Notes from the Cubs Con call with Tim Wilken

[Tim]

Here are my notes from the conference call:

 

• It was a combination of things that led the Cubs to select Tyler Colvin over other players who may have been rated higher than him

• Tim Wilken felt that Tyler is a late maturing guy, he has a slender frame with remaining projection, he's an excellent leftfielder and could be in center, He is an average runner but a great baserunner and has a good knowledge of the game

• Tim went into the draft of an open mind and was looking to take the best player available. The scenarios worked out so that Tyler was the highest rated player on the board when the Cubs draft pick came up.

• Tim really believes in him as a player and feels that he has great prospects for growth

• when Tim was in Toronto he picked Alex Rios who was nowhere on the pre-draft board. While Tim does not want to compare the two players, he feels there is that type of projection with Tyler.

• There is no timetable for Tyler to reach the big leagues and he should have a normal progression through the minors. If his increase in production lately shows that he's maturing in coming on he could push the envelope and reach the big leagues pretty quickly.

• Tim feels that he has "more in his tank"

• Tyler projects as more of an average hitter than a power hitter

• Tim also said that the Cubs are looking to be “creative” from rounds five and on

[Jon]

Thanks for the notes.

 

Haven't they used up their creativity yet?

[CubDad4Ever]

Tim, thanks for the update. You are always all over the draft. Thanks for the great job. I like this pick. He sounds like a baseball guy with some projectibility, not just a toolsy guy. Coach L

[CaliforniaRaisin]

I hope my faith in Wilken is not misguided.

[Dirt Dog Sparly]

Thank You, Tim.

 

I hope Wilken is right.

[Ding Dong Johnson]

Creative? Why does that scare me?

[kylescubs23]

Thank you Tim, that was awesome.

 

Just based on his past, I trust Wilken. Samardija in the 5th?

[Guest]

And here's the official press release:

 

CUBS SELECT OUTFIELDER TYLER COLVIN WITH 13TH PICK OF DRAFT

TUESDAY, JUNE 6, 2006

 

The Chicago Cubs today selected outfielder and first baseman Tyler Colvin with the 13th selection in the 2006 First-Year Player Draft. Colvin, 20, is currently in his junior year at Clemson University and participating in the NCAA Super Regional.

 

TYLER COLVIN

 

PRIMARY POSITION: Left Field

BATS: Left THROWS: Left

HEIGHT: 6-3 WEIGHT: 190

AGE: 20

BIRTHDATE: 9/5/85

RESIDENCE: North Augusta, SC

HIGH SCHOOL: North Augusta High School

HIGH SCHOOL COACH: Drew Hummel

CUBS AREA SCOUT: Antonio Grissom

 

Colvin has had a strong 2006 campaign, leading the club with a .359 batting average (93-for-259), 22 doubles and 5 triples. His 12 home runs, 65 RBI and .622 slugging percentage rank second on the club.

 

Colvin – who was recently named the 2006 ACC Tournament MVP after going 10-for-24 (.417) in five games – is riding a 23-game hitting streak, the longest by a Tiger in 2006 and the fifth-longest in school history.

 

A left-handed hitter, Colvin owns a .315 career batting average (203-for-645) with 54 doubles, 7 triples, 19 home runs and 137 RBI in 181 games (160 starts).

 

“He’s a very good baseball player and an excellent outfielder in left. We may have some thought to put him in center field,” said Cubs Scouting Director Tim Wilken. “I like his ability to be a hitter. I really believe in this guy’s ability. You can see it in the numbers and the gradual increases in his numbers. I think there’s more to come from this player.”

 

Baseball America said Colvin has an “athletic body and sound left-handed swing” which “stands out among college bats.”

 

In 2005, Colvin received the Bob Bradley Award as Clemson’s MVP in the four-game series against rival South Carolina, going 7-for-18 with a double, 2 homers and 4 RBI. In addition, he tied his career-high with 3 doubles against N.C. State on April 23 last season, marking just the 13th time a Tigers player had 3 doubles in a game. Colvin joined former Clemson standout Khalil Greene, who was the 13th overall pick by San Diego in the 2002 draft, as the only players to accomplish the feat twice.

 

Colvin graduated from North Augusta (SC) High School, where he was rated the No. 1 player in South Carolina by the High School Sports Report. A former pitcher, Colvin earned the Aiken Standard Player of the Year award his junior season.

[Big Fergie J]

Thanks for the re-cap.

 

Wilken must have a good eye for "players under the radar"( my words...just guessing) if he drafted Alex Rios because most definitely Rios has become the real-deal.

 

So I trust Wilken's judgement.

 

Good Luck Tyler Colvin.

[texascub]

From the description, Colvin sounds rather similar to Murton; decent eye, baseball smarts, and defense but he doesn't have much power.

[goonys evil twin]

Sounds like the "best player available" comment is completely bogus. They wanted him, knew that he wasn't the best available, but also knew they couldn't get him without later picks.

 

If he signs this summer (a guy who was expecting 3rd round money should probably jump at 1st round offers) where would he play? Boise? Peoria? I'm not used to college hitters.

 

If they think he's a possible CF candidate, and he's already got the college pedigree, could Pie possibly be on the trading block with Hendry desperate for the team to get better in under 2 years (when his next extension will be talked about)?

[texascub]

Sounds like the "best player available" comment is completely bogus. They wanted him, knew that he wasn't the best available, but also knew they couldn't get him without later picks.

 

If he signs this summer (a guy who was expecting 3rd round money should probably jump at 1st round offers) where would he play? Boise? Peoria? I'm not used to college hitters.

 

If they think he's a possible CF candidate, and he's already got the college pedigree, could Pie possibly be on the trading block with Hendry desperate for the team to get better in under 2 years (when his next extension will be talked about)?

 

I think he'd start out at Peoria and possibly move to Daytona late in the year. He may start as a CF, but I think his future is in LF.

[jtownie]

If they think he's a possible CF candidate, and he's already got the college pedigree, could Pie possibly be on the trading block with Hendry desperate for the team to get better in under 2 years (when his next extension will be talked about)?

 

I was thinking the same thing. If they feel this guy can move up through the minors fairly quickly then I could definitely see Pie being bait this summer to bring in a big-time upgrade. Jones could be used as the stopgap CF for a few years until this kid is ready.

[Guest]

Wilken's emphasis during the call was that he expects a normal progression through the minors. The "pushing the envelope" comment was more in the context of if he continues the rapid progression he's shown from his sophomore to his junior year -- and even within his junior year.

[Ding Dong Johnson]

IF Colvin can turn out similar to Rios, then goodbye Felix and hello Bob Abreu or Miguel Cabrera?

[E.J.]

IF Colvin can turn out similar to Rios, then goodbye Felix and hello Bob Abreu or Miguel Cabrera?

 

I could see us trading for Abreu in a 3-way trade with Florida with Pie on his way to Florida.

 

I'd absolutely love a trade for Cabrera, but there are other teams out there who could offer much more than we can.

[CaliforniaRaisin]

Goony, I expect Colvin to head to Boise.

[imb]

He's similar to Alexis Rios, a player that has to hit .330 to have an even decent obp, great.

[Guest]

Let me be very specific...the comparison wasn't between Rios and Colvin as players. The comparison was between them as lower-ranked players that have a lot of projection that Wilken really liked.

[Balsa]

In Wilkin we trusty?

[TruffleShuffle]

Funny how the part about him being a cheaper sign wasn't mentioned.