The initial draft of the Bay League was held two months before the scheduled opening day of the season. Scouting was particularly difficult, given that there is still little consistent travel between cities. Even if transportation was reliable, there was little time to spend jaunting about watching baseball players. So all teams agreed to share scouting information from the beginning in order to give each team an equal shot at players. The draft order was chosen randomly just before the selection of players was to begin, and soon after, the first selections in what its founders hoped would be a successful league were made.
The distant village of Marsein came up with the first pick and, given the Knights' close ties with Tifton Generals owner and league founder John Baxter, there was a bit of grumbling from some of the other teams, but since the draft order was to reverse in even-numbered rounds the benefit of receiving the first pick was muted somewhat.
How'd the first rounds of the draft turn out? Let's take a look at the players:
Round 1
1. Marsein Knights, RF
Mario DeGray: 8/10/8/9/7 (8/10/8/9/7 Talents). The 26-year old DeGray is one of the unquestioned top talents in the draft. He can do just about everything except steal bases, and the lefty is expected to obliterate right-handed pitching.
2. Elliott Springs Tornadoes, 1B
Riyad Gomes: 9/7/9/10/8 (9/7/9/10/8 Talents). Like DeGray, Gomes hails from the town of Silver Beach. There must be something in the water there that breeds baseball talent, because the 27-year old Gomes may be even a better hitter than DeGray, though he lacks the defensive skills of the right fielder.
3. Deepvale Ferrymen, 1B
Henry "Ace" Gervin: 10/8/9/8/7 (10/8/9/8/7 Talents). It's hard to say whether Ace Gervin or Riyad Gomes is going to turn out to be the better player, but the early money is on Gervin. A year younger, a better defensive player and a left-hander, Gervin has the skills to just demolish baseballs. His nickname is well-earned.
4. Tifton Generals, P
Mike "Juggie" Hawkins: 8/6/7 (8/6/7 Talents). The first pitcher chosen went to the first team incorporated in the Bay League. Juggie Hawkins struggles with his consistency, but when he's on his game, he's as tough to hit as anyone around. He throws a lot of groundballs, so look for Tifton to fill in some quality infield defense around him. Like the rest of the players chosen so far, Hawkins is young, just 25 years old.
5. Allison Spelunkers, P
Kyle Richardson: 9/6/7 (9/6/7 Talents). If the first four players chosen were young, Richardson is a baby: just 21 years old. He throws hard and he launches the ball up in the zone, just daring batters to hit it. When they do get a bat on the ball, it's usually a fly ball somewhere. Some early observers of the draft wondered if the Generals, wanting to avoid the appearance of having extra advantages, let Richardson slip past them. Most people think Richardson will be the better pitcher in the long run.
6. Silver Beach Whales, 2B
Carlin Chadwick: 7/7/8/8/7 (7/7/8/8/7 Talents). The 25-year old Chadwick comes from the ranching town of Valerma, which some people expected to be one of the founding cities in the Bay League. He's only got average range, but he's sure-handed and his bat will make up for any shortcomings he may have in the field.
7. Lorris Greens, P
Dennis Phillips: 7/8/7 (7/8/7 Talents). The oldest player taken so far, at 29, Phillips is crafty and throws a very heavy assortment of pitches. He's got good break on his curveball and his changeup gets a lot of guys out in front pounding the ball into the ground. He's a big, strong guy, and should pitch a ton of innings.
8. Gentry Hills Scouts, P
Broderick Earl: 7/8/7 (7/8/7 Talents). It's hard to call a 26-year old kid a junkballer, but Earl throws so many different pitches that it seems like he makes a few more up in between innings. He's pretty effective with all of them, too, which makes him a top-notch pitcher. The Scouts may have selected last in the first round, but they still came away with a very good player.
Round 2
1. Gentry Hills Scouts, 1B
Tarise Ellis: 6/6/9/8/7 (6/6/9/8/7 Talents). The third first sacker chosen in the draft, Ellis is a big power threat with unbelievable range at first base and enough speed on the basepaths to make him a credible base-stealing threat. Ellis also plays an adequate left and right field, and his versatility makes him that much more valuable.
2. Lorris Greens, CF
Tega Smith: 7/7/8/9/7 (7/7/8/9/7 Talents). Smith is a prototype #3 hitter, with the ability to hit for average and power, draw walks and steal whole gobs of bases. For a man with great speed and baserunning instincts, he's a surprisingly average outfielder, with some questioning his desire to play defense.
3. Silver Beach Whales, P
Derrick "Hawkeye" Odle: 7/6/8 (7/6/8 Talents). Hawkeye Odle doesn't throw hard, but his ball moves well, stays on the ground, and has enough on it to fool hitters who don't think a guy under 6 feet can be all that dominating a pitcher. Odle's a hometown boy, and he's already a popular player around Silver Beach.
4. Allison Spelunkers, 2B
Alton Strong: 7/6/7/9/7 (7/6/7/9/7 Talents). Strong is expected to man a spot at the top of the order for the Spelunkers, as he's got a great eye and terrific speed. He's a top-notch defensive middle infielder (he's also got the arm and range to play shortstop) and one of the better all-around talents.
5. Tifton Generals, 3B
Renaldo Wright: 9/7/4/9/7 (9/7/4/9/7 Talents). Wright is an on-base machine, but lacks the footspeed to make him the ideal leadoff man. Instead, he'll be manning the 3 spot for the Generals. He's an average defender, but his cannon arm allows him to make the even the most difficult throws from the hot corner with ease.
6. Deepvale Ferrymen, P
Clayton Howard: 8/6/7 (8/6/7 Talents). Down, down, down. Everything Howard throws is down, with a heavy sinker and a slider that darts out of the zone. One scout noted that 2 of every 3 balls put in play was beat in to the ground. The Ferrymen are going to need to stay on their toes in the infield.
7. Elliott Springs Tornadoes, P
T.J. "No Neck" Selby: 7/8/8 (7/8/8 Talents). The Tornadoes went with the 35-year old Selby in the 2nd round, the only player over 30 selected in the first 15 picks. There was no question Selby's one of the stingiest pitchers available, as he won't walk many and he doesn't give up many long flies.
8. Marsein Knights, P
Kevin Beik: 6/8/7 (6/8/7 Talents). Another extreme groundball pitcher, the southpaw Beik looks a lot like Clayton Howard, taken with the 14th overall pick, but where Howard is more of a strikeout artist, Beik relies on pinpoint control. The Knights have to be happy that a player of Beik's caliber was still available at the end of the 2nd round.
A full recount of the inaugural draft can be found
here.