All Things Valley League

Draft Update

Now that the dust has settled a bit, here is the updated list of drafted players who have played in the Valley League. The League's list is here- remember that the two lists will be different, as the League counts players who have signed contracts to play, whereas I only count them if they actually appeared in a game.

One of the hardest things to track is free agent signings- if anyone knows of players who have signed after the draft, please let me know!

Round, Overall Pick, Player (Bold players have signed)

1, 7, Yonder Alonso, Miami (Luray 06), Cincinnati Reds

1, 27, Carlos Gutierrez, Miami (Luray 07), Minnesota Twins

3, 101, Blake Tekotte, Miami (Woodstock 06), San Diego Padres

4, 135, Jason Kipnis, Arizona State (Covington 06-07), San Diego Padres

5, 148, Pete Andrelczyk, Coastal Carolina (Waynesboro 07), Florida Marlins

5, 168, Collin Cowgill, Kentucky (Covington 05), Arizona Diamondbacks

8, 254, Eric Campbell, Boston College (Luray 06), New York Mets

9, 277, Steven Caseres, JMU (Staunton 07), LA Dodgers

9, 278, Michael Bowman, VMI (Staunton 06), Milwaukee Brewers

12, 363, Corey Young, Seton Hall (Covington 06), Texas Rangers

12, 380, Luke Greinke, Auburn (Winchester 07), New York Yankees

13, 396, Michael Harrington, College of Charleston (Luray 05), Minnesota Twins

14, 413, Mike McKenna, Florida Atlantic (Haymarket 05), Tampa Bay Rays

15, 450, Tyler Kuhn, West Virginia (Luray 06-07), Chicago White Sox

15, 452, Phil Disher, South Carolina (Front Royal 05), Houston Astros

15, 453, Joey Butler, New Orleans (New Market 06), Texas Rangers

17, 530, Addison Maruszak, South Florida (Woodstock 06), New York Yankees

18, 533, David Genao, Oral Roberts (Haymarket 07), Tampa Bay Rays

18, 545, Jared Bradford, LSU (Luray 06), St. Louis Cardinals

19, 583, Ben Guez, William & Mary (Covington 06), Detroit Tigers

19, 584, Zach Rosenbaum, Charlotte (Woodstock 07), New York Mets

20, 597, Trey Sutton, Southern Mississippi (Covington 05), San Francisco Giants

20, 598, Wade Korpi, Notre Dame (Staunton 06-07), Florida Marlins

20, 603, Mike Hollander, LSU (Luray 07), Texas Rangers

21, 648, Bryan Woodell, Auburn (Winchester 07), Arizona Diamondbacks

23, 683, Neil Schenk, Memphis (Woodstock 07), Tampa Bay Rays

23, 701, Ryan Sontag, Arizona State (Winchester 07), Chicago Cubs

23, 704, Evan LeBlanc, Santa Clara (Harrisonburg 06), New York Mets

24, 719, Enrique Garcia, Miami (Winchester 05-06), Cincinnati Reds

24, 730, Shayne Moody, Charlotte (Woodstock 07), Atlanta Braves

25, 748, Robert Taylor, Arkansas-Little Rock (Harrisonburg 07), Florida Marlins

25, 754, Trey Barham, VMI (Front Royal 06), Oakland A's

25, 761, Rebel Ridling, Oklahoma State (Covington 06), Chicago Cubs

26, 786, Adan Severino, Miami (Luray 07), Minnesota Twins

26, 796, Ryan Bergh, ODU (Front Royal 06), Philadelphia Phillies

27, 808, Elih Villanueva, Florida State (Luray 07), Florida Marlins

28, 841, Nicholas Arata, Florida Atlantic (New Market 07), Washington Nationals

29, 872, Chris Jackson, VCU (Luray 08), Houston Astros

29, 887, Matt Baugh, San Francisco (Harrisonburg 05-06), Colorado Rockies

29, 889, Jeremy Thorne, Florida Southern (Staunton 05, Waynesboro 06), Los Angeles Angels

31, 952, Andrew Frezza, Barry (Luray 07), Boston Red Sox

34, 1014, Matthew Payne, North Carolina State (Staunton 07), Pittsburgh Pirates

35, 1061, Ross Vagedes, Wright State (Waynesboro 05), Chicago Cubs

38, 1139, Ricky Bowen, Mississippi State (Covington 06), Cincinnati Reds

38, 1162, Bobby Hernandez, Barry (Staunton 07), Boston Red Sox

40, 1209, Nate Nelson, Worcester State (New Market 07), Toronto Blue Jays

41, 1244, Tyler Howe, Kentucky (Luray 06), New York Mets

42, 1262, Ryan Danbury, North Florida CC (Waynesboro 07), Houston Astros

42, 1268, Ryan Wood, East Carolina (Harrisonburg 07), Milwaukee Brewers

45, 1354, Christopher Taylor, UNC Charlotte (Luray 05), St. Louis Cardinals

46, 1379, Mike Modica, George Mason (Haymarket 07), Houston Astros

46, 1382, Brandon Sizemore, College of Charleston (Waynesboro 06-07), St. Louis Cardinals

47, 1403, David Torcise, South Florida (Staunton 05-06), Cincinnati Reds

49, 1452, Zach Foster, Pittsburgh-Bradford (New Market 08), Pittsburgh Pirates

Free Agent Signings

Shane Buriff, Saint Leo (Woodstock 07), Chicago White Sox

David Wagner, Old Dominion (Winchester 06), Texas Rangers

Brett Sellers, JMU (Front Royal 07), Washington Nationals

54 Players Drafted

Luray: 13

Covington: 7

Staunton: 6.5

Woodstock: 5

Waynesboro: 4.5

New Market: 4

Harrisonburg: 4

Winchester: 4

Haymarket: 3

Front Royal: 3

Fauquier: 0

Sellers Signs With Nationals

As reported on the Valley league website and ESPN radio, JMU outfielder and former Valley Leaguer Brett Sellers (Front Royal 07) has signed a free agent contract with the Washington Nationals.

Sellers had an outstanding year for the Dukes, hitting 410/469/748 in 55 games, with 18 doubles, 17 home runs, 55 RBIs, 16 stolen bases, and a 23/22 BB/K ratio. His 166 total bases were the second highest season total in JMU history.

Sellers will report to the Nationals' Gulf Coast League affiliate to begin his pro career.

Congratulations, Brett!

2008 Draft Rounds 32-50

Ten more in the later rounds- which brings our total to 50 on the nose. I'm sure I've missed some players- I usually do- so make sure you let me know in the comments. GeneralSignGuyMike, Sizemore WAS drafted!

Round, Overall Pick, Player

34, 1014, Matthew Payne, North Carolina State (Staunton 07), Pittsburgh Pirates

38, 1139, Ricky Bowen, Mississippi State (Covington 06), Cincinnati Reds

38, 1162, Bobby Hernandez, Barry (Staunton 07), Boston Red Sox

41, 1244, Tyler Howe, Kentucky (Luray 06), New York Mets

42, 1262, Ryan Danbury, North Florida CC (Waynesboro 07), Houston Astros

42, 1268, Ryan Wood, East Carolina (Harrisonburg 07), Milwaukee Brewers

45, 1354, Christopher Taylor, UNC Charlotte (Luray 05), St. Louis Cardinals

46, 1379, Mike Modica, George Mason (Haymarket 07), Houston Astros

46, 1382, Brandon Sizemore, College of Charleston (Waynesboro 06-07), St. Louis Cardinals

47, 1403, David Torcise, South Florida (Staunton 05-06), Cincinnati Reds

Like I mentioned, searching my lists for these players, one by one, lends itself to errors.

One more note: for my purposes, I only count players who have actually played in a Valley League game... Luray has two drafted players that are under contract right now but haven't arrived yet. I'll add them to the list when, and if, they come.

2008 Draft Rounds 26-31

Eight more in these six rounds:

Round, Overall Pick, Player

26, 786, Adan Severino, Miami (Luray 07), Minnesota Twins

26, 796, Ryan Bergh, ODU (Front Royal 06), Philadelphia Phillies

27, 808, Elih Villanueva, Florida State (Luray 07), Florida Marlins

28, 841, Nicholas Arata, Florida Atlantic (New Market 07), Washington Nationals

29, 872, Chris Jackson, VCU (Luray 08), Houston Astros

29, 887, Matt Baugh, San Francisco (Harrisonburg 05-06), Colorado Rockies

29, 889, Jeremy Thorne, Florida Southern (Staunton 05, Waynesboro 06), Los Angeles Angels

31, 952, Andrew Frezza, Barry (Luray 07), Boston Red Sox

Running Count: 40

2008 Draft Rounds 21-25

Nine more through the halfway point!  We're ahead of last year's pace...

Round, Overall Pick, Player

21, 648, Bryan Woodell, Auburn (Winchester 07), Arizona Diamondbacks

23, 683, Neil Schenk, Memphis (Woodstock 07), Tampa Bay Rays

23, 701, Ryan Sontag, Arizona State (Winchester 07), Chicago Cubs

23, 704, Evan LeBlanc, Santa Clara (Harrisonburg 06), New York Mets

24, 719, Enrique Garcia, Miami (Winchester 05-06), Cincinnati Reds

24, 730, Shayne Moody, Charlotte (Woodstock 07), Atlanta Braves

25, 748, Robert Taylor, Arkansas-Little Rock (Harrisonburg 07), Florida Marlins

25, 754, Trey Barham, VMI (Front Royal 06), Oakland A's

25, 761, Rebel Ridling, Oklahoma State (Covington 06), Chicago Cubs

Running total: 32

2008 Draft Rounds 16-20

Eight more! (None in Round 16)

Round, Overall Pick, Player

17, 530, Addison Maruszak, South Florida (Woodstock 06), New York Yankees

18, 533, David Genao, Oral Roberts (Haymarket 07), Tampa Bay Rays

18, 545, Jared Bradford, LSU (Luray 06), St. Louis Cardinals

19, 583, Ben Guez, William & Mary (Covington 06), Detroit Tigers

19, 584, Zach Rosenbaum, Charlotte (Woodstock 07), New York Mets

20, 597, Trey Sutton, Southern Mississippi (Covington 05), San Francisco Giants

20, 598, Wade Korpi, Notre Dame (Staunton 06-07), Florida Marlins

20, 603, Mike Hollander, LSU (Luray 07), Texas Rangers

Running count: 23

2008 Draft Rounds 12-15

Six more in rounds 12-15 (I'll need to eschew pictures for now, as I'm trying to catch up!):

Round, Overall Pick, Player

12, 363, Corey Young, Seton Hall (Covington 06), Texas Rangers

12, 380, Luke Greinke, Auburn (Winchester 07), New York Yankees

13, 396, Michael Harrington, College of Charleston (Luray 05), Minnesota Twins

15, 450, Tyler Kuhn, West Virginia (Luray 06-07), Chicago White Sox

15, 452, Phil Disher, South Carolina (Front Royal 05), Houston Astros

15, 453, Joey Butler, New Orleans (New Market 06), Texas Rangers

Running count: 15

2008 Draft Rounds 7-11

The Valley League had 3 players drafted in rounds 8-11:

Round, Overall Pick, Player

8, 254, Eric Campbell, Boston College (Luray 06), New York Mets

9, 277, Steven Caseres, JMU (Staunton 07), LA Dodgers

9, 278, Michael Bowman, VMI (Staunton 06), Milwaukee Brewers

(none in 7th, 10th and 11th rounds)  Running count: 9

2008 Draft Rounds 3-6

Four more Valley League alumni were drafted in the last four rounds chosen yesterday (the remaining 44 rounds go today, when the real research begins!).  The guys are pictured in order below!

Round, Overall Pick, Player

3, 101, Blake Tekotte, Miami (Woodstock 06), San Diego Padres

4, 135, Jason Kipnis, Arizona State (Covington 06-07), San Diego Padres

5, 148, Pete Andrelczyk, Coastal Carolina (Waynesboro 07), Florida Marlins

5, 168, Collin Cowgill, Kentucky (Covington 05), Arizona Diamondbacks

Running count: 6

Gutierrez Drafted #27 Overall!

In what will most likely be viewed as a controversial selection, the Minnesota Twins drafted former Luray Wrangler Carlos Gutierrez (07) with the 27th overall pick!

Baseball America (subscription only) had this to say in their draft preview:  "A casualty to Tommy John surgery, Gutierrez redshirted at Miami last season. He is back to form this season, and is considered the top closer in the ACC. Pitching for one of the top-ranked college teams in the country, Gutierrez has gotten plenty of chances to show off his low-90s fastball. The pitch has late life with heavy sink and Gutierrez commands it well, down in the zone, causing hitters to swing over the top of it. He throws a slider on occasion but it currently can't be considered average and he does have an arm recoil that follows his delivery—both of which raise red flags. However, upon developing and refinement of a second pitch, Gutierrez could be a fast mover as his sinker is a current major league plus pitch. Gutierrez is one of many quality college closers in this year's draft. He was not drafted out of high school as he began playing baseball just before his senior year."

BA's John Manuel just blogged about the pick: "Count on Mike Radcliff and the Twins to make waves. After taking Aaron Hicks as an outfielder at 14, the Twins took BA’s No. 82 ranked player in our Top 200, with Carlos Gutierrez, the Hurricanes’ righthander. No. 1-ranked and top-seeded Miami has now placed three players in the first round.

Gutierrez is the biggest surprise in the first round but honestly I like Gutierrez as much as several of the other closers taken ahead of him. He doesn’t have Ryan Perry’s pure velocity, but I’d take Gutierrez’s fastball due to its superior movement, sink and command, plus he’s no soft-tosser at 90-93 mph. Plus his slider can be an average pitch at times. He’s had Tommy John surgery but he’s also been money for Miami this year.

That said, Gutierrez likely would have been available later. The Twins obviously were convicted in Gutierrez, but it’s a surprising pick, one of a string of surprises in the last five picks."

Two VBLers in the first round!  Last year, Tony Thomas was the highest pick, in the 3rd round, and in 2006, Chris Perez was the top pick, at #42 overall.