2007 Draft Report

[TSC25]

OAKLAND ATHLETICS

Best Pro Debut: 1B Danny Hamblen (10) ranked second in the short-season Northwest League in RBIs (62) and fifth in doubles (21) and hit .275/.365/.494 with 11 home runs. RHP James Simmons (1) held his own in 30 innings in the Double-A Texas League, posting a 3.94 ERA. RHP Andrew Carignan (5) fanned 19 in 13 innings and posted a 2.03 ERA at low Class A Kane County.

Best Athlete: OFs Corey Brown (1s) and Grant Desme (2) both have all-around tools. Brown was recruited as a wide receiver in high school. Unsigned OF/2B Gary Brown (12) was the bst athlete the A's drafted.

Best Pure Hitter: 1B Sean Doolittle (1s) reminds scouts of the likes of Dave Magadan and James Loney as a first baseman who will hit for average but not premium power. He has excellent plate discipline and an advanced approach, and the A's expect him to improve now that he no longer has to pitch as he did at Virginia.

Best Power Hitter: Brown and Hamblin tied for fourth in Division I this spring with 22 homers, and both hit 11 for Vancouver. Desme was keeping pace with 15 before a May wrist injury and has the most usable power of the group.

Fastest Runner: SS Michael Richard (11) is a well-above-average runner who stole 76 bases overall between Prairie View A&M and Vancouver.

Best Defensive Player: Doolittle could be a Gold Glover at first base with smooth actions and agility around the bag.

Best Fastball: Carignan and RHP Sam Demel (3) pitch at 92-94 and at times can touch 96; both profile as back-of-the-bullpen power arms despite the fact neither is taller than 6-feet. Simmons doesn't throw as hard, though in shorter outings he bumps 93-94. However, his 89-90 mph heater with UC Riverside featured 70 command.

Best Secondary Pitch: Demel has a plus slider and a changeu that at times has excellent late sink. Simmons' commands his changeup as well as his fastball. LHP Aaron Jenkins (22) produces a hellacious curveball from his 5-foot-8, 180-pound frame.

Most Intriguing Background: Brown's younger brother Dylan played with him at Oklahoma State and could be a top prospect for the 2009 draft. Unsigned LHP Daniel Schlereth (9) is the son of ex-NFL player and current TV analyst Mark Schlereth. The A's drafted two sons of ex-big leaguers: RHP Brent Lysander (16), whose father Rick spent three seasons with the Twins in the '80s; and unsigned RHP Trent Abbott (36), son of Paul, who won 17 games for the Mariners in 2001.

Closest To The Majors: Simmons, with Carignan and Demel close behind.

Best Late-Round Pick: Jenkins could be a lefty specialist with his curveball. RHP Lee Land (28) went to three colleges in three seasons but impressed in the Cape Cod League this summer, at times pitching at 92-94 mph, and signed as a summer follow.

The One Who Got Away: Brown would have livened up this draft class considerably with his 80 speed and pure athleticism. He's at Cal State Fullerton. Schlereth and fellow LHP Eric Berger (8), who missed the spring recovering from Tommy John surgery, returned to Arizona and should be part of a powerhouse pitching staff.

Assessment: Oakland went back to what it does well