Yeah, Grant Green. But I know the chances of us landing him are practically impossible.

I’m also not sure what’s going to happen with the Pedro Alvarez situation, but if he makes his way back into the draft he’d instantly be atop my wish list as well. Dustin Ackley would be a good fit for us, IMO. I’ve heard a few people say he has the athleticism to play CF, it just depends on how his arm recovers.

I’m also not opposed to getting a pitcher a la Gibson, White or Crow, either. I’m pretty much cool with anything.

Our outlook towards the draft has definetly changed in less than a year as we now have good prospects at all positions. When I say good I mean viable options to start at the major league level at every positions even though none of them are can’t miss prospects. My point being that our system is no longer desolate of position player prospects and I believe all of us would be happy now with the team drafting the best available player, be it a hitter or pitcher.

BWOOP! BWOOP! BWOOP!

Second, the performances of Cain and Sanchez this year have caused me some concern that neither will ever develop into a solid and reliable #2 or #3 starter.

Anyways, I’m still worried that if Alvarez and Hosmer don’t stick with their teams this year, we’d be pushed 2 more spots back.

Donovan Tate:

6’3" 200 Lbs
R/R
CF/OF

If you’re reading about the draft this early, you like tools, and if you want a suggestion for a new James Bond villain, let me suggest Donavan Tate as Tools Galore. He compares favorably to the 14th overall pick in the 2008 draft, the Twins’ Aaron Hicks, as a centerfielder, both for his pros and cons.

Tate is the son of former NFL running back Lars Tate and is a top football recruit, with Rivals.com ranking him as the 86th best recruit in the nation. To get an idea of his athleticism, Rivals lists Tate as an "athlete" for football purposes (no set projected college position, generally the most athletic guys on the field) and among the "athletes," (again, the most athletic football players in the country), Tate was named the most athletic.

Tate uses his plus-plus arm (hit 95 from the outfield—that’s with no mound involved) and true 80 speed (6.3 to 6.4 in the 60-yard) to quarterback his high school team, and uses his 6′3, 200 frame to deliver big hits as a safety. Michigan and Georgia want him as a QB, while USC and Florida like him as a safety. So, he’s got a little bit of talent.

As far as baseball-specific skills, his speed and arm obviously play in center where he’s a developing defender that should be plus or more as a center fielder in time. Tate shows plus raw power and squares pitches up consistently when he makes contact.

The problem, as with the aforementioned Hicks, is if he will make enough contact, as Tate has rough plate discipline. In showcases, Tate produces, but not without some cause for concern. To put some numbers behind this general scouting consensus, BA’s Matt Blood reports that Tate slugged two HRs, a triple, and two doubles in 19 at-bats at the Tournament of Stars, but struck out six times with only one walk. Blood adds that one day, Tate made contact on seven of ten swings, while the next day he whiffed on six of seven swings.

That performance makes for an impressive line of .316/.350/.842, considering Tate is a high school junior using wood bats against top pitching; but almost any toolshed first-round bust has put up that kind of performance, so what did we really learn? Tate’s hitability will be a situation to monitor throughout the spring, but it will be something you can only learn about after talking to multiple scouts or after multiple viewings, and even then it will likely be heavily debated within each organization. Let the debate begin. (Tate photo: Rivals.com)

I like Brian Goodwin:

Brian is a left-handed hitting outfielder who can do it all. He runs well enough to be a legitimate center fielder. In addition, he shows arm strength and instincts in the field. At the plate he has a line drive stroke that produces consistent hard contact.


Brian hit .473 with 15 doubles, four triples and 21 stolen bases during his high school season at Rocky Mount. Just like last year’s Cape Cod Classic MVP, LJ Hoes, Goodwin plans to attend the University of North Carolina.

Position: CF
Bats/Throws: L/R
Ht/Wt: 6′0/188
Born:
School: Rocky Mount High School, North Carolina
High School Class of: 2009
Draft Eligible: 2009
Committed to: North Carolina

2008 Stats: .473, 21-21 SB-ATT

Summary:
Goodwin is possibly the top prep prospect in the state of North Carolina and is one of the top prep outfielders in the country. He is a 5 tool player who works hard at improving his game.

Goodwin is an excellent defensive centerfielder. He has the speed to cover a lot of ground, as evidenced by his 6.48 time in the 60. He also has a strong, accurate arm.

Offensively, Goodwin hits to all fields and produces a lot of line drives. He shows good and improving power.

Quotes
Rocky Mount coach Pat Smith on Goodwin- "Brian is nothing but class. He understands where he wants to go and he’s been given the natural ability. He takes pride in his overall game and thats why he’s going to be as good as he’s going to be."

Honors/Achievements:
2008 AFLAC All-American
2008 Under Armour All-American
2008 Telegram All-Area Offensive Player of the Year
2008 Rocky Mount Telegram All Area Offensive Player of the Year
2008 Led North Carolina in doubles with 15

Brian Goodwin, outfielder out of Rocky Mount HS (N.C.) possesses a strong arm. He impressed with his accurate throws to third and to the plate

and Mychal Givens, RHP/SS
School & Hometown: Plant HS; Tampa, FL
Specs: 6′1, 190, Bats R, Throws R

Givens is an athletic and heady leader, a very good defender, and has a solid stroke with a little pop. I didn’t see enough size/projection (looks in person like 5′10, 175), power, or consistent hitability to project him as a first round pick, but realized that his track record, makeup, and performance give him upward mobility on draft boards. At the PG National showcase, he was up to 94 while flashing an above-average slider and changeup from a low 3/4 arm angle; similar to what I saw, but showing improvement across the board. As it stands now, there’s a slight lean from the people I’ve talked to for Givens to stay on the mound, but his progess on the mound and at the plate should be an interesting draft storyline to monitor.

Mychal Givens, a 6-foot-2, 185-pound right-handed pitcher and infielder from Plant High School (Tampa, Fla.), earned high school baseball’s highest honor Friday night as he was named the Aflac National High School Player of the Year and presented with the 2008 Jackie Robinson Award.
Givens was presented with the fifth annual award during the Aflac All- American Awards Dinner, which salutes the best of best in high school baseball leading into the annual Aflac All-American High School Baseball Game. On hand to make the presentation was Sharon Robinson, daughter of Jackie Robinson, and Hall of Fame shortstop Ozzie Smith, the game’s honorary chairman.
Givens finished his junior season with 8-1 record and a 1.79 ERA, racking up 48 strikeouts in only 43 innings of work. Offensively, his .421 batting average along with 34 runs scored, 32 hits, 17 RBIs, five doubles and even an inside the park home run helped carry his team to a No. 37 national ranking from Baseball America.

Donovan Tate! Wasn’t he engaged to Rachel from Friends?

Thanks for the post. I’m kind of a draft addict myself. I’m keeping an eye on Aaron Crow (RHP) and Dustin Ackley (OF) at this point. The draft class looks pretty solid in pitching overall so far.

If we pick fifth or sixth, I don’t think Grant Green is out of the question. Baseball America has him as the third-best college prospect right now (behind Stephen Strasburg and RHP Alex White from UNC), and the two high-schoolers at the top might tickle some team’s fancy. Not likely, but possible.

This is a definite best-player-available draft. Pitching, hitting…best player, please.