Maybe?! If he got the talent, hey I guess you take the risk and hope it works out for the best. Cant blame them for taking risks! Remind me again, is this Kellogg guy a HS guy or college guy?
Gotchya. Thanks. Yeah, risk reward I would say. Touching gesture by Astros drafting paralyzed San Jac player
The Astros got trumped again. The Rangers also drafted a paralyzed player, earlier, and one who had a relationship with the team's scout so it has meaning.
The MLB draft's depth is such a joke that teams have the ability to draft paralyzed players. Why not just do like other sports and make it, say, a ten-round draft with the ability of undrafted players to sign as free agents where they feel it is the best fit? Pretty soon we might see CEO's kids being drafted, or family friends of management, or the owner's pet dog. I don't want to sound cruel but the purpose of a draft is not to be able to perform "nice gestures". Whatever, I'm just being a sophist because it makes no real difference to me whether 750 vs 400 kids get drafted.
I always find it odd when teams make those picks before the last round. Like for the 10 guys who were drafted after the paralyzed guy, what's it like knowing they were valued less than a nice gesture. It really is proof that after round 20 teams couldn't care less who they pick since its all short-season league fodder.
50 round draft makes sense for baseball. 10 is way too little. Teams have upwards of 6-7 minor league teams of 25 players each. They need an infusion of 50 players (give or take) a year to account for player promotion/attrition. I think the argument could be made for cutting it to 40 or maybe even 30, but 10 is just not enough. That would exponentially increase the work of the front office after the draft if a pool of 600 more players was available to sign with any team. I do completely agree that the draft is not for 'nice gestures'.
Nolan Ryan went in the 12th round. Mike Piazza was drafted in the 62nd round as a favor from Tommy Lasorda. Hell, Roy Oswalt was picked up in the 23rd round. More than any other sport, baseball is the hardest to project.
I wish they made players declare for the draft. If they did, they probably would cut the number of rounds.
11th-rounder Justin Gominsky and Mike Kvasnicka were teammates in high school (Mahtomedi HS) and college (Minnesota). Gominsky was Andre Johnson status as a HS receiver. The Minneapolis Star-Tribune described him as "a sure-handed game-breaker who can bring a crowd to its feet and opposing coaches to their knees." 30th-rounder Jordan Steranka was Ryan Braun status on defense. 22 errors at 3rd in 54 games. That translates to an .862 fielding percentage. No, he was not Ryan Braun status on offense, but nonetheless put up respectable numbers. 5th-rounder Nick Tropeano: “Words can’t explain how excited I am,” “It’s been my dream ever since I grabbed a baseball. I’ve been working my whole life for this moment, and it’s just one step closer to getting to my ultimate dream.” http://www.longislandpress.com/2011/06/07/stony-brook-pitcher-picked-in-5th-round-of-mlb-draft/
Tropeano sounds intriguing, if his changeup is as good as most have said then I can seem him making a surge up the system quickly.
For the kid, it was a great thing. I guess I shouldn't be shocked at reactions like your's and those in the chron.com comments.
31) Jarrod McKinney, RF, Arkansas 32) Zachary Dando, RHP, Central Arizona 33) Dominique Taylor, CF, Salt Lake CC 34) Dustin Kellogg, RHP, Caney Creek HS (TX) 35) Christopher Morales, RHP, Clear Creek HS (TX) 36) Kevin Gonzalez, C, Texas A&M 37) Steven Martin, RHP, Texas A&M 38) James Propst, RHP, Oklahoma State 39) David Haerle, RHP, College of the Canyons 40) Buddy Lamothe, RHP, San Jacinto College 41) Chase Davidson, 1B, Georgia 42) Hoke Granger, CF, Northside Methodist Academy (AL) 43) David Grimes, OF, Upton Lakes HS (NY) 44) Blake Ford, RHP, Lamar 45) Chris Epps, OF, Clemson 46) Justin Shults, 1B, UC-Riverside 47) Zachary Hardoin, LHP, Missouri 48) Andrew Murray, C, Westfield HS (NJ) 49) David Peterson, RHP, College of Charleston 50) Colton Davis, OF, Lake Wales HS (FLA) See http://www.crawfishboxes.com/
For those keeping track at home, Astros County keeps a running track who has been signed. Currently they have ... 2011 Draft Signees So who from the 2011 Draft has signed? 4th Round - LHP Chris Lee 13th Round - IF John Hinson 38th Round - RHP Brad Propst 44th Round -RHP Blake Ford
