2013 Draft Discussion

[craig]

And so it begins. Karsten Whitson is out for at least the opening weekend due to "shoulder fatigue."

 

http://www.gatorzone.com/mobile/news/24902

 

That is interesting. I wonder if he makes it to the second round. Its also scary. Shoulder fatigue is a worse indicator than elbow stress isn't it?

Yes and it isn't close. More often than not shoulder injuries kill pitchers career's, while elbow injuries (specifically recovering from TJS) are becoming more of an inconvenience that delay a pitcher's development by about a year and be able to come back to pre-injury form or better once recovered.

 

While I agree that it isn't close, I think you're underselling the significance of TJ. First, it's more often two years, since the second year is largely rehab throwing. (Whitenack, for example, wasn't really pitching to win last year. And Vizcaino isn't really expected to be pitching to win early this year.) Second, I don't think it's that preponderant to come back to pre-injury form. I think it's pretty normal to return to pre-injury velocity, but I don't think recovering pre-injury control is much more than a 50-50 gamble, if even that favorable.

Edited February 14, 2013 by craig

[Redfoot]

This is very disappointing news. I was really expecting Whitson to have a big season and regain his top prospect status. I hope he can be at full strength by the time SEC conference play rolls around.

[Guest]

BA's preseason HS All-America teams: http://www.baseballamerica.com/today/high-school/awards/all-america-teams/2013/2614713.html

 

Ballots were sent to all 30 big league scouting directors. Dominic Smith, Clint Frazier and Austin Meadows were the only unanimous selections.

[Guest]

Karsten Whitson out for the season after a procedure on his shoulder to clean up some abnormalities (supposedly not major surgery).

 

@KendallRogersPG: BREAKING: The Whitson family informed me #Florida RHP Karsten Whitson to miss the '13 season following shoulder procedure. #Gators #mlbdraft

 

@KendallRogersPG: Kent Whitson, Karsten's father, told me Dr. James Andrews cleaned up some abnormalities that did NOT require full surgery #mlbdraft #Florida

 

@KendallRogersPG: Kent told me Karsten's pain has been felt since freshman campaign, and time to clean things up was now. Said his son is relieved. #mlbdraft

 

@KendallRogersPG: Lastly, Whitson's father informed me that Karsten's rehab process is about four months long. So, maybe some #MLB teams will take a gander.

 

@KendallRogersPG: If not, Whitson said his son is fully prepared to return to #Florida as a redshirt junior next season if things don't work out #mlbdraft #UF

 

It will be interesting to see where he gets drafted and how much he's offered given the new CBA.

[davell]

Well, I can't imagine any team spending a 1st rounder on him or going overslot as a supplemental rounder either. From there, I guess it just depends on what he thinks he SHOULD get. My guess is if he's willing to take between 500-800k, a team could roll the dice on him in the 2nd round, since its a weak draft. Doubt we'd be interested though, considering Jed and Jason's past with him.

[Cubswin11]

Old CBA rules I'd be fine with taking him in the 3-5 rounds and going over (possibly well over if he checks out medically) slot, under the new rules not so much given the spending/allocation limits.

 

What was the offer the Red Sox gave him when they drafted him out of HS? He has to be second guessing that decision now. I know everyone has their reasons and I've never been in the situation to decide, but if I'm a HS pitcher and taken in the first couple of rounds I sign and take the guaranteed money.

[Guest]

Old CBA rules I'd be fine with taking him in the 3-5 rounds and going over (possibly well over if he checks out medically) slot, under the new rules not so much given the spending/allocation limits.

 

What was the offer the Red Sox gave him when they drafted him out of HS? He has to be second guessing that decision now. I know everyone has their reasons and I've never been in the situation to decide, but if I'm a HS pitcher and taken in the first couple of rounds I sign and take the guaranteed money.

 

It was the Padres and supposedly they had reached an agreement of $2.1 million. Hoyer and Whitson might not have ended negotiations on good terms.

 

The Padres believed they had a deal in place for Whitson and that he and his family went back on their word. Karsten's father, Kent, has claimed that wasn't the case. Ultimately, the Padres upped their offer to $2.1 million before the signing deadline. Whitson, who declined an interview request, turned them down.

[CubsWin]

Well, I can't imagine any team spending a 1st rounder on him or going overslot as a supplemental rounder either. From there, I guess it just depends on what he thinks he SHOULD get. My guess is if he's willing to take between 500-800k, a team could roll the dice on him in the 2nd round, since its a weak draft. Doubt we'd be interested though, considering Jed and Jason's past with him.

Who knows? They may love the guy for saving them the embarrassment of wasting 2.1 million dollars of the Padres money on a guy who would've been a bust due to injury. 8-)

 

That said, I doubt anybody puts up decent money for Karsten with a dreaded shoulder injury. The track record of coming back from those is not great.

[Guest]

More details on Whitson's injury from BA:

 

Aaron Fitt[/url]"]The good news is Whitson's labrum and rotator cuff are in good shape, and Dr. James Andrews was able to locate and repair an impingement that was causing him discomfort.

 

"When they went in, there was not a definitive thing they were looking to do. They were looking for what was causing the discomfort, and they found it," Kent Whitson said. "It was the least invasive thing they could do. Now, putting a scope in your arm is invasive in itself. Honestly, you're talking about eight weeks before you can pick a baseball back up. That's why this year is going to be a scratch for him. There's really not a way for him to get himself caught back up. It would be silly to pitch the last two weeks of the year, burn a year (of eligibility), burning opportunities that down the road you probably would wish that you didn't do. So for him, it's just going to be better to not pitch this year. Realistically, Andrews told him four months before you can pitch again."

 

That timetable opens the possibility that Whitson could return to pitch in summer ball and try to boost his stock with scouts, but Kent Whitson said it's too early to determine whether Karsten will try to do that or just direct all his energy toward preparing for his redshirt junior season and the 2014 draft.

 

"He's going to come back 100 percent, without the pain, and he's going to be lights-out," Kent Whitson said. "He is really going to be tough come the spring of next year. He's never had a fall, a break, a spring, then rolling into competition. It hasn't worked out that way for him. I think what he'll do is just redshirt and go into '14 still having options open."

[Guest]

Biggest draft eligible pitching matchups today:

 

Stanford (Mark Appel) at Rice (the enigmatic Austin Kubitza)

Minnesota (Tom Windle) at UCLA (Adam Plutko)

San Diego State (2014's Michael Cederoth) at San Diego (Dylan Covey)

[Cubswin11]

Biggest draft eligible pitching matchups today:

 

Stanford (Mark Appel) at Rice (the enigmatic Austin Kubitza)

Minnesota (Tom Windle) at UCLA (Adam Plutko)

San Diego State (2014's Michael Cederoth) at San Diego (Dylan Covey)

When are Stanek and Manea making their first starts, if you know?

[Guest]

Biggest draft eligible pitching matchups today:

 

Stanford (Mark Appel) at Rice (the enigmatic Austin Kubitza)

Minnesota (Tom Windle) at UCLA (Adam Plutko)

San Diego State (2014's Michael Cederoth) at San Diego (Dylan Covey)

When are Stanek and Manea making their first starts, if you know?

 

Today too. I was just listing matchups between top draft prospects.

[Cubswin11]

Biggest draft eligible pitching matchups today:

 

Stanford (Mark Appel) at Rice (the enigmatic Austin Kubitza)

Minnesota (Tom Windle) at UCLA (Adam Plutko)

San Diego State (2014's Michael Cederoth) at San Diego (Dylan Covey)

When are Stanek and Manea making their first starts, if you know?

 

Today too. I was just listing matchups between top draft prospects.

Gotcha, thanks. Is there a good gamecast type thing available anywhere to follow CBB live? Or do you pretty much have to wait for post-game box scores to see how guys did?

[davell]

Not sure about a Gamecast thing, but there's enough people covering the upper echelon guys that solid reports will come thru Twitter all night.

[Guest]

Biggest draft eligible pitching matchups today:

 

Stanford (Mark Appel) at Rice (the enigmatic Austin Kubitza)

Minnesota (Tom Windle) at UCLA (Adam Plutko)

San Diego State (2014's Michael Cederoth) at San Diego (Dylan Covey)

When are Stanek and Manea making their first starts, if you know?

 

Today too. I was just listing matchups between top draft prospects.

Gotcha, thanks. Is there a good gamecast type thing available anywhere to follow CBB live? Or do you pretty much have to wait for post-game box scores to see how guys did?

 

There's a fantastic Gamecast site out there. I'll post when I get home as it's bookmarked on my home computers.

 

For now, there's this:

 

@KendallRogersPG: #Rice Jr RHP Austin Kubitza sharp in the first for #owls. 88-92 FB, 83-87 hard slider with a nasty 82 breaker, got two Ks. #mlbdraft #cusa

 

@KendallRogersPG: #Stanford SR RHP Mark Appel was 93-97 with a few 97s and a nasty 84-85 SL that he got a strikeout on. 123 first. #mlbdraft #mlb #pac12

 

ETA:

 

@KendallRogersPG: #Stanford P Mark Appel sitting 93-96 in second, but having control issues as #Rice has 2 runs across. Still mid 80s with that SL. #mlbdraft

[Guest]

Most universities use the CSTV gamecast I believe, at least if they're the home team. For example, here's the Stanford/Rice game: http://www.gostanford.com/gametracker/launch/gt_mbasebl.html?event=1206976&school=stan&sport=mbaseb

[Guest]

Here's the site I was referring to: http://www.d1baseball.com/2013/daily/0215.htm

 

I believe it has Gamecast links of every game in the scoreboard section.

[Cubswin11]

Thanks!

[Guest]

Kiley McDaniel is at Manaea's game.

 

@kileymcd: Manaea was 92-95 touching 96 w/signature heavy life & showed good curve & change to K side in 1st tho also walked one & hit backstop twice.

 

@kileymcd: I feel like I should also mention there are more scouts here than fans. Manaea is the stimulus.

 

@kileymcd: Manaea a little rougher in the 2nd, 91-93, elevating heater, little less feel. This is where first start/cold weather allows you to overlook

 

I wouldn't be too concerned about the dip in stuff since it's his first start of the season and he's pitching in "cold" weather (for baseball).

 

@kileymcd: Manaea 89-92 in 4th with some tempo and release point issues though still overpowering IPFW hitters. No one up in the pen.

 

@kileymcd: Weather app says feels like 40 degrees, about 48-50 at first pitch MT @CrawfordChrisV Has it cooled down anymore?

 

@kileymcd: Manaea walks the first batter of the 5th and that's all. Not a great look considering conditions but I have a lot of thoughts & video coming

[davell]

McLeod was watching RHP Trevor Williams of Arizona State tonight.

[Slugger_16]

Here's the site I was referring to: http://www.d1baseball.com/2013/daily/0215.htm

 

I believe it has Gamecast links of every game in the scoreboard section.

 

There's also this site that has links to video streams of each home team's games. I know it worked last year, not sure about all teams for this year (at least this early in the season - they may be able to fix the links as the season progresses).

[Guest]

College pitchers in BA's top 50 (all blurbs by Kendall Rogers of Perfect Game):

 

RHP Mark Appel, Stanford: 5 IP, 7 H, 5 R, 2 ER, 3 BB, 3 K, WP, 2-10 GO-FO

Meanwhile, a much heralded Appel flashed a fastball up to 97, but struggled with his command. He struck out just three and allowed five runs on seven hits in five innings of work.

LHP Sean Manaea, Indiana State (PDF): 4+ IP, 4 H, 1 ER, 3 BB, 6 K

RHP Ryne Stanek, Arkansas: 4 IP, 2 H, 1 ER, 1 BB, 4 K, 5-2 GO-FO

RHP Jonathon Crawford, Florida: 3.2 IP, 3 H, 2 ER, 1 BB, 4 K, 1 HBP, 3-4 GO-FO

RHP Bobby Wahl, Ole Miss: 6 IP, 3 H, 0 R, 3 BB, 8 K, 3-7 GO-FO

Ole Miss junior right-hander Bobby Wahl, who also has a mid 90s fastball, struck out eight, walked three and allowed just three hits (no runs) in 6 1/3 innings.

Wahl showed off his big-time arm against TCU with a big-time performance. The hard-throwing right-hander struck out eight, walked three, and allowed three hits in 6 1/3 innings of work. He threw 96 pitches, 57 for strikes.

RHP Trevor Williams, Arizona State: 5 IP, 4 H, 3 R, 2 ER, 2 BB, 4 K, 5-6 GO-FO

LHP Kevin Ziomek, Vanderbilt: 6 IP, 4 H, 1 ER, 1 BB, 7 K, 5-6 GO-FO

U junior left-handed pitcher Kevin Ziomek was very impressive against the Dirtbags, sitting in the low-to-mid 90s with his fastball, and striking out seven, walking one, and allowing just one run on four hits in six innings of work. Ziomek threw 91 pitches in the contest, 51 for strikes

LHP Dillon Overton, Oklahoma: 7 IP, 2 H, 1 R, 0 ER, 1 BB, 7 K, 4-9 GO-FO

LHP Tom Windle, Minnesota: 4 IP, 3 H, 0 R, 2 BB, 3 K, 5-8 GO-FO

RHP Ryan Eades, LSU: 6.1 IP, 6 H, 0 R, 1 BB, 6 K, 6-5 GO-FO

It was difficult to emulate the performance put together by sophomore right-handed pitcher Aaron Nola on Friday, but Eades did his best impression with a stud performance in a 5-1 win over Maryland. Eades struck out six, walked one and allowed just six hits in 6 1/3 innings of work. Eades, who was 92-93 with his fastball with good secondary stuff, threw 89 pitches, 55 for strikes.

LHP Marco Gonzalez, Gonzaga: 6 IP, 8 H, 6 ER, 5 R, 2 BB, 5 K, 1 WP, 6-6 GO-FO

LHP Kent Emmanuel, North Carolina: 9 IP, 4 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 5 K

The Tar Heels started the season on the right foot against Seton Hall with Emanuel leading the charge. The junior lefty struck out five batters and allowed just four hits in a complete-game performance. He threw 106 pitches, 78 of those for strikes.

RHP Scott Frazier, Pepperdine: 7 IP, 3 H, 1 R, 0 ER, 0 BB, 7 K, 2 HBP, 11-3 GO-FO

RHP Trey Masek, Texas Tech: 6 IP,2 H, 0 R, 5 BB, 8 K, 1 WP, 6-3 GO-FO

 

Some non-top 50 guys:

 

RHP Dylan Covey, San Diego: 3 IP, 8 H, 6 R, 5 ER, 2 BB, 1 K, 1 HBP, 1-5 GO-FO

RHP Chris Anderson, Jacksonville: 7 IP, 1 H, 0 R, 1 BB, 13 K, 6-3 GO-FO (I think he's going to jump up draft boards)

Anderson couldn't have put together a more impressive campaign in his 2013 debut for the Dolphins. He topped out in the mid 90s, struck out 13, walked just one, and allowed a hit in seven innings of work.

 

Baseball America updates college batter stats on Mondays so I'll just post that. Stanford OF Austin Wilson suffered a minor elbow strain over the weekend.

[RammyFanny]

Hoping a Zimmer type emerges this year. That writeup on Anderson looks impressive. Thanks for that post CR.

[Guest]

Hoping a Zimmer type emerges this year. That writeup on Anderson looks impressive. Thanks for that post CR.

 

Zimmer was already a first round prospect going into his junior year who blew up into a top 5 pick. A couple of guys who are potential back end first rounders who I think can pull off a big rise are Dillon Overton and Scott Frazier.

 

Obviously we already had a guy blow up even more than Zimmer with Manaea coming out of nowhere last summer/fall to be a possible top 5 pick.

[Redfoot]

Alex Balog, Zimmer's teammate from last season could be that guy. Balog is a 6'6" 225 pound right hander with really good stuff but is very inconsisent. He had a nice start this weekend and if he's able to show some consistency he's a guy who can fly up draft boards.