2010 Round 5 Review

By Pat Henderson

49) Jurickson Profar- SS- TEX- Monsters

KOB started off the 5th round with the talented 16 year old Profar, much to Uustal’s chagrin. The thing that sets Profar appart from most other super young prospects is his advanced approach. He shows patients at the plate and a great attitude and work ethic. He should be a plus defender and puts the bat on the ball. Profar is still very young but he looks like great value here.

ETA: 2016
Best Case: Cal Ripken (minus the games streak)
Worst Case: Mike Bordic
Pick Analysis: Potential Steal

50) Guillermo Pimentel- OF- SEA- Bombers

With the pick that Uustal was planning on using for Profar, he added the powerful Pimentel to the Bomb squad. Pimentel shows immense power potential, grading a 70 on the 20-80 scale. He’s got a lightning quick bat but also has a lot of negatives. Granted he is only 17 but Pimentel is very impatient at the plate and doesnt hit much besides fastballs. He tends to be very pull heavy and will need to learn to go the other way and lay off a pitch or two if he is ever going to realize his potential. It’s a lot of ifs but at 17 he’s got some time to iron out the wrinkles in his game.

ETA: 2017 (that sounds like a year from a science fiction movie)
Best Case: A left handed Gary Shefield
Worst Case: (and probable case) Willy-Mo Pena
Pick Analysis: Stretch

51) Max Stassi- C- OAK- Quahogs

Stassi “appears to be the closest thing to a sure bet as a high schooler can be”. He has a strong balenced swing and hits to all fields. He looks like he’s got the game to stick at catcher and the Quahogs are hoping that he can be the eventual replacement to V-Mart at catcher, but it looks to be a few years down the road since he’s only 18.

ETA: 2014
Best Case: Pudge Rodriguez
Worst Case: Scott Hatteburg
Pick Analysis: Good

52) Max Kepler- OF- MIN- Quahogs

The Quahogs used their 2nd of 3 consecutive picks to snag the 16 year old German, Kepler. Kepler is a potential 5 tool player who is already a great athlete. The son of ballet dancers (I didn't know male ballet dancers had kids) is a plus runner, hits the ball with authority and covers good ground in the outfield. He’s trying to become the first ever German major leaguer and the quahogs are hoping that he can become a successful one. It’s tough to tell with toolsy 16 year olds and most of them don't ever get heard from again but in the 5th round its worth the risk.

ETA: 2015
Best Case: Reggie Sanders
Worst Case: Delmon Van Youngstein
Pick Analysis: Good

53) Thomas Neal- OF- SF- Quahogs

The Quahogs used their 3rd pick in the 5th round to take the “unsexy” Thomas Neal. Neal is 22 years old which is on the ancient end of Quahogs prospects but he’s proven himself in the minors and looks to have some upside. He had a huge year in High A last year going .337 22 HR 90 RBI and an OBP of .431. He’s got a strong arm in the outfield and his patient approach and power swing will hopefully translate to a good every day major leaguer.

ETA: 2012
Best Case: Raul Ibanez
Worst Case: Fred Lewis
Pick Analysis: Solid

54) Tony Sanchez- C- PIT- Ballers

The former BC Eagle looks like a sure bet to make the big leagues. He’s an excellent defensive catcher and swings a solid stick. He hit over .300 last year and he should develop at least average power. He doesnt have as much upside as some of the picks in this round but like Neal he looks to be more of a sure thing.

ETA: 2012
Best Case: Jason Kendell (when he was good)
Worst Case: Jason Kendell (after he was good)
Pick Analysis: Good

55) Zach Britton- SP- BAL- Smoke Monsters

Britton looks like a prototypical sinker/slider pitcher and a sure bet to be a solid MLB starter. He has solid velocity for a sinker baller, hitting 94, but usually sitting in the 88-92 range. Baltimore has a ton of pitching prospects as was evident by Tillman getting sent back to AAA to start the season so it looks like Britton’s path might be blocked for now, but he’ll be pitching for the O’s sooner rather than later. In a round littered with high risk, high reward players KOB snagged what looks like a sure thing.

ETA: 2010
Best Case: Derrek Lowe
Worst Case: Carlos Silva
Pick Analysis: Good value

56) Jiwan James- OF- PHI- Carbombs

Brendan thought that James was a dead ringer to be picked by the Quahogs but surprisingly I didnt have him on my list. James is one of the toolsiest of the toolsy prospects. James has upside but he seems a long way off from realizing it. He started off as a pitcher until injuries side tracked that promising career (7.71 ERA in 2007). James is only 20 years old but has shown a history of injuries and is very raw, there were plenty of toolsy guys left that seemed to have more of a shot of hitting the bigs, James seems to be more of an athlete than a baseball player, I think he was a reach here.

ETA: 3055
Best Case: Felix Pie
Worst Case: Bruce Jenner
Pick Analysis: Stretch

57) Grant Greene- SS- OAK- Walnuts

The pre-draft rumor mill was sending Green to Lester in the 1st round which I thought woulda been the worst pick since Jason Hirsh and then he went for Hechavarria. I dont mind the Green pick at the end of the 5th round but I’m not a huge fan of him as a prospect. He doesnt look like he’ll stick at short long term with questionable defensive ability already and scouts are sold on his bat. He’s 21 and spent last year in High A so he still looks a few years off from the bigs.

ETA: 2012
Best Case: John Valentine
Worst Case: Bobby Crosby
Pick Analysis: Not a reach

58) Chad James- SP- FLA- Quahogs

James was decently high on my draft list so I was pleased to get him with the 3rd to last pick of the draft. James has good velocity for a lefty, sitting in the 91-92 range and hitting 95. He’s got a curveball that can be a plus and a good attitude to go along with it. Hopefully James will develop a little better than former Marlins lefty and Quahog Andrew Miller.

ETA: 2014
Best Case: Steve Avery
Worst Case: Andrew Miller (so far)
Pick Analysis: Good

59) Everett Williams- OF- SD- Brew Crew

Williams is a raw athlete with serious pop. He comes from a family of athletes and once hit a 500 foot bomb. He was one of the top prep hitters coming out in 2009 and looks like he could become a successful major leaguer if he can learn some patients. I like this pick better than the Jiwan James one because although he is a high risk, high reward toolsly player he seems to have more of a shot of reaching his lofty upside or at least some of it than James.

ETA: 2014
Best Case: Carl Everett (one that believes in Dinosaurs)
Worst Case: Elijah Dukes (one that doesnt threaten his wife’s life)
Pick Analysis:
Better Pick:

60) Jason Knapp- SP- CLE- Carbombs

I figured Knapp would scoop up his name sake in last years draft when he pretty much had the whole 5th round, but he picked Westmoreland instead, I guess he made the right decision. Knapp seems to be a classic bullpen arm with an explosive fastball and a good, but inconsistent curveball. Developing his change up seems to be what will make the difference between him ending up in the rotation or the bull pen. I think he’ll wind up as a strong set up man or closer, as the last pick in the draft the last name alone makes it a worth while pick.

ETA: 2012
Best Case: Billy Kotch
Worst Case: Andrew Knapp
Pick Analysis: Good