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Frequent TAB contributor Rod Caborn sends me the first APBA league draft report of 2022! Rod is in Orlando APBA Baseball League. He has this recap of the draft.
Walt Taylor’s Whatevers surprised with the first pick in OAPBA’s 2022 draft, selecting 1b-3b Vlad Guerrero, bypassing the anticipated pick of P-DH Shoei Ohtani. The Otters, as a key part of their rebuilding strategy, selected RF Kyle Tucker with the second pick. Taylor then surprised the league by dealing SP Zack Wheeler to the Devils for the Tazzies first round pick and taking Ohtani with the third pick in the draft. The Tsunamis, with the fourth pick, grabbed C Salvador Perez. The defending champion Beefers, with the fifth pick, drafted 2b Marcus Semien, the second time in three years the Beefs selected Semien with a high round pick.
The 2022 draft was characterized by a considerable increase in the number of pre-draft trades.
The Devils, seeking to bolster their starting pitching, dealt their first round pick (#3) to the Whatevers for righthander Zack Wheeler and their second round pick (#8) to the Otters for righty Lance Lynn.
The Tsunamis wound up as the wheeler-dealers in the pre-draft trade market sending their ninth round pick (#44), along with RP Richard Bleier and 2b Donavon Solano (who was subsequently cut) to the Beefers to the Beefers in exchange for 1b Brandon Belt, 2b Brandon Lowe and Beefs 12thround pick (#60). The Tsunamis also dealt their 11th round pick (#54) to the Otters in exchange for 1b Jose Abreu.
You can see the entire 2022 OAPBA draft here.
The Illowa APBA League will draft on February 18th and the Transcontinental Baseball League will make their picks on February 26th. Anybody else??
Thanks for the update, Rod! Good luck to all of OAPBA this season!!
