Empyreal Environs

For the first time, MLB’s First-Year Player Draft will be broadcast live from the studios of MLB.com. Thrill to the idiocy and frugality of the Kansas City Royals. Stand awestruck in the pronouncements of the John Schuerholz society.  Experience the frisson of waiting expectantly for the decrees of Theo Epstein’s brain trust. The Red Sox have four picks of the first 44 and seven in the first 103, including 27th and 28th picks in the first round.

I’ll be making updates throughout the day to track the progress of the draft.

27: Jason Place, right-handed center fielder, Wren High School, South Carolina
Reportedly has the power (a lacking asset in the farm system), speed, and arm to be a potential corner outfielder. He was Class AAAA Player of the Year according to the South Carolina Baseball Coaches Association.

28: Daniel Bard, right-handed pitcher, UNC Chapel Hill
Can reach 96 miles per hour on the radar gun. Control and consistency is a concern, however. He has a Wikipedia entry.

Supplemental First Round Update, 2:20 PM

40: Kristofer Johnson, left-handed pitcher, Wichita State University
Twenty-one year old coming off a Tommy John surgery. Redshirted in 2005 with four appearances with four starts, going 3-0 with a 0.98 ERA.

44: Caleb Clay, right-handed pitcher, Cullman High School, Alabama
New to pitching with a low 90s fastball.

Second Round Update, 2:30 PM

71: Justin Masterson, right-handed pitcher, San Diego State University
Playing for the Wareham Gatemen, this potential reliever was a Top 30 Cape Cod League prospect in 2005.

Third Round Update, 2:50 PM

83: Aaron Bates, right-handed first baseman, North Carolina State
As a sophomore in 2005, named third-team All-America by Baseball America and first-team All-ACC. Was also a Top 30 Cape Cod League prospect in 2005, like Masterson. Could be moved into a catching role.

103: Bryson Cox, right-handed pitcher, Rice
In 17 appearances in 2005 went 1-2 with three saves. He had a 3.86 ERA in 18.2 innings pitched with 24 strikeouts and 14 bases on balls. Rice plays in the same division as the University of Hawai‘i, the Western Athletic Conference.

Fourth Round Update, 3:38 PM

133: Jonathan Still, right-handed catcher, North Caroline State University
Transferred from Stetson, where he was second-team Atlantic Sun Conference in 2005 as a sophomore.

Fifth Round Update, 4:20 PM

163: Dustin Richardson, left-handed pitcher, Texas Tech
Transfering from Cowley College, in 2005 he pitched 33.1 innings with 27 walks and 17 strikeouts while turning in a 5.94 ERA. He appeared on the ESPN reality series Knight School, which featured sociopath Bobby Knight. At Cowley he was dominant, throwing 24 straight shutout innings.

For rounds six and above, information on the draftees becomes scarce. Names and links, when available, should suffice.

• 193: Zachary Daeges, left-handed hitting, right-handed throwing third baseman, Creighton
• 223: Kristopher Negron, right-handed shortstop, Cosumnes River College
• 253: Rafael Cabreja, left-handed hitting, right-handed throwing center fielder, James Monroe HS, New York
• 283: Ryan Kalish, left-handed center fielder, Red Bank Catholic HS, New Jersey
• 313: Kyle Snyder, right-handed pitcher, Wellington Community HS, Florida
• 343: Brandon Belt, left-handed center fielder, Hudson HS, Texas
• 373: Ryan Khoury, right-handed shortstop, Utah
• 403: Jordan Craft, right-handed pitcher, Dallas Baptist University
• 433: Matthew LaPorta, right-handed first baseman, University of Florida
• 463: Jorge Jimenez, left-handed hitting, right-handed throwing third baseman, Porterville College
• 493: Tyler Weeden, right-handed catcher, Edmond Santa Fe HS, Oklahoma
• 523: William Reddick, left-handed hitting, right-handed throwing left fielder, Middle Georgia College
• 553: Lars Anderson, left-handed first basema, Jesuit HS, California