CFBL 2008 Minor League Draft Analysis: 3rd Round

Pick 1
Hajji Bombs
OF Ryan Kalish BOS

You have to love Kalish. He's a speed and power OFer that has nearly the same ceiling as Desmond Jennings or Austin Jackson. Kalish isnt the athlete those two are, but he has their speed on the basepaths and a much more advanced approach at the plate. He missed most of last year with a wrist injury but his numbers have been very impressive as a professional. He could move fast.


Pick 2
Greco
P Henry Rodriguez OAK

HRod is a guy I took off my board because I was afraid he ends up a reliever. He throws very hard and has filthy stuff, but lacks secondary pitches. This is an appropriate gamble at this point, because even if he becomes a reliever he would be a sick reliever and you could definitely take someone like that here. A lot of upside here.


Pick 3
RI Colts
P Blake Beavan TEX

Another guy who could be a releiver. More of a project than HRod, though. Beavan cant match the nasty fastball of the other project pitchers, but his slider is unhittable. His throwing motion is all messed up and he could take a while to fix and that's my major concern. A lot of pitchers with nasty sliders do it by torquing their bodies in a weird way. When pitching coaches correct their throwing motion the sliders lose their effectiveness... (see Hansen, Craig). Beavan has a lot of talent, but who the hell knows what he will be in three years. He still should be taken around here, though, just not a personal fave of mine.


Pick 4
RI Colts
P Jake Arrieta BAL

I do love this pick. Big Arrieta fan.


Pick 5
Spread Eagles
P Nick Hagadone BOS

I would have taken Hagadone over the last two picks, for what its worth. Although he was a college reliever he has multiple plus pitches and is going to be a starter. He has great stuff and I expect to see him near the top of many prospect lists next year. He was a major fall to get taken here.


Pick 6
Smelly Spics
OF Engel Beltre TEX

Not a fan of this pick. He's sooooo far away. He hasnt done jack shit as a professional. Too much of an unknown. I would take him in the last round, maybe but there were better picks left on the board.


Pick 7
Mezak Attack
OF Brett Gardner NYY

Although I hate Yankees prospects... this guy has ridiculous speed and gaudy stolen base totals. The downside is he's pretty one dimensional for an OFer. Speed is so rare that you can justify it, but there were other directions to go in.


Pick 8
Gay Rainbows
3B Wes Hodges CLE

LOVE this pick. Shouldnt have fallen this far. Plus power and patience and he plays a more valuable defensive position than Mills or Davis. Not to mention the Tribe may soon have a need at 3B.


Pick 9
Donkey Punchers
C/1B Jesus Montero NYY

Montero has a ridiculous amount of power and a huge frame. I dont believe for a second he sticks at catcher, but his bat should carry at 1B. Loooooong way off - he's not even 18 yet - but big upside. I like picks like this in the middle rounds.

Pick 10
Ambulance Chasers
P Tyler Robertson MIN

Could not believe this guy fell to me here. I love Robertson. In my initial draft board I had him at 8th overall. In his rookie debut he pitched 48 innings and struck out 54. The next season he threw 102 IP and struck out 123. He has a filthy slider and a decent fastball with a late downward movement to it. He has good control. Double A will be the big test for him to see whether advanced hitters lay off the slider. He also loses his stuff late into starts... tremendous upside despite that.