Nationals Farm Authority

• Future Focus - Catchers
• Future Focus - First Basemen
• Future Focus - Second Baseman
• Future Focus - Third Baseman
• Future Focus - Shortstop

As a reminder, the Nats picks are as follows:

• 1st round: #9
• 2nd round: #55
• 3rd round: #87
• 4th round & out: #121 +30 (i.e. 151, 181, etc)

The first nine picks are

1. Tampa Bay
2. Pittsburgh
3. Kansas City
4. Baltimore
5. San Francisco
6. Florida
7. Cincinnati
8. Chicago White Sox
9. 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

The outfielders market in 2008 is not as impressive as some years. There are a couple of high risk/reward high schoolers who could be early first round selections and perhaps a couple of college OFs who might go late in the first round. But after that, the majority of the players available have their question marks. With assistance from Perfect Game Crosschecker (PGCC), Baseball America (BBA), and MiLB.com, here are 11 of the top OFs who will be available in next month’s draft:

1. Aaron Hicks - The 18-year old switch-hitter is the top OF prospect in the 2008 draft. He also has potential as a RHP. Baseball America scouting report says “As an outfielder, Hicks projects as a five-tool player, and his arm grades out to near 80 on the scouting scale. With his plus speed (6.6 seconds over 60 yards), Hicks is a daring and aggressive baserunner. His speed, easy range and arm mean Hicks will begin his career as a center fielder.” He’s committed to USC but will most likely sign where he is drafted in the top 15. He’s been rumored as a consideration for the Nationals at #9 but there should be more established players with equal or better talent still on the board.
2. Zach Collier - Another high schooler, the 17-year old left-handed hitter has shot up the draft charts. Baseball America states “Collier has an athletic and projectable 6-foot-2, 195-pound outfielder’s frame. His above-average speed makes him a threat as a baserunner and permits him to patrol center field for now. As he slows down and matures physically, he’ll play an outfield corner, and his average arm makes right field a possibility.” There have also been rumors linking Collier to the Nationals with the #9 pick but much the same as Hicks, I don’t believe he would be the best player available when the Nationals make their first selection. In this year’s draft, it is going to be important for the Nationals to maximize their return early since their next selection is not for another 46 picks.
3. Roger Kieschnick - The 21-year old lefthander is a cousin of former major leaguer Brooks Kieschnick. Over 55 games at Texas Tech thus far, he is hitting 305/407/632 with 17 HR and 65RBI. P 55G. Texas Tech. PGCC rates him “Kieschnick’s arm, defense and speed are all prospect level. He has excellent power to all fields” while BBA says “has above-average power to all fields, but until he shows more discipline, pitchers can exploit his aggressiveness. He’s not one-dimensional, however, as he has solid-average speed and arm strength, making him a prototypical right fielder.” He is the type of player a team in the 20-30 range might move on given his performance against quality competition. He’s not #9 material and will be off the board long before #55 comes up.
4. Eric Thames - The 21-year old lefthander is hitting 407/513/769 with 13 HR 59 RBI and 11/12 SB in 49games for Pepperdine. He’s moved quickly up many of the draft expert ranking in 2008 and is a likely late 1st round selection The latest news is that a hip flexor has ended his season but it should not impact his draft status. PGCC scouting report ”He has plus bat speed from the left side and is a plus runner as well, two ingredients that scouts will focus hard on this spring.”  BBA scouting report … ”Thames is an acceptable, average defensive left fielder, with acceptable speed and range. He has played some center field but profiles better defensively in left. His inconsistent and fringy arm strength also fits better in left. As a pro, Thames profiles as a potentially heavy-hitting left fielder with average to slightly below-average non-hitting tools.” He’ll be gone before the Nationals choose at #55.
5. Isaac Galloway - The next name that comes up is back in the high school ranks with 18-year old righthander who has committed to San Diego State. BBA scouting report … ”Blessed with an ideal tall, lanky and projectable frame, Galloway is a premium athlete, consistently clocking in the 6.5 to 6.6 range in the 60-yard dash at various showcase events. Galloway also possesses an impressive throwing arm, rifling straight line trajectory throws from right field and center field in both pregame and game situations. Over the past two years, Galloway had measurably improved his bat, flashing a fluid natural swing and promising bat speed.” He seems a likely supplemental first round selection. If he’s still out there at #55, he’d be an attractive gamble, assuming the Nationals go with an older college player at #9.
6. Robbie Grossman - The 18-year old switch-hitter has committted to Texas, but a selection in the later part of the first round may persuade him to turn pro immediately. I’ve seen him anywhere from the middle first to early second. Baseball America’s scouting report reads “Scouts have clocked the 6-foot-1, 200-pounder as an average runner this spring after he showed plus speed in the past, meaning they have to bet more on his bat. Grossman is a switch-hitter with raw power from both sides of the plate, but his below-average arm means he’ll have to play left field if he can’t handle center.” Another intriguing gamble at #55 (though I doubt he’ll still be on the board).
7. Jay Austin - The 17-year old lefthanded OF is committed to USC. BBA scouting report … ”A center fielder with above-average speed and a lefthanded swing, Austin has scouts intrigued with his potential to be a five-tool player at the big league level. He has added power to his game this spring after physically maturing and incorporating his lower half more into his swing. He has plus bat speed and has shown ability to make consistent contact at the high school level. The team that drafts him will be betting that Austin will continue to hit into the pros as the other tools needed are present.” He is another high risk/reward guy. I’d imagine he’s a second round selection. At #55
8. Xavier Avery - The 18-year old lefthanded hitter is committed to Georgia. BBA scouting report … ”with his speed, he is projected to be an above-average outfielder with an average arm—similar to Carl Crawford. At the plate, Avery’s ability is even more of a projection. Hitting lefthanded and having above-average speed will always give Avery a chance to hit for average, but scouts feel he is still a ways away with the bat and his approach. Avery could be an exponential improver with proper instruction and multiple at-bats in the minor leagues.”  Avery is projected to go right around where the Nationals select in the second round and would not be a reach there.
9. Jordan Danks - The 21-year old lefthanded outfielder was a 19th round selection out of high school in the 2005 draft. His commitment to the University of Texas was the main reason he did not go earlier. In his junior year, Danks batted 312/436/546 with 6 HR 39 RBI over 54 games played. His performance has been mixed and experts believe he is a target in the middle of the second round. Though it would not surprise me to see a team grab him the supplemental first round and try and leverage their position and sign him quickly.  PGCC scouting report … ”He’s an outstanding defensive center fielder and base runner, and his athletic ability is obvious”
10. Blake Tekotte - The 20-year old lefthanded hitter gets lost in the shuffle of teammates Dennis Raben, Jemile Weeks, and Yonder Alonso at the University of Miami. Over 52 games, he’s hitting 364/478/581 with 9 HR 39 RBI and 22/27 SB. BBA scouting report … ”He is an above-average college center fielder, and could be average there in the pros despite his below-average arm strength. Tekotte performed well in the Cape Cod League last summer, hitting .256 for the Brewster Whitecaps in 43 games. He was subsequently named to the Cape Cod all-star team and was given all-Cape Cod League honors following the season. Tekotte has a good chance to hit for average at the major league level but will most likely be a gap-to-gap hitter with below-average power. Thus, his bat does not fit a typical profile for an everyday major leaguer, and he could wind up as a fourth outfielder.” He seems a good target if he’s still sitting out there at #87 but might be gone before that.
11. Logan Schafer - The 21-year old lefthanded hitter is batting 358/425/587 with 9 HR 48 RBI 6/8 SB in 53 games for Cal Poly. PGCC scouting report … ”Schafer is an outstanding defensive center fielder with above-average hitting ability, but those assets are compromised to a degree because he has a below-average arm and limited power. He’s an above-average base runner, but not a burner.” Another second rounder who would be a good value in round three for the Nationals.