Boston Red Sox June 1999 Amateur Draft Picks


Last updated: January 2, 2000


Note: the text on this page is an amalgam of commentary from Darcy Paquet and Glenn Ellingson.


Statistics are through the end of the 1999 regular season. Ages given are as of July 1, 2000.


1) Eric Assadorian, OF, Northbridge HS (MA)

A five-tool outfielder who reminds scouts of former Red Sox star Dwight Evans. He is an excellent hitter, with a tight, compact swing, but his best tool is a strong, accurate arm. Ranked #1 in Massachusetts and #19 overall by Baseball America. Signed too late to play professionally in 1999.
1a) Bradley Baker, RHP, Pioneer Valley Regional HS (MA), age 19

  Year    Team            G    GS      IP     ERA     H     BB     SO   HR
  1999    R/Fort Myers    4     3    11.1    0.79    10      2     10    0
Ranked #2 in Massachusetts and #48 overall by Baseball America. Throws a low 90s fastball and a curve for strikes. A compensation pick for the loss of Mo Vaughn.
1b) Casey Fossum, LHP, Texas A&M, age 22

  Year    Team            G    GS      IP     ERA     H     BB     SO   HR
  1999    A-/Lowell       5     5    14.1    1.26     6      5     16    1
Ranked #57 overall by Baseball America. Throws 88-92 mph with an excellent slider. 6-0, 150 lbs. A compensation pick for the loss of Greg Swindell.
2) Matt Thompson, RHP, Timberline HS (ID), age 18

  Year    Team            G    GS      IP     ERA     H     BB     SO   HR
  1999    R/Fort Myers    5     2    15.0    1.20     7      4     12    0
Ranked #71 overall by Baseball America. Throws in the low 90s with an excellent curve, and reportedly never lost a game in high school. He traveled with the U.S. team to Venezuela in April.
3) Richard Rundles, LHP, Jefferson County HS (TN), age 19

  Year    Team            G    GS      IP     ERA     H     BB     SO   HR
  1999    R/Fort Myers    5     1     12.2   2.13    13      1     11    1
Stands at 6'6" and throws an 88 mph fastball, a curve, and a change.
3a) Antron Seiber, CF, Independence HS (LA), age 20

  Year    Team             AB      BA/OBP/SLG     HR    BB    SO    SB/CS
  1999    R/Fort Myers     46     261/314/348      0     4    11      2/2
Also played quarterback for his high school team. He runs the 40-yard dash in 4.5 seconds, and stole 17 bases in 17 attempts. He also plays outfield, and hit .488 with seven home runs from the number three spot in high school. Clearly a man of many talents, Seiber at least got his feet wet with a wooden bat in '99 and should be ready for a longer stint in 2000.
4) Rory Shortell, RHP, Madison HS (OR). Apparently did not sign.

5) Gregory Montalbano, LHP, Northeastern Univ. Signed as a draft-and-follow in May 2000.

6) Jon Kail, CF, Baldwin HS (PA). Apparently did not sign.

7) Richard Carroll, 1B, Venice HS (FL). Apparently did not sign.

Evidently has elected to attend junior college after not being contacted by the Sox.
8) Andrew Heimbach, RHP, Mt. Vernon Nazarene Col. Apparently did not sign.

9) Hank Thoms, RHP, Mississippi State Univ. Apparently did not sign.

10) Brian Weise, RF, Mississippi State Univ.

  Year    Team             AB      BA/OBP/SLG     HR    BB    SO    SB/CS
  1999    A/Lowell         79     316/400/582      5     9    25      2/2
          A/Augusta        68     118/265/147      0    10    18      1/0
Is somewhat fast despite being 5'11" 200 lbs, and can also play a passable CF. Walks a lot, but also strikes out a lot. Reportedly has a compact, powerful swing.
11) Kregg Jarvais, C, Univ. of Maine, age 23

  Year    Team             AB      BA/OBP/SLG     HR    BB    SO    SB/CS
  1999    A-/Lowell       109     193/254/266      0     8    31      3/0
Is a light hitter, but reportedly has an outstanding arm and plays good defense. Was drafted #25 by Atlanta last year. Is reportedly a huge Red Sox fan. So far this hitting is as advertised, unfortunately; but it's very early.
12) Lew Ford, CF, Dallas Baptist Univ., age 23

  Year    Team             AB      BA/OBP/SLG     HR    BB    SO    SB/CS
  1999    A-/Lowell       250     280/339/464      7    19    35     15/2
Signed early enough to get 250 ABs; his 803 OPS showed he had no trouble adapting to wood and should get him promoted for 2000. Good mix of power and speed. As a college draftee, though, he needs to move up quickly.
13) Michael Dwyer, 1B, Univ. of Richmond, age 22

  Year    Team             AB      BA/OBP/SLG     HR    BB    SO    SB/CS
  1999    A-/Lowell       271     247/332/325      3    34    50      3/2
Named the 1999 Colonial Athletic Association player of the year, and made Baseball America's college All American second team as both a pitcher and a hitter. Decent eye, but has not shown power with wood bats yet. Given his age he will probably be promoted anyway.
14) Bryan Leach, RHP, Florida Southern Col., age 22

  Year    Team            G    GS      IP     ERA     H     BB     SO   HR
  1999    R/Fort Myers    1     0     2.0    0.00     2      1      1    0
  1999    A-/Lowell      13     4    45.1    3.57    41     18     52    4
A right-handed pitcher who went 11-2 in high school, striking out 145 batters in 127+ innings, while also spending some time at second base, hitting .418/.471/.788 in 170 PA's. He hasn't played second base in the Boston organization but he did get a nice start on the mound: 53Ks, 43 hits. May become a full-time starter sometime next year.
15) Brian Wiley, RHP, The Citadel. Apparently did not sign.

16) Charles Nanning, LHP, Polk C.C. Apparently did not sign.

17) Hiram Duncan, 3B, Miss. Gulf Coast J.C. Apparently did not sign.

18) Jeffrey Waldron, C/DH, Boston College, age 23

  Year    Team             AB      BA/OBP/SLG     HR    BB    SO    SB/CS
  1999    A-/Lowell       125     176/290/240      1    14    22      0/1
Batted .399 in 1999 while playing in all 48 games. Earned All-Northeast All Star second team accolades from the American Baseball Coaches Association. Had a tough year with the wooden bat; did at least show a willingness to take a walk.
19) Jason Bottenfield, RHP, U Texas Pan American, age 23

  Year    Team            G    GS      IP     ERA     H     BB     SO   HR
  1999    A-/Lowell      23     0    36.1    5.70    36     17     24    3
Not a great start, but probably good enough to get another try next year.
20) Daniel Generelli, RHP, Quinsigamond C.C.

6-3, 190lbs, has a 93 mph fastball and recently developed a slider. Struck out 1.5 batters per inning for Quinsigamond C.C. Signed too late to play professionally in 1999.
21) Jason Henderson, RHP, Bishop Hendricken HS (SC). Apparently did not sign.

22) Ellis S. Debrow, 1B, Woodham HS (FL). Apparently did not sign.

23) Nicolas Puckett, LHP, Timberline HS (ID). Apparently did not sign.

24) Rex Rundgren, SS, Mid Pacific Institute.

Rex is the son of musician/producer/computer-nerd Todd Rundgren. Signed too late to play professionally in 1999.
25) Timothy Mccabe, SS, North Catholic HS (PA). Apparently did not sign.

26) Marshall Mcdougall, 3B, Florida State. Apparently did not sign.

Impressed with the bat at Florida State, at one time hitting six HR in one game. Was expected to be drafted much higher, and the Red Sox did not make much of an effort to sign him.
27) Mark Kiger, 2B, Grossmont College. Apparently did not sign.

28) Jonathan Anderson, 2B, U Illinois, age 23

  Year    Team             AB      BA/OBP/SLG     HR    BB    SO    SB/CS
  1999    R/Fort Myers     11     182/250/273      0     1     3      0/1
          A-/Lowell       124     266/331/306      0    13    10      7/4
Signed and got 135 ABs; showed a little speed.
29) Barton Hollis, RHP, Lawrence County (AL). Signed as a draft-and-follow in May 2000.

30) Charles Frasier, 3B, Santa Rosa J.C. Apparently did not sign.

31) Jaime Bubela, CF, Baylor Univ. Apparently did not sign.

32) David Flournoy, LF/RF, Deer Valley HS (CA). Apparently did not sign.

33) Perry Miley, CF, William Carey Col., age 22

  Year    Team             AB      BA/OBP/SLG     HR    BB    SO    SB/CS
  1999    A-/Lowell       147     245/337/340      2    18    29      9/3
Signed and got 147 ABs; showed a little speed. Not a bad start.
34) Daniel Giese, RHP, U San Diego, age 23

  Year    Team            G    GS      IP     ERA     H     BB     SO   HR
  1999    A-/Lowell      18     0    34.1    1.83    17     10     27    2
          A/Augusta       9     0    17.1    2.08    15      5     11    1
This is a very good start: nearly unhittable at Lowell and then holding his own in Augusta. Hopefully he will get a chance at starting sometime in 2000.
35) Ben Marbury, LF, age 21

  Year    Team             AB      BA/OBP/SLG     HR    BB    SO    SB/CS
  1999    R/Fort Myers     53     170/267/283      1     4    20      1/1
Well at least he got his feet wet.
36) Jon Brandon, CF, Panola J.C. Apparently did not sign.

37) Christopher Mabeus, RHP, Eastern Ariz. J.C. Apparently did not sign.

38) Jesse Cooksey, RHP, Port Neches-Groves HS (TX). Apparently did not sign.

39) Matthew Ames, 1B, Stanhope Elmore HS (AL). Apparently did not sign.

40) Anthony Bass, LF, Booker T Washington HS (OK). Apparently did not sign.

41) Justin Smetana, LHP, Cardinal HS (OH). Apparently did not sign.

42) Brian Rinehart, 2B, Southington HS (CT). Apparently did not sign.

43) Ryan Coffin, RHP, Desert Vista HS (AZ). Apparently did not sign.

44) James Lindsey, CF, Lee Davis HS (VA). Apparently did not sign.

45) Brady Williams, 3B/DH, Pasco Hernando CC (FL), age 20

  Year    Team             AB      BA/OBP/SLG     HR    BB    SO    SB/CS
  1999    R/Fort Myers    121     256/400/446      5    29    45      3/3
Brady is the son of Red Sox manager Jimy Williams. This is actually a very good showing; I wonder if he's played with wooden bats before?
46) Joseph Kerrigan, Jr., 2B, Temple Univ., age 22

  Year    Team             AB      BA/OBP/SLG     HR    BB    SO    SB/CS
  1999    A-/Lowell       242     314/420/364      0    43    52      5/6
  1999    A/Augusta        35     200/317/229      0     6     6      1/2
The son of Red Sox pitching coach Joe Kerrigan. Led Temple with a .387 batting average and a .495 slugging percentage. And apparently (appropriately enugh) he's willing to take a walk! :-) Actually, this is also a good start.
47) James Burgess, RF, Durango HS (NV). Apparently did not sign.

48) Joseph Kjose, RHP, Cochise County CC (AZ). Apparently did not sign.

49) Jordan Remy, 2B, Weston HS (MA). Apparently did not sign.

The son of former Red Sox second baseman and telecaster Jerry Remy.
50) Brian Buscher, SS, Terry Parker HS (FL). Apparently did not sign.

Class of 1999, status after 1999: 

             A/Sarasota               0
             A/Michigan               0
             A-/Lowell               11
             R/Ft. Myers              6
             Signed/DNP               4

             Unsigned                36

Percentage of 53 draftees signed: 40%
Percentage of 21 signed players retained: 100%
Note: The Red Sox retain the rights to at least some players currently not identified as signed (the "draft and follow" situation, which means JC players); in addition, some people may have signed too late to play this year without my having noticed. So the Sox may end up signing more than 40% of their 1999 draftees.
Thoughts about the 1999 draft
While nobody from the 1999 draft has yet established enough of a professional record to allow us to project them, quite a few players did at least put in a good showing right away. The Sox' top 4 pitching selections all signed and combined for an ERA under 2.00 in just over 50 innings of work. A couple of later-round college pichers, Bryan Leach and Daniel Giese, also pitched very well. Among the position players Lew Ford, Brady Williams, and Joe Kerrigan Jr. were solid. Many other position players had rough starts, but this is very common as players switch to wooden bats. Nobody has played themselves out of a job yet, and a few people showed more promise than their draft selection might predict. But about all we can say at this point is, we'll know a lot more by this time next year...


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Darcy Paquet/ darcy@asia.com /Last modified January 2, 2000