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

[Premier]

What did he not like about the Rays? Pick 72?

 

[Northern Voice]

What did he not like about the Rays? Pick 72?

I've disagreed with the industry consensus on Casey Gillaspie, a switch-hitter from Wichita State whose swing really reminds me of his older brother Conor, who has a career .395 slugging percentage in the majors. The Tampa Bay Rays took Casey with their first pick, even though Brad Zimmer was still on the board, then backed it up with Cameron Varga, a once-promising Ohio right-hander who fell off this spring with reduced velocity and noticeably greater effort required to get back up into the low 90s, grunting on some of his pitches.


They took Brent Honeywell, a junior college arm, at 72, which I assume was an under-slot deal to allow them to buy Varga away from UNC, but Honeywell is a 6-foot right-handed screwballer with an average fastball and poor command.

 

[Premier]

noticeably greater effort required to get back up into the low 90s, grunting on some of his pitches.

sounds great.

Thanks for posting.

 

[Premier]

Gillespie does remind me of a Casey Kotchmqn type.

Hopefully they don't fumble the top-5 pick next year.

 

[Northern Voice]

I remember the day after the 2007 draft, everyone was so excited about the haul the Jays had come away with. They had 7 picks in the first 2 rounds (including comp picks). Those players were:

Kevin Ahrens

J.P. Arencibia

Brett Cecil

Justin Jackson

Trystan Magnuson

John Tolisano

Eric Eiland

 

[Eephus]

Keith Law's opinion on Day 1:

Best Drafts

Cleveland

Arizona

Toronto

Boston

Head Scracthers

Milwaukee

Chicago Cubs

Tampa Bay

St. Louis

What's Keith serving for brunch on day 2

 

[shadyridr]

Pretty cool. My brothers girlfriends brother just got drafted in the 9th round