Cubs Go Back to Disney World
The MLB Rule 4 Draft (AKA "First-Year Player Draft") continues today at Disney World in Florida.
Yesterday, the first five rounds of the draft were completed, and the Cubs selected five players:
1. Josh Vitters, 3B (Cypress HS - Cypress, CA)
2. Josh Donaldson, C (Auburn)
3. Tony Thomas, 2B (Florida State)
4. Darwin Barney, SS (Oregon State)
5. Brandon Guyer, OF (Virginia)
Interestingly, four of the five picks were college players, and no pitchers were chosen.
AZ PHIL UPDATE:
6. Casey Lambert, LHP (Virginia)
COMMENT: UVA's closer and a teammate of Cubs 2007 5th round pick Brandon Guyer, Lambert is a 5'10 160 lefty who had 11 saves, 0.81 WHIP, and 12/54 BB/K, 34 H, and two HR in 43.2 IP in '07.
If the Cubs sign him, Lambert will likely be assigned to Boise.
7. Ty Wright, OF (Oklahoma State)
COMMENT: The Cubs draft another college outfielder. A 6'1 195 right-handed hitter, Wright led the Cowboys in hitting (411/465/599), with 6 HR and 40 RBI, 14 doubles, with a 18/23 BB/K.
If the Cubs sign him, look for Wright to be assigned to Boise, although (like Brandon Guyer) he might have a shot at getting a slot at Peoria.
8. Marquez Smith, 3B (Clemson)
COMMENT: A power-hitting third-baseman and middle-of-the-order run producer, the powerfully built Smith was a teammate of Cubs 2006 #1 pick (Tyler Colvin) at Clemson, and (like Colvin) was selected by the Cubs in last year's draft (35th round), but unlike Colvin, Smith did not sign and went back to school, probably hoping to improve his draft status (and he sure did!).
He was selected first-team all-ACC this past season, hitting 329/410/560, with 13 HR and 56 RBI.
If the Cubs sign him, Smith is another player who will likely be asigned to Boise, although he could end up at Peoria if Josh Lansford (as anticipated) receives a mid-season promotion to Daytona.
9. Clark Hardman, OF (Cal State - Fullerton)
COMMENT: Still another college outfielder, Hardman is a 6'2 195 left-handed hitting CF who was selected as a Freshman All-American before being slowed by shoulder surgery a year ago.
If he signs, Hardman will probably get assigned to Boise, although Peoria needs a CF.
10. Leon Johnson, OF (BYU)
COMMENT: Another college outfielder, this one had his college years interrupted when he served a Mormon mission in Siberia for a couple of years, so going to Peoria in April would probably seem like a vacation in Acapulco. Like Hardman, Johnson is a left-handed hitting CF with plus-speed, but he lacks power and has struggled at the plate (248/335/339 in 2007).
If Johnson signs, he will likely get assigned to Boise, keeping Cliff Andersen and Drew Rundle at AZL Mesa for another season.
11. Chris Siegfried, LHP (Portland)
COMMENT: Like Lambert, Siegfried is a lefty reliever, but unlike Lambert, Siegfried is a lanky 6'5 195. Siegfried went 1-2 with a 5.20 ERA, with 19/22 BB/K in 36.1 IP throwing out of the Pilots bullpen in '07.
Out of the 30+ pitchers who were at EXST at Fitch Park, only TWO (Mark Pawelek and Taylor Parker) were LHPs (and T. Parker has a sore elbow), so expect the Cubs to draft a few college lefty relievers with the intention of assigning the ones they can sign to Boise.
12. Ryan Acosta, RHP (Clearwater Central Catholic HS - Clearwater, FL)
COMMENT: The son of former Cubs pitching coach Oscar Acosta (who was killed in a car crash in the Dominican Republic last year), Acosta ia a 6'2 170 RHP/SS.
Acosta signed an LOI with the University of Georgia last November, so he could be a "tough sign" for the Cubs, although the fact that they took him in the 12th round might mean they have reason to believe he wants to turn pro immediately.
13. Jonathan Wyatt, OF (Georgia)
COMMENT: So five of the Cubs first 13 picks in the '07 Rule 4 Draft are college outfielders? Interesting.
Wyatt is a 5'10 185 left-handed hitting CF (he hit .323 with a .415 OBP for the Dawgs in '07), and his selection speaks to the Cubs not believing they have enough quality outfielders at their lower minor league levels (Daytona, Peoria, and Boise).
If they sign all five of the outfielders they have selected so far (Guyer, Wright, Hardman, Johnson, and Wyatt), one might be assigned to Peoria immediately, with Guyer or Wright the most likely candidates. The others would go to Boise, and (as I said) that means both Andersen and Rundle will likely remain at Mesa for another season (or at least the first part of the '07 season).
14. James Russell, LHP (Texas)
COMMENT: OK. Here's another college LHP, but this one is a rotation starter.
The son of former MLB RHP Jeff Russell (14 year career 1983-96, mainly as the closer for the Texas Rangers), James is 6'4 and 205. He went 8-4 with a 3.86 ERA, allowing 108 hits (14 HR) in 109 IP, with a 28/91 BB/K for the Longhorns in '07.
If he signs, he almost certainly goes to Boise, where (depending on the needs of the Hawks) he could be used either as a starter or reliever.
15. Marc Sawyer, 1B (Yale)
COMMENT: A 6'3 210 L/L first-sacker, Sawyer was Ivy League player of the year in 2006 and All-Ivy in 2006 and 2007.
Like SS and LHP, the Cubs also have a dearth of 1B prospects at the lower levels of the system (especially at Boise/Mesa), so if he signs, Sawyer would very likely immediately become the #1 1B at Boise.
16. Zach Ashwood, LHP (Kansas)
COMMENT: Still another college LHP.
A 6'5 205 intra-Big 12 transfer from TCU, Ashwood went 4-4 with a 5.77 ERA in 12 starts for the Jayhawks in 2007.
He was previously drafted out of HS (26th round) by the Seattle Mariners in 2004.
If he signs with the Cubs, Ashwood will likely be assigned to Boise.
17. Arik Hempy, LHP (South Carolina)
COMMENT: And here's another one.
At 6-'4 240, Hempy is a load. He had TJ elbow ligament transplant surgery last year, but bounced back and was a rotation starter for the Gamecocks in 2007, going 6-3 with a 3.38 ERA, allowing 30/57 BB/K in 58 IP, with a .242 OPP BA, as he helped pitch South Carolina into a NCAA Super Regional this weekend vs UNC.
18. Jeffrey Rea, 2B (Mississippi State)
COMMENT: A 5'8 157 left-handed hitting lead-off man and 2B, Rea hit .340 for the Bulldogs and was first-team All-SEC. He also has played some outfield at MSU.
19. Kyle Day, C (Michigan State)
COMMENT: A left-handed hitting catcher, Day hit 295/438/434 with 3 HR and 26 RBI, 12 doubles, and 33/38 BB/K for the Spartans in 2007. Those are NOT good college offensive numbers. He displays no significant power, and he apparently is not a good hitter.
20. Jose Made, SS (Dominican College)
COMMENT: A 5'8 switch-hitting SS, Made hit 338/439/531, with 4 HR and 38 RBI, 11 SB (0 CS), and a 19/21 BB/K for the Chargers in 2007.
If he signs with the Cubs, I would expect Made to begin his pro career at Boise.
21. Dustin Sasser, LHP (East Carolina)
COMMENT: Whew! Another college lefty. I told you they need lefties at Boise!
A 6'0 195 rotation starter, Sasser was the ace of the Pirates staff in '07, going 5-4 with a 3.52 ERA, allowing 106 hits and five HR in 94.2 IP, with a 48/68 BB/K.
22. Craig Muschko, RHP (LaSalle)
COMMENT: After missing 2006 with an injury, Muschko (6'2 200) was in the Explorers starting rotation in '07, going 1-1 with a 2.95 ERA in 10 starts, allowing 54 hits in 58 IP, with a 18/40 BB/K and 1 HR.
I would think if he signs, Muschko goes to Boise.
23. Stephen Vento, RHP (Palm Beach CC)
COMMENT: Selected in last year's Rule 4 Draft (19th round) by the Minnesota Twins, Vento decided to return to PBCC and hope for a DNF signing with MIN or a better draft slot this time around. It didn't work out that way.
24. Scott Meyer, RHP (Lamar)
The Cubs have drafted several guys out of Lamar in the past few years, including Iowa 1B Micah Hoffpauir, Daytona RHP Chuckie Platt, and ex-West Tenn RHP Thomas Atlee (who was released in ST).
Meyer was used as both a starter and as a reliever this year at Lamar.
25. Victor Sanchez, 3B (Gahr HS - Norwalk, CA)
COMMENT: Rated by BA as one of the top 50 HS players in the nation and a member of the Team USA Junior National Team, Sanchez has signed a LOI to attend the University of San Diego.
In order for the Cubs to sign him, they will probably have to offer "1st round money," and with ownerhip of the club in flux, I doubt that they are in a position to do that this time around.
Through the first 25 picks, the Cubs have selected six LHP, five OF, four RHP, three 3B, two C, two 2B, two SS, and one 1B.
Of the first 25 picks, 22 were college players (including 21 from four-year colleges), and only three were HS players.
Starting with this draft, the old "Draft + Follow" (DNF) will no longer be allowed (all drafted players must be signed by August 15th or they go back into next year's draft), so there is less motivation to select JC players (they were the ones usually signed as DNFs).
The draft continues, with 25 more rounds to go...
26. Michael Bunton, LHP (College of Charleston)
27. Clayton Suss, RHP (Cooper City HS - Cooper City, FL)
28. Bill Moss, 2B (Memphis)
29. Andrew Cashner, RHP (Angelina JC)
30. Luke Sommer, OF (San Francisco)
31. Brian Leclerc, OF (Florida)
32. Luis Bautista, C (Florida International)
33. Preston Clark, C (Texas)
34. Enrique Garcia, RHP (Miami)
35. J. C. Casey, RHP (Kickapoo HS - Kickapoo, MO)
36. Billy Mottram, 3B (Dowling College)
37. Mike McGee, 3B (Port St. Lucie HS - Port St. Lucie, FL)
38. Yuri Higgins, RHP (South Florida)
39. Roberto Sabates, C (Cuban defector - Miami, FL)
40. Corey Bachman, RHP (Virginia Military Institute)
41. Jordan Herr, OF (Pitt)
42. Colt Sedbrook, INF (Arizona)
43. Garrett Clyde, RHP (San Jacinto JC - North)
44. Bryan Jost, 1B (Minnesota)
45. Ryan Lewis, OF (Yakima Valley CC)
46. Tyler Clark, RHP (Springfield Catholic HS - Springfield, MO)
47. Josh Walter, RHP (Texas State)
48. Carlos Rivera, OF (East Aurora HS - East Aurora, IL)
49. Jordan Rogers, RHP (San Jacinto JC - North)
50. Blake Murphy, C (Western Carolina)
Remember, the Cubs historically have signed about 70% of their Rule 4 Draft picks, but that included players signed as a "Draft + Follow" (DNF) the following season (and DNF has been eliminated starting with this draft--any player selected in the 2007 Rule 4 Draft not signed by August 15th goes back into the draft again next year).
So even with a best-case scenario, don't expect the Cubs to sign more than about 35 of the 50 players they drafted.
Also, for those who want a sneak preview, the following Cubs draft picks are on teams that will be playing in NCAA Super Regionals this weekend:
Darwin Barney, SS (Oregon State)
Clark Hardman, OF (Cal State - Fullerton)
Arik Hempy, LHP (South Carolina)
Jeffrey Rea, 2B (Mississippi State)
Marquez Smith, 3B (Clemson)
Ty Wright, OF (Oklahoma State)
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