Coqui Turn to Position Players in Day Two
With its 15 picks on the second day of the 2027 draft,
San Juan opted for 13 position players and just two pitchers.
FOURTH ROUND
8. OF
Alberto Moran
Scout projections are all over the map for the 23-year old from power to whether he has a good eye or not but Moran is a smart player who should improve. While he was OSA's 14th ranked position player in the USCBA at the time of the draft, his offensive numbers in college were merely average. A gun of an arm means he will likely settle in right field.
18. OF
Leland Powell
Projections for Powell were not high coming into 2027 but he improved considerably his junior year at
Stanford, hitting .297 with a .335 OBP. He also has good speed and range in the outfield. As a 12-year old, Powell reportedly spent his 2017 winter vacation in Puerto Rico with a relative who was affiliated with the champion
Aguadilla Roadrunners (SJWL-PR WL).
FIFTH ROUND
8. IF-OF
Nick Kennedy
"The Fly" can play seven positions but none of them at a major league level. He has good speed (41 of 50 SBs in high school and college) but thus far has struggled with the bat. He was only a .240s hitter in both high school and college but showed a good eye at the plate at both levels.
18. SS
Tom Molina
A good glove man with questionable hitting skills, he did represent
Stanford at the 2027 USCBA all-star game and went 3-for-5 with two doubles.
SIXTH ROUND
8. SS
Adam Alvarez
Another player who broke out his senior year, Alvarez went .282, .384 at
Penn State (USCBA) after previously struggling at the plate. Good speed but his lack of big league range may push him to either third base or outfield at the next level.
18. SS
Norogumi Saito
Although he flashed a good bat his first two years of college, Saito didn't start until his junior year this season at
Arizona (USCBA). He showed he could keep it up as a regular hitting .313, .351, .464. He has blazing speed and good clubhouse leadership. He is a sure fielder with a great arm but his range will be poor even for third base, which likely hindered his scouting rating.
SEVENTH ROUND
8. C
Brad Rice
Unimpressed with most of the catchers in the draft, the Coqui reached for a couple unknowns the second day, the first being Rice. Although scouts see him as above average defensively, he was only used as a DH at
West Virginia (USCBA) and only sparingly, hitting .320, .393 in just 29 plate appearences.
EIGHTH ROUND
8. 3B
Max Lindley
A team leader with a strong work ethic got Lindley selected. He did hold his own in an injury plagued career at
Waseda (ICOL), going .267, .329. In high school, he was well above average at .280, .366 including an all-star season as a senior hitting .318.
NINTH ROUND
8. C
Dave Washington
Washington had a banner year as a pinch hitter at
Washington State (.455, .571, .682) but scouts believe he can be an above average defensive catcher. He saw little action behind the plate in college, however, with
Will Carroll (who went in the second round) holding down the spot for the Palouse Knights.
TENTH ROUND
8. OF
Wayne Wallace
The first high schooler taken by San Juan in the draft, Wallace (.189 career) is mostly a projection at this point. He did slug 17 home runs in 513 high school at bats though including a couple grand slams his senior year.
ELEVENTH ROUND
8. IF
Will Weeks
The second high schooler taken by San Juan, Weeks has a good eye at the plate and should be serviceable glove man at the next level. Hit hitting is a work in progress (.193 high school career). Like Wallace he will likely be sitting for at least a season in SA-ball as he learns from older players.
TWELTH ROUND
8. IF
Ramon Ruiz
Over a five-year college career, Ruiz hit just .245, .322 but plays hard and is a coach's dream at practice. Defensively he could fill in throughout the infield if needed.
THIRTEENTH ROUND
8. RHP
Manuel Romero
Romero will likely earn a shot despite the crowded field of draftees coming in. While OSA rates him higher at 2.5 stars, he didn't show it on the mound at
Keio University (ICOL) posting a 4.01 e.r.a. over 33 starts. But if he continues to keep his walks and opponent slugging percentage down he should be serviceable in the minor leagues.
FOURTEENTH ROUND
8. RHP
Curtis Martin
Martin is another OSA 2.5 star prospect but was hit a lot harder at
East Carolina (USCBA) with a 6.02 e.r.a. helped by 4.2 BB/9 and 1.2 HR/9. Mostly picked on a whim to see if he improves.
FIFTEENTH Round
8. 2B
Mitchell Redelius
Redelius has big league range in the infield, although more likely to make it as a second baseman than a utility guy. He was a light hitter at
Hosei University (ICOL) at .258, .318 but stole 30 bases in 31 attempts.