Your Best Draft Picks By Round

[Pat]

Here is a writing opportunity for all GMs. Who are your best draft picks in your BLB career as a GM, one per round. A lot of freedom here, one per round makes it interesting though to see what type of players can be found in the later rounds. It also might be more interesting to hear about the player you drafted 1.22 who become an All-Star as opposed to the guy you drafted at 1.2 that everyone knew was going to be a star. But do as you please. Also, if this is popular enough, we can do a Worst Draft Picks discussion next.

I'm currently working on mine but go ahead and post here if you finish.

[liquidcrash]

The Best Picks in Washington Bats History (2014-Present)

Round One - SP Roger Villasenor, 2016, Pick 16 -– I was thrilled when Villasenor fell to my pick in this draft, and his play justified that excitement. He started his career with two very solid seasons, and then became a star. From 2020 to 2024, Villasenor put up one of the best 4.5 year stretches from any pitchers I've had, going 79-30 with a 2.50 ERA and accumulating 25.1 WAR. The 2024 season was shaping up to be his best, as Villasenor started the season with a 12-1 record and 2.14 ERA. Unfortunately, his career would then be derailed by a torn labrum, followed immediately by a torn flexor tendon in Spring Training in 2025 and he was a shell of his former self from that point forward.

Also Considered -OF Tom Roseboom (2018)

Round Two - SP Dave Koehler, 2015 - This pick was acquired in a trade that also brought me Ed Carroll, and Koehler vastly exceeded any expectations I had for him. In his first three seasons in the minor leagues, Koehler went from throwing 88-90 mph all the way to 99-101, added a pitch to his arsenal and became one of the top ranked prospects in the BLB.

He's still plugging away in AAA, but his BLB days are probably over. I think Koehler is a borderline Hall of Fame candidate (at least), with a career 184-100 record, 3.25 ERA and 63.2 WAR. As a Bat, he went 70-35 with a 2.93 ERA and was traded to Death Valley for Pat Arballo, continuing my good fortune.

Honorable Mention: 3B Rory Smith (2025) - 2x All Star, 3x DWI winner, a Designated Driver, 3^rd place Stout Slugger finish and the MVP of the Brewmasters Cup in 2032, giving Smith a permanent spot amongst my favorite players.

Round Three- C Kaden Gaston, 2027 - I think I traded up a couple of spots to secure Gaston, and I'm glad that I did. The powerful switch-hitting catcher has developed into one of the best players in the BLB at his position and is closing in on 200 HRs for his career, as he now plays in Indianapolis. So far, he's a three-time All Star, two-time Designated Driver and was a member of my 2032 Brewmasters Championship winning team.

Round Four - SP Dave Theisen, 2024 - A huge surprise (obviously) in round 4, Theisen has developed into a mainstay on the Top Pitchers list in his career. Despite two major injuries that wiped out back to back seasons, Theisen appears to have rebounded and is off to the best start of his career in 2037. During his development, Theisen got huge bumps in his velocity, added a pitch and got some of the best deveolopment updates I've seen from any of my prospects - his stock just skyrocketed in his first couple of seasons in my system. After being the 103rd player selected in 2024, he was the #1 prospect in the entire BLB by 2027 (and then #1 again in 2028). Theisen has won 111 games so far in his BLB career.

Round Five - RP Colin Norberg, 2022 - Not a lot to choose from here. Norberg has turned into a solid bullpen option for me over the past few seasons, after taking a long time to develop.

Other: Not a DC pick, but from my Carolina days, Derrek Tucker, is the best 5^th round pick in my GM history and the 2^nd best 5^th round pick by WAR in BLB history. Unfortunately for me, I released him a season after drafting him and he racked up 176 wins and 60 career WAR playing elsewhere, including the first half of his career as a Washington Bat. Two years later, I'd pick Hector Castre in the 5^th round, who is third all time in WAR for picks in that round. He played well as a Tob and was part of a trade that brought Al Hamilton to Carolina.

Round Six - CF Alexis Moran, 2022 - An afterthought in the draft, the Texas Longhorn outfielder became an immediate hit in DC, making the All-Star team in his rookie season in 2024. Unfortunately, that would be the best year of his career and the frequently injured Moran would be out of the BLB by 2030 and never again approached the promise he showed as a rookie. Honorable mention to B.J Johnson (2027), who’s appeared in 297 BLB games and has a 2.54 career ERA, mainly as a left-handed specialist.

Round Seven - RP Tom Vaughn, 2025 -– Slim pickings from this point on, but Vaughn was sporadically a useful reliever/swing starter for a few seasons and won a ring.

Round Eight - 1B Pat Graves, 2030 - Graves was a good hitter in the Cape league, and that has continued to be the case in the minors and now in the BLB. He’ has become a regular at 1B for me over the past 2+ seasons, providing some power and winning the DWI at first base in 2036, as he fields the position as well as anyone in the league.

Round Nine - SS Robby James, 2026 - Another product of the Cape league, James was a useful player in his 3 seasons in Washington, particularly in 2030 when he hit .301 and accumulated 3.1 WAR, splitting time between 2B and SS. He was then traded to California for a 2^nd and a 3^rd round pick, never to be heard from again.

Round Ten - OF/Util Ron Turk, 2027 - As expected, there is not a lot to choose from in Round 10. For reasons that escape me now, I cut Turk after some very productive seasons in the minors. He'd be picked up by Seattle and traded to Indianapolis, where the super utility player was a member of the 2034 championship team and is still on the active roster.

Bonus UDFA - C Josh Allen, 2024 - Allen didn't get picked by anyone in 2024, but I paid him a $20,000 bonus to join my minor leagues and he has turned into one of the BLB’'s best catchers.

[PaulC]

2016... Wow! Great writeup... Thanks for reminding me of that idiotic trade!

[Guest]

1st ROUND: 1B Pat Branum (24th overall, 2028)
Honorable Mention: SP Ethan Braunscheidel (19th overall, 2028)

2nd ROUND: OF Fred Falloon (25th overall, 2030)
Honorable Mention: C Jamari Bess (29th overall, 2022)

3rd ROUND: SP Emmitt Woodford (60th overall, 2022)
Honorable Mention: OF Byron Allomes (51st overall, 2028), P Ian Whitton (54th overall, 2028)

4th ROUND: SP Jaiden Gibson (73rd overall, 2030)

5th ROUND: 2B Dave Clancy (107th overall, 2024)

6th ROUND: SS Shaun Koeberle (136th overall, 2022)

7th ROUND: nobody noteworthy

8th ROUND: C Ringo Gingras (169th overall, 2030)

9th ROUND: P J.J. Ray (216th overall, 2022)
Honorable Mention: OF Johnny Thornton (229th overall, 2026)

10th ROUND: nobody noteworthy




A lot of guys here that never played for Indy, but were necessary pieces to acquire guys who contributed to both title runs.

This exercise has also shown me that I suck in the later rounds. Daddy needs to do his homework.

[Pat]

SP Joe Zazueto - 1981, 8th Pick in Round 11 - http://www.simgamingnetwork.com/blb/...layer_651.html
Career WAR: 4.5 WAR
Best Season: 14-8, 3.00 ERA, 1.26 WHIP, 3.51 FIP and 4.0 WAR

I'm not really sure why he's 11th round? Did we have a comp round back in the day? Or did we go to 15 rounds for a few years? It's been so long.... But Zazueto, based on where he was picked, might be the best value I've ever had. He was a junkball pitcher with high stamina, high groundball and was a really good fielder. After six minor league seasons, two Triple-A best fielder awards, he made the Opening Day roster in 1986 as the 5th starter. Somehow, he won the 1986 New Brew! His career fizzled after that but this flash in the pan was a lot of fun.


RP Chad Mullen - 1986, 9th Pick in Round 10 - http://www.simgamingnetwork.com/blb/...ayer_2014.html
Career WAR: 9.8 WAR
Best Season: 7-2, 40 saves, 2.36 ERA, 1.12 WHIP, 2.3 WAR

Unfortunately for me, I didn't get much of the benefit of his career. After rising through the minors in DC, Mullen was traded as part of a package to bring in All-Star closer Joe Alveraz. Mullen went on to be a three-time All-Star, each of the next seasons after the trade, posting 41, 40 and 36 saves on consecutive seasons. 41 and 40 lead the Import League (maybe the BLB?) that season. He then bounced around the league in Philly, Denver, back to Washington, Los Alamos, Syracuse and lastly California. He converted to a starter in 1994, posting a career best 2.5 WAR for the Javelinas. Honorable mention to OF Tom Fehringer, who made his BLB debut this season.


OF Napoleon "Thunder" Mendoza - 2001, 24th Pick in Round 9 - http://www.simgamingnetwork.com/blb/...ayer_8360.html
Career WAR: 17.6
Best Season: .276/.881 - 28 doubles, 24 HR, 4.0 WAR

Like Mullen, Mendoza enjoyed a nice career elsewhere. His history is deleted, but it appears he played four games for my Single-A team before he was cut. He played for the Playboys, including the 2009 Brewmaster's Season. One time All-Star. Finished with a .252/.799 OPS, 164 HRs and 17.6 WAR. His best year, a 4.0 season in just 109 GS. Shot out to P Ron Wallen, the second to last pick in the 9th round of 2011, who was a BLB journeyman until 2033 at 40-years-old.

SP Iván Gutiérrez - 1987, 21st Pick in Round 8 - http://www.simgamingnetwork.com/blb/...ayer_7031.html
Career WAR: 12.6
Best season: 10-5, 2.64, 1.23 WHIP, 139.2 IP, 1.0 WAR

Originally drafted by Washington, and then I traded him, only to acquire him again (unclear if waive/trade/FA), where he played five seasons for DC. A one-time All-Star in 1999, he ended up amassing 231 starts over a 12 year career. Also won a Glove Wizard award in the BLB.


SP Tom Polzin - 2019, 7th Pick in Round 7 - http://www.simgamingnetwork.com/blb/...ayer_4596.html
Career WAR: 3.2
Best season: 8-8, 3.54 ERA, 1.39 WHIP, 117 IP, 1.9 WAR

Not a lot of great 7th rounders in my history. There was 2B Shawn Paxton (best season a 2.1 WAR season in Pittsburgh after being traded) but his career didn't last and a long-time minor leaguer in 1B JD Henriod (who has over 300 career Triple-A RBIs, and counting) but the designation goes to Polzin. He actually emerged as a the #28 prospect in baseball just three years after being selected but during that season had an off the field injury that sapped his potential. He still stuck it out to play from 2022-2035 mainly for Seattle and Pawtucket.

TIE -
RP Jerry Chase - 1987, 21st Pick in Round 6 - http://www.simgamingnetwork.com/blb/...ayer_7030.html
Career WAR: 5.0
Best Season: .6-4, 42 saves, 1.37 ERA, 0.93 WHIP, 2.24 FIP, 2.0 WAR, 302 ERA+

RP Jayden Crawl - 2027, 7th Pick in Round 6 - http://www.simgamingnetwork.com/blb/...ayer_7242.html
Career WAR: 8.4 (still playing)
Best Season: 8-2, 5 saves, 1.37 ERA, 0.91 WHIP, 1.79 FIP, 2.4 WAR, 280 ERA+

We have had a bit of success in the 6th round. Besides Chase and Crawl we also selected Scot Borkholder (career 24.5 WAR, best season 4.2 WAR) and SP Redford Jeralds (still pitching at 14.5 WAR and part of 2026 Brewmaster's). But Chase and Crawl were very similar as they both are two-time All-Stars and both won an IL Last Call. Chase had a two-year run of dominance before fading out of the BLB by 31. Crawl switched from CL to SU throughout his Pilots career and was the topic of discussion during the 2036 trade deadline.


C Willie Lara - 2004, 20th Pick in Round 5 - http://www.simgamingnetwork.com/blb/...ayer_7581.html
Career WAR: 38.8
Best season: .320/.832, 5.0 WAR

Honorable mention to IF Pete Summers who peaked as a 5.0 WAR rookie (1985 Refreshing New Brew) but only finished with a 20.7 career WAR. Lara was a defense first selection who at the time, if I remember correctly, was one of the few 80/80 catchers in the BLB universe. He ended up a two-time all-star and two-time DWI winner playing for DC, Philly, DVS, PAW, BAL and DEN, from 2009-2024. Dare I say, best defensive catcher, ever?


OF Jimmy Edge - 2023, 18th Pick in Round 4 - http://www.simgamingnetwork.com/blb/...ayer_4039.html
Career WAR: 32.7
Best season: .331/1.049 - 6.0 WAR in just 89 GS

Edge was the highest I've ever drafted a player that my scout absolutely hated. Didn't like anything about his potential but he had a monster senior season at UNC where he hit over .400. He's been a platoon bat his whole career but he crushed righties. He's been a 3x All-Star, 1x DWI winner and 1x Brewmaster's winner. The 34-year-old is currently in the minors and is likely to get called up to Seattle again here soon.


SP Ron 'Mailman' Lenzini - 2017, 2nd Pick in Round 3 - http://www.simgamingnetwork.com/blb/...ayer_1551.html
Career WAR: 29.5
Best season: 13-3, 3.05 ERA, 1.06 WHIP, 4.8 WAR

Honorable menton to Tom McGuffin who is still pitching and could very well end up the better player when this is all over. But "Mailman" was a big part of the 2026 Brewmaster's. Only a 1x All-Star but had five 3+ WAR seasons in Seattle before getting traded in a salary dump deal to Batavia.

CF J.R. Lowe - 1998, 12th Pick in Round 2 - http://www.simgamingnetwork.com/blb/...ayer_5215.html
Career WAR: 75.1
Best season: .275/.820 - 31 doubles, 34 HR, 107 RBI, 112 R - 7.8 WAR

Oh how bittersweet this one is. This was before we had WAR in game and I don't think a lot of us, myself included, was how valuable a CF like this was. After posting a 6.9 WAR in 124 Triple-A games, I traded him to Los Angeles (Jimmy) in exchange for a 1st round pick (ended up being 1.7, 2B Danny Romero for those that remember). Lowe is a HOF with career seven career DWI's and 2x All-Star. Honorable mention to one of my favorite players of All-Time in catcher Mike Murdock. His career was a bit short ending at 34, but he has 59.1 WAR and is right on that borderline of Hall of Fame.

3B Johnny Swope - 2022, 1st Pick in Round 1 - http://www.simgamingnetwork.com/blb/...ayer_4693.html

I won't even list the numbers, you know who he is. I didn't think I would choose him as the best pick when I started writing this but I remembered that for quite awhile I regretted the selection. I know after the draft I had multiple GMs message me and say "I'm surprised you didn't go with the CF Robby Brooksher," who went the very next pick. Brooksher not only debuted as the #2 prospect in baseball and held that ranking until his BLB debut at just 20-years-old. Brooksher would then go on to post league leading WARs of 8.4, 8.7, 10.1 in his first three full seasons. Swope, debuted as just the #69 prospect and didn't make the BLB until a season after Brooksher. Swope has had a special career and his 2030 season where he hit for the Triple Crown in only 143 GS is arguably the best ever. He posted a 7.5 WAR last year and is on pace for a 3.8 this year. Brooksher was derailed by injuries and hasn't had a good career in 30's.

--

I spent way too much time on this while my daughter watched Wall-E, again.

[PaulC]

I was one of those that were shocked you went with Swope... And, for your faith, you got maybe the greatest offensive force in BLB history!

[Delandis]

I believe the draft used to be 15 rounds Pat .

[PaulC]

Best PaulECee Kodiak Picks by Round

Before beginning our list, I ruled out Mike Morla. His intangibles, and the presence of Matt Healey, Dave Ingram, and Fred Ratley made him going #1 no slam dunk. Since he is clearly the franchise’s greatest player, I went in a different direction with the 1st round in this list. It would have been to easy to put the 12 time All Star, 11-time Silver Slugger, 2-time Stout Slugger, and arguably the BLB’s most dominant offensive force as the first round winner. Everyone, but Hank, should enjoy the pick that was eventually selected.

Round 10 – LF Norm Dixon (Harwich Mariners)

http://www.simgamingnetwork.com/blb/...yer_10523.html

Best Kodiak season: 2025 – 125 GP, 9 HR, and 35 RBI

The 2022 draft saw the Kodiaks take their only 10^thround pick to ever amount to much. With the the second last pick of the draft, the Kodiaks picked a lightly regarded Norm Dixon. Making the BLB from that point is impressive, as he managed to play 162 games over three seasons and smash 12 home runs.

Honourable mention – none

Round 9 – SP Scooter Nackers (Yarmouth-Dennis Red Sox)

http://www.simgamingnetwork.com/blb/...ayer_6677.html

Best Kodiak season: 2027 – 200 IP, 4.54 ERA, 13 Wins, 173 K, and 3.2 WAR

The 2020 draft saw the Kodiaks scooping up a late round gem from Yarmouth (the same small school as Welborn ten years later) with the 12^thpick in round nine. Along with having one of the greatest names in BLB history, Nackers is still pitching in his 11^thseason. Although, unspectacular, he has quietly picked up the 4^thmost career WAR of any pitcher in the draft, even though he was the 36^thpitcher off the boards that year. For his career, 83-70 in almost 1 500 career innings pitched!

Honourable Mention – P Tommy Bowen, LF Tom Gardner

Round 8 – LF Erik Place (Nevada Las Vegas Rebels)

http://www.simgamingnetwork.com/blb/...ayer_9347.html

Best Kodiak season: 2012 – 63 GP, and 0.359 OBP

The 2016 draft, once again shows up here. The 8^thround is a veritable wasteland of picks in Kodiak recent history. The lone bright spot, was taken with the 1^stpick of round 8. Place fashioned a career that saw him hit 0.206 in 349 career at bats.

Honourable mention – none

Round 7 – C Jimmy Welborn (Yarmouth-Dennis Red Sox)

http://www.simgamingnetwork.com/blb/...ayer_2818.html

Best Kodiak season: 2035 – 124 GP, 17 HR, 59 RBI, 0.365 OBP, and 3.9 WAR

The 2030 draft featured three key members (including shut down relievers Swaney and Adams) of the 2036 California Kodiak Championship team. But the steal of the draft came with he 10^thpick in round 7, as the Kodiaks scooped up, a player that is currently the BLB’s fourth ranked catcher. Although, he’s only played two full seasons and two part seasons so far, Welborn has amassed 7.2 WAR and 49 home runs. The late pick is average defensively, but makes up for it with a bat that is currently slashing 0.305/0.399/0.483 in just his third full season as a starting catcher!

Honourable mention - CF Jason Bass, SP Johnny Dodier, SP Cassius Whitcomb

Round 6 – SS Ron Teneyck (Auburn Trojans)

http://www.simgamingnetwork.com/blb/...yer_10826.html

Best Kodiak season: 2032 – 151 GP, 8 triples, and +3.3 ZR at SS

The 2024 draft was mostly regrettable for Kodiak fans, as the team only had 5 picks, due to some poor roster and draft management by GM PaulECee. The lone bright spot from that draft was defensive whiz, Teneyck. He only managed a short five-year career, but four of those were as a starter. Along with above average defense at the game’s toughest position, hit also racked up an astounding 31 triples in only 635 career games!

Honourable mention – RP Johnny Stockdale, RP Dusty Cataldi, CF Ethan Edwards

Round 5 – RP Jimmy Rivenbark (Oklahoma State Cowboys)

http://www.simgamingnetwork.com/blb/...ayer_4528.html

Best Kodiak season: 2024 – 44 GP, 3.21 ERA, and 0.8 WAR

The 2016 draft, once again, highlighted, as the Kodiaks take another relief pitcher. Rivenbark was a starter all through the minor leagues, but transitioned to a hard throwing reliever during the deep Kodiak playoff run in 2023. He managed to put together a solid 9-year career with a lifetime ERA of 4.15, to go with a career record of 43-43 with 21 saves.

Honourable mention – SP Pat Benahm, LF Tom McMillan, SS Robby Bean

Round 4 – RP Norm Brown (Oregon Ducks)

http://www.simgamingnetwork.com/blb/...ayer_3548.html

Best Kodiak season: 2021 – 66 GP, 2.76 ERA, and 1.01 WHIP

The 2016 draft again features heavily in this list, as yet another key member of the early 2020’s Kodiak team was plucked in that draft. Brown was known widely as one of the poorest teammates in BLB history. Putting his terrible intangibles aside, he went on to pitch a solid, if unspectacular, 15 seasons in the BLB. The coach killer, compiled a very respectable lifetime ERA of 3.40 and a won loss record of 59-50 with 68 saves!

Honourable mention – SP Zack Killian, CF Zack Morton, RF Tony Chavez

Round 3 – 1B Dave Rizer (Brewster Whitecaps)

http://www.simgamingnetwork.com/blb/...ayer_2391.html

Best Kodiak season: 2023 – 162 GP, 0.318/0.359/0.425 slash, and 5.5 WAR

The 2018 draft came right before a version change, and while the Kodiaks were pinning their hopes on #3 overall pick, C Ron Hillert, a 1B from tiny Brewster college would end up winning Kodiak hearts. Taken with the 3^rdpick of round 3, Rizer was a hitting machine! He teamed with Morla to form a potent middle of the lineup during the early 2020’s playoff runs. In 13 seasons, he hit 0.300 TEN times and finished with a career slash of 0.306/0.347/0.414, and, just for good measure 4 DWI awards at first base.

Honourable mention: C Jayden Dean, RP Ed Jones, RP Ian Rudlaff

Round 2 – CL A.J. Ingle (Oregon Ducks)

http://www.simgamingnetwork.com/blb/...ayer_3401.html

Best Kodiak season: 2022 – 2.04 ERA, 50 Saves, 105 K, and 0.84 WHIP

The 2016 draft was loaded with talent, as 19 players have accumulated at least 30 Career WAR. However, a closer out of Oregon proved to be the steal of the draft with 8^thpick in round 2. Ingle hit the ground running as a 22-year-old with a 1.08 ERA, and is still closing out games for the Exports at 41 years old. The second round pick has a career WAR of 44.5, is second all time in saves, and has an astounding FIVE Last Call Relief Awards for four different teams!

Honourable mention: SP TJ Broughton, 3B Erik Redding, 1B Jamie Middaugh


Round 1 – CF Riley Thomas (Fryeburg Academy Raiders)

http://www.simgamingnetwork.com/blb/...ayer_9946.html


Best Kodiak season: 2028 – 139 GP, 18 HR, 28 SB, +12.8 ZR, and 3.8 WAR

The 2023 draft saw the Kodiaks holding the 20^thpick in round one. The were ecstatic to select CR Riley Thomas, a true five tool player, that they hoped would join a dynasty in the making as the 2023 Kodiaks were enjoying a three-year playoff run, that included coming just short of reaching the Brewmaster. Thomas would enjoy four fabulous seasons in California, but is best remembered for being the centerpiece of what would become known in California as, ‘The Trade’! August 12, 2030, Thomas was shipped to Montreal for a package of lightly regarded prospects and picks. As it turned out Montreal was about to fall hard, and those picks would end up being #1 and #2 overall, and two of the prospects would become stars! Six years later, with the Brewmaster Cup in their grasp, players from that trade:
Jimmy Spargo was a defensive whiz that hit 0.333 in the cup run.
Norm Cupp had 29 HR in the regular season and hit 0.353 with 3 home runs and 8 RBI in the cup run.
Brendan Santoro was the #2 pick who plays a wonderful second base and had 11 RBI in the cup run.
The other pick ended up being #1 overall, and the Kodiaks used that pick to select BLB #5 prospect Joey Robertson, who projects to be a power hitting CF, who is currently leading the Sacramento Amish to 26-9 record.

[Nemesis]

My Draft history starts back in 2020-2024 then picked back up in 2029-2036

2022 1st round, second pick CF Robby Brooksher - http://www.simgamingnetwork.com/blb/...ayer_2411.html
Career WAR: 71.3
JAWS: 63.5
Best Season: 2026 342/395/600 10.1 WAR

This was the Brooksher/Swope draft. Brooksher will likely be my best pick ever, kinda hard to top what he's done, sports a 71.3 Career WAR and a 63.5 JAWS score. Nasty ankle injury cut short his CF career, otherwise he probably could have broke 90 WAR.
For the franchise, SP Pat Yahn is probably the best 1st rounder taken, but he wasn't my pick, but I thought it was worth a mention.


2023 2nd round, 30th pick SP Erik Harrell - http://www.simgamingnetwork.com/blb/...yer_10734.html
Career WAR: 21.8
LAD WAR: 12.9
Best Season: 2031 12-10, 121 ERA+, 4.0 WAR

Well, this second rounder wasn't all that great, but he did have a few good seasons with LA. He generated 12.9 WAR from 2027-2033 for the Dinos. Currently pitching in Seattle after a 3 year stint in Washington.


2022 3rd round, 54th pick RF J.R. Lyden - http://www.simgamingnetwork.com/blb/...ayer_6299.html
Career WAR: 6.7
Best Season: 2025 260/330/398 3.2 WAR

Ok, not my best pick. Retired at 28.


2021 4th round, 82 pick SP Casper Schmidt - http://www.simgamingnetwork.com/blb/...ayer_4074.html
Career WAR: 26.5
LAD WAR: 14.6
Best Season: 2031 8-9, 141 ERA+, 4.5 WAR

I probably cooked him too long, but he is a control freak. Still playing, tried to resign as a Free Agent, but went with Hartford instead.


2023 5th round, 108th pick SS Tommy Fields - http://www.simgamingnetwork.com/blb/...ayer_4819.html
Career WAR: 11.6
LAD WAR: 11.7
JAWS: 12.6 ???
Best Season: 2029 298/356/467 3.5 WAR

Started off playing SS well, but faded quickly. Retired at 29.



2037 6th round, 133rd pick RP Olin DeWitt - http://www.simgamingnetwork.com/blb/...ayer_9169.html
Career WAR: 0.5

First season was in 2036 and it was a partial. Has had a little trouble staying healthy, but he seems like the best producing 6th rounder I've drafted.



2021 7th round, 160th pick SP Brendan Gautier - http://www.simgamingnetwork.com/blb/...yer_10382.html
Career WAR: 1.4
Best Season: 2031, 9-6, 108 ERA+, 0.7 WAR

Brendan wasn't really a 5th starter, but I put him there anyway. He's got no control and gives up HR's alot. Not much to see here.


No LAD 8th Rounders have made the BLB yet. RP Dave Mensch may have the best shot.
http://www.simgamingnetwork.com/blb/...yer_11955.html

No LAD 9th Rounders have made the BLB yet with + WAR. RP Donnie Settlemyer made the BLB with Batavia and threw for 15.1 uneventful innings.
http://www.simgamingnetwork.com/blb/...ayer_4841.html
3rd Baseman Zachary Frankel may have the best shot at success.
http://www.simgamingnetwork.com/blb/...yer_12024.html


One LAD 10th Rounder has made the BLB and it was RP Jonathon Carter. He's posted NEGATIVE 1.4 WAR, most of which came from a -1.8 2035 season, but he seems to have sorted out his issues in 2037 and has a 0.3 WAR in 31.2 innings.
http://www.simgamingnetwork.com/blb/...yer_11535.html

[PaulC]

Brooksher was a beast!! Nice list Nemesis!

[Ryan]

This was a blast to write, thanks for the idea, Pat





10-15th Round: Catcher Javy Aguilera 2026 - Wilmington

Not a bad back up catcher for a few years, "racking up" .6 WAR in 198 BLB games.


9th Round: OF R.J. Rollins 1986 - Indianapolis

R.J. had a pretty decent rookie season with the Millers in 1989 after being acquired in a trade, I think. Hit .287/.326/.460 and had 1.6 WAR. I think he was pretty good on defense too, if I'm not mistaken.


8th Round: Catcher Raul Valencia 1985 - Indianapolis

Raul put up a really good career for an 8th rounder. .281/.333/.467 career line to rack up 16.4 WAR over 1265 BLB games. 186 career homers to go along with 813 RBI. Had arguably his best season in 1997 as a 32 year old, posting 3.5 WAR in 101 games, then vanished. Car accident? HGH suspension?


7th Round: 2B Dave Hudson 2026 - Wilmington

Put up 7.7 WAR in 780 mostly productive games with the Wildcats/Clowns, before falling victim to Free Agency purgatory in 2036. Thus far he's accumulated a triple slash of .273/.318/.381, including back to back 2.4 WAR seasons in 32/33. Could swipe a bag and was pretty decent up the middle on offense.

6th Round: 3B Tom Abrams 2011 - Indianapolis

Tom was a pretty great player his first three years in Washington, posting 9.1 WAR over that period. Career WAR of 13.3, he was pretty slick with the glove, too. Racked up 11 intentional walks in 2017, good for 2nd in the league.


5th Round: SP Curt Warren 1987 - Indianapolis

I had quite a bit of luck in the 5th round, but Warren was probably my best draft pick, although he was traded to California towards the end of his third minor league season. He threw 2,558 innings in his career, compiling a 151-140 record, a 3.87 ERA and 37.6 WAR.

Shouts go out to CF C.J. Hoechst, a a good defensive center fielder with pretty decent pop, thrice topping 20 homers in a 10 year BLB career, accumulating 18.8 WAR. Tip of the cap to starting pitcher Ivan Vazquez, another 5th rounder from my time in Indy. Put up 134 wins against 131 losses over 2242 innings. Led the league in wins in 1996 with 16. I feel like the league unearthed a lot of solid starters later in the draft back then.


4th Round: CF Travis Basker 1994 - Indianapolis

Basker was a speedy, defense first center fielder, that had a pretty solid career. He compiled 27.3 WAR, posting a career high 4.9 in 2002 while roaming center at The Big Top. 8 consecutive seasons with 20+ steals.


3rd Round: CL Clarence "Doodle" Ortiz 1988 - Indianapolis

Clarence was a steal here, and should be a Hall of Famer, but that's for another article. Ortiz saved 461 games in his 17 year BLB career, striking out 1468 in 1323 innings, while walking only 381 and allowing a minuscule 1082 hits. That's good for a 1.11 career WHIP. All told, Clarence totaled 32.8 WAR over the course of his career.

And while we're here, the 3rd round has been pretty good to me. SS Ian Schneider came to Indy in the 3rd in 2018, and he went on to be one of the best defensive shortstops the BLB has seen. In a four year stretch, he posted 5.8, 2.9 (injury shortened campaign), 6.5 and 4.9 WAR totals. Then he was gone a few short seasons later, at the age of 28.

1B "Big" John Cardona was drafted in 2010 and went on to hit 361 homers before retiring at age 35. Every season he played, he had an OPS+ over 100, and only twice was it below 111. He was a true offensive force.

And hey, C Szeto Mao put up 24 career WAR in 11 BLB seasons, mashing 164 homers, 214 doubles and 558 RBI. He was probably pretty good defensively, too.


2nd Round: 3B Ling-lai Pang 1998 - Indianapolis

I traded Pang a month and a half into his first season at Double A, and still remember thinking it was a mistake, but you gotta go for it sometimes. A year later he was a mainstay in Philly's lineup and on his way to a (should be) Hall of Fame career. Pang had it all. A 5 time DWI glove, a sweet swing from both sides of the plate, and a body of the Gods. Pang racked up 2222 hits, 272 homers, 1115 RBI, 1008 runs and a plethora of highlight reel plays from the hot corner, allowing him to rack up 65.3 WAR over his career.

Also, J.J Plumley. That's the post.



First round time, have a seat. Now, I had some pretty great first round picks, and that's to be expected, but we're only going to focus on the best of the best. This is kind of cheating since I had an all or nothing approach with Indianapolis, resulting in MANY early firsts, but who cares, let's have some fun.


1st Round: CF Rex Knight 1983 - Indianapolis - HALL OF FAME

Rex was my second ever first round pick. I was in love. He reminded me of Mickey Mantle. In text form, anyway. What can you say about Rex that isn't already known? Among players that count: Third all time in Home Runs. Same for RBI. Second all time in runs. Fourth in walks. Sixth in steals and total bases. All time leader in extra base hits and WAR. My favorite stat? 1752 walks and only 625 strikeouts in his career. That's some good AB's.


1st Round: LF Jimmy Jones 1996 - Indianapolis - HALL OF FAME

Jimmy was supposed to be the "new Rex" and it worked out pretty well. I traded him, too, and he went on to have wonderful years in Death Valley, Maine and Baltimore. He had some great peak years, hitting 8.2, 7.5 and 8.9 WAR. In an injury shortened 2006, he put up 4.6 WAR in just 85 games. He posted 6 WAR with Baltimore in 2012 at the age of 34. He was not Rex Knight. He was Jimmy Jones.


1st Round: SP Willie Fajardo 2010 - Indianapolis - HALL OF FAME

Willie was traded while he was in Double A, so I never got a look at him personally at the BLB level, but I was able to read plenty about him as he laid waste to the league. He was a strikeout machine, topping 200 in 10 consecutive seasons. For his career, he racked up 2725 K's against only 544 walks. His 10.34 K/9 is the best for anyone with a minimum of 2000 innings pitched.


1st Round: SS Erik Jackson 2014 - Indianapolis - HALL OF FAME

Surprise, I traded Erik Jackson, too. I think my most recent draftee inducted into the Hall of Fame, Jackson was a true double threat. A great bat and glove, Jackson put up 71.5 career WAR while shining at the plate and in the field. 308 homers, 466 doubles, 1048 RBI, 1050 runs and 2231 hits. Career high of 9.3 WAR for Kansas City in 2022 as a 28 year old.


1st Round: Jamie Rush - 2025 - Wilmington

Jamie has a chance to be one of the top players I ever drafted. Now having a resurrection season at the plate as a 32 year old in Toronto, Jamie has 1889 hits, 981 runs, and 552 steals. His career batting line to date is .342/.427/.465 and he's accumulated 50.5 WAR. I think there's a really good chance we see Jamie enshrined with the greats in the BLB Hall of Fame on day.

[PaulC]

For a guy that drafts you well, you seem to have a very poor eye for minor league talent...

That's a hell of a list in the first round!

[Ryan]

For a guy that drafts you well, you seem to have a very poor eye for minor league talent...

That's a hell of a list in the first round!

LOL, the only bad eye I have is my eye for knowing when to go for it and when not to.

[PaulC]

LOL, the only bad eye I have is my eye for knowing when to go for it and when not to.

She’s at ten at 2am, and a two at 10am...

[Delandis]

SP Dave Sloper - 2015, 20th Pick in Round 10 - http://<a href="http://www.simgaming..._9205.html</a>
Career WAR: 5.0 WAR
Best Season: ç

Dave parlayed a few good seasons early in Baltimore and Pawtucket into an eleven year BLB career. Ended his career with a ERA+ of 96 and just 5.0 WAR in 11 years which obvious isn't great, but is damn good for a guy so near to Mr. Irrelevant.

Honorable Mention: OF Coy McPherson
http://www.simgamingnetwork.com/blb/...ayer_6932.html
-This kid had an amazing rookie year after being promoted halfway through the season. Totally unbelievable as he had very average ratings if I remember correctly.

IF Johnny Ingle - 2001, 20th Pick in Round 9 - http://<a href="http://www.simgaming..._6009.html</a>
Career WAR: 8.4 WAR
Best season: .307/.428/.832, 3.7 WAR

Ingle was a solid piece off the bench for us for a couple seasons before being moving to Washington and then to DVS where he caught lightning in a bottle for a very respectable season. Not a great defender by any stretch but he had a nice career. Johnny has remained part of our organization as he has been our hitting coach in Orlando (A) for the past six years.

Honorable Mention: RP Dave Lock http://www.simgamingnetwork.com/blb/...ayer_7780.html
-Had a nice career now that I look back at him. He played for 10 season with a 113 ERA+. Most of that time was spent in Dallas (Snappers).

IF JJ Cahill - 2018, 16th Pick in Round 8 - http://<a href="http://www.simgaming..._5786.html</a>
Career WAR: 4.3
Best season: .302/.357/.692, 2.1 WAR

Cahill fashioned a 7 year career in the bigs based on his defensive abilities at shortstop. He played 3 years in Baltimore as a utility guy, followed by 3 more years doing the same in Hartford. He accumulated an impressive +48.2 ZR at shortstop and and additional +16.4 ZR manning second base.


1B/DH Dave Dillard - 2018, 7th Pick in Round 7 - http://www.simgamingnetwork.com/blb/...ayer_4247.html
Career WAR:16.1
Best season: .314/.515/.897, 16.1 WAR

It was rare to find this guy in the 7th round, even more rare that we share the same last name. Dave had one good college year followed by a disappointing senior campaign that saw him slip to the 7th round. If I'm not mistaken, I think when I promoted him his first 2 hits were home runs. He went on to have a solid sophomore season and then was shipped to KC where he had his best years. He went on to help the Comets win the Brewmasters in 2024. He was plagued with nagging injuries through his career but went on to post a respectable 16.1 WAR in 8 seasons in the BLB.

RP Micah Poppino - 2018, 20th Pick in Round 5 - http://www.simgamingnetwork.com/blb/...ayer_6158.html
Career WAR:5.8
Best season: 5-5, 2.15 ERA, .89 WHIP, 2.01 FIP and 2.4 WAR

Micah was noticed by our scouts after helping lead LSU to back to back NCAA titles. Poppino never played as a Bulldog as he was traded in 2012 to Toronto. He was subsequently traded to NY where he went on to be solid reliever for the Knights. He was known for his great control and could sit batters down in bunches.

SP Alejandro Ruedas - 2009, 21st Pick in Round 6 - http://www.simgamingnetwork.com/blb/...ayer_8968.html
Career WAR: 21.9
Best season: 13-9, 3.30 ERA, 1.11 WHIP, 4.05 FIP and 3.2 WAR

I absolutely loved Ruedas. He didn't have the stuff but the man just got the job done. Only 91-93 on the gun at his peak but he'd always find a way to get out of a jam. RHP in Phillips Field is already a chore but Ruedas made the most of his talents. He went on to have successful stints in Dallas and Philly, both parks better suited to his skill set. One of my favorite All-Time Baltimore players.

IF Pat Smith - 2018, 23rd Pick in Round 4 - http://www.simgamingnetwork.com/blb/...ayer_11218.html
Career WAR:13.2
Best season: .330/.362/.897, 2.6 WAR

Pat Smith is a perfect example of what "might have been if not for injury." Smith had a very good high school career and was fast tracked to the BLB at just 20 years old. He had a very good rookie season hitting .338 and a 2.5 WAR. Two years later Smith was having a break out year before having a hamstring strain that kept him out for 6 weeks followed by a setback during rehab that saw him miss another 5 weeks and for all intent and purposes, ended his season. Smith came back the next year and put up decent numbers but nothing like in 2032. Smith now plays a reserve role for the Blues.

IF Kiyotake Inouye - 2018, 17th Pick in Round 3 - http://www.simgamingnetwork.com/blb/...ayer_9553.html
Career WAR:9.5
Best season: 10-2, 2.22 ERA, .95 WHIP, 2.74 FIP and 1.9 WAR

Looking at the history, it looks like a traded A LOT of 3rd round picks. With that being said, I think Inouye has to be a draftee of ours with one of the the longest careers in the BLB. Kiyotake went undrafted after he tore tendon in his elbow and enrolled at Texas A&M. Inouye recovered from his injury and fashioned a solid career as an Aggie starter before we drafted him. Since debuting in 2023 Inouye has gone on to have a long career still playing today, putting in good shifts at 37 years old in Chicago with the Blues.

C/IF Diego Flores - 1999, 3rd Pick in Round 2 - http://www.simgamingnetwork.com/blb/...ayer_7622.html
Career WAR:48.7
Best season: .276/.369/.819, 5.4 WAR

If anyone truly deserved to be in the Hall of Very Good (I hate that saying) it would have to be Diego. Diego was a mercenary in the league for 16 years, playing for 9 different teams in that span. We originally drafted Diego as a catcher but quickly saw he wasn't the most efficient player behind the plate. Flores made his name on the offensive end racking up over 1000 walks, over 1000 RBI, 250+ HR, and a very respectable 130 OPS+ for his career. On top of that he had great intangibles so I think he just made teams better everywhere he went. I've had some players that I liked more in the 2nd round, but it is hard to argue that Flores wasn't our best selection in the 2nd round.

SP Todd Taylor - 1003, 4rd Pick in Round 1 - http://www.simgamingnetwork.com/blb/...ayer_4902.html
Career WAR:79.6
Best season: 19-3, 1.78 ERA, .95 WHIP, .93 FIP and 7.9 WAR

One of the best of his time, I ended up picking up Taylor in a year that we won 103 games and I couldn't have been more excited. I could be wrong, but I think he was the highest pick I've ever had at 1.4 and he did not disappoint. I do remember getting worried in 2006 when he was injured at the end of the season, needing bone chips to be removed at was sidelined for 3 months. He had a tough year in 2007 in his first season back but began to solidify his place in the Hall in 2008.

However his most impressive season came after he left Baltimore where he posted a blistering 1.78 ERA and 7.9 WAR in just 186 IP in Kennywood Park (Pittsburgh). Ironically, he still came in 2nd place in Pale Ale voting that year to Pat Yahn who pitched in many more innings for just .1 more WAR.