Gary Tinstaap
April 22, 2042
Long Beach, CA
As the draft leaves the first round, we see your Long Beach Surfers setting their sights on stocking the farm system position players. Here's what they've got:
Round/Overall: 2/54
OF Eduardo González
Bats/Throws: Left/Left
Current: 2/5/3/3/3
Potential: 6/6/6/6/7
OF Range: 8
OF Error: 8
OF Arm: 5
González is an 18 year old, true left handed outfielder. He has the range and sure handedness to play in right field, but his arm is projected to be below average so he'll probably end up in left field. At the plate, scouts commend his contact ability and project him to have above-average in game power. One significant benefit could be a potential plus split against right handed pitching. If his current ratings splits hold, he could potentially be a 7/7/7/7/7 hitter against right handed pitching. He would likely have a negative split against lefties, with his most likely outcome being as a strong side platoon corner outfielder.
OFP: 55 - First Division Corner OF
Likely: 40 - Platoon Corner OF
BBA ETA: 2046
Round/Overall: 3/110
SS Allen Schroeder
Bats/Throws: Left/Right
Current: 3/3/1/3/3
Potential:5/4/1/4/9
IF Range: 10
IF Error: 5
IF Arm: 8
TDP: 7
Schroeder is a fairly well developed left handed batting middle infielder. Not exactly known for his surehandedness, he made up for it in his amateur career with his superior range, solid arm, and good footwork. Time will tell if he can cut it as a middle infielder in the BBA. He's got a very slight positive split against right handed pitchers, and a negative split against lefties. Due to that negative split against LHP, he probably won't ever end up as a full time player, likely topping off as a strong side platoon or bench player. He should do a good job avoiding strikeouts, and at just 18 there's still hope for some improvement in contact or eye. Despite his 6'1" 175lb frame, his swing does not project to have any power. One rival BBA GM pegged him as "Brett Compton Light" and we'd be okay with that outcome.
OFP: 60 - First Division Middle Infield
Likely: 40 - First Division Utility/Bench
BBA ETA: 2046
Round/Overall: 4/149
SS Ricardo León
Bats/Throws: Right/Right
Current: 2/3/3/3/3
Potential:4/7/5/7/6
IF Range: 5
IF Error: 6
IF Arm: 4
TDP: 6
León, 18, becomes the Surfers' third straight high school position player pick, after they opened the draft with two college pitchers. Another fairly well developed prospect, scouts rate him average to above average with the bat in all areas but contact. We might say he's a candidate to become a utility player, but with a below-average arm, he'll be stuck at second base without some improvement. He's not much on the basepaths but does have a good eye, and is said to be amenable to coaching. We wouldn't put it past him to be a bumper, but we're not going to hold our breaths for it. A solid pick in the fourth round, but this is about the spot where we really need to see bumps to imagine these guys seeing BBA time.
OFP: 40 - First Division Backup 2B
Likely: 30 - Second Division Bench/AAA Depth
BBA ETA: 2046
Round/Overall: 5/181
OF Anastasio Vega
Bats/Throws: Left/Left
Current: 4/5/2/5/5
Potential: 4/5/2/5/7
OF Range: 7
OF Error: 7
OF Arm: 10
We interrupt the run on high school position players to bring you Anastasio Vega, a college position player. And when we say position player, we actually do mean it! With solid outfield ratings, Vega is a legitimate defender in LF and with a superior arm, has an outside shot of being an average defender in right field. A 21 year old who was originally drafted in the 10th round of the 2038 draft by Atlantic City, he comes to the 2042 draft near completely developed, with just some work to do avoiding the strikeout. He hits righties slightly better than lefties, and should be 5/6/3/5/8 against them if he reaches his current potentials. He's also a contributor on the basepaths, with 10/10/11 ratings for speed, steal, run. If the Long Beach outfield were not already crowded, I'd say you might see him later this year. However, most likely he comes along sometime in 2043 as a cheap bench bat, or corner outfielder on the strong side of a platoon. He probably wont be part of the next Surfers team to win a Landis, but there's at least a good shot at time on a 40 man roster.
OFP: 55 - First Division Corner OF
Likely: 45 - Second Division Corner OF
BBA ETA: 2043
