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Post by phillies17 on Jun 30, 2017 9:16:49 GMT -5
I have completed drafting for this year so I'll start this thread.
I have been looking forward to this event since I joined this league and have immersed myself in a process that was foreign to me prior to this year. I never cared about the Baseball Draft nor prospects before this year but figured out pretty quickly after joining this league back in January, this would be the key to winning in this league. I quickly built up a pretty detailed database of prospects and created my own scoring system based off a number of experts analysis. I have no idea if it will work, but there is a plan. I went into this draft with a goal of acquiring as many top young prospects as possible. Being my first draft I had no idea what to expect and who would be available. In the end my draft far exceeded all expectations I had going in. With the first pick in the draft I was obviously able to get the top player on my amateur draft list. I then had 5 picks which I planned to target existing prospects, which I did successfully because all 5 were in my top 12. At the start of the draft I was hoping for 1 of them assuming (correctly) 4-5 would go in the first round, but to see this many fall to me is just outstanding. Only time will tell how these ratings will work but on paper my farm system has become much better than the day I acquired this team.
Pick 1.1
Kyle Wright - RHP - Vanderbilt
I went with the College arm that has probably the highest floor while still having a high ceiling. My team needs to hit on this pick so I stayed clear of the higher ceiling/lower floor HS options. ETA 2020.
Pick 2.1
Daniel Gossett - RHP - Oakland Org.
Just another arm out of the A's system that has seen success at all levels of the system. Solid #3 starter projection who has a 4 pitch mix with good control. Started the year in AAA but getting a taste of the big leagues right now. I almost went younger with this pick but in the end chose an SP close to the big leagues. ETA 2018
Pick 3.1
Heath Quinn - OF - SF Giants Org.
I have little depth in the OF so I went with a potential starting RF with power. He has a good arm and power who may not steal a lot of bases but will not clog the basepaths either. Current ETA 2019.
Pick 3.14
Anderson Tejeda - SS - Texas Org.
Went with a young 5 tool potential middle of the field player that can hit with power, steal bases and play either SS or CF down the road. Still a teenager so plenty of time to develop, current ETA 2020.
Pick 3.24
Travis Blankenhorn - IF - Minnesota Org.
Another young 5 tool potential player from the left side that can play just about anywhere. Does not have a final defensive resting spot but I'm not worried because he is still in A ball and could be a + defender at any of 3 positions. ETA 2019.
Pick 4.1
Brayan Hernandez - OF - Seattle Org.
Another teenage 5 tool prospect that is all projection right now but has potential to play CF, run and hit with power. ETA 2020.
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Whitesox
AAA
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Post by Whitesox on Jul 5, 2017 15:17:33 GMT -5
1.12
RHP. JB Bukauskus - Houston Astros - I do seem to have a type of sp. Short guy with already two plus plus pitches and a developing changeup. He may be a dominant RP if his body has trouble with the workload of a SP. He could go the Brandon Finnegan route, or he could be another Sonny Gray. Low risk high reward.
2.12
RHP. Chris Rodriguez - Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim? - A dark horse prospect no doubt. Eric Longenhagen said this guy was the best pitcher in extended spring (which included Morejon and Yadi Alvarez). Has a violent delivery so injury concerns do linger, but he should (hopefully) be on the verge of a break out. High risk high reward.
3.12
SS. Isaac Paredes - Chicago Cubs - I like the combination of ceiling and floor with Paredes. He has been red hot over the last month and a half, has great plate discipline for an 18 year old in full season. Also has some power potential and the ability to possibly play a premium position. High risk high reward
4.10
UT. Adam Frazier - Pittsburgh Pirates - I plan on having Frazier step into my lineup right away and provide me great flexibility as long as another LHB off the bench. I am surprised he lasted as long as he did considering Slater went in the second round, hopefully Frazier turns into a Brock Holt type. Low risk low reward.
4.12
SS. Chris Seise - Texas Rangers - After going with a safe guy two picks before, I wanted another high upside guy. Should be able to remain at shortstop and all reports say his hitting looked greatly improved from his Junior year in HS. If that's the case he could be a steal this late in the draft. High risk high reward.
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Post by phillies17 on Jul 10, 2017 8:03:00 GMT -5
Here is a quick breakdown of some stats from the draft.
Amateur Players: 47
Professional Players: 72
Missed Picks: 1
Most Picks Made: 8 KC and NY Mets
Fewest Picks Made: 1 CIN
No Draft Picks: 2 WASH and STL
Amateur Only: 5 Teams picked NO minor league players (CIN, CLE, DET, HOU, MIA)
Minor's Only: 5 Teams picked only minor league players (ARI, COL, SD, SEA, TEX)
Round 1: Took 11 Days to compete
Round 2: Took 8 days to complete
Round 3: Took 4 days to cmplete
Round 4: Took 9 days to complete
Total Draft Time: 32 Days
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Post by Pirates GM on Jul 10, 2017 8:56:12 GMT -5
I am quite surprised SD, TB, and TEX only picked minor leaguers, given their knowledge of the amateur draft.
JIm
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Post by Texas GM on Jul 10, 2017 9:45:29 GMT -5
I am quite surprised SD, TB, and TEX only picked minor leaguers, given their knowledge of the amateur draft. JIm I was of the opinion that this may have been the weakest amateur draft in my tenure here, maybe being 8-10 players deep. Some other GM's I spoke with agreed with that. Not speaking for them, but with every amateur taken after those 8-10, it just served to make this a sneaky deep minor league draft, deep enough for me to even trade for an extra pick in this draft. I didn't have a first round pick, but all the amateurs of interest to me were long gone. I actually got 4 of the top 6 guys I targeted, so this one is on me all the way. |
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Post by Deleted on Jul 10, 2017 10:45:10 GMT -5
I am quite surprised SD, TB, and TEX only picked minor leaguers, given their knowledge of the amateur draft. JIm Actually 1 of the 4 I picked is a MLB starting pitcher. I didn't feel there was much to pick from late in the fourth, so I gambled on two lottery tickets in Garcia and Ortiz. Both seem to have power, patience, and strikeout issues but hopefully they will iron those issues out soon (so I can trade them). |
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Post by Cubbies on Jul 10, 2017 12:14:30 GMT -5
I am quite surprised SD, TB, and TEX only picked minor leaguers, given their knowledge of the amateur draft. JIm I don't think this was a weak amateur draft, I just don't think it was a top-heavy amateur draft, which makes it seem weaker. And it didn't have any big college bats. More "average regulars" than stars. My guess is that Mike, Connor, and Mark took only minor and major leaguers due to their draft position more than anything else. By the time Mike was picking, it was the 4th round and most of the MLB Draft players still out there had obvious warts. Sure, some will turn into good players, but we just want to see them for a season or so in the minors, then maybe next year they'll be first rounders. |
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Post by raysgm on Jul 10, 2017 12:40:05 GMT -5
I didn't take only minor leaguers. I took 1 MLB SP (Joe Biagini, who has been torched since I took him, so that looks like a sunk cost), as well as one HS OFer (Quentin Holmes).
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Post by bigredmachine on Jul 10, 2017 12:58:52 GMT -5
Since I only made one pick this should be easy:
2.22- Ryan Vilade- Currently slashing .375/.500/.700 with 4 HR, 9BB, 10K in 40 AB.
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Post by Cubbies on Jul 10, 2017 13:09:47 GMT -5
Cubs 2017 Draft:
1st Round:
Keston Hiura - 2B - Hiura was seen as one of the better college hitters in this year's MLB Draft. The fact that Alex Bregman moved to 3B instead of 2B as I expected has given me a need for a 2B of the future. I have Dee Gordon there for now as a 5th year player, but I don't see him as a long-term option. Hiura was expected to go under the knife after signing, but apparently that was wrong. He's been rehabbing it and getting injections and has started throwing again. I am hoping he'll he able to play 2B again next season and in a couple years I'll have a nice 2B option with good power and hit tool (you're a hit tool!). I can see why his injury history scared some off, but I don't think an NL team drafted a DH. My only worry was a move to 1B, but even then he'd have to throw the ball.
2nd Round:
Drew Ellis - 1B/3B - I am reading varying reports of Ellis' defense, which probably means he has at least a chance to stick at 3B. I won't mind a move to 1B though, as I have more than enough depth at 3B already. But Ellis was one of the better college hitters this season showing good power and good plate discipline. He struggled on The Cape last year though which always makes me worry some. But I've learned to win in Wrigley, I need hitters since it's a hitter friendly stadium. So I came into this draft looking to draft hitters.
3rd Round:
Brandon Marsh - OF - Marsh was someone that was on my radar from last year's draft, but he vaulted to the top after I started to hear about what he was doing in the complexes and his hot start to short season ball. He was a two-sport star in high school who the Angels got to give up football (doesn't sound like he had a real future there anyways, but he did have a scholarship offer). He's big, he's strong, and he's fast. Ultra athletic with some swing and miss and maybe a little behind other players his age due to his split effort between sports. But I am hoping now that he is concentrating on baseball his tools will turn into skills. Marsh is a long term project though, but hopefully he's ready to come up about the time my current batch of OF are nearing their 5th or 6th year.
4th Round:
Sean Murphy - C - Doesn't the name "Murph" just sound like a catcher? Was that the name of the catcher DeNiro's character always referenced in "The Fan"? Anyways, Murph was one of the best defensive catchers coming out last season from college. A 70 grade arm with a chance to hit. He's been hitting (although, admittedly in the California league, sans Bakersfield), and was promoted to AA already just a year out of college. I have doubts that Murph can be a long term starter, but with Collins struggling a bit in the minors, I wanted a second catching option, and having a defensive-minded one behind Collins isn't a bad thing.
There are lots of pitchers out there I like, but I forced myself to go with hitters because I was getting too pitcher-heavy. In MLBSA 4 of my 6 picks have been pitchers so far. My reserve split is now 17-14, still favoring pitchers, but much more reasonably so. I think it will allow me to go BPA in the Winter and next Summer without worry about being too hitter or pitcher heavy. Although, I am too 3B heavy. Oh well.
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Post by raysgm on Jul 10, 2017 16:25:29 GMT -5
Year Season Overall Round Pick Team Player Name Position
2017 S 46 2 16 TB Joe Biagini SP
2017 S 49 2 19 TB Dustin May SP
2017 S 101 4 11 TB Gil. Celestino CF
2017 S 119 4 19 TB Quentin Holmes CF
2017 S 120 4 30 TB Taylor Hearn SP
I took Biagini first right when he was establishing himself as a mid rotation arm for Toronto. He was adjusting to getting through an order multiple times, holding his velocity past 80 pitches, and was generally having decent success in his role (at least by FIP/xFIP/dRA/SIERA measures; his ERA still wasn’t great). After I took him, he’s been dreadful, both in the rotation, and after being moved back to the bullpen. Given his already advanced age, if he doesn’t turn it around soon, this could be mostly a sunk cost. At the very least, he’ll be in play as a 13th guy in my pitching staff, who can be called up for injury replacement for a few years while he stays pretty cheap in the sim. Overall, I’d re-do this pick in a second, possibly taking Victor Caratini who went right after to the Yankees. Minutes after taking Biagini, I took Dustin May from the Dodgers. He has really advanced fastball command for a teenager and has been having good success in full season ball after signing for an above slot $1 million bonus in the 3rd round last year. Gilberto Celestino was a guy who was barely eligible for this draft. After performing well in an international league last year, the Astros brought him stateside for 65 plate appearances in the GCL. He’s the age of an average high school draftee (born February 1999) but I like his chance to hit better than most of the high school draftees in this year’s class (at least the 2nd tier guys; I’d obviously take the bat of Royce Lewis/Austin Beck/Nick Pratto over him). Truth be told, Holmes wasn’t the top guy on my board, but I figured I really needed to try and have a more balanced hitter:pitcher draft ratio than in years past. That said, I love Holmes speed and reported work ethic. I’m hoping that combination will allow him to develop into a plus defensive CF. I’m having good luck with a current player in that mold (Kevin Kiermaier), and while it would be foolish to expect Holmes to become quite that good, a guy who is 80% the defender and 90% of the hitter that Kiermaier is will still be a very solid starting option. JIm was mad I took Taylor Hearn, so this pick is already a win in my book. He also throws really really hard and is a plus athlete. My main qualm with this pick is that I wish I still had his trade buddy, Felipe Rivero. |
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Post by Nationals on Jul 10, 2017 16:51:28 GMT -5
Negative. Washington with 0. |
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Post by phillies17 on Jul 10, 2017 19:35:52 GMT -5
Negative. Washington with 0. You were a special case I forgot to add in as a separate entry. Actually there is another team that did not make picks as well. I only see 28 teams in my pivot table. I have not figured out who the other team is yet LOL. |
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Post by Pirates GM on Jul 10, 2017 20:54:48 GMT -5
Totally St. Louis. Zimm trades away draft picks like a straw salesman at a coke party.
JIm
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Post by LA Angels GM on Jul 10, 2017 21:00:05 GMT -5
I feel like I say this every draft: I came in unprepared. It's weird, but I have more time to devote to this when school is in versus when it's summer vacation. Being in Europe during a latter portion of the draft put a damper on my prep, as well. So rather than having a list of names to pick from, I had set positions I targeted. Not the best strategy, I know, but oh well.
Pick 1.8 - Luis Urias, 2B
I REALLY wanted a pitcher here. My hitting depth is solid on my reserve roster, but most of my pitching prospects have fizzled. However, when this pick came up, there was no available pitcher that I felt warranted this pick. Urias doesn't really excite me, but he is the type of player that I am trying to target. He's also hitting .300 with a .400 OBP as a 20 YO in AA. The best comp I heard on him (from someone here) is Placido Polanco. Being a Tiger fan, I loved Polanco. Polanco didn't hit for power, yet rarely struck out and put the ball in play. Polanco didn't make many flashy plays in the field, but he also rarely made errors and was a Gold Glover. I'm not sure about Urias' defense, but the offensive profile is similar (with more walks for Urias, too). If he can become Polanco, I'll be happy with this pick. (disclaimer - I really thought Tatis had been picked last year, or I would've taken him here)
With this pick, look at the infield I could theoretically roll out as early as next season (though 2019 is more realistic):
1B - Sam Travis
2B - Luis Urias
SS - Corey Seager
3B - Rafael Devers
DH - Ryan McMahon
Throw in Kyle Tucker and David Dahl in the OF, and this could be a scary, young offense in the very near future. I'm already worried about how I won't be able to CE them all, but that's putting the cart before the horse. Let's see if they can develop first.
Pick 3.5 - MJ Melendez, C
Coming into this draft, I knew that I wanted a catching prospect. I still really like Greyson Greiner, but at this point, I may only get a couple years of a backup role out of him. I'm sure I reached here for Melendez, but if I'm being honest, I didn't scout any other position for this pick. Poor drafting strategy, I know. Out of the remaining catchers from the RL draft class, I think Melendez has the best chance to hit out of the guys who will stick at catcher. In a very small sample size, I'm happy. In 9 games in rookie ball, he's slashing .355/.444/.613 with 2 HR's. He's also throwing out about 30% of potential base stealers, so there is hope there as well. I also liked that he went to KC. Hoping he pick something up from Salvy in spring training...
Pick 4.8 - Drew Rasmussen, RHP
This was the pick that I was going pitcher, no matter what. I didn't do much research, but I did go with the guy who I felt had the highest ceiling out of the names I researched. I read some reports who said that he could have been a top 10 pick had it not been for the TJ surgery. Came back from that strong at the end of the year. Didn't sign with Tampa, so he'll be heading back to Oregon State for another year. That makes me nervous... I'd rather see him with a major league medical staff as he comes back to full strength.
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Post by raysgm on Jul 10, 2017 21:27:42 GMT -5
Totally St. Louis. Zimm trades away draft picks like a straw salesman at a coke party. JIm Looks like you're correct JIm. Here's a table of all picks since 2005. The double asterisks signify a skipped pick (though in some cases the team was allowed to make the pick at a later time).  |
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Whitesox
AAA
I'm just here for the free kool-aid
Posts: 773
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Post by Whitesox on Jul 11, 2017 11:10:27 GMT -5
Totally St. Louis. Zimm trades away draft picks like a straw salesman at a coke party. JIm Looks like you're correct JIm. Here's a table of all picks since 2005. The double asterisks signify a skipped pick (though in some cases the team was allowed to make the pick at a later time). So me and NYY tied the record for most picks in a single draft? Bet ya'll nerds didnt see that comming! |
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Post by Cubbies on Jul 11, 2017 11:39:02 GMT -5
So me and NYY tied the record for most picks in a single draft? Bet ya'll nerds didnt see that comming! Milwaukee. 2005. |
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Whitesox
AAA
I'm just here for the free kool-aid
Posts: 773
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Post by Whitesox on Jul 11, 2017 12:39:49 GMT -5
So me and NYY tied the record for most picks in a single draft? Bet ya'll nerds didnt see that comming! Milwaukee. 2005. Even more suprising! |
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Post by Cubbies on Jul 11, 2017 12:55:05 GMT -5
Like many rules here, they are a reaction to a Sean action or a Ross action. That year, Sean had a Supplemental First Rounder and then twelve Third Rounders. As a result, we now have a limit on the number of picks you can have. But if you look at the 12 players picked by Sean in the Third Round, is it any wonder he just trades his picks now. He gets more value that way: 3.03 Travis Bowyer 3.05 Dana Eveland 3.07 Zack Jackson 3.09 George Kottaras 3.11 Charles Thomas 3.14 Jake Stevens 3.21 Tony Sipp 3.22 Elijah Dukes 3.25 Jason Vargas 3.26 Anthony Lerew 3.28 Alejandro Machado 3.30 Jake Gautreau Other players drafted in that 3rd round that Sean skipped include: Troy Tulowitzki, Sean Marshall, Ryan Braun, and Wandy Rodriguez, and Ronny Cedeno. |
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Post by Deleted on Jul 11, 2017 12:56:11 GMT -5
Clearly 13 picks wore Sean out to the point that he has gone running and screaming from draft picks since. |
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Post by Deleted on Jul 11, 2017 13:37:03 GMT -5
Round 1
D.L. Hall - LHP - Baltimore Orioles - Not sure about the wisdom of drafting a pitcher heading into the Oriole's organization at all, let alone one named D.L. but what the hell. BA had him rated as the #2 HS LHP in the draft and coming in 2nd to McKenzie Gore didn't seem like a huge detriment to his draft stock. I wanted some pitching in this draft and was happy to start here.
Dinelson Lamet - RHP - San Diego Padres - had wanted to draft him last year and again over the winter but couldn't get comfortable with the lack of buzz surrounding him as he blew through the minors. It may have something to do with a lack of a usable changeup. Sickels and BA says it is developing while Fangraphs wouldn't even grade it as they were shooing him to the pen. Mixed results in the majors so far, but I am expecting that 2.25 HR/9 rate to normalize and he should be a good middle of the rotation guy for a while.
Colten Welker - 3B - Colorado Rockies - I double dipped on this guy taking him in the 1st round in both my drafts. I love the write-ups regarding pitch recognition, plate awareness and developing usable game power. He has done nothing but rake since signing and hopefully it continues. The fact that he has been on the DL since I drafted him with an "undisclosed injury" doesn't bother me at all. Seriously, it doesn't. I mean it.
Round 2
Tristen Beck - RHP - Stanford - Tristen Beck represents my first even college player in NSBL. I have thought about drafting college guys before but always found a reason not to. In Beck's case, he was out this season with a stress fracture in his back. There were rumors that he had a pre-draft deal and that was why he had't returned to the mound yet, but it seems more likely that he had already decided he wanted to play a year with his brother who is an incoming freshman and just decided to avoid any chance of injury this year. BA gives him above average grades on each of his 4 pitch mix and remarked that his curveball was the best in the country last year. Hopefully the back isn't a long term issue and I drafted a potential Top 10 pick from next year's draft at the end of the second round.
Round 3
Phil Maton - RHP - San Diego Padres - Maton is being called a steal in the 2015 draft and hopefully is one here as well. He has the look of a potential closer and is usable this season should I need more help in the pen.
Pedro Gonzalez - OF - Colorado Rockies - It seems I was fixated on teams from the Western Divisions with Colorado and San Diego each getting 2 selections, Stanford getting one and the soon to be discussed LHRP from the Texas Rangers. Gonzalez was a 2015 J2 signee with bat speed and above average power potential. I worked hard to break my infatuation with slap hitting SS's this draft and look more for the power that is lacking on my reserve roster.
Round 4
Juan De Leon - OF - New York Yankees - Right behind Gonzalez I went with another 2015 J2 guy. De Leon was considered by some to be the top prospect in that class. I was waffling on him a bit because he missed a large chunk of time last season to another "undisclosed injury". However, whatever the issue was he is back on the field now, and what is the 4th round if not a place to take a flyer on the unknown.
Alex Claudio - LHRP - Texas Rangers - I really expected this guy to get drafted. He has had 3 solid seasons in the majors and is working on a 4th. His season ending ERA has never been above 3 and despite a low strikeout rate has posted good FIP and xFIP numbers in all but the 2015 season. I assume his k-rate is what kept him on the board. If so, I am cool with that.
Overall I liked my draft. I was debating Dermis Garcia but put him behind DeLeon and Gonzalez and at the end couldn't let Claudio go by. It will be interesting to watch, but if history is any indicator, Garcia will flourish while Gonzalez and DeLeon disappear into the sunset.
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Post by BrewCrewGuru on Jul 11, 2017 15:09:15 GMT -5
Like many rules here, they are a reaction to a Sean action or a Ross action. That year, Sean had a Supplemental First Rounder and then twelve Third Rounders. As a result, we now have a limit on the number of picks you can have. But if you look at the 12 players picked by Sean in the Third Round, is it any wonder he just trades his picks now. He gets more value that way: 3.03 Travis Bowyer 3.05 Dana Eveland 3.07 Zack Jackson 3.09 George Kottaras 3.11 Charles Thomas 3.14 Jake Stevens 3.21 Tony Sipp 3.22 Elijah Dukes 3.25 Jason Vargas 3.26 Anthony Lerew 3.28 Alejandro Machado 3.30 Jake Gautreau Other players drafted in that 3rd round that Sean skipped include: Troy Tulowitzki, Sean Marshall, Ryan Braun, and Wandy Rodriguez, and Ronny Cedeno. Where's the list of players I did take, then traded, then watched them explode. The draft is typically better without me. It's better for me and the rest of the league. To be fair, some of those guys were serviceable AA players. |
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Whitesox
AAA
I'm just here for the free kool-aid
Posts: 773
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Post by Whitesox on Jul 11, 2017 15:23:28 GMT -5
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Post by Elephanti! on Jul 11, 2017 15:34:52 GMT -5
Draft Class:
1.24 - Alex Faedo - RHP - University of Florida
2.24 - Heliot Ramos - OF - Leadership Christian Academy
3.24 - Seuly Matias - OF - Kansas City Royals
4.24 - Derian Cruz - SS - Atlanta Braves
I don't have the desire to wall of text this, so I'm going to sum this thing up in one sentence: I took a safe-ish college starter and three high upside position players of varying lottery ticket-ishness
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Post by Cubbies on Jul 11, 2017 16:58:21 GMT -5
The Grammar Jedi in me was always proud of him for appropriately using a comma in "you dead, dawg". |
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Post by LA Angels GM on Jul 11, 2017 17:33:30 GMT -5
I love me some Elijah Dukes. My first trade in this league was trading him to Arizona for Eric Byrnes (right after his monster season, so he had a great sim for me) and Shin-Soo Choo, who was a staple for me for about 4 years. |
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Post by KC Royals Nate on Jul 11, 2017 20:37:44 GMT -5
KC Royals 2017 Draft Recap
1-2 - Hunter Greene, SP, Cincinnati Reds
I had Greene #1 on my list, and assumed Philly Mike would take him, leaving me to choose between Royce Lewis, Kyle Wright, and Fernando Tatis. Mike took Wright, leaving me with the #1 guy on my list. Who knows if a HS pitcher will pan out, but at worst, it will be fun to follow him.
2-2 – Jacob Nix, SP, San Diego Padres
I was surprised Nix was still on the board at pick 32. Everything I’ve read says he tops out at a #3 type SP, which works for me. I was hoping for Lucius Fox, Christian Pache, Colton Welker, or Nix to drop to me here, and one of them did. I was not expecting to take 2 pitchers with my first 2 picks.
2-8 – Bubba Thompson, OF, Texas Rangers
After Nix, there really wasn’t anyone who stood out to me as a must have, so I looked at the 2017 draftees again, and went with the top guy I had left in Thompson. Possible 5 tool guy, everyone says he was the best athlete in the class, can stay in CF, likely to hit, blah blah blah. I think I just really wanted a dude named Bubba.
2-20 – Austin Hays, OF, Baltimore Orioles
Went off my board a little here with a 2016 college guy who has done nothing but hit since being drafted. I have concerns about his low walk rate, but he doesn’t strike out much, shows power, might stay in CF, and got promoted to AA right when I picked him (where he has continued to rake). At this point, I was looking at a lot of guys with huge K rates (like E. Florial), and kept coming back to Hays.
3-21 – Tyler Wade, SS, NY Yankees
Wade was getting a lot of helium right at this time, and was called up to the Yankees right around my pick. He’s probably a utility guy in MLB, but he may end up with a lot of value in NSBL with defensive versatility and a decent stick. Won’t have much power, but I hope his speed will play, and he starts hitting for the Yanks.
3-27 – Wladimir Galindo, 3B, Chicago Cubs
I got stuck on Galindo towards the end of last year, and was glad he made it through the Winter Draft, and then surprised he ended up no-showing on a lot of prospect lists last winter. I considered him at every pick I had other than 1-2, and even though he’s out for the year with a broken leg, just pulled the trigger. Hasn’t dominated anywhere yet, but I have a dream of a Vlad/Wlad middle of the order.
4-2 – Mark Vientos, SS/3B, NY Mets
The 2nd best player in his age class in the world (according to something I read somewhere, and #1 is going to go quite high in the Winter Draft), he’s a long ways away, but another guy I think will be fun to follow.
4-4 – Miguelangel Sierra, SS, Houston Astros
I had an idea of taking every SS I could get my hands on, only to find players I liked all over the diamond in this draft. After seeing a number of shortstops I liked go off the board in the mid 3rd, Sierra was the last one remaining, so we’ll take a shot.
After rough first season, and an offseason purge of my higher quality players under control, the Royals sit at 32-38 (last year we were 23-47 at the same time). Probably not a player in the playoff race this year, but sitting 9 games better than last year is a positive. Made a point of picking up draft picks in the offseason to strengthen my reserve squad, and it is much, much improved from where I was a year ago. After not loving my draft last year, I started making a list of players I liked last year, and that turned into a much larger compilation of lists and information. It was fun to follow it for 11 months and see the results come out where they did.
My Favorite Picks of the Draft that were not mine (but could have been)
1-10 – Fernando Tatis (Bal) – should have gone in the top 10 of the Winter Draft
1-22 – Lucius Fox (Arz) – another guy I thought would be picked in Winter, was really hoping he would have hit .110 this year so he’d have slipped to me in Rd 2
2-24 – Heliot Ramos (OAK) – Was torn between him and Bubba.
2-26 – Estevan Florial (SFG) – was between him and Hays at 2-20, like his power/speed combo
3-9 – Khalil Lee – (SFG) – Another guy I debated at 2-20, another power/speed guy I liked
3-12 – Issac Paredes (CWS) - His future position possibilities are entertaining – SS, 2B, 3B, LF, or Catcher (?)
3-14 – Anderson Tejeda (Phi) – I think he’d have been a 1st rounder if he had a 20% K rate this spring instead of a 30%
4-26 – Zach Granite (Col) – By name, he should be competing for HR titles with Aaron Judge, not bunting his way to a .360 BA in AAA
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Post by Pirates GM on Jul 12, 2017 7:25:58 GMT -5
Awesome data table, Connordog!
I was floored to see that I've had the 2nd highest number of draft picks in the league, 2nd only to Toronto- who obviously nobody is going to beat. Tracy is currently working out a deal with Scott DJ Ross for his 2018 3rd rounder and 2019 4th rounder for a Blue Jays commemorative license plate cover.
#grindernation
JIm
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Post by Bal-Ty-more on Jul 12, 2017 10:25:53 GMT -5
1.3 Makenzie Gore – LHP – Gore was the obvious choice here. I gave up 2 2nd rounders to move from the 19th pick to the 3rd overall, but I think the quality jump in player was worth it. Gore was the top high school LHP and the second best prep arm. He doesn’t have the ceiling of Greene, but it sounds like he has more pitchability than Greene does. Greene is an athlete, while Gore is a pitcher.
1.5 Dustin Fowler – CF – Fowler may not have the star potential that people hope to get at the top of the draft but he offers a solid regular that will become the ceiling for most of these players. He’s improved every year in the minors and was well on his way to a 20/20 season in AAA hitting over 290 when he was promoted to the majors. Then the bottom of the first inning happened. Time will tell on this pick. Hoping he gets a good projection next year.
1.10 Fernando Tatis Jr – SS – I almost took Tatis last Winter, and it sounds like a lot of people did. But I needed more premium pitching depth so I took Albertos instead. I was surprised I was still able to get him here. Tatis is holding his own in full season ball hitting 277/373/492 with 16 doubles, 6 triples, 13 homeruns, and 20 stolen bases. He is the 5th youngest player in the MWL.
3.30 Brendan Little – LHP – There’s a decent chance Little ends up in the bullpen, but he had some of the best velocity for LHP in the draft, and was a year younger than most of the college players coming out with less mileage on the arm. If he can remain a starter, I got a steal in the 3rd round.
4.16 Steven Jennings – RHP – Pittsburgh has been able to produce some decent pitchers lately, so I trust them with Jennings. He missed a lot of time with a football injury, which leads me to believe he is behind the growth curve and is better than he’s shown.
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