Draft Talk

2007 Draft Order

1.Devil Rays(61-101) 11.M's(78-84)     21.Blue Jays(87-75)
2.Royals (62-100)    12.Marlins(78-84) 22.Dodgers(88-74)
3.Cubs (66-96)       13.Indians(78-84) 23.Padres(88-74)
4.Pirates (67-95)    14.Braves(79-83) 24.Angels(89-73)
5.Orioles (70-92)    15.Reds(80-82)    25.ChiSox(90-72)
6.Nationals (71-91) 16.Rangers(80-82) 26.A's (93-69)
7.Brewers (75-87)    17.Astros(82-80) 27.Tigers(95-67)
8.Rockies (76-86)    18.Cards (83-78) 28.Twins(96-66)
9.Dbacks (76-86)     19.Phill's(85-77) 29.Mets(97-65)
10.Giants (76-85)    20.Red Sox(86-76) 30.Yanks (97-65)

8/15/06
Washington Times: "The Nationals remain far apart in their negotiations with second-round draft pick Sean Black. If the right-hander, who is committed to play at Seton Hall, attends classes in a few weeks, the Nationals lose his rights, and he can re-enter the draft in three years."
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New York Post: "USC righty Ian Kennedy, the team's first-round pick, was taking a physical with team doctors last night before signing a $2.25 million contract today, according to SI.com."

8/10/06
Newark Star-Ledger: "The Yankees are said to be close to signing first-rounder Ian Kennedy, a right-hander from Southern Cal, for what is expected to be a bonus in the $2 million range."

7/26/06
Providence Journal: "Negotiations with first-round draft pick Daniel Bard, the Sox top choice out of the University of North Carolina, have stalled some and it now seems unlikely that Bard will make his pro debut this season."

7/15/06
Arizona Republic: "It has been more than a month since the draft, but negotiations still have yet to begin between the Diamondbacks and top pick Max Scherzer."
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Detroit News: "The Tigers and 2006 first-round draft pick Andrew Miller remain in the early -- very early -- stages of contract talks as the two sides discuss the big-league future for college baseball's 2006 pitcher of the year."

7/3/06
The Cubs are expected to sign 11th-round draft pick Chris Huseby to a deal Wednesday that will include a $1.3 million signing bonus.

That has some analysts up in arms. They believe it is too much money for an 11th-round pick. According to the TC Palm (a newspaper in Palm City, Fla.) Web site, the lowest-picked player in the 2005 draft to receive a bonus of at least $1 million was the 33rd overall pick. The Cubs drafted Huseby 329th. dailysouthtown.com

6/11/06
The Rockies announced on Sunday the signing of 16 Draft choices, including seven of their first 10. They finally made official the signing of high school outfielder David Christensen, who came to a pre-Draft agreement the night before the Rockies chose him in the second round. Also signing were Cal State Northridge right-hander Craig Baker (fourth round), Manatee Junior College outfielder Kevin Clark (sixth), Middle Tennessee State catcher Michael McHenry (seventh), Birmingham-Southern right-hander Brandon Hynick (eighth), LSU right-hander William Harris (ninth) and Lincoln Trail College righty David Arnold (10th).

The top pick, Stanford right-hander Greg Reynolds, can't sign until his club completes NCAA Tournament play. Other unsigned top 10 picks are Miami (Ohio) left-hander Keith Weiser (third round) and Puerto Rico Baseball Academy shortstop Helder Velazquez (fifth). MLB.com

6/6/06 Latest rumor
2. Colorado Rockies: Greg Reynolds, RHP, StanfordLet the Andrew Miller slide begin. It seemed for the longest time that Long Beach State infielder Evan Longoria would be the pick here, but that the Rockies would take Miller if the Royals did not. Now there is late word of a pre-draft deal between Colorado and Stanford right-hander Greg Reynolds. Reynolds moved way up the charts, partly because of his consistency and partly because of a string of outstanding starts facing some other elite college aces. He cemented his place with a strong Regional start. The Rockies decided they wanted the arm and went with the one that wouldn't break the bank.

6/5/06
MLB.com has reported a rumor that Andrew Miller ..would try to ensure he doesn't go to Colorado... if he isnt picked by KC with the first pick.

5/30/06
Kansas City Star: "Hochevar, 22, will officially re-enter the list of eligible draft picks today barring a contract agreement late Monday with the Los Angeles Dodgers. He was considered the second-best pitching prospect last year, but signability concerns dropped him to the 40th overall pick."

5/24/06
Agent Scott Boras said he does not expect the Dodgers to resume negotiations with right-hander Luke Hochevar, below, the Fowler native who was drafted by the Dodgers as the 40th player in last year's draft. The Dodgers at one point last winter thought they had a deal at $2.98 million, but that was with a different agent than Boras, and Hochevar reconsidered, returning to Boras.

The two sides have talked only once since - a spring-training meeting between Boras and new general manager Ned Colletti - but financial terms were not discussed. Boras has indicated he expects in excess of $3 million for Hochevar, who was declared ineligible for his senior year at the University of Tennessee and began pitching two weeks ago for an independent team in Fort Worth, Texas. Rocky

5/23/06
Riverside Press Enterprise: "When asked about the potential signing of first-round draft pick Luke Hochevar, Dodgers GM Ned Colletti motioned toward agent Scott Boras and told reporters to go talk to Boras."

5/21/06
The Devil Rays have the third pick on June 6, and appear to have narrowed their choices to five.

Four, not surprisingly, are college pitchers: Washington right-hander Tim Lincecum, Houston right-hander Brad Lincoln, North Carolina lefty Andrew Miller and Cal right-hander Brandon Morrow. The fifth is Long Beach State third baseman Evan Longoria. sptimes.com

5/19/06
Miller to KC, Longoria to Colorado, Brad Lincoln to Tampa Bay, Hochevar to Seattle and Stubbs to the Tigers is how we are lining up the first round as this stage. BaseballAmerica.com
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This is considered a weak draft. The Royals have sent out signals that they will take left-handed pitcher Andrew Miller from the University of North Carolina. After Miller, it's hard to get anyone to agree on the next best player available. The list includes pitchers Tim Lincecum of Washington, Brandon Marrow of Cal and Houston's Brad Lincoln.

A sleeper to keep an eye on is Long Beach State third baseman Evan Longoria, who is considered the top position player. The Rockies don't need a third baseman, but they have a history of stockpiling at positions, namely shortstop and first base in recent years. Given the polish and character of Troy Tulowitzki, a Long Beach alum and last year's top pick, it wouldn't shock me if Colorado went with Longoria. The Rockies have deep ties to the Beach, starting with Bill Geivett, the assistant GM. Post
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You know the draft is weak when you hear that the number one prospect, Andrew Miller, is only projected to be a middle of the rotation type... and possibly might even be a better suited for the bullpen. RoxHead

4/20/06.. Minorleagueball.com
Possible Early Round PitchersThe pitching is better than the hitting, and it seems likely that most of the early college picks will come from the mound. Although depth is better, there are no obvious Mark Prior-super-stud types around this year. Which doesn't mean that an excellent pitcher won't come out of this class, of course. Here are some good candidates to go in the first round.

Andrew Miller, LHP, University of North CarolinaPower lefty is 8-0, 1.33 in nine starts so far, with a 66/18 K/BB ratio in 61 innings, allowing 41 hits. His command has been erratic at times, but in general he's lived up to expectations and is still a candidate to go number one overall to Kansas City. If the Royals don't take him, I doubt he will make it past slot five. Fastball can hit the mid-90s and he continues to refine his secondary pitches and improve his control.

Tim Lincecum, RHP, University of Washington1.48 ERA, 8-2 in 11 starts, with a 129/41 K/BB in 79 innings, allowing only 36 hits. K/IP and H/IP are off-the-charts, reflecting the velocity and movement on his 95 MPH fastball and big curve. His control is not always reliable, and he is a smallish guy, standing 6-0, leading to some worries about durability and injury risk. He has eaten innings like potato chips in college. Can he do this as a pro?

Max Scherzer, RHP, University of MissouriConsidered a possible number one pick pre-season, but his stock has slipped a bit due to injuries, erratic control, and his perceived bonus demands. Has a 2.67 ERA in six starts with a 36/10 K/BB in 34 innings. His innings have been limited this spring due to biceps tendonitis, although he has pitched well when on the mound. Could still go very high if he is healthy down the stretch.

Brad Lincoln, RHP, University of HoustonAn impressive spring is moving him up the charts rapidly, and he could go in the first five picks. Now 8-1, 1.78 ERA with a 98/20 K/BB in 81 innings, with only 57 hits allowed. K/IP and H/IP are excellent. Lincoln throws hard and is more athletic than most pitchers. He posted a very good K/BB ratio last year but a 4.76 ERA: this year his ERA has come down to more closely match the component ratios.

Brandon Morrow, RHP, University of California7-0, 1.67 in 10 starts, with a 76/34 K/BB in 70 innings, only 46 hits allowed. Having a fine season although his control remains inconsistent, granted it doesn't hurt him much in college since he is tough to hit. Can hit the upper-90s with his fastball, but is still learning how to pitch. Excellent potential but may need longer to develop than some college guys.

Ian Kennedy, RHP, USCConsidered a "safe" pick entering '06, though his stock has dropped somewhat. 3.63 ERA with a 71/21 K/BB in 69 innings don't look as impressive as what some of these other guys have done, but that's actually very good considering the offense-heavy nature of the USC context. . .the team ERA is 4.50 and that of their opponents is 6.23. Still, Kennedy hasn't been as sharp as he was last year, and he doesn't have as much pure stuff as guys like Miller, Scherzer, or Morrow.

Joba Chamberlain, RHP, University of NebraskaLike fellow Big 12 pitching ace Scherzer, Joba "The Hutt" Chamberlain has had injury troubles this spring, missing time with a sore right triceps. His stuff hasn't been quite as good as it was in 2005, and at one point this spring, his fastball dipped into the 86-88 range, compared to the 92-95 MPH pitch he showed in '05. When healthy he has overpowering stuff. Chamberlain is 5-2, 2.76 with a 48/18 K/BB in 42 innings.

Other Names: Blair Erikson, RHP, UC Irvine; Josh Butler, RHP, University of San Diego; Dallas Buck, RHP, Oregon State University

4/6/06.. Baseball America.com
"From my perspective, it's a much larger pool," scouting director for the Royals, Deric Ladnier, said. "Last year was a great year to pick at the top of the draft. This year is not a good year at all. I would compare it to 2004--that's exactly the way I feel about it. There is not one particular player or pitcher that's standing out right now and stepping forward to say, 'I want to be the guy.' "

"Everybody tells me this is a good year not to have an early pick," a National League scouting director said, "and I haven't seen anything myself to convince me otherwise."

"The college outfield crop is one of the worst in recent memory," one AL scouting director said.

"The high school position players aren't very good either," the NL scouting director said. "So you could see 23 or 24 pitchers likely to go in the first round, combined high school and college, and you'd see guys who are really second- or third-round talents in past years go in the first round this year."

3/21/06.. Rocky
The Rockies have the second pick in the June draft, the highest they have ever selected. A name to watch is third baseman/shortstop Evan Longoria of Long Beach State, which provided the Rockies with No. 1 pick Troy Tulowitzki last year.

Ranked the seventh-best college prospect this spring, he led the Cape Cod League in home runs and RBI and earned an MVP award last summer.

3/4/06...
Kansas City Star: "While the draft, which takes place June 6-7, lacks a can�t-miss talent, it is heavy in college pitchers - which meets the Royals targeted need after spending four of their last five first-round picks on position players."
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Draft choices the Rockies lost by signing free agents:

* 1994 (second round), for signing Ellis Burks. The Chicago White Sox selected right-handed pitcher John Ambrose. Ambrose battled arm problems in a nine-year pro career, went 45-53 with a 5.03 earned-run average in his minor- league career and never made it to the majors.

* 1994 (third round), for signing Weiss. Florida selected Meadows. Meadows has spent most of the past eight years in the big leagues, going 44-56 with a 5.04 ERA with Florida, San Diego, Kansas City and Pittsburgh.

* 1994 (fourth round), for signing Howard Johnson. The New York Mets selected right-handed pitcher Kenny Pumphrey. He spent 10 years in the minors, the last two at the Class AAA level with Philadelphia and had a professional record of 72-64 with a 4.04 ERA.

* 1998 (first round), for signing Darryl Kile. Houston selected right-handed pitcher Brad Lidge. A product of Cherry Creek High School and the University of Notre Dame, Lidge has become one of the dominant relievers in the big leagues after battling injuries in his minor-league career that prompted the Astros to move him out of the rotation.

* 2001 (first round), for signing Mike Hampton. The Mets selected right-handed pitcher Aaron Heilman. In his second full big-league season last year, Heilman became a key member of the Mets bullpen. He went 5-3 with a 3.17 ERA in 53 appearances, seven starts.

* 2001 (second round), for signing Denny Neagle. The New York Yankees selected right-handed pitcher Jason Arnold. He is 29-24 with a 3.34 ERA in five minor-league seasons but went 0-4 with a 6.39 ERA in 47 relief appearances for Toronto's Class AAA affiliate at Syracuse in 2005.

Year    Player (Pick)    Pos.      School
1992 John Burke (27)     RHP University of Florida
1993 Jamey Wright (28)   RHP Westmoore (Okla.) HS
1994 Doug Million (7)    LHP Sarasota (Fla.) HS
1995 Todd Helton (8)      1B University of Tennessee
1996 Jake Westbrook (21) RHP Madison Co. (Ga.) HS
1997 Mark Mangum (18)    RHP Kingwood (Texas) HS
1998 Matt Roney (28)     RHP Edmond North (Okla.) HS
1999 Jason Jennings (16) RHP Baylor University
2000 Matt Harrington (7) RHP Palmdale (Calif.) HS
2002 Jeff Francis (9)    LHP U of British Columbia
2003 Ian Stewart (10)     3B La Quinta (Calif.) HS
2004 Chris Nelson (9)     SS Redan (Ga.) HS
2005 Troy Tulowitzki (7) SS Long Beach State U

Troy Tulowitzki

School: Long Beach State
Position: SS B/T: R/R
H: 6'3" W: 205
Born: 1984-10-10 Class: 4YR
Scouting report:Big, strong, well proportioned physique. Similar to Bobby Crosby. Excellent bat speed. Aggressive hitter w/ good extension. Soft, quick hands, average runner. Solid ML defensive tools w/ a chance to hit with power. Shows no glaring weakness. MLB.com

Year      Team             G AB R H 2B 3B HR RBI SB CS BB SO HBP SH SF GDP Avg OBP SLG
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2003 Long Beach State U. 55 196 26 53 10 1 5 44 3 2 9 31   3 6 4 4 .270 .307 .408
2004 Long Beach State U. 61 230 40 73 15 2 7 44 5 6 27 40 11 4 3 5 .317 .410 .491
2005 Long Beach State U. 39 152 32 53 12 1 8 29 2 3 14 35   8 1 0 2 .349 .431 .599
2005 Modesto Nuts         22 94 17 25 6 0 4 14 1 0 9 18               .266 .343 .457

10/26/06.. Draft Recap.. MiLB.com
The only thing that has slowed Tulowitzki has been a series of small but nagging injuries that limited his play over the past two pro seasons. Still, the Long Beach State product finished '06 playing shortstop for the Rockies and there is no reason to think that's not where he'll begin '07 as well. He is currently in the Arizona Fall League refining his game and getting more at-bats.

Rockies: Troy Tulowitzki, ss, Long Beach State U. (BaseballAmerica.com)
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.

From BaseballAnalysis.com
Plus arm and plus power for a shortstop. Tulowitzki has all the tools. Big, strong (6-foot-3, 205 pounds) modern-day SS. For a RHB, runs a respectable 4.25-4.3 to first base. Has excellent range in the field. Intense player with great leadership skills. Led team in AVG (.349), OBP (.431), and SLG (.599) and finished his three-year career sixth on the career home run list despite missing 20 games this year with a broken hamate bone in his hand. Proved he can handle a wood bat by tying for the lead in HR with four last summer on Team USA. Aggressive hitter who may need to work on plate discipline.

From Calleaguers.com
MIF with lots of pluses. Large muscular frame. Flat shoulders, strong forearms and trim waist. High pockets. Developed lower 1/2 has gotten bigger since spring. Built like Bobby Crosby. Doesn't move around with loads of athleticism, walks around awkwardly on toes. Balanced swing with strength and bat spd. Sets up about should. width apart, sets bat on shoulder towards head but lifts them up and back into classic high hd setup as he gets ready. Smooth load puts him in gd position to unload. Toe tapper but there's not a ton of lateral movement with his feet and he manages to keep it pretty quiet. Mild uppercut produces the right amount of loft in swing. Strength to drive ball out to all parts of field. Ball doesn't come off bat quite like it did with wood but still jumps. Too long right now as he is trying to do too much. Mistake hitter. Guessing prone @ times and can look really bad. Chance to hit for plus game power as he tightens up swing and approach. Avg runner who gets out of box a bit slow. Takes pride in defense. Should stay @ SS. Plus arm is full of effort but consis. online carry once it leaves hand. Arm acc. should be solid with continued play. Pure SS actions. Stays behind ball well, quick feet and reactive hds allow him to make athletic body control plays. Sitting back too long on routine balls right now. Intense competitor who doesn't know how to fail. Will be interesting to see how he deals with adversity. Only knows how to play at one speed, will need to back off a little as it's impossible to stay as wired as he does over full season. Chance to hit .280 with 25HRyr @ ML level while playing a premium position.

Rox Head Comment: (Head Bum)
We might wonder why the Rox decided to take a shortstop again this year with their first pick when just 12 short months ago they took Chris Nelson. However, you shouldn't get to caught up in that kind of stuff for a few different reasons. First off, generally the best players on a team are playing either shortstop, centerfield or pitching. That's true from little league all the way through college. These kind of talents can then be moved to different positions as their bodies grow into mature men. If you've ever watched a tryout or participated in one, then you'll notice the evaluators will screen out the middle infielders first and place them all at shortstop. They will then proceed to hit grounders into the hole between short and third. The players who can consistently make that long throw to first are then known to be able to handle the number 6 position, the ones who can field the ball cleanly but can't make the throw consistently are then moved to second and the rest are sent to the outfield or told to go home. In other words, combine Tulowitzki's size and versatility and you have a player who can fit in anywhere.

Second off, it's amazing how things work themselves out through the development process. You can never have enough infield talent as to be turning down players in the draft just because you already have another in the system.

Rox Head.com Comment: (RC)
As we've discussed in other pages, the draft is a crap shoot and who knows where the gems are. E.g., in the 18th round yesterday, the Rockies took Brett Strickland, RHS, Georgia St. He was 4-9 last year at Georgia State with an ERA of 6.27. Obviously this is nothing to get excited about, but you never know, this guy might end up being "THE MAN".

Our brief look at this draft shows nothing to get excited about. If there is anything in this draft to talk about it will be five years down the round before we know about it. I personally, think we should bank on any of these players but I hope to be proven wrong.

Troy Tulowitzki is the Rockies first pick of the draft. I have a hard time getting excited about this player. He batted .317 in 2004, big deal. He strikes out once every six at bats and you will notice that once again the Rockies drafted a player that can't steal bases. Clearly the Rockies don't value this virtue. Perhaps though Mr. Tulowitzki can do backflips while throwing someone out at first base. He played three years at Long Beach State.

They took a RHP as a sandwich pick in the first round. Chaz Roe is out of high school so his stats don't mean much and I'll take the Rockies word for it that he is a good prospect.

In the second round they took right fielder, Daniel Carte of Winthrop.   This player looks good. He can hit a little and his bat has some pop. Again though, to many SO's. He did though steal 16 bases in 60 games. We wonder what the Rockies were thinking when they drafted someone who can run.

That's it for now. We'll check in again in about five years.

1b (32) Chaz Roe, rhp, Lafayette H.S., Lexington, Ky.

10/26/06.. Draft Recap.. MiLB.com
Roe, all 6-foot-5 of him, followed up a Pioneer League All-Star campaign by going 7-4 with a 4.06 ERA at Asheville, striking out 80 and walking 47 in 99 2/3 innings. He boasts a fastball in the low to mid 90s and a potentially devastating curveball.

High Schooler Chaz Roe is supposed to have a 90mph fastball and struck out 167 batters in only 111 innings. We conjecture that he has control. He was 14-2 in high school. On the down side he is only 170 lbs. and will need to add at least 40 lbs to this small frame to handle the demands of Coors Field. We will follow Mr. Roe with great interest, mainly to watch his BB's & SO's.... RC

2a (52) Daniel Carte, OF Winthrop 6-0 190 R-R

10/26/06.. Draft Recap.. MiLB.com
Carte hit .225 with six homers and 25 RBIs at Tri-City in his 2005 debut but raised those numbers in his first full season, hitting .258 with 14 home runs, 66 RBIs, 11 steals and 26 doubles at Asheville. He has a good arm and gap power.

Daniel Carte - looks like a good outfielder who is 21 years old and in the Cape League he hit an almost unheard of 11 homeruns, 38 RBI and hit .308. He was 19 points short of winning the Triple Crown. He had 49 hits, .560 SG and get this, 13 stolen bases. He won the league MVP and joins such notables as Darin Erstad, Jason Varitek, Ron Darling and Thurman Munson who also won this award... RC

2. (55) Zachary Simons, RHP Everett (Wash.) CC 6-3 200 L-R
Zachary Simons is RHP from CC (community college). 6'3" 200lb. good fastball, but violent delivery, mlb.com calls him projectable. He has added 20 pounds over the winter and his fastball increased into the mid-90s; loose, easy delivery. We can't find any other stats about this guy and given he has only one year at the CC level there probably aren't any good stats on him... RC

3. (87) Kyle Hancock, RHP Rowlett (Texas) High School 6-3 185 R-R
Kyle Hancock - This is an 18 yr. old, 175 lb. (needs to grow) pitcher who they say has a durable body (what ever that means when your only 18) Good curve ball and throws three pitches for strikes. I like the word "strikes"... RC

4. (117) Brandon Durden, LHP Georgia College 6-2 200 L-L
Brandon Durden - 6'2" 185 yr. old left-handed pitcher that isn't yet 18. Was named 2003 American Legion Player of the Year in the State of Georgia. Named by Baseball America as the #1 pitcher from the State of Georgia in this draft. Blazing fastball that can hit 95, but dominant control in the 91-92 range. Great slider, has big hands which helps him get the maximum break on his pitches. Needs to develop a solid change, but that is workable. Curve is above average. At 6'2" and left handed, he has unlimited potential.

P.S. His Nickname is DUCK!!
In 2004, the southpaw went 7-2 with a 2.66 ERA in 94.2 innings while recording 67 strikeouts... RC

5. (147) Joshua Sullivan, RHP Auburn 6-4 200 R-R
Joshua Sullivan - a 21 yr. old RH, he is 6'4" and weighs 205lbs. He played at Auburn. Played for the Peninsula Pilots of the Coastal Plains League ... Was 2-0 with a 3.75 ERA in 17 appearances ... Fanned 30 batters in 24 innings, while holding opponents to a .205 batting average. Great athlete who played on the football team in 2003 - Second-string quarterback ... Action in four games, completing 20 of 28 passes for 213 yards and one interception ... Was 10 of 13 for 109 yards against Western Kentucky. Hit .264 with 4 HR, 8 2B, 24 RBI in 41 contests including 36 starts. Hit .164 in 19 SEC contests. Started at four different positions: third base, catcher, first base, designated hitter. This is a good athlete and he will be interesting to watch! ... RC

6. (177) Corey Wimberly, 2B Alcorn State 5-8 185 S-R
Corey Wimberely - This is an interesting, 22 year old athlete, 5'8" - 185lb. shortstop. He batted .462, only five k's, 27 BB's in 37 games and get this, 42 stolen bases in 37 games. Very little in the way of power numbers but with that great batting average he still managed 32 RBI. He played for Alcorn State. This is clearly a great athlete and I will definitely be watching him... RC

7. (207) Geoff Strickland, 3B Florida Southern 5-10 180 S-R
Geoff Strickland - He's a 21 yr. old infielder from Florida Southern College. This is nice player who also can run. I am seeing a trend here in the later draftpicks. He also plays for the St. Cloud River Bats in the summer... RC

8. (237) James Burok, RHP Old Dominion 6-3 215 R-R
James Burok - This is a right-handed pitcher who is already 23 yr. old. He went to Old Dominion. Not much to get excited about, but you never know... RC

9. (267) Andrew Johnston, RHP Missouri 6-5 215 R-R
Andrew Johnston - This is a 21 year old, right handed, community college pitcher. After community college he played a little for the Missouri Tigers. Not much to find on this draft pick... RC

10. (297) Garner Wetzel, SS Millsaps College 6-2 210 R-R

11. (327) Chris Frey, OF Arizona 6-1 190 L-L

12. (357) Dominick Foster, RHP Fresno (Calif.) CC 6-4 220 R-R
Draft and follow... NE Texas CC. Rox Fan in NY

13. (387) Michael Paulk, OF Cal State Northridge 6-2 195 L-L
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14. (417) Kyle Blumenthal, C Cal Poly San Luis Obispo 5-10 190 L-R

15. (447) Travis Becktel, OF San Jose State 6-1 205 R-R

16. (477) Bret Berglund, OF Cal Poly San Luis Obispo 6-4 210 R-R

17. (507) James Freeman, LHP Washington State 5-11 205 L-L

18. (537) Brett Strickland, RHP Georgia State 6-0 180 R-R

567. Byron Binda, RHP, Coastal Carolina: "He's got a little bit of arm strength." MLB.com
597. Andrew Kreidermacher, RHP, Minnesota State-Mankato: "He's got arm strength." MLB.com
627. Christopher Martin, RHP, McLennan (Texas) CC: Draft-and-follow.
657. Radames Nazairo, SS, Dr. Juan J. Manuez Pimentel (Puerto Rico): Draft-and-follow.
687. Phillip Cuadrado, 3B, Cumberland (Tenn.) University: "He's kind of a corner utility guy." MLB.com
717. Sean Toler, RHP, Parkway South (Mo.) HS: Draft-and-follow.
Jefferson College. Rox Fan in NY
747. Steve Hirschfeld, RHP, Southern Nevada CC: Draft-and-follow.
777. Ethan Katz, RHP, Cal Sate Sacramento: "He can pitch, help fill out some clubs." MLB.com
807. Sean Ruthven, RHP, Georgia: "He's [former Major Leaguer] Dick Ruthven's son, and he pitched at Fresno State and Georgia. MLB.com
837. David Bechtold, LHP, Liberty University: "He's a left-handed pitcher who can fill out the staff and help us out." MLB.com
867. David Havens, SS, Bishop England (S.C.) High School: "We'll follow through the summer. He's signed to go to South Carolina." MLB.com
897. Michael Milliron, SS, Penn State: "He's a utility infielder." MLB.com
927. Sean Halton, 1B, Fresno State: Draft-and-follow.
957. Jarrad Page, OF, UCLA: "We'll see what happens. He's a football player at UCLA, plays defensive back." MLB.com
987. Jordan Jarvis, RHP, Arcadia (Ariz.) HS: Draft-and-follow.
1,017. Kyle Beitey, LHP, Lower Columbia College: Draft-and-follow.
1,047. Timothy Brewer, LHP, Ivanna Eudora HS (Virgin Islands): "Draft-and-follow -- it's interesting because you don't see many guys from the Virgin Islands." MLB.com
1,077. Chris Cook, 1B, Grand Canyon University: "He fan fill out the club, help us out." MLB.com
1,107. Casey Belanger, OF, Cypress (Calif.) HS: Draft-and-follow.
1,137. Gary Browning, LHP, Florida State: "We might end up doing something over the summer. He was drafted twice by the Cubs." MLB.com
1,167. Rod Scurry, RHP, Sierra JC: "Draft-and-follow -- he's the son of [former Major League pitcher] Rod Scurry." MLB.com
1,196. Joseph Servais, C, Garden City (Kan.) CC: "Draft-and-follow -- that's Scott's nephew. [Scott Servais is a former Major League catcher who scouts for the Rockies.]" MLB.com
1,225. Jeremy Farrell, 3B, St. Ignatius (Ohio) HS: "We'll watch him this summer. That's the son of John Farrell, farm director of the Indians and a former big league pitcher. He and Havens are two guys that are probably going to go to college but you never know if things change over the course of the summer." MLB.com
1,254. Maikol Gonzales, SS, Louisburg College: "Draft-and-follow -- that's a kid we had in Venezuela that we helped get in school ." MLB.com
1,283. Jordan Rogers, RHP, Dayton (Texas) HS: Draft-and-follow.
1,312. Phillip Mers, LHP, Louisville (Ky.) Ballard HS: Draft-and-follow.
Seminole CC. Rox Fan in NY
1,341. Chris Bell, OF, Johnson (Ga.) HS: Draft-and-follow.
1,370. Garrett Vaughan, C, Lakeside (La.) HS: Draft-and-follow.
Bossier Parish CC. Rox Fan in NY
1,399. Brent Weiss, 2B, Saint Joseph (N.J.) Regional School: Draft-and-follow.
1,427. Spencer Schuh, RHP, Harrison (Ark.) HS: Draft-and-follow.
1,454. Jordan Moore, LHP, Spokane Falls CC: Draft-and-follow.
1,481. James Pollack, C, North Broward (Fla.) Prep: Draft-and-follow.
Palm Beach Community College.

6/4/06

The June amateur draft is the lifeblood of a Major-league baseball team. Only players who live in the U.S., Canada, and Puerto Rico can be drafted. Graduating high school seniors are eligible as are all junior (2-year) college players. Players from 4-year colleges must complete their junior or senior year to be eligible, or be at least 21 years old. Any amateur who is 21 (or turns 21 within 45 days of the draft) is eligible, even if he dropped out of school. Special cases can be made for college freshmen or sophomores who drop out, but aren't 21, if the commissioner approves. The Draft lasts 50 rounds but most teams won't use all their scheduled picks.

Teams don't appear on television for the Draft because it is done in a secret conference call by the team's front office personal. Picks are made very quickly; teams have only two minutes on the clock for each selection. Typically, the first 20 rounds are done on the first day, with the remaining 30 rounds done the following day. After a player is selected, the team has 15 days to offer a minor league contract, or else the player can become a free agent. Unlike other sports, baseball draft picks can't be traded. In fact, baseball doesn't even allow picks to be traded until a year after they're drafted.

If the draft pick enters (or returns to) a 2-year college instead of turning pro, the team retains his rights until a week before the next draft. Sometimes teams do what is called a draft-and-follow. They draft a player without intending to sign him right away, but monitor his progress in junior college. If they are still interested in the player, they can then sign him before he re-enters the next Draft. However, if he enters (or returns to) a 4-year school, then the team loses his rights the moment he takes his first class.

After assessing this years Draft, it appears as though the Rockies have hit some hard luck because most scouts consider this to be the weakest in many years at the top. It just makes sense this would happen. The Rox can't even time their bad years right.

The Rockies minor league system is in dire need of starting pitching as is the case with most teams. In most years a team can fix this problem by drafting college pitchers with their first few picks. These older pitchers can sometimes be slotted right into their Low A minor league team, which puts them on track to compete for your big league club in just a couple years after drafting them. This years draft does have a nice selection of college pitchers, but none of them project to be top of the rotation types. In fact, Andrew Miller, who most consider the top pitcher in the draft, is, by some scouts estimates, a 3rd or 4th starter at best, and may project better as a reliever. That isn't what you want to hear when evaluating the number one guy. So the Rockies are covering their bases, sending important people to see a bunch of the top pitchers including Tim Lincecum, Andrew Miller, Brad Lincoln and their favorite position player in the draft, Evan Longoria.

Lets take a look at the top three college pitchers, the top HS pitcher and the top position player the Rockies will be choosing from June 6-7th:

Andrew Miller, lhp, North Carolina
Born: May 21, 1985
Height / Weight: 6-6 / 210

Scouting Report: Has a lean 6'6" frame. He easily throws his fastball in the mid to upper 90s but works more comfortably in the 93-95 range. He also has a devastating slider which gives him two legitimate big-league pitches. While Miller has the ideal combination of size and stuff, complemented by the fact that he throws left-handed, there are some concerns about his command (127 walks in 275 innings pitched)

North Carolina's career leader in strikeouts with 290.

Tim Lincecum, rhp, Washington
Height/Weight: 6-0 / 165
Date of Birth: 6/15/84

Scouting Report: Has electric stuff with a mid-90s fastball and a nice curveball. He also has a violent and odd delivery that puts a lot of torque on his throwing shoulder. He has been working to tone-down that odd delivery with better mechanics. Still walks too many.

Brad Lincoln, rhp, Houston
Height/Weight: 6-0 / 200
Date of Birth: 5/25/85

Scouting Report: Consistent pitcher with plus stuff. Has a 90-95 mph fastball and a hard-breaking curveball that has been compared to Ben Sheets.

Clayton Kershaw, lhp, Highland Park HS, Dallas
Height/Weight: 6-3 / 210
Date of Birth: 3/19/88

Scouting Report: Fastball clocked in the low-90s with a heavy, boring action that he commands well into the late innings, and he can reach the mid-90s when he needs to. He also mixes in a good, tight curveball. Is a very mature teenager that is coming back from a strained oblique muscle. He's still the top prep player on the board.

Has signed with Texas A&M.

Evan Longoria, 3b/2b, Long Beach State
Height/Weight: 6-2 / 185
Date of Birth: 10/5/85

Scouting Report: Longoria has a quick, compact stroke and uses the entire field very well. He has homer power, and is a very aggressive hitter which causes him to strikeout a little too much. He has enough speed to reach double digits in stolen bases, and can play just about anywhere in the infield. However, he is better suited at third or second at the next level due to a lack of range.

He's a cinch to be the first college hitter drafted this year.

RoxHead Analysis

Ok, so what is going to happen come draft day you ask? First off, everything depends on who the Royals pick. KC has the first pick and by all indications they will take Andrew Miller. If they don't, then look for the Rockies to take him which makes all the speculations moot.

If the Royals do take Miller with the first pick, then the Rockies have a few decisions to make. Do they want to add a college pitcher that should have a shorter path to Denver? Do they go with a high school pitcher because the top college pitchers are not thought of so highly? Or do they go with a position player?

Do they really want to give a high dollar signing bonus to any of these choices?

The thinking by this writer is that the Rockies will not take Brad Lincoln or Tim Lincecum. Both do not have the size the player development team likes. Also, with respect to Lincecum, it is scary when you read of delivery problems and such when checking scouting reports. Basically, these two pitchers are not worthy of the number two overall pick in terms of both talent or dollar commitment. This leaves us with the highschool pitcher, Clayton Kershaw or the highest ranked college position player, Evan Longoria.

Lets talk about Longoria. Lots of publications and websites have the Rockies taking him. Most scouts project him to be a 2nd or 3rd baseman. Okay quickly... lets drop the talk about him being a 2nd baseman. He will grow out of that position as his body matures. That leaves him as a pro at the hot corner. In case you have forgotten, the Rockies have Garrett Atkins in Denver, Jeff Baker at AAA Colorado Springs, and mega-superstud Ian Stewart in AA Tulsa. The Rox do not need to use another high pick at this position even though he may be the safe pick.

However, there may be a certain circumstance where the Rockies have something in the works. That being Dontrelle Willis. RoxHead first brought up the possibility of trading for Willis 4 weeks ago. Don't listen to reports that the Rockies are not interested. They are very much so. Just because they are still building from within doesn't mean that you don't go out and get a superstar pitcher who is only 24 and is very available. He will fit right into the rebuilding scenario the Rockies are currently in. However, it will take an Ian Stewart to get him. I think that if there is something going on with Willis and Stewart, then you will see the Rockies take Evan Longoria.

That leaves highschooler Clayton Kershaw. All reports are that this kid has a good makeup and will project out to be a top of the rotation pitcher (he recently pitched a perfect game). He has the size we all like and is a power lefty which can be used anywhere should he bust out as a starter. His commitment to A&M isn't that strong so look for the Rockies to take him with the first pick. Combine him with right hander, Chaz Roe, taken last year and you have two young, strong armed teenagers that should move up together through the system.

Head Bum

Sources: Brewerfan.com
Baseball America.com
ESPN.com

2. (46) David Christensen, OF Douglas HS (Fla.) 6-1 195 R-R
See photos of David at Coors here (Athletics>Baseball)

10/26/06.. Draft Recap.. MiLB.com
The Florida high schooler headed to short-season Casper where he hit .199 in 57 game with 11 doubles, five homers and 20 RBIs. He holds his school record for homers and led his team to the district championship as a senior. He turned down a scholarship to Miami to ink with the Rockies.

Predraft Comment: Committed to Miami; big-speed guy; can play center field or right field.

He has raw power and a strong arm, but he needs to develop better plate discipline.

There were indications that second-round pick David Christensen, an outfielder from Parkland, Fla., is close to a signing.

While Christensen told most teams it would take at least $1 million for him to pass up a scholarship to Miami, he reportedly set the figure at $750,000 for the Rockies. Rocky

Brewerfan.com
Christensen is a similar prospect to fellow Aflac All-American Jeff Rapoport. Christensen is an exciting five-tool prospect that is solid across the board. He has good speed, a strong build, good hitting mechanics and solid power potential. He may move to a corner outfield spot down the road, but really at this point in time he could easily play all three spots. The only thing holding him back is that he really doesn�t do any one thing spectacularly, in that his tools are very good, but none of them are great. If that causes him to slip at all he may decide to honor his local commitment to play for the Miami Hurricanes.

Nationalsfarmauthority.com
One of the top outfield prospects in the class of 2006, David Christensen has what it takes to succeed on the field and off. David batted a staggering .426 this season with 29 hits, six home runs and 13 stolen bases. Those stats were good enough for David to earn First Team All-County by the Sun-Sentinel and Miami Herald. He also was one of the few juniors in Florida to earn All-State Honors. David helped lead Stoneman Douglas to the District title and a 26-3 record by driving in a team leading 38 RBI�s. David has a powerful bat and is an aggressive base runner. Christensen�s tools really stand out. He threw 93 from the outfield and ran 6.69 60 yd at the Perfect Game National in June. This past April during a home varsity game David hit a tape measure shot over the trees behind the batters eye to straight away center field 475 feet. Head Coach Dean Florio said "That was the longest home run that has been hit on this field in the seven years that I have been coaching here". During his freshman and sophomore season�s David had a combined .370 batting average with 48 hits, two home runs and 41 RBI�s. David�s accomplishments don�t end on the field as he carries a 4.46 GPA in the classroom and is an AP scholar.

3. (78) Keith Weiser, LHP Miami (Ohio) 6-3 200 R-L

10/26/06.. Draft Recap.. MiLB.com
Weiser came out of the "other" Miami, Miami (Ohio) University, with the third-round pick after earning All-MAC honors for the RedHawks. With short-season Tri-City, the southpaw was 1-2 with a 3.79 ERA and struck out 53 while walking just eight in 57 innings over 12 games.

Pre-draft Comment: Polished with ability to command pitches; fastball slipped to 86-89 mph this year. Rocky

Brewerfan.com
While Weiser doesn't have any one aspect of his game that jumps out at you, his well-rounded repertoire and package of intangibles make him a very intriguing pro prospect. His fastball sits in the 89-91 range, while his breaking ball and control were rated the best in the MAC entering the 2006 college season. His breaking ball is a true curveball, and he also mixes in a changeup, all of which he throws for strikes and shows an advanced knowledge of changing speeds. He is a fierce competitor that won't back down from a challenge, and is also a very hard and focused worker.

4. (108) Craig Baker, RHP Cal State Northridge 6-3 210 R-R

10/26/06.. Draft Recap.. MiLB.com
Elbow woes have sidelined the Cal State Northridge product, who ranked third in the Big West in strikeouts this past season with 102 in as many innings. Baker, who has yet to make his pro debut because of the injury, went 6-9 with a 3.97 ERA for the team, limiting batters to a .266 average.

Pre-draft Comment: Throws 89-92 mph fastball with downward angle; solid splitter. Rocky

May have failed his physical.

5. (138) Helder Velazquez, SS Puerto Rico BB Academy 6-3 165 R-R

10/26/06.. Draft Recap.. MiLB.com
Drafted out of the newly established Puerto Rico Baseball Academy, Velazquez signed as a fifth-rounder and headed to Casper, where he hit .253 with two home runs, 18 RBIs and three steals in 39 games.

Pre-draft Comment: Excellent athlete; 6.4-second time in 60 yards; strong arm; must get stronger with bat. Rocky

6. (168) Kevin Clark, OF Manatee JC (Fla.) 5-10 205 L-R

Comment: Florida junior-college player of the year; hit 18 homers; has arm strength to play right field. Rocky

7. (198) Michael McKenry, C Middle Tennessee 5-10 200 R-R

Comment: High-energy; reminds scouts of New York Mets catcher Paul Lo Duca. Rocky

Goblueraiders.com
The Farragut High School product batted .390 with 13 doubles, 13 home runs and 68 RBIs in 2006, earning First Team All-Sun Belt and Third Team All-America honors by Collegiate Baseball and Louisville Slugger. McKenry added 82 hits, 42 runs scored, 38 walks, a .494 on-base percentage and a .676 slugging percentage in 55 games. The junior catcher also threw out 41 percent of potential base stealers.

McKenry began the 2006 campaign on the Wallace Watch List, one of the national player of the year awards, and was later a semifinalist for the Dick Howser Trophy, another national player of the year honor, and the Coleman Company-Johnny Bench Award, given annually to the nation's top catcher.

8. (228) Brandon Hynick, RHP Birmingham (Ala.) Southern 6-3 205 R-R

Comment: Appendectomy delayed start of season, but he was pitching at 93 mph by season's end. Rocky

Hynick scouting himself(al.com):
"I think of myself as a power pitcher. I throw hard and I have good control of most of my pitches most of the time. I go right at the hitters and I don't back down. I don't like to pitch around anybody. I try to force contact early so I can stay out there as long as I can for my team."

Rocky:
Hynick has a sinking fastball that ranges about 91-92 mph and hits 93-94 mph. Casper pitching coach Mark Thompson is convinced that Hynick, who is 6-foot-3, 205 pounds, will gain velocity with experience.

"Once he learns the true meaning of staying back," Thompson said, "gathering himself over the rubber more and getting his legs fully underneath him, it�s going to take a lot of stress off his arm, and he�s going to get more out of his lower half when he pitches. He�ll end up throwing harder. He�s a strong kid."

Hynick also throws a hard curveball anywhere from the low to high 70s. It�s a pitch with very good bite, thanks to a suggestion from Thompson.

"He's tightened up my curveball," Hynick said, "(by) just releasing it out in front. It�s just tightened up and a little bit faster and harder to pick up. It was a pretty bad pitch and now it�s a very good pitch. So I�m happy he changed it."

9. (258) William Harris, RHP Louisiana State 6-4 225 R-R

Comment: Primarily played first base and third base but has low-90 fastball and power curve. Rocky

10. (288) David Arnold, RHP Lincoln Trail CC (Ill.) 6-1 220 R-R

Comment: Fastball will touch 94 mph; sharp breaking ball is out pitch. Rocky

11. (318) Aaron Miller, OF Channelview HS (Texas) 6-3 205 L-L
Signed with Baylor
Comment: Big-time power bat; slid because he wants first-round money

8/23/06
Outfielder Aaron Miller of Channelview (Texas) High School, the Rockies' 11th-round draft choice in June, appears to be headed to Baylor. Miller was considered a late first-round or second-round candidate but because of his commitment to Baylor, teams shied off. He is the only one of the Rockies' top 17 selections who did not sign. Rocky
-----------
Baseball America ranked Miller the eight-best player in Texas and 43rd-best player in the country. He is a top student who finished second academically in his high school class.

Two years ago as a high school sophomore, Miller was considered a potential first-round pick as a pitcher, but he decided to focus on playing the outfield, where sizewise he draws comparisons with former New York Yankee Paul O'Neill.

"Time will tell how things will play out, but when you find a talent like that down in the draft you have to at least see what will happen," Schmidt said. Rocky

12. (348) Austin Rauch, C El Capitan HS (Calif.) 6-3 210 R-R

Comment: Durable catcher; strong arm but needs to read pitches better; drives ball other way. Rocky

13. (378) Spencer Nagy, SS Tallahassee (Fla.) CC 5-11 185 S-R

Comment: Agile, could play on either side in middle infield. Rocky

14. (408) Jeff Kindel, OF Georgia Tech 6-3 205 L-L

Comment: Converted from pitcher last year; plus hitter turned down $50,000 from the Twins. Rocky

OhNoKoolAid
He might be a bit like Matt Miller, always too old for his level, but a solid prospect nonetheless. He appears to be what you look for in a right fielder, rangy build, good throwing arm, power potential.

MLB.com
"He's a polished college bat and he can do some things," said Marc Gustafson, Colorado's director of player development. "He has a very nice swing. We're a little concerned about the potential knee injury but overall I think we got a good college player that will fit into our system nicely."

15. (438) Victor Ferrante, OF Solano (Calif.) JC 6-3 220 R-R

Comment: Also a pitcher; has strong outfield arm and explosive power. Rocky

16. (468) Anthony Jackson, OF Pacific 5-8 175 S-R

Comment: Plus runner who can play second base or center field. Rocky

17. (498) Michael Gibbs, RHP Virginia Commonwealth 6-5 210 R-R

Comment: Good arm strength, pitched consistently in the 91-93 mph range. Rocky

BA:
Michael Gibbs stands 6-foot-6 and has touched 94 since transferring in from Young-Harris (Ga.) Junior College two years ago, though his mechanics have caused trouble and limited his time on the mound. He could break into the upper 90s with regular work and refined mechanics.

18. (528) Andrew Cashner, RHP Angelina College (Texas) 6-5 180 R-R Draft and follow

Comment: Rockies will keep an eye on him and decide next spring how he develops. Rocky

19. (558) Zack Murry, SS Chanute HS (Kan.) 6-0 185 L-R
Draft and follow

BA:
Shortstop Zach Murry is another Kansas prospect whose stock has soared this spring. Though he has committed to Oklahoma State, he's considered signable and could go as high as the seventh round. The son of Neosho County Community College head coach Steve Murry, Zach has good instincts, a nice lefthanded swing and some speed and gap power. He projects as more of a second baseman as a pro.

20. (588) Sean Jarrett, RHP Oral Roberts 6-5 210 R-R

21. (618) Andrew Graham, RHP Cal Santa Barbara 6-4 210 R-R

22. (648) Jay Cox, OF North Carolina 6-0 200 L-R
MLB.com
"I think he's a guy that can have an impact with the bat," Gustafson said. "He can put a charge into the baseball and be a middle of the lineup type of guy. He can be a nice fit this summer [in rookie ball] or next year at Asheville of the South Atlantic League. He's a guy we project down the road to move pretty quick."

23. (678) Scott Maine, LHP Miami (Fla.) 6-3 195 L-L
minorleaguebaseball.com
Maine said he has spoken to the Rockies and they will let things play out and see how he does in summer ball, making a decision before Maine would have to return to school. Barring an overwhelming move by Colorado, expect Maine to be back in Miami next year.

BA:
Since being named a third-team High School All-American in 2003, Scott Maine has had Tommy John surgery and was in a serious car accident. He wore a protective mask most of his sophomore season and was limited to less than 10 innings before settling into a regular role as a starter this spring. He was at his best in the ACC tournament, holding his velocity at 90 mph late into the game. His command is erratic, a product of a delivery he struggles to repeat from a low three-quarters arm slot.

MLB.com
Maine, a 23rd-round selection, hasn't made up his mind as to whether he wants to sign or not but has left things open with the Rockies and will have a better idea after playing summer ball.

"The thing with someone like him is that we have to trust our scouts and their knowledge of his background and their feel of getting the kid signed," Gustafson said. "A lot of it depends on the conversations we'll have and where we project he'll fit if he signs. We'll wait and see how the next few days [of the tournament] play out [for Maine and the Hurricanes].

24. (708) Shane Dyer, RHP Eaton HS 6-2 167 R-R
greelytribune.com
Signed with University of New Mexico.

25. (738) Jeremy Jones, OF North Carolina A&T 5-11 205 R-R

26. (768) Devin Collis, LHP Arkansas 6-2 180 L-L

27. (798) Matt Repec, SS Winthrop 6-1 190 R-R

28. (828) Tommy Baumgardner, LHP Mississippi 6-2 220 L-L
olemisssports.com
Baumgardner has spent the past two years with the Rebels compiling a 5-5 record as a starter and has proven to be a strong arm out of the bullpen. The southpaw picked up his biggest win as he led the Rebels to a win over 2005 regular season SEC Champion Florida in an elimination game at the SEC Tournament. Baumgardner has posted 67 strikeouts in 93.1 innings of work primarily as a reliever for the Rebels.

29. (858) Shane Lowe, SS New Bloomfield, Mo. 6-3 184 S-R

BA:
After DHing his junior season while recovering from Tommy John surgery, shortstop Shane Lowe has reasserted himself as one of the best prep athletes in the state. He's 6-foot-3 and 185 pounds with speed, arm strength and some pop. He will attend Nebraska if he doesn't turn pro.

Huskers.com
One of two all-state players from Missouri in the recruiting class, Lowe played shortstop and designated hitter for Coach Brett Craighead at New Bloomfield High School. Lowe is a two-time all-state performer, earning first-team honors in 2005. He earned first-team all-state honors as a junior, batting .488 with 18 stolen bases and a .639 on-base percentage in helping his team to a 17-4 record and district finals. A three-time all-district and all-area selection, he has stolen 93 bases during his high school career, including 36 as a sophomore when he also hit .450. In addition to his high school team, Lowe also played for the Kansas City Sluggers elite team, hitting .486 with 10 stolen bases in just 37 at-bats during the fall. Lowe was an all-conference performer in basketball as a sophomore before missing his junior year because of an injury. He drew interest from Missouri, Kansas State and Missouri State before choosing to become a Husker.

30. (888) Scott Robinson, OF Henry County HS (Ga.) 6-0 185 R-R
Purplerow.com
Signed with North Georgia College & State University.

31. (918) Curtis Dupart, OF Woodinville HS (Wash.) 6-3 195 R-R
Considering both Georgia Tech or Virginia.

BA:
Most areas have "pop-up" players, draft prospects who move from potential draft-and-follows into the first few 10 rounds. Dupart was such a player who benefited from a mix of circumstances to rise up many draft boards in May. He performed (hitting .511-7-29) in front of plenty of scouts. Many area scouts brought crosscheckers or scouting directors to see the athletic Dupart play at night after watching Travis Snider, the state's top high school prospect, or Washington's Tim Lincecum. Dupart also blossomed as a hitter, showing a strong swing with loft power and leverage after pitching more earlier in his high school career. Repeated arm problems had forced him off the mound the previous summer, but his arm had bounced back enough to be above-average and have some scouts profile him as a classic right fielder. Dupart's timing also helped, as few prep hitters around the country were taking advantage of increased exposure. He even drew recruiting visits from Atlantic Coast Conference schools such as Georgia Tech and Virginia, clouding his signability. In the end, scouts have to decide how much it's worth paying a player like Durpart, a righthanded-hitting prep outfielder from the Pacific Northwest small on track record and long--but not too long--on tools.

32. (948) Miguel Valcarcel, RHP Perkiomen (Pa.) School 6-3 200 R-R
Signed with St. John's University

pottstownmercury.com
"They (Rockies) were aware his signability was in doubt," manager, Ken Baker said. "They followed Miguel very closely during the spring season And if he was signable, the gentleman (Colorado scout Mike Garlatti) told me he would have been drafted a lot higher.

"They knew he wasn't signable."

BA:
Miguel Valcarcel is a pure arm-strength righthander who'll need a big bonus to buy him out of his commitment to St. John's. He has good arm action and has been clocked as high as 93-95 mph with his fastball, but he is raw and has little feel for pitching.

33. (978) Drew Shetrone, RHP Cumberland University 6-2 185 R-R

34. (1008) Jamie Niley, LHP Elk Grove HS (Calif.) 6-2 195 R-L
perfectgame.org
Jaime Niley is a 2006 first baseman/outfielder from Elk Grove, CA with a muscular athletic build at 6-2, 190 lbs. strong arm, short release, good feet and set-up, good sure hands, stands tall, good bat speed, solid contact, line drives to all fields, big power potential, aggressive smart base runner, solid tools with projectable build, good upside, follow closely. Very good bat speed with nice looseness to his swing. Showed good 84 mph arm strength with a good defensive showing. Good prospect.

35. (1038) Josh Banda, 1B California Baptist 6-2 205 R-R
(Stats)

Will play for the Denton Outlaws this summer in the Texas Collegiate Baseball League.

thedentonoutlaws.com
Has exceptional power … Can hit to all fields … Was one of just 2 non-NCAA Division I players to be named to Baseball America�s All-Summer Team this past offseason … Is an adept baserunner as well.

36. (1068) Michael Diaz, C Luis Muñoz Marin (PR) HS 5-10 184 R-R

37. (1098) Zachary Helton, 2B Knoxville Central HS (Tenn.) 5-10 170 R-R
Signed with Memphis

Second baseman Zach Helton from Central High School in Knoxville, Tenn., the cousin of Rockies first baseman Todd Helton, was drafted in the 37th round. Like his cousin Todd, Zach also was a high school quarterback. But unlike Todd, who played baseball and football at the University of Tennessee, Zach is committed to baseball only at the University of Memphis.

"I might be able to get some money to help me sign him without having to go into my budget," Schmidt said. Rocky

38. (1128) Jon Hesketh, LHP Vernon (Texas) JC 6-0 180 L-L
Purplerow.com
Will change to Penn State.

39. (1158) Jason Fuqua, LHP Sterling HS (Texas) 6-3 170 L-L

40. (1188) David Luna, C Piedmont HS (Calif.) 6-2 195 R-R
(Stats)
Draft and Follow.

41. (1218) Jay Taylor, RHP West Seattle HS (Wash.) 6-1 190 R-R
Signed with Lewis-Clark State.

42. (1248) Sean Halton, 1B Fresno (Calif.) CC 6-5 235 R-R
Draft and Follow.
Taken last year (927) by the Rockies also.

43. (1277) Bryan Jaeger, OF Louisiana State-Eunice 6-2 185 L-R
Draft and Follow.
Purplerow.com
Will most likely return to Eunice as a draft and follow.

44. (1306) Scott Bachman, LHP Rocky Mountain HS 6-1 170 L-L
Signed with Kansas State.

coloradoan.com
"He's just got good stuff," Rocky Mtn HS coach Scott Bullock said. "He can throw in the low 90s, although he works more in the 87-88 (mph) range. He throws hard, he's got a good breaking ball and he's athletic. I think those things really sparked scouts' interest in Scotty."

45. (1335) James Manning, RHP Wallace State (Ala.) CC 6-3 190 R-R
Draft and Follow.
Purplerow.com
Will most likely return to Wallace State as a draft and follow.

46. (1364) Damion Carter, OF Southern Mississippi 6-3 197 R-R
Southern Mississippi's Damion Carter, who has lettered each of his first three years as a receiver for the Golden Eagles, was taken as an outfielder in the 46th round. Carter hasn't played baseball since his senior year in high school, but Schmidt said the Rockies will watch him play in a summer league. Rocky

southernmiss.cstv.com
Carter, a three-year letterwinner in football for the Golden Eagles, hasn't played baseball at Southern Miss. He lettered his senior season in baseball as the shortstop at Isidore Newman High School in New Orleans, helping them to the 2003 state championship.

47. (1392) Justin Miller, RHP Bakersfield (Calif.) JC 6-3 175 R-R
Draft and Follow.
Purplerow.com
Will most likely return to Bakersfield as a draft and follow.

48. (1420) Jesus Cebollero, RHP Puerto Rico BB Academy 6-3 175 R-R
Draft and Follow
Signed with Lake City Community College.

49. (1448) Paul Dickey, RHP Lower Columbia (Wash.) CC 6-2 180 R-R
Draft and Follow.

50. (1476) Jamie Johnson, OF West Ouachita HS (La.) 5-9 175 L-R
Draft and Follow.
Originally signed with LSU but changed to Texarkana College (JC) with the idea that the Rockies would draft him as a draft and follow.
-----------------
Of the 50 players they picked up in this year's draft, the Rockies selected 25 pitchers, 13 outfielders, eight infielders, and four catchers. The team took 31 players from a junior college or four-year university, the other 19 high-school players.

06/26/06 The 2005 Draft picks

By RC

What follows is a brief outline of how the 2005 draft picks have faired since that became part of the Rockies farm system.

Troy Tulowitzki: Got a $2.3 million signing bonus. He played in 22 games at Modesto and hit .266 with 94 AB's. He is now playing for the AA team, the Tulsa Drillers and is hitting .297 with 202 AB's. He is the 2nd best run producer on the team with 36 runs and 29 RBI. He has 7 Hr and he strikes out only once every six AB's which is not bad for a Rockie prospect. So far, Mr. Tulowitzki is living up to his billing.

Chaz Roe:   This 19 year old started with Casper and went 5-2 with a 4.17 ERA. He had 55 SO in only 49 innings. 36 BB in 49 innings.   This year he is with the Asheville Tourists and he is 1-1 with a 3.21 ERA.   He hasn't pitched much this year and he is hurt. This player is probably four years away from helping the Rockies if he ever does.

Daniel Carte: This guy got a $670,000 signing bonus. This 22 year old has struggled as a pro. He started at Tri-city where he hit a meager .224 in 218 AB's. This year he is playing for the Asheville Tourists and he has improved a little bit. He is hitting .255 with 149 AB's. He strikes out once every 4.2 AB's and has only 8 walks. Obviously Mr. Carte is a work in progress.

Zachary Simons: This 23 year pitcher started with the Tri-City team and went 6-5 with an ERA of 3.81, so he had a nice start. He is with the Asheville Tourists and is off to a very good start. He is 5-2 with an ERA of 3.65. He's been a workhorse with 56 innings pitched and only 16 walks. This guy has some potential but is still about three years away.

Kyle Hancock: This 18 year old was the 87th player chosen in the draft. He signed and was given a $460,000 signing bonus and mysteriously decided to quit and return the money. He wanted to return to college but NCAA rules won't allow it and now he is out of baseball.

Brandon Durden: This 19 year old had a rough start at the Casper Rockies and went 1-4 with a 6.02 era. This year he is off to a good start. He is 3-1 with an ERA of 2.91 and he has pitched 55 innings and made the South Atlantic All-Star team. At the age of only 19 he should be a good prospect for the Rockies by the time he is 23.

Joshua Sullivan: This guy got one inning with the Tri-City Dust Devils and gave up three runs for an ERA of 27 because he was limited by a shoulder injury that required surgery after the season. He is repeating this season at Tri-City.

Corey Wimberly: This 2nd basemen is one of the surprise picks of last year's draft. We've predicted great things for this player. He had a great summer with the Casper team and played in 67 games, had 281 AB's, scored 58 runs, had 22 rbi, stole 36 bases, only 27 K's, he hit .381 and had an OBA of .427. This year, prior to pulling a hamstring, he got off to a great start.   He has played in 32 games, has 126 AB's, scored 23 runs, has 10 RBI, 19 stolen bases, BA of .341 and an OBA of .400. We hope his hammy gets better soon (he is expected back in the lineup after Modesto gets back from their All-Star break) because we think this surprise pick will eventually make the "show".

Geoff Strickland: He got in 36 games with the Casper team with 123 AB's and he hit only .228. He is now at Tri-City which just started its season last week.

James Burok: This 24 year old started with the Tri-City team and was a reliever with a 2-3 record, ERA of 5.08. He had 2 saves, pitched in 33 innings and had 26 k's with only 12 BB's. A decent start. He is now with the Asheville Tourists where he is still a reliever with a 2-4 record, 3.67 ERA, 3 saves, and 27 innings with only 15 K's and 9 BB's. We doubt if we will ever see this guy in the "show but you never know.

Andrew Johnston: This 23 year old had a fantastic 2005 summer in Casper. He was in 30 games, had 18 saves, 24 K's in 34 innings and had a microscopic ERA of 1.06.    He is having a rough time this summer, he has been in only 7 games, pitched only 6.1 innings and has an ERA of 4.26 ERA and only 2 K's. It is doubtful we will ever see him in the big leagues.

Garner Wetzel:   I can't find this guy anywhere in the system. I�m not sure he ever played beyond the extended spring season.

Chris Frey: This guy was a pitcher in the minor leagues for three years and had some success. He then went back to college and entered the University of Arizona where he became an outfielder. He was with the Tri-City team last summer. He played in 64 games, had 252 AB's but a paltry .206 and is currently not on a minor league roster. It looks like the Rockies gave him a very good shot and he failed.

Dominick Foster: This young man was a draft and follow last year and wasn't signed before this years draft.

Michael Paulk: This 23 yr. old OF had a great summer with the Tri-City team. He played in 68 games, had 253 AB's, 45 RBI and hit .312.   He is having a tough summer with the Asheville club. He is batting a mere .225 in 155 AB's. Given his age he better get his act together.

Kyle Blumenthal: This 23 yr. old catcher played 60 games with the Casper team and in 214 AB's he hit .276 and had 42 RBI. He is off to similar numbers this summer with Asheville. He is batting .266 with 109 AB's. He appears to be the primary catcher.

Travis Bechtel: This outfielder was assigned the Tri-City team and hit .314 in 68 games and 255 AB's and he even managed to hit 4 homers. He is now at Asheville where he is struggling. He is hitting .250 with 161 AB's and nothing else to speak of.