Re: Draft Folder

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Highest draft choice signed is 13th round juco catcher Angel Lopez who cost $80,000. BA says: " In a class that's very light on college catching, Lopez could represent a lower-cost option from the junior college ranks. He receives high praise for his receiving and his arm strength, which some scouts grade as a 60 or higher on the 20-to-80 scouting scale. He's got a hitch to his swing, but he has quick hands and has shown some feel for hitting, albeit against inferior competition. In more than 140 at-bats this spring, Lopez batted .411 and swatted 14 home runs while drawing 44 walks and striking out just 14 times. Not all teams are in on Lopez, but he has a chance to be selected in the fifth to eighth round because of his tools and the dearth of college catching in the class."


We need good receivers to handle the pitchers. He's apparently no prospect but can't field teams without lots of catchers.

Re: Draft Folder

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I was going to say we're still waiting for top of the draft signings but even though I could hardly care less about a college 2nd baseman, Ernie Clement was a 4th rounder. He debuted with the Scrappers yesterday along with Berardi. We've signed picks from rounds 4, 8 9 and 10.

Re: Draft Folder

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One more: I see Johnathan Rodriguez, intriguing 3rd round high school OF on the list in today's newspaper.

Rodriguez is one of the youngest players in the class, and he won't turn 18 until November. He has excellent raw tools and a projectable 6-foot-3, broad-shouldered frame with a tapered waist and room to to add muscle. He shows some of the best pure arm strength in the class; his arm grades as a present 60 on the 20-to-80 scouting scale. He shows flashes offensively but has a long swing with a deep load, and scouts believe it will take him a while to adjust to professional pitching. He's a high-risk, high-reward pick and could entice a team on day two or day three with his exciting raw tools.

Re: Draft Folder

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And a lot of pitchers mostly of no particular consequence:

also 7th round college LHP Kirk McCarthy

Owner of a 22-4 career record, McCarty is smallish (5-foot-10, 185 pounds) but commands a fringy 88-91 mph fastball to both sides of the plate. His calling card is his ability to spin a tight breaking ball, an above-average curve that he can throw for strikes or get hitters to chase for strikeouts. He also spots an average changeup and had a solid, short Cape Cod League stint, getting him in front of national evaluators.

11th round high school lefty Matt Turner [no scouting report from BA, surprising for a high school kid drafted that high]

16th round college RHP Nick Gallagher

he blossomed on the mound. He gained almost 10 mph on his fastball and pitched well enough to become an invited walk-on at Iowa. He was good enough to help out of the bullpen as a freshman and join the starting rotation as a sophomore. As Iowa's Friday starter, he fits the mold of a productive college performer who has just enough stuff to be a useful pro. Gallagher sits at 88-92 mph and touches 93 with his fastball and breaks off an above-average slider. He also locates his changeup for strikes early or later in the count. Gallagher shows some stiffness in his delivery. Even with a rough finish to the season--he gave up 10 runs and 14 hits in seven innings in the Big 10 tournament--he still went 8-1 with 3.39 ERA.

23rd round RHP Jordan Scheftz

26th round RHP TOmmy DeJuneas

An all-state two-way player at Charlotte's Providence High, DeJuneas has played both ways for N.C. State and emerged as a potential first-rounder as a freshman closer for the Wolfpack. He struck out 57 in 39.2 innings while posting a 1.82 ERA and pumping his fastball up to 96 mph in 2015 and even got innings with USA Baseball's Collegiate National Team. However, he's struggled with command since then (42 BB in 61.2 IP) and has backed off his velocity in an effort to throw more strikes as a junior. He's flashed above-average secondary pitches in both his changeup and slider in the past. At 6-foot-1, 195 pounds, he's fairly athletic but has yet to harness his fast arm consistently.

30th round college LHP Nick Draper

Re: Draft Folder

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another one of these coming up soon. Indians draft way down at No. 29. BA expects them to do what has been their recent usual:


and projects Alek Thomas Mount Carmel HS, Chicago OF noting "More of the same for the Indians here at 29. Cleveland has gone heavy into the prep ranks in the first few rounds and have their pick of a number of them here"

And we get another pick at the tail end of the 1st round [is that a "competitive balance" pick or compensation for losing Santana or Shaw or Smith?]


Connor Scott Plant (Tampa) HS OF Notes:
Scott has battled some injuries over the summer and this spring, but none of them are serious. When he’s been on the field, Scott has been extremely impressive and shown feel for the barrel. He’s in play higher, so Cleveland should be thrilled to land him here.

Re: Draft Folder

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BA rates Scott higher than Thomas,

rated as No. 23 prospect. Scouting Report: Scott draws some comparisons to current top Astros outfield prospect Kyle Tucker, who attended the same Plant HS in Tampa that Scott currently attends. Scott and Tucker have comparable swing paths and similar 6-foot-4, 180-pound frames, as well as the speed and athleticism that allow them both the be strong defensive outfielders. Scott wasn’t seen as much as scouts would have like on the summer showcase circuit, however, as he had his appendix removed and was forced to watch a few of the bigger showcases rather than take part. He got back on the field in the fall and started getting into a rhythm before impressing scouts during the spring, as he grew into more power and performed in front of a front office personnel in Florida who didn’t need to travel far from spring training facilities to see him. A toolsy player, Scott is at least a plus runner, with many evaluators throwing a double-plus grade on his speed to go along with a plus arm. There are questions whether he’ll be able to stay in center field or need to move to a corner as he continues to add weight, but he has enough arm strength for any outfield position. In fact, some scouts prefer Scott on the mound, where he’s in the low 90s as a lefthanded pitcher who fills up the strike zone and also has feel to spin a curveball and throw a changeup. Most teams appear to prefer the upside he offers as a potential impact hitter, however, with his speed and developing power leading to an intriguing all-around package. But having a fallback option as a pitcher should only help Scott’s draft stock. Some teams look at Scott as a no-doubt first rounder, while others see him going in the supplemental first round or later, and his lack of summer track record likely plays into that division.

rate him No. 57 prospect Ht: 5-11 | Wt: 175 | B-T: L-L | Commit/Drafted: Texas Christian
Scouting Report: Thomas, the son of White Sox strength coach Allen Thomas, is a three-sport star who is committed to Texas Christian to play both baseball and football. He is an elite all-around athlete, but his professional future is on the diamond and he was the leading hitter for USA Baseball’s gold-medal winning 18U National Team at last fall’s World Cup. Listed at 5-foot-11, 180 pounds, Thomas is well built and a well above-average runner. He produces above-average bat speed and has surprising power for a player his size, but his game is built more around his speed and ability to hit. He has the potential to be a plus hitter and makes good in-game adjustments, with a history of barreling up big-time velocity during the summer showcase circuit. Thomas’ speed plays well in the outfield and he covers ground well in center field, but his arm is below-average and could be his worst tool. One of the best athletes in the class with a chance to hit and play a solid center field, Thomas could be among the first prep outfielders selected in June. There are teams and evaluators who question his future impact, however, and some aren’t sure how much better they can project him.