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ayaghmour2 · 04-12-2020, 08:35 PM

CF Joe Johnson (13th Overall)
Acquired: Via Draft: 2nd Round, 17th Overall (1929)
Alma Mater: Central Ohio Aviators
Last Year Rank: 1st

A year later and Joe Johnson still ranks number one on our prospect list. He started the season in Lincoln, but he didn't do as well as I expected, hitting just .263/.337/.403 (100 OPS+) with 6 homers, 16 steals, and 66 RBI's in 412 trips to the plate with an impressive +11.7 zone rating out in center. He got a late season promotion to Mobile where he excelled, hitting .386/.462/.591 (171 OPS+) with 2 homers, a steal, and 24 RBI's in just over 100 plate appearances. Johnson's stock hasn't dimmed at all, set to be a cornerstone player in center field for years to come. At a position where we have a huge weakness in the majors, Johnson is extremely valuable and one of only two untouchable prospects in our system. He's an excellent defender with elite speed and has top of the line contact potential. The power hasn't show up yet, but he did hit 10 homers in his junior season and 9 more his sophomore season.

SP George DeForest (61st Overall)
Acquired: Via Draft: 6th Round, 83rd Overall (1927)
Alma Mater: San Antonio HS Warriors
Last Year Rank: 4th

It was his first season in Lincoln, and DeForest one of five excellent starter prospects that spent time there. He was 11-11 with a 3.38 ERA (119 ERA+), 1.36 WHIP, and 187 strikeouts in 191.2 innings with the Legislators. At just 21, he more then held his own and is likely to start next season up in Mobile. DeForest has an excellent four pitch arsenal, headlined with a 91-93 MPH fastball. He does have one weakness, a control issue, as walks have been a problem throughout his minor career, and it's probably the only thing preventing him from being an ace. Even then, he should be a top of the line starter in a few seasons.

SP Tom Barrell (62nd Overall)
Acquired: Via Draft: 1st Round, 1st Overall (1929)
Alma Mater: Georgia Baptist Cougars
Last Year Rank: 2nd

He dropped one spot in our prospect rankings, perhaps due to the strained hamstring that cost him 6 weeks, but he's still one of the most talented players in the system. Lincoln was too easy for him, and he was 9-6 with a 2.68 ERA (150 ERA+), 1.08 WHIP, and 114 strikeouts in 110.2 innings pitched in 16 starts before earning a promotion to Mobile. He only made 5 starts there, but had his share of struggles. He was 2-3 with a 6.48 ERA (71 ERA+), 1.56 WHIP, and 12 strikeouts in 33.1 innings pitched. Interestingly, he hit better there, batting .288/.377/.462 (116 OPS+) compared to a .241/.305/.394 (89 OPS+) line with Lincoln. We're working him as a two way player, giving him time at first base. It might be hard for him to play first in the majors with Bill Ashbaugh there, but I might eventually try to play him in left field to see if he can handle the position. He's the other untouchable with Johnson, and I can't wait for our double Barrell battery once he joins his brother Fred in Chicago.

SS Clyde Hinzman (78th Overall)
Acquired: Via Draft: 6th Round, 84th Overall (1925)
Alma Mater: Washington DS HS Senators
Last Year Rank: 5th

One of the multitude of players from our 1925 draft class to make the majors, Hinzman had a rough season at the dish both in AAA and the majors. With Milwaukee, he hit just .243/.321/.336 (76 OPS+) with 5 homers, 9 steals, and 54 RBI's in over 500 plate appearances. He also hit 4-for-16 with a walk and 6 RBI's in 4 games. Hinzman is an elite fielder, one of the reasons he's so valuable, put up a +13.4 ZR with the Blues to bring his career total up to +70.4 at short. Russ Combs is probably the best player on our team, so Hinzman won't have a spot there unless Combs moves off short. Combs is also an above average player offensively and defensively, so it's hard to see Hinzman as an upgrade there. Either way, Hinzman is an excellent shortstop and I'll find a spot for him one way or another.

SS Slim Bloom (84th Overall)
Acquired: Via Draft: 13th Round, 219th Overall (1923)
Alma Mater: New York HS Eagles
Last Year Rank: 7th

Bloom spent most of this season learning second base as he and Hinzman were the double play combo for the Blues this season. Like Hinzman, he's behind Combs at short and he won't be able to surpass Hinzman either. Second didn't work out well, as while he's an above average fielder at both third and short, he struggled a ton at second. He actually hit better in AAA this year then last, batting .281/.341/.393 (96 OPS+) with 5 homers, 8 steals, and 54 RBI's in 436 trips to the plate. He got another cup of coffee in the majors, going 7-for-21 with 5 RBI's. At 25, he's probably too old to head back down to the minors, so I'm expecting him to win one of our bench spots next season. Even if second isn't his strong suit, he's excellent at third and short. He's a glove first player who doesn't hit too well due to his low plate discipline, but he has enough value with his glove to make up for it.

04-12-2020, 08:35 PM	#98
ayaghmour2 Hall Of Famer Join Date: Mar 2018 Posts: 3,075	Top Prospects: 1-5 CF Joe Johnson (13th Overall) Acquired: Via Draft: 2nd Round, 17th Overall (1929) Alma Mater: Central Ohio Aviators Last Year Rank: 1st A year later and Joe Johnson still ranks number one on our prospect list. He started the season in Lincoln, but he didn't do as well as I expected, hitting just .263/.337/.403 (100 OPS+) with 6 homers, 16 steals, and 66 RBI's in 412 trips to the plate with an impressive +11.7 zone rating out in center. He got a late season promotion to Mobile where he excelled, hitting .386/.462/.591 (171 OPS+) with 2 homers, a steal, and 24 RBI's in just over 100 plate appearances. Johnson's stock hasn't dimmed at all, set to be a cornerstone player in center field for years to come. At a position where we have a huge weakness in the majors, Johnson is extremely valuable and one of only two untouchable prospects in our system. He's an excellent defender with elite speed and has top of the line contact potential. The power hasn't show up yet, but he did hit 10 homers in his junior season and 9 more his sophomore season. SP George DeForest (61st Overall) Acquired: Via Draft: 6th Round, 83rd Overall (1927) Alma Mater: San Antonio HS Warriors Last Year Rank: 4th It was his first season in Lincoln, and DeForest one of five excellent starter prospects that spent time there. He was 11-11 with a 3.38 ERA (119 ERA+), 1.36 WHIP, and 187 strikeouts in 191.2 innings with the Legislators. At just 21, he more then held his own and is likely to start next season up in Mobile. DeForest has an excellent four pitch arsenal, headlined with a 91-93 MPH fastball. He does have one weakness, a control issue, as walks have been a problem throughout his minor career, and it's probably the only thing preventing him from being an ace. Even then, he should be a top of the line starter in a few seasons. SP Tom Barrell (62nd Overall) Acquired: Via Draft: 1st Round, 1st Overall (1929) Alma Mater: Georgia Baptist Cougars Last Year Rank: 2nd He dropped one spot in our prospect rankings, perhaps due to the strained hamstring that cost him 6 weeks, but he's still one of the most talented players in the system. Lincoln was too easy for him, and he was 9-6 with a 2.68 ERA (150 ERA+), 1.08 WHIP, and 114 strikeouts in 110.2 innings pitched in 16 starts before earning a promotion to Mobile. He only made 5 starts there, but had his share of struggles. He was 2-3 with a 6.48 ERA (71 ERA+), 1.56 WHIP, and 12 strikeouts in 33.1 innings pitched. Interestingly, he hit better there, batting .288/.377/.462 (116 OPS+) compared to a .241/.305/.394 (89 OPS+) line with Lincoln. We're working him as a two way player, giving him time at first base. It might be hard for him to play first in the majors with Bill Ashbaugh there, but I might eventually try to play him in left field to see if he can handle the position. He's the other untouchable with Johnson, and I can't wait for our double Barrell battery once he joins his brother Fred in Chicago. SS Clyde Hinzman (78th Overall) Acquired: Via Draft: 6th Round, 84th Overall (1925) Alma Mater: Washington DS HS Senators Last Year Rank: 5th One of the multitude of players from our 1925 draft class to make the majors, Hinzman had a rough season at the dish both in AAA and the majors. With Milwaukee, he hit just .243/.321/.336 (76 OPS+) with 5 homers, 9 steals, and 54 RBI's in over 500 plate appearances. He also hit 4-for-16 with a walk and 6 RBI's in 4 games. Hinzman is an elite fielder, one of the reasons he's so valuable, put up a +13.4 ZR with the Blues to bring his career total up to +70.4 at short. Russ Combs is probably the best player on our team, so Hinzman won't have a spot there unless Combs moves off short. Combs is also an above average player offensively and defensively, so it's hard to see Hinzman as an upgrade there. Either way, Hinzman is an excellent shortstop and I'll find a spot for him one way or another. SS Slim Bloom (84th Overall) Acquired: Via Draft: 13th Round, 219th Overall (1923) Alma Mater: New York HS Eagles Last Year Rank: 7th Bloom spent most of this season learning second base as he and Hinzman were the double play combo for the Blues this season. Like Hinzman, he's behind Combs at short and he won't be able to surpass Hinzman either. Second didn't work out well, as while he's an above average fielder at both third and short, he struggled a ton at second. He actually hit better in AAA this year then last, batting .281/.341/.393 (96 OPS+) with 5 homers, 8 steals, and 54 RBI's in 436 trips to the plate. He got another cup of coffee in the majors, going 7-for-21 with 5 RBI's. At 25, he's probably too old to head back down to the minors, so I'm expecting him to win one of our bench spots next season. Even if second isn't his strong suit, he's excellent at third and short. He's a glove first player who doesn't hit too well due to his low plate discipline, but he has enough value with his glove to make up for it.