Tribe stocks up on pitchers in draft

Day 3 of the MLB draft concluded on June 14 with each team making 30 more picks, and by the time the long day was done the Indians had stocked their cupboard with 16 pitchers — nine right handers and seven lefties.

The Indians also added five infielders, six outfielders and three catchers, plucking players from high schools and colleges throughout North America.

“Day 3 is always that hidden day,” Indians senior director of amateur scouting Brad Grant said. “It’s a chance for us to make an impact. If you look at our major-league roster, Cody Allen, Roberto Perez and Shawn Armstrong all came in Day 3 of the draft.”

Allen, one of the top closers in the American League, was drafted in the 23rd round, 698th overall, in 2011. Armstrong, another relief pitcher, was drafted in the 18th round of the same draft. Perez, a catcher, was picked in the 33rd round — pick 1,011 — in 2008.

“Day 3 is really for our scouts,” Grant said. “If you think about it, tomorrow they’ll hop back on a plane, head down to Fort Myers to Perfect Team National and start this process all over again.

“This is where they can really make an impact, and that’s what we focus in on. It’s those (prospects) they really know well and have strong feelings for. Usually we’ve been had a lot of success being able to find guys back there.”

The scouts are truly the unsung heroes of the Indians’ success. Grant said they spend about 250 nights a year in hotels scouting players on the road. Twentyfour scouts on Grant’s staff — 17 area scouts, five supervisors and two national scouts. Grant said the Indians scouting staff is larger than those of most teams.

The Indians on Day 3 in the 29th round drafted center fielder Tre Gantt from Ohio State and with their last pick, selection 1,212 overall, took Cole Kleszcz from College of the Canyons, a two-year community college, in Santa Carita, Calif.

Grant said the scouts always try to get multiple looks at players to form a complete report on the player.