The Brewster Baseball Association 2041 First-Year Player Draft is underway, with the Boise Spuds making two selections in the first round. Their first pick was #8 overall, followed by #13, a compensation pick from failing to sign 2040 first-round eventual hold-out Mike Jayne.With the 8th pick, Boise signed left-handed college pitcher Fernando Rangel. During the last year of scouting, Rangel was on the Spuds’ radar, but given a “second or third round grade,” according to sources close to the team. After the 2040 BBA season concluded, the Boise front office made several changes in their scouting and analytic departments, namely the hiring of new national crosschecker Ace Tangerine. Tangerine previously served as an area scout for the San Antonio Outlaws for ten years and covered Rangel as a high school starter for the Samsung Lions. The Outlaws selected Rangel in the third round of the 2038 Draft but could not come to terms with the southpaw, resulting in Rangel continuing his amateur career in college for the Kodak Snappers.
Once Tangerine was made a member of the Boise scouting department, he brought Rangel’s attention to General Manager Joe Lederer, claiming that 6’3” groundball specialist had greater potential as a multi-inning reliever out of the pen than as a starter. During Rangel’s pro day, he wowed the Boise executives and coaches with his high-effort stuff from the stretch, as well as his one-on-one interviews. Boise scouts immediately upgraded their reports on Rangel, bumping him from a 45-potential starting pitcher to an 80-potential reliever.
Scouts ratings of Rangel's potential as starting pitcher (left) vs. reliever (right)
“We’re thrilled to have selected Fernando,” Lederer told Treasure Valley Sports. “With two early picks, we felt we had to luxury of taking Rangel, even if he was lower on some other teams’ boards. We hope to get him signed soon and playing in our system right away.”
Rangel has an impressive command with a fastball that sits in the low 90s that he pairs with a devastating slider that some believe will become his out pitch. Rangel was twice named to the College Conference All-Star Game, winning the Fox Mulder Hurler Award in 2039 for top collegiate pitcher. Rangel also contributed on days he wasn’t on the mound as a first baseman but when asked about his two-way potential, Lederer say “Absolutely not. We plan on making sure Rangel focuses entirely on pitching.”
For their second first-round selection, Boise drafted switch-hitting second baseman José Rodríguez of the Mt. Fuji Bullets with the 13th overall pick. Rodríguez, a native of Guatemala, was a high school all-star last season, earning his league's Platinum Stick Award as the top hitting second baseman. Rodríguez, who finished second in 2040 voting for the league's Hitter of the Year honors, was the second player at his position taken in the draft, one spot behind second baseman Francisco Martínez.
"Rodríguez is a young talent with a very balanced offensive profile for his age," Lederer told reporters. "While he's still raw at the plate and in the field, we see a solid contributor with the potential to put up 20 home runs and 20 steals per season."
Rodríguez, who turned 18 just two weeks ago, has relied on his physical skills on the defensive side but Boise will need to work on his footwork and fundamentals in the professional ranks. Scouts believe Rodríguez should rack up doubles with his gap power and his outstanding speed will allow him to take the extra base from time to time.
After the conclusion of the draft, teams will have approximately one month to get their draftees under contract.