Whole new world for Draft begins today 6/9/09

Whole new world for Draft begins today
MLB Network, MLB.com have live coverage of every pick

By Mark Newman / MLB.com

06/09/09 2:30 AM ET

SECAUCUS, N.J. -- John Hart was drafted twice in 1969: once by Uncle Sam and once by the new Montreal Expos franchise.

"Catcher, 16th round," he remembers with a gleam in his eye. "I found out two days later. And then I remember later, when I first came in as a [Cleveland] general manager, it was very private. We didn't want players to know exactly where they were drafted right away."

Harold Reynolds was first drafted by the San Diego Padres in the sixth round as a high school senior shortstop in 1979. His older brother Larry was drafted two rounds earlier by Texas.

"In those days, you got a phone call that told you you were drafted," Reynolds said. "It might as well have been a ticker tape. My brother was a senior at Stanford, and I was a senior in high school. I called Larry and I said, 'I got drafted by the Padres!' I told him, 'You got drafted in the fourth round.' He said, 'You can't be joking around about this, Harold.' I'm like, 'Yeah, man!' He had no idea. That's what it was like."

The dream world is a new world now.

Major League Baseball's First-Year Player Draft, that first step to The Show, is about to become the definition of immediacy, openness, advanced technology and mass awareness on a live and widespread scale never experienced before -- light years from the realities of those respective selections 40 and 30 years ago. The expanded three-day event starts today at 6 p.m. ET, when the Nationals go on the clock with the first overall pick. They'll have 15 minutes to make their selection, and they're expected to choose San Diego State University pitcher Stephen Strasburg.

MLB Network, now in approximately 52 million households following the largest launch in cable TV history, will televise the entire first round live for the first time at its new studios in New Jersey, after two years of ESPN broadcasting the event at Disney World in Florida.

The 32 first-round selections will also be simulcast live on MLB.com. Beginning with the 33rd pick, up-to-the-minute on-air coverage from the remaining rounds will shift exclusively to MLB.com/Live, where host Vinny Micucci will be joined by MLB.com Draft expert Jonathan Mayo and Major League Scouting Bureau director Frank Marcos.

The Draft is where everyone is. Even if you are watching a game such as Red Sox-Yankees, you are likely to follow this. You probably know someone who might be drafted, or someone who knows someone who might be drafted. The Draft is everywhere.

Hart and Reynolds were rehearsing Monday inside Studio 42, where the now-familiar "MLB Park" replica field is filled with tables that will be occupied by dignitaries representing each club during the first round. Positioned at home plate is the podium where Commissioner Bud Selig will come out to announce each of the first-round picks.

"Major League Baseball is very pleased that MLB Network will host our First-Year Player Draft in Studio 42," Selig said. "As the Draft has gained more prominence in recent years, fans have embraced it with great enthusiasm. With the continued support of MLB.com and now the advent of the MLB Network, we are enthusiastic about the possibilities to continue to grow this event."

Working alongside Hart and Reynolds on the MLB Network crew will be host Greg Amsinger and MLB Scouting Bureau Director Frank Marcos. MLB.com senior writer Jonathan Mayo and Baseball America executive editor Jim Callis also will provide analysis.

The first day will consist of the first 111 picks, including Round One, Compensation Round A, Round Two, Round Three and Compensation Round B. There will be four minutes between first-round picks and one minute between all other selections. On Wednesday, the Draft will resume in the fourth round at noon ET and will be tentatively scheduled to go through the 30th round. The Draft will conclude on Thursday with the 31st through 50th rounds, beginning at 11:30 a.m. ET.

The MLB.com coverage will include a live pick-by-pick stream, expert commentary and the exclusive Draft Tracker, a searchable database of every Draft-eligible player, featuring statistics, scouting reports and video highlights. It is a presentation that typically results in the heaviest traffic of the year on MLB.com, and this year it will be bigger than ever.

"For a player, it's your biggest day of your career," Hart said. "I can relate to that."

He should know. Hart was halfway through college, just finishing up at Seminole Community College in Florida, presented with an athletic scholarship to Florida Southern that next year, when the Expos drafted him in the "Summer of Love." The Vietnam War was in full swing, and Hart was also drafted into the military, and he remembers that his draft number was 27. He waited, never went to Vietnam but spent six years in the Reserves. He would make his mark later in the Majors, not as a player, but as a GM who knew how to draft.

As GM of the Indians from 1991-2001, Hart drafted current Dodgers left fielder Manny Ramirez in 1991 and current Yankees pitcher CC Sabathia in '98 as first-round picks. Hart is also the former GM of the Rangers, for whom he his now a special advisor.

"From a club perspective, even as a manager [briefly in 1989] or as a coach, but especially as a GM, you are tremendously excited for this time because you have a chance to improve your organization significantly," Hart said. "To be able to add that perspective of what clubs are looking for, how they grade, do you draft for need, position player or pitcher, tools -- those are things that having sat through 20-plus years of Drafts I'll be able to add my insight on.

"With the Indians, we were a smallish market, and so much of building was the Draft. Scouts who worked for me would tell you I'd be in that Draft room 10 days before the first pick. It gave me a great background. I had the advantage to go in and talk to those picks a couple years later when they were up. You get familiar with the players."

Hart worked on the crew that brought MLB Network viewers the popular "30 Teams In 30 Days" series this spring, and he said it is "interesting, because I was always the guy on the other side of the camera. I made the decision to come here. I was a little unsure, since I was still affiliated with Texas. I spoke with my owner, and I didn't know much about it to be honest with you. But it started with Tony Petitti. He has a passion for baseball, and they wanted to do it the right way."

Petitti is the CEO of the MLB Network, which is nearly halfway through its first year of existence and adding milestones like this all the time.

"Any time you can get someone at John's level, building clubs, it's a big win," Petitti said of Hart. "He's been in those rooms. He had a great track record and is good at communicating with people."

Walk through the MLB Network studios, and you see new pictures of baseball players splashed all over the walls. You see a white wall outside Studio 42 that has been autographed by the biggest names in baseball, who have been guests on the set of "MLB Tonight" and other programs. What strikes you most about it all right now is that almost all of them got their start just like this, in the Draft. But the Draft was never this big.

Ask anyone involved here, and they will tell you that the multiplatform presentation of the 2009 Draft just makes sense. It is by baseball-only for baseball-only. It is more detail, fact and analysis than probably most anyone could possibly digest between now and the close of business Thursday. Somewhere in that mass of names will be a Hall of Famer. Somewhere will be an average guy years from now who can say he was drafted. There will be hits, and there will be misses.

And the biggest hit may be the presentation.

"The best thing about this is, we're servicing the bloodline of Major League Baseball -- and that's the grassroots fan," Reynolds said, changing clothes between the Draft rehearsal and his regular gig as "MLB Tonight" studio analyst. "It's for the 14 million kids who play baseball in this country.

"Secondly, it's the greatest day for a young kid. Draft day. How exciting is that? Some will be disappointed, but most will be excited."

John Entz, senior vice president of production for MLB Network, said having the responsibility for staging this production with MLB is a dream assignment.

"There are very few sports events that are under-served these days, but this has a ton of room for growth," he said. "It used to be done with phone calls. We're going to hopefully create something special with this and start memories in 2009."

The club representatives were added elements to this Draft the past two years at Disney, and that tradition returns in this new setting. Some of the many big names you will see at those tables in prime time include Craig Biggio (Astros), Al Kaline (Tigers), Tino Martinez (Yankees), Jay Buhner (Mariners), Fred McGriff (Rays), John Franco (Mets), Tommy Lasorda (Dodgers), Eric Davis (Reds) and Bill Mazeroski (Pirates).

And it makes sense that former leadoff man Devon White will be at the Nationals' table, as that club leads off the Draft.

The selection order of the First-Year Player Draft is determined by the reverse order of finish at the close of the previous championship season. The Nationals thus have that shot at Strasburg, who could be a Major Leaguer in his first pro season, if his signing goes smoothly. It is worth noting that the Nationals are on pace to have the first pick next year as well, and their fans probably are now well aware of the growing legend of likely 2010 top overall pick Bryce Harper, the high school prodigy who is on the cover of the latest Sports Illustrated as "the LeBron James of baseball." Nats fans are glued to the Draft, which certainly helped Tampa Bay go from a perennial loser to last year's American League champs.

Compensation picks have been assigned to clubs that had Type A or Type B free agents sign with other clubs and/or to clubs that did not sign a player who was chosen in the first three rounds of the 2008 Draft. Five clubs will have a pair of first-round choices: the Nationals (first and 10th); the Mariners (second and 27th); the Rockies (11th and 32nd); the D-backs (16th and 17th) and the Angels (24th and 25th).

The Draft will have 50 rounds and will conclude after all 30 teams have passed on a selection or after the final selection of the 50th round, whichever comes first. It also will be interactive on Twitter, so follow @MLBDraft if you are on Twitter and be sure to include #mlbdraft within any tweets.

"Major League Baseball and our 30 clubs realize that the First-Year Player Draft is an area of increasing interest among baseball fans," said Jimmie Lee Solomon, MLB's Executive Vice President of Baseball Operations. "The response within the industry has been remarkable. We are thrilled that MLB Network and MLB.com will bring the 2009 Draft to a primetime national audience. It will be a great night in Studio 42."

Mark Newman is enterprise editor of MLB.com. This story was not subject to the approval of Major League Baseball or its clubs.

First Round

1. Washington Nationals
2. Seattle Mariners
3. San Diego Padres
4. Pittsburgh Pirates
5. Baltimore Orioles
6. San Francisco Giants
7. Atlanta Braves
8. Cincinnati Reds
9. Detroit Tigers
10. Washington Nationals (9B, for unsigned 2008 No. 9 overall pick Aaron Crow)
11. Colorado Rockies
12. Kansas City Royals
13. Oakland A's
14. Texas Rangers
15. Cleveland Indians
16. Arizona Diamondbacks
17. Arizona Diamondbacks (from Dodgers - Orlando Hudson)
18. Florida Marlins
19. St. Louis Cardinals
20. Toronto Blue Jays
21. Houston Astros
22. Minnesota Twins
23. Chicago White Sox
24. Los Angeles Angels (from Mets - Francisco Rodriguez)
25. Los Angeles Angels (from Yankees - Mark Teixeira)
26. Milwaukee Brewers
27. Seattle Mariners (from Phillies - Raul Ibanez)
28. Boston Red Sox
29. New York Yankees (28B, for unsigned 2008 No. 28 overall pick Gerrit Cole)
30. Tampa Bay Rays
31. Chicago Cubs
32. Colorado Rockies (from Angels - Brian Fuentes)

Comp Round A

33. Seattle Mariners (Raul Ibanez)
34. Colorado Rockies (Brian Fuentes)
35. Arizona Diamondbacks (Orlando Hudson)
36. Los Angeles Dodgers (Derek Lowe)
37. Toronto Blue Jays (A.J Burnett)
38. Chicago White Sox (Orlando Cabrera)
39. Milwaukee Brewers (CC Sabathia)
40. Los Angeles Angels (Mark Teixeira)
41. Arizona Diamondbacks (Juan Cruz)
42. Los Angeles Angels (Francisco Rodriguez)
43. Cincinnati Reds (Jeremy Affeldt)
44. Texas Rangers (Milton Bradley)
45. Arizona Diamondbacks (Brandon Lyon)
46. Minnesota Twins (Denny Reyes)
47. Milwaukee Brewers (Brian Shouse)
48. Los Angeles Angels (Jon Garland)
49. Pittsburgh Pirates (48B, for unsighed 2008 No. 48 overall pick Tanner Scheppers)

Second Round

50. Washington Nationals
51. Seattle Mariners
52. San Diego Padres
53. Pittsburgh Pirates
54. Baltimore Orioles
55. San Francisco Giants
56. Los Angeles Dodgers (from Braves - Derek Lowe)
57. Cincinnati Reds
58. Detroit Tigers
59. Colorado Rockies
60. Arizona Diamondbacks (from Royals - Juan Cruz)
61. Chicago White Sox (from Athletics - Orlando Cabrera)
62. Texas Rangers
63. Cleveland Indians
64. Arizona Diamondbacks
65. Los Angeles Dodgers
66. Florida Marlins
67. St. Louis Cardinals
68. Toronto Blue Jays
69. Houston Astros
70. Minnesota Twins
71. Chicago White Sox
72. New York Mets
73. Milwaukee Brewers (from Yankees - CC Sabathia)
74. Milwaukee Brewers
75. Philadelphia Phillies
76. New York Yankees (75B, for unsigned 2008 No. 75 overall pick Scott Bittle)
77. Boston Red Sox
78. Tampa Bay Rays
79. Chicago Cubs
80. Los Angeles Angels

Third Round

81. Washington Nationals
82. Seattle Mariners
83. San Diego Padres
84. Pittsburgh Pirates
85. Baltimore Orioles
86. San Francisco Giants
87. Atlanta Braves
88. Cincinnati Reds
89. Detroit Tigers
90. Colorado Rockies
91. Kansas City Royals
92. Oakland A's
93. Texas Rangers
94. Cleveland Indians
95. Arizona Diamondbacks
96. Los Angeles Dodgers
97. Florida Marlins
98. St. Louis Cardinals
99. Toronto Blue Jays
100. Houston Astros
101. Minnesota Twins
102. Chicago White Sox
103. New York Mets
104. Toronto Blue Jays (from Yankees - A.J. Burnett)
105. Milwaukee Brewers
106. Philadelphia Phillies
107. Boston Red Sox
108. Tampa Bay Rays
109. Chicago Cubs
110. Los Angeles Angels

Comp Round B

111. Houston Astros (for unsighed 2008 No. 88 overall pick Charles Davidson)

Fourth Round and up

112. Washington Nationals
113. Seattle Mariners
114. San Diego Padres
115. Pittsburgh Pirates
116. Baltimore Orioles
117. San Francisco Giants
118. Atlanta Braves
119. Cincinnati Reds
120. Detroit Tigers
121. Colorado Rockies
122. Kansas City Royals
123. Oakland A's
124. Texas Rangers
125. Cleveland Indians
126. Arizona Diamondbacks
127. Los Angeles Dodgers
128. Florida Marlins
129. St. Louis Cardinals
130. Toronto Blue Jays
131. Houston Astros
132. Minnesota Twins
133. Chicago White Sox
134. New York Mets
135. New York Yankees
136. Milwaukee Brewers
137. Philadelphia Phillies
138. Boston Red Sox
139. Tampa Bay Rays
140. Chicago Cubs
141. Los Angeles Angels

Compensation Picks


The former Club of a Player who became a free agent and ranks as a Type A or B Player shall be entitled to receive compensation in the form of a Draft choice in the First-Year Player Draft succeeding the Player's election of free agency.

A Type A or B shall be a Player who became a free agent and ranks as a Type A or B Player under the statistical system of ranking Players set forth by the Elias Sports Bureau, using statistics based on a two-year average for each respective position group. Type A and Type B players necessitate that the Player's former Club receive a sandwich pick in between rounds one and two. Additional picks in the second, third and fourth rounds are exchanged from one club to another for the
losses of Type A free agents.

Type A Players now rank in the upper 20% of his respective position group by the Basic Agreement, instead of the upper 30% as was stipulated in the previous collective bargaining agreement.

Type B Players now rank in the upper 40%, but not in the upper 20%, of his respective position group. Under the previous collective bargaining agreement, Type B Players ranked in the upper 50% not in the upper 30%. Before the most recent collective bargaining agreement took effect for the 2008 season, a Club would receive compensation for losing a Type C free agent. Under the new Basic Agreement, Type C free agents no longer call for a Draft pick as compensation.

Any ideas as to who we might be looking at?

Draft Preview: Pitchers top Tigers' list
Detroit looks to stock arms again for use or trade pieces

By Jason Beck / MLB.com

06/02/09 11:00 AM ET

DETROIT -- Tigers scouting director David Chadd might have summed up the team's recent Draft approach best with one simple statement.

"You can never have enough pitching," Chadd said last week on his way between scouting stops.

The other philosophy that characterizes Detroit's Draft history is that top-level talent is worth the price. After signing first-round pick Rick Porcello to a Major League contract two years ago, team president/general manager Dave Dombrowski said the Tigers view the First-Year Player Draft as one venue in which they can compete on a level playing field with big-market titans like the Yankees, Red Sox and Mets. As they prepare to select ninth this year, they continue to scout for talent over signability, though last year's selection of Ryan Perry shows big contracts aren't automatic.

MLB.com will offer live coverage and analysis of the entire First-Year Player Draft on June 9-11. MLB Network will broadcast the first round at 6 p.m. ET on June 9 from its Studio 42 in Secaucus, N.J., and those 32 selections also will be simulcast live on MLB.com.

Beginning with the 33rd pick, up-to-the-minute on-air coverage from the remaining rounds will shift exclusively to MLB.com/Live, where host Vinny Micucci will be joined by MLB.com Draft expert Jonathan Mayo and Major League Scouting Bureau director Frank Marcos.

Once the first night is done, the Draft will continue with rounds 4-30, via conference call from MLB headquarters in New York, at noon on June 10. Rounds 31-50 will be on June 11, starting at 11:30 a.m.

Here's a glance at what the Tigers have in store as the First-Year Player Draft approaches:

In about 50 words
The top half of the first round is heavily centered on pitching, and the Tigers are smack in the middle of it. The Tigers have a shorter list of possibilities than last year, mainly because they have fewer teams picking ahead of them. Not surprisingly, the vast majority of them involve pitching.

The scoop
"There is an abundance of pitching," Chadd said. "I wouldn't say that's exactly the way we're going to go. There are still a couple wild cards in there. We've got a handful of guys in our small group. We're just doubling back and looking."

First-round buzz
Much of the speculation involves the Tigers taking a high school pitcher with upside, a route that paid off greatly two years ago with Porcello. Right-hander Jacob Turner fits the profile, but that also comes with the contract expectations of agent Scott Boras. Shelby Miller is another hard-throwing prep right-hander who has caught attention. But the Tigers could also go for a high school left-hander if Tyler Matzek unexpectedly falls or if Chad James or Matthew Purke become too intriguing to pass up. That said, the Tigers reserve the right to pounce if someone unexpectedly falls out of the top eight picks, which is where the position player wild card seemingly comes into play.

Shopping list
The Tigers are building a wealth of pitching, especially with past high-round picks Luke Putkonen and Casey Crosby returning healthy from injuries, and they're clearly looking for more. Detroit remains thin on the left side of the infield, and they could use some depth at catcher in the lower levels, though Alex Avila's rise has sent him rising up the developmental ladder behind Dusty Ryan. That said, Chadd said the Tigers plan to go after the best athlete available as they go round by round. "Every Draft's different," Chadd said.

Trend watch
The Tigers have selected a pitcher with their top pick in five out of the past six years, with Cameron Maybin as the lone exception. Moreover, their top four selections were pitchers, as were eight of their first 10, as they took advantage of good arms with subpar results who fell from projections. Not only has it fit into Detroit's preference to build a rotation from within, but as the Miguel Cabrera and Gerald Laird trades showed, extra arms can become trade pieces to fill positional needs. Detroit has shown no particular preference towards college or high school pitchers overall, but its mid-round picks have trended towards the college ranks recently.

Recent top picks
2008 and 2007: Each of Detroit's last five top picks have played in the big leagues this year, not all for Detroit. Porcello and Perry, Detroit's first-round selections in 2007 and 2008, made the Tigers roster together out of Spring Training and have more than held their own on the mound.
2006: Andrew Miller, Detroit's 2006 first-round pick, is filling out the Marlins' rotation after joining Florida in the Cabrera trade.
2005: Maybin, the 2005 top pick, was up with the Marlins as their center fielder last month, then back down after struggling.
2004: Justin Verlander, the second overall selection in the 2004 Draft, is anchoring Detroit's rotation.

Rising fast
Right-hander Cody Satterwhite, last year's second-rounder, is already up to Double-A Erie, where Porcello and Perry would've been had they not made the big club. Satterwhite's six saves through Sunday were tied for the team lead on the SeaWolves entering last weekend in a split closer situation to go with 24 strikeouts over 18 innings. His 11 walks show work left to do on his command, but the big fastball that drew the Tigers to him last June has been as good as advertised. Another 2008 Draft pick, fifth-rounder Alex Avila, is catching a lot of Satterwhite as the SeaWolves' regular catcher after spending his first Spring Training in Major League camp.

Cinderella story
Big left-hander Jon Kibler, a 30th-round selection two years ago out of Michigan State, was the Tigers' Minor League Pitcher of the Year last season with a Midwest League-best 14 victories and a 1.75 ERA at Class A West Michigan. After making an impression with the Major Leaguers in Spring Training, Kibler bypassed high Class A ball for Erie, where he currently leads the SeaWolves in innings pitched while racking up a pair of complete games to go with a 2-3 record and 3.57 ERA entering last weekend.

In The Show
In addition to all the Tigers' first-round selections to make it to the Majors, Clete Thomas advanced from Triple-A Toledo into a regular role in Detroit's outfield since filling in for Marcus Thames. The Tigers drafted Thomas in the sixth round in 2005. Jeff Larish, taken one round ahead of Thomas that year, has made two stints with the Tigers this year as a corner infielder and designated hitter. Detroit also got a contribution in May from left-hander Lucas French, an eighth-round pick out of high school in 2004 who steadily rose at each level until he was the player development folks' recommendation for a call-up when Nate Robertson went on the disabled list last month.



Jason Beck is a reporter for MLB.com. This story was not subject to the approval of Major League Baseball or its clubs.

Crystal ball: Plenty of Draft questions left
Signability, injury concerns may impact teams' decisions

By Jonathan Mayo / MLB.com

06/08/09 10:00 AM ET

With just over a day left before the first selection is announced in the First-Year Player Draft, there's plenty of fact-finding and questioning still going on in all 30 Draft rooms.

Signability and injury are the two variables causing shifts in this edition of the first-round projection.

Teams are really bearing down on the former and talking to team doctors about the latter. As a result, names like Jacob Turner, Kyle Gibson and Tanner Scheppers could be dropping quite a bit -- Turner because of possible bonus demands, Gibson (stress fracture) and Scheppers (shoulder concerns) because of health.

Matthew Purke, Dustin Ackley and Donavan Tate are all in the top 10, but could slide down if the perceived bonus figures end up being too much for takers at the top.

We'll have one more update for Tuesday, the last pre-Draft projection before things get under way at 6 p.m. ET. A lot can change between now and then, but here's the best information available for picks 1-32. Last edition's projection is listed if there was a change in the pick.

1. Washington Nationals: Stephen Strasburg, RHP, San Diego State
Was, is and will continue to be the top guy.

2. Seattle Mariners: Dustin Ackley, 1B/OF, North Carolina
Signability seems to be an issue, but it's looking like the Mariners will still pull the trigger. If not, Aaron Crow likely remains the next in line, with Tyler Matzek a possibility.

3. San Diego Padres: Donavan Tate, OF, Cartersville HS, Ga.
I'd hesitated to go this route before because, frankly, I didn't believe the Padres would take the leap. But everything I'm hearing now leans toward them going away from their old playbook and taking perhaps the best high-upside athlete in the Draft class.
Last week's projection: Mike Minor

4. Pittsburgh Pirates: Aaron Crow, RHP, Fort Worth Cats
They'd still love to consider Ackley here and other arms in the mix could be Alex White on the college side, Zack Wheeler and Matt Hobgood on the high school end. A pair of college bats remain in the picture: Boston College catcher Tony Sanchez and USC shortstop Grant Green.

5. Baltimore Orioles: Zack Wheeler, RHP, East Paulding HS, Dallas, Ga.
Wheeler still seems like the way to go, with a host of other arms like White, Hobgood and Minor being mentioned here or there.

6. San Francisco Giants: Tyler Matzek, LHP, Capistrano Valley HS, Mission Viejo, Calif.
There was some word that Matzek might drop down a few spots, and if Ackley falls because of signability, this might be a good spot for him, but there wasn't enough to change the pick.

7. Atlanta Braves: Alex White, RHP, University of North Carolina
In this scenario, it might come down to a pair of college arms, White and Minor. Not that one start would make a decision, but White's outstanding Super Regional outing over the weekend certainly didn't hurt. Needless to say, Wheeler's the guy if he's still available.

8. Cincinnati Reds: Mike Minor, LHP, Vanderbilt
The Reds would still love for Matzek to get to them, at least so they could discuss it. White would be possible if he gets past Atlanta. Arizona State's Mike Leake remains in the mix, as does high right-hander Jacob Turner.
Last week's projection: Leake

9. Detroit Tigers: Matthew Purke, LHP, Klein HS, Texas
The Tigers take the best player on their board, period, in most years. Late word was that it would be Purke, the talented high school southpaw with a reported big price tag. Turner is still in the mix, as is Scheppers.
Last week's projection: Turner

10. Washington Nationals: Drew Storen, RHP, Stanford
There was a rumor circulating that the Nats had a done deal with Kenesaw State right-hander Chad Jenkins, but there wasn't enough to make the change from the Stanford closer. Jenkins and Storen both worked out in D.C. last week, so both are very much still in the mix.

11. Colorado Rockies: Mike Leake, RHP, Arizona State
Many arms have been mentioned in this spot as it seems like the Rockies will go after pitching. They'd prefer the college variety, it seems, and would likely consider Minor or White should they get this far. The last projection, Rex Brothers, remains a possibility, but Leake seems like a good bet here.
Last week's projection: Brothers

12. Kansas City Royals: Wil Myers, C, Wesleyan Christian Academy, High Point, N.C.
The Royals would be interested if the college arms listed above -- White, Minor, Leake -- got to them at No. 12, but in this scenario, they'd have to look elsewhere. College bats like Green and Sanchez still will be discussed, but they really like what they've seen from Myers, a strong high school hitter who's shown some ability to stay behind the plate.
Last week's projection: Kyle Gibson

13. Oakland A's: Grant Green, SS, USC
Scheppers is still very much in the mix here, but the feeling is the uncertainty over his shoulder will have them look elsewhere. A high school arm like Hobgood could figure in here as could any college arm that drops from above.
Last week's projection: Scheppers

14. Texas Rangers: Shelby Miller, RHP, Brownwood HS, Texas
They've been on him all along and there's no reason to switch off of the Texas high schooler at this point.

15. Cleveland Indians: Eric Arnett, RHP, Indiana University
It could come down to Arnett vs. Scheppers, with Arnett winning because of his easy signability and the questions surrounding Scheppers' shoulder.

16. Arizona Diamondbacks: Rex Brothers, LHP, Lipscomb University
Still have to think Leake's the guy here if he's available, but the D-backs are definitely looking for lefties in the Draft if they can find them.
Last week's projection: A.J. Pollock

17. Arizona Diamondbacks: Bobby Borchering, 3B, Bishop Verot HS, Fla.
Borchering's a switch-hitter with pop and while he may eventually have to move to first base, he'll at least get the opportunity to stay at third. He's considered to be one of the best high school bats in the Draft.

18. Florida Marlins: Chad James, LHP, Yukon HS, Yukon, Okla.
James gets high marks for his pure stuff, though to some, his command is a cause for concern. Florida could consider local product Borchering or college guy Jenkins.
Last week's projection: Jenkins

19. St. Louis Cardinals: Chad Jenkins, RHP, Kenesaw State
This could be a spot for Green to land if he slides past Oakland, and Turner, the local kid from Missouri, might be of interest. But we'll go with the college arm for now.
Last week's projection: Green

20. Toronto Blue Jays: Tim Wheeler, OF, Sacramento State
There remains the possibility that the Jays will be a little adventurous and take a high school bat, but the college-bat route seems like a more plausible route. Wheeler, Pollock and Sanchez could all be considered.
Last week's projection: Everett Williams

21. Houston Astros: Jared Mitchell, OF, Louisiana State
Mitchell, the best athlete among the college hitters, still seems like he could fit well in this system.

22. Minnesota Twins: Matt Hobgood, RHP, Norco HS, Calif.
Hobgood might be gone earlier, in which case the Twins could consider another high school arm like Garrett Gould or a high school bat like Michael Trout or Everett Williams. They're still discussing the "what if" scenario if Gibson drops this far, which he may very well do.

23. Chicago White Sox: Everett Williams, OF, McCallum HS, Texas
The thinking has been toolsy bat in this spot and that still could be Trout or Williams. In the last projection, Williams was off the board. In this one, he's not.
Last week's projection: Trout

24. Los Angeles Angels: Michael Trout, OF, Milville HS, N.J.
The toolsy outfielder from the Northeast lands here, with his name being mentioned all over the place. There are some SoCal prepsters you know the Angels would consider with their two picks should they be here, like Hobgood or maybe even catcher Cameron Garfield, who's impressed in workouts. Gould remains a possibility.
Last week's projection: Gould

25. Los Angeles Angels: Jiovanni Mier, SS, Bonita HS, Calif.
As mentioned above, the Angels love Southern California talent. Mier is probably the best pure shortstop and the chance to get a local kid at a premium position might be too good to pass up.
Last week's projection: Purke

26. Milwaukee Brewers: Garrett Gould, RHP, Maize HS, Kan.
It's now looking like an arm is more likely, and that is of a greater need in the Brewers organization. A college arm might be preferable, and Oklahoma State's Andy Oliver is likely in their radar, but his signability factor might steer them to Gould and his plus curve.
Last week's projection: Matt Davidson

27. Seattle Mariners: Tanner Scheppers, RHP, St. Paul Saints
It was too much for them to consider him at No. 2, though perhaps he belonged in that conversation based on pure stuff. But the shoulder concerns could drop him this far, and after taking the bat at No. 2, they could opt for an arm here.
Last week's projection: Sanchez

28. Boston Red Sox: Jacob Turner, Westminster Christian Academy, Mo.
Here's the tendency to go with the "tough sign" again. Anyone who slides here might be of interest as the Sox take the best player on the board, usually regardless of signability.
Last week's projection: Max Stassi

29. New York Yankees: Brett Jackson, OF, Cal-Berkeley
It'd be tempting to have the Yankees take a shot on Gibson, sort of like they did with Andrew Brackman a couple of years back. For now, we'll stick with the toolsy college outfielder.

30. Tampa Bay Rays: Tommy Joseph, C, Horizon HS.
The Rays have never leaned too far in any direction Draft-wise and they've never picked this far down. They do have a need for catching and they know Joseph well, as he's played on their scout team in the past.
Last week's projection: Mier

31. Chicago Cubs: A.J. Pollock, OF, Notre Dame
Could Gibson land here? It's possible. The Cubs are liable to do just about anything, though they've taken hitters with their top picks the past couple of years. Here's thinking they'll go that route again to kick things off.
Last week's projection: Tim Wheeler

32. Colorado Rockies: Kyle Gibson, RHP, University of Missouri
Why not? Sure, they still like a high school athlete like Slade Heathcott, and he's in the mix. But they liked Gibson at No. 11 before the injury, so the opportunity to get him "on the cheap" at 32 might be too good to pass up.
Last week's projection: Heathcott

Jonathan Mayo is a reporter for MLB.com. This story was not subject to the approval of Major League Baseball or its clubs.

Hopefully whoever we get can do some good in the coming years.

Crystal ball: The final projection
With just hours to go, here's how we see the Draft shaking out

By Jonathan Mayo / MLB.com

06/09/09 10:00 AM ET

It would be tempting to continue making calls and tweaking the first-round projections until right up before the Draft, but at some point there comes a time to let go.

That time is now, with the final edition of MLB.com's mock Draft of all 32 picks in the first round. There appears to be plenty of late movement, with some teams going a little off the board, perhaps to save money for picks later on or perhaps because there was a guy they really liked who they knew wouldn't be there the next time they picked.

Whatever the reason, it's changed an already topsy-turvy board up top, but here's the best effort in predicting who will go where. As always, last edition's projection is listed if there was a change in the pick.

1. Washington Nationals: Stephen Strasburg, RHP, San Diego State
Was, is and will continue to be the top guy.

2. Seattle Mariners: Dustin Ackley, 1B/OF, North Carolina
Unless something blows up on the signability front, this is the guy.

3. San Diego Padres: Donavan Tate, OF, Cartersville (Ga.) H.S.
It's still split in the Padres' Draft room, and it will be very interesting how this one turns out. It could be the toolsy Tate, or it could be the "safer" pick in Mike Minor. Could be a game-time decision.

4. Pittsburgh Pirates: Tony Sanchez, C, Boston College
Bound to be the first "Huh?" pick of the Draft, Sanchez seemed more like an end-of-first-round supplemental type. But he plays a premium position, and he plays it well, with some pop in his bat to boot. Is it a reach? Could be. But in a muddled Draft class, this could be the time to do this and save money for some later-round selections. Aaron Crow, Zach Wheeler and Grant Green are still being considered.
Last projection: Crow

5. Baltimore Orioles: Zack Wheeler, RHP, East Paulding H.S., Dallas, Ga.
Wheeler still seems like the way to go, with a host of other arms -- such as Mike White, Matt Hobgood or Minor -- being mentioned here or there.

6. San Francisco Giants: Tyler Matzek, LHP, Capistrano Valley H.S., Mission Viejo, Calif.
There was some word that Matzek might drop a few spots, but there wasn't enough to change the pick.

7. Atlanta Braves: Mike Minor, LHP, Vanderbilt University
The Braves are still hoping for one of the top high school arms to drop -- namely, Wheeler -- but in a scenario in which he's gone, they'd choose the arm they like the best. It might surprise some, but Minor might be their best guy still on the board at that point. If somehow Minor and White are both gone, don't be shocked if they take a chance at signing Matt Purke.
Last projection: White

8. Cincinnati Reds: Alex White, RHP, University of North Carolina
There are some who'd love to talk about high school right-hander Jacob Turner, but here's thinking they'll go a little safer with a top college arm still on the board. In this case, that's White, or they could decide to go with excellent performer Mike Leake out of Arizona State.
Last projection: Minor

9. Detroit Tigers: Aaron Crow, RHP, Fort Worth Cats
It looked as though Purke might find a home here, but it's looking as if his bonus demands will make him slide some. But with Crow getting down to this spot, the Tigers won't let him go any farther.
Last projection: Purke

10. Washington Nationals: Drew Storen, RHP, Stanford
The rumors of a Chad Jenkins deal won't go away, and it's still possible the Nats are negotiating one. If that doesn't work, it does seem as though Storen is very much in the mix.

11. Colorado Rockies: Mike Leake, LHP, Arizona State
Many arms have been mentioned in this spot, as it seems like the Rockies will go after pitching. They'd prefer the college variety, it seems, and would likely consider Minor or White should they get this far. Rex Brothers remains a possibility, but Leake seems like a good bet here.
Last projection: Leake

12. Kansas City Royals: Wil Myers, C, Wesleyan Christian Academy, High Point, N.C.
The Royals would be interested if the college arms listed above -- White, Minor, Leake -- got to them at 12, but in this scenario, they'd look elsewhere. College bats such as Green and Sanchez still will be discussed, but the Royals really like what they've seen from Myers, a strong high school bat who's shown some ability to stay behind the plate.

13. Oakland A's: Grant Green, SS, USC
Tanner Scheppers is still very much in the mix here, but the feeling is that uncertainty with his shoulder will have the Athletics looking elsewhere. A high school arm such as Hobgood could figure in here, as could any college arm who drops from above.

14. Texas Rangers: Shelby Miller, RHP, Brownwood (Texas) H.S.
The Rangers have been on the high schooler all along, and there's no reason to switch at this point.

15. Cleveland Indians: Eric Arnett, RHP, Indiana University
It could come down to Arnett vs. Scheppers, and maybe a wild card college lefty, such as James Paxton or Andrew Oliver, figuring into the conversation. The Indians like Arnett, and there might be enough questions with Scheppers to let him go by.

16. Arizona Diamondbacks: Rex Brothers, LHP, Lipscomb University
Still have to think Leake's the guy here if he's available, but the D-Backs are definitely looking for lefties in the Draft if they can find them.

17. Arizona Diamondbacks: Bobby Borchering, 3B, Bishop Verot H.S., Fort Myers, Fla.
Borchering's a switch-hitter with pop, and though he may eventually have to move to first, he'll at least get the opportunity to stay at third. He's considered to be one of the best high school bats in the class.

18. Florida Marlins: Chad James, LHP, Yukon (Okla.) H.S.
James gets high marks for his pure stuff, though to some his command is a cause for concern. Florida could also consider local product Borchering or college guy Jenkins.

19. St. Louis Cardinals: Chad Jenkins, RHP, Kenesaw State
This could be a spot for Green to land if he slides past Oakland, and Jacob Turner, the local kid from Missouri, might be of interest. But we'll go with the college arm for now.

20. Toronto Blue Jays: Tim Wheeler, OF, Sacramento State
There remains the possibility that the Jays will be a little adventurous and take a high school bat, but the college bat route seems like a more plausible route. Wheeler, Pollock, Sanchez could all be considered if available.

21. Houston Astros: Jared Mitchell, OF, LSU
Mitchell, the best athlete, at least among the college bat drop, still seems like he could fit well in this system.

22. Minnesota Twins: Matt Hobgood, RHP, Norco (Calif.) H.S.
Hobgood might be gone earlier, in which case the Twins could consider another high school arm, like Garrett Gould, or a high school bat, like Michael Trout or Everett Williams. They're still discussing the "what if" scenario if Gibson drops this far, which he may very well do.

23. Chicago White Sox: Everett Williams, OF, McCallum H.S., Austin Texas
The thinking has been that the White Sox want a toolsy bat in this spot, and that still could be Trout or Williams. Williams was off the board in an earlier edition; now he's not.

24. Los Angeles Angels: Matt Purke, LHP, Klein (Texas) H.S.
Just how far the talented lefty falls is hard to pinpoint, but the Angels haven't been afraid to go the "tough sign" route before. With the insurance of multiple picks this year, it might be the right time to take a chance
Last projection: Trout

25. Los Angeles Angels: Jiovanni Mier, SS, Bonita (Calif.) H.S.
As mentioned above, the Angels love Southern California talent. Mier is probably the best pure shortstop, and the chance to get a local kid at a premium position might be too good to pass up.

26. Milwaukee Brewers: Michael Trout, OF, Millville (N.J.) H.S.
If the Brewers go bat, they'd love for Borchering to fall. But with him off the board and the toolsy outfielder from the Northeast here, this could be the pick. Garrett Gould might be the choice if they want to go arm.
Last projection: Gould

27. Seattle Mariners: Tanner Scheppers, RHP, St. Paul Saints
It was too much for them to consider him at No. 2, though perhaps he belonged in that conversation based on pure stuff. But the shoulder concerns could drop him this far, and after taking the bat at No. 2, the Mariners could opt for an arm here.

28. Boston Red Sox: Jacob Turner, Westminster Christian Academy, St. Louis, Mo.
Here's the tendency to go with the "tough sign," again. Anyone who slides here might be of interest, as the Sox take the best player on the board, usually regardless of signability.

29. New York Yankees: Brett Jackson, OF, Cal-Berkeley
It'd be tempting to have the Yankees take a shot on Kyle Gibson, sort of like they did with Andrew Brackman a couple of years back. But we'll stick with the toolsy college outfielder.

30. Tampa Bay Rays: Reymond Fuentes, OF, Fernando Callejo H.S., Manati, Puerto Rico
This still could be Tommy Joseph, could even be a guy like ASU outfielder Jason Kipnis or Mier if he's around, but here's saying the Rays will go with the speedy outfielder from Puerto Rico.
Last projection: Joseph

31. Chicago Cubs: A.J. Pollock, OF, Notre Dame
Could Gibson land here? It's possible. The Cubs are awfully hard to predict, but they've liked the bats with top picks lately. Here's thinking they'll go that route again.

32. Colorado Rockies: Slade Heathcott, OF, Texarkana (Texas) H.S.
He was our pick here the first go-round and could very well land in this spot. Might be a nice mix, with an advanced pitcher up above and a toolsy outfielder down below.
Last projection: Gibson

Jonathan Mayo is a reporter for MLB.com. This story was not subject to the approval of Major League Baseball or its clubs.

So, who will it be...