Right-hander Anthony Ranaudo was selected No. 39 overall by the Boston Red Sox, and went on WEEI Radio in Boston shortly after to announce that he would be playing in the Cape Cod League this summer in order to prove to the Red Sox that he's both healthy and worthy of a big signing bonus.
While the presence of draftees on Cape Cod League rosters is not uncommon, it rarely occurs with high picks and big names such as Ranaudo, but such a route could become more popular if it works for the LSU ace.
"You see guys do this sometimes," said one AL club's assistant scouting director, "but not usually with big names. If Ranaudo comes out throwing 93 with command and the good breaking ball, and does that repeatedly, he might get first-round money and that's going to set a precedent."
Ranaudo signed on with the Brewster Whitecaps, who began their season Monday.
For more on Ranaudo's decision and what it means, signings so far, Cape Cod League news, and 2011 prospects in the early going, you must be an ESPN Insider. (Calendar has shifted to focusing on the 2011 draft already!)
ABOUT THIS BLOG
Keith Law
Keith Law joined ESPN.com in June 2006 as the lead baseball analyst for Scouts Inc., covering the majors, minors and amateurs. Before joining ESPN, Law spent 4½ years with the Toronto Blue Jays as a special assistant to the general manager, and was previously a writer for Baseball Prospectus. He graduated from Harvard College and holds an MBA from the Tepper School of Business at Carnegie Mellon.
Follow Keith on Twitter: @Keithlaw
Jason A. Churchill
Jason A. Churchill is the executive editor at ProspectInsider.com, covering major league baseball with an eye toward scouting and player development since 2006.
Christopher Crawford
The founder and executive editor of MLB Draft Insider. He can be followed on Twitter @crawfordchrisv
-
2013 MLB Draft:
- Law's top 100 prospects
Follow us on Twitter: @ESPN_MLBDRAFT