Royals Mulling Options For No. 3 Pick

In MLB.com articles here and here, Dick Kaegel attempts to decipher the Royals' plans for their #3 pick in the June draft.

Comments from Royals' scouting director Deric Ladnier have been understandably cryptic.  Kaegel's interpretation is that the Royals will lean toward a college power hitter such as Pedro Alvarez (if available) or Justin Smoak.  Top pitchers as well as catchers Kyle Skipworth and Buster Posey can't be ruled out though.  First baseman Eric Hosmer has been suggested as another possibility; it's still wide open.

Comments

[bobhamelin]

i think KC is sitting pretty with the #3 pick..like the 2005 draft..no matter who the pick is, it will be a good one.

i'd like it to be Smoak..but would be happy with Crow or Alvarez.

[integr96]

what do the fans think would be the best pick for the royals?

[fgsfsfbbbrd]

personally, i think their best bet would be Posey; because who do they really have at catcher besides like buck? Smoak or Alvarez if still available wouldnt be a good pick. because for alvarez being 1b/3b wouldnt work because of Alex Gordon. now im not very familliar with the royals farm system, but there's bound to be another 1b/DH type besides Billy Butler. if i was trey hillman and his gm; i'd take posey or an arm

[Joe]

But the Royals don't have a 1b of the future. Not since Butler went to DH. They need a 1b just as much as they need a catcher. And the avalable 1b are much better than the avalable catchers. I say Tim Beckham goes number 1 to the Rays. The Pirates make a big splash and take Alvarez, and at 3. The Royals take Smoak to fill 1b need.

[usctrojans31]

fgsfsfbbbrd and Joe,

Stop pigeon holing teams based on need. The fact is, the team should select the best player on the board, regardless of position. If the player turns out to be the best, he will either help the team by performing or by being traded.

[onephine]

alert your strategy to mlb front offices immediately

[AriGoldisaG]

Hey here is my revised updated Mock Draft. But you still might disagree with some things:
1) Rays - SS Tim Beckham, I think they have made it a little obvious that they want him. But a take of Brian Matusz or Aaron Crow.
2) Pirates - 3B Pedro Alvarez, sorry O's fans, not a chance he's making it past 3. Though the Pirates could take Matusz or Crow.
3) Royals - RHP Aaron Crow, I'd love to see him fall to the A's or Giants at 5 and 12, but the Royals will likely go with their hometown guy to build a great future rotation.
4) Orioles - 1B Justin Smoak, They need a 1B of the future. With Alvarez already gone, Smoak is a nice pickup.
5) Giants - LHP Brian Matusz, The Giants could go a lot of different ways here. They could go for a great bat in Kyle Long or Brett Wallace or yet again go for the unneeded pitching depth. Sabean is an idiot and he goes with pitching.
6) Marlins - LHP/1B Kyle Long, I know it's a stretch but the Marlins love impact young talent i.e. Chris Volstead, but they could take Brett Wallace or someone like that.
7) Reds - RHP Tyson Ross, great player need impact players. But could go with Brett Wallace or Buster Posey.
8) Chi Sox - 1B Brett Wallace, in a system depleted by trades this high draft pick will help, they could go with Jacob Thompson here though. But if you could call anything in their systme a strength, it's their right handed pitching.
9) Nationals - C Buster Posey, they should go with college level talent to get some guys to the bigs soon. Posey could hit 5th behind Marrero soon.
10) Astros - 2B Jemile Weeks, could go with Gordan Beckham here but he might cost a bit much. Weeks is a safe bet and has blazing wheels.
11) Rangers - 3B Ethan Martin, with Hank the Spank about move on to a winning team, they need some depth there. And they'll have to breakout the checkbook for this guy.
12) A's - SS/2B Gordan Beckham, Beane gets hit guy, fits the bill of what is lacking in the System (Not Much) and he'll reach the bigs soon.
13) Cardinals - RHP Jacob Thompson, Need help everywhere, but other than Adam Wainwright and Jamie Garcia, their piching future looks dim.
14) Twins RHP - Gerrit Cole, they like their High Schoolers, Cole is a great young arm, has a high celling, should help soon.
15) Dodgers - SS Harold Martinez, Miffed about missing out on Cole, select a payer at a position they need, with Furcal leaving.
16) Brewers - C Kyle Skipworth, the only glaring hole in the farm system.
17) Jays - 1B Eric Hosmer, the Jays need the high class talent so they'll spend the money.
18) Mets - 1B Yonder Alonso, great player, high celling should help soon at that glaring hole called first base.
19) Cubs - RHP Luke Burnett, Pitching never hurts, and in a system like the Cubs it actually helps.
20) Mariners - OF Jordan Danks, Aging outfield will need a speed boost soon, Danks fits perfectley.
21) Tigers - OF Isaac Galloway, wanting a great player they got one, not to much of a celling but a great arm, with a raw bat.
22) Mets - Aaron Hicks, aging outfield will get a boost from Hicks. ETA 2011.
23) Padres - LHP Walker Kelly, Pitching good but need to develop some for the long run.
24) Philies - RHP Daniel Webb, Organization is very weak, but they should develop some high potential high school pitchers to join Hammels.
25) Rockies - RHP Hunter Cervenka, piching will always be a need for a team in the high altitude.
26) D-Backs - RHP Quintin Miller, More develoing pitchers is never a bad thing.
27) Twins - SS Brandon Crawford, High School infielders have let them down before, so they'll go with a college guy.
28) Yankees - 1B/OF/LHP Ike Taylor, great versibility, power hitter power pitcher. Should get a big bonus from the Yanks.
29) Indians - LHP Brett DeVall, young arm could be great, he's a high risk, high-reward kind of guy.
30) Red Sox - 3B Jermaine Curtis, has had a great year so far improved his 1st round chances, the Sox like his power stroke, could be great.
This I feel is pretty accurate. The Royals should take Crow he's a great player.

[onephine]

a list without tim melville, really?

[AriGoldisaG]

Sorry forgot! Hey could go at the following:
Cardinals 13
Cubs 19
Tigers 21
Padres 23
Philies 24
Yankees 28
Indians 29
Red Sox 30
Ya sorry just kind of forgot about him.