Laurel, Maryland - Overall the Lynx were pleased with the results of the amateur draft. GM Sean Dawson said "Going into the draft we hoped to get an impact type offensive player at #3 and a catcher at #17, if any were left. With the #23 we really didn't know what to expect, but were hoping to get someone with the potential to help at the major league level down the road." The team seemed to get what it hoped for in OF Derrick Gibson, C Brian Spiegel, and P Joe Herring.
Dawson stated "Obviously Gibson is a complete player he can hit for average and power, and has good speed. His fielding ability is average at this point, but we consider his arm above average. Considering that he is just 21, we expect him add some muscle and become a 30+ homerun guy." Asked where Gibson would start his career, Dawson replied "He will see some action in the new minor leagues, likely for a couple of weeks. Assuming he produces at that level he will probably get a ticket to the major leagues sometime in July."
Manager Floyd Hoerst was happy with the possibility of putting another potential star into the Lynx line-up. Hoerst said "I really expect Jermaine Dye (21 years old) and Derrick Gibson (21) to be at the heart of the Laurel attack for the next ten years, and hopefully I am around to see this franchise turn the corner." He continued "In another season or two I expect to see the next wave of young players to arrive. If Ryan George (18) and Angel Katt (18) can live up to their potential I really think we could, and I stress the word could, be a really exciting offensive ball club." Hoerst added that of course assumes that the players currently at the major league level like SS Wilson Delgado (19), 3B Chris Snopek (24), and OFs Tony Birdsall (22), Bubba Trammell (23), Brooks Kieschnick (23) and Jermaine Allensworth (23) continue to develop.
Hoerst was also pleased with the addition of C Brian Spiegel (22). He stated "Brian has a decent bat, but the what he brings to our team is a defensive presence behind the plate that quite frankly we don't have with Bill Hassleman." Hoerst continued "Hopefully when he becomes a starter here in the near future, we will have a little more control over our opponents running game."
Hoerst considers P Joe Herring a project, but noted that at age 20 he could refine his problem areas. "We were happy with his arm strength and with the fact that he throws four pitches. He obviously has to improve his control and really needs to work to turn one of his pitches into his out-pitch." Hoerst said that "Joe's curve and slider are workable, but they have to get better to get major league hitters out."
Big Deal?
On draft day the Lynx sent ace starter Scott Erickson (27) to Deadwood along with reliever Steve Reed (29) for Bartolo Colon (20), Doug Bocthler (24), and Felix Heridia (18). GM Dawson said, "We really weren't looking to contend for another two years, and wanted to position staff to match our line-up. Potentially, the core of our rotation could be solid for many years to come with Todd Noel (18), Bartolo Colon (20), and Steve Karsay (23). We hope that either Fred Blanche (22) or Tom Foutz (19) can step into a 5th starters role and that we can add another arm in the free agent or amateur draft in 1999."
Speaking of the staff in general, Lynx manager Floyd Hoerst said "We have a lot of young guys in the bullpen as well with Marc Pisciotta (25), Phil Vaughn (24), Tris Johnson (23), Julio Santana (22), Don Geitzen (21), and Matthew Jacobs (21). We hope that Bocthler and Heridia can fit into the mix to give us a very deep pen with quality arms.
