BA's 2005 Draft Report Card

[Outshined_One]

It's subscriber-only content, so I'll sum it up in my own words.

 

Best Pro Debut: LHP Mark Pawelek & CF Davy Gregg

-Pawelek was on limited pitch counts but performed well. Gregg showed excellent speed on the basepaths and good contact for Boise.

 

Best Athlete: SS Dylan Johnston & C/OF Yusuf Carter

-Johnston is toolsy, but needs polish. Carter is rather athletic.

 

Best Pure Hitter: SS Dylan Johnston & OF Johnny Defendis

-Defendis doesn't stand out tools-wise, but he makes consistent contact into the OF.

 

Best Raw Power: C/OF Yusuf Carter

-Strong frame could see him develop into a good power threat.

 

Fastest Runner: CF Davy Gregg

-He has plus-plus speed.

 

Best Defensive Player: C Jake Muyco

-Excellent catch-and-throw, needs to work on his hitting.

 

Best Fastball: LHP Mark Pawelek, RHP Scott Taylor, LHP Donald Veal, and RHP Mike Billek

-Pawelek pitches at 94-95 and can hit 97. The other three can hit 93-94.

 

Best Breaking Ball: RHP Mike Billek, LHP Mark Pawelek, and RHP Mark Holliman

-All have good curves.

 

Most Intriguing Background: C/OF Yusuf Carter, C Michael Brenly, IF Kyle Reynolds, and 3B Brandon Taylor

-Carter's uncle is Joe Carter. Brenly and Reynolds both have fathers who were former all stars (Cubs' broadcaster Bob Brenly and Craig Reynolds). Taylor hit for the cycle twice in one season at BYU.

 

Closest to the Majors: RHP Mike Billek, RHP Mark Holliman, C Jake Muyco, or LHP Mark Pawelek

-Billek and Holliman are already pretty much fully developed. Muyco's D is good enough for the majors and he could shoot up if his bat comes around. Pawelek has a "special left arm".

 

Best Late-Round Pick: RHP Michael Phelps (11), and LHP Jayson Ruhlman (23)

-Phelps has three potential plus pitches and slipped in the draft due to a horrifying Matt Clement-like accident this past season when his catcher accidentally plunked him in the head in the season opener. Ruhlman could be a crafty lefty and showcases a 90-93 mph fastball.

 

The One Who Got Away: OF Tyler Graham

-The Cubs signed 28 of their first 30 picks. Graham will re-enter next year's draft as an eligible junior.

 

Assessments: Veal and Pawelek are "dynamic". The hitters the Cubs selected need time to develop, though.

 

If you want a more detailed report, as well as reports on other teams, click here.

[rawaction]

Would have liked more developed hitters in the draft. But it's quite obvious the Cubs are best at identifying and developing pitching. As long as they keep the hot pitching prospects coming thru the system, they should be alright. As long as they make wise trades.

[CuseCubFan69]

Would have liked more developed hitters in the draft. But it's quite obvious the Cubs are best at identifying and developing pitching. As long as they keep the hot pitching prospects coming thru the system, they should be alright. As long as they make wise trades.

 

I think that the evaluation is the key. The Cubs have to be able to determine which will be keepers and which ones to deal when the iron is hot. Bruback was a good example of trading a pitcher that isn't going to make while Willis and Sisco were mistakes. I understand that the Marlin deal wasn't going to be done but if the Cubs didn't do it they would have been better off IMO.

[CaliforniaRaisin]

No love for Deryck Lewis. :(

[Quakers]

It's subscriber-only content, so I'll sum it up in my own words.

 

Best Pro Debut: LHP Mark Pawelek & CF Davy Gregg

-Pawelek was on limited pitch counts but performed well. Gregg showed excellent speed on the basepaths and good contact for Boise.

 

Best Athlete: SS Dylan Johnston & C/OF Yusuf Carter

-Johnston is toolsy, but needs polish. Carter is rather athletic.

 

Best Pure Hitter: SS Dylan Johnston & OF Johnny Defendis

-Defendis doesn't stand out tools-wise, but he makes consistent contact into the OF.

 

Best Raw Power: C/OF Yusuf Carter

-Strong frame could see him develop into a good power threat.

 

Fastest Runner: CF Davy Gregg

-He has plus-plus speed.

 

Best Defensive Player: C Jake Muyco

-Excellent catch-and-throw, needs to work on his hitting.

 

Best Fastball: LHP Mark Pawelek, RHP Scott Taylor, LHP Donald Veal, and RHP Mike Billek

-Pawelek pitches at 94-95 and can hit 97. The other three can hit 93-94.

 

Best Breaking Ball: RHP Mike Billek, LHP Mark Pawelek, and RHP Mark Holliman

-All have good curves.

 

Most Intriguing Background: C/OF Yusuf Carter, C Michael Brenly, IF Kyle Reynolds, and 3B Brandon Taylor

-Carter's uncle is Joe Carter. Brenly and Reynolds both have fathers who were former all stars (Cubs' broadcaster Bob Brenly and Craig Reynolds). Taylor hit for the cycle twice in one season at BYU.

 

Closest to the Majors: RHP Mike Billek, RHP Mark Holliman, C Jake Muyco, or LHP Mark Pawelek

-Billek and Holliman are already pretty much fully developed. Muyco's D is good enough for the majors and he could shoot up if his bat comes around. Pawelek has a "special left arm".

 

Best Late-Round Pick: RHP Michael Phelps (11), and LHP Jayson Ruhlman (23)

-Phelps has three potential plus pitches and slipped in the draft due to a horrifying Matt Clement-like accident this past season when his catcher accidentally plunked him in the head in the season opener. Ruhlman could be a crafty lefty and showcases a 90-93 mph fastball.

 

The One Who Got Away: OF Tyler Graham

-The Cubs signed 28 of their first 30 picks. Graham will re-enter next year's draft as an eligible junior.

 

Assessments: Veal and Pawelek are "dynamic". The hitters the Cubs selected need time to develop, though.

 

If you want a more detailed report, as well as reports on other teams, click here.

 

Having seen a couple of these players let me comment.

 

Davey Gregg - I wasn't impressed. Not much a bunter, Walker is much better defensively.

 

Johnny Defendis - A very good contact hitter, but if he is going to play a corner outfield spot he is going to have to show some power. He did not do so when I saw him. Average arm in right.

 

Jake Muyco - They have him pegged as far as his defense goes. The best I have seen at Boise. He looked OK at the plate for SS ball, I need to see what he can do at a more advanced level.

[Warpticon]

I would've thought a guy named Johnny Defendis would've been on the "best defense" list.

[Diffusion]

Billek and Holliman are already pretty much fully developed.

 

An honest question more than a swipe at BA, but Billek made 8 starts at Peoria this year and put up the following numbers...

 

37.2 IP, 33 H, 6 HR, 10 BB, 25 K, 4.06 ERA

 

If he's fully developed, shouldn't he have had a little less difficulty with HRs and Ks against Low-A ballers?

[burnt out cubbie fan]

Billek and Holliman are already pretty much fully developed.

 

An honest question more than a swipe at BA, but Billek made 8 starts at Peoria this year and put up the following numbers...

 

37.2 IP, 33 H, 6 HR, 10 BB, 25 K, 4.06 ERA

 

If he's fully developed, shouldn't he have had a little less difficulty with HRs and Ks against Low-A ballers?

I think he was saying that they were physically developed, not as pitchers. Also, BA didn't mention anything about them being fully developed.

[Outshined_One]

I think he was saying that they were physically developed, not as pitchers. Also, BA didn't mention anything about them being fully developed.

 

BA wasn't very specific on this, but both Billek and Holliman are already pretty much fully developed from a physical standpoint. They were collegiate pitchers, so their age is already somewhat advanced. Also, as T2E mentioned in his excellent analyses of the Cubs' draft picks, both of them project to be in middle relief.

 

The Cubs won't surprise anyone if they fast track those two.

[Tim]

Billek and Holliman are already pretty much fully developed.

 

An honest question more than a swipe at BA, but Billek made 8 starts at Peoria this year and put up the following numbers...

 

37.2 IP, 33 H, 6 HR, 10 BB, 25 K, 4.06 ERA

 

If he's fully developed, shouldn't he have had a little less difficulty with HRs and Ks against Low-A ballers?

They said he's fully developed, they didn't say he was good!

[ChiefsVoice]

Billek is fine. he isnt a K pitcher thats why his K numbers are low. very few walks as well. i think you could make a nice argument that he had a better starts with the Chiefs than any but Gallagher and Weber. I know I was always confident with Mike on the mound. With the amount of innings he had already thrown impressively at UCF I wouldn't be at all surprised if he is fast tracked in 2006...