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2005 MLB Draft: First Round
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1. Diamondbacks: Justin Upton, ss, Great Bridge HS, Chesapeake,
Va.
Upton demonstrates excellent patience at the
plate and a quick stroke. His well-defined and muscular upper
body give a hint to his plus power potential, which he accompanies
with equal amounts of speed. His 6.23-second time in the 60-yard
dash at a Perfect Game showcase last year rates as the quickest
in the scouting service's history. Upton moves well defensively
and shows clean actions at shortstop, but again follows in his
brother's footsteps because he has trouble harnessing the plus
arm strength that has allowed him to hit 94 mph off the mound. |
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2. Royals: Alex Gordon, 3b, U. of Nebraska
Gordon should hit for power and average because
he has a sweet lefthanded swing, strength, exceptional strike-zone
discipline and the ability to make adjustments. He uses the entire
field and can drive the ball where it's pitched after getting
pull-conscious as a sophomore. When Gordon first arrived at Nebraska,
some thought he might have to move to first base or an outfield
corner. But he has worked hard on his defense, where his strong
arm, instincts and quickness are assets. |
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3. Mariners: Jeff Clement, c, U. of Southern California
Clement generates light-tower power with a short,
compact lefthanded swing. He stays inside the ball well and gets
excellent backspin. As a major league hitter, he projects to hit
.270-.280 with 30-35 home runs. Clement has outstanding makeup
and has worked hard to shore up his weaknesses. He has shown his
biggest improvement behind the plate. His set-up, mechanics, blocking
and arm quickness are all much improved. He still has only a 40-50
arm on the standard 20-80 scouting scale, but threw out almost
50 percent of basestealers this year. |
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4. Nationals: Ryan Zimmerman, 3b, U. of Virginia
Zimmerman's bat control, elite defensive and
polish could give team a quick return on investment. Zimmerman
rarely strikes out because of his balanced, up-the-middle approach
and shows average speed and good instincts on the basepaths. He's
always had excellent defensive skills, with hands, feet, arm strength
and range that all rate above-average. One scout called him the
best defender he had ever seen--at any position--and said the
only question about Zimmerman was how many Gold Gloves he would
win. His makeup also gets high marks. |
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5. Brewers: Ryan Braun, 3b, U. of Miami
Braun has a hitch in his swing and a high, unconventional
finish, but his hands are quick enough to make it work, and he’s
athletic enough to repeat his stroke and drive pitches to all
parts of the field. His future position will be the main source
of concern for pro teams. He came to college as a shortstop and
now plays third, but he has struggled with errors at both spots.
Some scouts doubt his infield actions and footwork and say he'll
have to move to an outfield corner, where his plus arm and speed
could allow him to be an above-average defender in time. |
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6. Blue Jays: Ricky Romero, lhp, Cal State Fullerton
Romero has three solid, major league-ready pitches
that he can throw for strikes almost at will, including a fastball
that sits at 90-91 mph and touches 93-94. He also has an excellent
curveball and a better feel for a changeup this year after he
reduced his reliance on his curve. But Romero gets his highest
grades for his makeup, temperament and competitive zeal. He is
an excellent student of the game who understands the science of
pitching, and is a master at controlling the tempo of a game.
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7. Rockies: Troy Tulowitzki, ss, Long Beach State U.
Tulowitzki compares favorably to Oakland's Bobby
Crosby, his predecessor as shortstop at Long Beach State. They're
about the same size and have similar speed and bat speed at the
same stage, but scouts say Tulowitzki is a better athlete and
should be a better player. He has more arm strength and range,
and more power to all parts of the park, while Crosby was more
automatic on routine plays and had more pull power. Tulowitzki
has also won over scouts with his approach to the game. He plays
with exceptional intensity and an unrivaled passion for the game.
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8. Devil Rays: Wade Townsend, rhp, Dripping Springs, Texas
Townsend didn't sign as the eighth overall pick
last year, deciding to return to Rice to complete his degree after
negotiations with the Orioles broke down. Townsend spent April
and May working out for clubs, and for the most part showed the
same stuff he had in 2004. He wasn't in game shape, so he didn't
maintain his velocity past three simulated innings, but he pitched
at 90-92 mph with his trademark spike curveball and an effective
changeup. Though he has the repertoire to start, most teams project
Townsend as a big league reliever because they say his intensity
fits best in that role. |
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9. Mets: Mike Pelfrey, rhp, Wichita State U.
Pelfrey has blown away hitters consistently
with a 92-97 mph fastball that's as notable for its sink as for
its velocity. He's adept at getting grounders or strikeouts, depending
on the situation. He has refined a straight changeup that will
be a plus pitch and keeps lefthanders in check. He also has tightened
his curveball and become more consistent with it. Add in a perfect
pitcher's frame, good control and a competitive makeup, and the
only thing that really bothers scouts about Pelfrey is agent Scott
Boras. |
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10. Tigers: Cameron Maybin, of, T.C. Roberson
HS, Arden, N.C.
Maybin has a rare combination of premium athletic
ability, bloodlines and baseball savvy. He has broad shoulders
and long limbs and fingers, and physically evokes comparisons
on the low end to Preston Wilson and on the high end to Vladimir
Guerrero. He should be a premium defender in center field with
experience, with long, graceful strides gobbling up turf and an
average arm. Some scouts think his bat might take time to develop
once he starts seeing good breaking balls consistently. His makeup—including
good work habits, maturity and love for the game--endears him
to scouts. |
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11. Pirates: Andrew McCutchen, of, Fort Meade (Fla.) HS
McCutchen’s game isn’t all about
tools, though his tools are plus across the board. That starts
with the most important tool: the bat. McCutchen has quick hands
and a compact swing, producing surprising raw power for his size
and giving him the bat speed to lash line drives to all fields.
His athletic ability, speed and frame earn comparisons to Mets
prospect Lastings Milledge, but he’s more polished at the
plate, earning 60 and 70 grades from scouts (on the 20-80 scouting
scale) with 50 raw power. |
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12. Reds: Jay Bruce, of, West Brook HS, Beaumont, Texas
Bruce has been compared by scouts to Larry Walker.
Though he has average to plus tools across the board and enough
athleticism to play center field, Bruce profiles better in right
field. His swing can get a little long at times, but Bruce is
a polished high school hitter. He centers the ball well and already
understands the importance of using the entire field. He also
has the strength and skill to eventually hit 30-plus homers annually
in the majors. His average speed is probably his worst tool, but
he plays quicker than his stopwatch readings on the bases and
in the outfield. He has more than enough arm to handle the move
to right field in pro ball. |
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13. Orioles: Brandon Snyder, c, Westfield HS, Centreville,
Va.
Snyder is tough mentally, jumping back and forth
between shortstop and catcher, though he moved behind the plate
for good late in his senior season. He plays the game hard with
a dirt-rat mentality in spite of his premium prospect status.
Snyder's mature approach, line-drive swing and ability to pull
the ball with authority remind scouts of Justin Upton at the plate.
His athleticism and arm strength would play at shortstop or third
base, and some teams would start him out as an infielder to make
sure his offensive development doesn't get stunted. |
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14. Indians: Trevor Crowe, of, U. of Arizona
Crowe is an ideal leadoff man with a .500 on-base
percentage, above-average speed and the kind of fiery personality
that can light a fire under a team. He can be undisciplined at
times at the plate and lacks raw power, but has juice in his bat
and can hit almost anything thrown at him. A switch-hitter, he
tends to be a slightly better hitter from the left side while
displaying more power from the right. Crowe arrived at Arizona
as a second baseman and may end up back there, though he has spent
most of his college career in left field. |
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15. White Sox: Lance Broadway, rhp, Texas Christian
Broadway succeeds more with polish than overwhelming
stuff. His fastball is just average, but he has a plus curveball
that he can locate in and out of the strike zone. His delivery
and command are solid, and his makeup is a huge asset. He's developing
a changeup and is gaining more confidence in the pitch. He has
a strong, lean frame and there may be a little more velocity in
him. |
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16. Marlins: Chris Volstad, rhp, Palm Beach Gardens (Fla.)
HS
Volstad is a long, lanky pitcher with good stuff
now and plenty of projection for down the road. He pitches consistently
in the 88-92 range, but repeats his delivery well enough that
scouts see him sitting at 94 regularly as he gains strength and
experience. He throws strikes with the fastball and has done so
right out of the gate this spring. He uses his height well to
get a good downward angle to the plate, giving his fastball late
life. His secondary pitches are solid for a prep pitcher, particularly
his changeup. Volstad’s breaking ball is his third pitch,
though it’s serviceable, and scouts consider his makeup
a plus. |
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17. Yankees: C.J. Henry, ss, Putnam City HS, Oklahoma
City
Henry has one of the highest ceilings in the
draft. He's an exceptional athlete with a tantalizing combination
of power and speed. One crosschecker calls him a potential Gary
Sheffield and also compares him to Vernon Wells. Henry's swing
isn't as pure as Wells' and it will take him time to adjust to
professional pitching. Henry also will have to polish his defensive
game. He plays shortstop now but may not have quite enough arm
to play there in the majors. That's not a concern, however, because
Henry's tools would play well either in center field or at third
base. |
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18. Padres: Cesar Carrillo, rhp, U. of Miami
Carrillo throws his fastball anywhere from 90-95
mph (touching 96-97), depending on the need, and he has shown
scouts the ability to maintain his velocity deep into games. His
fastball has excellent sink and life down in the zone from a three-quarters
arm slot, and he went more than 80 innings between home runs allowed
this spring. His curveball and changeup both can be plus pitches,
though he pitches off his fastball so much that he tends to lose
the feel for them at times. He’s athletic and quick-armed
and should always have good command. Carrillo’s stuff won’t
get much better, but it’s plenty good now, making him a
candidate to move quickly through the minors. |
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19. Rangers: John Mayberry, 1b, Stanford
At 6-foot-5 and 230 pounds, Mayberry has considerable
power potential but launches a tape-measure home run only occasionally
in games. He shows excellent power in batting practice, but generally
has been handled by quality college pitching. Scouts say he needs
to shorten his swing because he can be busted inside--something
he has worked to correct in the last year. All his hitting flaws
are correctable, but it may take him 1,500 at-bats in the minor
leagues. Mayberry has the athletic ability and arm strength to
be an average corner outfielder, but he is a superior defensive
first baseman—not to mention an inviting target for infielders. |
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20. Cubs: Mark Pawelek, lhp, Springville (Utah) HS
Pawelek topped out at 94-95 mph this year with
an effortless delivery. Scouts say his feel for pitching, presence
and composure are so advanced for his age that he’s the
equivalent of a college sophomore. He has command of four pitches
and knows how and when to use his curveball and changeup. Pawelek
is the only high school player in this year’s draft who
is being advised by Scott Boras and that could have a profound
impact on where he is picked. |
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21. Athletics: Cliff Pennington, ss, Texas A&M
Pennington's best attribute is his makeup. Scouts
have loved Pennington's grit and energy since he was in high school,
and he won the Cape Cod League's 10th player award for his spirited
play last summer. Pennington is more than just a gamer, however,
offering tools across the board. He can bat at the top of a lineup,
making consistent contact and providing gap power from both sides
of the plate. He doesn't have blazing speed, but he runs well
and his instincts make him a threat on the bases. Pennington's
savvy also enhances his range at shortstop, where he can make
both the routine and acrobatic plays. He has an above-average
arm, a quick release and the ability to make throws from any angle.
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22. Marlins: Aaron Thompson, lhp, Second Baptist HS, Houston
Thompson is the most polished high school pitcher
in the draft, and he's lefthanded to boot. Thompson has an 88-91
mph fastball and a good curveball. He throws from a high arm slot,
which allows him to drive the ball down in the strike zone. He's
athletic, repeating a smooth delivery with ease, and scores high
in the makeup department. When dozens of scouts attended his April
matchup with Josh Wall, Thompson responded with 15 strikeouts
and a 2-0 shutout—handing Wall's team its only loss this
spring. |
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23. Red Sox: Jacoby Ellsbury, of, Oregon State U.
Ellsbury has few holes in his game and is capable
of beating teams in a lot of ways. He has excellent makeup and
instincts. His best tool is his speed, and it’s evident
both on the bases and in center field, where he catches everything
hit his way. He has been clocked in 6.55 seconds over 60 yards.
He has become more patient, rarely swings and misses and is comfortable
hitting with two strikes. His style of play and physical appearance
have drawn comparisons to Johnny Damon at a similar age, but scouts
say Ellsbury has a better swing. They question whether he’ll
grow into the same power, though. |
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24. Astros: Brian Bogusevic, lhp, Tulane U.
Though more teams prefer him as a three-pitch
lefthander, he also has five-tool potential as a right fielder.
On the mound, Bogusevic shows an 89-93 mph fastball along with
a solid slider and changeup. He has good command, though his velocity
and location slipped when he strained a hamstring early in the
season. Bogusevic's size, swing and bat speed give him tremendous
power potential from the left side of the plate. That power is
still more raw and not as evident in games—but it's there.
He's also Tulane's fastest player, running the 60-yard-dash in
6.6 seconds during the team's scout day last fall. His arm obviously
is an asset on defense as well. |
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25. Twins: Matt Garza, rhp, Fresno State
Garza had only a four-seam fastball and a slow,
lazy curveball when he enrolled at Fresno State, but he now has
plus stuff with a four-pitch repertoire. His fastball ranges from
90-94 mph and touches 95, and a hard 82-84 mph slider is an effective
second pitch. A 72-78 mph curve has the makings of a solid third
pitch, while his changeup has been slower to develop. He’s
projected to be a starter in pro ball but could move into relief
if his curve and changeup don’t progress or he lacks the
stamina to be a starter. |
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26. Red Sox: Craig Hansen, rhp, St. John's U.
Hansen pounds the strike zone with a fastball
that has been clocked consistently in the mid-90s and tops out
at 97 mph. The velocity on his slider has been even more impressive,
sitting at 85-86 mph with a high of 90. Though his fastball command
wavers, he has an excellent approach to pitching and isn’t
afraid to go right at hitters. He should be even more effective
against wood bats. He’s suited to be a closer because of
his temperament, short arm stroke and full-effort delivery. |
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27. Braves: Joey Devine, rhp, North Carolina State U.
Devine has dominated this season and is one
of the closest players to the majors in this year's draft. He
has plenty of stuff, starting with a mid-90s fastball that touches
97, and throws it from a funky arm angle--not quite sidearm but
lower than three-quarters. His frisbee slider, thrown in the mid-80s,
is death to righthanded hitters, whom he dominates. Scouts like
Devine’s competitiveness, makeup and athletic ability, which
allows him to repeat his unorthodox delivery. He may need a changeup
or split-finger pitch, though, to better attack lefthanded hitters
in pro ball. |
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28. Cardinals: Colby Rasmus, of, Russell County HS, Phenix
City, Ala.
Rasmus’ tools grade out average or above
across the board. He covers 60 yards in 6.7 seconds and has a
plus arm, throwing fastballs up to 91 mph off the mound. Besides
his tools, scouts love his maturity and savvy for the game. Some
compare Rasmus to Steve Finley, while others believe he evokes
Shawn Green; it depends on whether the scout believes Rasmus can
stay in center field. He has a short, simple lefthanded swing
that he repeats, and the barrel of the bat stays in the hitting
zone a long time. While he could use a better load to his swing,
he at times produces good leverage, leading scouts to believe
he'll hit for at least average power. |
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29. Marlins: Jacob Marceaux, rhp, McNeese State
Marceaux's fastball has taken a step forward
this spring, as he has pitched at 93-95 mph with good sinking
life while also featuring a mid-80s slider and a mid-70s spike
curveball. His changeup is a solid-average pitch that he can locate
on both sides of the plate. There are minor concerns about his
durability—he missed two starts after pulling a ribcage
muscle in mid-March—so some scouts project him as a reliever.
But Marceaux has a deep enough repertoire to warrant the opportunity
to make it as a starter first. |
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30. Cardinals: Tyler Greene, ss, Georgia Tech
Green is a 60 runner (some say 70 under way)
on the 20-80 scouting scale, with good instincts on the basepaths
and elsewhere. A plus arm and good range make him at least an
averages defender at short. The question is offense. His hands
are just OK both at the plate and in the field. Greene’s swing
has evolved to a metal-bat, inside-out style that doesn't incorporate
his hands, short-circuiting his power and leaving him with several
holes. His aptitude with wood, however, reminds scouts of Cubs
prospect Matt Murton, who also hit better in summers on the Cape
than with Georgia Tech. |
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