By Andrew Lipsett
Evan covered the Sox’ first 5 picks earlier, but I wanted to take a quick look at some of the players drafted after Justin Masterson. There’s some interesting talent here, and possibly a couple of major steals; I’d imagine that at least one of these players will become a solid prospect once signed and playing. Of course, that will require actually signing them, which could be an issue for the last two guys I’ll discuss. (note: I already recapped many picks over at 12eight, and am reposting a few of these blurbs here, because rewriting them would be kind of dumb).
6 (83): Aaron Bates, 1B, North Carolina State University; DOB 3/10/84
The more I look at Bates? numbers and scouting report, the more I like this pick (though many think Bates could have been had deeper in the draft). He?s an advanced hitter, and a converted catcher – with talk that he could resume that position. He has the ability to hit to all fields, solid power, good defense at 1st, and excellent plate discipline. He?s the kind of pick I expect the Sox to make in general; safe, but with enough promise to be excited about him. He could advance more quickly than many of the players taken ahead of him, but look for the Sox to give him a tryout at C, in order to address a gap in the system at that position.
13 (283): Ryan Kalish, CF, Red Bank Catholic HS, NJ; DOB 3/28/88
Kalish has received comparisons to Trot Nixon, as a big, athletic OF with football ties.
18 (433): Matthew LaPorta, 1B, University of Florida; DOB 1/8/85
A shoe everyone was waiting to see drop finally fell with the 433rd pick of the draft: Matthew LaPorta, the Division I HR leader whose stock fell precipitously due to a combination of nagging injury and major signability issues, went to the Sox well below his projected supplemental first round slot. The Sox decided to take a flyer on him, to see if he could be persuaded to sign; one theory has it that the Sox drafted so many signable college seniors early so that they?d have the bonus money to land LaPorta (and later pick Lars Anderson). With the lack of impact offensive talent in this draft, that?s wouldn?t at all be a bad strategy.
LaPorta is a very powerful guy, ranked 38th overall by Baseball America, and is an adequate defender at first. He?s represented by Scott Boras, who will almost certainly advise his client to pull out for a year and raise his draft value, but if the Sox can sign him here it would be a tremendous power boost for the organization.
22 (553): Lars Anderson, 1B, Jesuit HS, CA; DOB 9/25/87
A favorite of John Sickels?, Anderson was another who fell significantly due to signability. Like LaPorta and Place, he has excellent power potential; unlike either, he also has excellent plate discipline. Of the two (LaPorta and Anderson), I?d prefer they manage to sign Anderson; in addition to potentially being a better hitter than LaPorta, he?s a better defensive presence and a bigger player.
That?s it for Day 1 of the draft. If the Sox can sign most of their top 10, and add either LaPorta or Anderson, this would be a reasonably successful draft, considering the available talent pool. Lots of interesting pitching potential, and a few high impact bats should make Lowell and Greenville interesting places to spend the back half of the summer this year.
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