Springfield Times Annual NASBL Mock Draft

Springfield (AP) – This year’s NASBL draft belongs to the Slatington Bulldogs. Via a combination of a rough season last year and various trades, the Bulldogs have secured three first round picks, including the top two picks in this year’s draft. Three teams (Shawnee, Springfield, and Troy) do not have selections in the first round of this year’s draft. This year’s draft appears to have a number of quality pitchers, but it also appears to lack a significant number of offensive difference makers.

Since the last day of the NASBL season, the twitters have been ablaze – what will Slatington do with the first two picks in the draft? Without further adieu, the following is the Springfield Times’ Annual First Round Projections.

#1) Slatington Bulldogs – Dustin Ackley (2B)
The Times finds it interesting that despite numerous trades this offseason, the Bulldogs still fail to have a carded second sacker on its roster. This will change when the Bulldogs opt to grab Dustin Ackley with the 1st overall pick.

#2) Slatington Bulldogs (via Trade from Shawnee) – Michael Pineda (SP)
In a deep pitching draft, Pineda appears to stand alone as the top pitcher available via his combination of youth/performance. Pineda should immediately challenge Cain atop the Bulldogs rotation as the true ace of the Bulldogs staff.

#3) Honolulu Hawaiians – Eric Hosmer (1B)
The Hawaiians have continually struggled at finding a guy to plug in at 1B year in and year out. Every year it seems, the Times predicts that Stan will pick a first basemen. We thought that Daric Barton may have finally been the answer to the Hawaiians 1B issues lat year, but it wasn’t to be. Therefore, the Hawaiians grab probably the top young pure bat in this draft, who happens to be only 21 years old.

#4) Dallas Ft. Worth Spurs (via Trade from Illinois) – Carlos Santana (C/1B)
When the Spurs traded Victor Martinez to the Chows, Red moved up in the draft by five spots. Red surely had someone in mind when he made this deal. It could easily be Victor’s heir apparent, Carlos Santana. In the vein of Victor Martinez, Santana may not be a classic backstop, but he could be the Spurs long term solution at either catcher, where Josh Thole currently holds down the job, or first base, where Robbins favorite Derek Lee’s career may be nearing an end.

#5) Georgia Roadkill – Jeremy Hellickson (SP)
The MLB Rookie of the Year in the American League, Hellickson carries a great pedigree into NASBL. Will that translate into success in such an elite league as NASBL, Johnny Miller will be holding his breath to find out.

#6) Pocono Chin Music – Desmond Jennings (OF)
Jennings may be the most exciting young player in the draft. His combination of speed/defense/power may be too hard for Bill Anderson to pass up with this pick.

#7) Seattle Pilots – Danny Espinosa (2B)
With six carded starting pitchers on its roster, the Pilots look for offense with this pick. The Pilots don’t appear to have an obvious answer at 2B on its roster without wasting Polanco’s gold glove defense at third. Espinosa appears to be the top combination of offense/defense/youth available at 2B in this draft. It is possible that the Pilots go with another second sacker, Jemile Weeks with this pick.

#8) New Jersey Trash Heap – Peter Bourjos (CF)
Bourjos has a legendary reputation on defense in MLB. Defense is something that usually translates well to NASBL. While his offense may be slightly behind his defense at this point in his career, Bourjos allows the Heap to push Seth Smith to DH and there won’t be many balls dropping in the Heap outfield between Bourjos in center and Jay Bruce in right.

#9) Illinois Chow Chows (via Trade from Dallas) – James Shields (SP)
With only two carded starting pitchers on its roster, the Chows need innings. With 249 innings in MLB this season, Shields appears to be the man for the job and Brad Sherlag is thrilled to take him here.

#10) Lake Champlaign Cannibals – Craig Kimbrel (RP)
In order to be an elite closer in NASBL, it helps if you can strike guys out. Kimbrel has the reputation of a guy who can strike anyone out with any of his pitches. He also has 77 innings pitched, which are a ton for a closer.

#11) Vermont Fighting Sioux – Emilio Bonifacio (3B/2B/SS/LF/CF/RF)
Justin Rabidoux protected a full pitching staff (including relievers) on cutdown day. That is good for the Sioux’s pitching staff. Unfortunately, it means there are a lot of holes on its offensive side. It is doubtful that any man could fill all of them, but if anyone can, it is Emilio Bonifacio. Bonifacio played six defensive positions in his 565 at bats, most of them very well. Oh yeah, he also can hit, run, and steal a ton of bases.

#12) Slatington Bulldogs (via Trade from Springfield) – Allen Craig (OF/1B/3B)
Adam Leickel has already put together a solid team at this point, which means the Bulldogs have the ability to take either the best hitter or best reliever available right here. Allen Craig is clearly the best hitter available in this draft, though he has limited at bats. Craig would be a monster in the playoffs at any position the Bulldogs decide to play him

#13) Grundy County Grizzlies – Daniel Hudson (SP)
Great combination of youth, success, and innings pitched. There are many starting pitchers that have had limited MLB success in this draft, but only a couple have had success over a workload of more than 200 innings. At 24 years old, Daniel Hudson is a rare commodity and Jack Howard is thrilled he’s still there for them at #13.

#14) Outlaw Josey Wales – Brandon Beachy (SP)
Beachy is the best strikeout pitcher of any starter available in the draft. At this point, he may be one of the youngest starters available at 24 years old. This combination proves too difficult for Mark Hildebrandt to pass

#15) Illinois Chow Chows (via Trade from Troy) – Phil Humber (SP)
The Chows continue building their staff by taking the best starting pitcher available at this point in the draft, which just could be Phil Humber. At 28 years old, Humber appears to have finally turned the corner under the tutelage of MLB pitching coach Don Cooper. The Chows could also easily choose Corey Luebke or Josh Collmenter with this pick, as well.

#16) Lehigh Valley Iron Pigs – Dee Gordon (SS)
The Champs have the last pick in the first round and are faced with a difficult choice between one of a number of starting pitchers available or one of the few good offensive players still left in the draft. With Hanley Ramirez moving off of shortstop in MLB this season, the Iron Pigs can’t turn down a 23 year old shortstop with the pedigree of Dee Gordon, son of former NASBL player Tom “Flash” Gordon. Kevin Burns takes Gordon, finalizing the First Round of the 2012 NASBL Draft.