-A Stockton. Despite a .239 average last season, Champagne Allen will probably be promoted to AA. Sharkey can also play 3B, but he didn't get the nickname "Ollie Oops" for nothing. He is error prone to say the least. However, he projects as a quality major league hitter.
Billy Wickersham, SP, Washington Senators
The eldest son of recently inducted HOF'er David Wickersham, who fathered 12 children by the way, Billy will begin his career with Single-A Orlando. Washington continues to work on building up a deep farm system, and pitching is slowly becoming a strength.
Simon Caufield, SP, Chicago Cubs
Twin brother of new Brooklyn outfielder Jack Caufield, Simon has above average stuff and control, but he has an uncanny knack at keeping any hard-hit ball inside the park. That should help him once he debuts at Wrigley. That day is still a ways off though, and he will start his career at Single-A Greensboro.
David Lawrence, 3B, Boston Red Sox
Lawrence will join a jam-packed San Jose infield, but he has the most talent of them all. He is a good all-around hitter, but his strength is his doubles power. That could come in hand in Fenway. The Sox hope he develops soon, as they are already looking for better options at 3B.
Abraham Arsenault, RF, St. Louis Cardinals
Arsenault could develop into a solid major leaguer someday. He has good power and plate discipline, but he occaisionally stuggles to make contact. He has only average range defensively, but he is still an excellent fielder in RF. The Cardinals outfield is loaded with Ogden Wing, Otto Wisley and Barry Rarick. So, there should be no rush to get Arsenault to the majors.
Mike Kreitenberg, 2B, Detroit Tigers
Kreitenberg is an excellent hitter, who could average .330 someday in the majors. The problem is that Detroit has a young and talented infield already with Matt Perly at 2B, Dave Castaneda at SS and Luther Ormiston at 3B. However, if you combine Kreitenberg's ability to make contact with his good eye and his great speed and baserunning, this is a kid that Detoit will desperately want to fit into their lineup someday soon. He could provide an offensive spark at the top of their lineup that they have never had. And oh the number of runs he could score ahead of Kress, Ormiston, Perly, Fish and Meacham.
Lawrence Burley, SP, Philadelphia A's
The A's deep pitching pool has been well documented. Burley joins that pool at Single-A Fayetteville. He currently projects only as a 3rd or 4th starter, and with the talent and youth of Philly's current staff, he is on the outside looking in. He will either come up as a reliever someday or be traded somehwere he can start.
Joe Kreitenberg, C, Philadelphia Phillies
Brother of Detroit 2B Mike and Cincinnati 3B Sam, Joe Kreitenberg enters the Phillies system already as the top catcher available. It is even possible that the 22-year old native of Czechoslovakia could reach the majors as a backup this season. He has a good arm and projects to have 20 HR power.
John Kahle, 1B, Chicago White Sox
Right now, Kahle is the 3rd wheel in the White Sox Single-A 1B trio. As stated before, Champagne Allen will likely move to AA, but that begs the question of where Kahle and Ollie Sharkey will play. Despite his error-prone glove, Sharkey will probably be forced into duty at 3B, leaving 1B for Kahle. "Jock" makes above average contact and has 15-20 HR power. He is a solid player, but right now the Sox don't expect more from him than a future role off the bench. Or he could be dangled in a trade.