Sox 2007 Draft

[Rdsxmbnt]

And 1B David Mailman, a 7th round pick has been signed for $550,000.

And all reports indicate Middlebrooks will sign, stay tuned.

[scaffolds]

According to unofficial reports Will Middlebrook and David Mailman have signed with the Red Sox. Middlebrook is a 6-2 215 SS/3b/RHP from Texas H.S. and the Sox fifth round pick, Mailman is a 6-2 180 L/L from North Carolina and the Sox's seventh round pick.

[Rdsxmbnt]

Middlebrooks has indeed signed, no word on amount yet

[AZBlue]

The Red Sox have released that they have signed their 6th round pick first baseman Anthony Rizzo. Rizzo who just turned 18 yrs a week ago is 6-3 220 L/L is a power hitting first baseman. After having watched Lars Anderson play in different tournaments last year and having follow Rizzo for the last three years honestly can say that Rizzo is as good as a hitter coming out of H.S. as Anderson was and is a better fielder, with better mobility. Rizzo should be among the top 30 Red Sox prospects this off season. I believe that Rizzo's bonus was for$ 325 000.

If he is as good a prospect as Lars Anderson, he is a heck of a good player. Thanks for this evaluation, Scaf.

[Rdsxmbnt]

Middlebrooks/Britton/Bailey have all reportedly signed now also

[riverside sluggers]

Cant wait to see these kids in action

[One Red Seat]

Mailman needs to pan out just for the fun we can have with his name.

[scaffolds]

AZBlue you welcome, In my opinion the difference between Anderson and Rizzo is that Anderson is more mature and a year older at the same stage, that's why he went directly to Greenville, on the other hand Rizzo more than likely will start in the GCL in 2008. In addition Anderson has been hyped by BA and Jim Callis, don't get me wrong I am not saying that Anderson isn't a very good prospect, because he is, but that Rizzo is too.

[scaffolds]

The Red Sox signed Austin Bailey, Jaren Mattews and John "Brake" Britton. Bailey is a RHP and the Sox 16th round pick from Alabama 6-0 190 a physically mature former third baseman who hasn't been pitching for very long, but has a fastball at 92-93 that he can maintain deep into games. Perhaps he is the top pitching prospect signed out of this draft.

Mattews is a 6-1 180 L/L 1B/OF out of New Jersey and the Sox 17th round draft pick, like with Mailman he projects as an outfielder, but its a better athlete, however his bat isn't as polish as Mailman.

Britton is a 6-2 200 LHP out of Texas and the Sox 23th round draft pick. Britton's fastball is about 88-90, but was inconsistent in 2007 and even dipped into the mid 80's, his best pitch is a mid 70's C/B.

[scaffolds]

In general the Red Sox did a good job (not great) in signing the draft picks, however its dissapointing to only been able to sign 1 (Middlebrook) out of the top 3 prospects that they drafted. Nick Tepesch was without a doubt the top pitcher that the Sox drafted and Yosmany Grandal may had been the top catching prospect on the draft. I understand that both players had a very high price tag on them, but when the Sox spend $ 700,000 to sing Brake Britton (which by the way i am lukewarm on him) they could had spend a bit more and had signed Tespech or Grandal. Like i said before they did a good job in signing the draft picks and when you add International signs like Michael Almanzar and Che-Hsuang lin they had done a very good job of adding talent to the system this Summer.

[scaffolds]

A few more notes about the Sox signing of 2007 draft picks. Scouts who have scouted David Mailman compare him to Sox prospect Josh Reddick, both of them with a very smooth lefthanded swing and power projected, in Reddick's case he is showing his power in the South Atlantic league.

According to reports both Michael Almanzar and Will Middlebrook will come to Spring training in 2008 and to Extended Spring training as a short stop, a decision of whom will move to Tthird base will be done sometimes in Extended. In Ryan Dent's case he could open Spring training as a short stop, but a decision to second base should be soon after.

The Sox decision in signing hitters from the 2007 draft its based that the 2008 draft will be heavy pitching oriented and has a shortage of hitters (at least for now)

There was some talk before last night dead line about the Sox signing their 15th round pick Scott Green and according to some reports he was in Boston taking a physical on Tuesday. Green who is about 6-7 240 and has a fast ball in the range 92-93 and had a good season in the Cape over priced himself and there was talk that he wantedat least a million to sign. I believe that the Sox made the right decision of letting him to return to kentucky university where he has been inconsistent and there's health questions about him.

The list of Red Sox prospect won't come out for about a month, but this a preview of how the 2007 drafted and signed prospects may look like.

Will Middlebrook SS/3B ( top 12 prospect)
Nick Hagadone LHP (top 20 prospect)
Anthony Rizzo 1B (top 30 prospect)
Ryan Dent 2B (top 35 prospect)
David Mailman OF (top 45 prospect)
Austin Bailey RHP (top 50- 60 prospect)
Jaren Mattews OF (top 60 prospect)
Brake Britton LHP (top 75 prospect)

[AZBlue]

Scaf, thanks very much for this inside information which is not available anywhere else. You are a great asset for this board.

[scaffolds]

AZBlue, you welcome, my pleasure.

[KeepTheFaith1229]

Originally Posted by One Red Seat

Mailman needs to pan out just for the fun we can have with his name.

"...and the Mailman delivers again!"

[Rdsxmbnt]

Scaff I know those were just rough projections but you can't be serious with some of those rankings, Britton just making the top 75??