Chisoxfn Posted July 11, 2003 Share Posted July 11, 2003 2003 Draft Breakdown By Randy Brace, Chris Conger, Mike Doyle, and Jason Gage July 11, 2003 FutureSox.com FutureSox.com will take a closer look at all of the White Sox draft picks. These draft picks are the future of the organization and many will be reporting to their minor league teams after they signed. While many will sign, there are plenty that won't sign as they have opportunities to still play in school or may have another profession in mind. Today FutureSox will start with picks 50-41. Coming up next is 40-31. 50. Sean Gaston, 18 – Bats: Left – Throws: Right - C – Brownsburg High School Sean Gaston is this year's Mr. Irrelevant for the White Sox. Not many players sign out of the 50th round, especially High School players. Gaston is a solid defensive catcher with some projection in his bat. He isn’t going to play professional baseball just yet, as he has a full ride to Notre Dame, but the talent is definitely there. 49. Timothy Edmeades, 18 – 3rd – Buena Regional High School Edmeades was born on November 16, 1984, and is listed at 6'3" and 205 pounds. For a HS senior, that is a big kid. He bats left-handed but throws right-handed. He was the 22nd and final player drafted from the state of New Jersey… I know… I'm reaching. 48. Michael Alvarez, 19 – RHP – Monsignor Pace High School No Information at this time period. If you know something about this player and want to contribute to this piece or other pieces, please email us at [email protected] 47. Richard O'Brien, 18 – R/R – C – Catholic High School Richard O'Brien is the White Sox 47th round pick. He was also a senior catcher at Little Rock Catholic High School in Arkansas this past year. The 6 foot 190 pounder has a short compact right handed swing with some power. He could develop into a power hitting catcher in time. 46. Gregory Del George, 17 – S/R – SS – Monsignor Farrel High School Switch-hitting shortstop Greg Del George is a toolsy infielder that didn't draw much attention from colleges or many major league teams. Del George has a signed commitment to Vanderbilt University, and has said that it is doubtful he will sign a contract with the Sox. 45. Mitchell Woolf, 19 – RHP – College of Southern Idaho (Freshman)Mitch Woolf was born on February 18, 1984 and currently stands 6'3" and 170 pounds (listed 6'2" 195 by the College of Southern Idaho official roster). Yet another draft and follow pick, Woolf compiled good numbers for a freshman. He was not facing a high level of competition like his fellow draftees from the Florida JC or Division 1 circuits. However, he put up a 2.28 ERA in 13 games (11 starts), 51 1/3 IP, giving up only 27 hits with a 53:20 SO:BB ratio. 44. Brandon Johnson, 18 – L/R – 2nd – Crowder College (Freshman) Brandon Johnson is a freshman at Crowder College, who played his high school baseball at Glynn Academy in Brunswick Georgia. As a freshman it is likely that he is a draft and follow candidate. Johnson, like many latter round picks, doesn't have good odds to be a major leaguer, and will likely be a tough sign, simply because the odds are stacked against him and the money isn't there. Plus he has the leverage of being able to play another three years of baseball at the collegiate level, trying to improve his draft status. 43. Dustin Shafer, 18 – R/R – SS – Russel High School No Information at this time period. If you know something about this player and want to contribute to this piece or other pieces, please email us at [email protected] 42. Eric Everly, 19 – LHP – Olney Central Junior College (Freshman) The White Sox must really want Eric Everly, as this was the 2nd time he was drafted by the Sox. In his first year at Olney Central Junior College, Everly showed a good K:IP ratio, and continued that success with the Waterloo Bucks, who play in the Northwoods League. Could be a candidate for draft-and-follow. 41. Rolando Acosta, 20 – R/R – SS – Pima Community College (Sophmore) Acosta was born on April 13, 1983 and is a 5'11" 170 pound right-hander. Much like first round pick Brian Anderson, the White Sox have had plenty of opportunities to see him play as the Sox training facilities are in nearby Tucson. He is a classic late round pick, athletic, raw, and a draft-and-follow candidate. Pima Community College is the alma mater (as much as a JC can be) of several major leaguers, including Erubiel Durazo. Note: None of these picks have signed with the White Sox Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
KipWellsFan Posted July 11, 2003 Share Posted July 11, 2003 What exactly are you talking about when you say draft and follow? I'm not sure what this means. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chisoxfn Posted July 11, 2003 Author Share Posted July 11, 2003 You draft the player and then let them play another season and then after that you can sign them. I have a definition for it, will get it up on the story when I get home. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LDF Posted July 12, 2003 Share Posted July 12, 2003 great article and i can't wait for the other report. esp those in the 25-10 range. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MnSoxFan Posted July 13, 2003 Share Posted July 13, 2003 If player is JC player or a HS player who goes to JC for the next year, you can sign them prior to next years draft, Buehrle is one of our most succesful D&Fs, we had three this year, maybe 4 or 5 last year. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rex Hudler Posted July 13, 2003 Share Posted July 13, 2003 What exactly are you talking about when you say draft and follow? I'm not sure what this means. Basically you are gambling a draft pick that the player will improve enough in the next season that he will have value to the club and be worth signing. They often do this with guys they see potential in for big improvement. It is generally cheaper to sign a guy you drafted last year in the 30th round that could be a 5th round pick the next year, if you can sign him before the draft. You continue to scout the player to guage his improvement. There can be other reasons for draft and follows from budgets, to the number of players needed. If you sign all 50 guys, then you are going to have to do some clearing of existing players in your Minor League system. Draft and follows can occur in the upper rounds or even earlier in the draft. For example, Heath Phillips was a 10th round draft and follow. Did that make sense or did I ramble? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rex Hudler Posted July 13, 2003 Share Posted July 13, 2003 OK, Jason, I have two completely unrelated questions.... 1. After a player is drafted, the Major League club has to make him an offer within a specified time or the player becomes a free agent. (Travis Lee, Bobby Seay, Matt White) What if the big league club drafts a guy with the intention of him being a draft and follow? They still have to make him at least a courtesy offer to retain his rights, correct? If so, what if the player accepts the offer? They would have to take him in that instance, I would think that the Sox had just bought themselves a player. 2. Where did you get the info that Sean Gaston received a full ride to Notre Dame? The reason I ask is that it is my understanding that full rides are very rare in college baseball because of scholarship limitations. Most teams will carry 25 or even 30 players and the NCAA only allows 11.7 scholarships for baseball. If he did indeed get a full ride, then I am curious as to why he wasn't more highly regarded. Granted, he could get a combination of athletic scholarship/academic scholarship/financial aid, but you generally don't hear something like that termed "full ride". I guess my point is, if that is indeed correct, what else can we find out about him? Notre Dame is a damned good baseball school, so a full ride there would be a serious coup, I would imagine. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
KipWellsFan Posted July 13, 2003 Share Posted July 13, 2003 Basically you are gambling a draft pick that the player will improve enough in the next season that he will have value to the club and be worth signing. They often do this with guys they see potential in for big improvement. It is generally cheaper to sign a guy you drafted last year in the 30th round that could be a 5th round pick the next year, if you can sign him before the draft. You continue to scout the player to guage his improvement. There can be other reasons for draft and follows from budgets, to the number of players needed. If you sign all 50 guys, then you are going to have to do some clearing of existing players in your Minor League system. Draft and follows can occur in the upper rounds or even earlier in the draft. For example, Heath Phillips was a 10th round draft and follow. Did that make sense or did I ramble? That makes perfect sense, thanks Rex. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chisoxfn Posted July 13, 2003 Author Share Posted July 13, 2003 In regards to Gaston, I think Cerb did that one. I know I researched Gaston too and I read in a paper from Notre Dame that said he recieved a full ride. I think it was partially due to grades and partially for his ability. They say he's a heck of a catcher though. Not sure why no one heard about him, it could of been because he wasn't signable. To answer you first question I have no idea. In all honesty this is only the second draft I've ever really paid attention to, this one way more so then last years. I knew a few things about other picks, but nothing like I do now. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MnSoxFan Posted July 13, 2003 Share Posted July 13, 2003 I too read Gaston had full ride to ND, but I also read he was a straight A student, could be a combo. He is dead set on ND. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Texsox Posted July 13, 2003 Share Posted July 13, 2003 I too read Gaston had full ride to ND, but I also read he was a straight A student, could be a combo. He is dead set on ND. Straight A student, Notre Dame? Baseball isn't his first career objective. I'll bet he's planning on four years and having options after graduation. Good for him. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rex Hudler Posted July 13, 2003 Share Posted July 13, 2003 Straight A student, Notre Dame? Baseball isn't his first career objective. I'll bet he's planning on four years and having options after graduation. Good for him. That begins to make some sense then. Good for him. Let him play 3 years and if he is good enough we can draft him again. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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