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Grading
The Draft, Team By Team
March 8, 2017 (Federal League Wire Service)
The pre-season draft meetings
ended late Tuesday night as team representatives filed out
of the meeting room at the Federal League Conference Annex. 41 players were drafted
and all are hoping to make an impact when play opens during the
week of April 18.
Nicholas Grassetti, a smooth swinging infielder from Lauderdale By
the Sea, drafted by the Davie Goliaths, was the first
player selected in the draft.
A complete list of the draft results can be found here.
Original
Division:
Hallandale Twins: Carlos
Guzman, SS/2B; Giovann Texiera, OF; Giancarlos Hurtado, SS/2B; Daniel
Rivadeniera, SS/C; Ornan Toledo, INF; Casey Kountz, SS/2B;
Adam Gillstrap, RHP/OF;
Hector Velasquez, 1B/OF; Yuriel Barbiera,
OF; Yeinel Montano, INF
The Twins drafted extensively and addressed their depth issues,
but did not get as much pitching help as they figure to need..
Guzman, Texiera, and Hurtado are already signed and should be in
the opening day lineup. Toledo and Kountz have opportunities to
contribute immediately. Gillstrap will be given a chance to
crack the rotation.
Grade: B
Sunrise Sunsets:
Justin Dages, SS;
Javier Aguilar, 1B/OF; Mervin Borges, C; Victor Sam. RHP/OF;
Michael Fox, RHP/OF; Juan
Escobar, 2B
The
Twilighters picked up some of the best raw talent in the draft.
Dages is a potential star. Aguilar is already an accomplished
player. Sam shows flashes of being a top player. Fox has incredible potential, and Borges and Escobar are
solid players.
This will be an A+ if the Sunsets sign any three of these
players.
Grade: B+
Broward Cubs: Joseph
Paniagua, OF; Gabriel Franzese, INF/OF; Brian Ross, RHP; Paul
Belmonte, INF/OF; Kevaugn Thomas, RHP/OF; Bernard Rolle, 2B/OF;
Johnny Ventura, 1B/3B
The Cubs needed a lot of help and drafted the best available
players in each round. Paniagua and Franzese are front line
players.
If the Cubbies sign all of these players, the grade will be much
higher.
Grade: B-
Delray Beach Mudcats: Jamal
Thelwell, C; Rafael Laureano, 3B/OF; Willy Ruiz, C
The Mudcats did not have a pick in first round, a result of last season's trade with the
Cubs to re-acquire Amed Martinez..
The selections of Thelwell and Ruiz suggest that the Whiskered
Fish are not intending to wait on hold out catchers Ubby Urrutia
and Ian Robbins.
Grade: B
Expansion Division:
Davie Goliaths: Nicholas
Grassetti, 2B/OF; Kyle Noel, C; Jarrod Rubinstein, 1B/C; Jesus
Peguero, OF; Frank Brown, 2B/OF
The Goliaths got three solid players that are already signed.
Grassetti is a top tier player that will improve both the
infield defense and the lineup. Noel will likely assume the
catching duties and allow player/manager Tony Krahwinkel to move
to the outfield. Rubinstein is a quality role player.
Grade: B+
Hollywood Stars: Lazaro
Blanco, RHP/OF; Malcolm Cepeda, OF; Christian Nunez, OF
The Stars,
already boasting a significantly upgraded roster, took a flyer on
three top, but, as of yet, unsigned, prospects
Blanco would elevate the pitching staff. Cepeda and Nunez would be
great additions as well.
Grade: B
Margate Sentries: Anthony
DiMaio, RHP; Jesan Yambo, 2B/OF; Elvin Espinal, RHP/3B; Yaniel
Perez, INF
The Sentries selected the best players available, but none are
signed yet.
Talent-wise, this would be a very good crop, but, the
Gatekeepers need to sign at least two of these players for this
to be a useful draft.
Grade: C
Tri-Cities Tritons: Joshua
Payne, LHP/OF; Adam Seif, OF; Sean Vance, 1B
The Tritons, after two consecutive Championships, are looking to
reload.
Seif could contribute immediately. If Payne signs, he will,
likely, take a spot in the rotation. Vance could challenge
incumbent Magdiel Sanchez for the first base job.
Grade: B-
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