MLB First Year Player Draft: Thurs June 5 (1 Viewer)

[Eephus]

The MLB draft is the least interesting amateur draft of the four major North American sports. Aside from one of our last opportunities to watch Bud Selig awkwardly hug young men, it's hard to get too excited about a bunch of players that only the most dedicated fans have seen play.

But changes to the CBA and the trend toward teams retaining young talent make the draft more important than ever for medium to long term success.

For short-term fantasy purposes, I always focus on college bats but it seems like the ranks are pretty depleted this year. Catcher Max Pentecost looks like a better player in real life than fantasy. Trea Turner is a SS with 80 speed but not a lot of pop. The top OF (Zimmer, Conforto, Derek Fisher) all have contact questions.

College pitchers look stronger with Rodon, Beede, Freeland and Nola at the top. Nola is supposedly the most ready but it's hard to expect any returns until 2016 even if the good Lord's willing and the creek don't rise (TINSTAAPP).

I honestly don't know anything about the High School prospects other than Brady Aiken has been trending and Dee Gordon's brother is in there somewhere.

 

[Funkley]

Nick Gordon has been linked to the Twins at 5 in mocks I've seen. Hope so. Big need meets BPA.

 

[Fly]

Jacob Gatewood if you're looking at high school bats. Comparisons to ARod, Correa, and Machado from Sickels.

 

[Premier]

The Rays took college bats the past few years (Mahtook and Richie Schaeffer), I was all excited and then they went to single and double A and promptly died.

 

[Eephus]

Mock drafts are all over the map. Consensus seems to be that the Astros will pick LHP Brady Aiken at #1 and that SS Nick Gordon will go to either Minnesota at #5 or Toronto at #6.

 

[Northern Voice]

I think Toronto picks at 9 and 11, up here they're mostly being linked to Toussaint and Hoffman, as well as possibly Turner, Pentecost or Beede (who they drafted and didn't sign before but has signed the consent to be redrafted by Jays).

 

[Eephus]

One hour to go until Bud takes the stage.

The rumor is Rodon is threatening to pull an Appel if his slot and offer are not to his liking.

 

[Annyong]

Rodon is a Boras client right?

 

[Eephus]

on...the...clock

 

[Eephus]

and...a...commercial

 

[Eephus]

Brady Aiken is one old looking high school student.

 

[Eephus]

Aiken or Kolek: which one has elbow surgery first?

 

[pollardsvision]

Aiken or Kolek: which one has elbow surgery first?

I'll take the 18 year old throwing 102.

 

[Eephus]

Rodon to the White Sox

 

[Fly]

I just don't understand the mentality of using a top 5 pick on a pitcher nowadays. Especially a HS arm.

 

[Eephus]

Why does the #1 pick in a sport where players normally wear hats not wear a hat for his first interview

 

[Eephus]

Finally someone for Bud to shake hands with

 

[pollardsvision]

Why does the #1 pick in a sport where players normally wear hats not wear a hat for his first interview

Flash's kid knows what's up.

 

[Annyong]

Who'd the Cubs take? Can't check right now

 

[Raider Nation]

Who'd the Cubs take? Can't check right now

They took a catcher from Indiana University with the #4 pick. MLB.com had him rated as the 16th-best player in the draft.

 

[Eephus]

The Phillies are going to pick a 34 year old diesel mechanic student from DeVry Technical Institute

 

[Eephus]

Who'd the Cubs take? Can't check right now

They took a catcher from Indiana University with the #4 pick. MLB.com had him rated as the 16th-best player in the draft.

I doubt he'll catch at the MLB level.

 

[Raider Nation]

Who'd the Cubs take? Can't check right now

They took a catcher from Indiana University with the #4 pick. MLB.com had him rated as the 16th-best player in the draft.

I doubt he'll catch at the MLB level.

Yet he still may play for the Cubs.

 

[RnR]

WTF happened to your avatar Eephus?

 

[Eephus]

WTF happened to your avatar Eephus?

all the cool kids have shirtless soccer player avatars

 

[Raider Nation]

I already adblocked it.

 

[Eephus]

I just don't understand the mentality of using a top 5 pick on a pitcher nowadays. Especially a HS arm.

Theo seems to be avoiding this strategy

 

[Raider Nation]

You see some of the stupid numbers on these pitchers and you wonder how any of them fail.

 

[Raider Nation]

IN before the Brien Taylor jokes.

 

[pollardsvision]

Aiken or Kolek: which one has elbow surgery first?

Hah! Hoffman beat'em to it.

 

[Annyong]

I'm assuming the cubs can sign him below slot and use that extra money later

I think that's how it works

 

[Eephus]

I give up. Worst television ever.

 

[Premier]

I give up. Worst television ever.

Are they still filming it in that bunker that they've used the past few years?

I don't understand why baseball doesn't just rent out a small arena/theatre somewhere and hold it there. The freaking NHL draft goes to different arenas and puts a few thousand in the seats, even when they visit places like Carolina to have their draft.

Baffling.

 

[Raider Nation]

I give up. Worst television ever.

I'm enjoying the player highlights. Can't expect a big-budget production like with the NFL draft.

 

[Raider Nation]

Oh, come on!

 

[Eephus]

I give up. Worst television ever.

I'm enjoying the player highlights. Can't expect a big-budget production like with the NFL draft.

clowns from the Shark Pool have posted fantasy draft highlights with better production values

 

[pollardsvision]

I give up. Worst television ever.

Are they still filming it in that bunker that they've used the past few years?

I don't understand why baseball doesn't just rent out a small arena/theatre somewhere and hold it there. The freaking NHL draft goes to different arenas and puts a few thousand in the seats, even when they visit places like Carolina to have their draft.

Baffling.

Yeah, they need some drunken fans at this thing. Having the city with the #1 pick host would be a good idea.

Hell, they don't even need an arena. Hosting it in a BW3 would be more exciting.

 

[Celph Titled]

WTF happened to your avatar Eephus?

all the cool kids have shirtless soccer player avatars

Soccer fans are dumb.

 

[Eephus]

I give up. Worst television ever.

I'm enjoying the player highlights. Can't expect a big-budget production like with the NFL draft.

I thought you hated everything

 

[Celph Titled]

I just don't understand the mentality of using a top 5 pick on a pitcher nowadays. Especially a HS arm.

When a pitcher tore his UCL pre-TJS, his career was over. Now guys are coming back 12 months later and not suffering any dip in velocity.

 

[Raider Nation]

I give up. Worst television ever.

I'm enjoying the player highlights. Can't expect a big-budget production like with the NFL draft.

I thought you hated everything

I like money. And most puppies.

 

[Celph Titled]

This Derek Hill guy is supposed to be GOAT of HS prospects, defensively. A's might jump on him if that's the case.

 

[Celph Titled]

This Derek Hill guy is supposed to be GOAT of HS prospects, defensively. A's might jump on him if that's the case.

Or, Detroit.

 

[MAC_32]

I typically don't stash pitchers on my minor league taxi squad. I have at least two, probably three, and maybe four spots opening up this year.

I should have done more homework on this class, waaaay too many arms.

 

[MAC_32]

2b prospect drafted 35th for his bat and he can run too. Colorado picked him.

Target Forrest Wall, got it.

 

[Northern Voice]

Just like every team they meet lately, the Jays killed this too.

 

[mquinnjr]

The Phillies are going to pick a 34 year old diesel mechanic student from DeVry Technical Institute

Even better, in lieu of an infusion of some position player prospects to get some hitting back on the farm...first two picks are SP's.

Rube wants moar pitching, Rube gets moar pitching!

 

[Raider Nation]

Jonathan Bernhardt ‏@jonbernhardtTHE ROYALS DRAFTED A PITCHER NAMED SCOTT BLEWETT.

This may be worse than Bob Walk or Grant Balfour.

 

[mquinnjr]

Jonathan Bernhardt ‏@jonbernhardtTHE ROYALS DRAFTED A PITCHER NAMED SCOTT BLEWETT.

This may be worse than Bob Walk or Grant Balfour.

Now pitching in the bottom of the 9th , Kansas City RP Scott Blewett.

 

[Northern Voice]

Keith Law's opinion on Day 1:

Best Drafts

Cleveland

Arizona

Toronto

Boston

Head Scracthers

Milwaukee

Chicago Cubs

Tampa Bay

St. Louis