1930 MOCK FIRST ROUND
Here is Jiggs McGeee's annual ranking of the top 16 players available for the Figment draft. Note this is not a true mock draft, in that I am not identifying who the 16 teams will pick in each slot, but rather who they should pick if they are just looking at best available player and not factoring in positions of need for their respective clubs.
1-JAKE FLINT C LUBBOCK STATE HAWKS
I was debating whether Flint or George Fox third baseman Johnny Turner should go first overall until I started comparing what Flint accomplished compared to every other catcher to ever play college ball. Here is what I found.
There has never been a catcher who posted the kind of college numbers that Jack Flint put up during 3 All-American seasons at Lubbock State. The closest is probably Dick York, the long-time Detroit catcher who played for Georgia Baptist from 1915-17. Flint is the career leader among catchers in virtually every AIAA offensive category and the single-season record holder among catchers in OBP, hits and runs scored.
Here is a comparison of Flint's career college stats to 4 prominent FABL catchers who also played college ball. (Note TR Goins and Joe Welch are excluded as they did not play college ball)
Code:
TEAM NAME SLASH OPS+ WAR
? JACK FLINT .356/.449/.546 159 8.3
DET Dick York .336/.417/.547 150 4.3
CHC Fred Barrell .331/.427/.462 141 4.0
PIT Jim Pool .301/.410/.486 139 5.6
BKN Mike Taylor .299/.381/.520 126 4.3
Now, I am not saying Flint is going to have a better career then Dick York, but it certainly looks like he is a much better prospect then York and far better than even Fred Barrell, who the Chicago Cougars drafted third overall in 1926.
2- JOHNNY TURNER 3B GEORGE FOX COLLEGE REDS
Turner is one of two George Fox players who should be selected in the first round. Turner hit .367 for his college career and played every game in each of the past three seasons for the Reds and was a first team All-American this season.
3
- LEE PORTER SS NASHVILLE HIGH SCHOOL
There are several very good high school shortstops available in this draft and that might cause Porter to slide a bit as a team may gamble on one being available in the second round. That might be a mistake as Porter is not only an above average defender, but his offense has improved each of his three seasons in Nashville.
4- JIM WRIGHT 1B-C CHICAGO POLY PANTHERS
May end up as a catcher in the pros, a position he played a lot in college and was an All-American his freshman year.
5- MEL ENNIS LHP SAN ANTONIO HIGH SCHOOL
After his freshman year the question seemed to be how many Allen Awards would this kid win. He did not pitch much as a sophomore but rebounded with a decent draft year, but still no where near his freshman season. Teams are desperate for quality pitching so someone will take a chance on Ennis, and likely very early. He could evolve in to a very good pitcher, but he could just as easily be a huge bust.
6- RIP CURRY OF-RHP GEORGE FOX COLLEGE REDS
Curry went 19-8 over 3 seasons as a pitcher at George Fox, but his .414 career batting average suggests his future his in the outfield.
7- IKE JOYAL RHP WILKES-BARRE HIGH SCHOOL
Put together three very good seasons including a sensational sophomore year. High School arms are always unpredictable but I would suggest he might even have a higher upside then Mel Ennis but he has something Ennis does not - a history of short-term arm injuries. Are they nothing to worry about or the sign of future problems to come?
8- DOC LITTLEFIELD 2B TRAVIS COLLEGE BUCKS
Might not compare to the premier college middle infielders in last year's class but it looks like he will play in the majors, based on his defense alone. Can hit a bit as well, slashed .320/.368/.463 in his draft year.
9- OTTO DEAL SS MERIDIAN HIGH SCHOOL
Off the charts defense from this high school shortstop. Question is will his bat develop enough for him to be able to be more than just a defensive replacement in FABL.
10- AL HORTON OF COLLEGE OF SAN DIEGO FRIARS
A two year starter, Horton hit .378 in his college career and had plus defense in left field. He is rated at CF but never played there. If he has the ability to play center that will only enhance his value. Was among the top five in draft eligible outfielders in WAR, slugging percentage, ops+ and stolen bases with 26 in his 100 game career.
11- DONIE SCHEUERMANN LHP NORTH CAROLINA TECH
The safest bet among the top pitchers in this draft. Scheuermann should be good enough to pitch in the major leagues but I am not sure that he will be any more than a bottom of the rotation guy. He was consistent for most of his college career, but like so many others was just a little less productive in his draft year.
12- BUTCH WALDRON OF LINCOLN HIGH SCHOOL
I was very high on Waldron two years ago and again last season but he had a disappointing senior year of HS, setting career lows in homers and all 3 slash categories. Looking at his full high school body of work he is a solid prospect, but looking at his senior season alone there are a lot of question marks - but the same can be said for most of the players in this draft.
13- JOE NELSON SS GEORGE FOX COLLEGE REDS
The top college shortstop has had two very strong defensive seasons. His offense dipped a bit this year but he is a .284 career hitter in college and stole 43 bases in 150 games. If he gets selected it means that George Fox had 3 players drafted in the first round.
14- GLENN THOMPSON 1B OPELIKA STATE WILDCATS
My darkhorse for a breakout position player. For some reason Thompson did not start much as a junior for the Wildcats, despite hitting .438 in 100 plate appearances this season. Did start last year and slashed .321/.382/.560 in 44 games. He also played a bit of center field, although not very well. This pool is so weak I am inclined to think he might just have first round potential.
15- CHARLIE REED SS BERKELEY HIGH SCHOOL
Made great strides to improve his defense this season but it is still only about average. He was pretty consistent at the plate in his 3 years at Berkely High School, slashing .302/.424/.450 with some speed (29 SB) and a little bit of power (10 HR in 120 games).
16- MILT STORY SS BUFFALO HIGH SCHOOL
Elite offense his first two seasons at Buffalo HS but, like so many others, he slumped in his draft year. Still finished with a .338/.366/.503 high school slash line. Defense needs work though. Perhaps 2B might be his final destination.