(AP) Ann Arbor - The Ann Arbor AllKnighters selected six players in
this weeks PVBL amateur draft, two in the first round, two in the second
round and one apiece in the third and fourth rounds.
In the first round the AllKnighters first selection, the #7 overall
pick, was Scott Williamson. Williamson is 22 with excellent arm strength
and looks to have very good future control with two out pitches. "Scott
should make an excellent edition to our bullpen in the near future. He
features a heavy sinker and a very good fastball and back it up with
what should be a solid offspeed pitch. We are almost positive that Scott
will make for a great reliever, possibly a closer in the future", said
field manager Buddy Bell.
CF Bo Porter was Ann Arbor's second first round pick, #19 overall.
Porter, at the age of only 20, already has excellent contact and power
skills for so young a hitter. General manager Michael Kennedy was very
excited at getting the talented young hitter so late, "For a moment we
contemplated taking Bo with the #7 pick before deciding on Scott. It
couldn't have turned out better. We felt that behind only that catcher
(Tellefson) Bo had the biggest upside and room for improvment. At worst,
Bo will be a solid major league hitter, but more then likely Bo should
be a good major league performer. We had to pinch ourselves when the #19
pick rolled around and he was still on the board."
In the second round the AllKnighters selected P Sammy Mays and RF Doug
Kirkpatrick. Mays was selected with the 37th pick overall and
Kirkpatrick at #43. "We took Sammy Mays with the pick acquired from New
Orleans. Mays has good zip and should have good control. He fearures
three major league pitches, including a live fastball with two good
offspeed pitches. Mays should make a solid major league pitcher and is
likely to have a shot at making the rotation in the distant future",
said Kennedy. "Kirkpatrick is somewhat of a hit or miss prospect. Doug
has great speed to begin with, but it is unsure as to whether or not his
contact or power hitting will come around, but at only 19 it is very
possible. If his hitting skills can only partially match his speed, he
will make a useful major league player."
The final two selections were P Angel Williams, #79, and RF Chirs Small
with the 89th pick. "Williams was an absolute steal at the 79th pick.
Angel has great arm strength and should have well above avearge control,
if not great control, as he matures. My guess was that his lack of a
cleary dominant pitch is what caused him to drop so low in draft. Just
the same he will have four quality pitches, and a couple of those could
be standout pitches, at only 21 he has lot of time to improve. He has a
chance to be one the better overall pitchers from the crop of 2001.
Being a lefty he will have legitamite shot at making the AllKnighters
staff at some point. Currently the Spock only has two lefthanded
starters in the division", said Bell. "Small has limited upside
potential, but was one of the bigger power prospects in the draft and we
felt that warranted a late pick. We are not sure as to whether or not he
will ever be much of a high contact hitter, but the hope was that Small
will be able to slug the ball along way."
The AllKnighters appear to be on the fast track in their rebuilding
process. They have acquired high level prospects at both the major and
minor league level as well as secured it's future. They have already
secured two first round picks in both the upcoming Free Agent and
Amateur drafts and boost one of the better collections of young arms.
