19yr old 1B

[DavidPuddy]

Well, I decided to start a new career after never getting out of the minors as a relief pitcher. I imported 2003 rosters from OOTP5, created myself as a High School 1B with good contact/power and some ability to hit in the gaps. I ended up being rated a little lower then I thought I'd be (3 stars), but did get drafted in the 8th round, 221st overall, by the KC Royals. I did not get a signing bonus as the GM informed me that their budget had already been used on the draft, but that I would be playing for the single A team in Wilmington. I was excited, and eager to get going, no money in pocket, but living the dream of a professional baseball player. I began the year as the teams starting 1st baseman, batting 7th. I started the first few weeks pretty well, hitting about .290, with 12RBI's, but no home runs....then the slump began...I did start hitting a couple of dingers, had 4 by May 1, but was doing nothing else at the plate, at one point going 1 for 37....but I was kept in the lineup. It's now July 1st, and I'm currently batting .217 I haven't hit a HR in over two months, still at 4, and I have driven in 20. OBP is a paltry .249, and my OPS isn't that much better, .581. The manager keeps putting me out there though because of my defense, as I have only 2 errors in my 510 Total Chances. I have alot of work to do, but I am up for the challenge.

[Ankhiel]

just a hint, dont forget to get all team computer controlled, otherwise you'll get some strange result for one team

[DavidPuddy]

2003 Minor League Season is completed. Although I had a great experience playing professional ball for the first time, I am really unhappy with the way I played. Unlike alot of my teammates, I stayed away from the after-hours seen, and concentrated on my fitness and ball playing, but I still struggled mightly this year. Overall, my 2003 stats look like this:

GP: 113
AB: 349
H: 72
D: 21
T: 0
HR: 5
RBI: 27
R: 26
BB: 13
K: 59
AVG: .206
SLG: .309
OBP: .245
OPS: .555

I play on working hard this offseason and doing much better in 2004.

[DavidPuddy]

Well 2004 is turning out to be even more frustrated then last year...The Royals drafted another 1B this year, out of BYU, and they have him the fast track to the show. I've been relegated to spot starting and pinch hitting duties. Thorough our first 80 games, I have only 41AB's, so this year is going to be a wash...I hope this new guy....well nevermind....

[DavidPuddy]

Amazingly, over the last month of the season, the manager began to give me more starts and AB's in a platoon roleand I produced...final 2004 stats are as follows:

G: 55
AB: 120
H: 34
D: 10
T: 1
HR: 2
RBI: 21
R: 19
BB: 12
K: 18
AVG: .283
OBP: .368
SLG: .433
OPS: .801

I'm hopeful the team sees my potential and gives me alot more AB's next season and allows me to develop.

[DavidPuddy]

I started the 2005 season again on the bench for the Single A club as a spot starter and pinch hitter....however, about halfway through the year, I began getting more starts and became the everyday 1B batting cleanup....I was having a pretty nice season after getting the AB's I had hoped for, (.302 4/24) when on July 15th, the call from the GM came that I would be moving up to the AA club. I was so excited, I knew that once the team starting giving me ABs, I would produce for them. I didn't know what to expect when I arrived Wichata (KCs AA affiliate)....was I going to get a shot at playing, or would I be used off the bench. To my surprise the manager immmediatly put me in the lineup batting 5th as the DH. Well I haven't dissapointed. Through my first 16 games, I'm tearing up AA pitching hitting at a .386 clip with 3HR's and 10RBIs. Of my 22 hits, 12 have been for extra bases, (9 2b's)..and my current OPS is 1.163. I hope this keeps up....

[DavidPuddy]

Well the 2005 minor league season is over....I have to say that this truly was my best year in professional baseball and I think that I have impressed the orginization enough to consider me a top prospect. I finished the year playing everyday as the DH for the AA club. My final 2005 stats broken down between A/AA are as follows:

Single A
G: 75
AB: 162
H: 49
2B: 6
3B: 2
HR: 4
RBI: 24
R: 17
BB: 24
K: 22
AVG: .302
OBP: .392
SLG: .438
OPS: .830

Double A:
G: 43
AB: 156
H: 54
2B: 15
3b: 0
HR: 4
RBI: 24
R: 15
BB: 14
K: 34
AVG: .346
OBP: .410
SLG: .519
OPS: .930

Very happy with this season and hope that I will be able to grow upon this next year as well. It appears that I am slated to begin the year at AA as the starting 1B.

[DavidPuddy]

Yee Ha....one step closer.....not even a month into the 2006 season I have been called up to the AAA team. I was hitting .351 5/11 at the time as the starting 1B in AA.....will be batting 7th as the DH with the AAA team...

[DavidPuddy]

Well the 2006 season has come to end. Competition is a lot tougher at AAA, but I performed well. I missed about 2 weeks in mid July due to a hamstring pull, but I still managed to have an ok season. 2006 stats:

.274 9/45
OBP: .333
SLG: .429
OPS: . 762

solid year, but need to work on upping my power numbers now...hopefully the call to the show isn't too far away

[DavidPuddy]

The Date, July 17th, 2007...the call came from the Royals GM that I was being called up to the active roster. I was having an ok season at AAA (.264 13/57)....and in my first official major league at bat, I homered off Jake Peavy....
Hopefully I am here to stay....