clock menu more-arrow no yes mobile

Filed under:

Jim Calllis On The 2007 MLB Draft


Jim Callis was asked in his Ask BA column how the 2007 first round might go if it were redrafted. In his draft, the top ten was reordered pretty significantly after the first pick.

1. David Price, lhp, Rays (first round, No. 1 overall)
2. Jason Heyward, of, Braves (first round, No. 14)
3. Mike Stanton, of, Marlins (second round, No. 76)
4. Matt Wieters, c, Orioles (first round, No. 5)
5. Mike Moustakas, 3b, Royals (first round, No. 2)
6. Madison Bumgarner, lhp, Giants (first round, No. 10)
7. Matt Moore, lhp, Rays (eighth round, No. 245)
8. Rick Porcello, rhp, Tigers (first round, No. 27)
9. Freddie Freeman, 1b, Braves (second round, No. 78)
10. Jordan Zimmermann, rhp, Nationals (second round, No. 67)

 Rick Porcello's drop from a year ago jumps out, as does the value in the Stanton, Moore, Freeman and Zimmerman picks.

The Rangers had two picks in the first round of this draft and three in the supplemental round:

17. Blake Beavan
24. Michael Main
35. Julio Borbon
44. Neil Ramirez
54. Tommy Hunter

In Callis' redraft of the top 30, he picked several Rangers picks, but in different order:

16. Tommy Hunter
18. Julio Borbon
25. Mitch Moreland

Callis' comments:

The Rangers stand out for having the most players on the list (three), as well as the lowest-drafted player, No. 530 overall pick Mitch Moreland. Eighteen teams are represented in the retroactive first round, including 11 with multiple players.

Moreland's inclusion is clearly the most interesting aspect here, as a 17th round pick hitting like he seems to have is a big story. Another interesting pattern is that the Rangers seem to have hit on their college choices, while their high school picks are a bit more up in the air. At the same time, much was made when John Hart  (as he won the front office power play with Grady Fuson) shifted the organization's emphasison college pitchers with pitchability to perceived higher upside, often high school arms, with the notion that those high school prospects have appeal as prospects. Those two first round picks were used in trades to benefit the team in a pennant race while Beavan and Main are still prospects.

Photographs by jamesbrandon, jdtornow, phlezk, flygraphix, mcdlttx, tomasland, and literalbarrage used in background montage under Creative Commons. Thank you.