MLB Draft

[BibbysTowelDude]

When are college students eligible? All 4 years or what?

[SnowCat]

When are college students eligible? All 4 years or what?

I think ANY team can draft ANY player from H.S. on. It's a weird system.

Just what you all want to hear - a Missoula newspaper chiming on on the DB's; :rolleyes:

http://www.missoulian.com/articles/2005/06/07/sports/sports02.txt

D-backs can't miss in draft
By DENNIS WASZAK Jr. Associated Press

NEW YORK - The Arizona Diamondbacks are certain that their first No. 1 draft pick will be a major success.

The Diamondbacks have narrowed their choices to four players, but the hard part is deciding which one to take to kick off the baseball draft Tuesday.

"We feel that there is a very short list of guys that are impact-quality players," scouting director Mike Rizzo said. "And since we pick No. 1, we plan on picking one of those players."

The Diamondbacks have four enticing players to choose from: Virginia high school shortstop Justin Upton and a trio of college right-handers - Craig Hansen of St. John's, Wichita State's Mike Pelfrey and Luke Hochevar of Tennessee.

"We get to pick who we feel is the best player in the whole country and nobody can take him from us," Rizzo said. "The pick is entirely up to us."

Upton, from Great Bridge High School in Virginia, is generally considered the top overall prospect in the draft. Regarded as a five-tool player, Upton could join his brother B.J., the No. 2 overall pick by Tampa Bay in 2002, as the highest-drafted set of siblings.

"Justin Upton is a marvelous athlete and I think he could play just about anywhere on the field," Diamondbacks general manager Joe Garagiola said. "He is just a whale of a baseball player."

With the recent signing of Stephen Drew, the team's top pick last year, the Diamondbacks have some depth in their organization at shortstop. They also have Sergio Santos, the team's top selection three years ago, and Corey Myers, their previous highest draft pick who went No. 4 in 1999. Both Santos and Myers began their careers with the Missoula Osprey, as could Upton.

"That would affect nothing," Garagiola said. "We're going to take the player we think is the best player on the board when we have the whole thing put together."

Even so, there's a chance the Diamondbacks might go for one of the pitchers who could offer help at the major league level quickly.

Hansen is a 6-foot-6 closer with a 95 mph fastball and a nasty slider. He set the school and Big East conference records for saves, and might have raised his stock over the weekend when he started and won for St. John's in the NCAA regionals.

The 6-7 Pelfrey is a two-time Missouri Valley Conference pitcher of the year who throws a fastball that sits in the mid-90s and mixes it with a power curve and solid changeup.

Hochevar is another hard-throwing righty who is a Golden Spikes finalist and was the ace of Team USA's gold medal-winning staff last summer.

Some of the other top players available include Nebraska third baseman Alex Gordon, North Carolina high school outfielder Cameron Maybin, Long Beach State shortstop Troy Tulowitzki and Virginia third baseman Ryan Zimmerman.

Also, back in the draft is former Rice right-hander Wade Townsend, who was taken by Baltimore with the No. 8 pick last year but turned down an offer and returned to school.

"Last year, we thought there was good pitching in the draft," said Tampa Bay director of player development and scouting Cam Bonifay, whose team picks eighth. "Three of our first five picks were pitchers, but this year I don't see an overabundance of any one type of player. I would say it's an average draft, talent-wise and as far as depth is concerned."

Kansas City will make its highest draft selection at No. 2, followed by Seattle, Washington and Milwaukee to round out the top five. Boston and St. Louis, both World Series teams last year, have six picks in the first two rounds, mostly a result of losing free agents.

This year - the draft's 40th anniversary - marks the first time the selection order is based on the previous year's record from worst to best, regardless of league. In past years, the picks alternated between leagues.

"It's supposedly going to do what it was meant to do all along," Rizzo said. "We're happy the change was made this year because we get the first pick instead of the second pick."

One of the major issues in the baseball draft is the ability of teams to actually sign the players they select. Agent Scott Boras is notorious for having drawn-out contract negotiations with teams - as evidenced by the holdouts of Drew and recently signed pitcher Jered Weaver. Boras is again representing some of this year's top players including Hansen, Hochevar, Pelfrey, Utah high school lefty Mark Pawelek and Georgia Tech shortstop Tyler Greene.

"Signability is always an issue, something you always look at and that we'll continue to look at," said Bob Fontaine, Seattle's vice president of scouting. "Everybody has a budget."

The draft lasts 50 rounds and is conducted through Wednesday by conference call. San Diego selected California high school shortstop Matt Bush with the first pick last year.

"Going into the draft, I don't think you have as many star-quality players, as maybe over the last several years," Devil Rays general manager Chuck LaMar said. "But with that said, there's going to be as many major leaguers come out of this draft."

[BibbysTowelDude]

Then who on this years team will be drafted?

Crowe
Hundley
Boyer
Brown
Meloan?

[SnowCat]

If I remember right, Kenny Lofton was drafted in his Soph. year?

I'm not a baseball guy, so I can't say... other than the rules are really screwy compared to NBA/NFL.

Hopefully someone that REALLY knows picks up on this in the morning. I'm outa here until 5 or 6 P.M. tomorrow.

Best of luck.

mtz.

[BibbysTowelDude]

Thanks Zwami, really appreciate it!

[SnowCat]

Thanks Zwami, really appreciate it!

You're welcome. I did my best. Tomorrow a real baseball fan will come in and make an a$s out of me for every last letter I typed.... but that's the way it goes. :rolleyes:

I'm out of my element here.

[BibbysTowelDude]

Haha aint we both, Ive just really gotten into arizona baseball this year, went to a few games as a kid and went to one of the texas games this year, i plan on getting season tickets for the next season...

[ozone81]

If you end up going to a 4 year school, you are elgible to be drafted after your third year or in some cases after your second year (depends on when your birthday is). For your team I don't think that you have any draft elgible sophmores that you could lose. Of your juniors all of them could convievable be drafted minus Jack Arnold. Most likely not all of them will sign. The guys that could have easily seen their college carears come to an end are Crowe, Brown, Hundley, Meloan, and Guyette. Players that will most likely be drafted but it would be benificial if they came back are Boyer, Decatur, Frey, and Jarrett. Guys who were rated by Baseball America as one of the top 200 draft prospects were Crowe (29), Hundley (94), Brown (113), and Meloan (190).

[SnowCat]

BTD;

See what I was saying?

Now I feel stupid, and this is just the start!!

Gotta go, and if all works out, I'll be gone for close to 3 weeks.

Best Wishes!!

[BibbysTowelDude]

Thank you very much ozone, i appreciate the information! and I do see what you mean Zwami.. and good luck to you on those three weeks!

[GarH]

Once they are in school, they aren't eligible for the draft until after their junior year. Most of our starting juniors will be going pro. We'll just have to wait to see exactly who signs. Unlike basketball they don't enter their names into the draft. They can see where they are picked and what they are offered and decide whether to sign or stay in school.

[aicrag]

Just in case anybody cares Trevor Crowe was selected in the first round of the MLB draft. Number 16 to the Cleveland Indians. Good luck to Trevor in his future. Thanks for helping UA get back to the CWS (last year of course).

Ciao

[Ben Hansen]

I'm excited about Upton for the Dbacks but also have enjoyed watching Sergio Santos develop this year with the 'Winders.
Gotta trade for some pitching next month.

[aicrag]

Upton is just too good to pass up. His athleticism will give him options in the outfield as well. Great pick by the Dbacks. Also, Crowe actually went 2 picks earlier at 14 instead of 16 like I said.

CIao

[ZONACAT]

Hundley goes to the Padres with pick No. 76.

[BibbysTowelDude]

Yep...

14. Cleveland Indians- Trevor Crowe OF
76. San Diego Padres- Nick Hundley C

[sporto]

Any recruits of note being snagged??

[BibbysTowelDude]

124. Cleveland Indians- Jordan Brown First Basemen

Joining Trevor in Cleveland.

[ZONACAT]

Jordan Brown just went to Cleveland at pick No. 124.

[aicrag]

Bryan Anderson of Simi Valley, California went in the 4th round to St. Louis. He is a catcher which we will definitely need.

[ZONACAT]

Jonathon Meloan goes to the Dodgers at pick No. 166.

[Ezsuds81]

Pick 318 (10th rd ) Kevin Guyette to Boston Red Sox

[BibbysTowelDude]

Chris Frey just went to the Rockies in Round 11

[aicrag]

Bibby you are quick! I was just gonna post that.

[BibbysTowelDude]

Updated Draft for the Wildcats-
Rd 1(Pick 14) Cleveland Indians- Trevor Crowe OF
Rd 2(Pick 76) San Diego Padres- Nick Hundley C
Rd 4(Pick 124) Cleveland Indians- Jordan Brown 1B
Rd 5(Pick 166) Los Angeles Dodgers- John Meloan RHP
Rd 10(Pick 318) Boston Red Sox- Kevin Guyette RHP
Rd 11(Pick 327) Colorado Rockies- Chris Frey OF

[BibbysTowelDude]

Hahaha Yeah Im just using the draft caster, I hate MLB radio so Im not listening to it.

[aicrag]

Jeff Van Houten went #396 to the Marlins

[aicrag]

Brad Boyer to Seattle at 413

[BibbysTowelDude]

Updated Draft for the Wildcats-
Rd 1(Pick 14) Cleveland Indians- Trevor Crowe OF
Rd 2(Pick 76) San Diego Padres- Nick Hundley C
Rd 4(Pick 124) Cleveland Indians- Jordan Brown 1B
Rd 5(Pick 166) Los Angeles Dodgers- John Meloan RHP
Rd 10(Pick 318) Boston Red Sox- Kevin Guyette RHP
Rd 11(Pick 327) Colorado Rockies- Chris Frey OF
Rd 13(Pick 396) Florida Marlins- Jeff Van Houten OF
Rd 14(Pick 413) Seattle Mariners- Brad Boyer 2B

[NorCalCat]

Jonathon Meloan goes to the Dodgers at pick No. 166.


You're dead to me now.

[Ezsuds81]

Any word about the U of A recruits ?

I checked earlier, and out of 9 recruits listed on the UofA athletics website as having signed LOI's in the early signing period, only The catcher Anderson was drafted in the 4th round, I couldn't find the other 8 being drafted through the 18th round. :)