2018 Actual MLB Draft Day(s) Thread

[Bertz]

I think Noah Naylor is still my guy, but I could get behind Kowar, Thomas or McLanahan.

[CaliforniaRaisin]

 

They haven't led me astray with college bats but meh.

[davell]

No. No. No.

[UK]

 

I trust the Cubs but meh...

[Guancous]

[Hairyducked Idiot]

Screw. Pitchers. Forever.

[toonsterwu]

I don't mind Hoerner. I think I preferred Eierman, but I don't mind Hoerner. Still, would've liked a bit more upside with this first pick. That said, I also didn't think McClanahan was the type of guy they'd pick.

 

I don't think McClanahan gets past 27, though.

[CaliforniaRaisin]

Hoerner is BA's #42 prospect:

 

Nico Hoerner 4YR SS/2B School: Stanford

Ht: 5-11 | Wt: 195 | B-T: R-R | Commit/Drafted: Never Drafted

Scouting Report: Named to the All-Pac-12 team and All-Pac-12 defensive team after his sophomore season in 2017, Hoerner has a solid, all-around skillset and an impressive track record at Stanford and in the Cape Cod League last summer. While Hoerner has no true standout carrying tool, he’s played a respectable shortstop with the Cardinal the past two years after playing mostly at second base as a freshman. He also has an impressive history with the bat. In two summers in wood bat leagues, Hoerner has hit over .300 and teams are intrigued by the increase in power that the 5-foot-11 infielder showed after hitting six home runs in 40 games last summer on the Cape. Teams that like Hoerner will see a player with a shot to stick at shortstop with strong hands in the box, a good strikeout-to-walk ratio and impressive exit velocities. Teams who are on the opposite side will see a player who’s likely a second baseman without the power profile they are looking for. Either way, college infielders who perform tend to get drafted high and Hoerner has performed in both the spring and summer with no gaping holes in his game.

[Cubswin11]

The horsefeathers is this pick

[Transmogrified Tiger]

Love this pick. What’s his name? What position does he play?

[Hairyducked Idiot]

A shotstorp?

[CaliforniaRaisin]

MLB.com:

 

A three-year starter at Stanford, Hoerner played second during his freshman year. He's moved over to the left side of the infield to play short the last two seasons, raising his profile in the process. A strong Cape Cod League with the bat has carried over to solid performance on a top-rated team this spring, increasing his Draft stock in the process. Hoerner has a pretty good track record of performing well for an extended period of time, perhaps saving his best year for the right time in terms of the Draft. He can impact the baseball consistently, with an advanced approach at the plate, and while the numbers don't necessarily reflect it, there is some power for him to tap into. Hoerner runs fairly well, though he isn't overly fluid in his actions. That leads to some questions about his ability to stay at shortstop, with some seeing a return to second base in his future. College hitters who perform typically move up boards as the Draft approaches, and that's exactly what has happened with Hoerner. He's like a slightly less fluid version of Ian Kinsler, with the potential to be an offensive-minded second baseman at the highest level.

[UK]

Hoerner is Stanford’s heady leader on the infield and is coming off of a strong summer on the Cape. He has a swing geared for making contact and has enough foot speed to beat out base hits when he drives the ball into the dirt. There is also some gap-to-gap power to his swing, and a little bit of over-the-fence pop, but his righthanded swing is geared more for contact than power. Hoerner offers a steady presence in the middle infield, currently playing shortstop for Stanford but he may be a better natural, everyday fit at second base at the next level.

 

A look at Nico Hoerner’s career stats shows the type of consistency he brings to the table as he continues to display an adept feel for the barrel and an overall approach at the plate that allows for that consistent contact. Currently hitting .290 on the year, Hoerner was held hitless in his game Friday night at UCLA, and in fact only picked up only one base hit for the entire three-game series, though he continued to show the type of barrel skills scouts came to know while on the Cape. It’s worth noting that while on the Cape Hoerner he finished with an impressive .300 average while swinging wood against some of the best pitching collegiate baseball has to offer.

 

Hoerner’s overall approach at the plate is very much contact oriented and working the gaps rather than trying to put the ball over the fence, though after spraying hard line drive contact throughout batting practice he unloaded on one that went nearly 390 feet to left-centerfield on his second to last swing. Both his swing and mechanics support his approach at the plate as he stays short to the ball and compact with his swing, hitting the ball out front with loud contact coming off the barrel.

 

While simple with his swing, Hoerner shows leverage to his path and will run into more than a couple home runs a season while keeping his overall strikeout numbers down as evidenced by his 11 walks to 10 strikeouts this spring. Caught out front in each of his first two at-bats, Hoerner still showed the ability to keep his hands back (with conviction given the life off the barrel) and managed to drive the ball to deep centerfield in his first trip despite being out on his front side.

 

He gave above average runs times this summer on the Cape when busting it out of the box, and while he didn’t show that Friday night, he still moved well and showed athleticism to his actions. Starting at shortstop this spring for Stanford, Hoerner displays the actions and ability to stick up the middle at the next level, even if he jumps over to second base, with enough carry on his throws and softness to his hands.

 

College hitters who perform and have a track record of success are always in demand and Hoerner certainly fits that criteria with steady barrel skills and a sound approach at the dish. For video of his pre-game infield reps

[Bertz]

I assume this will save them some money as well? I don't like the pick, but that may change my mind on things.

[davell]

Gotta be an underslot.

[r_mack]

Hope this is an underslot

[CaliforniaRaisin]

A shotstorp?

 

Yes, but possibly a big league second baseman.

[Irrelevant Dude]

Hoerner should be a fairly significant underslot, right?

 

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[CaliforniaRaisin]

I assume this will save them some money as well? I don't like the pick, but that may change my mind on things.

 

Yeah, he's probably not going to get slot but I wouldn't expect too massive a savings. Maybe a few hundred thousand.

[Tryptamine]

The FO has definitely earned the right to make a pick like this, but damn I can't say I'm thrilled.

[UK]

Some had him going in the early to mid 20s so it's not a Simpson pick but with the arms that fell, I would've preferred them adjusting accordingly.

[ConstableRabbit]

Sounds gritty. I’m on board.

[CaliforniaRaisin]

Can’t bekieve we still have 50-ish more picks tonight.

[ScrubMD]

I can't believe Theo and McLeod didn't even take the time to look at the mlb.com rankings.

[UMFan83]

Just based on limited reading he seems like a high floor low ceiling guy.

 

Can’t wait to be re-reading this thread in 4 years when he wins ROY