Final answer:
Scouts thought Billy would be picked in the first round of the baseball draft due to his exceptional skill and speed, similar to the real-life Billy Sunday before he became a renowned evangelist.
Step-by-step explanation:
When Billy was in high school and being scouted for baseball, the scouts likely thought he would be picked in the first round due to his exceptional skill and speed, as was the case with the real-life evangelist Billy Sunday, who had a similar background in baseball before he became an evangelist. As described in the context provided, Billy Sunday was an influential figure of his time due to his athletic prowess, before he shifted his focus to evangelism and prohibition support. In general, scouts look for players like Billy with outstanding athletic abilities, potential for further growth, and the capacity to make an immediate impact on a professional team, which could be why they considered Billy a first-round pick.