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.

Live blogging the 2010 MLB Draft

Kevin Jacob, drafted by New York Yankees.
Photo courtesy of AnchorageBucs.com

It's day one of the 2010 MLB draft, and I will be doing what I like to call "more-or-less-live blogging" it. Obviously my primary concern will be former ABL players who are drafted, and I'll do a little analyzing as we go along. I just got into the house and missed picks 1-5, but no ABLers yet. I would be surprised if there weren't a few to go off the board here soon, so here we go!

3:39 PM Day 1: No ABL draft picks yet. Gone through picks 1 through 6. Just waiting for the name James Paxton to be called! I'll make the post as soon as it's official, or if someone else (Kevin Jacob? Logan Darnell?) comes up before him.

4:11 PM: Still waiting. I have to confess that this is the first time I've ever watched the draft live. I have to wonder, is it really necessary for teams to be "on the clock" this long in the first round? I mean, if I were a Major League GM, I would start preparing by making a list of my top draft choices and my very first pick would be the highest ranked player left on my list. It wouldn't take a lot of phone calls and hand-wringing or whatever the heck these clowns are doing. But obviously I'm not a Major League GM so I don't know.

6:42 PM: The first/comp A rounds are complete and none of our top draft picks are anywhere to be seen. I checked a few of the big prospect watchers' draft boards and our guys have slid completely off the first-round radar, and the MLB teams seem to agree with their analysis. I wonder when the last time we went through a first round without any ABL players was? In any event, draft day is only one day out of a player's career, and although I expected to have at least one guy out of our league, and as many as three, drafted by now, the second round should be a lot more action-packed. Stay tuned as we pick up the coverage tomorrow.