American Association Daily provides insights and features on the American Association of Professional Baseball League, as well as player and coaching profiles and transactions going on with teams around the league. In today’s edition, Robert Pannier examines the players picked by the Chicago Dogs in the American Association dispersal draft held on Tuesday.

Chicago Dogs Fill a Number of Voids

The American Association dispersal draft was Tuesday afternoon, with the Chicago Dogs selecting seven players, all pitchers. Clearly, Manager Butch Hobson saw this as the one major need for the Dogs, especially with the release of reliever Rich Mascheri and ace Luke Westphal heading to Mexico. The quality arms he brought in should help to drastically improve the pitching staff overall, especially from the left-hand side.

A look at the team’s seven picks. (Team player was drafted from listed in parenthesis)

Eric Stout – LHP (Kansas City)

Stout appeared in two games for Kansas City after being released from the Cincinnati Reds organization. He made two starts, going nine innings, allowing three runs while striking out 13. Stout finished 1-1 for the T-Bones.

Before his release, Stout split his time between AA-Chattanooga and Tripoli-Louisville. He was a combined 2-2 with a 6.27 ERA in 20 appearances, nine of which were starts.

The left-hander was originally drafted by the Kansas City Royals in the 13th round of the 2014 draft. He spent five years in the Royals organization, reaching AAA Omaha in 2017 and 2018. In 2018, the left-hander made his Major League debut, pitching in three games for the Royals.

In six total minor league seasons, Stout is a combined 21-14 with a 4.12 ERA. He made 179 appearances, saving 15 games. The left-hander tossed 331.2 total innings, allowing 333 hits and 121 walks, while striking out 275.

Carlos Diaz, Jr. – LHP (Kansas City)

Diaz was a key piece of the T-Bones bullpen last season, going 1-2 with a 2.10 ERA in 30 appearances. He served as the team’s closer down the stretch, saving 13 games. In 30.0 innings, the left-hander allowed a minuscule 13 hits, however, he did walk 21 batters. The fire-balling left-hander also struck out 51, an incredible 15.3 strikeouts per nine innings average.

Diaz began his career with the Cleveland Indians in 2012, spending two years in the organization. He was out of professional baseball for two years before returning in 2016, pitching in Tucson in the Pecos League. A year later he split time between the RailCats and High-A Daytona for the Miami Marlins.

In 2018, he began the year with the Cincinnati Reds organization before joining Kansas City. In parts of three seasons in the American Association, Diaz is a combined 4-5 with a 2.49 ERA. He has recorded 26 saves. In 94 innings pitched he has allowed just 48 hits and 51 walks while striking out 145.

Andrew Mitchell – LHP (Sioux City)

Mitchell spent 2019 in the New York Mets organization, pitching at three levels. He started in rookie ball before ending in High-A St. Lucie. The left-hander was a combined 3-0 with a 2.19 ERA. In 34 games, he tossed 49.1 innings, allowing 39 hits and 16 walks, while striking out 63.

The left-hander was drafted by the Mets in the 14th round of the 2018 draft. He spent two years with the organization, posting a 5-3 record with a 1.87 ERA and five saves. In 72.1 innings, Mitchell allowed 60 hits and 22 walks, while striking out 95.

Jeff Thompson – RHP (Lincoln)

Thompson spent 2019 with Sussex County (Can-Am League). He made 19 starts, posting an impressive 11-3 record with a 3.68 ERA and three complete games. The right-hander went 117.1 innings, allowing 120 hits and 40 walks, while striking out 96.

Thompson was originally selected by the Detroit Tigers in the third round of the 2013 draft. He spent six years in the Tigers organization, reaching AA-Erie in 2017 and 2018. During the 2018 season, the right-hander was released and signed with Evansville of the Frontier League. In his six minor league seasons, Thompson is a combined 23-23 with a 3.91 ERA. In seven total professional seasons, he has tossed 619.1 innings, striking out 564.

Jason Seever – LHP (Lincoln)

Seever graduated from college in 2018 and has spent both of his professional seasons in independent baseball. In 2018 he pitched for Sonoma in the Pacific Association. The left-hander was 1-0 with a 3.12 ERA in 13 appearances.

A season later he signed with Gateway in the Frontier League. Seever made 45 appearances, posting a 2-1 record with a 2.34 ERA. He was quite impressive, tossing 50.0 innings, allowing 38 hits and 15 walks, while striking out 54.

Jose Mesa, Jr. – RHP (Kansas City)

Mesa joined the T-Bones last season after being released by the New York Yankees. He appeared in 12 games for Kansas City, seven of which were starts, posting a 3-2 record and a 4.78 ERA. The right-hander went 49.0 innings, striking out an impressive 63 batters.

Mesa was drafted by the New York Yankees in the 24th round of the 2012 draft. He spent six seasons in the Yankees organization, reaching AA-Trenton in 2017 and remaining there until his release last season. In six minor league seasons, the right-hander was a combined 14-5 with a 3.34 ERA and 94 appearances. He also recorded five saves. He tossed a total of 205.0 innings, allowing only 147 hits, but walking 111. He struck out 258 batters.

Ben Yokley – RHP (Sioux City)

Yokley spent 2019 with High-A Palm Beach (St. Louis Cardinals). He was 1-3 with a 3.26 ERA and four saves in 31 appearances. The right-hander went 47.0 innings, allowing 42 hits in 20 walks while striking out 41.

Yokley was drafted by the Cardinals in the 29th round of the 2015 draft. He spent a year at rookie ball Johnson City before an injury wiped out all of 2016 and 2017. He returned in 2018, pitching in 18 games between the organization’s rookie league team and Mid-A Peoria.

In three minor league seasons, Yokley is a combined 3-4 with a 3.69 ERA. He has appeared in 56 games, saving five.

The Fargo-Moorhead RedHawks selections will be reviewed tomorrow morning.

By Robert Pannier