Day 1 Draft Notes

The Major League Baseball draft may never have the cache of the NFL or NBA drafts, but it’s grown by leaps and bounds the last few years. I thoroughly enjoyed watching the coverage last night.

Eleven Cape Leaguers were taken in the first round. The list:

1 – Astros – Mark Appel – Y-D ’11
2 – Cubs – Kris Bryant – Chatham ’11
6 – Marlins – Colin Moran – Bourne ’11 & ’12
12 – Mariners – D.J. Peterson – Hyannis ’12
18 – Dodgers – Chris Anderson – Y-D ’12
19 – Cardinals – Marco Gonzales – Falmouth ’12
23 – Rangers – Alex Gonzalez – Y-D ’11 & ’12
26 – Yankees – Eric Jagielo – Harwich ’12
27 – Reds – Phillip Ervin – Harwich ’12
29 – Rays – Ryne Stanek – Bourne ’11
32 – Yankees – Aaron Judge – Brewster ’12

In all, 23 Cape Leaguers went on the first day, with three going in the Competitive Balance Round A, seven in the second round and two in Competitive Balance B:

Competitive Balance A

34 – Royals – Sean Manaea – Hyannis ’12
36 – Diamondbacks – Aaron Blair – Y-D ’12
38 – Reds – Michael Lorenzon – Brewster ’12

Second

40 – Astros – Andrew Thurman – Y-D ’11
43 – Twins – Ryan Eades – Bourne ’11
44 – Marlins – Trevor Williams – Orleans ’12
49 – Mariners – Austin Wilson – Harwich ’11 & ’12
53 – Phillies – Andrew Knapp – Chatham ’12
56 – Dodgers – Tom Windle – Brewster ’12
58 – Tigers – Kevin Ziomek – Cotuit ’12

Competitive Balance B

71 – Athletics – Chad Pinder – Chatham ’12
73 – Marlins – Colby Suggs – Wareham ’12

A few more notes on the proceedings:

Even in the minutes leading up to the draft, nobody seemed sure if the Astros would take Appel or Oklahoma’s Jonathan Gray. By taking Appel, they gave the Cape League its first No. 1 overall pick since Luke Hochevar in 2006. Interestingly, Hochevar and Appel both were first-round picks that didn’t sign. Appel returned to Stanford before going No. 1 this year. Hochevar pitched in independent ball before taking the top spot the next year. Hochevar played for Cotuit in 2003.

Appel and Hochevar share another characteristic – they went first overall at least one year after playing on the Cape. For Appel, it was a two-year gap and for Hochevar a three-year gap. It’s a surprising note because a majority of players are on the Cape the year before they’re draft eligible. The last Cape League alum to go No. 1 overall in the year immediately after his Cape League season was Matt Anderson in 1997. He played for Chatham in 1996.

Phillip Ervin, who went 27th to the Reds, is the third straight Cape League MVP to go in the first round or supplemental first round.

The Y-D Red Sox led the first-round charge for the second straight year. Three Y-D alumni went in the first.

Sean Manaea slipped out of the first round because of injury concerns, but he didn’t last too long. Manaea was the first pick of Competitive Balance Round A by the Royals. If he gets healthy, he’s an absolute steal at this spot, as a lot of Cape League fans can attest.