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06-11-2005, 07:22 AM
Sure, Milwaukee stockpiled its future in this week's Major League draft.
But what does that mean for the low Class A West Virginia Power?
Well, if history dictates future, it most likely means, "See you next year."
Not a single player from the Brewers' 2004 draft was sent to start the season in low Class A right after the draft. They all began in Rookie League.
Then, only three of the 19 players signed last year by Milwaukee even made it to Class A in their first professional season.
Looking at the numbers, Milwaukee's 2005 draft compares similar to last June
Last year, nine of the 19 signed players were from high school, two were from junior college and eight from a four-year college. Seven were position players and 12 were pitchers.
In the top 19 picks of this draft, the Brewers took eight high schoolers, six junior college players and five guys from four-year institutions. Nine are position players this year, while 10 are pitchers.
Generally, Milwaukee has started all players off in Rookie League, especially the high school kids.
First-round picks Rickie Weeks (second overall in 2003) and Prince Fielder (seventh overall in 2002) were no different, even though Weeks played just one Rookie League game.
Weeks, an established college player, went to Class A after one game and eventually got called up to the big league team for a short late-season stint. Fielder, though, was a high school player who spent 42 games in Rookie League before ending the year in Class A ball.
"If you went to college, it is pretty much the same," said Power outfielder Will Lewis, about the difficulties of Class A pitching. "You're facing pretty good pitchers every night. You have to do it every night -- day in and day out. It becomes a grind. You're body gets tired.
"I don't know about high school guys," Lewis said after Wednesday's 9-7 loss to Lexington.
"This might be a whole big experience for those guys."
High school players and young junior college prospects might not have the experience of playing so many games deep into the summer.
And from a history standpoint, college players are a little more fine tuned, which is why it's likely Milwaukee's top draft pick Ryan Braun (fifth overall) could end up in Charleston sometime.
There's a chance it might not be as soon as some think, even though the Brewers' front office has spoken publicly about the lack of organizational depth at third base.
The third baseman, who some project will eventually switch to outfield, will finish his college postseason with the 14th-ranked University of Miami before signing.
If the Brewers opt to send him to Rookie League first, it could be late July or August before he gets a shot with the Power.
POWER PLUGS: Lexington's 22-year-old centerfielder Hunter Pence leads all of professional baseball with 21 homers. Five of those long balls have come against the Power. ... Wednesday's game lasted 3 hours and 3 minutes. ... The Power (20-39) led 7-6 entering the ninth, before Lexington put up three runs on reliever Robert Hinton. ... It took more than 50 games, but Power players are finally climbing into the South Atlantic League leaderboard. Injured shortstop Alcides Escobar was 10th in the league with a .312 average entering Wednesday's game. He is expected to return from an ankle injury this weekend. Second baseman Hernan Iribarren ranks fourth in the SAL with 21 stolen bases. Escobar and Iribarren both are tied for first in the SAL with five triples apiece. ... Appalachian Power Park will go over the 100,000 attendance mark Friday, which only has standing room seats available. In just 28 home games, the Power has drawn 94,874 for an average of 3,388. In Watt Powell Park's sendoff last year, only 128,158 came to see the Charleston Alley Cats.
But what does that mean for the low Class A West Virginia Power?
Well, if history dictates future, it most likely means, "See you next year."
Not a single player from the Brewers' 2004 draft was sent to start the season in low Class A right after the draft. They all began in Rookie League.
Then, only three of the 19 players signed last year by Milwaukee even made it to Class A in their first professional season.
Looking at the numbers, Milwaukee's 2005 draft compares similar to last June
Last year, nine of the 19 signed players were from high school, two were from junior college and eight from a four-year college. Seven were position players and 12 were pitchers.
In the top 19 picks of this draft, the Brewers took eight high schoolers, six junior college players and five guys from four-year institutions. Nine are position players this year, while 10 are pitchers.
Generally, Milwaukee has started all players off in Rookie League, especially the high school kids.
First-round picks Rickie Weeks (second overall in 2003) and Prince Fielder (seventh overall in 2002) were no different, even though Weeks played just one Rookie League game.
Weeks, an established college player, went to Class A after one game and eventually got called up to the big league team for a short late-season stint. Fielder, though, was a high school player who spent 42 games in Rookie League before ending the year in Class A ball.
"If you went to college, it is pretty much the same," said Power outfielder Will Lewis, about the difficulties of Class A pitching. "You're facing pretty good pitchers every night. You have to do it every night -- day in and day out. It becomes a grind. You're body gets tired.
"I don't know about high school guys," Lewis said after Wednesday's 9-7 loss to Lexington.
"This might be a whole big experience for those guys."
High school players and young junior college prospects might not have the experience of playing so many games deep into the summer.
And from a history standpoint, college players are a little more fine tuned, which is why it's likely Milwaukee's top draft pick Ryan Braun (fifth overall) could end up in Charleston sometime.
There's a chance it might not be as soon as some think, even though the Brewers' front office has spoken publicly about the lack of organizational depth at third base.
The third baseman, who some project will eventually switch to outfield, will finish his college postseason with the 14th-ranked University of Miami before signing.
If the Brewers opt to send him to Rookie League first, it could be late July or August before he gets a shot with the Power.
POWER PLUGS: Lexington's 22-year-old centerfielder Hunter Pence leads all of professional baseball with 21 homers. Five of those long balls have come against the Power. ... Wednesday's game lasted 3 hours and 3 minutes. ... The Power (20-39) led 7-6 entering the ninth, before Lexington put up three runs on reliever Robert Hinton. ... It took more than 50 games, but Power players are finally climbing into the South Atlantic League leaderboard. Injured shortstop Alcides Escobar was 10th in the league with a .312 average entering Wednesday's game. He is expected to return from an ankle injury this weekend. Second baseman Hernan Iribarren ranks fourth in the SAL with 21 stolen bases. Escobar and Iribarren both are tied for first in the SAL with five triples apiece. ... Appalachian Power Park will go over the 100,000 attendance mark Friday, which only has standing room seats available. In just 28 home games, the Power has drawn 94,874 for an average of 3,388. In Watt Powell Park's sendoff last year, only 128,158 came to see the Charleston Alley Cats.