BA rates last year's draft after the season. On lists of Top 5 in many categories we score two listings: Best Defensive Player-- Lindor is No. 2; Closest to Majors among HS draftees--Lindor's No. 5
The writeup on the Tribe's draft:
POSITION PLAYERS
QUICK TAKE
Lindor is the first prep first-rounder for the Indians since 2001, and this refreshingly young class should help restock a system gutted by the Ubaldo Jimenez trade and big league graduations.
Bonus spending: $8.2 million
BEST PURE HITTER: 3B Jordan Smith (9) hit .420 in two seasons at St. Cloud (Minn.) State, then had a strong debut, hitting .300/.403/.391 while using an easy swing and a knack for centering the ball. BEST POWER HITTER: C Jake Lowery (4) ranked second in Division I with 24 homers in the spring, then led the short-season New York-Penn League with 23 doubles and 30 extra-base hits. FASTEST RUNNER: OF Bryson Myles (6) and SS Francisco Lindor (1) both have plus speed, with Myles being a bit more explosive. BEST DEFENSIVE PLAYER: Lindor got comparisons to Omar Vizquel as an amateur. He has fluid actions, a strong arm and first-rate hands and feet. He has tremendous instincts and the passion to get better.
PITCHERS
BEST FASTBALL: RHP Dillon Howard (2) features all three aspects of a quality fastball: above-average velocity at 92-94 mph, plus sinking life that's usually late, and average command, which is a separator for a high school pitcher. RHP Cody Anderson (14) touched 96 in the spring and sat 94-95 mph in instructional league, and RHP Shawn Armstrong (18) has touched 95 in short stints. BEST SECONDARY PITCH: The Indians also drafted RHP Cody Allen (23) out of junior college in 2010, and they've liked his hard curveball for several years. RHP Jake Sisco (3) flashes a plus slider to go with his fastball that has touched 95.
ODDS AND ENDS
BEST PRO DEBUT: Allen finished the year with a relief outing at Double-A Akron before heading to the high Class A Kinston bullpen for the Carolina League playoffs. He threw 17 scoreless innings at low Class A Lake County and went 5-1, 1.65 between four levels overall with 75 strikeouts in 55 innings. Myles hit .302/.394/.401 with 20 stolen bases in the NY-P, while teammate RHP Will Roberts (5) went 1-3, 3.27 with just seven walks in 41 innings while bumping 94 mph with his fastball. BEST ATHLETE: Lindor gets the edge over Myles. MOST INTRIGUING BACKGROUND: Lindor moved to the U.S. from Puerto Rico at age 12. Myles originally signed to play football at Texas Christian before heading to junior college and then Stephen F. Austin to focus on baseball. The Indians scouted athletic OF Brian Ruiz (41), a Dominican Republic native, at hometown Lincoln West High in Cleveland, where he dominated the city's public school league. CLOSEST TO THE MAJORS: Allen could zip to the majors as a reliever. BEST LATE-ROUND PICK: Allen also has a fastball that touches 94 mph. Ruiz has athleticism and some power potential. LHP Shawn Morimando (19) shows three average pitches as well as a clean arm and sound delivery. THE ONE WHO GOT AWAY: The Indians made six-figure overtures to LHPs Stephen Tarpley (8), who wound up at Southern California, and Dillon Peters (20), who headed to Texas.
[Allen is "closest to majors" but in the review of NYPL prospects a question (by me) about Allen netted a rather unimpressed view of his stuff projecting to higher levels.]
Re: Draft Folder
212Here;s link to BA first Mock Draft of 2012. They suggest Tribe goes back to college pitchers. I wouldn't mind an OF.
http://www.baseballamerica.com/today/dr ... 13371.html
15. INDIANS: Cleveland took a college or junior college product with its first choice in nine straight drafts before selecting prep shortstop Francisco Lindor in 2011. The Indians will get back in their comfort zone, probably with a college arm to replace the two first-rounders (Alex White, Drew Pomeranz) they sent to the Rockies in the Ubaldo Jimenez deal last summer. If Wacha and Heaney are gone, the Tribe could turn to Shaffer or Stanford outfielder/third baseman Stephen Piscotty.
Projected Pick: ANDREW HEANEY. (he's a college lefty from Oklahoma State)
http://www.baseballamerica.com/today/dr ... 13371.html
15. INDIANS: Cleveland took a college or junior college product with its first choice in nine straight drafts before selecting prep shortstop Francisco Lindor in 2011. The Indians will get back in their comfort zone, probably with a college arm to replace the two first-rounders (Alex White, Drew Pomeranz) they sent to the Rockies in the Ubaldo Jimenez deal last summer. If Wacha and Heaney are gone, the Tribe could turn to Shaffer or Stanford outfielder/third baseman Stephen Piscotty.
Projected Pick: ANDREW HEANEY. (he's a college lefty from Oklahoma State)
Re: Draft Folder
213Draft 2013.
These numbers likely will shift some when teams start signing free agents, but here's how the first three rounds shape up right now: [Our 2nd and 3rd round slots will move down as other teams gain bonus picks when FAs sign. Any chance we have a FA who would yield us a compensation pick? Not Hafner or Sizemore for certain.]
First Round
1. Astros
2. Cubs
3. Rockies
4. Twins
5. Indians
6. Marlins
7. Red Sox
8. Royals
9. Pirates (for failure to sign 2012 first-rounder Mark Appel)
10. Blue Jays
11. Mets
12. Mariners
13. Padres
14. Pirates
15. Diamondbacks
16. Phillies
17. Brewers
18. White Sox
19. Dodgers
20. Cardinals
21. Tigers
22. Angels
23. Rays
24. Orioles
25. Rangers
26. Athletics
27. Giants
28. Braves
29. Yankees
30. Reds
31. Nationals
Competitive Balance Lottery Round 1
32. Royals
33. Marlins (acquired from Pirates on July 31)
34. Diamondbacks
35. Orioles
36. Reds
37. Tigers (acquired from Marlins on July 23)
Second Round
38. Astros
39. Cubs
40. Rockies
41. Twins
42. Indians
43. Marlins
44. Red Sox
45. Royals
46. Blue Jays
47. Mets
48. Mariners
49. Padres
50. Pirates
51. Diamondbacks
52. Phillies
53. Brewers
54. White Sox
55. Dodgers
56. Cardinals
57. Tigers
58. Angels
59. Rays
60. Orioles
61. Rangers
62. Athletics
63. Giants
64. Braves
65. Yankees
66. Reds
67. Nationals
Competitive Balance Lottery Round 2
68. Padres
69. Indians
70. Rockies
71. Athletics
72. Brewers
73. Marlins (acquired from Tigers on July 23)
Third Round
74. Astros
75. Cubs
76. Mets (for failure to sign 2012 second-rounder Teddy Stankiewicz)
77. Rockies
78. Twins
79. Indians
80. Marlins
81. Red Sox
82. Royals
83. Blue Jays
84. Mets
85. Mariners
86. Padres
87. Pirates
88. Diamondbacks
89. Phillies
90. Brewers
91. White Sox
92. Dodgers
93. Cardinals
94. Tigers
95. Angels
96. Phillies (for failure to sign 2012 second-rounder Alec Rash)
97. Rays
98. Orioles
99. Rangers
100. Athletics
101. Giants
102. Braves
103. Yankees
104. Reds
105. Nationals
Supplemental Third Round
106. Athletics (for failure to sign 2012 third-rounder Kyle Twomey)
These numbers likely will shift some when teams start signing free agents, but here's how the first three rounds shape up right now: [Our 2nd and 3rd round slots will move down as other teams gain bonus picks when FAs sign. Any chance we have a FA who would yield us a compensation pick? Not Hafner or Sizemore for certain.]
First Round
1. Astros
2. Cubs
3. Rockies
4. Twins
5. Indians
6. Marlins
7. Red Sox
8. Royals
9. Pirates (for failure to sign 2012 first-rounder Mark Appel)
10. Blue Jays
11. Mets
12. Mariners
13. Padres
14. Pirates
15. Diamondbacks
16. Phillies
17. Brewers
18. White Sox
19. Dodgers
20. Cardinals
21. Tigers
22. Angels
23. Rays
24. Orioles
25. Rangers
26. Athletics
27. Giants
28. Braves
29. Yankees
30. Reds
31. Nationals
Competitive Balance Lottery Round 1
32. Royals
33. Marlins (acquired from Pirates on July 31)
34. Diamondbacks
35. Orioles
36. Reds
37. Tigers (acquired from Marlins on July 23)
Second Round
38. Astros
39. Cubs
40. Rockies
41. Twins
42. Indians
43. Marlins
44. Red Sox
45. Royals
46. Blue Jays
47. Mets
48. Mariners
49. Padres
50. Pirates
51. Diamondbacks
52. Phillies
53. Brewers
54. White Sox
55. Dodgers
56. Cardinals
57. Tigers
58. Angels
59. Rays
60. Orioles
61. Rangers
62. Athletics
63. Giants
64. Braves
65. Yankees
66. Reds
67. Nationals
Competitive Balance Lottery Round 2
68. Padres
69. Indians
70. Rockies
71. Athletics
72. Brewers
73. Marlins (acquired from Tigers on July 23)
Third Round
74. Astros
75. Cubs
76. Mets (for failure to sign 2012 second-rounder Teddy Stankiewicz)
77. Rockies
78. Twins
79. Indians
80. Marlins
81. Red Sox
82. Royals
83. Blue Jays
84. Mets
85. Mariners
86. Padres
87. Pirates
88. Diamondbacks
89. Phillies
90. Brewers
91. White Sox
92. Dodgers
93. Cardinals
94. Tigers
95. Angels
96. Phillies (for failure to sign 2012 second-rounder Alec Rash)
97. Rays
98. Orioles
99. Rangers
100. Athletics
101. Giants
102. Braves
103. Yankees
104. Reds
105. Nationals
Supplemental Third Round
106. Athletics (for failure to sign 2012 third-rounder Kyle Twomey)
Re: Draft Folder
214<
MLB Bonus Baby (Baseball Draft)
All the names you need to know for the 2013 Draft
by Matt Garrioch, Feb 13 2013, 6:39p
Here is a quick access page to look at all the 2013 draft profiles.
http://www.minorleagueball.com/2012/11/ ... file-index
<
MLB Bonus Baby (Baseball Draft)
All the names you need to know for the 2013 Draft
by Matt Garrioch, Feb 13 2013, 6:39p
Here is a quick access page to look at all the 2013 draft profiles.
http://www.minorleagueball.com/2012/11/ ... file-index
<
“Every day is a new opportunity. You can build on yesterday's success or put its failures behind and start over again. That's the way life is, with a new game every day, and that's the way baseball is.”
-- Bob Feller
-- Bob Feller
Re: Draft Folder
215Mock Draft 2: Movement up and down in the middle
Gray, Appel, Bryant still 1-2-3 but shuffling beyond as teams narrow focus in final week
By Jonathan Mayo | Archive5/30/2013 11:55 A.M. EST
2013 Draft: College pitchers00:02:25
Jonathan Mayo ranks Mark Appel, Jonathan Gray and Braden Shipley amongst the top college pitchers in the 2013 First-Year Player Draft
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The First-Year Player Draft is a week away. It's time to bear down and narrow the possibilities of the first round.
The only issue is that there appears to be the same lack of certainty as when we undertook this exercise two weeks ago. Sure, teams have narrowed their focus a bit, but as they head into meetings and set up their boards, there are still so many permutations of how things could unfold.
The 2013 First-Year Player Draft will take place on June 6-8, beginning with the Draft preview show on MLB.com and MLB Network on Thursday, June 6, at 6 p.m. ET. Live Draft coverage from MLB Network's Studio 42 begins at 7 p.m., with the top 73 picks being streamed on MLB.com and broadcast on MLB Network. Rounds 3-10 will be streamed live on MLB.com on June 7, beginning with a preview show at 12:30 p.m., and Rounds 11-40 will be streamed live on MLB.com on June 8, starting at 1 p.m.
MLB.com's coverage includes Draft Central, the Top 100 Draft Prospects list and Draft Tracker, a live interactive application that includes a searchable database of Draft-eligible players. You can also keep up to date by following @MLBDraft on Twitter. And get into the Draft conversation by tagging your tweets with #mlbdraft.
Here's how picks 1-33 look. Changes from the last mock Draft are noted.
1. Astros: Jonathan Gray, RHP, Oklahoma
The Astros are down to five candidates: two college pitchers (Gray and Mark Appel), two college hitters (Kris Bryant and Colin Moran) and one high schooler (Clint Frazier or Austin Meadows). There are whispers regarding Bryant and Moran, but Gray is still the pick.
2. Cubs: Mark Appel, RHP, Stanford
With no change at No. 1, there's no reason to change No. 2.
3. Rockies: Kris Bryant, 3B, San Diego
Same as above. If Bryant goes No. 1, then the Rockies could look at one of the big arms.
4. Twins: Kohl Stewart, RHP, St. Pius X HS (Texas)
The Twins have liked Stewart's power right arm all along and will have a comfort level that they can sign him away from Texas A&M football before he commits. Last mock Draft: 6 (Marlins)
5. Indians: Colin Moran, 3B, North Carolina
One of the big two college pitchers would be of interest to the Indians and they could look at Stewart or Trey Ball if they wanted to go the high school pitching route.
6. Marlins: Braden Shipley, RHP, Nevada
There's still interest in Stewart and Ball, as well as the two Georgia high schoolers, but Shipley has cemented himself as the third-best college pitcher in the Draft. Last mock Draft: 8 (Royals)
7. Red Sox: Clint Frazier, OF, Loganville HS (Ga.)
There's no reason to divert from the previous pick. Frazier worked out with the Red Sox recently as well.
8. Royals: Trey Ball, LHP/OF, New Castle HS (Ind.)
All signs point to the Royals looking at pitching and with Shipley gone, they could go the high school route. Last mock Draft: 10 (Blue Jays)
9. Pirates: Reese McGuire, C, Kentwood HS (Wash.)
There's been more talk of bats than arms regarding the Pirates and McGuire gives them a good left-handed one behind the plate. Last mock Draft: 11 (Mets)
10. Blue Jays: Austin Meadows, OF, Grayson HS (Ga.)
Toronto has interest in Ball and McGuire, but if they're gone, the Blue Jays could go after this high-ceiling, multi-tool outfielder. Last mock Draft: 9 (Pirates)
Only put the top 10 in from the mock draft......one would hope the Tribe's 1st pick would be one of these.
Gray, Appel, Bryant still 1-2-3 but shuffling beyond as teams narrow focus in final week
By Jonathan Mayo | Archive5/30/2013 11:55 A.M. EST
2013 Draft: College pitchers00:02:25
Jonathan Mayo ranks Mark Appel, Jonathan Gray and Braden Shipley amongst the top college pitchers in the 2013 First-Year Player Draft
The First-Year Player Draft is a week away. It's time to bear down and narrow the possibilities of the first round.
The only issue is that there appears to be the same lack of certainty as when we undertook this exercise two weeks ago. Sure, teams have narrowed their focus a bit, but as they head into meetings and set up their boards, there are still so many permutations of how things could unfold.
The 2013 First-Year Player Draft will take place on June 6-8, beginning with the Draft preview show on MLB.com and MLB Network on Thursday, June 6, at 6 p.m. ET. Live Draft coverage from MLB Network's Studio 42 begins at 7 p.m., with the top 73 picks being streamed on MLB.com and broadcast on MLB Network. Rounds 3-10 will be streamed live on MLB.com on June 7, beginning with a preview show at 12:30 p.m., and Rounds 11-40 will be streamed live on MLB.com on June 8, starting at 1 p.m.
MLB.com's coverage includes Draft Central, the Top 100 Draft Prospects list and Draft Tracker, a live interactive application that includes a searchable database of Draft-eligible players. You can also keep up to date by following @MLBDraft on Twitter. And get into the Draft conversation by tagging your tweets with #mlbdraft.
Here's how picks 1-33 look. Changes from the last mock Draft are noted.
1. Astros: Jonathan Gray, RHP, Oklahoma
The Astros are down to five candidates: two college pitchers (Gray and Mark Appel), two college hitters (Kris Bryant and Colin Moran) and one high schooler (Clint Frazier or Austin Meadows). There are whispers regarding Bryant and Moran, but Gray is still the pick.
2. Cubs: Mark Appel, RHP, Stanford
With no change at No. 1, there's no reason to change No. 2.
3. Rockies: Kris Bryant, 3B, San Diego
Same as above. If Bryant goes No. 1, then the Rockies could look at one of the big arms.
4. Twins: Kohl Stewart, RHP, St. Pius X HS (Texas)
The Twins have liked Stewart's power right arm all along and will have a comfort level that they can sign him away from Texas A&M football before he commits. Last mock Draft: 6 (Marlins)
5. Indians: Colin Moran, 3B, North Carolina
One of the big two college pitchers would be of interest to the Indians and they could look at Stewart or Trey Ball if they wanted to go the high school pitching route.
6. Marlins: Braden Shipley, RHP, Nevada
There's still interest in Stewart and Ball, as well as the two Georgia high schoolers, but Shipley has cemented himself as the third-best college pitcher in the Draft. Last mock Draft: 8 (Royals)
7. Red Sox: Clint Frazier, OF, Loganville HS (Ga.)
There's no reason to divert from the previous pick. Frazier worked out with the Red Sox recently as well.
8. Royals: Trey Ball, LHP/OF, New Castle HS (Ind.)
All signs point to the Royals looking at pitching and with Shipley gone, they could go the high school route. Last mock Draft: 10 (Blue Jays)
9. Pirates: Reese McGuire, C, Kentwood HS (Wash.)
There's been more talk of bats than arms regarding the Pirates and McGuire gives them a good left-handed one behind the plate. Last mock Draft: 11 (Mets)
10. Blue Jays: Austin Meadows, OF, Grayson HS (Ga.)
Toronto has interest in Ball and McGuire, but if they're gone, the Blue Jays could go after this high-ceiling, multi-tool outfielder. Last mock Draft: 9 (Pirates)
Only put the top 10 in from the mock draft......one would hope the Tribe's 1st pick would be one of these.
Re: Draft Folder
216Here is Baseball America's ranking of the Top 500(!) in this week's draft:
http://www.baseballamerica.com/draft-preview/
http://www.baseballamerica.com/draft-preview/
Re: Draft Folder
217BA's Mock Draft through No. 10
This is the third of four complete mock drafts that Jim Callis will take you through leading up to the draft on June 6. You can read Version 1.0 here and Version 2.0 here, and we’ll follow with a final version on draft day next Thursday.
With the draft pushed back from its usual Monday or Tuesday to Thursday this year, teams aren’t as far along in their planning as you might expect on the Friday before the draft. I’m hearing most of the same names in the same places in the first 10-15 picks that I was hearing a week ago, and there aren’t a lot of difference between this first-round projection and our last one. In fact, the top six choices and 10 of the first 12 are the same.
Colin Moran (photo by Alyson Boyer Rode)
Colin Moran (photo by Alyson Boyer Rode)
The hottest rumor making the rounds is that the Astros will select North Carolina third baseman Colin Moran at No. 1 overall and sign him for roughly the same amount ($4.8 million) they paid Carlos Correa as the top pick in 2012. While Moran is on Houston’s short list of candidates, I don’t see this happening. For one, while Moran is a gifted hitter, he doesn’t have the impact potential of Oklahoma righthander Jonathan Gray, Stanford righthander Mark Appel or San Diego third baseman/outfielder Kris Bryant. The Astros took a legitimate No. 1 overall talent and got a deep discount with Correa last year, but they’d be skimping on talent if they opt for Moran.
I’m also not sure how Houston would use all of the extra money if it saved $3 million off its assigned pick value of $7.8 million. The Astros could spend $2 million each on the Nos. 40, 74 and 107 picks, but this draft may lack the depth to provide players worthy of that kind of investment. Houston’s optimal strategy would be to sign a worthy player for somewhere between $6 million-$6.5 million, then have roughly $1.5 million to spread around.
Indiana State lefthander Sean Manaea remains the draft’s biggest wild card. He was a candidate for the No. 1 overall pick before his stuff dipped and he endured ankle, hip and shoulder issues this spring. Teams don’t have a good feel for his health or his signability, and I believe the most likely scenario is one of the clubs at the top of the draft with a large bonus pool will gamble on him after the first round.
So here’s this week’s look at how the first round will unfold. For detailed scouting reports on all of the players below, please see the BA 500.:
HoustonAstros1. HOUSTON ASTROS: Houston’s list still includes five players, with Georgia high school outfielder Clint Frazier believed to be a distant fifth behind the four college prospects discussed above. Despite all the Moran talk, I still think it comes down to Gray and Appel, a Houston native whom the Astros considered at No. 1 a year ago. The industry perception is that it will be easier to strike a deal with Gray, and that could be the tiebreaker if the club is split between Gray’s upside and Appel’s polish. If the Astros take a bat, it would be Bryant over Moran.
PROJECTED PICK: Jonathan Gray (Mock draft 1.0/2.0: Mark Appel/Gray).
3ds_cubs792. CHICAGO CUBS: Chicago will consider the top four college prospects. While the Cubs won’t draft for need, they lack pitching and the decision will come down to Gray and Appel here as well. I don’t believe Chicago has resolved which pitcher it would select if it has its choice of both.
PROJECTED PICK: Mark Appel (Mock draft 1.0/2.0: Jonathan Gray/Appel).
3ds_rockies853. COLORADO ROCKIES: This might be the easiest decision in the draft, taking whichever of the three best prospects (Gray, Appel and Bryant) remains after the first two teams have selected. If the Rockies deviate from that, Moran could be their guy.
PROJECTED PICK: Kris Bryant (Mock draft 1.0/2.0: Bryant/Bryant).
3ds_twins814. MINNESOTA TWINS: If Minnesota can’t get one of the big three, it will take Texas high school righthander Kohl Stewart. If Stewart’s price tag scares the Twins—he’s a Texas A&M quarterback recruit, though I can’t see him turning down top-10-pick money—they could go in the other direction and save cash for later by taking a discount with Washington prep catcher Reese McGuire. Indiana high school lefty Trey Ball and Moran are two more fallback plans.
PROJECTED PICK: Kohl Stewart (Mock draft 1.0/2.0: Stewart/Stewart).
3ds_indians835. CLEVELAND INDIANS: Cleveland will take one of the top four college prospects, with the most likely outcome being Moran. If all four went in the first four selections, the next college guy for Cleveland would be Nevada righthander Braden Shipley. They also could consider Georgia high school outfielders Frazier and Austin Meadows and Ball.
PROJECTED PICK: Colin Moran (Mock draft 1.0/2.0: Braden Shipley/Moran).
Miami Marlins6. MIAMI MARLINS: Miami has been linked to Shipley for a while. He still appears to be the Marlins’ target, ahead of Meadows, Missisippi State outfielder Hunter Renfroe and maybe Moran if he were still on the board.
PROJECTED PICK: Braden Shipley (Mock draft 1.0/2.0: Reese McGuire/Shipley).
3ds_redsox857. BOSTON RED SOX: If Minnesota doesn’t take Stewart, Boston will pounce on him. If he’s not available, the Red Sox likely will choose between the Georgia prep outfielders, and they’re split internally on which way to go. They also could look at Ball or college righthanders Shipley, Ryne Stanek (Arkansas) and maybe even Alex Gonzalez (Oral Roberts).
PROJECTED PICK: Austin Meadows (Mock draft 1.0/2.0: Clint Frazier/Frazier).
3ds_royals298. KANSAS CITY ROYALS: It will be an upset it Kansas City doesn’t pick a pitcher. Assuming Stewart and Shipley are gone, the Royals would choose between Ball, California high school righthander Phil Bickford and Gonzalez. They don’t appear to be on Stanek, a suburban Kansas City high school product who’s stock is on the rise again after his strong start at the Southeastern Conference tournament.
PROJECTED PICK: Trey Ball (Mock draft 1.0/2.0: Ryne Stanek/Ball).
3ds_pirates819. PITTSBURGH PIRATES (compensation pick for failure to sign 2013 first-rounder Mark Appel): Pittsburgh has been associated with McGuire and New Mexico corner infielder D.J. Peterson for weeks. The Pirates pick again at 14 and have a better chance sneaking Peterson through five more selections, so they’ll take McGuire here.
PROJECTED PICK: Reese McGuire (Mock draft 1.0/2.0: Colin Moran/McGuire).
3ds_bluejays8110. TORONTO BLUE JAYS: Toronto is looking for a high-ceiling talent to fall here. Getting Stewart of Frazier is the Jays’ primary hope, with Meadows, Ball and California prep shortstop J.P. Crawford the other possibilities.
PROJECTED PICK: Clint Frazier (Mock draft 1.0/2.0: Trey Ball/Austin Meadows).
This is the third of four complete mock drafts that Jim Callis will take you through leading up to the draft on June 6. You can read Version 1.0 here and Version 2.0 here, and we’ll follow with a final version on draft day next Thursday.
With the draft pushed back from its usual Monday or Tuesday to Thursday this year, teams aren’t as far along in their planning as you might expect on the Friday before the draft. I’m hearing most of the same names in the same places in the first 10-15 picks that I was hearing a week ago, and there aren’t a lot of difference between this first-round projection and our last one. In fact, the top six choices and 10 of the first 12 are the same.
Colin Moran (photo by Alyson Boyer Rode)
Colin Moran (photo by Alyson Boyer Rode)
The hottest rumor making the rounds is that the Astros will select North Carolina third baseman Colin Moran at No. 1 overall and sign him for roughly the same amount ($4.8 million) they paid Carlos Correa as the top pick in 2012. While Moran is on Houston’s short list of candidates, I don’t see this happening. For one, while Moran is a gifted hitter, he doesn’t have the impact potential of Oklahoma righthander Jonathan Gray, Stanford righthander Mark Appel or San Diego third baseman/outfielder Kris Bryant. The Astros took a legitimate No. 1 overall talent and got a deep discount with Correa last year, but they’d be skimping on talent if they opt for Moran.
I’m also not sure how Houston would use all of the extra money if it saved $3 million off its assigned pick value of $7.8 million. The Astros could spend $2 million each on the Nos. 40, 74 and 107 picks, but this draft may lack the depth to provide players worthy of that kind of investment. Houston’s optimal strategy would be to sign a worthy player for somewhere between $6 million-$6.5 million, then have roughly $1.5 million to spread around.
Indiana State lefthander Sean Manaea remains the draft’s biggest wild card. He was a candidate for the No. 1 overall pick before his stuff dipped and he endured ankle, hip and shoulder issues this spring. Teams don’t have a good feel for his health or his signability, and I believe the most likely scenario is one of the clubs at the top of the draft with a large bonus pool will gamble on him after the first round.
So here’s this week’s look at how the first round will unfold. For detailed scouting reports on all of the players below, please see the BA 500.:
HoustonAstros1. HOUSTON ASTROS: Houston’s list still includes five players, with Georgia high school outfielder Clint Frazier believed to be a distant fifth behind the four college prospects discussed above. Despite all the Moran talk, I still think it comes down to Gray and Appel, a Houston native whom the Astros considered at No. 1 a year ago. The industry perception is that it will be easier to strike a deal with Gray, and that could be the tiebreaker if the club is split between Gray’s upside and Appel’s polish. If the Astros take a bat, it would be Bryant over Moran.
PROJECTED PICK: Jonathan Gray (Mock draft 1.0/2.0: Mark Appel/Gray).
3ds_cubs792. CHICAGO CUBS: Chicago will consider the top four college prospects. While the Cubs won’t draft for need, they lack pitching and the decision will come down to Gray and Appel here as well. I don’t believe Chicago has resolved which pitcher it would select if it has its choice of both.
PROJECTED PICK: Mark Appel (Mock draft 1.0/2.0: Jonathan Gray/Appel).
3ds_rockies853. COLORADO ROCKIES: This might be the easiest decision in the draft, taking whichever of the three best prospects (Gray, Appel and Bryant) remains after the first two teams have selected. If the Rockies deviate from that, Moran could be their guy.
PROJECTED PICK: Kris Bryant (Mock draft 1.0/2.0: Bryant/Bryant).
3ds_twins814. MINNESOTA TWINS: If Minnesota can’t get one of the big three, it will take Texas high school righthander Kohl Stewart. If Stewart’s price tag scares the Twins—he’s a Texas A&M quarterback recruit, though I can’t see him turning down top-10-pick money—they could go in the other direction and save cash for later by taking a discount with Washington prep catcher Reese McGuire. Indiana high school lefty Trey Ball and Moran are two more fallback plans.
PROJECTED PICK: Kohl Stewart (Mock draft 1.0/2.0: Stewart/Stewart).
3ds_indians835. CLEVELAND INDIANS: Cleveland will take one of the top four college prospects, with the most likely outcome being Moran. If all four went in the first four selections, the next college guy for Cleveland would be Nevada righthander Braden Shipley. They also could consider Georgia high school outfielders Frazier and Austin Meadows and Ball.
PROJECTED PICK: Colin Moran (Mock draft 1.0/2.0: Braden Shipley/Moran).
Miami Marlins6. MIAMI MARLINS: Miami has been linked to Shipley for a while. He still appears to be the Marlins’ target, ahead of Meadows, Missisippi State outfielder Hunter Renfroe and maybe Moran if he were still on the board.
PROJECTED PICK: Braden Shipley (Mock draft 1.0/2.0: Reese McGuire/Shipley).
3ds_redsox857. BOSTON RED SOX: If Minnesota doesn’t take Stewart, Boston will pounce on him. If he’s not available, the Red Sox likely will choose between the Georgia prep outfielders, and they’re split internally on which way to go. They also could look at Ball or college righthanders Shipley, Ryne Stanek (Arkansas) and maybe even Alex Gonzalez (Oral Roberts).
PROJECTED PICK: Austin Meadows (Mock draft 1.0/2.0: Clint Frazier/Frazier).
3ds_royals298. KANSAS CITY ROYALS: It will be an upset it Kansas City doesn’t pick a pitcher. Assuming Stewart and Shipley are gone, the Royals would choose between Ball, California high school righthander Phil Bickford and Gonzalez. They don’t appear to be on Stanek, a suburban Kansas City high school product who’s stock is on the rise again after his strong start at the Southeastern Conference tournament.
PROJECTED PICK: Trey Ball (Mock draft 1.0/2.0: Ryne Stanek/Ball).
3ds_pirates819. PITTSBURGH PIRATES (compensation pick for failure to sign 2013 first-rounder Mark Appel): Pittsburgh has been associated with McGuire and New Mexico corner infielder D.J. Peterson for weeks. The Pirates pick again at 14 and have a better chance sneaking Peterson through five more selections, so they’ll take McGuire here.
PROJECTED PICK: Reese McGuire (Mock draft 1.0/2.0: Colin Moran/McGuire).
3ds_bluejays8110. TORONTO BLUE JAYS: Toronto is looking for a high-ceiling talent to fall here. Getting Stewart of Frazier is the Jays’ primary hope, with Meadows, Ball and California prep shortstop J.P. Crawford the other possibilities.
PROJECTED PICK: Clint Frazier (Mock draft 1.0/2.0: Trey Ball/Austin Meadows).
Re: Draft Folder
218Cormican, SBNation
Posted: Friday, May 31, 2013, 2:17 PM
Moran is a 6'3" 210 lb, 20 year old Third Baseman from the University of North Carolina-Chapel Hill. There are plenty of chances to watch Moran, if you wish as Chapel Hill is a Top 10 team and will be hosting semis in the College World Series race and he likely will have at least a few televised games left. There is a ton of info and video on Moran, so let's get right to it. I'll be cherry picking a bit to avoid an enromous post, but I'll include a few links down page that you might find interesting.
Moran profiles as an average defender at Third. Reports seem to have several questions about his defense, but I saw Moran several times in person, and while he clearly isn't Evan Longoria, he also doesn't look like Mark Reynolds or Ty Wigginton to me either. He'll stick, but he won't win any Gold Gloves (not on actual performance anyway, as the votes can become a popularity contest to an extent). Now I saw Moran 3 times this Spring. Twice I had the dumb luck to see him face Carlos Rodon of NC State (Rodon's a Sophmore, but if he were draft eligible this year, he'd be head and shoulders the best player in the draft.) No one ever looks good against Rodon, and that includes Moran. To Moran's benefit, in both games he made the best contact against Moran Rodon and mostly avoided striking out, but Carlos Rodon is a machine that destroys hitters and leaves them weeping in the corner. That includes Moran. So, to be fair to Moran I'll rely on video and other Scouting Reports as well.
Colin Moran probably has the best hit tool in this draft and a good enough eye to take a fair share of Walks. His power is probably below average for the hot corner. To his benefit he has the size to hit for power and he has very good line drive power, sometimes that ends up translating into average to above-average power for guys in the pros, but his swing is so good and stays in the zone so long I'd hate to see anyone mess with that in the hopes of squeezing out a few more Homers.
Defensively he has more than enough arm for Third, but he can get sloppy and Dave Hollins a few throws here and there. He has good throw mechanics at third, but when he slows down he can get himself in trouble with footwork. His range is not very good and he can look a bit awkward at times. As I said above, I think he can probably hang on as an averagish Defender at Third, but if he has to move it would likely either be Left (where, at best, he'd be a Pat Burrel type Defender) or First (where he would probably do very well, but what a waste of a plus arm). Years ago I played Goal in Lacrosse and when I was standing in goal I was awful, but if I got up on the balls of my feet and stayed ready I was better (though only slightly better than awful, if I'm being honest). Keith Law from ESPN (video linked below) notes flat footedness as an isue with Moran. It should also be an easy fix with some one-on-one work.
If he can't stick at Third? Well, that's a problem. To play at First you have to be able to maintain a Slugging Percentage and ISO much higher than I expect Moran will carry. The pressure's a little lower in Left, but not by that much. Even at Third Moran's power will likely be fringy. At First, he might be James Loney with a slightly better hit tool.
Here's Moran hitting in the Cape Cod League (courtesy of E Tyler Bullock). I usually hate high leg kicks for hitters, but look at Moran's bat control. He adjusts faster/slower, up/down. It's very impressive to see and he rarely looks to be fooled largely because of his incredible bat control. It's also impressive how long he keps his bat on the plane of the pitch, which allows him to make great contact even if slightly ahead or behind the ball.
Moran has the benefit of good bloodlines (his Brother is in the Mariners' system and his uncle is former top pick BJ Surhoff) and a great understanding of the game. He's considered a leader for the Tar Heels and generally seems to be universally liked by his peers. That said, he has 2 plus tools (Average/OBP and arm) and everything else is below-average to average for Third Base. In a better draft he might last into the 20's. In this one he may well go Top 10. He's likely to be in the Majors within a few seasons, but he's likely never much more than a league average Third Baseman. If he moves from Third in the Pros he'll likely be a below average Left Fielder or First Baseman.
Posted: Friday, May 31, 2013, 2:17 PM
Moran is a 6'3" 210 lb, 20 year old Third Baseman from the University of North Carolina-Chapel Hill. There are plenty of chances to watch Moran, if you wish as Chapel Hill is a Top 10 team and will be hosting semis in the College World Series race and he likely will have at least a few televised games left. There is a ton of info and video on Moran, so let's get right to it. I'll be cherry picking a bit to avoid an enromous post, but I'll include a few links down page that you might find interesting.
Moran profiles as an average defender at Third. Reports seem to have several questions about his defense, but I saw Moran several times in person, and while he clearly isn't Evan Longoria, he also doesn't look like Mark Reynolds or Ty Wigginton to me either. He'll stick, but he won't win any Gold Gloves (not on actual performance anyway, as the votes can become a popularity contest to an extent). Now I saw Moran 3 times this Spring. Twice I had the dumb luck to see him face Carlos Rodon of NC State (Rodon's a Sophmore, but if he were draft eligible this year, he'd be head and shoulders the best player in the draft.) No one ever looks good against Rodon, and that includes Moran. To Moran's benefit, in both games he made the best contact against Moran Rodon and mostly avoided striking out, but Carlos Rodon is a machine that destroys hitters and leaves them weeping in the corner. That includes Moran. So, to be fair to Moran I'll rely on video and other Scouting Reports as well.
Colin Moran probably has the best hit tool in this draft and a good enough eye to take a fair share of Walks. His power is probably below average for the hot corner. To his benefit he has the size to hit for power and he has very good line drive power, sometimes that ends up translating into average to above-average power for guys in the pros, but his swing is so good and stays in the zone so long I'd hate to see anyone mess with that in the hopes of squeezing out a few more Homers.
Defensively he has more than enough arm for Third, but he can get sloppy and Dave Hollins a few throws here and there. He has good throw mechanics at third, but when he slows down he can get himself in trouble with footwork. His range is not very good and he can look a bit awkward at times. As I said above, I think he can probably hang on as an averagish Defender at Third, but if he has to move it would likely either be Left (where, at best, he'd be a Pat Burrel type Defender) or First (where he would probably do very well, but what a waste of a plus arm). Years ago I played Goal in Lacrosse and when I was standing in goal I was awful, but if I got up on the balls of my feet and stayed ready I was better (though only slightly better than awful, if I'm being honest). Keith Law from ESPN (video linked below) notes flat footedness as an isue with Moran. It should also be an easy fix with some one-on-one work.
If he can't stick at Third? Well, that's a problem. To play at First you have to be able to maintain a Slugging Percentage and ISO much higher than I expect Moran will carry. The pressure's a little lower in Left, but not by that much. Even at Third Moran's power will likely be fringy. At First, he might be James Loney with a slightly better hit tool.
Here's Moran hitting in the Cape Cod League (courtesy of E Tyler Bullock). I usually hate high leg kicks for hitters, but look at Moran's bat control. He adjusts faster/slower, up/down. It's very impressive to see and he rarely looks to be fooled largely because of his incredible bat control. It's also impressive how long he keps his bat on the plane of the pitch, which allows him to make great contact even if slightly ahead or behind the ball.
Moran has the benefit of good bloodlines (his Brother is in the Mariners' system and his uncle is former top pick BJ Surhoff) and a great understanding of the game. He's considered a leader for the Tar Heels and generally seems to be universally liked by his peers. That said, he has 2 plus tools (Average/OBP and arm) and everything else is below-average to average for Third Base. In a better draft he might last into the 20's. In this one he may well go Top 10. He's likely to be in the Majors within a few seasons, but he's likely never much more than a league average Third Baseman. If he moves from Third in the Pros he'll likely be a below average Left Fielder or First Baseman.
Re: Draft Folder
219Kris Bryant a not-so-secret weapon for San Diego in NCAA regional
From the time Bryant was 8 or so, college baseball's most feared slugger recalls his grandfather awarding him $20 for every home run. The practice allowed Bryant to accumulate quite a bundle of Jacksons before the rewards stopped during his high school years.
"I was OK with it," he says with a laugh. "I mean, I didn't want to take all their money."
Bryant had 22 home runs in his senior season at Las Vegas Bonanza High and 54 in his three years playing for the University of San Diego — including a scaled-back-metal-bat-era record of 31 in 58 games this season.
That would have been $1,520 in four years. But no one should worry about Bryant being strapped for cash. Next week, he is expected to be one of the first picks in Major League Baseball's annual amateur draft, a designation that will earn him a seven-figure bonus.
First, though, he will try to help San Diego advance from the NCAA Division I regional at UCLA. The Toreros (35-23) open play Friday against Cal Poly (39-17) at 2 p.m. UCLA (39-17) faces San Diego State (31-29) at 6 p.m. The winner of the double-elimination regional advances to a best-of-three-games super-regional next week, which will probably start the day after Thursday's draft.
Bryant could be in for an exciting next few days. "He's a five-tool, off-the-charts guy," San Diego Coach Rich Hill says, citing a player's ability to hit for average, hit for power, run, throw and play defense.
An impressive athlete at 6 feet 5 and 215 pounds, Bryant moves well and shows a strong arm from third base. Hill says he has the speed and instincts to develop into a Gold Glove right fielder if a pro team takes him in that direction.
But swinging the bat is what shot him up the draft boards.
One of his home run blasts has already taken on legendary proportions. On a wet, foggy night in San Diego, in a game against St. Louis, Bryant hit a ball that reportedly cleared an 80-foot light tower in left field — a shot estimated to be at least 500 feet.
Bryant says he didn't see where it landed. Hill says he can only assume the ball did actually land because it "disappeared into the night."
"Now it's to the point where Bigfoot was behind the fence and the Loch Ness monster was sighted that day in Mission Bay. One of those kind of things," Hill says. "I don't know that it cleared the light standards … but let's just say it did. It could have landed anywhere."
It's an unwritten rule in baseball that a hitter should never admit to "getting all" of a pitch — in other words, hitting it as far as possible. But with that home run, Bryant just can't help it.
"Yes, I got all of that one," he says with an ear-to-ear grin. "I'll remember that one forever."
A strategy employed by UC Irvine might also stick with him. With two out, nobody on base and Bryant coming up to hit during a nonconference game this season, Anteaters Coach Mike Gillespie used four outfielders — one near each line and one in each gap. And it worked.
"Kris smoked one down the left-field line — it would have one-hopped the foul pole — and their guy is standing right there," Hill says.
Other strategies to neutralize him haven't fared as well. University of San Francisco pitching coach Greg Moore recalls a conversation with one of his pitchers after Bryant, during his freshman season, homered over the right-field fence on a one-ball, two-strike fastball that was supposed to be placed too far outside to hit.
"That ball needs to be off the plate," Moore scolded. "It was," the pitcher replied. "One ball?" Moore asked. "No," said the pitcher. "Two and a half." The catcher confirmed it.
Says Moore: "What could I say? Nobody does that."
Bryant, who bats lead-off so that he gets as many at-bats as possible, doesn't just hit home runs. He has a team-best .340 batting average and leads Division I players with 215 total bases, a .860 slugging percentage, 78 runs and 62 walks.
Hill, who has been a college baseball coach for nearly three decades, says Bryant is the best college hitter he has seen. Of course, he's biased. Moore, who is not, says "the best and most dangerous. The quickest, most-sure hands."
Three seasons ago, the metal bats college players used were scaled back and offensive numbers plummeted. The college record for home runs in a season is 48, and projections have been made that Bryant would have hit 50 or more with the old bats.
Bryant doesn't offer any estimate; neither does Hill.
Moore, tongue planted firmly in cheek, offers a different kind of prediction: "He'd have been banned from the game."
mike.hiserman@latimes.com
From the time Bryant was 8 or so, college baseball's most feared slugger recalls his grandfather awarding him $20 for every home run. The practice allowed Bryant to accumulate quite a bundle of Jacksons before the rewards stopped during his high school years.
"I was OK with it," he says with a laugh. "I mean, I didn't want to take all their money."
Bryant had 22 home runs in his senior season at Las Vegas Bonanza High and 54 in his three years playing for the University of San Diego — including a scaled-back-metal-bat-era record of 31 in 58 games this season.
That would have been $1,520 in four years. But no one should worry about Bryant being strapped for cash. Next week, he is expected to be one of the first picks in Major League Baseball's annual amateur draft, a designation that will earn him a seven-figure bonus.
First, though, he will try to help San Diego advance from the NCAA Division I regional at UCLA. The Toreros (35-23) open play Friday against Cal Poly (39-17) at 2 p.m. UCLA (39-17) faces San Diego State (31-29) at 6 p.m. The winner of the double-elimination regional advances to a best-of-three-games super-regional next week, which will probably start the day after Thursday's draft.
Bryant could be in for an exciting next few days. "He's a five-tool, off-the-charts guy," San Diego Coach Rich Hill says, citing a player's ability to hit for average, hit for power, run, throw and play defense.
An impressive athlete at 6 feet 5 and 215 pounds, Bryant moves well and shows a strong arm from third base. Hill says he has the speed and instincts to develop into a Gold Glove right fielder if a pro team takes him in that direction.
But swinging the bat is what shot him up the draft boards.
One of his home run blasts has already taken on legendary proportions. On a wet, foggy night in San Diego, in a game against St. Louis, Bryant hit a ball that reportedly cleared an 80-foot light tower in left field — a shot estimated to be at least 500 feet.
Bryant says he didn't see where it landed. Hill says he can only assume the ball did actually land because it "disappeared into the night."
"Now it's to the point where Bigfoot was behind the fence and the Loch Ness monster was sighted that day in Mission Bay. One of those kind of things," Hill says. "I don't know that it cleared the light standards … but let's just say it did. It could have landed anywhere."
It's an unwritten rule in baseball that a hitter should never admit to "getting all" of a pitch — in other words, hitting it as far as possible. But with that home run, Bryant just can't help it.
"Yes, I got all of that one," he says with an ear-to-ear grin. "I'll remember that one forever."
A strategy employed by UC Irvine might also stick with him. With two out, nobody on base and Bryant coming up to hit during a nonconference game this season, Anteaters Coach Mike Gillespie used four outfielders — one near each line and one in each gap. And it worked.
"Kris smoked one down the left-field line — it would have one-hopped the foul pole — and their guy is standing right there," Hill says.
Other strategies to neutralize him haven't fared as well. University of San Francisco pitching coach Greg Moore recalls a conversation with one of his pitchers after Bryant, during his freshman season, homered over the right-field fence on a one-ball, two-strike fastball that was supposed to be placed too far outside to hit.
"That ball needs to be off the plate," Moore scolded. "It was," the pitcher replied. "One ball?" Moore asked. "No," said the pitcher. "Two and a half." The catcher confirmed it.
Says Moore: "What could I say? Nobody does that."
Bryant, who bats lead-off so that he gets as many at-bats as possible, doesn't just hit home runs. He has a team-best .340 batting average and leads Division I players with 215 total bases, a .860 slugging percentage, 78 runs and 62 walks.
Hill, who has been a college baseball coach for nearly three decades, says Bryant is the best college hitter he has seen. Of course, he's biased. Moore, who is not, says "the best and most dangerous. The quickest, most-sure hands."
Three seasons ago, the metal bats college players used were scaled back and offensive numbers plummeted. The college record for home runs in a season is 48, and projections have been made that Bryant would have hit 50 or more with the old bats.
Bryant doesn't offer any estimate; neither does Hill.
Moore, tongue planted firmly in cheek, offers a different kind of prediction: "He'd have been banned from the game."
mike.hiserman@latimes.com
Re: Draft Folder
220Once again, the Tribe will try to make a pick worthy of a high 1st round pick. Their track record is abysmal. Throw a dart....can't do any worse.
Re: Draft Folder
222Colin Moran / Clint Frazier
http://bleacherreport.com/articles/1660 ... fts-top-10
Colin Moran would look sweet!
I'd be satisfied with Frazier also.
http://bleacherreport.com/articles/1660 ... fts-top-10
Colin Moran would look sweet!
I'd be satisfied with Frazier also.
“Every day is a new opportunity. You can build on yesterday's success or put its failures behind and start over again. That's the way life is, with a new game every day, and that's the way baseball is.”
-- Bob Feller
-- Bob Feller
Re: Draft Folder
223When you hit six home runs in the first seven games of your senior season, people tend to take notice. High schooler Clint Frazier did just that, and is trying to show that he can offer a ton of promise to a team picking in the top 10-15 of the first round. His numbers speak for themselves. He holds the Loganville (Ga.) High School records for runs scored in a season, RBI in a season and career, and home runs in a season. Oh, and he has nearly doubled the school's career home run mark, which was originally set by current Oakland Athletic Brandon Moss. SB Nation's blog Minor League Ball lauds Frazier as a five-tool player who has "a chance to be a star." Though he might eventually outgrow center field, he is in a position now where teams might jump to take him regardless of where he ends up playing in the field.
“Every day is a new opportunity. You can build on yesterday's success or put its failures behind and start over again. That's the way life is, with a new game every day, and that's the way baseball is.”
-- Bob Feller
-- Bob Feller
Re: Draft Folder
225The thing to remember about high school power stats is that high school baseball went to the BBCOR bat last year. It has made a huge difference as it did at the college level the year before.