2010 MLB Draft Results

Monday night began day one of the 2010 Major League Baseball (MLB) Draft, where the first group of major league baseball stars of today have gotten their chance to begin their careers in the majors. Many interesting choices have emerged and had people talking the minute the first day draft came to a close.

With so many good college prospects this season to pick in the 2010 MLB Draft, a number of All-American caliber players slipped in the draft, and big names such as Brandon Workman are still left on the board for today; Day two of the MLB Draft. There were a number of teams who got great value with selections yesterday.

The name talked about all over is the top overall pick, junior college powerhouse, Bryce Harper, who was chosen by the Washington Nationals yesterday. Harper is still only 17, had a dominant year at the College of Southern Nevada this past season, hitting .443 with 31 HRs and 98 RBI. Harper has hit some balls as far as 550 feet, making him a power not to be questioned.

Harper stands at 6-foot-3 and weighs 205 pounds. He has played catcher in the past but was drafted by the Nationals as an outfielder this year in the 2010 MLB Draft. The Nationals general manager, Mike Rizzo stated, "I think we made the early decision that we are going to take the difficult position of catcher away from him and really let him concentrate on the offensive part of the game and let his athleticism take over as an outfielder." Last year, the Washington Nationals chose "can't-miss fireballer" Steven Strasberg as their MLB Draft pick.

By being selected first overall in the 2010 MLB Draft, Harper becomes the highest JuCo pick ever. This has him surpassing former White Sox pitcher Alex Fernandez, who went fourth in 1990. Other 2010 first day MLB Draft picks were Jameson Taillon, second overall pick by the The Pittsburgh Pirates. Taillon is a high school student from Texas who boasts a fastball that already carries into the mid-90s.

After Taillon, Manny Machado (SS, Brito Private HS, Miami) was selected third by the Baltimore Orioles. California State, Fullerton shortstop Christian Colon went to the Kansas City Royals. Ole Miss lefthander, Drew Pomeranz rounded out the top five 2010 MLB Draft picks when he was chosen by the Cleveland Indians.

The sixth pick of the 2010 MLB Draft was Barret Loux from Texas A&M who was chosen by theArizona Diamondbacks. The New York Mets selected Matt Harvey, a right hander from North Carolina as a seventh pick. The eighth pick went to The Houston Astros as they selected high schooler Delino DeShields, Jr. DeShields' family trivia shares that Delino's father played 13 major league seasons with five teams.
Karston Whitson [RHP, Chipley(FL) HS] went ninth to the San Diego Padres, and Michael Choice finished off the top ten by going to the Oakland Athletics out of Texas-Arlington.

August 16th is the cut of date that draftees have to sign with their clubs. Signing a draftee is far from a sure thing, especially if they are younger, but Harper's agent, Scott Boras has advised Harper to attempt to sign a record deal.