It's Alex Gordon!

Whooooo-hooooooo!!!!!!

With the second pick in the draft, the Royals select 3B Alec Gordon from the University of Nebraska.

Kudos to Allard Baird, Senior Director of Scouting Deric Ladnier and the rest of the Royals scouting department!!!!!!

2nd Round

Jeff Bianchi, SS, Lancaster, PA

The Royals select Jeff Bianchi a high school shortstop from Pennsylvania. Bianchi has signed a letter of intent to play ball at N.C. State, but has said he would consider signing if he was drafted high enough. And that was when he was projecting as a third or fourth round pick!

He's rated as the 57th batter and 126th overall in the draft by Baseball America.

Bianchi had a great senior year, batting .573, 13 HR, 37 RBI in 61 ABs.

One scout says he's better than Upton right now! He has good instincts, with a line drive stroke. Ultimately projects as a second baseman.

John Sickles says: "Surprise pick. Good athlete, will need time to develop."

3rd Round

Christopher Nicoll, RHP, U-Irvine

You just knew that Allard would take a pitcher in the third round. I think there is some sort of unwritten rule somewhere that a pitcher must be taken at least every third selection.

Nicoll is rated as the 69th pitcher and the 121st player overall in the draft by Baseball America.

Nichol has improved every year at Irvine:

Year......Inn....ERA.....K/9.....BB/9.....HR/9
2005....111.2....2.50....9.1.....1.9.......0.4
2004.....80.0....3.49....8.0.....2.7.......0.7
2003.....38.0....4.03....8.8.....4.3.......0.5

Another high-strikeout, low walk kind of guy. Nice.

Can he start in place of Lima on Thurday?

John Sickles says: "Budget pick. RHP version of JP Howell."

4th Round

Joe Dickerson, OF, Esperanza HS (Anaheim, CA)

A left-handed CF, Dickerson has signed a letter of intent to play ball at Texas.

He was one of the leaders of his high school team that was tabbed as the 33th best team in Baseball America pre-season prep rankings.

He was batting .423 with 26 runs scored in 78 ABs through May 18.

John Sickles says: "Speed demon guy."

Dickerson was just interviewed on MLB.com's audio draft coverage. He said the Royals called and said they wanted to draft him and would he be interested? "I said, yes and that I'd sign for sure. I'm excited and my whole family is excited."

Dickerson describes himself as a, "gap to gap hitter, good speed, good defense and arm."

5th Round

Shawn Hayes, SS, Franklin Pierce College

That guy from MASH has a school named after him?