Marlins draft 16th

 

Shortage of top-end talent dilutes draft

 

By Joe Capozzi, Palm Beach Post Staff Writer

Tuesday, June 3, 2003

 

The Florida Marlins have the 16th overall pick in today's amateur draft. Usually, the 16th pick all would guarantee a top-notch player.

 

Perhaps not this year.

 

"This is not a top-end draft," said Jim Fleming, the Marlins' vice president of player development and scouting. "There are not a lot players you would say for sure are quick to the big leagues."

 

That won't change Florida's approach. Like most teams, the Marlins always are looking for the premium positions players -- left-handed pitchers, catchers and middle infielders.

 

But Florida will lean toward taking the best available player.

 

"You always try to find left-handed pitching, but not at the cost of missing out on the best player," said Stan Meek, Florida's scouting director.

 

"If you've got a (first or third baseman) who is better than the next middle infielder or next pitcher, you take the corner guy."

 

The Marlins also may be restricted financially, meaning they may pass on players if they doubt they can afford to sign them.

 

"Signability is always a factor. You have a budget to work within and you have to take guys you can sign for the money you've allotted for that spot," Fleming said.

 

Last year the Marlins picked left-handed hitting outfielder Jeremy Hermida with their first-round pick, 11th overall. Hermida, now in low Class A Greensboro (N.C.), signed for $2.125 million.

 

The bonus payment for the 16th pick the past two years has averaged $1.64 million.

 

Among the players Florida is looking at are Ian Stewart, a third baseman from La Quinta High School in California, left-handed pitcher Andrew Miller of Buchholz High School in Gainesville, third baseman Eric Duncan from Seton Hall Prep in New Jersey and right-handed pitcher Craig Whitaker from Lufkin High School in Texas, who throws 98 mph.

 

Fleming said he is open to both high school and college players.

 

"If it comes down to a college player versus a high school player who is close to or equal, we're going to pick the college player every time, he said.

 

"College guys, generally thinking, are considered faster to the big leagues. High school guys are more projectable and have higher ceilings."

 

You draft experts out there, feel free to update as the draft gets going later.

*hopes Lastings Milledge falls to us*

 

here is the late night projection from baseballamerica.com

16. MARLINS. Florida was honing in on homestate high school lefthander Andrew Miller, whose mechanics went awry as the draft approached. Then Miller started talking about a $3 million bonus, and while the Marlins could take him and try to sign him for slot money, they probably will avoid that gamble. Milledge could interest them if he falls this far, but Markakis is more likely to be available.

PROJECTED PICK: Nick Markakis.

here is the article on MLB.comDelmon Young has been such a powerful hitter for so long that his high school in Camarillo, Calif., erected a 30-foot fence beyond the left-field wall so that Young would not hurt anyone working out on the school's track nearly 400 feet away.

And that was when he was 13.

 

So it was Young's impressive history of success and incredible promise for the future that led the Tampa Bay Devil Rays to make him the No. 1 selection in the 2003 First-Year Player Draft.

 

"Delmon's one of the fine young hitters in the country," Rays general manager Chuck LaMar said. "He's got the potential to hit and hit with power and be a productive middle-of-the-lineup type hitter on a Major League club.''

 

 

Young, the brother of the Tigers' Dmitri Young, is a 6-foot-3, 205-pound right-hander. The 17-year-old hit .544 in his senior season with seven home runs, 28 RBIs and six steals in 57 at-bats.

 

His team struggled early as Young missed the first six games of this season due to a sprained ankle he sustained playing pick-up basketball during the offseason. When Young returned, Camarillo went on to win 23 straight games, including six in the playoffs, before losing to Arlington High, 7-4, on May 27 in a second-round playoff game.

 

Young was Baseball America's Youth Player of the Year in 2002 and set the tournament home run record at the World Junior Championship with nine in seven games.

 

Young hit .542 as a junior when his team won the California Interscholastic Federation-Southern Section Division I championship and his 17 home runs were a Ventura County record. He also had 56 RBIs.

 

 

Delmon Young

 

School:

Adolfo Camarillo HS

Position: RF B/T: R/R

H: 6-2 W: 200

Born: 09-14-85 Class: HS

 

Scouting report:

Large, thick frame. Explosive bat speed and contact from short stroke. Drives through ball with good extension. Natural loft for towering home runs. Quick hands with strength. Loose, quick arm. Easy release, on-line and accurate throws. Proper routes. Future corner OF at ML level.

 

 

He hit 16 home runs for his Junior National Team last summer as he helped the Scorpions win their fourth straight Pacific View League title.

 

Young has been a pitcher, too, clocked in the low 90s. And some of his home runs have been estimated to travel as far as 450 feet prior to his senior season.

 

But it was his personal makeup that clinched the decision for the Devil Rays.

 

Delmon Young knows not just baseball but Major League Baseball.

 

Because of Dmitri, Delmon has mingled with the likes of Willie McGee, Ray Lankford, Mark McGwire, Ken Griffey Jr. and Barry Larkin.

 

"Delmon's been around the Major Leagues because of his brother and even though he's only 17, he expects to play in the Major Leagues," LaMar said. "He already has excelled in top competition against older players and has great confidence in his ability because of that."

 

Proud papa Admin Young said he knew early on that Delmon might become an even better athlete than Dmitri.

 

"I started preparing Delmon in eighth grade, when he was 13, to get ready to follow in Dmitri's footsteps,'' Admin Young told MLB.com's Jonathan Mayo. "That's when he told me he was ready."

 

Dmitri, who went to Rio Mesa H.S., was selected fourth overall by St. Louis in 1991. Dmitri has played first, third and the outfield in the Majors, but the Rays see Delmon as mainly an outfielder.

 

"We believe because of Delmon's arm strength, athleticism and instincts, he will be able to stay as a corner outfielder on a championship club," LaMar said.

 

Young has signed a letter of intent to attend the University of Arizona but LaMar said the Rays would offer Young a Major League contract and that he does not expect sign-ability to be an issue.

 

Paul C. Smith is a reporter for MLB.com. Anthony Gagliano contributed to this story. This story was not subject to the approval of Major League Baseball or its clubs.

Markakis went 7th to Baltimore....

 

Milledge is still there, going on pick 11(we have #16)

post all draft thoughts here....so we can keep it in one place....

 

 

thanks guys.

Marlins took Jeffrey Allison with the 16th pick....Milledge went #12 to the Mutts...

 

you can listen to the draft or watch it at mlb.com

Any stats on our pick?

Here is a write up from teamonebaseball on your pick:

 

Jeff Allison Florida Marlins P Peabody

Here's a surprise, Allison lasting to #16? He's among the best high school righties in recent years, but that's why he fell; he's a high school righty.

Ramp...what do you know about Jeffery Allison if anything?

here is what mlb.com said

COMMENT: Live, athletic body and actions. Potential Jason Isringhausen body. Loose, quick arm. Throws downhill. Advanced pitchabilitiy and know-how for age. Gifted arm and he knows it. Confident in all he does on field.

 

6'2'' 195lbs scroll down to Allison and find a clip

*i dont know if the link works....*

but i am tired of high school players being taken by this organization.....

 

 

i would much rather see them take a more of a 'sure' thing in a college player...especially if this organization is hell bent on developing young talent to play in the big leagues in a short period of time.

I just watched some clips of the kid....

 

he started out in the high 80's.....meh

 

than the low 90's better

 

he hit 96 and 101 on back to back pitches....

:mischief2 more stats on Jeff Allison

 

Has been one of most highly touted -- and most dominant -- high school pitchers since last summer when he was ace of junior national team. Allowed no earned runs and just seven hits in 51 innings as a senior, and struck out 118 and walked just nine. Mixes fastball that hits 95 to 97 mph with outstanding slider and changeup -- and has exceptional command of all three. Has lean upper body and long arms, but muscular legs generate exceptional speed on pitches with three-quarters delivery. Could be first high school pitcher selected. :mischief2

:mischief :w00t

He is amazing. He was rated as good as Josh Beckett out of HS. He was the one I was hoping to get and if you go back into my posts I said if he stays healthy, he will be the best player coming out of the draft when it is all said and done. Imagine Beckett, Burnett, Willis, Penny and Allison. Wow.

 

--Allison has been compared to Beckett and maybe an even better prospect than Beckett was coming out of HS. He is 6'2'', 195. Look at his final numbers this year: 7-0, 51 IP, 118 K, 9 BB, 7 H, 0.00 ERA

Here is his Bio:

Scouting Report: Allison was the ace of Team USA's junior national team that finished third at the world junior championship in Sherbrooke, Quebec, last summer. He had 17 strikeouts in 14 innings, and threw a complete-game four-hitter against Venezuela. He has been even more dominating this spring and had the second highest grade turned in by the Major League Scouting Bureau at one point this year. Allison was a perfect 6-0, 0.00 with 102 strikeouts in 44 innings. He had allowed only five hits and seven walks. Allison's raw stuff is electric, which has made him the top high school pitching prospect in the draft. He has a lean athletic body with a weak upper half, long lanky arms, and muscular legs. He has a no windup delivery and generates serious arm speed from a three-quarters slot which enables him to run his fastball up into the 96-97 mph range with nasty movement. He complements his heater with an above average 86-88 mph tilted slider and a 82-84 mph curve with excellent spin, bite, and two-plane break. He shows an occasional 76-77 mph change and does an excellent job of repeating his delivery and commanding both sides of the plate. Allison has some minor mechanical faults that need to be addressed. At times, he rushes through his balance point in his delivery, causing his arm to drag. He also lands on a stiff front leg, hyper-extending his knee, and has some recoil in his delivery. Scouts say he's cocky, to a point of being uncoachable at times.

Here's a nice Allison article for you from my home base up north here last week...you'll love him....

 

Allison-Boston Globe

Here's the Marlins picks so far:

notes by MLB.com

 

16 JEFFREY ALLISON VETERANS MEMORIAL HS RHP R/R 6'2" 195 1984-11-07

COMMENT: Live, athletic body and actions. Potential Jason Isringhausen body. Loose, quick arm. Throws downhill. Advanced pitchabilitiy and know-how for age. Gifted arm and he knows it. Confident in all he does on field.

 

53 LOGAN KENSING TEXAS A&M U RHP R/R 6'1" 185 1982-07-03

COMMENT: Well-proportioned, athletic build. Body type similar to David Cone. Quick, live arm. Ball jumps out of hand. A lot of groundballs. Signs of future average slider. Three solid Major League pitches. High energy. Aggressive on mound.

 

83 JONATHAN FULTON GEORGE WASHINGTON HS SS R/R 6'4" 200 1983-12-01

COMMENT: Lean with wiry strength. Wide stance, slight crouch. Good defensive actions. Flashes glove potential. Occasional average arm with carry. Quick swing through zone. Some loft to finish for power potential. Good instincts. Game is easy for him.

 

 

I like what I've read on Allison. Kensing's a little older & could help quicker, maybe a bullpen guy? Fulton is the shortstop, odd position for a big guy with only average arm...interesting.

We took an Aggie....

 

 

 

Great. Now we are doomed.

 

 

 

Oh wait..this is baseball not basketball....Nevermind they actually have a somewhat decent baseball program.

 

 

The Aggies still suck though.

Jeff Allison Florida Marlins P Peabody

He is a very good pitcher he didnt a allow not even one run is 51 innings! With a strike out total of 118 (tops in his league)....

 

C/o:Mlb.com

 

Marlins pick Allison in first round

High school right-hander did not allow a run this year

By Joe Frisaro / MLB.com

 

Jeff Allison's fastball has been clocked as high as 97 mph. (courtesy CQLinks.com)

 

? Marlins draft picks

MIAMI -- Maintaining the creed that you can never have enough pitching, the Marlins made dominating right-hander Jeff Allison the 16th overall pick in Tuesday's First-Year Player Draft.

 

An 18-year-old senior at Veterans Memorial High School in Peabody, Mass., Allison was viewed as the most overpowering pitcher in the draft. He was 6-0 with a 0.00 ERA and 118 strikeouts in 51 innings. He allowed just seven hits all season and walked nine.

 

"He's got a big arm, and he throws very hard," said Jim Fleming, the Marlins vice president of player development and scouting. "If you look at his numbers, his numbers were cartoon numbers. He didn't give up a run."

 

 

Allison's fastball has been clocked at 96 and 97 mph.

 

When he was available, Allison was an overwhelming consensus selection. Baseball America ranked him as the fifth prospect overall and the No. 2 pitcher.

 

"He's a high school kid," Fleming said, "but a high school kid, because of his pitches and his ability to throw strikes with those pitches, should be able to move at a decent pace through our system."

 

Three of the Marlins current staff signed professional contracts out of high school -- Josh Beckett, Brad Penny and Dontrelle Willis.

 

Scouting report:

Live, athletic body and actions. Potential Jason Isringhausen body. Loose, quick arm. Throws downhill. Advanced pitchabilitiy and know-how for age. Gifted arm and he knows it. Confident in all he does on field.

 

 

"Obviously, there is a knock on high school pitching," Fleming said. "If you look at what is pitching on our staff, there are a lot of high school pitchers. There are more high school players now getting to the big leagues than before because there are more high schoolers signing.

 

"That trend on college pitching was based on years of scouting where most kids went to school. There are certain risks to every player, and there are a lot of risks on a high school right-hander. But this kid has got a lot of upside. He has command of his pitches, which is something you usually don't see with a high school pitcher. We feel he can go through our system pretty fast."

 

One knock on Allison, according to some reports, is he is cocky and is, at times, hard to coach.

 

Fleming said the Marlins have no problems with his makeup.

 

"He's a very competitive guy, a baseball guy who wants to play," Fleming said. "We have all positives on his makeup."

 

The next step is signing Allison, who had a college commitment to the University of Arizona.

 

Allison was the ace on Team USA's junior national team that finished third at the World Junior Championship in Sherbrooke, Quebec, last summer. He struck out 17 in 14 innings and threw a complete-game, four-hitter against Venezuela.

 

"We put the board in order," Fleming said. "We weigh everything. He was the guy. At 16, he was the best player available at 16, without question. I don't know if he was unanimous in our room, but he was pretty close. Everybody liked this guy. He's a great fit."

whats the level of competition in mass?

whats the level of competition in mass?

I am not sure but not even Danny Almonte put up these types of numbers against that younger competition.

Although not Marlins related I think it's cool news, a pitcher who I saw pitch a few times at FIU was drafted by the Blue Jays. I hope he does well because he has a lot of potential:

 

FIU?s Banks becomes highest drafted Golden Panther in history

 

Florida International University junior pitcher Josh Banks became the highest FIU player ever taken in the MLB Draft Tuesday afternoon, going to the Toronto Blue Jays in the second round with the 50th overall selection.

 

Banks was a first-team all-Sun Belt selection in 2003, going 8-3 in 15 starts. The right-hander tallied 114 strikeouts through 105.1 innings and walked just 25 batters on the season. For his career, he struck out 198 and went 15-6 with a 3.23 ERA.

 

The Arnold, Md. native is the highest player selected from the Sun Belt Conference this season.

Source

 

And his MLB.com description:

 

Medium build, athletic frame. Similar to Bret Saberhagen. Smooth delivery. Fastball explodes out of hand with life. Controls both sides of plate. Solid sink on split-finger. Throws three pitches for strikes.

What a steal!!!!!!! Allison has been compared to Beckett by some scouts, the marlins also had another steal in the second in LOGAN KENSING TEXAS A&M. This draft is turning into a better one than last year with the two mistakes in the first two rounds. Here's a inside on SS Andino last year second round pick. The Marlins fine the kid a a couple of weeks ago for going home and seeing his girlfriend instead of his deading granny which he told the team. The fact that he's hitting .202 in low single A he should have been working on the hitting instead. Here's more scope on todays draft

 

 

http://www.baseballamerica.com/today/draft...3draftblog.html

Here's what ESPN's John Sickels had to say about Allison

 

Jeff Allison, RHP, HS -- Peabody, Mass.

 

"Rated as the best high school pitcher in the draft by most experts, Allison combines a mid-90s fastball and good command into an attractive package. He also doesn't have as much mileage on his arm as most top high school prospects, but that also means he has a bit less polish. Risky as all high school pitchers go, but has a very high upside."

 

The odd thing though is that BaseballAmerica mentioned he might drop in the first round due to his high bonus demands. Can Florida afford the demands this kid might have? I would assume that being drafted farther back in the order lowers the bonus money you're expected to get...

 

check out this note from Baseball America before the draft even started:

 

12:07 PM ET

Jeff Allison Falling Due to Bonus Demands?

Early rumblings coming out of draft war rooms this morning are that Massachusetts righthander Jeff Allison's contract demands could cause him to slide into the mid-first round. The Mets, who benefitted from Scott Kazmir's slide last year, would likely decide between Allison and Florida high school outfielder Lastings Milledge. One AL executive said the Mets would be crazy to pass on Allison with the No. 12 pick.

? -- Josh Boyd

 

Here's what Sickels had to say after the Marlins selected him:

 

"The best high school pitcher in the draft, but fell to this spot because of his rumored bonus demands, as well as the queasiness of many teams about high school pitchers this year. Throws hard, throws strikes, and as well-regarded by some scouts as Josh Beckett and Kerry Wood were. Risky, of course, from an historical perspective."

Hotcorner I glad they didn't back off , last year they back off Scott Kazmir because of that reason and he end up signing for about the same as our first pick.