Today is the MLB draft! You can scope it at ESPN2 at 2:00 p.m., or follow along live at MVN. There is a special two-hour event over at MLB Draft University with live blogging and a live web TV broadcast with comprehensive team reports, prospect profiles, interviews with MLB Draft experts and real-time reaction to the first round picks as they are announced.
Who could the Red Sox pick? Good question.
MLB Draft University projects the Red Sox taking shortstop Reese Havens, as does Keith Law. Havens, South Carolina, would have been drafted by the Red Sox as their first round pick out of high school, but declined $1.25 million and went to college. Havens is 6’1″, 195 lbs.
Havens struggled as a freshman and sophomore, but then went to the Cape League and thrived due to former UNC head coach Mike Roberts lowering Haven’s hands, amongst other tweaks. Havens went on to hit .314 and Roberts said he had never seen someone improve as much as Havens did in such a short time in his 30 years coaching.
He hit .357 with 16 HR after 56 games this year at USC, but defense is a problem and will most likely have to be moved off short, and whispers are that the Red Sox would convert him to catcher (a position Victor Martinez, Russell Martin and other current catchers played at some point).
Law ranks him as the 25th best prospect, and says his ultimate role would be as a bottom of the order hitter.
The Red Sox are also interested in Ryan Westmoreland, according to Keith Law. Westmoreland has asked for $1.6 to $2 million in bonus money to forego college. Westmoreland is from Portsmouth, Rhode Island and “boasts plus hit, run and throw tools.” He is likely to drop due to his demands and could be a late pick, with the Sox dangling seven figures. He doesn’t rank upon the top 75 prospects, so look for him late in the day.
Jason Castro is a lock to be picked by the Sox… if he drops to them. It is unlikely the New York Mets will let him get past them (they have two picks: 18 and 22). Castro is a catcher from Stanford. He’s ranked 20th by Law and is projected as an everyday starter, saying that “behind the plate, he’s solid-average in all respects: hands, arm, plate-blocking. His upside is as an average regular catcher in the big leagues, unless he develops more power. He has a very high probability of making it as a backup.”
With a weak college crop overall, more high school players could be taken by the Sox. In addition, expect the Sox to draft a starting pitcher within their first few picks, as they always do. They will also look for corner bats with power.
I’ll set up a draft thread later today where we can all chat about the picks and as the Sox make them, One of us Fire Brand writers will get QuickPosts up as fast as possible with who we picked. Again, There is a special two-hour event over at MLB Draft University with live blogging and a live web TV broadcast with comprehensive team reports, prospect profiles, interviews with MLB Draft experts and real-time reaction to the first round picks as they are announced. Really, check it out.
