Pedroia, Altuve, Albies … Madrigal?

Oregon State second baseman Nick Madrigal has aced the elements of the pre-Draft examination that he can control. He was the Pac-10′s Player of the Year and Defensive Player of the Year as a sophomore. He broke his hand early in this junior season, only to recover and hit, as of this writing, .435 with a .620 slugging percentage. Teammates laud him as a leader. His coach unabashedly insists Madrigal could go straight from the Beavers to the big leagues. In contact, speed and defensive ability, in instincts and energy and collegiate accomplishment, he checks off pretty much all the boxes you’d want completed by a prominent pick.