June 6, 2011 at 7:00 AM
Red Sox Draft Preview, part 7 of 7: Potential Day One targets
It’s Day One of draft day, and in the seventh and final installment of our Red Sox Draft Preview, we bring you a list of potential Day One draft targets for the Red Sox. Boston
First Round (Picks 19, 26)
First Round (Picks 19, 26)
Jed Bradley, LHP, Georgia Tech
Matt Barnes, RHP, Connecticut
Mike Mahtook, OF, Louisiana State
George Springer, OF, Connecticut
Josh Bell, OF, Jesuit (TX)
Jose Fernandez, RHP, Alonso (FL)
Alex Meyer, RHP, Kentucky
Daniel Norris, LHP, Science Hill (TN)
Joe Ross, RPH, Bishop O’Dowd (CA)
Bradley, a high-velocity lefty considered a top-ten talent, could slip to Boston at #19 … Barnes is also considered a top ten talent that might slip, and the Sox front office has been on hand at a few UConn games this season … Mahtook, an athletic outfielder for LSU, is considered a slot signing and as such may fall off the board before #19 … Barnes’ teammate, Springer, is a five-tool outfielder that Sawdaye would have to highly consider if available at #19 … Powerful prep outfielder Josh Bell is considered a signability concern that the Sox may try to snatch up at #26 … Fernandez, a Cuban defector, dominated high school competition in 2011 with his 95 mph fastball-slurve combo – he may be available at #26, and Boston has shown interest … Boston drafted Meyer, a high-velocity righty, in 2008, but was unable to sign him – he could go anywhere from #10 overall to the end of the first round … Hedges is an elite defensive catcher that should be available at #26, perhaps even in the supplemental round … Norris is a projectable lefty with a 96 mph fastball without much in terms of secondary stuff, and he may also be available at #26 … Ross, a polished prep arm out of California, is another player the Sox may target at #26.
Supplemental Round (Picks 36, 40)
Andrew Susac, C/3B,Oregon State
Blake Swihart, C, Cleveland HS (NM)
Andrew Susac, C/3B,
Blake Swihart, C, Cleveland HS (NM)
Matt Purke, LHP, Texas Christian
Tyler Beede, RHP, Lawrence Academy
Brandon Nimmo, OF, East HS (WY)
Andrew Chafin, LHP, Kent State
Anthony Meo, RHP, Coastal Carolina
Derek Fisher, OF, Cedar Crest (PA)
Jason Esposito, 3B, Vanderbilt
Ricky Oropesa, 1B/3B, USC
Susac has a great bat, and may be able to stick at catcher over the long-term, but if not, he is athletic enough to play third base – he may go in the lat first round, however … Swihart has been connected with Boston by several recent reports, and it wouldn’t be surprising to see Boston pick him at 36 or 40 … Purke would be a reclamation project and a summer draft-and-follow a la Anthony Ranaudo in 2010, but with four picks the Sox may have the capability of taking a flyer on this high-ceiling arm if he slips to the supplemental round … Local product Beede has been linked to Boston via private workouts, and Id' be surprise if Boston doesn't pick him at #36 if he’s still available … Nimmo has a lot of helium and may have pushed himself into the first round, but there have been reports linking the Wyoming prep outfielder to the Red Sox in recent days … Chafin is an advanced college lefty that Boston may take as a safer pick if the club takes risks in the other slots … Meo, a native of Cranston, RI, probably projects as a future high-leverage reliever, but would be another safe pick in the supplemental round … Fisher has a high power ceiling and high bonus demands, making him a candidate at #40 overall, but he might even fall into the second round because of signability concerns … Esposito, a Connecticut native, is a solid contact hitter with excellent defensive skills – another safe pick if the front office opts to diversify its portfolio of high risk players and more polished players … Oropesa failed to sign with Boston following the 2008 draft, but he shows a lot of power potential, and the Sox may consider re-drafting him at #40 overall.