Unprecedented Draft Class
by Francis Ferry, NLN baseball beat writer
June 2, 2042: Asheville, North Carolina – One typically sees teams mix their draft classes up – outfield-infield-pitchers, throw a catcher in there, college or high school, until a more or less balance class is achieved – tilted one direction or the other, based on need. Take Aurora for this draft: 5-pitchers, 5-infielders, 7-outfielders and a catcher. A balance – whether you felt that the Borealis really needed outfielders or not.
No, what made this draft a remarkable one for Aurora is where these players came from: 14 of 18 draftees were high school kids – and only one of their first 15-picks was a college player: OF Joe Page out of Northwestern, a somewhat above average hitter with good power to the gaps, who is coming off the best of his four seasons with the Purple Haze, hitting .284 with a .787 OPS.
But let’s not dwell on the virtues of a 10th round pick who will begin his pro career at Mokule’ia. Let’s focus on those the club looks forward to seeing in the near future on The Front Range.
The Borealis drafted out of the 24th slot this year, and with having traded their 4th (to New Jersey in the Alex Cox deal) and 5th (to Duluth for Bartolo Mora) – while acquiring no picks in return, the 2042 draft feel into a very simple pattern for Aurora, and it was high schoolers – and an outfielder to boot, right from the start.
Out of Ulsan High Aurora selected a four-year starter, Seong-rae Ok, a 6’1”, 175 lbs speedster. ‘Butcher’ – so called by his teammates because he’s never not swinging at the ball, has some of the highest scores of any player drafted by Aurora. Scouts love how he swings and seems to never miss – and those balls find holes in the gaps. Don’t mistake Ok for a power hitter – that won’t be his style; most definitely not at Northern Lights where his incessant contact, speed and line-drive gap hitting style smells like a threat to all triple records. Ok is an ok outfielder and that’s a spot he’ll need to focus on over the next few seasons. He has committed to Jeju City, but is open to signing with Aurora, where he would begin at Montserrat – but the coaching staff see the hard-working, lefty-hitting outfielder with the AAA Sun Dogs at some point in 2045.
With the club’s 2nd round pick they turned their attentions the mound by selecting SP Allan Bugbie out of Dunedin, where he led his team to the post-season all four-years, losing his senior year in a 14-inning, game 6 thriller as Taitung High took the Pacific Conference title. Bugbie pitched in relief his first three seasons where he earned 27-saves – almost exclusively as a sophomore and junior, posting sub-1.00 ERA’s those two years and a 1.12 as a reliever. His senior year he was thrust into a starter’s role and he was 5-2 with a 2.58 ERA in 10 GS. Throughout his career he has kept the ball in the park while walking just 26 in 133 career IP, striking out 104. Impressively for the right-hander who has commited to Colorado, his post-season numbers are even better: 6-2, 6 saves and a 1.21 ERA over 59.1 IP. He has allowed just 1 post-season homer while averaging 8.2 K/9. Allan features a hard sinker and curve, while toying with a circle change. The coaching staff believe that he has the talent to feature a triple-digit fastball, and they intend to make that the first thing they do. Should Bugbie sign it is expected he will head into the rotation for the Mystique, where Aurora is hopeful that the regular work will assist his building some stamina.
Aurora turned to the national high school circuit for their third draft pick, selecting Walt Owens out of Union City – a versatile infielder whose only defensive short-coming is that he has just above average range if positioned in the middle of the diamond. Though drafted as a 2B, Aurora feel he is better suited at third. Owens was a two-year starter for a Hillers team that finished 2042 with the best record in the IHS, and despite Union City flaming out in the first round (a 4-1 series loss to West Lauderdale), but Owens did his part, hitting .455 with 3-2B and a homer. On the season he hit .283 with 8 HR and 7 RBI. As is not unusual for the Organization, Walt puts the ball in play with modest power. The flaw in his game is in the running game, where is can be far more aggressive on the bases than his running speed and stealing skills suggest he should be. Walt finished his career a .287 hitter with 19 HR and 64 RBI. He will begin his professional time in the Paradise League competing with 2041 draftees Callum Robertson and Roberto Vega for playing time.
Having traded their picks in the 4th and 5th rounds, Aurora did not have a pick until the 2nd day of the draft, and with GM Will Topham declaring you can never have enough catchers, the Borealis selected C Sean Shepherd out of Annapolis High. Shepard was a 3-year starter for the Jaguars, finishing his time at Annapolis with his best season, hitting .331 with 7 HR and 28 RBI – finishing 2nd on the team in average and homers. Defensively – where Aurora often focuses their attention on their catchers, Shepard threw out 64% of base-stealers in 2042 after a horrendous 2041 when coaches tell he struggled with his mechanics that never did get in sync. Aurora looks to his sophomore season where he nailed 56% of runners as an indication that his coaches probably had 2041 described correctly. While his arm strength is his defensive weakness, Aurora feel that with time he will be an outstanding overall receiver. He will begin 2042 at Monstserrat behind 2041 2nd round pick Oliver-John Newton – who may also see some time at 1B. Odd man out? Roberto Fuentes, the INT FA signing, who now finds himself trapped by those at rookie ball and those at Short A.
The left-handed swinging David Cook, and outfielder from Rocky Mountain High, was Aurora’s 5th pick ofthe draft – in the 7th round, and he is a 4-year starter who finally put things all together in his senior season – hitting .297 with 9 HR ad 28 RBI. A solid-swinging hitter who puts the ball in play with high frequency, Cook will have a lot of work if he’s hoping to make enough difference and move upwardly in the organization. With just average speed and defensive skills it will be with the bat that keeps Cook employed. Montserrat is short-handed in the outfield as the season nears, and as the 2nd OF drafted, Cook may see ample playing time with the Mystique – especially with the best the returning outfielders did last year was .202.
While my collegue Ray will look at the rest of the class, it’s worth noting one name that will no doubt spark a lot of intrigue – 20th round pick, Melvin Crocker out of Indiana. A native of Smethport, PA, fans on The Front Range will recognize that sur name.
