SHERBURN, Dec. 6 The 12th Annual United Leagues Amateur Draft had the privilege of being the first major event at the new Norfolk Center in downtown Sherburn. General managers, scouts, League officials and reporters converged on the majestic new edifice to conduct and document the proceedings. Also for the first time, the draft was expanded to ten rounds, up from the usual eight. As teams reviewed and finalized their player lists, the topic that dominated the conversation leading up to the actual event was the impressive debuts of two players that were selected 1st and 2nd overall at last years draft, namely Braeland Citys OF Patrick Lidgate and Sherburns 2B Jack Burt.
Hoping that they would enjoy similar immediate success with their choices, the Wellington Athletics selected first overall, followed by the Cambria Cannons. Here is a brief overview of the 16 players taken in the first round:
1st Pick Wellington Athletics:
OF Matthew Floyd (23/80) 21-years old; 6-1, 195 lbs.; Bats LH/Throws LH.
The Athletics select Floyd, who hails from Hespeler. Floyd is projected to be a fearsome hitter, with an ability to put a charge into the ball each time he steps up to the plate. If he works on his strength a little more, he will be a phenomenal contact hitter to go along with his formidable gap power. He is also a well-above average base runner whose best position in the field is in right (50). He will be assigned to Wellingtons AAA farm team, the Evansville Clowns.
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2nd Pick Cambria Cannons:
IF/OF Sam Tite (21/80) 19-years old; 6-1, 170 lbs.; Bats RH/Throws RH.
The Cannons go with the 19-year old from Winnipeg, Canada with the second overall pick. Tite has the potential to develop into a big-time hitter with impressive gap power and patience. But while he has some running ability and a decent arm, defense will be a challenge for him. He is off to the AA Vandecar Spurs.
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3rd Pick Hespeler Stars:
LHP Larry Kovnats (34/80) 22-years old; 6-1, 190 lbs.; Bats LH/Throws LH.
The first pitcher selected in the draft, Kovnats possesses respectable stuff potential to go along with great movement and good command. However, he will need to improve his changeup if he hopes to become an effective regular starter. He will start working on it with the AA Muir Electrics.
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4th Pick Queensland Eagles
RHP Logan Belsey (35/80) 23-years old; 5-11, 190 lbs.; Bats LH/Throws RH.
The second pitcher selected, Belsey is blessed with above-average stuff with great movement and average control. With four solid pitches and terrific stamina, he should develop into a front-line starter. He is assigned to the AA Innerkip Oysters.
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5th Pick Downie Chiefs:
OF Connor Bing (22/77) 21-years old; 5-10, 175 lbs.; Bats LH/Throws RH.
Wolseley native Connor Bing projects to be a decent contact hitter with great patience at the plate. He also has some power potential. Not overly blessed with speed, he should still be a decent baserunner and a solid defender with great range in center. He heads to the AA Minto Tribe to begin his career.
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6th Pick Cobourg Red Stockings:
LHP Bill Budd (21/80) 20-years old; 6-0, 185 lbs.; Bats LH/Throws LH.
Bill Budd from Rutherglen, Perth has the potential to be another solid young pitcher in the ULB especially if he works on his delivery mechanics. He has great movement and control with three solid pitches. The Red Stockings have assigned him to their AA farm team, the Cardiff Crushers.
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7th Pick Pulberry Trolleys:
IF/OF Makani Kahale (23/76) 21-years old; 5-10, 165 lbs.; Bats RH/Throws RH.
The Samoan Kahale projects to be a very versatile fielder, with good defense, especially at 2B, SS and RF. His range and arm are top shelf. He has the speed and instincts to be a very good base stealer. Although not a home run threat, he sees the ball well and capable of avoiding balls and swinging at strikes. He will make his way to the AA Hopetown Islanders.
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8th Pick Sherburn Tigers:
LHP Luke Henty (27/79) 22-years old; 6-2, 200 lbs.; Bats LH/Throws LH.
Henty is another pitcher that will need to improve his changeup if wants to be successful as a starter. The Balmoral native has OK stuff with impressive movement and good control. His stamina and ability to hold runners is impressive, but scouts have expressed concern over his ability to remain focused. The Tigers have assigned him to AA Hannon Greyhounds.
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Here is the rest of the first round, selections 9-16:
9th Pick Embro Suns:
IF/OF Jesϊs Abreu (21/76) contact (35/55), gap power (35/60) and eye (40/70). 18-years old; 5-10, 160 lbs.; normal hitter; flyball hitter; Bats LH/Throws RH.
The Suns select Abreu from Mexico. Abreu will be an above-average contact hitter with a great eye. With a little more patience, he can improve his home-run power stroke (25/45). While he will not be a liability on the basepaths (60-55-65), he will not necessarily shine defensively. While he can play 1B, CF and RF (25), his best defensive position is LF (30). He is off to the AA Lythmore Atoms.
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10th Pick Brunswick Legends:
OF Cameron Osmotherley (23/69) contact (45/55), gap power (50/60) and eye (35/45). 23-years old; 5-10, 175 lbs.; pull hitter; flyball hitter; Bats RH/Throws RH.
The second Wolseleyan selected in the first round, Osmotherly projects to be a decent contact hitter with some power. However, he will struggle to draw walks. His biggest strengths though, are his incredible base-stealing abilities (75-65-75), his defense and range at all three positions in the outfield (70-70-60) as well as his abilities to lay down a sacrifice bunt (80) and bunt for a hit (70). Brunswick has assigned him to the AA Jarvis Smokers.
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11th Pick Kingston Pelicans:
OF George Nipper (22/77) contact (45/65), gap power (45/60) and eye (35/60). 19-years old; 5-11, 170 lbs.; normal hitter; flyball hitter; Bats Switch/Throws RH.
The Pelicans select Nipper from Embro. Nippers biggest strength is offense. He projects to be a consistent contact hitter with a sweet, fluid swing and a knack for identifying off-speed pitches. With some practice, he could become a respectable home run threat (20/40). While he has some speed (65), baserunning and stealing are not a strength. He will also not be known for his defense, as he is decidedly average at all three outfield positions (35-30-30). He will get his start with the AA Elgin Angels.
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12th Pick Balmoral Giants:
IF/OF Roy Belknap (22/68) contact (40/60), gap power (50/65) and eye (35/45). 22-years old; 5-11, 180 lbs.; spray, flyball hitter; Bats RH/Throws RH.
The speedy Belknap is an aggressive player with good contact and gap power. While he does not have a good eye, he will be terrific at avoiding strikes (50/80). He will also be a terror on the basepaths (70-80-75). While his defense is OK at SS (35), he will be more in his element in the outfield (60-50-50). He makes his way to the AA Georgetown Goldbugs.
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13th Pick Wolseley Unions:
IF/OF Owen Claridge (24/70) contact (50/60), gap power (45/55) and eye (35/45). 23-years old; 5-8, 170 lbs.; pull, flyball hitter; Bats LH/Throws RH.
The third player selected in the first round from Wolseley, Claridge projects be a .330 hit who will be great at avoiding strikes (65/80), but with an average eye and little power (25/35). He will be one of the fastest players in the leagues (80) and thus very good at stealing and baserunning (55-65). Claridge will be very versatile in the field and solid defensively. He can play 3B (45) and SS (55), as well as anywhere in the outfield (80-75-65). The hometown boy will start out with the AA Waterloo Whips.
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14th Pick Fort Richmond Generals:
RHP Glen Limon (22/75) stuff (35/45), movement (50/65) and control (35/55); stamina (80). 18-years old; 5-10, 160 lbs.; gb/fb neutral; 87-89 Mph velocity; Bats RH
Limon is a pitcher hailing from Braeland City who is also one pitch away from being a starter. He has great stamina (80) and great at holding runners (75). He has two good pitches: his fastball (40/50) and curveball (40/55), but has a weak changeup (20/20). While he has merely passable stuff, his movement and command are very good. The Generals have assigned him to their AA farm team, the Marburg Mustangs.
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15th Pick Braeland City Monarchs:
IF/OF Aidan Trembath (22/80) contact (45/65), gap power (40/60) and eye (30/55). 18-years old; 5-11, 175 lbs.; normal, flyball hitter; Bats Switch H/Throws LH.
Trembath will be most effective for Braeland City at the plate, as the Hespeler native has well-above average contact with some power and a great eye. On the flip side, he is a slow runner and barely average defensively. Right field is his best position (30). He is off to the AA Kingsville Royals.
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16th Pick Stratford Barons:
LHP Robin Wadsworth (20/77) stuff (35/45), movement (50/65) and control (30/55); stamina (50). 20-years old; 5-11, 175 lbs.; gb/fb neutral; 87-89 Mph velocity; Bats LH.
The last selection in the first round and fourth player from Wolseley, Wadsworth is a borderline starter that can take the next step if he develops his changeup (30/55). Otherwise he has passable stuff with good movement and decent control, to go along with a fastball (40/50) and slider (40/50). He will work on his development with the AA Brockville Bears.
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Here are the standings at the end of games played on December 31:
