2005 MLB Draft - Jays Review, Day One

[Impossibles]

This article is from scout.com. Here's the link

1st Round: LHP Ricky Romero, Cal-State Fullerton
Romero is the best left-hand pitcher in this draft, and is compared to Twins starter Johan Santana with his stuff. He features a fastball regularly clocked between 88-91 MPH, but has reached 93 MPH at times. His curveball is his best “out” pitch, and most dominating pitch. Romero throws his 12-6 curveball in the 74-78 MPH range. His third pitch is a changeup, which has improved from his sophomore season, and the left-hander throws it in the 80-82 MPH range with solid sink and fade. Romero also features a slider that is clocked 81-82 MPH, but he has not thrown it often. The slider, however, is a pitch if he perfects could be effective against right-hand batters. Aside from being very good on the mound, Romero is an excellent student of the game and has a tremendous mental approach as he walks to the mound.

2nd Round: NO SELECTION

3rd Round: Brian Pettway, OF, University of Mississippi

Just like in 2004 the Blue Jays went with a college senior selecting a two-way player from Mississippi and announcing him as a right fielder. Pettway, who will be twenty-two years old on July 29, is a senior that needs to work on his fielding, however, has real potential with his bat. The Mississippi native has a solid approach at the plate and projects to be more of a doubles hitter than a home run hitter. Pettway was the winner of the Boo Ferriss Trophy this year awarded to the Top College Baseball Player in the State of Mississippi.

4th Round: Ryan Patterson, LF, LSU

Patterson, who was was originally drafted in the 34th Round of the 2002 Draft by the Atlanta Braves, is the second college senior to be selected by the Jays, following a familiar path for the organization. Over the past three years Patterson had 40 home runs for LSU and batted .353, while driving in 174 runs. In 805 at bats the left fielder has struck out just 113 times. Scouts are not completely sold on Patterson’s power as he enters professional baseball.

5th Round: Jonathan Eric Fowler, LHP, University of Mississippi

Fowler, 22, is 7-2 with a 3.09 ERA this season for Ole Miss. In 81.2 innings he has allowed 69 hits, issued 22 walks and struck out 94 batters. The 6’3, 215 pound left-hander was expected to be drafted late in Day 1, and it is expected that the Jays will sign him quickly. He is a soft-tossing lefty with his fastball clocked between 87-89 MPH, and features a slider with plus potential. Fowler has experience as both a starter and a reliever, and it is now yet know how the Jays view him as. Opposing batters are hitting .222 off him this season.

6th Round: Josh Bell, C, Auburn University

Bell, a switch-hitting catcher, was drafted just one round lower than in 2002 when the Cardinals selected him in the fifth round. Bell has been moved all around the infield, including the pitching mound, but has appeared to find his home behind the plate. He has an above average throwing arm from the plate, plus power for a catcher, and it will be interesting to see if Bell remains behind the plate. This season the 6’0, 200 pound catcher hit .338 with 11 home runs and 59 RBI.

7th Round: Robert Ray, RHP, Texas A&M
Ray has tremendous potential and was considered a premium talent after his sophomore season with Texas A&M. He features a low-to-mid 90s fastball and a plus curveball, with a good changeup that gets left-hand batters out. Just like Fowler, he has experience pitching both as a starter and a reliever. Ray finished 2-4 with one save and a 3.78 ERA this season. He allowed 54 hits and 13 walks while striking out 59 in 64 1/3 innings.

8th Round: Jacob Butler, OF, University of Nevada
Butler is the third college senior to be selected by the Jays in this draft and all of his ability is dependent upon his bat. Butler hit .333 this season with 11 home runs and 43 RBI for Nevada and in his four-year career hit 39 home runs and drove in 156 runs. The 6'1, 200 pound outfielder was selected on the First Team All WAC for the second straight season in 2005.

9th Round: Paul Phillips, RHP, Oakland University

Phillips is filled with potential, but also filled with injury concerns. He features a fastball in the 89-94 MPH range, and has a nasty slider that is clocked in the 83-86 MPH range. Some scouts have questioned his mechanics and believe they will lead to arm and shoulder injuries in the future. In 2003 he had labrum surgery and that was a major factor of why he went 2-8 with a 4.23 ERA this year, with opponents hitting .298 off him. Phillips is just twenty-one years old and could return for his junior season. If he signs he projects more as a reliever.

10th Round: Josh Sowers, RHP, Yale University

Josh, is the twin brother of Jeremy Sowers, and went 6-1 with a 2.10 ERA this year, striking out 63 batters in 60 innings. Josh does not throw hard as his fastball is clocked in the 86-89 MPH range but had late movement and has an above average slider in his repertoire. He could be moved to the bullpen as he enters professional baseball.

[DirtyKash]

10th Round: Josh Sowers, RHP, Yale University

Josh, is the twin brother of Jeremy Sowers, and went 6-1 with a 2.10 ERA this year, striking out 63 batters in 60 innings. Josh does not throw hard as his fastball is clocked in the 86-89 MPH range but had late movement and has an above average slider in his repertoire. He could be moved to the bullpen as he enters professional baseball.

They drafted a RHP named Josh Sowers? Ha! Ha!