Jason Mcleod, Red Sox Director of Amateur Scouting

Joining us now on the eighteenth the hotline ATT. Your world delivered director Red Sox amateur scouting coming up their Super Bowl. And the draft just couple days ago Jason McLeod Jason Mike and Alex this morning how -- you.

All all all of all hey Jason thanks so much for coming non. -- did we just go ahead and I did to it amateur scouting directors are never sat after drafted that what do you like about this year's draft what in particular. On over this over the course of those first three days leaves you feeling is if the Red Sox organization is better than it was on on Monday.

All I -- I think you know most most draft Koreans feel pretty good immediately after the draft that. You know this -- as we -- first then fold. If we're very happy to let the board felt. Three players that we ended up with. On Tuesday were three guys that we got a lot extent we experience and caviar is what all we've done. I was let is that not one very very good news and one does. Which is that we thought of an opportunity to be a dynamic we -- it up better you know he taught that if Steve -- If the Utica road swing the bat is a lot stronger than -- is because he's got a lot of fast which Boston's on the did you really think he's which is that. Down the road could be compete at dynamically our management. You have to get got a little people in our draft. We felt like we were able to acquire -- and the tyranny is the baker. Network side and subsequent in camera in the power that it has more affordable place then. Yeah we took a gamble on it later that. I really good opportunities in front -- should they decide to go to college with. But the only -- that is younger stuff. You know real excited and look forward it is summer ultimately developed out some of these whether it.

Jason let's talk about what you just said taking a gamble on some players back cap for the draft I don't think you meant. Gamble in terms of these kids talent but you guys like at some players that. Your gambling that may be you can sign them. And -- forgo some other very good opportunities whether it's up playing football for SEC school or some other great sort of college chances. That's is that what you mean by gamble -- to gamble on these guys talent.

Yeah I here click that connect directly to better better work there I you know we've we've been able didn't feel in the past that it wants some of these guys that we put a little later. And -- you know -- and receiving more than where we market is that as that little opportunity in front of them should they decide to get ecology. But it's just the way that scalp the -- summer spent a little more out of them. It's no more posts always get that it doesn't look sort of make that does and and -- in this summer -- this. Yeah there's something that you come to walk under the agreement on follows. -- them then that's great if not and the -- chemical called that would much. Further along with some of our relationship with player than the other one sentence.

With a guy like a Brandon Jacobs who you guys take in the tenth round to guy who's five foot ten and 240 pounds and didn't I think Auburn believes that he can. Run through brick walls and in leads them in a single bound or something. You know how how much do you. How much do you -- a guy like that it was a two sport star in the other sport how much do you into what is the appeal of the multi sport athlete or of the guy who just has. Extraordinary athletic talent and you know kind of extraordinary physique like him.

Well you know any amber still looked closely they'll make an impact on the baseball field. It's certainly. He you do like since the play other sports but so -- most of them leadership. And other sports but at the end we still want a place to bring a -- and -- additional little impact in organization between the lines. You know Brandon is a big strong kid with a chance to hit. So for power we so in the right side of the plate. And that we didn't get a whole lot yes got to him on the football field. This past he's not let them hire us our our series now in order certainly below where gunmen and their government I have to a couple of the -- You know here and that a successful -- down there and again -- as a great opportunity crunch it is particularly there -- in the SEC football of course is that you know what that's all about them throughout so we'll walk if you look at some of all forces this -- artillery regiment.

I want talk lots of players Jason but also want to ask you about the draft itself you know you get the for the first time MLB network was able to air this thing on TV in your -- four minutes in between picks there in the the first round but after that -- You Iran mlb.com. And -- given picks one after another just the process of that you know having to be ready with a pick. Yet is it tough to catalyst the players and funny when and kind of hope the teams that are picking of funny you. Don't take that tired you have it. People on your well organization. That talked other teams you have a good idea of who those guys might take is the draft progresses and two rounds 181920.

Well you know it we got clear and a small hill at the top draft in -- first -- and sometimes. That you don't in the sandwiched around -- is the other teams are wrong and and you might be your picks but you know what you really get after the second and and the kick start coming our. Yes sometimes conflict in seconds between elections. It kind of things get going pretty quickly and there are so I think our biggest ourselves you know we get the pocket. The players Trevor around that we lineup on the war -- before our guys immortal -- we like them. And there are times definitely when discussing on the inside those top -- three to five browns were those players are gonna be taken and he just felt that they compared with the next. Way to access it the guys. On the board and get them lined up and make sure there in the right order as you go want to get deeper in the drought. Especially if you get into the -- It became -- to become less frequent -- not a club here. Take a player that you have sat there on the fourteenth round let's say it but it does happen every now and and and and that you know lately chuckle in the room --

I'm in the in rounds four through ten this year it seemed like you were you guys were kind of pounding big arm high school kids you know guys like. Brandon Klein and Kendall volts and you know well I guess -- wasn't. Was not high school kid but you know -- of some guys who have big upside sign ability questions can you talk about you know was that I. A full of philosophical choice did you really want to load up on arms at that stage of the draft trees still going best talent available.

Has it that the combination of both that you can script that you're rap by any means just because of the yeah. Volatility on -- look -- between nineteen you're gonna do him. And approximately got that area the draft of the -- to replicate the chemical or that Alvarez and what is the upside is. These players versus. Maybe some college kids that are -- we saw as you know maybe organizational types. Maybe you know guys that we didn't seem like it would impact the Boston Red Sox. You know we got six particular brand climb in coming back and taken Macedonia and seventh round -- You -- great opportunities and problems should they decide to go collagen and trust -- assists a matter you know if we hit on these two kids. On the Kendall ball was saying and and there's the flip side any of these players in the summer we think we're gonna get more impact -- that player than a -- gone somewhere else. Reports. The water left early but we just have to have to continue to -- vehicles because it could impact the organizational most of and that's what we in the --

Jason your third -- picked David renfro got a lot of attention now locally and nationally because. He's -- pair potentially to a David Wright in terms of the power potential. I mean feel that it's -- physical talent. But they you know he slips into that third round at. Talk about what you like about this kid and are the comparisons to player like David Wright is it too early. To make that sort of comparison to a guy you guys just drafted.

Absolutely. You know from for the majority of these kids you know why because there's been compared a lot his cousin Carlos Beltran has been allowed Johnny Damon comparisons and I think that's the nature of a market and we talked about players but I'm you're getting back -- today at -- Yeah he's a very physical kid he's strong and athletic if you declare that a lot of teams. Probably rated them higher on the mount I'm locked into running and in -- Throughout the spraying and I was little since last summer and Wrigley Field at All-Star game -- and we actually like many pitchers -- at times -- just -- and take batting practice -- confused and that's the -- he -- things -- home -- in the -- the -- that -- we decided. Collectively -- We'll be we think has potential as on the field the position where he's. -- Quarterback down there will be very successful. Public school program -- Mississippi and only lost one game starting quarterback and in the final few years. You know he's got a great opportunity available met. You -- people not spending a little more -- over the summer and and hopefully we'll be -- to get something done.

I guess that leads you into the that my question about a guy who's already in the system who is fascinating story Casey Kelly. A QB had a chance to meet -- over the winter and polls matters -- alumni dinner. And here's a kid that you know like ran for all full scholarship opportunity to play quarterback at Tennessee. Pitcher and an infielder. He comes in your system you're able to sign the kid he's pitching for the first half of the year. Going to play shortstop and -- field and hit in the back half. Yeah is this something you guys are willing to do with players he willing to give them an opportunity it. Yelled they're two different positions and see where they grow does that help you sign up a two sport star like a Casey Kelly like David renfro.

Far enough and certainly not the Norman and ultimately want to get up every -- to speak to you -- libel case until -- And cattle actually strapped in -- It was a good Sheffield all of -- at least keep up to shortstop. And our draft than it was just -- he he could be really special on the mound without Penske was and and obviously with what he's done so far this year being first you're pitching. The open golf at all last year force in the in the coming to a fault is -- Greeneville duty dead and now to compete as -- how are created in nineteen year old -- we could have scripted it any better as far as how -- is down on the mound. And and obviously now I can slowly transition into the position playing as he gets put in any longer so. Yeah I think it speaks volumes.

Org says it is natural ability on the field just the palpable Casey and it would David. You know are up. Not to -- that he's the -- at particular case he has obviously worked out in the little harder. And they at a position player -- you -- the real. Fallback option for him if it were able to side and that you know if it didn't work out. Positions. He generally could appear that the definite -- them -- well.

Jason -- out you've been out all over the country for months and months now. What was the single most impressive thing that you saw on the field over the as you prepared for the 2009 draft.

You know all the amateur player called podium and -- I put me on the spot right now possibly crazy thing -- reformed so let's see great performances nose spray. Obviously the big boy at the top of the draft even Stratford knows it's hard not to walk out of there -- be. It pretty excited though about what -- as. When you there's no hitter. No I was not known as well as.

The most impressive game you -- from Strasbourg and then within the reds and then one story of like something that was just jaw dropping that you -- one of the Red Sox draftees. But. --

Well you know celebrated that must have a federal arms and then in -- squad game in January just because and he wasn't going to be on our radar screen so. It just the political. President since then and what he is between ones it's pretty impressive. As far as our draft picks. Access such chairman of the baker played great and these development -- eastern on on one day in and and because these kids to a Hillary looked -- cook until it down -- very important. All around speech on our track ball out. In the outfield. Massive young America as -- I read in the picture those. A 97 with one of the most powerful breaking pitches that he about this -- icicles. They're they're -- and you leave these amateur games just during your car drive back here is obvious that what these kids can do that -- it's.

Does -- had some interesting high school guys -- is governors from Illinois right. Received from in my getting that wrong.

And interests on the South Carolina.

Okay I'm way off in my geography nevermind. --

Jason last one for me then obviously these kids have been drafted a couple of days ago you've got a single a New York and he's gonna start on June 19 this year. How quickly it is the process to get these kids signs of that you get them in the system get him playing canes and I -- field a team their for the of the -- New York Penn league team.

Well you know we're hoping that that -- especially the college says for the most part settle in that area were opened the seagull book there and Jeremy it'll baker. It -- it is about time that the beginning of the -- historic and I believe out of this year's draft. That the top. In the top ten rounds equality only two guys. That you see out of this year's draft. And the ball is it was the chances going to pick I'm okay. This summer -- Kind of one of what want to rework on some mechanics. He can't have it contaminant -- either that you want the guys -- very successful and yes there last summer and what's the status Celso sprinkler -- below want to work on some mechanical. Thing that he thinks you need to get our doubts so we're gonna watch them on the case. Hopefully you know we couldn't get something done and you -- simple little later the --

Jason great stuff it's a great look back at what it's becoming more and more of -- baseball fans. Well destination -- catch the MLB draft that at some TV coverage this week. Certainly appreciate you spent a few minutes with us and enjoy your signing of these guys we'll talk to Donna wrote thanks so much. There you go Jason -- director of amateur scouting for the Boston Red Sox.