The 1995 DBL Draft is shaping up to be one of the more interesting drafts in league history. Not quire as dire as the 1993 draft, the latter part of this 1st round, plus all subsequent rounds, will provide depth and little else for teams. Particularly on the pitching side, this humble writer suggests that teams look to the trade market for their arms as opposed to anyone outside of the first round in this. While trades will still impact the order, here is my attempt at where things would shake out if I were running teams.
1. Cincinnati Reds: 3B Scott Rolen
Eric Deutsch has been playing it close to the vest, but the choice to me seems obvious: Rolen is the most polished player in the class — an elite defensive third baseman with emerging power and a professional approach. With a hole at 3B already on his team, he’s ready to anchor the left side of Cincinnati’s infield for a decade.
2. Chicago White Sox: RF Vladimir Guerrero
An electric bat with otherworldly arm strength, Guerrero’s raw tools are unmatched. He’s still learning to control the strike zone. He’d be the White Sox’s next fan favorite and why not?
3. Washington Senators: SS Nomar Garciaparra
Nomar combines high baseball IQ with smooth defensive instincts and a quick, compact swing. The Senators continue their franchise makeover with a cerebral, winning infielder who will compete from day one and pair nicely with Alex Rodriguez.
4. Washington Senators: C Jason Kendall
A rare catcher with speed, Kendall brings top-of-the-lineup value from behind the plate. He’s the kind of gritty, hard-nosed player this expansion team can build its identity around. Time will tell if he can live up to the legacy and aura of his predecessor, Mike Stanley.
5. Washington Senators: SP Livan Hernández
Livan is the top starter in the draft and a welcome addition to this rotation behind Pettitte and Burkett. The Senators walk into the draft with swagger looking like the clear winners and come out looking to be more successful than last season. The only thing that makes this draft better for them is if Vlad falls into their laps at 3.
6. New York Yankees: RF Bobby Abreu
Dare I say, the best bat in the draft falls to number 6, and the New York Yankees couldn’t be happier. With several holes to fill, Don Mattingly jumps with glee at the best lineup protection he’s ever had during his career. That Yankee Stadium short porch may unlock even more power.
7. Cleveland Spiders: 1B/LF/CF Darin Erstad
Erstad brings leadership, grit, and versatility. A former punter at Nebraska, he plays with football intensity and baseball smarts. Cleveland adds a high-character player who could move around the diamond. While listed as a 1B, he’s the best defensive center fielder in the draft (yes, that’s true) and will win multiple gold gloves wherever he plays.
8. Boston Red Sox: CF Andruw Jones
Jones is the youngest player on most draft boards, but his glove is already major-league ready. His bat will take time, but the Red Sox swing for the fences with a high-upside defender who could be a perennial Gold Glover (unless of course Erstad is playing in the same division).
9. Minnesota Twins: 3B Bill Mueller
A steady, line-drive hitter with strong plate discipline, Mueller is as safe as they come. He won’t wow with power, but Minnesota bets on his contact-heavy game being a necessary stabilizing presence in their lineup.
10. Seattle Mariners: 1B/OF Dmitri Young
Young is a switch-hitting force of nature — aggressive, powerful, and confident. Seattle loves his makeup and believes his bat will mash in the Kingdome. Limited in the field, he is able to play 1B and both corner outfield positions – his bat will play anywhere.
11. Chicago White Sox: 3B Tony Batista
Batista’s raw power and unique stance should catch Chicago’s eye. He’s aggressive, confident, and profiles as a 25+ HR threat. The White Sox go bold and land a potential slugging star. Vlad and Batista in this lineup immediately changes this team trajectory.
12. Kansas City Royals: RP Danny Patterson
Lots of directions that the Royals could go, but Patterson is the best reliever by far in this draft (both ratings and proximity to being ready). He’s a potential late-inning weapon with a fearless mound presence. While not Troy Percival, he fills that void easily enough.
13. Seattle Mariners: RF Jermaine Dye
Best hitter available at number 13, Dye will add power and arm strength to the Mariners’ lineup once he fills out, particularly versus right handed pitching. Still developing at the plate, but his tools give him strong everyday upside. Could also potentially go arm here (Thompson, Adams, Mendoza).
14. Colorado Rockies: SP Justin Thompson
Thompson’s left-handed arsenal and polished mechanics make him a great fit for the Rockies’ high-altitude challenge. A likely mid-rotation workhorse on a team who has some decisions to make and who’s rotation struggled last year.
15. Chicago White Sox: SP Willie Adams
Adams throws hard and isn’t afraid to challenge hitters. The White Sox, who need high-upside arms, gamble on his stuff over polish. While not fully developed quite yet, he enters a situation in which he doesn’t have to be the man, doesn’t have to have immediate success, and can grow into the arm that he can be.
16. Kansas City Royals: SS Edgar Rentería
Lots of directions that Dan Drucker could go with this pick. Rentería remains a slick-fielding, instinctive shortstop with developing contact skills. While not a piece that will help immediately, he’s the best player available at this point in the draft and the kind of player that can be stashed and have an impact down the line despite not having a need (see Veras, Quilvio last year)
17. Los Angeles Dodgers: SP Ramiro Mendoza
Still no sense of what direction the new ownership of the Los Angeles Dodgers will go with their franchise, Ramiro Mendoza would be the second best starting pitcher in this draft with slightly better stamina – truth be told, he still may be the second best starting pitcher despite that. Following last year’s trend with Ugueth Urbina in the organization, perhaps Los Angeles starts dealing from their new pitching depth for hitters.
18. Pittsburgh Pirates: 2B Luis Castillo
Mid first round is where this draft could go several different directions. Pittsburgh lands a not-quite-ready bat but projectable. If he fills out, he’d be able to contribute in the 1997 season. Until then, he’s AAA material.
19. New York Mets: RF Trot Nixon
Nixon’s intensity, power, and cannon arm make him a fan favorite waiting to happen. With the Mets being consistently one of the best, if not the best, drafters in the DBL, Nixon ranks at this point as the best hitter in the draft and best available player is the way to go.
20. Chicago Cubs: SP Brian Koehler
Koehler might not have ace stuff, but he knows how to pitch. He’ll be a dependable, innings-eating righty for the back of the Cubs rotation. While he certainly won’t replace Teddy Higuera’s production from last season, he’ll be servicable enough.
21. Cincinnati Reds: 2B Todd Walker
Walker is a polished lefty bat with great zone control. Like Castillo, he’s projectable but not ready yet. Luckily the Reds don’t need him to be. He can develope and be ready to contribute with a strong back in 1997.
22. San Francisco Giants: RF Tony Barron
At 29 years old, Barron isn’t exactly a spring chicken. That being said, right fielder is one of the harder positions to find in the DBL and he can contribute as a 4th outfielder (or more) as is needed by the San Francisco (soon to be Arizona?) franchise.
23. Cleveland Spiders: SP Jose Rosado
I wanted to go hitter for the Spiders here, but think they’ll want to balance out the addition of Darin Erstad with an arm. The best of the third tier of starting pitchers, this lefty is ready to pitch in a rotation for days and with 18 stamina, can throw 125 pitches an outing. At 20 years old, the organization would welcome Rosado as opposed to the best hitter available (Raul Ibanez).
24. St. Louis Cardinals: CF Doug Glanville
A contact hitter with top-of-the-line speed and center field range, Glanville is a cerebral, low-risk option to round out the first round. That being said, Jim Edmonds was traded for this pick out of frustration for his lack of production. Could Glanville be the next to draw ire from Adam Rabel?