Goldeyes grab ex-MLBer Sweeney in league draft

Hey there, time traveller!
This article was published 16/06/2020 (1968 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

The quality of play in this year’s American Association season will be better than ever.

Unfortunately, unless you can travel to Fargo, N.D., Franklin, Wis., or Sioux Falls, S.D., this summer, you won’t get to see these talented ballplayers in person. 

On Tuesday afternoon, the Winnipeg Goldeyes and the other five clubs participating in the league’s 2020 campaign (Fargo-Moorhead RedHawks, Milwaukee Milkmen, Sioux Falls Canaries, Chicago Dogs and St. Paul Saints) took part in a dispersal draft where players from the six teams that aren’t competing this year owing to COVID-19 restrictions were up for grabs.

This year’s season, which starts July 3, has been cut down to 60 games and they’ll all take place in the home ballparks of the RedHawks, Milkmen and Canaries. The Goldeyes will be based out of Fargo, where they will play 42 games. The roster rules are also drastically different as the league eliminated rookie, LS, and veteran minimums and maximums.

The Goldeyes drafted nine players. The draft order was determined by the reverse order of the 2019 regular-season winning percentages, which gave the Fish the third selection.

In the first round, the Goldeyes grabbed former MLB infielder Darnell Sweeney. The 29-year-old from Hollywood, Fla., hit .288 with four homers and nine RBIs in 23 games last season with the Kansas City T-Bones. Sweeney played two games for the Toronto Blue Jays in 2018 and 37 for the Philadelphia Phillies in 2015.

The Goldeyes continued to pluck players from Kansas City’s roster as their next two picks were also under contract with the T-Bones. In Round 2, the Fish snagged right-handed pitcher Frank Duncan before choosing outfielder Jordan George in Round 3. Duncan, 28, went 10-6 with a 3.05 ERA last season for the Can-Am League’s Sussex County Miners. George signed with the T-Bones last July and only appeared in one game before his contract was purchased by the Kansas City Royals. The 27-year-old went on to hit .275 in 30 games for the Double-A Texas League’s Northwest Arkansas Naturals. 

The Fish also selected infielder Thomas Walraven (Round 4, Gary SouthShore RailCats), catcher Roy Morales (Round 5, Kansas City), right-handed pitcher Kent Hasler (Round 6, Sioux City Explorers), left-handed pitcher Mason Melotakis (Round 7, Cleburne Railroaders), right-handed pitcher Ryan Flores (Round 8, Sioux City), and catcher John Nester (Round 9, Cleburne).

Milwaukee held the first pick and chose infielder Chase Simpson (Cleburne). There were 42 players drafted.

Teams must still agree to terms with each player, and all players will be returned to their outgoing club at the conclusion of the 2020 season. Spring training kicks off on June 25.

taylor.allen@freepress.mb.ca

Twitter: @TaylorAllen31