Note by Erik-fewgoodcards has agreed to help us take an in-depth look at the 2008 draft. I asked him to help out with the draft, because he’ s really up on amateur players, much more so then I. FGC, myself and maybe others will all be collaborating on our take on the draft over the next few months. Enjoy part one of FGC’s series.
It has been a long time, but baseball is almost back. With pitchers and catchers reporting last week, and the college season kicking off on Friday we thought it would be a perfect time to start our draft coverage. This year we are hoping to provide more in depth draft coverage than last year so that you will have a good idea of what prospects are available when the Cardinals make their highest selection since 2000 in June. Look for profiles, rankings, and updates on all the top prospects as we move closer to draft day and hopefully the addition of the next Colby Rasmus or Chris Perez to the Cardinals’ system.
Scouting directors around baseball are excited because of the incredible depth this draft has to offer, but as the season approaches the strength of this draft is the number of quality college bats at the top. While some of the top guys don’t play the premier positions, they do offer impact bats that should be able to produce runs in the middle of a big league lineup. In this first installment I will profile Pedro Alvarez, Yonder Alonso, and Justin Smoak. These three are widely considered to be the best three bats in college baseball and are all considered locks to go in the top 15 picks.
Pedro Alvarez 3B L/R Vanderbilt 6’2” 225 lbs. DOB: 2/6/87
Alvarez put himself on the map with a monster freshman season and has been the favorite to go #1 in the 2008 draft ever since. He is the most complete hitter available since Alex Gordon in 2005, and he may be an even better prospect because he has more power. Alvarez has incredible bat speed that he uses to rifle line drives all over the diamond, and his power rivals that of anyone in the draft. He also has a good eye at the plate and draws a lot of walks. He is a solid defender at third, but there are some concerns about his athleticism and he could eventually have to slide over to first base. His strikeout numbers are a bit high, but that is due to him going deep in every count and shouldn’t really be a concern if he can become more aggressive early in the count. Alvarez should settle in as a middle of the order run producer and could become one of the best hitters in baseball.
Yonder Alonso 1B L/R Miami (FL) 6’2” 215 lbs. DOB: 4/8/87
Alonso may be the most polished bat available in this year’s draft. He combines incredible plate discipline with the ability to hit for both average and power. That batting eye enabled him to lead the Cape Cod League in walks this summer and post a .519 on base percentage for Miami last spring. His smooth, compact stroke allows him to hit line drives all over the field, and he showed the ability to turn on a pitch leading Miami with 18 homeruns last spring. A decent athlete for his size, Alonso stole 13 bases in 16 attempts, and if he could get in better shape and show the ability to play the outfield he could be a top 5 pick in June.
Justin Smoak 1B B/L South Carolina 6’3” 200 lbs. DOB: 12/5/86
Smoak is a switch-hitter with huge power from both sides of the plate. He also has a disciplined approach that should lead to a high on base percentage. Smoak may not hit for the same average as Alvarez or Alonso, but he may have the most power of the three. He is a fairly good athlete for his size and is a potential gold glover at first due to his soft hands and quick feet. Smoak projects as a clean-up hitter capable of producing 35-40 homers a year, and he shouldn‘t have to spend much time in the minors.
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