[BirdWatcher]

Today is the day when we get a glimpse into the possible WPK future as teams claim the rights to this year's eligible amateur players in the annual draft.

As was widely predicted, the first player chosen overall, by the woeful El Paso Dawgs, was 21-year old shortstop Rich White out of Madison College.

The first pitcher chosen, with the 4th pick overall by the Charlotte Sting, was lefthanded starter Bryce Turner out of New York College. Turner, who profiles with durability issues, suffered a turn UCL in April and many think the Sting were unwise to take a chance on him. This may have been a wasted pick.

The Brewers were thrilled when shortstop Kevin Flieder was still available at the bottom of the first round (pick #19 overall). Flieder profiles as a glove-first shortstop but has potentially at least an average hit tool and with his great baseball smarts the team hopes he might develop even more than currently projected. Although current Brewers starting shortstop Chad Brown is only 24 his current contract expires at the end of the 1972 season and the Brewers farm system is very short on prospects at this position. Flieder was identified as the best prospect available but the fact that he is a shortstop helped make the decision to draft him a no-brainer.

In the second round the Brewers drafted another collegiate shortstop, Garrett Farrar. Farrar is a well-rounded player with decent, if unspectacular, tools who profiles with a potentially above average hit tool, solidly above-average defense and speed, and an advanced approach on the base paths. Although he was primarily a shortstop at Worcester College, the Brewers have already shifted him to second base which is thought to be a better fit for his skill set.