The final installment of this year's draft recap covers Arizona through Buffalo. Hope you have enjoyed reading the evaluations. Let's get on with the last batch!
Arizona Archaeologists
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First round pick Brendan Henderson is listed as a SS, but is really projects more as a 3rd baseman in the majors. He should be able to hold his own at the plate in the majors, although the numbers like won’t be spectacular. LF Kerry Wilkins was a great value pick in round 3, as he projects to be a very good major league caliber hitter. 5th rounder Miguel Tavarez looks like he might be a decent reliever, and possibly make the big club.
Final analysis: got 2 very good hitters, Wilkins was a great pick for a 3rd rounder.
Draft Grade: B
Augusta Spiders
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Top pick Dustin Schmidt should be a sure fire future major leaguer. He has great splits, nice power, good contact, and good enough batting eye. His field skills project as a 3rd Baseman. Good pick. Supplemental round pick Dwight Flaherty should make the majors as a #5 starter or long reliever, with mediocre control and RH split holding him back from further upside. 2nd rounder Oscar Long has tremendous power and a keen batting eye. He should make an impact in the majors. They landed a few other fringe major league pitchers with their remaining early pick.
Final analysis: got a couple of good bats, Long was a great pick for a 2nd rounder. And one or two of their pitchers drafted could make the majors.
Draft Grade: B+
Boise Super Spuds
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Top pick Chick Tollberg is a solid lefty with elite control and great pitch selection. Lefties will find it difficult to hit him, but he could be a bit more vulnerable to righties. His big weakness, other than a girly first name, is that he gives up a lot of fly balls. They landed another nice lefty with their 2nd first round pick in Brett Brown. He projects solid across the board, and should be a very nice contributor in a major league rotation. In the supp round they landed Rudy Kielty who has good splits and batting eye, but isn’t as powerful as a bat as you’d like to see for a left fielder. 3rd rounder Kent Carlyle has nice power, and was a good value pick. They landed a couple of a defensive wonders in rounds 4 and 5 at SS and CF.
Final analysis: They landed 2 very good pitchers, and some solid major league level type role players. Excellent draft.
Draft Grade: A
Boston Massacre
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Top pick Vern Lowe is a tremendous bat who can absolutely crush the ball. His fielding skills may not justify his current position of 2B, put he will be a huge asset to the lineup wherever he plays in the bigs. 2nd rounder Ray Sweeney is a nice contact hitter who has the defensive skills to play Center Field. Unfortunately, he tore his hamstring in a workout with Wiki Vazquez from the affiliate Atlanta Pitbulls and will be lost until early next season. 3rd rounder Milt Pickering could reach the majors as a long reliever if he hits his projections, but the 6 mil signing bonus is questionable at best. Boston landed a couple of more good hitters and decent relievers with the rest of their early picks.
Final analysis: Good draft, but minus points for letting your draft picks work out with Wiki Vazquez and giving your 3rd round pick a 6 million dollar signing bonus.
Draft Grade: B+
Buffalo Bisons
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Top pick Benji Speaker is a very good hitter with good hitting projections across the board. His fielding projections seem to bring into question his ability to play 2B at the major league level, but he might be able to pass by. Good pick though, his bat will be a plus in a major league lineup once he develops. Supp round pick Corey Cornelius is a decent hitting SS/3B who is probably a major league backup, but could start in a pinch. Jose Johnson is a nice value pick in the 2nd round with a decent bat, and nice fielding skills. Thomas Sanford is a good value in the 3rd round, he’s a solid RP, and Phil Ryan in the 4th is a good value as well.
Final analysis: Got one major league starter for sure, and a bunch of other role player types, not a bad draft at all.
Draft Grade: B