Draft Profile - C Luke Bailey, HS Georgia

[BearSox]

Luke Bailey, C, HS Georgia (Bats R | Throws R)

Scouting Report

Strengths: 5 Tool Potential. Has good speed for a catcher, has a great arm, real good catch and throw skills, and very solid behind the plate. With the bat, he has very good power and has a natural swing.

 

Negatives: Had/Has to have Tommy John Surgery and won't be ready to make his debut until next year. He can get a bit home run happy at times and lead to holes in his swing. Some question the amount of athletic ability he has.

Scouting Report Links

http://mlb.mlb.com/mlb/events/draft/y2009/...?content=bailey

http://redsoxprospects57174.yuku.com/srepl...ng-Reports.html

 

Statistics

http://www.aflacallamerican2008.com/lukeBailey.asp (the ones at the bottom are the only ones I could find, sorry)

 

Bio

http://www.perfectgame.org/players/playerp...e.aspx?ID=67934

http://www.aflacallamerican2008.com/lukeBailey.asp

 

Video

http://mlb.mlb.com/media/video.jsp?content...41&c_id=mlb

 

Projected Draft Slot

Late Round 1 - Mid Round 2

Player Comparison

Russell Martin

My Take

I really like him, but the fact he needs TJ Surgery is a turn off. However, because of the need for TJ surgery, he might fall to us somewhere in the 2nd or maybe even later. However, there is still a chance a team that liked him originally will still take him in the 1st.

 

At 38, I'd probably pass, depending on who else is there. However, at 61 or 71, he'd be very tempting. However, if he does fall, you have to worry about him deciding to go to college do to the fact he wasn't a 1st rounder.

Edited May 20, 2009 by BearSox

[Chisoxfn]

If the Sox want to spend the money on him in the 2nd round he'd be a great pick and I'd also have no problem with him with our compensatory pick but my guess is there is a decent shot he's there with our pick in the 2nd round. Sox will have to be willing to spend though and maybe give him late 1st round money.

 

Pre-injury he was regarded as potentially the top prep catcher in what is considered a strong catching class.

[dasox24]

I really like this guy. And if he's there with our compensatory pick, I'd take him. He has so much talent. I wouldn't mind the time it took for him to get back from TJ. I really think the positives would outweigh the negatives with a selection like this.

[GoodAsGould]

In past drafts I picked a guy I really wanted, last draft it was Jordan Danks a couple years before that it was Shelby jr. This is the guy Im hoping we take with our 2nd or 3rd pick this season. I actually wouldnt be against drafting 2 catchers relatively early, this seems like the draft to do that.

[SoxAce]

In past drafts I picked a guy I really wanted, last draft it was Jordan Danks a couple years before that it was Shelby jr. This is the guy Im hoping we take with our 2nd or 3rd pick this season. I actually wouldnt be against drafting 2 catchers relatively early, this seems like the draft to do that.

 

I like him alot too. He and Phelgey I'm big fans of. (like Phelgey a bit more, but Bailey has the better upside IMO) If he's there especially with the 3rd pick... you gotta take him.

[BearSox]

Bailey might have fallen out of the first 2 rounds completely, and maybe even the 3rd. If we could get him in the 4th, and pay him above slot to sign with us and not go to college, that'd be awesome.

[Chisoxfn]

It is going to take a six figure bonus to sign him. I f***ing wish the Sox drafted like that, but they won't. Even when they signed Danks, you have to remember they went cheap on some other early picks last year. And I mean CHEAP.