Baseball America Draft Report Cards

[colbyjack]

BA's draft report cards are currently up on their homepage. Subscriber stuff, so I won't bother with a link. Here's some tidbits for the Brewers:

 

• The team's first four picks (LaPorta, Lucroy, Farris and Gindl) all hit .300 or better.

• Erik Miller was named best athlete along with Farris.

• They say Stefan Wilson isn't far behind LaPorta in the power dep't. (I would argue that few are near LaPorta in the power dep't.). Zarraga also noted for his power.

• Speaking of Zarraga, they note that he signed for $230,000 after he fell in the draft because he was asking for $500,000. That's still an incredible bonus for a 44th rounder.

• Scarpetta praised for ability to touch 95 and power curve. Has drawn comparisons to John Wetteland, was the team's best late-round pick.

• It says the Brewers plan on skipping LaPorta a level and starting him at AA in 2008.

• Rick Hague was the one that got away.

• Nice balance between impact bats at the top along with Scarpetta and the DFE pitchers (Robinson, Bryson).

 

Overall notes/rankings:

 

• LaPorta had the third best pro debut among college draftees, Gindl had the best debut among prep draftees.

• LaPorta ranked the third best power hitter, behind Moustakas and Wieters.

• Bryson ranked the fourth best DFE signing.

• Scarpetta ranked the second best late-round pick.

[LouisEly]

It says the Brewers plan on skipping a level and starting him at AA in 2008

 

I'm assuming that is LaPorta

[dadofandrew]

Those type of picks, like they made in the 44th round, are exactly what they should be doing late in the draft. Guys fall for a variety of reasons; injury, signability, school trouble, etc, and usually have nothing to do with long-term potential.

[colbyjack]

Yeah, sorry about that. I'll go back and make that point more clear. Thanks Louis.

[TooLiveBrew]

How did Wieters fall all the way to Bal. at #5? Are Price, Moustakas, Vitters, and Moskos really all potentially worth more than a C with big-time power? Is Wieters's D really questionable to project at the MLB level or something?

[LouisEly]

Are Price, Moustakas, Vitters, and Moskos really all potentially worth more than a C with big-time power?

 

Well, his profile wasn't that different from Eric Munson (who was the 3rd overall pick) and he hasn't lived up to his potential.

[colbyjack]

Falling to the fifth spot isn't falling all that far. Scott Boras is his agent, but yes, Wieters profile is good enough that he should have been taken among the top 2-3 picks, although Moustakas and Vitters are no slouches, but Wieters obviously profiles as a stud at a premium position. I had Wieters rated first among '07 draft eligible prospects at this time last year, and most seemed to agree that he had David Price were a 1A and 1B level of prospect, with most picking Price as 1A.

 

But, as LouisEly points out, Wieters could very well go the way of Eric Munson for all we know (Ben Davis may be an even more accurate worst-case scenario comparison given the big body and switch bat). At this point in time Wieters may seem like a can't-miss prospect and future phenom, but you never know how one's career is going to unfold. As of right now, the Orioles may have landed one heck of a player, although they did have to pay handsomely for that player.