A thin draft class leaves teams taking a long look at talent

NEW YORK -- Major league scouting directors seem to agree on one thing about this year's draft class: It's not very deep and college talent is tough to come by.

"I think everybody is still searching for who they want to take early," Baltimore Orioles scouting director Tony DeMacio said a few days before today's draft. "There's no one that's really separated themselves and said, 'I'm the guy.' "

The Pittsburgh Pirates, who have the first pick, were trying to choose between Ball State right-hander Bryan Bullington, high school shortstop B.J. Upton and Canadian left-hander Adam Loewen.

"I'm not sure when we'll decide, but I'm sure it will be by noon"today, Pirates scouting director Ed Creech said.

The Pirates have the No. 1 pick for the third time in draft history -- they selected Jeff King in 1986 and Kris Benson in 1996. In a draft short on top talent, all eyes will be fixed on what Pittsburgh does.

"It makes it more exciting to have it," Creech said. "What we do has a domino effect on the rest of the draft."

Bullington has steadily improved in three years with the Cardinals. The 6-foot-5, 210-pound junior has a fastball that routinely hits 92-to-94 mph, and was 11-3 with a 2.84 ERA and 139 strikeouts in 104 2/3 innings.

Combines speed, defense

Upton, from Greenbrier Christian Academy in Virginia, is an outsanding athlete with excellent speed and defensive skills, a strong arm and solid bat. He hit .614 with 10 home runs, 47 RBIs and 21 stolen bases in 70 at-bats.

Loewen will probably be the highest-drafted Canadian ever. The 6-foot-6, 220-pounder had a dominant season with his club team in Vancouver, and has scouts excited by his size, 92-to-94 mph fastball, nasty curveball and smooth mechanics.

Jeff Francis, a left-hander from the University of British Columbia with a fastball that hits 93 mph, could join Loewen as a top 10 pick. There have been only two Canadian players to go in the first round: Kevin Nicholson was picked 27th by San Diego in 1997 and Scott Thorman was taken 30th by Atlanta in 2000.

"Everybody's got a different flavor, just like ice cream," DeMacio said.

Others projected to be top picks include: left-hander Scott Kazmir of Cypress Falls High School in Houston, outfielder Jeremy Hermida of Wheeler High School in Georgia, Rutgers right-hander Bobby Brownlie, Virginia Tech lefty Joe Saunders, righty Zack Greinke of Apopka High School in Florida, and Florida high school first baseman Prince Fielder, the son of Cecil Fielder.