D-Backs Build up the Middle in Day Two of Draft
Published on June 7, 2013 under Pioneer League (PL)
Missoula PaddleHeads News Release
MISSOULA, MONT. - The Arizona Diamondbacks emphasized athleticism and building up the middle in the second day of the 2013 Major League Baseball First Year Player Draft. The D-backs picked three pitchers, two centerfielders, a catcher and a shortstop, to go with one first baseman, with their eight selections on Friday.
There's a chance some of today's draftees could wind up joining the Missoula Osprey for the 2013 season. Here are today's picks:
3rd Round (88 overall): Daniel Palka First Baseman / Georgia Tech
Palka, 21, is ranked as this year's 112th prospect by Baseball America, mostly for the pop in his bat. MLB.com's scouting report says "Palka has about as much raw power as anyone in the class and has shown an ability to use it well during games. There is some swing and miss to his game, but he makes enough contact to put his power into play. He's played both the outfield and first base, not to mention done some relief pitching, and could profile as a power-hitting corner outfie lder in the future."
Palka is a .314 career hitter at Georgia Tech, with 41 home runs and 165 RBI in 189 games. In his just-completed junior season, Palka started all 62 games and set career highs by hitting.342 with 17 home runs and 66 RBI. The left-handed hitter out of Greer, S.C. posted a .637 slugging percentage and a .436 on-base percentage. He also made eight appearances as a relief pitcher, going 2-1 with a 0.69 ERA and 11 strikeouts in 13 innings.
Louisville Slugger named the 6' 2", 225 -pound Palka to its 2013 All-America team. He was a semifinalist for the Dick Howser Award for college baseball's top player. He earned 1st Team All -Atlantic Coast Conference honors this season after being named 2nd Team last year.
This is the second time Palka's be en drafted -- Philadelphia selected him the 19th Round in 2010, but he decided to enroll at Georgia Tech. His grandfather, Eugene Palka, played two seasons in Baltimore Orioles organization.
4th Round (120): Matt McPhearson Outfielder / Riverdale Baptist School (Md.)
The Diamondbacks turned their focus on speed and athleticism with the selection of the 18-year old McPhearson, ranked as Baseball America 's 138th -best prospect.
Missoula Osprey Professional Baseball Club 140 North Higgins Avenue Missoula, MT 59802 Phone: (406) 543-3300 Fax: (406) 543-9463 MLB.com's scouting report says the 5' 8", 164 - pound high schooler is "small, b ut athletically built; (his) speed is the first thing that stands out. He can flat out fly, with the kind of speed that can be a game-changer. He's aggressive on the basepaths and plays a good defensive outfield. He has some bat speed and should be a solid hitter moving forward, though power isn't a part of his game. His fringy arm is accurate, but it might limit him to left field long-term. The University of Miami commit has the chance to be a real sparkplug at the top of a big league lineup in the future. "
McPhearson, from Upper Marlboro, Md., hit .479 in 26 games at Riverdale this spring, with a .596 on-base percentage, 32 runs scored and 26 RBI. The left- handed hitter earned a spot on Rawlings' 2nd Team All -America squad in 2013 and was a 1st Team All-Atlantic Region pick.
5th Round (150): Jamie Westbrook Infielder / Basha High School (Ariz.)
The D-backs nabbed another speed guy with big potential in 17-year old Westbrook. A right-handed hitter from Chandler, Ariz., Westbrook is the 163rd overall prospect, according to Baseball America, and has signed to play college ball at Pepperdine.
MLB.com's report says "Westbrook has a very good feel for hitting and, even with a small frame, has the plus bat speed to have average power in the future. He has good instincts and is very aggressive on the basepaths and should be a solid base stealer in pro ball. Defensively, Westbrook, out of Basha HS (Ariz.), profiles best at second base and should be an above-average defender there. He also has a great baseball IQ and outstanding makeup. The only issue with Westbrook is that it may be tough to sign him away from (his college choice)."
The 5' 9", 170 -pound Westbrook hit .434 in 24 games for Basha HS this spring, with a .466 on-base percentage. He was named to Rawlin gs' All -West Region 1st Team.
6th Round (180): Colin Bray Outfielder / Faulkner State Community College (Ala.)
The D-backs went with another athletic player in the switch-hitting Bray, ranked the 195th prospect by Baseball America. The 6' 4", 205 -pounder was a three-sport star at hometown Vancleave High School in Mississippi and signed to play football at Mississippi Gulf Coast Community College.
But, as MLB.com's report says, "a late scholarship offer from South Alabama caused him to change plans and chose baseball. After getting just 50 at bats as a freshman, he transferred to Faulkner State. Defensively, he reads the ball well off the bat and has plenty of range for center field. If Bray signs, his athleticism and defense will allow a team to be patient as he develops offensively. He has plus speed and makes a lot of contact. Bray is committed to (play Division I baseball at) Troy."
Bray, 19, hit .406 with a .467 OBP and a .531 slugging percentage at Faulkner State this spring. In 39 games, he posted two home runs and 24 RBI and stole 15 bases in 16 attempts. In an interesting split, Bray fared better at home than on the road. In home games, he hit .469, slugged .688 and had a .527 OBP. In away games, he went .373/.407/.451.
7th Round (210): Daniel Gibson Left-Handed Pitcher / University of Florida
This season with the Gators, as a junior, the 6' 3", 220 -pound Gibson appeared in 32 games, 31 in relief. The resident of Lutz, Fla. recorded a 2-1 record and a 4.42 ERA. In 38 2/3 innings, he allowed 36 hits and 20 walks while striking out 31.
Opponents hit .254 against him.
Whether the D-backs want him to be a starter or reliever remains to be seen. But if history is any indication, Gibson, 21, may prefer the latter. According MLB.com's Scouting Report, "A left -handed reliever from Florida has been the first or second player in each of the last two Draft classes to reach the Major Leagues. If a team keeps Gibson in the bullpen, he could follow a similar path this year. Some scouts believe he has what it takes to start, however, as he did in the Northwoods League last summer. Gibson throws four pitches, but relies on a fastball-slider combination when coming out of the bullpen. His fastball sits in the low-90s with good tailing movement. If Gibson does get a chance to start, he will need to improve his secondary offerings."
In the Northwoods League last summer, with the Madison (Wis.) Mallards, Gibson appeared in eight games, starting seven. He recorded a 4-3 record with a 2.47 ERA and 44 strikeouts in 43 2/3 innings.
8th Round (240): Brad Keller Right-Handed Pitcher / Flowery Branch HS (Ga.)
Keller's size makes him intriguing. At 6' 5", 230, he has the build that scouts look for. He was a Rawlings Southeast Region Honorable Mention this spring.
Keller, 17, helped lead his hometown Flowery Branch High School to the Georgia state playoffs as a sophomore and a junior. He has signed to play at Presbyterian College in Clinton, S.C.
Keller was named 1st Team All-Georgia Class 8A and the 2nd Team Pitcher of the Year. In 2012, as a high school junior, Keller went 5-2 with a no-hitter against Madison County.
9th Round (270): Grant Nelson Catcher / St. Louis University (Mo.)
Nelson, 21, helped lead the St. Louis Billikens into the NCAA tournament this past spring by hitting .338 with five home runs and 32 RBI in 60 games - all as a starter. The 6' 2", 220 -pounder finished with a .988 fielding percentage and threw out 43% of attempted base stealers.
In 2012, the right-handed batter hit .314 with a pair of home runs and 34 RBI. He stole six bases in eight tries in his SLU career.
Before his time with the Billikens, Nelson played two seasons at Skyline College in California. The San Mateo resident was a unanimous 1st Team All-Conference, a Northern California All-American and was voted third-team Pacific Association Division All-America.
10th Round (300): Jimmy Sherfy Right-Handed Pitcher / University of Oregon
Sherfy, 21, ended his junior season at Oregon as one of college baseball's top closers. He p osted a school-record 21 saves this season - second-most in the nation - after notching 19 last year. The 5' 10", 16o -pound Sherfy is a candidate for the National Collegiate Baseball Writers Association's Stopper of the Year Award for the second straight y ear and is Baseball America's 94th - ranked 2013 draft prospect. His 12.98 strikeouts per nine innings is the best mark in Ducks' history and his 40 saves rank him 2nd all-time.
Sherfy, out of Camarillo, Calif., has earned a long list of accolades. He's com ing off a season in which he was 1st Team All-Pac 12, a Louisville Slugger 2nd Team All-American and a semifinalist for the Golden Spikes Award and the Dick Howser Trophy honoring the top player in college baseball. Last year, Sherfy was an ABCA/Rawlings 1st Team All- American and earned 2nd Team honors from Baseball America, Perfect Game and the NCBWA. Louisville Slugger named him 3rd Team All-American and he was 1st Team All-Pac 12.
This spring, Sherfy went 2-0 with a 2.25 ERA, in addition to his 21 saves. He struck out 55 in 40 innings, allowing 33 hits and 14 walks. He limited limiting opponents to a .224 batting average and did not surrender a home run. In 2012, he went 5-3 with a 2.20 ERA. Over 61 1/3 innings, Sherfy struck out 93 while walking 34 and giving up 36 hits.
The 2013 Major League Baseball First Year Player Draft concludes on Saturday, June 8, with rounds 11-40. Selections begin at 11:00 am MDT.
The defending Pioneer League Champion Osprey begin their season on June 20 at home against the Helena Brewers.
Tickets can be purchased at the MSO Hub Box Office, located at 140 N. Higgins Ave, by phone at (406) 543-3300, or online at www.missoulaosprey.com.
Pioneer League Stories from June 7, 2013
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- Voyagers Release Promotional Schedule - Great Falls Voyagers
- D-Backs Add Blair and Williams with Final Two Picks Thursday - Missoula PaddleHeads
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