Draft and Follow

[CaliforniaRaisin]

I went through last year's draft and this is what I have. The deadline to sign these guys is May 28th. So far IF Jovan Rosa (22) and RHPs Cedric Redmond (27), Brett Summers (28) and Jordan Latham (29) have already signed.

 

Signed by the Cubs:

 

22. IF Jovan Rosa, Lake City CC, FL: 220 AB, .359/.458/.564, 34 BB, 34 K

 

27. RHP Cedric Redmond, Oakton CC, IL (Joliet Township HS, IL): 46.2 IP, 4.63 ERA, 48 H, 64 K/31 BB

 

28. RHP Brett Summers, South Suburban CC, IL: 65 IP, 4.43 ERA, 66 H, 53 K/36 BB - At the Area Code Games two years ago, righthander Brett Summers had the best arm among Midwest pitchers--better than Michael Bowden, a Red Sox supplemental first-round pick in 2005. Summers also entered last year with high draft hopes, but a disappointing spring and a commitment to Virginia caused him to slide to the 36th round, where the Yankees took him. Summers wound up at South Suburban Junior College, though his brief stay at Virginia cost the Yankees his draft rights. He didn't have a good spring and pitched at 85-88 mph, but he was drafted on the basis of his body (6-foot-6, 185 pounds) and past velocity (90-93 mph). - from BA last year.

 

29. RHP Jordan Latham, JC of Southern Idaho: 73.1 IP, 1.84 ERA, 52 H, 66 K/19 BB – FB in the low 90s at the time of last year’s draft.

 

39. P/OF Marcus Hatley, Palomar JC, CA (Mission Hills HS, CA): 169 AB, .290/.313/.444, 3 BB, 36 K - signed as a pitcher

 

43. SS Anthony Morel, Riverside CC, CA: 126 AB, .341/.410/.429, 14 BB, 26 K

 

Eligible to be Signed by the Cubs (parentheses indicate school for the 2006 season):

 

18. RHP Jose Hernandez, Manatee CC, FL (Edgewater HS, FL): 61.2 IP, 3.79 ERA, 62 H, 33 K/24 BB

 

25. RHP Jamie Bagley, San Jacinto JC, TX (Hargrave HS, TX): 18.2 IP, 0.96 ERA, 17 H, 10 K/5 BB

 

31. RHP Bryan Collins, Central Missouri State (Alvin CC, TX): 31 IP, 1.45 ERA, 16 H, 43 K/19 BB

 

37. RHP David Francis, Walter State JC, TN (St. Joseph SS, Ontario): 45.2 IP, 3.35 ERA, 48 H, 47 K/28 BB - Righthander David Francis was the top pitcher in the country coming into the year from a draft standpoint, and he used to touch the low 90s with his fastball when he used a smooth three-quarters arm slot. This spring his slot has moved up, becoming more of an over-the-top motion, and he has lost both velocity and movement on his heater. His curve has deep, late bite at times, but Francis has shown better arm strength and in the past. - from BA last year

 

41. RHP Jonathan Negron, Arizona Western College (Puerto Rican Baseball Academy): 41.2 IP, 6.48 ERA, 34 H, 26 K/17 BB

 

42. OF Ben Ornelas, Cypress JC, CA: 136 AB, .309/.403/.441, 17 BB, 24 K

 

46. LHP Ryan Shook, Solano CC, CA (Valley Christian Academy, CA): can’t find stats

 

48. RHP Kenneth Goodline, Santa Rosa JC, CS (North Monterey County HS, CA): can’t find stats

 

50. LHP Ryan Davis, Columbia Basin CC, WA (East Lake HS, WA): 9 IP, 3.00 ERA, 10 H, 14 K/8 BB

 

Failed Cubs Physical, did not sign last season:

 

45. OF Elliot Shea, Franklin Pierce College, NH: failed physical due to limited range of motion in shoulder

 

Cannot be Signed by the Cubs:

 

17. 2B Keoni Ruth, Concordia, CA (U. San Diego): 183 AB, .339/.427/.486, 24 BB, 9 K

 

35. 3B Marquez Smith, Clemson: 204 AB, .304/.381/.529, 22 BB, 37 K - cannot sign because season won't finish before 5/28

 

38. OF Ben Feltner, Texas A & M (Temple JC, TX): 203 AB, .330/.387/.409, 16 BB, 48 K - cannot sign because season won't finish before 5/28

 

44. RHP Dan Berlind, Pierce College (CA) via Cal Poly (Calabassas HS, CA)

Edited May 31, 2007 by CaliforniaRaisin

[texascub]

I thought you had said something about DFE's no longer existing?

[Guest]

I thought you had said something about DFE's no longer existing?

 

This is the last one since it's from last years draft. Starting with this June's draft, the signing deadline will be in August, ending DFEs.

[CoolHandLuke]

I want Matt Latos to sign with the Padres, for the sake of a deep simulation league I am in. Any word on him?

[Mephistopheles]

3.4 mil bonus is his asking price

[texascub]

I thought you had said something about DFE's no longer existing?

 

This is the last one since it's from last years draft. Starting with this June's draft, the signing deadline will be in August, ending DFEs.

 

So teams have a little less than 2 months to sign all of their players? That really sucks.

[CoolHandLuke]

3.4 mil bonus is his asking price

 

If he goes back into the draft where would he likely be selected? Late first round/supplemental round?

[Guest]

3.4 mil bonus is his asking price

 

If he goes back into the draft where would he likely be selected? Late first round/supplemental round?

 

Sounds like it. Kevin Towers said the Padres and Latos are far apart, it looks like he'll make the draft especially given how high is demands are.

 

"We think he's kind of a high-profile guy," Towers also told the paper in a separate interview. "It's tough to find 98 mph arms around."

 

Scouts in Florida have had a hard time deciding how closely to follow Latos, similar to the problem they had with Pedro Beato last year. Everyone heard Beato was bringing the best heat in the state for St. Petersburg (Fla.) Junior College, but they figured the Mets would sign him as a 17th-round draft-and-follow. But Beato wanted more than the Mets were willing to spend—the club was hesitant to buck MLB's slotting recommendation, which pegged him as a second- or third-round talent—and he wound up back in the draft. The Orioles took him 32nd overall, and he signed for $1 million, which was more than the Mets offered and MLB had recommended.

 

So scouts wonder about investing the time to evaluate the likes of Latos and Walden when they may not be on the market. Most still think it's worth the effort, according to one Texas area scout who saw Walden in high school, despite it being somewhat taboo.

[the splendid splinter]

I went through last year's draft and this is what I have. The deadline to sign these guys is May 28th.

 

Eligible to be Signed by the Cubs (parentheses indicate school for the 2006 season):

 

17. 2B Keoni Ruth, Concordia, CA (U. San Diego): 183 AB, .339/.427/.486, 24 BB, 9 K

 

18. RHP Jose Hernandez, Manatee CC, FL (Edgewater HS, FL): 61.2 IP, 3.79 ERA, 62 H, 33 K/24 BB

 

22. IF Jovan Rosa, Lake City CC, FL: 220 AB, .359/.458/.564, 34 BB, 34 K

 

25. RHP Jamie Bagley, San Jacinto JC, TX (Hargrave HS, TX): 18.2 IP, 0.96 ERA, 17 H, 10 K/5 BB

 

27. RHP Cedric Redmond, Oakton CC, IL (Joliet Township HS, IL): 46.2 IP, 4.63 ERA, 48 H, 64 K/31 BB

 

28. RHP Brett Summers, South Suburban CC, IL: 65 IP, 4.43 ERA, 66 H, 53 K/36 BB - At the Area Code Games two years ago, righthander Brett Summers had the best arm among Midwest pitchers--better than Michael Bowden, a Red Sox supplemental first-round pick in 2005. Summers also entered last year with high draft hopes, but a disappointing spring and a commitment to Virginia caused him to slide to the 36th round, where the Yankees took him. Summers wound up at South Suburban Junior College, though his brief stay at Virginia cost the Yankees his draft rights. He didn't have a good spring and pitched at 85-88 mph, but he was drafted on the basis of his body (6-foot-6, 185 pounds) and past velocity (90-93 mph). - from BA last year

 

29. RHP Jordan Latham, JC of Southern Idaho: 73.1 IP, 1.84 ERA, 52 H, 66 K/19 BB – FB in the low 90s at the time of last year’s draft

 

31. RHP Bryan Collins, Central Missouri State (Alvin CC, TX): 31 IP, 1.45 ERA, 16 H, 43 K/19 BB

 

37. RHP David Francis, Walter State JC, TN (St. Joseph SS, Ontario): 45.2 IP, 3.35 ERA, 48 H, 47 K/28 BB - Righthander David Francis was the top pitcher in the country coming into the year from a draft standpoint, and he used to touch the low 90s with his fastball when he used a smooth three-quarters arm slot. This spring his slot has moved up, becoming more of an over-the-top motion, and he has lost both velocity and movement on his heater. His curve has deep, late bite at times, but Francis has shown better arm strength and in the past. - from BA last year

 

39. OF Marcus Hatley, Palomar JC, CA (Mission Hills HS, CA): 169 AB, .290/.313/.444, 3 BB, 36 K

 

42. OF Ben Ornelas, Cypress JC, CA: 136 AB, .309/.403/.441, 17 BB, 24 K

 

43. SS Anthony Morel, Riverside CC, CA: 126 AB, .341/.410/.429, 14 BB, 26 K

 

46. LHP Ryan Shook, Solano CC, CA (Valley Christian Academy, CA): can’t find stats

 

48. RHP Kenneth Goodline, Santa Rosa JC, CS (North Monterey County HS, CA): can’t find stats

 

50. LHP Ryan Davis, Columbia Basin CC, WA (East Lake HS, WA): 9 IP, 3.00 ERA, 10 H, 14 K/8 BB

 

Failed Cubs Physical, did not sign last season:

 

45. OF Elliot Shea, Franklin Pierce College, NH: failed physical due to limited range of motion in shoulder

 

Cannot be Signed by the Cubs:

 

35. 3B Marquez Smith, Clemson - cannot sign because season won't finish before 5/28

 

38. OF Ben Feltner, Texas A & M (Temple JC, TX): 203 AB, .330/.387/.409, 16 BB, 48 K - cannot sign because season won't finish before 5/28

 

44. RHP Dan Berlind, Cal Poly (Calabassas HS, CA)

 

No Clue Where He Is:

 

41. RHP Jonathan Negron, Puerto Rican Baseball Academy

I think I read Rosa and Latham have been signed and also Ruth isnt under control because he's going to Concordia college in California where he transfered to. Berlind is going to LA Pierce jc but isnt under our control because he attended Cal Poly SLO in the fall and Negron has been attending Yuma jc in Arizona.

[Guest]

Thanks for the heads up, I read an article about Berlind going to Cal Poly but didn't see his stats anywhere. I see him on Pierce's roster now.

 

I thought I read somewhere that the Cubs had Keoni Ruth under control still but that really dones't make sense since he transferred. Did he fail a physical last year after the draft?

 

Oh, and I hope you're right about the Cubs signing Latham...he's been great this season and looks like he might be a good reliever.

[craig]

http://cubs.scout.com/2/644343.html

 

Confirms the Latham and Rosa signings, with some scouting comments by Wilken. On mlb's draft listing last year, Rosa listed at 6'2" 180, but Wilken says he's 6'4" 210 now. Profiles as a possible power prospect. I got the sense Wilken hopes he might be able to stick at 3B, but may not have enough arm and may likely end up in left.

 

He profiled Latham as a guy who sometimes touches 88 and as high as 93, with an erratic slider on a good day. Sounds like for him to make it, the slider would need to become his out pitch and hopefully his fastball would be able to become consistently average.

[Guest]

BA on Latham:

 

One draft-and-follow signing we missed recently was Cubs righthander Jordan Latham, a 29th-round pick last year out of the JC of Southern Idaho. Pitching in the wood-bat Scenic West Athletic Conference, Latham was as nasty as any pitcher in the league at times–a league that includes Brewers $500,000 signee Chad Robinson and Braves DFE Cole Rohrbough, a Top 100 prospect. Latham lacks polish and has inconsistent mechanics, but league coaches said he had excellent sink on an 87-91 mph fastball that at times touched 93. His best pitch is a power slider that has reached 84 mph and sits in the 80-82 mph range when he’s right.

 

In his first year as a starter after working as the team’s closer last spring, Latham went 9-2, 1.84 with 66 strikeouts in 73 innings this spring for CSI, as the school calls itself. His signing leaves athletic sophomore Nik Gumeson, an infielder who hit .295 with a team-best five homers and is not under control, as CSI’s best draft prospect.

 

Rosa:

 

Finding players as good as Sexton who were not under control wasn't easy this year in the Sunshine State. Two of the state's top junior college position players have already signed with the teams that drafted them last year. The Cubs signed Jovan Rossa, even though the sophomore from Lake City Community College didn't perform as well as he did as a freshman. He has all the makings of a power-hitting third baseman or right fielder, with plus bat speed and a knack for driving balls deep to all parts of the park. His feel for hitting is well-below-average, and he'll be somewhat of a player-development project. He has to learn which pitches to take and which ones he should unleash his quick swing on. He's played shortstop at Lake City but is a below-average runner who has plenty of arm strength for a corner.

[NCCubFan]

In his first year as a starter after working as the team’s closer last spring, Latham went 9-2, 1.84 with 66 strikeouts in 73 innings this spring for CSI, as the school calls itself. His signing leaves athletic sophomore Nik Gumeson, an infielder who hit .295 with a team-best five homers and is not under control, as CSI’s best draft prospect.

CSI: Twin Falls. The latest in the CSI franchise. :D

[Guest]

Cedric Redmond (27) and Brett Summers (28) signed.

[Guest]

Jordan Walden signed with the Angels for $1 million. Matt Latos signed with the Padres; the San Diego Union-Tribune reports it was for $1.2 million.

[the splendid splinter]

I think I read where Hatley signed as a pitcher and not an outfielder.

[Guest]

I think I read where Hatley signed as a pitcher and not an outfielder.

 

How interesting.

 

So yeah, P Marcus Hatley (39) and IF Anthony Morel (43) signed before the deadline.

 

http://cubs.scout.com/2/648012.html

 

“He’s got a big arm and it’s pretty untapped,” Palomar head coach Buck Taylor said of Hatley. “He’s got a breaking ball and it’s a big league out-pitch. He’s also got a slider that he throws. Velocity-wise and breaking ball wise, he’s going to be all right. He’ll top out 94 (mph) and sit 88 to 91. His arm is free and easy and it works well. With his ability, he’s a high-ceiling guy.”