OnlyBucs

The #4 poll is now in our rear-view mirror and it was the first close one thus far. Oneil Cruz didn't get 50% of the votes but he got the most, winning by 6. Six players got votes.



I was going to add Braxton Ashcroft anyway, a #2 draft pick, and he was also recommended. Jared Oliva, Tahnaj Thomas, Steve Jennings and Gage Hinsz were also recommended and will be added soon. As will countless others. In fact, I think I will add 2 here and add a personal choice in Cody Bolton.



The results so far:

#1- Mitch Keller, 23 year-old RHSP, 2018- Altoona/Indy, shoud make MLB debut this year. 68.2% of the vote

#2- Ke'Bryan Hayes, 21 year-old 2x minor league gold glove 3B, Altoona in 2018, Probably Indy in 2019. 92.3% of the vote

#3- Cole Tucker, 22- year-old SS, Altoona in 2018, Altoona or Indy probably in 2019- 59.1% of the vote

#4- O'Neil Cruz, 21, probably too big to be a SS, probably blocked by KBH at 3rd, but a bat too good to be ignored. 48.1% of the vote.

And I found in looking up his age that I had his name speeled wrong- Braxton Ashcraft.

Based on the last vote, I'm going to preemptively say this. Why no love for Will Craig? He took a huge leap forward last year. I know his OPS and BA isn't gaudy. But he put up some huge HR and RBI numbers in less than 500 ABs. They say the jump to AA is the toughest. He had his best pro year by a mile. If he improves off of this past year, he could be special for the Pirates.

I like Will Craig. He's probably next for me if this vote goes the way I expect.



I think he suffers the Cole Tucker syndrome from fans as he was immediately dismissed because he didn't start out super hot right out of the draft.

It appears like Craig is one of these players who may not have a exceptional batting average, but when it is time to drive in runs he knows what to do. I hope too he has another strong season while at Indy, and then he gets a shot with the Bucs in September. His home run and rbi totals last season were very impressive.

I was very willing to wait and see with Craig last year, but I was not impressed with his AA performance last year. He did get more extra base hits, but for being age appropriate, and a first baseman, a .768 OPS isn't prospect worthy. His AFL performance was encouraging, but as a 23 year old, he was slightly older than league average. His underwhelming AA season could potentially be attributed to him working through some swing adjustments, and honestly that is the only thing I can still hold my hat on in thinking he is still a prospect.

As far as Will Craig goes, there was no way he was going to break into the top 5- no surprises at all that these guys wound up there. #6 and further will be more competitive, and Craig could wind up anywhere from 6 to 20. Last year I had Craig in the poll from the start and he didn't get a vote until at least the 8th round and wound up 16th overall.