Analysis of the First Round of the 2063 BBA Amateur Draft

[aaronweiner]

This article analyzes the players in the first round of this year's amateur draft. The analysis includes the S1.

Disclaimer: As always, opinions and analysis are mine and mine alone and do not reflect any future, present or past knowledge of anything at all. This draft featured Carlos Cruz, a pick so easy that your 85 year old grandmother (same age as Cruz' impossible rating!) could have made it. Dramatization: "Oh, my, that player has so much higher numbers than the other players. I'm going to pick that guy just as soon as I put in my teeth." Not really sure what teeth have to do with drafting, but I suppose I will when I'm that old: I'm listed as a still-young 84. Speaking of teeth, I'm pretty sure bicuspids are the calcium-rich valentines that poorly literate young struggling artists send to both their girlfriend and boyfriend - delivered by pointy canines, of course. Van Gogh would be proud, and also probably wonder why he didn't think of it earlier, since it would have made it so much easier to eat his snert or humkessoep. Do not use as denture cleaner.



First Round Analysis:

1. SP Carlos Cruz (Madison): Cruz is one of the most obvious #1 picks in the history of the BBA, taken by Madison after a terrible season that could only be termed "Lose for Cruz." The draft didn't really begin until after Cruz was drafted by Madison. Even before he was drafted, a poll was created to ask what player would be the #1 overall pick in a redraft. Lou Bayou won...by one vote over Cruz. A lefty who gets a huge number of groundballs from an exceptional pitch selection, 20 year old Cruz throws four pitches with elite command. He keeps the ball in the ballpark, and his 2 home runs allowed in 62 innings last year with metal bats is almost unbelievable. He has above average control and prevents hits. Scouts think his velocity is projectible, though unlike most pitchers, he is so far past the margin that even an extra three MPH on his sinker might not matter at all. Cruz also has excellent intangibles, though he will likely never be a team captain. Not considered durable, but no injury history a nice bonus. Had an absolutely sick college career, and it might look tame next to his professional career, which may happen very soon.


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2. SP Kevin Copley (Yellow Springs): While Madison gets the hopium, Yellow Springs has to be drinking a lot of copium this week not having a shot at Cruz. However, Copley is a solid developmental starting prospect. In the new, new normal, Copley is a solid #2 or #3 starter prospect, the sort of player who does a little bit of everything without doing anything amazingly well. A soft-tossing lefty, Copley had a very good college career despite not acquiring a major league out pitch yet. Extra velocity isn't likely to help, but good coaching will, as Copley mostly needs to develop his command and improve his movement. No injury history, no serious intangible problems.


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3. 1B Claudio Confer (Cobble Hill): Confer, one of the more adaptable players in the draft, gives and gives, as the defensively-challenged first baseman played five positions in college, none of them well. He is also likely to prefer...a LOT of walks fully developed, as the switch-hitting contact specialist has an excellent projected batting eye and should strike out less than most players. Confer doesn't have the raw home run power you'd want from a first baseman, but he hit not a typo - .479 last year in 117 at bats. Amusingly, since he was playing in the IFC, this was good for a .3 WAR and was also a hilarious third place in the batting title race. Fully developed he would be one of the best leadoff hitters in the game. The almost 19 year old has a long way to go to reach that status, but fortunately so does Cobble Hill. Reasonably fast and could turn into a reliable base stealer with enough seasoning, maybe.


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4. RP/SP? Juan Evans (Valencia): Evans right now projects as one of the best relievers in the BBA, a true closer whose stuff is some of the best in the draft. Evans has a lot of work to do on his movement and control, but the 19 year old has time to develop and won't likely be rushed to the majors. The question is whether the low-endurance righty might be tried as a starter; developing a third pitch and some additional stamina might make it possible to make him usable as a starting pitcher. Not going to be a team captain, but no other intangible minuses. A fun player to watch grow.


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5. SP Ernesto Marrero (Louisville): Marrero has been a riser in the college ranks for three years, improving each year of college and winning two College World Series and last year's Fox Mulder Award. Despite the success, Texan native Marrero has a long way to go to be a major leaguer, as the classical fastball/slider/change/sinker pitcher has yet to develop an out pitch and is not major league ready. The righty has most of his control down and his movement is projectible but solid, so mostly coaches will have to make sure that he improves the command on his pitches. Good stamina and durability a huge plus, as the sidearm righty rates at a minimum to be an innings-eating workhorse with some thoroughbred genes.


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6. LF/RF Jorge Martinez (Phoenix): Martinez is another leadoff prototype, though a very different one than Confer and may end up playing the 2 hole. He has nowhere near the batting eye of Confer, but his contact is just about as good and he should hit more homers and loads of doubles and triples. Martinez is solid defensively, very fast and runs the bases at a high level, but he doesn't project to draw an above-average number of walks. Good intangibles will help, though scouts are concerned about his physical makeup after a couple big injuries in college.


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7. SP Ricardo Martinez (Long Beach): A two-time HS All-Star and second in the Mike Swanson Award voting in 2061, Martinez is a well-rounded starting pitcher who can really do everything. Righty Martinez is a bit of a junkballer, leading a potentially excellent curveball off a solid cutter and changeup, and has major league level control now with some room for improvement. Keeping with a trend in this draft, Martinez' movement is also fairly well developed, but he has very little command on his pitches. His repertoire probably helps to keep him healthy, as despite his reportedly poor work ethic he has never had a major injury; his teammates ironically refer to him as "Butterball" despite the fact that he is 6' 2", 175.


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8.2B Edgar Thomas (San Antonio): San Antonio once picked the best hitter in the draft at #12: George Stickler. The Outlaws try to capture lightning in a bottle again by picking the 2062 Bo Jordan Award winner, Thomas, who hit an astonishing 33 homers in 242 at bats that season. A lefty-hitting middle infielder with good plate skills across the board, Thomas has to learn to make better contact at the major league level, but should come on quickly for the Outlaws. Relatively fast and good on the basepaths, Thomas could become a good basestealer as well. Thomas is in top shape and has no serious makeup issues.


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9. SP Tony Morales (Austin): Morales is a soft-tossing lefty with good stamina, a solid makeup, and reasonably well developed, but he brings to mind a more pressing question for me in our ever-new normal: Morales vs. (#5 overall) Ernesto Marrero. Both Morales and Marrero come somewhat heavily equipped in movement and control for their age (and Marrero higher regarded by scouts), but they are very different developmentally: Marrero has a number of low-grade pitches to develop to higher numbers, while Morales has less to develop but is coming from a much lower place, with his changeup barely useable. It will also be interesting to find out if the changeup has the same developmental track as it used to. Because of a number of these issues, it is possible that Morales ends up a reliever, though that is not likely to be true of Marrero. Admittedly, I am also concerned a little about Morales because of his repeated core and hamstring injuries, but none of them have been serious, and he should at the very least be a usable reliever.

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10. SP Miguel Maes (Brook Park): And then there's Maes, who at 20 years old has a big, plus fastball, a solid grasp on his side pitches, and a very underrated amateur career that culminated in a solid 6-2, 3.81 ERA final season of college. Maes is unlikely to end up as a reliever even if he only gets one of his two strong side pitches, though his durability could lend itself to making him a bullpen stopper, should they go that route. Good intangibles should help.


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11. 1B Claudio Mendoza (Atlantic City): Mendoza has a long way to go to make the majors, but Atlantic City was very sure that he was the guy. The righty first baseman had an absurd .600 OBP in the IFC last year, and scouts believe that fully developed, his batting eye will be his calling card. Mendoza won't have a lot of power, either homers or doubles, for a first baseman, but he should make consistent contact and get on base frequently, another potential leadoff man in a top eleven with several of them (and more to come). No serious intangible issues, no injury history.


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12. 2B Carlos Deleon (New Orleans): In a world of slaptastic players, the Crawdads have drafted the Slapdaddy. Deleon is unlikely to nearly ever strike out at the plate fully developed, and he should find holes in the defense with potentially exceptional bat control. That is his lone skill, however: Deleon is unlikely to hit for any sort of power, with minimal doubles power and very little home run pop, a below-average batting eye, minimal speed, and below average defensive skills. New Orleans has drafted players like this in the past, and most of them have not worked out. This is the pick that New Orleans does not have to sign, so we'll see if they do this time always an adventure.


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13. LF Russell Sabin (Chicago): Sabin's ceiling seems so high that having a low floor might be worth the risk, despite the tepid scout rating. The righty slugger will have some trouble making consistent contact, yes. However, Sabin has a big power bat, and with good speed and good baserunning instincts, should hit a fair number of triples to go with a solid number of doubles. Even beyond his good power, his potential calling card is a batting eye that, while still in its infancy, might become one of the best in the game. While not a true two-way outfielder, you won't have to pull him from left field late in games. Sabin has solid intangibles and is definitely a project, but a very watchable one.


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14. RP Cornelio Martinez (Boise): Martinez is one of the few players in this draft who is in no way a prospect: he's a major leaguer already. The big (6' 7") righty is nicknamed "Deathblow," and I can only imagine the anticipation when he's called into start 9th innings, and very soon. Deathblow hits 96 on the gun with an excellent fastball-splitter combo that will probably benefit from velocity. He has above average skills as well. Deathblow is supposedly a total pain to coach and a difficult personality (and has a major arm injury), but maybe he'll take it out on Frick League batters.


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15. OF Angel Barrera (Cape Fear): There's just something for everyone in this draft, isn't there? Barrera is an old fashioned swing from the heels, extra bases or bust, all or nothing slugger. But, if the ball hits the bat, it flies a long way Barrera has the highest power potential of any player in the 2063 draft, though it's a long way away. Hopefully coaching can get him to the point where he makes consistent contact. Barrera is also not bad in the field and has a solid batting eye, so he's also a very, very interesting project; we'll see whether he's got more Ernest McBride or more Hugh Mangrouthormone in him.


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16. SP Paul Glass (Bikini): Leave it to Ron Collins to pick the most interesting pitcher in the draft I'm guessing he saw him as a Glass half full. The full part of this Glass is fairly potent (but still not potent enough to prevent someone from taking Carlos Cruz): Glass has the best control and movement combination in the draft, so there’s no walking on Glass, and is extremely good at keeping the ball in the ballpark, so he keeps a Glass ceiling in place. The Glass half empty is his command, which border on batting practice pitches – admittedly jumpy, well-aimed ones! The best major league comp for Glass, who comes nearly tempered and just a little stained, is Mauro Esperanza, and that guy hasn't been bad at all.


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17. SS/IF Brett Long (New Orleans): This is the one that New Orleans does have to sign, so I imagine he'll be a Crawdad. Long is listed at shortstop, but he is much more likely to end up at 2nd or 3rd base, where his mechanics will play better. A solid contact hitter with a little pop and good gap power, Long should be a consistent player at any infield position he is good enough to play. Good intangibles a plus.


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18. RP/SP Kirk Redding (Rosenblatt): Redding is a big-armed reliever at this point who could potentially be converted into a starting pitcher. The lefty hits 98 on the gun excellent cutter, and also has a fully developed out pitch with his curveball. Redding comes nearly fully equipped and the Bombers will have to decide whether or not to do anything with him at all as he projects to be a good, not dominant reliever. Excellent intangibles a plus.


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19. OF/DH Jose Cabrera (Vancouver): Russell Sabin, Jose Cabrera, or neither one? Cabrera profiles very close to Sabin: they're both long-term projects, they're both sketchy contact hitters with huge power bats, they both project to have off-the-charts batting eyes, and they're both kind of mediocre defensively. Cabrera is listed at center field but likely won't play an inning there as a pro. Despite his incredible intangibles, his college coach apparently didn't like him, because he only got 6 plate appearances in his only college season.


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20. C Glen Butler (Long Beach): Butler is likely to be one of the better starting catchers in the next decade, though he's a long way away from making it. Lefty-hitting Butler is likely to be one of the few catchers in the league who consistently hits .280 or better, and could challenge for a batting title or two with some good luck. His deficiencies aren't too profound: he should be a marginal defensive catcher, doesn't have plus power, and won't draw a ton of walks. But he should manage to get base hits, which is good for a catcher. Good intangibles will help.

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21. SP Clark Curry (Jacksonville): If you believe the scouts, Curry was around the fourth or fifth-highest rated pitcher in the draft, but it's always healthy to doubt them a bit. Curry, a hard-throwing righty who won't be able to vote until June, is still very raw but won the 2060 Mike Swanson Award and had an 18-6 high school record and over 6 WAR in 180 innings. He has two potential out pitches and a potentially usable changeup, and if he doesn't make it as a starter would make a good reliever conversion. A strained back in high school is a mild concern, but Curry has good intangibles and some of the best stuff in the draft.


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22. RP Harry Bryson (Hawaii): Bryson is a sidearmed lefty with good velocity for a submariner and joins the good skills, undeveloped stuff pack of pitchers in this draft, something that may be a clarion call from the new new normal. Bryson's plus movement and control are already seemingly fully developed, but he has a long way to go on his command. If he gets there, he has a plus fastball and an excellent slider along with a throwaway forkball. Good intangibles a plus.


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23. SP Lucio Hernandez (Portland): Hernandez is a projectible righty who was one of the youngest players in the draft, but who has a lot of potential. One of the best things in the new, new normal is we have a scouting estimate of a pitcher's top velocity, and it probably doesn't affect their overall potential rating: neat. In Hernandez' case, he tops out currently in the mid 90s but is projected to hit the high 90s after some development. Hernandez has a four-pitch repertoire and works everything off a fastball that pops, though he has a long way to go to develop his command and his skills. Hernandez was a three-time All-Star in high school but was reportedly difficult to coach, so maybe Portland could peel off some generational wisdom to get this guy a little better behaved.


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24. SP Jorge Roman (Mexico City): Roman is a raw high school pitcher who throws hard for a teenager and even harder for a teenage lefty. Scouts predict that with seasoning, Roman could turn his mid-90s cutter into a potentially lethal high-90s cutter, and if he gets all of his stuff, he'll have two superior pitches and can throw four for strikes, assuming that his control is better than it looks. Roman had a nondescript high school career, but he's got tools and he's a quick study.

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25. OF Jon Scaife (Des Moines): You don't usually see first round picks that struck out in two out of every five college at bats, but the lines on Scaife are one of a kind. Case in point, his (unfair!) third runner up for Bo Jordan season in 2062: .324/.477/1.074!!!! with 84 strikeouts in 188 at bats, 44 HR and 109 RBI in 49!!! games. Scaife's slugging percentage and OPS that season were the highest in the College Conference All-Stars 64-year history. Holy swing, Batman. Scaife is never going to hit for a consistent batting average, though he can draw a walk, runs the bases well, and is above-average as a corner outfielder. History of leg injuries a concern. He's one to watch, as he's well-developed and should come on quickly.


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26. SP Jose Dodson (Calgary): Sadly, Dodson could have maybe been a much bigger pitcher if he didn't blow out his arm in 2062: his high school ERAs were, in order, 1.70, 2.74, 7.88! and finally 7.94!! last year. That said, Dodson is yet another projectible pitcher in this draft, a diminutive high school righty who may hit the high 90s with his potentially plus fastball. In fact, Dodson has all the fastballs: cutter, sinker, and a potentially usable changeup. (Am imagining Skeletor running away saying: REMEMBAH! A changeup is just a very, very slow fastball.) His movement and control project as just average, and doctors think there's some lingering effect from the injury, though his good attitude and baseball IQ may help somewhat in staying healthy.


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27. SP Walter Barry (San Fernando): Barry had an outstanding college career, with two All-Star appearances and two top-three finishes in Fox Mulder voting, and might be a bit underrated for where he was drafted. Barry, unlike many of the pitchers in this draft, doesn't have overwhelming stuff, but there's a craftiness to Barry that some of the other pitchers lack. He has plus control right out of college, paints corners and blunts bats a bit, and has good stamina, especially for pitchers in this draft. Barry does need his changeup to come in for him to be an effective starter, but he could probably deal out of major league bullpens now, if needed. A good teammate, and the closest he's come to being injured is pink eye.


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28. 3B/SS? Ji-Hoon Tokko (Montreal): Ji-Hoon may soon be Montreal's favorite flavor of Tokko: a Korean Tokko. (Korean tacos are a real thing, for anyone who doesn't know.) There's no question that Ji-Hoon will enjoy traveling to Montreal, as the skinny 17 year old has an interesting opportunity to become either the Blazers' future starting third baseman or shortstop. Tokko puts the bulging muscles in bulgogi, as he already has major league power but scouts think he'll acquire more as he gets older. The righty infielder is unlikely to win any batting titles, but he could play remarkably well as a shortstop if he can make any kind of consistent contact. Good intangibles should help.


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29. LF Emilio Groves (Charlotte): If you were to 3-D print a cookie cutter two-way outfielder and needed a template, you might have used Emilio Groves to sculpt that plastic. Groves is a 17-year old lefty-hitting outfielder who is major-league ready defensively but needs seasoning at the plate. However, fully developed he is expected to hit for consistent contact with good pop and draw enough walks to keep pitchers honest. Groves had an extremely productive high school baseball career and unfortunately may need an attitude adjustment as a result, but he's a ten year starter if he develops.


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30. SP Jose Lopez (Las Vegas): Lopez is a raw high school pitcher who has a long way to go to the majors, but should outdo his scout ranking if he gets everything he's due. The righty had a good senior season in high school, though at 18 years old he really has no identifiable current skills. If he gains the velocity scouts think he will and starts acquiring major league abilities, Lopez could be very good, but right now he's just a face in the crowd. Good fitness should help keep him buoyant while he waits to become better.


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31. OF/1B Dale Keller (Twin Cities): Keller is a college player who curiously cannot be found on the roster of his team nor did he get any at-bats. Thinking a good nickname for him might be "Phantom Doublemint" for his primary skill: gap power. Keller should also make consistent contact with a little home run pop and good speed on the basepaths, and should be more than adequate at either left field or first base. Seems like a good, if strangely invisible teammate.


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32. IF Nick Webb (Charm City): Webb played just 19 college games before being drafted, though they were productive: Webb hit 40% above the already gaudy IFC league average in that small sample size. However, it is likely that he did not play very much because he is extremely raw: Webb had one of the lowest pro-ready grades in the entire draft. He does already possess major league power, which may improve over time, but currently has no clue what to do with it. Defensively, he is currently marginal enough he may end up at first base, which would likely lessen his value. Webb has good speed and yet may become a good pro, and he's totally cut, but you'd like to see more development from a 19 year old.


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33. OF Nathaniel Esmonde (Sacramento): The M'opes love their contact hitters, and Esmonde is potentially the latest in a long line of them. Esmonde carries virtually no other major league skills with him: he's not a powerhitter and shouldn't hit a lot of doubles, he can't run, and his defense is just barely passable at this point in his career. But the lefty batsman should hit for a high average every single year if he develops, and that's not too bad.


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34. SS Juan Reyes (Nashville): So, um, here's the list of shortstops in the BBA who have Reyes' defensive fundamentals (I filtered 8/8/8/8) and have at least six contact: Leslie Hartman, Lucio Guevara, Sammy McNeill, Keith Williams, and current Bluebird Brooks Eliot. Average wins above replacement for this group was 4 WAR last season, and Hartman didn't play in the majors last year but is on pace for 7 WAR this year. I don't think Reyes currently projects as well as any of them and is most comparable offensively to Williams, who was the low man on that totem pole (2.2 WAR), but he could improve. Eliot is still the better shortstop by a fair amount, but don't be surprised if Eliot is traded in the next couple years to a genius near you for their four top prospects, the Crown Jewels, the GM's family jewels and their beloved pet Meow Meow. Reyes will have to develop first, which is not a given. He's actually a bit underdeveloped for someone who turns 21 in July, and he doesn't run and his defense is currently capped below most of the players I listed here and he doesn't make amazing contact when he hits it...but one has to wonder why he wasn't drafted earlier over some of the more gimmicky players that went in Round 1, since there appear to be five guys similar to Reyes and Nashville ALREADY HAS ONE. Scouts aren't high on him, but that just proves they're high on something.


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35. SP Mario Iglecias (San Fernando): San Fernando takes their second control specialist of the round, a coachable college righty who had an underrated college career. No matter how much they push up his skills, Iglecias will always be a little bit of a pitch to contact pitcher, but he does have a tendency to keep the ball in the ballpark and is one of the more professional ready pitchers in this draft.


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[Knucklehead254]

One of my favorite annual features

[Dington]

34. SS Juan Reyes (Nashville): So, um, here's the list of shortstops in the BBA who have Reyes' defensive fundamentals (I filtered 8/8/8/8) and have at least six contact: Leslie Hartman, Lucio Guevara, Sammy McNeill, Keith Williams, and current Bluebird Brooks Eliot. Average wins above replacement for this group was 4 WAR last season, and Hartman didn't play in the majors last year but is on pace for 7 WAR this year. I don't think Reyes currently projects as well as any of them and is most comparable offensively to Williams, who was the low man on that totem pole (2.2 WAR), but he could improve. Eliot is still the better shortstop by a fair amount, but don't be surprised if Eliot is traded in the next couple years to a genius near you for their four top prospects, the Crown Jewels, the GM's family jewels and their beloved pet Meow Meow. Reyes will have to develop first, which is not a given. He's actually a bit underdeveloped for someone who turns 21 in July, and he doesn't run and his defense is currently capped below most of the players I listed here and he doesn't make amazing contact when he hits it...but one has to wonder why he wasn't drafted earlier over some of the more gimmicky players that went in Round 1, since there appear to be five guys similar to Reyes and Nashville ALREADY HAS ONE. Scouts aren't high on him, but that just proves they're high on something.

Luckily, Eliot should be a Bluebird for life, even if he has to move to 3B or 2B one day. Also, allergic to cats so I won't be trading for any.

[RonCo]

I love these. The best part is that you can go back later and see what Aaron thought.

If I were to make the decision now, Glass will go straight to the atoll. Though maybe we'll give him a start or two in the minors just to scrape off rust.

[Graham]

Awesome stuff. Aside from Cruz for the obvious reasons, I'll enjoy watching Sabin, Glass and Bryson from afar...I think their dimples overpower their warts.

[aaronweiner]

34. SS Juan Reyes (Nashville): So, um, here's the list of shortstops in the BBA who have Reyes' defensive fundamentals (I filtered 8/8/8/8) and have at least six contact: Leslie Hartman, Lucio Guevara, Sammy McNeill, Keith Williams, and current Bluebird Brooks Eliot. Average wins above replacement for this group was 4 WAR last season, and Hartman didn't play in the majors last year but is on pace for 7 WAR this year. I don't think Reyes currently projects as well as any of them and is most comparable offensively to Williams, who was the low man on that totem pole (2.2 WAR), but he could improve. Eliot is still the better shortstop by a fair amount, but don't be surprised if Eliot is traded in the next couple years to a genius near you for their four top prospects, the Crown Jewels, the GM's family jewels and their beloved pet Meow Meow. Reyes will have to develop first, which is not a given. He's actually a bit underdeveloped for someone who turns 21 in July, and he doesn't run and his defense is currently capped below most of the players I listed here and he doesn't make amazing contact when he hits it...but one has to wonder why he wasn't drafted earlier over some of the more gimmicky players that went in Round 1, since there appear to be five guys similar to Reyes and Nashville ALREADY HAS ONE. Scouts aren't high on him, but that just proves they're high on something.

Luckily, Eliot should be a Bluebird for life, even if he has to move to 3B or 2B one day. Also, allergic to cats so I won't be trading for any.

Good, good, drive up the price.

[aaronweiner]

I love these. The best part is that you can go back later and see what Aaron thought.

If I were to make the decision now, Glass will go straight to the atoll. Though maybe we'll give him a start or two in the minors just to scrape off rust.

The nicest thing is if you make it to the atoll, you can see the reef right underneath the guy. Though you might have to scrape off kelp.

[aaronweiner]

I think their dimples overpower their warts.

Borrowed. Good imagery!

[chicoruiz]

Always a read I look forward to, and special kudos for using the larger type face so I don’t have to go get my reading glasses!

[JRamirez]

This should be 6 or 8 ppts for all the work and effort each year

[BaseClogger]

It’s pretty crazy how much more sanguine I am on Madison’s outlook today than I was a year ago.

[aaronweiner]

It’s pretty crazy how much more sanguine I am on Madison’s outlook today than I was a year ago.

Well, the modern-day answer for Billy Chapel, Jr., goes a long way towards that. That's my best historical comp, though Cruz may be better than Chapel.

[CTBrewCrew]

Great work as usual @aaronweiner

[CTBrewCrew]

Again this is a lot of work … bonus ppt coming for this also

[Jwalk100]

Spot on for Bryson. My hopes are to let him grow into his stuff as he moves up the org. He has a good base and should be ready quick.

Great job with the 1st Round analysis. It's one of my favorites!

[RT60]

Great job! This draft flummoxed me. Last year, I chose 2B Roger Watts with the first pick instead of pitcher Harry Bransington. Bransington looks like the better pick at least so far. This time, I picked pitcher Marrero over 2B Edgar Thomas, and I have a sneaking suspicion that Thomas will end up being the better player.

[BaseClogger]

It’s pretty crazy how much more sanguine I am on Madison’s outlook today than I was a year ago.

Well, the modern-day answer for Billy Chapel, Jr., goes a long way towards that. That's my best historical comp, though Cruz may be better than Chapel.

The other factor for me is that their 19 year-old shortstop they drafted last season is already playing well in the BBA.

[Bob Breum]

There's no question that Ji-Hoon will enjoy traveling to Montreal, as the skinny 17 year old has an interesting opportunity to become either the Blazers' future starting third baseman or shortstop.

Our top two picks will go immediately to the top of our prospect depth chart at 3B (Daniel Bañuelos) and SS (Ji-hoon Tokko) because we currently have no prospects at either position in our minor league system. That has to be a great situation for a young draft pick.

[woods]

15. OF Angel Barrera (Cape Fear): There's just something for everyone in this draft, isn't there? Barrera is an old fashioned swing from the heels, extra bases or bust, all or nothing slugger. But, if the ball hits the bat, it flies a long way Barrera has the highest power potential of any player in the 2063 draft, though it's a long way away. Hopefully coaching can get him to the point where he makes consistent contact. Barrera is also not bad in the field and has a solid batting eye, so he's also a very, very interesting project; we'll see whether he's got more Ernest McBride or more Hugh Mangrouthormone in him.


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We are excited to see how Barrera develops. Incredibly fun numbers from his freshman year in college: In 207 PA's, he took 56 walks, hit 13 doubles, 1 triple, and 29 homers. And only 16 singles.

We're already planning "singles night" promos at our park where if Barrera hits a single, all drinks are half price for the rest of the game. It happens so rarely that the cost would be negligible.

[aaronweiner]

Great job! This draft flummoxed me. Last year, I chose 2B Roger Watts with the first pick instead of pitcher Harry Bransington. Bransington looks like the better pick at least so far. This time, I picked pitcher Marrero over 2B Edgar Thomas, and I have a sneaking suspicion that Thomas will end up being the better player.

Well, at least you’re consistent.