A few reflections on the 2008 Major League Baseball Draft, now that it's all over:
- Believe what you read/hear: Some publications had American Heritage's Eric Hosmer going near the top 15, but mostly in the seven-to-11 range. ESPN's Keith Law, however, heard Hosmer would be the third pick, calling it a near lock. Plus, Hosmer had a lengthy Tuesday meeting with the Royals, who visited him here in South Florida (pushing back my interview time with him, and understandably so). That all seemed to paint a pretty clear picture of Hosmer as the No. 3 pick.
- Don't believe what you read/hear: Catcher Adrian Nieto, Hosmer's teammate, was supposed to be a sandwich pick. Flanagan shortstop Rolando Gomez was supposed to go sometime in the first day. Heck, Braddock shortstop Harold Martinez was touted as a first-round pick before the season started. All fell, for various reasons (college commitments/bonus demands likely being among them). And then there was Greg Conver, a projectable pitcher from American Heritage who went undrafted despite getting some first-day talk. (Something tells me he won't suffer the same fate after three years at North Carolina State.) But the point is: With so many high schools, junior colleges and universities out there, it's easy to overstate a player's draft value -- or, in turn, overlook that same player.
- Heritage's great year continues: Sure, only Hosmer went as high as was hoped. But the 3A state-champion Patriots still had four players picked -- Hosmer, Nieto, right-hander JuanCarlos Sulbaran (30th round) and outfielder Joey Housey (50th round). That's the same amount as all of Miami-Dade County combined.
- Check back in three: Most of these high schoolers have college commitments, including Hosmer (Arizona State), Nieto (South Florida), Gomez (UM), Martinez (UM), Sulbaran (UF), Conver (NC State), Housey (Oregon) and many more. A couple might sign, but the rest could be hearing their names -- again -- in early June 2011.
--Patrick Dorsey (e-mail)
