First Rounders of 2008, Part II

First rounder with likely early impact

On Friday we looked at the top twelve players taken in the 2008 Amateur Draft and shared our notion of how valuable those players would turn out to be. Today we'll wrap up the rest of the first round.

As always, remember that we lean toward early-value and fantasy-value, so if we're under-rating a 16 year old phenom or a college backstop on a team that's already deep in quality catchers, don't wonder why.

Note: none of these players have yet signed with the teams that drafted them, and they're not obliged to, so if you're a home-town fan, don't count your chickens just yet, either.

13. Brett Wallace, 3B, STL
Much like Texas selecting Smoak or Houston taking Castro, the Cardinals move to take Brett Wallace is a bit of a head scratcher. A power hitting third baseman with slow feet, most scouts seem to think he'll need to be moved to first base sooner rather than later. And don't the Cardinals already have a pretty good first baseman? Maybe St Louis just couldn't pass up his bat, which some think is better than any other hitter in the draft other than Alonso. Talent first, need second.

14. Aaron Hicks, OF, MIN
A legitimate 5-tool prospect who the Twins should have the patience to develop, this is an Adam Jones / Carlos Gomez type prospect who's just a few years behind that curve. He needs more than a year or two of seasoning, as his skills haven't yet caught up to his raw ability, but the great Twins development machines should take care of that. He could be the best player on the Twins roster come 2013 or so.

15. Ethan Martin, RHP, LAD
No relation to Russ, though the righthander pitcher does have at least one other thing in common with catcher: both are viable backups at third base. But the Dodgers are asking for Ethan Martin as a pitcher and only a pitcher, and that might be more than enough. The powerful, savvy righthander projects a lot like the Giants' young Tim Lincecum, with a pinpoint fastball and a nasty hard slider coming from a compact frame. He's not close to ready, but when he does add some experience to his talent, he should be yet another in a long string of powerful home-grown Dodger arms.

16. Brett Lawrie, C, MLW
It's a bit cheap comparing Canadian slugger Brett Lawrie to fellow Canucks Larry Walker and Justin Morneau, but in this case the comparison is about more than nationality: Lawrie can flat-out rake, though he does it from the right side of the plate. An all-around baseball talent with no ceiling in sight, the fact that he's played both shortstop and catcher well enough to make it onto both position lists tells you something about the special youngster.

17. David Cooper, 1B, TOR
In this year's draft, if you're not a catcher you're probably a first baseman. The Blue Jays have been bereft of developing power threats recently, but they're fixing it with this move. Cooper is a high-average, high-on-base machine with significant power to all fields. He was drafted higher than expected, but the way the power bats were vanishing from the board this year, one can hardly blame the Blue Jays for reaching.

18. Isaac Davis, 1B, NYM
Another slugger who went a little earlier than expected, and again it's to a team that could sorely use some power from the first base position. Ike is a legitimate threat to hit 40 homers in the big leagues, and his refined college approach to the strike zone means he should do it without Howardesque strikeout numbers. One of the draft's most polished picks, Davis could be ready as soon as 2009.

19. Andrew Cashner, RHP, CHC
Texas Christian's ex-closer, Andrew Cashner has that perfect mix of electric 98mph fastball and nasty low-90's slider that everyone wants to see in a ninth-inning specialist. Of course, the Cubs already have two or three of those on staff, so it's possible that Cashner could be stretched into starting duty: he's already got the workable changeup and innings-eating frame to do that if needed. Whether it's as a spot starter or long reliever, it's likely that the Cubs will take a closer look at Cashner as early as late 2008.

20. Joshua Fields, RHP, SEA
Another late inning specialist, Fields has no real place in the Mariner's of today or the near future, so we can only guess that they're going to attempt some sort of bizarro-world Brandon Morrow trick here, and turn this sure-thing reliever into a maybe-starter. He chose not to sign with Atlanta last year, so it's no sure thing that he'll prefer Seattle this time around. Even if he does sign, he might end up being a trade piece in the near future. Fields is a terrific ball of potential, and it'd be a shame to see him wither in the inept Mariners system.

21. Ryan Perry, RHP, DET
A tall righthander with a 98mph fastball and electric breaking stuff, Perry is a bit of a pitching project. Despite his stuff, which includes not just a hard slider but a plus change, he's been very hittable on some outings, as he seems to think himself out of the game. Detroit has capable farm-handlers, so they stand a good chance at developing the young stud, but he's far from a sure thing at this point. In fact, what's the opposite of a sure thing? Oh, right: a pitching prospect.

22. David Havens, SS, NYM
A successful shortstop in college whose range is a bit of a question in pro ball, South Carolina graduate David Havens could make a heck of a second baseman for a future Mets infield that already includes two All Stars and the player picked just before him in the 2008 Draft, first baseman Ike Davis. A solid line drive hitter with plus plate discipline, Havens could be a long-term keystone for New York.

23. Allan Dykstra, 1B, SD
Another of the rich 2008 class of slugging first basemen, Dykstra is a textbook lefty power bat with no obvious position in San Diego, but he's bubbling over in hitting talent. He'll need a year or two in the minors to develop his secondary skills, and the Padres will need to deal with the question of his fielding position, but he projects as a solid 25-30 homer type a few years from now.

24. Anthony Hewitt, SS, PHI
A superstar high school shortstop whose future is likely in the outfield, Hewitt is a genuine five tool wunderkind who could electrify Philly fans... if he signs there. The shining future star is already committed to Vanderbilt, so he might not ever see the inside of a Phillies uniform. If he does, though, he'll be a good one in the Justin Upton mold.

25. Christian Friedrich, LHP, COL
A smart value-pick by the Rockies, Friedrich was one of the two or three best lefthanders in the 2008 draft, as well as one of the best prep pitchers available, making him a steal at the 25th overall pick. Christian has four good pitches, including a plus curve that he uses off his 92mph fastball. If his good stuff shows up in Rookie ball, he could jump ahead of the disappointing Franklin Morales in the Rockies "best minor league lefty" category.

26. Daniel Schlereth, LHP, ARZ
The son of offensive lineman and ESPN commentator Mark Schlereth, Daniel is a power lefty with a strikeout curve who most see as a relief specialist. Taking a lefty reliever in the first round is a strange move, though, even for counter-wise Arizona, so it's likely they'll try to develop him further into a starter. If he can extend his strikeout artistry across six innings instead of one or two, Arizona's got a future ace in the hole, here. If not, he'll still be a useful bullpen cog.

27. Carlos Gutierrez, RHP, MIN
The Miami Hurricanes closer throws a 98mph fastball that could get even faster as he comes back from TJ surgery. His breaking ball is sub-par, but if any coaching staff can coax secondary pitches from power arms, its the wizard's guild in Minnesota. He's a couple years away from being noteworthy, but Minnesota works in mysterious ways, which means he could get a look in 2009 as a setup man.

28. Gerrit Cole, RHP, NYY
Often listed as one of the five best arms in the 2008 draft, righthander Gerrit Cole fell to the Yankees at 28 due to signability concerns and the ever-looming shadow of superagent Scott Boras, who must be cloning himself by now to represent so many players at the same time. Cole throws a high-90's fastball and shows a plus slider at times, with a changeup that could also develop into a plus offering. Some coaches, though, see problematic mechanics that could lead to injury down the road. The Yanks aren't saying whether they see Cole as a starter or closer, but either way it's hard to not take his stuff seriously.

29. Lonnie Chisenhall, SS, CLE
Originally drafted out of high school by the Pirates, Chisenhall was chosen again three years later, this time by the Indians. While questions of character are going to dog Lonnie for years to come thanks to a college misunderstanding about a missing big-screen TV and Playstation 3, at least we know he's got game. He's also got bat: Chisenhall is a plus hitter with a short and sweet stroke and solid power to all fields. His position is up in the air, but wherever the Indians put him he's likely to produce. A bit of a sleeper to watch.

30. Casey Kelly, SS, BOS
A big, strong shortstop (?) with plus power and a cannon arm, high schooler Casey Kelly is already 6-3 and 200lbs, with more size and strength to come as he fills out. He's considering a football career, but if he decides to spare his knees from an early demise and commit to baseball full-time, he could end up being a long-term third base or right field solution for the Red Sox, who would dearly love a right-handed power bat to offset the looming loss of Manny Ramirez.

As you can see, this year's draft wasn't as exciting as last season's, when a number of almost-ready players gathered headlines. But there are a number of kids this year who should be turning heads in the minors soon, and the majors soon thereafter. Not all of them were taken in the first round, either. Later this week we'll have a look at some lower-round picks that really caught our eye.

And of course you can keep up with these players and all the best prospects right here at ScoutingBook.com, where we'll update their career moves as they happen.

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