MOD Rangers 5/14/10

it would seem the Rangers won’t let an underrated arm pass them by. if there’s a high-upside arm available i’m sure they would go that route.

Here are five players that catch my eye as we consider the picks at No. 15 and No. 22 overall. Obviously there are many more players worth considering here, but for whatever it’s worth, I think these five are interesting starting points.

As a general rule, to address a point Dalman raised, I don’t really think Major League teams draft to fill a current Major League need. With few exceptions, college players are almost always 2 years away and high school players 4-5 years away, so teams cannot really expect to address a current need through the draft. There are obvious exceptions – a team with three top shortstop prospects already in the system might look elsewhere unless another shortstop jumps off the board, but by and large, taking the best player available is the way to go. That, and no system has too much pitching.

Here are the first five:

1. Chris Sale, lhp, Florida Gulf Coast. Sale, who turned 21 in March, is a tall (6’6), lanky (175 lbs) southpaw with above-average command, a nice fastball that touches the mid-90’s and a plus slider and change-up. Sale is considered very signable and may not be around by No. 15. Sale was 9-0 with a 2.00 ERA this year for the Eagles – he had 128 strikeouts and just 12 walks in 90.0 innings pitched. Texas has to give Sale serious consideration at 15, if he falls this far.

2. Alex Wimmers, rhp, Ohio State. Wimmers, 21 last November, has had two big seasons at Ohip State, and like Sale, may not last to No. 15. Wimmers was 9-0 with a 1.61 ERA for the Buckeyes and had 78 strikeouts and 20 walks in 67 innings (Wimmers was 9-2, 3.27 in 2009). Wimmers has a good fastball and a plus curve. Wimmers does not have great command and walks have been an issue at times for him at OSU – not so much this year. The prevailing projection for Wimmers is in the middle first round — the 6’2 righty is rumored to be signable, so he may draw earlier interest. Note: Wimmers missed a start late in the OSU season with a tender hamstring, so this development bears watching.

3. Kyle Parker, of, Clemson. Parker, 20 last September, is one of the most interesting players in this year’s draft and projecting where he might fall is difficult. Parker was a standout at quarterback for the Tigers last fall, and he played spring football during this baseball season. Parker, the son of NFL wide receiver Carl Parker, left high school early to play baseball at Clemson in 2008 – he made Baseball America’s first team freshman All-American team and first-team All-ACC by hitting .303 with 14 home runs in what should have been his senior season in high school. This year, Parker has hit .384 with 17 home runs and 1.254 OPS and has played himself into first round consideration. Parker’s athleticism is extraordinary – his signability is a big question as he has continued with spring football at Clemson, and he may be a little overdrafted here. He has significant upside and deserves a look at 22.

4. Yordy Cabrera, ss, Lakeland FL (HS). Cabrera is a tall, powerfully built high school shortstop with a plus arm (he touches the mid-90’s with his fastball), plus speed and 20-25 HR power potential. Cabrera is old for high school – he turns 20 in October – and he has signed to play at the University of Miami, but he is considered signable in some circles. He has a shortstop’s arm, but range may be a factor, especially as he fills out, so third base or right field may be in his future. Cabrera has the talent to move up the ladder quickly, especially with a position move. Texas will likely have a chance for him at 15 … whether he drops to 22 is a big question.

5. Stefan Sabol, c, Aliso Viejo, CA (HS). Normally, I would avoid high school catching prospects like the plague, but I have seen enough reports comparing Oregon signee Stefan Sabol to long-time Houston star Craig Biggion to make an exception. There are some questions whether or not Sabol projects behind the plate as a pro, but there are no questions about his ability to transition to the outfield down the line if he does not advance at catcher. He has a 20 HR potential, good speed and baserunning instincts and good athleticism. Sabol is possibly overdrafted at 15, but worth a look at 22.