2061.13 Minor Improvements? Nine Sign a Ton of People

[Trebro]

Minor Improvements? Nine Sign a Ton of People

by Nes Lessman, for the Yellow Springs World

I mentioned in a previous column that the Nine's minor league system had taken a significant hit, both because of recent trades, promotions that have (unfortunately for the team) not panned out as they'd hoped (looking at you Jim Kantor), and perhaps a few misses in the draft. Now the latter point can be argued a bit, because while the national scouting ratings on some of McMonigal's players are rather low, their performance on the field can't be questioned. After all, the Tarpons won their first Championship in 20 years and the Roadrunners yet again made the playoffs.

Still, it never hurts to beef up the system by seeing people that were either squeezed out elsewhere but show potential in some way or maybe just opted to look for a fresh start might fill some organizational holes and even potentially make it to the big league club.

Will any of these players do anything to move the Nine's needle in the haystack of players who are far more likely to see a field in Ohio as a day laborer than with a Yellow Springs jersey on? It's extremely unlikely. But your intrepid, award-winning farm reporter wants to make sure you have this list. I've even commented on the ones I think have a potential future of some kind (Spoiler Alert: Not very many.)

Who Might Have a Shot:

* RF Marv St. James - I mentioned there were a few people on this list who had some potential to make an impact, and St. James is one of them, if he gets out of his own way. Originally in the Brooklyn organization as a 9th round draft pick in 2054, he has three minor league glove awards to his credit and nearly 20 positive points of zone rating in left field to show for it. He'll need to significantly improve his hitting ability to get past AAA, and that's dubious given his reputation as lacking work ethic. But he's exactly the type of minor league free agent any team should be looking for, especially the Nine, who can use their strong coaches in the minors to help his attitude.

* RF John Cassell - Cassell, like St. James, has a little bit of potential that perhaps can be unlocked. Selected in the 16th round by Hawaii, he's been a minor league all-star three times. He's another dude with a 'tude that is likely a big part of the reason he can't put it all together. Though he's played well at AA, I expect the Nine to utilize his age to evaluate him in Silver Springs.

* LF Dave West - West went west, at least a little bit, moving on from Brooklyn, just like St. James. He was a 13th round pick, with one all-star nod while in the organization. There's nothing special about him, but he'll be good filler, I think, with a chance at a bit more.

* LF Bill Burrows - This outfielder is one of the oldest players on our list and is absolutely ticketed as insurance for the major league club. He's even got BBA experience, though they're two extremely unsuccessful cups of coffee with Nashville. Still, he's got one more ring than GM Rob McMonigal does, and that might count for something, as does his ability to play nearly every position, though not extremely well. Formerly considered a top prospect, ranking as high as #47 in 2054, when he went to the futures game, Burrows is likely your prototypical AAAA player. Nothing wrong with having a few of those at Indianapolis, especially if injuries hit hard.

* C Rafael Trevino - What happens to those 20th round picks? Well, 2054's pick by the Rocky Mountain Oysters gets far enough in life that he wins the best hitter award at his position in 2060, but still ends up as a minor league free agent. You can never have enough catching, so it makes sense they'd kick the tires on this guy. Especially when Jim Kantor is your number 2.

* RP Viktor Gorbikov - Mr. Gorbikov, throw against that wall. A lot. Now keep throwing. Eventually, you might be useful. But I doubt it.

* LF Mark Denman - The last of this group that might be able to do something, and I wish he had the potential of some of the other outfielders, because I've watched his tape and he goes full force 100 percent of the time. The trouble is he's just a butcher in the field, and that's going to keep this 11th round draft pick from 2058 from ever getting anywhere. Still, he's the kind of guy you root for.

Who Does Not:

* RP Kai Mallam
* 3B Lulaklenzi Ngilu
* RP Harry Higdon
* CF Herman Turnbull
* SP Kurt Nedim
* 3B Juan Diaz
* RP Jose Hernandez
* RP Vas Ajnikov
* 2B Tomas Velasco
* RF Otis Wilson
* RP Flint Elliott Jr.

I could be wrong, though I rarely am, but I don't see much here. If any of them have a breakout year, though, you'll remember that you heard about them here first.