Kyle Gaedele

The shortest player in major league history, 3-foot-7 Eddie Gaedel, got one at-bat as a publicity stunt concocted by Hall of Fame owner Bill Veeck. Gaedel was roughly half the size of his great-nephew Kyle, a 6-foot-3, 220-pounder who's a lock to surpass former major leaguer Lloyd McClendon (eighth round, 1980) as the highest-drafted player ever from Valparaiso. Gaedel has a major league body, though his tools stand out more than his skills. He has plus raw power but he generates it more with pure strength than with bat speed. His righthanded swing gets long at times and he shows inconsistent recognition of breaking balls. Gaedel helped his cause by performing well with wood bats in the Northwoods League last summer. He's more than just a bat, as he has plus speed and a chance to play center field. It's more likely he'll fit on a corner, and his fringy arm fits better in left field. Gaedel generates mixed opinions. His biggest backers think he's a supplemental first-round talent, while others see him as a fourth-rounder.