Trend-Breakers on 2012 MLB Draft Day 1
Day 1 of the 2012 MLB Draft was a crazy day for everyone involved, not just as a whole but in several cases on the individual team level as well. Several teams completely broke their usual draft tendencies. Let’s see which teams completely revamped their draft strategy on Day 1 and see if we can reason out why.
Oakland Athletics- The A’s came away with three high school players, shortstop Addison Russell, shortstop/third baseman Daniel Robertson, and first baseman Matt Olson. Why is that so crazy? The A’s haven’t selected a high school player in the first round since 2002 and they just took 3! They haven’t selected a single high school position player in the first round since 1997!
What could this mean? Well we know that the A’s are rebuilding following the Gio Gonzalez, Trevor Cahill, and Andrew Bailey deals and they’re continuing that now. They realize that they’re not an all-around solid team that needs just a couple undervalued players to win. They’re starting over with these high school players with upside who have the ability to lead their team back to contention. At least for the moment, Moneyball is paused.
(By the way, it’s not like the A’s have gotten some great high school first rounders before. They notably traded Jeremy Bonderman, but just three high school picks ago was their superstar for several years, Eric Chavez.)
Chicago White Sox– The White Sox drafted two high school players, outfielder Courtney Hawkins (who got everyone extremely nervous and amazed with his backflip) and first baseman Keon Barnum. The White Sox, similar to the A’s, had not selected a high school player in the first round since 2004, and had not gone an entire first and supplemental round without a college or junior college player since 1996. But the White Sox have realized that their conservative draft strategy has not produced results. Other than Chris Sale, you have to go back to Aaron Rowand in 1998 for the last time that a White Sox first round draft pick succeeded with the White Sox. (They also drafted Gio Gonzalez and traded him.)
Los Angeles Dodgers- The Dodgers had the crazy streak going of their last 8 first rounders being pitchers and 14 of their last 17. They finally ended that on Monday night, selecting shortstops Corey Seager and Jesmuel Valentin. With two shortstops now in the fold, could a new streak have just begun? (I’ll go out on a limb and say no.)
Miami Marlins- After selecting high school players with their last five first rounders, the Marlins selected Oklahoma State lefty Andrew Heaney in the first round on Monday night. This is more of a sign that the Marlins are contending now and need reinforcement sooner rather than later. And Heaney is a very good pitcher who will move quickly through the minors, but this has some room to grow in terms of projection and improving his secondary pitches.
New York Mets– The Mets entering this draft having not selected a high school shortstop in the first round since Ryan Jaroncyk in 1995 and having not selected a single catcher since Alan Zinter in 1989. They apparently realized, especially with Jose Reyes gone, that that was a losing proposition and promptly selected shortstop Gavin Cecchini and catcher Kevin Plawecki in this draft.
Tampa Bay Rays– In the history of the Tampa Bay Rays, whenever they have picked 6th or later in the draft, all but one time they have selected at least one high school player in the first round. The Rays did select Mikie Mahtook 31st overall in 2011, but that was after selecting Taylor Guerrieri and we also knew they would need to draft some college guys who would sign for less if they wanted to sign all their picks. But in 2012 they have proved that they don’t have any qualms drafting a college player if they believe he is the best available player, selecting Clemson third baseman Richie Shaffer, who fell to the Rays at 25th overall. Considering the Rays have not had a high school position player picked in the first round make the big leagues since Delmon Young in 2006, that may be a wise choice. The Rays still have plenty of talented high school players in their system and will likely go back to high school players on Draft Day 2, but it’s always smart to keep your options open and that’s what the Rays did here.