In the days leading up to the 2054 Monty Brewster amateur draft, Rockville Pikemen GM Jim Slade made an offhand comment to a pool of reporters that, "We might just make a genius-mode reach pick!"
Wheels got turning. What young player might fit that bill at the 14th overall pick? Starting pitcher Kreshnik Bizi? Not really a reach in a pitching-thin draft, but that thought was moot when San Antonio grabbed him at #7. Shortstop Frank Jardine? Again, not really a reach at #14 and a moot point, when San Fernando selected him a pick before Rockville. Starting pitcher Alonso Arroyo, out for the season with a torn labrum? A term quite other than "genius" may have applied in that case.
With the 14th pick of the 2054 draft, the Rockville Pikemen selected...centerfielder Jose Vazquez. This couldn't have been the "genius-mode reach pick" Slade threatened to make, could it?
"Jose is an advanced, polished, professional hitter with speed and versatility," Slade characterized the pick to the assembled media.
It doesn't take a genius to reach that conclusion on a player with 3 solid years of college ball at Google under his belt. In his last 2 seasons, Vazquez averaged 10 HR and 17 SB, along the way to a .900+ OPS. Vazquez primarily played centerfield, but he projects as more of a corner outfielder in the pros.
"Jose is a hard worker. We feel he will progress quickly through out system."
This is not a reach. In an organization short on young outfield talent, this may get at the main reason the Pikemen chose Vazquez over whichever "genius-mode reach" players (probably very young prospects) Slade might have had in mind. As Julio Barajas and Bronx Cortez decline, having a "professional hitter" with speed ready to step up could be worth fans suspending the excitement over a prospect who may not be ready until the 2060s. Jose Vazquez might be considered more of a safe pick.
Sticking Points 2054.2: NOT the Genius-Mode Reach Pick
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- aaronweiner
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Re: Sticking Points 2054.2: NOT the Genius-Mode Reach Pick
Just reading the words "Bronx Cortez decline" tells us how hard it is to find professional hitters these days in drafts.
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Re: Sticking Points 2054.2: NOT the Genius-Mode Reach Pick
The first of many mentions for Bizi in TN's. Nice writeup!
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