The college and prep seasons are underway, which means it’s time to start
thinking about the 2006 draft class. Last year, I decided to project the first
round based not only on player talent, but also on predicted 2006 performance,
June draft order and organizational need. I was successful in some places (Jeff Clement to the Mariners at #3 overall and
Mike Pelfrey
to the Mets at #9) and not so successful in others (Sean O’Sullivan to the Devil
Rays at #8 and
Stephen Head to the Pirates at #11). For the second consecutive year, I’ve
gone through scouting reports and watched a lot of video to bring you my early
edition of the 2006 first round. Somewhere around the halfway point of the
college and prep seasons I plan to write an updated first round projection, with
a final projection to come in the week preceding the draft.
1. Kansas City Royals - LHP - Andrew Miller, R-L, 6’6, 210,
North Carolina
Heading into the 2006 collegiate season, Miller is the consensus number one
pick. He has everything going for him: Blazing fastball that sits at 94 mph and
can touch the high 90s, and a ridiculous slider that appears to start behind a
left-handed hitter’s knees before it breaks out over the plate. I’ve seen a few
that actually end up on the outside corner that are still clocked in the
mid-80s. That’s the definition of ‘nasty’. On top of that Miller has a great
pitcher’s build (6’6, 210), a smooth wind-up and clean arm action; think
Mark Mulder
with Randy Johnson’s velocity. The one thing he shares with the young RJ that isn’t so
good is a tendency to miss his spots for stretches in the middle of a start. He
still dominates his competition, but he will need to improve his command in the
pros. Considering how far along Miller already is in the other facets of his
game, it isn’t a stretch to imagine him in the Royals rotation on Opening Day
2007. The Royals didn’t flinch at
Alex Gordon’s
contract demands last year, so they’re not going to pass up a near-ready ace
this year.
2. Colorado Rockies - Dellin Betances, RHP, R/R, 6’9, 210, Grand Street HS,
Brooklyn, NY
I expect to get more feedback on this pick than any other, but Dellin Betances
is the most impressive prep pitcher I’ve seen so far. He has ridiculous tilt on
his fastball thanks to his height; almost every heater crosses the plate at or
below the knees unless he buzzes someone. Even more impressive, he repeats his
delivery and has good command of three pitches – including a sharp-breaking
curve and a promising changeup, which is unusual for a pitcher of his size and
experience. Finally, he owns the game when he takes the mound. He is quietly
intimidating, both through his size and his stony composure, and I expect him to
add velocity in 2006 and have a huge season. The Rockies will look for a pitcher
in this spot, but won’t feel comfortable with Max Scherzer’s representation
(rumored to be Scott Boras) or Daniel Bard’s Coors Field outlook. Ultimately, I
think it’s very possible that they’ll turn to Betances and his grounder-inducing
fastball.
3. Tampa Bay Devil Rays - Max Scherzer, RHP, R/R, 6’2, 200,
Missouri
The Rays have the makings of an incredible offense on the verge of cracking the
show, which is why they’ve focused on pitching early in the last two drafts.
2006 will be more of the same as they try to add a third arm to round out a trio
including Jeff Niemann and
Jason Hammel. A lefty would be ideal, but they won’t find a lefty worthy of
this pick, so they’ll go with the best guy on the board. Scherzer's works in the
mid-90s with his fastball and has been clocked as high as 99 on several
different occasions. His slider is good and could get a lot better, and his
command within the strike zone is solid. Scherzer’s name is connected with Scott
Boras as of early February, so he could fall based on signability. Still, I
think Tampa Bay’s new ownership will swallow the Boras pill to get Scherzer if
they have to, and Scherzer could be ready by late 2007.
4. Pittsburgh Pirates -
Drew Stubbs,
OF, R/R, 6’4, 200, Texas
Pittsburgh will consider Daniel Bard here, but, in the end, the package Stubbs
offers will be too hard to pass up. Stubbs is a five-tool talent who has drawn
comparisons to
Rocco Baldelli, though with more power. Like Baldelli, Stubbs swings early
and often, so he doesn’t draw many walks. Ideally the team that drafts him will
make plate discipline the focus of his developmental path, because if he doesn’t
get himself out he’s going to make life miserable for a lot of pitchers.
Hopefully, Stubbs won’t be Chad Hermansen-redux, another five-tool Pirate
centerfield prospect with a problem taking walks. Ultimately, I think the extra
experience Stubbs gained in college will help him avoid a similar fate.
5. Seattle Mariners - Daniel Bard, RHP, R/R, 6’4, 200, North Carolina
Bard’s so-so sophomore season (7-5, 4.22 ERA, 43 BB, 77 K in 89 IP) was
mitigated by an impressive summer on the Cape, where he struck out 82 batters in
65 innings and was named the #2 prospect in the league behind fellow Tarheel
Miller. As evidenced by his sophomore walk total (43 against 77 K in 90 IP) ,
Bard’s command needs polish. However, his velocity (94-95 mph, touching 98),
plus curveball and workhorse build should help him have an excellent 2006
campaign. Seattle has had a long list of injuries on the pitching side of its
farm system, so Bard’s durability and performance against top college
competition will be attractive to them.
6. Detroit Tigers - Evan Longoria, SS, R/R, 6’2, 185, Long Beach State
Evan Longoria enters the 2006 season trying to become the next Long Beach State
infielder to be taken in the first round after
Bobby Crosby
(Athletics, 2001) and Troy Tulowitzki (Rockies, 2005). He came of age last
summer when he was named MVP of the Cape Cod League, hitting .299/.331/.500 with
eight homers and 35 RBI with wooden bats. He generates tremendous loft with his
swing, but doesn’t have the polish of his Dirtbag predecessors. Still, his power
is special and the Tigers will take him as a third baseman and look forward to
seeing him reach Comerica Park’s left-field seats on a regular basis.
7. Los Angeles Dodgers - Matt Latos, RHP, R/R, 6’5, 200, Coconut Creek (FL)
HS
I’m torn over which prep righthander will be the better prospect come June:
Jordan Walden or Matt Latos. My gut says Latos, but right now the consensus is
that it will be Walden. And since part of this exercise is to project without
the benefit of 2006 performance, I’m going to go with Latos. He hasn’t hit 99 on
radar guns like Walden, but he has touched 97 and sits in the 92-94 range with
excellent movement. His curve is improving and he has good mechanics and
athleticism, especially at his size. Reports say that he is still growing, so he
may add even more velocity by the time he begins his pro career. It will be
interesting to see how new GM Ned Coletti influences the Dodgers’ draft, though
he’d be crazy to alter Logan White’s strategy. Latos fits here if he does what I
think he will in 2006.
8. Cincinnati Reds - Brett Anderson, LHP, L/L, 6’4, 215, Stillwater (OK) HS
The Reds are going to be looking for top-tier pitching prospects at number
eight, and they’ll have a few to choose from with Walden, Anderson and Kyle
Drabek still on the board. The lefty will stand out thanks to his big frame,
consistent low-90s fastball and his shrewd use of three pitches. Among the 2005
class of AFLAC All-Americans, Anderson was by far the most advanced pitcher,
showing an impressive ability to use both sides of the plate and change planes
on hitters with his heater, a sharp-breaking curve and a changeup that tumbles
late. He reminded me a bit of
Barry Zito,
but clearly features a bit more velocity. His curve isn’t as 12-to-6 as Zito’s
either, but it induces the same flinch in opposing hitters. I think that he will
be the quickest through the minors of any of this draft’s prep arms.
9. Baltimore Orioles - Chris Marrero, 3B, R/R, 6’3, 205, Monsignor Pace HS,
Opa Locka, FL
Let’s play a game. Name the last third baseman the Orioles drafted who became a
regular in Baltimore's lineup for consecutive years. Give up? Would you believe
it’s Cal Ripken, Jr., who was taken in the second round of the 1978 draft? And
that really doesn’t even count because he wound up at shortstop. Before him you
have to go back to 1970 when the Orioles took Doug DeCinces in round three.
That’s a long 3B drought. This year they may have an answer in Chris Marrero, a
gifted athlete with a classic ballplayer’s build and the baseball skills to
match. On defense, he is quick with good hands and a strong, accurate throwing
arm. At the plate he is already a disciplined hitter. He waits for his pitch and
isn’t afraid of taking a walk. When he gets his pitch he can deposit it anywhere
from one foul pole to the other. Before I saw him, I read several reports that
compared him to
Alex Rodriguez. I never saw A-Rod play as an amateur, but the physical
similarities are definitely there. Marrero will be a keeper and a good bet to
fill the Orioles' need for a legitimate 3B prospect.
10. San Francisco Giants - Wes Hodges, 3B, R/R, 6’1, 200,
Georgia Tech
Brian Sabean must be pretty upset that his team’s poor performance locked him
into a first round pick in 2006. Not being able to escape the pick via another
Michael Tucker
free agent signing, the Giants will be forced to look around for a player who
will sign quickly for slot money or less. I’m tempted to give them the benefit
of the doubt and predict that they will realize how important a smart first
round pick is to the future of their franchise. Unfortunately, I just don’t
think much of their developmental foresight, which makes me think that they’ll
look for a college reliever here who will give them a quick turnaround on their
investment, or a college position player who is safe and projects as an easy
sign. Hodges fits the bill as the latter with a compact stroke, good plate
discipline and top-flight defensive skills. The concern with Hodges right now is
that he hasn’t shown much power in his career, and he doesn’t have a build that
promises development in that area. It’s going to be a learned skill if it
develops at all, and until he does he projects as a third baseman in the mold of
Sean Burroughs
or Bill Mueller.
11. Arizona Diamondbacks - RHP - Jordan Walden, R/R, 6’4, 200, Mansfield (TX)
HS
Arizona enters 2006 having drafted two advanced pitching prospects (Matt Torra, first round and
Micah Owings,
third round) in last year’s draft and with a dearth of lower-minors hitting
prospects. The organization is thin in its pitching ranks there too, and with no
premium hitters worthy of the 11th pick, they’ll settle on Jordan Walden and his
mid- to high-90s fastball, sick curve and durable, workhorse frame. He wowed
scouts by touching 99 mph several times last year, though he routinely works in
the 90-93 range with an occasional inning where he’ll kick it up to 95. His size
makes scouts I’ve talked with certain he’ll stabilize in the mid- to high-90s as
he matures physically. The curve is nasty at times even if it isn’t very
consistent, but his body control and easy delivery will help him improve in that
area.
12. Texas Rangers - Kyle Drabek, RHP, R/R, 5’11, 175, The Woodlands (TX) HS
The Rangers will be thrilled to see Drabek available here, as he is a Texas kid
with a Major League pedigree who was far and away the most impressive all-around
player at the AFLAC All-American Classic game. He is an accomplished hitter and
shortstop, but his destiny is to follow in his father’s footsteps leading up the
hill. His fastball is solid in the 92-93 range with an occasional bump to 95,
but his curveball is the pitch that gets him noticed. It is a sharp-breaker that
never looks loopy even though it is definitely in the 12-to-6 category. When I
saw him throw it well (which he does more often than not) I couldn’t help but do
a double-take because it falls so hard so quickly. In the five or six years I’ve
been following prospects closely, it is the best curve I’ve seen from a high
school pitcher.
13. Chicago Cubs - Brandon Morrow, RHP, R/R, 6’3, 185,
California
There are several pitchers in the Cubs pipeline who have the potential to fill
big league roster spots, but none without major question marks except for 2005
first rounder
Mark Pawelek. Pawelek is still several years away from pushing for a big
league job, so the Cubs will likely look for a college pitcher who can move
quickly at #13. At the same time, they’ll want a bit of upside, which will lead
them to Morrow over USC’s Ian Kennedy.
Morrow’s bigger frame, sizzling fastball (96-99 mph) and wicked splitter will be
more attractive in that regard. Morrow began the 2006 campaign by striking out
12 in 6 1/3 innings of scoreless ball against U.C. Irvine, which I feel is a
prelude to a strong season that will build upon his 2005 success in the Cape Cod
League.
14. Toronto Blue Jays - Matt LaPorta, 1B, R/R, 6’1, 215,
Florida
The Blue Jays system has a great deal of pitching but little in the way of
position players with power potential. LaPorta brings more power to the table
than any other 2006 draft prospect. He hit 26 homers in 2005 to lead the nation
and should be a monster home run threat throughout his pro career. The concern
with players like LaPorta is how much their power is mitigated by their other
skills (or lack thereof). In LaPorta’s case, things don’t look too bad. He was a
catcher in high school and plays an adequate third base, though his future is at
first base or at a corner outfield position. Reports say that his footwork at
first is good, and his strong arm will help him should he convert to the
outfield. He struggles to make contact at times, but he also works enough walks
to make up for the holes in his swing. Ultimately, his power should play well
enough to get him to the big leagues.
15. Washington Nationals - Blair Erickson, RHP, R/R, 6’1, 205, U.C. Irvine
Blair Erickson opens the 2006 season as the nation’s top college closer, and
Nationals scouting director Dana Brown was quoted by Baseball America as saying
the club wanted to take a college starter, a prep starter and a college
reliever, in that order, with the team’s three first rounders. I’m skeptical
that anyone but Erickson will be worthy of a first round pick by the time June
rolls around, though it’s always possible someone will come out of the woodwork
during the season. Erickson, however, is a ‘can’t-miss’ barring injury, and that
will force the Nats to grab him as soon as they can. His stuff gets a lot of
swings and misses and hitters rarely center the ball on the bat, resulting in
scattered singles but very few extra-base hits. His fastball sits in the mid-90s
and he complements it with a hard slider that shows promise as a potential out
pitch.
16. Milwaukee Brewers - Hank Conger, C, B/R, 6’0, 210, Huntington Beach (CA)
HS
Milwaukee’s system doesn’t have much in the catching department, and Conger
offers both potential behind the plate and prodigious power in the batter’s box.
A switch-hitter, Conger favors the left side but is improving from the right.
Most reports state that his defense needs work, though his arm is above average
and he has the physical ability to improve. Even if he doesn’t improve as a
catcher, his power will find him a spot in the lineup. He shows good leadership
skills on the field which bodes well for his work ethic and future defensive
development.
17. San Diego Padres - Cody Johnson, OF/1B, L/R, 6’4, 200, Mosley HS, Lynn
Haven, FL
No prep position player is talked about more than Cody Johnson, the Florida
slugger who was named the best player in the nation for 2005. His power
potential is on the same level as LaPorta’s, though Johnson is more athletic and
projects as a better all-around player. As a pitcher, he throws in the low-90s,
which, along with above average running skills, makes him a strong candidate to
play right field in the future. No matter what he is able to do in the field,
his fortunes will be determined by his success at the plate. He takes enough
pitches to draw walks and consequently will post a good on-base percentage, but
he also strikes out a great deal. The Padres will consider pitching here as
well, but their system lacks premium hitting prospects, making Johnson a very
good fit.
18. Philadelphia Phillies - Ian Kennedy, RHP, R/R, 6’0, 195, USC
Kennedy was out-dueled by Long Beach State’s Jared Hughes in the 2006
season-opener, though he did strike out seven in six innings of work. His lack
of size always comes up in discussions with scouts, as do concerns about the
workload he has had at USC. He is a classic scouting quandary because his stuff
isn’t overwhelming (high-80s to low-90s fastball, solid curve with good bite)
but his results against good competition are excellent. If his arm holds up all
year and he continues to win games and shut down opposing hitters he could go in
the top ten. Unfortunately scouts are going to be looking for reasons to
discount him, so any perceived weakness will cause him to drop quickly. I expect
that the fall will end here and that the Phillies will get a pitcher who can
move through their system quickly.
19. Florida Marlins -
Jared Mitchell,
OF, L/L, 6’1, 195, Westgate HS, New Iberia, LA
Mitchell is one of the players whose 2006 performance will force a Jay
Bruce-like rise up draft boards in the coming months. He is an incredible
athlete who also displays blue chip baseball instincts. He understands the
importance of taking pitches and can hit the occasional homer to go along with
bucket-loads of doubles and triples. He’s a threat to steal whenever he reaches
base and can run down just about anything hit his way in centerfield. I was very
impressed with his athleticism but even more impressed with his quick, short
swing and approach at the plate. Those latter skills bode well for his baseball
future, and the Marlins won’t hesitate to call his name come June.
20. Minnesota Twins - Riley Cooper, OF, R/R, 6’3, 200, Clearwater Central
(FL) HS
From everything I’ve seen of Cooper he fits the Twins organization both in his
physical assets and the organization’s needs. The one sticking point here is
that Cooper’s status as one of the top football recruits in all of Florida could
make him a tough sign for whatever team selects him. The Twins aren’t known for
laying out much more than slot money for draft picks, so Cooper might not be
their pick. Still, I think his five-tool nature fits well with Minnesota’s draft
strategy and organizational bent. His downside is that he is raw in terms of
baseball skills and to date has gotten by on athletic ability alone. The Twins
are good at developing raw ability and refining baseball skills, so this seems
like a perfect match.
21. New York Yankees - Mike Ambort, C, B/R, 6’1, 215, Lamar
Mike Ambort was a star coming out of South Side High in New York, but chose
Lamar University over a pro career after the Expos drafted him in the 44th round
in 2003. It turned out to be a good move because after a solid freshman season
Ambort turned in a monster 2005 campaign. He set a school record with 18
homeruns to go along with a .414 OBP and a .654 SLG. A switch-hitter, Ambort is
a big-time power guy who doesn’t show much weakness at the plate. He doesn’t
strike out much (24 in 217 ABs), sees a lot of pitches and crushes mistakes.
Behind the plate, he is an above average defender, and off the field he was an
All-Conference Academic, so his makeup is a plus. The Yankee farm system is thin
just about everywhere, so a switch-hitting college catcher who also happens to
be a native New Yorker makes a lot of sense.
22. Washington Nationals - Kyle McCulloch, RHP, R/R, Texas
Like Kennedy, McCulloch will fall a bit due to circumstances beyond his control;
in this case, the order in which teams draft, various organizational draft
strategies and his perceived lack of upside. He is the prototypical polished
college pitcher; average to above-average stuff (88-91 mph fastball, good
changeup and a good curve), solid amateur track record and good experience. He
is also close to his ceiling which means he projects as a number three starter
at best in the majors. Still, the likelihood that he will reach his ceiling is
better than most players who will be taken in the first round this year, so the
Nationals will spend a pick on him here and hope his advanced feel for getting
hitters out will get him to The District in short order. The Nationals get their
college starter, which leaves only a prep starter on Dana Brown’s wish list.
23. Houston Astros - Brad Lincoln, RHP, L/R, 6’0, 200, Houston
Brad Lincoln is a productive two-way player for the University of Houston who
had a brilliant season in the Cape Cod League last summer, going 3-1 with a 1.32
ERA and 56 strikeouts against only 10 walks in 54 innings as a pitcher;
.243/.341/.477 with six homers as a hitter. He returns to Houston in 2006 as
their ace on the hill and their top power threat at the plate. His future is on
the mound, where he uses a 90-95 mph fastball and a mid-80s power curve that has
been compared to the curve thrown by
Ben Sheets.
Sheets is more consistent in terms of velocity, but otherwise the comparison is
a good one since he and Lincoln have similar stuff coming out of six-foot
frames. The Astros don’t discriminate against undersized pitchers, and Lincoln’s
hometown status makes this a good match.
24. Atlanta Braves - Devin Shepherd, OF, R/R, 6’4, 220, Oxnard (CA) HS
Devin Shepherd is an impressive physical specimen who reminds me of another
Braves draft pick, White Sox outfielder and World Series MVP
Jermaine Dye.
If anything, Shepherd is already bigger than Dye. On the field Shepherd is fast
for his size, though only slightly above average overall, and his arm is just as
accurate as Dye’s but a tick below in terms of strength. In short, Shepherd
should make a fine rightfielder in the professional ranks. But his defensive
skill isn’t what is going to get him drafted. That distinction belongs to his
bat, which is powerful if not quite on the level of Johnson. He was named MVP of
the AFLAC Classic after going 2 for 3 with two singles, two walks, one RBI and
two runs scored. He’s disciplined at the plate for a prep hitter, gets raves for
his makeup and has good baseball instincts. I expect a fine 2006 that will
propel him into the first round.
25. Los Angeles Angels - Jeremy Jeffress, RHP, R/R, 6’0, 174, Halifax County
HS, South Boston, VA
The downside to Jeremy Jeffress’s stuff is that his fastball ranges anywhere
from 88 up to 96 mph. The upside is that his fastball can sit at 96 mph for long
stretches. If Jeffress can find a way to maintain that velocity throughout his
starts, he’s going to make some team very happy. If he can’t, he still could be
a marvelous late-inning reliever. As a starter he draws comparisons to Dwight
Gooden and Tom Gordon due to his size, windup and velocity. His slider needs work but can
be nasty at times, and his energetic demeanor is a breath of fresh air. With a
farm system full of talent, the Angels can afford to take a chance on a player
with Jeffress’s upside.
26. Washington Nationals - Chris Tillman, RHP, R/R, 6’7, 185, Fountain Valley
(FL) HS
Chris Tillman is a lanky righthander who reminds me of Mike Pelfrey on the
mound. His mechanics are smooth and he throws in the 90-93 mph range with little
visible effort. It isn’t hard to envision him adding velocity as he adds bulk to
his frame. In addition to the fastball, the Fountain Valley High product also
sports a very strong curve of the 12-to-6 variety that looks loopy but gets a
lot of flinches from opposing batters. With a strong 2006 and increased velocity
Tillman is someone who could wind up in the top half of the draft. I don’t see
the velocity increase coming right away, so I see him going somewhere in the
bottom third to a team looking for a projectable high schooler. Dana Brown and
company complete their wish list and Tillman starts his pro career with the
Washington organization. Then again, I’ve never heard a scouting director
telegraph a team's intentions so blatantly before, so I may have just blown
three predictions on a clever, pre-draft ruse.
27. Boston Red Sox - Matt Antonelli, 3B, R/R, 6’0, 200,
Wake Forest
Matt Antonelli is a good fit for the Red Sox, who just traded away a great 3B
prospect in Andy Marte and can use a player with polish. Furthermore, Antonelli
displays excellent plate discipline and top-notch athletic ability. His homerun
power is still developing, but he does have the ability to pile up impressive
doubles totals right now and post a high average and OBP thanks to a compact
swing and advanced approach. On defense he is more than solid. I’ve read several
scouting reports that say he could play centerfield if necessary, and his
footwork and lateral quickness at third base are very good.
28. Boston Red Sox - Jared Hughes, RHP, R/R, 6’7, 235, Long Beach State
The Sox follow up their Antonelli pick by taking another collegiate standout.
Coming out of high school in 2003, Jared Hughes was a power pitcher with first
round talent who consistently threw in the mid-90s. He didn’t get the signing
bonus he was after and wound up heading to college rather than signing with
Tampa Bay after they took him in the 16th round. Since transferring to Long
Beach from Santa Clara Hughes has learned to pitch. He now works in the low-90s
with good sink on his fastball, changes speeds and uses all four corners of the
strike zone to put hitters away. His height allows him to throw down at hitters
and he’s adept at keeping the ball around the knees when necessary. At the same
time, he is effectively wild, hitting 19 batters but walking only 23 against 87
strikeouts in 89 innings last season. Six-foot seven and willing to come inside?
That’s pretty intimidating. He probably doesn't have a lot of room to improve,
but he should make quick work of the minors on his way to a big league rotation
spot.
29. Chicago White Sox - Max Sapp, C, L/R, 6’1, 225, Bishop Moore HS, Orlando,
FL
Aside from having a great baseball name, Max Sapp also has tape measure power
from the left side of the plate. While he throws well and has a reputation for
being good with pitchers, his athleticism is a concern for some scouts. From
what I’ve seen he has what it takes to remain behind the plate as a pro, but
whether he will or not remains to be seen. Even if he has to move to first base,
his lefty power and on-base skills should play well there. Chicago doesn’t have
a lot of catching depth in its system, so Sapp will be a perfect addition.
30. St. Louis Cardinals -
Dallas Buck,
RHP, R/R, 6’3, 210, Oregon State
The Cardinals need to improve their farm system in all areas, and Dallas Buck’s
super-sinker and plus slider, arguably the draft’s best, will give them an
advanced pitching prospect with upside who could find his way to the big leagues
quickly. Buck doesn’t light up radar guns but he does get outs and prevents big
innings by keeping the ball on the ground. Last summer in the Cape Cod League he
posted a 3.86 ERA, 38/7 K/BB and .205 OAA in 33 innings. He did have trouble
with composure during last year’s College World Series so there are concerns
about his ability to keep his cool in pressure situations, but the Cards will
call his name and hope he can learn to shake off mistakes and maintain focus in
the middle of games.