2020 MLB Actual Draft Day(s) Thread

[David]

 

 

that's him in #9

[CaliforniaRaisin]

 

https://blogs.fangraphs.com/day-1-draft-recap/

 

It’s a good read. Sounds like the Orioles were hoping for Bitsko after going with Kjerstad at 2. Will be interesting to see how the Red Sox play things today with all that savings.

[CaliforniaRaisin]

Ben Badler at BA:

 

Instant Analysis: The Cubs stay local to pick Howard and have to be happy to be able to land the top high school shortstop in the draft in the middle of the first round. Howard is a true shortstop who projects to stay at the position, with easy actions in the field and in the batter's box. With the Cubs expected to sign Dominican shortstop Cristian Hernandez (the top prospect in the 2020 international class for some scouts), that's a dynamic haul of premium shortstops coming for the organization.

[Derwood]

Derwood, read the room.

 

I'm clarifying, because I know jack and horsefeathers about the draft and signings and how it all works.

 

Which is fine, especially in this weird year, but by the time you asked there were about 20 posts talking about where he would slot in to our system, how he is going to rank, etc. with minimal to no discussion on signability concerns. Mostly just giving you a hard time, but....come on, pick up some context.

 

Raisin's response is what threw me (and he has since clarified)

[Regular Show]

That's awesome lol.

[Named After Maddux]

I liked this exchange from a previous Fangraphs chat/discussion in the International Free Agency thread.

 

Ed Howard or Cristian Hernandez among signable amateur HS aged SSs this year?

 

Eric A Longenhagen: oooh, good one. man, that’s close. I’ll say Hernandez, more body projection. Howard is the better glove, though.

 

McDaniel leaned Howard so these two prospects might start a war

Take Howard with the 16th pick and let em battle it out!

 

Should be fun to watch.

[CaliforniaRaisin]

Over the last few days, various publications linked a handful of guys to the Cubs as possible 2nd rounders or even later.

 

The only ones still available are prep RHPs Jared Jones, Ben Hernandez and ECU 1B Alec Burleson (who would be a later round pick today).

[Regular Show]

So, Day 2 is about to start pretty soon.

 

A bunch of talented HS arms and bats that I like are still available. I'm not that high on that many college bats at this point... Honestly, I think some of the college bats taken yesterday suck and won't end up being impact players. Some talented college pitchers and I wonder if some team tries taking Cole Wilcox in the 2nd round. Maybe Baltimore?

 

I said I think the Cubs probably only take one HS prospect yesterday, but now that they took one in the 1st round I think there is a chance they take two now.

 

They like to take at least one lower-ranked HS pitcher, but we have a new scouting director so who knows if that continues.

[Regular Show]

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I like Dillon Dingler, but I don't know if we're targeting him in round 2. Some scouts thought he overtakes Patrick Bailey for title of best C in the draft in a normal spring. Great tools for a catcher.

 

Not a fan of Blaze Jordan.

[Regular Show]

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[Regular Show]

Damn it.

 

There goes Ben Hernandez...

[CaliforniaRaisin]

Really throught Ben Hernandez would make it to the Cubs in round 2.

 

And there goes Jared Jones.

[CaliforniaRaisin]

Burl Carraway, LHP, Dallas Baptist (straight reliever)

 

Athletic (Keith Law): #90

BA: #72

ESPN (Kiley McDaniel): #53

FG (Eric Longenhagen): #44

MLB.com: #49

 

 

Athletic:

 

90. Burl Carraway, LHP, Dallas Baptist, Age: 21

 

Carraway is a pure reliever who hasn’t been able to hold velocity when stretched out, but can sit 96-98 mph in short stints with a plus curveball from a high 3/4 slot. He’s a great athlete who should throw more strikes than he does; he’s walked 28 guys in the last year-plus for DBU in 51 innings, which will have to improve for him to profile as more than a middle reliever.

 

BA:

 

Burl Carraway Dallas Baptist LHP

 

Ht: 6-0 | Wt: 173 | B-T: L-L

Commit/Drafted: Never Drafted

Age At Draft: 21.1

 

The top college reliever in the class, Carraway has explosive stuff from the left side and, depending on the day, looks like he could be a late-inning reliever for an MLB club right now. A wiry athlete standing at 6-foot, 173 pounds, Carraway explodes off the rubber and uses his lower half extremely well, with a fast arm and crossfiring action in his delivery that adds to his deception. He pairs a fastball that’s regularly in the 96-98 mph range with spotty control, which makes it easy to see why hitters are always uncomfortable in the box against him. That’s especially true for lefties, who struck out in 33 of 64 (52.5 percent) plate appearances against Carraway in 2019. Carraway’s fastball has 70-grade potential if he can improve his control, which is below-average. He also has a knee-buckling curveball in the mid-70s with 1-to-7 shape and sharp biting action, which he also struggles to land consistently. Carraway gets away with below-average control now because he generates so many whiffs outside of the zone, but more advanced hitters will be able to stand in the box and take those pitches more easily. His career walk rate over 42 innings with DBU is 5.36, and while the bar is lower for reliever control, he’ll have to improve that for an MLB club to trust him in any sort of high-leverage role. The timing of his release point is inconsistent, and the violence and effort of his delivery likely don’t help in that regard, so perhaps teams could try and calm that down a tick at the next level to help him stay in the strike zone more frequently. Carraway comes with plenty of risk thanks to his control and the poor track record of college relievers, but he could be a quick mover to a big league pen with a step forward in his strike-throwing.

 

ESPN:

 

Burl Carraway, LHP, Dallas Baptist, 40+ FV: The only slam-dunk reliever in the top 50 picks is a 6-footer with the mentality and approach to fit and loud stuff, throwing up to 99 mph to go with an easy-plus curveball.

 

FG:

 

TLDR

Power mid-90's heater and curveball out of the bullpen both flash plus as the next power arm off the assembly line at Dallas Baptist. High slot, effort, not a big frame, area command, so more of a one inning short reliever.

 

MLB:

 

Carraway first piqued Dallas Baptist's interest as a center fielder and threw in the mid-80 as a Texas high school senior in 2017, so he wasn't a high-priority recruit and didn't attract interest from pro clubs. His velocity began to climb as a freshman but he was so raw that he made just two appearances and retired only one of the seven batters he faced. He made a huge leap forward as a sophomore, averaging 15.6 strikeouts per nine innings as the Patriots' closer and becoming the first player in school history to make the U.S. collegiate national team. The favorite to be the first reliever drafted in 2020, Carraway has a pair of overpowering pitches in his fastball and curveball. His heater sits at 93-96 mph and touches 98 with riding action, while his downer curve usually parks in the upper 70s. His pitches play up because they have high spin rates and he gets good extension in his delivery, and both can grade as well above average when at their best. As a 6-footer who lacks physicality and features a lot of effort in his high three-quarters delivery, Carraway is strictly a reliever. His control and command have improved in college but still need to get better if he's going to hold down a high-leverage role in the big leagues. He should be one of the first players from the 2020 Draft to reach the Majors.

[Regular Show]

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Good pick.

 

I mentioned him as one of the college pitchers I hope the Cubs target today. Very talented LHP, but it seems like all the experts think he's just a reliever.

[CubsWin]

I liked this exchange from a previous Fangraphs chat/discussion in the International Free Agency thread.

 

 

McDaniel leaned Howard so these two prospects might start a war

Take Howard with the 16th pick and let em battle it out!

 

Should be fun to watch.

Yeah, I'm good like that. Lots of inside connections with members of MLB front offices. I'm basically Regular Show but better. I told Theo in February to take him. I'm just glad he finally listened!

[Regular Show]

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[Post Count Padder]

Power lefty who could move quickly? Sure.

 

The clips of his curve make my knees buckle.

[Regular Show]

There goes Landon Knack.

 

He's the best senior prospect in the draft and was a chance to get a talented player at a heavy discount. Amazing control and the stuff has improved.

[Post Count Padder]

The Indians drafted pitcher Logan Allen. They already have a pitching prospect named Logan Allen. That won't be confusing.

[Regular Show]

The Indians drafted pitcher Logan Allen. They already have a pitching prospect named Logan Allen. That won't be confusing.

 

Time to break out the middle initial lol (I'm assuming that's different).

[Regular Show]

Man, the Dodgers grabbed two very talented college pitchers in Bobby Miller and Clayton Beeter.

 

Really playing to the strength of this draft.

[Hrubes20]

Don't love Carraway. Walked over 5 guys per 9 in his collegiate career. I say this every year with a player I don't love, but hopefully it is an underslot.

[Guancous]

[Regular Show]

There goes Cole Wilcox and I don't know if he's signable...

[Bertz]

You'd have to think between Marquez, Carraway, and Pelham at least one of them will be capable of high leverage work this year