Gammons 5/30/1999

Unfortunately all i have access to is an abbreviated summary-- pretty entertaining though:

Draft? It's becoming the hidden ballplayer trick; [City Edition]
Peter Gammons. Boston Globe. Boston, Mass.: May 30, 1999. pg. C.7
Abstract (Summary)

In a draft this Wednesday without predetermined or projected stars, there are scouts who will tell you that a kid from Whitinsville, Mass., named Rick Asadoorian is the best pure talent in the pool. "Add up everything against Josh Hamilton {the Raleigh high school OF who may go No. 1}, and Asadoorian is far better, especially when you mix in family and makeup," says one National League scout. "Vs. J.D. Drew? Thank you. I'll take Asadoorian, but he's a Massachusetts kid who may take 5-6 years." In case you're wondering, never have the Red Sox prayed for a local kid to get to them more than they're hoping that the Expos, Pirates, Orioles, and Reds pass and give Boston a shot at this five tool "Little Tony C."

Some believe this draft is thin, because they look and see that along with (Keith) Reed and Asadoorian, Auburn's Mike Paradis, Clemson's ace, and Pioneer Valley HS RHP Brad Baker also are projected as first- or sandwich-round picks. "That's not right," says Padres GM Kevin Towers, whose team has five high picks. "There's a lot of pitching, it's deep, it's essentially high school. It's a scouts' draft."

Hamilton, Texas, HS pitcher Josh Beckett or USC 1B-DH Eric Munson will be the first pick, but Baker could win more games than Beckett. Asadoorian could be Tony, Billy, or Richie Conigliaro. Those who have watched the Cape League think UCLA's Barry Zito will be an All-Star despite the gun and scouting reports, and if heart and soul are as important as most of us believe, Northeastern's Greg Montalbano could win more big league games than any college lefthander.