PERFECT GAME CROSSCHECKER'S TOP TEN LIST
WEEK 30: 8/4/08 - 8/10/08
 
Signing Deadline Looms
Thursday August 7, 2008
The signing deadline (August 15) for the 2008 draft is a week away, and there is expected to be the same feeding frenzy as there was a year ago when numerous high-profile players signed on the final day—in the final minutes, in some cases.

With 12 first-round picks, including seven of the first nine, still unsigned, it’s almost certain that the hours leading up to the deadline will be frantic, with agents playing one deal off another as the average signing bonus for first-rounders approaches the record $2.154 million set in 2001. Last year’s $2.098 million average was the third largest ever.

All the intrigue will not be limited to the first round, though, as there are two supplemental first-rounders and six second-rounders who remain unsigned. In all, there are 61 unsigned players in the first 10 rounds. PG Crosschecker has a complete list of the unsigned picks (along with the signing bonuses of the signed picks) of all players in the first 10 rounds, along with the draft picks of every team and their signing status.

Not only is the signing status of the dozen unsigned first-round picks at stake, but the Boston Red Sox and New York Yankees, in particular, have numerous “unsigned” players in the early- and mid-rounds that will bear watching. Like a year ago, it is expected that many of those players will sign at or just before the deadline—many for bonuses significantly over slot. Over the last 3-4 years, the Red Sox and Yankees have been the two clubs that have most consistently ignored the slotting recommendations of the commissioner’s office, aimed at keeping signing bonuses in check.

According to industry sources, the Red Sox and Yankees will again be at the forefront of some of the most significant 11th-hour signings. Some of those players are reportedly already signed, in some cases, but the official announcements have been withheld to avoid establishing parameters that similar draft picks might use as leverage against other clubs.

The Yankees haven’t announced the signings of their first three picks, and five overall in the first 10 rounds. But it is expected that all will come to terms, including first-rounder Gerrit Cole, the California high school righthaneder who is expected to sign for significantly more than the $1.25 million slot earmarked for the 28th pick in the draft.

The Red Sox signed their first-round pick, Florida shortstop Casey Kelly, for $3 million—the second largest bonus paid to date—despite Kelly being the 30th overall pick. That signing may be symbolic of other blockbuster deals that the Red Sox will consummate next week. Fourth-rounder Peter Hissey and fifth-rounder Ryan Westmoreland, in particular, have reportedly agreed to seven-figure deals to keep them away from college at Virginia and Vanderbilt, respectively, while several other picks after the 15th round (notably 20th rounder Alex Meyer, a Kentucky recruit) may be in line for significant bonuses.

The signing deadline will also force the hand of the Pittsburgh Pirates, San Francisco Giants and Washington Nationals, who have had the greatest difficulty to date getting early-round picks in the fold. The Pirates haven’t signed four of their top six picks, including first-rounder Pedro Alvarez (second overall). The Giants haven’t signed their first four selections, including first-rounder Buster Posey (fifth overall). The Nationals haven’t signed four of their top five, including first-rounder Aaron Crow (ninth overall).

Meanwhile, the Toronto Blue Jays will have no signing issues to address as they have signed their first 25 picks, and 29 of 30. The St. Louis Cardinals would have their first 30 picks in the fold had the U.S. Naval Academy not reversed course on righthander Mitch Harris, the Cards’ 13th-round pick, and mandated that he forego a professional baseball career and serve in active duty.

Numerous 2008 college draft picks did not sign and spent the summer playing in the nation’s top college summer leagues. Here are the first 10 unsigned college picks who spent the summer in college summer league competition and remain unsigned:
Rank Player Pos. College '09 Drafted by (Round) Summer Club(League) Summer
1 *Jason Kipnis OF Arizona State Padres (4) Cotuit (Cape Cod) .278-2-15,5 SB
2 *Chris Dominguez 3B Louisville Rockies (5) Hyannis (Cape Cod) .259-10-31
3 Brett Hunter RHP Pepperdine Athletics (7) Team USA 2-0, 1.47, 18 IP/26 SO
4 *Billy Morrison RHP Western Michigan Mariners (9) Winchester (Valley) 3-1, 2.54, 39 IP/36 SO
5 *Kevin Castner RHP Cal Poly Rangers (10) Santa Barbara (California) Unavailable
6 *J.J. Hoover RHP West Virginia Braves (10) Harwich (Cape Cod) 1-0, 2.45, 37 IP/38 SO
7 *Alex Wilson RHP Texas A&M Cubs (10) Falmouth (Cape Cod) 0-1, 5.33, 25 IP/29 SO
8 Charlie Leesman LHP Wright State White Sox (11) Cincinnati (Great Lakes) 2-1, 2.53, 21 IP/14 SO
9 Jorden Merry RHP Washington White Sox (14) Havasu (Pacific Southwest) 4-0, 3.33, 27 IP/43 SO
10 Chris Hicks RHP Georgia Tech Astros (14) Wareham (Cape Cod) 0-1, 9.00, 2 SV
* Will be a college junior in 2009
--ALLAN SIMPSON Top Ten List Archives
2004 AFLAC ALL-AMERICAN GAME
Tuesday August 5, 2008
The Aflac All-American Game will be held at Los Angeles’ Dodger Stadium on Saturday, Aug. 9. This is the sixth edition of baseball’s premier high school All-American event and Perfect Game has been in charge of selecting the players to be honored since the event’s inception.

The Perfect Game and Aflac All-American websites frequently make note of how many Aflac All-Americans are drafted in the first round and where they are drafted in total. The number of first rounders is amazing considering that the players are chosen for the team 11-14 months in advance of becoming eligible for the draft.

We thought we’d take it a step further and look at who were the top 10 prospects in present-day terms from each of the five previous Aflac All-American teams.

The 2004 Aflac Game/2005 draft class stood out for their incredible outfield talent. Arizona Diamondbacks outfielder Justin Upton has disappointed no one since being the first pick in the 2005 draft and was in the majors in 2007, when still a teenager.

The first four high school picks in 2005 were all outfielders, with Upton followed by Cameron Maybin (Tigers, since traded to Marlins), Andrew McCutchen (Pirates) and Jay Bruce (Reds). Colby Rasmus (Cardinals) was picked later in the first round and John Drennan (Indians) early in the compensation round. Austin Jackson (Yankees) slipped all the way to the eighth round due to signability concerns (he could have gone to Georgia Tech to play basketball) but had definite first-round ability.

The Marlins certainly appreciate the 2004 Aflac All-American class. Of the four players who have reached the major leagues, three (Maybin while with Detroit; RHP Chris Volstad and RHP Ryan Tucker) play for the Marlins. In all, the Marlins had two first-round picks, three supplemental first-round selections and two second-round choices in the 2005 draft.

The obvious oversight from the 2004 Aflac All-American team was Houston area outfielder Jay Bruce. Bruce and Rasmus were two of the top players at the 2004 World Wood Bat Association fall championship in Jupiter, Fla., in the fall after the Aflac team was selected (Rasmus was named MVP of that tournament), so it was just a matter of timing as to when they were acknowledged among the country’s top prospects

Here’s a quick look at the players from the 2004 Aflac All-American Game who have performed best to date:
Rank Player Pos. Drafted '05 (Round) 2008 Level
1 Justin Upton OF Diamondbacks (1) Majors
  .242-11-38; No. 1 overall pick in 2005; still 20 years old, future all-star.
2 Chris Volstad RHP Marlins (1) Majors
  2-1, 2.38; big 6-foot-8 righthander has had immediate success in his major league debut.
3 Ryan Tucker RHP Marlins (1) Majors
  4-2, 1.38 in AA, 2-3, 8.39 in majors; likely to be converted to the bullpen.
4 Cameron Maybin OF Tigers (1) Double-A (Marlins)
  .264-12-38, 17 SBs in AA; huge tools, Marlins will be patient with him.
5 Andrew McCutcheon OF Pirates (1) Triple-A
  .276-9-40, 27 SBs, Pirates CF of the future and the future is soon.
6 Jeremy Hellickson RHP Rays (4) Double-A
  8-4, 2.67 between A/AA; 10/118 BB:SO ratio is incredible for a power pitcher.
7 Austin Jackson OF Yankees (8) Double-A
  .289-9-57, 15 SB; huge athletic tools and Yankees unlikely to deal him.
8 Sean O’Sullivan RHP Angels (3) High A
  13-4, 4.63; among minor league leaders in wins.
9 P.J. Phillips SS Royals (2) High A
  .270-8-47, 30 SB; Brandon’s little brother has big league tools, too.
10 *Buster Posey C Angels ’05 (50) Unsigned
  .463-26-93 at Florida State; 2008 College Player of the Year.
* Unsigned; re-drafted 2008, San Francisco Giants (1st round, 5th pick).
--DAVID RAWNSLEY Top Ten List Archives