Now that we're fully into day two of the 2011 MLB Draft, we're going to start providing summaries of picks rather than individual pick updates. For the Oakland Athletics, here is a look at their fourth, fifth and sixth round picks. As we get into these later picks, scouting reports are a little more difficult to come by so we'll have to get a little creative with some of our sources.
In the fourth round, the A's selected centerfielder Bobby Crocker out of Cal Poly San Luis Obispo. You can view some video of Crocker over at BaseballBeginnings.com. Crocker was the best hitter for SLO this year putting together a line of .339/.431/.497 with nine steals and five home runs. Crocker was originally selected by the A's in the 38th round of the 2008 MLB Draft so it's clear they like him that much more. His coach had nothing but good things to say about him:
"Bobby, from Day 1, has been an incredible worker," Lee said of his third-year starter. "If you tell him he has to work on a certain part of his game, it's the last time you'll have to say it. He will put an awful lot of time into getting better. We talk about making your weaknesses your strengths, and he's done that in a number of different areas."
The Oakland A's used their fifth round pick to select catcher Beau Taylor out of the University of Central Florida. In 2011, Taylor hit .325 with 11 doubles, two triples, five home runs and 47 RBIs and was on the Johnny Bench Award Watch List. One report looks at him as a guy with great defense, flashes of power, and better than average plate discipline.
In the sixth round, the Oakland A's picked another center fielder in Dayton Alexander from Feather River College. Alexander finished first team Golden Valley All Conference and has committed to Washington if he elects to transfer to a four-year college. In 152 at bats, Alexander hit .382/.469/.592 with 18 stolen bases in 21 attempts and four home runs.
We'll be here for the next three days covering the 2011 MLB Draft. For more in-depth discussion about the Oakland A's head to Athletics Nation. For more general minor league and draft discussion, check out Minor League Ball and Baseball Nation.