Rangers first round pick is...

[crzyjournalist03]

Justin Smoak...1B from South Carolina.

MLB.com's analysis:

"He can't run and is limited defensively to first base, but there will be more than enough bat to make up for those shortcomings."

Great move...the Texas Rangers just redrafted Jason Botts...:rolleyes:

[Rabbit'93]

Originally posted by crzyjournalist03
Justin Smoak...1B from South Carolina.

MLB.com's analysis:

"He can't run and is limited defensively to first base, but there will be more than enough bat to make up for those shortcomings."

Great move...the Texas Rangers just redrafted Jason Botts...:rolleyes: did you expect anything else from daniels and co.?

[crzyjournalist03]

Originally posted by Rabbit'93
did you expect anything else from daniels and co.?

apparently the mlb.com scouting report isn't telling the whole story...Baseball America and ESPN's Peter Gammons both projected him higher in the draft and said that he's a Gold-Glove calibur first baseman right now who is the most complete first baseman both offensively and defensively in the draft. Baseball America compares him to Mark Teixeira coming out of the draft; Gammons says Chipper Jones.

[crzyjournalist03]

Keith Law's analysis:

"This is the best pick in the draft so far. Smoak is the third-best player on my board. He's a switch-hitting Adrian Gonzalez with more power. In the Rangers' ballpark, he has a good chance to hit 40 home runs, if he develops. There are no major holes in his game. I saw this scenario possibly unfolding last night. A lot of things had to go right for them to get Smoak, and they did."

http://sports.espn.go.com/mlb/draft2008/news/story?id=3427340

[K-MAC Chuck]

For those of you in the Central Texas area (and those who hear me and the other sports guys on KVET-AM 1300, The Zone, Austin), the Rangers got a STEAL with their first pick..

Quotes from Will Carroll of Baseball Prospectus:

"Great pick by the Rangers - the best one in the first round so far."

"He's Adrian Gonzalez (Diamondbacks) with more power and better average."

"Once the Rangers figure out their catcher/DH positions (with Laird and Saltalamacchia), Justin will help provide good hitting. Although, most see him as a DH in the majors because he's not (very good) defensively."

[crzyjournalist03]

Originally posted by K-MAC Chuck
For those of you in the Central Texas area (and those who hear me and the other sports guys on KVET-AM 1300, The Zone, Austin), the Rangers got a STEAL with their first pick..

Quotes from Will Carroll of Baseball Prospectus:

"Great pick by the Rangers - the best one in the first round so far."

"He's Adrian Gonzalez (Diamondbacks) with more power and better average."

"Once the Rangers figure out their catcher/DH positions (with Laird and Saltalamacchia), Justin will help provide good hitting. Although, most see him as a DH in the majors because he's not (very good) defensively."

The funny thing is...the Rangers HAD Adrian Gonzalez before they traded him to the Padres.

Strange that there's such a differing of opinions on his defense; some rate it as below average, others rate it as Gold-glove caliber right now.

[Necks_Fan]

Originally posted by crzyjournalist03
The funny thing is...the Rangers HAD Adrian Gonzalez before they traded him to the Padres.

Strange that there's such a differing of opinions on his defense; some rate it as below average, others rate it as Gold-glove caliber right now. Hm. Sounds as if the only known thing is he can hit well.

Regardless, sounds like a good pick.


Atleast he's getting good reviews. The Astros have negative feedback all the way on their pick.