First Round Draft Review: #'s 20-11

#20 - Las Vegas Desperados:  D.J. Rodon, IF - I remember moving Rodon up every time I looked at my board, eventually settling him at #5.  Yeah, he's probably a really good get at 20, although I'm really disappointed with his starting Glove Rating of 51.  He needs to improve 34 points to get to an "average" ML SS Glove of 85, and that happens so rarely outside of DITR's that it qualifies as "impossible".  Still, I think he'll be a valuable ML contributor.  His range and arm strength will approach elite levels, and he'll be a good enough hitter - especially against lefties - that putting him in the lineup won't create a hopeless black hole.    GRADE: B

#19 - Helena Hot Heads:  Al Martin, SP - My scouts liked Martin (#13 on my board) due to the potential of his first 2 pitches...I think just the weakness of this draft lead them to overlook the much-lower potential of his splits.  Now that we have a look at his currents it's really a matter of how well he develops.  Can that vL/vR get to 55/65?  That's not great but it might get him a few years as a SP5 or a long reliever.  I've come to avoid 22-yo IFA's because they just don't develop at all, but I've seen college draftees of that age develop much better.  Keep him well-coached, dbreez and let's see what happens.  GRADE: B

#18 - Los Angeles Motley Crue: Karim Mateo, SP - My scouts took a brief look at him, ranking him #35, and then forgot about him.  Their projections pointed to a LRB if he reached every rating's projection.  Then we got a look at his currents (btw, what's the real-world equivalent of HBD's "big reveal" of the current ratings after a guy signs?  It's like you only get to put the gun on a guy's fastball after you sign him...and most of the time find out he's throwing 79 instead of 92) and found out that won't happen.  His ratings are just starting too low (especially that 39 control and the low 40's splits) to realistically be a ML pitcher.  Best plan here is to hope for a DITR designation.  GRADE: C-

#17 - Baltimore Crabs:  Chaz Andrews, SP - I had him at #19 based largely on his pitches, and despite his control and splits; his current ratings confirm that profile, except that his pitches aren't going to be all that great.  I foresee a long, unprosperous AAA career.   GRADE: C-

#16 - Baltimore Crabs:  Lou Price, OF/2B - Went from being a guy who looked like he wouldn't sign to one of the best picks of the first round (expensive at $7MM, but there aren't many GM's who wouldn't swap their current first-round pick for a $7MM guy who will actually reach the majors.  Price could reach contact as high as 80 and eye as high as high-80's or even 90, with a ML-level vR.  He won't hit lefties well, and I don't think hs glove is likely to reach 2B status, but he'll be an elite defensive LF.  GRADE: A

#15 - San Juan Padres:  Bo Presley, SS - I had him at #21 on the theory that his glove would be good enough to be a ML SS, but that now looks doubtful.  I'm afraid his vR is going to stall out at 45 or so, so he probably won't hit enough to be anything more than a utility man backing up 2B and 3B.  Frustrating pick if your scouts said his glove was going to be 90 (as mine did).  GRADE C.

#14 - Kansas City Jayhawks:  Louis Andrews, SP - One of the better picks of Round 1, I think, and I'm only looking at his currents.  For an 18-yo, his vR and first 2 pitches are starting pretty high, and his control could reach the mid-to-high 80's.  Everything depends on his actual projections (no clue here) and development, but...could he turn into an SP2 in the Majors?  Maybe slightly optimistic but a really good find in this class nonetheless.  From GM dakar:  "KC was delighted to get their third ranked player, Louis Andrews (P) , at #14. He should be in our starting rotation for years to come."   GRADE: A

#13 - Florida Poison Dart Frogs:  Alex Lewis, RF - Another one I didn't scout, but his currents aren't encouraging.  If you could get to the Show only on power and eye, he might have a shot, as it appears he could get into the 80's in those categories.  But his splits are starting in the 30's...can anyone recall a prospect (other than a defensive specialist type) starting there and making a ML impact?  Especially with low contact as well?  Long AAA career though.  GRADE: C-

#12 - Hartford Monarchs:  B.C. Walter, SP - B.C. might end up having ML stuff - if his splits develop really well and his second pitch gets to something like ML caliber (mid-60's?).  Those are tall orders in themselves, but even if they come  to pass his control...think Nuke LaLoosh in his pro debut with 18 walks and 3 or 4 hit bystanders.  Poor B.C. will have one of the worst control ratings you'll ever see on a "legit" HBD pitcher...not likely to even advance to AAA.  GRADE: D

#11 - Las Vegas Desperados:  Tex Siddall, IF - no scouting on this guy so no clue what his realistic projections are, but from currents there's good news and bad news.  The bad:  he's not going to be a ML SS - neither glove nor accuracy will develop enough.  And starting at 34, I doubt his vR will be enough to earn him a fulltime 2B or 3B role.  The good:  he'll probably be good enough defensively to play 2B or 3B, and his CON, vL and Eye could all be pretty good.  If he can be the righty-hitting side of a platoon (and hit .280/on-base .340 against lefties), that's a fairly valuable player in this draft.  GM weeback's comments:   “The desperados are happy to have SS Siddall on our roster. In slightly related news, we have fired our director of player development for being caught with blow and hookers during the draft.”  Why fire him...isn't that business as usual in Vegas?  GRADE: B