[Westheim]

2069 AMATEUR DRAFT ANALYSIS

Yes, yes, we have looked at the Class of ’69 and – Cristiano, what’s there to snicker about? – and … what was I gonna say? Anyway, it’s not like we’re only sleeping and nomming, and only alternate between those two. The Coons had dutifully compiled a 132-count shortlist for the draft, for which we would have a solid selection of picks, despite punting our own first-rounder to sign Tyler Wharton (still waiting on the dividends…), only to get a slightly better pick back from the Crusaders for Alex Dominguez.

Overall the Raccoons had the #18 pick in the first round, two supplemental round picks (all in the top 50), and then the #19 pick in all following rounds.

And these are the guys that made the annual hotlist of the dozen-or-so most glittering prospects (*high school player):

SP Omari Hopwood (12/13/12) *
SP David Brunson (11/13/11) * – BNN #8
SP Gabe Croley (12/12/12) – BNN #7
SP Brent Shaw (14/15/11) * – BNN #10

CL James Bilodeau (19/14/13)

SS Dan Mammen (7/15/15)
1B Justin DiMartino (11/9/12)

OF Mike Pick (10/9/11) – BNN #3
LF/RF Josh Field (11/15/11) * – BNN #6
OF Landon Collins (9/9/10) – BNN #5
RF/LF Isaac Bishop (8/13/14) – BNN #4

Caveat on Shaw: he had only two-and-a-half pitches going right now, so unless the Scott Wade miracle eventually repeats (and we’ve been waiting some 70 years now), he might end up becoming a closer instead.

Not sure what Oscar Semchez has against Dan Mammen, but his OSA report doesn’t make him look like a human windmill or a strikeout on legs, but still with prodigious power. And it feels like getting a good contact rating out of Semchez requires being able to hit a 120mph artillery projectile with a badminton racket and your eyes covered with a thick black cloth – after your coach has spun you round eleven times really quickly. OSA is friendlier to all of the hotlist candidates.

The #1 and #2 picks by BNN that are missing from our hotlist are more 2 1/2 pitch hurlers, and they don’t even rank very high on that sub-list of ours. Welcome to the Hall of Fame, Terry Kilroy and Dylan Tremblett! The latter was one of 16 Canadians in the draft.