Knuckle Curve - Baseball News

June 7th, 2007

MLB Draft 2007: Reds Pick Devin Mesoraco at #15

Falling behind here. The Reds have taken Pennsylvania high school catcher Devin Mesoraco with the 15th pick overall. The guys on ESPN2 compared him to the Dodgers’ Russell Martin and noted that Mesoraco is the first catcher taken by the Reds in the first round since Dan Wilson in 1992.
More later…
Tags: baseball, devin_mesoraco, draft, redsShare […]

By Geoff Young -- 1 comment

June 7th, 2007

MLB Draft 2007: Braves Take Heyward at #14

Vitals

Name: Jason Heyward
Bats: Left

Pos: OF
Throws: Left

Height: 6′2″
DOB: 9 Aug 89

Weight: 198 lbs
School: Henry County HS, McDonough, Ga.

With the 14th pick in the 2007 draft, the Atlanta Braves have selected high school outfielder Jason Heyward. The left-handed hitter draws comparisons to former big-leaguer Fred McGriff, and John Sickels has called Heyward “the best high school position […]

By Geoff Young -- 1 comment

June 7th, 2007

MLB Draft 2007: Indians Select Mills at #13

Vitals

Name: Beau Mills
Bats: Left

Pos: 3B/1B
Throws: Right

Height: 6′3″
DOB: 15 Aug 86

Weight: 220 lbs
School: Lewis-Clark State (Idaho)

With the 13th pick in the 2007 draft, the Cleveland Indians have drafted Lewis-Clark State third baseman Beau Mills, son of former big leaguer Brad Mills. It’s uncertain whether Mills’ arm is strong enough to keep him at third base. What […]

By Geoff Young -- 2 comments

June 7th, 2007

MLB Draft 2007: Marlins Take Dominguez at #12

Vitals

Name: Matt Dominguez
Bats: Right

Pos: 3B
Throws: Right

Height: 6′2″
DOB: 29 Aug 89

Weight: 180 lbs
School: Chatsworth (Calif.) HS

With the 12th pick in the 2007 draft, the Florida Marlins have selected high school third baseman Matt Dominguez.
What they’re saying:

Nearly everyone agrees he’s a Gold Glover in the making. One scout said he was the best defensive third baseman he’d […]

By Geoff Young -- 2 comments

June 7th, 2007

MLB Draft 2007: Mariners Pick Aumont at #11

Vitals

Name: Phillippe Aumont
Throws: Right

Pos: RHP
Bats: Right

Height: 6′7″
DOB: 7 Jan 89

Weight: 225 lbs
School: Ecole Du Versant, Gatineau, Quebec

With the 11th pick in the 2007 draft, the Seattle Mariners have selected high school right-hander Phillippe Aumont. Baseball America calls him Canada’s “best prospect since Adam Loewen.”
What they’re saying:

I have a fastball - two kinds of fastballs: a […]

By Geoff Young -- 1 comment

June 7th, 2007

MLB Draft 2007: Giants Snag Bumgarner at #10

Vitals

Name: Madison Bumgarner
Throws: Left

Pos: LHP
Bats: Right

Height: 6′5″
DOB: 1 Aug 89

Weight: 220 lbs
School: South Caldwell HS, Hudson, N.C.

With the 10th pick in the 2007 draft, the San Francisco Giants have selected high school left-hander Madison Bumgarner. Baseball America cites “a 92-94 mph fastball that has been up to 97 this spring” as Bumgardner’s most effective weapon […]

By Geoff Young -- 2 comments

June 7th, 2007

MLB Draft 2007: Diamondbacks Take Parker with Ninth Pick

Vitals

Name: Jarrod Parker
Throws: Right

Pos: RHP
Bats: Right

Height: 6′1″
DOB: 24 Nov 88

Weight: 175 lbs
School: Norwell (Ind.) HS

With the ninth pick in the 2007 draft, the Arizona Diamondbacks have selected high school right-hander Jarrod Parker. Because of his slight build, Parker often draws comparisons to Atlanta’s Tim Hudson and Houston’s Roy Oswalt.
Additional reading:

2007 Draft Report (MiLB.com) — includes […]

By Geoff Young -- 4 comments

June 7th, 2007

MLB Draft 2007: Rockies Grab Weathers with Eighth Pick

Vitals

Name: Casey Weathers
Throws: Right

Pos: RHP
Bats: Right

Height: 6′1″
DOB: 10 Jun 85

Weight: 200 lbs
School: Vanderbilt

With the eighth pick in the 2007 draft, the Colorado Rockies have selected Vanderbilt right-hander Casey Weathers. Steve Phillips says his fastball is clocked around 96-97 mph.

2007 Stats

IP
H/9
HR/9
BB/9
K/9
ERA
BAA

Stats are through June 5, 2007, and are courtesy of Vanderbilt.

49.1
4.56
0.18
3.83
13.68
2.37
.154

What they’re saying:

It’s like he’s splitting […]

By Geoff Young -- 1 comment

June 7th, 2007

MLB Draft 2007: Brewers Pick LaPorta with Seventh Pick

Vitals

Name: Matt LaPorta
Bats: Right

Pos: 1B
Throws: Right

Height: 6′1″
DOB: 8 Jan 85

Weight: 215 lbs
School: Florida

With the seventh pick in the 2007 draft, the Milwaukee Brewers have drafted Florida first baseman Matt LaPorta. This, frankly, is a shock.

2007 Stats

AB
BA
OBP
SLG
BB
SO

Stats are through May 25, 2007, and are courtesy of Florida.

169
.402
.582
.817
55
16

What they’re saying:
Simply put, LaPorta can flat out hit. Period. […]

By Geoff Young -- 2 comments

June 7th, 2007

MLB Draft 2007: Nationals Nab Detwiler with Sixth Pick

Vitals

Name: Ross Detwiler
Throws: Left

Pos: LHP
Bats: Right

Height: 6′4″
DOB: 6 Mar 86

Weight: 175 lbs
School: Missouri State

With the sixth pick in the 2007 draft, the Washington Nationals have selected Missouri State left-hander Ross Detwiler. Although there are concerns about Detwiler’s small frame, many observers considered him to be the second best southpaw in the draft, behind only Vanderbilt’s […]

By Geoff Young -- 1 comment