2014 Cubs Pick Discussion

[The-Kris-Bryant]

...or they thought Schwarber was just better. Period.

[ScrubMD]

Stinnett sucks, don't sign him.

[ConstableRabbit]

Stinnett's stuff looks good but he's been wild as [expletive] so far. 2 HBP this inning.

[Guest]

He's probably hung over still

[Guest]

Here's a more detailed list of tough prep signs available - all will likely need 7 figures:

 

RHP Keith Weisenberg (Standord commit)

RHP Jacob Bukauskas (UNC)

LHP Mac Marshall (LSU)

RHP Bryce Montes de Oca (Mizzou)

RHP Keaton McKinney (Arkansas)

RHP Cobi Johnson (Florida)

RHP David Peterson (Oregon)

3B Sean Bouchard (UCLA)

OF Jeren Kendall (Vandy)

C JJ Schwarz (Florida)

 

College guys I like, won't be too expensive:

 

AJ Vanegas, RP, Stanford

Jordan Brink, P, Fresno State

Tanner English, CF, South Carolina

[Guest]

I'm guessing that they knew they couldn't get Jackson for less than the slot, so in order to get impact later they got a little less upside at the 4 spot. It would have been interesting to see how things would have played out with a healthy Hoffman around. At least he would have made it a "4 player" draft.

 

It sounds kind of backwards but the new draft rules seem to force teams to be creative. It almost seems like it forces teams to draft lesser players high, so they can sign them, not lose slot money or lose picks.

The new rules have actually done a better job of getting the best talent to go first. However, this draft had a lot of roughly equivalent talent after the top three so it lent itself to the Cubs doing what they did.

[ScrubMD]

I'm guessing that they knew they couldn't get Jackson for less than the slot, so in order to get impact later they got a little less upside at the 4 spot. It would have been interesting to see how things would have played out with a healthy Hoffman around. At least he would have made it a "4 player" draft.

 

It sounds kind of backwards but the new draft rules seem to force teams to be creative. It almost seems like it forces teams to draft lesser players high, so they can sign them, not lose slot money or lose picks.

 

It seemed like a few weeks ago, all talk of Jackson to the Cubs completely died. I got the feeling they found something they didn't like about him.

[Epsteenie]

Stinnett topped out at 88 in the second. Hit 94 in the first.

[Epsteenie]

Marlin says Schwarber has signed.

[wekim81]

I certainly didn't see 94. Slider has looked good. FB avg and he's been hittable. Only two innings. As a former pitcher I like his mechanics tho

[Guest]

Stinnett topped out at 88 in the second. Hit 94 in the first.

 

Don't ever trust TV college baseball radar readings.

[Guest]

Cubs take Jordan Brink in the 11th, one of my favorite college players still available. He should get more than $100,000 to sign. Hope they keep him in the rotation and don't push him to the pen immediately.

[Guest]

Jordan Brink - BA rank: 164, MLB.com: 102, Scout.com: 105

 

MLB.com:

 

Scouting Grades: Fastball: 60 | Curveball: 60 | Changeup: 40 | Control: 40 | Overall: 45

 

There have been some interesting pitching prospects in recent Drafts who came late to full-time pitching, including first-rounders Braden Shipley in 2013 and Kyle Zimmer in 2012. While Brink isn't quite that high-profile, he has the chance to do well now that he's focused only on the mound.

 

An outfielder for his first two years at Fresno State, Brink split time between playing that position and pitching as a sophomore then turned to pitching full-time in 2014. He's athletic, if a bit undersized, with the makings of two plus pitches in his fastball and spike curveball, which looks like a hard slider at times. He's working on developing his changeup.

 

The jury is still out on whether Brink can start long-term -- sometimes a bias against undersized right-handers -- or he'll end up in the bullpen. Either way, his arm looks like it has a shot to pitch at the highest level.

 

BA:

 

Brink has an infielder’s body at a listed 6-foot-1, 200 pounds. He began his Fresno State career as a lefthanded hitter, playing outfield and the corner infield spots. He primarily played third base in the Alaska League in 2012 and was seen as a decent hitting prospect, but his arm earned him time on the mound as a sophomore. Though he gave up a walk-off home run to Stanford in his first college appearance, he progressed as a sophomore into a starting role, and the athletic, quick-armed righty has continued progressing as a junior. He threw from a low three-quarters arm slot in 2013 and reached 96 mph in the fall, but he’s thrown more from an over-the-top slot this spring. His fastball has backed up velocity-wise, sitting 91-93 mph early this year and dropping into the average range as he’s reached 76 innings, by far the most of his career. The higher slot also has aided Brink in throwing his power spike curveball, which at its best reaches the mid-80s. Brink remains raw thanks to his relative inexperience as a pitcher, but he’s athletic and has flashed two plus pitches. Some scouts dream on the combination and see him as a starter waiting to be molded in pro ball. Others would like to see him return to his lower slot, hoping for a return of the 96s and his previous breaking ball, a slider. His late velocity drop could hurt his draft position a bit, but he showed second-round talent at his best.

[Guest]

12th round: Tanner Griggs, RHP, Angelina College (JC) -

 

BA (#425):

 

Griggs had a strong spring, going 6-2, 2.09 for Angelina (Texas) JC, though he did have one of his tougher outings on a day there was a large scouting contingent on hand. He has a nice pitcher’s build and consistently works at 91-92 mph while touching as high as 95. His slider has been his go-to secondary pitch, his repertoire also featuring a workable changeup and a rudimentary curveball. It’s a deep enough mix to give him a chance to stick as a starter in pro ball, though he may end up in middle relief. Command has been an issue at times but he made some positive strides this year. He’s committed to Texas A&M-Corpus Christi.

 

He made Kiley McDaniel's list of 255 other players after his top 291.

[Guest]

12th round: Tanner Griggs, RHP, Angelina College (JC) -

 

BA (#425):

 

Griggs had a strong spring, going 6-2, 2.09 for Angelina (Texas) JC, though he did have one of his tougher outings on a day there was a large scouting contingent on hand. He has a nice pitcher’s build and consistently works at 91-92 mph while touching as high as 95. His slider has been his go-to secondary pitch, his repertoire also featuring a workable changeup and a rudimentary curveball. It’s a deep enough mix to give him a chance to stick as a starter in pro ball, though he may end up in middle relief. Command has been an issue at times but he made some positive strides this year. He’s committed to Texas A&M-Corpus Christi.

 

He made Kiley McDaniel's list of 255 other players after his top 291.

The kind of strong arm you hope can develop better offspeed pitches with professional coaching.

[Guest]

Just tuned in. For those not listening, they don't bother with any commentary today. They just string picks back to back with no break in between.

[Guest]

13th rounder: Kevonte Mitchell, 3B, Kennett HS (MO) 6'4", 185 lbs

 

Didn't find him in BA's top 500, Scout's top 546 or MLB.com's top 200.

[Guest]

Cubs took Kevonte Mitchell with their 13th rounder.

 

He's a 6'4" 185 lb third baseman born 8/12/95

[ScrubMD]

Just tuned in. For those not listening, they don't bother with any commentary today. They just string picks back to back with no break in between.

 

I'd love to see the MLB.com guys try to BS their way through giving commentary on these rounds.

[Tangled Up in Plaid]

Cubs took Kevonte Mitchell with their 13th rounder.

 

He's a 6'4" 185 lb third baseman born 8/12/95

 

ermergerd, a hitter.

[Guest]

Here's a link to Kevonte's college signing

[Guest]

Cool page on Kevonte. Wish HS stats were reliable. Kid is apparently a really good athlete.

 

 

Google has an awful lot on the kid.

[ScrubMD]

Kevonte taking BP at Wrigley

[Guest]

Kevonte taking BP at Wrigley

I wonder if a quick google search of "bp at wrigley" would turn up other guys they worked out in advance of the draft.

[Guest]

White Sox selected Montes de Oca right before our pick.

 

We took Chesny Young, a 2B from Mercer U.