Post by Youth Movement on Dec 18, 2012 17:13:45 GMT -5
The 1997 Draft Entries haven't been announced yet, but we have a pretty solid idea on who will be in it. I'm not sure what the order will be based on either so I'm going to base it off '95 regular season standings since this should technically be the '96 draft. Confusion all around! I know. This is the top 10 projected picks.
1997 Mock Major League Baseball Amateur Draft
1.
LHP Johan Santana
DOB: March 13, 1979 (17 years old)
College/HS: Venezuela
With the #1 overall pick I have the Pirates selecting Johan Santana. First because i feel like he's projected to be the best player and second because he's a young left handed pitcher and everyone values great pitching over great hitting all else being equal. It's a little hard to project how Erbes will make the draft file, but this one is easy since Johan was pretty dominant in his prime.
2.
RHP Tim Hudson
DOB: July 14, 1975 (21 years old)
College/HS: Auburn University
Hudson will almost definitely be better than Johan Santana coming out of the gate, but he doesn't have the potential or the age on his side. Tim Hudson projects to be a perennial all star with the ability to win a cy young or two at some point in his career. It's to no surprise that the first two players off the board are pitchers, easy so far.
3.
RHP Carlos Zambrano
DOB: June 1, 1981 (16 years old)
College/HS: Venezuela
It's been all pitchers so far and this one could potentially be the best one out of all of them. He has amazing stuff and great velocity but he has a lot of personality problems. He's a head case to say the least and he could easily be #1 if he had no secondary problems. Another stud out of Venezuela who should make a few all star teams regardless of his occasional outbursts. I wouldn't be shocked to see him picked 2nd taking his age into account.
4.
OF J.D. Drew
DOB: November 20, 1975 (21 years old)
School: Florida State University
After dominating college baseball as a Junior and sweeping up all the awards including player of the year, Drew projects to be the best hitter in the draft. He broke an FSU record hitting .455 and has little to no risk as he projects to be in the majors pretty quickly. I expect him to be a 25 hr 100 rbi .290 hitter at some point in his career. Sooner rather than later.
5.
OF Lance Berkman
DOB: February 10, 1976 (20 years old)
School: Rice University
All of the domestic picks thus far have been college players and with good reason, Berkman was arguably the best player in the nation last year blasting 41 homers in college along with 124 rbi. The Expos are already loaded as far as pitching goes and I expect them to pair Berkman along with Vladdy in the OF, should be a great OF for the next 10-15 years.
6.
3B Troy Glaus
DOB: August 3, 1976 (20 years old)
School: UCLA
Another college player goes in the first and this one is the best pure power hitter of the bunch. He probably won't ever hit for a high average but i'd be surprised if he didn't hit 35-40 hr's at some point in his career. He can easily become the most valuable hitter of the bunch, but he is somewhat injury prone. Could be a great one.
7.
OF Vernon Wells
DOB: December 8, 1978 (18 years old)
School: Bowie High School (Arlington, Texas)
Finally, the first high school domestic prospect to come off the board. Like most, high school prospects, he's boom or bust but if he booms he can be amazing. He'll probably project as a Center Fielder when it's all said and done and could potentially be a steal. The Giants are on the brink of being a playoff team though so they can afford to take a risk here.
8.
SS Rafael Furcal
DOB: October 24, 1977 (19 years old)
School: Dominican Republic
The first international position player is now off the board and he has the chance to be a good one. The Brewers currently have Jose Valentin in his prime and playing SS pretty effectively but I just feel like Furcal is the best player on the board and Valentin can always be moved. I wouldn't be surprised if the Brewers decided to make a riskier pick with someone else though.
9.
Inf. Michael Young
DOB: October 19, 1976 (20 years old)
School: University of California, Santa Barbara
Arguably, the most versatile player in the whole draft. He can play any position in the infield other than catcher, but he's considerably athletic. He's not a glitzy power hitter, but he can hit and projects as a .300 hitter in the bigs. He played shortstop in college and if he wasn't so versatile i probably wouldn't have him slotted to the marlins considering they have Renteria, but Young can be moved to 2b or 3b so he's a solid pick here.
10.
OF Jayson Werth
DOB: May 20, 1979 (17 years old)
School: Glenwood High School (Chatham, Illinois)
The weakness in the A's system is probably the Outfield position and they have a chance to grab one with upside here just inside the top 10. I except Werth to be a decent/nice player but not a star by any means. I could be wrong, since he's still in high school and has a lot of development to undergo. A nice addition to an already stacked farm system.
1997 Mock Major League Baseball Amateur Draft
1.
LHP Johan Santana
DOB: March 13, 1979 (17 years old)
College/HS: Venezuela
With the #1 overall pick I have the Pirates selecting Johan Santana. First because i feel like he's projected to be the best player and second because he's a young left handed pitcher and everyone values great pitching over great hitting all else being equal. It's a little hard to project how Erbes will make the draft file, but this one is easy since Johan was pretty dominant in his prime.
2.
RHP Tim Hudson
DOB: July 14, 1975 (21 years old)
College/HS: Auburn University
Hudson will almost definitely be better than Johan Santana coming out of the gate, but he doesn't have the potential or the age on his side. Tim Hudson projects to be a perennial all star with the ability to win a cy young or two at some point in his career. It's to no surprise that the first two players off the board are pitchers, easy so far.
3.
RHP Carlos Zambrano
DOB: June 1, 1981 (16 years old)
College/HS: Venezuela
It's been all pitchers so far and this one could potentially be the best one out of all of them. He has amazing stuff and great velocity but he has a lot of personality problems. He's a head case to say the least and he could easily be #1 if he had no secondary problems. Another stud out of Venezuela who should make a few all star teams regardless of his occasional outbursts. I wouldn't be shocked to see him picked 2nd taking his age into account.
4.
OF J.D. Drew
DOB: November 20, 1975 (21 years old)
School: Florida State University
After dominating college baseball as a Junior and sweeping up all the awards including player of the year, Drew projects to be the best hitter in the draft. He broke an FSU record hitting .455 and has little to no risk as he projects to be in the majors pretty quickly. I expect him to be a 25 hr 100 rbi .290 hitter at some point in his career. Sooner rather than later.
5.
OF Lance Berkman
DOB: February 10, 1976 (20 years old)
School: Rice University
All of the domestic picks thus far have been college players and with good reason, Berkman was arguably the best player in the nation last year blasting 41 homers in college along with 124 rbi. The Expos are already loaded as far as pitching goes and I expect them to pair Berkman along with Vladdy in the OF, should be a great OF for the next 10-15 years.
6.
3B Troy Glaus
DOB: August 3, 1976 (20 years old)
School: UCLA
Another college player goes in the first and this one is the best pure power hitter of the bunch. He probably won't ever hit for a high average but i'd be surprised if he didn't hit 35-40 hr's at some point in his career. He can easily become the most valuable hitter of the bunch, but he is somewhat injury prone. Could be a great one.
7.
OF Vernon Wells
DOB: December 8, 1978 (18 years old)
School: Bowie High School (Arlington, Texas)
Finally, the first high school domestic prospect to come off the board. Like most, high school prospects, he's boom or bust but if he booms he can be amazing. He'll probably project as a Center Fielder when it's all said and done and could potentially be a steal. The Giants are on the brink of being a playoff team though so they can afford to take a risk here.
8.
SS Rafael Furcal
DOB: October 24, 1977 (19 years old)
School: Dominican Republic
The first international position player is now off the board and he has the chance to be a good one. The Brewers currently have Jose Valentin in his prime and playing SS pretty effectively but I just feel like Furcal is the best player on the board and Valentin can always be moved. I wouldn't be surprised if the Brewers decided to make a riskier pick with someone else though.
9.
Inf. Michael Young
DOB: October 19, 1976 (20 years old)
School: University of California, Santa Barbara
Arguably, the most versatile player in the whole draft. He can play any position in the infield other than catcher, but he's considerably athletic. He's not a glitzy power hitter, but he can hit and projects as a .300 hitter in the bigs. He played shortstop in college and if he wasn't so versatile i probably wouldn't have him slotted to the marlins considering they have Renteria, but Young can be moved to 2b or 3b so he's a solid pick here.
10.
OF Jayson Werth
DOB: May 20, 1979 (17 years old)
School: Glenwood High School (Chatham, Illinois)
The weakness in the A's system is probably the Outfield position and they have a chance to grab one with upside here just inside the top 10. I except Werth to be a decent/nice player but not a star by any means. I could be wrong, since he's still in high school and has a lot of development to undergo. A nice addition to an already stacked farm system.
