Texas Rangers Rule IV Draft Picks......

[Drbio]

It's draft day! Here are Texas picks thus far courtesy of Mike Hindman of the Newberg Report.


With the #10 overall pick in the draft the Rangers select.....

Thomas Diamond: (RHP — University of New Orleans)
Diamond is a 6'2", 230 lb. power pitcher featuring a heavy 93-97 mph fastball that he locates well and has been clocked as high as 96 in the ninth inning this spring. His slider has been described as "late, quick and hard at 83-84." And what makes him especially appealing is his plus change which he subtracts to 79-82 with sinking action. He has fanned 125 hitters while walking only 38 in 98 innings this spring.


#30 pick: Eric Hurley

The Rangers went with a Florida high school right-hander, Eric Hurley, as the #30 overall selection to close out the first round of the Rule IV draft. Hurley, a 6'4" 195 pounder, was Baseball America's 15th ranked pitcher in this draft.

BA reports that "Hurley was closing the season as well as any of his peers, and his improvement will be reflected in his draft position. Heading into Florida's all-star games in Sebring, he was pitching his way toward the middle of the first round thanks to some of the best fastball velocity in the country. Hurley has gone from pitching in the 90-93 mph range to 92-95 consistently, hitting at least 96 in eight straight outings and maintaining his velocity deep into games. Pitching for one of the nation's top teams, he went 13-1, 0.70 with 11 walks and 139 strikeouts in 90 innings. Hurley has a loose arm, and now that he's ironed out a small mechanical issue--staying more upright in his delivery and keeping his elbows in--he's put all the pieces together. He's flashed an average slider and changeup. At times he gets around his breaking ball a bit, when he drops his elbow, and doesn't command it. Detractors say he has a slight head jerk in his delivery that causes him to eleva! te his fastball, but with Hurley's velocity and life, he might be the kind of pitcher who can live up in the zone, even against professionals."

MLB.com's scouting report on Hurley is as follows:

COMMENT: TALL, LEAN, WIRY BUILD. LONG ARMS & LEGS. BUILT SIMILAR TO EX-MAJOR LEAGUER OREL HERSHISER. 3/4 TO LOW 3/4 DELIVERY. FB MOSTLY 91-93 W/ SOME BORING ACTION. EASY, LOOSE, WHIP-LIKE ARM ACTION. LOCATES PITCHES DOWN IN ZONE. SHORT, LATE BREAK SLIDER W/ HARD BITE. WILL PITCH IN. CHANCE TO HAVE 2 PLUS PITCHES & NOT FAR FROM THERE NOW.



#51 Pick: K.C. Herren

Grady Fuson held true to his indication that he would take two pitchers and a position player with his first three picks by tapping Auburn, Washington, center fielder K.C. Herren with the #51 overall selection. By taking two high school players with his first three picks, Fuson also went against his perceived preference for college players. Herren, who has signed to play with the University of Washington, was projected by many to go somewhere in the 5th to 10th rounds.

MLB.com's scouting report on Herren follows:

"COMMENT: THICK, COMPACT FRAME. EVENLY PROPORTIONED. STRONG, STURDY BUILD. MINIMAL PHYSICAL PROJECTIONS. THICK THROUGH SHOULDERS, CHEST. HEAVY ARMS. POWERFUL LEGS, CALVES. MATURE FEATURES. SIMILAR TO BRIAN GILES. UPRIGHT, SPREAD STANCE. HIGH LEFT ELBOW. QUIET SETUP. PROPER MECHANICS IN HIT APPROACH. SHORT, QUICK, SLIGHT UPPERCUT SWING. LOOKS TO PULL. GEARED FOR FB. STRONG, EVEN STRIDE RUNNER. AGGRESSIVE. KNOWS HOW TO PLAY. STRONG, PHYSICAL OUTF PROSPECT. LH BAT, PWR POTENTIAL CARRY."


Next Pick - 3rd Round

Rangers scouts have evidently hanging out at a lot of high school proms this spring as the club has now dipped in for a third consecutive high school player, this time a big right handed pitcher from Georgia named Michael Schlact who goes 6'7", 205 lbs.

MLB.com's scouting report on Schlact follows:

COMMENT: SAME BODY TYPE AS BRAD RIGBY. HIGH WINDUP, 3/4. LIFTS LEFT KNEE ABOVE BELT, HIP TURN AT TOP OF DELIVERY. SHORTENS ARM OUT FRONT ON CB. MOST FB 88-90 W/ ABILITY TO LOCATE. LATE, ARM SIDE TAIL W/ SOME HOP LIFE ON FB, VERY EASY DELIVERY. SLURVE-CB TIGHT, DOWN ROTATION. GAINING FEEL FOR TURNOVER CHANGE, SINK LIFE. LIVE FB, EASY DELIVERY, VERY PROJECTABLE BODY.

[Drbio]

Fourth Round

The Rangers took switch-hitting center fielder Brandon Boggs, an all-ACC center fielder from Georgia Tech with their fourth round choice. Boggs was a 50th round selection by the Yankees in 2001. He is regarded as a superior defensive player with good speed and an plus arm. Scouts compare him to Marquis Grissom and praise his attitude and work ethic.


<This space reserved for Updates>

[Drbio]

5th Round

The Rangers went back to Georgia for the third straight pick overall and back to Ga Tech for the second straight selection, taking catcher Michael Nickeas, who--among other things--is only the second player in USA Baseball history to make all three national amateur teams (16-under youth, 18-under junior and the national team). He started this season in an awful slump, but has regrouped and finished up .275 / .370 / .427 in 218 at-bats, but his chief asset seems to be his ability to work with pitchers and call a game.

MLB.com's scouting report on Nickeas follows:

COMMENT: BODY SIMILAR TO JOE GIRARDI. SLIGHT OPEN AT PLATE, HANDS AT RT PECTORAL. TOE TAP TIMING MECHANISM. SLASHING TYPE GAPS HITTER, SHORT STROKE W/ SOME BAT SPEED. STRONG DURABLE BODY W/ OVERALL QUICKNESS. SOFT HANDS. GETS OFF ACCURATE THROWS W/ CARRY. WILL BLOCK BALL. CATCHER W/ SOME APTITUDE WHO MAKES PITCHERS THROW BETTER.

[Drbio]

sixth round


The Rangers grabbed their second college outfielder and their third overall in the 6th round of the Rule IV draft with the selection of UCLA outfielder Billy Sudsdorf, a 6'1", 215 pounder who also pitched for the Bruins. Sudsdorf went .319 / .386 / .504 this year.

MLB.com's scouting report on Sudsdorf follows:

COMMENT: STRONG, DURABLE, WELL PROPORTIONED BODY. THICK UPPER BODY. BROAD BACK, SHOULDERS. NARROW WAIST. SWAY-BACKED. STRONG ARMS, LEGS. FEET SPLAYED OUT. OPEN STANCE. HANDS HIGH NEAR RIGHT EAR. QUICK, COMPACT SWING. LIVE BAT. MAKES HARD CONTACT. DRIVES THE BALL TO ALL FIELDS. LINE DRIVE HITTER W/ PWR. AGGRESSIVE HITTER WHO DOESN'T GET CHEATED. AVG ARM W/ GOOD CARRY. SURE-HANDED. CHANCE TO BE ML HITTER W/ SOLID DEFENSIVE SKILLS.

[Drbio]

seventh round


Texas picked up yet another college outfielder, tapping University of Florida right fielder Ben Harrison who was a fourth round selection of the Cleveland Indians in the 2002 draft. He batted a team-best .362 for the Gators this season with 11 homers, 61 RBI, and 14 steals and posted the seventh best batting average in the Cape Cod League last summer where he played for the Hyannis Mets.

After his senior year at Key West High School (FL), he was ranked 30th on Baseball America's list of the top 100 high school prospects.


MLB.com's scouting report on Harrison follows:

COMMENT: TALL, STRONG, WELL PROPORTIONED BUILD. STRENGTH THROUGHOUT. BEN GRIEVE TYPE BUILD. SQUARED UP AT PLATE, KNEES SLIGHTLY BENT. BALL JUMPS OFF BAT. PULL HITTER W/ SOME LONG BALL PWR. ARM IS PLAYABLE. MAKES THE ROUTINE PLAYS IN OF. BETTER RUNNER UNDERWAY. STRONG, GOOD LOOKING ATHLETE W/ SOME TOOLS TO WORK WITH.

[Drbio]

8th round


The Rangers may have found another pitcher who flew under the radar because of his height...or lack thereof. University of Oklahoma senior Mark Roberts who went 9-5 with a 3.41 ERA for the Sooners this season. The Big 12 hit .228 against the right hander who fanned 134 and walked 24 in 121 innings of work.

Baseball America's scouting report on Roberts follows:

Mark Roberts broke the Sooners' career strikeout record that had been shared by Mark Redman, boosting his total to 326 with a career-high 12 whiffs against Texas Tech in the Big 12 Conference tournament. He has better stuff than would be expected from a 5-foot-11 frame, with an 88-93 mph fastball and a plus slider, and he has outpitched teammate David Purcey this spring. Undrafted in 2003, he'll be an excellent senior sign

[Drbio]

9th round


With the system's position depth arguably deepest in the middle infield, the Rangers waited until the ninth round to take an infielder and it was a corner: first baseman Jim Fasano who led the Spiders with 18 home runs and 62 RBI, ranking first in A-10 in home runs. The big left-handed hitter went for .316 / .435 / .660 this year.

MLB.com's scouting report on Fasano follows:
COMMENT: EXTRA-LARGE FRAME. MUSCULAR BUILD. LONG ARMS, FUTURE UPPER BODY STRENGTH. DEVELOPED, STRONG LOWER HALF. BODY SIMILAR TO JOHN OLERUD. STRAIGHT AWAY STANCE, FRONT FOOT SLIGHTLY CLOSED. SOUND HITTING APPROACH. QUICK BAT THROUGH ZONE. PWR POTENTIAL TO ALL FIELDS. STAYS BACK & INSIDE BALL. KNOWS K ZONE. PLAYABLE DEFENSE, NOTHING FLASHY. HANDLES ROUTINE PLAY. HITTING & PWR POTENTIAL. GOOD IDEA AT THE PLATE. LIKES TO HIT.

[Drbio]

10th round

University of Maryland Justin Maxwell, a projectible outfielder, became the fourth college outfielder--and the fifth outfielder overall--selected by the Rangers in the first ten rounds. Maxwell is an early choice to turn out to be a tremendous value for the Rangers in this draft. Team One Baseball ranked Maxwell as the #14 ranked draft prospect--overall--in its preseason rankings. He was a terror in the Cape Cod league last summer, hitting .307 with 17 RBI and nine stolen bases for the Bourne Braves. He missed this season with a broken arm and certainly could not have lasted this long had he played. He is a junior eligible and may be a tough sign as another year in college would probably vault him into the first two or three rounds.


MLB.com's scouting report on Maxwell follows:

COMMENT: TALL FRAME, TAPERED TO WAIST. LONG ARMS & LEGS. GOOD GROWTH POTENTIAL. BODY SIMILAR TO EX-MAJOR LEAGUER DAVE WINFIELD. ABOVE AVG RUNNER, 6.7-60 YD. ACCURATE ARM, WILL GET STRONGER. GOOD FIELDING INSTINCTS. GOOD BAT SPEED. LINE DRIVE, CONTACT. SHOWS LONG BALL POTENTIAL. PLAYER HAS A LOT OF BASEBALL SKILLS. WILL CONTINUE TO IMPROVE.

[sike]

woah! doc is all over this! good job!

[Drbio]

Doc is plugged in.....[img]i/expressions/face-icon-small-wink.gif[/img]

[sike]

Originally posted by: Drbio
Doc is plugged in.....[img]i/expressions/face-icon-small-wink.gif[/img]

plugged into what?? now I'm sure there could be serious debate over that! [img]i/expressions/face-icon-small-smile.gif[/img] [img]i/expressions/face-icon-small-wink.gif[/img]

[Drbio]

*sheesh*

[img]i/expressions/face-icon-small-tongue.gif[/img]

[grbh]

Any word on why Weaver slipped so much? Is Boras his agent or something?

That guys season was Prior-esque.

[Murphy3]

Originally posted by: grbh
Any word on why Weaver slipped so much? Is Boras his agent or something?

Him and Drew slipped for exactly that reason.

[Drbio]

grbh- murph is correct. Boras is the agent for both and most teams figured the talent wasn't that much greater (if at all) and it would cost them an additional 6-8 million to take those guys.


Weaver had a great season, but several GM's yesterday were quoted as saying, "He is no Mark Prior".

[Drbio]

The Rangers will participate in the remaining 32 rounds today. If I can I will post updates. Just so you know though....the Rangers signed three draft and follow guys from last years draft just before the draft. Had they not signed these guys they would have reentered this years draft. Couple of nice signings. Here is the rundown.....


Texas came to terms on Sunday with San Jacinto Junior College righthander Cain Byrd, its 18th-round pick from last summer's draft. Byrd, eligible to sign as a draft-and-follow since he was at a two-year school, pitched 5.1 shutout innings in Saturday night's Junior College World Series title game, and signed with the Rangers the following day. Baseball America estimated that Byrd might have gone as high as the sixth or seventh round yesterday had the Rangers not sealed a deal with him first.


East Los Angeles Junior College catcher Angel Sanchez, whom the Rangers signed last week had reportedly played his way this spring to a level considered the equivalent of a top-10-round player.


Also, last week the Rangers added Indiana University outfielder Kevin Mahar, eligible to sign before the draft because he was a fifth-year senior. He led the Big Ten in homers and in slugging this season.

[Drbio]

Here is Jamey Newberg's run down on the guys the Rangers took yesterday.


1B. Eric Hurley, RHP, Wolfson HS (Fla.)

Baseball America suggested a couple weeks ago that Hurley was in the mix, along with Bailey and high school shortstop Chris Nelson, for Tampa Bay at the number four overall selection. The Devil Rays ended up popping Rice righthander Jeff Niemann, and even BA considered Hurley a bit of a reach at number four -- the publication ranked him as the number 15 prospect in the draft and projected him to go to Minnesota at either 20 or 25. Showalter said the Rangers considered him a top 15 talent, just as BA did, and when he was still there at the end of the first round, the pick was obvious.

According to BA, only Bailey had a better fastball among high school pitchers eligible for this draft than Hurley's (mid-90s with movement), and his developing slider impressed scouts. In 105 innings this spring, he fanned 156 batters and issued only 13 walks, scattering approximately 40 hits. The 6'4" righthander went 15-1, 0.73, featuring easy action and a wiry build (compared to Orel Hershiser) that projects to fill out.

BA notes that Hurley ironed out a minor issue with his mechanics this spring ("staying more upright in his delivery and keeping his elbows in"). He has the type of ceiling that would have excited any club making him its first pick. Having pitched for the Team USA Baseball Junior National Team in the summer of 2001, Hurley has committed to play baseball at the University of Florida, but the Rangers want him to head west.

This is a pick Texas has to lock up. Interestingly, his slot should call for something close to $1 million -- that's reportedly about what it would have cost the Rangers to keep John Thomson from going to the Braves, and it was Thomson's defection that resulted in Texas receiving this pick.


2. K.C. Herren, OF, Auburn HS (Wash.) (Jason Bourgeois, Vincent Sinisi, Nick Regilio, Jason Grabowski, Edwin Diaz, Randy Truselo)

Fuson had said in the last few days that he expected to take two pitchers among his first three picks, and with two highly rated college catchers (Jason Jaramillo and Kurt Suzuki) still on the board, I thought that might have been where the Rangers would go.

But Texas called Herren's name early in the second round, and Baseball America promptly called the selection a reach, noting that Texas made "one of the more surprising picks so far in Washington prep outfielder K.C. Herren, whom BA ranked as the No. 9 player in the state and projected as a
sixth- to 10th-round pick."

The 6'1", 205 switch hitter has a scholarship offer to play baseball at the University of Washington next year -- and an invite to play football for the Huskies as a walk-on. He played wide receiver and defensive back and punted for his high school team, running a 4.3-second 40.

But Herren's not just a skilled athlete whom the Rangers are projecting. He hit .556 this year, slugged 1.044, clubbed seven home runs, nine doubles, and three triples, drove in 28 runs, and stole 20 bases without getting caught in just over 50 at-bats, playing a solid center field. He was named All-State three of his four years in high school. And he's pedigreed: his father played baseball at Brigham Young.

The scouting bureau remarks compare his sturdy build to Brian Giles, and his uppercut swing has engendered comparisons to Eric Chavez and Jim Edmonds. He's said to have solid power potential and good arm strength.

In one article, Herren was quoted to say: "I want to play at Camden Yards, at Yankee Stadium. I have no doubt I'll be an everyday guy in three or four years in the majors." Whether he'll be on a Laynce Nix fast track is impossible (and irresponsible) to predict at this point, but you like to see that sort of confidence in a young player.

In another story prior to the draft Herren said he believes he's a top-three-round talent and won't sign after the third round. Moot point.

All the publications will call this one a reach, undoubtedly, to which my reaction, for now, is simple:

In Grady I trust.


3. Micheal Schlact, RHP, Wheeler HS (Ga.) (Barry Zito, Hank Blalock, John Hudgins, Ryan Dempster)

The first of three straight Ranger ventures into the state of Georgia, Schlact appeared to be a bit of a departure for Fuson: a high school righthander taken after the first round. And this one is all about projection. Standing 6'7" but weighing just 205, the 18-year-old throws in the low 90s but with his obvious room to grow, it's not hard to envision added velocity before long.

Baseball America ranked Schlact as the number 101 prospect in the draft. Despite his height, he is said to have a good feel for pitching and repeats his delivery well. His extreme downward plane doesn't prevent a knack for throwing strikes.

An article at Team One Baseball suggests that although Schlact (who has committed to the University of South Carolina) was expected to be drafted as high as the second round, "Unlike many other top players, signability may not be as much of an issue here if the amount is fair."


4. Brandon Boggs, CF, Georgia Tech (Kevin Mench, Laynce Nix, Wes Littleton, David Elder, Ryan Glynn)

From the same Marietta, Georgia hometown as Schlact, Boggs is a switch-hitting outfielder whose overall game has been compared to Jay Payton, another former Yellow Jacket. He throws well, does a little bit of everything offensively, plays strong defense, runs very well, and plays the game hard.

The Yankees drafted Boggs in the 50th round in 2001 out of high school. He hit .275 over his freshman and sophomore years at Georgia Tech (finishing 2003 with a 3-for-39 slump) before breaking through this season with an All-ACC campaign. Thus far he's hitting .329/.438/.504 with nine homers, 58 RBI, and 11 stolen bases in 246 at-bats. He's also been drilled 13 times.

We could get the chance to see Boggs, ranked as the number 112 draft prospect by Baseball America, in the coming days. Georgia Tech is among the 16 NCAA teams alive as the Super Regionals are about to get underway. As the Yellow Jackets play on, you can also keep an eye on...


5. Mike Nickeas, C, Georgia Tech (C.J. Wilson, Ryan Dittfurth, Matt Lorenzo, Warren Morris)

Boggs's teammate at Georgia Tech, Nickeas was a Second-Team Pre-Season All-American but has only been fair at the plate this season, hitting .275/.370/.427 with seven bombs and 32 RBI in 218 at-bats (though his season started out in a 3-for-29 ditch). Notably, however, he has drawn 32 walks and struck out only 25 times, but according to BA, some scouts believe he's been too passive at the plate.

Behind the plate, Nickeas is considered strong fundamentally with good catch-and-throw skills, very good footwork, and the ability to block pitches well. Built like Joe Girardi, the guy looks like a catcher. And you have to like this scouting bureau comment: "catcher with aptitude who makes pitchers throw better."

Fuson said he expects to draft another catcher today, adding to Nickeas and Sanchez.

If his name sounds at all familiar to you locally, it might be because his father, Mark Nickeas, played soccer for the Dallas Sidekicks in 1984-85.


6. Billy Susdorf, OF, UCLA (Aaron Harang, Danny Kolb, John Connally Barnett, Ben Keiter, Adam Bourassa)

Fuson said Susdorf was "among the best pure hitters" available in the draft yesterday. Baseball America says "few players love to play the game more." He has always hit, and his defense and running have improved considerably during his time at UCLA.

Susdorf was leading the Bruins in hitting at .338 when he suffered a broken kneecap in March, causing him to miss 27 games. He finished the year at .319/.386/.504 in 119 at-bats, with four homers and 18 RBI, having come into the season as a .318/.373/.500 hitter over his first two years.


7. Ben Harrison, OF, University of Florida (Mike Lamb, Matt Farnum, Patrick
Boyd)

Interestingly, in two of the Rangers' last three drafts, Texas selected a player in the seventh round who had been taken in an earlier round in a previous draft. You hope that the player doesn't come in with a chip on his shoulder as a result, and so far, Patrick Boyd and Matt Farnum have shown no signs of a bad approach. Fuson once again popped a player in the seventh yesterday who'd been a higher pick before, and the one thing that concerns me about Ben Harrison is this Baseball America quote about Harrison and his Gator teammate, C.J. Smith: "[Smith] plays the game with enthusiasm, in contrast to his teammate Ben Harrison, an unsigned fourth-round pick in 2003 whose stock has slipped as a senior."

Scouts have said Harrison spends too much time in the weight room, and as a result starts out slowly each year before loosening up and showing better bat speed and a looser throwing arm. His numbers have been very good this spring (.357/.467/.639 in 230 at-bats, 17 home runs, 69 RBI), however, and he has decent speed and a right fielder's arm.

Those numbers and tools help explain why Cleveland popped Harrison in the fourth round last year (two spots after Texas drafted Wes Littleton), but he turned down slot money and certainly won't be offered what he could have signed for a year ago. This will be an interesting one to watch. Negotiations will be on hold for now, as Florida heads into the Super Regionals.


8. Mark Roberts, RHP, University of Oklahoma (Jeremy Cleveland, Chris O'Riordan, Craig Monroe, Nick Masset, Mark Little)

Small righthanders. Fuson has made a living proving everyone else wrong by putting his faith in them when other scouts ran away. Nobody bothered to draft Roberts as a junior, and the Rangers hope they'll benefit from it.

Roberts set the Sooners' career strikeout mark this year, breaking Mark Redman's record when he reached 326 a couple weeks ago. Standing just 5'11," he throws in the low 90s with a plus slider and went 9-5, 3.41 this spring, fanning 134 and issuing 24 walks in 121.1 innings. He's a classic pitchability choice.


9. Jim Fasano, 1B, University of Richmond (Andy Pratt, Edwin Encarnacion, Scott Eyre, Gerald Smiley, Tim Cunningham)

Considered by Baseball America to be the number 159 prospect in the draft, Fasano fell precipitously to the ninth round, possibly because he grades out poorly as a defender and as a runner.

Offensively, he's an interesting mix. Fuson raved about Fasano's "monster left-handed power" late yesterday, while scouting reports compare his game to that of Sean Casey or John Olerud, who are generally considered to be anomalies at first base (notwithstanding Casey's power boost this year). Fasano stands 6'5", 230, and while he has a very good idea at the plate, it's not as if he doesn't know how to lift the ball.

The Atlantic-10 Conference Player of the Year in 2003 when he hit .344/.425/.638 with 16 homers and 68 RBI in 218 at-bats, Fasano hit .316/.435/.660 this season, clubbing 18 jacks and driving in 62 runs in just 206 at-bats. He drew an astounding 44 walks and fanned 46 times.


10. Justin Maxwell, OF, University of Maryland (Rusty Greer, Doug Davis, Nate Gold, Adam Fox)

This is most intriguing pick of the draft for Texas. Maxwell is going to be a tough sign, but I sure would like to see Texas save some money on seniors like Harrison and Roberts and pay above slot to get this guy in the system.

Maxwell was a pre-season All-American and a good bet to play his way into first-round territory, but he took a medical redshirt and sat out the entire season after breaking his right forearm in batting practice with the Terrapins early this spring. He plans to play in Cape Cod this summer -- after starring in the elite wood bat league in 2003 -- and prove himself worthy of a large bonus from Texas or another run at the first round in 2005.

A five-tool player with a work ethic that evidently jumps off the chart, he was chosen by Baltimore in the 43rd round in 2001 and turned down not only the Orioles but also an opportunity to attend Harvard University, opting instead to go to Maryland on a full baseball scholarship.

After hitting just .239 in 2002, Maxwell hit .317/.385/.550 for the Terps in 2003, banging 10 homers, driving in 43 runs, and stealing 11 bases in 189 at-bats. He then hit .307 in the Cape Cod League and was named a league All-Star. Team One Baseball went so far as to rank him this year's 14th-best prospect in January, just before his injury. Number 15 on that list? Thomas Diamond.

The 20-year-old has been compared in build to Dave Winfield. He combines athleticism and instincts for the game. Nobody doubts that he will return to form; Baseball America -- despite his lost season -- ranked him the number 124 prospect in this draft. Texas was able to select him with the 291st pick.

Maxwell's return to Cape Cod this summer could give Texas what almost amounts to a draft-and-follow opportunity as the Rangers monitor his progress.

Fuson's words: "There's no guarantees we can get this one done; we'll just have to see where it plays out. It's exciting."


11. Travis Metcalf, 3B, University of Kansas (Justin Echols, Kiki Bengochea, John Dettmer, Tom Sergio, Cody Clark)

Metcalf set a Kansas record by swatting 18 homers this season, sharing the Big 12 home run lead and setting a Jawhawk mark, but he's not one-dimensional. Baseball America named him the conference's best defensive third baseman before the season started.

Metcalf's tore his knee in a collision on the basepaths in 2002 (gaining a second redshirt as a result) but had a fair sophomore season in 2003, hitting .288/.332/.535 with 11 homers and 44 RBI in 198 at-bats. Minnesota drafted him in the 38th round last summer, but he returned to Kansas and had a big 2004 season, hitting .285/.407/.602 with 18 jacks and 58 RBI in 221 at-bats.

As a redshirt junior, the Rangers can monitor Metcalf as a draft-and-follow if they don't sign him before fall classes.


12. Kevin Ardoin, RHP, University of Louisiana-Lafayette (Erik Thompson, Andrew Wishy)

Texas returned to the Sun Belt Conference to grab Ardoin, whose 6-2, 3.30 mark resembled Diamond's a bit until you get underneath the surface: Ardoin allowed 105 hits (though just 22 walks) in 106.1 innings while fanning 95. He works around 90 miles per hour with a good slider.

Ardoin's finest effort this season came on February 27, when he allowed a leadoff double before retiring 27 straight. Walking nobody, he punched out 12 Stony Brook SeaWolves.


13. Kyle Rogers, RHP, Galveston Ball HS (Tex.) (Jason Jones, Marc Sagmoen, Cliff Brumbaugh, David Hulse, Emerson Frostad)

Rogers boasts both pitchability and projectability on his tall and slender frame, with the scouting bureau comparing his build to that of Mike Mussina. He throws in the low 90s now but has room to add good weight and perhaps some velocity along with it.

Fuson admitted that Rogers is probably someone to sit on, which I suspect means he's a candidate to go to junior college to try and earn a higher bonus through the draft-and-follow process, not having to wait three years to go pro. There are reports that Rogers had planned college visits to Houston, Arizona, UNLV, and TCU, but keep an eye on whether he ultimately opts for a two-year program.


14. Tug Hulett, 2B, Auburn University (Brandon Knight, Brian Mattoon)

The son of former big league infielder Tim Hulett, big league scouting directors voted him third-team pre-season All-America, but he gets higher marks for his grit than his tools. Nothing fancy.

Hulett hit .306/.434/.374 this season, with more walks (44) than strikeouts (43). It was a sizable dropoff from his .373/.447/.514 line in 2003.


15. Johnny Lujan, RHP, New Mexico JC (Sam Narron, Kerry Lacy, Chris
Alexander)

I think Texas might have found a guy here. Lujan touched 95 with his fastball this season (though he works in the low 90s) and had dirty numbers, going 11-2, 1.61 in 12 starts and five relief appearances, covering 78.1 innings. He scattered 53 hits (.189 opponents' average) and 34 walks while punching out 103, and he wasn't taken deep all year. And before giving up six runs in 2.2 innings in his final outing of the year, his season ERA stood at 0.95.

The scouting bureau notes that while Lujan's body is strong and fully mature, he's still very raw and "just a thrower." But his fastball has heavy sink and his slider shows promise.

Watch this one.


16. Jarrad Burcie, RHP, Tarleton State University (Tex.) (Kevin Altman, Josh Kreuzer, Domingo Valdez)

The 6'1", 215 righthander had two operations on his left knee (ACL) in 2003 and missed time this spring with a pulled groin, but when you still touch the mid-90s, no scout is going to write you off.

The scouting bureau compares Burcie's "look" to that of Ben Sheets. Fuson called him a "max-effort guy."


17. Nic Crosta, OF, Santa Clara University (Ian Kinsler, Randall Shelley, Dave Meliah, Reid Ryan)

Fuson singled Crosta out when discussing the later picks made by the Rangers yesterday. He has the distinction of being the final player ever drafted by Fuson while with the Athletics, as Oakland's 39th-round selection in 2001. Crosta signed with the University of Texas, playing sparingly for the Longhorns before transfering to Santa Clara.

Crosta hit .341/.387/.556 this season for the Broncos, with 11 home runs and 46 RBI in 205 at-bats, though he worked only 17 walks and fanned 50 times. He was Second-Team All-West Coast Conference.

Fuson praised Crosta's raw physical power and ability to run and throw (he has drawn comparisons to Dante Bichette), and he added that there are two people in the organization who are very close to Crosta's family. Fuson also acknowledged that there will be signability issues.


18. Freddie Thon, 1b, Brevard CC (Fla.) (Keith Stamler, Cameron Coughlan, Cain Byrd)

The son of Ranger scout Frankie Thon and nephew of former Ranger Dickie Thon, Freddie Thon was drafted in 2002's 43rd round out of a Puerto Rico high school by the Astros. He instead signed with Villanova and was the Big East Pre-Season Freshman of the Year in 2003, according to Baseball America. But Thon hit just .145 and transfered to Brevard, where he led the club with six homers and 36 RBI this year.

[sike]

so doc, with all your insight on MLB drafting....how would you say the Rangers made out so far?

[Drbio]

Not bad so far.....Need to look into a couple of these guys that I am less familiar with, but so far so good. A couple of these guys in different situations could have been first rounders so I like the upside. Check out our latest pick for instance.....

19th round: Ohio University righthander Marc Cornell, who was reportedly considered by Tampa Bay last year as the top pick in the entire draft before shoulder problems set in. The Reds used their fifth-rounder on him last June but didn't sign him, and he returned to school and pitched sparingly this season, appearing only eight times.

If healthy, Cornell has an unlimited upside. If not, Texas risked only a 19th-rounder to see what his bonus demands will be.

[Drbio]

Here are the final draft picks for Texas in the 2004 Rule IV Draft.



1. Thomas Diamond, RHP, University of New Orleans
1. Eric Hurley, RHP, Wolfson HS (Fla.)
2. K.C. Herren, OF, Auburn HS (Wash.)
3. Micheal Schlact, RHP, Wheeler HS (Ga.)
4. Brandon Boggs, CF, Georgia Tech
5. Mike Nickeas, C, Georgia Tech
6. Billy Susdorf, OF, UCLA
7. Ben Harrison, OF, University of Florida
8. Mark Roberts, RHP, University of Oklahoma
9. Jim Fasano, 1B, University of Richmond
10. Justin Maxwell, OF, University of Maryland
11. Travis Metcalf, 3B, University of Kansas
12. Kevin Ardoin, RHP, University of Louisiana-Lafayette
13. Kyle Rogers, RHP, Galveston Ball HS (Tex.)
14. Tug Hulett, 2B, Auburn University
15. Johnny Lujan, RHP, New Mexico JC
16. Jarrad Burcie, RHP, Tarleton State University (Tex.)
17. Nic Crosta, OF, Santa Clara University
18. Freddie Thon, 1B, Brevard CC (Fla.)
19. Marc Cornell, RHP, Ohio University
20. Shawn Phillips, RHP, Delaware State University
21. Bobby Lenoir, SS, University of Richmond
22. Ryan Griffith, C, Birmingham-Southern University
23. Zachary Phillips, LHP, Galt Union HS (Calif.)
24. Charles Isbell, RHP, Temescal Canyon HS (Calif.)
25. Ben Foster, LHP, Tennessee Temple University
26. J.D. Cockroft, LHP, University of Miami
27. Marlon Melendez, RHP, Chemeketa CC (Ore.)
28. Brett Zamzow, RHP, Navarro JC (Tex.)
29. Justin Klipp, RHP, Cuesta JC (Calif.)
30. Wally Backman, SS, Crook County HS (Ore.)
31. Nicholas Casanova, RHP, Canyon HS (Calif.)
32. Michael Mask, OF, Texas Tech
33. Luis Rodriguez, SS, New Mexico JC
34. Clint Brannon, LHP, University of Arkansas
35. Sam Demel, RHP, Spring HS (Tex.)
36. Jesse Ingram, RHP, University of California-Berkeley
37. Justin Lensch, LHP, University of Louisiana-Monroe
38. Craig Hurba, C, Mt. Olive College (N.C.)
39. Jose Torres, OF, East Los Angeles JC
40. Tony Irvin, RHP, Hillsborough JC (Fla.)
41. Clayton Jerome, RHP, Texas Christian University
42. Joe Kemp, OF, Indiana University
43. Austin Faught, LHP, University of Louisiana-Lafayette
44. Joe Franklin, 3B, Dawson CC (Mont.)
45. Jeffrey Hoffner, RHP, Yavapai JC (Ariz.)
46. Art Hill, RHP, Mt. San Jacinto JC (Calif.)
47. Kellan McConnell, RHP, Santa Clara University
48. Brian Capon, C, Saddleback CC
49. Adam Resendez, OF, Boswell HS (Tex.)
50. Ivan Ramirez, LHP, University of California-Santa Barbara