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The Chicago Cubs 2014 MLB Draft

The Chicago Cubs 2014 MLB Draft

          Since part one of my day one write-up, Chicago Cubs fans immediately bombarded me with criticism of my criticism of the team’s handling of the draft. “Kyle Schwarber wasn’t a reach.” “Schwarber can play left field.” “Schwarber was an underslot so the Cubs so they could get great pitching in later rounds.” Denial is the first step of grief, so I understand the complaints against my Cubs day one analysis. Let me try and present some positives of the pick that everyone can agree on. Kyle Schwarber presents massive power, easy plus power. On the negative side, it is not quite unanimous that he is the best power bat in the draft with names like Alex Jackson, Casey Gillaspie, and AJ Reed also in contention for that title. If one were to argue that Schwarber had a better power tool than the others, then that’s fine, we’re splitting hairs. Schwarber’s time at Indiana University also showed that he has an invaluable asset in his plate patience. While not at Joey Votto’s elite level of plate patience, he can draw more walks than he strikes out in a fairly tough college conference.

            Both the power and plate patience are fairly encouraging just looking at those alone. This isn’t the American League, let alone the home run derby. Realistically, one must consider everything about a player or prospect to make a judgment. That is partially why I always fall in love with five tool players. While they may not pan out, the alluring of having drafting Carlos Beltran is too strong. Schwarber is the furthest thing from that, which is in part why I dislike the selection. Schwarber has below average speed, below average defense at catcher, and an average arm. Where does that leave him? I know the Cubs organization company line is he will be a left fielder, but the guy is 6’0”, 240lbs at twenty-one years of age. His overall athleticism is poor to say the least, as that 240lbs is not muscle. Why people are so adamant about him sticking to left field is something I cannot explain. If I were to just list the qualities, blocking out the name or draft position, maybe people would come to the proper conclusion that this guy is first base or designated hitter material.

            Another thing everyone can agree on is Kyle Schwarber is an underslot at pick four. As of press time, Schwarber has yet to sign, but was rumored to be close at a $3 Million deal, well under the slot value of $4,621,200. One may lay out that the roughly $1.6 Million saved will be used to overslot high school talent later on in the draft and that is partially correct. The Cubs however did not pick up a polished high school arm in the second round like Jack Flaherty, who would require an overslot and shows tremendous potential despite being a prep arm, but used their second pick on another certain underslot in Jake Stinnett. Stinnett’s spot, pick 45, is slotted at $1,250,400. Considering he is a senior at Maryland, he does not have many other options, so the slot could be anywhere from $600K-$800k, if not lower. The Cubs did not snag an overslot player in Virginia Tech catcher Mark Zagunis, who signed for $615,000, nearly $100K less than the slot value of $714,900. I would hate to call the first three rounds wasted, but Schwarber was a big reach, especially for a team that has a young first baseman and no designated hitter. Stinnett is a back of the rotation starter, if not a bullpen arm, at best. Zagunis is a bat first catcher who has some power and has his defensive struggles behind the plate, not to mention arm strength concerns, although many expect him to be given the opportunity to remain behind the plate unlike Schwarber. His stock fell quite a bit over the past year after his power surge and woes behind the plate. Zagunis is fine at the slot, but certainly not the blockbuster overslot Cubs fans were hoping for. The three are not quite the talents that people who fall in love with prospects even spill an ounce of drool over.

            The Cubs selections in rounds four, five, and six are supposed to be the blockbuster selections for the Chicago team in this draft.  Left-handed prep pitcher Carson Sands was selected by the Cubs with pick 109, a slot with an accompanied value of $480,600. Sands, a commit to Florida State, is without question going to be an overslot for the Cubs if he signs, which by press time indications, he will but has yet to do. While one of the top twenty prep arms, if not higher, in this draft, the major concern with Carson Sands was signability, which led to him falling to 109. His fastball can touch 95. Sands possesses a potential average 12-6 curve and potential average changeup. He has advanced command at the high school level, which is significantly beneficial for a player his age. Scouts seem to indicate there is not much projection left in his arm, akin to Grant Holmes. I am not sure if he is giant overslot material like the Chicago Cubs think he is. Reports indicate that it will take about double slot to sign Sands, so approximately $961,200.

Pick 139, which the Cubs used on prep arm Justin Steele, is accompanied with a slot value of $359,900, which is certainly less than what Steele will require. A deal has yet to be made, but it is more likely than not that Steele signs with the Cubs even with his Southern Mississippi commitment. When someone mentions Sands, Steele, and Cease in the same breath I laugh. Steele’s fastball tops out at 92 and projects to be potentially above average. His secondary stuff, namely his slider and changeup, need major work and project to be league average at best. Steele has command issues, in part due to his closed hips during his delivery. The best case scenario for Justin Steele is a number five starter, but his height (6’1”), in addition to his stuff, shows he’s more likely to end up as a bullpen arm if he ever reaches the majors.

The Cubs sixth round selection, pick number 169, was Dylan Cease, a Vanderbilt commit. The Vanderbilt commitment probably played a large role in falling to this spot, as it is generally seen as a strong commitment. The slot money for pick 169 is $269,500, so it is without question that the Cubs will have to go overslot on Cease just to try and sign him. Cubs VP of Scouting and Player Development Jason McLeod seems to believe that the Cubs will sway Cease enough to sign, but there has no real indications coming out of the Cease camp that he will sign. Cease honestly is not a bad pick, especially at this spot, but he fell to selection 169 due to a partially torn UCL as a senior in high school. I am bigger on reclamation projects than most, especially after seeing someone like Lucas Giolito fall in the draft and return to form. That same thing could happen to Cease, but Cease is different in that he did not get Tommy John surgery, instead trying Platelet-Rich Therapy, which has medical doubts about the impact it plays on healing. If he would have opted for the Tommy John surgery instead, I would feel significantly better, since it has proven to prolong the careers of athletes, something Platlet-Rich Therapy has yet to do, but that is a completely different article. There is concern that he may need to get Tommy John surgery in the near future. Fastball touches 97, sitting 92-95, plus fastball. Changeup could become above league average, but now is average. Curveball needs work, but he’s a prep arm, so that should be expected. Cease’s biggest issue is his command, which needs to make leaps and bounds in improvement in order to get in a big league rotation. My prediction is that the Cubs are going to go well above double slot in order to get Dylan Cease to sign. Even at that he’s a 3/4 starter ideally, but possibly a bullpen arm if his curveball does not develop in the future. Many Cubs fans are touting him as the next big thing and I am not quite sure why. He could turn out to be a rotation guy, but it really is just too soon. He is not in the class of Brady Aiken or Tyler Kolek. He is not even in the class of Touki Toussaint and Sean Reid-Foley.

Those three high school arms are the touted gems in addition to the first three selections of this draft and it is hard to workup excitement about the picks if you watch them and read enough about them. I know it is easier to pick out the negatives in a prospect as opposed to highlighting the positive and it is a tendency I, among others, continue to do. Even when we look at the positives we have a position-blocked first basemen, a 4/5 starter at best in Stinnett, a potential starting catcher, but more likely a backup catcher, and three high school arms of varying degrees, none of which are potential 1/2 starters, and all of which are several years away from joining the major leagues. That is not the type of top of the draft I would be happy with if I were a Cubs fan.

Beyond the top six picks, there are plenty of potential talents, so I will go through many of them for the sake of being comprehensive and fair, even though rarely do we see a franchise player drafted in the seventh round and beyond. The Cubs used their seventh round selection, pick 199, on right-handed college pitcher James Norwood. Norwood has touched 97 on his plus fastball. His changeup is about league average, if not a tick below, and his other secondary stuff is just in development, although I would not panic as bad since he is a young college junior at only twenty years of age. His best case scenario is probably back of the rotation starter (notice a pattern?), likely ending up in the bullpen if his secondary stuff doesn’t further develop. Although no deal has been made yet, I expect the Cubs to slightly go over slot here, which is $201,900, but as to how much only one may speculate. Pick 229, which is accompanied by a $161,800 recommended slot value, was used on left-handed pitcher Tommy Thorpe. His fastball only hits 90, but his best pitch, his curve is described as already plus. He will be likely underslotted, as he is likely to be a bullpen arm. Picks 259 and 289 in the ninth and tenth rounds were used on right-hander James Farris and right-hander Ryan Williams, both individuals who were not ranked on Baseball America’s top 500 prospects board. Both are easy signs and likely underslots, but their ceiling appears to fifth starter, but more likely bullpen if they make it the major leagues.

In the eleventh round, pick 319 was used on Jordan Brink who is a lock for a bullpen arm, as he’s only 5’11”, but he throws a plus fastball and plus curveball, which is relatively encouraging for the eleventh round. Twelfth round selection Tanner Griggs is a lottery ticket as he is a prep arm that has shown flashes of potential, but his command has major concerns. When you get this late into the draft, you can only hope these prospects pan out and wipe any expectations from your mind. As far as the signability of the remainder of the day three selections, the high school players are much more likely to not sign if they are selected on day three and opt to go to college instead. Of those high schoolers that remain, one of the few to make waves towards signing is 31^st round pick Brad Deppermann. He is an all potential guy who is a certainly going to be an overslot if he decides to sign with the Chicago Cubs. Round 28 selection Jacob Niggemeyer has said he would consider signing with the Cubs, but if he does it will be with a significant overslot. Niggemeyer shows a ton of projectability, already standing 6’5”, shows great potential, already possessing a plus slider. It would be a great selection if he signs, but I certainly would not count on it quite yet.

Quite a few people have discussed Cubs 22^nd round selection third baseman Joey Martarano as an interesting pick, albeit still a lottery ticket type. Martarano is in the interesting situation of having played football, not baseball, at Boise State last year. Due to Boise State not having a baseball program, he was allowed to be included in this year’s draft as a college freshman. He has gained some traction in certain draft outlets after one scout said he had “the most natural power he had ever seen.” He was selected in the 13^th round last year by the Phillies as a high school senior, but turned down the offer to go to Boise State for football. He showed plate patience as a high school senior, which is not the norm for someone that age. I am not trying to portray him as a future superstar or anything of the sort, but he has the potential to be a big league starter with power. He also could end up as a guy stuck in AAA. The uncertainty is just the nature of prospects.

If I am Cubs fan, I cannot be too happy about this draft, especially when the team had a high pick and teams far below the Cubs (ie. Blue Jays and Indians) had a much better draft. The Cubs drafted no 1/2 starter, let alone a 2/3 starter. They drafted no immediate impact player like Aaron Nola or Kyle Freeland. They drafted nobody who would be a top five prospect in the system, despite having the fourth overall pick in an average or better draft. Many shout depth, “the Cubs got a bunch of good young pitchers,” in which they are referring to Sands, Steele, and Cease. Some individuals may see these three as quality, but I see them more as quantity in that they’re just more 3/4/5 starters down the road, which really should not be the focus of the Chicago Cubs. I have made my points about Schwarber, so there is not much left to say in regards to him at pick four. The later round picks are lottery tickets if they sign, so that is nothing to get excited about. How do you work up enthusiasm after a draft like this and a poor season like the Chicago Cubs have been having so far?

http://ccdt.webs.com/ for tracking Chicago Cubs draft picks signing status. 

2014 MLB Draft Day One Review/Analysis Part 3

2014 MLB Draft Day One Review/Analysis Part 3

Oakland Athletics: 3B Matt Chapman (25), RHP Daniel Gossett (65)

            6’2”, 205lb Matt Chapman is the rare product who displays both plate patience and swings for the fences frequently. How is this done? Well, Chapman seems to have his periods where one dominates over the other. His hitting is probably the biggest red flag, as many scouts seem to question whether he can recognize and handle advanced pitches at the major league level. Likely will develop plus power down the road. Plus arm, if not plus plus arm, but his speed will likely keep him at 3B. He’s a high floor/low ceiling guy reminiscent of Chicago Cubs 3B Mike Olt. The A’s had him left as the best remaining player on the board at pick 25, which he almost certainly was not, but Billy Beane has proven to be successful. Chapman might be a potential reliever down the road, as he has topped out at 99 with his fastball on the mound in relief before. The Athletics drafted another potential bullpen arm with Daniel Gossett, although the A’s will give him an opportunity to start. Fastball tops out at 94, but sits in the low 90s. Gossett also has a plus slider and a changeup that needs work. Had a 3.24 K/BB ratio in 2014 for Clemson. Pretty lanky guy, at only 185lbs, so some added weight might help velocity concerns. I like the Gossett pick quite a bit, as he’s going to produce in the major leagues either as a starter or bullpen arm. Above-average to good draft for the A’s.

Boston Red Sox: 3B Michael Chavis (26), RHP Michael Kopech (33), 1B Sam Travis (67)

            I love the Michael Chavis selection at pick 26. I gushed over him in the pre-draft writeup, so I’ll just paste it here. “Five tool prep bat. Put up a 1.861 OPS his senior season at Sprayberry, which while low level, backs up scouts analysis on him. Top five hitter in this draft, if not higher, due to his contact and bat speed. Power projects to translate at a major league level. Plus speed, akin to Turner and Harrison. Quick bat. Minor mechanical swing issues that could probably be corrected (hands that don't move, swings a bit late). Very likely to stick at 3B or SS, which is a plus. Apparently willing to catch, but it's not going to happen. Commit to Clemson.” He has yet to sign as of this writing, but I think they can offer enough to get him to Boston. 6’4” Kopech can only top out at 94 with his fastball, which is probably one of the reasons as to why he fell this far. I am not sure if his mechanics are a big knock against him, but he turns his upper body to the right during delivery then throws forward like a spring-loaded toy. I am struggling to think of a comparison, so look one of his videos up. Secondary pitches are a potential plus curve down the road and a changeup. Kopech is a heavy potential guy as he is only a prep arm, but one that could develop into a 2/3 starter if developed properly. Between Chavis and Kopech, I’m not quite sure what the Red Sox plan is on signing both, as they will both likely require an overslot. Indiana University’s Sam Travis isn’t even the best first baseman on his team (‘catcher’ Kyle Schwarber), but was very productive on a very good college baseball team. Travis has potential to hit for slightly above average in the major leagues if he develops the dreaded plate patience. While 12 home runs in a season does not sound like a ton, Travis only played 59 games, and projects to have potential plus power at the big league level. He’s going to be stuck at first base or used as a DH exclusively, as he doesn’t have the speed or arm to play any other position. The Red Sox are going to need a new DH eventually, but I’m not sure Travis is that guy. Very good draft by the Red Sox overall, especially once Chavis signs.

St. Louis Cardinals: RHP Luke Weaver (27), RHP/3B Jack Flaherty (34), RHP Ronnie Williams (68)

            Quietly, the St. Louis Cardinals had one of the best drafts of day one, scoring two great pitchers in addition to one with potential in Ronnie Williams. At pick 27, Luke Weaver was the last top college starting arms left in the draft. 6’2”, 180lb Luke Weaver has a fastball that touches 97 and sits at 88-92. Apparently his average fastball velocity has gone down from his junior year to his senior year, which has to be a red flag. Weaver throws a potential plus slider that sits 81-84 along with a changeup which may become above league average. Weaver throws a slow curveball that guys will likely tee off on, so he should at least use it less frequently. Posted great K/BB ratios his sophomore and junior seasons at Florida State due to his great command, which projects to get better. Weaver is a guy like Wacha who the Cardinals will magically turn into a mid-rotation starter who will succeed at the major league level, just wait. 6’4”, 205lb Jack Flaherty is a great selection at pick 34 if he signs, which he has yet to do. When drafting signability plays a role in where an individual gets selected, and that is certainly the case with prep arm Flaherty. At 6’3”, North Carolina commit Flaherty already has a league average fastball that touches 94, but sits 90-92. His second best pitch is his changeup, which is a potential plus pitch, if not already a plus pitch. Other secondary pitches include a slider and curveball, but they are not developed yet at such a young age generally. Could very well play an IF position, as he is the best two-way high school player in the draft. I don’t see him as one of those types who could be average at both. He has great potential at both pitching and hitting. Good hit tool with potential plus power, if it is not already there. Plus speed, but he’s young. Flaherty might be the toughest sign in the draft, as his commit to UNC is pretty strong, so an overslot is without question. Ronnie Williams, also a prep arm, allegedly has a fastball that sits at 96-97. Standing at only 6’0”, Williams is likely to end up as a reliever due to size and lack of good secondary pitches. This was a reach of a pick, as Baseball America had him ranked 171^st best prospect in this draft. Overall, the St. Louis Cardinals went home with one of the best drafts on day one.

Texas Rangers: RHP Luis Ortiz (30), SS Ti’quan Forbes (59)

            I did write-ups on both previously, as I did not expect Forbes to fall all the way to pick 59. Luis Ortiz: “Despite being a prep arm, Ortiz is physically mature, standing 6'3", 220lbs. Weight might be an issue in the future with him. Fastball tops out at 97, sitting at 92-95. Plus slider sits at 82-85 that just has a great sink to it. Changeup sits a bit slower than the slider. He is another 3/4 arm slot guy. Great command, near the top of all the prep arms this year. Ortiz is oldest of all the prep arms this year at 19. He projects to end up as a 3/4 starter in the majors. Relatively safe pick.” I was very surprised to hear the Cardinals passed on Ortiz after being in on him so heavy for the past few weeks. Love the pick. Ti’quan Forbes: “Despite being 6'4", most scouts have seem to indicate that they believe Ti'quan Forbes can stick at SS. Above average defensively with a plus arm. Another speedster who possesses plus speed already, despite being a prep bat. Projects to fill out, as he's only 175lbs, and possibly develop above league average power. Potential plus hit tool with some mechanical issues on his swing. His second biggest asset, behind his speed, is his incredible plate patience. His plate patience is beyond any other prep bat in this draft. Could turn into a great player at the major league level. Might have to overslot to get him.” Forbes is committed to Ole Miss, but I think it is likely the Rangers overslot him enough and get him signed. Jon Daniels voodoo magic continues with an excellent day one for the Texas Rangers.

Atlanta Braves: 1B/OF Braxton Davidson (32), RHP Garrett Fulenchek (66)

            6’3”, 215lb Davidson was not drafted on defensively ability, so that should tell you something about how polished his bat is, despite being in high school. He has a good hit tool at such a young age and may develop potential plus power down the road. Plate discipline isn’t a major concern yet. While some may say he can play the outfield, he’s almost certainly limited to first base, as he doesn’t have the speed or glove for even left field, even though he already has a plus arm. 6’3”, 205 Garrett Fulenchek is a ¾ arm slot guy. He tops out at 94 presently, but it’s expected that his velocity will increase with some mechanical tweaks. Fulenchek’s plus sinker runs 90-94. He also possesses a potential plus slider. It is widely thought that Fulenchek is a reach at the spot, but I think he has real starting lineup potential down the road. Above average day one of the draft for the Atlanta Braves.

New York Yankees: LHP Jacob Lindgren (55)

            5’11” Jacob Lindgren is, without a doubt, a reliever. As a reliever for Mississippi State his junior year, Lindgren posted a 16.33 K/9. He has a plus fastball that displays good movement and sits at 93-94. His main secondary pitch, his slider, is plus with plus plus potential that sits in the 82-85 range. His changeup is nothing notable. He twists enough with his delivery to have deceptive stuff. Aside from some slight mechanical issues, I really like this pick. Although the Yankees need starting pitching, you are not likely to find someone who isn’t a project who can start at the 55^th pick. Based on what they were working with, this was a fine day one for the Yankees.

Big MLB Draft Signing News!

-Milwaukee Brewers second-rounder Monte Harrison signed a $1.8 Million deal today, an overslot deal.

-Milwaukee Brewers second-rounder Jacob Gatewood signed a $1.83 Million deal today, a nearly $500k overslot.

-Houston Astros 1.1 pick, Brady Aiken, signed for a record $6.5 Million.

-New York Mets have signed fifth rounder Josh Prevost to a six figure bonus.

-Chicago Cubs signed third round pick Mark Zagunis to $615,000, approximately $100k less than the slot.

2014 MLB Draft Day One Review/Analysis Part 2

2014 MLB Draft Day One Review/Analysis Part 2

Arizona Diamondbacks: RHP Touki Toussaint (16), LHP Cody Reed (54)

            I wrote rather extensively on Toussaint in my previous write-ups. Perhaps the most upside of any prep arm in the draft, but with that upside comes high risk. He improved on his command some between his junior and senior seasons in high school, but is still wild with his command. Delivery issues, also, but that curveball is so good at such a young age I think he is worth a gamble at pick 16. Cody Reed, who I previously did not cover, is a 2/3 starter at best, but will end up somewhere in the starting rotation. Reed is a mammoth 6’5” left-handed pitcher who throws a plus fastball. Reed’s changeup, slider, and curveball are potential plus pitches, if not plus already. One red flag on Reed is his weight. I have seen him listed anywhere from 240lbs to 260lbs. The Diamondbacks organization will undoubted try to get him to shed 20+lbs. There is a ton of upside potential on Reed, but it is not quite there yet, still I love the pick at 54. The Diamondbacks day one draft uses the deadly ‘p’ word, potential. If either guy reaches that potential, day one has been a success for them.

Kansas City Royals: LHP Brandon Finnegan (17), LHP Foster Griffen (28), C Chase Vallot (40), RHP Scott Blewett (56)

            The biggest issue with Brandon Finnegan is his height. He is listed at 5’11”, but may measure out to 5’10”. There are durability issues with players at both heights, as the shorter the pitcher, the incidence of injury increases. A few 5’11” pitchers have been successful at the major league level, notably Pedro Martinez, but I can’t think of any 5’10” starters that have had success over multiple years. Finnegan’s fastball touches 99, sitting at 91-95 throughout a game. Finnegan’s secondary pitches are a potential plus curveball, potential plus slider, and a potential average changeup, which does not sound like great starting pitching material, especially from a collge arm his height and. He is also another ¾ arm slot guy. Finnegan dominated at TCU, possessing a 4.88 K/BB ratio during his junior season. Finnegan should be given every opportunity to start, which he probably will get with the Royals, but if he turns out to be a bullpen arm nobody should be shocked. At 18, Foster Griffen is already 6’5”, which helps his stock quite a bit more than other prep arms. Throwing motion is not bad. Fastball touches 94 rarely and sits at 88-91. His changeup is a potential plus pitch and his curveball need work to even be considered above average. Command issues are present with Griffen, but then again, they are present with most prep arms. If the Royals sign him (which they probably will) and things work out he can make the back-end of the starting rotation. Chase Vallot was a late-riser, gaining traction into the late first round in the days leading up to the draft. Vallot probably should’ve been a late first round pick, too, as he plays a valuable position, catcher, has good plus power potential, and has a cannon for an arm. Has still hands and a still bat leading up to his swing. He is only 17, but raked competition, putting up a 1.763 OPS his senior season. I hate to use high school statistics, but it shows he has had no problems yet. Some question his pitch recognition against major league talent, but he’s 17, give him time. 6’6” prep arm Scott Blewett tops out at 96 for his fastball, regularly hitting 90-94. He possesses a potential plus 12-6 curveball, but velocity is not there for the pitch yet, usually sitting in the mid-70s. Blewett possesses a decent changeup that should evolve into league average assuming everything goes right. Once again, Blewett is another high school arm that lacks good command, but it does not appear to be as bad as the worst offenders in this draft. If the Royals want him to sign they are going to have to overslot him, as he’s made it clear he would like to go to St. John’s. If I am Dayton Moore, I give him the money without hesitation, I think Blewett could be a 2/3 starter down the road given proper development.

Washington Nationals: RHP Erick Fedde (18), LHP Andrew Suarez (57)

            I have already done a write-up on Fedde, so not too much detail here. Plus fastball and potential plus plus slider. This should not be a shock, as the Nationals took Lucas Giolito last year after injury and rehabbed him into success Will history repeat itself with Fedde? If I had to guess I would say yeah, he will recover fine and return to almost the same form he had prior to Tommy John surgery late in the season. They passed over quite a bit of quality talent for Fedde, who is a quality talent, albeit hurt, and only time will tell if that was the right move. Andrew Suarez was one of the better pitchers on one of the best college teams this past season, the University of Miami. Suarez really came into his own this past season, with his prior seasons at Miami being mediocre. Plus fastball touches 95, but sits at 91-93. He uses a curveball and slider as secondary pitches, both with good movement and potential plus pitches down the road according to some. They are very similar looking pitches, so it is hard for someone breaking him down to recognize the difference between the two with Suarez, but not so hard with opposing batters. He is not a strikeout guy, so expect high groundball contact from opposing batters. Not deceptive with his stuff. Suarez is likely a back of the rotation pitcher in the majors if not a bullpen arm. Not crazy about what the Nationals did on day one, but it is in no way a disaster like the Chicago Cubs day one.

Cincinnati Reds: RHP Nick Howard (19), 3B Alex Blandino (29), 3B Taylor Sparks (58)

            6’4”, 215lb Nick Howard is the first reliever to be taken during the 2014 MLB Draft. Howard’s easy plus fastball touches 98, but normally sits at 92-95. His curveball has potential to be a plus pitch down the road, thrown in the 80-84 range. I remember reading he has a slider, but I think people just confuse the slider and curveball. His changeup stinks and he should really limit it or just drop it from his arsenal. He is close to major league ready. Potential closer or setup guy, definitely will be in the bullpen. Alex Blandino was a late riser on draft boards that actually stuck, being drafted with the 29th overall pick. 6’0” Alex Blandino is a Stanford man. The last thing a hitter in baseball wants to be is a Stanford man. Stanford pushes hitters to make poor contact, making them line-drive/ground out hitters with little power. Like a Stanford man, Blandino makes contact with the ball well. Unlike a Stanford man, he has some plate patience, which is a major positive. He will probably have below league average power (single digit home run seasons). Defensively he’ll stick at third base almost assuredly. I do not like this pick. I would be shocked if he ever started regularly for just about any major league team. I do not like the Reds other day one third baseman selection, Taylor Sparks. Sparks has a below average hit tool, lacking any sort of plate discipline. He had a 4 K/BB ratio during his junior season at UC Irvine. Might develop above league average power. Defensively identical to Blandino. Taking two third basemen on day one who are mediocre is very strange. At least Howard is fine. Bad day one draft for the Cincinnati Reds.

Tampa Bay Rays: 1B Casey Gillaspie (20), RHP Cameron Varga (60)

            I already did a writeup on Gillaspie, so go back and read that if you want a more detailed picture, but he’s a power bat who can make good contact that’s 1B or DH only. Average at best defensively at 1B. Put up great numbers at Wichita State. Cameron Varga has been really impressive, albeit at the high school level. Nine wins, zero losses, 0.00 ERA, 51 innings pitched, 126 strikeouts, five walks, seven shutouts, and five no-hitters during his senior season at Cincinnati Hills Christian Academy. Just by those numbers alone, one must wonder why 6’4”, 205lb Varga was not taken higher. Well, the story with Varga goes a bit deeper, with a previous biceps injury, already being 20 years old, and not quite having major league stuff. Not enough hip movement, placing heavier strain on his arm. Varga has a plus fastball that tops out at 95. Curveball needs work, but has plus potential. Slight command issues at this time, as should be expected with a high school arm, but likely to improve. I’m not sure what the bigger knock against Varga is, being twenty or previous injury history pitching on a high school schedule (which has fewer innings than the major leagues). Even with all the red flags, I am surprised he did not go higher. There’s big potential as a 2/3 starter with him, but that potential is a big if. Good day one draft for the Rays.

Cleveland Indians: OF Bradley Zimmer (21), LHP Justus Sheffield (31), 1B/LF Mike Papi (38), RHP Grant Hockin (61)

            The best way to describe Zimmer is just being ‘there’. He does not leap out on anything specific, other than his arm and speed, which will land him in CF or RF. Only real knock against him is plate patience, but that is a problem with a ton of guys. He’ll make the majors and produce about average in every category. Sheffield is another short pitcher, akin to Brandon Finnegan, standing at roughly 5’10”, despite what others claim (He’s not 6’1” or 6’2”). While it is high school stats, he had a 19.26 K/9 ratio his senior year, with a 0.34 ERA. Unlike Cameron Varga, Sheffield’s stuff is projected to get higher level guys out. Mechanics are much better than other prep arms in this draft. Fastball sits at 89-93, touching 94 at times, and projects to be average. Throws a 77-79 curveball, that projects to be above average in the future. Sheffield’s slider has plus potential. Command is advanced for his age. He has a strong commit to Vanderbilt, so he’s not going to sign unless they overslot him fairly big. 6’3”, 210lb Mike Papi currently plays 1B at Virginia, but could easily switch to LF. Papi has one of the more advanced college bats in this draft, adept at recognizing pitches and having plate patience, which could very well wind up to him hitting above average in the major league. Has a good arm. High floor/low ceiling-type guy. Grant Hockin-type guys are what you start to see around the 60^th pick. At 6’3”, 195lbs, Hockin is a project. Fastball tops out at 93, sitting at 88-90. Potential plus 12-6 curveball that sits in the low 70s. Average changeup and slider. Great mechanics. Big stride. He could turn out to be a rotation guy, but it is just too soon to make any judgments on him. UCLA commit, so they will have to overslot to sign him in addition to Sheffield. Fine day one draft for the Cleveland Indians.

Los Angeles Dodgers: RHP Grant Holmes (22), LHP/OF Alex Verdugo (62)

            I’ll just copy and paste my Grant Holmes write-up to save you time: “Holmes projects to be big league ready quicker than other prep arms like Toussaint. Fastball tops out at 97, but sits in the low-mid 90s. Plus curveball that could end up plus plus, but currently sits 82-84. The curveball might be top three in this draft. Changeup rates to about average to above average. Red flag on the fastball as it tends flatten at times, which would of course lead to him getting smashed in the majors if changes aren't made. Besides some mechanical changes, Holmes doesn't really project to get much better, but that's fine because he's a pretty good pitcher already.” I think they give Holmes some time in the minors before they call him up, even if he is the most ready prep arm in the draft. He could try and fit into the back end of the rotation. I’m completely stunned Alex Verdugo fell to pick 62 and not because I thought he was first round talent. There was heavy talk of him in the late 20s/early 30s that sprung up in the days prior to the draft. The problem with Verdugo is there is legitimate uncertainty as to which position he will play. The current plan for the Dodgers it to try him as an OF, then switch him to pitching if it doesn’t work. As a position player, Verdugo is fairly average, with a good arm and good right field defense. As a pitcher, Verdugo hits 92 with his fastball, sitting at 87-90 regularly. Average 12-6 curveball. If I had to take a guess, Verdugo ends up in the bullpen down the road, but that’s just a guess. Good day one for the Dodgers.

Detroit Tigers: OF Derek Hill (23), RHP Spencer Turnbull (63)

            I am still in shock they did not go with Nick Burdi at pick 23. Did the write-up on Derek Hill in my second post, so go back and check it out.  Hill is the fastest guy in the entire draft, with plus plus speed. Has a big arm, so he can play RF if needed. Still needs to work on his hit tool, which some say could become plus down the road. No power and little plate discipline makes him a defense first player, which is fine for certain teams or coming off of the bench. 6’3”, 195lb Turnbull is the reliever that Detroit so badly needs, although he started at Alabama. Turnbull has a plus fastball that touches 98, but sits at 92-95. His slider (almost a curve) got many out at the college level, but will be average at best in the majors, as it does not project to get any better. The slider sits at 78-81. He also uses a changeup that the Tigers should encourage him to drop, as it is not a good pitch at the college level, let alone a higher one. Has the same command issues one would expect out of a high school arm, but he might be able to improve on that. He will live and die with the fastball coming from the bullpen. Fine day one for the Detroit Tigers.

Pittsburgh Pirates: SS Cole Tucker (24), 1B Connor Joe (39), RHP Mitch Keller (64)

            The Pirates taking Cole Tucker with pick 24 was a complete shock to me. Gatewood, Griffen, Ortiz, Wall, Reed, Adams, and specifically Monte Harrison were all available with this pick. They were linked to Harrison at this pick, but it was rumored he wanted a king’s ransom not to go play football for Nebraska. It turns out that they had  Cole Tucker ranked highly on their board and did not think he would be there at pick 39. Switch-hitting SS Tucker was ranked in the 80-90 range of prospects overall, so this was quite a reach. Tucker is 6’3” and only 17 years of age, so it’s not a lock that he sticks to the position if he keeps growing. Average contact, below average power, little plate patience, not quite the making of the 24^th overall selection in the draft. Interesting in that he has good bat speed, but no home run power, just doubles power at best. Tucker has a plus arm and is a plus runner, which may help him if he fills out a bit and has to move to another position. It’s really too soon to make a judgment on Tucker other than the Pirates jumped the gun. Another reach by the Pirates was their second pick, 1B Connor Joe. Joe was ranked roughly the 100^th best prospect in the draft. He offers versatility in defense, be able to allegedly play catcher, first base, and outfielder. His best qualities are his arm and plate patience. 6’0” Joe could potentially develop power, but now it is average at best. He has to be an underslot signing, but could develop into a great backup catcher, if not better. 6’3”, 195lb Mitch Keller has a fastball that touches 95, a dramatic increase from his junior year in high school when he was throwing 85-88. Keller uses a curve as a secondary pitch, which should develop to become league average, and a changeup that needs work. Has excellent command for a high school pitcher. Could end up a mid-rotation guy. Has a strong commitment to North Carolina, so the previous two being underslotted will likely go to Keller to persuade him from attending UNC. The Pirates had a pretty poor day one of the draft.

2014 MLB Draft Day One Review/Analysis Part One

2014 MLB Draft Day One Review/Analysis Part One

Houston Astros: LHP Brady Aiken (1), OF Derek Fisher (37), 1B AJ Reed (42)

            Houston did pretty well for themselves. As I previously gushed about in my pre-draft writeups, Brady Aiken is pretty much the closest thing to a perfect guy there is in this draft. At only 17, Aiken shows polish, skill, and size. Fastball, curveball, slider, changeup, all out pitches at the high school level and it is likely they will translate to R or Low-A ball, wherever he starts. The Astros must put a stop to Aiken doing crossfit, but that’s another article about pitchers doing dumb things. Fisher worries me a bit with his flat bat, which translates to ground balls, which, of course, translates to getting out. He might reach league average power, but it’s not there yet. Fisher’s biggest strength is his easy plus speed, which some say may become plus plus down the road, but I will not jump on that gun at this point. He will probably have to spend some time in the minors sorting things out, despite being a college bat. Like the AJ Reed pick for its value, but not for the organization. Reed, a college power bat, is only a year younger than current Astros 1B Jon Singleton. Reed undoubted has much better power than Singleton, but with the recent contract, the Astros have shown some commitment to Singleton for the near-future. Reed can pitch, but just about everyone sees him as a bat. Tough conundrum for the Astros there, as I hate to hold back potential elite power, even with Singleton.

Miami Marlins: RHP Tyler Kolek (2), C Blake Anderson (36), SS Justin Twine (43)

            I did a writeup on Kolek, so please go read that for detail. There has not been a hard throwing prep arm like Kolek before, so we do not really have history to look at for indicators. Taking him over Rodon and Jackson was a bit of a shock. If I am being honest here, I think Kolek is going to blow his arm out sooner, rather than later. This isn’t just because of the 103 fastball he can throw, but because of the workouts he’s been doing. A pitcher shouldn’t workout using heavy weights, but the MLB Network package showcased him doing that. How much damage has that done to his arm already? Anderson is probably a slight underslot here for Twine. Anderson can catch and has developed a frame, but his hit tool is still questionable. He might not be able to hit off of big league pitchers and has no power. Justin Twine is probably a slight overslot I’m guessing, with the TCU commitment. Toolsy, two-way player. Plus speed, big arm, can hit, potential power, but he’s very young and will have to be developed. He is likely to stick at SS for the time being too. Very good pickup by the Marlins if they can sign him.

Chicago White Sox: LHP Carlos Rodon (3), RHP Spencer Adams (44)

            I wrote a ton on Rodon, so just go back and read that as nothing has really changed since that writeup. The Sox did well picking him here. Now, Spencer Adams is seemingly a very good pick also. Adams stands 6’5” despite being a prep arm. Adams was projected to go much higher, being linked to the Dodgers at 22 at highest. Plus fastball and plus slider on Adams. The slider is so good it could become a plus plus slider. Some command issues on secondary pitches. He’s a project, but one I would love to have play for my organization. Good job, White Sox.

Chicago Cubs: C Kyle Schwarber (4), RHP Jake Stinnett (45)

            The Chicago Cubs likely had the worst draft of day one. Before the Cubs caught Schwarber fever, he was projected to go in the 8-24 range, with the lower half of that range probably being more accurate. I compared Schwarber to Dan Vogelbach, also of the Chicago Cubs, in my writeup. He might be slightly better than Vogelbach because it is likely he can hit closer to average, which Vogelbach is currently struggling with. Ignore the talk that he will play catcher. Ignore the talk that he will play left fielder. He’s a first baseman or designated hitter only. He is a first baseman that is 21. Anthony Rizzo, one of the supposed cornerstones of the franchise, is only 24. Where does Kyle Schwarber play exactly? Do they platoon first base with Schwarber and Rizzo? You’re drafting a guy to platoon at first base with the fourth overall pick? I still feel like this is a big prank on me. I could make some peace with it if it were like the AJ Reed situation in Houston, but this was the fourth overall pick, not forty-second. The Cubs literally wasted the fourth overall pick in the draft unless they somehow trade him down the road for another prospect and that’s only possible if Schwarber continues to put up numbers like he did in college. I’ll revisit this in a year, not to see if Schwarber will prove me wrong, but just if he will put up better numbers than Daniel Vogelbach. 6’4” Stinnett was also a reach at 45, roughly ranked as the seventy-something best player in the draft. Fastball touches 97, but sits at 92-95. Has a potential plus slider. Changeup needs improvement if used regularly. Good command. Stinnett has good upside, so I would not be too upset with this one, even though it was a slight reach. Have to keep in mind Sean Reid-Foley was still here, who is undoubtedly the better prospect. Has to be hard to be excited if you are a Chicago Cubs fan.

Minnesota Twins: SS Nick Gordon (5), RHP Nick Burdi (46)

            About average job, if that, for the twins. I have never been a fan of Gordon and am still not sold on him. Twins should have gone best player available and grabbed Alex Jackson or even Aaron Nola or Kyle Freeland. Big big fan of the Burdi pick at 46. He’s struggled with command, but he’s got insane stuff and had nearly a 16K/9 this past year at Louisville. Burdi is the closer of the future, no doubt. I did writeups on both Gordon and Burdi, so check those out, Twins fans.

Seattle Mariners: C Alex Jackson (6)

            The Mariners lone pick was Alex Jackson, as they lost the second pick to compensation with Robinson Cano. While I thought they would go arm, I also did not expect Jackson here. Alex Jackson is the most advanced prep bat in a few years. To use a cheesy pun, the Seattle Mariners hit a home run with the pick. I have a writeup on Jackson in my initial pre-draft post, so go read that.

Philadelphia Phillies: RHP Aaron Nola (7), LHP Matt Imhof (47)

            Maybe I put too much consideration into the NCAA turn-in debacle that occurred last year, as I think Nola will sign with the Phillies after Nola laughed at the notion of returning to LSU for another season. The White Sox board has not been released yet, but I am curious as to how interested they really were in Nola. They supposedly were scouting hard these past few weeks, but he somehow fell to Philly. Good pick by the Phillies, as him and Freeland were the two best arms remaining. Easy plus curve only behind Toussaint in this draft. Expect him in the majors in August 2015, as he’s ready for the show. I did the bigger writeup in the intial pre-draft post, so, again, check it out. 6’5” Imhof I didn’t get around to writing about, even though he is intriguing and possibly a good pick at 47. There are mechanical red flags all over Imhof with his Sale and Freeland-esque delivery (weird overhand motion with starting and stopping, then moving feet). Fastball tops out only at 94. Potential plus slider, but it needs some work. He’s a big guy who struck out a ton of people in college and is only twenty years old. There’s potential there as a 3/4/5 starter, but he’ll likely end up as a bullpen guy.

Colorado Rockies: LHP Kyle Freeland (8), 2B Forrest Wall (35), RHP Ryan Castellani (48)

            I’m not going to write about Freeland here because I wrote a ton on him earlier so go back and look at it, but perfect fit. The Colorado native was the best remaining player on my board. Many see him as a reliever, but I think he can start and be a #2 starter. Forrest Wall falling to 35 is interesting, as he was projected to go as high as ten to the New York Mets. Great speed, great bat, and they got him at a good spot. I have a more detailed writeup already up with video on the site, so check it out, but he’s a good fit. At 18, Castellani is already 6’4”, 200lbs. Fastball that touches 92, which I expect to go a bit higher as he becomes more refined, but sits at 89-91. Three potential plus pitches in his curveball, slider, and changeup. He’s another guy who is pure potential, but if he reaches that potential he’s a front-line starter. Questionable if he’ll sign, as he’s committed to UCLA. Rockies should try to overslot and get him, he’s worth working with.

Toronto Blue Jays: RHP Jeff Hoffman (9), C Max Pentecost (11), RHP Sean Reid-Foley (49)

            Just an awesome job by the Blue Jays front office staff in getting three very good guys. Jeff Hoffman was unquestionably a top four arm in this draft until he had to get the dreaded Tommy John surgery, ending his season early. Fastball that touches 97. He has a potentially plus slider. Hoffman has a 12-6 curveball, akin to Adam Wainwright, that runs from 78-82. Changeup is either plus or potential plus. This past week there were people saying how Hoffman might have had the best arm going into the draft, had he not had the UCL injury. 6’4” with a good stride that can produce power. All of this is put into question because of the UCL injury, so it’s a risk pick, but previous TJS successes have made the Blue Jays and me less concerned. Blue Jays will probably underslot Hoffman as he doesn’t really have any other options after the Tommy John surgery. I already wrote fairly in-depth about Pentecost (so read it!), but he’s got a proven hit tool, has plus speed, and will play catcher in the majors. Great pick which might be a slight underslot (he was a big underslot when considered at four for the Cubs). Shocked Reid-Foley fell this far. Just read my writeup on him. With Hoffman and Pentecost, they may be able to persuade Reid-Foley from going to Florida State. Great job Toronto Blue Jays!

New York Mets: OF Michael Conforto (10)

            There were a ton of potential options for the Mets’ lone pick at ten, but they chose Michael Conforto which does not excite nor depress Mets’ fans. The lukewarm feeling is due to Conforto’s past season in which he regressed some. He showed enough his first two years at Oregon State, mainly his hit tool, to make me feel okay with this pick. I did a complete writeup on him in my initial pre-draft piece. Best case scenario for him is LF in the majors. This pick is just sort of there, not much to say really.

Milwaukee Brewers: LHP Kodi Medeiros (12), SS Jacob Gatewood (41), OF Monte Harrison (50)

            On paper the Brewers had a great draft if you love prospects, but it concerns me that they take three high schoolers, two of which are going to require an overslot, Harrison specifically wants a ransom to sign. Everyone loves Medeiros and I like watching him pitch, but there’s a ton of red flags on him. Some mechanical issues, delivery issues, health issues, all of which I wrote up on in a previous article. He has an easy plus slider. Great movement on his pitches. Like I have previously stated he’s a project and I would not take him this high, but teams flocked to him, so they must know something I do not. How in the world Gatewood fell that far is beyond me. He might be asking for a massive overslot. Gatewood is a power bat that will likely play 3B. He’s going to need work, just as Medeiros does, but I think he can get there. I was a big fan of Monte Harrison and was shocked when the Pirates passed on him at 24. I am also a big fan of five tool players, which Monte Harrison appears to be. He is committed to Nebraska football and seems to want to go to college, but the Brewers should do everything they can to sign him. Read my writeup on Harrison and watch the video and fall in love! In reality this is a hard group to judge, especially with the latter two being tossups on signing with the Brewers. I’ll have to go through the math when the draft is over.

San Diego Padres: SS Trea Turner (13), OF Michael Gettys (51)

            I’ve warmed up on Turner’s speed since my writeup of him (read it!). I actually think Turner is and will end up better than 1.5 pick Nick Gordon. Not sure if he’ll play 3B or SS in the majors. He’s certainly got a better bat than Gordon and has the edge on speed, with easy plus speed. Good pick for the Padres there. I thought Gettys would be a late-first rounder and him winding up at pick 51 is pretty surprising. Big fan of Gettys, as he has plus speed easy, a plus plus arm, and some power potential. Hit tool needs development, as he might not be able to recognize pitches at a higher level. Might have to overslot a bit for him, but I think he’s worth it. I have a full writeup a few posts back on Gettys. Overall a very good day one for the Padres.

San Francisco Giants: RHP Tyler Beede (14), C Aramis Garcia (52)

            I went back and forth on whether Beede would go top fifteen in the draft and decided he would not due to his extreme inconsistency this past season, but his last outing showed glimmers of what he could be, leading the Giants to draft him. Read the writeup on Beede, but essentially this is the perfect fit because the Giants organization will give him time to develop, which he needs before he makes it to the majors. Good bat and potential power for Aramis Garcia. He will need time if they plan on keeping him at catcher, because he’s shown quite a few defensive mistakes there. I think they give him time and he sticks at catcher. He would be a wonderful backup catcher for Buster Posey if Posey sticks to the position down the road. Good day one for the San Francisco Giants.

Los Angeles Angels: LHP Sean Newcomb (15), RHP Joe Gatto (53)

            Newcomb is a big guy who throws his fastball at 97. He is a pitcher from the northeast, so there are questions as to if his secondary stuff (curveball and slider) could be improved in better weather. In past years, teams have slept on guys from the northeast for a number of reasons, but I’m not sure Newcomb is the guy to wake up for. He will reach the majors faster than other prep arms. Risk/reward guy. Joe Gatto is 6’5” as a high school senior, which gives him a physical advantage over other prep arms. Gatto has deceptive delivery, but command is not all there for him yet. Plus fastball and plus curveball. Gatto is a great pick at 53, but has a commitment to North Carolina, so they may have to overslot to keep him. Interesting day one of the MLB draft for the Angels. Pitching certainly is an issue with them and I think Newcomb and Gatto are potential rotation guys.

            

2014 MLB Draft Results - Day 1

2014 MLB Draft Results - Day 1

1.Houston Astros                    Brady Aiken                Cathedral Catholic HS

2.Miami Marlins                      Tyler Kolek                 Shepherd HS

3.Chicago White Sox              Carlos Rodon              N.C. State

4.Chicago Cubs                      Kyle Schwarber          Indiana

5.Minnesota Twins                  Nick Gordon               Olympia HS

6.Seattle Mariners                   Alex Jackson               Rancho Bernardo HS

7.Philadelphia Phillies              Aaron Nola                   LSU

8.Colorado Rockies                Kyle Freeland              Evansville

9.Toronto Blue Jays                Jeff Hoffman                East Carolina

10.New York Mets                Michael Conforto        Oregon State

11.Toronto Blue Jays              Max Pentecost             Kennesaw State

12.Milwaukee Brewers           Kodi Medeiros            Waiakea HS

13.San Diego Padres              Trea Turner                 N.C. State

14.San Francisco Giants         Tyler Beede                 Vanderbilt

15.Los Angeles Angels           Sean Newcomb           Hartford

16.Arizona Dbacks                Touki Toussaint           Coral Springs Christian Academy

17.Kansas City Royals           Brandon Finnegan        TCU

18.Washington Nationals        Erick Fedde                UNLV

19.Cincinnati Reds                 Nick Howard              Virginia

20.Tampa Bay Rays              Casey Gillaspie            Wichita State

21.Cleveland Indians              Bradley Zimmer          San Francisco

22.Los Angeles Dodgers        Grant Holmes              Conway HS

23.Detroit Tigers                    Derek Hill                   Elk Grove HS

24.Pittsburgh Pirates              Cole Tucker                Mountain Pointe HS

25.Oakland Athletics             Matt Chapman            Cal State Fullerton

26.Boston Red Sox               Michael Chavis            Sprayberry HS

27.St. Louis Cardinals            Luke Weaver              Florida State

28.Kansas City Royals           Foster Griffin               The First Academy

29.Cincinnati Reds                 Alex Blandino              Stanford

30.Texas Rangers                  Luis Ortiz                    Sanger HS

31.Cleveland Indians             Justus Sheffield             Tullahoma HS

32.Atlanta Braves                  Braxton Davidson        T.C. Roberson HS

33.Boston Red Sox                Michael Kopech         Pleasant HS

34.St. Louis Cardinals            Jack Flaherty               Harvard-Westlake HS

35.Colorado Rockies             Forrest Wall                Orangewood Christian HS

36.Miami Marlins                   Blake Anderson          West Lauderdale HS

37.Houston Astros                 Derek Fisher               Virginia

38.Cleveland Indians              Mike Papi                   Virginia

39.Pittsburgh Pirates              Connor Joe                 San Diego

40.Kansas City Royals           Chase Vallot               St. Thomas More HS

41.Milwaukee Brewers          Jacob Gatewood         Clovis HS

42.Houston Astros                 A.J. Reed                    Kentucky

43.Miami Marlins                   Justin Twine                Falls City HS

44.Chicago White Sox           Spencer Adams           White County HS

45.Chicago Cubs                   Jake Stinnett                Maryland

46.Minnesota Twins               Nick Burdi                  Louisville

47.Philadelphia Phillies           Matt Imhof                  Cal Poly-San Luis Obispo

48.Colorado Rockies             Ryan Castellani           Brophy Jesuit Prep School

49.Toronto Blue Jays             Sean Reid-Foley         Sandalwood HS

50.Milwaukee Brewers          Monte Harrison           Lee's Summit West HS

51.San Diego Padres              Michael Gettys           Gainesville HS

52.San Francisco Giants         Aramis Garcia             Florida International

53.Los Angeles Angels           Joe Gatto                    St. Augustine Prep

54.Arizona Diamondbacks     Cody Reed                 Ardmore HS

55.New York Yankees          Jacob Lindgren           Mississippi State

56.Kansas City Royals           Scott Blewett              Baker HS

57.Washington Nationals        Andrew Suarez           Miami

58.Cincinnati Reds                 Taylor Sparks             UC Irvine

59.Texas Rangers                   Tiquan Forbes            Columbia HS

60.Tampa Bay Rays               Cameron Varga          Cincinnati Hills Christian Academy

61.Cleveland Indians              Grant Hockin               Damien HS

62.Los Angeles Dodgers        Alex Verdugo              Sahuaruo HS

63.Detroit Tigers                    Spencer Turnbull         Alabama

64.Pittsburgh Pirates               Mitch Keller                Xavier HS

65.Oakland Athletics              Daniel Gossett             Clemson

66.Atlanta Braves                   Garrett Fulenchek        Howe HS

67.Boston Red Sox                Sam Travis                  Indiana

68.St. Louis Cardinals            Ronnie Williams           American Senior HS

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Formatting got screwed up, but the results!