Scouting the Red Sox 2009 Draft Picks in a cut/paste overload kind of way.
#2 Overall
Dustin Ackley 2B/OF -
BA- Ackley played at a 1-A high school against modest competition, and while area scouts knew about him they couldn't pull the trigger three years ago. Their loss was North Carolina's gain, as Ackley is in the midst of his third consecutive .400 season. The 2007 BA Freshman of the Year, Ackley has the best pure swing and pure bat in the '09 draft class, and maybe the best this decade. He's also a 70 runner (on the 20-80 scale) underway and should be a top-of-the-order, base-stealing threat in pro ball. Ackley has a disciplined approach and makes hitting look easy thanks to his advanced athleticism. He's balanced at the plate and has amazing hand-eye coordination, getting the barrel of the bat to the hitting zone quickly and leaving it there as long as possible. After hitting 17 home runs in his first two seasons, he was tied for second in the Atlantic Coast Conference with 16, and scouts grade his raw power as average, if not a tick above. His lone below-average tool is his arm, which he injured as a prep senior while pitching. He has played primarily first base at North Carolina and had Tommy John surgery at the end of the summer of 2008. He made two starts in the outfield in mid-May, and most scouts project him as a future center fielder and potential plus defender. He's a solid-average defender at first base if he winds up there. Scouts struggle to come up with comparisons because he's such a unique player. If he becomes a batting champion and premium leadoff man as a pro, he'll become a player others are compared to.
PG - SCOUTING PROFILE (3/1): Ackley sandwiched a dozen games at Harwich last summer between a late arrival from the College World Series and an early departure from the Cape Cod League to have Tommy John surgery on his ailing throwing elbow. But it was evident in his brief time on the Cape that Ackley is a special hitter-the consensus best pure hitter in the entire 2009 draft class. Veteran Harwich manager Steve Englert called him the best hitter to play on the Cape since Mark Teixeira in 1999. Ackley consistently squared up balls and maintained exceptional balance throughout his swing path. He has an excellent overall approach to hitting with uncanny bat control that enables him to work counts and fight off tough two-strike pitches, almost at will. He also rarely chases pitches outside the strike zone. Ackley hit .415-2-12 with 16 walks in his 12-game cameo with Harwich, and pitchers began showing such a reluctance to pitch to him that Englert eventually installed him in the leadoff spot in the order. Ackley spent most of his sophomore year at North Carolina in that role, and hit .417-7-51 with a school-record 82 runs scored. He also chipped in 116 hits, 21 doubles, 53 walks, a .503 on-base average and .597 slugging percentage. Ackley also hit more than .400 in 2007 at UNC, when he was named the national Freshman of the Year. In two years with the Tar Heels, spanning 141 games, he has a combined .409 average, 17 homers and 125 RBIs. He also has walked 83 times vs. 48 strikeouts. While Ackley's raw power isn't always evident, scouts say he has easy power. The ball jumps off his bat and he can knock the ball out of the park practically whenever he wants to-or when his team needs him to. The athletic Ackley, undrafted out of a North Carolina high school, also has 6.6-second speed in the 60 and has stolen 30 bases in 39 attempts in his two years at Carolina. His power-speed package is a curious combination for a player that has spent the bulk of his college career at first base. He initially enrolled in college as primarily a second baseman, and played first as a UNC freshman mainly to get his potent bat in the lineup. He also spent all but eight games at the position as a sophomore as his elbow was too sore for him to move to the outfield, as was planned. At the request of scouts, Ackley began his summer season in the outfield but was soon relegated to a DH role when his elbow bothered him too much to throw. Now that he has had surgery, it's expected Ackley will take a regular turn in the outfield, possibly even center field, for the Tar Heels in 2009, although he may need to be brought back slowly initially.--ALLAN SIMPSON
UPDATE (5/15): Another season, same story for Ackley. As UNC opened NCAA super-regional play, he was hitting .417-21-66 and in the process of breaking or approaching several school career records. He was especially hot down the stretch, at the most critical juncture of Carolina's season and as big-league teams were taking one last look before the draft. All signs were pointing to Ackley going to the Seattle Mariners with the second pick overall. In a draft that seems to lack many big game-changing offensive players, he appears to be the one sure-fire contributor. His offensive upside and even style of hitting are viewed somewhat along the lines of Hall of Famer George Brett. Ackley's recovery from Tommy John surgery, which limited him to mostly first base this spring, has made it difficult for scouts to determine whether he will be able to play in the outfield on a daily basis. He has shown good instincts in tracking balls, but his arm strength grades out now as an incomplete. His power numbers were a sharp upgrade from previous seasons, but scouts still question whether Ackley will hit for even average power at the next level, though 20-25 homers a season is also a distinct possibility.--JEFF SIMPSON
BI- Body Type – Athletic with some projection…not the biggest guy in the world
Strengths
A very disciplined hitter with an advanced approach at the plate…excellent pitch recognition…terrific bat control…he’ll foul off tough pitches until he gets one of his liking or he’ll find a hole in the defense — let’s say it’s down the third base line — and he’ll slap at the ball in an effort to line it down the third base line…bat control and high contact rate make him an extremely tough out…power is better than his size would indicate.
Weaknesses
While power is better than people think, he’s not a true power hitter…more of a 15 – 20 homerun guy rather than a 25 – 30 homerun hitter…approach is not really suited for big time power. Ackley’s swing plane can also get fairly linear.
The Swing
Ackley does a good job of carrying his weight forward and moving his torso slightly in the opposite direction to create considerable torque.
He keeps his swing short — notice how the bat stays connected with the body as he strides forward — and uses a firm front leg as a base in which to turn on. His keeps his head still, making it easier for him to track the ball in from the pitcher’s hand.
The hips and hands generally turn together, but he has a habit of getting too handsy with his swing. Instead of swinging through the pitch, he’ll sometimes throw his hands at the ball, which often leads to the ball being hit on the ground.
Defense – Along with his plus speed and good instincts in the field, Ackley has the potential to be an above average defender in center field. The question comes with arm strength and accuracy. If he fully recovers from Tommy John surgery as expected, his arm should play fine in center field.
Best Case Outcome – Top-5 center fielder
BP- KG Says: "All of the rumors about them passing on him seemed like a smokescreen all along. He was announced as an outfielder, but as an aside, some teams have talked about seeing if his hands are good enough for a look at second base. Either way, his bat is going to be pretty special for the position. I think he could be a Grady Sizemore kind of player offensively with less power but a better batting average."
Ackley should move quickly, and as an outfielder, will be a dynamic threat capable of hitting .300+ with average to plus power, great plate discipline, and enough speed to steal 30 bases or more annually. In other words, he could be a franchise-level talent.
#10 Overall
Zack Wheeler RHP-
BA- Background: Wheeler looked better every time the Giants scouted him, so they selected him sixth overall in June—the highest they've taken a pitcher since Jason Grilli at No. 4 in 1997—and signed him at the Aug. 17 deadline for $3.3 million, a franchise-record bonus for a pitcher. Wheeler's older brother Adam was a 13th-round pick in 2001 and pitched four seasons in the Yankees system.
Strengths: Wheeler has broad shoulders, long arms, huge hands and loose arm action. He throws an easy fastball with explosive late life, sitting in the low 90s and topping out at 95 mph. He'll show three plus pitches at times. His hard three-quarters breaking ball has sharp finish, and his changeup is advanced for his age. He sells it well and it has nice fade.
Weaknesses: Wheeler is still growing into his body and is getting stronger, but he'll need to work on his flexibility as well. Though he's usually around the plate with his fastball, his command isn't pinpoint. He still needs a more consistent feel for his changeup.
The Future: Wheeler projects as a frontline starter in the big leagues. He's expected to begin his pro career close to home at low Class A Augusta. San Francisco doesn't need to rush him, but it's worth noting that Wheeler is more advanced than Madison Bumgarner was coming out of high school.
PG- SCOUTING PROFILE (3/1): Wheeler is a projectable, athletic righthander with plus present stuff, and a good chance to keep getting better for years to come. He has pitched extensively for Georgia's East Cobb program at World Wood Bat Association events since the 2006 15-and-under national championship, and it's easy to track his steady progression from throwing in the mid-80s with a mediocre mid-60s curveball, to his present 90-93, touching 95-mph heat, with an upper-70s hammer. Wheeler has a polished delivery with a long, smooth arm action that should lead to plus command potential in the future, although he tends to pitch in the middle of the plate now like many young power pitchers. He has a relentless approach in throwing his fastball and an advanced ability to locate his curve. There is some concern on the part of scouts, though, that his arm slot and the lack of an established third pitch may relegate him to a bullpen role in the future. One thing scouts may not recognize about Wheeler is that he's an excellent all-around athlete who is an accomplished basketball player capable of throwing down a 360-degree dunk. As a junior at East Paulding High, Wheeler went 8-3, 1.31 with 127 K's and 22 walks in 64 innings. Wheeler's older brother Adam was a 13th-round draft pick of the New York Yankees in 2001 out of Campbell High in Smyrna, Ga., and spent four years in that organization.--DAVID RAWNSLEY
UPDATE (5/15): After putting on 10-15 more pounds, Wheeler has grown into his body. But he is still very projectable with his loose arm and lanky, broad-shouldered lanky. He threw consistently in the low- to mid-90s this spring, making him one of the nation's hardest-throwing preps. His fastball has very good sink and downward-plane movement, separating Wheeler from other hard throwers. His off-speed stuff is inconsistent, but Wheeler flashed plus potential with his late, sharp 78-82 mph slider. He got heavy sink on his changeup, even at 83-85 mph. On the season, he went 8-0, 0.30 with 17 walks and 135 strikeouts in 69 innings. He profiles as an impact No. 1 or 2 starter, or possibly a power closer. Former East Cobb teammate Ethan Martin was the first prep pitcher drafted in 2008 (Dodgers, 15th overall), and Wheeler stands an excellent chance of being drafted sooner-though he may not be the first high-school pitcher drafted.--ANUP SINHA
BI- Body Type – Very athletic and very projectable build with plenty of room to fill out his frame. I’d classify him as pretty lean at the moment.
Stuff
Fastball – Sits mostly in the 91 – 94 range, but can get as high as 95 or 96 in short spurts…tremendous life…gets on hitters quickly as it explodes out of his hand…will run into lefties and away from right handed batters…terrific carry through the strike zone, indicating plenty of arm strength…Wheeler has said he features two fastballs — a two-seamer and four-seamer
Slider – Hard slider is more like a slurve…comes out of his hand looking like his fastball and travels on a similar plane as well, which you can see in the below clip…the pitch breaks a little early, so it could use some tightening, but the break has some snap to it and will generate plenty of swings-and-misses.
Change-Up – Below average at the moment…doesn’t get enough differentiation from his fastball velocity to really get hitters off balance. When you contrast that with Jacob Turner’s change-up, even though he doesn’t throw the pitch very often, I’ve never seen it described as anything worse than “developing”. That’s one of the differences between Turner and Wheeler.
Mechanics
Wheeler’s mechanics are a bit herky-jerky. Pitchers with herky-jerky mechanics will often times make hitters less comfortable in the box, make it more difficult for hitters to pick up the ball out of the pitcher’s hand, and make it tougher for hitter’s to time a pitcher’s release.
*Credit to Takkle Sports
Wheeler takes a long stride and generates excellent separation between his torso and hips as you can see in the clip above. I pause it at the point in which he achieves the most separation — the chest is facing third base, while the lower body is pointed toward home. His upper body is then uncoiled forward. Wheeler’s arm action is long and he sorta looks looks like a bird spreading its wings. Again, along with his herky-jerkiness, this is an attribute that hitters can have problems with. It makes Wheeler much more deceptive than he would be otherwise.
Despite a lot going on in his delivery, Wheeler’s athleticism helps him repeat it consistently.
Other Notes
Like the other prep pitchers, Wheeler’s still has work to do in shoring up his command, especially on his breaking stuff. He’s highly regarded for his work ethic and mound presence.
It’s also worth noting Wheeler played for the No. 1 prep team in the nation and as a result, he wound up facing a better level of competition than other high school pitchers.
Best Case Outcome – No. 1 starter
Red Sox 2009 Draft
Moderator: RedSox
Red Sox 2009 Draft
Last edited by RedSox on Thu Dec 17, 2009 10:11 am, edited 2 times in total.
#18 Overall.
Mike Trout OF
BA - As the only player who appeared at the MLB Network's studios for its live coverage, Trout was in the spotlight on draft day. He continued to stand out in his pro debut, leading the league in hitting for much of the season. He demonstrated sound strike-zone judgment, good gap power and the ability to use the entire field.
Interestingly, his speed and defense are better pure tools than his bat. He's a plus-plus runner who gets out of the batter's box quickly and gets good jumps in center field. He has average arm strength and could become a plus thrower if he improves his throwing mechanics.
Trout also drew raves for his character and bulldog approach.
"He goes about things like a professional," Angels manager Tyrone Boykin said. "He's got tremendous makeup."
BP - Year in Review: After dropping a bit further than expected in June, the first-round pick had an outstanding pro debut in Arizona, leaving many to regret passing on him.
The Good: Trout's well-rounded game is already surprisingly polished. He has a good feel for the strike zone, uses all fields, and already has gap power with projection for a bit more. He's a 65-70 runner on the 20-80 scouting scale, and it plays even better than that in the field due to excellent jumps, while he's also a very good baserunner. He gets supremely high marks for his makeup and effort.
The Bad: Trout's ultimate power ceiling has yet to be determined. He has strength in his swing and squares balls up, but it's a single plane of mechanics that lacks loft and backspin. Most scouts believe he'll develop the skills, but the wide ranged projections sit between 10-15 and 20-25 annually. His outfield routes tend to have a bit of a hook in them, but that should improve with experience, as he didn't begin to play in the outfield until this year.
Ephemera: When leading off an inning in the Arizona Summer League, Trout went 23-for-49 (.469).
Perfect World Projection: Trout will be a dynamic center fielder who hits leadoff, or maybe more in the middle if the power comes.
Path to the Big Leagues: Torii Hunter is signed through 2012, so if Trout develops as expected, things could line up perfectly.
Timetable: Trout will make his eagerly anticipated pro debut at Low-A Cedar Rapids.
Mark (Virginia Beach): Who do you think will make the biggest impression in the majors this year out of the 2009 draft class...excluding Strasburg?
Kevin Goldstein: Mike Trout, Brett Jackson, Gio Mier.
Sickels - 1) Mike Trout, OF, Grade B+: On overall upside potential, has to rank number one but although I'd love additional performance data about his power development. A bit of a risk, but the upside is outstanding.
PG - SCOUTING PROFILE (3/1): Trout has emerged since last summer as one of the top outfield prospects in the country, based mainly on his combination of speed and strength. He generates excellent bat speed in his strong, physical build, and emerged as one of the fastest players in the country at the Area Code Games, when he ran a 6.52-second 60-equivalent to a 6.3-6.4 time if he'd run on the turf at the Metrodome in Minneapolis at Perfect Game's National Showcase earlier in the summer. He is also an aggressive base runner with excellent range in center field. Trout has solid big-league-average arm strength and has been a successful pitcher at the high school level with a mid-to-upper 80s fastball. The area of his game that Trout really intrigues scouts, though, is his ability to become a run-producing hitter with power potential, not just a speedy athlete. Trout has a power-hitter's approach with good flow and extension through the ball, although he does tend to pull off pitches occasionally and leave the outside half of the plate uncovered. The ball jumps off his bat and he showed impressive power at both the Area Codes and at the World Wood Bat Association fall championship in Jupiter, Fla., in October. Trout hit .530-9-35 as a junior at Millville High, and went 8-2, 1.77 with 124 K's in 76 innings on the mound. He's also 51-for-55 in his high-school career in stolen bases. Coaches at the next level might be tempted to put Trout at the top of the order to take advantage of his speed, but that might not be the ideal role for his broader range of tools in the long run. Trout's ability comes to him naturally as his father Jeff was an All-American second baseman at the University of Delaware in 1983, and a fifth-round pick of the Minnesota Twins in that year's draft.--DAVID RAWNSLEY / ALLAN SIMPSON
UPDATE (5/15): All the adulation that Trout began receiving last summer and fall proved well-founded as Trout had a huge senior season for Millville High, cementing him as a mid-first-rounder. The Major League Scouting Bureau was among those impressed and stuck a rare on-field performance grade of 66 (on the 20-80 scouting scale) on him in mid-March. That's rarified territory for a potential draft pick as San Diego State righthander Stephen Strasburg, a slam-dunk as the first pick, is the only known player in this year's draft class to have received a higher rating. Trout earned high marks in all phases of his game from the bureau, with the highest grades (a perfect 80) coming in the intangibles areas of baseball instincts and aggressiveness, which reflect his hard-nosed, get-dirty approach. Not surprisingly, Trout is a favorite of scouts. He carries himself exceptionally well and plays the game with an all-out style. There is little doubt that he has gotten the most out of his physical ability over the course of his high-school career. He set a south Jersey single-season record this spring by slamming 18 homers. In his previous three seasons, he had accumulated just 13 homers. His power surge spoke to added strength and a better overall offensive approach this season, particularly in his ability to stay back on breaking balls. Overall, he hit .531 with 45 RBIs. He also stole 21 bases, and his speed was a significant asset in all phases of his game. Though he moved from the middle infield and was spending his first full season as a center fielder, Trout played the position like a veteran. His range, instincts and arm were all advanced areas of his game, and his superior speed covered any mistakes stemming from his inexperience. Trout also pitched on occasion this spring, and went 5-1, 1.71. If Trout's total package sounds a bit like long-time ex-big leaguer Craig Biggio, the comparison seems apt. Long-time New Jersey scouts say Trout is a near-clone of Biggio, a first-round draft pick from the state in 1987.--AS
Mike Trout OF
BA - As the only player who appeared at the MLB Network's studios for its live coverage, Trout was in the spotlight on draft day. He continued to stand out in his pro debut, leading the league in hitting for much of the season. He demonstrated sound strike-zone judgment, good gap power and the ability to use the entire field.
Interestingly, his speed and defense are better pure tools than his bat. He's a plus-plus runner who gets out of the batter's box quickly and gets good jumps in center field. He has average arm strength and could become a plus thrower if he improves his throwing mechanics.
Trout also drew raves for his character and bulldog approach.
"He goes about things like a professional," Angels manager Tyrone Boykin said. "He's got tremendous makeup."
BP - Year in Review: After dropping a bit further than expected in June, the first-round pick had an outstanding pro debut in Arizona, leaving many to regret passing on him.
The Good: Trout's well-rounded game is already surprisingly polished. He has a good feel for the strike zone, uses all fields, and already has gap power with projection for a bit more. He's a 65-70 runner on the 20-80 scouting scale, and it plays even better than that in the field due to excellent jumps, while he's also a very good baserunner. He gets supremely high marks for his makeup and effort.
The Bad: Trout's ultimate power ceiling has yet to be determined. He has strength in his swing and squares balls up, but it's a single plane of mechanics that lacks loft and backspin. Most scouts believe he'll develop the skills, but the wide ranged projections sit between 10-15 and 20-25 annually. His outfield routes tend to have a bit of a hook in them, but that should improve with experience, as he didn't begin to play in the outfield until this year.
Ephemera: When leading off an inning in the Arizona Summer League, Trout went 23-for-49 (.469).
Perfect World Projection: Trout will be a dynamic center fielder who hits leadoff, or maybe more in the middle if the power comes.
Path to the Big Leagues: Torii Hunter is signed through 2012, so if Trout develops as expected, things could line up perfectly.
Timetable: Trout will make his eagerly anticipated pro debut at Low-A Cedar Rapids.
Mark (Virginia Beach): Who do you think will make the biggest impression in the majors this year out of the 2009 draft class...excluding Strasburg?
Kevin Goldstein: Mike Trout, Brett Jackson, Gio Mier.
Sickels - 1) Mike Trout, OF, Grade B+: On overall upside potential, has to rank number one but although I'd love additional performance data about his power development. A bit of a risk, but the upside is outstanding.
PG - SCOUTING PROFILE (3/1): Trout has emerged since last summer as one of the top outfield prospects in the country, based mainly on his combination of speed and strength. He generates excellent bat speed in his strong, physical build, and emerged as one of the fastest players in the country at the Area Code Games, when he ran a 6.52-second 60-equivalent to a 6.3-6.4 time if he'd run on the turf at the Metrodome in Minneapolis at Perfect Game's National Showcase earlier in the summer. He is also an aggressive base runner with excellent range in center field. Trout has solid big-league-average arm strength and has been a successful pitcher at the high school level with a mid-to-upper 80s fastball. The area of his game that Trout really intrigues scouts, though, is his ability to become a run-producing hitter with power potential, not just a speedy athlete. Trout has a power-hitter's approach with good flow and extension through the ball, although he does tend to pull off pitches occasionally and leave the outside half of the plate uncovered. The ball jumps off his bat and he showed impressive power at both the Area Codes and at the World Wood Bat Association fall championship in Jupiter, Fla., in October. Trout hit .530-9-35 as a junior at Millville High, and went 8-2, 1.77 with 124 K's in 76 innings on the mound. He's also 51-for-55 in his high-school career in stolen bases. Coaches at the next level might be tempted to put Trout at the top of the order to take advantage of his speed, but that might not be the ideal role for his broader range of tools in the long run. Trout's ability comes to him naturally as his father Jeff was an All-American second baseman at the University of Delaware in 1983, and a fifth-round pick of the Minnesota Twins in that year's draft.--DAVID RAWNSLEY / ALLAN SIMPSON
UPDATE (5/15): All the adulation that Trout began receiving last summer and fall proved well-founded as Trout had a huge senior season for Millville High, cementing him as a mid-first-rounder. The Major League Scouting Bureau was among those impressed and stuck a rare on-field performance grade of 66 (on the 20-80 scouting scale) on him in mid-March. That's rarified territory for a potential draft pick as San Diego State righthander Stephen Strasburg, a slam-dunk as the first pick, is the only known player in this year's draft class to have received a higher rating. Trout earned high marks in all phases of his game from the bureau, with the highest grades (a perfect 80) coming in the intangibles areas of baseball instincts and aggressiveness, which reflect his hard-nosed, get-dirty approach. Not surprisingly, Trout is a favorite of scouts. He carries himself exceptionally well and plays the game with an all-out style. There is little doubt that he has gotten the most out of his physical ability over the course of his high-school career. He set a south Jersey single-season record this spring by slamming 18 homers. In his previous three seasons, he had accumulated just 13 homers. His power surge spoke to added strength and a better overall offensive approach this season, particularly in his ability to stay back on breaking balls. Overall, he hit .531 with 45 RBIs. He also stole 21 bases, and his speed was a significant asset in all phases of his game. Though he moved from the middle infield and was spending his first full season as a center fielder, Trout played the position like a veteran. His range, instincts and arm were all advanced areas of his game, and his superior speed covered any mistakes stemming from his inexperience. Trout also pitched on occasion this spring, and went 5-1, 1.71. If Trout's total package sounds a bit like long-time ex-big leaguer Craig Biggio, the comparison seems apt. Long-time New Jersey scouts say Trout is a near-clone of Biggio, a first-round draft pick from the state in 1987.--AS
#32 Overall.
Everett Williams OF
BA - Background: The finest hitter among the elite prep athletes in the 2009 draft, Williams slipped to the second round and signed at the Aug. 17 deadline for $775,000. Like Donavan Tate, he comes from a family with athletic bloodlines. His cousin Cedric Allen pitched in the Reds system and two aunts are enshrined in the softball hall of fame.
Strengths: Williams' excellent bat speed is the product of strong, quick hands. He's physical and can crush the ball to all fields with his aggressive lefthanded stroke. One area scout saw Williams hit a 500-foot blast. He's a gifted center fielder who goes back on the ball well. He's an above-average runner out of the box and even quicker under way.
Weaknesses: Inexperience is Williams' biggest hurdle. It shows most in his management of the strike zone, particularly with identifying and hitting breaking balls. While his innate hitting ability is undeniable, he'll work to add separation when he loads his hands, which will give him more leverage in his swing. His arm strength is fringy.
The Future: While he profiles as a center fielder, Williams may move in deference to Tate. If his bat develops as expected, he'll have no problem providing enough offense for an outfield corner. He'll spend his first full pro season in low Class A.
BEST PURE HITTER:: OF Everett Williams (2) had the best bat among the elite athletes in the 2009 draft.
BEST POWER HITTER:: 1B Nate Freiman (8) has the most present power. OF Donavan Tate (1) and Williams both are loaded with raw strength and could pass him in time.
FASTEST RUNNER:: Tate, Williams and OFs Cameron Monger (27) and Wande Olabisi (30) all have plus-plus speed.
Sickels - 6) Everett Williams, Grade B: As with Tate, I trust the tools and the Padres' ability to refine them.
PG - SCOUTING PROFILE (3/1): Williams has a short, live, compact build at 5-foot-10 and 195 pounds, and has a striking resemblance to University of Tennessee outfielder Kentrail Davis, a probable 2009 first-round pick. Though he hit a loud .563-26-63 and stole 20 bases as a high-school junior, Williams was a relative unknown prior to last summer. But he opened the eyes of many scouts who had never seen him before at the Area Code Games and the Aflac All-American Game in California in early August with his excellent bat speed and power potential. Williams is the type of hitter who feasts on velocity; the harder a pitcher throws, the more aggressive and extended his swing. He has issues with handling off-speed pitches, but his bat speed and power potential are top level. Williams doesn't look like a classic center fielder with his running-back build, but has the tools to stay in the middle of the field. He has plus speed, and gets the most out of it as he has very good instincts and gets good jumps on fly balls, especially on balls hit over his head.--DAVID RAWNSLEY
UPDATE (5/15): Williams has had a strong spring, showing plus bat speed and running speed on a consistent basis, although he hasn't produced the power numbers that he is capable of after being pitched around frequently on a sub-par 6-14 high-school team. In early April, Williams signed with Texas. Among the top prep prospects for this year's draft, he had been the last player attending a domestic high school to sign a letter-of-intent, but that was considered a back-up/formality by the scouting community to give him some leverage for the draft. Williams is often mentioned as a late first-round/compensation-round type of player in discussions with scouts.--DR
Everett Williams OF
BA - Background: The finest hitter among the elite prep athletes in the 2009 draft, Williams slipped to the second round and signed at the Aug. 17 deadline for $775,000. Like Donavan Tate, he comes from a family with athletic bloodlines. His cousin Cedric Allen pitched in the Reds system and two aunts are enshrined in the softball hall of fame.
Strengths: Williams' excellent bat speed is the product of strong, quick hands. He's physical and can crush the ball to all fields with his aggressive lefthanded stroke. One area scout saw Williams hit a 500-foot blast. He's a gifted center fielder who goes back on the ball well. He's an above-average runner out of the box and even quicker under way.
Weaknesses: Inexperience is Williams' biggest hurdle. It shows most in his management of the strike zone, particularly with identifying and hitting breaking balls. While his innate hitting ability is undeniable, he'll work to add separation when he loads his hands, which will give him more leverage in his swing. His arm strength is fringy.
The Future: While he profiles as a center fielder, Williams may move in deference to Tate. If his bat develops as expected, he'll have no problem providing enough offense for an outfield corner. He'll spend his first full pro season in low Class A.
BEST PURE HITTER:: OF Everett Williams (2) had the best bat among the elite athletes in the 2009 draft.
BEST POWER HITTER:: 1B Nate Freiman (8) has the most present power. OF Donavan Tate (1) and Williams both are loaded with raw strength and could pass him in time.
FASTEST RUNNER:: Tate, Williams and OFs Cameron Monger (27) and Wande Olabisi (30) all have plus-plus speed.
Sickels - 6) Everett Williams, Grade B: As with Tate, I trust the tools and the Padres' ability to refine them.
PG - SCOUTING PROFILE (3/1): Williams has a short, live, compact build at 5-foot-10 and 195 pounds, and has a striking resemblance to University of Tennessee outfielder Kentrail Davis, a probable 2009 first-round pick. Though he hit a loud .563-26-63 and stole 20 bases as a high-school junior, Williams was a relative unknown prior to last summer. But he opened the eyes of many scouts who had never seen him before at the Area Code Games and the Aflac All-American Game in California in early August with his excellent bat speed and power potential. Williams is the type of hitter who feasts on velocity; the harder a pitcher throws, the more aggressive and extended his swing. He has issues with handling off-speed pitches, but his bat speed and power potential are top level. Williams doesn't look like a classic center fielder with his running-back build, but has the tools to stay in the middle of the field. He has plus speed, and gets the most out of it as he has very good instincts and gets good jumps on fly balls, especially on balls hit over his head.--DAVID RAWNSLEY
UPDATE (5/15): Williams has had a strong spring, showing plus bat speed and running speed on a consistent basis, although he hasn't produced the power numbers that he is capable of after being pitched around frequently on a sub-par 6-14 high-school team. In early April, Williams signed with Texas. Among the top prep prospects for this year's draft, he had been the last player attending a domestic high school to sign a letter-of-intent, but that was considered a back-up/formality by the scouting community to give him some leverage for the draft. Williams is often mentioned as a late first-round/compensation-round type of player in discussions with scouts.--DR
#62 Overall.
Domingo Santana OF
BA - Background: Philadelphia's instructional league program featured a plethora of athletic, high-upside outfielders such as Santana, converted pitcher Jiwan James and 2009 draftees Kelly Dugan, Kyrell Hudson and Alston Altherr. Santana still stands out in that crowd. Born in the Bahamas, Santana signed for a $330,000 bonus—big money for Sal Agostinelli's budget-conscious international department—and had a strong debut in the Rookie-level Gulf Coast League despite being its second-youngest player at age 16.
Strengths: Santana is a physical monster and yet can run the 60-yard dash in 6.7 seconds. He has reached 90 mph off the mound and has a plus arm in right field. His hitting tools are more advanced than even the Phillies expected. Add in his raw power, and his total package evokes Jermaine Dye. Santana also speaks English well.
Weaknesses: Santana may lose some athleticism, speed and looseness as he fills out physically. Mostly, he just needs at-bats to learn how to adjust to hard stuff inside and to improve his pitch recognition.
The Future: Santana's upside, performance and age give him a slide edge over his fellow toolsy outfielders. He should move up to Williamsport next season, but could jump to low Class A with a strong spring.
Domingo Santana OF
BA - Background: Philadelphia's instructional league program featured a plethora of athletic, high-upside outfielders such as Santana, converted pitcher Jiwan James and 2009 draftees Kelly Dugan, Kyrell Hudson and Alston Altherr. Santana still stands out in that crowd. Born in the Bahamas, Santana signed for a $330,000 bonus—big money for Sal Agostinelli's budget-conscious international department—and had a strong debut in the Rookie-level Gulf Coast League despite being its second-youngest player at age 16.
Strengths: Santana is a physical monster and yet can run the 60-yard dash in 6.7 seconds. He has reached 90 mph off the mound and has a plus arm in right field. His hitting tools are more advanced than even the Phillies expected. Add in his raw power, and his total package evokes Jermaine Dye. Santana also speaks English well.
Weaknesses: Santana may lose some athleticism, speed and looseness as he fills out physically. Mostly, he just needs at-bats to learn how to adjust to hard stuff inside and to improve his pitch recognition.
The Future: Santana's upside, performance and age give him a slide edge over his fellow toolsy outfielders. He should move up to Williamsport next season, but could jump to low Class A with a strong spring.
#92 Overall
BA - Wilson projected as a possible first-round pick before he blew out his elbow in the Cape Cod League in the summer of 2007, shortly before he transferred from Winthrop to Texas A&M. He redshirted with the Aggies last spring, though he did reach 94 mph in bullpen workouts that attracted a number of scouts. The Cubs took a flier on him in the 10th round last June and followed him when he returned to the Cape in the summer. Chicago reportedly offered him $600,000 to sign but he was looking for $1.5 million. Wilson looked to be in line for that kind of bonus when he opened this season with a 91-95 mph fastball and a true slider, but his stuff slacked off later in the spring and didn't pick up when Texas A&M moved him to the bullpen. His control has been sharp (105-18 K-BB ratio in 75 innings) for a pitcher in his first season back after elbow reconstruction. He figures to be a second-round pick at this point, though he's believed to be looking for a seven-figure bonus as a 22-year-old junior.
NYPL #9 - Wilson had Tommy John surgery after two dominating seasons for Winthrop, which led him to sit out 2008 after transferring to Texas A&M. He showed power stuff early this spring for the Aggies before seeing his velocity decline in the weeks before the draft, but he rebounded at Lowell, where the Red Sox limited him to three innings per start.
"I like him a ton," Oneonta manager Howard Bushong said. "He works quick, gets after it, and he was 91-95 the last time we saw him. Everything stays down in the zone, and he's got a pretty dang good slider."
Wilson pounded the strike zone with his fastball this summer, though he has a max-effort delivery and throws every heater as hard as he can in short stints. His slider rates as average to plus, and he can throw it for strikes or as a chase pitch. His bulldog mentality, power two-pitch repertoire and delivery all point to a future in the bullpen.
Sickels - 15) Alex Wilson, RHP, Grade C+: Good fastball/slider combination with sharp command, could rise through system quickly.
BP - 13. Alex Wilson, RHP: He had a 0.50 ERA in New York-Penn League while giving up just 10 hits in 36 innings, but he's already 23, so he should dominate. Still, his fastball/slider combo is impressive.
PG - SCOUTING PROFILE (3/1): Wilson was primed to become an early-round pick in last year's draft after going 13-3, 3.78 with 143 strikeouts in 138 innings as a freshman at Winthrop, and following up with a solid 6-4, 2.51 record with 97 strikeouts in 111 innings as a sophomore-accomplished mainly on the strength of a fastball in the 92-95 mph range. But those hopes were dashed when his velocity fell off considerably and he felt discomfort in his pitching elbow in two brief appearances in the Cape Cod League in the summer of 2007, and subsequently underwent Tommy John surgery. Wilson would have been lost for the entire 2008 season anyway, but nonetheless elected to transfer immediately from Winthrop to Texas A&M, the fallout from an excessive workload (249 innings) in two seasons at Winthrop that may have been a contributing factor to his elbow troubles. Wilson made a surprisingly quick and strong comeback from his TJ surgery at A&M, and though he didn't pitch to live hitters, he threw bullpen sessions for scouts leading up the 2008 draft, topping out at 94 mph. That led the Chicago Cubs to draft him in the 10th round, but they wanted to see him pitch again first before agreeing to sign him. Wilson, who has always believed his talent warranted his being a first-rounder-or at least being paid like a first-rounder-was more than willing to prove to the Cubs that his arm was 100 percent again, and returned to the Cape for the summer. His fastball was back to its customary mid-90s level and his breaking ball had its normal nasty break on occasion, but Wilson didn't distinguish himself otherwise in 10 appearances (seven starts) for Falmouth, going 0-1, 4.60 with 15 walks and 36 strikeouts in 29 innings. He lacked command early in the season, and his breaking ball was inconsistent towards the end. The Cubs did make an offer to Wilson at the mid-August signing deadline, but it reportedly was only about half of what Wilson was seeking, so he elected to return to school as a fourth-year junior, intent on proving again that he's a first-round talent. His fastball velocity climbed to 97 mph during fall ball at Texas A&M. On raw arm strength alone, Wilson could be a first-rounder in June, but he must fine-tune his off-speed stuff for that to happen.--ALLAN SIMPSON
UPDATE (5/15): Wilson had a two-part season that did more to muddy his draft standing than anything. He began the 2009 campaign as a starter and showed a 93-95 mph fastball and big-strikeout slider for the first month, before developing some arm fatigue-understandable after missing a year from surgery-and saw his fastball drop to the 88-92 mph range and his slider flatten out. With freshman Ross Hales stepping up as a potential ace starter, the Aggies moved Wilson to the bullpen, where his stuff regained some of its power, although mid-90s fastballs were more rare over the second half of the spring. Wilson's basic performance totals (6-6, 3.89, 2 SV in 85 IP) should be taken with some perspective. He was completely dominant at times, striking out 111 while only walking 22. Despite the excellent walk totals, scouts expressed concerns that Wilson got too many wild swings from college hitters on his slider, and that more-disciplined professional hitters will lay off the pitch and force Wilson to throw his relatively-straight fastball over the plate. So scouts were forced to evaluate Wilson's future role and what type of baseline stuff he will have in that role by somewhat different means to pin down where he falls in the draft. A secondary factor to consider is that Wilson will turn 23 in November, so the clock is ticking.--DAVID RAWNSLEY
BA - Wilson projected as a possible first-round pick before he blew out his elbow in the Cape Cod League in the summer of 2007, shortly before he transferred from Winthrop to Texas A&M. He redshirted with the Aggies last spring, though he did reach 94 mph in bullpen workouts that attracted a number of scouts. The Cubs took a flier on him in the 10th round last June and followed him when he returned to the Cape in the summer. Chicago reportedly offered him $600,000 to sign but he was looking for $1.5 million. Wilson looked to be in line for that kind of bonus when he opened this season with a 91-95 mph fastball and a true slider, but his stuff slacked off later in the spring and didn't pick up when Texas A&M moved him to the bullpen. His control has been sharp (105-18 K-BB ratio in 75 innings) for a pitcher in his first season back after elbow reconstruction. He figures to be a second-round pick at this point, though he's believed to be looking for a seven-figure bonus as a 22-year-old junior.
NYPL #9 - Wilson had Tommy John surgery after two dominating seasons for Winthrop, which led him to sit out 2008 after transferring to Texas A&M. He showed power stuff early this spring for the Aggies before seeing his velocity decline in the weeks before the draft, but he rebounded at Lowell, where the Red Sox limited him to three innings per start.
"I like him a ton," Oneonta manager Howard Bushong said. "He works quick, gets after it, and he was 91-95 the last time we saw him. Everything stays down in the zone, and he's got a pretty dang good slider."
Wilson pounded the strike zone with his fastball this summer, though he has a max-effort delivery and throws every heater as hard as he can in short stints. His slider rates as average to plus, and he can throw it for strikes or as a chase pitch. His bulldog mentality, power two-pitch repertoire and delivery all point to a future in the bullpen.
Sickels - 15) Alex Wilson, RHP, Grade C+: Good fastball/slider combination with sharp command, could rise through system quickly.
BP - 13. Alex Wilson, RHP: He had a 0.50 ERA in New York-Penn League while giving up just 10 hits in 36 innings, but he's already 23, so he should dominate. Still, his fastball/slider combo is impressive.
PG - SCOUTING PROFILE (3/1): Wilson was primed to become an early-round pick in last year's draft after going 13-3, 3.78 with 143 strikeouts in 138 innings as a freshman at Winthrop, and following up with a solid 6-4, 2.51 record with 97 strikeouts in 111 innings as a sophomore-accomplished mainly on the strength of a fastball in the 92-95 mph range. But those hopes were dashed when his velocity fell off considerably and he felt discomfort in his pitching elbow in two brief appearances in the Cape Cod League in the summer of 2007, and subsequently underwent Tommy John surgery. Wilson would have been lost for the entire 2008 season anyway, but nonetheless elected to transfer immediately from Winthrop to Texas A&M, the fallout from an excessive workload (249 innings) in two seasons at Winthrop that may have been a contributing factor to his elbow troubles. Wilson made a surprisingly quick and strong comeback from his TJ surgery at A&M, and though he didn't pitch to live hitters, he threw bullpen sessions for scouts leading up the 2008 draft, topping out at 94 mph. That led the Chicago Cubs to draft him in the 10th round, but they wanted to see him pitch again first before agreeing to sign him. Wilson, who has always believed his talent warranted his being a first-rounder-or at least being paid like a first-rounder-was more than willing to prove to the Cubs that his arm was 100 percent again, and returned to the Cape for the summer. His fastball was back to its customary mid-90s level and his breaking ball had its normal nasty break on occasion, but Wilson didn't distinguish himself otherwise in 10 appearances (seven starts) for Falmouth, going 0-1, 4.60 with 15 walks and 36 strikeouts in 29 innings. He lacked command early in the season, and his breaking ball was inconsistent towards the end. The Cubs did make an offer to Wilson at the mid-August signing deadline, but it reportedly was only about half of what Wilson was seeking, so he elected to return to school as a fourth-year junior, intent on proving again that he's a first-round talent. His fastball velocity climbed to 97 mph during fall ball at Texas A&M. On raw arm strength alone, Wilson could be a first-rounder in June, but he must fine-tune his off-speed stuff for that to happen.--ALLAN SIMPSON
UPDATE (5/15): Wilson had a two-part season that did more to muddy his draft standing than anything. He began the 2009 campaign as a starter and showed a 93-95 mph fastball and big-strikeout slider for the first month, before developing some arm fatigue-understandable after missing a year from surgery-and saw his fastball drop to the 88-92 mph range and his slider flatten out. With freshman Ross Hales stepping up as a potential ace starter, the Aggies moved Wilson to the bullpen, where his stuff regained some of its power, although mid-90s fastballs were more rare over the second half of the spring. Wilson's basic performance totals (6-6, 3.89, 2 SV in 85 IP) should be taken with some perspective. He was completely dominant at times, striking out 111 while only walking 22. Despite the excellent walk totals, scouts expressed concerns that Wilson got too many wild swings from college hitters on his slider, and that more-disciplined professional hitters will lay off the pitch and force Wilson to throw his relatively-straight fastball over the plate. So scouts were forced to evaluate Wilson's future role and what type of baseline stuff he will have in that role by somewhat different means to pin down where he falls in the draft. A secondary factor to consider is that Wilson will turn 23 in November, so the clock is ticking.--DAVID RAWNSLEY
The Red Sox 2009 IBC Amateur Draft in review.
Going into the draft the Sox roster was decidedly pitching heavy with 30 out of 50 slots occupied with arms, 2/3 of which were at AA or above. Early on I decided to try to boost the offense. Dustin Ackley made perfect sense for a team that lacks a dynamic leadoff hitter. Whether he ends up in the OF or at 2B the Sox have a slot for him as neither Brown or Iwamura is going to block him and I expect him to rocket to the big leagues and get a September callup in 2010. Look for him to be an All-Star and contend for future batting titles.
Last year's #4 pick Tim Beckham was at least 5 years away from getting a decent projection so the decision was made to pick up another early pick and try to get Grant Green who had become a forgotten man to many publications. I acquired the tenth pick from the Cubs. Long story short, Kelly nabbed my man at #8 forcing me to take one of the 4 or so similar upside prep arms in the draft(RHP prefered over LHP because of Fenway). I wasn't overly amped about the college arms though I did consider Storen given his proximity to the Majors.
Right around the time I drafted Ackley, SEA started making noise about having him take balls at 2B, so I figured it wouldn't be a bad idea to add a sure OF to cover my bases. I had some interest in Fuentes, but I thought he profiled more as a leadoff hitter than Trout who could be a #3 type hitter if everything falls right. After I drafted him KG said in a chat that he could have a MLB impact this year? I quoted it in his cut/paste. AZL to MLB in a year would be quite a feat.
At #32 I was looking at 4 guys, Myers, Mitchell, Sano, and Williams. Williams was the only guy left when my pick came so I added him. He's a little different than most of the guys drafted as raw athletes in that he's been around the game more than a lot of those guys who usually have football backgrounds. His father played baseball and he has two aunts in the softball hall of fame. He could develop quickly.
Between 32 and 62 I started to see some reach picks coming in as the talent pool thinned. The Phillies have had some good luck with 6'5"+ outfielders lately(Brown, Taylor, Werth) so I figured I'd go with Domingo Santana after he made the Phillies top 10 last month. He's pure projection, but if he opens 2010 in Low A ball at 17 years old and mashes someone somewhere is going to drop a Stanton comp on the 6'5" right handed Santana.
I thought about giving up the 92nd overall pick, but I figured if I needed to use Pedro Alvarez this year I would need another 8 or 9 player so I thought I set my queue to pick one of Vinicio. Igarashi, Wilson, and two guys who have not been drafted yet. I guess I effed it up somehow because it didn't draft for me. Anyway, Wilson could be a starter if everything aligns, but he'll likely shoot to the majors as a reliever if his stamina or change doesn't develop.
Anyway, that's the Sox 2009 draft, leaving a future view of:
Perfect world ceilings:
C - Sandoval - All-Star, most likely at 3B then 1B down the line
1B - Carter - Above average regular then probably DH down the line
2B - Ackley - All-Star at either OF or 2B
3B - Pedro Alvarez - All-Star at 3B then moving to 1B down the line
SS - Desmond - Average regular
LF - Trout - All-Star
CF - Rasmus - All-Star
RF - Parra - Average regular
DH - Bell - Above average regular
SP - David Price - All-Star #1
SP - Kyle Drabek - All-Star #2
SP - Trevor Cahill - #3
SP - Chris Withrow - #2
SP - Andrew Miller - #4, #2 if headassiotomy ever takes
SP - Zach Wheeler - Way too far out to even guess
Going into the draft the Sox roster was decidedly pitching heavy with 30 out of 50 slots occupied with arms, 2/3 of which were at AA or above. Early on I decided to try to boost the offense. Dustin Ackley made perfect sense for a team that lacks a dynamic leadoff hitter. Whether he ends up in the OF or at 2B the Sox have a slot for him as neither Brown or Iwamura is going to block him and I expect him to rocket to the big leagues and get a September callup in 2010. Look for him to be an All-Star and contend for future batting titles.
Last year's #4 pick Tim Beckham was at least 5 years away from getting a decent projection so the decision was made to pick up another early pick and try to get Grant Green who had become a forgotten man to many publications. I acquired the tenth pick from the Cubs. Long story short, Kelly nabbed my man at #8 forcing me to take one of the 4 or so similar upside prep arms in the draft(RHP prefered over LHP because of Fenway). I wasn't overly amped about the college arms though I did consider Storen given his proximity to the Majors.
Right around the time I drafted Ackley, SEA started making noise about having him take balls at 2B, so I figured it wouldn't be a bad idea to add a sure OF to cover my bases. I had some interest in Fuentes, but I thought he profiled more as a leadoff hitter than Trout who could be a #3 type hitter if everything falls right. After I drafted him KG said in a chat that he could have a MLB impact this year? I quoted it in his cut/paste. AZL to MLB in a year would be quite a feat.
At #32 I was looking at 4 guys, Myers, Mitchell, Sano, and Williams. Williams was the only guy left when my pick came so I added him. He's a little different than most of the guys drafted as raw athletes in that he's been around the game more than a lot of those guys who usually have football backgrounds. His father played baseball and he has two aunts in the softball hall of fame. He could develop quickly.
Between 32 and 62 I started to see some reach picks coming in as the talent pool thinned. The Phillies have had some good luck with 6'5"+ outfielders lately(Brown, Taylor, Werth) so I figured I'd go with Domingo Santana after he made the Phillies top 10 last month. He's pure projection, but if he opens 2010 in Low A ball at 17 years old and mashes someone somewhere is going to drop a Stanton comp on the 6'5" right handed Santana.
I thought about giving up the 92nd overall pick, but I figured if I needed to use Pedro Alvarez this year I would need another 8 or 9 player so I thought I set my queue to pick one of Vinicio. Igarashi, Wilson, and two guys who have not been drafted yet. I guess I effed it up somehow because it didn't draft for me. Anyway, Wilson could be a starter if everything aligns, but he'll likely shoot to the majors as a reliever if his stamina or change doesn't develop.
Anyway, that's the Sox 2009 draft, leaving a future view of:
Perfect world ceilings:
C - Sandoval - All-Star, most likely at 3B then 1B down the line
1B - Carter - Above average regular then probably DH down the line
2B - Ackley - All-Star at either OF or 2B
3B - Pedro Alvarez - All-Star at 3B then moving to 1B down the line
SS - Desmond - Average regular
LF - Trout - All-Star
CF - Rasmus - All-Star
RF - Parra - Average regular
DH - Bell - Above average regular
SP - David Price - All-Star #1
SP - Kyle Drabek - All-Star #2
SP - Trevor Cahill - #3
SP - Chris Withrow - #2
SP - Andrew Miller - #4, #2 if headassiotomy ever takes
SP - Zach Wheeler - Way too far out to even guess
