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PERFECT GAME CROSSCHECKER'S TOP TEN LIST
WEEK 8: 2/25/08 - 3/2/08
 
DRAFT 1998: 10 YEARS LATER
Friday February 29, 2008
A total of 185 players from the 1998 draft have played in the big leagues. It includes the likes of current big leaguers Pat Burrell, Mark Mulder and Corey Patterson, who were the first three players drafted that year and are among 131 players who signed at the time they were drafted.

The total also includes the likes of third-rounder Barry Zito and ninth-rounder Mark Teixeira, who didn’t sign at the time but are among 45 who were re-drafted and eventually reached the big leagues. Nine players have also played in the big leagues who were signed as draft-and-follows from 1998, including lefthander Mark Buehrle, a 38th-round pick.

While the ’98 draft has produced its share of big league talent, there are a number of teams that would like a do-over as eight of 30 first-rounders that year never even reached the big leagues. With hindsight being 20-20, here’s how the first 10 picks of that draft may have unfolded 10 years later:
 
Order Player, Pos. Selected By (Round) Career Accomplishment
1. C.C. Sabathia, lhp Indians (1, 20th overall)) 100-63, 3.83; ’07 Cy Young
2. Matt Holliday, of Rockies (7) .319, 103 HR
3. *Barry Zito, lhp Rangers (3) .113-76, 3.67
4. *Mark Teixeira, 1b Red Sox (9) .286, 170 HR
5. #Mark Buehrle, lhp White Sox (38) 107-75, 3.80
6. J.D. Drew, of Cardinals (1, 5th overall) .284, 173 HR
7. Adam Dunn, of Reds (2) .248, 238 HR
8. Pat Burrell, 1b Phillies (1, 1st overall) .258, 218 HR
9. Aaron Rowand, of White Sox (1, 35th overall) .286, 93 HR
10. Brad Lidge, rhp Astros (1, 17th overall) .23-20, 3.30, 123 SV
*Did not sign
#Signed as draft-and-follow
-- Allan Simpson Top Ten List Archives
BECKHAM, MARTINEZ HEADLINE PREP SHORTSTOP CROP
Wednesday February 27, 2008
Unlike last year when high school shortstops Mike Moustakas (Royals), Kevin Ahrens (Blue Jays) and Peter Kozma (Cardinals) evolved into first-round talents during the course of their senior seasons, this year’s prep shortstop crop is pretty clearly defined as the 2008 high school season gets underway.

Tim Beckham and Harold Martinez, both of whom could be drafted in the top half of the first round in June, already have a leg up on the field. Beckham (Griffin, Ga., HS) is an outstanding athlete with solid middle-infields skills and power potential. The Cuban-born Martinez also has the total package to play shortstop in the big leagues, though he may grow out of the position as he fills in his lanky 6-foot-3 frame.

Interestingly, the top-rated shortstop in the college crop is also a player from Georgia named Beckham, but Tim Beckham and University of Georgia shortstop Gordon Beckham are not related.

Led by Griffin and Martinez, we’ve unveiled our ranking of the nation’s top 30 middle-infield prospects as part of our pre-season high school All-America checklist. PG Crosschecker’s David Rawnsley has broken down the top prospects at every position. The rankings and mini-player profiles are available to Insider-level subscribers only, but we’ve provided full access to the 30 players listed among middle infielders.

Here’s how we see the nation’s top 10 high school middle infielders that are eligible for this year’s draft, along with the projected round they’ll be drafted:
 
Ranking Player, School Projected Round
1. Tim Beckham, Griffin (Ga.) HS High 1st
2. Harold Martinez, Braddock HS, Miami Mid 1st
3. Rolando Gomez, Flanagan HS, Pembroke Pines, Fla. Supplemental 1st
4. Chris Amezquita, Servite HS, La Mirada, Calif. Supplemental 1st/2nd
5. Andy Burns, Rocky Mountain HS, Fort Collins, Colo. 2nd round
6. Derrik Gibson, Seaford (Del.) HS 2nd-3rd round
7. Niko Vasquez, Durango HS, Las Vegas, Nev. 3rd round
8. Casey Kelly, Sarasota (Fla.) HS 3rd-4th round
9. Tyler Pastornicky, Pendleton School, Bradenton, Fla. 4th-6th round
10. Cutter Dykstra, Westlake HS, Westlake Village, Calif. 4th-6th round
-- Allan Simpson Top Ten List Archives