Cliff Lee goes first in 2009 OAPBA draft

In our first league draft submission, Rod Caborn of the Orlando APBA Association (OAPBA) writes to let us know how their draft went.

Cliff Lee went numero uno followed by Geovany Soto and Edison Volquez.

Rod Caborn writes:

Southpaw Cliff Lee was the first pick in the 2009 OABPA (Orlando APBA Association) draft, held in this past Sat., Jan. 31.

OAPBA is an eight-team league comprised of two four-team divisions. Two halves, 42 games per half, with winners of each half advancing to semi-final players to match the World Series combatants. The reigning champion is Joe Passiatore’s Platoon, who pulled one of the league’s all-time upsets in 2008, topping the heavily favored Walt Taylor Whatevers, in the ’08 Fall Classic.

The OAPBA draft is a 15-round draft, with the 2008 team with the worst won-lost record drafting first. Each of OAPBA’s eight teams starts the year with a 20-player base and drafts 15 players to fill out the roster. Teams keep 25 players active per half with maximum of three call-ups/send-downs at the halfway point. XB players, if kept active for the first half, must stay on the roster during the entire year.

Orlando APBA Draft Pick Order

First round

1 P Cliff Lee, Titans (Dave Mitchell)

2 C Geovany Soto, Road Warriors (Marc Bostrom)

3 P Edinson Volquez, Beefers (Rod Caborn)

4 3b Evan Longoria, Gashouse Gang (Kris Stenger)

5 P Rich Harden, Turfbeaters, (Steven Korb)

6 P Ryan Dempster, Tazmanian Devils, (Dave Larson)

7 P Jose Arrendondo, Whatevers, (Walt Taylor)

8 C Dioner Navarro, Titans (Dave Mitchell); trade from Platoon (Joe Passiatore)

Second round

9 P Justin Ducherer, Whatevers, (Walt Taylor) (trade from Titans)

10 P David Price, Road Warriors (Marc Bostrom)

11 P Brad Zeigler, Beefers (Rod Caborn)

12 P John Danks, Gashouse Gang (Kris Stenger)

13 P Joey Devine, Turfbeaters, (Steven Korb)

14 P Ricky Nolasco, Tazmanian Devils, (Dave Larson)

15 P Taylor Buchholz, Whatevers, (Walt Taylor)

16 2b Ian Kinsler, Platoon (Joe Passiatore)

The APBA Blog’s profile on OAPBA

Did your APBA league just have its draft? Let us know how it went!