There were 255 players selected in the NFL Draft this year, and until baseball’s installment ended on Friday, that number seemed like enough to fill a country waffle house. Fifty rounds and 1,453 picks later, it’s time to circle the wagons and crown the biggest winners of the 2007 MLB Entry Draft.
Honorable Mentions:
Cincinnati Reds:
The Reds made some excellent selections early on in the process. Devin Mesoraco (Round 1, no. 15 overall) has a howitzer for an arm behind the plate and carries a solid bat as well. The Reds nabbed a productive collegiate hitter in Todd Frazier (Round 1S, no. 34 overall) and made a solid pick with Kyle Lotzkar (Round 1S, no. 53 overall), a power pitcher living in the shadow of fellow Canadian Phillippe Aumont. Zach Cozart (Round 2, no. 79 overall), an excellent defender, brings solid value as a second-round selection.
Detroit Tigers:
If you have the money, you might as well use it. That being said, you still have to nab the right players. Rick Porcello (Round 1, no. 27) was the best pitcher not named David Price in this draft – stealing him as the first frame came to a close was a highway robbery. Casey Crosby (Round 5, no. 181) was another steal who, like Porcello, fell into the lap of the Tigers because of signability concerns. Joey Hamilton (Round 1S, no. 60) and Danny Worth (Round 2, no. 91) were solid value picks as well.
Bronze:
Toronto Blue Jays:
Just an excellent all-around effort from the Great North. Thanks to his athleticism and advanced approach at the dish, Kevin Ahrens’ (Round 1, no. 16 overall) name had been jettisoning up the draft boards. A 6-foot-1, 190-pounder, Ahrens will get the opportunity to stick at shortstop at the next level. J.P. Arencibia (Round 1, no. 21 overall) was a bit of a reach, but Blue Jays were willing to pay the price to bring in a catching prospect. If you’re not a fan of Arencibia this high, Brett Cecil (Round 1S, no. 38 overall) and Justin Jackson (Round 1S, no. 45 overall) should more than makeup for the slight stretch. Cecil features a filthy slider and projects as a true closer. Jackson, a 6-foot-2, 170-pound shortstop, was one of the best pure athletes in the draft and carries a great deal of value in the middle of the sandwich round. Had they not pulled out of the draft with 20 rounds to go, the Blue Jays would have had the opportunity to receive even higher honors.
Silver:
Oakland Athletics:
Move over, class of 2002, there’s a new Moneyball draft in town. James Simmons (Round 1, no. 26 overall) has excellent command and was one of the most polished pitchers in the draft. In a weak collegiate hitters’ draft, Oakland walked away with four of the best this year’s class had to offer. While he was a bit of a reach, Sean Doolittle (Round 1S, no. 41 overall) was a safe pick who carries projectable hitting skills at first base. Corey Brown (Round 1S, no. 59 overall) more than made up for any reach, as the Oklahoma State outfielder could have gone 20-30 picks earlier. Grant Desme (Round 2, no. 74 overall) is a true five-tool talent that fell due to a broken wrist and Josh Horton (Round 2, no. 90 overall) is a shortstop with excellent bat control. Sam Demel (Round 3, no. 120 overall) was a great value pick that will arrive in the A’s bullpen shortly. No team brought in a deeper pool of prospects than the A’s this year.
Gold:
Texas Rangers:
Calling for Blake Beaven or Michael Main seemed like the right idea for the Rangers when they came onto the clock. They walked away with both of them. Beaven (Round 1, no. 17 overall), a 6-foot-6, 200-pounder, and Main (Round 1, no. 24 overall), a pure athlete who was also a legitimate outfield prospect, give Texas a pair of high school fireballers to build the pitching staff around. The excitement did not end for the Rangers at the end of round one, as the club nabbed Julio Borbon (Round 1S, no. 35 overall) in the sandwich round. Borbon, a 6-foot-1, 180-pound speedster, draws comparisons to Jacoby Ellsbury and was projected to go in the middle of the first round. Neil Ramirez (Round 1S, no. 44 overall) gives the Rangers yet another solid arm in the middle of the sandwich round. While they may have reached a bit for Tommy Hunter (Round 1S, no. 54 overall) and Matt West (Round 2, no. 80 overall), both are solid prospects. Evan Reed (Round 3, no. 110), featuring a plus fastball and solid slider, brings good value in the third frame. Thanks to the trio of Beaven, Main, and Borbon, no club brought in more upside than the Rangers, earning the club top honors in the 2007 MLB Entry Draft.
Adam Loberstein is counting down the days until the 50-round fiasco is revisited in 2008. He can be reached at adamloberstein@gmail.com.