Dominguez, Christopher
MLB.com..
Comments: One of the bigger enigmas in the Draft class, Dominguez is eligible as a sophomore after red-shirting his freshman year back in 2006. Healthy now, he's been an impact player at the college level this season, but his performance has been extremely inconsistent. He'll look outclassed one moment and in a league of his own the next, leaving many a scout to scratch his head. Still, his size, strength, athleticism and potential all should pique someone's interest early enough.
uoflsports.com..
The only unanimous selection to the 2008 All-BIG EAST First Team, Dominguez batted .365 with 68 runs, 13 doubles, a BIG EAST-leading 21 home runs and 75 RBI, stealing 11 bases while starting all 62 games at third on the BIG EAST Champions.
Dominguez is 10th on the career home run list with 36 in just two seasons in The Ville, and placed himself tied for 7th in single season home runs, tied for 8th in runs and tied for 6th with his 2008 total in RBI.
He was a semifinalist for the Golden Spikes Award and was on the Wallace Award watch list, both given annually to the national player of the year.
During the 2007 season he was the NCAA Columbia Regional MVP after batting .421 (8 for 19) with two doubles, a triple, four home runs and 11 RBI in five games. He hit .318 with eight home runs and 19 RBI in 11 NCAA Postseason games last year.
Time table for arrival in Denver: 2012 (if he even signs, which is not a given since he wants 1st round money. As a 5th rounder, the Rockies will not be happy if they screwed up and were not able to sign him)
MLB.com..
Comments: One of the bigger enigmas in the Draft class, Dominguez is eligible as a sophomore after red-shirting his freshman year back in 2006. Healthy now, he's been an impact player at the college level this season, but his performance has been extremely inconsistent. He'll look outclassed one moment and in a league of his own the next, leaving many a scout to scratch his head. Still, his size, strength, athleticism and potential all should pique someone's interest early enough.
uoflsports.com..
The only unanimous selection to the 2008 All-BIG EAST First Team, Dominguez batted .365 with 68 runs, 13 doubles, a BIG EAST-leading 21 home runs and 75 RBI, stealing 11 bases while starting all 62 games at third on the BIG EAST Champions.
Dominguez is 10th on the career home run list with 36 in just two seasons in The Ville, and placed himself tied for 7th in single season home runs, tied for 8th in runs and tied for 6th with his 2008 total in RBI.
He was a semifinalist for the Golden Spikes Award and was on the Wallace Award watch list, both given annually to the national player of the year.
During the 2007 season he was the NCAA Columbia Regional MVP after batting .421 (8 for 19) with two doubles, a triple, four home runs and 11 RBI in five games. He hit .318 with eight home runs and 19 RBI in 11 NCAA Postseason games last year.
Time table for arrival in Denver: 2012 (if he even signs, which is not a given since he wants 1st round money. As a 5th rounder, the Rockies will not be happy if they screwed up and were not able to sign him)
Source: BA
MiLB.com
Rocky Mtn News
Brewerfan.net
MiLB.com
Rocky Mtn News
Brewerfan.net
First-Year Player Draft (also known as the Rule 4 Draft)
Friedrich, Christian
MLB.com...
Comments: College lefties are always in high demand and, truth be told, there aren't that many upper-echelon ones out there this year. Behind San Diego's Brian Matusz, Friedrich is likely the best -- especially once he gains more consistent command -- with a repertoire that should land him in the middle of a big-league rotation in short order.
Brewerfan.net....
Christian Friedrich Friedrich has been carving up batters since he stepped on Eastern Kentucky's campus, posting a 10-2 record and a 1.98 ERA during his freshman year. Overall, including his summer performances, he has gone 21-7 with a 2.05 ERA, striking out 307 batters and allowing only 153 hits in over 232 innings of work. He could stand to lower his walk totals (89), but given his dominance that seems like a minor detail. While his curveball is his best pitch, a true downer that disappears from the batter's eye, he success is predicated from how well he spots his 88-92 fastball that has touched 94 in the past. He also throws a changeup, and has a very smooth delivery and arm action that makes it look as though he's playing catch. He's a candidate to soar through the minor leagues upon beginning his professional career.
Baseball America..
Part of a prospect-studded Falmouth rotation that also included Aaron Crow and Shooter Hunt last summer, Friedrich struck out Buster Posey, Jason Castro and Gordon Beckham in his final inning in the Cape Cod League playoffs. Like Crow, Friedrich operated in the mid-80s as an undrafted high school senior in the Chicago area before blossoming in college. He now maintains solid-average 89-91 mph velocity throughout a game and can touch 94, but his money pitch is an over-the-top curveball with huge 12-to-6 break. Blisters have periodically bothered Friedrich this spring, so he has been using his slider more than he has in the past, and it has become a weapon at 80-82 mph. He also has a decent changeup that he'll need to incorporate more often in pro ball. While Friedrich throws strikes and can command his fastball to both sides of the plate, he sometimes leaves it up in the zone. He gets away with a lot of those mistakes because his deceptive delivery and the fear of his curveball allow his fastball to get on hitters quickly. He doesn't have the ceiling of San Diego's Brian Matusz, but Friedrich is clearly the second-best lefty available in the draft.
MLB.com...
Comments: College lefties are always in high demand and, truth be told, there aren't that many upper-echelon ones out there this year. Behind San Diego's Brian Matusz, Friedrich is likely the best -- especially once he gains more consistent command -- with a repertoire that should land him in the middle of a big-league rotation in short order.
Brewerfan.net....
Christian Friedrich Friedrich has been carving up batters since he stepped on Eastern Kentucky's campus, posting a 10-2 record and a 1.98 ERA during his freshman year. Overall, including his summer performances, he has gone 21-7 with a 2.05 ERA, striking out 307 batters and allowing only 153 hits in over 232 innings of work. He could stand to lower his walk totals (89), but given his dominance that seems like a minor detail. While his curveball is his best pitch, a true downer that disappears from the batter's eye, he success is predicated from how well he spots his 88-92 fastball that has touched 94 in the past. He also throws a changeup, and has a very smooth delivery and arm action that makes it look as though he's playing catch. He's a candidate to soar through the minor leagues upon beginning his professional career.
Baseball America..
Part of a prospect-studded Falmouth rotation that also included Aaron Crow and Shooter Hunt last summer, Friedrich struck out Buster Posey, Jason Castro and Gordon Beckham in his final inning in the Cape Cod League playoffs. Like Crow, Friedrich operated in the mid-80s as an undrafted high school senior in the Chicago area before blossoming in college. He now maintains solid-average 89-91 mph velocity throughout a game and can touch 94, but his money pitch is an over-the-top curveball with huge 12-to-6 break. Blisters have periodically bothered Friedrich this spring, so he has been using his slider more than he has in the past, and it has become a weapon at 80-82 mph. He also has a decent changeup that he'll need to incorporate more often in pro ball. While Friedrich throws strikes and can command his fastball to both sides of the plate, he sometimes leaves it up in the zone. He gets away with a lot of those mistakes because his deceptive delivery and the fear of his curveball allow his fastball to get on hitters quickly. He doesn't have the ceiling of San Diego's Brian Matusz, but Friedrich is clearly the second-best lefty available in the draft.
Rd (pick) Player P Ht. Wt. School/Hometown Signed
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1 (25) Christian Friedrich, LHP 6-3 210 Eastern Kentucky Signed
2 (72) Charles Blackmon, OF 6-3 201 Georgia Tech Signed
3 (103) Aaron Weatherford, RHP 6-0 187 Mississippi State Signed
4 (137) Ethan Hollingsworth, RHP 6-2 200 Western Michigan Signed
5 (167) Chris Dominguez, 3B 6-5 235 Louisville
6 (197) Kiel Roling, C 6-3 225 Arizona State (Grand Junction Central) Signed
7 (227) Dan Houston, RHP 6-3 205 Boston College Signed
8 (257) Kurt Yacko, RHP/SS 5-11 170 Chapman University Signed
9 (287) Craig Bennigson, LHP 6-2 215 California Signed
10 (317) Stephen Dodson, RHP 6-5 210 Georgia Signed
11 (347) Kyle Walker, LHP 6-1 195 Texas Signed
12 (377) Ryan Peisel, 3B/1B 6-3 205 Georgia Signed
13 (407) Erik Wetzel, 2B 6-1 180 Fresno State Signed
14 (437) Tyler Massey, 1B 6-0 205 Chattanooga, Tenn. Signed
15 (467) Juan Rodriguez, RHP 6-2 186 Universidad del Turabo Signed
16 (497) Chad Rose, RHP 6-2 215 Broward (Fla.) CC Signed
17 (527) Alan Deratt, RHP 6-5 225 North Carolina-Asheville Signed
18 (557) Chad Jacobsen, 1B 6-1 210 S C-Aiken (Dakota Ridge HS) Signed
19 (587) Ben Orloff, 2B 5-11 170 California-Irvine
20 (617) Nate Lape, OF 6-5 215 Marshall
21 (647) Tyler Trice, RHP 6-4 195 North Carolina Signed
22 (677) Nicholas Schnaitmann, RHP 6-6 190 Consumnes River (Calif.) CC
23 (707) Sam Elam, LHP 6-3 220 Notre Dame
24 (737) Thomas Field, LHP 5-10 180 Texas State Signed
25 (767) Andy Burns, SS 6-1 180 Fort Collins (Rocky Mountain HS)
26 (797) Adam Jorgenson, RHP 6-0 185 Cal State Fullerton Signed
27 (827) Tim Matthews, RHP 6-1 180 Baylor Signed
28 (857) Mike Zuanich, OF 6-4 225 Cal Santa Barbara Signed
29 (887) Matt Baugh, LHP 6-1 190 Univ. of San Francisco Signed
30 (917) Carlos Luna, RHP 5-11 175 Oral Roberts Signed
31 (947) Rod Scurry, RHP 6-7 210 Nevada-Reno Signed
32 (977) William Scott, RHP 6-1 180 Marietta, Ga.
33 (1007) Aaron Gates, LHP 6-1 185 Orange, Calif.
34 (1037) Ryan Radcliff, C 6-2 200 Sherwood, Ohio
35 (1067) Maikol Gonzalez, 2B 5-10 175 Tusculum College Signed
36 (1097) Patrick Rose, OF 5-11 190 Cal Santa Barbara Signed
37 (1127) Delta Cleary, OF 6-3 175 Louisiana State-Eunice
38 (1157) Tyler Pill, RHP 6-1 175 Covina, Calif.
39 (1187) Kyle Ottoson, LHP 6-3 150 Greeley (Eaton HS)
40 (1217) Kemer Quirk, OF 6-2 180 Kansas City, Mo.
41 (1247) Dean Espy, SS 6-1 190 Scottsdale, Ariz.
42 (1277) Taylor Hightower, C 6-0 195 Cartersville, Ga.
43 (1307) Alex Feinberg, 2B 5-10 180 Vanderbilt Signed
44 (1336) Matt Swagerty, RHP 6-0 175 Sachse, Texas
45 (1364) Brad McAtee, RHP 6-5 215 Cal-Davis Signed
46 (1391) James Cesario, 2B 5-11 200 University of Houston
47 (1418) Mark Lincoln, RHP 6-3 195 American River College
48 (1445) Austin Nola, SS 6-2 200 Baton Rouge, La.
49 (1472) Carl Uhl, OF 5-8 175 Cal Riverside
50 (1499) Josh Hungerman, LHP 6-2 195 Cleveland State
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1 (25) Christian Friedrich, LHP 6-3 210 Eastern Kentucky Signed
2 (72) Charles Blackmon, OF 6-3 201 Georgia Tech Signed
3 (103) Aaron Weatherford, RHP 6-0 187 Mississippi State Signed
4 (137) Ethan Hollingsworth, RHP 6-2 200 Western Michigan Signed
5 (167) Chris Dominguez, 3B 6-5 235 Louisville
6 (197) Kiel Roling, C 6-3 225 Arizona State (Grand Junction Central) Signed
7 (227) Dan Houston, RHP 6-3 205 Boston College Signed
8 (257) Kurt Yacko, RHP/SS 5-11 170 Chapman University Signed
9 (287) Craig Bennigson, LHP 6-2 215 California Signed
10 (317) Stephen Dodson, RHP 6-5 210 Georgia Signed
11 (347) Kyle Walker, LHP 6-1 195 Texas Signed
12 (377) Ryan Peisel, 3B/1B 6-3 205 Georgia Signed
13 (407) Erik Wetzel, 2B 6-1 180 Fresno State Signed
14 (437) Tyler Massey, 1B 6-0 205 Chattanooga, Tenn. Signed
15 (467) Juan Rodriguez, RHP 6-2 186 Universidad del Turabo Signed
16 (497) Chad Rose, RHP 6-2 215 Broward (Fla.) CC Signed
17 (527) Alan Deratt, RHP 6-5 225 North Carolina-Asheville Signed
18 (557) Chad Jacobsen, 1B 6-1 210 S C-Aiken (Dakota Ridge HS) Signed
19 (587) Ben Orloff, 2B 5-11 170 California-Irvine
20 (617) Nate Lape, OF 6-5 215 Marshall
21 (647) Tyler Trice, RHP 6-4 195 North Carolina Signed
22 (677) Nicholas Schnaitmann, RHP 6-6 190 Consumnes River (Calif.) CC
23 (707) Sam Elam, LHP 6-3 220 Notre Dame
24 (737) Thomas Field, LHP 5-10 180 Texas State Signed
25 (767) Andy Burns, SS 6-1 180 Fort Collins (Rocky Mountain HS)
26 (797) Adam Jorgenson, RHP 6-0 185 Cal State Fullerton Signed
27 (827) Tim Matthews, RHP 6-1 180 Baylor Signed
28 (857) Mike Zuanich, OF 6-4 225 Cal Santa Barbara Signed
29 (887) Matt Baugh, LHP 6-1 190 Univ. of San Francisco Signed
30 (917) Carlos Luna, RHP 5-11 175 Oral Roberts Signed
31 (947) Rod Scurry, RHP 6-7 210 Nevada-Reno Signed
32 (977) William Scott, RHP 6-1 180 Marietta, Ga.
33 (1007) Aaron Gates, LHP 6-1 185 Orange, Calif.
34 (1037) Ryan Radcliff, C 6-2 200 Sherwood, Ohio
35 (1067) Maikol Gonzalez, 2B 5-10 175 Tusculum College Signed
36 (1097) Patrick Rose, OF 5-11 190 Cal Santa Barbara Signed
37 (1127) Delta Cleary, OF 6-3 175 Louisiana State-Eunice
38 (1157) Tyler Pill, RHP 6-1 175 Covina, Calif.
39 (1187) Kyle Ottoson, LHP 6-3 150 Greeley (Eaton HS)
40 (1217) Kemer Quirk, OF 6-2 180 Kansas City, Mo.
41 (1247) Dean Espy, SS 6-1 190 Scottsdale, Ariz.
42 (1277) Taylor Hightower, C 6-0 195 Cartersville, Ga.
43 (1307) Alex Feinberg, 2B 5-10 180 Vanderbilt Signed
44 (1336) Matt Swagerty, RHP 6-0 175 Sachse, Texas
45 (1364) Brad McAtee, RHP 6-5 215 Cal-Davis Signed
46 (1391) James Cesario, 2B 5-11 200 University of Houston
47 (1418) Mark Lincoln, RHP 6-3 195 American River College
48 (1445) Austin Nola, SS 6-2 200 Baton Rouge, La.
49 (1472) Carl Uhl, OF 5-8 175 Cal Riverside
50 (1499) Josh Hungerman, LHP 6-2 195 Cleveland State
The Rockies got a gift in the first round this year. Generally lefthanded starters are snapped up early in the round when they have the kind of ability and pitching repertoire Friedrich shows. Most mock drafts had him gone by the 15th pick yet somehow he slipped down into the waiting arms of your grateful Rockies. Watching him you'll notice he has a nice delivery that should prevent future arm problems. His fastball can reach into the low 90's which is fine for lefty's. Control has been an issue but is for most young pitchers.
Look for him to be assigned to either Asheville or Modesto once he signs. He should move up quickly as he gets a handle on that control.
Time table for arrival in Denver: 2010
Look for him to be assigned to either Asheville or Modesto once he signs. He should move up quickly as he gets a handle on that control.
Time table for arrival in Denver: 2010
Blackmon, Charles
Blackmon was a pitcher until this season when he moved to the Georgia Tech outfield. The redshirt junior ended the 2008 season leading the Yellow Jackets in batting average (.396), hits (99), runs (68), stolen bases (25) and on base percentage (.469). He has been drafted twice before, both times as a pitcher, and never higher than the 20th round.
Time table for arrival in Denver: 2012
Blackmon was a pitcher until this season when he moved to the Georgia Tech outfield. The redshirt junior ended the 2008 season leading the Yellow Jackets in batting average (.396), hits (99), runs (68), stolen bases (25) and on base percentage (.469). He has been drafted twice before, both times as a pitcher, and never higher than the 20th round.
Time table for arrival in Denver: 2012
Weatherford, Aaron
Closer on the Mississippi State team.. could move up in the system fairly quickly.
Second-team preseason NCBWA All-American as the ace of the MSU bullpen • Enters his junior campaign with an 8-4 record with seven saves and a 3.81 career earned run average in 40 games • Hard-throwing righty who has totaled 115 strikeouts in 106-1/3 innings • On the initial watch list for the 2008 Brooks Wallace Player of the Year Award and the NCBWA Stopper of the Year Award • Member of the Fellowship of Christian Athletes Leadership Team.
Time table for arrival in Denver: 2011
Closer on the Mississippi State team.. could move up in the system fairly quickly.
Second-team preseason NCBWA All-American as the ace of the MSU bullpen • Enters his junior campaign with an 8-4 record with seven saves and a 3.81 career earned run average in 40 games • Hard-throwing righty who has totaled 115 strikeouts in 106-1/3 innings • On the initial watch list for the 2008 Brooks Wallace Player of the Year Award and the NCBWA Stopper of the Year Award • Member of the Fellowship of Christian Athletes Leadership Team.
Time table for arrival in Denver: 2011
Hollingsworth, Phillip
wmbroncos.com..
Hollingsworth was a three-time All-Mid-American Conference honoree, including two years on the first team, and was tabbed MAC Freshman of the Year in 2006. He will leave Western Michigan with a career record of 18-12, going 5-5 this season. He ranks fourth in career strikeouts with 197 and fifth in innings pitched, throwing a total of 239 and two-thirds.
Hollingsworth has been the Broncos' No. 1 starter the past two seasons, maintaining a 3.84 ERA in 2008, which ranked fourth best in MAC. He struckout 77 batters in 84.1 innings pitched and held opposing hitters to a .262 batting average, issuing just 26 walks. His 77 strikeouts was the 11th best effort in a season at WMU. Hollingsworth threw at least 5.0 innings or more in each start and went 7.0 innings or more in seven of 13 starts.
Time table for arrival in Denver: 2013
wmbroncos.com..
Hollingsworth was a three-time All-Mid-American Conference honoree, including two years on the first team, and was tabbed MAC Freshman of the Year in 2006. He will leave Western Michigan with a career record of 18-12, going 5-5 this season. He ranks fourth in career strikeouts with 197 and fifth in innings pitched, throwing a total of 239 and two-thirds.
Hollingsworth has been the Broncos' No. 1 starter the past two seasons, maintaining a 3.84 ERA in 2008, which ranked fourth best in MAC. He struckout 77 batters in 84.1 innings pitched and held opposing hitters to a .262 batting average, issuing just 26 walks. His 77 strikeouts was the 11th best effort in a season at WMU. Hollingsworth threw at least 5.0 innings or more in each start and went 7.0 innings or more in seven of 13 starts.
Time table for arrival in Denver: 2013
Roling, Kiel
Arizona State Bio: http://thesundevils.cstv.com/sports/m-basebl/mtt/roling_kiel00.html
Time table for arrival in Denver: Never (not considered a NL type player because of poor defensive skills)
Arizona State Bio: http://thesundevils.cstv.com/sports/m-basebl/mtt/roling_kiel00.html
Time table for arrival in Denver: Never (not considered a NL type player because of poor defensive skills)