2011 Major League Baseball First-Year Player Draft
June 6 (7 p.m.): Round 1
June 7 (12 p.m.): Rounds 2-30
June 8 (12 p.m.): Rounds 31-50
Top Prospects
Archie Bradley
RHP/SR. – Broken Arrow (OK) High School
-Bradley has found the prep level rather easy. The strikeout king has punched out 137 batters in 71.1 innings of work while having one of the lowest ERA’s in all of the land (0.29) and a 12-1 record to boot. The 6’4 righthander also can swing the bat as he has parked 9 homers, drove in 31 runs and has hit for a .395 average. Archie is set to attend the University of Oklahoma where he would play quarterback for Bob Stoops and pitch for Sunny Golloway.
Jed Bradley, Georgia Tech
LHP/JR. – Huntsville (AL) High School
-The 6’4 southpaw was named to the 2010 Cape Cod League All-Star team and was ranked #4 among all of the prospects in the Massachusetts summer league by Baseball America. The Yellow Jackets take their 40-19 record into the NCAA Tournament tonight when they play in the Atlanta Regional against Austin Peay (33-22). In fifteen outings, Bradley maintains a 3.59 ERA (36 ER in 90.1 IP) and has won six of his nine decisions this season. Jed struck out a team-high 102 batters and walked just 30.
Dylan Bundy
RHP/SR. – Owasso (OK) High School
-Bundy, who throws in the mid-90s, stands at 6’1 is regarded as the top high school pitching prospect. Dylan is good friends with another top draft choice, Archie Bradley. Dylan’s brother is a farm hand in the Orioles organization. His numbers this year are incredible. He has struck out 158 batters and has walked just 5 for an earned run average of 0.25.
Gerrit Cole, UCLA
RHP/JR. – Orange Lutheran (Santa Ana, CA) High School
-Cole might be the odds on favorite to be the #1 pick overall in this year’s draft. Gerrit has pitched for the USA Baseball Collegiate National team over the past two summers combining for a 6-0 mark on the hump. Cole was taken in the first round of the 2008 Draft by the Yankees at pick 28. Deciding to play in Los Angeles instead of the Bronx, Number 12 has put together a nice career in the Pac-10. He hasn’t had his best stuff during his junior campaign. Cole has posted a 3.28 ERA and a record of 6-7 in 107 innings of work. However, Gerrit has struck out 108 batters and has only given 23 free passes. In his last outing, he went 8 innings throwing 126 pitches, striking out 9 to get the Bruins a Pac-10 Tournament victory, 10-3, over Arizona State on May 27.
Sonny Gray, Vanderbilt
RHP/JR. – Smyrna (TN) High School
-Sonny is a shorter pitcher at 5’11 than the rest of the top-notch hurlers who are in the fraternity of the 2011 Major League Draft. Gray tossed 78 strikeouts in 35 innings as a senior at Smyrna High School (0.79 ERA, 4-0). Sonny was then selected in the 28th round of the 2008 Draft by the Cubs. In 2011, Gray has posted a 10-3 record with an ERA of 2.12 for the Commodores. Vandy is 47-10 and are set to meet Belmont this evening in the Regional Tournament.
Danny Hultzen, Virginia
LHP/JR. – St. Albans (MD) High School
-Hultzen became the first Cavalier hurler to win the ACC’s Pitcher of the Year. Danny was selected in the 10th round of the 2008 Major League Draft by the Diamondbacks prior to beginning his higher education at University of Virginia. Number 23 also can swing the bat. This season, Hultzen has hit .305 (32-105) with 9 doubles and 29 RBIs. He has experience playing first base and outfield. Where Danny shines the best is on the mound. He has compiled a 10-3 record and a 1.59 ERA in fourteen appearances. He has struck out a staggering 136 batters and has only allowed 16 walks. Virginia is 49-9 and are set to meet Navy this afternoon in the NCAA Tournament.
Taylor Jungmann, Texas
RHP/JR. – Georgetown (Temple, TX) High School
-Jungmann earned his first complete game-shutout in the season opener this year against Maryland on February 18. Taylor is a big man standing 6 foot 6. The former Georgetown graduate was drafted in the 24th round by the Angels of the 2008 Draft. Jungmann has been phenomenal during his junior season. He has thrown in 122.2 innings, allowing just 13 earned runs for an average of 0.95. Taylor is 13-0 with five complete games to his resume. Texas sports a 43-15 mark and open the NCAA Tournament tonight against the Ivy League champion, Princeton (7:30 p.m.) in the Austin Regional.
Anthony Rendon, Rice
3B/JR. – Lamar (Houston, TX) High School
-The right-handed Rendon has been compared to Evan Longoria and Ryan Zimmerman. The 6’0, 190-pounder is back from successful surgery on his ankle. Most Pirate fans would love to see the Bucs take him at the top of the draft. He hit 26 homers and batted .394 in 226 at-bats as a sophomore in 2010. Pittsburgh does not have much at third base coming up through their farm system. However, the injury is an issue especially when this is his second such kind. In 2011, Rendon leads the Owls in batting (.327), runs scored (57), doubles (20), homers (6), runs batted in (35), and on-base percentage (.523). Anthony has walked 78 times, just this season. The Owls are 41-19 as they will play host to Alcorn State this evening (7 p.m.) in the NCAA Regionals.
George Springer, Connecticut
OF/JR. - Avon Old Farms School (CT)
-The 6'3 right handed outfielder enjoyed a brilliant 2010 season which saw Springer break Connecticut school records in walks (60) and runs scored (84). This season he raised his average from .337 (82-243) to .361 (79-219). He gas hit 12 homers and has driven in 74 runs while stealing 31 bases for the Huskies, who finished with a 41-17 mark heading into the NCAA Tournament in Clemson.
Bubba Starling
OF/SR. – Gardner Edgerton (KS) High School
– The five-tool prep star has committed to play football at Nebraska next season. The possible future quarterback rushed for 2,471 yards and scored 31 touchdowns in 2010 for the Trailblazers. Starling might just be the best athlete in this year’s crop of future baseball stars. Bubba stands at 6’5 and weighs 190 pounds. He’s been compared to another southwest baseball star in Josh Hamilton. Will he choose to play football in college or will he take the big pay day and perform on the baseball diamond?
Area Hopefuls
Boo Vazquez
OF/RHP – Cardinal Mooney High School
-The Pitt recruit hit .533 (24-45) this season with 7 triples and drove in 17 runs. Number 21 struck out just twice and walked nineteen times. Vazquez had a slugging percentage of .911 and even stole 14 bases. Boo also threw 10.1 innings off the mound as he compiled a 2.71 earned run average in 9 appearances (5 saves).
Phil Klein, Youngstown State
RHP/SR. – Gahanna Lincoln (OH) High School
-The 6’7, 230 pound righty was named to the Second-Team All-Horizon League this year. The strikeout master led the Horizon League in that category with 105. Phil had a 5-5 mark on the hill accumulating 92.1 innings of work and allowing just 21 extra base hits to go along with his career best 3.61 ERA. Phil finished out his Penguin career as second in strikeouts (258) all-time, behind Aaron Swenson (265).
Matt Howard, Slippery Rock University
OF/SR. – La Salle College (PA) High School
-Howard earned PSAC-West Player of the Year in 2011 after batting .401 (63-157) with 6 homers, 10 doubles, 40 RBIs and compiling a slugging percentage of .643. Matt attended Marist University and Frederick Community College (MD) before deciding on SRU in 2010 to showcase his abilities playing for Jeff Messer. Slippery Rock closed out the season with a 27-19 record (15-9, league).
#1 Picks Overall Since 2000
Year – Team/Player
2010 – Nationals/Bryce Harper,OF
2009 – Nationals/Stephen Strasburg, RHP
2008 – Rays/Tim Beckham, SS
2007 – Devil Rays/David Price, LHP
2006 – Royals/Luke Hochevar, RHP
2005 – Diamondbacks/Justin Upton, OF
2004 – Padres/Matt Bush, SS
2003 – Devil Rays/Delmon Young, OF
2002 – Pirates/Bryan Bullington, RHP
2001 – Twins/Joe Mauer, C
2000 – Marlins/Adrian Gonzalez, 1B
Pirates' #1 Pick Overall Since 1965
Year – Player
2002 – Bryan Bullington, RHP/Ball State
...Bullington will not be remembered as one of the greatest #1 choices of all-time. Bryan pitched in just six games for the big league team in the Steel City. He had stints in Cleveland, Toronto, and Kansas City before being released in November of 2010. As if it isn't enough just the thought of the Pirates spending their choice on Bullington. Here's a list of players who they could've taken: Zack Greinke (6th), Prince Fielder (7th), Cole Hamels (17th) and Matt Cain (25th).
1996 – Kris Benson, RHP/Clemson
...Benson tossed four and a half years for Pittsburgh compiling a record of 43-49 and posting an ERA of 4.26 for the Buccos. On July 30, 2004, Kris was sent to the Mets along with Jeff Keppinger for Matt Peterson, Ty Wigginton and, some third baseman named, Jose Bautista. Boy, the Pittsburgh fans are wishing they could have Bautista back right about now.
1986 – Jeff King, 3B/Arkansas
...Jeffrey Wayne King was a solid player who would hit around 20 homers, belt out around 90 runs batted in and could play both first base and third base for the Pirates in the mid-90s. Worthy of the #1 choice, though, not quite.
Indians' #8 Pick Overall Since 1965
Year - Player
1990 - Tim Costo, SS/Iowa
...Drafted June 2, 1990 by the Indians, Costo was traded almost one year later (June 14) to the Reds for Reggie Jefferson. Costo played just two seasons for Cincinnati as he only appeared in 43 games, batting .224 with 134 at-bats. Although the first round didn't turn out superstars like other years did, the Tribe had the opportunity to take Mike Mussina, who was selected by Baltimore twelve picks after Cleveland made their selection.
Draft Order
ROUND 1
1. Pittsburgh
2. Seattle
3. Arizona
4. Baltimore
5. Kansas City
6. Washington
7. Arizona
8. Cleveland
9. Chicago Cubs
10. San Diego
11. Houston
12. Milwaukee
13. New York Mets
14. Florida
15. Milwaukee
16. Los Angeles Dodgers
17. Los Angeles Angels
18. Oakland
19. Boston
20. Colorado
21. Toronto
22. St. Louis
23. Washington
24. Tampa Bay
25. San Diego
26. Boston
27. Cincinnati
28. Atlanta
29. San Francisco
30. Minnesota
31. Tampa Bay
32. Tampa Bay
33. Texas
COMP ROUND A
34. Washington
35. Toronto
36. Boston
37. Texas
38. Tampa Bay
39. Philadelphia
40. Boston
41. Tampa Bay
42. Tampa Bay
43. Arizona
44. New York Mets
45. Colorado
46. Toronto
47. Chicago White Sox
48. San Diego
49. San Francisco
50. Minnesota
51. New York Yankees
52. Tampa Bay
53. Toronto
54. San Diego
55. Minnesota
56. Tampa Bay
57. Toronto
58. San Diego
59. Tampa Bay
60. Tampa Bay
Pirates’ 1st Round Selections Since 2000
Year – Pick/Player
2010 – 2/Jameson Taillon, RHP (Woodlands High School, TX)
2009 – 4/Tony Sanchez, C (Boston College)
2008 – 2/Pedro Alvarez, 3B (Vanderbilt)
2007 – 4/Danny Moskos, LHP (Clemson)
2006 – 4/Brad Lincoln, RHP (Houston)
2005 – 11/Andrew McCutchen, CF (Fort Meade High School, FL)
2004 – 11/Neil Walker, 2B (Pine Richland High School, PA)
2003 – 8/Paul Maholm, LHP (Mississippi State)
2002 – 1/Bryan Bullington, RHP (Ball State)
2001 – 8/John Van Benschoten, RHP (Kent State)
2000 – 19/Sean Burnett, LHP (Wellington Community High School, FL)
Indians’ 1st Round Selections Since 2000
Year – Pick/Player
2010 – 5/Drew Pomeranz, LHP (Ole Miss)
2009 – 15/Alex White, RHP (North Carolina)
2008 – 29/Lonnie Chisenhall, 3B (Pitt Community College, NC)
2007 – 13/Beau Mills, 1B (Lewis-Clark State College, ID)
2005 – 14/Trevor Crowe, OF (Arizona)
2004 – 6/Jeremy Sowers, LHP (Vanderbilt)
2003 – 11/Michael Aubrey, 1B (Tulane)
2003 – 18/Brad Snyder, OF (Ball State)
2002 – 22/Jeremy Guthrie, RHP (Stanford)
2001 – 17/Dan Denham, RHP (Deer Valley High School, CA)
2001 – 27/Alan Horne, RHP (Marianna High School, FL)
2000 – 26/Corey Smith, SS (Piscataway High School, NJ)
