It was time for another amateur draft, and this year, the Spuds had reason for excitement. Not only was it the strongest draft pool in several years, but thanks to “strategically” screwing up negotiations with last year’s first-round selection, Adrián Fox, the Spuds owned two of the first fourteen picks in this year’s draft.With a big handful of players on the board who would make a fine “face of the organization,” the Spuds’ draft room was buzzing as their picks got nearer. Meanwhile, watching from home in Nashville, Tennessee, was the Fox family, who was hoping to see Adrián picked by a different team this year, one that would pay him the bonus money he deserved.
Spoiler alert: someone in this scenario would end up disappointed at the end of the day. Here’s a recap of the Spuds’ draft selections.
Round 1, 10th overall pick: Lou Bayou, CF
Hometown: Shreveport, LA
“Louisiana,” as he is called by his teammates, is as Cajun as a crawfish boil. Growing up in Shreveport, his parents taught him that the key to a good boil is patience, and he learned to apply that to every aspect of his game. His advanced eye at the plate earned him an All-Star selection as a sophomore, when he tore up the High School League with a slash line of .380/.473/.563. Combine that with excellent range in center field, and the Spuds could have a potential star on offense and defense.
At only 16, Bayou has a lot of developing to do, and the Spuds won’t rush him, hoping to continue developing his plate discipline to cut down his strikeouts a bit. But he could be a Zimmer winner and perennial .300-plus hitter in the big leagues, which is (Cajun) music to the Spuds’ ears.
Round 1, 14th overall pick: Adrián Fox, RHP
Hometown: Nashville, TN
Yes, after drafting him last year at 8th overall, the Spuds decided to take another chance at Fox after seeing him drop to 14th this year. But there are also more developments in his story. First, his senior year in college saw him used as a full-time reliever for the first time, which the Spuds liked to see, because that’s the role they foresee for him. He’s also coming off a fantastic season where he posted a 1.57 ERA as the Marine Corps’ closer.
Stat-wise, everything is in the “elite” category. He touches 101 with elite movement, and is a master as inducing weak contact. His .233 BABIP and 68% groundball rate are pretty good signs that he’ll thrive as long as there’s a decent defense behind him. He’ll move fast through Boise’s system, with a chance to reach the majors as soon as next year if everything goes right (including Boise successfully signing him first).
Round 2, 54th overall pick: Tsu-bahr Hru, 2B
Hometown: Ebino, Japan
If there’s one word to describe Tsu-bahr Hru, it’s ‘dependable’. An excellent runner and defender with a durable, 6’4” frame, he’s a great option to hit at the top of the order, where he’ll get on base and make stuff happen. His game will be all about setting the table for the power guys hitting behind him, and there will be no shortage of hitters eager to drive a Tsu-bahr Hru home today. He won’t be a superstar, but he’ll get you where you need to go.
Round 3, 98th overall pick: Fernando Elizondo, LHP
Hometown: Santiago, Chile
Elizondo is a four-pitch college starter who doesn’t blow you away with velocity, but racks up strikeouts anyway with his finesse. In 11 starts during his junior year, he posted a 1.61 ERA with over 11 K’s per nine innings, winning the Fox Mulder Hurler Award for such a dominant performance.
Given his fairly advanced stage of development, he’ll probably start in A-ball. But Boise will watch him closely, as his limited stuff may start to get hit harder when he reaches the higher levels of the minors. Best-case scenario? Probably the back end of the rotation in the BBA.
Round 4, 130th overall pick: Shane Holmes, 3B
Hometown: West Gardiner, ME
Holmes is a switch hitter with some power, but his calling card isn’t his hitting — it’s his defense. He can play every position on the field, and his Twitter bio proclaims him to be in possession of “the best right arm in Maine,” for whatever that’s worth. He strikes out a little too much, and can’t really run or hit for a high average, but he’ll be valuable as long as he’s in the field on defense. Boise will try to develop him at his native position, third base, but a corner outfield spot could also be a possibility. And at just 17, they’ve got plenty of time to decide where he’ll play.
