Looking back, Dana Brown didn't do so badly, considering the odd circumstances.
The Washington Nationals' scouting director went into each of the last three First-Year Player Drafts ranking talent alongside another tool: signability.
He came away with much more.
In the last three drafts, the Nationals took third baseman Ryan Zimmerman, left-handed reliever Bill Bray and closer Chad Cordero in the first round. All three were close to big-league-ready out of college, signed quickly and are now playing with the Nationals.
Washington is the only team in the majors with its last three top draft picks in the majors.
"Our hands were tied as far as taking the high-ceiling high school players because of budget issue," Brown said. "As far as some of the high school kids you have to overpay if you are going to draft them. Not having an owner, it was really difficult to say who you would be able to overpay."
That won't be the case this season.
The Nationals still don't officially have an owner in place--closing on the $450 million sale of the team to a group led by Theodore Lerner could come by the end of the month--but the team has earmarked a significant sum for the two-day, 50-round draft that begins at 1 p.m. today.
That means Brown's wish list could potentially include coveted high school picks with high ceilings and higher-than-normal signing bonus demands.
Washington has four early picks, including the 15th and 22nd. Those selections are all the more important, considering the Lerner group and incoming team president Stan Kasten have pledged to sink money into a vast rebuilding process that begins with player development, scouting and the minor leagues.
It is unclear what role the Lerners and Kasten will have in the draft.
"Every draft is crucial for an organization," general manager Jim Bowden said last month. "Obviously, when you have two first-round picks and two second-rounds, and you budgeted significant dollars to sign players--whether it be [in the draft] or in Latin America or internationally--we want to keep the stream of players coming. The stream is how you get better quicker."
With that in mind, the Nationals brought 10 high school hitters to an RFK Stadium workout May 28, getting a close look at likely first-rounders Billy Rowell (Sewell, N.J.), Chris Marrero (Miami) and Chris Parmelee (Chino Hills, Calif.).
Catcher Hank Conger (Huntington Beach, Calif.) was not there, though the Nationals are not deep at that position in the minors.
They've scouted high school right-hander Jeremy Jeffress--a semilocal pick from Halifax High School in South Boston--as well as high school righty Kyle Drabek (The Woodlands, Texas) and left-hander Clayton Kershaw (Dallas).
Bowden hinted the team could take an "unsignable player and overpay that player"--like a high school player asking for a large signing bonus or someone like right-hander Luke Hochevar, who spurned the Dodgers last season and will enter the draft again.
"We want the best players," Bowden said. " We know what [money] we have to work with. It's a good number to be able to sign players. Now the key is make sure you sign the best player that is going to help us. And that's what has to be measured."
This might be a good year to think for the future.
In a draft bereft of college can't-misses like Zimmerman, Alex Gordon (Kansas City) and Troy Tulowitzki (Colorado), looking at potent high school talent might be a good strategy.
"In the second round and on, it's just as strong as last year's draft," Brown said. "I just think up top you are not going to get the same type of player. We feel we'll get a good quality big league player that can contribute to a championship club."
If a quality college player slips to the 15th pick, for instance, the Nationals could jump.
The team likes Kent State shortstop Emmanuel Burris--a local product from D.C.'s Wilson High--as well as Washington righty Tim Lincecum and Nebraska right-hander Joba Chamberlain. Texas outfielder Drew Stubbs is an intriguing pick likely to be gone by pick 15.
North Carolina lefty Andrew Miller is the likely No. 1 pick to Kansas City, but his teammate, right-hander Josh Bard, has impressed team officials.
Brown said the Nationals won't overdraft a player to fit a specific need, however.
Beyond starting catcher Brian Schneider, the team has few catching prospects in the minors, and with prospect Ian Desmond struggling at Class-A, there is a hole at shortstop.
"Then you end up overrating players," Brown said. " We are going to consistently take the best player available. You've got to take value. You have to get value in the draft and you can move the value later."
To reach TODD JACOBSON:
Email: tjacobson@freelancestar.com