Rice is expected to have 3 pitchers taken within first 10 picks. Jered Weaver is dropping due to his salary demends and Stephen Drew is also.
Astros don't have a first round pick for the second year in a row due to the signing of Andy Pettite.
'Stros pick Hunter Pence, Jr. OF UT-Arlington Was named a Baseball American First Team Summer All-American after playing for the Liberal BeeJays of the Jayhawk League. Was named the team MVP after leading the team with a .429 average, four triples, seven home runs, 39 RBIs, 61 hits, 48 runs, 102 total bases, and 143 at-bats. Pence also ranked second on the team with 12 doubles, a .713 slugging percentage and a .481 on-base percentage. 2003: .347-8-42...named first team all-SLC as an outfielder...played in all 62 games with 61 coming as either the starting left fielder or designated hitter...spent 13 games as the leadoff hitter, one in the three spot in the lineup and 35 as the cleanup hitter...third on the team in average...tied for the team lead with 29 multiple hit games...second on the team with 134 total bases...led the team in triples with six and tied for third in home runs with eight...started the season on an 11 game hitting streak...hit his first collegiate home run to start a rally in a come-from-behind victory over New Mexico...had a career best three hits on seven different occasions...knocked in a career-high five runs when he belted two home runs to the same spot in left center field in a victory over Oklahoma ... drove in a total of seven runs in two games against OU ...went 3-for-4 in an extra inning loss to eventual national champion Rice ...collected a pair of doubles in a home victory over Southeastern Louisiana...scored four runs in a victory over Texas-San Antonio ...scored six runs in the three game series. SLC Tournament: Started all six games in the tournament and hit .348 (8-for-23) with one home run, five doubles and five runs batted in...also scored seven runs and drew four walks...set a new tournament record by collecting five doubles...tied the tournament record by scoring four runs in a victory over Louisiana-Monroe...went 3-for-4 with a pair of doubles and three RBI in that contest...collected three hits, including a double and home run, and drew two walks in a victory over McNeese State Prior to UTA: Played freshman year at Texarkana Junior College, hitting .395-12-50 with 33 stolen bases...earned All-Conference Region XIV honors at TJC...named to the Dean’s List...a three-sport standout at Arlington High School, where he graduated in 2001... played baseball, football and track...named Offensive MVP for District 8-5A...earned All Dallas/Ft. Worth Area Team honors. http://utamavs.collegesports.com/sports/m-basebl/mtt/pence_hunter00.html 2nd pick is OF Jordan Parraz from a Nevada CC. Hun said before the draft they were going to focus on position players in an attempt to shore up a weakness in their minor league system. They drafted heavy on pitchers last year...
Parraz was drafted as a pitcher in the 6th round by the Phillies last year, but saw most of his p.t. this year as an OFer. No idea what the 'Stros plan on doing with him.
Doing some sleuthing on Jordan Parraz...it seems he was a pitcher before, and considered to have a high ceiling. Seems to be a stellar athlete, as some basketball info showed up on my search. Here's a good site on him from last year's draft.... http://philliesdraftreport.com/2003/2003Round06.html At least one team, the Houston Astros, considered Parraz as an outfielder and given the Phillies lack of outfield depth in their farm system, it wouldn't be a bad idea for them to consider this as well. So we know the Astros have been eyeing this guy. That site said he has a 97 mph fastball, though. He's had a few injury problems as a pitcher, which might be partly why he's an OF.
From the Las Vegas Sun: Parraz, a powerful pitcher who would prefer to be drafted at his other position of outfielder, turned down "several hundred thousand" dollars from the Phillies after they chose him in the sixth round last year, said CCSN coach Tim Chambers. After leading the Scenic West Conference in hitting at .381 and winning four games on the mound this season, Parraz is projected to go even higher in 2004. "Jordan will obviously be the highest pick in the state, I'm sure," Chambers said. Chambers has spoken to about 15 teams and he does not expect Parraz, a 6-foot-3, 212-pound right-hander, to last beyond the third round of the draft. Hun said the 'Stros were weak at the catcher position in the lower levels and wanted to draft at least 2 this year...enter Lou Santangelo, C, Clemson.
124) LOUIS SANTANGELO CLEMSON U C R/R 6'1" 200 1983-03-16 COMMENT: LARGE FRAME, MUSCULAR, STOUT. WEIGHT ROOM STRONG, STURDY. ATHLETIC LOOK. WIDE BACK, THICK LEGS, TONED MIDDLE. SIMILAR TO SCOTT HATTEBERG. SQUARE, WIDE, CROUCH. UP IN BOX. TOE TAPS BACK THEN STRAIGHT STRIDE. AGGRESSIVE HACKS, BATTLES AT PLATE. FAIR BAT SPEED. PHYSICAL STRENGTH FOR WOOD. OCCAISIONAL HITTING ADJUSTMENT. FLASHES LONG BALL. STRONG ARM. HANDS SOFT ENOUGH, AGILE BEHIND DISH. PREMIER POSITION PLYR W/ FUTURE DEFENSIVE TOOLS. COACHABLE, WILL GIVE BEST TO IMPROVE. GOOD INTENSITY FOR GAME. 154) MITCH EINERTSON RANCHO BUENA VISTA HS CF R/R 5'10" 178 1986-04-04 COMMENT: MEDIUM, COMPACT, ATHLETIC FRAME. MUCH STRONGER THAT APPEARS, LEAN MUSCLE TONE. STRONG FOREARMS & WRISTS. TRIM WAIST. AGILE LOWER HALF. SIMILAR TO CRAIG BIGGIO. SEMI-OPEN STANCE. ALERT, 1ST STEP QUICKNESS W/ INSTINCTS IN OF. SOLID HITTING APPROACH. GOOD TRIGGER. SHORT, VERY QUICK, COMPACT STROKE. HARD CONTACT TO ALL FIELDS. SURPRISING POP IN BAT. NEAR PLUS, ACCURATE ARM. AVG SPEED, BETTER UNDERWAY. AGGRESSIVE ON BASE. INTENSE COMPETITOR, SCRAPPY, HARD-NOSE KID.
those "experts" at 610 should stick to the pros. as always they know nothing about college, unless it's hoops or pigskin, and absolutely nothing about HS. stay away from mlb draft talk. just listening to C&R around 4:45 - they said to "keep an eye for josh baker the "other" pitcher from Rice. he should get drafted" rich was right - but someone might want to tell him that baker was selected about 3 hours ago by the brewers in the 4th round.
It's easy to dog radio guys, but I don't really understand your point here. Getting drafted in the 4th round in the MLB draft is nothing like getting drafted in the 4th round in the NFL draft, or being a late pick in the NBA draft. The MLB draft is 50 rounds long, plus compensation rounds. Take a look at our starting staff, considered one of the best in the league. I think other than Clemens who was a mid-first round pick way back when, the other 4 guys-Oswalt, Pettitte, Miller, and Redding- were all drafted well after the 4th round. I would hope a guy we pick in the 4th round either eventually makes the big league club, or provides us ammunition in a trade down the line.
Why are we still drafting catchers? We seem pretty set in that department. I see 3 drafted already. I understand that we are in desperate need position players especially, since, last year we drafted all pitchers, but one. But IMO, catchers have the worst chance of becoming good hitters.
Looks like Weaver and Drew both made a big mistake signing with Scott Boras. Either one could have been #1 and both top 5 picks. They gave up potential millions by dropping in the draft. GM's just don't feel like dealing with his negotiations anymore.
