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 grades the performance of the six teams from Tuesday’s American Association dispersal draft.

Who Earned the Valedictorian?

The American Association will open their 2020 season on July 3 with six teams taking to the field. That means that six teams will be dormant for this season, and so the league held a dispersal draft of those players who were already signed by those clubs. Here is how each team did.

Milwaukee Milkmen (Grade – A)

Added: IF Chase Simpson, OF Zach Nehrir, IF Dylan Tice, RHP Dylan Baker, RHP A.J. Schugel, RHP Jack Alkire

The big prize in this draft was Chase Simpson and it was not surprising that he went first. Simpson hit .272 last season with 20 homers and led the American Association in RBI with 90. He was ranked in the top three in MVP voting and will fit nicely in front of Adam Walker and David Washington in the Milkmen’s lineup.

With their second pick, the team took Zach Nehrir, who could have very well been the top pick in the draft. Nehrir is an outstanding defensive outfielder with unbelievable pop in his bat. Add infielder Dylan Tice at the top of this batting order and the 1-5 spots are as good as any in the league.

Dylan Baker will slide into the No. 3 or 4 spot in the rotation after going 4-5 with a 3.36 ERA last season for the T-Bones. A.J. Schugel is working his way back after two injury plagued campaigns, but is a former Major Leaguer who should be a big addition near the backend of the bullpen. Jack Alkire pitched well in his first professional season, going 1-4 with a 3.71 in 22 appearances for the RailCats last season.

Sioux Falls Canaries (Grade – A+)

Added: IF Alay Lago, RHP Erik Manoah, Jr., RHP Austin Boyle, LHP Michael Gunn, IF Ryan Long, RHP Landon Holifield, OF Ricky Ramirez, Jr.

The Birdcage is not an easy place to pitch and Manager Mike Meyer added a number of great arms that add depth to his rotation and the bullpen. The big news is the return of IF Alay Lago, who was traded to Cleburne for IF Ryan Brett, LHP Eudis Idrogo, and OF KC Huth. He now returns to Sioux Falls where he was a top three MVP candidate after hitting .339 with 13 homers, 58 runs scored, and 57 RBI in 2019. In essence, Meyer acquired Brett, Idrogo, and Huth with the second pick in the draft.

The additions of Manoah, Boyle and Gunn transform this pitching staff. Manoah was excellent after coming to the AirHogs, where he struck out 70 in 69.1 innings. Boyle was one of the top five relievers in the league last season, and Gunn posted a 3.12 ERA in 15 starts in Cleburne. Holifield was outstanding in Rockland (Can-Am League) last season, where he posted a 2.79 ERA. With the addition of Idrogo, Meyer added three members to his starting rotation and either Boyle or Holifield could become the closer in Sioux Falls.

Winnipeg Goldeyes (A-)

Added: IF Darnell Sweeney, RHP Frank Duncan, OF Jordan George, IF Thomas Walraven, C Roy Morales, RHP Kent Hasler, LHP Mason Melotakis, RHP Ryan Flores, C John Nester

Sweeney was a nice pickup for the Goldeyes, but we felt this was a surprising pick at No. 3 overall. However, the picks by Manager Rick Forney got really impressive as this draft went along. John Nester with the final selection was an absolute steal. Nester was arguably the best catcher in the American Association last season and adding him and Morales gives the Goldeyes pop, great defense and leadership.

Walraven had a great rookie season for the Railcats and the addition of Duncan, Flores, and Hasler add a lot of depth to the bullpen.

Chicago Dogs (A)

Added: LHP Eric Stout, LHP Carlos Diaz, Jr., LHP Andrew Mitchell, RHP Jeff Thompson, LHP Jason Seever, RHP Jose Mesa, Jr., RHP Ben Yokley

If anyone wondered what area of his team Manager Butch Hobson was worried about, that was answered in this draft. The Dogs made seven selections and all of them were pitchers. If Keon Barnum returns to the Dogs (as expected), the lineup is going to be outstanding, so Hobson addressed the one area of concern.

Hobson put together a great bullpen with his picks. He has likely turned this into a six inning game with his selections as this team is going to have a lot of quality arms coming out of the pen.

Fargo-Moorhead RedHawks (B)

Added: IF Cito Culver, OF Dario Pizzano, RHP Jake Cosart, C Dylan Kelly, RHP Tyler Wilsoon, LHP Ryan Thurston, RHP Mitchell Osnowitz, OF Forrest Allday

Granted, the RedHawks did not have a lot of holes to begin with, but their early picks were not homeruns. However, we really liked the additions of Kelly and Wilson. Wilson throws 97+ and Kelly has been one of the top two catchers in the American Association over the last three seasons. These two turned a so-so draft into a good one for the RedHawks.

St. Paul Saints (B-)

Added: OF Chuck Taylor, RHP Jameson McGrane, OF Rashad Crawford, LHP Jose Velez, RHP Matt Pobereyko

To be honest, we expected more from Manager George Tsamis as there were a lot of holes to fill on the Saints roster. The Saints added Taylor, who was in AAA last season, so that was a solid pick at No. 6, but it was the late picks that helped to bolster the grade. Velez was solid in the Explorers bullpen last season and Pobereyko was the top closer in the league last year. He will push incumbent Tanner Keist for the job.

Tomorrow, Robert Pannier analyzes each team’s selections more in depth.

By Robert Pannier