Rangers go after right-handed pitchers on first day of draft

The Texas Rangers entered the first day of the 2004 First-Year Player Draft with two picks in the 1st round, picking with the 10th and 30th overall selections.

As predicted, the Rangers selected a pair of pitchers with their first two picks. In a draft heavy on pitching, the Rangers selected pitchers with eight of their first 18 selections on Day 1 of the draft, all of which were right-handed. Aside from pitching, the Rangers addressed organizational needs by selecting six outfielders.

With the 10th pick overall, the Rangers chose pitcher Thomas Diamond out of the University of New Orleans, and then picked up pitcher Eric Hurley from Wolfson High School in Jacksonville, Florida with the 30th selection. Diamond and Hurley both feature mid-90’s fastballs and each have become premier strikeout pitchers at their respective levels.

During the 2004 season at New Orleans, Diamond was one of the top pitchers in the Sun Belt Conference finishing with a 6-4 record, despite a 2.38 record and 138 strikeouts in just 113 2/3 innings. Diamond was rated by Baseball America as having the fifth best fastball of all college prospects.

Hurley is an equally impressive pitching prospect, and considered by many as a steal with the 30th pick overall. An imposing 6-4, 219-pound fireballer out of Jacksonville, Hurley was rated by Baseball America as having the second best fastball in the high school ranks. He struck out 139 batters and walked only 11 in 90 innings. The No. 2 prospect in the state of Florida, Hurley finished the 2004 campaign 13-1 with a 0.70 ERA in 15 games.

With their 2nd round pick, the Rangers grabbed up outfielder K.C. Herren out of Auburn High School in Auburn, Wash. Herren batted nearly .600 for the season, leading Auburn to an undefeated season and a Top 25 national ranking, before falling in the state playoffs.

The draft will conclude today.

The Spokane Indians anticipate receiving a majority of the players taken in the 2004 draft. During the 2003 season, eight of the Rangers top ten selections played in Spokane, leading the Indians to a 50-26 record and a sixth Northwest League Championship. The Texas Rangers will begin to assign players to Spokane on June 8, with the Indians starting mini-camp on June 9.