[Westheim]

1988 AMATEUR DRAFT

The Raccoons’ first pick will be at #20, the next won’t come until #93! That’s bad, and makes the first one the more important. The interesting players have been outlined before, but I find it odd that the #1 draftee according to BNN, SP Orlando Blanco, isn’t on my list at all.

With their first pick the Pacifics selected SP Angel Romero, who would have been my first choice as well. Oh, well. 18 more next-first picks to lose before we can pick. Blanco was selected 12th overall by the Falcons. His career will be interesting to follow, if there will be one.

The Raccoons picked the following players:
Round 1 (#20) – LF Edgar Morris, 17, from Odessa, TX – not much in the way of agility, but is projected to develop into a killing batter – by our scouts. OSA says he should become an accountant in order not to starve.
Round 2 (#93) – INF Steve Caddock, 18, from North Little Rock, AR – high contact and gap power, plus very good defense and all infield positions covered, the only things missing are home run power and speed, where he is scouted about average.
Round 3 (#117) – MR John Smith, 17, from Pueblo, CO – truly ugly stuff with a devastating curveball, has closer potential.
Round 4 (#141) – C Freddy Lambert, 20, from Blacksburg, SC – excellent behind the dish, less optimal besides it, his hitting could keep him away from the bigs.
Round 5 (#165) – LF/RF Chih-tui Jin, 18, from Tainan, Taiwan – not much in the way of athleticism or range, but a promising bat.
Round 6 (#189) – LF/RF Jose Garcia, 20, from Cordoba, Mexico – future as a batter is reported as bleak, but I see a tiny sliver of silver lining in there, and his defense is good and he also has some speed.
Round 7 (#213) – SS Pedro Galván, 17, from Mexico City, Mexico – very talented defensive shortstop, but he doesn’t play other positions, and while he makes contact occasionally, he’s basically blind at the plate.
Round 8 (#237) – SP Jesse Novak, 19, from San Diego, CA – four pitches, all quite raw
Round 9 (#261) – MR Jesus Lizaso, 18, from Cumana, Venezuela – promising curveball, horrible control
Round 10 (#285) – SP Sterling Burns, 20, from Paradise, NV – four pitches, all raw, arm power is there, but the movement is rather weak.

All players were assigned to the A level team. I'm not very happy with this class.