Scouting the Draft: Picks 25-32

25. Cardinals: Zack Cox- Many analysts called Cox the best pure college hitter in the draft. Possible reasons why he fell to the Cards include: 1. Limited power potential. 2. Poor defense with no real position, unlikely to stick at even 3B. 3. Bonus demands- He is a draft eligible sophomore giving him more leverage than juniors and is reportedly ready to use that leverage for Buster Posey money.

26. Rockies: Kyle Parker- As a starting D1 college QB, Parker is an elite athlete with power potential who projects to have the arm to play RF. Concerns are: 1. The hit tool, he only hit .255 in his soph season. 2. Signabillity. He has football as leverage. Hmm....I'm liking the Brown pick more.

27. Phillies: Jesse Biddle- Raw, projectability pick here. It's like the Phils didn't know what they wanted to do, so just went with the local kid with great size and a decent arm. Not a great pick here.

28. Dodgers: Zach Lee- Here's a team that has spent less on the draft than almost any team in baseball over the last 2-3 years and now reportedly in the midst of a financial crisis due to a messy divorce of the owners and they take the guy who just might be the toughest to sign in the entire draft! He's got a two-sport scholarship to LSU. Nobody is questioning the talent here, but there are whispers that the Dodgers know he won't sign and are punting the pick to next year. It will be interesting to see how this plays out.

29. Angels: Cam Bedrosian- Bedrock Jr.! I would not have been unhappy if the Giants had drafted him at #24, so of course, I think this is a great pick and a nice backup to the Cowart pick earlier.

30. Angels: Chevez Clarke- I also would not have been unhappy if the Giants had taken Clarke at #24. Great tools. A bit of concern about whether the hit tool will come.

31. Rays: Justin O'Conner- I'm not wild about O'Conner, but a lot of analysts like his tools and versatility. A nice backup to the earlier Josh Sale steal. The Rays may be looking at him as their catcher of the future.

32. Yankees: Cito Culver- relatively unknown HS player can both hit and pitch. Everybody was looking for the Yanks to take a faller they could pay over slot, maybe Anthony Ranaudo or Stetson Allie? Kind of a curious pick. I wonder if Gerrit Cole's refusal to even let them make an offer last year spooked them away from anyone with a hint of difficulty signing?

That completes the first round. Lots of talent still on the board for the Supplemental First Round.