“Foundational” Draft Adds Future Talent and a Well Known Name

[Wind Dancers]

“Foundational” Draft Adds Future Talent and a Well Known Name
June 7, 2033
Toyama Wind Dancers Blog

Last night’s rookie draft gave Toyama an opportunity to restock the farm system now that the elite class is in the majors. Less of a star-studded class, but more foundation picks describe the new Wind Dancers rookies as well as a famous name joining up.

Rounds 1-5
The first pick for any team is always an important one and shows which direction that team is going in. At 23rd overall, the Wind Dancers drafted Japanese RF Takeichi Kobayashi who has been playing overseas in Cambridge. Born in Toyoake, Aichi, Kobayashi was a .337 hitter across his four years with the Light Blues and was praised for his elite gap potential and great locker room presence. Some work is needed on his reaction-time in right, but the 21-year-old is already advanced across the board and could move up the minors fairly quickly. In round 2, a PEBA household name was selected in the form of OF Reggie Raines, son of Hall of Famer Rob Raines and nephew of SS Royce Raines. Born in Arlington and selected out of Benedictine Prep, Reggie has a similar high OBP playstyle to his father but is very raw at only 18. His ability to see the ball has always been a strength, but it took until his senior season to figure out how to consistently get his barrel on the ball. In his last season with the Infantrymen, Raines hit .344 with a .486 OBP and some pop (15 HR’s). Name recognition alone will draw some fans as well as the possible father vs son matchup if Rob is still coaching in SA when Reggie arrives. With Toyama’s 3rd rounder going to Florida in the Zimmerman trade, the WinD’s had a short break heading into the 4th. At 120th overall, they selected 2B Sergio Gonzalez out of Michigan state. “Snake Eyes” grew up a second baseman but may be moved to first due to below average reaction time against advanced hitters. Despite splitting time much of his college career, Gonzalez finished his senior season hitting .343 while sporting a career 89% successful SB rate. Consistency is still a big question with Gonzalez, but he could become a serviceable 2B with a high smallball upside. In the 5th round and at 149th overall, P Wendall Phillips was drafted. A starter for the last 2 years, Phillips will likely be used as a RP in pro ball. The 18-year-old pitcher out of Annapolis didn’t make varsity until his sophomore year but finished his career with a 12.4 K/9 and 2.76 ERA. Toyama scouts are said to see decent upside in Phillips as a reliever but that there is a long way to go into developing him.

Rounds 6-10
Round 6 showed Toyama’s intention to beef up their pitching farm with RP Curt Merrill being drafted out of Benedictine Prep HS. A teammate of Reggie Raines, Merrill is a 3-pitch reliever that’s served as the infantrymen’s closer since he was a freshman. He uses a heavy-movement approach with a Cutter & Splitter but can also change things up with an okay changeup. Despite a poor rated defense behind him, Merrill put up respectable numbers as a groundballer who could also rack up strikeouts. And with their 2nd pick in the 6th round, at 179th overall the WinD’s selected RP Bill Frederick from IF HS champions Mobile Christian HS. Despite reduced playing time as a long reliever, Frederick excelled and even pitched a shutout in his lone spot start of 2033. He will pitch to contact with an average Fastball/Curve combo and is widely considered a finesse pitcher. Most importantly, after leaking homeruns in his sophomore and junior years, Bill gave up none in his senior season after putting in extra work in the offseason. Drafted in the 7th round, defensive wiz SS Bill Benson joined from Georgetown. After solid freshman and sophomore seasons, Benson regressed offensively hitting just .197 in his senior season. But his strength lies in his great work ethic and plus defensive ability at SS. His future outlook is that of an elite defense option that can play both IF and OF. In the 8th, the Wind Dancers to another defense first player in the form of CF Tatsukichi Shimizu, a Funabashi native out of Hustling Hills HS. Playing ball in the states, Shimizu struggled in his sophomore and junior seasons but put everything together in his senior year. To the tune of a .298 BA and .365 OBP, Shimizu became a model OF known for his quick feet and cannon arm. In the 9th round, the WinD’s selected 2B Iwao Narita, a 21-year old out of Chuo University. Narita struggled heavily offensively only making the team as a walk-on in his junior year. While he lacks much offensive output, Narita is a “head down, work hard” kind of guy with immense speed on the basepaths. He’s also a serviceable 2B but could use some slight adjustments in that area as well. Rounding out the first 10 rounds was RF Burt Bly out of Southern Miss. “Decoy” is another player noted for his work ethic and desire to improve and brings with him strong defensive skills and straight line speed. Bly needs to work on his jump in the outfield as well as reaction time, coupled with his inconsistent bat.

Rounds 11-20
The final 10 rounds were filled with long-shot hopefuls and role players that the Wind Dancers are hoping hide a diamond in the rough. CF Antonio Chaves went in the 11th followed by 1B Seinosuke Yamanaka in the 12th. Then went two relievers, P Tetsu Kikuchi & P Yoshimatsu Komatsu, both minor league filler with great team personalities. Filling a positional need, 3B Shingen Ito was drafted in the 15th out of Windsor Canada. The final draft picks were released post-draft.

[Sandgnats]

Looking forward to seeing how Reggie develops with his uncle Royce's career coming to its end as well.