Draft Weekend is upon us at long last. Also, 3 games will be played. TEX v OAK 7/9-11

[saddles]

So far there are 7 guys left who I was hoping would be available when we pick next.

 

[saddles]

came home to a great result

Definitely.

 

[saddles]

So far there are 7 guys left who I was hoping would be available when we pick next.

And two picks later the number is reduced by 2. Now there are only 5.

 

[Nightcrawler]

And two picks later the number is reduced by 2. Now there are only 5.

how many picks until it’s our turn?

 

[Nightcrawler]

Jack, Al Leiter on MLB Draft | 07/12/2021

Jack Leiter and his father Al Leiter talk about Jack being drafted 2nd overall by the Texas Rangers

www.mlb.com

 

[saddles]

how many picks until it’s our turn?

We pick next at number 38 overall. They will do rounds 2-10 tomorrow afternoon.

 

[Kelleyman]

The infamous competitive balance round.

 

[saddles]

Rangers take Vandy RHP Leiter No. 2 overall

Jack Leiter grew up around the game of baseball, whether it was on fields around the country or in the MLB Network studios alongside his dad, two-time All-Star Al Leiter. Now, the younger Leiter looks to follow in his father’s footsteps as the Rangers selected the pitching sensation with the

www.mlb.com

"Rangers general manager Chris Young said that Leiter was at the top of their board for months, and the organization zeroed in on him early in the college baseball season. Young was thrilled that Texas even had the opportunity to draft Leiter once the Pirates took Louisville catcher Henry Davis at No. 1 overall."

 

[saddles]

There are 5 guys left that I was hoping for the Rangers to get in the second round. They are:

Josh Hartle
Matt Mikulski
Jaden Hill
Peyton Stovall
Ethan Wilson

Two of the guys I had listed to hope we get in the third rond are already gone. That leaves:

Braden Montgomery
Izaac Pacheco
Thatcher Hurd
Robert Gasser
Connor Norby

 

[saddles]

Jaden Hill is a pitcher from LSU who was projected to go fairly early in the first round before he had to undergo Tommy John surgery. Is anyone in favor of drafting him two picks from now.

This is the write up that Keith Law had about him.

"Hill went into the year as one of the top three college arms in the class but went down early in the year with Tommy John surgery. Prior to that he’d shown three above-average to plus pitches, touching 98, with plus control, and he seemed to have the size for durability, but had a history of minor injuries."

 

[saddles]

There are still 7 guys left who were in MLB Pipeline's top 30. There are still 10 guys left who were on Keith Law's top 30. 5 of those guys are on both lists so there are 12 guys left who were on one of those top 30 lists. If you combine those two lists the top 5 who were on both lists are:

Will Taylor
Anthony Solometo
Bubba Chandler
Joshua Baez
Izaac Pacheco

 

[Kelleyman]

 

[saddles]

At this point, I think these are the 5 guys that I am most interested in at pick 38.

Matt Mikulski
Ethan Wilson
Anthony Solometo
Bubba Chandler
Joshua Baez

Wilson and Baez are outfielders and the other three are pitchers. The first 2 guys are college players and the rest are high schoolers.

 

[saddles]

He is going to make some people look foolish within 4 or 5 years.

 

[saddles]

From Adam Morris:

"My guess is that, barring injury or underperformance, we see Leiter making starts in Arlington sometime in 2023. Coincidentally or not, that seems to fit the timeline when the organization is hoping to be a playoff contender again. And it would certainly be nice to see Jack Leiter pitching meaningful games in Arlington in about 26 months."

 

[saddles]

With the pick of Leiter, does that mean we spend on a free agent hitter or two this winter or maybe one each of the next two winters? Does it mean extending Gallo makes more sense?

 

[saddles]

 

[saddles]

With pick number 38 the Rangers select OF Aaron Zavala from Oregon. This was really early for him to be picked according to MLB Pipeline and Keith Law.

 

[saddles]

Solometo got picked by the Pirates.

 

[Kelleyman]