| Boston Red Sox June 1998 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.
Everett has been compared by a lot of scouts to Nomar Garciaparra, both for his frame and his superior defense. He was considered to be the best college defensive player in the 1998 draft, and he hit quite well in 1999 (263/356/385) considering his quick jump to Trenton. Adam Everett's Red Sox career ended earlier this month (12/99) when he was traded to Houston (along with P Greg Miller) for CF Carl Everett (no relation).2) No second round pick (compensation for the signing of Dennis Eckersley) 3) Mike Maroth, LHP, age 22.
Maroth put up decent but unspectacular numbers in his time with the Red Sox organization, sporting a 91 mph fastball and an above-average breaking ball. He is also already the second ex-Sox of this draft, having been dealt to the Detroit Tigers in summer 1999 for relief pitcher Bryce Florie.4) Jerome Gamble, RHP, age 20.
Year Team G GS IP ERA H BB SO HR 1998 R/Fort Myers 11 6 42.2 4.43 33 19 49 4 1999 A-/Lowell 5 5 25.2 1.75 18 9 37 1 Gamble started 1999 in great shape, dominating at short-A Lowell. Unfortunately, he then suffered a stress fracture in his elbow which shut him down for the rest of the year, and possibly beyond. This is the same injury which sidetracked pitcher Chris Reitsma for two years.5) Josh Hancock, RHP, age 22.
Year Team G GS IP ERA H BB SO HR
1998 R/Fort Myers 5 1 13.1 3.38 9 3 21 1
A-/Lowell 1 1 4 2.25 5 4 4 0
A/Augusta 25 25 139.2 3.80 154 46 106 12
Lots of hits allowed, but a decent K:BB ratio. Definitely has potential.6) Rick Riccobono, RHP, age 20.
Year Team G GS IP ERA H BB SO HR 1999 A-/Lowell 15 14 77.1 5.24 93 30 54 4 Riccobono did not play in 1998, as we wasn't signed until somewhat late. Before the draft, Boston offered him a $250,000 signing bonus as a third round pick, which he refused. Concerns about signability dropped him to 6th. The Sox later shelled out a record bonus for a sixth round pick to sign him. Supposedly has a 93-mph fastball, but was far from overpowering this year at Lowell. Still young with plenty of time to harness that heat.7) Syketo Anderson, 2B, age 21.
Elected to attend junior college rather than sign with the Red Sox. He was selected in the 13th round by the Cubs in the 1999 draft and hit 295/324/417 for them in rookie ball.8) Fredrick William Silverthorn, LHP, age 21.
After 44.2 innings of mediocre pitching 1n 1998 at Rookie ball, Silverthorn was traded to Tampa Bay for RHP Julio Santana. He did not pitch in 1999.9) Mark Texiera, 3B, did not sign.
The Yankees and Red Sox reportedly offered him $1.5 million before the draft, but he refused it. Concerns about signability meant he dropped to #9. Represented by Scott Boras.10) Leonardo Dinardo, LHP, apparently did not sign. 11) Carlos Rodriguez, OF, age 23.
Year Team AB BA/OBP/SLG HR BB SO SB/CS
1998 R/Fort Myers 197 325/367/538 8 11 37 14/3
1999 A/Augusta 119 193/262/336 3 8 41 1/2
A-/Lowell 228 250/296/509 12 13 66 17/3
Rodriguez really smacked the ball in the rookie league, failed in a promotion to Augusta, and then hit decently again when demoted to Lowell. He was fairly old for Lowell (as he was for rookie ball the year before) and he has never showed much patience, so he does not look like a really strong prospect. Still, he has slugged .500 at a couple of levels and shown some speed, so he's worth watching.12) David Benham, C/1B, age 24.
After a strong start Benham jumped quickly to Sarasota in 1998 and was not completely overmatched in 131 AB (275/326/412). His appearances at 1B may be an indication that he was not defensively adequate behind the plate. After a weaker performance in 1999 he was traded midseason along with LHP Mike Matthews to St. Louis for pitcher Kent Mercker.13) Michael Rabelo, C, did not sign.
Elected to take an $80,000 scholarship with UT, after the Red Sox refused to match it.14) Matt Phillips, RHP, age 24.
Year Team G GS IP ERA H BB SO HR 1998 A-/Lowell 15 14 72.2 4.21 81 27 57 3 1999 A/Augusta 39 1 73.2 4.76 85 23 69 7 Very hittable. Does register enough strikeouts to suggest a live arm; maybe he needs another pitch or something. But he probably doesn't have much time left to develop one...15) Lance Surridge, RHP, age 22.
Year Team G GS IP ERA H BB SO HR 1998 A/Michigan 18 8 64.0 2.81 59 27 43 2 1999 A/Augusta 37 10 106.1 3.05 102 38 88 3 Surridge started right in at Michigan and pitched quite well. For some reason that performance did not earn him a promotion. He pitched well again in 1999; presumably he will get a shot at Sarasota in 2000?16) Jason Norton, RHP, age 24.
Year Team G GS IP ERA H BB SO HR
1998 R/Fort Myers 3 0 6.0 1.50 2 1 9 1
A/Lowell 6 4 25.1 4.62 22 7 33 1
A/Michigan 7 7 42.0 1.93 34 12 36 1
1999 A/Augusta 30 17 136.0 2.32 106 28 150 11
Again, an excellent 1998 but no promotion above mid-A ball. But he was very sharp at Augusta in 1999: more strikeouts than innings, a K:BB ratio over 5:1, and 30 fewer hits than innings pitched -- can't ask for any more than that! These are fantastic numbers, and at his age he should certainly force the Sox to promote him for 2000.17) Benito Flores, LHP, 24.
Had pretty good numbers in his first year, but Flores is yet another ex-Sox: he pitched at high A Bakersfield for San Fransico in 1999: 81IP, 3.67ERA, 81 hits and a 63:34 K:BB ratio.18) Terrance Hill, LHP, age 24.
Year Team G GS IP ERA H BB SO HR 1998 A-/Lowell 19 7 63.0 2.00 60 33 61 2 1999 A/Augusta 53 0 92.1 2.73 77 25 95 6 Hill took a nice step forward in 99, improving his control and allowing fewer hits while continuing to strike out a batter an inning. He's not young, but this performance deserves another promotion.19) Shon Norris, RHP, age 23.
Year Team G GS IP ERA H BB SO HR 1998 R/Fort Myers 15 0 24 2.25 22 9 14 0 1999 A-/Lowell 27 0 41 5.05 41 13 29 2 Decent numbers, but nothing that jumps out. He's also old to be in rookie and A- ball. Probably not as strong a prospect as some others from this draft.20) Tony James, 2B, age 23.
Year Team AB BA/OBP/SLG HR BB SO SB/CS 1998 A-/Lowell 235 272/366/430 8 27 45 7/1 1999 A/Augusta 170 224/285/306 2 10 35 3/3 Unfortunately James took a significant step backwards in 1999, losing ground in all aspects of his offensive game. He is probably not a prospect, although with the Sox' recent de-accenting the drafting of middle infielders, he may get another chance.21) Andrew Checketts, RHP, age 24.
Year Team G GS IP ERA H BB SO HR 1998 R/Fort Myers 2 0 2 0.00 2 2 0 0 Only two innings for Checkett in 1998, and DNP in 1999. At least he was unscored upon in his brief professional career.22) Tom Linarelli, RHP, age 23.
Year Team G GS IP ERA H BB SO HR 1998 A-/Lowell 18 6 51.0 7.06 78 28 44 5 1999 R/Fort Myers 1 0 1.1 13.50 2 2 1 0 Linarelli's professional career appears to be over.23) Andrew Larned, C, age 24.
Year Team AB BA/OBP/SLG HR BB SO SB/CS
1998 A-/Lowell 54 222/246/278 0 2 12 0/0
R/Fort Myers 8 125/222/125 0 1 1 1/0
A+/Sarasota 13 154/389/154 0 5 2 0/0
1999 A/Augusta 93 258/355/333 1 12 18 1/1
Has not shown much with the bat and is probabaly too old, even for a catcher.24) Josh Adeeb, OF, age 23.
Year Team AB BA/OBP/SLG HR BB SO SB/CS 1998 A/Lowell 8 250/250/250 0 0 2 0/0 Apparently Adeeb's pro career lasted 8 at bats.25) John Hattig, 3B, age 20.
Year Team AB BA/OBP/SLG HR BB SO SB/CS 1999 R/Fort Myers 163 270/333/368 1 16 20 1/1 Hattig may have been a draft-and-follow, as he apparently signed very late. His pro debut was unremarkable, but he did not embarrass himself, either.26) Ben Kozlowski, LHP, apparently has not signed.
Did not appear for Boston, but pitched (rather well) for Atlanta's rookie ball club in 1999; presumably he did not sign with the Sox in 98, but did with Atlanta when drafted again the next year.27) James Gates, OF, apparently has not signed. 28) Jason Blanton, RHP, apparently has not signed. 29) Ryan Siebert, RHP, apparently has not signed. 30) James Garcia, OF, apparently has not signed. 31) Robert Floyd, LHP, apparently has not signed. 32) Richard Hart, 1B, apparently has not signed. 33) Heath Heiberger, LHP, apparently has not signed. 34) Chad Johnson, C, age 24.
Year Team AB BA/OBP/SLG HR BB SO SB/CS 1998 A/Lowell 110 200/302/300 3 13 37 1/0 Somewhat weak numbers in 110 AB at Lowell in 1998; DNP in 1999, so he has apparently retired.35) Mark Younk, C, apparently did not sign. 36) Tonayne Brown, OF, age 22.
Year Team AB BA/OBP/SLG HR BB SO SB/CS 1998 R/Fort Myers 225 316/338/511 8 8 32 15/6 1999 A/Augusta 541 261/326/353 4 46 89 25/22 Brown showed power, speed, and average in his first year in pro ball. In his second year, the power mysteriously vanished, his average dipped, and he appears to be just fast enough to get himself in trouble on the bases. Still, he has some tools and could yet harness them.37) Tony Caridi, 1B/C, age 20.
Year Team AB BA/OBP/SLG HR BB SO SB/CS 1998 R/Fort Myers 22 136/174/182 0 1 7 0/0 1999 R/Fort Myers 72 167/256/194 0 9 19 1/0 Only 94 AB for this young catcher; with this lack of hitting, though, that may be all he gets.38) Dennis Tankersley, RHP, age 21.
Year Team G GS IP ERA H BB SO HR 1999 R/Fort Myers 11 6 35.2 0.76 14 9 57 2 Wow! That's a pretty amazing line, even for rookie ball. 14 hits and 57 Ks? This is one draft-and-follow pick that certainly seems worth following...39) Robert Shabansky, LHP, apparently has not signed. 40) Phil Ledesma, OF, age 25.
Year Team AB BA/OBP/SLG HR BB SO SB/CS 1998 A-/Lowell 129 202/295/295 2 13 35 4/2 1999 A-/Lowell 74 270/427/405 1 16 15 8/2 Only 74 ABs suggests an injury; at Ledesma's age and in A- ball, injuries often end careers.41) Jason Fingers, RHP, apparently has not signed.
Also selected in the 1997 draft, but didn't sign either time.42) Bryan Barnowski, C., age 19.
Year Team AB BA/OBP/SLG HR BB SO SB/CS 1999 R/Fort Myers 88 227/320/307 0 10 23 3/1 Signed as a draft-and-follow in May 1999; did not adapt well to wooden bats in his first pro action. Still young, though.43) Ronald Bohinski, SS, apparently has not signed. 44) John Parrado, C, apparently has not signed. 45) Jonathon Smithers, 3B, apparently has not signed. 46) Keith Hart, 1B, age 24.
Year Team AB BA/OBP/SLG HR BB SO SB/CS 1998 A-/Lowell 165 273/287/400 3 3 34 0/1 1999 A/Augusta 336 262/293/360 5 12 72 2/0 Apparently drafted as a catcher, Hart now plays 1B. With no patience and only moderate power, Hart is not hitting like a first baseman. Before signing with the Sox, Hart was named 1998 Small College Player of the Year.47) Richard Smith, 2B, apparently has not signed. 48) Darry Burgess, RHP, apparently has not signed.
Class of 1998, status after 1999:
A/Augusta 10
A/Lowell 5
R/Fort Myers 4
Out of Baseball 5
In Other Organizations
Class AA 2 (Everett, Maroth)
Class A 2
Unsigned 22
Percentage of 48 draftees signed: 56%Percentage of 28 signed players retained: 86% Players Still with the Organization: Pitchers: 9Thoughts about the 1998 draft Only four players in this draft has played above mid-A ball (except for 13 ABs by Larned), and those four are ALL now with other organizations (Everett, Maroth, Benham, Flores). Among the prospects still with the Sox a few pitchers look promising: Tankersley, Norton, Surridge, and Hill. The hitters have been very weak; Carlos Rodriguez has shown some tools but he needs to show he can compete at higher levels very soon. |
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