Gabrielle O. Alvarez-Tillman - Contributing Reporter.
The S57 draft is but a few days away. Last year we looked at each of the teams and how they might be approaching the draft. This year, we'll adjust a bit and look at the top 17 picks to try and predict which route they'll go and who might be able to pick up a surprise pick.
Draft season is just around the corner. This is the time of year that will make or break a season for teams like Tacoma, Mexico City, Dover, New York, and Montreal. As they continue a rebuild, a blown pick could set them back another season or two. Let's hope they don't "a pull a Mini" and are able to secure their picks this season.
- New York - After signing Hector Pascual they have ~$5M to spend, just enough to sign the number pick at slot or slightly above. They will definitely be playing it safe this season. Assuming they are able to sign their pick, New York has only signed 2 first round picks since S34. That stretch dates back to their last rebuild years. High School
- Dover - drichter has never signed a College kid in the first round. This year he might very well get the 2nd best high schooler in the draft, so let's hope that's also the 2nd best player in the draft. S5 they signed #4 pick at slot, but S55 they paid near double for that season's #2 pick. High School
- Austin - Could be a sleeper pick here with high schoolers very likely going #1 & 2, Austin could target the best college player. If he ends up being the top player in the draft, this could be a steal. Similar to back when Kyle Crain was drafted #5 back in S48. College
- Tacoma - His first years in the league, mcandrews went youth but after selecting Domingo Rodriguez #1 overall in S54, he's gone three straight College kids, including Ernest Page - # pick of S54. He's provided to be willing to spend over slot to get a quality player as well. If Austin doesn't go College for some reason reason, or doesn't want to stretch and overpay their prospect - the top pick of the draft could slip to #4 and find their home in rainy Washington state. College
- Mexico City - College is where it's at for dakar as he picks his 4th straight top 5 overall pick. A power bat who could stretch as a 1B or DH might be a solid cornerstone for this franchise. College
- Pittsburgh - Theangryduck's highest pick since the year after selecting Rip Bromberg their first season in the league. Likely goes with a high schooler. High School
- Colorado Springs - Finally comitting to the rebuild, top has only selected two college kids in the first round since taking over the team in S13. He's bagged more 18 yr olds than the starting quarterback at Prom. High School
- Augusta - Is still too new to the league to know which direction he goes, but given it's likely there are 4 high schoolers and 3 college kids taken prior to this pick, it could go any direction. ???
- Washington DC - Still new to the league, but he's taken college kids the last two seasons; it's likely with the #9 pick he goes for his third straight. College
- Milwaukee - A true wildcard, jbburner went HS last year but has picked up plenty of college kids. ???
- Salem - The witch trails have begun and it will be a college kid this year. College
- Santa Fe - Still No High Schoolers allowed club! Santa Fe will continue with high budgets and signing FAs, so they will grab the top rated College kid available.
- Charleston - Not much known about the history of this owner, but we think he repeats his choice of last year and goes High Schooler. Which isn't a bad idea, given the number of college kids drafted ahead of them.
- Buffalo - Nothing but College kids here, expect the trend to continue, though maybe not a helpful this season.
- Jacksonville - Another wildcard with limited knowledge of his preferred draft history. ???
- Anaheim - Oddly enough it's been back and forth in recent picks alternate between HS and Col; which if still true will be a High School prospect.
- Montreal - High School heavy in their drafts but will ultimately be as disappointed in their pick as the player is in having to playing Canada and be paid in colored money that looks eerily similar to Monopoly money.
Final toll:
7 - High School
7 - College
3 - Wild cards that the blog can't quite figure out.
Pretty evened out draft, decent chance of someone slipping to a later pick.
Good luck everyone!