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Red Sox Top-10 Draft Pick Profiles

UPDATED: Now with information on the first 10 picks.

Star-divide

Raymond Fuentes: An 18-year-old high school Center Fielder out of Puerto Rico, Raymond draws a lot of comparisons to Johnny Damon--though so do a lot of fast Center Fielders. Raymond is a contact-oriented hitter with a left-handed uppercut swing (think Jed Lowrie more than Jacoby Ellsbury) and great speed, with a 6.3 second 60-yard-dash and is often timed at or under 4 seconds to first base. Raymond hits to all fields, and currently has gap power with a fair bit of power potential. He has good range for a center fielder, but with a weak arm. Fuentes is considered a fairly safe pick with a high cieling.

 

Alex Wilson: A 22-year-old Right-Handed Pitcher out of Texas A&M. Wilson was projected to be a first round pick before he injured his elbow in 2007, missing a whole year. At earlier stages this season, Wilson was hitting 95 with his fastball, but it has dropped off as the year continued--potentially a temporary result of the lost year, potentially a lasting effect of his surgery. Also possesses a Slider responsible for many of his collegiate strikeouts, but which some have considered a product of impatient college hitters. Great control allowed him to collect 111 strikeouts with only 22 walks. May end up being a pen arm if he doesn't get his stamina back, where the Sox will hope he can dial his fastball up to 95-96 more often.

 

David Renfroe: An 18-year-old high school Shortstop and Right-Handed Pitcher. Unlike Casey Kelly, Renfroe seems destined for short, both by scouts' opinions and his own wishes. David has a good looking swing that needs a few adjustments, can hit for some power, and is likely to hit for more down the line. Could project as a third baseman down the line. Moves with fluidity in the field and has a fair glove. Some scouts question if Renfroe will continue to develop into a major league player. His cieling is high, but so is his bust potential.

 

Jeremy Hazelbaker: Another speedy center fielder, but this time a 22-year-old Junior out of Ball State. After 2 years of being a non-prospect who wouldn't start for plenty of college teams, Hazelbaker retooled his offensive game and became a dominant collegiate lefty. Hits to all fields, utilizes his speed on the basepaths, and has used the bunt effectively to avoid problems against left-handed pitchers. Jeremy displays some limited power, but is mostly a line-drive hitter. Good range in the field, and a good arm to back it up. The big question about Hazelbaker is whether he's the player he was this last year, or if that's just a flash in the pan.

 

 

Seth Schwindenhammer: Eat your heart out, Saltalamacchia. Schwindenhammer, a 17-year-old high school Left Fielder has a 75% scholarship to the University of Illinois. A power hitting left-fielder with a cannon arm capable of throwing a 90 MPH fastball and a sweet swing.

 


Branden Kline: 17-year-old RHP out of Maryland. Reworked mechanics have added a few MPH to Kline's fastball, allowing it to sit in the low-90's and touch 95, as well as a greater command with his whole arsenal. Kline has a full scholarship to the University of Virginia, and seems intent on going there barring a massive signing bonus (has said he wants $5 million, but that could be on the advice of an agent).

 

 

Madison Younginer: A potential steal in the 7th , Younginer ranked #45 on Baseball America's Top-100. Used as a high school reliever, Younginer hits the mid-90s with consistency on both his 4-seam and 2-seam fastball, touching 97, and has a 12-6 Curve in the high-70s which has impressed scouts. Having only just recently actively engaged in strength training, and at just 6'3" 185, Younginer could well add even more velocity. His future role—starter or reliever—is up in the air. Occasionally struggles with control. Committed to Clemson, but not at all unsignable.

 

 

Shannon Wilkerson: 20-year-old Division II wunderkind earning DII offensive and defensive player of the year honors from Rawlings. Ugly looking draft video shows a swing that needs a lot of work and a weak arm. Hopefully just a bad day given his gaudy numbers.

 

 

Kendal Volz: 21-year-old RHP out of Baylor, had a dominant summer with Team USA before one of the more disappointing springs amongst prospects, losing around 5 miles off his fastball and the break on his slider. This performance has knocked him right out of first round discussion, and he may well be better served by returning to Baylor. Might well project as a closer-type if he can regain the velocity.

 

 

Brandon Jacobs: A surprise pick after compiling a 1,000 yard rushing season—wait, I may have the wrong guy here. No, wait, I'm right on. This 18-year-old power-hitting left fielder has long put priority on his role as a football running back. If he goes to Auburn—no, seriously, it's the right Brandon Jacobs—he will be forced to play only football.

 

 

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An aside: Does anyone think Bowden could be available?

The selection of a 22-year-old pitcher strikes me as odd with both Buchholz and Bowden pushing the majors. Unless we’re planning to let Beckett walk or ship Daisuke off somewhere, we’re pretty well set. So what’s this guy doing here unless…

by Ben Buchanan on Jun 9, 2009 10:51 PM EDT reply actions   0 recs

I think it’s just another draft pick. He’s going to have to work his way through the system just like the rest of them.

by Randy Booth on Jun 9, 2009 11:00 PM EDT up reply actions   0 recs

You can never have too much pitching,

its worth the most in trades. A lot of people think Bowden will be a big trade chip for an veteran for a playoff push.

Big Numbers

by homerun013 on Jun 9, 2009 11:19 PM EDT up reply actions   0 recs

true

But, I think we did this because we might be tradeing Bowden or another one of our big pitching prospects

Big Numbers

by homerun013 on Jun 9, 2009 11:21 PM EDT up reply actions   0 recs

how to build a farm

same fomula every draft for the red sox… high upside kid that will sign and a college pitcher with big time stuff and low innings…. followed by a few big money signability kids, then some second tier college talent…. [up until this point they don’t care who is on their team or in their organization]….. followed by organizational fillers late, with a few kids that have said their is no way they are signing.

by soxstats on Jun 9, 2009 11:13 PM EDT reply actions   0 recs

I don't think

We will let Beckett walk. And, the only team that could support a trade for Dice-K would be yankees…

Big Numbers

by homerun013 on Jun 9, 2009 11:20 PM EDT reply actions   0 recs

There is no reason to trade Dice-K

None whatsoever. I dont care if he is the long reliever in the pen, just DONT trade him or we will NEVER get any Japanese talent.. EVER.

I didn't like the old one very much. I didn't see the ball there very well. - Julio Lugo on the old Yankees Stadium.

by Charged on Jun 9, 2009 11:22 PM EDT up reply actions   0 recs

I don't want him to be traded either

I was just saying, the only team that could support a tarde and take on his contract is the yankees

Big Numbers

by homerun013 on Jun 9, 2009 11:34 PM EDT up reply actions   0 recs

why? his contract is only has 3 years, 28 million left on it.

matsuzaka has a no trade deal anyways.

by soxstats on Jun 9, 2009 11:47 PM EDT up reply actions   0 recs

ehh

I mean, like no team would want ot take his contract, hes good and everything, and all the big market team are buying, but would be a burden on small market teams which could benifet from having him on the team

Big Numbers

by homerun013 on Jun 9, 2009 11:52 PM EDT up reply actions   0 recs

Dice-K has a no trade clause.

"Ninety percent [of my salary] I'll spend on good times, women, and Irish whiskey. The other ten percent I'll probably waste."
-Tug McGraw

by BTLove on Jun 10, 2009 12:44 PM EDT up reply actions   0 recs

I'll add more later, but...

Here’s what I think: Renfroe is the shortstop version of Casey Kelly. Instead of having Kelly switch or whatever, the Sox keep him at pitcher and they hope Renfroe can come in and be the SS equivalent of him.

Does that make sense?

by Randy Booth on Jun 9, 2009 11:30 PM EDT reply actions   0 recs

I always wonder if the Sox scheme like that. Are they sitting around wondering..“can we make sure this kid doesn’t get to play SS?”

“ooo oo I know! Lets draft another SS so he has to pitch!”

"We are not normal, We are Legends. People will tell their kids about us." - Deon Butler before Ohio State Game 2008.

by Rogue Nine on Jun 9, 2009 11:37 PM EDT up reply actions   0 recs

the sox scheme is that when the player signs they will tell him to play where they want. part of kelly’s agreement to sign was that he would hit in the summer of his first year, split this year and then the sox decide on his future. there is no way kelly plays shortstop after this season no matter what he wants to do.

there is no reasan to risk injury by putting him in the field or box this year. kid’s future is on the mound. promise him a few double-a start to end his season… that will be better for him than taking grounders in greenville for a month.

by soxstats on Jun 9, 2009 11:44 PM EDT up reply actions   0 recs

Agreed

If down the line he doesn’t pan out as a pitcher, they could switch him to SS. It happens all the time. It is alot easier to convert a pitcher to a position player then the other way around.

Well, that is unless you are Tim Wakefield and can throw a knuckleball :)

by drabidea on Jun 10, 2009 12:27 PM EDT up reply actions   0 recs

I have one question

Does none think that if we traded someone for a shortstop prospect Cale Iorg(Tigers), he might be a long term help?

Big Numbers

by homerun013 on Jun 9, 2009 11:35 PM EDT reply actions   0 recs

sure

but why would he be available?

by revived0103 on Jun 10, 2009 6:19 PM EDT up reply actions   0 recs

I don't know

but, he would be a ok fill in at short if Lugo and Lowrie don’t pick it up or we don’t trade for a SS

Big Numbers

by homerun013 on Jun 11, 2009 1:09 PM EDT up reply actions   0 recs

Only Yankees?

Dice-K’s contract is quite reasonable. It does not include the posting fee, which the red sox would have to eat.
Now that Beckett is back, I can’t see why they wouldn’t want to re-sign him unless his demands were outrageous.

"simul justus et peccator"

by cavman on Jun 9, 2009 11:47 PM EDT reply actions   0 recs

A couple signability guys to look out for today:

Max Stassi: Catcher with a full ride to UCLA looking for top-20 money. If Stassi falls to Boston in round 4, it could be something of a coup for the team along the lines of what Alex Meyer would’ve been last year.

Jayce Boyd: Offensively and defensively advanced 1B/3B commited to FSU. Was called by the Cubs yesterday, but has stated his intentions to wait for the Sox or Yanks to give him a chance to earn the money he wants in summer ball. At 6’3, 170 Boyd already displayed significant power, so he’s likely got the chance to hit for big numbers.

by Ben Buchanan on Jun 10, 2009 5:22 AM EDT reply actions   0 recs

A lot of the mock drafts had us taking Stassi in the first, so it would be awesome to get him now. But if he won’t sign…

"Ninety percent [of my salary] I'll spend on good times, women, and Irish whiskey. The other ten percent I'll probably waste."
-Tug McGraw

by BTLove on Jun 10, 2009 12:47 PM EDT up reply actions   0 recs

Slightly related...

Charged, what was the name of that catcher that you hate? The one that dated your sister?

by bs.uf15bosox9bears23 on Jun 10, 2009 5:00 PM EDT up reply actions   0 recs

What do the following players have in common?

Jacoby Ellsbury
Justin Masterson
Dustin Pedroia
Daniel Bard
Kevin Youkilis
Craig Hansen
Jed Lowrie

Any idea?


 Every single one of them was a college draftee. I appreciate the desire to draft exciting high school players, but in terms of actually making the major leagues, high schoolers rarely work out. And if they do, it takes a while. Delcarmen was drafted out of HS in 2000, and wasn’t up until 2005. I think the odds of getting anyone to the bigs out of these three aren’t very good; we’ve got two HS and a college player coming off a serious injury.

"It's just a tiny little nick, but it hurts when I get champagne in there."
- Jason Bay, on getting spiked scoring the winning run in ALDS Game Four.

by 0157H7 on Jun 10, 2009 10:16 AM EDT reply actions   0 recs

you forgot Papelbon but I get your point.

On the other hand. Jon Lester, Michael Bowden, Justin Duchscherer, Trot Nixon, and Jeff Suppan.

I think you are right and that college players are a much safer bet, however, HS players tend to have a higher ceiling. We also drafted a bunch of HS players in the past who did not sign with us that are very good MLB players (Mark Teixeria)

by drabidea on Jun 10, 2009 12:42 PM EDT up reply actions   0 recs

Jim Callis Disagrees

From an ESPN chat with Jim Callis. It’s the very first question. I bolded the relevant part.

Jeremy – Boston,MA

Thanks for the chat. With just 3 former college players in BA’s top 20 and 48/29 high school/college breakdown for the top 100, does this indicate that in order to get the All-Star caliber talent teams must be willing to take risk of high school players?
Jim Callis

Hi, everyone. The main focus of today’s chat is our recently released Top 100 Prospects list, but we may sneak in a few other questions. If I don’t get to your question today, feel free to send them to our Ask BA mailbag (askba@baseballamerica.com). Just remember to include your full name and hometown.

Getting to Jeremy’s question . . . There certainly are a number of all-stars coming out of college baseball, so you could find some while ignoring high school players. But you would be cutting down your chances of finding them by limiting your focus. College players will sign for, on average, a little less and have a better chance of reaching the majors. But the difference in those who reach the majors is made up entirely of fringe players who have no impact. In terms of players who have significant careers or become stars, there’s no significant difference between college and high school players. I know there are teams that believe there is, but the draft and the college game have changed tremendously since the end of the 1980s. There’s no gulf between college and high school players now, and the industry as a whole undervalues high school players relative to college players.

Same guy, new name.

by stillredsoxfan on Jun 10, 2009 1:47 PM EDT up reply actions   0 recs

But it's because of these guys that the Sox can afford to take the high-risk, higher-reward HS players.

We don’t need a high quantity of major-league talents. We need to load up on a bunch of risks that will produce a few really high-quality talents.

by Ben Buchanan on Jun 10, 2009 2:00 PM EDT up reply actions   0 recs

This is not necessarily true

Look at the 2002 draft for example, there are tons of established players who came from HS in the majors now. Here are the ones from the first round only:

B.J. Upton, Adam Loewen, Zack Greinke, Prince Fielder, Jeremy Hermida, Scott Kazmir, Cole Hamels, James Loney, Denard Span, Jeff Francoeur, and Matt Cain.

by Gnick on Jun 10, 2009 2:38 PM EDT up reply actions   0 recs

Span!!!

Frenchy not a good example, Gnick.

by bs.uf15bosox9bears23 on Jun 10, 2009 5:05 PM EDT up reply actions   0 recs

Yeah maybe I am being a Homer

But I would like for us to get Kent Matthes, RF from Alabama. He had a great year and hit the longest shot I have ever seen in the SEC Tournament.

~ ROLL TIDE ~

GO SOX!!

by Bama Sox on Jun 10, 2009 10:39 AM EDT reply actions   0 recs

Reymond Fuentes

This is what the Baseball Analysts have to say about Fuentes:

Reymond Fuentes, OF, Fernando Callejo HS (Puerto Rico)

Height/Weight: 6-0, 160 | DOB: NA

2009 stats: Unavailable

The top offensive talent out of Puerto Rico has impressed a number of teams recently, including the Los Angeles Angels. Related to New York Mets outfielder Carlos Beltran, Fuentes is a fast-twitch, excitable player with a promising line-drive bat and blazing speed. He’s a free swinger, but he has good plate coverage and a lightning-quick bat speed. Only 160 pounds, Fuentes could add home-run power with more muscle mass. His range in center field is above-average, but he has a weak throwing arm. (Posted by Marc Hulet)

by SoxAcumen on Jun 10, 2009 1:02 PM EDT reply actions   0 recs

The penultimate line cracks me up.

You could say that about anyone:
“Only 140 pounds, E.Coli could add home-run power with more muscle mass.*”

*And hundreds of ounces of steroids.

"It's just a tiny little nick, but it hurts when I get champagne in there."
- Jason Bay, on getting spiked scoring the winning run in ALDS Game Four.

by 0157H7 on Jun 10, 2009 2:19 PM EDT up reply actions   0 recs

I think it means that if he filled out to the average weight for his height, he'll have more muscle, allowing for more power.

Funnier – he’s never been born.

Oh, yeah, E.Coli, I figured out your username. Does SBN not allow the colon?

by bs.uf15bosox9bears23 on Jun 10, 2009 5:08 PM EDT up reply actions   0 recs

Why can't they develop better throwing

Throwing is a combination of strength and mechanics. You have to wonder why there isn’t a development program in the minors for it. You would think they could develop most outfielders into average arms (and maybe get an occasional plus arm).

by Silverlock on Jun 10, 2009 1:26 PM EDT reply actions   0 recs

Because part of it is just how the muscles are wrapped around the arm.

If it could be worked on that easily, wouldn’t every NFL QB have a Unitas arm?

by bs.uf15bosox9bears23 on Jun 10, 2009 5:10 PM EDT up reply actions   0 recs

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