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| Monday, December 11 | |||||
| Rule 5 draft analysis Special to ESPN.com | |||||
| REPORT FILED: DECEMBER 11
With all the hoopla over A-Rod signing, the Rule 5 draft has pretty much slipped through the media cracks. Just 10 players were selected in the major-league portion of the draft this year. Let's take a look at them.
1. Scott Chiasson, RHP, selected by Cubs Chiasson was in the Oakland system, where he pitched quite well for Visalia in the California League, going 11-4, 3.06, with a 150/57 K/BB ratio in 156 innings. He was originally with the Royals, but was traded to the Athletics in 1999 for Jay Witasick. He works with a 90-mph fastball and a good breaking pitch, but hasn't faced Double-A competition yet. His chance of sticking with the Cubs, probably in a relief role, is fair. 2. Brandon Knight, RHP, selected by Twins Knight was with the Yankees, and was successful for Triple-A Columbus last year, going 10-11, 4.44, with a 138/61 K/BB ratio. He started his career with the Rangers, but was traded to New York for Chad Curtis. Knight has a live arm, with a 90- to 93-mph fastball, and a big-breaking curve. His biggest problem in the past has been confidence. The Twins will give him a good chance to earn a long relief/spot starter job. 3. Ted Rose, RHP, selected by Expos Rose has a multi-year track record of solid pitching in the Reds farm system, but he doesn't throw hard, so he's received little respect from scouts. He has a career K/BB ratio of 403/146, which is good no matter how hard you throw or don't throw. Montreal will probably use him as a reliever, and his chance to stick is pretty good. 4. Jay Gibbons, 1B, selected by Orioles Good pick. Gibbons is an excellent hitter, but was stuck behind Carlos Delgado in Toronto. He hit .321 with a .505 slugging percentage in Double-A last year, and has shown excellent strike zone judgment and contact ability at each level. If the Orioles let him have a first base/DH job, they won't be sorry. 5. Endy Chavez, OF, selected by Royals An outfielder in the Mets system, Chavez stole 38 bases in the Florida State League, will take a walk, and hit .298 last year. However, he hasn't proven himself against Double-A pitching, and he hit just one home run all year. Lack of power may doom him on the major-league level, and I doubt he will be more than a pinch-runner in any event. 6. Jermaine Clark, 2B, selected by Tigers Scouts don't like Jermaine Clark very much, but he always plays well. He did it again for New Haven in the Mariners system last year, hitting .293 with 87 walks and 38 steals. His defense is steady rather than spectacular. I think he can play, but it remains to be seen how the Tigers will use him. 7. Donaldo Mendez, SS, selected by Padres A shortstop from the Houston system, Mendez hit .270 with 39 steals in the Midwest League. He doesn't have much power, and is quite raw at this point. His chance of successfully jumping from low A-ball to the majors is remote, but I suppose the Padres could keep him around for a year as a backup infielder. 8. Rendy Espina, LHP, selected by Angels A Venezuelan lefty from the Blue Jays system, Espina was effective as a bullpen lefty in Double-A last year, posting a 2.11 ERA for Tennessee. He has good stuff, but I'm concerned about his poor 41/35 K/BB ratio. That doesn't auger well for his chance to help in the majors at this stage of his career. 9. Jose Nunez, LHP, selected by Dodgers From the Mets system, Nunez is a Dominican southpaw with a live arm, but limited experience. He did very well for Capital City in the Sally League last year, fanning 112 in 95 innings, with just 23 walks. He throws strikes, but his lack of seasoning may be a handicap when it comes to earning a job this spring. 10. Julio Santana, RHP, selected by Mets Yes, that Julio Santana. The former Rangers prospect and Devil Rays pitcher signed a minor-league deal with the Giants, but wasn't on the 40-man roster, so the Mets picked him up. He still throws quite hard, but there isn't any evidence that he has learned what to do with his power arm. It is interesting that the Mets left a spot open on their roster so they could pick this guy. That cost them Nunez or Chavez, picked by other teams off Mets minor-league rosters. John Sickels is working on the STATS 2001 Minor League Scouting Notebook. You can email your questions to him at JASickels@AOL.com. | ALSO SEE Down on the Farm archive | ||||