2018 Draft: Round One Recap

NOBL Owners Size Up, Select Prospects

With round one complete we can take a look at where some of the top recruits from 2018's highly talented class ended up. Here's a quick glance at the first five players selected.

C Fred Oquendo, San Diego Padres
It surprised many that Oquendo was the first player taken overall. Scouts do not doubt his immense talent, but many looked to hurlers John Brooks and Dizzy Ballester or sluggers David Bettencourt and Howard Wilson to go first. In Oquendo the Padres acquire a rocket arm behind the plate who has the potential to develop into a solid performer at the plate as well.

3B David Bettencourt, Cleveland Indians
The second surprise of the night was not Bettencourt, but who drafted him. The Cincinnati Reds pulled the trigger on a last minute trade that sent the rights to their #2 selection to Cleveland in exchange for the Tribe's #8 spot and minor league pitcher Silas Horner. Cleveland must obviously be happy to land one of the top players in the draft. Bettencourt shows tremendous potential, but at 17 has a lot to prove.

SP Telmo "Dizzy" Ballester, Toronto Blue Jays
The Blue Jays acquire the young phenom from the Venezuelan national team who won the Pan Am games when it was hosted in Los Angeles in 2015. The right hander keeps hitters off-balance with good movement on all four of his pitches. He's probably 2 years away from the majors, but could be part of a devastating 1-2-3 with Earl Husted and David Raby.

CF Alvin Camacho, Houston Colt .45s
Houston decided to go with speed and defense in their first selection of the draft. The switch-hitting Camacho has the tools to develop into a top notch lead off hitter. At only 18 years he possesses a smooth stroke and a veteran hitter's eye, and he is likely to be the first of this year's rookie class to see playing time in the majors. His sprinter's stature (he set the Iowa state record in the 100 meters his senior year) will severely limit his power numbers. The .45's will have to make due with Camacho's speed, stellar defense, and sharp eye at the plate.

C Howard "Terminator" Wilson, Chicago Cubs
Some were surprised Wilson fell to fifth in the draft, but the Cubs were happy to take the power-hitting backstop. With Tony Mazur at the major league level, the Cubs will have the luxury of giving Wilson time to develop his skills in the minors. Once matured, he may become one of the more feared sluggers in the league. He has both home run power and power to the gaps.