The *Official* 2009 Draft Thread

[DirtySox]

Tomorrow June 9th at 5 PM Central is the 2009 First Year Player Draft. The first day includes round one, the supplemental round, round two, and round three. All of the rounds listed above will be broadcast on MLB network; and MLB.com will have a live stream as well. The rest of the draft will continue Wednesday and Thursday through 50 rounds. (Though the majority of players of interest will be long gone by then.)

The White Sox possess 5 picks in the first 3 rounds thanks to OC declining arbitration last year:

1st Round: Pick #23
Supplemental Round: Pick #38
2nd Round: Pick #61
2nd Round: Pick #71
3rd Round: Pick #102

Picks 23 and 71 could be intriguing, as it has been stated that the White Sox have been looking at riskier but higher upside players for these picks because a failure to sign a player drafted here would lead to a compensation pick in a similar spot the following year to make up for not signing said player.

On the flipside, expect safer and signable picks at 38 and 61, as compensation picks from losing players to free agency (OC), are not replaced the following year if a team fails to sign players selected here.

This year's draft is decidely average overall. After the first ten picks or so, the talent level drops considerably to a very even playing field. Because of this, first round picks should vary considerably. Supplemental talent by one team might be viewed as first round talent by another and vice versa. Also, this year's crop of position players is very weak, and the majority of the first few rounds should be dominated by pitching selections.

Baseball America has a list of it's top 200 prospects with stats, sorted by pitching or position players. You may view 1-100 here, and 101 - 200 here.


2009 MLB Draft Order:

1st Round:

1. Washington Nationals
2. Seattle Mariners
3. San Diego Padres
4. Pittsburgh Pirates
5. Baltimore Orioles
6. San Francisco Giants
7. Atlanta Braves
8. Cincinnati Reds
9. Detroit Tigers
10. Washington Nationals (for Aaron Crow)
11. Colorado Rockies
12. Kansas City Royals
13. Oakland Athletics
14. Texas Rangers
15. Cleveland Indians
16. Arizona Diamondbacks
17. Arizona Diamondbacks (from Dodgers)
18. Florida Marlins
19. St. Louis Cardinals
20. Toronto Blue Jays
21. Houston Astros
22. Minnesota Twins
23. Chicago White Sox
24. Los Angeles Angels (from Mets)
25. Los Angeles Angels (from Yankees)
26. Milwaukee Brewers
27. Seattle Mariners (from Phillies)
28. Boston Red Sox
29. New York Yankees (for Gerrit Cole)
30. Tampa Bay Rays
31. Chicago Cubs
32. Colorado Rockies (from Angels)

Supplemental First Round:

33) Mariners
34) Rockies
35) Diamondbacks
36) Dodgers
37) Blue Jays
38) White Sox
39) Brewers
40) Angels
41) Diamondbacks
42) Angels
43) Reds
44) Rangers
45) Diamondbacks
46) Twins
47) Brewers
48) Angels
49) Pirates

Second Round:

50) Nationals
51) Mariners
52) Padres
53) Pirates
54) Orioles
55) Giants
56) Dodgers
57) Reds
58) Tigers
59) Rockies
60) Diamondbacks
61) White Sox
62) Rangers
63) Indians
64) Diamondbacks
65) Dodgers
66) Marlins
67) Cardinals
68) Blue Jays
69) Astros
70) Twins
71) White Sox
72) Mets
73) Brewers
74) Brewers
75) Phillies
76) Yankees
77) Red Sox
78) Rays
79) Cubs
80) Angels

Third Round:

81) Nationals
82) Mariners
83) Padres
84) Pirates
85) Orioles
86) Giants
87) Braves
88) Reds
89) Tigers
90) Rockies
91) Royals
92) Athletics
93) Rangers
94) Indians
95) Diamondbacks
96) Dodgers
97) Marlins
98) Cardinals
99) Blue Jays
100) Astros
101) Twins
102) White Sox
103) Mets
104) Blue Jays
105) Brewers
106) Phillies
107) Red Sox
108) Rays
109) Cubs
110) Angels
111) Astros

[DSpivack]

Serious but dumb question:

So if this draft is Rule IV, and the preseason non 40-man roster draft is Rule V, are there Rules I-III drafts?

[DirtySox]

Unsure if this should be in Minor Observations or Sox Clubhouse. Mods feel free to move it to the correct location if it isn't there currently.

[DirtySox]

Originally Posted by DSpivack

Serious but dumb question:

So if this draft is Rule IV, and the preseason non 40-man roster draft is Rule V, are there Rules I-III drafts?

Unsure. I know I've read the answer to this question a few times before but it hasn't stuck.

[DirtySox]

One can see video draft reports of prospects here under the drop down menu in the upper left corner.

Sox scouting director Doug Laumann has indicated that they will be taking the BPA (as they should), but some current organizational needs are pitching, catching, and the desire for toolsy athletic leadoff types.

Some names that are being thrown around by mock drafts, Sox scouts, and players that fit the orgnizational mold are as follows:

(Many of these players could be 1st round picks, but there are also a few that will slot into supplemental and beyond.)

-Everett Williams OF
-Tim Wheeler OF
-Michael Trout OF
-AJ Pollock OF
-Jared Mitchell OF
-Jason Kipnis OF
-Brett Jackson OF
-Reymond Fuentes OF

-Alex Wilson P
-Ben Tootle P
-Tyler Skaggs P
-Mike Minor P
-Chad Jenkins P
-Chad James P
-Matt Hobgood P
-Sam Dyson P
-Rex Brothers P
-Eric Arnett P
-Drew Storen P
-Kyle Heckathorn P

-Max Stassi C
-Diego Seastrunk C
-Tony Sanchez C
-Josh Phegley C
-Cameron Garfield C
-Luke Bailey C

[DirtySox]

BA's Mock 4.0 is up, and we are continued to be linked to Everett Williams. I think I would prefer Trout but he seems to be asking for alot of money.

http://www.baseballamerica.com/today...09/268312.html

[DirtySox]

Reportedly, many many first round prep players have increased their signing demands at the last minute. We might see alot of high school talent fall for signability demands with college players moving up in the first round.

[DirtySox]

Goldstein's final mock has us taking Everett Williams as well.

[Big D]

Originally Posted by DirtySox

Reportedly, many many first round prep players have increased their signing demands at the last minute. We might see alot of high school talent fall for signability demands with college players moving up in the first round.

Good thing we're a big market team that can affor . . . oh wait, we don't draft Scott Boras clients. Nevermind.

[DirtySox]

Originally Posted by Big D

Good thing we're a big market team that can affor . . . oh wait, we don't draft Scott Boras clients. Nevermind.

It's not only the Boras clients. I would be surprised if we pick a player wanting alot of money, but there is a small possibility.

[DirtySox]

Mayo's Final Mock

Has us taking Everett Williams.

[DirtySox]

Keith Law's final mock has us taking Rex Brothers.

[palehozenychicty]

Originally Posted by DirtySox

Keith Law's final mock has us taking Rex Brothers.

That would be a steal. I think the Sox need to get more refined position players. That is the team's biggest weakness right now.

[munchman33]

Originally Posted by palehozenychicty

That would be a steal. I think the Sox need to get more refined position players. That is the team's biggest weakness right now.

We've got good future options at C, SS (if you count Beckham), 1B, 3B (x2), and CF. I'd much rather stock up on arms.

[DumpJerry]

It would be fun to read this thread in six years as one or two of the names listed may be big time studs (Longoria) and laugh at how some of the names turned into Cade McNown...