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SIGNED Round 7: Efrain Nieves - LHP 6'0", 169, L/L - Puerto Rico BB Academy HS (PR) NOTES & INFO: Brewerfan.net Scouting Report: Nieves is a live-armed, smaller lefty that makes pitching look like playing catch. His fastball is clocked regularly in the high-80s, touching 90, and many expect his fastball to increase in velocity as he continues to fill out his shorter and lighter frame. Another plus to Nieves game is the natural movement on his fastball. That movement along with his effortless delivery leads many to believe he has a very high upside despite his smallish stature. His secondary pitches need to be tightened up, but his curveball can be a very sharp pitch when it is on, and he has also flashed a promising changeup. Nieves doesn't turn 18 until November, so time is definitely on his side. Birthdate: 11/15/1989 NEWSPAPER AND WEB COVERAGE:

SIGNED Round 8: David Fonseca - SS 6'0", 180, R/R - Los Angeles Pierce College (CA) http://www.bigleagueworldseries.org/images/2005/west_southeast.jpg NOTES & INFO: Brewerfan.net Scouting Report: Fonseca is a well built overall athlete, with wiry, fast-twitch reflexes as he looks like a natural playing shortstop. He has quick feet, soft hands and a strong arm, which should allow him to stick at the shortstop position. His best tool is his speed, as he could be groomed as a leadoff hitting middle infielder. There is some pop in his bat, driving the ball from gap to gap, and he has plenty of room to add strength to his long and lithe frame which could mean more over the fence power down the road. Previously Drafted: St Louis Cardinals, Round 29, 2005 NEWSPAPER AND WEB COVERAGE:

SIGNED Round 3: Jonathan Lucroy - C 6'0", 185, R/R - Louisiana Lafayette http://www.minorleaguebaseball.com/images/2007/05/21/Xpdt2c9K.jpg NOTES & INFO: Louisiana-Lafayette Player Profile Brewerfan.net Scouting Report One of the better all-around catching prospects availlable among a deep college catching crops for the 2007 draft. Was named the top prospect of the Florida Collegiate Summer League after the summer of 2006 for his offensive and defensive skills while leading the league in RBI (29). He has a powerful right-handed bat and is able to drive the ball from gap-to-gap. Posted impressive offensive numbers throughout his college career, and hit for both average and power. Lucroy worked hard the past few years to improve his defense behind the plate after starting his college career as a DH. Has a very strong arm, good quickness behind the plate, and natural leadership skills that trickles down to his teammates. A hard-working, blue collar player that has worked very hard to become the player he is today. College Junior Birthdate: 6/13/1986 NEWSPAPER AND WEB COVERAGE: Minorleaguebaseball.com Lucroy: Student Athlete Showcase June, 2007 Courtesy: RaginCajuns.com http://www.ragincajuns.com Lucroy's Accolades Louisville Slugger Freshman All-American (2005) All-Sun Belt Conference (2005, 2007) Sun Belt Conference Academic Honor Roll (2006) What has been the most memorable moment of your collegiate career so far? I had five hits in one game my freshman season, and I hit a grand slam against Arkansas State in the conference tournament last year. Also, my first collegiate hit was a homerun. If you could do it all over again, would you still want to be a catcher? Yes because I love it too much to want to play any other position. What are your personal goals for the season? I want to hit at least .350 with more homeruns and RBI than I had last season. What is your goal for the team this season? I want us to win the Sun Belt Conference and make the NCAA tournament. What is the most difficult thing about playing baseball so far away from home? The only thing that is really hard about it is not being able to have my parents come to all of my games. What is your favorite thing about playing baseball? I love the competitive aspect of baseball, and I have a lot of fun playing it. Who is your favorite major league hitter? Albert Pujols because I love his approach to the plate and his ability to hit for both power and average. What is your pre-game ritual? I eat a protein bar and sit in my locker and listen to my iPOD before every game. I like to be pumped up before I go out there. Do you have any superstitions? All baseball players have superstitions but talking about them is one of mine. Would you rather be on American Idol or Dancing With the Stars and why? I would rather be on American Idol because I have bad knees from catching. I can't pull an Emmit Smith. What TV show can you not miss? Grey's Anatomy because my girlfriend makes me watch it. Besides it makes great water cooler talk. What CD is in your car right now? Breaking Benjamin What is your favorite thing about Lafayette? The culture in Lafayette is so much different from where I live back in Central Florida. I love the people here and the food is really great. 2006: Named to Sun Belt Conference All-Tournament Team...Caught for the nation's 24th ranked pitching staff...Third on the team with a .333 batting average...Recorded 77 hits on the season with 36 extra-base hits ? 12 homeruns, four triples, 20 doubles...Led team with 68 RBI, which ranked 44th in the NCAA...Second on the team with 50 runs scored... Paced the Cajuns with 12 homeruns, including two grand slams...Led the team with 20 doubles...Led UL with a .610 slugging percentage and 141 total bases...Led team with 26 multiple hit games and 20 multiple RBI games...Had a season high four hits in a 4-for-5 performance against South Alabama in the Sun Belt Conference Tournament...Had a season high six RBI against Arkansas State in the SBC Tournament, going 3-for-4 with two doubles and a grand slam. 2005: Louisville Slugger Freshman All-American...Second Team All-Sun Belt Conference... Played in 54 games with 42 starts...Had a team leading .379 batting average...Recorded 69 hits in his freshman campaign, including 15 doubles and 5 homeruns...Registered 33 runs with 48 RBI...Drew 19 walks while striking out 17 times...Started 21-of-22 conference games he played in...Batted .356 against Sun Belt Conference pitching...Had 32 hits, including six doubles and two homeruns in SBC games...Drove in 18 runs and scored 15 runs in conference play. High School: Was a four-year letterwinner for head coaches Don Semento and Terry Nuzum at Umatilla HS...Named honorable mention All-State as a freshman, second team All-Area as a sophomore and first team All-Area, second team All-Central Florida and first team All-State as a junior...Led Bulldogs with a .450 batting average and 10 home runs as a senior...Holds Umatilla HS record with 22 home runs. Personal: Full name is Jonathan Charles Lucroy...Born on June 13, 1986, in Eustis, Fla....Son of Steven and Karen Lucroy...Has two younger brothers, Matthew and David...Majoring in Environmental Resources and Community Sustainability. Lucroy: Student Athlete Showcase ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Lucroy named best HR hitter in College Station Regional -SouthernCollegeSports.com UPDATE: June 8th Link for new photo while active, text follows: Cajuns' Lucroy goes in the third round to Brewers Amateur Draft 101 Cajuns' Lucroy goes in the third round to Brewers Dan McDonald dmcdonald@theadvertiser.com Maybe it was just by chance that Jonathan Lucroy's off-the-field, knock-around baseball cap was an old-school lid of the Milwaukee Brewers. But maybe it was kismet. Lucroy became the second-highest University of Louisiana-Lafayette draft selection since Tony Robichaux took over as head coach in 1995 Thursday, being tabbed in the third round of Major League Baseball's First-Year Player Draft by the Brewers. The Ragin' Cajun junior catcher was the 101st player picked in the annual draft of amateur talent, and was the second selection for the Milwaukee club. "They're one of the teams that had been following me," Lucroy said. "Brian Sankey is their area scout and I saw him at several different games, and he and one of his national people saw me play at McNeese when I had a good game." That good game included a grand-slam homer and one throw-out on an attempted stolen base, but Lucroy's body of work was more important than one game. The Umatilla, Fla., native is UL's all-time career leader in runs batted in (184), total bases (414) and doubles (54), ranks second in hits (241), third in home runs (35) and slugging percentage (.612), and fourth in average (.356). All of those figures are in three years since Lucroy just completed his junior season. But with a high third-round draft selection, one where the slot money for the 101st pick is approximately $337,000, it's expected that Lucroy will sign a contract and by-pass his senior season. Lucroy said that his former coach and advisor Doug Rogalski will talk to Sankey and members of the Brewers front office today to begin negotiations. "I feel good about it because the Brewers are a good organization and they're successful," Lucroy said Thursday evening. "They have a lot of good players in their system, and I'm lucky to be wanted in an organization such as that." Rogalski may have helped bump Lucroy's selection up a couple of slots, after receiving a phone call early in the third round. "He called me and said that the (Cincinnati) Reds had called and said they were going to definitely take me with their next pick," Lucroy said. "He called the Brewers and the (Colorado) Rockies, teams that had picks right in front of the Reds, and told them if they wanted to draft me they needed to do it now. It put a little pressure on them." The Brewers had pick number 101, with the Rockies picking next at 102 ahead of the Reds' No. 104 pick. Colorado took catcher Lars Davis of Illinois right after Lucroy's selection. "I got a call back from the Brewers and they said they were going to take me," Lucroy said. "I had just hung up the phone and heard my name called." The MLB draft ran much later than normal, mostly because the first round was televised on ESPN2. The first round of 30 picks took three and one-half hours, and that was followed by 34 compensatory ("sandwich") picks before the second round began. Milwaukee's only selection before Lucroy was Florida outfielder Matt LaPorta, who was the seventh overall pick. Lucroy was the 11th catcher selected and the seventh collegiate catcher picked. "I figured I'd be in the middle there, late in the second or early in the third round," Lucroy said. "I felt I was right in there with the college catchers drafted before me. It took a long time, but I'm pretty happy." Milwaukee's rookie teams are Helena (Mont.) of the Pioneer League and Maryvale (Ariz.) of the Arizona League. The Class A affiliate is the South Atlantic League's West Virginia Power in Charleston, W.Va., and the High-A affiliate is not far from Lucroy's hometown - the Brevard County Manatees of Viera, Fla., in the Florida State League. Lucroy is the 12th UL player taken in the top 10 rounds under Robichaux, with the only higher selection coming in 1995 when Rayne's Darrin Babineaux was a second-round selection of the Los Angeles Dodgers.

SIGNED Round 4: Eric Farris - 2B 5'10", 170, R/R - Loyola Marymount http://graphics.fansonly.com/photos/schools/loyo/sports/m-basebl/auto_headshot/764252.jpeg Brewerfan.net Scouting Report Farris is a high-energy middle infielder that receives high marks for his gamemanship and his overall abilities as a true ballplayer. He is at his best hitting atop a lineup, using his contact bat to smoke line drives to all parts of the field, drawing walks and causing havoc on the basepaths with his game-changing speed. Defensively he is primarily a second-baseman, but he did play shortstop quite a bit during his junior season at Loyola Marymount due to the team's needs, and he could continue to play shortstop at the next level with very good range, soft hands and the knack to make both the routine and highlight-reel play. His arm is better suited for second base. Farris was named the 54th best prospect on the Cape after the summer of 2006 by PG Crosschecker when he finished seventh in batting (.298) and tied for first in stolen bases (17) while being named the league's All-Star second baseman. NOTES & INFO: Loyola Marymount Player Profile College Junior Birthdate: 3/3/1986 Previously Drafted: Atlanta Braves, Round 42, 2004 NEWSPAPER AND WEB COVERAGE: From last summer in the Cape Cod League -CapeCodBaseball.org ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ May 14, 2007 SAN BRUNO, Calif. - For the third time this season, Eric Farris is the West Coast Conference Player of the Week, the conference announced Monday. Farris hit .467 on the week to lead LMU to the WCC series victory over Portland in the final weekend of league competition. The Lions' junior hit .467 (7-for-15) over four games this week against 25th-ranked Cal State Fullerton and Portland. He totaled three stolen bases on the week to bring his season total to 33, the most for any Lion since the 1970s. Farris also tallied three runs scored and three RBI as the Lions' leadoff hitter. He had three extra base hits on the week, including two doubles and a home run over the Mikos Blue Monster to give him a slugging percentage of .800 and an on-base percentage of .556. The Lions' shortstop was walked three times, including once intentionally in the bottom of the ninth Sunday against Portland. He was also perfect defensively on the week. Farris went 3-for-4 with two RBI and two stolen bases at 25th-ranked Cal State Fullerton on Tuesday. The weekly honor was the third selection of the season for Farris and the fourth of his career. Farris West Coast Conference's Player of the Week

SIGNED Round 5: Caleb Gindl - CF 5'9", 185, L/L - Pace High School(FL) Brewerfan.net Scouting Report Gindl is an impressive two-way player coming out of high school that had scouts split on where he fit best at the next level: At the plate or on the mound. His arm strength is his best attribute, which made him such an appealing option as a left-handed pitcher despite his smaller 5'9" frame. His fastball was routinely clocked in the upper 80s, touching the low-90s, and he showed a very aggressive and fearless demeanor on the mound. The Brewers decided to draft Gindl for his bat, with an approach made for hard contact, using quick wrists and good bat speed to smoke line drives to all parts of the field while also showing surprising power potential given his smallish frame. Many notes point to Gindl's size, noting that if he were a few inches taller he may have been in the same conversation as some of the more recognizable outfield and overall hitting prospects in the country. Gindl committed to play college baseball for Troy, but is expected to sign with the Brewers where he will be groomed as a hustling centerfielder with a strong arm and a solid approach at the plate. NOTES & INFO: College offers from Auburn, Troy, and LSU NEWSPAPER AND WEB COVERAGE: Scout.com profile: As a junior, Caleb batted .453 with 7 home runs and 43 RBI. He also pitched in relief, showing a fastball that topped out at 93 miles per hour. For his efforts, he was selected 5A first-team All-State as well as being selected Offensive Player-of-the-Year in his area. During the summer of 2006, he was chosen by Major League Baseball scouts to play on the 20-man southeast team that played at the East Coast Professional Showcase. scout.scout.com/a.z?s=363...id=2630324 PG Crosschecker profile from the East Coast Professional Showcase: Would be considered a top level pro prospect if he was 6-2, not 5-9. Quick, strong swing and can crush the ball; shows surprising power and consistent bat speed. Knows how to hit. Plus OF arm. 7.00 runner. Also pitches, throws 89-90 consistently from the left side. What separates him from the Kentrail Davis/Ben Revere level of 5-9 OF?er is simply the running speed. He can hit and play with either of them and out throw them both.

SIGNED Round 1: Matt LaPorta - LF 6'2", 212, R/R - University of Florida http://www.gatorzone.com/baseball/images/bioimg2007/23.jpg NOTES & INFO: Brewerfan.net Scouting Report Prolific college slugger that leaves the college game tied for ninth in career home runs with 73. Set the all-time mark at Florida, passing Brad Wilkerson and adding nearly 20 more. Was named the SEC player of the year in 2005 after leading the conference in home runs, and entered his junior season as arguably the most dangerous hitter among those eligible for the 2006 draft. A disappointing junior season, marred by injuries, caused LaPorta to fall in the draft, being selected in the 14th round by the Boston Red Sox, and despite a strong push to sign him, LaPorta decided to return for his senior season. That move payed off for LaPorta, as he led the nation in on-base percentage (.582), was second in OPS (1.399), was fifth in slugging percentage (.817) and tied for ninth in home runs with 20. Most impressive was his improved discipline at the plate, as he struck out only 16 times in 169 at-bats after striking out 34 times his junior year and 65 times during his impressive sophomore season. His power comes from a quick, short-swing and a very large, barrel-chested frame. He has power to all fields, and his disciplined eye has allowed him to stay off on soft stuff away, forcing pitchers to pitch him inside, where he thrives. Overall his athleticism is rather limited, as the Brewers intend to have him start his professional career in left field after playing most to all of his collegiate career at first base. He was recruited as a catcher, and there was some thought entering his junior year for him to see some time at third. It doesn't really matter where he plays, as his bat will always earn him his paychecks, and as a 22 year old college senior, he will be placed on the fast-track to Milwaukee. Florida Player Profile Brewerfan.net Player Profile 2007 Brewerfan.net Player Profile 2006 Advised by Scott Boras Birthdate: 1/8/1985 Previously Drafted: Chicago Cubs, Round 14, 2003 Boston Red Sox, Round 14, 2006 NEWSPAPER AND WEB COVERAGE: 2007 Draft Spotlight: Matt LaPorta By Marc Hulet University of Florida senior first baseman Matt LaPorta took some time out before a crucial weekend series with LSU during the weekend of May 11-13 to speak exclusively with BaseballAnalysts.com about his college career and the upcoming Major League Baseball draft. LaPorta has been ranked as one of the top three college bats in the upcoming draft and has a good chance of being taken in the first round. In his sophomore season, LaPorta slugged a school record 26 homers and hit .328/.438/.698. After an injury-marred 2006 junior season, in which he hit .259/.410/.538, LaPorta fell in the draft to the 14th round where he was picked by the Boston Red Sox. Unable to come to an agreement, LaPorta - who is advised by Scott Boras - returned to Florida for this senior year. LaPorta has been nothing short of brilliant during his senior season at Florida with a line of .402/.582/.817 and 20 home runs in 52 games. The biggest knock on LaPorta is his defence, which is not that surprising considering he came to university as a catcher and moved to first base to accommodate slick-fielding Brian Jeroloman. According to Baseball America, LaPorta has improved his approach and kept his hands inside the ball better this year. His plus-plus raw power remains a game-changing tool. Not just a one-dimensional athlete, LaPorta was recognized during the 2006 Cape Cod Summer League season with the Daniel Silva Sportsmanship Award, which honors outstanding sportsmanship on and off the field. On May 22 of this year, LaPorta was announced as the SEC Baseball Player of the Year for the second time in his college career. LaPorta also won the award after his sophomore season. BaseballAnalysts: Are you guys ready for a good series this weekend with LSU? Matt LaPorta: Yeah, it's going to be a big series. BaseballAnalysts: What goals do you have for the remainder of the college season? Matt LaPorta: Just to help my team get to the SEC tournament and hopefully the regionals. BaseballAnalysts: What do you think Florida has to do to be successful? Matt LaPorta: We probably have to win three or four games out of the next two weekends to meet those goals. LSU and Tennessee are two very high-quality teams and we just have to go out and play our game and hopefully we'll come out on top. BaseballAnalysts: Have you achieved all the goals you set out for yourself in college? Matt LaPorta: Yeah, I think I've done a lot of things - more than I ever thought imaginable, really, going into college. BaseballAnalysts: Were you happy about your decision to go to college? (LaPorta was drafted in the 14th round out of high school by the Chicago Cubs, which was his favorite team growing up). Matt LaPorta: Oh yeah, definitely. BaseballAnalysts: Do you have any specific highlights or key moments from your college career? Matt LaPorta: Yeah, I mean there have definitely been some highs and lows but it's hard to say because every year there have been new experiences that have just brought new light to how I see things on and off the field. Obviously going to the College World Series (The University of Texas edged Florida in 2005) is pretty high and getting to play for the USA National team (in 2005 with teammates Adam Davis and Brian Jeroloman) was another high point. BaseballAnalysts: What would it mean to you to win the College Player of the Year award? Matt LaPorta: That would be, you know, a tremendous honor. I couldn't even explain... It would be a miracle. It would truly be a gift from God. That's all I can say. BaseballAnalysts: Do you think you have a good shot at it... You're up against some very good competition. Matt LaPorta: Oh yeah, there is great competition out there. Honestly, I couldn't tell you. We'll see what happens. It's a big honor; I'm sure whoever gets it is well deserving of it. BaseballAnalysts: Who would have your vote? Matt LaPorta: I'm probably going to have to go with my buddy (Vanderbilt pitcher and project first overall draft pick) David Price. BaseballAnalysts: You've had some really outstanding numbers in your senior year. Has the strained oblique muscle that you had last year bothered you at all this season? Matt LaPorta: No, not at all. BaseballAnalysts: Have you had any injuries that have bothered you this year? Matt LaPorta: I injured my quad a little bit and I missed the last couple of weekends, but nothing too big. BaseballAnalysts: Would you attribute the strained oblique muscle to why your numbers were down during your junior year, or were there other factors? Matt LaPorta: A lot of it had to do with that. But I tried to do way too much when I came back and tried to put up numbers like I would have through an entire season and it just wasn't possible. It hurt me. BaseballAnalysts: Were you also trying to help pick up the slack for some of the other players who were having off-years offensively? I know both second baseman Adam Davis (drafted by Cleveland) and catcher Brian Jeroloman (drafted by Toronto) also struggled. Matt LaPorta: Yeah, when I came up to the plate, I felt like I had a lot of pressure to get the runs in and, you know, I came out of my element and didn't stay within myself. I tried to do way too much. BaseballAnalysts: What have been the biggest changes in your game this season? Matt LaPorta: Just putting more of my faith in God and letting him lead the way, as well as playing baseball and having fun. Everything else will just take care of itself. BaseballAnalysts: Are there any highlights from this specific year that you've really enjoyed? Matt LaPorta: I've enjoyed all of it. I'm taking it all in because it's the last time I'll get to play college baseball. I'm enjoying every last minute of it. BaseballAnalysts: So it's bittersweet? Matt LaPorta: Yeah. BaseballAnalysts: Are you looking forward to the opportunity to pursue a pro career? Matt LaPorta: Oh definitely. It's my time to move on to the next step in my life after this college season. BaseballAnalysts: You hit .250 last year in the Cape Cod League, along with solid on-base and slugging numbers... Do you think you have adequately proven to scouts that you can make the necessary adjustments from aluminum bats to wood? Matt LaPorta: Yeah... but the oblique was still in the back of my mind [during the summer] and I don't think I played anywhere near where I could have if I hadn't had that injury. [scouts] had seen me play up at the Cape and with Team USA and stuff. BaseballAnalysts: What's the biggest difference between using the aluminum and the wood bats for you? Matt LaPorta: You just have to trust your hands more. You can't try to hit a home run or get long because you won't hit the ball well. BaseballAnalysts: What do you think are your personal strengths as a hitter? Matt LaPorta: My ability to take pitches that are balls. And when I do get a pitch, I can capitalize on it and use my power. BaseballAnalysts: What are some of the parts of your game that you think you need to continue to work on to get better? Matt LaPorta: I think all aspects of my game. Baseball is a sport where you never really reach your full potential. Guys are always looking for ways to improve and get better every day. So, with that said, every aspect of my game has got to get better. BaseballAnalysts: Let's switch focuses here for a bit and fast-forward to the draft. Do you have a preference as to which team selects you on draft day? Matt LaPorta: No, not at all. I'd just be fortunate enough to get drafted and open that door to a new world and see what happens. BaseballAnalysts: Would you like to go in the first round of the draft or is that even on your mind? Matt LaPorta: None of that is really on my mind right now. I don't want to focus on anything I can't control. I just want to go out and play baseball, hit and do well. We'll see what happens with that other stuff. BaseballAnalysts: Have there been any specific teams that have shown a lot of interest in you? Matt LaPorta: Yeah, I've had quite a few teams that have shown some interest in me but, you know, it's still early. We'll see who really wants me closer to draft day. BaseballAnalysts: Who did you follow growing up? Were you a baseball fan? Matt LaPorta: Yeah, I was always watching the power hitting guys like Sammy Sosa and Mark McGwire. I was in Port Charlotte [Florida] so the Rangers always had spring training down there and I would go watch [Rafael] Palmeiro and those kinds of guys. BaseballAnalysts: Did you follow the Rangers throughout the season too, or just in spring training? Matt LaPorta: Yeah, I followed the Rangers but mostly I was a Cubs fan. My father was from Chicago and his dad is too. He would pick me up from school and we would go watch Cubs games. BaseballAnalysts: Do you have any specific plans for draft day? Have you thought about that yet? Matt LaPorta: Nah, I'm probably just going to hang out at my house and just relax and see what happens. BaseballAnalysts: You're being advised by one of the most powerful agents in baseball. How did that end up happening? Did you approach him or did he approach you? Matt LaPorta: They came up to me. It's funny, I remember when Alex Rodriguez got that $252 million deal with the Rangers and I was, at the time, thinking: 'Scott Boras, this guy's amazing.' I was only wishing and hoping that one day I could be good enough to have him as an adviser and so far it's coming to fruition. BaseballAnalysts: Have you enjoyed working with him? Matt LaPorta: I really enjoy the Boras Corporation. They're a great group of guys and they love baseball. That's the main thing: they're baseball guys. BaseballAnalysts: Are you concerned at all about sliding in the draft because of your representation? Matt LaPorta: No, because before I made the decision I put it in God's hands and it wasn't just a quick decision like I'm going to go with their group. You know, I prayed about it and asked God what I should do and he led me in that direction. BaseballAnalysts: Are you disappointed that a deal did not get done with Boston last year after your junior season? Matt LaPorta: No, not at all. When one door closes, another one opens and I got a chance to come back to college for another year and got to see two national championships, one in football and one in basketball. The people I've met this year, if I had gone to play pro ball I would never have met them. I'm going to make it to the majors whether I signed last year or this year. BaseballAnalysts: Do you keep in touch with any of your former teammates who are in pro ball? Matt LaPorta: Not so much because they're so busy and I'm very busy. It's just hard to find time to stay in touch with them. BaseballAnalysts: Who is the toughest college pitcher that you've ever face? Matt LaPorta: That would be my buddy Ian Kennedy. I only faced him once when we were at the USA tryouts. He struck me out with a fastball right down the middle of the plate. So basically he out-smarted me and I just tipped my hat and went back to the dugout. Just the way he pitches is so crafty and he's very smart. BaseballAnalysts: What professional baseball goals have you set for yourself, if any? Matt LaPorta: Making it to professional baseball, obviously, but that's about as far as it goes right now. I haven't been there so I don't have a base to set any goals. I don't know what it's like. BaseballAnalysts: Are there any players on your team who have really impressed you that you think could be poised for a big breakout in the next year or two? Matt LaPorta: Yeah, our shortstop Cole Figueroa. He's a freshman and he's going to be a phenomenal player and someone to watch out for in the next couple of years. BaseballAnalysts: So the Blue Jays are going to regret not signing him after drafting him out of high school last year? Matt LaPorta: Is that who drafted him? BaseballAnalysts: Yes, it was. Matt LaPorta: Oh yeah. He's a quality person and a great ballplayer. BaseballAnalysts: If you weren't pursuing a career as a baseball player, what other career would you pursue? Matt LaPorta: Entrepreneurialship. I'd like to buy and sell businesses. Things of that nature. And do a lot of investing... Kind of like Donald Trump. The guys on my team always give me crap for it. BaseballAnalysts: Well, thank you very much for your time, Matt, and hopefully we'll get to talk again sometime. Matt LaPorta: All right, sounds good. Take care. BaseballAnalysts: You too. baseballanalysts.com/archives/2007/05/matt_laporta_in_1.php ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Focus Area Comments Hitting Ability: Simply put, LaPorta can flat out hit. Period. After a subpar junior year because of injury, he's back raking again at Florida with outstanding plate discpline to boot. Power: LaPorta has as much power as any bat, especially from the college ranks, in this draft class. He's got power to all fields and can hit the ball out of any ballpark with any kind of bat. Running Speed: He's not a runner as a former catcher, but that's not what people will want from him as a pro. Arm Strength: As a former catcher, he's got decent arm strength for a first baseman. Fielding: He may never win a gold glove, but he's been OK at first defensively this year. Physical Description: LaPorta is a big, strong left-handed power-hitting first baseman. Medical Update: He spent nearly all of his junior season struggling with an oblique injury, but he's clearly healthy now. Strengths: He can hit and hit with plenty of power. Weaknesses: Unless someone thinks he can play another position -- not a common belief -- LaPorta is limited to first base or DH duties in the future. Summary: LaPorta has quickly erased a forgettable injury-riddled junior season with a monster senior campaign. With nothing to lose and healthy, he appears to be relaxed and enjoying the game again. It seems that his decision not to sign with the Red Sox after being drafted in the 14th round a year ago will be a good one for him. -MinorLeagueBaseball.com www.minorleaguebaseball.com/milb/events/draft_report/y2007/index.jsp?mc=laporta ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ SEC Announces Annual Baseball Honors BIRMINGHAM, Ala. -- Florida senior first baseman Matt LaPorta was selected 2007 SEC Baseball Player of the Year, Vanderbilt's junior lefthander David Price was named SEC Pitcher of the Year and Ole Miss outfielder Jordan Henry was named SEC Freshman of the Year by a vote of the league's 12 head baseball coaches. The coaches also tabbed Vanderbilt skipper Tim Corbin as SEC Coach of the Year. Alabama outfielder Emeel Salem was named SEC Baseball Scholar-Athlete of the Year for the second consecutive year. LaPorta and Price lead a list of players named to the first and second-team All-SEC squads for this season. A semifinalist for the Dick Howser Trophy, presented to the top player in collegiate baseball, LaPorta is hitting an SEC-best .419 with 59 runs, 51 walks, 50 RBI and 19 home runs. He leads the league with an .838 slugging percentage and an on-base percentage of .591 and drew 10 walks (nine intentional) in 14 plate appearances last weekend versus Tennessee. -SECsports.com EzCode Parsing Error:=SEC newwindow]SEC Announces Annual Baseball Honors [

This thread will be used to post all draft picks in order of their selection, as well as page-by-page details of the picks, which we will slowly but surely add to in the coming days. Please do not post in this thread. Non-staff comments will be deleted. Myself or another moderator will update the picks and player profiles. If you have comments/links about a player, please post them in the appropriate discussion thread. Bold indicates player has signed. 1. (7 overall): Matt LaPorta, LF, University of Florida 2. (71): Pick forfeited for the signing of Type A free agent Jeff Suppan 3. (101): Jonathan Lucroy, C, Louisiana-Lafayette 4. (131): Eric Farris, 2B, Loyola Marymount 5. (161): Caleb Gindl, CF, Pace High School (FL) 6. (191): Daniel Merklinger, LHP, Seton Hall 7. (221): Efrain Nieves, LHP, Puerto Rico BB Academy High School (PR) 8. (251): David Fonseca, SS, Los Angeles Pierce College 9. (281): Kristian Bueno, LHP, Calallen High School (TX) 10. (311): Eric Fryer, C, Ohio State 11. (341): Cody Scarpetta, RHP, Guilford High School (IL) 12. (371): Wes Etheridge, RHP, UC Irvine (CA) 13. (401): Christopher Dennis, LF, St. Thomas of Villanova SS 14. (431): Donovan Hand, RHP, Jacksonville St. University (FL) 15. (461): Joey Paciorek, 3B, Blaine High School (WA) 16. (491): Joel Morales, RHP, Puerto Rico Baseball Academy High School 17. (521): Erik Miller, CF, Scottsdale Community College (AZ) 18. (551): Bobby Bramhall, LHP, Rice University (TX) 19. (581): Zealous Wheeler, 3B, Wallace State Community College (AL) 20. (611): Cameron Robulack, 1B, Silverthorn Collegiate Institute 21. (641): Connor Hoehn, RHP, St. Johns High School (MD) 22. (671): Matthew Cline, SS, Cal St. Long Beach (CA) 23. (701): William Hawn, 3B, South Doyle High School (TN) 24. (731): Jonathan White, CF, Vandebilt University (TN) 25. (761): Chadwick Bell, LHP, South Doyle High School (TN) 26. (791): Benjamin Feltner, LF, Texas A&M (TX) 27. (821): Joshua Trejo, LHP, James Logan High School (CA) 28. (851): Steffan Wilson, 3B, Harvard (PA) 29. (881): Travis Nevakshonoff, RHP, DW Poppy Secondary School (Canada) 30. (911): Corey Frerichs, RHP, Temple College (TX) 31. (941): Jonathan Clarence, LHP, Columbus North High School (IN) 32. (970): Miguel Vasquez, SS, Seminole Community College (FL) 33. (999): Ryan Jensen, CF, Walnut Grove, British Columbia, Canada 34. (1028) : Casey Baron, LHP, University of Maryland (MD) 35. (1057): Curtis Rindal, 1B, University of Washington (WA) 36. (1086): Curtis Pasma, LHP, University of Pacific (CA) 37. (1114): Richard Hague, SS, Klein Collins High School (TX) 38. (1142): Kurt Crowell, OF, Cal State Los Angeles (CA) 39. (1170): Joseph Scott, SS, Cal State Fullerton (CA) 40. (1198) : Jordan Tanner, RHP, Neshannock High School (PA) 41. (1224): Adam Arnold, RHP, Thompson River University (Canada) 42. (1250): Chase Reid, RHP, Carrol High School (TX) 43. (1276): Cullen Sexton, RHP, Stevens Point High School (WI) 44. (1302): Shawn Zarraga, C, Trinity Christian Academy (FL) 45. (1328) : Matt Sergey, RHP, South Plantation High School (FL) 46. (1352): Stewart Ijames, RF, Owensboro Catholic High School (KY) 47. (1375): Aaron Tullo, RHP, St. Petersburg Junior College (FL) 48.: Pass 49.: Pass 50.: Pass

If the Royals do pass on Porcello, and end up taking Vitters, there could be a chance Moustakas falls in the Brewers lap (the Nats could take Porcello). Although since he's being talked about as a possible 2nd overall pick, his price tag is already higher than I thought it would be, even with the Boras connection.

dpapo, thanks for posting that. It is a very unpleasant reminder. They should stick with shortstops (Thomas, Yount, Molitor, Sveum, Sheffield, Spiers). Maybe that's the key. If they do draft a prep arm, they should draft that player as a shortstop.

The Cubs reportedly may be moving off of Vitters, either sliding back to Wieters, focusing in on Moustakas or possibly going after Parker. If Vitters slides that's good news for the Pirates. If Vitters is the Cubs pick, I think the Pirates selection could be relatively surprising. And as I've noted before, the Nats are connected to Moustakas more and more. I don't think I've seen them connected to Moskos at all up until Mayo's recent mock draft. Everyone seems to be convinced that the Nats will take an arm. Schmidt at #8? That would be a reach. If he pitches like he does now (elevating high-80s fastballs) at Coors Field he will get eaten alive. The Giants have a ton of extra, early picks. Wieters is a good fit for them (although he's a good fit with most teams outside of maybe the Braves, Twins, Dodgers and any other team with a young and established stud catcher), but I don't know how they would be able to sign all of their first-rounders with even one difficult sign in the mix.

Hey come on now, I changed my tune dramatically with Fielder after I saw him club home runs off of the Miller Park scoreboard as part of the pre-draft in '02 http://forum.brewerfan.net/images/smilies/smile.gif . Kotchman though, yes. His career has started a little slower than people thought it would, but he's having a nice year this year, and despite getting Fielder the next year, it's hard to argue with how much I campaigned for Kotchman given the way Mike Jones career has gone (although my desire for Kotchman was never anything against Jones). I always prefer pitchers that show they can pitch over those that just show they can throw hard. I do like Aumont for how much his pitches move and for the simple fact that the two teams drafting just ahead of the Brewers, the Orioles and Nationals, have also been linked to Aumont, so despite the likely talk that the Brewers went "cheap" again, if they do take Aumont, it's not like the kid isn't worthy of the 7th overall pick (meaning, they wouldn't be the first team that would consider taking such a pitcher, as they were with Rogers in 2004). Entering the spring I never thought the Brewers would take a prep pitcher two years in a row, and who knows, maybe they won't. If Moustakas is gone, I don't expect the team to take Wieters should he be there, and the talent at seven definitely favors the prep arms. I'm a big fan of Heyward, but otherwise there isn't that one guy out there that I feel particularly strongly about (other than Moustakas and Wieters) to get too upset should Aumont be the pick. EDIT: It should also be noted that my predictions in the past have typically been based on who I want to see the team take (yes, I preferred Moore over Fielder). I changed that this year, relying on sources that have a pretty good sense of the players the Brewers have zeroed in on and also who the teams ahead of the Brewers have been closing in on. I have not expressed who I would take even if Moustakas and Wieters were off the board and money wasn't an issue, knowing Katuluu and xisxisxis would be all over me if I did. Last year I do believe I accurately mentioned that if Jeffress were available, despite noting that I didn't think he would be, that the Brewers would likely pounce on him. In 2005 I didn't care who the team would take, because I liked all of the players that were linked to the team (Braun, Maybin, Tulowitzki, Bruce and Romero).

I predicted on your show that Moustakas wouldn't be available. I also predicted that Scherzer would be signed by the D-Backs. Scherzer could have helped make Moustakas more of a possibility, but most seemed to think Scherzer was best off taking the deal the D-Backs on the table, which of course he did. Unfortunately (to some/most) I also predicted that Aumont would be the pick. Meaning, don't count on Wieters even if he's there.

Aumont is extremely athletic, so he has a better chance repeating his mechanics than some of the stiffer giants that are often available (like Blake Beaven). I am somewhat excited about Aumont in that I've been hearing so much about the movement on his pitches lately. He's drawn some Kevin Brown comparisons lately due to how much his fastball dips and dives. Of course for every Kevin Brown there are 50 Jamey Wright's, but that can be said of any draft eligible prospect drawing comparisons to proven and successful big-leaguers. And carrying some comments in from a few other threads on the draft forum, keep in mind that I predicted that not only would Aumont would be the pick, but that Moustakas wouldn't be available at the 7th spot. I keep hearing the Brewers will take Moustakas will be there if he's available, but it just doesn't look like that's going to happen. And even if it's not Aumont, don't expect Heyward or another bat. Jarrod Parker and Madison Bumgarner are the names most frequently associated with the Brewers, two other prep arms, although Parker may not be available either. And I've said all along that I would believe the Matt Wieters pick when I see it. I'd love to see it, but I'm not going to tease myself.

Pioneers already hit on it. Rohde's a great player, but unfortunately he probably doesn't have much of a pro career ahead of him. I will be very happy to see him join a club as a free agent as a fifth-year senior.

jchris nailed it about the quality of play. It will improve as the season progresses and as more players report. The draft always plays a part on who shows up and who doesn't. Obviously the talent on the Cape is king, and then there is Team USA as well, both of which typically grab the best college players in the nation. The NWL talent is often considered second best among the summer college leagues. The Alaskan League may have something to say about that, and the Texas Collegiate League is getting better. Again as jchris noted, the NWL wants to be the best of them all, but I just don't know how they would ever overthrow the Cape. There is just too much tradition that they would be going up against. Plus, the teams are all within an hour of themselves I believe, which is a huge drawback for the NWL, which has teams in WI, MN, Canada and I believe Michigan also has a team that is new this year. That's an awful lot of travel, although that does prepare the players for life in the minor leagues (which isn't exactly a selling point).

Thanks a lot Pioneers. I just got done recording a Podcast with CSTV, which I'm guessing will be available for everyone to download at some point today or tomorrow. They mentioned that you go to the iTune store and search for CSTV. I hope to download it later today, or whenever it's available, and as always I'm anxious to hear what other people think.

Thanks for the updates JohnBriggs. Michigan knocked off #1 Vanderbilt to advance to the Super Regionals.

Sheets is a tough comp this year just because the class of college RHPs this year is thin. Last year there was the perfect comp in Ian Kennedy, even if Kennedy didn't have Sheets' pure stuff. Vandy closer Casey Weather is a little Sheets-esque, short(er) and stocky with a mid to high 90s fastball and mid-to-high 80s slider. He's not a starter though (although I think he should be given a chance as one). Prep pitcher Jarrod Parker is a lot like Sheets, again on the short side with a mid to high 90s fastball and nasty breaking pitch. Washington prep righty Greg Peavey is also on the shorter side, but has a very good fastball with great life and a wicked slider. Brett Anderson comp...how about Cory Luebke, whose name has been brought up before. Luebke doesn't really throw like Anderson does, who pitches off of his fastball while Luebke is more like Zito by working off of his big curveball. Tony Watson may also be available after the third round, as he's a bigger lefty with a stellar changeup that has caused me to compare him to David Huff. Prep lefty Sean Bierman seems to be a lock to head to Vanderbilt, but he has good size and a good sense of how to pitch despite not having the best stuff (if he did he would be a first-round candidate). Drew Pomeranz is he slides past the third round may be heading to Ole Miss, but he has very good size and projection. He currently throws in the low-90s but most think he'll be in the mid-90s consistently very soon. For Will Inman, I'm going to throw out Sam Runion. He's taller and bigger than Inman, but has similar stuff and command of the strike zone. Justin Grimm also stands out to me when Inman's name is brought up. And how about UW-SP Jordan Zimmerman for a comp to Inman. Another shorter righty with good, but not great stuff that knows how to pitch, and also knows how to compete. Zimmerman actually reminds me a lot of Tim Hudson.

Forget Will Clark, about about Barry Bonds, Barry Larkin and Rafael Palmeiro?

You need to be recommended to scout school, as not just everyone can give MLB a call and ask how they can be involved. I really helps if you are a former player, at least through the college level, if you don't have any pro time under your belt. Get to as many games as possible. Immerse yourself into the game, and make as many observations as possible. Introduce yourself to as many scouts as possible. Try to find out who the guys are the cover the area you live in, and see if you can shadow them for a game or ten. See if they have any interest letting you become a bird-dog scout for them. Study sports management in college, or some kind of similar field. I have always heard a lot of people ask how they can become a scout. It's very hard to get into the world of scouting, and even those that do know that the money isn't the greatest. There are a lot of long hours traveling to your next destination, and you have to do an intense amount of networking to try and figure out who the best players are, what days and where they are playing, and how you make that all fit. This could easily be a 10,000 post, but I'm going to stop there. Good luck.

Thanks again for having me on Craig.

But I don't think a player is done any favors by being switched from position to position in the minors like Nelson was and Moustakas would be. Nelson is just one example that didn't work, but did he not work out because the team moved him around? And the Brewers really didn't move him around that much. They converted him to a 1B immediately upon drafting him, and had him play a corner OF spot a couple of years ago before moving him back to 1B last year. Corey Hart moved from 1B to 3B to the OF and handled the moves just fine. If that is the reason a player doesn't make the big-leagues, they probably aren't going to make the big leagues anyway. If you're concerned about where Moustakas fits, move him to LF, as the organization definitely has a need for power hitting corner outfielders, and let his bat carry him. If he doesn't make it, it will have nothing to do with where he fits in the system. I like Casy Weathers, but I wouldn't take a reliever 7th. Do you think whoever drafts him will make him a starter? Colbyjack mentioned earlier he thought Weathers might be able to do that. I don't know if anyone other than me would try Weathers as a starter first. I suggested the same with both Ryan Wagner and Craig Hansen, but obviously both were groomed as closers. As for Aumont, I just read late last week that there are some character issues involved with him, more than the reasons that were stated in the story that Mass Haas provided (you have to like his honesty). I guess he is living with guardians now, and now with his parents. I haven't heard what that is about, and I'm not sure if it is viewed as a negative.

I agree that Ford needs to be at Brevard, but who gets bumped up (or down) to make a spot for him? Gillespie isn't hitting that well right now, despite having a hot week or so in early May. Errecart has been slumping since his incredibly hot April, and while Cain has been hitting much better, I'm not sure if he is hitting well enough to get moved up to Huntsville. Braun of course got bumped up to AA at midseason a year ago despite not having the best numbers, but the team clearly liked enough of how he was handling himself at the plate, since the FSL is known to supress offensive production. So, there is a bit of a logjam, even if some players are deserving of a promotion. It will be interesting to see how it plays out, but you can't really point to anyone at BC as being worthy of a bump up, meaning Ford and Brantley stay put for now. I do think Manny Parra should be promoted to AAA as soon as the organization sees fit. Mass Haas made a very good point a week or two ago about the team not promoting players until the first half playoff implications have been determined. Since all of the teams are in the mix, with first half titles to win below the AAA level, we probably won't see any moves until that has been determined (although I think we're only a week or two away from that). I could see Inman replacing Parra, with McClendon replacing Inman once Braddock returns to WV. We could also see a few relievers move up as part of a chain reaction (Hinton to AAA, Roberts to AA, etc.).

The idea is to take negotiating power away from the hands of the players and their respective advisors and put more negotiating power into the hands of the teams. Time is the most powerful tool in negotiations, which is why we have seen so many players the past few years carry their negotiations into the following year, often a week before the next year's draft. Losing the DFE process because of this does suck, but it will be interesting to see how it plays out this summer. And not all teams used the DFE process as much as the Brewers. The past couple of years the Brewers have had one of the higher totals of DFEs signed. The Braves and Angels have also been active using the process, but it's not that is was one used by all small market teams. Considering that the Brewers just dropped close to $2 million on this year's DFE class, it's not even a process that you can say fits small market teams the best. The Yankees for instance have also had a great deal of success using the process (Andy Pettitte and Jorge Posada come to mind).

I have seen a few people question Wieters' productivity in college, which prompted me to write a Crack of the Bat column on his productivity during his college career: www.pgcrosschecker.com/cr...nsistency/ What is most impressive to me is how well he hit last summer on the Cape. If you focus too much on his numbers this year I think you are going to miss out on one heck of a player. Nice draft fewgoodcards. I agree that those players seem unlikely to fall to those spots, but you never know. After the first round, I really hope Jordan Zimmerman falls to the Brewers third round pick.