MLB draft: First round

The results of the first round of Thursday's Major League Baseball amateur draft. Capsules from Associated Press and staff reports.

1. Tampa Bay Devil Rays: David Price, LHP, Vanderbilt, 6-5, 215, Jr. Dominant season came to surprising end in regionals when top-ranked Commodores lost to Michigan in finals – a game in which he came on in relief and took his first loss of year after pitching just three days earlier. Drafted in 19th round out of high school and became the first lefty picked No. 1 since Yankees took Brien Taylor in 1991. SEC pitcher of year led nation with 194 Ks, including 17 in regional opener against Austin Peay, and went 11-1 with 2.63 ERA. Fastball sits in mid-90s and he mixes it well with outstanding slider and changeup. Projects as dominant staff ace.

2. Kansas City Royals: Mike Moustakas, INF, Chatsworth H.S. (Calif.), 6-0, 185. California's career high school home run leader (52) hit a state-record 24 this season while leading school to city title at Dodger Stadium. Left-handed slugger is rated as best high school power hitter in draft by Baseball America with smooth swing. Played shortstop in high school, but projects more as corner infielder in pros. Also served as team's closer, but will be position player at next level despite mid-90s fastball. Also played quarterback for a few years in high school, but dedicated himself to baseball.

3. Chicago Cubs: Josh Vitters, 3B, Cypress H.S. (Calif.), 6-3, 195. Has great polish at the plate, and has outstanding power with a short, compact swing. Hit .360 with nine HRs and 29 RBIs – despite missing two weeks with pneumonia – while leading team to 20-3 record. Has great arm strength, but sometimes has problems on defense and doesn't have great range. Could end up in OF – teams will want his bat in lineup.

4. Pittsburgh Pirates: Daniel Moskos, LHP, Clemson, 6-1, 200, Jr. Moved from role as closer for one of nation's top teams to starter midway through this season. Just 3-5 with 2.91 ERA heading into super regionals, Moskos has three potentially dominant pitches: 93-95 mph fastball, wicked slider that hits mid- to upper-80s and a good curve. Really grabbed scouts' attention last summer when he struck out 35 in 21 innings and had six saves as Team USA's closer. Currently projects as No. 3-type starter in pros, but could also end up coming out of bullpen as stopper.

5. Baltimore Orioles: Matt Wieters, C, Georgia Tech, 6-5, 230, Jr. Outstanding defensive catcher with a strong, accurate arm. Best position player in draft is switch-hitter with tremendous power potential from both sides. Quietly put together solid season for Yellow Jackets: .358, 10, 59. Also served as team's closer for most of his three seasons with fastball that regularly hit mid-90s. Projected as potential All-Star catcher despite above-average height for position.

6. Washington Nationals: Ross Detwiler, LHP, Missouri State, 6-4, 175, Jr. Thin lefty dealt with lack of run support most of season, as evidenced by 4-5 record and 2.22 ERA. Still, his 110 Ks in 89 innings are impressive, as is his 93-95 mph fastball and knee-buckling curve. Could go as high as No. 2 to Kansas City, which has had him on its radar since he starred in Cape Cod League and with Team USA last summer. Sometimes gets in trouble with command (38 walks), but teams can't overlook high ceiling.

7. Milwaukee Brewers: Matt LaPorta, 1B, Florida, 6-1, 215, Sr. After helping Gators to CWS championship series as a sophomore and leading country in HRs, LaPorta followed it with terrific summer for Team USA. Then, he injured his oblique muscle at start of junior year, struggled for most of season and slipped to 14th round of draft. Rebounded in big way this year when he opted to return to Florida. Finalist for Golden Spikes Award hit .402 with 20 HRs and 52 RBIs despite seeing few good pitches. Considered below average defensively, but bat could make him top-15 pick.

8. Colorado Rockies: Casey Weathers, RHP, Vanderbilt, 6-2, 200, Sr. A converted outfielder who has pitched exclusively only since junior college, Weathers was a closer at Vanderbilt who relied primarily on a 96-mph fastball. He was 10-2 with five saves in 2007, striking out 58 in 39 innings. Weathers' stature rose when he was added to USA Baseball's college national team last summer. Because he was a senior, he has no signing leverage and should be pitching for a Rockies' farm team in a matter of weeks.

9. Arizona Diamondbacks: Jarrod Parker, RHP, Norwell H.S. (Ind.), 6-2, 175. Scouts rave about his clean mechanics with smooth, easy delivery and 94-97 mph fastball, rated as best among high school pitchers. Has outstanding command and mound presence, and is projected to be No. 1 or No. 2 starter in the pros. Compared to Roy Oswalt by some because of size and stuff. Didn't allow an earned run until seventh start this spring.

10. San Francisco Giants: Madison Bumgarner, LHP, South Caldwell H.S. (N.C.), 6-5, 220. Fastballs, fastballs and more fastballs distinguish Bumgarner, who slings the ball from a three-quarter arm slot and gets excellent late movement. The knock on him is the lack of even an average off-speed pitch. He has good command, striking out 100 while walking eight in 58 innings this season.

11. Seattle Mariners: Phillippe Aumont, RHP, Ecole Du Versant (Quebec), 6-7, 225. Considered Canada's best pro prospect since Adam Loewen, who went No. 4 overall in 2002. Threw in front of scouts in the spring and flashed fastball that consistently hit mid-90s to go along with 80-82 mph slider and impressed when he struck out five in three innings during tournament in Florida. Mechanics a bit raw, but should be easily smoothed out at next level.

12. Florida Marlins: Matt Dominguez, 3B, Chatsworth H.S. (Calif.), 6-2, 185. He played in the considerable shadow of his high school teammate, Mike Moustakas, yet Dominguez is considered a better fielder than the slugger who went No. 2 to the Royals. Dominguez has great bat speed, but some scouts were troubled by his hitting mechanics. He is expected to sign rather than take a scholarship to Cal State Fullerton.

13. Cleveland Indians: Beau Mills, 3B, Lewis-Clark State (Idaho), 6-3, 220, Jr. Son of Red Sox bench coach Brad Mills set NAIA season record with 38 HRs while leading Lewis-Clark State to 15th national title. NAIA player of year hit three HRs and had eight RBIs in championship game over Spring Arbor (Mich.). Powerful bat projects at next level, and could play either infield corner position. Transferred from Fresno State after school suspended him late last season for poor academic performance.

14. Atlanta Braves: Jason Heyward, OF, Henry County H.S. (Ga.), 6-2, 200. Has shown tremendous versatility, playing center field and first base and pitching during career, but projects as a right fielder at next level because of strong arm. Extremely patient at plate and rarely gets fooled. Bat speed and left-handed raw power should help him become slugger in pros. Was hitting .520 with eight HRs and 29 RBIs, along with 17 SBs this season.

15. Cincinnati Reds: Devin Mesoraco, C, Punxsutawney H.S. (Pa.), 6-1, 205. Among the highest risers this year with Parker and Phillippe Aumont, Mesoraco leapt past Yasmani Grandal as the top prep catcher available. Despite undergoing Tommy John surgery two years ago, Mesoraco enthralls scouts with his arm and steady bat.

16. Toronto Blue Jays: Kevin Ahrens, 3B, Memorial H.S., Houston, 6-2, 180. A switch-hitter with power from both sides of the plate who will move from shortstop to third base, Ahrens has been compared by several scouts to Chipper Jones. He has all the tools except speed. Ahrens established that he has home run power during the World Wood Bat Championship last fall.

17. Texas Rangers: Blake Beavan, RHP, Irving H.S. (Texas), 6-7, 210. Made name for himself last fall when he struck out 11 for Team USA in a shutout of Cuba at the World Junior Championship. Threw perfect game in which he struck out 18 batters this spring, as well as a 15-strikeout performance. Sidearmer allowed only two earned runs in 11 starts. Has fiery attitude on mound – once was ejected for yelling at opposing fans – but scouts like his self-confidence.

18. St. Louis Cardinals: Peter Kozma, SS, Owasso H.S. (Okla.), 6-1, 180. He possesses all the intangibles, yet most teams had Kozma pegged as a supplemental first-round or second-round pick. The Cardinals might have drafted for need because Kozma probably was the best true middle infield prospect available. He batted .519 with seven home runs and 13 stolen bases in 104 at-bats during his senior year and projects as a No. 2 or No. 8 hitter in a big league lineup.

19. Philadelphia Phillies: Joe Savery, LHP-1B, Rice, 6-3, 215, Jr. Regarded as nation's top two-way player entering season, Savery hasn't been as dominant on mound as he was in past, but posted good numbers (10-1, 2.78). Couldn't pitch for Owls last June because of a shoulder injury, but has been steadily improving his velocity. Has low- to mid-90s fastball and above-average changeup and curve. Has also been offensive leader for Owls, hitting .360 with four HRs and 54 RBIs while playing first base. Teams mostly looking at him as pitcher in pros.

20. Los Angeles Dodgers: Chris Withrow, RHP, Midland Christian H.S. (Texas) 6-3, 195. The Dodgers chose a high school pitcher from Texas in the first round for the second year in a row; last year they took Clayton Kershaw, who is pitching well in the minor leagues. Withrow's stock rose as the draft approached. He throws 94 mph and has an improving curveball. Withrow also is a good hitter and would play outfield as well as pitch if he decides to attend Baylor rather than sign.

21. Toronto Blue Jays: J.P. Arencibia, C/1B, Tennessee, 6-1, 195. Arencibia led Team USA's college national team with nine home runs last summer but missed the first two months of the 2007 college season because of a pulled muscle in his back. His defensive ability behind the plate is a question mark. Arencibia played at the same Miami high school as Alex Rodriguez.

22. San Francisco Giants: Tim Alderson, RHP, Horizon H.S. (Ariz.), 6-7, 208. Alderson pitches exclusively from the stretch, so it's no surprise that he projects as a reliever. Impeccable control separates him from the pack – he struck out 111 and walked four in 65 innings during his senior year. Alderson starred on the Team USA junior national team and has had a national profile for several years.

23. San Diego Padres: Nick Schmidt, LHP, Arkansas, 6-5, 230, Jr. Big, bulldog-type pitcher threw more than 100 innings each of past two seasons as Razorbacks' No. 1 starter. Went 11-3 with 2.69 ERA and 111 Ks – down from 145 as a sophomore. School's career leader in strikeouts goes deep into games (five complete games this season) and shows terrific competitive attitude. Throws 88-92 mph fastball consistently and into the late innings; combines it with above-average changeup and curve. Could be middle-of-rotation pitcher at next level, if not a solid No. 2.

24. Texas Rangers: Michael Main, RHP/OF, DeLand H.S. (Fla.), 6-1, 170. A legitimate two-position player, Main throws 97 mph and also is well above average as a runner and an accomplished switch-hitter. Main missed his junior year because of a rotator cuff injury, and some scouts worried about his durability because of his slight build. His velocity came back this spring, however, and he struck out 103 while walking only 12 in 68 innings.

25. Chicago White Sox: Aaron Poreda, LHP, San Francisco, 6-6, 240, Jr. One of the hardest throwers in the draft, Poredo needs to develop his off-speed pitches to become a major leaguer. His three-quarter arm slot has kept him from developing a consistent breaking ball. Poredo, 20, is a late bloomer. He wasn't considered a prospect in high school and slowly developed command of his pitches during three seasons at San Francisco.

26. Oakland Athletics: James Simmons, RHP, UC Riverside, 6-4, 215, Jr. Competitiveness and excellent command are Simmons' calling cards. He emerged as a top prospect by pitching well in the Cape Cod League last summer and cemented his stature by defeating perennial power Cal State Fullerton in front of numerous scouts in April. His off-speed pitches are considered average at best.

27. Detroit Tigers: Rick Porcello, RHP, Seton Hall Prep (N.J.), 6-5, 188. Has been hyped as a can't-miss prospect since his sophomore season, and has improved steadily since. Threw seven-inning perfect game last month, flashing 94-95 mph fastball with superior command consistently for nation's top-ranked high school squad. While he occasionally struggles with control of breaking pitches, his curve, changeup and slider are considered potential above-average. Good mechanics and excellent mound presence.

28. Minnesota Twins: Ben Revere, OF, Lexington Catholic H.S. (Ky.). 5-9, 152. A speedy contact hitter, Revere batted nearly .500 in four high school seasons, set a state record with 27 triples, and struck out only 19 times in more than 500 plate appearances. He is a reach as a first-round pick because of his questionable instincts as an outfielder and small stature.

29. San Francisco Giants: Wendell Fairley, OF, George County-Lucedale H.S. (Miss.), 6-0, 190. The Giants had a plethora of picks in the first few rounds and after taking pitchers with their first two, they grabbed perhaps the best high school athlete in the draft. Fairley is considered raw talent because he focused primarily on football in high school, but he hits for power and average and is a fleet center fielder.

30. New York Yankees: Andrew Brackman, RHP, North Carolina State, 6-10, 240, Jr. Quit the basketball team after his sophomore season and focused on pitching. Imposing presence on mound, he's still learning how to pitch. Was inconsistent for Wolfpack – 6-4, 3.81 ERA, 74 Ks, 37 BBs – but was dominant at times. Throws hard and even touched 99 mph last summer in Cape Cod League; fastball is ranked tops in college by Baseball America. Has tricky curveball and is still developing changeup. Scouts excited about potential of what he can do with some refinement at next level.