2018 Actual MLB Draft Day(s) Thread

[jersey cubs fan]

 

That is very weird.

The kids choice or the team's willingness to play along?

 

The team’s willingness, with a top ten overall pick.

If you like the guy a lot why not play along, especially as a team that is fairly desperate for ways to acquire high end talent?

[CaliforniaRaisin]

There goes Kloffenstein, who was thought to be unsignable.

 

Also some big name college players so far - Wong, Killane, Knight and Pompey.

[CaliforniaRaisin]

Cubs 3rd round pick: Jimmy Herron, OF, Duke

 

BA rank - 165

 

Jimmy Herron 4YR OF

 

School: Duke

Ht: 6-1 | Wt: 185 | B-T: R-L | Commit/Drafted: Yankees '17 (31)

Scouting Report: Draft-eligible last June as a sophomore, Herron was drafted by the Yankees in the 31st round but elected to play in the Cape Cod League instead, where he impressed scouts by ranking third in the league in batting average (.338). Herron has put up similar numbers in his career at Duke, slashing .316/.414/.446 in two and a half seasons. An immediate contributor for the Blue Devils, Herron has served as a spark plug at the top of the order, using a compact righthanded swing that is geared for line drives and employing his plus speed on the basepaths. Herron hasn’t been as consistent at the plate this season, with a bat path that has been more uphill than scouts are used to seeing. But when he stays within himself, Herron is among the best pure hitters at the college level. As far as his other tools, Herron’s below-average arm strength limits his versatility in the outfield. He has the speed and range to handle center field, but his arm has relegated him to left field for Duke and could cap his ceiling as a fourth outfielder at the next level. A righthanded, contact-oriented left fielder is typically not a highly sought-after profile, but Herron’s hitting ability, makeup and baseball IQ elevate his stock.

 

Not ranked in the MLB.com top 200:

 

Herron has good speed, but the outfielder will need Tommy John surgery on his arm. He had a standout performance in the Cape Cod League last season (.338/.443/.481 with 10 doubles and four home runs in 42 games for the Orleans Firebirds). He shows potential at the plate, but the pop in his bat is a question mark.

[toonsterwu]

In a vacuum, I like Herron. He'll be down for awhile, but he's got a good hit tool. He might be more of a 4th OF profile if the hit tool doesn't carry that well.

 

BUT .... you just drafted 3 positional guys, 2 OF's. Granted, the two OF's were prep OF's, so the timeline is different. Still, it feels like they are going to

 

a) Go heavy on positional guys.

b) Go heavy on college guys that could slide up a bit faster.

 

Overall, eh, as it's easy to envision Herron, when healthy, perhaps moving up faster.

[CaliforniaRaisin]

In a vacuum, I like Herron. He'll be down for awhile, but he's got a good hit tool. He might be more of a 4th OF profile if the hit tool doesn't carry that well.

 

BUT .... you just drafted 3 positional guys, 2 OF's. Granted, the two OF's were prep OF's, so the timeline is different. Still, it feels like they are going to

 

a) Go heavy on positional guys.

b) Go heavy on college guys that could slide up a bit faster.

 

Overall, eh, as it's easy to envision Herron, when healthy, perhaps moving up faster.

 

I didn't think OF was that bad a position in the org. Obviously some of it is how the draft shakes out, but it's interesting.

[CyHawk_Cub]

I thought this draft was supposed to be a "we can't miss" type of thing this season? I know...Theo-speak, but I'm just kinda surprised. :dontknow:

[Hrubes20]

Not shocked that the Cubs took him, given his Cape Cod pedigree. A little shocked he was taken this high though. Normally you would say "underslot" but after Richan got slot money, I have no idea.

[Hrubes20]

Cubs 3rd round pick: Jimmy Herron, OF, Duke

 

BA rank - 165

 

Jimmy Herron 4YR OF

 

School: Duke

Ht: 6-1 | Wt: 185 | B-T: R-L | Commit/Drafted: Yankees '17 (31)

Scouting Report: Draft-eligible last June as a sophomore, Herron was drafted by the Yankees in the 31st round but elected to play in the Cape Cod League instead, where he impressed scouts by ranking third in the league in batting average (.338). Herron has put up similar numbers in his career at Duke, slashing .316/.414/.446 in two and a half seasons. An immediate contributor for the Blue Devils, Herron has served as a spark plug at the top of the order, using a compact righthanded swing that is geared for line drives and employing his plus speed on the basepaths. Herron hasn’t been as consistent at the plate this season, with a bat path that has been more uphill than scouts are used to seeing. But when he stays within himself, Herron is among the best pure hitters at the college level. As far as his other tools, Herron’s below-average arm strength limits his versatility in the outfield. He has the speed and range to handle center field, but his arm has relegated him to left field for Duke and could cap his ceiling as a fourth outfielder at the next level. A righthanded, contact-oriented left fielder is typically not a highly sought-after profile, but Herron’s hitting ability, makeup and baseball IQ elevate his stock.

 

Not ranked in the MLB.com top 200:

 

Herron has good speed, but the outfielder will need Tommy John surgery on his arm. He had a standout performance in the Cape Cod League last season (.338/.443/.481 with 10 doubles and four home runs in 42 games for the Orleans Firebirds). He shows potential at the plate, but the pop in his bat is a question mark.

 

He reminds me of Donnie Dewees. Here's hoping he's better.

[toonsterwu]

I don't disagree. Actually, more I think about it, I lean a bit negative on the Herron pick because of timeline, even though I sorta like Herron (reminds me a bit of the Dewees pick, although Dewees had more pop, I think). Again, I'd note that they draft a lot of guys that have a loose profile, and thus, increase the risk of limiting the type of assets the organization fosters. It's not that the profile is bad ... it's that you want more diversity. He'll be gone this year, so his earliest chance at hitting AA is, barring an exceptional showing, perhaps 2020?

 

My bigger issue is the dramatic swings in how the club focuses on their drafts - they spent 2 years focusing hard on pitching, and it's easy to imagine with the paucity of talent in the full-season ranks, that they'll spend quite a few assets on collegians who could perhaps move faster. Of course, down the line, that will lead to gaps elsewhere. I'd rather they just take a step back, take the lumps from the gaps in the system, and build more balanced drafts. Obviously, yes, some of it is out of their control, as it depends on how a draft falls, but ugh.

[toonsterwu]

I thought this draft was supposed to be a "we can't miss" type of thing this season? I know...Theo-speak, but I'm just kinda surprised. :dontknow:

 

I really viewed can't miss or as getting guys who can move up the ladder and perhaps generate some value. There were talent gaps in the system this year.

[CaliforniaRaisin]

[Lefty]

First comp that came to mind to me for Hoerner was Michael Young.

 

First guy I thought of was Bob Horner.

Too many youngsters here to appreciate the high quality of this post.

 

I'm even older. I was thinking of Joe Hoerner.

[CaliforniaRaisin]

I thought this draft was supposed to be a "we can't miss" type of thing this season? I know...Theo-speak, but I'm just kinda surprised. :dontknow:

 

If this was in response to a third round pick, I’m confused. He seems safe with a successful wood bat pedigree.

[CaliforniaRaisin]

There goes Siani, another prep prospect who was thought to be a super tough sign.

 

And there goes Tristan Beck, who seemed like a Cubs type of college pitching prospect.

[CyHawk_Cub]

I thought this draft was supposed to be a "we can't miss" type of thing this season? I know...Theo-speak, but I'm just kinda surprised. :dontknow:

 

If this was in response to a third round pick, I’m confused. He seems safe with a successful wood bat pedigree.

 

No, I'm reacting to the draft up to this point. Based on reading player evaluations done by people who know more than I ever will.

[Tim]

I thought this draft was supposed to be a "we can't miss" type of thing this season? I know...Theo-speak, but I'm just kinda surprised. :dontknow:

 

If this was in response to a third round pick, I’m confused. He seems safe with a successful wood bat pedigree.

 

No, I'm reacting to the draft up to this point. Based on reading player evaluations done by people who know more than I ever will.

Well, they've gone "safe" with three of the five picks so far.

[toonsterwu]

Ugh, as a UVA fan, I hate that Siani got picked. UVA badly needed his bat next year. Feels like, for them to pick him here, they know his number and will meet it. I figure they might've saved some on the early picks, so a big package for Siani isn't out of the question.

[javy knows my name]

I remember a couple years ago some team used a late round pick to draft a kid as a gesture. I think he had like a career-ending injury or something. Some light googling hasn't helped me out - anyone know what I'm talking about?

 

It was the Diamondbacks and they drafted Cory Hahn. I believe they’ve since named the 34rd round selection the Cory Hahn selection in his honor.

 

Very cool, thanks!

[KingCubsFan]

 

I would add that Theo and Co., along with his branches, often look for a certain type/mold. For lack of better way of saying it, they look for the next Ellsbury (certainly, one can say the next Betts) and Pedroia, and while there is value in that, there's also a risk of getting too locked in on a type. I had, in the back of my mind, wondered if Jake McCarthy would be the pick because of all the comparisons to Ellsbury/AJ Pollock.

I don't think they're looking for the "next" anything. They have a certain type of player-strong contact skills/ hard worker/up the middle potential/ previous wood bat success if applicable-and that profile has landed them Ellsbury, Pedroia, Betts, Schwarber, Almora, etc.

[CyHawk_Cub]

 

If this was in response to a third round pick, I’m confused. He seems safe with a successful wood bat pedigree.

 

No, I'm reacting to the draft up to this point. Based on reading player evaluations done by people who know more than I ever will.

Well, they've gone "safe" with three of the five picks so far.

 

It's possible (probable) that I totally misinterpreted what Theo said pre-draft, but I didn't actually use the word "safe"; I used the phrase "we can't miss" and I read that as in terms of getting impact talent in. Upon reflection, I clearly read much more into that than intended. I obviously projected my desire on what Theo actually said. Moving along.

[toonsterwu]

 

I would add that Theo and Co., along with his branches, often look for a certain type/mold. For lack of better way of saying it, they look for the next Ellsbury (certainly, one can say the next Betts) and Pedroia, and while there is value in that, there's also a risk of getting too locked in on a type. I had, in the back of my mind, wondered if Jake McCarthy would be the pick because of all the comparisons to Ellsbury/AJ Pollock.

I don't think they're looking for the "next" anything. They have a certain type of player-strong contact skills/ hard worker/up the middle potential/ previous wood bat success if applicable-and that profile has landed them Ellsbury, Pedroia, Betts, Schwarber, Almora, etc.

 

Sure, that's fair. I was over-stating it with the comparisons, but my point is that they look for a mold, particularly as you go later on in the draft. That mold is a solid one, but it limits the diversity of talent in an organization. You'll occasionally run into a Mookie Betts, but you'll also get (and I liked him a lot) the Stephen Bruno's of the world.

[CyHawk_Cub]

It's possible (probable) that I totally misinterpreted what Theo said pre-draft, but I didn't actually use the word "safe"; I used the phrase "we can't miss" and I read that as in terms of getting impact talent in. Upon reflection, I clearly read much more into that than intended. I obviously projected my desire on what Theo actually said. Moving along.

 

Because my ability to communicate seems to suck worse than normal today:

 

My recollection of the pre-draft Theo interview was that the context of the conversation revolved around lamenting the dearth of impact talent in the system. Theo's reaction/response, my reading of it anyway, seemed to be "hey, we need impact talent, we have a horsefeathers load of picks; we'll get that done because we have to." Or something like that. But y'all are probably right. He likely only meant "safe."

[CaliforniaRaisin]

4th rounder:

 

Ethan Roberts, RHP, Tennessee Tech

 

Not ranked by BA or MLB.com

[Transmogrified Tiger]

4th rounder:

 

Ethan Roberts, RHP, Tennessee Tech

 

Not ranked by BA or MLB.com

 

He appears to be a multi-inning reliever, 26 appearances, 1 game started, 71 IP. A good one too, 61 H, 2.41 ERA, 96/20 K/BB, 4 HR

 

Tennessee Tech is in a super regional this weekend.

[davell]

Are we saving for something? Herron is a guy needing TJS and Roberts is an unknown. And a reliever. If these guys are getting slot, I'm surprised.