Following a Future Star

[STLCardinals]

With the 5th pick of the first round of the 2011 MLB Draft, the Kansas City Royals select... IF Jake Michaels!

Jake is a 21 year old shortstop out of the University of Kentucky, where in his lone season there, he hit .286 with 11 home runs. Although Michaels is not known for great power or a great eye for the strike zone, he has very good speed and can hit for a high batting average. Jake is also a very good fielding shortstop, showing great range and a very good arm. Not only at short, Michaels is a good 2B and is also capable of playing third.





On the first post, you can create your own player for this dynasty! I will follow at most three players at a time.

[STLCardinals]

There were many ups and downs to Jake Michaels's 2011 minor league season. He did hit for a solid .280 batting average on the positive side, but in 257 at bats, he only drew 13 walks for a low .314 OBP. He did not strike out too often though, with 63 in 65 games. Another positive aspect of his season was that he had 13 doubles, 3 triples, and 6 home runs, giving him a .444 SLG%. He also stole 6 bases. His defense was not nearly as good as expcted. He made 14 errors at shortstop for a .926 fielding percentage.

[STLCardinals]

Michaels enjoyed a pretty good season in 2012, mostly playing in Class A and AA. He stole a total of 26 bases, only getting caught 3 times, which a huge improvement over last year's 6 for 11. Although he still did not draw a large amount of walks, he did improve his batting eye this season compared to last. The defense improved a bit, as he improved to a fielding percentage above .950. Despite being the 4th ranked 2nd baseman on the Royals, he is as skilled as most of those above him and will continue to improve over the next few seasons.

[STLCardinals]

FINALLY
After some very good years in the minors, Jake MIchaels gets his chance in the show after Alciedes Escobar was traded on the trade deadline, leaving a big hole at the shortstop postition for Kansas City. Michaels step in as the starter, even earning the lead off spot after a few weeks, and proved himself worthy. He hit .305 and stole 12 bases, helping the Royals to a playoff appearance (lost in ALDS to Red Sox). He also drew 28 walks to 41 strikeouts, not a bad ratio for a rookie. And in 57 games at short, he had a nice .962 fielding percentage.

[elfroggo]

In this dynasty, I will not be controlling any team, but I will follow the first pick of the Amateur Draft throughout their career. I have set the 'Draft Predictability' to -100%. I will only step in and make a move if I feel it is necessary.

NOTE: I am not taking credit of this idea of following a draftee throughout their career. I have seen a few others do this and I wanted to try for fun.

1. Ricky Lewis (2B): .232 AVG. 5 seasons (2 full), 11 HR, 9 SB, with Minnesota Twins (Drafted #1 overall by Pirates)




If you would like to create a player for this dynasty, use this format (just erase my answers, its an example)

Name: Jake Michaels
Nickname:
College: Kentucky
Birth City: Colombus
Birth State: OH
Birth Country: USA
Position: SS
2nd Position (in order from best to worst, if they are same just write that in): 2B/3B
B/T: R/R
Height/Weight: 70/173
Birthday: 5/18
Age: 21

In order, list Contact, Power, Speed, Eye, Arm, Range, and Fielding in order from best to worst

Range, Contact, Arm, Speed, Fielding, Power, Eye

Personality:
Ambition: 15
Agression: -20
Camaraderie: 5
Charisma: 0
Community: 20
Drive: -10
Ego: -10
Greed: 5
Seriousness: 35

If it is a pitcher, use the same format except the hitting part. Instead...

In order, list Control, Power, and Movement in order from best to worst, or make them balanced.

Then choose to be better at hitting of defense, or make them both balanced.

Name: James Babcock
Nickname: None
College: He's a high school draftee
City: Portland
State: OR
Country: USA
Position: SP
B/T: L/L
Height: 5'8 Weight: 160
Birthday: 4/5
Age:19
Don't care about personality, set it to whatever
Control (Great), Movement (Decent), Power (Nonexistent, set fastball at low 80s)
Balanced hitting/defense preferably good at both
If you want pitches, here you go. If you don't want pitches, ignore this.
Best to worst: Two-Seamer, Fastball, Splitter, Slider, Circle-Change.

[STLCardinals]

Yep, its much more fun writing about a major leaguer than a minor leager

[twinsfan1127]

I'll join in.

Name: Brennan McClellan
Nickname:
College: N/A
Birth City: Essex
Birth State: NY
Birth Country: USA
Position: SP
B/T: L/L
Height/Weight: 58/165
Birthday: 7/12
Age: 17

Movement, Power, Control

Personality:
Ambition: 25
Agression: -20
Camaraderie: -20
Charisma: 5
Community: -5
Drive: 20
Ego: -20
Greed: -10
Seriousness: 35

[STLCardinals]

Okay, will add them in! No more players after this until someone retires though. (max 3 at a time)

[twinsfan1127]

Can't wait to see Brennan, hope he isn't a Top 5 pick since I want him to have a difficult path to the Majors

[Francoeurstein]

Name: Benny Maybird
Nickname:
College:
Birth City: Ames
Birth State: IA
Birth Country: USA
Position: SS
2nd Position 3B/2B
B/T: R/R
Height/Weight: 74/205
Birthday: 1/07
Age: 18

Power, Contact, Arm, Eye, Range, Speed, Fielding

Personality:
Ambition: 15
Agression: 20
Camaraderie: -15
Charisma: -5
Community: 20
Drive: 20
Ego: -10
Greed: 5
Seriousness: 25

[STLCardinals]

Jake Michaels has played very well for the Kansas City Royals the last two seasons, hitting above .275 with at least 10 homers and 15 steals in both years. His average is high, and the strikeouts aren't terrible, but it is something he needs to work on. He is still not drawing many walks, and hopefully that will improve. He has had a fielding percentage above .960 every year he has spent in the bigs, which is a very good thing for the young player. Unfortunately, Michaels hit the DL twice, with a seperated shoulder and a sprained finger, which cost him about 30 games during the 2015 season.

[YEAH DAAAAWG]

IMO, people shouldn't be allowed to specify the skill levels of the players. What's cool about Jake Michaels is we don't know where his ceiling is.

Pretty sure they're not specifying the skill level, but what they want them to excel at. For example, wanting the player you create to be great defensively with a lot of power, vs average defensively and good power and contact, but poor eye and slow. It's moreso selecting what "type" of player you want them to be.

[STLCardinals]

Two very good pitching prospects were drafted in 2015, James Babcock, and Brennan McClellan.

James Babcock was drafted 11th by the Marlins. He does not have much velocity on his fastball, topping out at 84 MPH, but he has decent movement for a young pitcher and has the potential to have Greg Maddux control. In 51 innings in R ball this year, he only walked 11, but he only struck out 19. He wasn't great, recording a 5.47 ERA in 8 starts, but there is plenty of time for this pitchr to improve. Hopefully the broken finger he suffered during the year does not affect his pitching.

Brennan McCllelan was drafted 5th by the Texas Rangers. He features great velocity for being only 18, topping out at 91, and also induces many ground balls. He still does not have great command, but it is not uncommon of a pitcher so young. He has good movement on his pitches, and throws a good curveball and change, and hitters only hit for a .225 average against him in 8 starts.

[STLCardinals]

Name: Benny Maybird
Nickname:
College:
Birth City: Ames
Birth State: IA
Birth Country: USA
Position: SS
2nd Position 3B/2B
B/T: R/R
Height/Weight: 74/205
Birthday: 1/07
Age: 18

Power, Contact, Arm, Eye, Range, Speed, Fielding

Personality:
Ambition: 15
Agression: 20
Camaraderie: -15
Charisma: -5
Community: 20
Drive: 20
Ego: -10
Greed: 5
Seriousness: 25

I will make him as soon as either Michaels, Babcock, or McClellan retires

[twinsfan1127]

STL would you mind in the following Spring Training changing his Curve to a Slow Curve and changing his arm slot to sidearm? Thanks! Looks good.