Vatican City Seek

Overall, they ranked it the 5th best draft in 2007 (the Nats were 1st). American League Draft Report Cards NEW YORK YANKEES Best Pro Debut: 2B Justin Snyder (21) led the short-season New York- Penn League in hits (87), on-_base_ percentage and runs (68) while batting .335/.459/.477. 3B/1Bs Brandon Laird (27) and Braedyn Pruitt (14) ranked among league batting leaders in the Rookie-level Gulf Coast League and NY-P, respectively; Laird hit .339/.367/.577 with eight homers, while Pruitt batted .347/.458/.447. Best Athlete: RHP Andrew Brackman (1) averaged 7.6 points and 3.5 rebounds per game in 2005-2006 for North Carolina State's basketball team, and with mobility and a decent touch at close to 7 feet tall, he probably could stick as a reserve in the NBA. OF Taylor Grote (5) was a three-year starter at wide receiver for The Woodlands (Texas) HS and is an all-around athlete. Best Pure Hitter: The Yankees paid big money to 3B Bradley Suttle (4), who got a $1.3 million bonus, and SS Carmen Angelini (10), who got $1 million, primarily because of their offensive polish. Best Power Hitter: The consensus held that C Austin Romine (2) was further ahead defensively than offensively; the Yankees see it the other way, hoping to tidy up rough receiving edges but banking on his above-average raw power. Fastest Runner: Grote's above-average speed is the best of the lot; speed was not an emphasis of the class. Best Defensive P_layer_: Romine has a plus-plus throwing arm and should be an above-average defender eventually. Angelini's smooth and instinctive in the middle infield and the best present defender. Best Fastball: Brackman has touched 100 mph in the past and at times pitches in the upper-90s. He had Tommy John surgery within days of signing a major league contract that included a $3.35 million bonus. He could pitch next year in Hawaii Winter _base_ball and isn't expected to make his full-season minor league debut until 2009. Best Secondary Pitch: Brackman's spike curveball is an out pitch. RHP Nick Chigges (13) used the tight spin and feel for his curveball to strike out 62 in 55 NY-P innings. RHP Ryan Pope (3) has a solid- average changeup, if not a tick above, with late life. Most Intriguing Background: Between his size, hoops past and Tommy John surgery, Brackman has plenty going on. Laird followed his older brother Gerald, now the Rangers' catcher, at Cypress (Calif.) JC. 1B Luke Murton (40, unsigned) likewise followed older brother and Cubs outfielder Matt by going to Georgia Tech. Closest To The Majors: Suttle's polished college profile often fits well. A healthy 2B Damon Sublett (7), a lefthanded hitter with speed, also could move quickly in a utility role. Best Late-Round Pick: Snyder or Laird; Snyder's more complete and polished, but Laird has the higher ceiling. The One Who Got Away: The Yankees made runs at RHPs Greg Peavey (24) and Drew Storen (34), who will face each other for at least two seasons in Pacific-10 Conference play at Oregon State and Stanford. Assessment: The Yankees continue to be more aggressive in the draft and spent money on p_layer_s they believe in, like Brackman. They also to forge a new path. P_layer_s like Angelini, Laird, Sublett and Suttle don't fit the Yankee profile as future stars, but they are all ballp_layer_s who can hit.