The Rockies went with a smooth southpaw in the first round of today’s Major League Baseball draft.
With the 25th overall pick, the Rockies selected left-handed pitcher Christian Friedrich out of Eastern Kentucky. He’s considered by most scouts as the second-best left-hander in the draft behind Brian Matusz, who was selected with the fourth pick by Baltimore.
“I can’t tell you how excited I am,” Friedrich said. “I consider this my next big challenge, but I think I rise to the challenge well. I’ve had a lot to prove in my career, but now it’s brought me to the Rockies. I can’t wait to get started.”
Friedrich was projected to go as high as 14th in the draft, but when the demand for position players grew, Friedrich fell into the Rockies’ slot.
Arizona, meanwhile, drafting immediately after the Rockies, selected left-handed pitcher Daniel Schlereth, son of former Broncos lineman Mark Schlereth.
There had been widespread speculation the Rockies would pick hard-throwing right-hander Jake Odorizzi from Highland (Ill.) High School. But Bill Schmidt, Rockies vice president of scouting, said there was no question he would pick Friedrich once he dropped to the 25th pick.
“We were happy that we are able to select him,” Schmidt said. “We think he has a chance to be a quality starting major league pitcher. “He was the best player on the board when we went to select, regardless of position.”
Schmidt compared Friedrich to Cleveland Indians left-hander Cliff Lee. By most accounts, Friedrich is not far away from pitching in the majors.
Friedrich, 6-foot-3, 210-pounds, turns 20 on July 8. Though he admits he needs more polish and better fastball command, Friedrich throws four pitches – fastball, curve, slider and changeup. His best pitches are a 90-93 mph fastball and a sharp curve. He went 5-1 with a 1.43 ERA for the Colonels, who went 26-27-1 overall and 12-15 in the Ohio Valley Conference. Friedrich struck out 108 and walked just 33. Hitters posted just a .144 average against him.
“I predict that Christian is going to be a successful major league pitcher for a long, long time,” said Eastern Kentucky coach Elvis Dominguez. “He’s a quality person, mature well beyond his years. I think he’s going to fit in really well with the Rockies.”
This is the third straight year the Rockies took a pitcher with their first-round pick. In 2006, they selected right-hander Greg Reynolds out of Stanford. He’s now a member of the Rockies’ starting rotation. Last year, the Rockies took right-handed reliever Casey Weathers out of Vanderbilt. Weathers is currently pitching for Double-A Tulsa.
Friedrich is the first left-handed pitcher picked in the first round by the Rockies since they selected Jeff Francis 2002.
In the second round, with the 72nd overall pick, the Rockies selected Charlies Blackmon, a 6-3, 200-pound redshirt junior outfielder from Georgia Tech. At age 21, scouts say he is a late bloomer with an athletic body.
The Rockies stocked up on pitchers in rounds three and four. They took Mississippi State right-handed pitcher Aaron Weatherford in the third round (103rd overall pick) and right-hander Phillip Hollingsworth out of Western Michigan in the fourth round (137).
In Round five (167), the Rockies selected third baseman Christopher Dominguez out of the University of Louisville.
Patrick Saunders: 303-954-1428 or psaunders@denverpost.com
Rays take Beckham with No. 1 pick
The Tampa Bay Rays selected Tim Beckham with the No. 1 pick in the baseball draft Thursday, choosing the talented high school shortstop from Griffin, Ga., over Florida State catcher Buster Posey.
Beckham was recognized as one of the best pure athletes in the draft and labeled a legitimate five-tool player.
He established himself as the top prep prospect in the nation with solid performances at last summer’s high school showcase events and hit .500 with five homers, 31 RBIs and 16 stolen bases this season.
With the second pick, the Pittsburgh Pirates chose sweet-swinging Vanderbilt third baseman Pedro Alvarez. Florida high school first baseman Eric Hosmer went to the Kansas City Royals, and the Baltimore Orioles took top college pitching prospect Brian Matusz out of San Diego with the fourth pick.
This is the second straight year the Rays have had the No. 1 pick. David Price, a hard-throwing left-hander from Vanderbilt, was the choice in 2007 and is off to a great start with Class-A Vero Beach.
Beckham is the third high school shortstop taken No. 1 overall in the last five years, joining Justin Upton (Arizona, 2005) and Matt Bush (San Diego, 2004).
Left-handed pitcher Daniel Schlereth, son of former Denver Broncos lineman and current ESPN analyst Mark Schlereth, was taken by the Arizona Diamondbacks with the 26th overall pick.
Denver Post staff and wire reports
