Rookie Debuts

[Matt]

D.J. Gosser (1B)

The Man.

The Myth.

The (NCAA) Legend.

D.J. Gosser.

The Baltimore front office worked very hard to move up a few places to get Gosser as the #13 overall selection in the 2014 draft. A switch hitting first baseman, has good contact and amazing power from both sides of the plate. Gosser won back-to-back NCAA Outstanding Hitter Awards in 2012 and 2013, setting the NCAA single season record for runs (71), home runs (30), and RBI (83) as a freshman. Gosser also finished 3rd in 2014 for the award.

Earler this year, Gosser did struggle in Spring Training and was sent back to Annapolis. However, Gosser turned it on in AAA, hitting .354/.433/1.003 with 4 home runs, 5 doubles, and 11 walks in 79 AB.

It is almost a given that the 22 year old native New Yorker's entire family will be in Baltimore to cheer him on when he starts his first BLB game on Tuesday. While the Baltimore front office is just hoping the young phenom can be the spark necessary to catapult the Bulldogs to the top of the BLB's toughest division.

Stoll vs Gosser in the IL for the next decade.

[Delandis]

Rookie Debuts

I see you're doing the things I'm hesitant to do.

Have been trying to figure out how much more time I should give the current roster versus how much benefit it could be to a couple names to start playing now. Unfortunately, I'm also unsure who to demote if I call up 2-3 names. So why rush it?

We scored a total of 6 runs during our visit to Philly's woodshed last week. Changes have to happen when you see shit like that going on. Plus I'm in the promote em early camp so there's that.

But it is probably all for naught since I play in a heavily tilted stadium and rely on depth so I'll just get exposed in the playoffs and never win a chip. [emoji6]

[BradZ]

We scored a total of 6 runs during our visit to Philly's woodshed last week. Changes have to happen when you see shit like that going on. Plus I'm in the promote em early camp so there's that.

But it is probably all for naught since I play in a heavily tilted stadium and rely on depth so I'll just get exposed in the playoffs and never win a chip. [emoji6]

Don't know why, but this just made me realize that Philly is one of 2 IL franchises now without a ring.

[funclown]

IF/OF Erik Hudson 1.16 2012PAW

Back when we drafted Erik was quoted "feels like we drafted a mid 2nd round pick. Compared to some drafts we were correct as he seems poised to be that ultimate utlitity player. After hitting just ok at the A and AA Hudson finally saw the light in Lynn AAA batting .306 ave/ .890 ops in 2015 then again hot out of the gate in 16 batting .333 with again a high .800 ops. The issue is where to play him? With the departure of JD were gonna let him play everywhere but CF, 1B and catcher. The nice thing is no pressure for him, we got time. If he can get 100 at bats the rest of the season and allow our legendary hitting coach to teach him the ropes he should be fine

[umd]

SS Erik Jackson
2014 1.9 IND - traded for Adrian Pulido

Drafted in the legendary 2014 draft by Indianapolis at 9th overall, Jackson is considered by many one of the brightest young stars in the BLB. Acquired prior to the 2015 season for SP Adrian Pulido, Jackson is poised to take over full time at SS in Las Vegas. Originally a 3B, he's been able to transition to SS over the past two seasons. While still showing some growing pains, scouts project him to eventually become an above average defensive SS.

Where Jackson has shined though, is with his bat. In 86 games at AAA Reno, Jackson hit .321/.394/.489 with his ability to hit for average, his ability to draw walks, and his emerging gap power, his work ethic and desire to win, he has the potential to be a special player for Death Valley.

RF JP Knappe
2014 4.19

The white hot Knappe has emerged as one of Death Valley's most exciting prospects this season. Drafted in the 4th round of the famed 2014 draft, Knappe is a DWI caliber RF. Add to that a blazing start to the AAA season in Reno, where Knappe has hit 10 HR, driven in 26, and is hitting .375/.450/.619 in 44 GS, and you have a prospect that's cracked the Top 100 Prospect List this week at #88. In a league where timing is everything, the time is now for Knappe. Lengthy injuries to newly acquired legend Victor Robles and Stout Slugger candidate Tom Wright have Knappe joining Vegas this week and starting in RF on Monday at home vs Windy City. No pressure kid.

[mike]

Joey 'Jaybird' Marohnic

Jaybird was the 12th pick in the 3rd round of the 2014 BLB draft by the Pittsburgh Millers.

Joey has been dominant over the last two years, posting ERAs below 2.6 in each stop he's been. He wasn't happy in AAA because he believes that he's a BLB pitcher. Generally, I don't like to take young starters and develop them in any other way than to start, but with our glaring need at RHP in the pen, instead of acquiring one we're going to give him a shot to be a middle man for us to keep an eye on his innings. He currently ranks as our number 1 prospect and the #20 overall.

Amadeu Cleto OF

In what is looking to be quite the find of the 2014 draft, Baltimore selected Cleto in the 8th round with the 172 overall pick. He was acquired in the deal that brought Abraham Santana to Pittsburgh in 2014. Cleto is currently the Millers best offensive prospect, 41st overall. Th 22 year old Cleto brings speed, defense, some pop and a tremendously advanced eye for his stage of development. Last season he posted a .287/.367/.463/.831 OPS in AAA as a 21 year old, while he hasn't been as productive early, his May numbers indicate that he is seeing the ball well (.312/.377/.469/.846) and ready to play in the BLB.


These two players will be accompanied by 2014 2nd Round Pick, Pat Vickers who joins the Millers for the second time in his career.

We are very excited to add these young talented players to our big club, and hope that we can work them into what we currently have, and ultimately, have an overall more talented roster.

[mike]

As the 25th spot on the roster continues to rotate, this time we bring up a power hitting lefty to join the Millers on this IL road trip.

Making his debut this week is T.J Payette, 1B

Drafted in the 4th round by the Dallas Snappers, Payette had been a target of Pittsburgh in that same round. It took a while, but eventually the Millers were able to add him to the organization when they dealt a 4th round pick to the Sharks in exchange for his bat.

After starting very slowly in April (.220/.231/.400/.761), TJ went .253/.333/.517 in May, and hitting an impressive .419/.550/.742/1.292 OPS in June.

Earlier this month we tried to catch lightning in a bottle while Pat Vickers was on a hot streak, and we cashed it in for two strong weeks to begin his BLB 2016 season. We're hoping this 26 year old, 6'6 240 young man can stake a claim to the wide open 1B position. This year has seen a variety of players at the position including Cy Mock, Ricky Rojas, Dave Shook, Abe Santana, Jamie Wentworth, and Zhi-Peng Kun, so hopefully Payette will make some noise.

[Matt]

We need pictures!

Love the write up though.

[Delandis]

Dave Garner (2B)

Dave Garner is the latest 2014 draftee to be called up to the BLB level by Baltimore. Drafted in the 5th round by the Bulldogs, Garner has spent just two years in the minor leagues, fast tracked to the BLB after an impressive 1st half to 2016 in Camden (AA).

The Baltimore scouting team insists that he is not likely to gain much more skill by remaining at the minor league level and can help the team in Baltimore now.

[Sharkn20]

As the 25th spot on the roster continues to rotate, this time we bring up a power hitting lefty to join the Millers on this IL road trip.

Making his debut this week is T.J Payette, 1B

Drafted in the 4th round by the Dallas Snappers, Payette had been a target of Pittsburgh in that same round. It took a while, but eventually the Millers were able to add him to the organization when they dealt a 4th round pick to the Sharks in exchange for his bat.

After starting very slowly in April (.220/.231/.400/.761), TJ went .253/.333/.517 in May, and hitting an impressive .419/.550/.742/1.292 OPS in June.

Earlier this month we tried to catch lightning in a bottle while Pat Vickers was on a hot streak, and we cashed it in for two strong weeks to begin his BLB 2016 season. We're hoping this 26 year old, 6'6 240 young man can stake a claim to the wide open 1B position. This year has seen a variety of players at the position including Cy Mock, Ricky Rojas, Dave Shook, Abe Santana, Jamie Wentworth, and Zhi-Peng Kun, so hopefully Payette will make some noise.

Nice player!!

Sent from my GT-I9505 using Tapatalk

[liquidcrash]

Ed "Dropkick" Carroll
Draft - 2011 1.2
AAA Stats - 8-4, 2.22 ERA, 111 K, 15 BB, 85 IP
-

The BLB's #1 prospect will make his big league debut this week, as Ed Carroll will take the mound for the Bats against Carolina.

Originally drafted second overall by the New Orleans Dukes, Carroll was traded to Washington prior to the 2014 season. He has been a fixture at the top of the Prospects list since draft day. OSA currently has his potential at 8-6-8, a truly dominant pitcher if he approaches those levels.

Carroll has had a bit of a strange road to the BLB, as he took the entire 2012 season off to play basketball, confusing many in the BLB community. After some early struggles in the minors, Dropkick has seen success in Washington's system, and has been a dominant pitcher in AAA this season.

The Bats currently sit in second place, but starting pitching has been inconsistent at times. Hopefully Carroll can be a difference maker from day one.

[funclown]

RP BJ Swisher
Draft - 2014 Rnd 3 PK 24
-

Part of the outstanding 2014 draft class, he was a late discovery for us when making a hasty pick. It's always good when you can land 3rd rounders especially when your team drafts late or even not at all in rounds 1 and 2.

My scout had BJ ready for sometime, but we tried to give him some starts in AAA this season and just didn't pan out. With Barrow on the shelf we continued to allow strange five run 7th and 8th run innings so we decided it was time to shore up the setup role.

Once Barrow comes back will see where BJ fits in. In the meantime let's see what the 22 year can do.

[Delandis]

Zack Cook(SP)

Selected 11th in the 2nd round of the 2011 draft by the Freedom, Cook is a guy who despite being a HS champion in 2011, doesn't seem to have thrown a single pitch in any competitive high school game.

He has had some injury issues during his professional career, including a torn meniscus in 2011 and a torn flexor tendon that kept him off the field for 7 months in 2013. His latest injury was a calf strain that kept him out for 3 weeks in May of 2015.

Our scouts project Cook #2-#3 rotation guy that will possess superb control and keep the ball in the park with an assortment of fastballs that top out around 97 MPH.

Zack currently sits as the #47 prospect on the Top 100 and gave up 0 ER in 4 IP in relief in his debut last week.

[Delandis]

Jaylin Byrd (SP)

As the youth movement rolls on in Baltimore, the Bulldogs have recently promoted 22 year old hurler, Jaylin Byrd. The former Florida State pitcher was also selected in the now, infamous 2014 draft by the Indianapolis Clowns in the 5th round.

Byrd was part of one the most improbable NCAA championship teams in history in 2014 when he and his teammates had a losing record, squeaked into the playoffs and went on magical run that culminated in FSU's 4th National Championship title.

Jaylin is a lefty with pretty good control of an above average fastball and slider, and both can top out at 97 MPH. Byrd is also know to throw in a decent curve and change up to round out his arsenal and keep hitters off balance.

The Baltimore front office is known for grooming starters in the bullpen, giving young pitchers spot start opportunities during long stretches of consecutive games.

[PaulC]

In a nod to the depth of the 2014 draft, Zack Killian took the hill for his major league debut against Davenport and rolled up nine strikeouts against only one walk for a win in 5 1/3 inning. Not bad for a 13th pick in round four.

http://www.simgamingnetwork.com/blb/...layer_4250.png

The game also featured Dave Wescott (8th pick in round 3) and his .297 16 79 first year stats. A little slow to develop, #8 overall pick that year, Garrek Finn went to 2 for 4 as well.

The future looks bright for the Kodiak rebuild.