First Round Draft Grades

Each of the thirty CBA teams, with their boards filled with players, entered in to the inaugural draft hoping for the next big player. Each team left the draft feeling special about their team and ready to take on the new year. Many different strategies emerged, and, as draft night continued, it became more and more obvious to all what those strategies would be. In this article, however, we take a look at the first 30 picks in this inaugural draft – The pros, cons, and oddities of each team’s pick.

Pick 1: RF Brent Savage, New York Roar

About as close to a no doubter as you can get. He’s 27 and still has plenty of years to play. He’ll contribute at a high level this inaugural season and for years to come.

Grade: A+

Pick 2: 1B Adam Borne, Dallas Devils

This is a true win-now pick for Dallas. Yes, he’s played at an MVP caliber level in the past – but don’t overlook the fact that he is 33. Dallas sucked themselves in to a must win situation with this pick, so it will be interesting to see how they operate in the post-Borne years. He also is “Fragile” in injury, and with that being combined with his age, this pick has the possibility to backfire. We think, however, that the chances of backfiring are slim, and he’ll contribute to Dallas this year.

Grade: B-

Pick 3: RHP Mike Quinn, Atlanta Swarm

Quinn was the top pitcher on many GM’s boards heading in to the draft. Atlanta, however, had multiple picks later on in the draft, allowing them to overcome their lineup deficiency. At 32 though, we have the same issues with Borne a pick earlier – he won’t be able to stay on the mountain for much longer.

Grade: B

Pick 4: 2B Jamie Malchow, Midwest Plainsmen

About the best leadoff hitter in the draft, he has a knack for putting the ball in play and uses his speed to get on base. Only 27 when the season starts, he’ll anchor the top of the Midwest lineup for years.

Grade: A-

Pick 5: 2B Andy Mobley, Oklahoma Mammoths

At 27, he challenges Malchow for the leadoff king title – but with a fragile injury rating, he also comes at a higher risk. He can play anywhere in the infield, allowing the Mammoths flexibility among their fielders.

Grade: B+

Pick 6: 1B Ryan Wright, Mexico City Chupacabras

Wow.

Let this sink in – you’ve got franchise changers sitting on the board waiting to get chosen, and an 18 year old gets to stick his tongue out at each of them and walk on stage. Definitely a change of strategy from the previous picks, and an anomaly this early in the draft.

More importantly, if Wright develops the way Mexico City wants him to, He’ll be a staple for the middle of the lineup, with OSA ranking him as 80/80/80 for contact, gap, and power. There’s still a way to go in his minor league career, but we might see him sooner than expected.

Grade: D+

Pick 7: RHP Chris Abbott, Whichita Weasels

This could be looked at as both a great pick and a reach. OSA has him at 60/60/60 – which does not stick him above many other pitchers who were taken in the first round. He is a control specialist, but his stuff may not be able to work well enough to be an “elite” pitcher. At 29, you won’t see the gaudy numbers that you hope for with the seventh pick, but you’ll see consistency that garners his pick this early.

Grade: C+

Pick 8: SS Brett Mandell, Portland Axemen

Portland is rejoicing after Mandell fell into their laps. A 24 year old Shortstop who can hit, run, and fields well enough that he could be an above average fielder, he’ll stay producing with Portland for years. He’ll need a platoon player against lefties, though, but that should take at most 30 games out of his schedule.

Grade: A

Pick 9: CF Danny Pinger, Philadelphia Liberty

For a guy who’s nickname is “Future”, how can you not like him? Otherwise, besides his contact, he is just above league average. We think this might have been a reach given the number of impact players left on the board with this pick. He also turns 30 this season and comes with a fragile injury rating, so the red flags are rising as time goes on.

Grade: C-

Pick 10: CF Ralph Radney, Salt Lake City Snappers

A switch hitter, he’ll likely be leading off for SLC this year. A guy who specializes in contact and running speed, he’ll need to work on his defense to play average center. However, the 27 year old still is in his prime and is looking to make an impact on the new franchise.

Grade: B-

Pick 11: 3B Kevin Rayos, Denver Wolves

He’s young and he can hit. He’ll be a mainstay in the Wolves’ lineup for a long time. His defense and speed are spotty, but he definitely has time to work on those aspects of his game.

Grade: A-

Pick 12: RHP Jeremy England, Boston Rogers

He’ll be a front line starter for Boston this year, and will put up huge numbers this year. He’s 30 years of age but clocks in with a durable injury rating, so we probably don’t have to worry about injuries in his older years. He also needs to work on his control, but he should be able to pitch out of the jams he creates.

Grade: B+

Pick 13: 3B Josh Verburg, Great Lakes Monsters

At 28, he is the type of person you want leading off – he does a great job putting the ball in play, takes plenty of walks, doesn’t strike out, and uses his speed. He is a utility player, has a great arm and plays above average third base. The one knock off people give his playing is that he doesn’t hit home runs – but when every other part of his game is that good, who needs home runs?

Grade: A

Pick 14: RHP Ben Perez, DC Eagles

The collective combination of groans from the other GM’s in the draft room showed how much Perez was wanted by other teams. The only pitcher younger than 28 to earn high marks, the 23 year old should anchor the front of the DC rotation for years to come. When you consider the other pitchers available at the time, this pick would have been a reach had Perez been 28. However, his youthfulness boosts this pick’s grade.

Grade: A

Pick 15: RHP Xavier Frade, Indianapolis Hawks

The best rated pitcher in the draft by many teams, Frade was a surprising player to be available at 15. However, as the oldest player being chosen in the first round at 33, many wonder how many good seasons Frade has left in the tank.

Grade: B

Pick 16: C Jordan Olguin, Cincinnati Royals 

The first catcher taken off the board, and it was obvious that Olguin was the best catcher. Cinci tried the New York Mets’ strategy – “Well, who else are you going to throw the ball too?”.  At 30 years of age and at a grueling position, we may find Olguin moving to another position as time goes on. He is slightly above league average at hitting, as his rating comes from his catching skill. A high risk-high reward pick for the Royals.

Grade: B+

Pick 17: 3B Ernie Reeder, Chicago Gale

Reeder will compete for leaderboards this year with his hitting and his defense, but those are the only things he has going for him. He’s 32 and will turn 33 later this year, limiting the pick’s value as the years go on. Chicago is here to win now, so the pick makes sense in that part. Down the road – well, that’s a different story.

Grade: B-

Pick 18: RF Victor Delgado, Sacramento Golden Bears

The definition of a 5 tool player. He can hit, run, and field all above league average. He’ll compete for a triple crown in hitting this year, with a unique blend of contact and pop that rivals the front of the draft. He’s only 26, and will be a household name sooner than you think.

Grade: A

Pick 19: 2B Ramon Rangel, Florida Giants

How did he slip this far? A durable player with great contact, speed, and power. Plays average defensively, but why should that matter? Only at 27 (Turning 28 this season), this is a pick that has fans in Florida dancing in the streets (along with those in the Florida front office).

Grade: A+

Pick 20: RF Jim Forrestall, Houston Moondogs

The 31 year old can hit, yes. He’s got below average range in the outfield, and don’t get me started on his speed. Houston set themselves up to win now with this pick, so we shall see how the season turns out in Houston.

Grade: B

Pick 21: RHP Chris House, Houston Moondogs

Wait, didn’t Houston just pick? Sure, House is 31 and creates a bad presence in the clubhouse. That’s about all the bad you can heap on to him. He has 4 amazing pitches that he can mix in, and simply gets the job done. And the issue with the clubhouse? One simple answer – winning solves everything.

Grade: A-

Pick 22: 1B Chris Greenwell, Austin Outlaws

He’s 23. He can rake. He’s also a first baseman, and that should tell you what his defense and running ability is like. He’s great in the clubhouse and should be the face of the Austin franchise for years.

Grade: B+

Pick 23: 2B Jose Rodriguez, Sacramento Golden Bears

Everybody will remember this pick not for Rodriguez, but for the flurry of trades that occurred beforehand. Rodriguez himself follows the mold of the other second basemen taken in this draft – low power, but high OBP and speed that will lead him to slot nicely in the lead-off spot. His defense is not good, but at 28 Sacramento fans can get used to seeing him plenty.

Grade: B

Pick 24: LF Ivan Quijije, Brooklyn Bulldogs

We now have a candidate for the “Most Misspelled Name” award. After fans figure out how to pronounce and spell his last name, they’ll tune in to see a power show. He’ll launch home runs – and that’s all. Speed, Defense, and the other hitting skills lack in the 26 year old, though we should see his average remain among the league leaders.

Grade: B-

Pick 25: CF Chris Cochran, Detroit Motors

This is, in fact, Detroit’s first pick in the draft. Hard to believe that they’re going to be in the premier league, right? They took the league’s top prospect, a 18 year old, after trading down. he’ll likely be a guy who will lead the league in batting average year after year, but Detroit will have to wait a few years for Cochran to develop.

Grade: B+

Pick 26: 1B Carlos Rodriguez, Arizona Thunderbirds

The 20 year old will likely be in the chasing league leaders for his first few years when he breaks into the league, which could be this very year. He will struggle, but will be in the middle of the lineup for Arizona soon.

Grade: B-

Pick 27: 1B Alberto Jurado, Great Lakes Monsters

Definitely an interesting pick. He doesn’t wow you with his speed or his ability to put the ball in play, but he does impress you with his defense and power. He’s not young, so don’t expect his contact to improve vastly. What you can expect is a gold glove caliber defense at first base for years. Don’t let this make you think he’s a great pick at this point in the draft – most would agree that it Jurado this early is a reach.

Grade: C

Pick 28: 2B Josh Saso, Atlanta Swarm

Atlanta selected Saso with the hope that he’ll solidify the middle of the diamond, and his hitting this year will prove Atlanta right. He’ll likely compete in both Home Runs and Batting Average, but will need some defensive work. His speed won’t blow you out of the water either. He is also 33, so he may be on the wrong side of the plateau.

Grade: B

Pick 29: RHP Aaron Hannah, DC Eagles

Another groan arose when Hannah was picked. He needs work on his control, and this is one issue that scouts around the league are in consensus of – he will walk plenty of batters. However, the 21 year old will soon be leading the league in strikeouts. Scouts have said that there’s only one other person in the league who may be challenging him a few years down the road in the K category. They are worried about his injury proneness, but just as the old Washington Nationals, neither DC team shied away from players with injury concerns. Expect Hannah to start and struggle this year, but be a force in years to come.

Grade: A-

Pick 30: LF Shen Qi, Atlanta Swarm

At 29, he is one of the few leadoff type hitters who does not play second base. He very well could lead the league in average and OBP this year, as his contact, avoid k, and eye ratings are all through the roof. He runs fast, though his base running could use some work. He doesn’t wow you with his outfield play either, but he is the type of player to give up one run while scoring two.

Grade: A

 

All grades were given out while trying to be as unbiased as possible; however, some ideologies were subconsciously favored when grades were handed out, so the grades listed should not be end-all ratings.