As a reminder, the Nats picks are as follows:
- 1st round: #9
- 2nd round: #56
- 3rd round: #87
- 4th round & out: #121 +30 (i.e. 151, 181, etc)
The first nine picks are
- Tampa Bay
- Pittsburgh
- Kansas City
- Baltimore
- San Francisco
- Florida
- Cincinnati
- Chicago White Sox
- Washington
The number of total picks in each round is as follows:
- 1st round: 1-30
- Supplemental 1st: 31-46
- 2nd round: 47-78 (two extra picks due to unsigned 2007 2nd rounders)
- 3rd round: 79-108
- Supplemental 3rd: 109-112
- 4th round: 113-142
- 5th round and on: +30 to each end
Major league teams most time do not draft 2B early. The most typical path for many 2B is relocating 3B or SS to that side of the bag (that’s not to say it doesn’t happen … see Utley, Chase). This year’s class is really shallow. With an assist from PGCrosschecker (PGCC), here are the top two second base prospects available in the upcoming MLB First Year Player Draft and one other name worth watching:
- Jemile Weeks - The 21-year old brother of Milwaukee Brewer Rickie Weeks, Jemile is likely not as promising a prospect as his brother. He is currently batting 389/459/698 for the University of Miami. His defense at 2B is still open to question and his future might be in center field. He could sneak into the back half of the first round but seems likely to come off the board in the supplemental first round, at the latest. Meaning he won’t be available for the Nationals.
- David Adams - The 20-year old right-hander is the starting 2B for the University of Virginia where he currently hitting 303/393/455 with 6 homers and 10/12 stolen bases. PGCC has the following comment “He centers pitches consistently and the ball jumps off his bat. Scouts believe it’s just a matter of time before his power develops. He primarily needs to add lift to his swing—and could become another Jeff Kent-type of player once he does … He’s more than adequate in the field and mainly needs to improve his throwing mechanics” Like Weeks, Adams is a supplemental first round selection and also not an option for the Nationals.
- Blake Stouffer - The senior turned down the Cincinnati Reds who drafted him in the fourth round of the 2007 draft. As the starter for Texas A&M, Stouffer is currently hitting 264/393/374 with 13/16 stolen bases. It’s a disappointing season for him and has likely impacted his draft status. While the skills might not be off the charts, scouts see him as a “ball player” meaning he’ll give it everything he has every time out there. The Nationals did not shy away from college seniors last year (Adrian Alaniz, Bill Rhinehart, Aaron Seuss, Jake Rogers, Jeff Mandel, Dan Lyons, Travis Reagan, Jeff McCollum, and Boomer Whiting were all college seniors drafted in 2007). If Stouffer is still on the board in the sixth round or later, he might be worth a gamble.
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