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2009 MLB Draft
Goot
Posts: 3,496
in Sports Talk
The big days tomorrow and despite the fact that the top 2 picks are almost sure things (Strasburg and Ackley), I'm excited to see where a few other players go (like USF baseball players/recruits among others), not to mention see who the Braves and Rays take. This is one of the most pitching heavy draft's that there has been in quite some time.
Baseball America normally does the most draft stuff, but since most of it's by subscription, it isn't really worthwhile for me to post it on here. Here's one mock draft.
Baseball America normally does the most draft stuff, but since most of it's by subscription, it isn't really worthwhile for me to post it on here. Here's one mock draft.
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2008 Tim Beckham SS Griffin HS (Ga.) Tampa Bay Rays
2007 David Price LHP Vanderbilt Tampa Bay Rays
2006 Luke Hochevar RHP None Kansas City Royals
2005 Justin Upton SS Great Bridge (VA) HS Arizona Diamondbacks
2004 Matthew Bush SS-RHP Mission Bay HS (CA) San Diego Padres
2003 Delmon Young RF Adolfo Camarillo HS (CA) Tampa Bay Devil Rays
2002 Bryan Bullington P Ball State University Pittsburgh Pirates
2001 Joe Mauer C Cretin-Derham Hall HS (MN) Minnesota Twins
2000 Adrian Gonzalez 1B Eastlake HS (CA) Florida Marlins
1999 Josh Hamilton OF Athens Drive HS (NC) Tampa Bay Devil Rays
1998 Pat Burrell 1B University of Miami (FL) Philadelphia Phillies
1997 Matt Anderson P Rice University Detroit Tigers
1996 Kris Benson P Clemson University Pittsburgh Pirates
1995 Darin Erstad OF University of Nebraska California Angels
1994 Paul Wilson P Florida State University New York Mets
1993 Alex Rodriguez SS Westminster Christian HS (FL) Seattle Mariners
1992 Phil Nevin 3B Cal State Fullerton University Houston Astros
1991 Brien Taylor P East Carteret HS (NC) New York Yankees
1990 Chipper Jones SS-P The Bolles School HS (FL) Atlanta Braves
1989 Ben McDonald P Louisiana State University Baltimore Orioles
1988 Andy Benes P University of Evansville San Diego Padres
1987 Ken Griffey OF Moeller HS (OH) Seattle Mariners
1986 Jeff King SS-3B University of Arkansas Pittsburgh Pirates
1985 B.J. Surhoff SS-C University of North Carolina Milwaukee Brewers
1984 Shawn Abner OF Mechanicsburg HS (PA) New York Mets
1983 Tim Belcher P Mount Vernon Nazarene College Minnesota Twins
1982 Shawon Dunston SS Thomas Jefferson HS (NY) Chicago Cubs
1981 Mike Moore P Oral Roberts University Seattle Mariners
1980 Darryl Strawberry OF Crenshaw HS (CA) New York Mets
To be clear, this is not a prediction of how the players will be selected, nor is it any kind of mock draft. Instead, this is a pure ranking of talent based on a combination of ultimate ceiling and the probability of reaching it after numerous conversations with scouts, cross-checkers, scouting directors, and front office officials.
1. Stephen Strasburg, RHP, San Diego State
The Good: He's arguably the best pitching prospect in draft history, with a perfect frame and solid mechanics to go with an 80 fastball, 70 command, and a 60-65 breaking pitch.
The Bad: There's no definitive proof that he's not an android from a faraway planet bent on world destruction.
In A Perfect World He Becomes: The best pitcher in baseball. It's almost impossible to see him becoming anything less than an All-Star.
2. Dustin Ackley, OF, North Carolina
The Good: He has the best combination of tools and skills among the position players, with above-average power and speed, along with amazing hands that easily project him as a .300 hitter in the big leagues.
The Bad: His throwing arm is poor; he's unproven in center field; he struggles against lefties with good breaking balls.
In A Perfect World He Becomes: An All-Star center fielder with less power than Grady Sizemore but a better batting average, but there is some chance that he'll be forced to move to left field.
3. Donavan Tate, OF, Cartersville HS (GA)
The Good: The best athlete in the draft, and the guy with the highest ceiling. His raw power, speed, and arm are all rated as plus-70 by some scouts.
The Bad: There are questions about his pure hitting ability; he doesn't always give you a lot of effort.
In A Perfect World He Becomes: A dynamic franchise-level power/speed center fielder, but it does require a bit of dreaming.
4. Jacob Turner, RHP, Westminster Academy (MO)
The Good: The top high school pitcher in the draft has gotten better throughout the spring, as he started the year touching 95 mph, and ended it sitting there while getting up to 98. He's big and projectable, with a clean delivery and a good curve.
The Bad: His command and control comes and goes at times, and he wants a ton of cash, which already has several teams passing on him.
In A Perfect World He Becomes: A frontline big-league starter.
5. Grant Green, SS, Southern California
The Good: He's a big, athletic shortstop with an excellent approach at the plate, gap power, and excellent defensive fundamentals. He didn't live up to expectations this year, but he also played in a pitcher's park against toughest schedule in college baseball.
The Bad: He doesn't project as a big power threat, and his range is average.
In A Perfect World He Becomes: He won't be a game changer, but he'll be an everyday shortstop on a championship-level team, and he may be the only such player in the draft.
6. Tanner Scheppers, RHP, St. Paul Saints
The Good: An unsigned pick from last year (Pirates), he has the best fastball outside of Strasburg's, with his gas sitting in the mid-90s and touching 98 during indy league starts; he also shows off a plus power curve.
The Bad: He was hampered by shoulder issues last year that remain a bit of a mystery, as do their diagnosis and his recovery. Some teams (as well as Will Carroll) believe that picking him is simply asking for trouble.
In A Perfect World He Becomes: An overpowering starter, but the risk factor is very high.
7. Aaron Crow, RHP, Fort Worth Cats
The Good: The best right-handed college arm in last year's draft, he's throwing as hard as ever in the indy leagues, sitting at 92-95 mph while touching 97 with his fastball, which also shows excellent sink and run. His slider is a plus offering.
The Bad: He's not really big and physical, and his command has been a little rusty this spring.
In A Perfect World He Becomes: An above-average major league starter.
8. Mike Leake, RHP, Arizona State
The Good: The most consistent pitcher in college baseball had a lower ERA than Stephen Strasburg while pitching in a tougher park against much tougher competition; he throws strikes with three pitches that grade average to plus; he also has top-line pitchability.
The Bad: He's not tiny, but he's certainly undersized, and he lacks much in the way of projection.
In A Perfect World He Becomes: An above-average starter and occasional All-Star.
9. Tyler Matzek, LHP, Capistrano Valley HS (CA)
The Good: He has a long, lean, projectable frame as well as a surprisingly deep arsenal for a high school arm. His fastball and slider already rate as plus, his curve is solid, and he comes to the pros with some feel for a changeup. His command is above average.
The Bad: He has some effort in his delivery, and he had some bouts of inconsistency this year, looking like the best high school pitcher on one day, and then just another good one the next.
In A Perfect World He Becomes: An overpowering left-handed starter.
10. Matt Purke, LHP, Klein HS (TX)
The Good: He's highly similar to Matzek in terms of size and stuff, but probably throws a bit harder, although he also isn't as polished.
The Bad: He wants a deal in the Rick Porcello range ($7 million), and nobody thinks he's that kind of talent; he faltered a bit down the stretch.
In A Perfect World He Becomes: A star-level left-handed starter.
Backup Plan: He continues to throw hard, but his secondary stuff doesn't develop, leaving him better suited to late-innings relief work.
11. Zach Wheeler, RHP, East Paulding HS (GA)
The Good: A big, power right-hander, his fastball has been sitting at 92-95 mph all year, and he throws it with excellent command; he also has a strong frame and very good mechanics.
The Bad: The secondary stuff isn't bad, but it lags behind that of the other elite high school arms.
In A Perfect World He Becomes: If the slider comes around, he's a frontline starter.
12. Kyle Gibson, RHP, Missouri
The Good: He's a long 6-foot-6 righty who takes advantages of his angles with an 88-92 mph fastball with excellent movement. His slider borders on outstanding, and his changeup is above average, and he pounds the zone with all three pitches.
The Bad: His secondary stuff is better than the fastball; he was only throwing 84-88 mph in his last start while suffering from "forearm tightness"; he's just not overpowering.
In A Perfect World He Becomes: A good third starter.
13. Shelby Miller, RHP, Brownwood HS (TX)
The Good: He's that classic big and strong Texas-based prep right-hander, with a fastball that consistently gets up to 97 mph, and he has a nasty mound demeanor to boot. His arm action is clean, and he gets tremendous leverage from his power frame.
The Bad: He's more of a thrower than a pitcher right now, his curveball is inconsistent, and his changeup is rarely seen.
In A Perfect World He Becomes: A dominating power arm, but if the secondary stuff never catches up to the velocity, he could end up as a one-pitch guy.
14. Alex White, RHP, University of North Carolina
The Good: A power arm who sits in the low 90s and can dial his heat up to 96 mph; he complements that with a splitter that's an outstanding offering that drops off the table; he's an excellent athlete.
The Bad: White really struggled down the stretch; his fastball can run very true; scouts aren't sure what to do with fastball/splitter types.
In A Perfect World He Becomes: A good starting pitcher, but some think he's got a relief-style arsenal.
15. Bobby Borchering, 3B, Bishop Verot HS (FL)
The Good: The fastest-rising high school position player now ranks as the best one on many boards; he offers plus power from both sides of the plate to go with excellent hand/eye coordination that should allow him to hit for a high average as well. His arm is a plus tool.
The Bad: He's not a great athlete, but he's good enough to make the plays at third base.
In A Perfect World He Becomes: An All-Star at the hot corner, but more for his bat than his glove. If he moves to first, it will be a more difficult road.
16. Mike Trout, OF, Millville HS (NJ)
The Good: He's one of the better high school athletes in the draft, with plus speed and decent power that some project to become even more potent down the road; the kid also has outstanding makeup.
The Bad: There are some questions about the bat due to the quality of his competition; his power potential is debatable.
In A Perfect World He Becomes: An above-average center fielder who can beat you in a lot of different ways.
17. Jared Mitchell, OF, Louisiana State
The Good: The best college athlete in the draft by a mile; he's made consistent progress at LSU as far as his hitting, especially in developing a more patient approach and finding his power; he's plus-plus runner and a true weapon on the basepaths.
The Bad: He's far more raw than most players out of a major college, with lots of swings and misses in his game; he is not an instinctual outfielder.
In A Perfect World He Becomes: He has true impact potential, but comes with a fair share of risk.
18. Everett Williams, OF, McCallum HS
The Good: An excellent athlete with above-average speed and one of the quickest bats among all high school players in the draft; he also has surprising power for his size, and the wheels to stay in center field.
The Bad: As good as the tools are, his 5-foot-10 frame could limit his projection, and his overall game is a little rough around the edges.
In A Perfect World He Becomes: A smaller Mike Cameron. He is a bit bulky, so could end up moving to a corner, which would make his development significantly more difficult.
19. Rex Brothers, LHP, Lipscomb
The Good: He has the kind of power stuff rarely found in a left-hander, with a fastball that has been clocked as high as 98 mph, and he also has a hard, biting slider.
The Bad: For a pitcher with his arsenal at a small college, he wasn't nearly as dominant as one might expect; his inconsistent mechanics lead to control issues; the fastball straightens out when he overthrows it.
In A Perfect World He Becomes: A dominating power arm, but many feel that he's better suited for bullpen work.
20. Tony Sanchez, C, Boston College
The Good: He's an athletic catcher, and one that has the potential to be an absolute shutdown defender in the big leagues, with outstanding actions behind the plate and a very good arm; he offers above-average power for the position; he possesses all of the baseball intelligence and leadership qualities one looks for in a big-league catcher.
The Bad: His swing has some length and loopiness, which will likely prevent him from ever hitting for a high batting average.
In A Perfect World He Becomes: An everyday catcher with Gold Glove potential and above-average offense. The defense alone should at least get him to the majors.
21. Eric Arnett, RHP, Indiana
The Good: The fastest riser among college arms, he generated an enormous amunt of buzz over the last month with his massive frame, 95 mph fastball, and plus slider; he repeats his mechanics well, and he has outstanding stamina.
The Bad: He rarely throws a changeup; the slider can become inconsistent at times; there is some concern over his lack of a track record, as this was his first successful year.
In A Perfect World He Becomes: A durable, above-average innings-eater.
22. Chad James, LHP, Yukon HS (OK)
The Good: A long, loose, projectable southpaw, he's moved way up on teams' boards by gaining three or four ticks on his fastball this spring, getting up to 96 mph while sitting at 91-93; he also has a clean and easy arm action.
The Bad: The secondary stuff needs work, as his curve and changeup both have potential but are currently very inconsistent; like many tall pitchers, his release point can rise and fall, leading to problems throwing strikes.
In A Perfect World He Becomes: Those that like him, really like him, seeing him as a well above-average starter.
23. Mat Hobgood, RHP, Norco HS (CA)
The Good: An absolutely massive righty, he packs 250 pounds onto a 6-foot-4 frame. He cooks with gas, holding his 92-94 mph velocity deep into games while touching 96. His feel for his curve and changeup are both good for a high school arm.
The Bad: That size is both a blessing and a curse, as some fear there may be conditioning issues down the road; he faltered down the stretch while dealing with a strained oblique.
In A Perfect World He Becomes: An above-average starter.
24. Max Stassi, C, Yuba City HS (CA)
The Good: With a quick, compact swing, he has an outstanding feel for contact, and a touch of power; he's also a plus-plus defender with tremendous receiving skills.
The Bad: His short, thick build (even for a catcher) bothers some; he had some shoulder problems this year, which limited his throwing ability.
In A Perfect World He Becomes: An above-average everyday catcher, and his glove work should be enough for him to at least be a backup.
25. Tim Wheeler, OF, Sacramento State
The Good: He packs average to plus power and average speed in a big, athletic frame, and he really came alive with the bat this year, showing the ability to drive balls to all fields; a high-energy player.
The Bad: His overly aggressive approach at the plate leads to some bad swings; his tools are solid across the board, but none of them are in that 'wow' category.
In A Perfect World He Becomes: A very good everyday outfielder. Many feel that he'll end up in a corner, which will require more growth offensively.
26. Chad Jenkins, RHP, Kennesaw State
The Good: This sizable right-hander has one of the better sinkers around, as his 92-94 mph fastball has been up to 96 this spring while featuring significant drop to go with natural tailing action. He also has a solid slider, and his changeup really impresses scouts.
The Bad: That breaking ball needs more refinement; his body is a bit soft.
In A Perfect World He Becomes: A solid everyday starter, but he'll likely always have the ability to get ground balls in either a starter or relief role.
27. Mike Minor, LHP, Vanderbilt
The Good: He's one of the few pitchers who offers his future team significant certainty due to his command, polish, and pitchability; his best pitch is his changeup, his velocity is average, the breaking balls are solid; he pounds the strike zone and mixes pitches well.
The Bad: He offers little to no upside as a command/control southpaw, reminding some teams of Jeremy Sowers, which is not a good thing.
In A Perfect World He Becomes: A decent fourth starter. He's almost assuredly a future big-leaguer, but there's very little star potential.
28. David Renfroe, SS/RHP, South Panola HS (MS)
The Good: The best two-way talent in the draft wants to be an everyday player, and scouts prefer him there as a smooth shortstop with an outstanding arm. He projects for above-average power for a middle infielder, and he runs well.
The Bad: He could grow out of the middle and be forced to third base; the tools are there for him to be a good hitter, but he remains very raw at the plate, with a long trigger in his swing that will need to be eliminated.
In A Perfect World He Becomes: Teams dream on him as a Troy Tulowitzki type at short, but there's a lot of bust potential.
29. Garrett Gould, RHP, Maize HS (KS)
The Good: He has one of the best curveballs you'll find among the prep arms, but he also gained some velocity this year to help lessen concerns about how hard he'll throw; the fastball was sitting at 88-92 mph and touching 94 at times in some of his late-season starts. He's an excellent athlete.
The Bad: He doesn't have the big arm strength of the early first-round types, and has some funk in his delivery.
In A Perfect World He Becomes: A solid big-league starter.
30. Jiovanni Mier, SS, Bonita HS (CA)
The Good: He has more defensive potential up the middle than any player in the draft, with pro-level instincts, hands, and actions as a shortstop to go with a 70 arm. He's a good runner, and has a quick, line-drive bat.
The Bad: There's very little power in his swing, nor any reason to think he'll develop any.
In A Perfect World He Becomes: A Gold Glove shortstop who can hit for average and steal a few bases.
31. James Paxton, LHP, Kentucky
The Good: He certainly passes the scouting sniff test as a tall, muscular left-hander who can get up to 96 mph with his fastball while having it sit at 91-94 mph; his curveball flashes plus, and he throws strikes.
The Bad: He baffles scouts with his inconsistency, as he was frequently hit hard in college, leading to a strange combination of plenty of strikeouts and way too many hits allowed.
In A Perfect World He Becomes: The tools of a very good starter are there, but they come with few guarantees.
32. A.J. Pollock, OF, Notre Dame
The Good: He does a little bit of everything; a solid defender up the middle with good speed, with a quick bat and much-improved power this year. He works the count well, and scouts love his makeup.
The Bad: Pollock's one of those guys who is good across the board but really lacks a standout tool, leaving scouts falling short of giving him a star-level projection.
In A Perfect World He Becomes: Nate McLouth with less pop?
33. Kyle Heckathorn, RHP, Kennesaw State
The Good: An intimidating presence on the mound, Heckathorn has been clocked as high as 99 mph in the past, but more often he was in the 92-95 range this spring; more teams ended up liking his teammate, Chad Jenkins, as the much more complete pitcher.
The Bad: A 6-foot-6 monster with upper-90s heat should be an elite talent, but he had plenty of days with merely good velocity, he's yet to develop a secondary pitch that thrills scouts, and his mechanics are messy and inconsistent.
In A Perfect World He Becomes: A durable power pitcher in a rotation, but it's hardly a slam dunk.
34. Wil Myers, C, Wesleyan Christian HS (NC)
The Good: The best hitter and athlete among the catchers in the draft, Myers has a smooth swing with strength and leverage; he's a very good athlete and an average runner with plus arm strength.
The Bad: He's still very raw behind the plate, with some projecting him as a hit-first catcher, and some thinking he has no chance to stay there in the long term.
In A Perfect World He Becomes: If he figures it out behind the plate, he could be a steal.
35. Andy Oliver, LHP, Oklahoma State
The Good: One of the better power lefties in the draft, with a fastball that's sitting consistently at 92-94 mph while touching 96, and he also has a good changeup, works both sides of the plate well, and is very athletic.
The Bad: Oliver doesn't have a breaking ball of note, sticking primarily to a fastball/changeup combo to keep hitters off balance without doing much to change their eye levels.
In A Perfect World He Becomes: He has the body and stamina to start, but without a breaking pitch, he's a reliever.
36. Brett Jackson, OF, California
The Good: He's one of the better athletes in the draft, with 60 speed, 60 raw power, and a 60 arm out in center field.
The Bad: There are way too many swings and misses in his game, generating far too many questions about his bat to justify moving him into the first round.
In A Perfect World He Becomes: A player with lots of potential, and plenty of risk.
37. Slade Heathcott, OF, Texas HS (TX)
The Good: An outstanding athlete with above-average power and speed, but he also has enough arm strength to touch 94 mph on the mound. There are teams out there who have him far higher on their board than this.
The Bad: He's more of an athlete than a baseball player, and has already had ACL surgery on his left knee; there are some makeup issues.
In A Perfect World He Becomes: A star... or a guy who never gets past Double-A.
38. Rich Poythress, 1B, Georgia
The Good: Poythress had a big start and a big finish wrapped around a slight mid-season slump, but his numbers are still monstrous at .376/.468/.764, with 25 home runs in 237 at-bats. There's tremendous strength and leverage in his swing, and he has a good eye at the plate.
The Bad: The bat has to be his ticket to the big leagues, as he's a sluggish athlete and a poor defender at first base.
In A Perfect World He Becomes: A first baseman with power, patience, and little else.
39. Tyler Skaggs, LHP, Santa Monica HS (CA)
The Good: This 6-foot-5 left-hander has shown above-average velocity and an impressive curve in the past, but he didn't show as much this year as he had during his junior year.
The Bad: He has not lived up to expectations this spring, as a drop in velocity has led to an equal drop on most teams' draft charts. Some thought that he might want to go to school to try to reclaim his elite status.
In A Perfect World He Becomes: The body and projection are still there. He's a risk, one with equal amounts of steal and bust potential.
40. Billy Hamilton, SS, Taylorsville HS (MS)
The Good: One of, if not the best athlete in the draft, Hamilton might be the best baseball, football, and basketball player in the state. He's a plus-plus runner with plus arm strength who could develop power if he fills out his slight frame.
The Bad: He's very, very raw, and probably has no chance to stick at shortstop professionally, which will likely mean he'll have to move to center field.
In A Perfect World He Becomes: A spectacular talent, but one who offers no guarantees that he'll ever figure it out.
41. Matt Davidson, 3B, Yucaipa HS (CA)
The Good: Davidson's a very polished high school product with good defensive skills and a feel for consistent, hard contact. He took a step forward with his power this year, and his all-around polish should allow him to hit the ground running as a pro.
The Bad: His reactions and footwork at third base are a little slow, which may necessitate a move to first base; he doesn't have the track record of other high school talents.
In A Perfect World He Becomes: A middle-of-the-order run producer at third or first base.
42. Levon Washington, OF, Buchholz HS (FL)
The Good: He's an absolute burner with game-changing 80-grade speed and a tremendous first step who should steal a ton of bases; he's a quick-twitch athlete with a quick bat.
The Bad: Washington's not especially refined, either at the plate or in the field; he uses that plus speed on defense to make up for bad reads and routes; he's on the small side; the rumored bonus demands are beyond his talent.
In A Perfect World He Becomes: An exciting leadoff man.
43. Sam Dyson, RHP, South Carolina
The Good: Dyson returned from labrum troubles to show one of the best fastballs around, one that's sitting in the mid-90s and routinely touches 98 mph; he throws strikes, is very aggressive, and pitches with a lot of confidence.
The Bad: The secondary stuff lags way behind the fastball; his control is good, but his command is spotty; he has a bit more negotiating leverage than most as a draft-eligible sophomore.
In A Perfect World He Becomes: A very enticing power arm.
44. Drew Storen, RHP, Stanford
The Good: Storen slowly but surely established himself as the top college reliever in the game, which should mean he ends up getting selected higher than this ranking; he lives off of a 92-94 mph sinker that he throws with effortless command and laser-like precision; he should move quickly through the minors.
The Bad: He's a reliever through and through, and his ceiling might be as a set-up man due to his lack of dominating stuff; he's a draft-eligible sophomore, but wants to sign.
In A Perfect World He Becomes: A good eighth-inning reliever, and in short order.
45. Brian Goodwin, OF, Rocky Mount HS (NC)
The Good: An ultra-toolsy high school outfielder with plenty of speed and a plus arm, Goodwin also has a smooth swing with gap power; he combines great natural ability with a bulldog mentality.
The Bad: His ultimate power ceiling is debatable, and he's not especially big or in possession of a projectable frame; he comes with some signability questions due to the Boras factor.
In A Perfect World He Becomes: A center fielder and leadoff man, and perhaps one with enough power to fit better in the two-hole.
46. Mychal Givens, SS, Plant HS (FL)
The Good: He's an outstanding defensive shortstop with great instincts and positioning, as well as a pure cannon for an arm; he smokes line drives to all fields and runs well.
The Bad: He's fast but hardly a burner, and will never hit for power; a sizable minority of scouts question his swing and prefers him as a pitcher.
In A Perfect World He Becomes: A good defensive shortstop who hits seventh or eighth in a big-league lineup.
47. Brody Colvin, RHP, St. Thomas More HS (LA)
The Good: Owner of a projectable arm whose fastball already sits at 90-93 mph with natural heavy sink; he also throws an advanced curveball for his age; he's a fantastic athlete who would be drafted as a hitter if he had never taken to the mound.
The Bad: Colvin currently only throws those two pitches, so his changeup is all but non-existent; his mechanics are rough around the edges, and include a hard landing.
In A Perfect World He Becomes: A ground-ball machine.
48. Jason Kipnis, OF, Arizona State
The Good: This undersized, scrappy outfielder had an explosive junior year, batting .387/.500/.751 with 15 home runs and 24 stolen bases in 28 attempts; he works the count extremely well, has gap power, and solid center-field skills.
The Bad: His tools don't overwhelm, as the speed rates as average, as does his arm, a combination which may force him to a corner, where his bat doesn't profile as well.
In A Perfect World He Becomes: A smaller (but left-handed) Eric Byrnes type of player?
49. Chris Dominguez, 3B, Louisville
The Good: A gigantic third baseman, Dominguez has two 70-plus tools in his incredible raw power to all fields and a gun for an arm that fires laser beams across the diamond; he's a surprisingly good athlete for his size.
The Bad: A power-conscious uppercut leads to high strikeout totals; he's a sloppy defender.
In A Perfect World He Becomes: Somewhere between Russell Branyan and Richie Sexson?
50. Jeff Malm, 1B, Bishop Gorman HS (NV)
The Good: One of the best pure high school hitters in the draft, Malm combines a short, quiet swing with tremendous raw pop; he projects to hit for both average and power as a pro.
The Bad: His athleticism limits him to first base at best, where his good arm is wasted; he has to turn into an impact hitter or his value will be limited.
In A Perfect World He Becomes: A big-league run producer.
<< <i>46. Mychal Givens, SS, Plant HS (FL)
The Good: He's an outstanding defensive shortstop with great instincts and positioning, as well as a pure cannon for an arm; he smokes line drives to all fields and runs well.
The Bad: He's fast but hardly a burner, and will never hit for power; a sizable minority of scouts question his swing and prefers him as a pitcher.
In A Perfect World He Becomes: A good defensive shortstop who hits seventh or eighth in a big-league lineup.
>>
I've been able to watch Mychal play a few times this season, three times on tv and once in person. I see baseball prospectus has him as a SS, but he also pitches and has a fastball that tops out around 97 (consistently in the 92-94 range), as well as a decent slider. I'm looking forward to seeing where he ends up and what the team decides to do with him.
got the card thanks.
who are the orioles going to take??
collecting RAW Topps baseball cards 1952 Highs to 1972. looking for collector grade (somewhere between psa 4-7 condition). let me know what you have, I'll take it, I want to finish sets, I must have something you can use for trade.
looking for Topps 71-72 hi's-62-53-54-55-59, I have these sets started
<< <i>17. Jared Mitchell, OF, Louisiana State
The Good: The best college athlete in the draft by a mile; he's made consistent progress at LSU as far as his hitting, especially in developing a more patient approach and finding his power; he's plus-plus runner and a true weapon on the basepaths.
>>
If he performs in Omaha the way he has the last month, his stock will rise dramatically. Has to be one of the fastest if not the fastest runner in college baseball. His hitting is much improved since the beginning of the season.
This one could be a mess folks, and it's all about bonus demands at this point. Right now, you have as many as four high school pitchers—Jacob Turner, Tyler Matzek, Matt Purke, and Shelby Miller—looking for big, big money, with the first three all telling teams they're looking for Rick Porcello-level deals (or more). This has the potential to blow the first round wide open, and turn it into into a very college-oriented first 30 picks, with numerous top talents falling to later picks than initially expected. One team picking in the top ten I spoke to this morning said he still had very little idea of who was going to be picked ahead of his club's choice.
Further down, signability could continue to rule the day, as players and agents are basically conducting a mini-revolt over the fact that MLB's recommended slot bonuses are 10 percent lower this year. "I'm not really upset that the top guys are asking for a lot of money, because that's every year," said one scouting director. "What's bugging me is that we called a lot of kids we'd think about in rounds two through six, and they're suddenly all asking for a million dollars as well."
With just 111 picks getting made today, one thing is certain—there is going to be plenty of top talent going to bed tonight still wondering where they will be selected.
1. Washington Nationals: Why waste time? Everyone knows what's happening. Move along, nothing to see here.
Pick: Stephen Strasburg, RHP, San Diego State
2. Seattle Mariners: This one has suddenly gotten a little strange. Two weeks ago, Dustin Ackley looked like a lock here, and he's definitely established himself as the number two talent available, but now there are suddenly rumors that he's looking for an eight-figure deal. Some further poking around makes this look like a smokescreen, but at the same time, the most significant rumor on Monday had Seattle looking elsewhere, and nobody can really pinpoint who else they're looking at. One backup plan here could be Donavan Tate, whose selection wouldn't tear apart much of the draft behind this, but don't be shocked if option two turns out to be Tanner Scheppers, which could really make things messy for the rest of the top ten. The Mariners' attendees have been surprisingly numerous at Scheppers' indy league starts, and new general manager Jack Zduriencik has an affinity for power, be it's of the bat or arm varieties. For now, let's stick to Ackley, but it's not the slam dunk that it was 72 hours ago.
Pick: Dustin Ackley, OF/1B, North Carolina
3. San Diego Padres: This remains a big split between the ultimate upside pick in Georgia high school outfielder Donavan Tate, and the ultimate safe pick in Vanderbilt southpaw Mike Minor. Right now, there are more chips down on Tate, but it's hardly a sure thing as of this writing. If Ackley's still on the board, they'll definitely go in that direction. On the other hand, if Tate is still on the board after these two picks, he has no logical suitor and could plummet.
Donavan Tate, OF, Cartersville HS (GA)
4. Pittsburgh Pirates: Rumors of the Pirates going ultra-conservative have died down considerably, but there is still some thought of their taking Boston College catcher Tony Sanchez (whom they adore) here, and then making it up with some signability picks down the road. That's looking more and more unlikely, and the Pirates will almost assuredly be simply taking the guy they like best, and while it's a surprise to some, it looks like that player will be Grant Green.
Pick: Grant Green, SS, Southern California
5. Baltimore Orioles: The Orioles want a position player for their pitching-heavy system, but they're not especially high on Green or willing to pay the piper on Tate, should either fall. With no other bats worthy of the pick, they're all about arms right now, and it looks as if they're focusing more on the prep variety, as they seem to have several names ahead of college guys like Aaron Crow and Alex White, while they're rumored to be leery of Tanner Scheppers' medical reports. At this point, all of the top high school arms are looking for huge deals, but Baltimore will probably call the bluff on one of them. None of them has more helium of late than Tyler Matzek, but his agent is telling teams that he wants a precedent-setting deal. That might not be enough to scare the Orioles away.
Pick: Tyler Matzek, LHP, Capistrano Valley HS (CA)
6. San Francisco Giants: Similar to the Orioles, the Giants would prefer a hitter, but nobody really fits here. They've worked out a number of toolsy outfielders of late, including Cal's Brett Jackson and Sacramento State's Tim Wheeler, but neither really profiles this high. It's going to be an arm, and it's looking like they're willing to spend the kind of money it will take to land Matzek, but probably not Matt Purke or Jacob Turner. This could be a last-minute decision based on which pitcher's pre-draft money is the least unreasonable, which points to Zack Wheeler.
Pick: Zack Wheeler, RHP, East Paulding HS (GA)
7. Atlanta Braves: Wheeler is the obvious choice here due to Atlanta's affinity for local talent, but don’t assume the Braves will stay away from the high school route if he's gone. Alex White generates wildly varying opinions; some think he's a steal here, and some think he's an overdraft.
Pick: Alex White, RHP, University of North Carolina
8. Cincinnati Reds: The Reds have had this pick attached to nearly all of the elite-level high school arms all spring, but they've begun to focus their sights on Shelby Miller; they've been plenty deep in terms of attendance at his most recent starts, and he's really shined in front of them. He wants more than slot, but not one of the giant deals most of the top high school arms are looking for, which might actually work in his favor. If the Reds decide not to bust slot at all, Arizona State's Mike Leake and Vanderbilt's Mike Minor are the affordable options.
Pick: Shelby Miller, RHP, Brownwood HS (TX)
9. Detroit Tigers: Nobody values velocity more than Detroit's scouting director, David Chadd, and nobody in this draft other than Stephen Strasburg throws as hard as Scheppers does. His medical history is cause for concern, but his price should be far more reasonable than the two best high school arms still on the board at this point, Matt Purke and Jacob Turner.
Pick: Tanner Scheppers, RHP, St. Paul Saints
10. Washington Nationals: All anyone has talked about is the Nationals going cheap (or at least reasonable) here, with possibilities including lower first-round talents like Kennesaw State righty Chad Jenkins or Cal outfielder Brett Jackson. Don't believe it. The Nats are planning on taking the guy they like here. They have a lot of hope for White to drop to them, but that's looking more and more unlikely. Aaron Crow here would be great for entertainment purposes, but that is not going to happen. Still in the mix for many teams in the top five, Mike Minor is still a slight overdraft here, but should be easily signable, with the ability to help the big-league club in short order. If he's gone, still think college and safe.
Pick: Mike Minor, LHP, Vanderbilt
11. Colorado Rockies: The Rockies are looking at plenty of arms, and are hoping one of the bigger college names could drop to them. Aaron Crow is a guy for whom it's hard to find a home, and he could make a lot of sense for Colorado. It's lower than he was drafted last year, and he still wants big money, but there are now questions about his arm action, and his slider just hasn't been as tight as it was last spring. Despite the cash issue, Colorado knows they'd have the leverage here, though that lack of leverage could move Crow up significantly if teams in the top ten decide they don't want an especially difficult negotiation.
Pick: Aaron Crow, RHP, Ft. Worth Cats
12. Kansas City Royals: Like Crow, Kyle Gibson needs a home. A stress fracture in his forearm has him out of the single-digit selections, but many think he could end up being a great value pick in the end. He makes a lot of sense for the Royals as something of a hometown hero, that despite the fact that they've been trying all spring to find an up-the-middle player that fits in with this pick. Despite the injury, he's still considered signable, but many teams see this as too high, with one scout going as far to say, "I don't know how a guy with a stress fracture can even go in the first round."
Pick: Kyle Gibson, RHP, Missouri
13. Oakland Athletics: The A's have gone from somewhat predictable to all over the board. They're looking at toolsy high school types, safe and boring college types, and everything in between. There's a hot rumor from the last 24 hours that they'll look to do something sexy here with a signability guy, and teams picking in the top ten all noted how every time they went to see Donavan Tate, Oakland had representatives there (and big names at that) bearing down on him. Despite those rumors, Oakland isn't as high on Tate as many believe. For now, we'll stick to the safe route and go with the best college pitcher on the board, and in addition, a guy who gets compared quite often to a former Oakland star who was unfairly dinged for his size, Tim Hudson.
Pick: Mike Leake, RHP, Arizona State
14. Texas Rangers: Attaching the Rangers to the top high school arm in Texas, Shelby Miller, is a logical thing to do, but he's likely to go much earlier than the 14th pick, and other than geographic reasons, there's not much evidence that they're especially on Miller as their must-have guy, as opposed to his simply being in their mix. They have surprising interest in Leake, who doesn't fit in with their penchant for picking pure power arms, while they're also getting attached to some of the toolsy high school outfielders in Texas, like Everett Williams and Slade Heathcott, but that seems too high for either. With a recent history of success by focusing on young pitching of late, the high school crop could be too much to pass on here; despite the cash demands, on a pure talent level Turner is a steal.
Pick: Jacob Turner, RHP, Westminster Academy (MO)
15. Cleveland Indians: The Tribe is focusing on arms --> college --> power. All signs point to Eric Arnett, one of the top advanced arms left at this point, and he has the best chance to remain in a starting role, with his local ties representing a bonus. Lefty Rex Brothers is also in the mix here.
Pick: Eric Arnett, RHP, Indians
16. Arizona Diamondbacks: Prep third baseman Bobby Borchering continues to move up charts based on his premium bat, and according to one source, "there is no way, no how he gets past Arizona." That's about as strong a statement as you'll get prior to the draft when everything after Strasburg is about conjecture, so he's a gimme pick at 16 or 17 if he doesn't go earlier. Some late indications are that Borchering wants "Top 10 money," but it's unlikely that will change Arizona's mind.
Pick: Bobby Borchering, 3B, Bishop Verot HS (FL)
17. Arizona Diamondbacks: Arizona wants one pitcher and one hitter with their pair of picks, meaning that after Borchering it will be an arm (or after an arm, it will be Borchering). There's some thought they'll go for a college arm here, but the drop-off after a guy like Arnett is significant, and there's still plenty of prep talent available. Still, word on the street is that they like Lipscomb's Rex Brothers, and it's hard to find left-handers who throw as hard as he does in any year.
Pick: Rex Brothers, LHP, Lipscomb
18. Florida Marlins: The Marlins love youth and upside, so this pick could be made based solely on ceiling. They could go with a high school power arm like Chad James, but will likely focus on one of the many toolsy-but-raw prep outfielders who profile as late first-round talents. Of that group, Mike Trout has more current baseball skills than any of them.
Pick: Mike Trout, OF, Millville HS (NJ)
19. St. Louis Cardinals: This is one of the more fascinating picks in the second half of the round. Jeff Luhnow and his staff play it as close to the vest as any front office in the game. Some have them looking at high school bats, some have them taking classic college performers like Tim Wheeler, and if Kyle Gibson drops this far, he'll have to be considered. That's all the stuff that makes sense, but the crazy whispers involve them acting like the big-market team they technically are and making a splash with a signability pick. Matt Purke can't drop forever... or can he?
Pick: Matt Purke, LHP, Klein HS (TX)
20. Toronto Blue Jays: The Blue Jays have gone from one of the most college-focused teams in the draft to a team focused on simply taking the best player available. That could lead them in a number of directions. LSU's Jared Mitchell has the most upside of any college position player in the draft after Ackely, Tony Sanchez provides offensive and defensive value at a premium position, and Oklahoma prep lefty Chad James had one of the best starts of the year in front of the Blue Jays' top brass. That's just three names, and they could also go totally off the board. Many teams picking in the 20s mentioned specific difficulty in nailing down any direction for the Blue Jays, and there's some thought that they're even open to busting slot if a top talent falls this far.
Pick: Tony Sanchez, C, Boston College
21. Houston Astros: The Astros are not above kicking the tires on any signability types that might drop here, but without that option, they're looking to add tools and upside. Texas prep talents like Everett Williams and Heathcott entice, but Jared Mitchell comes with three years of experience at one of college baseball's top programs. Cal's Brett Jackson seems to be many team's backup plan in the 15-30 range; he will also be in the picture.
Pick: Jared Mitchell, OF, Louisiana State
22. Minnesota Twins: The Twins are almost sure to surprise people at the end of the first round, as they're usually taking players that nobody else sees as true first-round talents. However, after landing Ben Revere and Carlos Gutierrez in the last two years, nobody is arguing with their methods as much as they are trying to recreate them. Word on the street is that they like some more traditional consensus-level talent this year, and have their eyes on wide-bodied California prep righty Matt Hobgood.
Pick: Matt Hobgood, RHP, Norco HS (CA)
23. Chicago White Sox: The Sox have learned their lesson after wasting first-round picks on low-ceiling pitchers like Lance Broadway and Kyle McCulloch. They're focused solely on upside this year, with the obvious names (Williams, Jackson, Heathcott) all in play, though they're not ruling out a high school arm. From among what's left, Williams is the best talent.
Pick: Everett Williams, OF, McCallum HS (TX)
24. Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim: Nobody really has any idea what the Angels are doing with their back-to-back picks. They love Mike Trout, and will pounce on him if available, but he's gone in this scenario. Chad James needs a home, and as a tall, projectable lefty who's been clocked at speeds as high as 95 mph this year, he could go much higher. On the other hand, he could have some signability issues this low.
Pick: Chad James, LHP, Yukon HS (OK)
25. Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim: If there's one other pattern for the Angels, it's their affinity for young local talent, and Jiovanni Mier is the only high school shortstop on the board who looks like he can stay at the position and is worthy of a late first-round selection. Reviews are mixed on him however, as some see him as a front-line defender with a 70 arm, while others see him as a 45-50 runner with a good first step and merely solid arm strength. This is not a projection made with much intelligence, other than the fact that it just kind of makes sense.
Pick: Jiovanni Mier, SS, Bonita HS (CA)
26. Milwaukee Brewers: A new scouting group, or a new one at least as far as responsibilities go, could be prone to do something conservative here, especially as a team with a lot of early picks. Drew Storen is the best reliever in the draft, he could move up quickly, and it's not like Trevor Hoffman is any kind of long-term answer at closer, as good as he's been.
Pick: Drew Storen, RHP, Stanford
27. Seattle Mariners: Another real wild-card selection, with rumors in every direction. They might want to bookend Ackley with a pitcher here, but more likely than not they'll focus simply on what's at the top of their board. Brett Jackson isn't the best baseball player still available, but he does offer more upside than most, and Jack Z. loves him some tools.
Pick: Brett Jackson, OF, California
28. Boston Red Sox: Everyone assumes that the Red Sox just take signability guys, but that's not totally accurate. They have a real logic and path for each one of those players, and don't just spend money willy nilly. They have to feel the player is worth it, and rumor has it that they don't think the premium high school arms looking for Porcello-type deals are. This will probably be a more straightforward pick, and they've been looking at catchers all year. Tony Sanchez is the easy thought here because of the local connection, but if you measure who was seeing what, they seem to prefer the top high school backstop available, as everyone in the Boston front office and his brother saw Max Stassi this spring. When they were there, he played very well, and they had him in town for an impressive private workout in the days leading up to the draft.
Pick: Max Stassi, C, Yuba City HS (CA)
29. New York Yankees: Like the Red Sox, the Yankees aren't necessarily waiting for someone to fall into their lap, and they might only bust slot for Matt Purke or Shelby Miller. Miller is asking for an over-slot deal of $4 million, but that's not enough to drop him this far, while Purke certainly could. Without a big-name faller, the team is focused on the trio of Brothers, Jackson, and Heathcott. The good news? While he's the only one of the three left on the board the way it's falling on this page, they actually prefer Heathcott from among that group.
Pick: Slade Heathcott, OF, Texas HS (TX)
30. Tampa Bay Rays: This is new territory for the Rays, who haven't picked below eighth overall for over a decade. Even when they were picking at or toward the top, they focused on tools and upside, and that won't be any different at 30. This one is a reach, but Billy Hamilton, a Mississippi prep player who is the best player in his state in three different sports has been generating a lot of buzz with his pre-draft workouts. High school catcher Wil Myers is also in the mix, but it's still a big mix with a lot of prep possibilities.
Pick: Billy Hamilton, SS, Taylorsville HS (MS)
31. Chicago Cubs: The Cubs desperately need to stock their system with talent, and they might be looking for something safe, despite Tim Wilken's tendency to think upside first. Tim Wheeler offers proven college performance and good athleticism, which should please both sides of the stats vs. scouting divide.
Pick: Tim Wheeler, OF, Sacramento State
32. Colorado Rockies: The Rockies tend to stay away from prep talent this high, so names in their mix could include college pitchers like Kyle Heckathorn and Chad Jenkins of Kennesaw State, and they could kick the tires on a couple of Scott Boras clients in Andy Oliver of Oklahoma State and James Paxton of Kentucky, who combine lots of promise with troubling performances. Georgia's Rich Poythress is the kind of player who could put up some ridiculous numbers at Coors field, he's considered signable, and Todd Helton isn't getting any younger.
Pick: Rich Poythress, 1B, Georgia
Massive Helium Watch: Reymond Fuentes, OF. The top talent in Puerto Rico has been in the US this week, and his private workouts have been nothing short of stunning. He's a 70-plus runner with impressive bat speed and some power, and the teams that like him think he could develop into a true power/speed threat in center field. He wasn't even in my Top 50 on Saturday, but in the last 24 hours he's been attached to teams as high as Detroit at #9 (where his workout for them bordered on legendary), to plenty of teams picking in the 20s. Most likely to take a shot at him? The Astros at 21, the Angels with one of their picks at 24 and 25, or the Rays at 30.
1. NATIONALS. The only lock of the first round is that Washington will take everyone's No. 1 prospect, San Diego State righthander Stephen Strasburg
Projected Pick: STEPHEN STRASBURG.
2. MARINERS. Seattle zeroed in on North Carolina first baseman Dustin Ackley early, though there have been late reports that his asking price (something on par with Mark Teixeira's draft-record $9.5 million deal for a position player) could change those plans. Still count on Ackley here, but the Mariners could go with Matzek, who may not be much cheaper, or possibly Fort Worth Cats (American Association) righthander Aaron Crow, who wants at least the $4 million he sought last year as the No. 9 overall pick of the Nationals.
Projected Pick: DUSTIN ACKLEY.
3. PADRES. Rumors San Diego might pop Vanderbilt lefthander Mike Minor persist, but unless Ackley is available, expect Tate to go here. Crow is on the back burner.
Projected Pick: DONAVAN TATE.
4. PIRATES. Not that the second or third picks are set in stone, but it really starts to get interesting here. Crow seems like a good fit for Pittsburgh, but there was a lot of talk Monday that he could plummet to the bottom of the first round. Clubs near the top of the draft think the Pirates will go in another direction, while those in the middle still sense he won't get to them. Pittsburgh is still exploring Crow, kicking the tires on Southern California shortstop Grant Green (who will be cheaper than fellow Scott Boras Corp. clients Strasburg, Ackley and Tate but isn't going to settle for slot money) and considering Georgia high school righthander Zack Wheeler (the most affordable of the elite high school pitchers). The Pirates also could decide to save money here by signing a lesser player to a below-slot deal, then spend the cash later in the draft. If they do that, catchers Tony Sanchez (Boston College) and Myers no longer appear to be their priority money-savers. Borchering or California high school righthander Matt Hobgood could be the guy. If everything were equal, Pittsburgh would like a college bat, perhaps an outfielder like Sacramento State's Tim Wheeler.
That's a very long way of saying that this pick could go in any number of directions.
Projected Pick: AARON CROW.
5. ORIOLES. Baltimore has spent a lot of time with Wheeler, which would break Atlanta's heart. The Orioles also could use a shortstop, so Green could go here, and they'll be mightily tempted by Matzek, who has risen to No. 2 on some draft boards with his performance in the California high school playoffs.
Projected Pick: ZACK WHEELER.
6. GIANTS. San Francisco needs hitting more than pitching and has spent a lot of time working on college outfielders Wheeler, A.J. Pollock (Notre Dame) and Brett Jackson (California). But a team picking this high almost always takes the best player available, and the Giants aren't afraid of negotiating with tough signs, so that should lead them to Matzek. Zack Wheeler may be Plan B.
Projected Pick: TYLER MATZEK.
7. BRAVES. Zack Wheeler is the obvious pick if he gets here, but he probably won't. Atlanta wants to stick to its budget with this choice, and with a strong start Saturday in the NCAA super regionals, North Carolina righthander Alex White moved ahead of Minor. If all three pitchers go in the first six choices, there aren't any obvious candidates who fit here in terms of both talent and cost. The Braves could gamble that Matzek, Purke or Miller wouldn't turn down a bonus in the neighborhood of $2 million at the Aug. 15 signing deadline, or they could opt for a money-saver such as Stanford reliever Drew Storen or Hobgood. Clubs picking behind Atlanta wonder if scouting director Roy Clark has something up his sleeve.
Projected Pick: ALEX WHITE.
8. REDS. Like Atlanta, Cincinnati would prefer to stay within its budget with its pick. The Reds' two best options appear to be the same as Atlanta's, Minor and White. If both are gone, they'll consider Crow and Miller and hope to whittle down their price. Arizona State righthander Mike Leake is a fallback choice, and Hobgood may be as well. Matzek also would be tough to pass up, though Cincinnati doesn't want to be the precedent-setter.
Projected Pick: MIKE MINOR.
9. TIGERS. Late word is that Detroit won't have a blank check to sign its favorite player who falls because of signability, which would have been Matzek, Turner or Purke. The Tigers could draft Crow and dig in, assuming he won't want to head back for a second season in independent ball. Candidates for a slot deal include Lipscomb lefthander Rex Brothers, Trout and James.
Projected Pick: REX BROTHERS.
10. NATIONALS. Because this is a compensation pick unprotected going forward, Washington will make sure it has this player all but signed beforehand. In order, the Nationals are targeting Minor, Storen, Kennesaw State righthander Chad Jenkins and Pollock.
Projected Pick: DREW STOREN.
11. ROCKIES. Colorado is all over Hobgood. White, Leake and Brothers are other considerations more in line with the Rockies' usual preference for collegians.
Projected Pick: MATT HOBGOOD.
12. ROYALS. It's unclear whether Kansas City will be willing to exceed slot. If the Royals do, Green and Myers are possibilities. Late word is that they're exploring college pitchers, which suggests that they'll toe the line.
Projected Pick: CHAD JENKINS.
13. ATHLETICS. If Tate doesn't go No. 3 to San Diego, Oakland is the only other club with much visible interest in him. The Athletics' other priorities are Green, Leake and Trout, though the order is unclear. Leake would be the easiest of the four players to sign.
Projected Pick: MIKE LEAKE.
14. RANGERS. Lots of questions here. Is Miller's sudden $4 million asking price just a ploy to make sure he drops to Texas? Would financially strapped owner Tom Hicks spend what it takes to sign Purke? Are the Rangers the leading candidate to take St. Paul Saints (American Association) righthander Tanner Scheppers in the first round? Will they gamble on Heathcott, a talented two-way player whose makeup scares some clubs? Or could they pop a raw upside guy like Puerto Rican high school outfielder Reymond Fuentes?
Projected Pick: SHELBY MILLER.
15. INDIANS. Cleveland almost certainly will take an experienced pitcher. They like Indiana righthander Arnett, Brothers and Jenkins, and they'll also think about indy leaguers Crow and Scheppers.
Projected Pick: ERIC ARNETT.
16. DIAMONDBACKS. Borchering appeared to be Arizona's No. 1 candidate among position players, but his asking price is about $500,000 over the slot at No. 16 and the club already has to stretch its budget to sign seven of the top 64 picks. The Diamondbacks could recalibrate their sights on Pollock, with two California high schoolers (third baseman Matt Davidson, shortstop Jiovanni Mier) and Fuentes also in the mix.
Projected Pick: A.J. POLLOCK.
17. DIAMONDBACKS. Arizona wants homestate college star Leake, but Oakland or Texas could snatch him a few picks ahead. If the draft unfolds as we've projected here, there won't be another college pitcher to take—unless the Diamondbacks get creative and gamble on Missouri righthander Kyle Gibson, who was a possible top-five pick before coming down with a stress fracture in his pitching forearm. Clubs should be able to evaluate Gibson on the mound by the end of July, and he's a low-risk, high-upside gamble for a team with extra picks. Whichever team plans on popping Gibson hasn't tipped its hand yet, but Arizona makes as much sense as any.
Projected Pick: KYLE GIBSON.
18. MARLINS. Florida has had success with high school pitchers and with Oklahomans, and James' $1.75 million asking price is in the same territory as the slot recommendation here. Other possibilities: Jenkins, Arnett, Borchering, Storen, Jackson and Boston College lefthander Mike Belfiore.
Projected Pick: CHAD JAMES.
19. CARDINALS. At this point, these picks lean more toward guesswork than informed speculation. St. Louis would love a lefthander, but Brothers, James and Minor all figure to be gone. If they're willing to spend, the Cardinals could land Purke, who's more talented. Other above-slot options are Turner, a local product, and Green, who's running out of places to land in the first round. St. Louis also has shown visible interest in Texas high school outfielder Randal Grichuk and likes proven college performers (Leake, Pollock, Wheeler, Storen) if one falls.
Projected Pick: MATTHEW PURKE.
20. BLUE JAYS. The strength of the draft at this point starts to shift from pitchers to position players. Toronto would like an up-the-middle athlete, and the best one in the college crop is Louisiana State's Jared Mitchell. The Blue Jays already have a connection to Mitchell in scouting adviser Smoke Laval, the former coach at LSU who was part of the recruiting process to land the two-sport star.
Projected Pick: JARED MITCHELL.
21. ASTROS. Houston has been attached to Texas high school outfielders Grichuk and Heathcott but wouldn't take a third, Everett Williams. Mitchell could interest the Astros as well, but they now appeared strongest on Mier, who could pass Green to become the first shortstop drafted.
Projected Pick: JIOVANNI MIER.
22. TWINS. Minnesota is leaning toward an arm but may see its wish list of guys like Arnett, Jenkins, Hobgood and Storen exhausted before its pick arrives. That could open the door for Kansas high school righthander Garrett Gould, Florida righty Billy Bullock or Belfiore. Though he may cost them more than slot, the Twins may not be able to pass on Borchering.
Projected Pick: BOBBY BORCHERING.
23. WHITE SOX. Chicago gets linked more to athletic outfielders than any other position, but don't be surprised if it pounced on Arnett or Jenkins should they somehow fall. Otherwise, the White Sox will probably go for Williams or Mitchell, both of whom should sign for slot. Sanchez could go here as well, and this could be the high-water mark for fast-rising Oklahoma righthander Garrett Richards.
Projected Pick: EVERETT WILLIAMS.
24. ANGELS. If Green is still on the board, this may be his last chance to go in the first round. Trout would be another above-slot option, while Mier, Fuentes and Grichuk would be more budget-conscious picks for a club with four of the first 48 choices.
Projected Pick: MIKE TROUT.
25. ANGELS. Los Angeles can pair a bat at No. 24 with an arm here. Possible pitching targets include Gould, California high school lefthander Tyler Skaggs, Kennesaw State righthander Kyle Heckathorn and Bullock. The Angels could gamble on Gibson after doing the same with the late Nick Adenhart, signing him for $710,000 after he blew out his elbow in high school. They also might be the team at the bottom of the first round that's rumored to be exploring New York high school lefty Stephen Matz.
Projected Pick: GARRETT GOULD.
26. BREWERS. Milwaukee is another team investigating the athletic outfielders. If Mitchell, Williams and Trout are gone, the Brewers may not want to fight Heathcott's asking price because they have five of the first 74 picks. They could hope for Borchering (also pricey) or Pollock to drop, but may wind up with Davidson, Mier or Fuentes.
Projected Pick: MATT DAVIDSON.
27. MARINERS. Like any of the teams down here, Seattle hopes to benefit from someone who falls. Sanchez has been rumored as high as No. 4 but could get here if Pittsburgh doesn't take him. The Mariners are the first team that realistically could take Florida high school shortstop Nick Franklin, and they're intrigued by Scheppers as well.
Projected Pick: TONY SANCHEZ.
28. RED SOX. Getting Turner here would be a coup for Boston, which is as aggressive as any team in the draft. Though the Red Sox are willing to spend, they'd pass on Tate and Green and it's unclear how far they'd go for Purke. They'd take Crow as well. Boston needs catching, and could consider high schoolers Myers, J.R. Murphy (Florida) and Max Stassi (California). Georgia first baseman Rich Poythress could slide in here as well.
Projected Pick: JACOB TURNER.
29. YANKEES. Because this pick isn't protected and New York actually has a draft budget, the Yankees aren't just going to take an unsignable guy here and hand him a blank check. They're not going to meekly adhere to slot either, and are one of the strongest teams on Heathcott. New York is one of several clubs at the bottom of the draft hoping for a crack at Pollock, and Jackson and Murphy are two other considerations.
Projected Pick: SLADE HEATHCOTT.
30. RAYS. Despite drafting Tim Beckham No. 1 overall last year, Tampa Bay would select Mier if he got here. The Rays aren't accustomed to picking this low, so they're tied to many more names than usual, mainly athletic high school outfielders (Fuentes, Florida's LeVon Washington, Texas' Todd Glaesmann and Colorado's Jacob Stewart) and college pitchers (Bullock, Richards). Myers' bat and athleticism will be hard to ignore, however.
Projected Pick: WIL MYERS.
31. CUBS. Chicago really wants Pollock but won't get him. That could have the Cubs turning to the more athletic but less polished Jackson. They might spend on Turner if he got by the Red Sox and Yankees.
Projected Pick: BRETT JACKSON
32. ROCKIES. Colorado considered Wheeler with its No. 11 pick at one point, making it an easy decision to take him here.
Projected Pick: TIM WHEELER.
Baseball America has released a new list for the top 8 picks. These are in no way a sure thing, but its likely that this is how the top 8 will end up.
1. Nationals: San Diego State righthander Stephen Strasburg.
2. Mariners: North Carolina first baseman Dustin Ackley.
3. Padres: Georgia HS outfielder Donavan Tate.
4. Pirates: Boston College catcher Tony Sanchez.
5. Orioles: California HS righthander Matt Hobgood.
6. Giants: Georgia HS righthander Zack Wheeler.
7. Braves: Vanderbilt lefthander Mike Minor.
8. Reds: North Carolina righhander Alex White.
i think to save money and get picks that fall from the first and 2nd rounds because of their asking price.
i hope.
collecting RAW Topps baseball cards 1952 Highs to 1972. looking for collector grade (somewhere between psa 4-7 condition). let me know what you have, I'll take it, I want to finish sets, I must have something you can use for trade.
looking for Topps 71-72 hi's-62-53-54-55-59, I have these sets started
/s/ JackWESQ
<< <i>4. Pittsburgh Pirates: Rumors of the Pirates going ultra-conservative have died down considerably, but there is still some thought of their taking Boston College catcher Tony Sanchez (whom they adore) here, and then making it up with some signability picks down the road. That's looking more and more unlikely, and the Pirates will almost assuredly be simply taking the guy they like best, and while it's a surprise to some, it looks like that player will be Grant Green. >>
HAHAHAHAHAHAHAH Thats a good one!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Way to screw this one up Buccos. Trade McClouth, say it's not about the money (which it was) in a letter to fans. Now they have even more money to sign DP's and what do they do? Draft a guy who was rated #20 at #4 what a joke.
<< <i>In most cases it will be years before we see who pans out and who flops. >>
I know what you're saying, but it's really not that hard to follow minor league baseball, especially if only following one organizations farm teams.
Check here every once in awhile and you'll see how they're doin. They don't have to completely fall off your radar.
WTB: 2001 Leaf Rookies & Stars Longevity: Ryan Jensen #/25
<< <i>All of these guys had RCs in a Bowman Chrome set 2-3 yrs ago, right? >>
Heh, your not too far from the truth.
Upper Deck produces a Team USA set, so a bunch of the college guys who played on the national team already have cards.
Topps produces an AFLAC High School All Star set, which has a bunch of the high school kids.
So yeah, some of these guys have cards already.
WTB: 2001 Leaf Rookies & Stars Longevity: Ryan Jensen #/25
Lots of local kids being taken from around here in these later rounds. "My Bulls" haven't been too effected as far as the current roster goes (just one player picked), mainly due to the fact that a lot of our core players are too young to be eligible. As for recruits though....I'm hoping that Nick Lockwood and Chad Taylor don't sign with Minnesota or Chicago!
2 Pitchers
Catcher
1st Base
2nd Base
and 2 of our signees for next year. (One signee was actually signed on to play Football, not baseball)
<< <i>
<< <i>4. Pittsburgh Pirates: Rumors of the Pirates going ultra-conservative have died down considerably, but there is still some thought of their taking Boston College catcher Tony Sanchez (whom they adore) here, and then making it up with some signability picks down the road. That's looking more and more unlikely, and the Pirates will almost assuredly be simply taking the guy they like best, and while it's a surprise to some, it looks like that player will be Grant Green. >>
HAHAHAHAHAHAHAH Thats a good one!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Way to screw this one up Buccos. Trade McClouth, say it's not about the money (which it was) in a letter to fans. Now they have even more money to sign DP's and what do they do? Draft a guy who was rated #20 at #4 what a joke. >>
From Baseball America. It was their recap of Day 1 for them.
The Pirates. Tony Sanchez might have been the safest pick in the '09 draft class after elite players Stephen Strasburg and Dustin Ackley. He's a premium defensive catcher with good makeup, a self-made player who should at worst be a big league backup. But even his advocates in scouting circles grade his hit tool as below-average or fringe-average; they project him to hit .250 or .260 in the major leagues. He has average power, projecting to 15-20 home runs annually. That would be good production at catcher, but it's not the kind of ceiling teams tend to look for in a No. 4 overall pick. Pittsburgh's other picks—righthanders Victor Black and Brooks Pounders, and juco outfielder Evan Chambers—all seem to have been taken about a round too high.
One thing to be happy with though, is that they just grabbed an absolute steal in Matt Den Dekker from UF. He was ranked the 94th best player in the draft by BA and you guys nabed him in the 16th, somewhere around #475.
I'm guessing most of you didn't see it but the Yankees took West Virginia QB Pat White in the 48th round for the heck of it. He was an amazing player in high sschool, but I doubt they could lure him away from the Dolphins.