| Boston Red Sox June 1997 Amateur Draft Picks | |
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Last updated: January 2, 2000
Note: the text on this page is an amalgam of commentary from Darcy Paquet and Glenn Ellingson (mostly Glenn). Statistics are through the end of the 1999 regular season. Ages given are as of July 1, 2000. 1) John Curtice, LHP, Great Bridge HS, VA, age 20
Year Team G GS IP ERA H BB SO HR 1997 R/Fort Myers 4 3 11.1 0.79 6 5 11 0 1998 A/Michigan 25 25 133.2 3.37 96 79 146 7 1999 R/Fort Myers 8 6 14.2 7.36 16 12 19 1 After a fanstastic 1998, Curtice showed up to spring training in 1999 overweight and apparently nursing an arm injury of some sort. While he wasn't overworked as badly as some Sox prospects were (I don't have BFP #s for 1998, but he recorded 576 outs+h+bb for 23.04/start), he was only 18 and apparently not in the best physical condition. Hopefully he can rebound, keep himself healthy, and return to the dominance he showed in 1998. He still has plenty of time to get back on track.1a) Mark Fischer, OF, Georgia Tech, age 24
Year Team AB BA/OBP/SLG HR BB SO SB/CS
1997 A/Lowell 179 330/389/508 5 15 38 13/2
1998 R/Fort Myers 26 192/300/423 2 4 8 2/0
A/Michigan 379 253/317/377 8 36 93 9/6
1999 A/Sarasota 359 253/308/351 5 28 85 11/6
Oh well; you can't get a Nomar out of every Georgia Tech pick... Fischer hasn't shown much, and at age 23 in A ball, he's a bit old.2) Aaron Capista, SS, Joliet Catholic HS, IL, age 21
Year Team AB BA/OBP/SLG HR BB SO SB/CS 1997 R/Fort Myers 134 239/316/299 0 16 17 6/2 1998 A/Michigan 471 261/300/367 5 23 47 5/3 1999 A/Sarasota 518 264/325/340 5 45 50 25/10 Capista is young, and is considered a prospect despite never having reached a 700 OPS in his career. He will probably play in Trenton in 2000; hopefully he develops some batting average, patience, and/or power there...2a) Eric Glaser, RHP, Highlands HS, KY, age 22
Year Team G GS IP ERA H BB SO HR
1997 R/Fort Myers 7 6 22.2 3.97 29 5 22 0
1998 R/Fort Myers 15 1 32.1 4.18 28 12 29 3
1999 A/Lowell 14 14 78.2 3.43 65 26 82 7
A/Augusta 1 1 5 0.00 2 1 7 0
A very nice short-season at Lowell, but you have to wonder why a second-round pick was still playing in a short-season league in his third year as a pro. He is still very young, so if he can repeat this at a higher level he could be a prospect. I am hopeful, if sceptical. At least he is starting now so he can get some innings.3) Travis Harper, RHP, James Madison Univ, VA
After signing him in 1997, the Red Sox claimed he was injured and then voided his contract. In July 1998 he was signed to a minor-league contract by the Devil Rays, and he went on to A- Hudson Valley to strike out 81 batters in 56 innings, allowing only 38 hits. He continued to pitch well for the Rays (A/AA) in 1999. Ouch.4) Angel (Ramon) Santos, INF (2B/SS/3B), Miguel Mlndz. Sup. HS, IL, age 20
Year Team AB BA/OBP/SLG HR BB SO SB/CS 1997 R/Fort Myers 60 183/261/200 0 7 11 8/3 1998 R/Fort Myers 77 351/435/442 0 13 10 7/3 1999 A/Augusta 466 270/360/440 15 62 88 25/10 Another 1997 draftee on the slow track, but an 800 OPS is a very good showing for a 19 year old. Power and patience is a good combination. He split his playing time nearly evenly between the three infield positions, which means he probably won't end up as a shortstop.5) Gregory Miller, LHP, Aurora West HS, IL, age 20
Year Team G GS IP ERA H BB SO HR 1997 R/Fort Myers 4 4 9.2 3.72 8 6 6 0 1998 R/Fort Myers 11 7 43.1 2.49 33 18 47 3 1999 A/Augusta 25 25 136.2 3.10 109 56 146 8 Why is everyone from the 1997 draft spending 1.5-2 years in rookie ball? At least he wasn't overworked :-). Miller was traded (along with Adam Everett) to Houston for Carl Everett in December 1999. Frankly, Miller's numbers look fantastic but Rob Neyer dismissed him as "left-handed pitcher of no particular promise" when he mentioned the Everett/Everett deal in a recent column. Maybe Miller throws 75 MPH and only strikes people out 'cause they are laughing so hard they can't swing, or something... in any case, it's Houston's problem now.6) Kristopher Wilken, C, Eldorado HS, NM, apparently never signed. 7) Jeff Taglienti, RHP, Tufts University, MA, age 24
Year Team G GS IP ERA H BB SO HR
1997 A/Lowell 17 4 36.2 4.91 30 13 34 2
1998 A/Michigan 57 0 76.1 1.89 54 17 111 0
1999 A/Sarasota 14 0 30.0 3.00 26 12 27 1
AA/Trenton 10 0 19.1 2.79 9 5 17 2
Well he didn't repeat that unbelieveable 1998, but he did pitch well at high A and AA in 1999. Usually the top prospects are starters in the minors so that they get more innings to learn, which Taglienti has never been. But Taglienti's 1998 was *so* good that he still lingers on the "prospect" radar screen...8) Andy Hazlett, LHP, Univ. of Portland, OR, age 24
Year Team G GS IP ERA H BB SO HR
1997 A/Lowell 19 3 50.1 1.61 44 7 66 1
A/Michigan 2 2 12 5.25 15 1 12 2
1998 A/Sarasota 30 22 160.2 3.19 154 25 135 4
1999 AA/Trenton 27 26 164.1 4.16 155 41 123 15
Another example of some outstanding pitching. Most notable is Hazlett's control. He should be pitching in Pawtucket in 2000.9) Justin Wayne, RHP, Punahou HS, HI, apparently never signed. 10) Marty McCleary, RHP, Mt. Vernon Nazrene, OH, age 24
Pitched ~80 innings of decent ball at Augusta in 1999 before being called up to Sarasota, where he struggled. In December 1999 he was chosen in the Rule 5 Draft by Montreal.11) Tom Miller, LHP, Ohio University, age 24
Year Team G GS IP ERA H BB SO HR
1997 R/Fort Myers 1 0 1.1 6.75 2 2 3 0
A/Lowell 24 0 39 2.77 38 20 42 2
1998 A/Michigan 11 0 17 6.35 28 7 10 2
A/Lowell 16 6 49.2 3.81 51 20 57 1
1999 DNP
Miller did not play in 1999, perhaps having retired.12) William Rich, OF, Univ. of CT, apparently never signed.
Never signed with the Red Sox, but apparently signed with the Baltimore the next year. He hit 271/361/422 at A- in 1998 and 251/337/376 at A Michigan in 1999.13) Chaz Terni, 3B, Montville HS, CT, age 21
Year Team AB BA/OBP/SLG HR BB SO SB/CS
1997 R/Fort Myers 76 184/262/224 0 7 23 2/0
1998 R/Fort Myers 63 317/378/413 0 8 12 1/0
A/Lowell 165 255/317/364 3 12 38 2/1
1999 A/Augusta 123 179/246/293 1 9 36 1/1
A/Augusta 119 202/276/269 0 10 35 1/2
Not making progress.14) Chad Alevras, C, University of New Mexico, age 25
Year Team AB BA/OBP/SLG HR BB SO SB/CS
1997 A/Lowell 55 145/288/236 1 10 13 1/1
1998 A/Michigan 281 249/320/381 7 27 70 1/1
1999 A/Sarasota 7 143/143/571 1 0 0 0/0
A/Augusta 17 294/368/353 0 2 6 0/0
I'm not sure what happened to Alevras in 1999, but it probably finished his career. At age 25, he's unlikely to get many (any?) more chances.15) Rick O'Dette, LHP, St. Joseph's, PA, age 24
Year Team G GS IP ERA H BB SO HR
1997 R/Fort Myers 3 0 8 2.25 6 1 6 0
A/Lowell 13 10 59.2 3.47 64 28 61 1
1998 A/Michigan 1 1 2 9.00 0 6 2 0
A/Lowell 9 1 16.2 11.34 14 32 16 1
38 walks in 18.2 innings? Now those are what I call control problems. Sure enough, O'Dette wasn't pitching professionally in 1999.16) Jorge DeLeon, 2B, University of South Florida, age 25
Year Team AB BA/OBP/SLG HR BB SO SB/CS
1997 A/Lowell 12 333/333/333 0 0 0 0/0
A/Michigan 59 271/258/322 0 0 19 2/0
1998 A/Michigan 185 265/317/351 2 15 19 4/0
AA/Trenton 86 291/330/371 0 5 3 2/1
1999 A/Sarasota 219 274/346/356 1 24 33 3/2
Too old to be putting up a 700 ops in A ball.17) Kenny Rayborn, RHP, Univ. of South Alabama, age 25
Year Team G GS IP ERA H BB SO HR 1997 A/Lowell 11 7 46 2.74 39 15 35 0 1998 A/Michigan 17 8 49.1 4.56 62 13 34 5 Apparently retired after 1998.18) Danny Haas, OF, University of Louisville, KY, age 24
Year Team AB BA/OBP/SLG HR BB SO SB/CS 1997 A/Lowell 28 179/258/286 0 2 8 3/0 1998 A/Michigan 299 234/296/318 3 22 55 1/2 1999 A/Sarasota 241 241/317/315 0 22 54 4/3 Well, he's consistent.19) David Eckstein, 2B, University of Florida, age 25
Year Team AB BA/OBP/SLG HR BB SO SB/CS 1997 A/Lowell 249 301/407/426 4 33 29 21/5 1998 A/Sarasota 503 306/428/398 3 87 51 45/16 1999 AA/Trenton 483 313/440/416 6 89 48 32/13 Three straight years of a .400+ OBP has pushed Eckstein up into solid prospect status. He'll play in Pawtucket this year (displacing Jim Chamblee from 2B there), and if he plays well he may force himself onto a major-league roster -- although probably not Boston's. He's actually quite a bit like a minor league version of the player Boston already has (Jose Offerman) - a decent if not great defensive second baseman and a top-notch leadoff hitter. Still, Eckstein provides both depth and trade material. He's also said to be a really nice guy...20) Brian Partenheimer, LHP, Indiana University, age 25p>
Year Team G GS IP ERA H BB SO HR
1997 A/Lowell 5 0 13.1 0.68 9 1 11 0
A/Michigan 17 0 21.2 6.65 32 9 16 1
1998 A/Michigan 60 0 82 3.62 79 21 61 5
1999 A/Sarasota 17 0 30 1.80 26 3 28 3
A/Brev City 21 0 44 2.25 29 14 29 1
Partenheimer has been quite good; unfortunately, he's now in the Florida Marlins system.21) Joe Thomas, LHP, Marietta College, age 25
Joe Thomas pitched quite well in the year and a half he played for the Red Sox organization, giving up very few hits with decent strikeout numbers. He must have caught someone's eye, for in July 1998 he was traded, along with OF John Barnes and P Matt Kinney, to Minnesota for relief pitcher Greg Swindell and 1B-DH Orlando Merced. Thomas was hurt in 1999, and did not play.22) Derek Rix, INF, Florida Community College, age 21
Year Team AB BA/OBP/SLG HR BB SO SB/CS 1998 R/Fort Myers 152 283/362/546 8 19 48 2/0 1999 DNP Signed as a draft-and-follow in June 1998, Rix went on to put up fantastic power numbers for an infielder in his first season at Fort Myers. Unfortunately, he was hurt in 1999 and did not play.23) Nate Bump, RHP, Penn. St. Univ., age 22
Never signed with the Red Sox, but went on to play with the San Francisco organization in 1998; they traded him to Florida during the 1999 season.24) Jason Fingers, RHP, Central Arizona Community College
Didn't sign in 1997, was drafted again by the Sox in 1998 in the 41st round, but apparently didn't sign then either. This is the son of Rollie Fingers, the well-known relief pitcher.25) Christopher Domurat, C, Sandwich HS, apparently never signed 26) Heath McMurray, RHP, Splendora HS, apparently never signed 27) Justin Fry, RHP, Ohio St. Univ., apparently never signed 28) David Stickel, INF, Temple Hts, FL, apparently never signed 29) Ryan Yeagher, INF, Port St. Joe HS, apparently never signed 30) Bret Prinz, RHP, Phoenix Coll., AZ, apparently never signed
Didn't sign with the Red Sox, but played for the Diamondbacks in 1998, putting up a 3.09 ERA and OK numbers for R+ Lethbridge.31) Matthew Kamalsky, RHP, Somerset, PA, apparently never signed 32) Robert Hardy, RHP, Countryside HS, apparently never signed 33) Patrick Santoro, 2B, Fenwick HS, IL., age 21.
Year Team AB BA/OBP/SLG HR BB SO SB/CS 1998 A/Lowell 190 247/336/379 2 26 54 4/0 1999 R/Fort Myers 23 174/240/348 1 2 6 0/1 Injury limited Santoro to only 23 at-bats this year, but he looks to return healthy in 2000.34) Layne Meyer, RHP, Polk CC, FL, apparently never signed 35) Jason Berni, RHP, Rancho Bern. HS, apparently never signed 36) Ryan Atkinson, RHP, Bellarmine Col., apparently never signed 37) Donovan Marbury, RHP, U. of S. Miss., apparently never signed 38) Dennis Tankersley, RHP, St. Charles HS
Tankersley did not sign in 1997, however he was subsequently drafted in 1998 and signed as a draft-and-follow. See the 1998 draft page.39) Shawn Weaver, RHP, Bald Eagle Nitt. HS, apparently never signed 40) Chad Zuacha, OF, Mt. Pleasant HS, PA, apparently never signed 41) Matthew Slagter, RHP, Jeff. HS, FL, apparently never signed 42) Scott Candelaria, INF, La Cueva HS, apparently never signed 43) Nicholas Gray, INF, Florida HS, FL, apparently never signed 44) Todd Smith, INF, Apopka HS, FL, apparently never signed 45) Joseph Thurston, INF, Vallejo HS, CA, apparently never signed
Class of 1997, status after 1999:
AA/Trenton 3 (Eckstein, Taglienti, Hazlett)
A/Sarasota 4
A/Augusta 3
A/Lowell (Short Season) 1
R/Fort Myers 2
Other organizations:
A 3
Out of baseball 6
Unsigned 25
Percentage of 47 draftees signed: 47%Percentage of signed players retained: 86% Players Still with the Organization: Pitchers: 4Thoughts about the 1997 draft The strongest prospects at this stage are those that have demonstrated some success in the high minors, which means Eckstein, Hazlett, and Taglienti. Eckstein extended his solid track record up to AA ball and made himself a solid prospect very likely to be a capable major-league leadoff hitter. Hazlett did the same as a starting pitcher; while he may or may not become a major-league starter, as a lefty he's almost certain to get the chance to pitch in the majors in some capacity. Taglienti blasted into prospect status in 1998; he didn't continue that level of performance, but he was solid at AA and is still a prospect. |
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