NL North and East draft grades!

 

Syracuse Syndicate                         Grade: D+

Rd.2/Pck.73 Player Profile: Bobby Danks - Hardball Dynasty Baseball | WhatIfSports

 

Syracuse signed FA (A) Harry Cruz, losing their first round pick. With their second pick, Syracuse selected starting pitcher Bobby Danks out of Reseda, California. Danks; a hard throwing righty, fields a good 1-2 pitch combo with below average control and splits.

Montreal Smoked Heaters          Grade: C-

Rd.1/Pck.30 Player Profile: Boots Stephens - Hardball Dynasty Baseball | WhatIfSports

Rd.1/Pck.50 Player Profile: Jack Knight - Hardball Dynasty Baseball | WhatIfSports

Rd.1/Pck.53 Player Profile: Ehire Manto - Hardball Dynasty Baseball | WhatIfSports

Rd.21/Pck.693 Player Profile: Dee Dee Waters - Hardball Dynasty Baseball | WhatIfSports

Montreal entered the Season 42 draft with 3 first round picks due to the departure of Renteria and Armas. With the three selections, Montreal drafted three high school prospects. Stephens and Knight both look to be below average hitters as Stephens could potentially fill the third base position defensively. With the 53^rd pick, Manto could fill a LRA/B postion fielding a good 1 and 2 pitch. Injuries will be his Achilles heel. In the 21^st round, Montreal Selected Dee Dee Waters, a nice late round find as he will have above average control, a fantastic fast ball and good curveball that can make up any split deficiencies.

Chicago Fighting Owls                    Grade: C

Rd.1/Pck.10 Prospect Profile - Hardball Dynasty Baseball | WhatIfSports

Rd.2/Pck.56 Player Profile: Carlos Velez - Hardball Dynasty Baseball | WhatIfSports

Rd.3/Pck.65 Player Profile: Davey Parra - Hardball Dynasty Baseball | WhatIfSports

 

Chicago has yet to sign their first round pick, but in the second round found Carlos Velez. A right handed bat with good contact, VR and eye who will one day hold down a corner outfield position. The song wild thing is the first thought that popped into my head when analyzing Parra. Has the makings of being a serviceable ML Pitcher if not for the awful control.  

Detriot Motors                                  Grade: B-

Rd.1/Pck.16 Player Profile: Bryan Small - Hardball Dynasty Baseball | WhatIfSports

Rd.1/Pck.45 Player Profile: Reagan Keisler - Hardball Dynasty Baseball | WhatIfSports

Rd.2/pck.70 Player Profile: Eddie Holdridge - Hardball Dynasty Baseball | WhatIfSports

 

With two first round picks, Detriot selected Bryan Small and Reagan Keisler. Small looks to be more suited for the outfield with the potential of being an average to above average bat. Keisler will mash lefties with good contact and eye. In the second round, Detriot selected Holdridge. If Holdridge can make the transition to CF, he should be able to field the position adequately and be average at the plate. 

Philadelphia Penn Quakers          Grade: C

Rd.1/Pck.26 Prospect Profile - Hardball Dynasty Baseball | WhatIfSports

Rd.2/Pck.80 Player Profile: Ryne Faulk - Hardball Dynasty Baseball | WhatIfSports

Rd.3/Pck.113 Player Profile: Lloyd Bulger - Hardball Dynasty Baseball | WhatIfSports

Rd.4/Pck.145 Player Profile: Timothy Parrish - Hardball Dynasty Baseball | WhatIfSports

 

Philadelphia’s first round pick elected not to sign, so they will be getting draft compensation for Season 43. With their second round pick, they chose Faulk, a switch hitting power hitter with decent splits but below average contact and eye. In the third round Bulger looks like a steal. The 18 year old has two decent pitches and a good VR. With good development he may work his way in a ML bullpen. Parrish, a switch hitting first basemen, may be able to fill a platoon role at the ML level.

Scranton Schrutes                           Grade: C

Rd.1/Pck.31 Player Profile: Vidal Rodriguez - Hardball Dynasty Baseball | WhatIfSports

Rd.2/Pck.85 Player Profile: Ivan Burks - Hardball Dynasty Baseball | WhatIfSports

Rd.3/Pck.118 Player Profile: Fred Leach - Hardball Dynasty Baseball | WhatIfSports

 

With their first pick, Scranton chose Vidal Rodriguez…OUCH. Rodriguez went on to sign the largest signing bonus from the 42 draft in the 31 draft slot. Rodriguez showcases an above average fast ball will good control, will be serviceable against righties and may struggle against lefties. Ivan Burks may be a nice tandem SP as he may struggle going deep into games. Burkes has a well-developed fast ball and within a few years may have a respectable VR/VL split. Fred Leach in round 3 seems to be a decent find for where he was selected. Though all-ready 22, may be a good candidate for DITR.

Trenton jakes jokers                      Grade: D+

Rd.1/Pck.23 Player Profile: Rob Rogers - Hardball Dynasty Baseball | WhatIfSports

Rd.3/Pck.110 Player Profile: Harry Matos - Hardball Dynasty Baseball | WhatIfSports

 

Trenton improved vastly last season, moving from picking top 10 to the 23^rd pick. With the 23^rd pick, they selected Rob Rogers. Rogers will have trouble connecting with the ball, but when he does, he will hit it a very very long way. With below average VR, his ceiling may be a platoon if he makes it to the ML. Matos was selected in the first round and if he can transition to CF and develop his contact and VR, he may find success.

 

New York Empire                             Grade: C+

Rd.1/Pck.12 Player Profile: Vern Shunick - Hardball Dynasty Baseball | WhatIfSports

Rd.1/Pck.35 Player Profile: Greg Spehr - Hardball Dynasty Baseball | WhatIfSports

Rd.3/Pck.100 Player Profile: Huston Gallo - Hardball Dynasty Baseball | WhatIfSports

Rd.9/Pck.292 Player Profile: Grady Mullaney - Hardball Dynasty Baseball | WhatIfSports

 

With two first round picks, New York selected Shunick and Spehr. Shunick looks to be an average hitter who will one day field corner outfield/first base. Spehr; a ground ball pitcher, has two fantastic pitches in a sinker and changeup. Spehr will struggle to pitch every 5 days though but I am sure can be maintained. 9^th round pick Grady Mullaney has already received the DITR attribute and will no doubt help make New York’s farm system more competitive.