| Team | Projected Pick | Pos | School | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Tampa Bay | Buster Posey | CA | Florida State |
| 2 | Pittsburgh | Pedro Alvarez | 3B | Vanderbilt |
| 3 | Kansas City | Aaron Crow | RHP | Missouri |
| 4 | Baltimore | Brian Matusz | LHP | San Diego |
| 5 | San Francisco | Gordon Beckham | SS | Georgia |
| 6 | Florida | Tim Beckham | SS | Griffin HS |
| 7 | Cincinnati | Justin Smoak | 1B | South Carolina |
| 8 | Chicago (AL) | Shooter Hunt | RHP | Tulane |
| 9 | Washington | Eric Hosmer | 1B | American Heritage HS |
| 10 | Houston | Tanner Scheppers | RHP | Fresno State |
Allan Simpson of PGCC has his first of what will be many takes on the 2008 draft. In it, he projects the Nationals will select HS 1B Eric Hosmer out of top ranked American Heritage High School. Other names available at #9 are HS CA Kyle Skipworth, HS RHPs Gerrit Cole & Tim Melville, and college 1B Yonder Alonso.
JayB | 29-Apr-08 at 3:24 pm | Permalink
Why a 1st Baseman Brian?
I understand you want to get the best player but it seems at 9 you should be able to fill a need like C, SS, or Pitcher without having to go for a 1st Baseman with Chris C only 19 years old.
Brian Oliver | 29-Apr-08 at 3:30 pm | Permalink
If that is in fact the top 8, in my opinion, it’s really a choice between Skipworth and Hosmer. I can see the rationale for selecting Skipworth there but from all reports, scouts see a higher ceiling for Hosmer.
Greg | 29-Apr-08 at 3:52 pm | Permalink
Would be happy with his left handed potential power bat. Heard he’s meeting with the Boras Corp. a week before the draft though.
Louis J. | 29-Apr-08 at 4:39 pm | Permalink
PGCC DRAFT OPTIONS.. Cincinnati taking Smoak but already have the youngster Joey Votto?? Marlins would take Tim Beckham (SS) but already have Hanley Ramirez?? Strange choices …..
Kirk | 29-Apr-08 at 4:53 pm | Permalink
Who drafts for need in baseball? By the time Beckham is ready for the Show, Hanley Ramirez will be a Yankee/Red Sox/Met.
Pilchard | 29-Apr-08 at 5:13 pm | Permalink
The Nats system has a huge need in the middle of infield. Wish the Nats could have lost a few more in 2007 and be in a position to take Tim Beckham.
FWIW, unlike Marrero, Hosmer is very athletic and could be an above average corner OF.
Positively Half St. | 29-Apr-08 at 5:41 pm | Permalink
I believe that any time the Orioles choose before the Nats, Angelos will pay whatever necessary to keep the Nats from making the glamour pick.
John | 29-Apr-08 at 5:54 pm | Permalink
Hosmer has trained with Marrero and his father. In a recent interview he said Marrero’s the best hitter he’s ever seen at his age.
I’m praying they select him and move him to LF. Imagine a middle of the order with Burgess, Marrero, and Hosmer.
I’d be very happy with Skipworth, but not if they pass on Hosmer.
Chris | 30-Apr-08 at 9:00 am | Permalink
Im not a big fan of drafting a 1B high (and paying him a lot of money) but Ive heard a couple of people say he could play a corner OF. I have a hard time turning down what a lot of people are calling the best hitting HSer in a long time
Louis J. | 30-Apr-08 at 12:03 pm | Permalink
The Nats scouting group demonstrated in 2007 that they do a good job of locating young talent. However, I have a bias toward college players in the draft for the following reasons: older and more maturity; played 3 yrs against better competition than high-schoolers; better development in a college program and more pressure situations in which to judge a players character and performance.For example, Justin Smoak’s 3 year college career is a better indicator of future performance than Eric Hosmer’s senior year in high school. “They” say that high schoolers have “more potential” but “potential” cuts both ways- the potential to success and the potential to fail. Will Hosmer’s “potential”(his next 3yrs in the minor league) ever equal what Smoak has done in college. Plus,Smoak gets to the ML sooner (2/3yrs) than Hosmer (4/5yrs). From what I’ve heard, Mike Rizzo is a college player guy and so are the Cubs and Padres.
Greg | 30-Apr-08 at 1:35 pm | Permalink
Louis J - good thoughts. Was wondering if there is actually better development in a college program rather than a professional program. I lean towards the professional program because (I think) of the coaching/teachings of the pro game and the dedication to baseball only (no school conflicts).
John | 30-Apr-08 at 1:41 pm | Permalink
Louis:
I’ll be surprised if Smoak’s there for them to pick. He’s been so hot lately.
Hosmer has been called one of the best hitting prospects of the last 20 years by more than one scout/expert. He’s obviously better than Smoak was at the same age. It doesn’t mean he’ll ultimately be better, but I’d much rather have the higher upside with a pick this high. The Nats have very good coaches and Hosmer has a great rep as a hard worker. I’m drooling atthe thought of Burgess-Marrero-Hosmer.
That said, if Smoak is there and they take him, I won’t complain. He’s been pretty impressive in the games I’ve seen. I wonder if he’d move to LF. He looks athletic enough to do it.