Easy Come, Easy Go
01/27/2056
Chicago drafted Bobby Sherman with the 17th overall pick in the first round of the 2052 draft. Sherman was twenty-one years old and a college junior. A native of Grand Prairie, Texas, Bobby looks to be a mostly finished product and should be getting serious consideration for a spot in the Chicago rotation. He had a 60 future value and potential ratings of 9/8/6 at the time he was drafted, with actual ratings of 9/8/6, he was very nearly a finished product, if ratings are to be believed.
This is what his official scouting report has to say:
He pairs a swing-and-miss slider with a changeup with good sink. His stuff should play well above average once he's finished developing. And he has [such] great command of his pitches that he'll rarely give up a long-ball. Sherman has the potential to be a future number two starter.
Sherman's current official future value is 55, with potential scores of 9/9/7. His current overall value is rated at 50. He is reckoned the #98 prospect association-wide, and is the #3 ranked prospect (and also #3 ranked pitching prospect) in the Black Sox system. Sherman's velocity currently tops out at 93 mph. His stuff rating has held steady at 9 since he was drafted.
Chicago has been methodical in progressing Sherman through the minors. He spent 2052 in Class A Short Season and Class A, where he was effective (a FIP- of 56 and 77, though it should be noted that he only started three games in Class A). He spent the entirety of 2053 in AA, staring 26 games there, and where he was also effective (83 FIP-). He moved on to AAA in 2054, where it looks like he was challenged, with his walk rate climbing to 4.1 per nine innings pitched, and his WHIP expanding to 1.39, though strikeout rate held steady. Last year, his season was cut short by an IL stint.
Sherman looks like he could slot right in as Chicago's fifth starter, with some combination of Bullock, Moya, Jones, Mendez, and Sherman rounding out the 3-5 spots in the rotation.
The elephant in the room is Sherman's 2055 injury that kept him out of action for four months. On May 3rd he was diagnosed with an arthritic elbow, a diagnosis that implies a chronic condition that Sherman may never be completely free of. It's possible that Sherman is on borrowed time, and if so, all the more reason to play him (while some value can be wrung out of him on the staff) or move him on to a team that will (while some value might still be obtained via trade).
Sherman has a pretty good make up. Broadly popular, smart, and conscientious, he would be a positive clubhouse presence.
[Note: At the time of writing player photos are seriously jacked. Hopefully this gets fixed soon.]