The Milwaukee Brewers have signed 2007 First-Round Draft Pick Matt LaPorta to a contract, it was announced today by Special Assistant to the General Manager/Director of Scouting Jack Zduriencik.  The signing marked the 29th of the Brewers 46 draft picks during the 2007 First-Year Player Draft.

LaPorta, a senior at the University of Florida, is a two-time SEC Player of the Year (2007 and 2005).  This past season, he hit .402 with 20 home runs, 52 RBI and 55 walks.  He was a member of the 2005 USA Baseball National Team and was recently named a finalist for the USA Baseball Golden Spikes Award given to the nation’s premier amateur baseball player.   

LaPorta was a four-year letterwinner at Charlotte HS (Fla.) and earned second-team All-State honors as a senior in 2003.  LaPorta was selected in the 14th round of the 2006 MLB First-Year Player Draft and in the 14th round of the 2003 MLB First-Year Player Draft by the Chicago Cubs, but did not sign. 

Info courtesy of the Milwaukee Brewers media relations department

Thank you to all the media relations departments around the league for providing access to draft capsules, comments, pictures, and conference calls today. Great job by everyone!

We didn't quite make it to Kevin Goldstein (from Baseball Perspectus) today, but we'll try to reschedule that for some time over the next few days. Also on tap (I hope) are GMs Terry Ryan from the Twins, Dave Littlefield of the Pirates, and Dayton Moore of the Royals.

Thanks for reading today everyone. It was a blast!

New York Yankees

The New York Yankees announced today that they have selected 21-year-old right-handed pitcher Andrew Brackman with their first-round selection (30th pick overall) of the 2007 First-Year Player Draft.

The 6-foot-10, 230-pound Brackman posted a 6-4 record with a 3.81 ERA in 13 games (all starts) as a junior at North Carolina State University in 2007 (78.0IP, 78H, 41R, 33ER, 37BB, 74K). Prior to the season, Baseball America named him to their 2007 Preseason All-America team, despite a sophomore campaign cut short due to a stress fracture in his left hip.

As a freshman in 2005, Brackman went 4-0 with a 2.09 ERA, holding opponents to a .216 batting average. He allowed just 32 hits in 43.0 innings pitched in 10 games (seven starts) as N.C. State won every game in which he appeared. For the first two years of his collegiate career, he played varsity basketball, averaging 7.5 points per game in 67 games. In three seasons on the diamond, he was 11-7 with a 3.80 ERA and 149 strikeouts in 149.1 innings pitched.

With their second-round selection (94th overall), the Yankees chose catcher Austin Romine from El Toro High School in Lake Forest, California. In the third round (124th overall), the Yankees selected RHP Ryan Pope out of Savannah College of Art and Design in Savannah, Georgia.

Texas Rangers

With their first selection, 17th overall, the Rangers selected RHP Blake Beavan out of Irving High School in Irving, Texas. With their second first-round selection, the 24th overall pick in the draft, Texas drafted RHP Michael Main out of DeLand High School in DeLand, Fla. The Rangers also had three selections in the compensation round, picks 35, 44 and 54. OF Julio Borbon from the University of Tennessee was selected as the 35th overall pick, RHP Neil Ramirez from Kempsville High School in Virginia Beach, Va., was selected 44th overall and RHP Tommy Hunter from the University of Alabama was the 54th overall selection.

RHP Blake Beavan – Irving High School – Irving, Texas – Beavan is an 18-year-old high school senior, ranked as the 13th-best prospect overall in the draft by Baseball America. The 6-7, 210-pound right-hander went 8-2 with a 0.21 ERA, four walks and 124 strikeouts in 66.0 innings for Irving High School this past season. He struck out 18 in a perfect game against Irving MacArthur High School on March 6.

RHP Michael Main – DeLand High School – DeLand, Fla. – Main was a teammate of Beavan’s on the USA Baseball Junior National team at the IBAF World Junior Championships. There, he went 0-1 with a 7.71 ERA (2 ER/2.1 IP) in 2 appearances in the tournament. He was also 5-for-10 (.500) with a double and an RBI at the plate.

He was Baseball America’s 23rd-best prospect overall in the draft. The 6-2, 180-pound righty was named Mr. Baseball in Florida for 2007. He went 12-1 with a 1.02 ERA and 121 strikeouts. He also hit .457 with three home runs, 22 RBI and 24 stolen bases for DeLand High School. He was named the Gatorade national player of the year and 6A player of the year by the Orlando Sentinel.

San Francisco Giants

The San Francisco Giants, with six picks in the first 51 overall selections of today's Major League Baseball First-Year Player Draft, restocked their farm system by selecting five high school players and one collegian in their first six choices.  The Giants selected left-handed pitcher Madison Bumgarner with their top selection, the 10th overall pick, in today's draft.  With those first six choices, San Francisco snagged two pitchers, one catcher, two infielders and an outfielder.

Bumgarner, a 6-4, 215-pound left hander, helped Hudson's South Caldwell High School to the North Carolina state championship on Saturday.  Gatorade's North Carolina Player of the Year posted an 11-2 record with a save and a 1.05 ERA (13er, 86.1ip) this year.  A member of the two-time state champions, the southpaw struck out 143 batters, while issuing just 11 walks over 86.1 innings. 

With their second pick in the first round, San Francisco grabbed right-handed pitcher Tim Alderson out of Scottsdale, AZ's Horizon High School with the 22nd overall selection.  The 6-6, 217-pound hurler is a two-time Arizona Player of the Year, having capped off his high school career with a 12-0 ledger with one save and a 1.05 ERA (11er, 73.1ip) in 13 games (12 starts) this season.  The USA Baseball Junior National Team member struck out 111 batters and walked just four during his high school campaign, which ended with Horizon's second state championship in three years.  Having pitched in both title-clinching contests including during his sophomore season, he finishes his three-year high school career with a 27-4 mark, four saves and a 0.77 ERA (23er, 208.2ip) in 35 games (31 starts).

Outfielder Wendell Fairley became the Giants' third first-round selection when he was snagged with the 29th selection out of George County-Lucedale High School in Mississippi.  The 6-2, 190-pound speedster hit .538 with nine home runs while leading the Rebels to the Mississippi Class 5A South State Finals during his senior year.  Also a wide receiver in football, he bats left-handed and throws right handed.  Fairley played in the 2007 All-American Baseball Game in Albuquerque, NM this past weekend.

The Giants tabbed shortstop Nick Noonan with the 32nd overall selection in the compensation round of today's draft.  The 6-0, 180-pounder posted a .540 average (67-for-124) with 64 runs, 15 doubles, ten triples, 15 home runs and 55 RBI in 35 games for Francis Parker High School, which is located in San Diego.  The left-handed swinging shortstop swiped 42 bases in 44 attempts.

San Francisco used the 43rd overall pick to select their first collegiate player in catcher Jackson Williams from the University of Oklahoma.  A two-time All-Big 12 performer, he hit .344 (63-for-183) with 15 doubles, three triples, four home runs and 44 RBI in 55 games for the Sooners in 2007.  The 5-11, 200-pound backstop was Oklahoma's starting catcher for three seasons.

The Giants returned to the high school ranks for their sixth pick of the afternoon in tabbing shortstop Charlie Culberson out of Calhoun High School in Calhoun, GA with the 51st overall selection.  The 6-0, 175-pounder hit .512 with 59 runs, 13 doubles, 16 home runs and 52 RBI this season while helping his school to the Georgia Class AA championship contest.  He is not the first Culberson to be drafted by the Giants, as his father Charles was selected by San Francisco in the 16th round of the 1984 draft as an outfielder from Jacksonville State University.

Washington Nationals

The Washington Nationals today selected left-handed pitcher Ross Detwiler out of Missouri State University as the sixth overall pick in the 2007 First-Year Player Draft. 

Detwiler, 21, was rated as the third-best pitching prospect, sixth-best overall, among draft-eligible players according to Baseball America.  He entered the 2007 season as a Baseball America Pre-Season All-American and a Collegiate Baseball Louisville Slugger Second-Team Pre-Season All-American.  The southpaw went on to post a 4-5 record with a team-best 2.22 ERA in 14 starts to earn Second-Team All-Missouri Valley Conference honors.  He had 110 strikeouts in 89.0 innings of work, and limited opposing hitters to a .198 batting average.  He finished third in the MVC with his 2.22 ERA and 110 strikeouts.

The six-foot-five 185-pound southpaw struck out 244 batters in 216.0 innings during his three years at Missouri State, an average of 10.2 strikeouts per 9.0 innings pitched.

The Washington Nationals also selected left-handed pitcher Josh Smoker out of Calhoun (GA) High School as the 31st overall pick in the 2007 First-Year Player Draft. 

Smoker, 18, was rated as the 11th-best pitching prospect, 16th-best overall, among draft-eligible players according to Baseball America.  He was also rated by the same publication as having the best secondary pitch among draft-eligible high school pitchers.

Smoker was named Gatorade Player of the Year for the state of Georgia this season after going 13-0 with a 1.24 ERA.  He had 152 strikeouts in 73.0 innings of work, and had entered the year as a Collegiate Baseball newspaper Louisville Slugger Pre-Season High School All-American.  Last year as a junior, Smoker was named Georgia’s Co-Player of the Year and an AFLAC All-American after going 8-2 with a 1.52 ERA.

Smoker set a Calhoun High single-season strikeout record as a freshman in 2004 with 126 in 62.0 innings.  He broke his own record as a sophomore in 2005, fanning 137 in 75.0 innings to help lead his team to Georgia’s 2-A championship.  Smoker established another record with his 152 strikeouts this year.

And in the supplemental round, the Washington Nationals today selected outfielder Michael Burgess out of Hillsborough (Tampa, FL) High School as the 49th overall pick in the 2007 First-Year Player Draft. 

Burgess, 18, was rated as the 12th-best position player, 30th-best overall, among draft-eligible players according to Baseball America.  He came into the 2007 season as a Collegiate Baseball newspaper Louisville Slugger First-Team Pre-Season All-American.

Burgess was named the AFLAC High School Player of the Year and a Louisville Slugger All-American following his junior season in 2006 after batting .511 with 12 homers, 48 RBI and 24 steals. 

Seattle Mariners

The Seattle Mariners Vice President of Scouting Bob Fontaine announced today that the club selected six players in the first day of Major League Baseball’s annual June draft.  Seattle selected right-handed pitcher Phillippe Aumont in the first round with the 11th overall pick in the draft. The Mariners selected 2 pitchers, both right-handed, 3 outfielders, and 1 infielder during the first 5 rounds of the draft. 

“We got a little bit of everything today. We were looking to improve our system by obtaining a variety of players, both pitchers and hitters and we feel like we've accomplished that during the first day of the draft, Fontaine said.”  “Overall, we’re extremely pleased with the players we drafted and look forward to tomorrow.”

Aumont, 18, is a native of Gatineau, Quebec (Ecole Du Versant). He has starred for the Canadian Junior National Team and was voted by Perfect Game as the Canada East Player of the Year. Aumont was rated by Baseball America as one of the top right-handed pitchers heading into the 2007 Draft, including the No. 9 high school prospect and the top Canadian prospect.

“Phillippe is a power pitcher and we are confident he will be able to contribute to the success of our organization very quickly,” Fontaine said.  “We went in thinking we had a shot at three pitchers and this is one of them. We thought, going in, that he maybe was the one we wouldn't get, but as it got closer, we all started looking around at each other thinking we might have a chance.”

The Mariners drafted first baseman Matt Mangini from Oklahoma State University with their supplemental first-round pick (52 overall).  He hit .343 (79x230) with 59 runs scored, 16 doubles, 2 triples, 9 home runs and 49 RBI in 60 games this season for the Cowboys.  Mangini was one of four players to start in all 60 games this season and earned second-team All-Big 12 honors. This season he was second on the team in doubles (16), while finishing fourth on the team in batting average (.343), home runs (9) and RBI (49).  Besides Matt Mangini, RHP Nolan Gallagher from Stanford University and Joe Dunnigan (LF) from the University of Oklahoma were the only other college players selected by the Mariners on the first day. 

The Mariners also drafted three high school players with their first six selections, including Denny Almonte (CF) from Florida Christian School and Daniel Carroll (CF) from Valley View High School.  Almonte hit .418 (28x67) with 34 runs scored, 6 doubles, 10 home runs, 31 RBI and 24 stolen bases during his senior season.

Arizona Diamondbacks

The Arizona Diamondbacks today selected righthanded pitcher Jarrod Parker out of Norwell High School in Bluffton, Indiana with their first pick (ninth overall) in the 2007 Major League Baseball First Year Player Draft.

Parker, 6-2, 175 pounds, went 10-0 with a 0.13 ERA with 101 strikeouts this season, as he will lead his Norwell Knights into the semistates, playing on Saturday.  The team is 32-0 and ranked first in Indiana’s Class 3A after winning its second straight Northeast Hoosier Conference title.  The 18-year-old Parker didn’t allow a run this season until his sixth start, and didn’t allow an earned run until his seventh.

“For our standard, Jarrod is an athletic and physically gifted player,” said Tom Allison, Diamondbacks’ Director of Scouting.  “He is a proven winner, having pitched on the USA Junior National Team last summer.  He is a quality, character guy that we have tracked through the reports of Area Scout Mike Daughtry.”

St. Louis Cardinals

The St. Louis Cardinals today selected shortstop Pete Kozma with their first pick, 18th overall, in the 2007 First-Year Player Draft.  It was the third time in the last seven years that the Cardinals opted for a position player with their top pick. 

Kozma, 18, was an All-American at Owasso High School in Owasso, Oklahoma.  He finished his senior season with team-bests in batting average (.522), runs (56), RBI (55) and home runs (11).  He struck out five times in 113 at-bats and had 23 walks.  Kozma had a three-homer game in the Oklahoma state 6-A playoffs and helped lead the school to a state title as his solo HR was the only run in the 1-0 championship win.

“Pete projects as a solid player who has above average tools for a middle infielder,” said Cardinals Vice President of Amateur Scouting & Player Development Jeff Luhnow.  “He has tremendous potential and really upgrades our infield depth in the minor league system.”

The 6’1”, 180-pound Kozma posted a .491 career batting average at Owasso (171-for-348) and scored 154 runs with 140 RBI and 30 home runs.  His .553 batting average as a junior was a school record.  He has a commitment to attend Wichita State.

San Diego Padres

The San Diego Padres today selected University of Arkansas left-handed pitcher Nick Schmidt with their first-round selection (23rd overall) in the 2007 First-Year Player Draft.  Vice President of Scouting and Player Development Grady Fuson made the announcement.

 “We feel fortunate to get Nick in the first round,” said Fuson.  “We collectively saw quite a few of his starts down the stretch and we think he will be a great addition to the left-handers already in our system.  He’s a strong, durable pitcher with three or four different pitches and he is already a proven winner.”

Recommended by Padres scout Lane Decker, Schmidt was named a second-team All-American by Louisville Slugger in 2007 after going 11-3 with a 2.69 ERA (37 ER/124.0 IP) in 18 starts for the Razorbacks.  The 6-foot-5, 230-pound junior limited opponents to a Southeastern Conference-best .196 average and also ranks among conference leaders in wins (T-2^nd), ERA (3^rd), starts (T-1^st), innings pitched (2^nd) and strikeouts (111, 6^th).

“This might be the best day of my life,” said Schmidt.  “This is a lifelong dream and I am so happy to be chosen by the Padres.”

Los Angeles Dodgers

The Los Angeles Dodgers announced today they have selected Midland Christian High School (TX) right-handed pitcher Chris Withrow as their top pick in the 2007 First-Year Player Draft, according to Dodgers’ Assistant General Manager, Scouting Logan White. 

“Chris has a real loose, easy arm and in my mind, it’s one of the best arm actions I’ve seen in a long time,” said White, who has selected a pitcher with the club’s first pick in each of the past five seasons. “He’s a quality person with good character but the main thing that impresses you about him is his size, his mechanics, and his secondary pitch, a curveball with a hard rotation that has the makings of a real plus pitch.”

The 6-foot, 3-inch, 195-pound right-hander went 8-1 with a 1.32 ERA in 13 games while striking out 90 batters in 58.0 innings last year. When he wasn’t pitching, Withrow batted .500 with eight home runs and 60 RBI. He was rated as the 12^th-best high school pitching prospect in the draft by Baseball America, whichrecently named the Dodgers as its 2006 Organization of the Year.

“I’m just happy to be drafted by the Dodgers,” said Withrow. “I felt honored but at the same time, it was an overwhelming feeling and a very exciting time for me and my family. I know they have a history of developing good young pitchers and I look forward to jumping into an organization with that kind of reputation.”

“There aren’t any real flaws in his delivery and mechanics,” said Dodger Director of Amateur Scouting Tim Hallgren. “He’s a very smart kid, an intelligent kid who competes along the lines of the kind of players we’ve tried to target in the past.”

Florida Marlins

The Florida Marlins today announced they selected five players on the first day of Major League Baseball’s First-Year Player Draft. Among the five players selected were one pitcher, one catcher, one infielder and two outfielders. The announcement was made by Assistant General Manager and Vice President of Player Development and Scouting Jim Fleming.

“We had a very good first day of the Draft. It was a little out of character for us to take position players with our first four picks, but these are all players that we really liked,” said Fleming. “These four hitters are a great fit with our system, which is in need of additional offense. And, [Steven] Cishek gives us another quality arm.”

The Marlins selected third baseman Matt Dominguez, 17, in the first round (12th overall pick) of the Draft. He graduated from Chatsworth High School in Southern California, where he batted .447 with 13 home runs and 41 RBI as a senior. The 6-foot-2, 185-pounder was a four-time All-City selection in high school, and as a senior led his team en route to winning the 2007 Los Angeles City Championship. He was also a member of the 2006 USA Junior National Team that won the Gold Medal in Cuba. Dominguez was an All-American and All-State player in high school, and as a freshman he was named the National Rookie of the Year by the National High School Baseball Coaches Association. He set the California state record for a freshman with

65 RBI in 2004.

“We’re excited about Matt. He’s a very polished, complete high school player that has additional ceiling,” said Fleming. “Matt has performed at a high level in high school and at the international level, and shows all of the attributes we look for.”

Pittsburgh Pirates

The Pittsburgh Pirates today announced they have selected left-handed pitcher Daniel Moskos with the fourth overall pick in the annual first-year player draft.  The announcement was made by Ed Creech, Pirates Senior Director of Scouting.

Moskos, 21, has gone 3-5 with a 2.91 ERA (74.1ip/24er) and 74 strikeouts in 26 games (nine starts) as a junior this year at Clemson University, who is scheduled to play Mississippi State in the NCAA Super Regionals this Friday at noon (EDT).   He was ranked by Baseball America as the fifth-best pitcher available in the draft. 

“Daniel is a proven left-handed pitcher with quality pitches,” said Creech. “We see him helping our major league staff in the near future.”

“Daniel is an accomplished college pitcher who has had an impressive career at Clemson,” said Dave Littlefield, Pirates Senior Vice President and General Manager.  “He’s got an excellent repertoire of pitches that will enable him to be a fine major league pitcher.”

Milwaukee Brewers

The Milwaukee Brewers selected LF/1B Matt LaPorta with the 7th overall pick in the 2007 First-Year Player Draft, it was announced by Brewers Special Assistant to the General Manager and Director of Amateur Scouting, Jack Zduriencik. 

LaPorta, a senior at the University of Florida, is a two-time SEC Player of the Year (2007 and 2005).  This past season, he his .402 with 20 home runs, 52 RBI and 55 walks.  He was a member of the 2005 USA Baseball National Team and was recently named a finalist for the USA Baseball Golden Spikes Award given to the nation’s premier amateur baseball player.  

“We are happy to have secured the rights to one of the top college power hitters in the country,” said Zduriencik. “Matt has had a solid college career and is certainly ready for his next challenge. He has a unique opportunity to eventually contribute to a young and talented Major League team that could be together a long time.”

Detroit Tigers

The Detroit Tigers today selected righthanded pitcher Rick Porcello from Seton Hall Prep High in West Orange, NJ with their first pick (27th overall) in the 2007 Major League Baseball First-Year Player Draft.

Porcello has compiled an 8-0 record and 0.50 ERA as a senior at Seton Hall Prep High in 2007.  He has fanned 96 batters in 56 innings pitched, while issuing only 11 walks.  Porcello fired a 77-pitch perfect game on May 12 against Newark Academy.

“The Tigers organization is pleased to select Rick Porcello today,” Tigers Vice President, Amateur Scouting David Chadd said. “We look forward to adding a pitcher of Porcello’s caliber and potential to our system.”

The 6-5, 195-pound righthander is rated by Baseball America as possessing the second-best fastball and secondary pitch among all draft-eligible high school prospects this year, while he is rated as the third-closest high school prospect to reaching the major leagues.

Atlanta Braves

The Atlanta Braves today selected outfielder Jason Heyward from Henry County High School (McDonough, Ga.), with their first selection (14^th-overall) in the 2007 First-Year Player Draft. With the compensation-round selection (33^rd overall), the Braves chose third baseman Jonathan Gilmore, from Iowa City (Iowa) High School.  

Rated by Baseball America as the ninth-best player in the 2007 draft, Heyward hit .520 (29-for-52) with eight home runs, seven doubles and 29 RBI in his senior year for the Warhawks. The 6-foot-5, left-handed hitting outfielder was named the Most Valuable Player of the 2006 Aflac All-American game. In 2006 Heyward led Henry County High School to their first-ever state championship when he hit .456 with five home runs and 23 stolen bases. For three consecutive seasons he was named the All-Southern Crescent Conference by the Henry Herald and Atlanta Journal-Constitution. Heyward, 17, is regarded by Baseball America as having the most upside as any player in the draft.

“We are delighted Jason was available at the time of our selection,” said Roy Clark, the club’s director of scouting. “We have been scouting him for the past year and are very impressed with his make-up and ability. He is a special person and we are confident he will represent the Braves organization well.”

Chicago White Sox

The Chicago White Sox selected left-handed pitcher Aaron Poreda of the University of San Francisco with their first-round pick (25th overall) in today’s Major League Baseball First-Year Player Draft.

Poreda, 20, was named First-Team All-West Coast Conference for the second consecutive year in 2007 after going 7-6 with a 2.89 ERA (32 ER/99.2 IP), two complete games and 66 strikeouts in 14 starts during his junior season with the Dons.  The left-hander limited opponents to a .252 (93-369) average and issued 18 walks.

“Aaron is a hard throwing left-handed pitcher with a good fastball, excellent movement and control,” said Duane Shaffer, White Sox Senior Director of Amateur Scouting.  “We expect him to rise through our minor-league system at an accelerated pace.”

The 6-foot-6, 240-pounder is tied for third on San Francisco’s all-time list in wins (17), ranks fifth in ERA (2.61) and eighth in strikeouts (167) and IP (245.0).  He earned the victory over the University of Nebraska, then ranked No. 6, in the NCAA Regional in 2006.

“I am glad to be a part of the White Sox family,” said Poreda, who was teammates at San Francisco with Stefan Gartrell, Chicago’s 31st-round selection in 2006.  “I am grateful for the opportunity and can’t wait to get my professional career started.”

Audio File Attached (Windows Media File)

_____________________________________________________________________

The Boston Red Sox today selected University of Washington lefthander Nick Hagadone with the 55th overall pick and Wilson (CA) High School infielder Ryan Dent with the 62nd overall pick in the supplemental first round of the 2007 First-Year Player Draft.  Director of Amateur Scouting Jason McLeod made the announcement. 

“Nick Hagadone is a very big, strong-bodied college lefthander,” said McLeod.  “He has big arm strength and the ability to spin a power breaking ball.  He has been used in two roles, as a starter and a reliever.  For us, we definitely see a kid that we'd like to come in and at least give him a chance to start.  Someone we feel has upside left to him and can provide an impact to our organization.”

“Ryan Dent is a tremendously gifted, athletic kid.  He played in the middle of the field.  He is versatile.  He is athletic and brings speed to the diamond.  He is also strong for his size.  A kid that could certainly stay at shortstop but he could also play centerfield or second base, and one that we are excited to get.”

Day one is complete! Plenty of more information to follow, but here's the first round recap...

1  TB  David Price, LHS, Vanderbilt U, Murfreesboro, TN
2  KC  Michael Moustakas, SS, Chatsworth HS, Northridge, CA
3  CHI  Joshua Vitters, 3B, Cypress HS, Anaheim, CA
4  PIT  Daniel Moskos, LHR, Clemson U, Rancho Cucamonga, CA
5  BAL  Matthew Wieters, C, Georgia Tech, Goose Creek, SC
6  WSH  Ross Detwiler, LHS, Missouri St U, Wentzville, MO
7  MIL  Matthew LaPorta, LF, U Florida, Port Charlotte, FL
8  COL  Casey Weathers, RHR, Vanderbilt U, Elk Grove, CA
9  ARI  Jarrod Parker, RHS, Norwell HS, Bluffton, IN
10  SF  Madison Bumgarner, LHS, South Caldwell HS, Lenoir, NC
11  SEA  Phillippe Aumont, RHS, Ecole Du Versant, Gatineau, Canada
12  FLA  Matthew Dominguez, 3B, Chatsworth HS, Van Nuys, CA
13  CLE  Beau Mills, 1B, Lewis & Clark St Col, Visalia, CA
14  ATL  Jason Heyward, OF, Henry County HS, McDonough, GA
15  CIN  Devin Mesoraco, C, Punxsutawney Area HS, Punxsutawney, PA
16  TOR  Kevin Ahrens, SS, Memorial HS, Houston, TX
17  TEX  Blake Beavan, RHS, Irving HS, Irving, TX
18  STL  Peter Kozma, SS, Owasso HS, Owasso, OK
19  PHI  Joseph Savery, LHS, Rice U, Bellaire, TX
20  LA  Christopher Withrow, RHS, Midland Christian HS, Odessa, TX
21  TOR  Jonathan Arencibia, C, U Tennessee, Miami, FL
22  SF  Timothy Alderson, RHS, Horizon HS, Phoenix, AZ
23 SD  Nicholas Schmidt, LHS, U Arkansas Fayetteville, High Ridge, MO
24  TEX  Michael Main, CF, Deland HS, Deltona, FL
25  CWS  Aaron Poreda, LHS, U San Francisco, Moraga, CA
26  OAK  Donald Simmons, RHS, UC Riverside, Murrieta, CA
27  DET  Frederick Porcello, RHS, Seton Hall Prep School, Chester, NJ
28  MIN  Ben Revere, CF, Lexington Catholic HS, Richmond, KY
29  SF  Wendell Fairley, CF, George County HS, Lucedale, MS
30  NYY  Andrew Brackman, RHS, North Carolina St U, Cincinnati, OH

Audio File Attached (Windows Media File)

_____________________________________________________________________

The Florida Marlins today selected third baseman Matt Dominguez in the first round (12th overall pick) of Major League Baseball’s First-Year Player Draft. The announcement was made by Assistant General Manager and Vice President of Player Development and Scouting Jim Fleming.

Dominguez, 17, graduated from Chatsworth High School in Southern California, where he batted .444 with 12 home runs and 41 RBI as a senior. The 6-foot-2, 185-pounder was a four-time All-City selection in high school, and as a senior led his team en route to winning the 2007 Los Angeles City Championship. He was also a member of the 2006 USA Junior National Team that won the Gold Medal in Cuba.

Dominguez was an All-American and All-State player in high school, and as a freshman he was named the National Rookie of the Year by the National High School Baseball Coaches Association. He set the California state record for a freshman with 65 RBI in 2004.

“We’re excited about Matt. He’s a very polished, complete high school player that has additional ceiling,” said Fleming. “Matt has performed at a high level in high school and at the international level, and shows all of the attributes we look for.”

Audio File Attached (Windows Media File)

_____________________________________________________________________

The Orioles today selected CA Matt Wieters with their first-round selection in the 2007 First Year Player Draft, taking the Georgia Tech junior with the 5th overall pick in the draft.

Wieters, 21, is a 6-foot-5, 225-pound switch-hitter from Goose Creek, SC.  A three-year starter at Georgia Tech, he batted .358 this season, with 10 home runs and 59 RBI in 56 games.   He is a finalist for collegiate baseball’s Johnny Bench Award and the USA Baseball Golden Spikes Award.

In his three seasons with the Yellow Jackets, he hit .359 with 35 homers and 198 RBI.  In 2006, he joined Jason Varitek as the only catchers in Georgia Tech history to earn first-team All-America honors.  As a freshman in 2005, he was the Atlantic Coast Conference Rookie of the Year.

The Cincinnati Reds select Devin Mesoraco.

Mesoraco shot up the draft charts in recent weeks and there was speculation the Pirates would have selected the high school catcher as high as the 4th overall pick. This spot represents where he really belongs. Solid pick with good upside.

AVG	AB	R	H	2B	3B	HR	RBI	SB
.500	36	23	18	5	1	4	15	3

Commentary: I know, I know. High school catchers are a risk, but I like this kid. He has a good arm and rebounded nicely from TJ surgery. 5 tool catchers are not easy to find. Signability seems to be the name of the game today, despite what others have said.

Links: MLB Tracker, Rotoworld

Audio File Attached (Windows Media File)

______________________________________________________________________

Rays Executive Vice President of Baseball Operations Andrew Friedman and

Director of Scouting R.J. Harrison Press Conference:

(On the Selection of LHP David Price)

Andrew Friedman: It’s really a testament to David, when we found out we had the first

pick in the draft after the season concluded David was at the top of that list. Really it’s a

testament to who he is as a player and to who he is as a person because you don’t see that

very often, where a player that you have first in October that you have first on a draft

board…to maintain that rank is a great accomplishment that speaks volumes to him.

AF: Pitching is king. For us, everybody knows about our position players. And while I

think our pitching depth is a little bit underrated, you can never have enough. And the

fact that he’s left handed and some ballparks we play in and some of the lineups we face

in this league, he can only help as we continue to add pitching whether it be through the

draft or free agent signings…to have two left- handed pitcher at the front of our rotation is

going to benefit us greatly.

R.J