MLB Draft 2010

With so much going on in the world of sports right now (NBA Finals, Stanley Cup Finals, World Cup, French Open, etc…) it’s easy to overlook the MLB Draft. But for the future success of the Cleveland Indians, the next few days will be crucial for this rebuilding franchise. Thanks to a dismal season last year, the Indians hold a high pick - the fifth overall selection in round one. This is the team’s highest draft position since 1992 when they selected Paul Shuey with the second selection.

Round one is where teams can grab players who are closest to being major league ready. For example, the Tribe’s 2009 first round pick Alex White (15th overall) is already in AA ball pitching for Akron. Holding the 5th overall pick means this season’s draft pool will be even deeper for the Indians.

Several mock drafts show LHP Drew Pomeranz falling to the fifth pick and if he does, the Indians would do well to select him. This 6'5" junior from Ole Miss had a fantastic 2010 season, with a 9-2 record, a 2.24 ERA, and 139 strikeouts in 100 innings pitched. As with the NFL draft, many MLB teams choose to go with the “best talent available” strategy in round one rather than addressing specific needs. This should be the approach the Indians should take, even with all the pitching prospects they’ve acquired in the last two years. So if Pomeranz falls to five, this is a no-brainer.

If Pomeranz is gone, the Indians could look to improve the outfield. With Grady Sizemore out for the season and his durability as a major leaguer in question, the outfield is a long-term concern for this franchise. Michael Choice, 6’1” 215 lbs, from UT-Arlington might be a bit of a stretch at five. But this outfielder is a power bat at the plate and an above average fielder. If the goal is to improve the outfield in this draft, Choice is a solid place to start.

In the past decade, first round results have been less than stellar for the Tribe. While names like Trevor Crowe (2005) and David Huff (2006) are at least with the big league club, no first round pick has become a quality major league player for the Indians since CC Sabathia (1998). The last decade has included several busts due to either injury (Adam Miller) or poor evaluation of talent (Jeremy Sowers, Daniel Denham, Brad Snyder).

But in 2008, the Indians hired Bud Grant as Amateur Scouting Director. He’s had two drafts so far and will oversee his third with the Tribe this week. Grant selected Lonnie Chisenhall in his first draft and Alex White in his second. It might be too soon to judge either player, but both have shown signs of success in the minors. This accumulation of talent through the draft will be crucial from the Indians success down the road.

Round one begins at 7 pm on Monday, airing live on MLB TV, followed by rounds two through 30 on Tuesday and the late rounds on Wednesday. Check back with Examiner.com for draft results and analysis.