RED SOX OR ATHLETICS

Seventeen new players were added to Palm Beach league teams through preseason tryouts and the league draft at the Santaluces Complex, Lantana, on Sunday, February 20. Only three 18AAA teams drafted, taking a total of four players. The Cardinals tabbed 38-year lefthanded pitcher Dave Clark as the first overall pick, then added shorstop/pitcher Vascar De La Cruz in the second round. DeLa Cruz played in the fall league with the Cubs. However, after the draft, the Cardinals and Rooney's Heat traded picks. The Cardinals picked up 18 year old infielder Alexander D'Elia of Wellington, in exchange for De La Cruz, who goes with the Heat. The only other first round 18AAA picks were lefthanded pitcher/outfielder Drew Davis, 20. He was selected by the Boynton Red Sox. The Mets then drafted 26-year old infielder Marlon Hernandez of Delray. Hernandez was the best looking hitter at the tryouts and bats from both sides of the plate. The Angels, a new 18AA team, selected 21-year old catcher/oufielder Justin Martella of Boynton Beach, who played at Northwood University. Another new entry, the Texas Rangers, drafted three players in 18 year old lst baseman/pitcher Richard Maguire, Wilfredo Baez, 27, a shortstop-third baseman-catcher and Ronald Fernandez of Boynton Beach, an outfielder. Rooney's Heat wound up with two players---De La Cruz, in that swap with the AAA Cardinals, and Ricardo Perez, a 27-year old infielder from West Palm Beach. The AA Phillies wound up with six players--- 26-year old pitcher Jeremiah Krupp of Boynton Beach 22-year old pitcher/infielder Rolando Canua Valdes of Greenacres 21-year old Gustavo Garcia, a left fielder from Boynton Beach 27-year old Ethan Kelsch, an infielder from Boynton Beach 19-year old outfielder Joseph Baez of West Palm Beach and 20-year old Michael Morrison, a shortstop/outfielder from West Palm Beach, who eventually wound up with the 18AA Angels. Los Potros made only one pick---25-year old pitcher-third baseman-outfielder Michael Pichardo of Wellington.