2024 MLB Draft Day 2 Thread

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Armas started 49 of the Toreros' 50 games at catcher in 2024, posting a .998 fielding percentage while throwing out 13 would-be base stealers and leading the nation with 17.64 Defensive Runs Saved, 3.45 more runs saved than the next closest player

- SDU website

This reminds me of the Casey Opitz pick a few years back. You hope he can hit enough for the shining defense to carry him to the MLB as a backup or even as one of these elite defensive guys who have an 80 wRC+.

Highest ranked guys still undrafted

#56 Dax Whitney

#76 Garret Schull

#79 Carson Wiggins

#80 Chase Mobley

#91 Sawyer Farr

#92 Noah Franco

 

3 minutes ago, 1908_Cubs said:

 

By the time he makes it to the show, I'm pretty certain that framing will matter a whole heck of a lot less than it does now.

9 minutes ago, Rob said:

By the time he makes it to the show, I'm pretty certain that framing will matter a whole heck of a lot less than it does now.

This was my first thought as well.

2 minutes ago, Rob said:

By the time he makes it to the show, I'm pretty certain that framing will matter a whole heck of a lot less than it does now.

I think it'll matter less, though it might not matter that much less. It kind of depends on what system they go to; I suspect it'll be a while before it's a fully automated system. Even with the challenge system, each team gets three challenges. You can still steal strikes, especially, early in game and early in count. It'll be harder to steal a pitch 3-2, bases loaded, in the 9th. But 2nd inning, 2-1 count? Probably going to get that call to go unchallenged. 

6th rounder: RHP Ryan Gallagher, UCSB

Yet another unranked pick

BA ranked him 462nd: 

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462. Ryan Gallagher

RHP

Ht: 6'3" | Wt: 195 | B-T: L-R

School: UC Santa Barbara Commit/Drafted: Never Drafted
Age At Draft: 21.5
UC Santa Barbara pumps out strike throwers as well as any program in the country and Gallagher is one of the next in a long line. A 6-foot-4, 220-pound righthander, Gallagher was the Big West freshman pitcher of the year in 2022 after he posted a 3.25 ERA in 15 starts and 83 innings but he lost the 2023 season after having Tommy John surgery. Back on the mound in 2024, Gallagher has continued to show solid command for a four-pitch mix. He throws his fastball in the 88-90 mph range and has been up to 93 with above-average riding life. He mixes in a slow mid-70s changeup with solid tumble and a low-80s slider as his go-to secondary pitches, though he will also mix in an occasional upper-70s curve. Gallagher has a career walk rate near 7% and should have the fastball command and above-average control to profile as a starter.

 

Cubs take their yearly "recently had TJS" guy in Ryan Gallagher.

Cubs join the Brewers as the only teams with 3 unranked picks thus far.

10 minutes ago, Tryptamine said:

Cubs join the Brewers as the only teams with 3 unranked picks thus far.

Brewers take the lead back, up to 4.

Looks like Gallagher has grown a lot. Was listed at 6"1, 155lbs by PG. Up to 6"4, over 200lbs now. Cubs do a good job increasing velocity. Already throws a lot of strikes. Sounds like there's a potential for a back end arm there, and probably one who moves quick-ish through at least South Bend. 

So at this point I kind of figure it goes like this

1) Cam gets slot

2) Math gets just slightly under slot maybe you save 200Kish

3) Cruz gets probably at least 75% of slot so you save 150-200Kish

4) Southisene gets slot, maybe a bit over so conservatively we say it wipes out the money saved on Cruz

5) Ariel Armas maybe gets you some saving, 100kish

6) Gallagher gets gets you maybe 50-75K in savings.

So really you're only looking at about 350K saved right now.

Aw, the Cubs wanted to make sure Gallagher had a friend in the system.

They went with a raw power monster in the 7th round

Ivan Brethowr #194 on MLB.COM

Pipeline says some scouts see our 7th rounder with 70 grade power if he can tap into it more. They have him at 55 with it. Could be something there. 

7th rounder: OF Ivan Brethowr, UCSB. 

Pipeline has him at 194th:

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A product of the same Kansas high school that produced former first-round fireballer Riley Pint, Brethowr provides more proof that they grow them big in that part of the country. The 6-foot-6 slugging outfielder began his college career at Arizona State, but after getting limited playing time as a freshman in 2022, he transferred to UC Santa Barbara and earned All-Big West First Team honors as a sophomore. He hasn't taken a big step forward in his junior season but he does provide a power bat possibility in the middle rounds. One of the most physical hitters in the country, Brethowr offers serious raw power from the right side of the plate, with some scouts thinking there might be 70 raw pop in his bat -- and it does show up to his pull side. Whether he can get to it consistently remains the question. While he's cut his strikeout rate down considerably this year, he continues to show a little bit of a slow trigger with the bat, and there could be more production unlocked with some swing adjustments. In the past, Brethowr has run well, especially for someone his size, but some lower-half injuries have slowed him down and he's likely to keep trending in that direction as he matures. He's limited to an outfield corner and has the raw arm strength to fit there. The team that takes him on Day 2 will be hoping it can maximize his power potential.

BA has him at 472:

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472. Ivan Brethowr

OF

Ht: 6'6" | Wt: 250 | B-T: R-R

School: UC Santa Barbara Commit/Drafted: Never Drafted
Age At Draft: 21.4
Brethowr is a tall and physical 6-foot-6, 250-pound outfielder with a big swing and lots of pull-side power. He has a low handset in his setup and features an uphill swing that can get a bit lengthy, but he has the strength to send the ball a long way with impressive top-end exit velocities. He slashed .294/.421/.581 in 43 games with 12 home runs—all of which were pulled—and a career-low 16.4% strikeout rate. Brethowr is a definite corner profile who spent time DHing in the past with UC Santa Barbara and Arizona State and he also has limited success with wood bats in the West Coast League and Cape Cod League. The power is his carrying tool.

 

Well, the Cubs seem to have a type for this draft.

11 minutes ago, Rob said:

Well, the Cubs seem to have a type for this draft.

They really love their exit velocity guys. 

One would think that they have enough saved to pop a pretty big name, no?

24 minutes ago, Tryptamine said:

So at this point I kind of figure it goes like this

1) Cam gets slot

2) Math gets just slightly under slot maybe you save 200Kish

3) Cruz gets probably at least 75% of slot so you save 150-200Kish

4) Southisene gets slot, maybe a bit over so conservatively we say it wipes out the money saved on Cruz

5) Ariel Armas maybe gets you some saving, 100kish

6) Gallagher gets gets you maybe 50-75K in savings.

So really you're only looking at about 350K saved right now.

I haven't dug into the others but I would expect the first two rounds to be at slot.