NL East S9 Draft Recap

New York Burros

Draft needs: RP, C, BEST

Round	Pick	Player	Pos	Age	Back- ground	Contract	Bonus	Pro Yrs
1	31	Julio Arias	RP	22	COL	MILB	$1,190K	Arguably the best reliever in the draft. He has excellent control and good splits, to compliment 2 superb pitches and great durability to boot. Closer of the future right here.
2	77	Bo Holder	LF	22	COL	MILB	$550K	All around all-star caliber hitter and won't make too many mistakes on the base path. He is a little weak in LF, but can get by if you can tolerate some mistakes, but he was not drafted for his glove.
3	109	Vernon Bold	RP	18	HS	MILB	$425K	Has a sinker like Brandon Webb's, absolutely Filthy. He also has great splits and a whole other above average pitch. He also sports desirable control and stamina for a reliever. His only knock is his lower than average durability
4	141	Terry Brown	SS	20	JC	MILB	$350K	Average hitter, but a below average fielder, and runner. He has a slight chance to make the majors as a defensive backup for 2B or OF.
5	173	Don Jiang	RP	19	JC	MILB	$250K	Killer fastball and will be tough on Right handed batters, but might struggle against lefties and succeeding with his other 2 pitches, he could still get into a major league uniform for a few years.

 

Summary: A good all around draft board, each pick has ML value and the Burros covered their most glaring need in the farm Relief help. Any one of the bullpen help they picked up could play in the majors.

Grade: A+

 

Burlington Ballbusters

Draft needs: CF, SP, RP

Round	Pick	Player	Pos	Age	Back- ground	Contract	Bonus	Comments
1	10	Tom Randolph	SS	19	JC	MILB	$3,160K	Below average fielder but would make a good leadoff hitter, Randolph can run well and bunt well enough to succeed. He has some pop in his bat, but most of his damage will be done on the base path Should get at least 45 SB a year in the Majors
1	37	Russ Singleton	SS	19	JC	MILB	$840K	Similar to Randolph in that he is all speed, but defensively he shouldn't be at SS, He is better equipped to play 2B or RF. He does not run as well as Randolph but still should average 20+ SB a year.
1	45	Willie Tavarez	RP	18	HS	MILB	$600K	This high schooler sports excellent splits and good command but has only 1 great pitch and 2 average pitches. He should be able to get by and play many years in a Long Relief or Spot starter role.
2	56	Tripp Adams	SS	18	HS	---	---	Slap shot hitting Hockey prospect who also plays baseball. He has low power average splits and good speed, but could be a very expensive pick for Mid level ML talent.
3	88	Brandon Worthington	SP	20	JC	MILB	$425K	Below average control but above average splits and pitches make Worthington interesting, He might be able to get by if his control develops fully or he might bean a lot of batters. Either way it will be fun!
4	120	Matt Keough	SP	21	COL	MILB	$350K	Marginal MLer, He has average stuff with average splits and average stamina. HE does have great control which will allow him into the majors; I just don't see a long lasting career.
5	152	Ed Woods	SS	18	HS	MILB	$250K	Defensively a superior 3rd sacker, below average SS, He does not offer a lot at the plate. No power, no contact, but he runs well and has a good batting eye when he lightly grounds to Short.

 

Summary: Didn't really cover their biggest need in CF and SP, but found a couple good RP and added a few able batters to the mix. I have mixed feelings about the draft and don't think the Ballbusters got the value they needed with their picks

Grade: C-

 

Atlanta Braves

Draft needs: C ,3B, CF

Round	Pick	Player	Pos	Age	Back- ground	Contract	Bonus	Comments
1	12	Cecil Dale	SP	21	COL	MILB	$2,970K	Terrible splits and only 2 out of his 4 pitches are respectable. He is a huge misstep in the 1st round and won't make much impact if he ever makes it there
2	58	Stan Hayes	SP	18	HS	MILB	$550K	Another poor split pitcher with 2 above average pitches and 2 below average pitches. Hayes will struggle in his role at any level let alone the ML
3	90	Guy Pagnozzi	SP	21	COL	---	_	Good Stamina will make this low splits guy a good inning eater in the minors
4	122	Isaac Tracy	P	20	JC	---	---	NOT SCOUTED
5	154	Homer Kerr	P	22	COL	---	---	NOT SCOUTED

 

Summary: The Braves by allowing Matt Millen to make their selections have completely blown this draft. Huge Reaches at almost all picks and only drafted Pitchers in the first 5 rounds. With no positional players, something this farm needed, this team might have set itself back. This will be a painful experience.

Grade: F

 

Rochester Raging Reverends

Draft needs: C, RP, 1B

Round	Pick	Player	Pos	Age	Back- ground	Contract	Bonus	Comments
1	1	Dan Riedling	SP	22	COL	MILB	$4,000K	Nice starting pitcher but a reach at the #1 overall pick. Other pitchers were ranked higher by almost every scouting service. Riedling will make a good #2 or 3 type pitcher with his average control and above average pitches
2	47	Dan Eldred	SP	22	COL	MILB	$550K	Similar pitcher to Riedling, but with less control and little more average splits, He could be a #4 or 5 Starter when he develops.
3	79	Phillip Bogar	SP	19	JC	MILB	$425K	3rd pitcher with average splits and stuff, but he has good control
4	111	Michael Duffy	SP	22	COL	MILB	$350K	Average pitches matched with poor splits will lead to a long minor league career
5	143	Todd Ray	SP	22	COL	---	---	Wants to play Basketball, I say let him.

 

Summary: Needed a good bat with the 1^st pick and got a slightly above average pitcher. Although the top 2 pitchers will make the majors, it seems like an awful wasteful 1^st pick

Grade: D+