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Thursday, June 7
Updated: June 23, 5:05 PM ET
 
Supplemental first-round analysis

By John Sickels
Special to ESPN.com

In lieu of our weekly mailbag feature this week, let's take a look at the supplemental first-round picks from Tuesday's draft.

Next week's mailbag will focus on the draft, so get your questions in now!

31. Baltimore -- Bryan Bass, SS, Seminole (Fla.) HS
Could have been a pure first-rounder in some drafts, but his stock dropped a bit because he didn't play much this year. He had some problems with his high school eligibility and ended up sitting out most of the season. It wasn't an academic problem, but rather a mess that started when he tried to transfer to different schools in order to get more exposure. Bass is an athletic shortstop with strong defensive tools. He has good raw power, but there are some questions about how much he'll hit at higher levels.

32. Detroit -- Michael Woods, 2B, Southern University
An offense-oriented infielder, Woods lacks the range for shortstop, but unlike most college second basemen, he's a legit prospect. Woods has good power, hits for average, and steals bases through instinct and intelligence rather than pure speed. He has great "intangibles" and should make short work of the lower levels in the Detroit system.

33. Anaheim -- Jeff Mathis, C, Marianna (Fla.) HS
A talented high school catcher, Mathis got lots of exposure since he played on the same team as top pitching prospect Alan Horne. He makes good contact at the plate, should hit for average, and may add additional power as he grows into his body. His defense is decent, and he has enough mobility and speed to play the outfield if catching doesn't work out. He has a scholarship to Florida State.

34. New York (AL) -- Bronson Sardinha, SS, Kamehameha HS, Honolulu
Brother of Reds catching prospect and former Pepperdine standout Dane Sardinha, Bronson is a better athlete than his older brother. A left-handed line-drive hitter, he has a strong arm and could end up at third base if the Yankees decide that his range at shortstop is too limited. He'll have to be bought away from college, but the Yankees certainly have the means to do so.

35. Cleveland -- J.D. Martin, RHP, Burroughs HS, Ridgecrest, Calif.
Another member of a top-notch high school pitching crop, Martin could easily have gone in the first round. He is tall and thin at 6-4, 160. If he adds 30 pounds of muscle to his frame, he'll boost his 88-mph fastball into the low 90s. He already throws strikes, has good breaking stuff, and draws comparisons to guys like Maddux and Brown. He's a decent risk as high school pitching goes, but the Indians should avoid piling on a huge workload until his body matures.

36. Seattle -- Michael Garciaparra, SS, Don Bosco HS, La Habra Heights, Calif.
Brother of Nomar Garciaparra, Michael was not expected to go in the first round. Heck, he wasn't supposed to go in the fifth round, not after missing the high school season with a knee injury. He compares favorably to his brother at the same age, but remember that Nomar was a skinny "good field/mediocre hit" guy early in his career. He didn't start mashing the ball until he was 22. This could end up being a very astute pick by the Mariners, but it also could be a big disaster if Michael does not follow his brother's career path.

37. Oakland -- John Rheinecker, LHP, Southwest Missouri State
An athletic lefty with a projectable arm, Rheinecker throws in the 87-89 mph range and might increase that a bit within the next year or two. His secondary pitches are strong, and he knows how to throw strikes and change speeds. The Athletics value pure pitching skill more than radar gun readings, so Rheinecker fits in well with their philosophy.

38. New York (NL) -- David Wright, 3B, Hickory HS, Chesapeake, Va.
One of the best high school hitters in the draft, Wright has good power to all fields, controls the strike zone, and impresses scouts with his work ethic and defensive skills at third base. He'll have to be bought away from Georgia Tech, but the Mets have the money. Wright isn't as "toolsy" as some of the guys picked ahead of him, but he is a better overall baseball player than many of them and could wind up being a steal in this slot.

39. Chicago (AL) -- Wyatt Allen, RHP, Tennessee
Allen had an ERA in excess of 6.00 this year, but went this early due to his 95-mph fastball and potentially strong curve. He struggled in college due to erratic control and problems keeping his mechanics in gear. Jim Callis of Baseball America did a study earlier this year, showing that college pitchers with bad stats fail more often than not in pro ball, no matter how hard they throw or how projectable they are. With this in mind, Allen is not a good bet to succeed, though he does have a very high potential payoff.

40. Atlanta -- Richard Lewis, 2B, Georgia Tech
The Braves seldom draft college players this early. Either their philosophy is changing a bit, or they just love Lewis. He's a good athlete with a quick bat, above-average speed, and strong makeup. He adds middle infield depth to the system, though how he'll fit in with Marcus Giles and Rafael Furcal remains to be seen.

41. San Francisco -- Todd Linden, OF, LSU
A switch-hitter with above-average power/speed skills, Linden could have gone higher in the draft, but many teams were concerned about his marginal strike zone judgment and lack of polish. Linden's ceiling is higher than the average college outfielder's, so this could end up being a fine pick by the Giants if the concerns about his flaws turn out to be overblown.

42. New York (AL) -- Jon Skaggs, RHP, Rice
Skaggs has a 93-mph fastball with good movement. He gets good rotation on his curveball as well, but doesn't always throw strikes or change speeds that well. He has an intimidating presence on the mound, and may end up being very useful as a short reliever, though he started in college and will likely begin his career in that role.

43. Cleveland -- Mike Conroy, OF, Boston College HS, Dorchester, Mass.
A left-handed power hitter with a strong arm, Conroy would have fit nicely for the Red Sox in the second round, but the Indians pulled the trigger before Boston's slot came up. Conroy may not advance as quickly as high school guys from warm weather states, but he has significant offensive potential. He'll have to be bought away from the University of Miami.

44. Colorado -- Jayson Nix, SS, Midland (Texas) HS
Nix is a power hitter, despite standing just 5-11, due to his excellent bat speed and hitting mechanics. His speed and range are marginal for shortstop, so he may move to another position. His arm is strong enough for third. Scouts like his personality, and he could be a guy whose baseball skill and devotion transcend his physical tools.

John Sickels writes on the minor leagues for ESPN.com. He lives in Lawrence, Kansas, with his wife, son, and two cats. You can send John questions or comments at JASickels@aol.com, or you can visit his homepage at hometown.aol.com/jasickels/page1.html.





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