Sox draft slot falls 18 spots after rule re-interpretation

As reported by Jim Callis of Baseball America, the Red Sox compensation draft pick for failing to sign 2008 second round pick Hunter Morris has now been slotted at number 85 overall, after previously being slotted at number 67 overall, due to a re-re-intereptation of the new rule:

This is the first year in which teams will receive a compensation choice for failing to sign second-round picks. The Braves get a pick for not signing Georgia righthander Joshua Fields (now back with the Bulldogs) and the Red Sox get one for not landing Alabama high school first baseman Hunter Morris (now at Auburn). Initially, MLB said the two clubs would receive choices corresponding to the ones immediately following their picks from 2007. That gave Atlanta the 70th overall pick and Boston the 85th overall pick. During the offseason, MLB reinterpreted the rule and decided that the teams would get choices corresponding to the ones immediately following their place in the second round last June. That gave the Braves the sixth pick in the second round (No. 52 overall) and the Red Sox the 21st pick in the round (No. 67 overall). Earlier this month, MLB reversed course and decided that its first interpretation was correct. Atlanta will get the No. 70 choice and Boston will get the No. 85 choice.

-Baseball America: Draft Rule Changes, (April 25, 2008).

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