Pick 13 – New York Mets Selection: 1B Derrek Lee The New York Mets were painfully close to a postseason berth in 1996, and the reasons for falling short are obvious: an offense that ran hot and cold, and a bullpen that too often turned close games into losses. The bullpen can—and likely will—be addressed later in the offseason or via trade, but the offense is something they can start fixing right now. And with the board falling the way it...
Pick 12 – New York Yankees Selection: INF Mark Bellhorn The New York Yankees opened their draft with a statement, grabbing Matt Morris and securing a blue-chip arm to headline the future of their rotation. With that crucial box checked, the organization shifts its attention to the lineup—a lineup that, frankly, lagged throughout 1996 and needs all the help it can get. Enter Mark Bellhorn, one of the most versatile and projectable infielders...
Pick 11 – Los Angeles Dodgers Selection: RF Richard Hidalgo How do you follow up drafting Bartolo “Big Sexy” Colón at No. 4? By doubling down on impact talent—and this time, doing it on the offensive side of the ledger. The Los Angeles Dodgers step up at Pick 11 and land one of the most polished bats still on the board: Richard Hidalgo. This is the kind of selection that instantly stabilizes a position of chaos. Last year’s left...