Vampires Move Up In The Draft...Again June 15, 2000
The New Orleans Vampires have moved up in the upcoming Amateur Draft once again. Anticipating the drafting of left fielder Chad Hermansen with the #1 overall pick by Kamloops and the resulting availability of SS Alex Gonzalez, the Vampires have dealt SS Kurt Abbott to the Washington Seadogs along with the #21 overall pick in return for the #14 overall pick and veteran C/DH Mike MacFarlane. Of the deal, New Orleans owner Jeremy Chrabascz stated, "We love Gonzalez. He worked out for us yesterday and he sounds eager to become a Vampire. Kurt (Abbott) has known for quite some time that he would be dealt if at all possible. We got the best of both worlds; we moved up in the draft 7 spots and we obtained a suitable replacement at designated hitter for Vaughn and Abbott in Mike MacFarlane." Tradewinds have finally begun to cool in New Orleans. The Vampires are expected, obviously, to take Ss Alex Gonzalez with the #2 overall pick and another positional player, preferrably an outfielder, with the #14 overall pick.
