2018 Amateur Draft

[LHG]

Pure speculation here, but I think Bart reaches the SAL league at some point this year. The GreenJackets are pretty close to his childhood home

They currently have three catchers, who of which are hitting well. I wonder, if Bart makes it to Augusta, if that would produce a chance of reaction promotions (not much hitting going on by catchers in the upper levels).

 

[SFGRTB]

They currently have three catchers, who of which are hitting well. I wonder, if Bart makes it to Augusta, if that would produce a chance of reaction promotions (not much hitting going on by catchers in the upper levels).

I'm talking mid-late August here, so a lot can happen. I just have a gut feeling. Especially if the GreenJackets clinch a playoff berth, the Giants like to expose their top players to post-season experience

 

[calsnowskier]

Pure speculation here, but I think Bart reaches the SAL league at some point this year. The GreenJackets are pretty close to his childhood home

So you are assuming he is going to sign?

 

[SFGRTB]

So you are assuming he is going to sign?

Absolutely

 

[Stokes1931]

Giants with the second pick today. Top rated prospects left are: Wilcox, Rocker, Beck, Siani, Kloffenstein, all HS players except for Beck. Beck pitched well at Stanford in 2016, then had a stress fracture in his back in 2017. He has pitched well this year, but not to his 2016 level.

Is he worth a look?

The Old Tristan Beck Is Almost Back

"Working from the third-base side of the rubber, Beck has a fast and easy arm that he used to fire 91-93 mph fastballs throughout his outing, ratcheting up to 94 at times after the fifth inning and getting five swings and misses with the pitch.

On top of his fastball, Beck threw a 77-79 mph curve with good depth and occasional late-breaking action. He added an 82-84 mph changeup, thrown with fastball arm speed that was spotted perfectly on one occasion to the outside corner against a lefthanded hitter for a swinging strike, as the pitch fluttered down and away from the barrel. Beck was also comfortable throwing a mid-80s slider."

2018 MLB Draft: Tristan Beck, RHP, Stanford University

 

[Stokes1931]

From a Tiggers site.

Here are some of the top MLB draft prospects still available in Round 3


RHP Kumar Rocker

Rocker is a big-bodied righthander that many expected to be long gone by this point. He is the No. 23 prospect on MLB Pipeline’s draft board, and No. 29 on FanGraphs’ version. He is absolutely huge, at 6’5 and 250 pounds, and sports a fastball to match. He sits anywhere from 92-96 miles per hour with the heater, and can touch as high as 98 mph. His mechanics need a little work, but he’s a great athlete, and should be able to smooth out those inconsistencies with professional instruction. His slider is the better of two off-speed offerings, but as you might expect with a prep arm, both that and the changeup need work.

The issue here isn’t talent, but rather signability. Rocker reportedly wants a big payday to forego his commitment to Vanderbilt, and we might be past the point where any team can generate enough bonus money to woo him to the pros. Taking Rocker here would be a big risk, but after a night to negotiate, also an indication that the team is confident a deal will get done.

RHP Cole Wilcox
You could copy and paste most of Rocker’s profile here for Wilcox. Both are prep arms from Georgia — Wilcox out-dueled Rocker in a high-profile playoff game in May — and both can reach as high as 98 miles per hour. Wilcox isn’t build like a house, but still stands 6’5. His changeup is a bit better than his slider, but he has a good chance to develop a solid three-pitch mix. His delivery isn’t quite as smooth as some others, though, and there isn’t much physical projection remaining.

But also like Rocker, Wilcox is probably headed to school at this point. He is committed to Georgia, and was probably expecting a payday in the $3 million range after getting so much love throughout the draft cycle. But if the Tigers grab him, it means they think they can sign him.

RHP Tristan Beck
The industry is split on Beck, who missed significant time at Stanford this season due to injury. The draft-eligible sophomore had an excellent freshman season in 2016, but redshirted in 2017 after a stress fracture in his back. He has been solid this season, with a 2.98 ERA in 90 2⁄3 innings, but he only struck out 73 batters. Beck doesn’t have overpowering stuff, but sits 91-92 mph with the fastball and has an excellent changeup. He is the No. 35 prospect at MLB Pipeline, but No. 70 on FanGraphs because his “fastball is straight and doesn’t miss bats.”

OF Tristan Pompey
Few would have batted an eye if the Tigers had grabbed Pompey with their second round pick. He’s a big, athletic outfielder who should hit for both average and power, but isn’t as speedy as his brother Dalton, an outfielder in the Blue Jays system. Tristan is a switch hitter that has displayed some power and patience from both sides of the plate. He is the No. 51 prospect on MLB Pipeline’s board, but has dropped due to a recent injury (nothing serious, from what I gather) and an uptick in strikeouts. His defensive profile is likely limited to left field as well because of a below-average arm.

OF Mike Siani
A surefire center fielder at the next level, Siani is another prep player who will likely head to college. He stands a solid 6’1 and weighs 180 pounds, but scouts are worried about his ability to hit for power at the next level. He’s a bit raw at the plate in general, as there are some swing-and-miss issues at play too. Defensively, he’s a plus defender with a plus arm, and his plus speed will help him run down balls in the gaps. This gives him a relatively high floor as a prospect, but the issues with his bat and signability concerns left teams passing on him on Monday. He’s one that could boost his stock in a big way in college.

SS Nander de Sedas
de Sedas was considered a potential top overall pick once upon a time, but has seen his stock plummet over the past year. FanGraphs is concerned about his ability to handle premium velocity, and there were questions about his offensive profile even before this recent drop. He could be a true five-tool player if everything pans out, but he might be better off going to Florida State and jumping back into the draft pool in three years.

OF Kyle Isbel
Isbel is another college outfielder many would have liked as the Tigers’ second round pick. He is a plus runner with an average hit tool, and should hit for some power as well. He’s a well-rounded player who does a lot of things well, but doesn’t have the loud tools that would have gotten him drafted on Day 1. There are questions about his ability to stick in center field, and his value takes a hit if he has to move to a corner. It’s a fairly bland profile, but a safe one that should see him go early on Tuesday.

RHP Blaine Knight
Oh, great, another SEC righty, right? Not exactly. While Knight is a hard-throwing righthander who plies his trade in the Southeastern Conference, his command is a shade better than most of the arms the Tigers have grabbed in recent years. He went 11-0 and limited opponents to a 2.74 ERA for the Razorbacks this year, and walked just 22 batters in 95 1⁄3 innings (just over two batters per nine). He is razor-thin, at 6’3 and 165 pounds, but still ramps his fastball as high as 97 miles per hour. It sits a bit lower than that, though, and his off-speed stuff give him more of a back-end starter profile.

 

[tzill]

I would love Rocker at 45, but I doubt he lasts. Realistically, I am hoping for Hjelle.

Look at YOU!!

 

[tzill]

I thought the draft was supposed to resume now? Anyone see any results yet?

 

[Hangman]

I though 12 est. Then changed to 1230. Now im still waiting

 

[tzill]

Det just took Clemens...Rocker is there if we want him.

 

[tzill]

Jake Wong. RHP.

Huh....

 

[tzill]

When Wong was previously evaluated in the Cape Cod League, he was working out of the bullpen for the Orleans Firebirds. Now back to anchoring the Grand Canyon rotation, Wong was effective against Penn State on March 8th, striking out 10 over six innings, while allowing four hits and zero runs.

At 6-foot-2 and 200 pounds, Wong has a strong, durable frame. Working with a compact, quick arm from a three-quarter slot with a shallow wrap and short arm circle, Wong shows plus arm strength, and plus fastball velocity ranging from 91-to-94 mph. While he was able to run his fastball up to 96 mph in a relief role, it sat mostly at 92-to-93 mph in this outing, with boring action and run to both sides of the plate. His command of this offering was erratic during the start, but projects as average. At 74-to-78 mph, his curveball is a projectable, plus pitch, with 12-6 movement with sharp, late break, which differs from the 80-to-81 mph power breaking ball he showed last summer. He occasionally mixed in a ¾ depth version of the curveball, with slurvy action to vary the look. Wong showed some feel for an average change-up at 85-to-86 mph, but it was seldom used in this view.

As a collegiate starter with three average or better pitches, Wong should be given the opportunity to develop in the rotation as a professional, however he projects to have more value as a bullpen piece where his stuff will play up. With a strong summer and early spring returns to go on, Wong could come off the board late in day one or early in day two of the MLB Draft.

 

[tzill]

on Pick 95 now, Giants pick 106 in Round 4. Rocker still there.

 

[tzill]

From a Tiggers site.

Here are some of the top MLB draft prospects still available in Round 3


RHP Kumar Rocker

Rocker is a big-bodied righthander that many expected to be long gone by this point. He is the No. 23 prospect on MLB Pipeline’s draft board, and No. 29 on FanGraphs’ version. He is absolutely huge, at 6’5 and 250 pounds, and sports a fastball to match. He sits anywhere from 92-96 miles per hour with the heater, and can touch as high as 98 mph. His mechanics need a little work, but he’s a great athlete, and should be able to smooth out those inconsistencies with professional instruction. His slider is the better of two off-speed offerings, but as you might expect with a prep arm, both that and the changeup need work.

The issue here isn’t talent, but rather signability. Rocker reportedly wants a big payday to forego his commitment to Vanderbilt, and we might be past the point where any team can generate enough bonus money to woo him to the pros. Taking Rocker here would be a big risk, but after a night to negotiate, also an indication that the team is confident a deal will get done.

RHP Cole Wilcox
You could copy and paste most of Rocker’s profile here for Wilcox. Both are prep arms from Georgia — Wilcox out-dueled Rocker in a high-profile playoff game in May — and both can reach as high as 98 miles per hour. Wilcox isn’t build like a house, but still stands 6’5. His changeup is a bit better than his slider, but he has a good chance to develop a solid three-pitch mix. His delivery isn’t quite as smooth as some others, though, and there isn’t much physical projection remaining.

But also like Rocker, Wilcox is probably headed to school at this point. He is committed to Georgia, and was probably expecting a payday in the $3 million range after getting so much love throughout the draft cycle. But if the Tigers grab him, it means they think they can sign him.

RHP Tristan Beck
The industry is split on Beck, who missed significant time at Stanford this season due to injury. The draft-eligible sophomore had an excellent freshman season in 2016, but redshirted in 2017 after a stress fracture in his back. He has been solid this season, with a 2.98 ERA in 90 2⁄3 innings, but he only struck out 73 batters. Beck doesn’t have overpowering stuff, but sits 91-92 mph with the fastball and has an excellent changeup. He is the No. 35 prospect at MLB Pipeline, but No. 70 on FanGraphs because his “fastball is straight and doesn’t miss bats.”

OF Tristan Pompey
Few would have batted an eye if the Tigers had grabbed Pompey with their second round pick. He’s a big, athletic outfielder who should hit for both average and power, but isn’t as speedy as his brother Dalton, an outfielder in the Blue Jays system. Tristan is a switch hitter that has displayed some power and patience from both sides of the plate. He is the No. 51 prospect on MLB Pipeline’s board, but has dropped due to a recent injury (nothing serious, from what I gather) and an uptick in strikeouts. His defensive profile is likely limited to left field as well because of a below-average arm.

OF Mike Siani
A surefire center fielder at the next level, Siani is another prep player who will likely head to college. He stands a solid 6’1 and weighs 180 pounds, but scouts are worried about his ability to hit for power at the next level. He’s a bit raw at the plate in general, as there are some swing-and-miss issues at play too. Defensively, he’s a plus defender with a plus arm, and his plus speed will help him run down balls in the gaps. This gives him a relatively high floor as a prospect, but the issues with his bat and signability concerns left teams passing on him on Monday. He’s one that could boost his stock in a big way in college.

SS Nander de Sedas
de Sedas was considered a potential top overall pick once upon a time, but has seen his stock plummet over the past year. FanGraphs is concerned about his ability to handle premium velocity, and there were questions about his offensive profile even before this recent drop. He could be a true five-tool player if everything pans out, but he might be better off going to Florida State and jumping back into the draft pool in three years.

OF Kyle Isbel
Isbel is another college outfielder many would have liked as the Tigers’ second round pick. He is a plus runner with an average hit tool, and should hit for some power as well. He’s a well-rounded player who does a lot of things well, but doesn’t have the loud tools that would have gotten him drafted on Day 1. There are questions about his ability to stick in center field, and his value takes a hit if he has to move to a corner. It’s a fairly bland profile, but a safe one that should see him go early on Tuesday.

RHP Blaine Knight
Oh, great, another SEC righty, right? Not exactly. While Knight is a hard-throwing righthander who plies his trade in the Southeastern Conference, his command is a shade better than most of the arms the Tigers have grabbed in recent years. He went 11-0 and limited opponents to a 2.74 ERA for the Razorbacks this year, and walked just 22 batters in 95 1⁄3 innings (just over two batters per nine). He is razor-thin, at 6’3 and 165 pounds, but still ramps his fastball as high as 97 miles per hour. It sits a bit lower than that, though, and his off-speed stuff give him more of a back-end starter profile.

Knight 87 to BAL
Pompey 89 to MIA
Isbel 94 to KC

 

[tzill]

100 picks in...Rocker and Wilcox still on the board.

 

[tzill]

Blake Rivera RHP in Round 4. apparently, we drafted him last year as well.

 

[Hangman]

Winn, Keaton Iowa Western CC (IA) RHP R/R
we drafted him last year

 

[SFGRTB]

100 picks in...Rocker and Wilcox still on the board.

Both are going to college at this point. Someone will take a shot really late in the draft, but their intentions must have been pretty clear

 

[SFGRTB]

Some info on Wong from Fangraphs:

"Grand Canyon RHP Jake Wong was on the periphery of our preseason top 30, as scouts pegged him as a second- or third-round prospect entering the year. He dominated top-10-ranked TCU on Friday night, allowing two hits and two walks over six inning, striking out nine.

Wong was 94-96 in the first inning before settling into the 92-94 range, touching 95 here and there throughout the rest of his start. The fastball missed bats up above, and within, the strike zone and induced weak ground-ball contact when located down. It’s a plus fastball and easily Wong’s best pitch.

His secondaries were pretty generic. He has an upper-70s curveball that has some depth to it when located beneath the strike zone, but it lacks bite and he babies it into the zone when he wants to throw it for a strike. His changeup ranged from 84 to 89 mph. He has feel for locating it in competitive locales, and it occasionally has bat-missing movement, but it isn’t consistent right now.

Wong hides the ball well, and even an average changeup would play well with his fastball. It’s fair to project it there, and probably somewhat conservative, but the breaking ball just isn’t there right now. I’ll get several more looks at Wong throughout the spring, and scouts have seen average breaking balls from Wong in the past, but even with a dominant outing against a highly ranked foe in front of lots of heat, his stock hasn’t moved just yet.

Because spring training has begun and all the Arizona facilities are concentrated around Phoenix, lots of executives have the opportunity to see these early-season games without opportunity cost. It’s not as significant to “scout the scouts” at this time of year as it is closer to the draft. Notably, though, Dodgers president Andrew Friedman, manager Dave Roberts, Rockies GM Jeff Bridich, and Yankees scouting director Damon Oppenheimer were all in attendance for Wong’s start."

Draft Notes from College Baseball’s Opening Weekend | FanGraphs Baseball

Wong reminds me a lot of Jason Bahr, who the Giants drafted last year. Big fastball, probably would play up in the Pen but has the makings of a starter so you try him out there first to see what he can do.

 

[SFGRTB]

Blake Rivera RHP in Round 4. apparently, we drafted him last year as well.

Blake Rivera has an excellent curveball to go along with a mid 90s fastball. Rivera is a young JUCO J2, so he's just a sophomore.

He should command something slightly over the slot (which is ~$530K)