Bobby Beat 2005 v2: Offseason Wrap: Rule V Draft

[jiminyhopkins]

Washington, DC--

In December's Rule V draft, the 'Whites lost a Triple-A slugger and gained a very talented outfielder who could probably start for many teams in the MBBA.

Even after setting the single season HR record for the Rupert Horn Memorial League with a total of 47 bombs, Washington's AAA outfielder Ringo Takahashi was left unprotected in the Annual December draft. According to the Bobbies, Ringo's path to the bigs was blocked by the team's formidable collection of OF talent, and at least 2 or 3 very capable backups already on the ML roster. Buffalo was unperturbed by Ringo's .284 on base percentage, though, and will give the native of Okinawa his chance in the big leagues.

The player the Bobwhites gained in the Rule V Draft, however, was also quite intriguing. RF Ramon Villon will spend the season in Washington as the club's primary backup corner OF and pinch hitter. He even has the talent to start full time in the event of an injury to a full time starter. The last time Villon had anything more than 150 AB was in 2001, when he posted a respectable .785 OPS for Atlantic City. Rumors also abound that he could play 1B against left handers in the coming season. Villon's career slash line in just over a full season's worth of AB (729) is .276/.302/.479 with 30 home runs and 91 RBI.

[salas]

Eye of 4, 22 career walks?? Hey, he'd fit in perfectly in Louisville!! Send him on over!!