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Editor Jim Lockwood

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Thursday, April 19, 2025
2025 AMATEUR DRAFT REPORT CARD
Story by J.J. Commisso

EDMONTON (AP) - The 2015 Amateur Draft is complete. So, in what hopefully will become a new tradition with the pre-season rankings, I present the Amateur Draft Report Card. Normally, each team has one pick per round for three rounds. Teams are graded on player drafted at position held, as well as overall quantity and quality of the picks. Teams without any draft selections will receive an NA.

Acapulco Tequilas = B-
With their standard allotment of picks, the Tequilas faired well. Catcher Brent Hollister, at only age 19, could easily be the best catcher of this draft. Already with a big gun behind the plate to throw out base runners, his hitting and speed are both quite nice. His only knock is the glove behind the plate. Tex Mayo probably will spend his time as a DH, rather than an outfielder. His bat and base running are solid, but his defense isn’t. Third round C Sam Law is 18, and that’s about it.

Amity White Sharks = C
With only a third round pick, Amity selected right fielder Irv Aldridge. He was one of a handful hopeful talent left. Aldridge is a lefty and in need of defensive improvement, but has some potential for power.

Argentina Archers = A-
The Archers held two first rounders and total of seven picks this draft. Clearly in rebuilding mode, they did extremely well. Southpaw starter Doug Garwood has a great arm, but his four pitches will need some work. Argentina then shifted gears, grabbing the two fastest outfielders in the draft, Shane Walters and John Bradshaw. Though their plate discipline will need to be worked on, there’s no question about their ability to play the field. Third Baseman Pete Kahoe looks very promising as a fielder and runner. The rest, P Collison, SS Bush, and 1B Grant, are all really young and could develop into decent players. This was a very strong draft for Argentina.

Berlin Brewmasters = B+
Holding the number one pick, the Brewmasters chose 20 year old pitcher Carlos Cotter. Great arm, great endurance, a great fastball and solid sinker with two other pitches in the mix make him one of two arms to consider with the first pick. His control, however, should have made him the second selection. With their only other pick, Berlin selected first baseman Henry Shorter. Clearly he was the best hitter in the draft and could be starting as early as next season. Shorter was also one of the oldest players taken.

Bombay Elephants = C+
Shortstop Hal Murphy was Bombay’s only pick. For a third rounder, Murphy has decent speed, a nice arm, and decent ratings. He could possibly be in a platoon or a good bench player against lefties.

Bora Bora Surfriders = C+
With a middle high first round pick, Bora Bora went for pitcher Eugene Lowry. A good selection, with three quality pitches already. Still, there are questions about his endurance, arm strength, and control for a 22 year old. It was in the second round that the Surfriders reached by taking 3B Kid Fluery. Kid is aptly named, since he was the youngest player in the draft at 17 years, 3 days old. Unfortunately, Fluery is more noted for his swim and track athleticism more than baseball. In the third round, CF Nichols and 3B Berman were swept up with the dregs of the draft. Both are probably career minor leaguers.

Cairo Scorpions = A+
Landing the second pick in the draft, the Scorpions jumped on pitcher Danny Mathews, who should have gone first. Mathews’ blazing fastball, solid change, good slider, and tight curve make him as good as the number one pick. But, it’s his early plate mastery that gives Danny the edge. Cairo then landed a gem with the sixth pick, taking fireballer Bill Krapp. His 90 mph fastball is complemented by a solid slider. With a bit of control, he will be fast tracked to the majors. The other pitcher taken was reliever Larry Rice, who has two neat breaking pitches and will eventually become a solid bull pen option. Add to that Brandon Villenueva and Brian Kimmick, who are decent right field prospects. A year apart in age, they should progress at the same rate and produce equal results for their age. Overall, the strongest draft and great picks for their position.

Chernobyl Mutants = B
The Mutants did their homework. Young knuckleballer Quentin Barnes was sliding through the middle of the first round and he snagged the high endurance, solid arm starting pitcher. Chernobyl’s other two picks of C Asadoor and RF Fallis were the best bats available at the time. An good draft for where the picks were every time.

Cozumel Mayans = D
The Mayans seemed blinded by youth as they drafted all teenagers. Their late first round pick shortstop Joey Jones has better than average speed, and could learn to hit, but there were clearly better options. Both 1B Nellie Ward and CF Bill Davis, Cozumel’s second and third round picks respectively, will be stuck in the minors for a long time and may never start in the majors.

Edmonton Orcas = A
Eleven total picks, of which the first eight were pitchers, and four of those were left handed. So, just like that, Edmonton restocked their pitching staff. Even if only half of the players pan out, it is still a good draft. First rounders Pete James, Anthony Mura, and John Rushmore should develop into specialists out of the bull pen. Roy Romano, Ron Young, and Jack Bilas each have their own weakness, but all have starter potential. Glen Duende and Bob Hearn are young enough to allow the seasoning and tweaking they need before they are ready. The third round for the Orcas yielded two decent catchers in Guido Lowry and George Scott, as well as a project utility infielder, Billy Durant. Quantity and quality make this a great draft.

Hong Kong Dragons = B
The Dragons found pitcher Buck Cliburn, who should have gone earlier, with their middle high first round pick. He has one of the best arms in the draft, phenomenal endurance, and good control. With a killer curveball and three other developing pitches, he should turn into a solid starter. Left fielder Theo Herring, a good second round pick, was the best home run threat of the bunch, moved well in the outfield and on the base paths, and could make the outfield throw well enough. Having not a slow first baseman and a bright future is what Bernardo Wallace offers Hong Kong, who selected him with their last pick.

Honolulu Volcanos = C+
A skip hurts, even in the third round. Honolulu had four picks, and only selected three players. Why bother trading then if the pick goes unused? Still, Jamie Pena was a good pick in the late first round. At 20, he has plenty of time to improve on his curveball. LF Theo Herring could be something special as his decent plate discipline is coupled with decent speed. 2B Herbie Brooks has one thing going for him, he’s 18. That’s about it.

Jamaica Rastafarians = NA
Lacking picks means no grading and time to sit around.

Long Beach Lobsters = B
Even with the depth of the pitching prospects, speed and hitting was the focus of Long Beach in this draft. The first position player taken was catcher John Blue, who has all the earmarks of being great at the plate and behind it. Both second rounders, RF Hubie Poole and SS Fernando Hibbard, were fine picks when made. Poole has good speed and fielding ability for right field. Hibbard was the all around best fielder for shortstops. The question is can they, and third round pick LF Bill Utley, turn into professional hitters.

Los Angeles Riots = C-
Another team with only a third round pick, the Riots grabbed shortstop Gerry Hale. He might have some pop in his bat, and is a switch hitter, but the defense has a long way to go for the most demanding position on the infield.

Milan Marauders = C-
Center fielder Lou Wise is fairly quick, good arm, decent fielder, left handed, and should develop into a solid average and power guy. Not bad with a late first round pick. Milan then grabbed the best third baseman of the draft, Art Williams, in the second round. However, the Marauders skipped their third round pick, which is a waste.

New York Nukes = B-
Despite the deep pitching of this draft, New York went with hitters. Third baseman Donald Kelly has the arm and range for a great hot corner defender. A lefty and only 19, his offense should improve. Right fielder Randy Pappas, another 19 year old, looks almost as good as Kelly in potential, but probably better suited to DH. Outfielder Frank Manning is 18 and quick, but no more can be said really.

Rio De Janerio Capybaras = F
The Capybaras had a pick. Yes it was the last of the third round. But, Rio De Janerio did not even bother to make it. Instead, it was registered as a skip. Ah well.

Sicily Godfathers = NA
No picks, no grade, and a long break to do nothing.

Stockholm Swedes = C
All three pitchers, Joe Branson, Jerry Martin, and Ben Mason, went a little higher than they should have. Branson, a lefty with three great off speed pitches, isn’t really disciplined and might not have what it takes to be an every day starter. Martin falls in the same boat. Another first round pick, he doesn’t have much endurance, has weak control, but makes up for it with a sweet slider and two other developing pitches. Mason, a high second round pick, has the endurance and control, but four mediocre pitches. Finally, LF Ed Plodinec is another 18 year old with youth on his side and not much else. This wasn’t a bad draft, it just wasn’t great for where these players were taken.

Sydney Rebels = B+
Taking all pitchers, Sydney landed a stud arm in the first round with Charlie Cutshaw as well as two 18 year old projects in Jim Floyd and Rich Petrocelli. Cutshaw was one of three cannon arms in the draft, the other two went first and second. Floyd has some great stuff, but like Petrocelli, needs to learn the strike zone.

Tokyo Tsunamis = B-
The Tsunamis held onto their first round pick and took the best outfielder, Brian Phelps. Phelps has great speed and ability to put the ball in play. Mix in a decent glove and arm, he was clearly the best choice and Tokyo called it right.

Vancouver Mounties = C+
The second best hitter in the draft, center fielder Clem Hines, went to the Mounties in the first round and was a good late pick. Left fielder Gene Livingstone has equal speed to Hines, but less contact and much less power. Both are solid defensively and could play in Vancouver’s future outfield. Third round 3B Joe Henderson again has the defense, but probably not the offense to make it to the big leagues.

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