Quick Draft Recap and Signings

The 2010 MLB First-Year Player Draft wrapped up on Thursday and the Royals have started their early wave of signings.  So far 14 selections have signed (along with two undrafted players), with 6th round pick, LHP Scott Alexander of Sonoma State as the highest pick to sign so far.

The Royals took an unusually college-heavy approach to the draft this year, selecting 41 players out of college or junior college, leaving only nine high school selections.  Part of that strategy may be to speed up the arrival of this year’s class, but J.J. Picollo, assistant GM, also mentioned that “the high school player is a little bit more of a complex situation just because of the money that players need to forgo college.”  He still asserted that the Royals took the best player available on their board with each pick, and it just happened to be college-heavy.

Perhaps.  By picking more college players, the Royals may pay less over the course of the draft on bonuses.  Ideally, those savings will be moved towards international signings.  If it’s just to save money, I don’t like it.  Also, the large influx of college age players can swell the middle levels of the farm system, but leave the developmental levels barren, so you’d hope that a lot of those players pan out or the 2011 draft plan is to draft for young players with upside.

Of the Royals 50 picks, 26 were pitchers.  Of those, 21 were right-handed pitchers.  Considering the notable depth of left-handed starters, that adds balance throughout the system, and pitching depth is always important.

Along with Alexander, here are the other signings, listed by round:

• 6. LHP Scott Alexander
• 7. RHP Eric Cantrell
• 10. OF Timothy Ferguson
• 11. SS Alex McClure
• 16. RHP Charles Byrne
• 20. OF Cameron Conner
• 21. SS Michael Liberto
• 26. RHP Gates Dooley
• 27. OF Jose Rodriguez
• 28. 1B Murray Watts
• 30. RHP Chad Blauer
• 38. RHP Nick Graffeo (Kevin Seitzer’s stepson)
• 46. C William Robertson
• 47. OF Clifford Sandford
• FA RHP Nicholas Rogers
• FA LHP Kyle Kreich

Early selections SS Christian Colon (1), OF Brett Eibner (2) and LHP Kevin Chapman (4) are all participating in the College World Series, so their negotiations will take place after their teams have been eliminated.

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