BA on Draft

[Jeremy Nygaard]

Baseball America dropped some draft stuff today including their updated Top 100 and an overview on the (weak) draft.

 

Also of note, two-sport prospect Kyler Murray will be opting out of the draft.

[diehardtwinsfan]

For what it's worth, the 2012 draft was said to be pretty weak.  We came out of that with Buxton, Berrios, Walker, Duffey, and a few others... 

[nytwinsfan]

 

For what it's worth, the 2012 draft was said to be pretty weak.  We came out of that with Buxton, Berrios, Walker, Duffey, and a few others... 

Yeah, but we were also picking 2nd, and had a lot of extra comp picks. Here we don't even have a second rounder.

[markos]

 

Baseball America dropped some draft stuff today including their updated Top 100 and an overview on the (weak) draft.

 

Also of note, two-sport prospect Kyler Murray will be opting out of the draft.

There has been a lot of buzz with the Twins and Kolby Allard, who BA just ranked #15. Do you know if they have serious interest in any of the quintet of HS outfielders ranked ahead of him? Garrett Whitley has had a ton of helium the past few weeks. 

[nytwinsfan]

Umm, Jeremey:   http://www.fangraphs.com/blogs/dbacks-plans-for-the-first-overall-pick-come-into-focus/

 

"The one exception is at #1 overall, as I’ve heard from multiple sources that the D’Backs have engaged Stephenson about a cut-rate deal as the top pick in the draft."

[Willihammer]

For what it's worth, the 2012 draft was said to be pretty weak.  We came out of that with Buxton, Berrios, Walker, Duffey, and a few others...

I'm pretty amazed at how negative everyone is. The more I learn about guys not named Aiken or Matuella, the more intriguing the class looks. I think the Twins will have plenty of options at 6.

[gunnarthor]

 

Umm, Jeremey:   http://www.fangraphs.com/blogs/dbacks-plans-for-the-first-overall-pick-come-into-focus/

 

"The one exception is at #1 overall, as I’ve heard from multiple sources that the D’Backs have engaged Stephenson about a cut-rate deal as the top pick in the draft."

That could be interesting.  Houston is apparently not on Rogers either (at least at 2).  The Twins could have some nice players drop to them.

[markos]

 

I'm pretty amazed at how negative everyone is. The more I learn about guys not named Aiken or Matuella, the more intriguing the class looks. I think the Twins will have plenty of options at 6.

There are a lot options - and good, intriguing options - at 6, but I think why everyone is negative is because the level of talent available at 6 is going to me closer to what is usually available in the 10-20 range of a normal draft. Not that a team can't find good players there, but historically it is a lot harder to get significant value. Some examples:

 

1) The #1 guy right now is Rodgers. Early on he was mentioned as maybe slightly better than Nick Gordon - similar tools but with a bit more power but less arm strength. Gordon wasn't in the consideration for #1 at all last year, and some people (here and elsewhere) thought he was a bit of a reach at #5. For what it is worth, Rodgers is the consensus #1 guy right now.

2) A couple weeks ago Jim Callis compared Swanson and Bregman to Trae Turner from last year. He likes Swanson a bit better, but indicated that Turner and Bregman are about the same. Bregman might go in the top-5 this year, and definitely top-10. Turner lasted until #13 last year.

 

In many ways, it think it will be more fun this year, as there are a lot more names to look into and get excited about. 

[Hrbowski]

I think that teams should draft the player that they would select (from the guys left on the board) with the 15th pick, no matter where they select.

[Jeremy Nygaard]

Kiley's Fangraphs article was pretty interesting. I had one person tell me not to make too much of the Whitley-to-Arizona rumors because Arizona "works out everybody", but Kiley's piece is much more substantial.

 

If Arizona goes with one those two guys, I fully believe the Astros would take Rodgers at #2 and Cameron at #5. Tate and probably Funkhouser would go 3/4. That would still leave Allard to go #6. I think the Twins could get a little savings on that, but probably not enough to change the rest of their draft. Allard's stock will go up as the draft approaches.

 

BA is going to post their first mock today. We'll see how what I just said lines up...

 

(I forgot all about Swanson... who will definitely go in the Top 4. Probably bumping Funkhouser.)

[Jeremy Nygaard]

Kiley threw his first mock out. His pick is Funkhouser. Mentions Allard and also Bregman and Tucker. Four solid players and probably as good of guess as any...

[jimmer]

 

Kiley threw his first mock out. His pick is Funkhouser. Mentions Allard and also Bregman and Tucker. Four solid players and probably as good of guess as any...

I've been saying Funkhouser for awhile.  During the offseason, Kiley said he saw Funkhauser as a #3 type.  I think he's changing his tune on The Funk.

[Jeremy Nygaard]

 

link?

Tweet from Fangraphs... don't see it up on their site yet.

[jimmer]

 

Tweet from Fangraphs... don't see it up on their site yet.

http://www.fangraphs.com/blogs/a-far-too-early-2015-mlb-mock-draft/

 

[Mike Sixel]

So, this is the draft thread now? Ok.......

 

I really enjoy Kiley's writing. But, his pick is NOT Funk for MN........It's Alex Bergman.

[Jeremy Nygaard]

 

So, this is the draft thread now? Ok.......

 

I really enjoy Kiley's writing. But, his pick is NOT Funk for MN........It's Alex Bergman.

 

It was Funkhouser. He also had Whitley at #1. He apparently made some "pre-publish" changes after the link was already tweeted out. He now has Swanson going first.

[Jeremy Nygaard]

Baseball America has the Twins taking Daz Cameron. Interesting...

 

They also suggest a good fit would be UCLA P James Kaprielian, who they have at #16. Allard at #24 and no Aiken.

 

Kiley confirmed on Twitter that he did make changes. Funkhouser to Bregman.

[nytwinsfan]

 

It was Funkhouser. He also had Whitley at #1. He apparently made some "pre-publish" changes after the link was already tweeted out. He now has Swanson going first.

Yeah, I saw it too, there was a definitely a change. At first it was Funkhouser, now its Bregman for the Twins.

[nytwinsfan]

 

 

Baseball America has the Twins taking Daz Cameron. Interesting...

 

They also suggest a good fit would be UCLA P James Kaprielian, who they have at #16. Allard at #24 and no Aiken.

 

Kiley confirmed on Twitter that he did make changes. Funkhouser to Bregman.

 

I'd be pretty disappointed with Cameron, unless quite under slot.

 

[Mike Sixel]

 

It was Funkhouser. He also had Whitley at #1. He apparently made some "pre-publish" changes after the link was already tweeted out. He now has Swanson going first.

 

Huh. Interesting he'd change it that fast.......I like either more than Cameron.

[jimmer]

 

So, this is the draft thread now? Ok.......

 

I really enjoy Kiley's writing. But, his pick is NOT Funk for MN........It's Alex Bergman.

I read it before posting the link.  He did have Funk to the Twins when I linked it.

[Jeremy Nygaard]

 

I read it before posting the link.  He did have Funk to the Twins when I linked it.

 

Apparently, he sent it out to some people to get their opinions before he "published" it. The feedback he got led to some changes.

[Mike Sixel]

 

Apparently, he sent it out to some people to get their opinions before he "published" it. The feedback he got led to some changes.

 

Makes sense. the probably need a way to do that w/o putting it out there for all of us to see......

[nicksaviking]

I like Funkhouser but I'd guess he may remind the Twins of Alex Meyers who clearly they are frustrated with.

 

Of course assuming all power arms are too frustrating to deal with is a good way to ensure your rotation continues to be futilely incompetent when it comes to striking out the opponent.

[Willihammer]

Funkhouser, like Buehler, maybe not even the best pitcher on his team. Statistically. That probably would be freshman Brendan McKay.

[Thrylos]

Interesting ranking.   I am fascinated by the dominance of College over HS pitchers, other than Nikorak who is somewhat local to me and seen him pitch.  He got helium because of his high 90s FB that HS kids cannot hit.  It has the makings for a plus pitch, but that is it.  He is fooling around with a curve that does not work for him.   One pitch.  And control is suspect.  Lots of swinging strikes on FB balls.  I think that the best fit for the Twins is HS LHP Justin Hooper who BA has for some silly reason at 38. 4 pitches, a couple plus (4- & 2-seamer, 4-seamer topping at 97 borders plus plus) an average curve and a WIP change.  Mechanic inconsistencies, but top of the rotation potential from a lefty cannot pass...

[gunnarthor]

 

I like Funkhouser but I'd guess he may remind the Twins of Alex Meyers who clearly they are frustrated with.

Of course assuming all power arms are too frustrating to deal with is a good way to ensure your rotation continues to be futilely incompetent when it comes to striking out the opponent.

Come on.  Your first comment is just something you made up and then you slammed the Twins for following that line of thought.

 

And the Twins have drafted a ton of power arms under Deron Johnson - Burdi, Cederoth, Jones, Stewart, Bard, Meltakes, Hunt, Guttierez, Bullock, Tootle, Bashore etc.  One could argue that the Twins had more success drafting the control guys under Radcliff.

[Willihammer]

I think that the best fit for the Twins is HS LHP Justin Hooper who BA has for some silly reason at 38. 4 pitches, a couple plus (4- & 2-seamer, 4-seamer topping at 97 borders plus plus) an average curve and a WIP change. Mechanic inconsistencies, but top of the rotation potential from a lefty cannot pass...

Interesting name. Looks a bit like Chris Sale doesn't he?

[gunnarthor]

 

Interesting ranking.   I am fascinated by the dominance of College over HS pitchers, other than Nikorak who is somewhat local to me and seen him pitch.  He got helium because of his high 90s FB that HS kids cannot hit.  It has the makings for a plus pitch, but that is it.  He is fooling around with a curve that does not work for him.   One pitch.  And control is suspect.  Lots of swinging strikes on FB balls.  I think that the best fit for the Twins is HS LHP Justin Hooper who BA has for some silly reason at 38. 4 pitches, a couple plus (4- & 2-seamer, 4-seamer topping at 97 borders plus plus) an average curve and a WIP change.  Mechanic inconsistencies, but top of the rotation potential from a lefty cannot pass...

I like Hooper a lot but he'd be a real reach at 6.  Wish we had another pick around 32 again, like we did with Berrios.  Although he might not fall that far.  

[Jeremy Nygaard]

 

Interesting ranking.   I am fascinated by the dominance of College over HS pitchers, other than Nikorak who is somewhat local to me and seen him pitch.  He got helium because of his high 90s FB that HS kids cannot hit.  It has the makings for a plus pitch, but that is it.  He is fooling around with a curve that does not work for him.   One pitch.  And control is suspect.  Lots of swinging strikes on FB balls.  I think that the best fit for the Twins is HS LHP Justin Hooper who BA has for some silly reason at 38. 4 pitches, a couple plus (4- & 2-seamer, 4-seamer topping at 97 borders plus plus) an average curve and a WIP change.  Mechanic inconsistencies, but top of the rotation potential from a lefty cannot pass...

 

You've long been fascinated with Hooper, but he's having a hard time throwing it over the plate. He's back-half of first round, at best, right now. Guys with complete lack of control drop, whether you think its silly or not.