By Michael N
Editor’s note – This article originally appeared on AstrosConnection.com on June 29, 2001.
With the highest draft position (#10) since selecting Phil Nevin of Cal-State Fullerton with the number one selection in the 1992 draft, Houston made somewhat of a surprise selection by choosing University of Tennessee SS/2B Chris Burke. The surprise is in no way a reflection of the skills Burke brings to the table, which are considerable. It is just somewhat of a reversal of trend for the Astro organization which has traditionally focused moreso on power pitching, including raw schoolboy hurlers, in the early rounds over hitters since Tim Purpura/David Lakey took over control of minor league development/scouting in 1997. In both 1998 and 2000 the first three Astro selections were pitchers. In 1999, HS pitcher Jimmy Barrett was the third round selection. This year, however, Houston did not take a pitcher until the 3rd round and not one HS pitcher was selected in the first 15 picks.
With Houston’s history in mind, I, like most draft followers, expected the Astros to take either Marshall (TX) HS right-hander Colt Griffin or Rice University right-hander Kenny Baugh with the 10th pick. In fact those two players sandwiched Houston’s secletion at 9th and 11th, respectively. Gerry Hunsicker has stated since the draft concluded that the Astros were very interested in young Mr. Griffin and quite likely would have selected him had he been available. Kansas City, though, grabbed the phenom with the laser arm and Houston made its selection the speedy leadoff Volunteer who is a finalist for college player of the year.
Looking at the list of selections since the completion of the draft, the Burke pick quite clearly makes sense. Astros management obviously was interested in addressing a problem area Hunsicker and Larry Dierker have hinted at over the last month – team speed. It’s not only a problem on the major league level, the minor league system is not exactly brimming with guys considered to be burners. Other than Michael Rosamond, Gavin Wright and Modesto De Aza (most of you are rightly saying “who?” to the latter two players), the farm does not have many legitimate base-stealing threats. Take a look at the base stealing prowess of the following 4 players who were selected among the top 9 picks this year by Houston:
#1 – Chris Burke (U of Tennessee) 49-55 stolen bases
#2 – Mike Rodriguez (U of Miami) 53-55 stolen bases
#5 – Charlton Jimerson (U of Miami) 31-34 stolen bases
#9 – Kerry Hodges (Texas Tech U) 38-43 stolen bases
Burke and Rodriguez have advanced plate discipline and hit for high average to go along with their speed. Jimerson is an incredibly gifted athlete whose baseball talents are only beginning to be tapped. Hodges was the fastest player in the Big XII conference last year, did not make a single error in the outfield all season despite the winds that swirl in Lubbock and, like Burke and Rodriguez, posted an OBP over the magic .400 mark. Of the players mentioned so far, Burke and Rodriguez are by far the most advanced and should move quickly in the Astros’ system. Jimerson, though, has the most “upside” (Mel Kiper has killed that word, but sadly it’s appropriate). Those who saw him play in the College World Series and remember that he only became a full-time player in the second half of his senior season can attest to that fact.
Houston’s third round pick, right-handed pitcher Kirk Saarloos of Cal State Fullerton, does not have a devastating arsenal of pitches but he sure knows how to get hitters out. He’s very aggressive and a polished product who works both sides of the plate effectively. He ultimately projects as a set-up man in the majors. Fourth round selection Phil Barzilla of Rice and sixth round selection Russell Rohlicek of Cal State Long Beach are both left-handers. Barzilla was a reliever at Rice who will likely start for most of his early minor league career in order to get more innings. A bit smallish in stature, like many Houston pitching selections, he hits the low-90s with his fastball and also will probably end up a relief pitcher should he make the majors. Rohlicek, though coming out of college, is more of a project than the other pitchers mentioned. He’s a tall, lanky lefty with a very smooth throwing motion but is still pretty raw. His fastball can reach the low-90s and he was dominant when he had an idea where the ball was going after it left his hand. Unfortunately that was not as often the case as one might hope. Rohlicek should benefit greatly from the patience minor league pitching coordinator Dewey Robinson and the rest of the Astros pitching instructors have exhibited with much success over the last several years.
A large part of the Astros’ draft success in the last 5 years or so has been the emergence of a player selected in the area of the 15th-25th rounds. Wade Miller and Tim Redding were 20th round picks and Roy Oswalt a 23rd rounder. It’s very premature to hazard a guess at which player selected in 2001 will be that surprise player but I have an early gut feeling. Maybe it’s sympathy, maybe it’s homerism but I’m gonna watch young Joey DeLeon (18th selection) of Nixon, Texas. DeLeon is only 5’11’ but he possesses a mid-90s fastball with great, late action. His off-speed pitches are in need of work, as he did not need to use them much in HS to blow hitters away, but his arm action is described as very loose and he is also described as a mature, hard worker. DeLeon also has a lot of incentive to succeed as the young man is now a single father. His girlfriend, and mother of his baby daughter, was killed in an automobile accident last month. Best of luck to this young man, both in baseball and, more importantly, life.
One other note on this year’s draft which differentiates it from the recent past. An overwhelming number of college players, especially seniors, were taken by the Astros this year. One benefit of this has been a quick signing process and not many of the top 20 selections opting out of a professional career at this time. In the last 3 drafts, at least 3 of the top 20 have not signed and there are several players taken in the top 20 since ’98 who have already retired or been given their release. This year only two of the top twenty have not signed to this point and one of those players (Mike Rodriguez) is expected to do so in the very near future.
My initial response to the selections made by Houston was one of puzzlement due to the lack of power pitching taken early. In retrospect, though, it seems like the Astros recognized that with the volume of young pitching already in the system from the Venezuelan and Dominican Summer Leagues to the big club in Houston, it was time to address some deficiencies in the organization. I am not an advocate of selecting players to fill positional “needs”. Typically that should be done at the major league level via trade or free agency. However, Houston did not pick players to fill positions. They did not take a catcher simply because Brad Ausmus cannot hit his mother’s weight. They took players with baseball skills who also happen to be able to run like scared deer and if even one of these kids pans out to go along with the mashers already in Houston, the offense could be well very well served by his presence in the lineup.
I’ll say it here and now – I’m really looking forward to seeing Tommy Whiteman at SS and Chris Burke at 2B in Round Rock next year. A pair of middle infielders who can pick it as well as hit the ball… whotta concept.