Best Pro Debut: OF Mitch Einertson (5) tied a 44-year-old Rookie-level Appalachian League home run record with 24. He was named MVP and topped the league in extra-base hits (39), RBIs (67) and slugging (.692) while hitting .308. He also homered twice in the playoffs and again in his first game after a promotion to the short-season New York-Penn League. SS Ben Zobrist (6) was old for the NY-P at 23, but he did lead the league in hitting (.339) and on-base percentage (.438). Best Athlete: Zobrist is a switch-hitter with average tools across the board. OF Hunter Pence (2) is a gangly 6-foot-4 and 200 pounds, but he's a pretty good athlete and played a solid center field in his pro debut. OF Jordan Parraz (3) was the highest unsigned draft-and-follow from 2003, failing to sign with the Phillies as a sixth-rounder铘fter they took him as a pitcher. Best Pure Hitter: Pence was a surprise second-round pick, but his hitting ability was obvious. He batted .395 at Texas-Arlington to win the Southland Conference batting title during the spring, then hit .296 with eight homers in the NY-P. Best Raw Power: Despite Einertson's exploits, the Astros say he doesn't have the most pop in their draft class. That honor belongs to C Lou Santangelo (4). Parraz and Pence also possess a lot of power. Fastest Runner: OF Luke Barganier (30) goes from the left side of the plate to first base in 4.05 seconds. Best Defensive Player: C J.R. Towles' (20) catch-and-throw skills stand out in an organization that lost a big chunk of its catching depth when it included John Buck in the Carlos Beltran trade. Best Fastball: RHP Chad Reineke's (13) fastball received a boost when he moved to the bullpen last spring at Miami (Ohio). He now throws 89-94 mph. Best Breaking Ball: LHP Troy Patton (9) had one of the best curveballs in the draft, and hitters can't sit on it because he also has a low-90s fastball. He signed for $550,000, easily the highest bonus in 2004's ninth round. Most Intriguing Background: RHP Jared Brite (26) was a punter and placekicker at Kansas State. He signed with the Astros, but a pre-existing elbow injury led them to void his contract. RHP Garrett Murdy (16) was the NCAA Division II 2004 player of the year after leading that level in wins (14-1,1.88) and strike outs (158 in 115 innings) for Texas A&M-Kingsville. Closest To The Majors: Pence or Zobrist. Patton, who had a 1.93 ERA at Rookie- level Greeneville, is advanced for a high school lefty. Best Late-Round Pick: Reineke or Towles. Towles also has some power to go with his defensive ability. The One Who Got Away: The Astros signed their top 17 picks but couldn't get RHP Jared Clark (19) to turn pro rather than attending Cal State Fullerton. Clark, who has an 89-91 mph fastball, also could see time as an outfielder for the Titans. Assessment: Houston reassigned scouting director David Lakey after this draft, but he did well for not having a first-round pick. The system had been thin in position players, a weakness addressed with the first five choices⑯ence, Parraz, Santangelo, Einertson and Zobrist. --

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