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ayaghmour2 · 07-20-2020, 08:45 PM

2B Homer Ray (236th Overall)
Acquired: Via Draft: 3rd Round, 47th Overall (1931)
Alma Mater: San Antonio HS Warriors
Last Year Rank: New

The 6th of our recent draftees to appear in the top 30, 3rd Rounder Homer Ray is a contact first hitter who hit over .300 in each of his three high school seasons. All told, he hit .329/.375/.404 (144 OPS+) with 30 RBI's in 514 trips to the plate. He doesn't have any speed or power, but he'll always hit for a high average. He doesn't walk much either, so he's really just a single or out kind of hitter. He does have excellent range and a strong glove so he's a valuable defender who will always have some sort of value to a team.

CL Don Grossman (251st Overall)
Acquired: Via Minor League Rule-5 Draft from Boston (1931)
Drafted: 4th Round, 61st Overall by Boston (1924)
Alma Mater: Decatur HS Demons
Last Year Rank: New

Last year did not go well for the 25-year-old Grossman, who pitched just 30.1 innings in Mobile with a 6.53 ERA (68 ERA+), 1.81 WHIP, and 17 strikeouts. Grossman wasn't able to do much with his six pitches, but he's still an effective groundballer. His sinker sits in the 91-93 MPH range, but it's really the only one of his pitches that are too inspiring. He's got excellent command, especially with the sinker, which is why I really wanted him to have success in the pen. He'll get another shot in the minors and I think he'll one day become a reliable bullpen arm.

SP Frank Pratt (272nd Overall)
Acquired: Via Rule-5 Draft from Montreal (1931)
Drafted: 3rd Round, 33rd Overall by Montreal (1927)
Alma Mater: Indiana A&M Reapers
Last Year Rank: New

I didn't mean to take three pitchers, but if any of them has an edge to stick it out its Frank Pratt. The righty has a nice four pitch arsenal and he has the pitches to start. He did decent in 88.1 AAA innings, going 6-3 with a 4.08 ERA (110 ERA+), 1.48 WHIP, and 50 strikeouts. He's got average control with a pretty nice curveball, easily the best pitch of his four. He's not quite ready to start, but he wouldn't have a chance for us to start anyways. I think he could be a decent long man, but he'll really have to earn his spot on the team.

SP Art Black (290th Overall)
Acquired: Via Draft: 5th Round, 67th Overall (1927)
Alma Mater: Berkeley Bears
Last Year Rank: 11th

There was a time when Art Black looked like he was going to be a really good big league starter. Even with just two pitches, he looked good enough to make it in the big leagues. "Burger" Black's got a really good fastball that sits in the mid 90s and he pairs it with a devastating curveball. Those pitches are so good that he can carry them. After pretty good seasons to start his minor league career, he fell flat in Lincoln. He was 8-12 with a 4.35 ERA (85 ERA+), 1.45 WHIP, and 76 strikeouts in 169.2 innings pitched. He had 7 AA starts first, dropping to 2-5 with a 5.33 ERA (87 ERA+), 1.83 WHIP, and just 4 strikeouts compared to 32 walks in 54 innings. It doesn't look good for the future and I may have to move Black to a bullpen role.

CF Tom Thomas (298th Overall)
Acquired: Via Minor League Free Agency (1925)
Alma Mater: Reading HS Reds
Last Year Rank: 19th

The 24-year-old Tom Thomas got to make his big league debut last season, going 0-for-4 with a walk in a pair of games. He missed a lot of time in AAA, getting just 245 plate appearances with a .336/.412/.479 (132 OPS+) line to go with 4 homers and 34 RBI's. He's got an excellent eye and makes consistent contact, but I'm not quite sure he can stick in center. With Joe Johnson likely to join him in AAA, I may have to work Thomas out in a corner to give him at bats. He could also win the starting job, but it's a crowded playing field.

07-20-2020, 08:45 PM	#169
ayaghmour2 Hall Of Famer Join Date: Mar 2018 Posts: 3,146	Top Prospects: 21-25 2B Homer Ray (236th Overall) Acquired: Via Draft: 3rd Round, 47th Overall (1931) Alma Mater: San Antonio HS Warriors Last Year Rank: New The 6th of our recent draftees to appear in the top 30, 3rd Rounder Homer Ray is a contact first hitter who hit over .300 in each of his three high school seasons. All told, he hit .329/.375/.404 (144 OPS+) with 30 RBI's in 514 trips to the plate. He doesn't have any speed or power, but he'll always hit for a high average. He doesn't walk much either, so he's really just a single or out kind of hitter. He does have excellent range and a strong glove so he's a valuable defender who will always have some sort of value to a team. CL Don Grossman (251st Overall) Acquired: Via Minor League Rule-5 Draft from Boston (1931) Drafted: 4th Round, 61st Overall by Boston (1924) Alma Mater: Decatur HS Demons Last Year Rank: New Last year did not go well for the 25-year-old Grossman, who pitched just 30.1 innings in Mobile with a 6.53 ERA (68 ERA+), 1.81 WHIP, and 17 strikeouts. Grossman wasn't able to do much with his six pitches, but he's still an effective groundballer. His sinker sits in the 91-93 MPH range, but it's really the only one of his pitches that are too inspiring. He's got excellent command, especially with the sinker, which is why I really wanted him to have success in the pen. He'll get another shot in the minors and I think he'll one day become a reliable bullpen arm. SP Frank Pratt (272nd Overall) Acquired: Via Rule-5 Draft from Montreal (1931) Drafted: 3rd Round, 33rd Overall by Montreal (1927) Alma Mater: Indiana A&M Reapers Last Year Rank: New I didn't mean to take three pitchers, but if any of them has an edge to stick it out its Frank Pratt. The righty has a nice four pitch arsenal and he has the pitches to start. He did decent in 88.1 AAA innings, going 6-3 with a 4.08 ERA (110 ERA+), 1.48 WHIP, and 50 strikeouts. He's got average control with a pretty nice curveball, easily the best pitch of his four. He's not quite ready to start, but he wouldn't have a chance for us to start anyways. I think he could be a decent long man, but he'll really have to earn his spot on the team. SP Art Black (290th Overall) Acquired: Via Draft: 5th Round, 67th Overall (1927) Alma Mater: Berkeley Bears Last Year Rank: 11th There was a time when Art Black looked like he was going to be a really good big league starter. Even with just two pitches, he looked good enough to make it in the big leagues. "Burger" Black's got a really good fastball that sits in the mid 90s and he pairs it with a devastating curveball. Those pitches are so good that he can carry them. After pretty good seasons to start his minor league career, he fell flat in Lincoln. He was 8-12 with a 4.35 ERA (85 ERA+), 1.45 WHIP, and 76 strikeouts in 169.2 innings pitched. He had 7 AA starts first, dropping to 2-5 with a 5.33 ERA (87 ERA+), 1.83 WHIP, and just 4 strikeouts compared to 32 walks in 54 innings. It doesn't look good for the future and I may have to move Black to a bullpen role. CF Tom Thomas (298th Overall) Acquired: Via Minor League Free Agency (1925) Alma Mater: Reading HS Reds Last Year Rank: 19th The 24-year-old Tom Thomas got to make his big league debut last season, going 0-for-4 with a walk in a pair of games. He missed a lot of time in AAA, getting just 245 plate appearances with a .336/.412/.479 (132 OPS+) line to go with 4 homers and 34 RBI's. He's got an excellent eye and makes consistent contact, but I'm not quite sure he can stick in center. With Joe Johnson likely to join him in AAA, I may have to work Thomas out in a corner to give him at bats. He could also win the starting job, but it's a crowded playing field.