JOSE CAPELLAN GOES #1 OVERALL TO COCONUT CREEK

For Immediate Release
February 12th, 2005

Port Huron, MI.

     https://mwbl.straybaseball.com/wp-content/gallery/images/2005Draft.jpgCliff Miller of Coconut Creek, it’s your turn.
The Crushers, for the first time in their brief history, actually made the first pick in the 2005 Mid-West Baseball League Draft. Miller, the Owner and General Manager since early in 2003, will orchestrate the club’s approach to the pick.
“I was fired up about it,” Miller said. “I hope it doesn’t happen again for a while, but I was fired up about it.”
Two of his peers who have had the same dubious honor recently don’t share the same enthusiasm for having the top slot.  Camarillo Quest General Manager Jason Kerns had to prepare for drafting first overall, in 2003. “Holding that #1 pick in the Mid-West Baseball League draft is a burden – it is like the ring of power in the Lord of the Rings.  No one wants the pressure that the number one pick holds.”
Jose Capellan Goes #1 Overall to Coconut Creek “There’s no good year to be the team that picks number one,” said Miller, having held the post with the Crushers for the last two seasons. “There’s so much more attention on the number one pick. There is way more pressure. We were horrible; that’s why we were picking number one.
“Instead of concentrating on your whole draft and trying to get four guys that will make it to the big leagues, so much attention gets put on that top guy.”
So with the dubious honor and all the attention focused on them the Coconut Creek Crushers with the first pick of the 2005 Mid-West Baseball League Draft selected, right handed pitcher Jose Capellan. Capellan received a combination $3.7 million signing bonus and contract, and will join the Crushers Spring Training in Port St. Lucie, FL on Wednesday or Thursday of next week.
Capellan, a 6-4, 235-pounder said “I’m excited I’m officially a Crusher today, I can’t wait to get to spring training and start playing baseball. I don’t want to set any time tables, but it’s my goal to be help the Crushers become a championship team.”
“Jose is strong, durable and competitive,” said Crushers General Manager Cliff Miller, “We will rely on him to pitch a lot of innings in the future and he will be forever remembered here as a #1 overall pick in the Mid-West Baseball League Draft.
Another year, another top pitching prospect picked up by the Crushers. Capellan wowed people with a triple-digit fastball last year in the minors, and went from A-ball to Triple-A without a hitch during the season while dominating during the Futures Game. Now a Crusher, he’ll be given every chance to win a job this spring, but odds are he’s a year away of becoming an everyday Crusher.
Watch closely to see what his role may be. A career starter, he’ll pile up strikeouts but perhaps not too many wins in the Crushers rotation this season. In the bullpen, he could be a very valuable setup man (strikeouts, & ERA in meaningful innings) and be the primary closing backup if Jessie Crain & Ryan Dempster can’t get it done for the Crushers of Coconut Creek.

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