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Wichita Wankers
--Picking late as usual, the Wankers selected SP Seth Shipley at #31 overall in the first round. Shipley is a very hard throwing righty with great splits, huge velocity and movement, and 3 good pitches and fourth pitch that is average. Also average to below average is Shipley's control, but if he can maximize his progress with that facet of his game he should have a career in the majors in the starting rotation. Supplemental pick SP Eddie Brooks, taken at #44 overall, is slightly above average in all key skills but really doesn't excel in any one particular area. He should be able to crack the majors as a long reliever/spot starter, but a regular rotation spot seems unlikely. Supplemental pick SP Anthony Ledee, taken at #56 has some nice potential to make the majors as a quality long reliever or #5 starter. His control is pretty good, his splits are reasonable, and he has a very nice first pitch. 2nd round selection SP Spike Sutton was a good value pick, and has the same long reliever/spot starter potential as the supplemental round choices for the Wankers. 3rd round pick 1B Ellie Donatello was a nice value pick, esp. given the dearth of overall talent this season in the draft, with good power and decent skills vs. lefties. After Donatello there really isn't anyone else in the Wankers draft with real major league potential, but all told this was a decent draft under the circumstances for the Wankers.
Grade: B
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Vancouver Grizzlies
--The Grizzlies forfeited their 1st round pick in favor of signing FA Bosco Simon, but did have two supplemental round choices in this years draft. The first, SS Joseph Sasaki, is an above average fielding SS with some pop in his bat and a decent batting eye. His contact and splits aren't the best, but he should be a serviceable utility man in the majors. The Grizzlies other supplemental choice, SS Darryl Montgomery doesn't really have the skills to cut it at the major league level, with a glove best suited for 3B but only a very average bat. 3rd round pick SS Joe Percival was a tremendous value pick, with a gold glove caliber defensive skill set and an elite batting eye. The rest of his hitting skills are pretty anemic, but he has definite ML starting potential depending on the team, but will at the very least be a very good backup SS in the big leagues someday. No other picks in the Vancouver draft really impress, leaving the Grizzlies with an average haul this year, with the Percival selection keeping this draft respectable.
Grade: C
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Trenton Lions
--The Lions were hoping to use this draft to bolster their minor league pitching, but unfortunately there wasn't a lot of depth at that position this season. That lack of depth showed as the Lions managed a selection of a decent but not truly notable pitcher at #15 overall this year in SP Billy Campbell. Campbell has above average control and splits, low velocity, and average to below average pitches. He projects to be a #5 starter or thereabouts in the majors. Supplemental pick C Mitch Schafer was a nice pick at #40, a very solid hitting catcher with average defensive skills. He has a great contact bat and is very durable behind the plate. 2nd round pick SP Ruben Parra could make it in the majors as a long reliever, and fellow 2nd round selection RP Mule has fringe potential to make the ML bullpen. The remainder of the Lions draft netted some pretty nice minor league players but no further prospects with ML potential. Overall the Lions have to be disappointed with being unable to land a better pitcher at #15 overall this season, as usually there are some pretty good players around at that spot in the draft.
Grade: C
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Toronto Blue Jays
--With the #18 overall pick in the draft, the Blue Jays selected elite closer prospect Willis Theriot. Theriot has the distinction of not only having elite control, splits, velocity, and GB/FB ratio, but of being a true five pitch closer. All five pitches are effective, and his sinker, curve, and slider are all elite. Supplemental pick RP Pete Wallace also has ML potential, but is more suited to a setup B or long relief role in the majors. Thanks to his stellar control, 2nd round selection Matty Slocumb should have a future in the ML bullpen, as should fellow 2nd rounder SP Neil Peterman. Peterman will probably be more of a long reliever/spot starter, but is a nice value pick. After Peterman the rest of the Blue Jays draft is pretty much minor league filler, but getting a shutdown closer like Theriot in draft as poor in talent as this seasons is makes this draft a success for Toronto.
Grade: B
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