Pastime Baseball League
Hitmen Select Babe Ruth With Top Pick
The Chicago Hitmen surprised nobody in taking sluggeing prospect Babe Ruth with the first overall pick in this year's amateur draft. The 20-year-old Ruth is a power-hitting lefty expected to anchor the Hitmen lineup in short order. With Ruth and Albert Pujols the Hitmen have two of the game's top hitting prospects. Ruth is expected to take over regular right field duties for a Chicago team many feel will rebound this year after a horrible 2009 campaign. Between Pujols, Ruth, Mark Teixeira and Adam Dunn, the Hitmen should generate plenty of power, assuming the young players develop as expected.
The pick likely moves Milton Bradley to bench status, as Josh Hamilton will presumably move to center to allow Ruth to start in right.
The remainder of the first round went as follows:
Sacramento Stingers - RF Harry Heilmann
Los Angeles Idols - 3B Heinie Groh
Philadelphia Ringers - CF Cy Williams
Alabama Airmen - SP Ray Brown
Orlando Orcas - CF Benny Kauff
Las Vegas Bosses - CF Edd Roush
Indianapolis Engines - 1B Joe Harris
Charlotte Cougars - SP Pete Alexander
Louisville Racers - RF Billy Southworth
New Orleans Knights - 1B Jack Fournier
Arizona Sandmen - SS Willie Wells
New York Heroes - LF Joe Connolly
Memphis Strummers - C Bubbles Hargrave
Wichita Brigade - LF Rube Bressler