Tuesday, June 06, 2006
The "Meaningless" Draft
For the past week there's been hustling and bustling on the airwaves and television networks about the importance of the 2006 Major League Baseball Draft.
For good reason of course.
There are 50 rounds in which over a thousand of high school, junior college and college baseball hopefuls are drafted. And don't forget a good percentage of those players will never get as high as Triple-A baseball, let alone get to see their dream of being in the major leagues come true. Even if they do eventually join a major league ballclub they might not get there for years.
So why should anybody believe the 2006 baseball draft will be important?
Just ask the Kansas City Royals.
Being first in anything these days should feel somewhat relieving considering the Royals' current 14-42 last place record, so when the time came for first pick of the draft -the highest pick in team history- the Royals didn't waste the opportunity, selecting the fireball-pitcher Luke Hochevar.
Hochevar, whom some had going first in the 2005 draft, dropped to 40th overall before being picked by the LosAngelos Dodgers. Before being drafted (the first time) many teams had reservations becuase of the question surrounding Hochevar's signability. The reluctance to nab Hochevar proved to be a good move as the star University of Tennessee pitcher failed to agree to terms with the Dodgers and instead played for the independent Fort Worth Cats of the American Association.
He re-entered the draft and became the Royals' top pick not only because of his 97-mph sinking fastball, his repertoire of pitches, the scouts' projections that he'll be a number 1 starter in the very near future, but because of his signability, something that couldn't be guaranteed in last year's draft.
In an MLB.com article Hochevar said: "I'm going to bust my tail to make them extremely happy. [The contract] is in Scott Boras' hands and obviously mine as well. We want to be treated fairly and the Royals are a great organization and they're willing to get it done so we're excited to proceed and move forward with this. It sounds like the Royals are ready to get it done and get me out playing."
It also sounds like somebody learned their lesson.
It also sounds good to the Royals. Hochevar will most likely end up being the second big draft pick in two years to successfully get to the majors within a couple years after being drafted; first being Alex Gordon, which is bound to happen before year's end.
In just one year after being chosen second overall in the 2005 draft, Gordon is posting up huge numbers for the Royals' minor league affiliates, and currently with the Wichita Wranglers.
In almost all offensive categories, including stolen bases, Gordon is in the top three on the Wranglers with 9 hrs., 27 rbi, .312 avg. and 14 stolen bases while being caught stealing only once. He's also proving to be the same patient hitter he was at Nebraska when his walk/strikeout ratio was 58/34, now with a 29/40 ratio.
The future looks obviously bright for Gordon with Kansas City. Currently the Royals have been plutooning Tony Graffanino and Mark Teahen, which are both struggling at the plate. The Royal's seemingly only hope for power this season was with veteran leader Mike Sweeney, who before being placed on the 15-day disabled list with a bulging disk in his upper back, was batting only .167 with 2 home runs.
With a power drought and lack of producing runs, don't be surprised if the Royals give Gordon a shot a bringing his much-needed power to their big-league lineup.
And whenever that time comes this season, as it is bound to, Hochevar should be looking on in the distance and making a note that the Royals, if need be, will call up a big-time prospect to the big leagues because next year around this time he might be the one being called up.
For the past week there's been hustling and bustling on the airwaves and television networks about the importance of the 2006 Major League Baseball Draft.
For good reason of course.
There are 50 rounds in which over a thousand of high school, junior college and college baseball hopefuls are drafted. And don't forget a good percentage of those players will never get as high as Triple-A baseball, let alone get to see their dream of being in the major leagues come true. Even if they do eventually join a major league ballclub they might not get there for years.
So why should anybody believe the 2006 baseball draft will be important?
Just ask the Kansas City Royals.
Being first in anything these days should feel somewhat relieving considering the Royals' current 14-42 last place record, so when the time came for first pick of the draft -the highest pick in team history- the Royals didn't waste the opportunity, selecting the fireball-pitcher Luke Hochevar.
Hochevar, whom some had going first in the 2005 draft, dropped to 40th overall before being picked by the LosAngelos Dodgers. Before being drafted (the first time) many teams had reservations becuase of the question surrounding Hochevar's signability. The reluctance to nab Hochevar proved to be a good move as the star University of Tennessee pitcher failed to agree to terms with the Dodgers and instead played for the independent Fort Worth Cats of the American Association.
He re-entered the draft and became the Royals' top pick not only because of his 97-mph sinking fastball, his repertoire of pitches, the scouts' projections that he'll be a number 1 starter in the very near future, but because of his signability, something that couldn't be guaranteed in last year's draft.
In an MLB.com article Hochevar said: "I'm going to bust my tail to make them extremely happy. [The contract] is in Scott Boras' hands and obviously mine as well. We want to be treated fairly and the Royals are a great organization and they're willing to get it done so we're excited to proceed and move forward with this. It sounds like the Royals are ready to get it done and get me out playing."
It also sounds like somebody learned their lesson.
It also sounds good to the Royals. Hochevar will most likely end up being the second big draft pick in two years to successfully get to the majors within a couple years after being drafted; first being Alex Gordon, which is bound to happen before year's end.
In just one year after being chosen second overall in the 2005 draft, Gordon is posting up huge numbers for the Royals' minor league affiliates, and currently with the Wichita Wranglers.
In almost all offensive categories, including stolen bases, Gordon is in the top three on the Wranglers with 9 hrs., 27 rbi, .312 avg. and 14 stolen bases while being caught stealing only once. He's also proving to be the same patient hitter he was at Nebraska when his walk/strikeout ratio was 58/34, now with a 29/40 ratio.
The future looks obviously bright for Gordon with Kansas City. Currently the Royals have been plutooning Tony Graffanino and Mark Teahen, which are both struggling at the plate. The Royal's seemingly only hope for power this season was with veteran leader Mike Sweeney, who before being placed on the 15-day disabled list with a bulging disk in his upper back, was batting only .167 with 2 home runs.
With a power drought and lack of producing runs, don't be surprised if the Royals give Gordon a shot a bringing his much-needed power to their big-league lineup.
And whenever that time comes this season, as it is bound to, Hochevar should be looking on in the distance and making a note that the Royals, if need be, will call up a big-time prospect to the big leagues because next year around this time he might be the one being called up.
# posted by Justin Townsend @ 4:41 PM 
