San Juan (AP) – A year ago this time the San Juan Coqui, under new management, were busy rebuilding their moribund farm system. The Coqui spent Draft Day 1, 2037 drafting hitters, and they didn’t stop until well into Day 2, taking hitters with their first ten picks before finally calling a pitcher’s name in the eleventh round. At the time, new-to-the-organization GM Jay Wells was very direct about the state of the Coqui farm system, “We don’t have more than one or two hitters with a chance of contributing at the PEBA level.. Period. Our goal in this (2037) draft is to get as many hit tools as we can, with a preference for those that are close to the PEBA level.” It worked – none of the top 10 picks from last season are at the PEBA level yet, but one (Juan Borges) is knocking on the door, and seven others dot the list of the Coqui’s top 50 prospects, and the Coqui organization is ranked 6th best in PEBA by the prestigious Baseball News Network.

So with a replenished hitter side of the organization, what would Wells’s draft strategy be for his second draft at the helm? “Best player available,” said Wells recently, “and again, all else being equal, we would rather draft guys that are closer to being able to contribute at the PEBA level. We are in a rebuild to be sure, but not all rebuilds have to take a decade. We want to be at the top of the Trans Atlantic division sooner rather than later.

ROUND 1 – CL Soseki Yokoyama, University of Tokyo (#6 Overall)

Yokoyama’s selection at #6 overall was arguably the first “Wow!” moment of the draft. Relief pitchers are seldom taken so early. Why was Yokoyama an exception to that rule? “Swanny is ready to pitch in PEBA right now,” Wells said, after handing the 6’2”, 195 pound lefty sinker/slider specialist the de rigueur #1 Coqui jersey, “That doesn’t mean that he will be up here right away, but a September call-up isn’t out of the question, especially if we can get back into playoff contention. Look at our bullpen right now – it is almost single-handedly keeping us respectable.” Indeed, the Coqui bullpen has the IL’s best bullpen ERA.

ROUND 2 – C Pedro Flores, Rocky Mountain HS (#41 Overall)

The Coqui went against recent type by calling the name of a high school catcher with the first of two second round picks. Flores, a hit-first backstop, had a righty bat that scouts loved,, but a defensive game that has some observers wondering whether a DH role is his eventual landing spot. Flores has committed to Penn State, but is thought to be a relatively easy signing, despite that commitment.

ROUND 2 – LF Jed Berridge, Brophy Prep (#59 overall)

With a pick acquired in last season’s deadline deal with the Borealis, the Coqui took another high school hitter with a questionable defensive pedigree, prep LF Jed Berridge. Again, scouts say that the lefty bat will play, even if his defensive abilities are best described as “statuesque, but with a hose”. Berridge has committed to UAB and is said to be serious about playing college baseball. Will the Coqui ante up to buy him out of his college commitment?

ROUND 3 – SP Leo Brisbourne, Kisarazu Sogo HS (Japan) (#72 overall)

It only took Wells four picks and three rounds to take the first starting pitcher this season, after a ten round pitching drought at the start of last season’s draft. Brisbourne, a 17 year old Englander playing high school baseball in Japan, won’t turn 18 years old until later this season. He has three plus pitches and his fastball sits at 94-94. The lanky (6’6”, 195 pounds) right hander has a commitment to Tulane, but is thought to be an easy sign.

ROUND 4 – C Bengt Aarnouste, Canberra HS (Australia) (#104 overall)

Another round, another high school catcher, and another high schooler playing baseball half a world away from his homeland. Aarnoutse, a Dutch catcher playing high school baseball in Australia, has committed to playing college baseball on a third continent, for Southern Miss. A lefty hitter with well-respected defensive skills, Aarnouste profiles to be a gap-to-gap hitter with great pitch framing and blocking skills, but an adequate arm at best. 

ROUND 5 – C Joseph Cooper, Bishop Moore HS (Tampa, FL) (#136 overall)

Cooper, a Cal commit, is thought to be a hard sign for the Coqui. A breakout senior season that saw Cooper lead his Hornets to the playoffs gives him an opportunity for a decent payday. Cooper hit 287/378/437 and walked more than he struck out. He profiles to be an average defensive catcher with a contact-first bat.