Red Sox 2006 draft tracker Boston.com
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ROUND OVERALL PICK SELECTION
1 27 Jason Place, Wren High School
Position: CF   Bats: Right   Vitals: 18 years old, 6-foot-3; 205 pounds

The skinny on Place: “Jason Place is an athletic, power-hitting outfielder,” said Red Sox director of amateur scouting Jason McLeod on Tuesday. “We’re really excited to bring his type of potential impact into the organization. He was the main guy we wanted to get with that pick.” According to the Red Sox, Place, who was recommended by Sox scout Rob English, was rated by Baseball America as the No. 47 overall prospect in the draft. The 18-year-old tomorrow will be in Albuquerque, New Mexico for the All-American Baseball Game, which features 35 of the top high school players in the country. The right-handed batter and thrower hit .463 (165-for-356) with 36 home runs, 124 RBI, 174 runs scored and 90 stolen bases in 136 career games over five seasons for Piedmont, South Carolina’s Wren High School, spending the majority of his time as a centerfielder. Prior to the draft, the Easley, S.C. native signed a letter of intent to attend the University of South Carolina. The 6-foot-3, 200-pounder was honored as the 2006 Gatorade High School Player of the Year and South Carolina Region 1-4A Player of the Year after batting .544 with six doubles, four home runs, 20 RBI and 32 runs scored. He posted a .895 slugging percentage and .711 on-base percentage, while stealing 10 bases for the Golden Hurricanes. Place also earned Region 1-4A Player of the Year and South Carolina All-State honors in 2005 after batting .541 with 14 homers, 25 RBI, 50 runs and 22 steals in 28 games.

"Place is one of the best high school players to come out of South Carolina in several years. Scouts see him as a five-tool, blue-collar player with a great body who approaches the game in an aggressive and physical manner. Place has above-average speed that he uses well in the outfield and on the basepaths. His raw power rates as a 70 on the 20-80 scouting scale and is capable of producing both iron shots and high, majestic blasts over the fence. He also has plenty of arm strength to play right field, as evidenced by a 90-92 mph fastball he has shown on the mound. More than one scout compared Place to Braves outfielder Jeff Francoeur, particularly with his aggressiveness at the plate and his power potential. A dead pull hitter, Place could pile up high strikeout totals early in his career. He also has battled a series of nagging injuries, particularly with pulled hamstrings, though a recent emphasis on flexibility training has led to improvements." (Source: BaseballAmerica.com draft database)

"A career .478 hitter, the Anderson Independent-Mail player of the year hit .544 this season with four home runs and six doubles. He drew 31 walks, drove in 20 runs and stole 10 bases for the Region 1-AAAA champions [South Carolina]. 'You could just tell the first time you ever saw him, the way he carried himself, the way he played, the way he enjoyed playing, that he was going to be a special player,' Wren’s junior varsity team, coach Randy Thompson said. 'Every time out there he did something to amaze me. It came pretty early in his career, but I wasn’t sure how far he’d take it.' " (Source: Keith Farner, Anderson Independent-Mail, June 3, 2006)
1 28 Daniel Bard, UNC Chapel Hill
Position: Pitcher   Throws: Right   Vitals: 20 years old, 6-4; 200

The skinny on Bard: “Daniel Bard has arguably one of the best arms in the draft. He’s a college guy who has had good performance on the Cape. We’re looking forward to having him in the system,” said Red Sox director of amateur scouting Jason McLeod on Tuesday. According to the Red Sox, Bard, who was recommended by Sox scout Jeff Zona, was ranked the No. 15 overall prospect and the No. 13 pitching prospect in the draft by Baseball America. In three seasons for the University of North Carolina, the 6-foot-4, 202-pounder has gone 23-12 with a 3.86 ERA (116 ER/270.1 IP) in 47 games (all but two as a starter). His 23 wins rank seventh on the Tar Heels’ all-time list. The Charlotte, N.C resident, who owns four career complete games and three shutouts, has made at least 14 starts and logged 85.2 innings or more in each of his three campaigns. The 21-year-old righthander has 235 strikeouts in 270.1 innings, an average of 7.8 strikeouts per nine innings. Bard earned the win in UNC’s regional title victory over Winthrop on Sunday, helping the Tar Heels advance to this weekend’s Super Regional matchup against Alabama in Tuscaloosa, AL. The winner of the best-of-three series will advance to the 2006 College World Series. A Preseason All-America selection, Bard has established career bests as a junior this season with eight wins (8-3 record), a 3.47 ERA and 90 strikeouts. With only 33 walks in 85.2 innings, he has averaged 9.5 strikeouts and 3.5 walks per nine innings. He has been at his best down the stretch, posting a 5-1 record and 1.56 ERA over his last seven appearances (six starts). A two-time ACC Pitcher of the Week in 2006, Bard has limited the opposition to a .225 batting average. Bard last summer pitched for the Wareham Gatemen of the Cape Cod League, going 3-3 with a 1.25 ERA and 82 strikeouts in 65.0 innings of work. He led the league in strikeouts and ranked third in ERA. Named to Baseball America’s College Summer All-America Second Team and rated the league’s No. 2 prospect, Bard started the 2005 Cape League All-Star Game for the West Division and earned MVP honors. A graduate of Charlotte Christian High School, Bard was originally drafted in the 20th round in 2003 by the New York Yankees.

"Bard has not thrown with the same consistency of teammate Andrew Miller, but the righthander should give the Tar Heels two first-round picks. Bard limited opponents to a .220 average in his first 72 innings this spring while winning six of his first nine decisions. According to UNC head coach Mike Fox, Bard had his best start as a collegian on April 23 by tossing a four-hit shutout versus N.C. State. That performance followed a strong effort in the Cape Cod League, when he led the circuit in strikeouts and ranked as the second-best prospect, behind only Miller. Bard was deemed one of the premier high school pitchers in the 2003 draft before falling to the Yankees in the 20th round due to signability concerns. He proceeded to earn ACC freshman of the year honors in 2004 prior to an uneven season as a sophomore. Bard's fastball resides in the low 90s and touches 94 after hitting 98 earlier in his college career. His curveball is just as effective, featuring a sharp bite and a late break. Scouts also love his workhorse mentality and durable body. He can struggle with the command of his fastball, and has worked on becoming more pitch-efficient." (Source: BaseballAmerica.com draft database)
1a 40 Kristofer Johnson, Wichita State University
Position: Pitcher   Throws: Left   Vitals: 21 years old, 6-4; 170

The skinny on Johnson: According to the Red Sox Tuesday, Johnson, who was recommended by Sox scout Ernie Jacobs, went 16-2 with a 2.94 ERA (47 ER/143.2 IP) in 32 career games (all but two as a starter) over two-plus seasons for Wichita State University. The 6-foot-3, 185-pounder made a career-high 15 starts for the Shockers in 2006, going 6-2 with a 4.86 ERA (29 ER/53.2 IP). The 21-year-old had 45 strikeouts in 53.2 innings for an average of 7.5 punchouts per 9 innings. He went 3-0 with a 0.98 ERA in 2005 before suffering an elbow injury that ended his season. The Blue Springs, Missouri resident enjoyed his finest campaign as a freshman in 2004, going 7-0 with a 2.01 ERA in 13 games (11 starts) en route to being named a First Team Freshman All-American. He led the Missouri Valley Conference in ERA and ranked 12th nationally. Johnson attended Blue Springs High School, where he tossed five no-hitters over his four years. Three of the no-hitters came in his senior campaign in 2003, when he went 8-1 with a 0.84 ERA.

"He's coming back from Tommy John elbow surgery a year ago, so he hasn't pitched much. Still, his stuff has come back, and he throws a fastball, curve and change, all for strikes." (Source: ESPN.com draft tracker)
1a 44 Caleb Clay, Cullman High School
Position: Pitcher   Throws: Right   Vitals: 18 years old, 6-2; 180

The skinny on Clay: According to the Red Sox, Clay, who was recommended by Sox scout Danny Watkins, went 10-1 with five saves and a 1.29 ERA in 2006 for Cullman High School. The 6-foot-2, 185-pounder had 112 strikeouts and only 21 walks in 86.0 innings, an average of 11.7 strikeouts and 2.2 walks per 9 innings. The 18-year-old helped lead his team to the 5A Alabama State Finals. The righthander also batted .475 at the plate for the Bearcats.

"He's realtively new to pitching, and his fastball now sits in the low 90's. With a chance to throw a slider, changeup and curve, he still has room to grow." (Source: ESPN.com draft tracker)
2 71 Justin Masterson, San Diego State University
Position: Pitcher   Throws: Right   Vitals: 21 years old, 6-6; 235

The skinny on Masterson: A first-year transfer from Bethel College in Indiana, Masterson burst on to the scene in the Cape Cod League...The Jamaica native throws a hard fastball clocked around 94 mph and excellent placement...Masterson, though, needs work on his changeup and breaking pitches in order to be a complete major league package...He could possible switch to the bullpen with his ability to keep the ball on the ground and avoid walks...In 116 innings for the Aztecs this season, Masterson registered a 6-7 mark with a 4.81 earned run average in 17 appearances (16 starts). (Source: Sports Network)
3 83 Aaron Bates, North Carolina State
Position: 1B   Bats: Right   Vitals: 22 years old, 6-4; 232

The skinny on Bates: Drafted by Florida in the eighth round in 2005...After going in the eighth round as a redshirt sophomore in last year's draft, Bates should improve that status by at least five rounds with his decision to return to school. He is one of the best hitters among this year's class, with the ability to use the entire field and to recognize pitches. Bates is patient and very strong, giving him good opposite-field power, and he hit nearly .340 with wood bats in the California Collegiate League during the summer of 2004. A former catcher at San Jose State, Bates is a solid defensive first baseman despite not having exceptional range. (Source: Sports Network)
3 103 Bryson Cox, Rice University
Position: Pitcher   Throws: Right   Vitals: 21 years old, 6-4; 200

The skinny on Cox: "The Red Sox got Rice righthander Bryce Cox, an intriguing senior sign who was face down in the draft pool at this time a year ago. Cox was considered a first five rounds talent last year before developing the yips--a complete inability to find the strike zone. Cox was struggling this spring as well with an ERA hovering around 7 until the Owls coaching staff altered his arm angle. Voila--Cox started throwing 97 mph with his fastball with a high-80s slider and pitched well for the Owls in the regional against Prairie View A&M in a tight game. Cox's story seems like a success story for a player who had the yips." (Source: John Manuel, BaseballAmerica.com Draft Blog)
4 133 Jonathan Still, North Carolina State University
Position: Catcher   Bats: Right   Vitals: 21 years old, 6-3; 215

The skinny on Still: "The Red Sox have gone strong after college players who wore red socks, drafting North Carolina State sluggers Aaron Bates (third) and Jon Still (fourth). Both players entered college as catchers with solid power, but Bates (.354-10-54) shifted to first base and Still (.350-8-58) played mostly DH. There's still a chance for Boston to complete the Wolfpack catching trifecta by selecting Caleb Mangum, a junior who was State's regular catcher and hit .354-4-34." (Source: John Manuel, BaseballAmerica.com Draft Blog)
5 163 Dustin Richardson, Texas Tech University
Position: Pitcher   Throws: Left   Vitals: 22 years old, 6-6; 220

The skinny on Richardson: Richardson was 4-2 with a 4.17 ERA in 23 appearances for the Red Raiders in 2006. He struck out 72 while walking 17 batters in 58 1/3 innings. He started five games and had one save in relief. (Source: Red Raider Baseball, 2006 Season Review)
6 193 Zachary Daeges, Creighton University
Position: 3B   Bats: Left   Vitals: 22 years old, 6-4; 225

The skinny on Daeges: Daeges led the Bluejay offense in batting average (.350), runs (59), homers (13), RBI (49), walks (49), slugging percentage (.650), on-base percentage (.496) and total bases (117) this past season. (Source: GoCreighton.com)
7 223 Kristopher Negron, Cosumnes River College
Position: SS   Bats: Right   Vitals: 20 years old, 6-0; 180
8 253 Rafael Cabreja, James Monroe High School
Position: OF   Bats: Left   Vitals: 19 years old, 5-9; 170
9 283 Ryan Kalish, Red Bank Catholic HS (NJ)
Position: OF   Bats: Left   Vitals: 18 years old, 6-1; 205
10 313 Kyle Snyder, Wellington Community HS (Fla.)
Position: Pitcher   Throws: Right   Vitals: 18 years old, 6-1; 175
11 343 Brandon Belt, Hudson High School (TX)
Position: OF   Bats: Left   Vitals: 18 years old, 6-5; 185
12 373 Ryan Khoury, University of Utah
Position: SS   Bats: Right   Vitals: 22 years old, 5-10; 180
13 403 Jordan Craft, Dallas Baptist University (Calif.)
Position: Pitcher   Throws: Right   Vitals: 21 years old, 6-3; 200
14 433 Matthew LaPorta, University of Florida
Position: 1B   Bats: Right   Vitals: 21 years old, 6-1; 220
15 463 Jorge Jimenez, Porterville College (Calif.)
Position: 3B   Bats: Left   Vitals: 21 years old, 6-2; 215
16 493 Tyler Weeden, Edmond Santa Fe HS (Okla.)
Position: C   Bats: Right   Vitals: 18 years old, 6-2; 220
17 523 William Redick, Middle Georgia College
Position: OF   Bats: Left   Vitals: 19 years old, 6-2; 180
18 553 Lars Anderson, Jesuit High School (Calif.)
Position: 1B   Bats: Left   Vitals: 18 years old, 6-4; 220
a - supplemental round