Written by Baqqs on 9:30 PM
via: Fox Sports Houston
True to their word, the particular Astros selected the player they believed has been the best available at their position in Monday’s draft, taking UConn center fielder George Springer with the 11th overall pick.
He’s the first outfielder selected by the Astros within the first round, not including extra picks, since 1988 when the membership took Willie Ansley. It might have been attractive to take a pitcher in what is believed to be a pitching-rich write. But Springer, a 21-year-old junior, is known as a terrific athlete with the possible ways to become a five-tool major leaguer. "He's a plus runner, he's a plus center fielder, he's got plus power and that we believe he's going to hit too," Astros scouting director Bobby Daylights said.
"When you get a combination of speed and power, that's a very attractive thing to have.Inches On Monday night Springer and also the Huskies were playing Clemson in the Clemson Localised championship game. Springer, who baseball bats and throws from the correct side, batted .350 with 12 home runs, 76 RBI and also 30 stolen bases inside 63 games this season as well as was named the Big Eastern Player of the Year. "One would anticipate that a player that has some school experience, as he does, in a very high level would shift at a somewhat more rapid pace" than the usual high school player, General Manager Ed Wade said.
"That said, we simply saw Jordan Lyles (a high college pick) make his major league debut at age Twenty. Guys will determine their very own pace." While signability having a college player is not as high risk as with a high school player, getting any first-rounder to signal and in the system quickly remains a challenge, Wade said. This past year, the 11th pick of the draft was high school drink pitcher Tyler Matzek, who got a $3.Being unfaithful million signing bonus from the Rockies.
"These days the way this stuff runs with players in the first round, you have to expect that it is long process," Sort said. "It's just the way that this particular operates anymore. The guys that get signed quickly and get away quickly are few and in between." Springer played secondary school baseball at Avon Old Farming in New Britain, Conn., and was a 48th-round pick of the Baby twins in 2008. Springer became a high-level prospect while playing for your Huskies, although some scouts have questioned their swing at times. Nevertheless, the majority of scouting reports predicted in which his power and speed would obtain him drafted in the middle of the first round or sooner.
And it's believed that Springer can remain in center field, a premium defensive placement. "There's work to be done for your pet to become a true center fielder,Inches Heck said. "He has the tools and athletic tools to get it done. It's now up to us inside player development to address the relevant skills part of it. If he happens to move to a corner... that was section of our discussion as well... there is a comfort that his offense plays at both 4 corners."
