The 2010 MLB First Year Player draft starts today at 4 pm PST. I’m not even going to pretend to pay enough attention to amateur players to have an educated guess on who the Padres will take with the #9 overall pick. 17-year old Bryce Harper seems to be the consensus #1 overall pick for the Nationals despite what some scouts and JUCO umpires may consider a poor attitude. I don’t know the kid but one look tells you he definitely has “makeup” issues.
Anyway, I’ve heard the names of a few players the Padres are reportedly interested in as well as a few that stood out as I looked over the top guys. The scouting reports are from MLB.com
Michael Choice – OF – Texas-Arlington – Junior – 11/10/89 – 6′ 1″ 215 lbs – Bats: R Throws: R
Summary: In a year that lacks a ton of big-name college hitters, players from smaller programs like Choice have a chance to shine, and he is taking advantage. Though he’ll need work on his swing mechanics, he has big-time raw power to all fields. He runs well and plays a strong outfield to boot. He may not be the elite hitter clubs seek, but since there aren’t many of those this year, teams may look hard at Choice in the early going. Choice has some moving parts on his swing, which raises concerns about his overall hitting ability. It’s worked for him thus far, but his mechanics will have to improve.
Kolbrin Vitek – 2B – Ball St. – Junior – 4/1/89 – 6′ 3″ 195 lbs – Bats: R Throws: R
Summary: Wherever Vitek has gone, he’s hit. He plays at a smaller program, but in a year with a lack of premium bats at big programs, his production is getting noticed. His bat speed and mechanics should make him an excellent hitter at the next level. He’s got power, though there’s some debate how much there will be at the next level. He also runs pretty well. The main question with Vitek is where he’ll play defensively, as his current home at second doesn’t appear to be a great fit. He’s athletic enough to play the outfield, and that might be the best bet. Wherever he plays, it’s his bat that has people interested, and that’s what will get him drafted in the first couple of rounds.
Christian Colon – SS – Cal State Fullerton – Junior – 5/14/89 – 6′ 0″ 180 lbs – Bats: R Throws: R
Summary: A big prospect since high school, there’s a lot to like about Colon’s game. He’s got a solid approach and setup at the plate and he makes the plays in the field. His individual tools don’t grade out well, and some think he’ll need to move to second as a pro. He was the captain of Team USA last summer and put up big numbers as well. He hadn’t done that in the early going of his junior season and this is a performance-based industry, so that could hurt his draft stock a little. Even if he doesn’t pick it up, his past performance, makeup and baseball acumen should help ensure he doesn’t wait too long to hear his name called.
*Note: The Padres drafted Colon in the 10th round in 2007…
Chevez Clarke – OF – Marietta HS (Ga.) Senior – 1/9/92 – 6′ 1″ 190 lbs – Bats: S Throws: R
Summary: Depending on when someone saw him, Clarke has been a top-10 pick or a fading prospect. He’s got all the tools you’d want, highlighted by his outstanding speed. He tries to muscle up a little too much, and, while he has the potential to be a plus center fielder, he’ll need to refine his defensive skills. He has the chance to be a very exciting game-changing type of player, and the team that wants to bet on that upside will be the one that takes him fairly early. He’ll pull off balls and get a little homer-happy, which really isn’t his game, but he’s got the potential to be an excellent hitter. He’s not always great out of the batter’s box, but he does show plus speed.
Delino DeShields Jr – 2B – Norcross HS (Ga.) Senior – 8/16/92 – 5′ 9″ 175 lbs – Bats: R Throws: R
Summary: DeShields has two things really working in his favor: his plus speed and his bloodlines. His dad of the same name spent many years in the big leagues, and the hope is that the younger DeShields could be a similar type of player. He does have the potential to be a very good hitter and puts his speed to use on the basepaths. He’s got more than enough range to handle center field and the hands to play second if a team wanted to give that a look. Scouts have had a hard time getting a consistent read on DeShields. He’s toolsy and seems like he’ll fall right into the old risk vs. reward debate. It seems likely a team will be willing to take the plunge at some point not too deep into the Draft.
Karsten Whitson – SP – Chipley HS, (FL) Senior – 8/25/91 – 6′ 4″ 190 lbs – Bats: R Throws: R
Summary: It’s looking like a pretty strong year for high school arms, and Whitson should be near the top in any discussion about them. He’s already big, strong and durable and he’s got plenty of projection, meaning he might throw harder than his already mid-90s fastball. Add in a plus breaking ball and good changeup and he’s got a very intriguring three-pitch mix already. Some tweaks to his delivery could make him even more dangerous. There might be a right-hander or two ahead of Whitson on the high school depth chart, but he should figure into high Draft pick conversations come June.
A.J. Cole – SP – Oviedo HS, (FL) Senior – 1/5/92 – 6′ 5″ 190 lbs – Bats: R Throws: R
Summary: With size, projectability and at least two outstanding pitches, Cole is at or near the top of prep pitching lists. His fastball already touches 94 mph, and there’s lots of room for growth in his 6-foot-5 frame. He adds a wipeout power slurve to put hitters away and even shows a feel for a changeup. There are some small concerns about his arm action, but his delivery overall is good and he has decent command. James Taillon might be the first high school arm to go off the board, but Cole won’t be far behind.
Zack Cox – 3B/2B – Arkansas, So – 9/23/88 – 6′ 1″ 215 lbs – Bats: L Throws: R
Drew Pomeranz – 3B/2B – Mississippi, Jr – 6/23/89 – 6′ 5″ 231 lbs – Bats: L Throws: L
Chris Sale – P – Florida Gulf Coast University, Jr. – 3/30/89 – 6′ 5″ 175 lbs – Bats: L Throws: L
Jake Thompson – P – Long Beach St, Jr – 8/8/89 – 6′ 3″ 225 lbs – Bats: R Throws: R
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