The Major League Baseball draft came to an end on Wednesday. It lasted three days this year, longer than normal, but it still felt like a blur.
Six former Cape Leaguers went in the first round, the fewest number in the last nine years, which is as far back as the league’s web site draft info goes. I think that reflects two things: (1) the college crop for 2010 wasn’t that strong and (2) a lot of the top players never made it to the Cape, for one reason or another. Only 14 of the 32 first-round picks were four-year college players, and only seven of them played on the Cape. The top two college picks, Christian Colon and Drew Pomeranz, were both Team USA guys.
I’m still sorting everything else out. Later today, I’ll get a post up about drafted players who are on 2010 rosters. For now, some notable alumni draft tidbits:
A total of 12 Cape Leaguers went in the second round.
San Diego’s Sammy Solis (Chatham ’08) was the first pick in the second round. He’s a guy who would have been one of the top prospects in the Cape League last year had he not missed the spring and summer with an injury. Solis was fun to watch as a freshman.
Todd Cunningham (Falmouth ’09) went one pick after Solis in the second round. Cunningham was the batting champ and the league’s top prospect last year. Most Cape League top prospect award-winners go in the first round. Had Chris Sale won the award, which was what a lot of people expected, the trend would have continued. Still, Cunningham was way up there as one of the top college bats in the draft.
Daniel Tillman (Cotuit ’09) was dominant out of the bullpen last summer and it wasn’t a fluke. The Angels took him with the 81st overall pick, late in the second round.
Austin Wates (Y-D ’09) was really solid last year for the Red Sox and he went in the third round to the Astros. He’s listed as a second baseman. He spent most of his time in the outfield for Y-D.
Like Tillman, Kevin Munson (Bourne ’09) was a small-school guy who made a big impression as a reliever last year. Arizona took him in the fourth round.
Hunter Morris (Falmouth ’09) was probably the best power hitter on the Cape last summer. After a huge college season, he was drafted in the fourth round by Milwaukee.
Tennessee lefty Bryan Morgado (Bourne ’09) was picked in the third round last year, didn’t sign and delivered a big summer on the Cape. After a so-so college season, Morgado was drafted in the fourth round this year.
Virginia Tech’s Jesse Hahn (Chatham ’09) had the best velocity on the Cape last year and he shot up draft boards early in the spring. An injury sent him tumbling back down, though, and he ended up in the sixth round.
2009 League MVP Kyle Roller (Bourne ’08 & ’09) went in the eighth round to the Yankees. I’m sure he was hoping to go a little higher, but the eighth round is a lot better than the 47th, which is where he went last year, before his enormous summer.
Whit Merrifield (Chatham ’09), the guy in the banner at the top of the site, went in the ninth round to Kansas City. If any Royals blogger needs a new banner for his or her site, I can provide a recommendation.
Fan favorite Pierre LePage (Bourne ’08 & ’09) was drafted in the 13th round by the Cubs. LePage is on the Bourne roster again this summer.
