#3Peat: Draft Recap

H'ville, Tn (AP) - For many owners and organizations the Ammy Draft is biggest highlight of the year as clubs look for the next elite superstar like John Doby (2nd overall in 2010) or the guy everybody missed on like NL Rookie of the Year runner up Robbie McLaughlin (13th pick in round 7!).

This year the Hitmen loaded up their draft list with 75% pitchers and it worked out well as they nabbed 3 good ones with 1st 3 picks.

Mendez

Rd 1, Pick 35, 35th Overall - SP Alejandro Méndez

The front office had Alejandro 5th on their draft list and were extremely happy to land him.  Mendez is a 6'0, 185 RHP out of Queens, NY.  He went to Dublin Jerome HS where he went 5-0, 2.73 ERA, 1.09 WHIP, 85 K's to 12 BB's but had a stupid high BABIP of .360 and a dominate FIP of 1.84.
Mendez just turned 20 and projects to be a #3 SP in BSA.  He throws 4 great pitches (Fastball, curve, slider, change) that top out around 93 MPH.  He will pitch deep into games, but isn't going to lead the league in CG.  He has above average pickoff move and defense.

Flores

Supplemental Rd 1, Pick 14, 49th Overall - SP Carlos Flores

Flores was another SP that the Hville front office really, really liked.  At 6'2, 210lbs the 22-yr old LHP from Cal  is a flame thrower topping out a 100 mph.  He throws an astonishing 6 different pitches, all with above average stuff.
In his senior year at Cal he went 5-3 in 13 starts with a 3.96 ERA, 1.21 WHIP, 126 K's, 43 BB's and a 15.12 K/9 while his FIP was a run lower at 2.97.
Flores still has work to do to make it to the Bigs, but could be a nice mid to backend rotation guy.

Brown

Supplemental Rd 1, Pick 22, 57th Overall - SP Lyle Brown
By this point in the draft the pickins are slim, but Mr. Lyle Brown could, "could" be a BSA'er one day with the right bumps.  A 22-yr old LHP from the University of Florida, Brown is a high stuff guy who desperately needs to work on his control.  He throws 3 pitches topping out at 92 mph, but his devastating 12-6 curveball  was the best in the draft.  Just like Mendez and Flores, Brown has great stamina, high GB% and a great pickoff move.
Brown's college stats were so bad we aren't going to mention them, but if he can locate his fastball and changeup this kid could be a backend starter in the BSA.