2010 MLB draft recap

Kawika Emsley-Pai snuck into the first
ten rounds. Photo: OilersBaseball.com

The 2010 MLB amateur draft has come and gone, and -- as usual -- dozens of ABL players were picked. Today we're going to look back at who was picked where, by who, and how good or bad my projections were.

I was correct in predicting that James Paxton (Pilots, 2008) would be the first one picked in the draft. What I was not correct in guessing was what round. I had him targeted as a first-round pick, and so did a lot of people once upon a time. For some reason his draft stock has slid down since leaving the ABL, as well as the couple other guys I had going in rounds 1-3. On the other hand, a few other guys snuck into the top ten rounds that I didn't see coming.

Overall, this draft was a mixed bag. I was really surprised that nobody from the Alaska League went in the first round...especially since I picked one to three guys to go. On the other hand, with 49 draft picks from the 49th state's league, it's a pretty good haul overall. I think that just kind of confirms my characterization of this league. Most of the future Boras clients and big bonus babies might be going to the Cape; we're turning out the blue-collar prospects who will be clawing their way to the top without the media falling all over themselves. And, of course, one off year doesn't mean that it's the end of ABLers in the first round. [Edit: for what it's worth, the Cape League had a bit of an "off year" in the top rounds, too. I think it has to do with a down year for college prospects in general.]

This list doesn't cover recruits who haven't logged a game for an ABL team. One guy who fits this bill is Darian Sandford. I guessed that Kansas City would take a late-round flier on him -- a local area guy who is the fastest man in the NAIA -- and I was right. I don't think he's signed yet but it's kind of a foregone conclusion that he will. He already stated something on Facebook to the effect that he was headed to Arizona, presumably to join the rookie-level AZL Royals. So where I'm going with this is obvious; he won't be in Fairbanks this summer. And I wasted an interview on the jerk! Just playin'. Darian is a good guy who deserves this opportunity and I wish him the best of luck in his newest journey.

UPDATE 6:48 PM: Sandford has officially come to terms with the Royals. He's signed the contract and it's now a done deal.


In any event, here it is. The complete list of ABL players taken in the MLB draft. As always, if you notice any omissions or errors, please let me know via a comment or e-mail. We'll keep an eye on them and get you the details about who's signed, or who will be going back to school in the fall.

Last	First	Team	ABL Year	Drafted By	Round	Overall
Paxton	James	Pilots	2008	Seattle	4	132
Martinson	Jason	Bucs	2009	Washington	5	146
Darnell	Logan	Pilots	2009	Minnesota	6	195
Domecus	Steve	Miners	2008	LA Dodgers	9	292
Drew	Heid	Pilots	2009	LA Angels	9	294
Emsley-Pai	Kawika	Oilers	2008	Arizona	10	301
Hollands	Mario	Oilers	2007	Philadelphia	10	321
Thomson	Matt	Oilers	2007	Oakland	12	365
Mitchell	Jason	Pilots	2009	Kansas City	15	449
Fisher	Ryan	Oilers	2009	Florida	15	467
Garcia	Nate	Miners	2007	Tampa Bay	16	491
Gagnier	Drew	Bucs	2008	Detroit	16	523
Ashenbrenner	Josh	Panners	2007	Detroit	18	553
Jacob	Kevin	Bucs	2009	Yankees	18	565
Kountis	Jonathan	Panners	2007	NY Mets	19	572
Hur	Michael	Bucs	2009	Arizona	20	601
Dew	Owen	Miners	2009	Cleveland	21	630
Torrez	Raoul	Panners	2008-09	Arizona	21	631
Erben	Jeremy	Miners	2008	Arizona	22	661
Tracy	Mark	Oilers	2009	Colorado	22	680
Larson	Francis	Oilers	2008	LA Angels	22	684
Treinen	Blake	Fire	2010	Florida	23	707
Brown	Shane	Miners	2009	NY Yankees	23	715
Bergman	Christian	Bucs	2006-09	Colorado	24	740
Teufel	Shawn	Fire	2008	Detroit	25	763
Stevenson	Casey	Panners	2008	NY Yankees	25	775
Rath	Kevin	Oilers	2009	Chicago WS	26	788
Harper	Bryan	Pilots	2009	Chicago Cubs	27	820
Gould	Jeremy	Oilers	2008	NY Mets	28	842
Jones	Jonathan	Pilots	2008	Toronto	29	875
Patterson	Red	Bucs	2008	LA Dodgers	29	892
Kiilsgaard	Kellen	Bucs	2009	Houston	30	903
Gaylord	Adam	Panners	2008	Baltimore	31	928
Alonso	Carlos	Pilots	2009	Philadelphia	32	981
Schafer	Justin	Panners	2009	NY Mets	34	1022
Cole	Ryan	Miners	2009	Houston	34	1023
Whitney	Tyler	Pilots	2008	Seattle	34	1032
Rodland	Kevin	Miners	2008	Texas	34	1036
Snow	Forrest	Bucs	2009	Seattle	36	1092
Harvey	Seth	Oilers	2008	Milwaukee	37	1119
Rivers	Alex	Miners	2007	Kansas City	39	1169
Wooley	Ryan	Fire	2009	Texas	39	1186
Berl	Brandon	Oilers	2008	Toronto	40	1206
Emmons	Dustin	Pilots	2008	Florida	40	1217
Yoder	Luke	Pilots	2007-08	Boston	40	1223
Kaskow	Jonathan	Oilers	2009	Cincinnati	41	1237
Meaux	Jesse	Panners	2009	Philadelphia	44	1341
Scott	Troy	Miners	2008	Minnesota	48	1455
Terhune	Gunnar	Miners	2007	San Diego	50	1504