Draft Day 2017 ← FREE KRAUT!

Draft Day 2017 81

12 Jun 2017  |  aardvark  |FK-All

I haven’t been around much lately but I’ve enjoyed draft day discussions with you all in the past,

Draft starts at 3pm, with the first 36 picks today. A’s have picks 6 and 33 today.

Even hours before the draft it remains very unclear who’s going where. BA is speculating that the A’s may have made a pre draft deal with Keston Hiura. Which, if true could be a very smart move in my opinion.

Also, I hear there’s some sort of non-baseball sporting event going on today too.

81 thoughts on “Draft Day 2017”

  1. lenscrafters Jun 12,2017 11:40 am

    I’m not a big fan of Hiura. Choosing a guy at 6 who may need TJ and doesn’t really have a defensive home even when healthy just doesn’t seem smart to me.

    They have plenty of available slot money for BPA. This is an organization that has had issue recognizing and drafting impact talent for a long time now with their first rounders – I don’t see them having a better go at it with later round picks.

  2. andeux Jun 12,2017 11:43 am

    Tidbits I’ve found from skimming BA and other sites:

    As with last year, there doesn’t seem to be a consensus #1 this year. Further complicating things, 2 of the consensus top 3 are real two-way prospects, with scouts differing on whether they will end up as pitchers or hitters. These are:
    Brendan McKay – 1B/LHP, Louisville
    Hunter Greene – RHP/SS, HS
    Kyle Wright – RHP, Vanderbilt
    They might not all go in the first three picks, but will almost certainly be gone before the A’s pick at #6
    (Jim Callis has Wright falling to the A’s, though, as Puk did last year.)

    The other two players most likely to be drafted in the top 5 are:
    MacKenzie Gore – LHP, HS
    Royce Lewis – SS/OF, HS
    Despite the A’s famous disdain for 1st round HS pitchers (last was Bonderman?) they are said to really like Gore, but now it looks like he may go as high as #3 to the Padres.
    I haven’t seen anything tying them to Lewis, but he might be the best HS bat in the draft, so if he did fall, maybe they would consider him.

    Players linked to the A’s:
    Austin Beck – OF, HS
    Keston Hiura – 2B/OF, UC Irvine
    Jeren Kendall – OF, Vanderbilt
    J.B. Bukauskas – RHP, UNC
    Beck has been mentioned a lot as a hitter the A’s like, and will probably be a top 10 pick.
    Hiura, as Aardvark says, is the subject of some recent buzz around both the A’s, and also (surprisingly) the Braves who pick just before Oakland. He is said to be a “bat-first” player, with questions around his defense (so would fit right in), and also might come a little cheaper, possibly saving money that could be used to go over-slot on later picks. That combination sounds a little disappointing for the #6 pick.
    BA had the A’s picking Kendell and Bukauskas in early mock drafts, but both have subsequently fallen to the middle of the first round. In Bukauskas’ case, it’s because he had some surprising struggles in late-season starts.

    BA mocks
    Slusser
    MLB mock

    TINSTAAFK
    • lenscrafters Jun 12,2017 11:55 am || Up

      Beck would be my choice. He’s projected to stick in center, is athletic, has power, and has 60-70 grade speed. There’s been Trout comps which makes me roll my eyes a bit but he does profile similarly to George Springer or Grady Sizemore. I love power/speed combo centerfielders.

      • Future Ed Jun 12,2017 4:38 pm || Up

        i know nothing from nothing, but my choice would be whoever the A’s decide not to take.

        I have $5. No I don\'t.
      • Glorious Mundy Jun 12,2017 4:40 pm || Up

        He’s available!!!!!

    • andeux Jun 12,2017 3:38 pm || Up
      TINSTAAFK
      • lenscrafters Jun 12,2017 3:49 pm || Up

        If Wright is available at 6, that would be incredible. And if the A’s pass on him, that would be even more incredible.

      • aardvark Jun 12,2017 4:13 pm || Up

        Twins take Royce Lewis.

      • aardvark Jun 12,2017 4:13 pm || Up

        Twins take Royce Lewis.

        Lewis’s unique combination of explosive tools, top-of-the-scale makeup and up-the-middle defensive profile make him arguably the best position player prospect in this year’s class. “In my opinion Royce Lewis is the best player in the country,” JSerra head coach Brett Kay said in April. “You want to see that kid excel because that’s how good of a kid he is. He deserves everything that’s coming his way.” What’s coming his way is a multi-million dollar signing bonus. Lewis was the MVP of the Trinity League as a sophomore and again as a junior. Lewis is high-waisted and broad-shouldered and runs like a gazelle; his best run times from home to first base are under four seconds. He’s typically a 70 grade runner but can flash an 80 run time when he gets out of the box well. He also shows plus-plus bat speed and plus raw power. Lewis played third base as an underclassman at JSerra and moved over to shortstop after teammate Chase Strumpf graduated. He played center field often on the summer showcase circuit preceding his senior year and showed plus range and flashes of advanced defensive instincts. He has the quick feet and plus arm strength required to play shortstop, though scouts aren’t certain that he’ll make the necessary adjustments as he continues to fill out and the speed of the game advances. Scouts have noted Lewis’s inconsistent spring at the plate, as there is length to his swing that has led to occasional weak contact. The UC Irvine recruit has had a consistently high contact rate, shows an advanced approach and a sound understanding of the strike zone. He makes lots of hard contact and has plus power potential. His pure hitting ability and defense will be the keys to his pro development. Lewis is in consideration to be taken with the first overall pick and is unlikely to slide far in the draft, likely being selected in the top 10.

  3. aardvark Jun 12,2017 1:57 pm

    While I usually dislike the below slot deal approach, I think it’s a smart year to make a deal. I do like some of the other players who would likely be available at 6, but given that the talent level is so close, I think it’s not a bad idea to save some money that could go for a player in on of the next few rounds who falls.

    Hiura has risk because he hasn’t played the field and will probably need TJ surgery after signing. Yes there’s lost development time but TJ concerns me a lot less for a position player.

    He has great bat speed an an advanced approach, with good power. By some accounts his bat is close to MLB ready now, which makes me far less concerned about his defensive questions.

    • lenscrafters Jun 12,2017 2:27 pm || Up

      I just don’t agree that the talent is close. Without even comparing to the high impact prep talents likely to be available, there’s no indication from reports that his hitting stands out among just the top college level bats like Haseley, Pavin Smith, or Brent Rooker (who are all healthy and have set positions, with the exception of maybe Rooker). If he was far and away the unanimous best bat in the class, then it’d be more interesting. But he isn’t, which means that the other minuses (injury, defense) become magnified.

      With number 6 overall, you don’t need to settle for someone with that many question marks. I can understand cutting an underslot deal with a guy like this at 20+.

      • aardvark Jun 12,2017 3:16 pm || Up

        We must be looking at different sources then. For example BA has him among the top 3 college players for both hit tool and strike zone discipline. And his power is at least above average.

        To compare to those other guys, Smith is also on both. Rooker is listed as top 3 in power, Haseley is top 3 on none of those tools.

        • lenscrafters Jun 12,2017 3:41 pm || Up

          Yes, his best two attributes are surely top 3 or we wouldn’t be having this discussion. What about power?

          The point is that he pretty much needs to be the unanimous best college bat to offset the other concerns he has that similar top college guys don’t have. Which source confirms this?

          • aardvark Jun 12,2017 3:57 pm || Up

            I edited my post to add more info, his power is at least above average, plus according to some. And I disagree that he has to be the unanimous best college bat to offset the concerns. If his bat is similar or even tick below Smith’s and he wind’s up at even LF rather than 2b or CF, he’s of comparable value to Smith who is a 1b. If you can get that with a discount, I’m all for it.

            • lenscrafters Jun 12,2017 4:01 pm || Up

              We shall see soon enough. Either this is the last discussion we have on Hiura or the first of many.

      • andeux Jun 12,2017 3:17 pm || Up

        He’s the leader in park-adjusted runs created but I don’t know if that takes quality of competition into account.

        TINSTAAFK
        • lenscrafters Jun 12,2017 3:43 pm || Up

          It’s a definite point in his favor, but it’s a small part of the equation. There’s a reason why none of the other guys in the top ten by wRC+ are projected as first rounders.

  4. Glorious Mundy Jun 12,2017 4:02 pm

    Gratuitous Jeter slurpage in the MLB Network intro package.

  5. lenscrafters Jun 12,2017 4:08 pm

    Law has who’s going 1 already. It’s Royce Lewis.

    • aardvark Jun 12,2017 4:15 pm || Up

      Scouting report on Lewis:

      Lewis’s unique combination of explosive tools, top-of-the-scale makeup and up-the-middle defensive profile make him arguably the best position player prospect in this year’s class. “In my opinion Royce Lewis is the best player in the country,” JSerra head coach Brett Kay said in April. “You want to see that kid excel because that’s how good of a kid he is. He deserves everything that’s coming his way.” What’s coming his way is a multi-million dollar signing bonus. Lewis was the MVP of the Trinity League as a sophomore and again as a junior. Lewis is high-waisted and broad-shouldered and runs like a gazelle; his best run times from home to first base are under four seconds. He’s typically a 70 grade runner but can flash an 80 run time when he gets out of the box well. He also shows plus-plus bat speed and plus raw power. Lewis played third base as an underclassman at JSerra and moved over to shortstop after teammate Chase Strumpf graduated. He played center field often on the summer showcase circuit preceding his senior year and showed plus range and flashes of advanced defensive instincts. He has the quick feet and plus arm strength required to play shortstop, though scouts aren’t certain that he’ll make the necessary adjustments as he continues to fill out and the speed of the game advances. Scouts have noted Lewis’s inconsistent spring at the plate, as there is length to his swing that has led to occasional weak contact. The UC Irvine recruit has had a consistently high contact rate, shows an advanced approach and a sound understanding of the strike zone. He makes lots of hard contact and has plus power potential. His pure hitting ability and defense will be the keys to his pro development. Lewis is in consideration to be taken with the first overall pick and is unlikely to slide far in the draft, likely being selected in the top 10.

      • lenscrafters Jun 12,2017 4:21 pm || Up

        There was talk that the Twins analytics team wanted McKay and their scouts wanted Greene. Guess this was the compromise pick.

  6. aardvark Jun 12,2017 4:18 pm

    Greene goes #2:

    Greene is one of the most intriguing draft prospects of the past few decades. In a class loaded with legitimate two-way prospects, the UCLA recruit is the cream of the crop. He’s a smooth defender at shortstop with plus body control and glove actions to go with plus-plus arm strength. Greene is a below-average runner and possesses a physical 6-foot-4 frame, which lead to questions about his future position if he hits. Offensively, Greene’s calling card is his loud righthanded power; he was a regular home run derby participant and winner on the high school showcase circuit. His pure hitting ability is behind the rest of his tools, and he is still raw in terms of his timing and ability to barrel breaking pitches.Despite a first-round draft profile as a hitter, Greene is more likely to reach the majors as a righthanded pitcher. He has an exceptionally athletic delivery with an easy finish, and he pitched mostly at 95-99 throughout the spring of his senior season, with his fastball reaching as high as 102 mph for some scouts, while others had him topping out at 101. He was throwing both a slider and a curveball as a senior, with his slider figuring to be a bigger part of his future. Thrown in the low 80s, the pitch flashes slurvy tilt and earns above-average projections from scouts. He throws all four of his pitches for strikes. Greene has focused on pitching off his fastball and doesn’t have as many reps with his offspeed stuff as a result. He flashes feel for his changeup, which scouts feel comfortable projecting given Greene’s advanced command and athleticism. Greene has massive hands with thick fingers, elements that tend to predict quick changeup growth.Greene was a high-achieving student and scored a 31 on the ACT, a score that ranks among the top three percent of all students taking the test. In the winter prior to his senior spring, he organized a sock drive for the homeless, sending autographed cards of himself to fans who donated socks. Greene was a disciple of Alan Jaeger at seven years old and has specific training techniques that he’s reluctant to stray from at the next level. He long tosses prior to games and actively practices yoga to keep himself flexible and present. He also began training at MLB’s Urban Youth Academy when he was seven and learned from future Major Leaguers such as Aaron Hicks and Anthony Gose. Greene will be 17 at the time of the draft and won’t turn 18 until August. Greene stopped pitching roughly six weeks prior to the draft to protect his arm. He is a candidate to be the first ever high school righthanded pitcher to be selected with the first overall pick, and is unlikely to slip out of the top five on draft day.

    • Future Ed Jun 12,2017 4:21 pm || Up

      102 mph for some scouts, while others had him topping out at 101.

      [rolls eyes] do we really need to have the debate over a mile per hour? for a HS kid?

      I have $5. No I don\'t.
  7. andeux Jun 12,2017 4:28 pm

    Gore 3 and McKay 4 seem fairly certain

    TINSTAAFK
  8. aardvark Jun 12,2017 4:30 pm

    Gore to SD:

    Strikethrowing lefthanders are a hot commodity, and they’re even more valuable when they have velocity and the ability to spin a breaking ball. Gore checks all those boxes and more. He’s an elite athlete on the mound, where he employs a very high kick and long stride off the rubber. He gets deep extension over his front side with his torso consistently landing over his front knee. As Gore grew taller and stronger entering the spring of his senior year, his stuff took a jump. He pitches at 89-93 and can hit 95 or 96 mph with his fastball, showing the ability to get sink on the pitch or cut it in toward righthanded batters or run it away from them. He throws two distinct breaking balls. Gore’s curveball shows plus potential with tight 1-to-7 snap and mid 70s velocity. His slider is also a weapon with more horizontal tilt and more firm velocity, reaching into the low 80s. He flashes feel for his low 80s changeup, which projects as an above-average to plus offering. Gore repeats his unorthodox mechanics well and shows elite control for a high school pitcher. As he gains strength, Gore will look to add stability to his lower half. His mechanics can sometimes give him difficulty getting on top of his curveball, an issue he’ll aim to correct with reps in the low minors. Some evaluators believe Gore is the top high school pitching prospect in the class due to his command of a well-rounded arsenal of pitches.

  9. andeux Jun 12,2017 4:34 pm


    Boo

    TINSTAAFK
  10. aardvark Jun 12,2017 4:35 pm

    Rays must be thrilled to get Mckay:

    McKay’s amateur career goes down as one of the most decorated in the last 35 years. At Black Hawk High outside of Pittsburgh, McKay tossed 72.1 consecutive scoreless innings over his final two seasons, the second-longest streak in recorded U.S. high school history. A 34th-round pick of the Padres in 2014, he headed to Louisville and has been a two-time first-team All-American as the nation’s top two-way player and the 2015 Freshman of the Year. This June he will likely become Baseball America’s third three-time first-team All-American joining Greg Swindell and Robin Ventura. He dominated for two seasons on the mound and took his offensive game to a new level in 2017, including a four-homer game at Eastern Kentucky. In mid-May, McKay ranked in the top 10 nationally in OBP and slugging, and he was in the discussion for being the best pure hitter in the draft class. Scouts remain mixed on his overall power potential, but McKay is getting to his power more this season, and scouts believe his defense, baserunning and overall feel as a first baseman would improve if he gave up pitching. His best-case scenario as a position player is a career along the lines of that of Adrian Gonzalez, though McKay needs polish defensively to merit that overall comparison. His even-keeled demeanor and temperament means the game never speeds up on him and particularly comes into play on the mound. He excels at locating his 89-93 mph fastball to his glove side, pitching inside to righthanded hitters with aplomb and pitching on the black of the plate with angle consistently. His advanced fastball command–his best attribute as a pitcher–earns some comparisons to Cliff Lee, though he’s thicker-bodied along the lines of Swindell. McKay’s curveball, like his fastball, earns above-average grades. He commands it, lands it and buries it for strikeouts, and scouts believe both pitches could improve to true plusses if McKay gave up hitting and focused on pitching, particularly in terms of a consistent starter’s routine. His changeup is a third pitch that he uses rarely and will have to improve as a pro. He could be a middle-of-the-order hitter or No. 3 starter, the latter in short order. His baseball athleticism was evident in his quick pickup of a cut fastball in late April, which helped him add a fourth pitch to his repertoire. McKay is a true top 10 pick either way, a testament to his baseball athleticism and IQ and overall feel for the game.

  11. Glorious Mundy Jun 12,2017 4:39 pm

    On the clock!!

  12. aardvark Jun 12,2017 4:41 pm

    Wright:

    A product of a northern Alabama high school just north of Huntsville, Wright could go from undrafted in 2014 to the top overall pick in 2017. Wright was Vanderbilt’s go-to reliever as a freshman in its 2015 College World Series runner-up team, then as a sophomore he gave Vanderbilt a 1-2 punch with Dodgers first-rounder Jordan Sheffield. He entered the spring as Vanderbilt’s Friday starter after a strong summer with USA Baseball’s Collegiate National Team. He got off to a slow start in 2017 despite a fastball that often sat 95-97 mph early on, but his fastball command improved to solid-average as he dialed it back a bit to 92-95 mph, and that opened the way for him to get to his plus secondary stuff. Wright’s slider is a hard mid-80s pitch with late life and at times cutter shape that can be plus; his curveball, his preferred breaking ball, has plus shape and power at around 80 mph. Teams laid off the curveball early when he wasn’t throwing his fastball for strikes, and he needs to land both breaking balls for strikes more consistently going forward. Some scouts prefer the slider over his curve, though Wright throws the curve more often. Wright’s power changeup in the upper 80s flashes plus as well with late bottom, though he uses it fairly rarely. Wright’s clean arm action, low-maintenance delivery and sturdy 6-foot-4, 220-pound frame help him maintain velocity deep into games, up to 94 mph even into the ninth inning of his complete games. He was getting better as the season went on, including a dominant 38-inning stretch in April and May in which he allowed just 15 hits and nine walks while striking out 44. Wright had moved to the top of the college righthander crop.

  13. Glorious Mundy Jun 12,2017 4:41 pm

    What’s the incentive for a player to agree to an underslot deal before being picked? He likes the system?

    • andeux Jun 12,2017 4:43 pm || Up

      The incentive is that someone else might take the deal and get drafted in that slot if you don’t.

      TINSTAAFK
      • Glorious Mundy Jun 20,2017 6:55 pm || Up

        But why does that matter to me? The value to me in getting drafted above that player is the higher slot value, and I’m not getting that. Is the idea that that the players getting these offers are going to be picked so far above their talent range that even an underslot deal will be a net plus?

        • andeux Jun 20,2017 7:11 pm || Up

          I think that’s the idea.
          e.g. Merrell was picked 33rd, ended up signing for #38 slot amount, which is still higher than most expected him to go.

          The part I don’t fully understand is the maneuvering involved in taking the underslot guys first to free up money for someone they like more but don’t draft until the third round.

          TINSTAAFK
  14. aardvark Jun 12,2017 4:45 pm

    Woah, Dalles Braden’s beard!

  15. aardvark Jun 12,2017 4:46 pm

    Lenscrafters gets his wish:

    As an underclassman, Beck was a known commodity for Carolina area scouts thanks to travel ball and his own high school team. Then Beck tore his left knee’s ACL just as his junior year came to a close and missed the entire summer and fall as a result. When scouts went to go see Beck hit in the cages during the winter, he was a different animal. The North Carolina recruit used his time away to fill in his frame, and his plus-plus bat speed attracted upper-level scouts early in the spring. Decision-makers didn’t get to see Beck hitting with a wood bat against good high school pitching on the showcase circuit, but he’s shown present all-fields power and puts on a show in batting practice. He is a plus runner and has a plus arm, giving him the potential to become an impact defender in center field, where his reads and route-running remain raw. Beck has moving parts to his swing, with a bit of a leg kick and some back-elbow drive to his load. In spurts he’ll show a more selective approach and sound understanding of the strike zone, but he will also become more aggressive at times and can sometimes struggle to barrel breaking pitches. He is a passionate player with a fiery competitive nature to his game. Beck is a hard worker and comes from a humble, small-town upbringing. He is a high-risk, high-reward prospect whose tools compare to some of the best players in the game. If he proves that he can get to those tools consistently, Beck has the potential to develop into an all-star.

  16. lenscrafters Jun 12,2017 4:48 pm

    Excellent. Hope I was right.

  17. aardvark Jun 12,2017 4:51 pm

    Dbacks take Pavin Smith:

    Smith ranked 108 on the BA 500 out of Palm Beach Gardens High, where he was a teammate of Florida’s J.J. Schwarz. An unsigned Rockies 32nd round pick, Smith attended Virginia and hit .307 as a freshman in the Cavaliers’ 2015 national championship season. Smith has matured into the best pure hitter in the draft class for some scouts, making consistent hard contact with a pretty lefthanded swing and incredible ability to avoid swings and misses. As Virginia reached its exam break in May, Smith had more home runs (10) than strikeouts (seven), using an all-fields approach but still producing plus power while being a plus hitter. That ability to pair high contact with power bodes extremely well for the future, according to most teams’ research. Smith moves well for his size and is a solid athlete, and most scouts consider him an above-average defender. The track record for college first baseman high in the draft is fairly mixed, but Smith has hit his way into contention

    • lenscrafters Jun 12,2017 4:55 pm || Up

      2 college 1B top 10 overall…has this ever happened?

  18. aardvark Jun 12,2017 4:52 pm

    And I have to leave for a bit now.

  19. Glorious Mundy Jun 12,2017 4:52 pm

    We get another pick tonight!

  20. Glorious Mundy Jun 12,2017 4:55 pm

    This kid’s got an 80 wispy high school mustache tool.

    • andeux Jun 12,2017 6:30 pm || Up

      Future comp: Josh Reddick

      TINSTAAFK
      • Future Ed Jun 20,2017 6:58 pm || Up

        FUTURE COMP: DAVID BOWIE ……………………………………………….June 12, 2017 631pm |up

        I have $5. No I don\'t.
  21. Glorious Mundy Jun 12,2017 6:29 pm

    • Future Ed Jun 12,2017 6:45 pm || Up

      don’t they try to obscure who they are interested in?

      I have $5. No I don\'t.
  22. Future Ed Jun 12,2017 7:15 pm

    “already had the surgery, may as well let him start, I’m not worried about his durability”

    I have $5. No I don\'t.
  23. Future Ed Jun 12,2017 7:17 pm

    I have $5. No I don\'t.
    • Future Ed Jun 12,2017 8:12 pm || Up

      I have $5. No I don\'t.
    • lenscrafters Jun 12,2017 8:38 pm || Up

      Reports have him at 70-80 grade speed with some contact and plate discipline skills. Doesn’t have a position or power. The hope is that he figures out how to play CF and walks enough to make the speed a factor.

  24. Glorious Mundy Jun 12,2017 8:26 pm

    • Future Ed Jun 12,2017 8:27 pm || Up

      I have $5. No I don\'t.
    • Future Ed Jun 12,2017 8:27 pm || Up

      you seem bored

      I have $5. No I don\'t.
      • Glorious Mundy Jun 12,2017 8:33 pm || Up

        stressed

        • AV Jun 12,2017 10:18 pm || Up

          pshaw. “stressed.”

          imagine being a kitten with all these fireworks.

          THIS IS NOT THE HEAVY PETTING I WANTED TO DO TONIGHT.

          *i’m* AV. alex vause. put this loon in psych before she hurts someone.
    • lenscrafters Jun 12,2017 8:40 pm || Up

      Decent power and arm but not much else. A’s could’ve done better both here and 33. Will be interesting to see how the second day goes as they should have some savings from these two picks.

  25. lenscrafters Jun 12,2017 10:38 pm

    Some video of Beck:

    He has some fire to his game. It’d be nice to see some of that return to A’s baseball.

  26. Glorious Mundy Jun 13,2017 9:48 am

    That’s surprising.

    • Englishmajor Jun 13,2017 3:17 pm || Up

      It really is. Also Miguel Sano has a huge lead in the third-base voting, which is not very Minnesotan.

    • colin Jun 14,2017 8:09 am || Up

      People must be actually paying attention to the numbers when they cast their votes. Yonder leads all AL first basemen in SLG, WAR, wRC+. And the 310/403/649 triple slash looks pretty good.

  27. Glorious Mundy Jun 13,2017 10:04 am

    Today’s google doodle is for Future Ed.

  28. andeux Jun 13,2017 10:26 am

    81: Nick Allen, HS SS
    Allen was projected as a potential first rounder, and is committed to USC, so they may have to go overslot to sign him as a third-round pick.

    TINSTAAFK
  29. lenscrafters Jun 13,2017 10:27 am

    A’s select prep shortstop Nick Allen in the 3rd

    There might not be a player in this Draft class more universally liked by area scouts than Allen. Getting decision-makers to sign off on taking a 5-foot-8 shortstop early will ultimately determine when the Southern Cal commit hears his name called in June. The one thing no one questions is Allen’s ability to stick at shortstop. He is a plus defender with outstanding range and more than enough arm to make throws from all over the diamond, making highlight reel plays with regularity, even on big stages like the Perfect Game All-American Classic. While Allen will never hit for power, he has added some strength in his lower half and should be able to continue to do so as he matures, allowing him to shoot the ball to the gaps. He’s a plus runner with outstanding instincts, so he can stretch singles to doubles and doubles to triples. Allen does play his home games on turf, so some of his times might be a bit inflated, but no one doubts his skills play on any surface. Allen endears himself to scouts even more with his outstanding makeup and baseball IQ. His supporters see a Jose Altuve type profile, albeit one with less power, but who can stay at short. The success of an undersized player like Altuve might help allay some concerns and help Allen come off the board in the early stages of the Draft, though there are bound to be some teams who won’t take a player his size in the first round.

    • lenscrafters Jun 13,2017 10:37 am || Up

      At BA #29 and MLB.com #30, he was the best remaining player on their boards at the time of selection. Some reports have him as the best defensive player in the entire pool.

      • ptbnl Jun 14,2017 2:10 am || Up

        Joins a monastery in 3, 2, …

        If this is His will, He's a son of a bitch.
  30. andeux Jun 13,2017 3:35 pm 
    4 	111 	Toffey, Will 	Vanderbilt 	         3B 	L/R 	JR      6'2"  195lbs  	
5 	141 	Sanchez, Santi 	Colegio Hector Urdaneta  C 	R/R 	HS	6'1"  197lbs  	
6 	171 	Salow, Logan 	U Kentucky 	         LHP 	L/L 	SR	5'11" 185lbs  	
7 	201 	Dunshee, Parker Wake Forest 	         RHP 	R/R 	SR	6'1"  205lbs  	
8 	231 	Howard, Brian 	TCU 	                 RHP 	R/R 	SR	6'9"  185lbs  	
9 	261 	Poche, Jared 	LSU 	                 LHP 	R/L 	SR	6'1"  205lbs  	
10 	291 	Meggs, Jack 	Washington 	          OF 	L/L 	SR	6'1"  175lbs

    A baseball and hockey star at Salisbury (Conn). Prep, where his brother John coached him in both sports, Toffey turned down the Yankees as a 23rd-rounder in 2014 to attend Vanderbilt. He started from day one with the Commodores, playing on their 2015 College World Series runners-up before slumping as a Draft-eligible sophomore in 2016, when the Orioles took a flier on him in the 25th round. He got back on track in the Cape Cod League last summer and has been Vandy’s best hitter this spring, leading the Southeastern Conference in walks (46) and ranking second in on-base percentage (.472) heading into the NCAA playoffs. Teams that rely on analytics will like Toffey more than clubs that place more emphasis on pure tools. He controls the strike zone very well and his numbers are trending in the right direction; he has improved his walk and strikeout rates each year and hit for more power than ever in 2017. Some evaluators wonder if the left-handed hitter has enough bat speed to hit for the average and power demanded of third basemen at higher levels, however. Though he’s a fringy runner, Toffey provides quality defense and solid arm strength at third baseman. Even scouts who question his tools give him credit for his makeup and competitiveness.

    Poche is a strike thrower with a fastball that ranges from 88-91 mph and a good 12-6 curveball. He was drafted by the Padres in the 14th round last year, but along with LSU teammates Cole Freeman and Kramer Robertson, decided to try for a trip to the College World Series this season.

    TINSTAAFK
  31. lenscrafters Jun 14,2017 9:59 am

    A’s just drafted Garrett Mitchell prep OF in the 14th. Ranked MLB.com 54 and BA #62

    Mitchell’s raw tools measure up against anyone’s in this Draft class, and he is probably the best pure athlete in Southern California. Concerns about his ability to tap into those tools consistently, along with his ability to manage his Type 1 diabetes, continue to affect his Draft stock. The UCLA commit has starting center fielder potential without question. He is a plus runner who gets down the line from the left side in a hurry, is a legitimate basestealing threat and covers a ton of ground in center field. He has a solid-average arm, if not better, and has good instincts defensively. At the plate, he has the ability to make hard contact, albeit not always with the prettiest swing path, and has legitimate raw power, though it hasn’t shown up in games. There have been big league players who have had success while managing Type 1 diabetes, and Mitchell has talked with Sam Fuld about how to do so. Mitchell was diagnosed in the third grade, so he is more in tune with his body than most high schoolers, but teams will have to feel comfortable with that before gambling on his considerable toolset.

    Gonna be a real tough sign but it’d be amazing if they do.

    • Glorious Mundy Jun 20,2017 8:03 pm || Up

      Not sure how credible this is but…

      • lenscrafters Jun 21,2017 9:05 am || Up

        Shitty source is shitty. It definitely seemed too good to be true.

        • Glorious Mundy Jun 21,2017 9:29 am || Up

          Darn

          • andeux Jun 21,2017 9:45 am || Up

            I’m not sure if it’s even possible to sign both Mitchell and Allen.
            Pool is $11.4 M, $7.1 already committed to the top two picks.
            Slot for Deichmann is $1.6M. He’ll probably sign for less, but still probably at least in the $1M range.
            That leaves $3M-$3.5M for everyone else.

            TINSTAAFK
        • Glorious Mundy Jun 21,2017 9:38 am || Up

          Kubota said something a little weird about Mitchell:

          We really, really like Garrett and his ability. It was just a situation where we figured we would take him there. We knew what he was thinking in terms of what it would take for him to sign, and we knew we probably wouldn’t have that, but you never know what is going to happen with your higher round picks in the draft. If something unforeseen would have happened, at least you have a back-up.

          I don’t quite follow the logic there. Higher round picks not signing wouldn’t free up their money for Mitchell, as I understand the rules. Maybe the idea is that if Allen spurns the overslot money they are able to cobble together from other picks, Mitchell could decide to take it?

  32. andeux Jun 30,2017 12:41 pm

    TINSTAAFK
    • Glorious Mundy Jun 30,2017 1:17 pm || Up

      Very nice. Successful draft as far as I’m concerned.

      • nevermoor Jul 3,2017 3:55 pm || Up

        Assume this means there’s no way Garrett happens, right?

        "There's never enough time to do all the nothing you want"

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