First Round Draft Analysis 1993 compared to “The Index” (Reviewed Midway through 1997):
Fair warning, this could take quite a bit to read thoroughly - feel free to skip the grey text and go straight to the current comparisons/analysis!
“The Index” Takes All Facets of the player’s potential into account and creates an indexed score for Catching, Infield, Outfield and Hitting. The highest of Catching, Infield and Outfield scores gets taken to determine the Fielding Score. The Fielding Score and the Hitting Score are then factored together to create the Overall Index Score used to compare all players. Due to the algorithm, First Basemen and Designated Hitters are discounted because of their lack of defensive value and their pure Hitting Index Ranking will be considered (this most likely leads to the error of undervaluing these players).
Pitchers are Indexed similarly, taking their potential stuff, movement, and control into account, although there is no crossover to rate them against Hitters (Yet!) or a good way to differentiate SP’s and RP’s. So, for the purposes of this article the current rating of pitchers is at the writer’s discretion.
One caveat is that the data used in The Index is from the New York Mets Scout, who is Excellent at scouting Amateurs and Favors Tools and has at least High or Very High Scouting on these players.
The Index seems to have done a decent job at predicting the status of players in this draft. Keep reading below and see the comparisons and opinions on the players in 1993 and 1997.
1.1 Los Angeles Dodgers - LF Jim Balliett: A+ 1997 Review: A+
A clear upgrade over Luke Heath, the current LF in the Dodgers Minor League System, Jim Balliett is easily the #1 overall pick of the draft and the Dodgers hit this one right on the money. With 85 Contact, and 70 power you might think that Balliett just swings away at everything, but he has a very complementary eye (85 potential) to round out his hit tool. He is a pure batter who will wait for his pitch and crush it but won’t get frazzled if he is down in the count. The Index agrees that he is by far the #1 pick of this draft.Jim is now a well decorated player, Debuting in 1994, winning RoTY and winning MVP in 1995. He went on on to have 3 AS Selections (‘95, ‘96, ‘97), 1 RLB Championship in 1996 (Winning Division and Champion Series MVPs on the way) and one each of Gold Glove (LF ‘96) and Silver Slugger (LF ‘96) awards. He still hasn't realized his full potential as his eye still has room to improve.
1.2 Minnesota Twins - RF Brian Clark: A- 1997 Review: B+
The 80 contact paired with 80 power is huge. Brian Clark will become one of if not the best sluggers of the draft and a decent corner outfielder. The Index had rated Clark as the #5 Player.
Brian’s stats have not developed as the Twins have hoped. His contact topped out at 45 while his Power is still very good at 70. Debuting in 1996, Clark was a positive WAR player (2.3) hitting .277. In his 1.5 years in the majors, he has hit 45 HRs and racked up 44 doubles.
1.3 Texas Rangers - P Walt Hooper: A+ 1997 Review: A
The best SP in this draft by far. 6 Pitches, all above a 55 rating right now and room to grow and 65/65/65 potentials in his Stu/Mov/Ctrl, Hooper will be Pitcher of the Year one day. There is a good argument that he should have gone #1 Overall.Selected to the 1994 and 1995 All Star Teams, Hooper has met the Rangers expectations. While he may struggle a little bit against Lefties, he is an elite RLB Pitcher. With 3 pitches rated 65 and 3 more rated 60, he has enough to challenge any hitter. Only 3.5 years into his Major League career he commands a staggering 16.1 WAR.
1.4 Philadelphia Phillies - RF Jon Girolami: B+ 1997 Review: B
Jon Girolami provides a good balance of Hitting Ability with good Defense in LF/RF. He is almost RLB Ready and will slot into Philadelphia’s starting lineup in the near future. The Index rates Girolami as the #13 ranked player.Philadelphia decided to move on from Girolami after just 1.5 years in the Majors, as they traded him to Detroit in 1994. Jon was an instant starter for Philadelphia and hit very well in his initial season in 1993 (122 OPS+ and 2.0 WAR in 81 Games). After a stellar year in 1994, achieving 4.0 WAR he was injured with Bone Marrow Edema and subsequently traded that offseason. He has faired well for the Tigers earning a Silver Slugger, Gold Glove and All Star selection in 1995.
1.5 Arizona Diamondbacks - CF Jason Porter: A- 1997 Review: C
Jason "Terror" Porter will be a phenomenal corner outfielder for the Arizona Diamondbacks, and projects to be slightly above average in Center. The scary combination of 65 potential contact with an 85 graded eye means that he can practically get on base at will. Jason Porter was picked slightly early according to The Index, which graded him as the #6 Hitter/Field player.
Porter has stalled out in Hartford (S A) for the past 4 seasons, his potentials have declined but he is still a very good defensive outfielder with an average bat and the potential to develop an elite eye. He may still squeeze his way into a RLB lineup one day.
1.6 Oakland Athletics - 1B Paul Ownby: C+ 1997 Rating: B-
Ownby is young and raw but if the scouts are accurate, he will be a perennial winner of the Home Run Derby and a recurring sight in the All-Star Game thanks to his bat. He is a bit of a reach as The Index graded him as #48 due to his lack of fielding value. Ownby is the 11th best Hitter on The Index.
Currently the #22 Prospect according to BNN, Ownby is still struggling to develop his contact. He looks to be an average 1B with great power and an average eye but still has plenty of development time needed. Taking an interesting path, he is currently competing in Utica (S A) hoping to get promoted to Single A.
1.7 Detroit Tigers - C Chris Seferovic: B 1997 Review: B+
Chris Seferovic was held back a year in middle school, an 18-year-old HS Junior grades out as average catcher behind the plate, but his bat will carry him to elite status. As he develops, his 80 contact, 65 gap and 70 power potential will ensure he crushes the ball every time he takes a swing. He is the highest ranked Catcher on The Index, which has him rated as the #21 prospect in this draft. Seferovic shows signs of being a young Garrett Coward.
Currently the #52 ranked prospect in 1997, starting for the Philadelphia Phillies, Seferovic is a solid Catcher and a reliable hitter. While his power may not have been as high as it was initially billed, he has hit 5 HRs in 20 games at the highest level and another 11 during the first half of 1997 while in Triple A. Seferovic is an interesting case as he was part of the package that brought the 4th overall pick of this draft to Detroit in 1994.
1.8 Florida Marlins – 3B Chris Layden: D+ 1997 Review: F
Possibly one of the biggest question marks in this draft according to The Index, Chris Layden has already developed above average power (55/65) and a decent eye (45/55). The 20 y/o Third Baseman looks to be more of a 1B at best, with an average arm and 55 range. He can fit the position at 3rd but not long term. The Index has Layden rated as the #222 overall player.
Another player who has failed to meet his potential, Layden is stuck in the minor leagues, currently in Pittsburgh’s system. He looks to be nothing more than a Minor League player. He does have 60 power but the rest of his ratings and stats show that he will not cut it at the higher levels.
1.9 Houston Astros –SS Ryan Salzman: B+ 1997 Review: A
According to The Index, Ryan Salzman is certainly 1st Round Talent. He comes in at #18 on the list. There may be a few better players available here but Salzman shows signs of being an elite infielder with 65 Range, 55 Arm and 60 Turn DP. While his bat may not be the best, his potential of a 90 Eye with 60 Gap and 60 HR Power will lead to a very solid career in RLB. Currently the starting Shortstop for the Houston Astros, getting promoted in 1995, Salzman has earned the award for Silver Slugger in ‘96 and an All Star Selection here in 1997. With an 80 graded eye, he led the league in walks in both 1995 and 1996 and is on pace to do so again this season. With 8.1 WAR over 2.5 seasons and positive fielding stats at SS he looks to be the centerpiece to Houston’s infield for years to come.
1.10 Montreal Expos - CF Mike Matthias: A 1997 Review: B
A highly rated outfielder with a decent hit tool. Mike Matthias is the quintessential Center Fielder, 70 OF Range, 65 OF Error, and 60 OF Arm. Pair that with 70 Contact, 65 Eye and 60 Avoid Ks, opposing pitchers will have a tough time keeping him off the basepaths. A value pick here at #10 Overall, he was ranked #2 on The Index.
Matthias was promoted to the majors after just 20 games in AAA in 1994, and sped through the minors prior to that in 1993, fresh out of college. He initially played LF for Montreal but has since moved to CF. Mike started out hot in 1995 in his first full season earning 4.7 WAR but has cooled off in ‘96 and ‘97.
1.11 New York Yankees – P Steve Tomlinson: B- 1997 Review: B+
Steve Tomlinson is a 22 year old LHP with a plethora of pitches. A fully developed 65 Changeup is the prime pitch that Steve throws, He also has a plus sinker with potential for a plus slider, curveball, and fastball. With 60/65 movement, Tomlinson has the stuff to complement his pitch set and should earn a spot in the middle to top of the Rotation. A little bit of development is needed on the control but expect to see Steve on the RLB Roster soon.
Steve was able to develop his pitching to break into the NYY roster in 1995, and boasts a career 4.34 ERA and 4.17 FIP. His 9.5 WAR and 8.6 rWAR over the past 2.5 seasons show that he is an established pitcher. He should be a middle of the rotation starter on the Yankees or another RLB team for years to come.
1.12 Washington Senators – 2B Bennett Lancaster: B 1997 Review: A
With a solid complement of defensive ratings Bennett Lancaster should be a good addition to the Senators middle infield at Second Base. The Index ranks him at #31, falling just outside of the 1st round on paper but with his Leadership ability and being a well-rounded player, he fits the bill for what Washington is looking for. Boasting a near .500 OBP in his final year of College, Lancaster will seem like he is always on base. A 70 rated eye and a 65 avoid Ks will more than make up for his slightly above average contact and average power. He may not be the flashiest player in this draft, but as Peter Brand says – we like him because, He. Gets. On. Base.
Lancaster did not quite reach his full potential as scouted in 1993, but he did achieve 95% of it. Since he was uprooted in 1995, he has averaged a WPA of 2.00 for the Senators and an OBP of .395. While not billed to be a power hitter, Bennett still hits his fair share of HR’s (162 AVG of 15). He is on pace for his 2nd 5+ WAR season in a row. The Senators hit the mark on this one.
1.13 Kansas City Royals – P Nolan Rodelo: A+ 1997 Review: B
A Left Handed Pitcher from the Big Apple, Nolan Rodelo has 3 plus-plus pitches – A Fastball, Curveball and Changeup, all rated 65 coming out of college. A little development needs to be done with his basic pitching ability, but being a hard worker, he should have no problem meeting or exceeding his potential. In a league short on pitching prospects in general and the fact that he is a lefty, Nolan will be competing to be in the top half of the Royals rotation in no time. Being a more developed prospect, and having a high ceiling on his control, Nolan was the #2 Starting Pitcher on this writer’s board.
Nolan has pitched for 3.5 seasons in RLB so far, going straight from AA to the big leagues in 1993-1994. While he may not be the best pitcher around he is a serviceable middle/back of rotation guy. His potentials did slide a little in 1994/1995 with his stuff and movement settling about 10 points down from when he was drafted. With a career 4.36 ERA and 4.15 FIP, he is just about league average. A solid rotation piece that Kansas City can continue to rely on in the coming years.
1.14 Cincinnati Reds – RF Miguel Mendoza: B+ 1997 Review: B-
With high Leadership and Loyalty, the Cincinnati Reds have selected a long term leader for their clubhouse. With average OF Range and OF Error, and a plus OF Arm Mendoza will fit well into a Corner Outfield position. Since January when he came onto the draft radar, his eye and power has developed to be slightly above average, with plenty of potential to become elite. Mendoza will need to develop his contact over his time in the Minor Leagues but should become a foundational piece of the Reds organization of the future. A solid pick compared to The Index’s rating of #24.
Miguel Mendoza is now the starting RF for Cincinnati. His path to the majors was fairly quick, debuting in 1994, although he has been plagued with injuries which forced him out of the lineup for 6-7 months in the past 3 seasons. Mendoza seems to be a very good RF, if only he stayed healthy. He is a very patient hitter and should be able to provide the Reds with consistent production when he is in the lineup. His fielding is a little weak compared to the rest of the league but still a good player with some team control left for the Reds.
1.15 Boston Red Sox – LF Chris Bush: A+ 1997 Review: B
The Boston Red Sox may very well have just gotten the biggest steal of the entire draft. We are a bit surprised that Chris Bush Fell all the way to #15 when he is #4 on The Index and graded as the #2 Bat in this draft. He has a very similar grade to that of our #1 overall pick Jim Balliett. With 80 contact and 75 home run power and 65 eye potential Bush should be one of the best players of his era and make multiple trips to the All Star game. He is primarily a Left Fielder but can play Right Field in a pinch. As a durable player, if he can achieve his potential, Chris Bush will have a very lucrative career.
Now a Pittsburgh Pirate, Bush has struggled to stay at the major league level. Bush looks like he is an above average player on paper but Boston had a log jam in their system which pitted Bush behind Hein and Torres in the corner outfield. It will be interesting to see if he spends another part of the season at AAA or if he can overtake Tony Villalobos or John Listro for a starting position. The Red Sox managed to turn Bush into a decent starting pitcher (Ryan Glover).
1.16 San Diego Padres – 1B Eric Dixon: B- 1997 Review: D
Standing at 6’5”, Eric Dixon has the predisposition to play 1B, but his current ratings only grade him as an average 1B. Thankfully his speed and his batting make him a contender for at least a DH role on an RLB Roster. With 80 Contact, 75 Gap Power and 65 Eye Potentials, Dixon should be able to hit alongside the best of them. Only 17 years old, “Sparky” will have some time to develop before we see him in the bigs. The Index says that this pick is a little bit of a reach rating Dixon at #51 overall, but as just a bat he is the 6th best in the draft.
Dixon is taking a while to develop, stuck in JRR for a few years, just now making his way into Short A. Hiis power and eye potential have cratered and his Contact potential is down to a 60. Eric Dixon is looking like he may be one of the first true busts of this draft. There is still hope for him as he is quick and able to work well on the basepaths but he looks to be nothing more than a bench/AAAA player if he does manage to fully realize his current potentials.
1.17 Seattle Mariners – 1B Cole McDaniel: C- 1997 Review: C+
Cole McDaniel is similar to Eric Dixon, but his speed and defensive stature does not compare. With 80 Contact and 65 Home Run Power, as well as 65 Eye Potentials McDaniel is the 5th best hitter in this draft. His lack of defense means that he will most likely become a DH but he can be used at 1st in a pinch. Cole McDaniel is ranked #126 on The Index, but he will become an exciting player for the Mariners due to his Hitting Prowess if he reaches his potential.
Struggling at Short A, McDaniel is not quite the player he was billed to be back in 1993. After 2 seasons in JRR, a stint in S A and 2 seasons in SRR, he is back in Charleston (Short A). Cole now has average potentials with fair development in all his stats. He still might turn out to be a solid bench option when he reaches the majors.
1.18 New York Mets – LF Edwardo Sandoval: A+ 1997 Review: B
It was almost unfathomable that Edwardo fell this far, The Index has him rated as the #4 hitter in the 1993 draft and ranked as the #3 overall hitter. He sports serviceable stats for LF, and might have an outside chance of being decent in RF. While being so young, he is certainly a development risk with only having 25 contact in High School. He does have an impressively high ceiling with 65 Contact, 75 Gap Power, 80 HR Power and 65 Eye. Other than his contact he is well over 65% developed in his other areas. If he can overcome his mental and physical limitations to reach his potential he could prove to be a good asset for the Mets.
Sandoval most recently was named the MVP of the Retro League Baseball Futures Game. BNN Currently has him ranked as the #49 Prospect. After a slow start, having to repeat JRR and a tumultuous path through the minors all in a fight to develop his contact, Sandoval was unable to achieve more than a 40/45 rating on his contact. His Power and Eye also declined although not very much (less than 10 each). Expect him to get a shot in the Majors towards the end of this season, or the next.
1.19 Chicago White Sox – SS Jerry Byrd: A 1997 Review: A+
One of the Elite Middle Infielders of this draft, Jerry Byrd will bring phenomenal defense to the Chicago White Sox for years to come. Seeing as Byrd has less than average contact potential, it dragged his stock down a bit. That being said, he projects to have the power to blast the ball halfway to I-90! 75 power potential and 75 eye potential is close to one of the best pairings in this draft, but he will strike out quite a bit. The Index ranked Byrd as the #11 overall player in this draft.
Jerry Byrd is currently the starting shortstop for the Chicago Cubs. He was immediately traded by their crosstown rivals, the Chicago White Sox, almost as soon as it was allowed under the RLB Constitution. He spent his half a season in JRR, a full stint in WL and then sped through AA, AAA and made it to The Show in 1994. Now only 2.5 years into his long stay with the Chicago Cubs, Byrd has posted an impressive 15.1 WAR and an average OPS+ of 124. Byrd is your typical Home Run Slugger with 70/75 power and 65/75 eye and should be another copy of Hastings or Arnaut, this time with elite defensive skills at SS, which could make him one of, if not the best player in the game.
1.20 California Angels – RF Brendan Forsee: B- 1997 Review: B-
With the 20th pick, the Angels select Brendan Forsee. A First Baseman out of Akron, OH has a solid bat as well as the athleticism to transition to Left or Right Field. Brendan is almost fully developed with about 15% more to go in his batting skill. Once he maxes out his Contact, Power and Eye he will be a nightmare for most pitchers. He has phenomenal patience at the plate, and will draw plenty of walks. The Index rates him as the 49th player in the Draft. This pick is a little bit early but with the 21 year old’s current development he should be seen in RLB within the next few years.
Nobody could Forsee it… ah - what a bad joke. Brendan Forsee has struggled to maintain his starting position since he was promoted to the Angels RLB Roster in 1993, immediately after he was chosen 20th overall in the draft. Initially in his first 90 games he posted 2.4 WAR and was on pace to become a very good player. It seems that he ran into a large roadblock in 1995 (the switch to OOTP 25?) and his skills declined. He now projects to be a good AAAA player and has the potential to maybe break into some RLB Lineups to fill a bench role.
1.21 Toronto Blue Jays – RF Mike Glessner: A 1997 Review: B-
The Toronto Blue Jays received an A for their pick of Mike Glessner, the #16 overall on The Index. While still a little raw, the High School Jr already has the markings of the next great Left Fielder. His Gap Power, Home Run Power and Eye have all had some development which puts him ahead of his peers. The big question mark for Glessner is whether his 80 potential contact and 60 potential Avoid K’s will develop completely. Toronto is a good fit for him as they have been able to develop many Outfielders in recent years.
Currently still under development in Single A, Mike Glessner still projects to be an average to above average corner outfielder. His stats show that he might be ready for AA. He may struggle a bit in the Ks column but still has the potential to have all ratings at 50 or above. His biggest decreases in potential were in his contact and Avoid Ks - the exact things that needed to pan out to make him a good option for the majors.
1.22 San Francisco Giants – 1B Tom Petrucci: C+ 1997 Review: B
Tom Petrucci coming in at 6’, 185 lbs will be a top tier RLB Designated Hitter unless he can develop his fielding abilities. Already ringing up 65/70 Home Run Power, and hitting 17+ Home Runs a year in HS will translate well to the Bigs. With 40/70 Contact and 40/60 Gap Power, Petrucci will do well for the Giants. His lack of Defensive prowess places Petrucci as the #230 rated player, but he is the 17th best hitter in the draft.
Currently on the trade block, Petrucci has made it to the RLB but has been unable to spend a full season there except in 1996 where he had 117 starts. With good power, looking at a 162 average of 40+ HRs he should be a valuable piece to any organization. Still, Petrucci did not meet his initial potential but is a solid all around player at 1B or DH.
1.23 Chicago Cubs – 1B Joe Schulte: D 1997 Ranking: C
One of the youngest players in the Draft was taken by the Cubs at #23, but this is one of the more curious picks. Joe Schulte has all the markings of a Designated Hitter. Although he is 6’ 4” and 200 lbs, Joe has very poor defensive ratings and tops out as a below average First Baseman. The allure of this player lies purely in his 60/75 Home Run Power and 50/75 Eye. He is rated as the 80th overall hitter (and the 821st overall player). Due to his average contact potential and below average Avoid K’s. His At-Bats will result in one of 3 options, a Home Run, a Walk, or more often than not a Strikeout.
A pure DH, Schulte has been recently promoted to the AAA Savannah Sand Gnats. His contact at a rating of 35 is what hurts the most (although his Avoid Ks at 35 doesn’t help either). In AA, he has hit 27 HRs in 79 games with an OPS+ of 141. If this stat line carries through to AAA and above Schulte could still turn out to be a very interesting player. It seems he is purely a platoon DH but he may surprise us all.
1.24 St. Louis Cardinals – LF Adam Guess: A- 1997 Ranking: B
Adam is one of the best remaining players at this point of the Draft. The Index rated him as the 25th overall player. While still developing, he projects to be an average LF/RF with a great hit tool that could catapult him to multiple All-Star Appearances. While not a pure power hitter, Guess will be a top contributor to his team.
Guess is certainly taking his time to develop but has the potential now to be an average LF in RLB. Currently in Short Season A ball, Adam is doing well. If his Contact and BABIP develop he may yet break into an RLB Roster. His lack of work ethic may keep him down.
1.25 Pittsburgh Pirates – LF Rocky Dobin: B- 1997 Review: A
Barely a Left Fielder, Dobin will most likely fall into the role of Designated Hitter for the Pirates. Being the 14th best hitter on The Index (but the 50th overall player), Dobin provides a lot of value being selected with the 25th overall pick. The combination of plus-plus Contact, Home Run Power and an elite Eye will make him a big threat at the plate. He has just enough Gap and Avoid K’s potential to be able to boast a good average and a respectable strikeout percentage.
Rocky Dobin is currently in Single A and hitting at a good clip (.290/.407/.554). He is probably ready to advance through the minor leagues and potentially see an RLB role next season. Currently the #32 prospect, Dobin was traded twice, first to the San Francisco Giants and then to the Seattle Mariners where he currently calls home. It is impressive that Rocky has maintained his prospect ranking through these past 4 drafts, but if his contact develops he will have a very well rounded bat that should scare his opponents.
1.26 Baltimore Orioles – RF Larry Gruenwald: A+ 1997 ReviewL: A+
The Orioles managed to snag The Index’s 8th best player in this draft. With a misleading nickname “Dum-Dum” is a very adaptable player with a high work ethic who will play any outfield position with ease. A plus plus arm and plus range will contribute well to his defensive ability. While he may not be crushing home runs every game, he will sport a very impressive OBP and a high Average. Gruenwald also has quite a bit of speed which will contribute to all aspects of his game. His lack of Home Run Power is most likely why he fell down to the back end of the first round.
Larry has developed nicely and is a very good Right Fielder. While currently in AAA on a rehab assignment, he has played 2 years in the majors (initially being called up at the end of the 1993 season). His lack of power makes it hard to keep him on the field, but he makes up for it in his speed, baserunning and fielding ability. Anyone who averages over .275 and 5.0 WAR per season should be vital to their team. He was traded by Baltimore in 1996 in a package deal for 2B Mark Brewer and CL Rich Taylor. Overall (despite the lack of power) the Orioles hit the nail on the head with this pick. Gruenwald should be a force in RLB for years to come.
1.27 Milwaukee Brewers – CF Chris Harkness: A+ 1997 Review: A
Another great selection here at #15, Chris Harkenss won't quite be a Center Fielder in RLB, but he can play the position in a pinch. He will excel at Right or Left Field with 60 Range and 55 Arm. His innate speed, plus-plus Contact and Gap Power will lead to an above average amount of extra base hits. In addition, with his average power, he should be able to produce 20+ HRs a year. Harkness has a very promising future.
Joining the Brewers at baseball’s highest level back in 1995, Harkness is almost the exact replica of Larry Gruenwald (the player chosen one pick ahead). Although he has been plagued with a few injuries, Chris is on pace to hit around 15 HRs per season and has settled into a Left Field position. Power isnt everything as Harkness gets on base and is a very adaptable player who can seize the opportunities presented to him, be it on the base path or even just being a team player.
1.28 Cleveland Spiders – 1B Jonathan Belville: C+ 1997 Review: C-
Jonathan Belville caps off the last of the First Basemen selected in the first round who don't quite fit the bill defensively but have a great bat. Just how good is Belville’s bat? The Index rates it as the 9th best this year in the amateur draft. While still very early in his development, if Belville reaches his full potential of 70/35/70/75/50, he will be a powerful slugger who has the patience to wait for his pitch. His lack of defense keeps him just inside the top 100 overall at #98.
A far cry from the projected 70/35/70/75/50, Belville’s current potentials lie at 45/40/65/60/45. In JRR and SRR, he is averaging 12 HRs per season. Right now all of his stats are in dire need of development it have a chance at making a major league roster one day.
1.29 Colorado Rockies – P Paul Adler: B 1997 Review: A
Paul Adler was my Scouts’ 7th best pitcher on the board, but I have him rated a little higher at #4. The value of a starting pitcher, especially a Lefty as Adler is, is tremendous. Right now he does not project any obvious flaws. With the potential for 60 stuff, 50 movement, 55 control he has the makings of a middle to backend of rotation guy. His pitches feature an elite changeup, a plus-plus curveball and a plus cutter, of which the last two may be affected by average movement.
Paul Adler is currently on the Rockies Major League team, surprisingly he is only averaging 1 HR Allowed per game (which is amazing considering his home field is such a hitter friendly park). His 3 pitch repertoire is elite and he is able to take care of any runners who do get on base. Currently boasting the best ERA of his 2.5 year career (3.51 ERA and 4.08 FIP) Adler should be the focal point of this Rockies rotation for quite a while.
1.30 Atlanta Braves – LF David Roddy: C- 1997 Review: B
Let us introduce “Blink”, the 30th overall pick in the draft and the final pick of the first round - David Roddy! A little bit of a stretch according to The Index, ranked at #132 overall and the 51st hitter of the draft, David has a well rounded hit tool, but will barely be an average outfielder. With 60 potential contact, 60 potential Gap Power and 70 Potential Home Run Power and an average Eye, Roddy may make multiple trips to the All-Star Game.
Last but not least, David Roddy is currently in Single A with a few parts of his swing to work on. He is the #98 OSA ranked prospect but looks to be a LF/DH type player. With 65 power potential, and meeting his stats in other places, Roddy still has great potential. He is currently out classing every level he has been in, and is probably ready for AA or AAA. Keep an eye out for him to make it to Atlanta’s RLB roster here in the next few seasons.
The first round of this draft leaned heavily towards Powerful Bats with good contact. A few of the lower graded picks were due to the undervaluing of 1Bs and DH’s by The Index. Only a couple “misses” here in the first round, but with time we shall find out the true winners and losers of the 1993 Draft.
Overall, players were hit with both TCR changes and the pain of switching from OOTP 24 to OOTP 25 which redid the ratings of each player. Their stats and current team/level can somewhat speak to the advancement or the stalling out of each player. The Index was not perfect but turned out to be a great tool to use to select players in this draft.
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