by Francis Ferry, NLN beat writer

June 4, 2040: Asheville, North Carolina – With the Borealis sitting at quite possibly their worst ever June 4^th standing – 4-games under .500, in 5^th place, and already 14-games behind Tempe out of 1^st place (also a June 4^th record), it was more than easy enough to turn ones attentions to the 2040 draft – a time when hopes always are high, and dread is always around the corner.

The 2040 draft is one with some interesting notes. First off, Aurora did not trade their number 1 pick, nor did they sign a free-agent that would have cost them said pick (a practice that has been abolished for 2041 and beyond – to a mixed review from the player’s union). With Machester losing their pick (13^th overall) by signing former-Reno 1B Jon Hill, Aurora’s first selection moved up a spot to 18^th. Aurora also was busy in the second round – not trading their pick and instead trading for four other selections – Arlington’s (1^st in the round, for taking on Vicente Gallardo) Yuma’s (6^th in the round, as part of the JCG deal), and Duluth’s and Okinawa’s – as well as Okinawa’s 3^rd, in exchange for some cash and salary relief (including Ramon Salinas, since sent to Arlington). In told, Aurora sat with their 1^st, five 2^nd’s and two 3^rd’s – and a big chance at increasing the talent depth at Montserrat and Mokule’ia – and, in theory, improve the depth at SLRC, though at 34-12, the Rapidos Blancos are doing pretty good as it is.

Aurora scout Jose Suarez had little positive to say about the draft, “There may be a power bat or two” that the team might snag – but they came with caveats (and Aurora did snag a pair of power bats), and “There is some pretty decent depth at catcher” – to which Aurora grabbed a pair of high school catchers in hopes that one will make do. “Pitching is the weak point of this draft,” he said, “and we certainly will not be bringing home the stopper this organization needs on the horizon.” So with 8-picks in the first three rounds, it was clear this year was one in which the Borealis better be doing their homework – and that onous was on the GM.

So with that all said, with the 18^th pick Aurora took an outfielder from Delft University – Won-ho Pak, a 6’, 180 lb left-handed hitter. The 21-year old Korean has good power to all fields, though his biggest challenge will be swinging at good pitches and putting the ball in play. In that manner, he’s not your prototypical Aurora player. Then again, the team is drafting power – so that’s a shift that may require a new perspective on the strikeout. Delft was a playoff team all three years he played there and this season they were the ICOL Champs – where Pak hit .400 with 2 HR and 5 RBI to win the Championship series MVP. He was also the semi-final MVP, hitting .524 against Sarnia. Last year he was the ICOL Atlantic League Outstanding Hitter – hitting .313 with 10 HR and 24 RBI, for a 3.0 WAR. Pak has decent speed and has an excellent glove and above average arm – and as his record suggests, he’s a strong leader in the dugout. Despite a fall-off in season production in 2040, he will instantly step into the starting line-up for the Oceanic.

After the first round and Supplemental round went by with ‘no impact to our draft list’ occurring – so said GM Will Topham, the Borealis used the 1^st pick in the second round Aurora selected a similar looking player – decent speed, decent defense, left-handed power-hitter whose 2039 season was much better than his 2040. At 38^th overall, Aurora selected ‘Ratface’ – OF Jose Soto. The slight, yet powerful 5’10” native of Bowling Green, Kentucky puts Aurora in a sticky position – much like Pak – which outfielder will they get? For ‘Ratface’ is it the .311, 15 HR, 30 RBI hitter from 2039 or the .244, 5 HR, 16 RBI from 2040. Like Pak – there’s a lot to like with the potential. Where they differ is their attitude on the diamond. While Pak’s coaches commented frequently about how he didn’t let his drop in performance effect his clubhouse demeanor, the staff at the University of Arizona described Soto in just the opposite manner. Either way, Soto will join Pak in the starting line-up at Mokule’ia, manning the corners in the outfield.

After focusing on the outfield in a move to bring power to the Organization – adding a pair of outfielders to the stable that includes 2038 2^nd round pick Yataro Sugano (who has hit 24 HR in his first two seasons at Montserrat and Mokule’ia), Aurora returned their attention to an old theme: pitching. With the second pick (44^th overall) they had in the 2^nd round (Yuma’s pick) they selected John Curwen, a closer-reliever from the Instituto Politencio Nacional – in Mexico City. An odd location to find an Englishmen, but over 4-seasons Curwen had 38-saves and a 2.04 ERA, with 96 K in 78 IP. John began his career with the Mules as a starter – with 10 GS in his freshmen year, posting a 1.94 ERA, with 30 K and 9 BB in 51 IP. All told, his numbers reflect a very solid career, and if he could add a pitch to an already powerful fastball (currently topping out at 97 mph) and gain some strength on the mound, he may still find himself as a starter. The 6’4” right-hander from Hinckley, checks in at 205 and brings his overpowering fastball from a ¾ slot and induces a lot of groundballs – over 78 G and 150 IP, Curwen allowed just 6 HR. John will be 22 come December, and thus will begin his career at Mokule’ia, but coaches expect to see him move upward quickly as they feel he’s a pretty polished product. He will work third set-up behind 2037 3^rd round pick Lyndon Marshland along with last years first pick (3^rd rounder) Ron Lucas and Sandy Calder – a former 2^nd round pick in 2036, whom Aurora got from Madison in a trade for Ramon Gonzales. The four, along with 5^th round pick Robbie Rice (21-year old from Purdue), look like they will create a formidable group that may move upward together as they inch near the Big Leagues.

Aurora would use their own pick in the 2^nd round, 56^th overall) to select a catcher from Dakota HS – Daniel Hanson – the team’s first high school selection and the 3^rd catcher selected overall. Each had their points – Juan Hernandez, drafted by Tempe was strongest defensive catcher, Nobuhisa Masuda, drafted by Crystal Lake, may have been the smartest ad hardest worker, but in Hanson, Aurora got a catcher that his high school pitchers loved to throw to, and whose coaches said was ahead of most young backstops when it comes to anticipating the pitch calls. At 6’, 180 he’s big enough to manage the position and nimble enough to be effective. His offensive numbers were not spectacular – to put it mildly, but Aurora’s scouts and minor league coaches feel like he’s mostly a polished hitter who needs to work on making consistent contact more than anything else. That said, he was a 2038 All-Star as a sophomore, and won the Platinum Stick as the best hitting catcher in the ISF – hitting .279 with 10-1B and 5 HR, with 25 RBI. It’s also noteworthy that he has walked more in his career than struck out. He also threw out 71% of base stealers this year and has commited just 1-error in the past three years. He has a commitment to Notre Dame, though early reports suggest he’s not asking much to ditch the Evangilists. Should he sign, he will begin his career in the Paradise League.

With the 57^th overall pick – which originally belonged to Duluth, Aurora turned their attention to the infield – showing that this draft was going to be a balanced one. Eventually they kinda got there. Out of Aix-Marseille Universite the Borealis selected soon-to-be 22-year old 2B Robert Hubbard from Winnipeg. One thing to know about Hubbard is he plays 2B, 3B and across the outfield in an above average manner – no matter where he is. He also has tremendous speed – though he’s a tad raw on the base running skills – or so says those in the know. Robert has some pop, but struggles to make some consistent contact – and though he hit 22 HR in 159 G, he struck out 91 times. His career .261 average includes a Platinum Stick in 2038 when he hit .293 wih 9 HR and 32 RBI. Hubbard has a modest signing bonus ask and is expected to report to Mokule’ia by the end of the week, where he’ll get some stiff competition for playing time – including from fellow Class of 2040 members Jason Mindiola, Steve Jordan and Chris Challinor.

The last of five 2^nd round picks – this one originally belonging to Okinawa, went towards SP Porter ‘Matador’ Oliver, an 18-year old right-hander from Wilson Classical. To begin with, upon hearing he had been drafted by Aurora his response was, “I’m headed to the Palouse – you better offer up some serious change.” This from a hard-throwing – a fastball topping out at 98, pitcher with a career 2.04 ERA and 156 K in 225 IP and just 42 BB in 41 GS. For now, he has a tendency to leave pitches up – especially his curve and splitter – both of which coaches feel can be near elite, but what has led to his 13 career HRA. He’s shown great potential and grades out as a future starter in the Bigs – but his bonus ask is rumored to be a third of what the team is expecting to pay. Should he sign he will join Miguel Longoria, who Aurora got from Palm Springs in the Juan Rodriguez trade, along with the returning arms of Elijah Roberts, Jon Mason and Jack McRae in the Mystique’s rotation.

With the massive 2^nd round cluster drafted, Aurora had two-3^rd round picks and a 5^th – their 4^th traded to Okinawa, and with their own selection in the third they took a left-handed reliever who in many ways reminiscent to Curwen – with a bit of luck, could be an effective starter. Chris Valentin, from James River HS appeared in 62-games in his high school career, with 10 wins and just 2 loses, 27 saves and a 0.79 ERA – 59 K, 19 BB and just 3 HRA. Statistically there isn’t a thing not to like about Valentin; statistics don’t measure the thing that there is to dislike – he’s not the best of teammates – so we’ve been told. Last season he finished 3^rd in the top reliever voting. His career WHIP is 0.83 and BABIP is .206. Also nice to like is the modest bonus request that is rumored on the table, with a commitment to Villanova in his pocket. He would instantly be the best reliever at Montserrat, if he signed, and instantly installed as their closer.

With the Okinawa pick, Aurora moved back to the infield and took the last of four college players the team would draft – Julian Shaw, a switch-hitting 1B from Michigan. As has been the case for many draftees this year, Shaw had an outstanding 2038 campaign – winning the USCBA title with the Red Dawn and earning series MVP accolaides, hitting .317. with 9 HR and 15 RBI during the post-season run. He was also the Platinum Stick winner at 1B with a .367 average, 16 HR and 40 RBI. All his coaches praised his hard work, though 2038 looks like an outlier. Defensively, when you look at Julian Shaw, the 6’3”, 205 lb will remind follks of Josh Whiskin – now if he can only deliever the longball like Whiskin has (188 since his 2035 drafting). Shaw’s ask isn’t expected to be much – and he’s likely to be installed as a DH for the bulk of his professional career.

Having traded their 4^th round pick to Okinawa – in the deal that brought Aurora two 2nds and a 3^rd, it wasn’t until the 19^th pick in the 5^th that Aurora selected again – and that would be Robbie Rice, the reliever from Purdue. Robbie has excellent fastball and curveballs that he controls pretty well – but could stand to have a bit more action on them. His fastball tops out at 96. The most notable thing about Rice is that n 2039 he made 15 appearances and pitched 19-innings and didn’t allow a run – a 0.00 ERA. This year – in keeping with the theme, his ERA ballooned to 2.52, but over 25 IP he allowed just a single homer and struck out 19 with only 3 BB. Over 60 IP in his career he has a 1.33 ERA, a 0.81 WHIP and a .181 BABIP – allowing only 3 HR over four seasons. The gangly 6’6”, 205 lb pitcher has a lot to unpack as he throws, and thus he seems to tire quickly, so a set-up spot, or as a specialist may be his calling. We’ve mentioned the expected plans, as of now, upstream. Where the future may bring Robbie is to be determined.

With that, the first day of the draft was fiished and Aurora seemed to pan the river of talent for some nuggest that might turn to gold. As always, the draft is a tricky mistress, and you can find out more in Ray’s blog tomorrow.