We Got Wood - 40.17 - Lumberjacks Draft Pitcher in Round 1

[7teen]

Excitement was all around as the Portland Lumberjacks were prepared to make the 2nd overall pick in the 2040 amateur draft. The Lumberjacks got the second pick in this year's draft via a coinflip before the Expansion Draft that rewarded Portland the first pick in the Expansion draft and conversely gave the Cougars of Charlotte the first pick in the amateur draft.

Excitement was toned down some though this week when the draft class was announced. After a few seasons of a loaded talent pool in the draft, the 2040 pool was unveiled with very little high end talent which had Portland scrambling this week to try and figure out a route to take with the second overall pick. After Charlotte selected a Shortstop at number 1, Lumberjacks GM Chris Wilson stuck with the initial plan of taking a pitcher. Portland selected Jorge Deleon, a right handed pitcher from Louisiana.

"Deleon isn't your prototypical second overall pick" Wilson stated at the draft. "But he has some ability. He has the ability that is something you'd see taken in the first round, and with this draft, that says something. Deleon could be a solid middle of the rotation in the BBA in the future."

Deleon projects to be a solid 6-7-9 potential pitcher with 4 solid pitches and good velocity. The upper end movement and control are both ratings, acccording to scouts and experts, that should do well in the league. However, Deleon comes with some concerns.

"He's got a lot of injury history" said Wilson. "He's currently out for the rest of this season with a torn elbow ligament and has shown a lot of injury issues with his pitching elbow. It hasn't affected his ability that we can tell, but there are definitely some concerns there. We talked with his agent before drafting him and he assured us Deleon would be easy to sign and wouldn't demand a big pay day if we drafted him."

Wilson then spoke on whether Deleon would be signed. "It has been touched on but not been a big focus about guys skipping out on signing draft picks this year and play the wait and see game next year" Wilson commented. "If we chose not to sign Deleon, would lock up the #3 or #4 pick again next year plus whatever pick we get for our record this year. Right now that's looking like a top 1 or 3 pick in itself. We could always play that game too and hope for a deeper draft next season. It's very likely that a lot of other teams, though they haven't openly admitted that, are also looking in doing the same this year."

So for now, Deleon is a draft pick for Portland. But will he sign with the team? That remains to be seen.

[crobillard]

It's going to be awkward if this doesn't happen. Deleon is good. Solid pick.