Spotlight on 2007 Draft's first-rounders
With the change in draft rules, these players had to sign by Aug. 15 or go back into the draft pool. Many of them waited until the last possible minute. Every single first-round pick signed, but many -- nine to be exact -- did so too late to play last summer. So if you head out to a Minor League ballpark at the start of the 2008 season, you'll have the chance at seeing many of these future stars making their professional debuts.
Let's take that first-round spotlight and shine it a little more brightly on where you can see last year's first-round picks play.
1. David Price, LHP, Tampa Bay Rays
The Rays breathed a collective sigh of relief when their top pick's spring elbow injury turned out to need rest and not surgery. The Vanderbilt product signed right at the deadline and still has yet to make his pro debut. When he does -- probably sometime in May, it will be with Vero Beach in the Class A Advanced Florida State League.
2. Mike Moustakas, SS, Kansas City Royals
The California high school standout skyrocketed up charts by setting a state record for home runs in 2007. He got a small taste of pro ball last summer in Class A Short-Season Idaho Falls, where he hit .293 over 11 games. He's yet to hit his first pro homer, something that's sure to come as he opens as the shortstop (a move to third is likely in '09) for the Burlington Bees in the Class A Midwest League.
3. Josh Vitters, 3B, Chicago Cubs
Pay no attention to the 6-for-51 Vitters put up in a 14-game debut last summer in both the Arizona and Northwest Leagues. The guy can flat-out rake and will be able to stay at third to boot. Some depth in the system allows the Cubs to take their time with Vitters, so the high schooler will begin the year in extended spring training and get assigned to a club -- short-season Boise seems right, Peoria (Midwest League) isn't out of the question -- later on.
4. Daniel Moskos, LHP, Pittsburgh Pirates
The old Pirates management seemed interested in keeping him as a reliever, a role he largely filled at Clemson, and he made 13 appearances out of the 'pen last summer, mostly for State College in the Class A Short-Season New York-Penn League (4.26 ERA, 13 K, 12 2/3 IP). The new management, however, is keen on trying him out as a starter, a move Moskos heartily endorsed this spring. It might slow his ascent to the bigs a bit -- he'll start with Lynchburg in the Class A Advanced Carolina League -- but the payoff could be much larger.
5. Matt Wieters, C, Baltimore Orioles
Signability concerns probably kept the switch-hitting catcher from being taken earlier than this, and it surprised some that the usually cautious O's took a shot. He got some ABs -- and played well -- in the Hawaii Winter Baseball, setting the big backstop up for a leap straight to Frederick (Carolina League) to start the year.
6. Ross Detwiler, LHP, Washington Nationals
After just nine Minor League games and 33 1/3 innings, Detwiler was a surprise September callup to Washington last season. He posted a 3.51 ERA in those Minor League games, but it was the one inning of relief with the Nats that had some wondering just how much of a fast track the Missouri State product would be on. He'll begin the year with Potomac in the Carolina League, but don't be surprised if he starts climbing up the ladder quickly.
7. Matt LaPorta, OF, Milwaukee Brewers
In 30 total Minor League games during his debut last summer, LaPorta managed to hit .304 and hit 12 homers (.696 SLG) in 115 at-bats. He hit six more out during his time in the Arizona Fall League, all while trying to learn how to play the outfield. He'll never be a Gold Glover, but when you can hit like that, does it matter? He'll bring his potent right-handed bat all the way up to Double-A Huntsville (Southern League) to start the year.
| 2007's Supplemental First-Round Picks | |||||
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Player 31. Josh Smoker 32. Nick Noonan 33. Jon Gilmore 34. Todd Frazier 35. Julio Borbon 36. Clayton Mortensen 37. Travis D'Arnaud 38. Brett Cecil 39. James Adkins 40. Kellen Kulbacki 41. Sean Doolittle 42. Eddie Kunz 43. Jackson Williams 44. Neil Ramirez 45. Justin Jackson 46. Cumberland 47. Nathan Vineyard 48. Josh Donaldson 49. Michael Burgess 50. Wes Roemer 51. Charlie Culberson 52. Matt Mangini 53. Kyle Lotzkar 54. Tom Hunter 55. Nick Hagadone 56. Trystan Magnuson 57. Mitch Canham 58. Jonathan Bachanov 59. Corey Brown 60. Brandon Hamilton 61. Ed Easley 62. Ryan Dent 63. Cory Luebke 64. Danny Payne
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Pos. LHP 2B 3B SS OF RHP C LHP LHP OF 1B RHP C RHP SS SS RHP C OF RHP SS 3B RHP RHP LHP RHP C RHP OF RHP C INF LHP OF
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Org WAS SF ATL CIN TEX STL PHI TOR LAD SD OAK NYM SF TEX TOR SD NYM CHI WAS ARI SF SEA CIN TEX BOS TOR SD LAA OAK DET ARI BOS SD SD
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Destination Extended ST Augusta (SAL) Extended ST Dayton (MWL) Bakersfield (CAL) Springfield (TEX) Extended ST Dunedin (FSL) Great Lakes (MWL) Lake Elsinore (CAL) Stockton (CAL) Binghamton (EAS) Augusta (SAL) Extended ST Lansing (MWL) Fort Wayne (MWL) Extended ST Peoria (MWL) Hagerstown (SAL) Visalia (CAL) Augusta (SAL) High Desert (CAL) Extended ST Bakersfield (CAL) Greenville (SAL) Lansing (MWL) Fort Wayne (MWL) Extended ST Kane County (MWL) Extended ST Visalia (CAL) Extended ST Lake Elsinore (CAL) Extended ST
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8. Casey Weathers, RHP, Colorado Rockies
College closers are meant to move quickly through a system, and it looks like Weathers will live up to advanced billing in terms of starting assignments. After appearing in 14 games between Asheville (South Atlantic League) and a brief stop in Modesto (California League), the Vanderbilt product will make his full-season debut coming out of the Tulsa Drillers bullpen in the Double-A Texas League.
9. Jarrod Parker, RHP, Arizona Diamondbacks
When the Indiana high school standout takes the mound for the first time in April, it will mark the first time he'll be doing so as a pro. He signed too late to pitch last summer. D-backs fans didn't even get to see him in a Spring Training game as he was reassigned before the Cactus League got underway. Those who want to finally see him pitch can do so by checking out a South Bend Silver Hawks game in the Midwest League.
10. Madison Bumgarner, LHP, San Francisco Giants
Bumgarner created a lot of buzz leading up to the draft as a southpaw who could flat-out bring it -- he struck out 143 over 86 innings as a senior. He didn't get a chance to pitch last summer, but despite that and the fact that the knock against him was a lack of secondary pitches, he'll be a part of the rotation on a very young and exciting Augusta team in the Class A South Atlantic League.
11. Phillippe Aumont, RHP, Seattle Mariners
Take one look at the 6-foot-7 right-hander, and it's easy to see why scouts dreamed about his projection on the mound. Watch him pitch and it will make perfect sense what all the fuss was about. He's got plus stuff and ridiculous movement. All he needs is experience, something that was hard to come by in Eastern Canada. He'll start getting it with a full-season assignment to Wisconsin in the Midwest League.
12. Matthew Dominguez, 3B, Florida Marlins
He got in just a handful of games -- 15 to be exact -- between the Gulf Coast and New York-Penn Leagues last summer. He won't turn 19 until the end of August. But the high school teammate of Mike Moustakas will bring his potent bat and Gold Glove-caliber glove to Greensboro in the South Atlantic League at the start of the season.
13. Beau Mills, 1B, Cleveland Indians
In his pro debut last summer, the son of Red Sox bench coach Brad Mills played at three levels and banged out 27 extra-base hits in 62 games. The left-handed hitter had one of the more advanced bats in last year's draft class. So it should come as little surprise that he's starting the year -- and will continue to play third, it seems -- with Kinston in the Carolina League.
14. Jason Heyward, OF, Atlanta Braves
The Georgia prep star had a solid, albeit brief, debut last summer, hitting .302 over 12 games spread between the Gulf Coast and Appalachian Leagues. That, combined with his natural ability and advanced approach at the plate, earned him a spot on the Rome roster in the South Atlantic League to start the year.
15. Devin Mesoraco, C, Cincinnati Reds
Mesoraco rose as much as, if not more than, any other draft prospect last spring. The high school backstop signed quickly enough to get in 40 GCL games and while he hit just .219, it was undoubtedly an invaluable experience. Living in western Pennsylvania, he may be a little behind others who could get offseason work in outside, so he'll stick around in extended Spring Training before getting a 2008 assignment.
16. Kevin Ahrens, 3B, Toronto Blue Jays
Ahrens was a fast riser last spring, making it all the way to the middle of the first round. After a very slow start in the GCL, he came around some and finished the year with a .230 average over 48 games. He played shortstop in high school, but has made the switch to third. That's where he'll begin the season as part of the Lansing Lugnuts in the Midwest League, where he can try to handle the task of living up to Chipper Jones comparisons.
17. Blake Beavan, RHP, Texas Rangers
The first of two high school flame-throwers the Rangers took in the first round last June, Beavan fits the bill for Texas right-handers -- a guy who can throw hard and intimidate hitters. He's got a ways to go, so he'll start the year in extended spring training, with a trip to short-season Spokane (Northwest League) most likely in the works.
18. Peter Kozma, SS, St. Louis Cardinals
Kozma hit a combined .233 in his pro debut last summer, picking up most of his 146 at-bats with Johnson City in the Appalachian League and giving some Cardinals fans some worry that he'd be another early-pick bust. But don't get too impatient: Kozma can hit, he's got some power and he can run a little, all while being able to stay at short. He'll celebrate his 20th birthday next week as a member of the Quad Cities River Bandits in the Midwest League.
19. Joe Savery, LHP, Philadelphia Phillies
Savery slipped some as a result of coming back from offseason shoulder surgery a year ago. A two-way player at Rice University, he's a pitcher only as a pro and got to experience the pro game with 26 1/3 IP (2.73 ERA) with Williamsport (New York-Penn League) and a bunch more in the AFL. Now completely healthy and focusing on just one main skill, he could turn out to be a very nice draft surprise beginning with his Opening Day start for Clearwater in the Florida State League.
20. Chris Withrow, RHP, Los Angeles Dodgers
The Dodgers love those young pitchers and Withrow certainly fits the profile. He's tall and projectable and thanks, in part to a father who pitched pro ball, he's got stuff and command to go along with a smooth delivery, things you don't often find in a high school pitcher. You'll have to wait a little while to see him this year as he'll stick around in extended spring training and then head out -- perhaps to short-season Ogden (Pioneer League) -- from there.
21. J.P. Arencibia, C, Toronto Blue Jays
Arencibia may have gone higher than here had he not battled some injuries at the University of Tennessee. He made his pro debut in the New York-Penn League and hit .254 over 63 games with the Auburn Doubledays. He had a little hamstring issue this spring, but he should be ready to go and will leap over low-A ball and head straight to Dunedin (Florida State League) to start the year.
22. Tim Alderson, RHP, San Francisco Giants
There's a strong feeling that teams who passed on Alderson because of his funky delivery or lack of one (he pitched only from the stretch as a high schooler) will live to regret that choice. He barely got his feet wet last summer, tossing just three innings for the GCL Giants. He struck out 12 with no walks in five innings of work. The Giants have been impressed with his polish and maturity that they are not hesitating to jump him a level up to Class A Advanced San Jose (California League) to kick things off.
23. Nick Schmidt, LHP, San Diego Padres
Schmidt followed up a very successful season at the University of Arkansas by pitching in three games of Arizona League action last summer. He developed some elbow soreness and ended up needing Tommy John surgery in the fall, which will keep him out for all of 2008.
24. Michael Main, RHP, Texas Rangers
A year ago, the Rangers held their 2006 first-round pick, Kasey Kiker, back in extended spring training before eventually unleashing him on the Midwest League. Main could feasibly follow the same path. He'll stick around in Surprise, Ariz., for a while and wait to find out where he'll be going -- either Spokane or Clinton (MWL) seem to be the likely candidates.
25. Aaron Poreda, LHP, Chicago White Sox
When the term "college lefty" comes up, the image is usually one of a guy who can move quickly and get to the bigs post-haste. Poreda is more of a project, but one worth watching because he's a big lefty who can crank it up into the upper-90s. And it's not like the White Sox are taking it slow. After he made his debut last summer in Great Falls (Pioneer), he'll jump up to Winston-Salem in the Carolina League, where he'll work on developing his secondary pitches.
26. James Simmons, RHP, Oakland A's
Simmons went from University of California-Riverside all the way to Double-A last summer for his pro debut. He appeared mostly in relief and posted a 3.94 ERA in 13 total appearances. From there he went to the Arizona Fall League and got in nine more appearances before finally being able to rest a bit. He threw up three scoreless innings in big league camp before prepping for his full-season debut back with Double-A Midland (Texas League), this time with a fresh arm.
27. Rick Porcello, RHP, Detroit Tigers
There was a spotlight on Porcello during Draft Day since one of the top arms in the entire draft slid all the way to this spot because of bonus demands. Then the Tigers traded away much of their system during the offseason, making the wattage even brighter on this young right-hander. He seemed to handle pitching in big league camp just fine and the Tigers didn't hesitate in sending him straight to Lakeland in the Florida State League for his pro debut. He'll pitch on Opening Day.
28. Ben Revere, OF, Minnesota Twins
It was a bit of a surprise when the Twins took Revere in the first round. Any questions ceased when he hit .325 and stole 21 bases in the Gulf Coast League. He's an exciting player, a table-setter who should be a lot of fun to watch this season. He'll start the season in extended Spring Training and then will likely head to Elizabethton in the Appalachian League.
29. Wendell Fairley, OF, San Francisco Giants
After taking two high school arms with their first two picks, the Giants went with the toolsy outfielder in this slot. He's got raw ability to spare, it's just a question of adding the experience so he can learn how to use it. He didn't play last summer and some bumps and bruises this spring found him a little behind. So he'll stick around Scottsdale in extended spring training, working on the nuances of the game and awaiting an assignment for his pro debut.
30. Andrew Brackman, RHP, New York Yankees
When the Yankees took the big right-hander out of North Carolina State, they knew he was hurt and signed him to a Major League contract with eyes wide open. He ended up having Tommy John surgery and will miss the entire 2008 season. You'll have to wait until 2009 to see if he can fulfill his immense potential.
Jonathan Mayo is a reporter for MLB.com.