2014 Draft Discussion

[Guest]

welp

[davell]

The horribly ironic thing about this class is the fecal standings don't really matter. We'd get a better player at 10 in this class than anything other than Appel or Gray with this one.

[Irrelevant Dude]

The horribly ironic thing about this class is the fecal standings don't really matter. We'd get a better player at 10 in this class than anything other than Appel or Gray with this one.

What do you mean by this? I have re-read your post multiple times and can't figure out what you were trying to say. Are you saying that 2014 is an extremely deep draft or completely the opposite?

[Guest]

The horribly ironic thing about this class is the fecal standings don't really matter. We'd get a better player at 10 in this class than anything other than Appel or Gray with this one.

What do you mean by this? I have re-read your post multiple times and can't figure out what you were trying to say. Are you saying that 2014 is an extremely deep draft or completely the opposite?

 

It's a pretty deep draft.

[davell]

The horribly ironic thing about this class is the fecal standings don't really matter. We'd get a better player at 10 in this class than anything other than Appel or Gray with this one.

What do you mean by this? I have re-read your post multiple times and can't figure out what you were trying to say. Are you saying that 2014 is an extremely deep draft or completely the opposite?

Yeah, I meant its a much better draft. Hell, being a year out, it'll probably get better. Seems like they almost always do anyway.

[Irrelevant Dude]

The horribly ironic thing about this class is the fecal standings don't really matter. We'd get a better player at 10 in this class than anything other than Appel or Gray with this one.

What do you mean by this? I have re-read your post multiple times and can't figure out what you were trying to say. Are you saying that 2014 is an extremely deep draft or completely the opposite?

Yeah, I meant its a much better draft. Hell, being a year out, it'll probably get better. Seems like they almost always do anyway.

Gotcha. That's what I thought, but I got a little confused by the comparison of "this class" to "this one" :D

 

Even in a deep draft, I would still argue that the standings matter because there will almost always be a couple guys who separate themselves from the pack over the course of the year.

[Cubswin11]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qR6PSLDKYFQ

 

Video of Vanderbilt's Tyler Beede's 10k game (all 10k's). His changeup at the 40, 47 and 50 second marks look filthy.

[Guest]

Serious question. Is the 2014 draft deep compared to the the 2013 draft or is it a historically deep draft. If it is a historically deep draft, would a smart tactic be to blow by financial restrictions and try to stockpile as much talent as possible knowing that a price will be payed the following year?

[Guest]

Serious question. Is the 2014 draft deep compared to the the 2013 draft or is it a historically deep draft. If it is a historically deep draft, would a smart tactic be to blow by financial restrictions and try to stockpile as much talent as possible knowing that a price will be payed the following year?

 

There is depth both in pitching an hitting in the college ranks so whether it's just a strong draft or a historically deep one will likely hinge on the HS class (which we know just a little about right now and which will change a lot between now and June 2014).

[RammyFanny]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qR6PSLDKYFQ

 

Video of Vanderbilt's Tyler Beede's 10k game (all 10k's). His changeup at the 40, 47 and 50 second marks look filthy.

That slider/curve has a ton of bite too.

[Guest]

Tyler Beede had a no hitter going into the 7th against South Carolina today. Ended up getting touched up in the 7th - his final line: 6.1 IP, 2 H, 2 ER, 4 BB, 7 K. Control still seems to be his biggest problem.

[Little Slide Rooter]

We're currently tied with the Angels for the 4th worst record in baseball. Toronto is 3rd, and half a game worse. I can't imagine those keeping pace in the fecal standings. my assumption is that we end up with the 3rd-5th pick behind Houston and Florida for certain. San Diego, Seattle, and the Mets are the only other teams that worry me, with our crosstown rivals and the Twins as dark horses.

[RammyFanny]

http://newenthusiast.files.wordpress.com/2013/05/rodon-mcrae-4th-2-slow.gif?w=390

[davell]

http://sbb.scout.com/2/1291189.html

 

 

Great stuff from Kiley on 2014 SP.

[Guest]

Just an FYI, it sounds like Hartford lefty Sean Newcomb is definitely a popular breakout candidate: Frank Piliere and John Manuel also have hinted that he's poised to have a big summer and could be a top 15 pick next year.

[Guest]

Kiley McDaniel's top 2014 college hitters: http://sbb.scout.com/2/1292387.html

 

1. Trea Turner, SS, North Carolina St

2. Derek Fisher, CF, Virginia

3. Kyle Schwarber, OF/1B, Indiana

4. Austin Cousino, CF, Kentucky

5. Michael Conforto, RF, Oregon St

6. Mason Robbins, OF, Southern Miss

7. Joey Pankake, SS, South Carolina

8. Matt Chapman, 3B, Cal State Fullerton

9. Alex Blandino, IF, Stanford

10. Casey Turgeon, 2B, Florida

11. Taylor Gushue, C, Florida

12. Brandon Downes, CF, Virginia

13. Austin Byler, 3B/RF, Nevada

 

And his top college pitchers (davell linked it a few posts up):

 

1. Tyler Beede, RHP, Vanderbilt

2. Carlos Rodon, LHP, North Carolina St

3. Sean Newcomb, LHP, Hartford

4. Michael Cederoth, RHP, San Diego St

5. Brandon Finnegan, LHP, TCU

6. Jeff Hoffman, RHP, East Carolina

7. Nick Burdi, RHRP, Louisville

8. Luke Weaver, RHP, Florida St

9. Aaron Nola, RHP, LSU

10. Trevor Megill, LHP, Loyola Marymount

11. Sam Coonrod, RHP, Southern Illinois

12. Daniel Mengden, RHP, Texas A&M

13. AJ Reed, LHP/1B, Kentucky

[Tangled Up in Plaid]

1. Tyler Beede, RHP, Vanderbilt

2. Carlos Rodon, LHP, North Carolina St

 

http://i.imgur.com/MRsFY36.png

[davell]

At this exact moment, I think I'd take Trea Turner 1st overall.

[Guest]

1. Tyler Beede, RHP, Vanderbilt

2. Carlos Rodon, LHP, North Carolina St

 

http://i.imgur.com/MRsFY36.png

 

Not sure why you'd be surprised. Beede has taken a step forward this season and was thought of more highly than Rodon coming out of HS while Rodon has regressed in stuff and consistency (he could possibly be injured). I would still rate Rodon ahead of Beede but it's extremely close.

 

At this exact moment, I think I'd take Trea Turner 1st overall.

 

Amongst college prospects? Definitely. But Touissant and Jackson are there lurking in the high school ranks.

[Tryptamine]

At this exact moment, I think I'd take Trea Turner 1st overall.

 

I agree which surprises me considering how far I had Rodon ahead of the pack going into the season. Now he's not even the first pitcher I'd take.

[toonsterwu]

Rodon pitched much better in the 2nd half, including that complete game against ... Georgia Tech? Even when he struggled the first half, he was still doing better than most pitchers. The command and consistency haven't been there, but the raw stuff has been. As long as he's not injured, he's still the horse I'd bet on from the 2014 college pitching class.

 

One guy to watch for, in terms of draft placement, from the college ranks, IMO, is Brandon Downes from UVA. He has the makings of a high round pick - good CF (also backup catcher), good power. He has one big question, though - the K's are high, and there definitely is some swing and miss concern. But, I think he's better than Jarrett Parker a few years ago, who ended up as a 2nd round pick (flop).

[Guest]

Man, I just love Conforto's bat. He's lighting up Oregon this weekend in the Civil War. I think that's a decidedly first round bat.

[Guest]

Kiley McDaniel's prep preview for 2014. He says the stronger prep class is what separates 2014 from this year and is extremely high on Touki Touissant, Alex Jackson and Jacob Gatewood.

 

It would be unfair to match it up with 2013 yet as a lot can still happen but the top 5-7 hitters below compare favorably with the 2013 class already, indicating there's a good chance this 2014 class surpasses them.

 

Hitters: http://sbb.scout.com/2/1293609.html

 

1. Alex Jackson, C/RF, San Diego - Oregon commitment

Jackson has been getting considerable hype as an underclassmen that showed up the older kids at a few showcases last year. He did this as a catcher that showed the tools to possibly stick behind the plate including an easy plus arm, plus power potential, bat speed and some feel to hit. While he isn't the same kind of prospect, you can see why there were some whispers of him being the next Bryce Harper: a precocious underclassman catcher from a western high school power that flashed top five pick tools at a young age. Like Harper, there have already been rumors that with the ensuing circus after his showcase performances that he's getting advice to move away from catcher to save his knees, extend his career, keep healthy and maximize his ultimate payday(s).

2. Jacob Gatewood, SS, Clovis, CA - USC

Gatewood is a lanky, projectable 6'4 athlete that flashes plus power potential, the ability to stick in the infield, possibly at shortstop, and a this spring started hitting the mid 90's with his fastball. You can see in the video that there's a lot of bat speed and athleticism and I see a little bit of Addison Russell and Carlos Correa, with scout accounts agreeing with this general opinion. Gatewood is another player, like Nick Gordon below, where there's still a good bit of physical development to come so it's hard to speak with certainty about how he profiles (same with Correa) but the athleticism/size/power/arm/hands combo is going to find a spot high in the draft, likely in the first round. Gatewood has the arm, hands and actions to stick at short although his foot speed sounds a little short, so third base seems like the natural home down the line, especially as he fills out his frame.

3. Nick Gordon, SS, Orlando - Florida St (Tom's son)

4. Jack Flaherty, 3B, Los Angeles - North Carolina (same HS as Giolito and Fries)

5. Kel Johnson, LF/1B, Peachtree City, GA (home school) - Georgia Tech

6. Justin Smith, CF, Jacksonville - Miami

7. Zach Shannon, RF, Cincinnati - Ohio St

8. Braxton Davidson, 1B, Asheville, NC - North Carolina

9. Dalton Ewing, CF, Alpharetta, GA - Clemson

10. Liam Sabino, SS, Blairston, NJ - Vanderbilt

11. Alex Pantojas, SS, Caguas, PR - no college commitment yet

12. Matt Riley, CF, Tallahassee - Florida St

13. Taylor Lane, SS, Chesapeake, VA - Florida

[jersey cubs fan]

Needs more Touki Touissant

[Guest]

Prep pitchers: http://sbb.scout.com/2/1292608.html

 

Granted this is an early preview, but it looks like the strength of the 2014 draft class will be the prep talent and the pitcher class has already shown it's depth. RHP Touki Toussaint is the top player in the class and hit 97 mph in a heavily-scouted Jupiter tournament last October. LHP Mac Marshall has been up to 94 with above average stuff for an Atlanta power that's had two first round picks the last two years, so he's been seen a lot. RHP Dylan Cease, another Atlanta-area arm, was seen up to 96 mph in a heavily-scouted NHSI tournament this spring as were lefties Justus Sheffield and Brady Aiken. The top of this group already looks better than this year's prep arm class across the board and there's still a lot more names that can emerge.

 

1. Touki Touissant, RHP, Coral Spring, FL - no college commitment

Toussaint worked 92-95 mph at his best in Jupiter, hitting 97 and flashing a 65 or 70 curveball on the 20-80 scouting scale (50 is major league average). I spoke to a scout that saw him this spring who said he was 91-94 mph with plus life and the same breaking ball. Touki will have some issues with command and doesn't really throw his changeup much (with good reason), so there are some things to work on, but this kid is young for his class at 17 until just before the draft, and is without question a very rare talent. There were actually some rumors that he would try to enter this year's draft, where he would've likely been a top 10 pick and matches up well with Texas prep RHP Kohl Stewart, a likely top 5 overall pick.

2. Grant Holmes, RHP, Conway, SC - Florida

3. Michael Gettys, RHP, Gainesville, GA - Georgia

4. Mac Marshall, LHP, Lipburn, GA - Georgia

5. Dylan Cease, RHP, Alpharetta, GA - no college commitment

6. Brady Aiken, LHP, San Diego - UCLA (same HS as 2013 prep Stephen Gonsalves)

7. Justus Sheffield, LHP, Tullahoma, TN - Vanderbilt (brother of 2013 prep Jordan)

8. Ryan Castellani, RHP, Phoenix - UCLA

9. Sean Reid Foley, RHP, Jacksonville - Florida

10. Grant Hockin, RHP, La Verne, CA - UCLA

11. Michael Kopch, RHP, Mt. Pleasant, TX - no college commitment

12. Bennett Sousa, LHP, North Palm Beach, FL - Virginia

13. Kyle Marsh, RHP, Port Orange, FL - Central Florida