Lazy Sunday Feeling a Draft

The first round of the 2012 Amateur Draft (the Rule 4 Draft) will take place tomorrow at 7pm and be aired live on the MLB Network. That means that you’re stuck with me for a 2^nd straight Lazy Sunday, and Paulie gets another weekend off. The Indians have the 15^th overall selection in the draft after picking 8^th last year. For the 2^nd straight season, the Indians have no compensation picks for losing free agents, so after the 1^st round they do not pick again until #79 overall with their 2^nd round pick, then their 3^rd round choice at #110. After the third round, things go back to normal and the Tribe will select 15^th in each round. The overall talent pool this year is not nearly what it was last year, as 2011’s draft class was universally regarded as one of the best in years. Still, the Indians should be able to add an impact prospect with their first round pick, just not on the level of a Francisco Lindor. As you’ll see when we get to the player previews, the crop of college bats this year is especially poor.