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Dover Dingos
--Thanks to their stellar efforts last season the Dingos had one of the last first round picks this year, with it they chose CF/2B Chuck Thomas at #34 overall. Thomas has a very nice glove, but only average range defensively. At the plate he has good contact, but is otherwise only average at best with the bat. He'll be a decent backup at the ML level, but probably not much more than that. 2nd and 3rd round picks Kevin Killian and Marshall Carter not only continue the trend of picks with last names that could also be first names, but are both fringe prospects to hit the majors at some point, but will probably top out at AAA. 4th rounder Farmer Flair has one of the best names in the draft, but that's about it. 5th rounder Jhonny Rosales has a nicely mispelled first name, but is otherwise a minor leaguer as well. If this were a draft graded on unique names, the Dingos would get an A+, but it's not, so they don't.
Grade: D+
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Columbus HoundDogs
--With the final pick in the first round, the HoundDogs selected RP Jayson Harvey. Harvey shows excellent control, above average splits, and great pitches. He doesn't put much heat on the ball and serves up quite a few fly balls, but should still make the majors. There isn't much else to see in the Columbus draft, as after Harvey there is just a selection of minor league lifers.
Grade: D-
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Cleveland Steamers
--The Steamers used the #30 pick on RP Jerome McGrady, a pretty solid setup man with closer potential in the right situation. His stamina and durability will limit him to around 30-40 innings a season, but they will be high quality innings as his control, splits, velocity, and pitches are all very nice. The rest of the Steamers draft netted some nice AAA talent but not much else, which given the talent in this draft is about par for the course.
Grade: D+
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Charlotte Thunder
--The Thunder had a wealth of picks in this seasons draft, and used their first one at #16 overall on RP Augie Badilla. Badilla is probably one of the top two relievers taken in the draft this season, with huge durability that should get him 80-100+ IP in a season. He has elite control, splits, velocity, and great pitches. His only flaw is that he does tend to give up the flyball. #20 overall selection RP Gabe Kirby also has closer potential, with elite control, splits, and velocity. His first pitch is electric, and he hardly ever gives up a flyball, which is what you look for in a closer. He doesn't have the durability of Badilla, but will be a very good ML RP. Supplemental pick RP Dom Lowell finished the Thunders trifecta of RPs in the first round, and while he doesn't have quite the potential of Badilla or Kirby, should still make the majors as a setup man. Supplemental pick SS Jim Wyatt is an elite defensive SS, and can hit lefties very well, and is also an excellent bunter and baserunner, and will be a good National League SS. Supplemental pick 2B Edward Nichols was a nice value pick, and has a pretty decent bat for this draft class, and a passable glove. He could start if the situation is right, or will be a very capable backup. From there the Charlotte draft drifts into minor league territory, but for this seasons draft class this is a very nice haul and one of the top drafts.
Grade: A
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Chicago Sabercats
--With the #14 overall pick in the draft the Sabercats selected lefty SP Milt Ward. Ward is a crafty pitcher, with great control, above average splits, and four top notch pitches. He should be a pretty solid #2 or #3 starter in the majors once he develops. #27 pick Tom Phillips is a SS prospect with a 3B glove and unfortunately a SS bat. He's a pretty weak hitter, and only an average SS defensively, so will probably struggle to find a spot in the majors. Supplemental pick RP Ivan Darnell should make it as a setup man in the majors thanks to his very high control, but he'll have to spend a bit of time in the minors working on his splits in order to be effective. Supplemental pick RP Phil Dong also has setup man potential thanks to his control and splits. Supplemental pick RP Will Davidson will probably top out at AAA, and the rest of Chicago's picks are minor leaguers as well. Not a great draft, but not horrible either, solidly average.
Grade: C
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Burlington Champs
--With the #10 pick in the draft the champs selected a player that Dover would probably love to have, SP Dingo Douglas. In addition to having a rocking name, Dingo is a workhorse SP with top control, great splits, and a great pitch selection. He has #1 starter written all over him if he develops fully. Burlington also had the #12 pick in the draft, which they used on another starter, Gene Burnett. Burnett is also a workhorse, but doesn't have the control or splits of Douglas, although his pitch selection is just as nice. He should be a solid middle to end of rotation starter in the bigs. With the #19 pick the Champs took SS Willie Latham, a solid hitting SS with a capable but not great glove for the position. If he is able to reach his defensive potential he'll be a great hitting SS, if not he'll be an average hitting 3B. Supplemental pick SP Dean Long is another SP in the vein of Burnett, but with worse control and splits, but slightly better pitches. He could be a #5 starter on most ML teams. 2nd round selection RP Don Lukasiewicz is a nice value pick and should be a solid ML setup man. From there it's strictly minor league for the Champs draft. Considering the placement and number of 1st round picks Burlington had this season, they probably would have liked to have done better, but all told this was still a solid draft.
Grade: B
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Atlanta Pitbulls
--Picking at #28, the Pitbulls selected SP Filipe Costilla, a workhorse with good control, above average splits, and some nice pitches. He should be a solid ML SP, and projects to a #3 or #4 in the majors. 2nd round selection C Kareem Cox was an excellent value pick and is an excellent hitting and fielding catcher with good pitch calling skills. He is also a lock to be the newest Pitbull to earn a plaque in the Wiki Vasquez Hall of Injured Greats thanks to his health rating of 18. The rest of the Pitbulls draft brought on some minor leaguers but nothing else of note.
Grade: C-
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