UPDATED: Will Drug Charge against #2 RHP Gray Change Sox pick in 7 slot in Draft?

Which six players will now be selected ahead of the Red Sox in the #7 slot may have changed with the revelation by Keith Law of ESPN that RHP Jonathan Gray [Oklahoma], who was the likely pick by the Cubs in the #2 slot, has tested positive for Adderall at a pre-draft screening.

In the event that the six teams ahead of the Sox are spooked by the report and Gray falls down the list to 8 or lower, the new order may look like this:

1. Houston Astros   – Colin Moran, 3B, UNC
2. Chicago Cubs   – Mark Appel, RHP, Stanford
3. Colorado Rockies – Kohl Stewart, RHP, St. Pius X HS (Texas)
4. Minnesota Twins – Kris Bryant, 3B, San Diego
5. Cleveland Indians – Braden Shipley, RHP, Nevada
6. Miami Marlins – Clint Frazier, OF, Loganville HS (Ga.)

In this scenario, the Sox would miss out on HS OF Clint Frazier, but they would then be able to select Ryne Stanek, RHP, Arkansas or Reese McGuire, C, Kentwood HS (Wash.).

Or, if GM Cherington is feeling lucky he might roll the dice on RHP Jonathan Gray [Oklahoma].

Mike Rosenbaum the Prospect Pundit at Bleacher Report thinks the Sox will get either Frazier or Meadows:

Slot Value: $3.2465 million

“Analysis: Boston should have its choice of either Clint Frazier or Austin Meadows with its first pick.

While Frazier is the more advanced player at the moment and has the potential to make a more immediate impact in the major leagues, I expect the Red Sox to go with Meadows, who has a higher ceiling.”

In the #3 slot, the Rockies we looking for a pitcher [RHP Jonathan Gray], but, if they are nervous about his testing positive for Adderall, they might take another pitcher, say, HS RHP Kohl Stewart.

The Twins need everything and were expected to take Stewart, but would be glad to land Kris Bryant, 3B, San Diego and hope he can transfer his power numbers to MLB.

In the 5 slot the Indians were expected to take Bryant, but may settle for a pitcher like Braden Shipley, RHP, Nevada, or Ryne Stanek, RHP, Arkansas, but, if they want a hitter they might take Clint Frazier, OF, Loganville HS (Ga.).

At #6, the Miami Marlins might like local player like Clint Frazier, OF, Loganville HS (Ga.) or Austin Meadows, OF, Grayson HS (Ga.), if they are in the Long Rebuild/Lower Payroll mode.

With most pundits predicting the Sox will take a high-ceiling/high risk HS OF, either Austin Meadows, OF, Grayson HS (Ga.) or Clint Frazier, OF, Loganville HS (Ga.) should be available, if Jonathan Gray slides down to #8, where the Pirates might be tempted to add him to their developing rotation:  Gerrit Cole, Jameson Taillon, Luis Heredia, Kyle McPherson, Justin Wilson and Vic Black.

But, with the disappointing performance of their #4 slot pick in the 2009 MLB draft, catcher Tony Sanchez and Russell Martin at age 30, they might seek the best catcher available in the 2013 draft: Reese McGuire, C, Kentwood HS (Wash.).

Sox fans who think that their team needs more pitching would want Cherington to pass on a HS OF and take a college pitcher like Ryne Stanek, RHP, Arkansas or RHP Jonathan Gray [Oklahoma], while others might look at the catching corps and wonder what happens if Ryan Lavarnway fails to find his hitting groove, as that would create a gap between aging Napoli [32] and Ross [36], the mediocre Salty [28] and the kid, switch-hitting Blake Swihart at 21 and due in 2015.  This might suggest drafting young catcher Reese McGuire, C, Kentwood HS (Wash.).

If Cherington believes that, given the organization’s depth and financial resources, he  has the luxury of picking a HS OF or pitcher and allowing him time to develop, then  Clint Frazier, OF, Loganville HS (Ga.) or Austin Meadows, OF, Grayson HS (Ga.) are the likely choices, as well as HS hurler Kohl Stewart, RHP, St. Pius X HS (Texas).

However, if Cherington believes his “Next Great Red Sox Team” is a year or two away, he may opt to add a college pitcher like Keith Law’s choice, Arkansas right-hander Ryne Stanek or, if he falls into their lap, RHP Jonathan Gray.

"<<<<<<<<<<<< >>>>>>>>>>>>>>"

On Draft Day, MLB.com predicted that both HS OFs, Frazier and Meadows would be selected before the Red Sox make thier selection at #7:

* Player’s rank in MLB.com’s Top 100 Draft Prospects list

If MLB has it right, that would leave HS RHP Kohl Stewart and college pitcher Braden Shipley, RHP, Nevada available for the Sox, when they make their first pick.

John Sickels of Baseball America plays down the concerns:

“Gray’s recent positive test for non-prescription Adderoll use is supposedly not a big deal in regards to his draft status, but the data point exists and it might play in somehow…”

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The Draft begins with the Draft preview show on MLB.com and MLB Network on Thursday at 6 p.m. ET. Live Draft coverage from MLB Network’s Studio 42 begins at 7 p.m., with the Astros starting things off and the top 73 picks being streamed on MLB.com and broadcast on MLB Network. Rounds 3-10 will be streamed live on MLB.com on June 7, beginning with a preview show at 12:30 p.m., and Rounds 11-40 will be streamed live on MLB.com on June 8, starting at 1 p.m.

MLB.com’s coverage includes Draft Central, the Top 100 Draft Prospects list and Draft Tracker, a live interactive application that includes a searchable database of Draft-eligible players. You can also keep up to date by following @MLBDraft on Twitter. And you get into the Draft conversation by tagging your tweets with #mlbdraft.

[http://mlb.mlb.com/news/article.jsp?ymd=20130605&content_id=49663144&vkey=news_hou&c_id=hou]

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