2015 Draft Discussion

[CaliforniaRaisin]

So…

 

From my vantage point, the college bats are better than this year’s draft while the college arms are further behind (though there are some intriguing high ceiling arms but they are all either raw pop-up guys or relievers at the college level). Don’t know much about the prep guys though Daz Cameron sounds like the early favorite for the first pick in the draft.

 

Here are my favorite college prospects for next year’s draft:

 

1. Alex Bregman, SS, LSU – If he can stick at SS (which seems likely), I think he’d actually be in the discussion for 1.1 in this year’s draft. He definitely has the power tool that Trea Turner lacks.

2. Mike Matuella, RHP, Duke – Exploded last fall. He’s big, tall, can hit 98 with a plus slider. Wasn’t drafted out of HS and was only topping out at 88 back then.

3. Tyler Ferguson, RHP, Vanderbilt – Had a big fall and surprised by taking the vacant Sunday spot in Vandy’s rotation, ahead of more heralded sophomores Carson Fulmer and Walker Buehler. FB tops out at 96, potential plus slider and pretty good numbers this season.

4. Nathan Kirby, LHP, Virginia – Well regarded coming out of high school but didn’t submit to the MLB drug test so he could completely skip the draft. Having a breakout season.

5. Ian Happ, 2B, Cincinnati – Speed, good hit tool with some power. Had a breakout Cape Cod season. Strictly a 2B.

6. Carson Fulmer, RHP, Vanderbilt – Great stuff, was closing this year just moved to their weekend rotation

7. DJ Stewart, OF, Florida State – Corner outfielder starting strong this year.

8. Skye Bolt, OF, North Carolina – Power hitting corner OF.

9. Justin Garza, RHP, Cal State Fullerton – Mid-90s FB, plus change but small (5’10”).

10. Josh Staumont, RHP, Azusa Pacific – Another guy like Matuella who has had a massive velocity spike since hitting college. Topped out at 99 this fall, potential plus curve. Competition is a big question since APU is D-II.

11. James Kaprielian, RHP, UCLA – 91-94 FB with a potential plus slider. BA’s 73rd best draft prospect coming out of HS, was a key reliever in UCLA’s CWS run last year and is now the Friday starter.

12. Jake Lemoine, RHP, Rice - Having a breakout sophomore season.

 

Other names to watch:

Kyle Funkhouser, RHP, Louisville

Tyler Wars, C, Fresno State

Travis Bergen, LHP, Kennesaw State

Kyle Cody, RHP, Kentucky

Riley Ferrell, RHP, TCU – Hit 98 in the summer, Perfect Game had him as the #1 sophomore preseason but he’s been closing.

Walker Buehler, RHP, Vanderbilt – Only a midweek starter for Vandy (but their rotation is loaded)

Drew Jackson, SS, Stanford – Brett’s brother, athletic enough to stick at SS.

Ryan Burr, RHP, Arizona State – college closer, moved to the rotation this year and asked to move back to closer

 

HS:

Dazmon Cameron, CF, Georgia – Early favorite for 1.1 / played at the Under Armour game last summer before his junior season which is incredibly rare; Florida State commit

Brendan Rogers, SS, Florida – Should stick at SS / has great bat speed; Florida State commit

Kyle Molnar, RHP, California – UCLA commit

Jahmai Jones, 2B/SS, Georgis - North Carolina commit

Kyle Dean, OF, California - San Diego commit

John Aiello, 3B, Pennsylvania - Wake Forest commit

[imb]

#WEWANTFUNKHOUSER

[Tangled Up in Plaid]

7. Skye Bolt, OF, North Carolina – Power hitting corner OF.

[Guest]

#WEWANTFUNKHOUSER

 

FYI, he's a White Sox fan (he's from Oak Forest).

 

Holy crap, Olive Garden is one of his favorite restaurants: http://www.gocards.com/sports/m-basebl/mtt/kyle_funkhouser_837235.html

[imb]

a skye bolt/funkhauser first round is the best draft in history, thank you fucked up names

[Guest]

You're all gonna feel real stupid when Raisin tells you this was an early April Fool's joke and those names are all auto-generated from Baseball Mogul.

[imb]

You're all gonna feel real stupid when Raisin tells you this was an early April Fool's joke and those names are all auto-generated from Baseball Mogul.

 

http://i.imgur.com/RrcIQ.jpg

[Guest]

hahahahahaha

[Guest]

Sally (Berkeley): What can you tell us about Michael Matuella? Is he a top 5 candidate for next year?

 

Aaron Fitt: He sure is. Clint Longenecker saw him this weekend and came away awfully impressed, like most people do when they see Matuella. He said Matuella was 96-97 with ease, incredible extension and plane. He’ll flash a very exciting breaking ball too.

[Guest]

Sally (Berkeley): What can you tell us about Michael Matuella? Is he a top 5 candidate for next year?

 

Aaron Fitt: He sure is. Clint Longenecker saw him this weekend and came away awfully impressed, like most people do when they see Matuella. He said Matuella was 96-97 with ease, incredible extension and plane. He’ll flash a very exciting breaking ball too.

 

 

what the hell is going on with this thread and these names

[toonsterwu]

Kirby has been such a pleasant surprise. I mean, I knew/heard all the reports how he was rounding into form in the summer and so forth, but man, his stuff is sharp and his command is solid. If that change-up improves, he can take that next step into really elite arm territory.

 

That said, I think Matuella is ahead of him right now. He just came out of nowhere. It really wouldn't surprise me, though, if Kirby took the next step and was a possible 1/1 consideration next year.

[Outshined_One]

Thick McRunfast

[Guest]

So Nathan Kirby threw a no-hitter tonight and struck out 18.

[Guest]

rob (toronto) what's the word on michael matuella (rhp, duke) - is he the current favourite to go 1-1 in the 2015 draft?

 

Klaw Top 5 pick candidate, yes. Daz Cameron (Mike's son) is probably the favo(u)rite, if there is such a thing 14 months out, to go 1-1 in 2015.

[A New Era]

Dan throhstrykes is my pick in the first round.

 

International superstar Wok Al Yu is fading fast.

[Guest]

@TGold_PG: Impressive 1st IP from Azusa Pacific U RHP Josh Staumont. Kd side sitting 92-96 t98. Flashed nasty 82 CH for K, 78 CB w bite. 2015 #MLBDraft

 

@TGold_PG: Staumont showed better consistency with the CB today. CH was a big factor this time & better overall command. Legitimate shot @ 1st round

[Guest]

@kileymcd: Louisville sophomore RHP Kyle Funkhouser sitting 92-94 and hit 95 thru 2 w/three pitch mix. Will be very high on my 2015 list, coming soon.

[Guest]

Kiley McDaniel came up with a top 62 list of college prospects for 2015: http://sbb.scout.com/2/1401859.html

 

It's obviously too early to know the strength of this draft class over a year in advance, but with a lot of notes on underclassmen trickling in, it seemed like a good time to present what I have so far. I've already seen 9 of the top 11 prospects, should be seeing Lemoine in two weeks and will see Stautmont on the Cape. I've seen about half of the rest of the list and I should be able to get first looks at the others soon, as nearly all of the prospects listed will be on the Cape or with Team USA this summer.

 

Matuella has separated himself this spring and would be a top 10-15 pick in this year's draft, if eligible; he's jumped from a mid-80's thrower in high school to the mid-90's in his sophomore year at Duke. Happ went from unknown prospect to elite with a breakout Cape last summer, but is likely limited to second base defensively. Bregman made the leap in his freshman year at LSU after a serious knee injury marred his high school senior spring, but he's had some trouble with timing at the plate in his sophomore campaign.

 

1. Mike Matuella RHP Duke

2. Ian Happ 2B Cincinnati

3. Alex Bregman SS LSU

4. Nate Kirby LHP Virginia

5. Carson Fulmer RHP Vanderbilt

6. Jake Lemoine RHP Houston

7. D.J. Stewart LF Florida State

8. Josh Stautmont RHP Azusa Pacific

9. Taylor Ward C Fresno State

10. Kyle Funkhouser RHP Louisville

 

Kiley also mentioned on Twitter that Daz Cameron is no longer his favorite for 1.1.

[Guest]

Alex Bregman has a .098 IsoP, he makes Trea Turner look like Kris Bryant. Stewart sure looks like he can hit though.

[Guest]

Alex Bregman has a .098 IsoP, he makes Trea Turner look like Kris Bryant. Stewart sure looks like he can hit though.

 

He's fallen apart this season. From what I understand, this could be due to some combination of injury and mechanical issues with an altered swing. But he did show good power last year - 369/417/546 (18 fewer XBH this season in 90 fewer ABs) and I'm sure he's still thought of highly in hopes that he can rebound to what he was last season.

[Guest]

About a month ago, Carson Fulmer moved to Vandy's weekend rotation from closer. Vandy's rotation is crazy - beyond Tyler Beede, sophomores Tyler Ferguson, Carson Fulmer and Walker Buehler all work mid-90s with a potential plus out pitch. All 4 could go in the first round between this year and next.

[Guest]

Kiley also mentioned on Twitter that Daz Cameron is no longer his favorite for 1.1.

 

http://sbb.scout.com/2/1402357.html

 

Kiley says Florida prep SS Brendan Rogers has jumped ahead of Cameron as the top prep prospect in 2015.

 

Daz Cameron has the most hype in this class, but Brendan Rodgers has covered that small gap from the last list and taken the top spot as the spring stats (Cameron: .323, 4 HR, 9 SB and Rodgers: .397. 8 HR, 6 SB) back up the notes scouts have passed along that saw each this spring. The two helium guys to watch are Kyle Tucker and Justin Hooper, with the 6'4 Tucker (.425, 9 HR, 5 SB) drawing raves from scouts for his athleticism and advanced swing while Hooper is a 6'6 lefty that's been into the mid-90's this spring.

 

Really would be cool if there was a generational talent if the Cubs are going to suck this much.

[Guest]

25 players to know for 2015: http://throughthefencebaseball.com/2015-mlb-draft-25-players/42946

[Guest]

@johnmanuelba: If you're a #mlbdraft maven, top 2015 talent RHP Michael Matuella on the mound now for #Duke in #ACCBASE tournament on Fox Sports South

[Guest]

@kileymcd: To give you an idea why Brendan Rodgers is the #1 prep player for 2015: hit oppo HRs in BP & did this in IF https://t.co/ZH4Ml1bp1y