Growing old in Cairo (2041-17)

[Fat Nige]

Class of ‘41

A month has past since Cairo drafted the latest eight additions to the franchise, so let’s have an early check on their first baby steps as a professional baseball player.

P Roger Mackey the third overall pick in the 2041 UMEBA draft quickly signed a deal with a $950,000 bonus and reported to Taipei in the Far East Baseball League (A). He’s now made three starts for the Tigers and he probably won’t be happy with his 28 hits given up in 14 IP and even less so with his 16 runs allowed. He has his first five pro strikeouts, but has also walked five too; he has a 1-0 record from all that and it’s early days yet for the 16-yr-old.
Second round pick 17-yr-old P Vern Kline (Rd 2, 11th overall) dug his heels in a bit, wanting to go to college, but eventually signed a contract with a $500 K bonus. He’s at Taipei now and has been assigned initially to the bullpen, he’s only had one outing so far allowing two hits in a single inning pitched.
Distant relative to GM Laverick, 17-yr-old Nigel Roberts (Rd 3, 21st overall), had no intention of forgoing his intention but a $750,000 cheque waived in front of him changed his mind and he reported to Taipei. Not used as a starter by the Tigers he is the backup shortstop and will also get time at second & third bases to see if he can improve his usefulness. So far this month he has had three starts and four appearances for Taipei with five hits and four walks from 15 PA. He’s only struckout once and has his first two pro homers, small sample sizes obviously but better than Cairo hoped for.
16-yr-old 1B Jake Williams (Rd 4, 29th overall) was the second player to sign a deal, he got a minor league deal with a $35,000 bonus. He reported to Taipei and so far, has proved to be nearly everything that Cairo hoped he’d be. In his first 15 games as a pro he hasn’t managed a homer yet but has a triple slash of .463/.538/.537 with 25 hits including four doubles. His defence is replacement level at the moment but hey, the kids 16-yrs-old.
17-yr-old P Bradley Pryor (Rd 6, 45th overall) was the only draftee to sign straight away without a bonus. He went straight into the Taipei rotation and to date has made five starts. Still getting used to the demands of a pro and the better batters he’s now facing, he has only reached the sixth innings twice, but he has a 2-0 record from those five starts. In 22.2 IP he has allowed 34 hits and 25 runs although his coaches say watch him go, he’s quick to learn and very hard working.

15-yr-old P Rod Ralston (Rd 7, 53rd overall) and 16-yr-old 3B Drew Creswell (Rd 8, 61st overall) turned down offers from the franchise in order to return to education. Drew was only ever viewed as a last round throwaway pick, but Rod was a late round steal according to the scouting team and everybody’s really disappointed we couldn’t convince him to sign.
16-yr-old 2B Angelo Utting (Rd 5, 37th overall) asked us to overwhelm him with an offer but looking at what he really offered us compared to comparable players we already had in Taipei, we declined to make him an offer.

Of course, all these players developments will be aided by the Tigers fantastic season so far this year. Taipei lead the way in the FEBL with a 61-13 record and a +495 RD. Five of the starting batters are hitting over .400 as we pass the halfway mark of the 2041 season and the lowest average for a starter is .321. Jeff McClain (8-1, 1.35 ERA in Tapei) and Javier Cuellar (.429/.517/.700, 15 HR & 70 RBI in Taipei) have both been promoted to Double-A Montevideo already with others expected to follow.

[HoosierVic]

I'm a little relieved the 15-year-old decided to continue his education … he would only be a high school freshman in the States. A bit wet behind the ears, as it were. It will interesting to see how all these kids do as they advance through your system, Nigel. Nice update!