[Westheim]

2017 AMATEUR DRAFT POOL

And once again it’s June and it’s high time to have a look at the draft pool. The Raccoons would have the #15 pick in the upcoming draft, high enough to make an impact, but low enough to be a total crapshoot. The Coons wouldn’t have any additional first round picks (proper or supplemental) and wouldn’t pick again until the 60s.

Power-hitting catchers seem to be the thing of the year, although many of them can’t catch that well and are no help to their pitchers. Quite a few would be better served at first base. There is also a wide selection of outfielders and corner infielders available, but there really aren’t any middle infielders that might be able to bat anything at any point in their lives. We took note of a few glove magicians at shortstop and it can’t hurt to draft one in the sixth round, but overall the middle infield batting department lay barren in this draft.

Following is our annual hotlist of the dozen-or-so best players in the pool with our ratings for the primary stats. I sure hope that Gabriel Martinez isn’t actively sabotaging me here. Players with an asterisk are high school players. Also listed is their position in the BNN pre-draft hotlist, if they are ranked in the top 10.

SP Jim Bryant (13/16/12) - #5 BNN
SP Kyle Anderson (11/15/12) - #1 BNN *
SP Jack Sander (12/14/12)
SP Dave Madonna (13/11/12)

RP Steve Schwartz (12/16/14)
RP Kevin Gautney (13/13/12)
RP Mike Rehbock (13/12/11)

C Bobby Farnell (9/15/15)

1B Trent Herlihy (10/13/12) - #9 BNN
INF/CF Trey Rock (17/3/5) - #2 BNN *
1B Ruben Santiago (11/14/8) *

CF/RF Ian Coleman (14/8/11)
OF/1B Terry Kopp (11/13/12) - #7 BNN
OF Adam Braun (10/12/7) *

There is another high school pitcher in the pool that is ranked #3 overall, right-hander Matt Duskin. Martinez has thrown several red flags for him. Duskin is throwing a changeup that BNN has declared to be the next big thing, but Martinez calls it being a square one pitch right now and whether he will get it past that will have to be seen. Much of his overall stuff rating hinges on the fantasy changeup, and then there’s also the terrible command he currently shows. While only 18 years old, you should do better to become a first-round pick. Also, he’s dumber than five rocks and getting straight D’s in high school.

We’re obviously picking too far down to rank these further into our five most favorite picks. It is not unlikely that nothing will remain outside of the relievers and maybe Santiago. Not that Santiago would be a bad pick. Maybe we can get paws on Madonna, which would open up endless possibilities for puns once sh- he gets to the majors.