HOUSTON -- Astros assistant general manager/director of scouting Bobby Heck provided a brief outline to Examiner.com regarding the organization's approach to the 2012 First-Year Player Draft and his personal philosophy to narrowing down the list of top available prospects to a decisive No. 1 overall pick -- something Houston will likely receive for the third time in franchise history.
The Astros' scouting department began turning in their first list of prospects within two weeks following June's Draft and immediately got to work over the summer by analyzing and evaluating showcases, college summer leagues and Team USA.
During this time frame, there still remained the task of signing the organization's 2011 draftees, including first-round pick George Springer.
Houston wound up inking 35 of their 50 Draft picks over the two-month signing-period window and did an exceptional job in executing the preliminary process in getting prepared for 2012.
Heck finds himself pleased with the summer portion of the scouting schedule, especially since the list of top prospects has tightened up and become more legitimate -- giving him a better idea of where he'll concentrate his efforts heading into the fall.
"Within two weeks after the Draft, our scouts had to turn in their first list for 2012," Heck said. "It gives us an early survey of what is out there. As we navigate through the summer at the showcases, the college summer leagues and Team USA, those lists get tighter and become a little more legitimate. Our scouts just turned in their second list this past week. As we go out in the summer, we can focus on certain guys. Other guys will also emerge. At this time, we've just finished our summer programs and we kind of realize we're picking No. 1 for next year.
"We'll start gathering and pulling names from the top of that list and focus our efforts on where I'm going to have to spend some time this fall in order to see those players as much as possible. Our scouts continue to cultivate their lists to make them as close as possible toward the end of this fall. This will give us a gauge of where we are going to start come next spring."
As the Astros finish out the remaining 19 games in the 2011 season, Heck recalls being in a similar position nine years ago while serving as the Eastern Scouting Supervisor for the Milwaukee Brewers.
Milwaukee compiled a 56-106 record in 2002 and received the second pick in the 2003 First-Year Player Draft behind the Tampa Bay Rays.
The Brewers selected 2011 NL All-Star second baseman Rickie Weeks -- a prospect Heck had the responsibility of cross-checking.
Heck cites outfielder Delmon Young and Weeks as the two players who separated themselves from the pack of other draftees.
According to Heck, the Brewers were prepared to take either Young or Weeks at No. 2 depending on what direction Tampa Bay went.
In the end, the Rays elected to go with Young as the top pick, causing Milwaukee to immediately turn their attention toward Weeks.
Despite Stephen Strasburg (2009) and Bryce Harper (2010) being clear-cut, top overall picks, Heck states it's better each year to have a handful of "No. 1-caliber" prospects emerge -- with 2011 being a perfect example due to Gerrit Cole, Danny Hultzen, Trevor Bauer, Dylan Bundy, Bubba Starling, Anthony Rendon and Archie Bradley separating themselves from the pack.
"We picked No. 2 with Milwaukee the year we selected Rickie Weeks," Heck said. "The two guys who separated themselves in that Draft were Delmon Young and Rickie Weeks. When you look back at the past couple of Drafts, Stephen Strasburg and Bryce Harper separated themselves. For this year, there were six or seven players that separated themselves as the legitimate top pick.
"Obviously, you hope that there is more than one in a given year. The focus of my time will be watching the group that has separated themselves. At the end of the day, you select the most talented player who will have the biggest impact on your organization. This also includes the entire make-up aspect of it, including how they are, personally, and the families they come from.
"That's all part of it. The talent, alone, can get you to the big leagues, but it's all the other stuff that keeps you there and helps you to succeed."
What about the financial aspect?
Springer's $2.525 million signing bonus represents the largest in franchise history for a draftee, while outfield prospect Ariel Ovando currently owns the highest bonus with $2.6 million after signing with the Astros on July 7, 2010 as a non-drafted free agent.
If Houston does receive the No. 1 overall pick for 2012, the draftee will end up shattering the franchise record in terms of bonus money.
Heck is prepared for this, in addition to negotiating with high-profile agent Scott Boras, who has advised the top picks in recent Drafts.
The Astros currently have Boras clients in their farm system that weren't first-round selections, such as Jon Gaston, and saw two-time Gold Glove Award winner Michael Bourn (now with the Atlanta Braves) switch over to his representation last offseason.
Basically, Houston isn't a stranger to working out deals with the 58-year-old Boras and refuses to shy away from him just because he may represent the player they ultimately draft in 2012.
"A mecca has been set," Heck said. "You're going to spend between $8 and $10 million for that top pick. That's what you are expected to pay. Obviously, we do have a new collective bargaining agreement that is being put together right now. There could be changes to the Draft. I will work hard within the system I'm given. The idea is to get the No. 1 talented player. That is what I intend to do. We have taken Boras clients before. They just haven't been near the top of the Draft board.
"We were actually looking at Boras guys around Springer this year. Scott Boras has real good players and we have a good relationship with him. We're not going to run just because of who represents who. It's our job to select the most talented player."
Although getting the top overall pick means the major league team finished the season with the worst record, Heck admits he's excited to be in this position to make the Astros better by taking the best player available in the 2012 First-Year Player Draft.
"Just knowing you have the chance to get the most talented player in the Draft and what we're trying to do here with the Astros really makes it exciting," Heck said. "Also, the fact that we picked 11th this year, we faced several possibilities on the Draft board.
"This time, we only have to find one. So, hopefully we have a couple to choose from for that No. 1 pick. It's exciting, but you don't want to be picking up this high for very long. If you are, the ones you picked before aren't doing their jobs. The goal is to pick low.
"Hopefully, what we do impacts us in both the short and long run, and helps to keep the flow going in what we are trying to do."
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