DBL News: First-Year Player Draft: Lost in all the hoopla of today's amateur draft are the young men who won't be going first, tenth or even fiftieth. Many of them will probably never make DELMARVA Baseball League rosters, but one and all will be spurred on by the possibility that someday they'll be playing on a championship club. Cape May, King George, Chadds Ford, Martinsburg and Richmond will have the first five choices. Here is a look at the top first 10 picks in the 1st Year Player Draft:
Pick 1 - Cape May Beacons: RF José Aguilar, age 22, out of college (Georgia; Athens, GA)
"Looks like a future starter to me, with star potential"
Con: 5/7, Power: 9/14, Eye: 8/13 - 1 out of 3 stars
Pick 2 - King George Royals: SS Ryan Hunt, age 21, out of college (Cal State-Dominguez Hills; Carson, CA)
"Hunt has some impact tools. He's still learning to translate his tools into performance, but when he does watch out"
Con: 9/15, Power: 8/15, Eye: 8/13 - 3 out of 5 stars
Pick 3 - Chadds Ford Cannons: 3B Dragoljub Karadzic, age 20, out of college (Wichita State; Wichita, KS)
"Love this kid's tools, and I think he'll learn how to use them. Could be a star"
Con: 8/11, Power: 5/11, Eye: 6/10 - 1 out of 4 1/2 stars
Pick 4 - Martinsburg Mountaineers: SS Brian Battle, age 19, out of high school (Chandler; Chandler, AZ)
"True impact potential -- could be a superstar if he figures it all out"
Con: 6/14, Power: 3/13, Eye: 6/12 - 1 out of 5 stars
Pick 5 - Richmond Cardinals: SP Alfonso Andrade, age 21, out of college (Tennessee; Knoxville, TN)
"Looks like your prototypical mid-rotation workhorse. Should be a solid option as a number 3 starter for years to come."
Stuff: 8/14, Movement: 15/16, Control: 3/7 - 1 out of 3 stars
Pick 6 - Annapolis Admirals: SP Sam Marsh, age 18, out of high school (North; Akron, OH)
"If his repertoire develops as everyone expects, he's going to be a front-of-the-rotation starter for years to come."
Stuff: 7/13, Movement: 12/15, Control: 1/10 - 1/2 out of 4 stars
Pick 7 - Seaford Blue Jays: SP Bill Daniel, age 17, out of high school (Black River Falls; Black River Falls, WI)
"You can tell he knows how to pitch. Uses his entire repertoire effectively, with consistent above-average stuff."
Stuff: 6/12, Movement: 11/13, Control: 1/6 - 1/2 out of 2 stars
Pick 8 - Baltimore Barons: C Stan Dunn, age 20, out of college (Butler; Indianapolis, IN)
"Dunn has plus raw power and has the chance to be a run producer"
Con: 7/11, Power: 4/13, Eye: 5/10 - 1 out of 4 1/2 stars
Pick 9 - Lewes Braves: C Peter Moore, age 23, out of college (Illinois-Chicago; Chicago, IL)
"Some scouts are predicting big things for Moore"
Con: 8/11, Power: 8/11, Eye: 7/10 - 1 out of 3 stars
Pick 10 - Milford Clippers: SP Tim Lynch, age 20, out of college (Miami (FL); Miami, FL)
"You can tell he knows how to pitch. Hits the corners with relative ease"
Stuff: 7/12, Movement: 10/12, Control: 5/11 - 1/2 out of 4 stars
Where are they know? A look back at the past 5 #1 picks and how they are doing in the DBL.
2025 - Mike Johnson (OF), Milton Brewers, U of Miami
Debut: 2025
Current Team: Milton Brewers
Awards: Newcomer of the Year: 2026; Glove Wizard CF: 2026, 2027; All-Star: 2027, 2029; Platinum Stick Award: 2029
Career: .279-115-354 (635 G)
2026 - Allen Graves (1B), Richmond Cardinals, Lehigh U
Debut: 2028
Current Team: Richmond Cardinals
Career: .261-35-103 (222 G)
2027 - Stephen Bentall (SS), Annapolis Admirals, St Norbert College
Debut: 2028
Current Team: Georgetown Sixteens
Career: .282-38-162 (341 G)
2028 - Dennis MacPherson (SP), Baltimore Barons, Wichita State U.
Did not sign in 2028, Rentered the Draft in 2029, 1st Round, 12th pick overall, New Castle Colonials
Debut: ETA 2033
Current Team: Miami Beach Flamingos (AA / New Castle Colonials)
Stats: (AA) 1-3 5.26, 8 GS
2029 - Roy Okumura (OF), Richmond Cardinals, Farleigh Dickinson College
Debut: ETA 2031
Current Team: Cleveland Lakers (AA / Richmond Cardinals)
Awards: #29 Prospect in 2030 top 100
Stats: (AA) .288-14-40
Overall I feel like we did ok in this draft. We concentrated on position players, but that was more of the draft-pools doing than anything. If we can get our #1 and #2 signed I will be happy with the outcome of this draft.
Drafted 3B Dragoljub Karadzic (Wichita State) in the 2030 first-year player draft (Round 1, Pick 3, 3rd overall pick).
Demands: $1,400,000; Offer: $1,400,000 (Extremely Hard)
I have faith we will come to terms with Dragoljub and he will soon be our everyday 3B. He isn't overly developed, but if he continues to work hard he could make it up to the bigs sooner than later. One of the reasons I drafted him (against my scouts recommendation) was because he was rated as highly intelligent and having a high work ethic.
Con: 8/11, Pow: 5/11, Eye: 6/10
Drafted 3B Eugene Todd (HS) in the 2030 first-year player draft (Round 2, Pick 3, 31st overall pick).
Demands: $800,000; Offer: $690,000 (Very Easy)
I went with my scouts recommendation here. I looked around and I had to agree with him Todd was the best available. Markey says "it is easy to dream on this kid. Makes the game look easy, and should have a long career ahead"... and I have to agree with him.
Con: 7/12, Pow: 5/13, Eye: 6/13
Drafted C Leo Fountain (Arizona U.) in the 2030 first-year player draft (Round 3, Pick 3, 57th overall pick).
Demands: $370,000; Offer: $350,000 (Extremely Hard)
A highly rated defenisved catcher, I would be almost tempted to throw him on the active roster right now. Might of been a risk to take him in the 3rd round, but I fell for his defensive abilities. Our scout see's him as a 15 HR/YR type of kid.
Con: 4/6, Pow: 5/8, Eye: 7/12
Drafted SS Jaime Ojeda (Georgia Tech) in the 2030 first-year player draft (Round 4, Pick 3, 83rd overall pick).
Demands: $330,000; Offer: $330,000 (Extremely Hard)
Jamie will be in the bigs one day. He has skills at multiple posistions, he is fast and according to Markey he projects to be an above-average contact hitter. A lot to like with him.
Con: 8/10, Pow: 2/2, Eye: 4/6
Drafted SP Allen Hopkins (HS) in the 2030 first-year player draft (Round 5, Pick 3, 106th overall pick).
Demands: $220,000; Offer: $150,000 (Very Easy)
This pick was all Markey's. I try to stay away from pitchers who have tendency to for flyballs. He should have decent stuff and decent control, but he needs some movement to make the bigs. Markey says "if he gets smarter and strong, he could have a job in the big leagues for a while".
Stu: 6/10, Mov: 7/7, Con: 4/10
Drafted 2B José Rentería in the 2030 first-year player draft (Round 6, Pick 3, 130th overall pick).
Rentieria will make it to the bigs if he develops. He is only 18, a decent fielder, and has speed. His bat is somewhat questionable, and Markey thinks he will hit .240-15. Could be a fringe starter.
Con: 4/8, Pow: 3/8, Eye: 6/14
Drafted SS Scott Wolfe (Caltech U) in the 2030 first-year player draft (Round 7, Pick 3, 154th overall pick).
Fast, with a good eye. Sounds promising to me. Long shot, but you never know.
Con: 5/7, Pow: 1/3, Eye: 7/12
Drafted SP Roy Daly (Hofstra) in the 2030 first-year player draft (Round 8, Pick 3, 178th overall pick).
Daly was a 10th round pick last season and after one year in college he brought his stock up to a 8th rounder. He is very intelligent and a very hard worker, which is always a plus.
Stu: 6/10, Mov: 7/7, Con: 4/8
Drafted 3B Scott Robison (UC-Irvine) in the 2030 first-year player draft (Round 9, Pick 3, 202nd overall pick).
Not really sure what to expect from Robison. He will get a look, but where that ends who knows. Rumor is he isn't a hard worker and he doens't have "pure" talent, so...
Con: 4/7, Pow: 3/6, Eye: 6/11
Drafted CF Jimmy Clark (HS) in the 2030 first-year player draft (Round 10, Pick 3, 226th overall pick).
He has showed some signs of having big-time power, which is something no other available player showed, so we went with him. Markey isn't a big fan, but I have faith he will surprise. Markey and OSA differ quite a bit on his ratings.
Con: 1/3, Pow: 5/11, Eye: 1/6
Drafted SS Chris Barnes (HS) in the 2030 first-year player draft (Round 11, Pick 3, 250th overall pick).
Has a decent eye, has a good eye... however plays no defense.
Con: 3/7, Pow: 1/1, Eye: 6/14
Drafted SS Eric Manning (HS) in the 2030 first-year player draft (Round 12, Pick 3, 274th overall pick).
Manning might be a sleeper of a pick. He hit .459-0-27 in 22 games during his Sr season. What I like the 8 K's and 10 BB's... plus he stole 23 times only getting gunned down 3. Keep an eye on this guy.
Con: 5/9, Pow: 2/4, Eye: 5/12
Drafted C Thomas Inman (HS) in the 2030 first-year player draft (Round 13, Pick 3, 298th overall pick).
Not much to say about Thomas Inman, outside I drafted him because (in my little world) he is the cousin of our starting 2B Tony Inman. May end up as a pitcher down the road.
Con: 1/5, Pow: 1/3, Eye: 4/11
Drafted LF Ralph Green (HS) in the 2030 first-year player draft (Round 14, Pick 3, 322nd overall pick).
Green is another one of those guys that may surprise. I am not sure how we got him in the 14th, but I am glad we did. A solid OF, with decent speed and could end up hitting .270 with 20-30 2B's. Wont hit many bombs, but has promise.
Con: 6/10, Pow: 2/3, Eye: 5/12
Drafted CF Ernest Palmer (HS) in the 2030 first-year player draft (Round 15, Pick 3, 346th overall pick).
Demands: ???; Offer: $250,000 (Impossible)
There is a reason why no one wanted this kid. No one believes he wants to sign with anyone. Just testing the water. Personally I don't see him coming back to baseball if he doesn't sign... He is impossible to sign, but stranger things have happened.
Con: 3/7, Pow: 1/1, Eye: 5/11