1927 National League Rookies
Bill Walker, SP, Age 23, Giants
The Giants were in need of some improved pitching, and Walker gives them a hard-throwing lefty to add to the rotation. In fact, Walker will be the Giants' only lefty in the rotation if
Rube Walberg (14-8, 4.26 ERA) gets bumped to the bullpen. That is likely since Walberg has scuffled each of the past two seasons, especially by allowing 59 home runs over that span. The team hopes that Walker pitches better in the rotation than Walberg has recently. They also expect Walberg to be deadly out of the bullpen with an upper-90's fastball and devastating curve and change-up.
Lloyd Waner, CF, Age 20, Pirates
The Pirates already have a talented outfield with
Kiki Cuyler (.294, 30 HR, 78 RBI, 113 R, 72 SB) in left field and Lloyd's brother
Paul Waner (.284, 15 HR, 62 RBI, 97 R) in right field. The only question is, what will happen to 37-year-old
Max Carey (.240, 12 HR, 50 RBI, 61 R, 47 SB), a 5-time Gold Glover, after a down year? The team will likely split time with the aging Carey and 23-year-old
Mule Haas (.350, 7 HR, 33 RBI in 163 AB), who performed very well when spelling Carey last year. That likely leaves Lloyd Waner out in the cold for at least one season.
Lloyd is an MLB Hall of Famer who plays great defense and hits for a high average. That may be enough to eventually earn him a job in the majors, but he has so little power, below average speed and draws very few walks. That means that in MLHR, he would likely bat 7th or 8th in the lineup and play strictly for his defense. His future could be a platoon with Haas after Carey retires, or possibly a bench role.
