With the final pick of the first round, the Chicago Cubs selected center fielder Marvin Benard, a player who brings a solid bat and elite baserunning but comes with some defensive concerns. Benard’s hitting profile is well-rounded, with most of his ratings sitting above average. While he won’t be a big power threat, he should still hit around 10 home runs per season, making him a reliable offensive contributor. His real weapon, however, is...
With the 23rd pick in the draft, the Seattle Pilots selected Aaron Ledesma, a versatile infielder who could turn into a valuable asset down the line. While he may not be an immediate impact player, his positional flexibility and solid glove make him an intriguing prospect for Seattle’s future. Ledesma's biggest strength lies in his versatility across the infield. While shortstop is where he shines the most, he’s also more than capable of...
The Colorado Rockies used their first-round pick at 21st overall to select right-hander Jason Schmidt, a prospect with plenty of upside but one that will require some patience. He’s got the tools to be a legit big-league starter, but he’s not there yet—AAA will be his home for the next couple of years as he refines his game. Schmidt’s most polished skill right now? His movement—it’s already well above average. But the rest of his...
The Kansas City Royals won 122 games last season—122! And somehow, they walked away from this draft with two first-round picks. Let that sink in. They had their own 20th overall pick, which they used to take reliever Troy Percival, but they also managed to trade their way into the 22nd pick—a selection that originally belonged to the St. Louis Cardinals before bouncing around the league until it landed in Kansas City’s hands. They used...
The Chicago White Sox didn’t waste any time making moves in the draft. After selecting Alan Benes with the 19th pick, they turned right around and shipped him off to the Orlando Sun Rays in exchange for Orlando’s 1995 first-round pick and a 1996 second-rounder. Now, the question is—was this a smart move for Chicago, or did Orlando get the better deal? Truth is, it’s too early to tell. But what we can do is take a look at Benes as a...