Bryant, shortstops, dominate first round in 2016 IAL rookie draft

The Illowa APBA League conducted their 2016 rookie draft at their annual playoff/draft get together last weekend.  Not surprisingly, Kris Bryant was the #1 pick by the Twin City Thunderchickens.  Shortstop Carlos Correa was chosen second and Noah Syndegaard was taken third. 

The Top Ten picks in the IAL rookie draft

1. Kris Bryant 3B
2. Carlos Correa SS
3. Noah Syndegaard SP
4. Kyle Schwarber OF
5. Randal Grichuk OF
6. Francisco Lindor SS
7. Michael Conforto OF
8. Corey Seager SS
9. Byron Buxton OF
10. Addison Russell SS

From my perspective, this draft was quite unique compared to past IAL rookie drafts.  First, only one starting pitcher was taken in the first round, Syndegaard (though the first pick in the second round was Lance McCullers).  Second, only three relief pitchers were chosen in the whole draft. 

There may be two reasons for this.  One, our league recently expanded to 30 player roster.  Just two years ago, we had 26 players.  With the extra roster strength, we could carry some bullpen and that may not have been a need we had to fulfill. 

Two, it was an incredibly talented draft all around.  Managers may not have wanted to waste their pick on a one-time A* when a long term player was still available.  I mean Joc Pederson almost didn’t get chosen as he lasted till the second to last pick. 

Also if you were looking for a shortstop in this year’s draft, you were lucky.  There weren’t a lot but the ones that were there were talented.  in our particular draft (draft eligibility rules vary by league), there only six shortstops available (seven if you count Kang).  Four of them went in the first round.  They were in order, Correa (2nd), Lindor (4th), Seager (8th) and Russell (10th). 

Trading went hot and heavy during the IAL draft.  Personally, there were four other managers who throwing their players at me for my 4th round pick.  I succumbed when Todd Ventresca offered Yasiel Puig for the pick.  He then went over and promptly chose Steven Matz. 

My draft picks for 2016 

1. Kris Bryant
2. Lance McCullers
3. Eduardo Rodriguez
4. (traded for Yasiel Puig)
5. (traded for Wilson Ramos)
6. Jung Ho Kang

Good luck to all of my IAL opponents!