A's First Year Player Draft Recap
Monday June 15th, 2009
A's GM Zalman Orloff and A's scouting director Dave Tobias had little rest today as they ran the A's first year player draft. The Washington Nationals were allowed to pick first thanks to having the worst record in the league the previous season. The A's will pick 11th.
The Nationals used the first pick on Lorenzo Valenzuela out of Bakersfield High School. He was considered a reach by some as he was only #7 on Baseball America's list. The Nationals had no comment on whether the choice was made due to signability issues. A big powerful hitter, many scouts have expressed massive concern about Valenzuela's baserunning and fielding abilities leading him to be dubbed the "Prince Fielder Jr. of the outfield".
Oakland Athletics Picks
First Round - 11th Overall
2B Juan Morales, 21 Years Old, SHB
Morales is a switch-hitting second baseman out of Arizona State University with plus power for his position and a sweet swing which puts the ball in play a lot. While his plate discipline could use some work Morales is a good bet to make the majors although some scouts within the A's organization wonder about his true ceiling. He has a lot of raw home run and gap power but his money will be made from his laid back and refined contact-hitting stroke. His short and stocky frame probably caused him to fall to #11 where the A's happily obliged taking him. He was #6 on the list of Baseball America's incoming draft prospects.
Second Round - 41st Overall
SP Bill 'Mad Dog' Morris, 21 Years Old, RHP
Morris is a flame-throwing righty out of UC Riverside with two plus pitches. He clocks in at 95-97 MPH and is one of the most polished pitchers in the draft. However his lack of a third quality delivering may limit him to the Bullpen and thus he has fallen on Scouts draft charts significantly despite being an almost ready product. He will likely begin the year in the AZL however he could rise quickly as he is by far the most polished player the A's have drafted this year.
Third Round - 71st Overall
C Bernie Harris, 21 Years Old, RHB
Harris is the most low-ceiling pick the A's have made thus far. He doesn't do anything exceptionally well but does everything decently enough that he may make a good luxury as a backup catcher someday. Almost everything he does grades out as average at best in the long run. At 21 Years Old he's already pretty well developed so it'll be up to him to hit his way into a future with th A's.
Fourth Round - 101st Overall
SP Malcolm Barlow, 18 Years Old, LHP
Barlow is the first high-schooler the A's have drafted this year but he is also one of the better picks they have made. Coming into the year Barlow was projected near the top of the draft class, however an unfortunate fly ball problem and inconsistent control let him fall to the 4th Round for the A's to snag him. He hits 97-99 MPH with his fastball consistently and has the stuff to strike a lot of hitters out. He scouts as a potential top of the rotation arm if he can learn better location and add movement to his pitches.
Fifth Round - 131st Overall
1B Million Odongo, 18 Years Old, SHB
A short switch-hitting Nigerian lefty is another guy who doesn't have one tool that really stands out but does a multitude of things decently. He is a weak defender but has gotten major points for his high-school grades and work ethic. He's a long term project for the A's if he sticks at all.