[Bub13]

MLB graciously allowed us to have the first pick in this year's draft, which was especially kind as New Orleans went first in the expansion draft. Look how well that worked out for both teams. I think we got the better end of the deal. And having just finished dead last in the standings, we'll draft #1 overall again next year.

Round 1, 1st Overall
OF Travis McArthur, 22, Univ. of South Carolina. Very well rounded, and projects out well in nearly every area. Plus contact, gap, and power potential, and won't strike out a ton either. Eye below average. Good speed and judgement on the basepaths. Can play all three outfield positions, and has great range and arm. His glove is problematic, and will probably put him in RF. He's far enough along in his development that he could make the team out of camp in 2035. Started for us in S A, then to AA, and finally 10 games in AAA. Hit a combined .256 with 4 HR.

Round 2, 49th Overall
IF Josh Robertson, 19, high school. Listed as a 3B on the draft list, but his average arm will probably see him end up at 2B. Rates at SS as well. Good fielder otherwise. Good contact, plus gap power and avoid K's. Not much power. Has a sweet Jeff Kent porn-stache too. Played 66 games at rookie ball, hit .238/.258/.312 in 218 at bats. Still a few years away from the bigs.

Round 3, 83rd Overall
RP Jason Albritton, 23, Grambling State. Average movement and control, but great stuff. Two plus pitches, fastball and slider. Nice intangibles too. Lefty. Worked in 26 games in S A ball, 28 IP, 33 K, 3.21 ERA. Will be in A or AA next year, depending on need.

Round 4, 123rd Overall
SP Cameron Vitali, 22, Wichita State. Good potential in all three pitching ratings. Has a mostly developed fastball and sinker, and a changeup that could be super if it develops. Mediocre stamina. High work ethic. Made 15 starts in rookie ball, 3.27 ERA, 77 IP, 70 K, 1.4 WAR. Likely in A ball for 2035.

Round 5, 159th Overall
RP Travis Kelley, 20, Univ. of Michigan. Possible future closer, more likely a quality set up guy. Plus stuff, solid movement and control. Working on plus fastball and curve. Velocity at 97-99. Saw 22 games in rookie ball, 20 IP, 31 K, 4.95 ERA. Good enough for AA, maybe AAA next year.

Round 6, 195th Overall
OF Drew Livolsi, 18, high school. Maybe a reach here, as he'll have to work to surpass his current potential. Scouts see him as decidedly average across the board at the plate. Good fielder, average arm. High intelligence/work ethic gives me hope he'll surprise. Was seriously overmatched in rookie ball tho, 68 games, 227 AB, .150/.175/.181. Will be there again next year.

Round 7, 231st Overall
OF Greg Zachry, 19, high school. Another high character guy, similar to Livolsi but with a little more pop in his bat. Slow on the bases and in the field. Good glove, good arm. In 62 GP at S A, hit .229/.257/.285 in 214 AB. Probably in A ball next year.

Round 8, 267th Overall
RP Cameron Bornhoft, 18, high school. Really middling across all ratings, as the draft started dropping off significantly at this point. Movement looks good, tho. Two decent pitches, third might develop, probably won't. Low velocity, 85-87. Lefty. High work ethic. Rookie ball, 23 games, 4.20 ERA.

Round 9, 303rd Overall
SP Rob Hart, 18, high school. Something of a wild card. Potential stuff is off the charts, but only if his third pitch (changeup, currently at 3 out of 23) develops. Fastball and curve could be plus, too. Could end up as back-end starter or a middling reliever. Two games in rookie ball. Not yet developed enough for A ball yet.

Round 10, 339th Overall
SP Paul Piazza, 20, Virginia Tech. Like Hart, likely to develop two pitches, but needs his change (3 of 15) to make it as a starter. Decent stuff, so-so movement and control. Pitched poorly in rookie ball, 7.55 ERA in 13 starts; will be there again in 2035.

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Others of note in the system:

1B Erik Hodge, 23, FA signing 4/12/2034. Slightly above average contact and gap, and decent power. Bad eye, but keeps strikeouts down. Decent speed and running, especially for a big 1B type. Below average fielder. Good minor league fodder; could surprise and make it to the bigs with a little development. Spent 2034 in AAA: 413 AB, .300/.336/.477, 11 HR, 18 SB. A good camp might see him in Hawaii next year.

OF Phil McDaniel, 23, FA signing 3/18/2034. One of those guys you just wish could hit his weight. Incredible speed and running. Rates very highly in all three OF spots, great arm, nice glove and range. Intangibles to kill for. But below average contact and gap, and absolutely no power. Still, could one day figure as a defensive replacement. Hit .274/.331/.378 in A ball, with 12 triples and 35 SB; .261 in 23 AB at AA. So maybe there's something there after all; worth keeping an eye on.

SP Bobby Little, 22, trade with RIC for Dan Hancock and Billy Cerrone, 6/30/2034. Took a chance on this guy, as currently he's rated to have good stuff, but so-so movement and control. Could have four good pitches, and has a big-league slider already. Made 29 starts across four MiLB teams in two systems, 160 IP, 125 K, 3.54 ERA.

OF Mel Carillo, 17, int'l amateur FA 7/3/2034. Went hard after Carillo. Signed for $2.2M bonus. Could be an offensive force, with excellent contact potential, plus gap and HR power, and above average eye and K avoidance. Not a runner. Average fielder; fair arm will probably put him in LF, and he's too slow to be a good CF. Can play 1B too. In international complex.

OF Tony Mendez, 17, scouting discovery 3/14/2034. Doesn't rate too highly at the plate right now, and may never develop there. But is a speed demon, and has a nice glove. Good range, might be a fit for CF. International complex.

P Jorge Grijalva, 17, int'l amateur FA 7/3/2034. Projects strictly as a hard-throwing reliever. Good fastball and curve. Little movement. International complex.

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If my scouts are not completely on drugs, we're on our way to building a decent farm system. MacArthur and Robertson look like sure-fire starters, and hopefully at least a couple pitchers develop. Getting Carillo was a bonus, too. We have an owner goal to build a top-ten prospect system, so hopefully when the next rating comes out we'll be much further up the list.

Next up: 2034-35 off season