This is draft week for the Boys of Summer APBA League. In contrast to the Illowa APBA League where we draft in an hour or so, the BoS extends its draft over a week or so.
There are reasons for this. One, managers of the BoS are spread out all over the country making a face-to-face draft impossible. Two, not only is it a sixteen-team league but our draft lasts 14 rounds. Exactly 200 players are chosen in the Boys of Summer draft compared to the Illowa draft which drafts about 30-40 players.
So how has the process worked? We have a master draft spreadsheet using Google Sheets that each manager has access to update. We have all been announcing our picks and communicating otherwise via Facebook Messenger. When people were busy during extended times, they would send in draft lists to the commissioner and update them periodically.
It’s certainly a different dynamic from the quick and intense Illowa APBA League drafts but from my end, it’s worked pretty well. We started six days ago, and at this moment, we only have a few rounds left.
By now, you’re probably interested in who got picked. Full results will be released when the draft is over but here is how the first round went…
| 1 | Kris Bryant | 3B | MIC |
| 2 | Carlos Correa | SS | BRK |
| 3 | Noah Syndergaard | SP | BUF |
| 4 | Corey Seager | SS | SEA |
| 5 | Luis Severino | SP | KBB |
| 6 | Carlos Rodon | SP | KING |
| 7 | Francisco Lindor | SS | SD |
| 8 | Addison Russell | 2B | FAIR |
| 9 | Lance McCullers | SP | CORK |
| 10 | Steven Matz | SP | HOL |
| 11 | Miguel Sano | 3B/DH | SPAR |
| 12 | Aaron Nola | SP | T.C. |
| 13 | Byron Buxton | OF | SWAT |
| 14 | Kyle Schwarber | OF/C | URB |
| 15 | Blake Swihart | C | CHI |
| 16 | Michael Conforto | OF | POR |
Like most league drafts, we saw Kris Bryant go first. He went to Bill Gilliam’s Micatin Destroyers. Shortstops Carlos Correa and Cory Seager as well as starter Noah Syndergaard also went high. There seemed to be run of starting pitchers in the first round. Luis Severino, Carlos Rodon, Lance McCullers, Steven Matz and Aaron Nola were all chosen by pick #12.
The best part (for me especially) was that Kyle Schwarber lasted until the 14th pick. Even Steven Piscotty lasted till the 30th pick.
When guys swear at you at a draft, it’s a compliment
Now, it’s the 11th round and pickings are slim. Teams are making sure their positional needs are covered. I think we’re all hoping that the draft will be finished by the end of the weekend.
Good luck to all my fellow Boys of Summer League managers this season!!
You had an excellent draft my friend, I really like Stephen Piscotty.