Friday, August 31, 2007

Progress Of MLB's 2007 First Round Picks

With the minor league baseball season winding down, many of the first round picks from Major League Baseball's 2007 draft are completing their initial season of pro baseball. Soon, many of these players will head off to play in fall and winter instructional leagues to gain further experience. But before they do, let's take a look at how these players have fared in the earliest stage of their professional career.

(All statistics through Thursday, 8/30)

1. David Price, LHP - Tampa Bay Devil Rays

Price (pictured) has yet to suit up for a game since he signed his six-year, $11.25 million contract a few weeks ago. Reportedly, the Devil Rays want him to rest after throwing over 130 innings at Vanderbilt, where it wasn't uncommon for him to throw well over 100 pitches in a single outing.

2. Mike Moustakas, 3B/SS - Kansas City Royals

After signing a deal with a signing bonus of $4 million minutes before the deadline expired, Moustakas has played just 3 games. In 12 at-bats, he has 4 hits, including 1 double and 3 RBI.

3. Josh Vitters, 3B - Chicago Cubs

To say that Vitters is struggling is an understatement. The third baseman, who signed a deal that included a $3.2 million signing bonus, raised his minor league average 21 points after being moved from the Arizona Fall League to the Class A short season league. That would be great, except his average went from .067 to .088. He has just 3 hits in 34 at-bats, and has struck out 11 times compared to 2 walks.

4. Daniel Moskos, LHP - Pittsburgh Pirates

Being used in relief, the lefty has had mixed results to start his career. With only 11 2/3 innings under his belt, he has given up an earned run in all but one of his outings that lasted at least an inning. His overall ERA is 4.63, and he has struck out more than a batter an inning, with 12 on the season.

5. Matt Wieters, C - Baltimore Orioles

The former Georgia Tech catcher signed a deal with a $6 million signing bonus in the middle of August, but he has yet to suit up for an Orioles farm club. He will soon play in the Hawaii Winter League.

6. Ross Detwiler, LHP - Washington Nationals

The lanky, 6"5' Detwiler has started well for the Nats. His record is 2-2, as he has started 7 games and thrown 30 innings and given up 12 earned runs. His ERA would be much lower were it not for one game in which he allowed 7 earned runs in 2 2/3 innings. He also has 26 strikeouts and opponents are hitting .267 off of him.

7. Matt LaPorta, 1B/OF - Milwaukee Brewers

Since the Brewers already have some guy named Prince as their first baseman, LaPorta (pictured), a first baseman at Florida, has been playing the outfield - and mashing. In exactly 100 minor league at-bats, LaPorta has hit .310/.377/.670. He has 9 homeruns and 26 RBI as well. The only problem is the 28 strikeouts he has accumulated, which is far too many.

8. Casey Weathers, RHP - Colorado Rockies

Weathters has been outstanding so far in his young career. The righty has been used exclusively in relief, and in 12 2/3 innings, has 2.84 ERA, 2 saves, 19 strikeouts against 6 walks, and has held opponents to a .095 average.

9. Jarrod Parker, RHP - Arizona Diamondbacks

Parker signed a deal that gave him a signing bonus of $2.1 million, has yet to pitch in the minors, and will start throwing in the fall.

10. Madison Bumgarner, LHP - San Francisco Giants

Bumgarner also has yet to suit up in the minor leagues, though he did sign with the Giants.

11. Phillippe Aumont, RHP - Seattle Mariners

Aumont signed a deal with a $1.9 million signing bonus, but has not suited up yet in the minor leagues. He is currently playing for Canada at the America's World Junior Qualifying tournament.

12. Matt Dominguez, 3B - Florida Marlins

Dominguez has played just 7 games, and in those games he is hitting .107 with 3 hits in 28 at-bats, and only 1 walk.

13. Beau Mills, 3B - Cleveland Indians

Mills is already on his third different stop in his trek through the Indians' minor league system. He has 228 at-bats already, and is hitting .259/.331/.425, with 24 of his 59 hits going for extra bases.

14. Jason Heyward, CF - Atlanta Braves

The centerfielder has started will, going .302/.354/.488, with 5 doubles and 1 homerun among his 13 hits.

15. Devin Mesoraco, C - Cincinnati Reds

Mesoraco has struggled at the plate, hitting just .219/.310/.270. He only has 5 extra base hits among his 30 total, and he has struck out 26 times in 137 at-bats.

16. Kevin Ahrens, 3B - Toronto Blue Jays

The 18 year old is having trouble finding his groove at the moment, hitting .230/.339/.321. He has struck out 47 times in 165 at-bats.

17. Blake Beavan, RHP - Texas Rangers

Beavan has signed a deal with the Rangers for a $1.5 million signing bonus, but has yet to appear in any minor league games.

18. Peter Kozma, SS - St. Louis Cardinals

Kozma (pictured) played his first game in the New York-Penn League last night, going 0 for 3. He is currently hitting .246/.333/.361, with 8 doubles and 2 homeruns among his 30 hits.

19. Joe Savery, LHP - Philadelphia Phillies

Having started 5 games, Savery has pitched well. He has a 2.75 ERA, and despite his 1-2 record, he has allowed just 18 hits in 19 2/3 innings, and has struck out 15 batters against just 6 walks.

20. Chris Withrow, RHP - L.A. Dodgers

Withrow has no record to account for 6 appearances, including 4 starts. His ERA is 5.00, but he has allowed only 5 hits, as opponents are hitting just .167 against him. He also has 13 strikeouts and only 4 walks in 9 innings.

21. J.P. Arencibia, C - Toronto Blue Jays

Having already played 58 games, Arencibia is hitting .257/.309/.374, but has struck out 53 times compared to 55 hits.

22. Tim Alderson, RHP - San Francisco Giants

After reaching a deal the same day as Madison Bumgarner, one of the Giants other first-round picks, Alderson has performed. In 3 games, including 2 starts covering 5 innings, Alderson's ERA is 0.00, and he has 12 strikeouts and zero walks, as opponents are hitting .211 off him.

23. Nick Schmidt, LHP - San Diego Padres

In 7 innings, Schmidt has struggled, allowing 8 hits while walking 6. He also has 6 strikeouts and an opponents batting average of .286.

24. Michael Main, RHP - Texas Rangers

In 28 innings, Main has performed well. His ERA is 3.21, and though he has walked 13 hitters, he has struck out 34, and opponents are only hitting .212 off of him.

25. Aaron Poreda, LHP - Chicago White Sox

Poreda has been great early in his career. In 41 1/3 innings, including 7 starts, the lefty has an ERA of 1.09. He has allowed only 26 hits and 10 walks, while striking out 41. His opponents are hitting just .182 against him, and he has allowed only 1 homerun.

26. James Simmons, RHP - Oakland Athletics

In 13 games and 27 2/3 innings, mostly in relief, opponents are hitting .330 off of Simmons. He has struck out 24 against 8 walks, but he's allowed 38 hits and has an ERA of 4.88.

27. Rick Porcello, RHP - Detroit Tigers

The high school pitcher who many passed on because of his high price tag ($7 million), has yet to suit up in the minors. Porcello (pictured) is expected to start pitching in the fall.

28. Ben Revere, CF - Minnesota Twins

Revere has clearly had the best start among all first round picks. In 50 games, the centerfielder is hitting .325/.388/.461. He has shown his tremendous speed, as 10 triples are among his 62 hits. He has also stolen 21 bases and has struck out only 20 times in 191 at-bats.

29. Wendell Fairley, RF - San Francisco Giants

Fairley has signed a deal with a $1 million signing bonus, but will not start play until the fall.

30. Andrew Brackman, RHP - New York Yankees
After signing a deal with a $3.3 million signing bonus, Brackman will undergo ligament replacement surgery and is expected to miss 12-18 months.

A note to remember: The sample sizes (in terms of games played) of these players are quite small, as many did not sign until late. So whether the player is hitting .800 or .080, don't get too high or too down on them. Most still have a long way to go before you will see them in a Major League park.

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