2009 Draft: Project Prospect’s Mock Draft

May 25, 2009 by Mike Axisa 20 Comments

Lincoln Hamilton at Project Prospect posted his mock draft yesterday, openly acknowledging that these things are a “special sort of useless.” He has the Yanks taking southpaw starter Rex Brothers out of Limpscomb, noting that his electric arm fits in with some of the Yanks recent high draftees like Joba Chamberlain, Andrew Brackman and Gerrit Cole. I’m not a big Brothers fan because he lacks command and a useable third pitch, something typical of high school kids, not college vets. Lincoln has the Rays taking righty Eric Arnett out of Indiana one pick after the Yanks. I would much prefer him because he’s much more refined than Limpscomb while still offering premium stuff.

Manimal

They have Sanchez going to the Sox one pick before the Yanks.
http://www.theyankeeuniverse.com/ The Artist

I’d hope the Yanks don’t draft on need and go for the best available player with the first pick. You can go for needs later in the draft.
- Lanny
  
  I guess you haven’t been following the draft. No baseball team drafts on need especially teams picking as late as the Yankees.
  - http://www.theyankeeuniverse.com/ The Artist
    
    The article mentioned the Yanks taking a big upside lefty over a safer pick, that’s what I was referring to.
Jake H

I am leaning now more towards Matt Purke.
- Accent Shallow
  
  And in this mock, he’s going before the Yankees pick. So it goes.
Some call me…Nick

Draft best available, sign your needs. This isn’t the NFL.
Mike R. – Retire 21

What about A&M’s Alex Wilson? Mayo’s report on him sounds great!
Accent Shallow

A mock draft that manages to reference Joba to the pen!

(In a mocking manner, appropriately)

I don’t presume to be familiar enough with amateur players to second guess a mock draft, but I’d be less than thrilled with picking someone who looks like a reliever in the first round.
Accent Shallow

Maybe the reason Strasburg has been so successful is that hitters can’t stop laughing at his facial expressions?

(Ref: pic in link)
DreDog

The Padres drafting a high ceiling Boras guy?
This must be a mock, mock draft.
Lanny

Mock baseball drafts are kind of ridiculous especially from people who have never seen 90% of these kids.
touchtoneterriost

Hopefully the Yankees get at least a safe pick in their first round pick.The problem with the farm system is too many high ceiling high risk players(Joba,Ian Kennedy,Brackman,Christian Garcia).
- Accent Shallow
  
  How is Kennedy possibly high risk? Kennedy was considered the safe pick at the time, and there was no hint of injury history/risk with him. An aneurysm is the sort of thing that comes out of nowhere.
  
  And the current problem with the farm system is the lack of position players outside Jackson and Montero.
Zack

“Rex Brothers-
A poorly developed third pitch and below-average command mean there is a reasonable chance Brothers ends up as a reliever, but maybe then we could end all of this Joba to the pen nonsense. ”

Because he might be up in the big leagues in 3 years so that will somehow stop the Joba to the pen talk between now and then?
- Reggie C.
  
  If the Yanks selected, signed, and converted Rex Brothers into a reliever, Brothers could be pitching in the ‘pen before midseason 2010. As a reliever, Brothers wouldnt have to hone much more than he what he’s got. BA has Brothers down as the 3rd best lefty, and top college lefty arm in the draft. As a reliever, Brothers is a sure bet to get fast-tracked…
Drew

Mike or anyone that may know,
When you select a college pitcher that has some skills already refined, do you still start him at Low A ball or A ball? How often do these guys start off in Trenton or higher (excluding guys like Strasburg who come once in a blue moon)?
- http://www.riveraveblues.com Mike Axisa
  
  Traditionally you start them in High-A, but there are exceptions obviously. Guys like Alex Gordon and Gordon Beckham started their first full seasons in AA, and I think Lincecum started in AAA.
  
  Strasburg and Ackley are the type of guys that could jump to AA, but that’s pretty much it. Maybe a dominant reliever like Drew Storen, but it’s unlikely.
  - Drew
    
    Nice, thanks. This is my first year really paying attention to the draft.
RollingWave

Rex Brother sounds like a awesome baseball name though.