Monday, June 07, 2010

That's My Boy

Everyone at SoSG gives a hearty Mazel Tov to Delino DeShields Jr, drafted today by the Houston Astros.

The Astros went young in the 2010 draft, selecting Delino DeShields Jr. with the No. 8 pick and fellow high schooler Mike Foltynewicz at No. 19 with their first two of three first-round picks. With the 33rd pick overall, the first of the compensation round, the Astros chose Michael Kvasnicka, a third baseman from the University of Minnesota, who is also a catcher.

DeShields, who has the ability to play center field even though commissioner Bud Selig announced him as a second baseman, is a 17-year-old from Woodward Academy in Georgia. "I feel like I’ll end up playing second base," DeShields said on the MLB Network broadcast. At 5-9 and 175 pounds, DeShields’ best tool is his speed, as he was one of the fastest players in the draft, stealing 29 bases as a senior while hitting .415 with nine home runs.

DeShields is committed to LSU, but the Astros have until August 16 to sign him and likely send him to rookie-level Greenville or the Gulf Coast League. DeShields’ father of the same name played 13 years in the major leagues for the Expos, Dodgers, Cardinals, Orioles and Cubs. He stole 463 bases over his career, playing mostly second base.

Special thanks to Cubs-suffering Jayhawk-loving Daniel G, who once beat me in a foot-race at the Bonneville Salt Flats.