The Des Moines Kernels used their 1st overall pick in the Rule V draft to select SS Rafael Sanchez from the Calgary Pioneers.
Unable to sign Luis Cruz to an extension left Des Moines with little depth at shortstop. With uber-prospect, Felix Parreno still a year or two away from the BBA, the Kernels are forced to rely on a hodgepodge of below-replacement level players to man this position. Hal Thorne, Bill Kemp and Sidney Ballard are the sort of players a team relies on when injuries hit, not starting lineup material.
With the addition of Rafael Sanchez, the Kernels at least get a young player who can handle short hops at both middle infield positions. On the offensive side, Kernels management expects the Puerto Rican to swing at a lot of high fastballs and low and away sliders. Unfortunately, with this organization, you have to take the average with the very bad.
uggh, that's what happens when you spend all day reading appendices of regulatory documents. Every numeric character becomes a roman numeral in your head...
