Article for Website (1st Round Recap)

[Providence A's]

Here is a little article I wrote about the 1st round of the draft...it's more of a recap with comments about each player. I sent this to Crazy, let me know what you guys think. Article starts below:

2009 Amateur Draft 1st Round Recap
The 2009 amateur draft has come and gone, but many teams are hoping that the players they drafted will have a huge impact on the SBSL for many years to come. The players who general managers expect to have the greatest impact on the league were no doubt chosen in the first round. What follows is a pick by pick analysis of the first round. I tried to be as fair and objective as possible in the analysis of each player. I know not everyone will agree with each player's summary, but it is just one man's opinion.

01) Chicago (N) - SP Kim Benson
The Chicago Cubs chose left-handed starting pitcher Kim "The Hammer" Benson with the first pick in the 2009 amateur draft. Kim is only 16, but has good makeup and intangibles. His talent ratings are stuff 10, control 8, movement 7, and endurance 8. He is not that far from reaching his talent. He only has 3 pitches, but has a good ground ball percentage of 58. Oh yeah, his velocity is 98 - 100 MPH. Benson should be a solid starter in a couple years.

02) Chicago (A) - 1B Frank Thomas
The other Chicago team chose Frank "Big Hurt" Thomas with the second pick. Frank is probably best suited for the DH role as he looks to be a monster at the plate. He is very slow and not a good fielder at all. This guy has 8 contact, 10 gap, 10 power, 10 discipline, and 7 avoidance of k's. He could be in the middle of the White Sox lineup next season.

03) Israel Tomcats - SP Adriano Lozano
The third pick saw Israel choose a really solid right-handed pitcher in Adriano "Toro" Lozano. 10 stuff, 10 control, 9 movement, and 8 endurance for Toro. He has 4 pitches to choose from and has a nice ground ball percentage of 52. Lozano should be a solid addition to the Tomcats rotation in a couple years.

04) San Diego - SP Kyle Wilson
Kyle "Ice Water" Wilson is really close to his talent ratings already and good see action this year in San Diego if that is what the organization wants. This guy should not tire out easily with a 10 endurance. He has 10 stuff, 7 control, and 8 movement. He only has 3 pitches and a ground ball percentage of 40. He may not be a #1 type starter ideally, but should make for a solid #2.

05) Alaska - 2B Jeff Turner
Jeff "Gasoline" Turner is best suited for 2B, but can play 3B and SS if needed. He was the top rated hitter in the draft and with his talent ratings it's easy to see why. 9 contact, 7 gap, 7 power, 10 discipline, and 8 avoidance of k's. He has great speed and should be a rock up the middle in Alaska for years to come.

06) Orlando - SP Matt Swanson
Matt "Hardball" Swanson doesn't have the best stuff, but the rest of his talent ratings are off the charts. He is not very consistent and suffers in the clutch. He does, however, have 4 pitches and a good ground ball percentage of 65. He is probably a year or two away from helping Orlando.

07) Colorado - SP Justin Seaver
Finally, the first player in the draft without a nickname. Justin is solid all around. The only two things that could keep him from being a top pitcher in the league is his low ground ball percentage and lack of a 4th pitch.

08) Limerick - CF Dusty Miers
Dusty "Golden Boy" Miers has great intangibles and projects to be the prototypical lead off hitter. He has the range and speed to play all three outfield positions, but he has a weak arm. Dusty should make contact and get on base at high rate.

09) Savannah (from Las Vegas) - SP Jason Miller
Jason "Iron Man" Miller looks like he could be just that...Iron Man straight out of a Marvel Comic. This guy is not too far from becoming a stud with 10 stuff, 8 control, 10 movement, and 10 endurance. He has a great ground ball percentage of 69, but he only has 3 pitches. Jason looks to be a future #1.

10) Texas (from Vancouver) - SP Matt Kelly
Matt "Hurricane" Kelly is a left-handed starting pitcher with 8 stuff, 10 control, 9 movement, and 10 endurance. His ground ball percentage is 43 and he doesn't hold runners very well for a lefty. He does, however, have 4 pitches to choose from. He could join the rotation next year for Texas.

11) Cooperstown - C Craig Ritz
Craig "Speedy" Ritz was a bit of a surprise at the 11th pick. He is a very fast catcher that will not hit for much power. He plays decent defense and should get on base at a high rate. A good pick, but maybe chosen a little early.

12) Chicago (A) (from Detroit) - SP Charles Nagy
Charles Nagy was the White Sox second first round pick. Charles could pitch in the majors tomorrow if the White Sox wanted as his talent is almost tapped out already. He was an older, more polished pitcher compared to others in the draft. He has a good ground ball percentage and the talent ratings to go along with it (9, 8, 10, 8).

13) Edinburgh (from Houston) - SS Chris Martin
Chris "The Hammer" Martin was the second hammer to be chosen in this draft. And he should be a hammer at the plate with max power and gap talent ratings. He is not very fast, but looks to be solid in the field. He was the best SS prospect in the draft.

14) Edmond - C Tommy Cooper
Tommy "Tuffy" Cooper was probably the best catcher in the draft and I am sure Edmond was glad he was still available. He has decent speed, is solid behind the plate, and should be a great hitter. There really is not much else to say about Tommy...just a very solid pick.

15) Washington (from Anaheim) - SP Steve Avery
Steve Avery is a left-handed starting pitcher with 9 talent ratings. He has a good ground ball percentage of 56 and he has 4 pitches. His endurance is 8 and he should go deep into games. He could be in the Washington rotation next season.

16) Providence (from Louisville) - SP Evan Jacobs
Evan "Ice Man" Jacobs is a right-handed starting pitcher. He suffers in the clutch, but is consistent. He has 10 stuff, 8 control, 8 movement, and 10 endurance. He has a low ground ball percentage at 39, but he does possess 4 pitches. He also throws 91 - 94 MPH and could be ready next season.

17) CSKA - 3B Kevin Kidman
Kevin "Muddy" Kidman was the best 3B in the draft. The only two knocks on Kevin are that he is not very fast and has average gap power. Otherwise, Kevin looks like he could be a beast in the International Division for years to come.

18) Arizona - 2B Delino Deshields
Delino Deshields was another surprise in the draft to some. He plays solid defense with a weak arm and like Dusty Miers projects to be the prototypical lead off hitter. He could see time this year as he is very close to being fully developed.

19) Providence - SP Austin Church
The Grays second pick of the first round was left-handed pitcher Austin Church. He is similar to teammate Evan Jacobs, but is left-handed, has a higher ground ball percentage, one less pitch, 10 control, and 8 endurance. Church also is not as developed as Jacobs, but both look to make a solid 1-2 punch for years to come in Providence.

20) Savannah (from Edinburgh) - 2B Julio Cabana
Savannah's second pick of the first round was 2B Julio "Stormy" Cabana. A solid hitter with decent speed that plays great defense. One could not ask for much more out of a middle infielder.

21) Washington - 1B Tino Martinez
Washington's second pick in the first round was 1B Tino Martinez. Another solid hitting prospect grabbed in the bottom half of the first round. He is not very fast, but is a good defender. He could be playing 1B in Washington at some point next season.

22) Milwaukee - SP Zack Stahler
Milwaukee chose Zach Stahler as their number one pick. This guy does not have the greatest stuff, but he does have great control and movement. He also has a high ground ball percentage and 6 pitches to choose from. He probably will not be an ace, but should be a solid #2, maybe #3.

23) Kansas City - C Adam Johnson
The third catcher chosen in the first round was Adam "Train" Johnson. Adam can also play 3B and has a cannon for an infield arm. He has great range for a catch and an average arm. He projects to be a plus hitter in a few years.

24) Concord - CF Ray Lankford
Concord chose CF Ray Lankford as their first round pick. Ray has good range in center and looks to be a solid hitter at the plate. The only knock on Ray at the plate is his average rate of avoiding strike outs. A solid pick at the #24.

25) Boston - SP Alex Fernandez
Right-handed pitcher Alex Fernandez is almost ready for action in the majors. He would probably be better suited in the middle of a rotation. He does have a good ground ball percentage, but he only has three pitches. Rumor has it Boston is already shopping Alex.

26) Brooklyn - 3B Travis Aldean
Travis Aldean may be the steal of the first round if he fully develops. He is a little older, but he will be a beast at the plate and in the field. He is probably a year or two from reaching the majors. He also has good speed and instincts on the bases.

27) Texas - 2B Keith Anderson
Keith Anderson was the second pick of the first round for Texas. He can play both 2B and 3B with great range. He should be a solid hitter once he develops. He has decent speed. He might be more than 2 years away depending on how fast he develops.

28) San Antonio - 1B Andy Dunn
Andy "Big Boy" Dunn was San Antonio's first pick of the draft and like Frank Thomas is best suited to be a DH. This guy is a beast at the plate and a puppy in the field. He is also slow like Thomas. If he can stay healthy, then he will be a nice addition for San Antonio.

29) Puerto Rico - SS Randy Alexander
Randy "Jumping" Alexander is probably just a notch below fellow SS Chris Martin. He is average in the field with average speed, but should be a solid hitter when develops. He could join the Islanders in a year or two.

30) Tennessee - 1B Mark Allen
Mark "Peppers" Allen should be a good contact hitter that gets on base at a high rate with decent power. He is an average 1B with average speed though he does have good base running abilities and instincts.

31) Houston (from Edinburgh from Savannah) - 1B Trevor Neely
The 5th and final 1B chosen in the first round was Trevor Neely. He looks to be a step below Mark Allen in contact hitting and getting on base, but he has a lot more power and speed. He is comparable to Allen in the field.

32) St. Louis - CF Matt Sweeney
The last player chosen in the first round was Matt Sweeney by St. Louis. He seems to be a step or two below Dusty Miers, but essentially the same type of player. He has good speed, good range, no arm, average power, and above average hitting ratings for contact, gap, discipline, and avoidance of k's. He should get on base at a high rate.

[General]

Good read.

[Raphictor]

I like the reveiw, especially when I get the steal of the draft But seriously, I thought it was a good evaluation.

[Providence A's]

I like the reveiw, especially when I get the steal of the draft

well, I liken it to how some people have said the same thing about Church...both are a little underdeveloped and and went a little later than expected though Aldean is 3 years older, which is why I think he could be a better steal than Church.

[brak60]

nice job. really nice job.