Drafting outfielders could be dicey
Source: MLB.com (Original Article)
05/26/2008 10:24 AM ET
Drafting outfielders could be dicey
None truly stand out in group eligible for 2008 Draft
By Jonathan Mayo / MLB.com
Miami’s Dennis Raben had a big Cape Cod season but has been slowed this year by a back injury. (Ted Kirk/AP)
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In an ideal world, teams want everything from an outfield prospect: power, speed, a strong arm — the proverbial five tools. The hope is that in any given Draft, a team might find one of those toolsy guys who can play center and maybe a slugger to man a corner.
Looking at this year’s Draft class, that might be a bit of a challenge, because there is a relatively weak group to choose from. This is nothing new for scouting directors: the 2007 Draft wasn’t exactly outfield-heavy, with only three outfielders — four if you count the converted Matt LaPorta — taken in the first 30 picks.
Those three were all from the high school ranks and it appears again that there is a little more to choose from on that front. A number of toolsy, but raw, outfielders from Southern California in particular, could whet the appetites of some teams in the best card credit rate first round.
“There are some athletic …continue reading