Draft Recap 2010 Round 3

By Brendan Hart

25) Slade Heathcott (Monsters) – In the initial power rankings for the 2010 season the Heathcott selection by the Monsters was described as "a little premature at 25th overall". While I agree it was early, I disagree because of the team that drafted him. The Monsters need all the medium/high upside offensive players they can put together in order to assemble any kind of competitive team. Heathcott may not have "superstar" potential but still seems to have the power/speed combo that is desirable for fantasy. Taking a flier on Heathcott was the right move and may even prove to be a steal if he has a solid debut.

ETA: 2014
Best Case: Franklin Gutierrez...pause (joke)...Nate McClouth
Worst Case: Darin Erstad
Pick Analysis: Expected/Slight reach
Better Pick: Brett Jackson


26) Aaron Crow (Pigeons) – Did the Pigeons really need another safe pitcher with the 26th overall pick in the draft? The answer is no. Even if Crow hits his "best case" comparison he will not profile as a superstar. Josh Bell is much closer to the majors and is someone that should be picked by a team currently starting Marco Scutaro. Even Mike Trout and Dee Gordon would have been high upside offensive players to draft in this position. Look for Pigeons owner Brian Sullivan to trade some of his pitching for bats sometime during the season.

ETA: Late 2010
Best Case: Aaron Cook
Worst Case: Jeremy Guthrie
Pick Analysis: Expected
Better Pick: Bell,Trout,Gordon


27) Josh Bell (Anchormen) – In 156 PA last year against LHP Josh Bell hit a measly .193 and slugged .259. Reading those stats would make you think Bell shouldn't be considered prospect relevant, let alone fantasy relevant. That is unless you see that Bell hit .339 against RHP with a slugging percentage over 600. While these numbers scream platoon player if he is not able to improve, they also show that he just needs more time to develop. If he becomes respectable against LHP Bell should develop into a quality 3B that delivers 20-25 hr's annually.

ETA: 2011
Best Case: Casey Blake
Worst Case: Mat Gamel
Pick Analysis: Expected/Slight steal
Better Pick: None


28) Arodys Vizcaino (Brew Crew) – Vizcaino was one of the key pieces of the Yankees Javier Vasquez trade over the summer. Despite being only 19 yrs old reports say he already owns good overall command and a few plus pitches including an AJ Burnett like curve. While he's most likely 4/5 years away from making an impact, he was yet another good pick by The Brad. It is very likely that Vizcaino wouldn't have slipped much further that the 28th pick the Brew Crew used to select him.

ETA: 2015
Best Case: Felix Hernandez
Worst Case: Kelvim Escobar
Pick Analysis: Expected/Slight steal
Better Pick: None


29) Brett Jackson (Brew Crew) – The Brew Crew used their second third round pick to add another power/speed outfielder to their farm system. In a short 26 game debut in Low A ball last season Jackson hit 7 hr's and slugged over 500, while also swiping 11 bases. The Cubs and Brew Crew hope that he can build on this while reducing his strikeouts (25% K rate). If he brings everything together he should have a bright future and could turn out to be the first star Cubs homegrown outfield prospect in quite some time.

ETA: 2013
Best Case: Reggie Sanders
Worst Case: Mike Cameron
Pick Analysis: Expected
Better Pick: None


30) Jared Mitchell (Anchormen) – Days before the draft we learned that Jared Mitchell would miss the 2010 season due to a spring training injury (Torn tendon in his ankle). The news obviously did not affect the Anchormen who looked past this and chose Mitchell with the 30th overall pick. While Mitchell is obviously a high upside player it is hard to know what effect the injury could have on his greatest asset - his 70 speed. If he makes a full recovery there's a chance that he could develop into a poor man's Carl Crawford and join Andrew McCutchen and Andre Ethier in the Anchormen outfield.

ETA: 2013
Best Case: Carl Crawford (Less speed)
Worst Case: Coco Crisp
Pick Analysis: Expected
Better Pick: Mike Trout, Dee Gordon


31) James Darnell (Dogs) –In his first full season James Darnell hit 20 hr's and slugged over 500 during 2 stops. He also managed to be the rare prospect who posts close to a 1 to 1 bb/k ratio. With all that said he was a 23 yr old in A ball which means he was putting up the stats he's supposed to put up against younger competition. Moving up to AA this year should tell us alot more about Darnell and what his potential really is. The Bombers liked what they saw and believe that Darnell was worth the gamble with the 31st overall pick. With Alex Gordon continuing to disappoint there's a chance he could develop into the long term third basemen for the Bombers.

ETA: Mid 2010
Best Case: Michael Young (Without the SB's)
Worst Case: Andy LaRoche
Pick Analysis: Expected
Better Pick: None


32) Casey Crosby (Walnuts) – Since the Walnuts original target Arodys Vizcaino was off the board, the team was forced to go with its second choice Casey Crosby. Wickford's pitching starved minor league system was looking to reload after the graduations of Brett Anderson and Trevor Cahill. After missing 2008 with Tommy John Surgery Casey Crosby came back very strong and showed a fastball and curveball that led to Clayton Kershaw comparisons. The Walnuts just hope that one or more of Perez, Moore, and Crosby end up living up to expectations and turning into keepers.

ETA: 2011
Best Case: Clayton Kershaw
Worst Case: Injuries force him to become a RP.
Pick Analysis: Slight reach
Better Pick: None


33) Dee Gordon (Walnuts) – The Walnuts veered away from their conservative prospect draft strategy for the first time in the 2010 draft with their selection of Dee Gordon. Simply put Dee Gordon is the definition of high ceiling/low floor. At 21 he is old for a prospect playing A ball and his 756 OPS means that he didn't light the league on fire. With all that said though Dee Gordon has speed that puts him in the class of Desmond Jennings and Jose Reyes. That speed (73 SB's) and the fact that he is fairly new to baseball lead people to think that Gordon has the upside of an All Star SS. If he show's in 2010 he can hit, Gordon will probably be the Dodgers and Walnuts SS in 2011/2012. If he doesn't hit he'll probably be a utility player for the Dodgers and a wavier wire addition for some team in need of steals.

ETA: Late 2012
Best Case: Jose Reyes (Less power)
Worst Case: Carlos Gomez of the infield.
Pick Analysis: Expected
Better Pick: None


34) Mike Trout (Bombers) – Unlike Brett Jackson, Mike Trout did not show power in his MLB debut. Scouting reports seemed mixed towards whether he will develop more than 10-12 hr power in the future despite holding the NJ high school hr record. If the power doesn't materialize his fantasy value will likely rely on average and speed. For now Trout joins Ryan Westmorland and Fernando Martinez as high upside outfielders in the Bombers farm system.

ETA: 2014
Best Case: Torri Hunter
Worst Case: Aaron Rowand
Pick Analysis: Expected
Better Pick: None


35) Wilson Ramos (Dogs) – A catcher in the Twins organization not named Mauer? On the day Joe Mauer signed an massive $184 Million extension with the Twins the Dogs drafted minor league backstop Wilson Ramos with a 3rd round pick. Ramos wasn't on my draft board or possibly many others entering the 2010 draft due most teams being set at the Catcher position. I feel its safe to say that the Dogs could have waited and taken him later if they so desired. Baring an injury or a trade Ramos will not have value in the near future despite possessing the upside of a Miguel Montero type player.

ETA: 2010 (Likely wont be full time until 2012 or later)
Best Case: Miguel Montero
Worst Case: Carlos Ruiz
Pick Analysis: Reach
Better Pick: Ryan Wheeler, Matt Davidson


36) Chris Withrow (Carbombs) – The Carbombs did a good job of picking up another high upside arm in Chris Withrow. The Dodgers success developing starting pitchers such as Kershaw and Billingsley gives reason to believe that Withrow will have every chance to reach his top of the rotation potential. In 2009 he held his own in AA despite being only 20 yrs old. If he can develop more consistency and command he should reach the majors in the near future and possibly as soon as 2011. Withrow is not without doubters, with some scouting reports I read saying that they don't believe he'll develop enough command to last 6 innings a game. Command and some injury concerns could force him into the bullpen as a power relief pitcher, and leave The Carbombs and fantasy owners disappointed.

ETA: Late 2011
Best Case: Matt Garza
Worst Case: Injuries force him to become a RP.
Pick Analysis: Expected
Better Pick: None