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Draft Updates: M's, Padres, Pirates, O's

By Ben Nicholson-Smith [June 1, 2009 at 2:09pm CST]

Here are some updates to prepare you for the top five picks in the 2009 draft, which takes place a week from tomorrow.

The Mariners pick second and they have four of the first 51 picks. That's why the Mariners' scouting director told MLB.com's Jim Street that this is the most important draft in franchise history. That's a bold statement considering the Mariners drafted both Ken Griffey Jr. and Alex Rodriguez. Dustin Ackley, who the Mariners may well choose, told David Laurila of Baseball Prospectus that he doesn't care who drafts him.
The Padres are tight-lipped about what they plan to do with their third overall pick, as MLB.com's Corey Brock reports.
Pirates GM Neal Huntington identified Stephen Strasburg as the best available pitcher and Ackley as the best available hitter in Jenifer Langosch's MLB.com article. The Pirates, who pick fourth, say there's a group of quality arms available after those two players.
Baltimore's director of scouting says the O's will take the best available player in next week's draft. MLB.com's Spencer Fordin says they'll have the chance to take an elite arm with their fifth overall pick.
Lane Meyer of NoMaas.org heard that the Yankees are impressed by the depth of the left-handed pitching class in this year's draft.

Comments

Is it really fair to credit the mariners with drafting Griffey when it comes to the importance of deciding who they pick? I am pretty sure there were 27 other teams who would have taken him first if they had the opportunity...

Posted by: coltholt | June 01, 2009 at 02:51 PM

Baltimore has a really interesting choice to make I think. They have a chance to grab Aaron Crow, Alex White, Kyle Gibson, Tanner Scheppers, Jacob Turner or Zach Wheeler. In any case, they're going to come away with another really solid pitching prospect. They have a chance to have a really great rotation in 2013 or so, which should be a relief after years of Steve Traschel, Daniel Cabrera, Adam Eaton and other assorted dreck they've thrown out there over the years.

Posted by: RoyalsRetro | June 01, 2009 at 02:53 PM

Still lobbying for Aaron Crow at #4.

Posted by: LongSufferingBucsFan | June 01, 2009 at 02:54 PM

I'm with you BucsFan. We desperately need an advanced arm because beyong Lincoln, I see little hope in our farm system currently.

Posted by: bucs_lose_again | June 01, 2009 at 05:26 PM

Dustin Ackley is a future all-star

Posted by: sodomojo95 | June 02, 2009 at 07:41 PM

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Draft Updates: M's, Padres, Pirates, O's

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