2009 MLB Draft Updates

• There seems to be little to no chance the Mets sign 48th round draft pick Jeff Mantiply.  The Roanoke Times reports:

“The left-hander said he was not expecting to get drafted and doesn’t feel he is ready for pro ball. He said he will likely choose his partial scholarship to Tech over the Mets “I need to develop more, so I want to go to college,” Mantiply said. “I guess if [the Mets] give me what I want, I can’t go wrong.

• Rumors have 17th round selection outfielder Alex Gregory as signed and reporting to SS-A Brooklyn, which means I will be able to scout him for you.  He is a college senior, but has hit over .400 the past three seasons. Sounds like a hitting machine and should rise fast through the system.


Alex Gregory (17th) hit .407 with 10 homeruns and 42 RBI's for Radford last year.

• It is also rumored 23rd round pick John Church has agreed to sign as well as 24th round pick Michael Johnson.
• 19th round selection Nelfi Zapata is known for his “long homeruns”.  And seems to be pretty athletic for a catcher with plus power potential, but appears to be a difficult sign.
• It is only 50th round selection Zack Godley‘s 2nd year pitching meaning he is still a fresh, power arm.

“It was a good surprise,” said Godley’s mom, Kelly, who’s also in Myrtle Beach. “Now he has a decision to make. “This doesn’t happen to real people. This happens to other people. That’s something he and his daddy have to talk about.” Scouts from the Mets, who selected the former Red Raider, Spartanburg Methodist College and University of South Carolina standout Mookie Wilson in the second round of the 1977 MLB draft, and crosstown rival New York Yankees kept a close eye on the 19-year-old Godley throughout his senior year. In just his second season on the mound at B-E, Godley finished 9-3 with a 2.24 earned run average and struck out 109 batters while walking just 22 batters.

• It appears 21st round selection Joe Bonfe has signed or will sign extremely soon.

Bonfe was not in uniform Thursday and likely has played his last game with the Express.

• 46th round selection Trey Pilkington doesn’t sound like he is to interested in signing.

The 6-foot-3, 210-pound right-hander signed a scholarship offer with Alabama in November. Now, he has another option on the table, but said it’s likely he’ll suit up for the Crimson Tide next year because of the small bonuses offered to late-round draft choices.

Related posts:

1. Draft Updates, UFA Signed
2. 2011 Signing Bonus Updates
3. Keith Law Not Impressed, Zapata, Updates
4. Most Intriguing Draft Picks Day 2
5. 24 More Players Sign With Mets