Yankee151
Hot Girl Summer
Going to collect them all in one place so we can go back and poke fun at my pseudo sabermetric analysis.
Here is 2058, will start doing 2059 in next post and probably reserve a 3rd post.
Grading Scale:
The grade is combination of value for slot and future projection. I probably won't ever go past round 1 because I'm a millenial, unless I see someone drop really far and want to call it out, and/or I want to show off my own 4th round spreadsheet warrior steal. A+ does not necessarily mean future HOGer but just that the drafter made a shrewed move with their pick, and an F does not mean the player won't make the WBL, just that the drafter was being a @Lloyd Carr and got themselves cursed by the stupidity of their pick.
Past Drafts:
2058:
Here is 2058, will start doing 2059 in next post and probably reserve a 3rd post.
Grading Scale:
The grade is combination of value for slot and future projection. I probably won't ever go past round 1 because I'm a millenial, unless I see someone drop really far and want to call it out, and/or I want to show off my own 4th round spreadsheet warrior steal. A+ does not necessarily mean future HOGer but just that the drafter made a shrewed move with their pick, and an F does not mean the player won't make the WBL, just that the drafter was being a @Lloyd Carr and got themselves cursed by the stupidity of their pick.
Past Drafts:
2058:
2058 Draft Grades by Yankee TM
1-1 Moscow selects: Trevor 'Hobo' Mintey, 21yo RHP, UCLA(RSA)
New Moscow GM Soonerfan09 inherited the #1 overall and managed to land a top tier talent for it. Mintey is an advanced college arm who can run the radar up to 100. He has a wipeout slider and his changeup has the potential to set up the other two pitches well, though it lags behind a bit as he didn't need to use it much in college play. Mintey shows next-level control and poise on the mound even now, and could probably slot in a WBL rotation now (though he shouldn't). It's tough to envision a scenario where Mintey doesn't become an everyday starter, and he has the potential to be a perennial all-star. Grade: A
1-2 Kabul(BER via UK) selects: Miguel 'Pooky' Gonzalez, 18yo RF, Tidewater Tides(MEX)
Pooky is the premier high school bat of this draft, though his profile is a bit unorthodox. He has an elite approach at the plate, and he's a very tough out, rarely striking out and always getting the barrel of the bat on the ball. He may never hit more than 10 HRs in a year, though. He has a plus arm, but he seems clumsy in the field pretty much anywhere. He has improved in right in his 3 years of high school, so perhaps it's a trend of things to come. Otherwise, he'll have to move to DH. His bat should carry him, but he is very young and raw. His speed is top notch and if he learns to use it in the field he'll be the best OF in Kabul since the prime days of Prophet Perez. The long road ahead of him, however, makes it tougher to justify the trading away of Felix Alvarado for a competitive team. Grade: B+
1-3 Little Rock selects: Hasad Nisanci, 21yo RF, Colorado State(TUR)
Nisanci lit up the college circuit last spring, using his easy left handed swing to pop 19 big ones for CSU. He is 4th on the all time list of HR in college. His frame is mostly filled out, though he should grow into his power and be able to replicate those 20 HR a year numbers in the WBL. He could become a smarter hitter and tone down the K's, but it's not necessarily a given. He's a bit more than a 3TO guy though. His arm is solid enough for right, and he has speed which could make him a danger on the basepaths when he doesn't hit it out of the park. There are some concerns regarding his makeup and his ability to hit southpaws, and with his power mostly tapped out there isn't much projection. He should slot in well in the Little Rock system, but the pick is a bit uninspiring. Grade: B-
1-4 False Bay selects: Faddei Mitchkin, 21yo C, Marshall(RUS)
While Baptise is considered the best HS Catcher of this draft, Mitchkin is the best out of college, and one of the best defensive catchers with a bat worth noting. He hit 17 HRs for Marshall and also managed to walk(56) more times than he struck out(44). While his power numbers should settle a bit in the WBL, his advanced approach at the plate is solid enough to make sure his bat is not a liability. He is a great blocker and worked well with his pitching staff this year. He threw out 41.9% of runners over his college career. He should advance fast through the system and be a solid, if underrated, part of the False Bay lineup for years to come. As False Bay have another pick at 7, though, you have to wonder if Mitchkin would've been available then and they could've gone for a big bat here. Grade: B+
1-5 Buffalo selects: Baptise Ammacapane, 17yo C, Lexington Hound Dogs(VEN)
Baptiste brings a powerful bat at the expense of questionable defense and poor speed. He's a legit 35 HR threat, but he can also put the ball in play and won't strike out enough to be a problem. His main problem is his defense. While his blocking has improved in high school, it has a very long way to go to be a passable catcher. If he has to move to DH, he should still be a valuable bat, but his bat is weaker than some others still in the pool, making the pick a significant reach. Is his power more valuable than Jason Holman, who also can play CF and hit 10 more HR this season? Buffalo reached here, but if Baptiste pans out, Buffalo fans might forget all about Esteban Paz. Grade: C-
1-6 United Kingdom selects: Constantino Salinas, 21yo RF, Delaware(USA)
Salinas is one of, if not the, premier bats in the class. He became the all-time college HR leader last year, with 100 in his career total, and his numbers could be compared to other college powerhouses like Chris McBride and Gil McDonald. He has every chance to make it as they did too, showing power to all fields, with a great approach at the plate. He is also one of the best outfield defenders, and while he will almost assuredly remain in RF where he is so strong, an enterprising GM could always try him out at CF. While his bonus demand is large, any rebuilding team should have little issue putting money aside for a talent like his. He should move quickly and could see WBL play by 2060. Grade: A+
1-7 False Bay selects: Pablo Moreno, 18yo LF, Jacksonville Sea Birds(PAN)
Moreno is an interesting bat. He hits from the right side and put up decent numbers in high school, including 22 homers. He has good power and can get the bat on the ball easily, though his approach at the plate needs to improve to cut out strikeouts. It's certainly possible for him to hit 20HR a year in the majors, but he has a ways to go. Poor speed and a mediocre arm means he's probably reserved to DH with not much room to grow as a fielder, so his status as a prospect relies almost entirely on his bat. Grade: B-
1-8 Seoul selects: Reinaldo Enxia, 21yo CF, Florida State(VEN)
The second Venezuelan off the board, Enxia is one of the premier defenders in the class, and one of the fastest to boot. His highlight reel at FSU is too long to watch in one sitting, though he has some room to grow into the position and learn better paths to the ball. He could move to the infield as well if absolutely required, giving him immense value as a utility man. He has an average, if unspectacular bat, and while he won't hit many homers, he has a solid approach, enough to justify a placement as an everyday fielder in the bottom of the order. Grade: B+
1-9 Lisbon selects: Nihat Corekci, 18yo SS, Jacksonville Sea Birds(TUR)
Corekci was another pick in the speedy defender mold. He hasn't played baseball in 3 years for Jacksonville, taking up a brief career in street hockey, but Lisbon decided to take a chance on him. 3 years ago he was a very inexperienced defender at short and it's the same today, but his actions at the spot are very smooth. In addition, he has blazing speed and shouldn't let many balls past him in the infield. While showed some ability to hit for average in 2055, he had zero extra base hits, and looks to be a very weak contact hitter. If he can transfer his talents from street hockey over the next years, he could grow into a very valuable player, but otherwise it's a very early pick for a player who could've been acquired in the minor league free agency period for free. Grade: D+
1-10 Halifax selects: Lucio Troconso, 18yo RHP, Boise Cutthroats(MEX)
Tronconso is a solid high school pitcher, and the first off the board at this draft. He's a bit old for the class, turning 19 in November, which leads to some questions about his repertoire. He boasts a decent fastball which can run up to 95, but the slider and changeup lag behind a bit. In addition, he needs to learn how to throw his pitches for strikes to generate more whiffs. His intangibles are great and scouts rave about his makeup, and he figures to sign for cheap, so Troconso is a low risk, low reward prospect, or at least as much as you can get one out of high school. He seems better fit for a late round selection, however. Grade: C+
1-11 North Dakota selects: Ian Kihara, 21yo CF, Colorado State(RSA)
Kihara is another in a big crop of defensive center fielders in this draft class, and like Reinaldo Enxia, he's every bit a passable bat as well. He posted a 14.2 ZR at CSU last year, one of the best in the college ranks. In addition, unlike Enxia, he is very experienced at the position, though he lacks to ability to move to the infield as Enxia does. He figures to sign for a low bonus and is said to be a great clubhouse guy, which sounds like I pulled that sentence from any random North Dakota prospect. His bat is mostly filled out, so you likely won't see more than 5-8 HR a year, but he'll hit well enough to post positive WAR anyways. I'd call Kihara the safer pick with Enxia having a bit more room to grow into CF, but both should be very good at what they do. Grade: A-
2059 Draft Grades by Yankee TM
1-1 Buffalo selects: Rusty McCord, 20yo RHP, Clemson(USA)
The Murricans grab the best American prospect on the board, 20 year old fireballer Rusty McCord. This follows a trend of Buffalo drafting for need rather than best player available, as McCord was one of the best SP in the nation this season and one of the best on the board, but his future value is a bit lower than last year's #1, Trevor Mintey, or other previous Top 5 SPs ala Cartwright, Toaster, Knowles, Cross, and Stevense. Still, McCord showed good command in college, walking only 1.76/9, and his heater which can run up to 99 generated tons of swings and misses. His core three pitch mix also includes a nasty curveball, and one of the best sliders in the world which terrorized batter across college. Professional hitters will be able to catch up to those two breaking balls when they're left in the zone, which happens a bit too often right now for McCord. If he can get them moving even more, he'll be a perennial all-star, but if not, he should still settle as a mid-rotation starter. Grade: B+
1-2 Miami(via Moscow) selects: Salvador Garcia, 21yo CF, Virginia Tech(PAN)
Miami flushed out a good chunk of it's farm system, including Jean Leroy, to draft Salvador Garcia. Garcia is in an odd spot as a prospect. He isn't a perennial gold glover ala Razor Lopez, Lacks the potential to bust out in a big way ala Balbuena, and has weaker tools than a young Desi Hodge did, and is just a step below Wesley Fonkert. Considering I just named the 2 best CF in the league (and arguably, 2 of the best players), a player who was once the best player in the league, and the league's top prospect for the past couple of years, that's still high praise to be a notch below them. Garcia has grown into the CF role, though he still makes some mistakes that lead to errors. He does have a cannon arm and can field the position well enough. He's quick enough to steal 20 bags or so, but won't lead the league there either. His college numbers were good, but he still K'd a bit too much. And thus ultimately is Salvador Garcia; a player with the potential to be a solid, if unspectacular player who should attend some all-star games. If he improves his approach just a bit more or adds some power, however, he could be a devastating top of the order hitter. As it stands, he projects as a 2 or 3 WAR per year bottom of the order bat, which all in all, is okay value given the pool. Grade: B+
1-3 Berlin selects: Sergio 'Tigger' Quintana, 17yo RHP, Toledo(MEX)
Berlin took a chance on the projectability of Quintana, who hasn't pitched in 3 years. He will turn 18 in August, meaning his development time will need to act fast to get him caught up. Still, it's not the end of the world, as he could easily make a WBL debut at 23. Scouts like his Fastball-Curve-Splitter mix, and he runs the two fast pitches up to the low 90s with great movement. If he can add some velocity on his fresh arm, he could be a strikeout threat. He does have some decent command of that mix as well, but the lack of statistics makes it tough to determine how he'll do in professional ball. If the projection holds up, he could be a very solid middle rotation starter, though there's a feeling the pick passed up some bigger talents. Grade: C+
1-4 Little Rock selects: Javier Soto, 17yo LHP, Detroit(DOM)
It's the classic story, a gritty young player survives life in a place devoid of modern convenience and wrought in poverty. Javier Soto managed to carve a name for himself in the city of Detroit, though, Having great Sophomore and Junior seasons before slowing down due to an innings limit in his senior year. Scouts have watched as his Fastball has added velocity and his slider has gotten sharper, giving him a devastating 1-2 punch with great movement and strikeout ability. He still operates in the low 90s, but there's no reason to think he can't add more velocity. Even if he doesn't, he commands the two pitches well enough to ooze projection. Still, his changeup was hardly used, and if it remains that way, he will find himself unable to get professional hitters out. He has a long road ahead of him, but if he can hit his limits, he'll walk away the best pitcher from this draft and a frontline starter in Arkansas for years to come. Grade: A
1-5 Istanbul(via LIS) selects: Hasad Nisanci, 22yo RF, Colorado State(TUR)
Nisanci rejected an offer from Little Rock, or so the Arkansas based team claims. Moritz Norman may be able to corroborate an opposing story. The Ottomans, who gave up star 2B Brady Thompson for this pick, should have no problem bringing Nisanci home, however. Most of what was wrote about him last year remains true. He's a power bat with a fair approach, passable defense in right, and some concerns regarding his ability to hit lefties. He did show improvement in this area, and should ultimately settle in as a guy who pops 20 a season with a handful of doubles, though it remains to be seen if his approach is more suited for the middle of the order or further down towards the 6 spot. At just 22, he has the opportunity to reach the WBL by mid season next year, though the anti-winning Ottomans are more likely to wait until 2061 and allow Nisanci to fill out his power in Morocco. A significant decrease in walk rate this year has this pick settled as a reach for a nationality, but that isn't to discount Nisanci's potential future value, should he figure it out against same-side pitchers. Grade: B
1-6 Dublin selects: Leonard Greer, 21yo CF, Long Beach(USA)
Greer wrongly was dubbed the poor man's Salvador Garcia over the past year by scouts. Greer has a solid swing and some doubles power, though he doesn't work a walk very well. He'll live and die by BABIP. Once he gets on base, he's a threat to steal 30 or 40 bags. His defense is passable enough to be a servicable CF, and his bat may or may not play on a corner. All in all, he should become a fine bottom of the order center fielder or a versatile, plays 3-4 times a week 4th outfielder, with some room to grow and move higher up the order. For the slot, the projection is very nice. Grade: B+
1-7 United Kingdom selects: Jung-ho Kim, 18yo 3B, Detroit(KOR)
Kim is another player compared very closely to similar competitior, that being Alonso Campinhos. Kim goes off the board first at 7. He has power to all fields and could settle as a 15-20 home run guy, though he has a ways to go as he only cracked 13 this past year. He can't go the extra mile to snag a hit down the line, but he has a rocket arm that can catch runners with ease. If he can continue to improve his approach, he could settle in as a league average or slightly better third baseman, though his power ceiling could take him a bit higher. Grade: B
1-8 Moscow(via MIA) selects: Isaac Henty, 20yo SS, Long Beach(SKN)
Moscow got a prospect haul and still managed to pick up a great prospect in Henty. He has great speed and provides very solid defense up the middle. Scouts are conflicted on his bat, and that'll determine his long term value. He has a great approach at the plate and could potentially be a league average bat, with a slight deficiency in home runs. That's more than enough to win multiple WARS and be an anchor up the middle for years to come for Moscow. His offense did decline a bit last year though, and if it continues, it could relegate henty to a utility role. Even then, he would be a great bench player and he's developed enough that it's safe to call that his floor. Grade: A+
1-9 Buenos Aires selects: Robert 'Popcorn' Smith, 18yo RHP, Minneapolis(USA)
Popcorn is a raw talent that has put up some good numbers in highschool that scream future projection. He has the ability to generate groundballs using a 6-pitch mix, though his velocity has sat in the high 80s. He doesn't need it, as he utilizes the breaking balls to keep the ball in the park and down. A velocity spike would further his projection, but if not, he could live as a back-end starter. He'll also need to develop some ability to stay deep in games a little bit longer at the pro level, where hitters will lay off breaking balls out of the zone more and he will get stuck in deeper counts that were previously rolled over into ground balls. Still, it's a safe if unspectacular pick. Grade B-
1-10 Las Vegas(IST via UK) selects: Fogarty Jagger, 18yo 2B, Vicksburg(IRL)
Jagger has a solid bat and great speed, with a decent approach at the plate that could become something greater in the future. If it does, it'll help play up his power, with the potential for league average doubles and homers. His defense is a mild concern for the future, with the inevitable frustrating error bound to occur when he plays at 2B. If he has to move to 1B, he'll need to make sure the bat comes along. It's a somewhat safe bat though, as long as he can build on his numbers the past two years and refine the approach. Grade: B+
1-11 Las Vegas selects: Huy Nguyen, 18yo 3B, Memphis(THA)
Nguyen is a raw 3B talent, but his solid approach at the plate provides some optimism for his projection. He's continued to cut down on strike outs, and if he can continue to do that in pro ball it'd be a huge boost to his stock. Still, he isn't walking as much as he could and that will get worse at the pro level. He'll need the power to develop to carve out a big league role. 19 HR at the HS level last year implies he's on the right path, but until then, there are some questions about his projection. He's an average defender with a very powerful arm, similar to Jung-ho Kim who was taken 4 picks earlier. Nguyen's ceiling is better, but his floor is below the basement. Grade: C+
1-12 Istanbul(via AMD) selects: Glen Buckby, 18yo RHCL, New Haven(AUS)
Istanbul acquired this pick as a part of the deal shipping Rubio out of town. Buckby is an interesting experiment for the Ottomans, who have a number of starting prospects. Buckby only had so many innings in high school ball, but his repertoire actually includes 3 pitches, a Sinker-Fastball combo that gets most of the attention and sits around 90, and a changeup that's rarely used. He's shown a solid command of his sinker, with the ability to throw it downhill and generate ground balls. He did not allow a HR last year in limited time and the sinker will very rarely leave the park. As it stands, he could be a shutdown late-inning reliever, but an increase in velocity or a development of the changeup could see Buckby carve out a niche as a Sasha Nazvanov style 'low stamina' starter, and that ground ball potential behind the right defense could enable Buckby to become a middle of the rotation starter. Grade: A-
1-13 Halifax selects: Vincent Jewell, 21yo SS, Miami(USA)
Jewell was a rock up the middle for Miami, operating as one of the best defenders in college while not hurting the U with the bat. That should continue at the pro level. Jewell's arm could incentivize an eventual move to 2B where his range could shine even more. With the bat, Jewell has solid bat speed, and while he won't too many homers, he should at least limit strike outs and get on base enough to be a solid presence at the bottom of the order, or a reliable utility man. Either way, Jewell was one of the better up the middle prospects in the draft this year, and Halifax did good to grab him here while other players who had more questions were picked ahead of him. The floor is high. Grade: A-
1-14 Seoul selects: Emir bin Hadid, 21yo RHP, Miami(IRA)
Hadid spent last year working out of the Miami pen, but he was a starter his sophomore year, and for now he should work fine there at the pro level. He has a great fastball-curve combo which he uses to generate ground balls, and his third offering is an undeveloped change. He needs to work on refining his pitches and gaining further command. If he does have to move to the pen, he'd work great as a late inning reliever, where he shined at Miami with 12 saves in 34 appearances. Overall, a low floor with some middle of the rotation potential. He does have a lot of milage on his shoulders and that could make him an injury risk and further necessitate a move to the pen. Grade: B
1-15 North Dakota selects: Diarmid O'Faughnan, 18yo SS, Fresno(IRL)
Diarmid is a toolsy middle infielder from Fresno. His bat has a long ways to go, though he does seem to at least have a solid control of the strike zone. On defense, Diarmid has a rocket arm with quick hands, though he's a step too slow for short and will ultimately have to move to 2nd or the hot corner. He's also shown some ability to work in the outfield, giving him some value as a super utlity guy. He's fast and instinctual on the base paths as well. He certainly has those unteachables down pat, so if his that develops he could be a starter, but if not, he should settle in as a 24th or 25th man. Grade: B
1-16 Kabul selects: Dan Reardon, 21yo CF, Delaware(CAN)
Reardon commanded the outfield for the Blue Hens for 3 years amidst some injuries. He showed some power to all fields, but he figures to settle in to average power numbers at the pro level. He grabbed 27 bags last year as well. That speed helps him in the field, though ultimately his defense settles in to just plus with no standout tools. A broken kneecap in his past puts him squarely in injury risk territory, and a huge bonus demand doesn't seem equal to his talent level. Still, if his bat can develop and he can continue to play solid defense, he could be valuable in some capacity. Grade: C
1-17 Helsingborg selects: Juan Elias, 18yo 3B, Corpus Christi(USA)
Elias is one of the rare players who stays near his home to play high school ball in this day and age, as he hails from McAllen, Texas. He was mostly a 3B in high school but his arm actually seems to project better for a corner OF spot, where he can really unleash his arm. Either way, he flashes some premier bat speed and power to all fields, and has 20 HR potential at the big league level. He also showed a decent approach at the plate for his age, with no glaring holes in his approach at the plate. He is very slow, which could hurt his ability to stretch doubles and triples and hurt him in the field a bit, But he could settle in as a jack of all trades utility type with some pop, making him valuable as an every day or almost every day player. Grade: B+
1-18 False Bay selects: Lucas Morris, 20yo CF, Marshall(USA)
Morris is a 3-tool player from Marshall. He couldn't break the Mendoza line in college, and there's no reason to expect that to change at the professional level. He is an advanced defender with a solid arm, and is blazing fast, but his bat will prevent him from being anything more than a 25th man pinch runner and 5th outfielder. He also is recovering from a torn labrum which could further damage his arm and his offensive potential. Grade: D-
2060 Draft Grades by Yankee TM
1-1 Moscow (via IST) selects: Ramon 'Mountain Man' Iglesias, 18yo 3B, Toledo(PR)
Moscow made a draft day trade with Istanbul to move up two slots, dealing from their middle infield depth. With the draft having a clear top 2, any WBL career by Kinney would not invalidate this move. Iglesias for his part has been excellent on the HS circuit, accumulating 21.7 WAR in 4 years, batting over .400 and averaging in the high 30s in stolen bases. He has great bat speed and the ability to spray the ball to all fields, but the real appeal is his advanced approach at the plate. His BB% was hovering in the 20s, and his K% around 6%, when most players were the opposite. He lacks in power, and should only snag 5-10 hr a season, but that's more than fine for one of the better leadoff prospects to come out of high school in years. Most people will be quick to compare him to fellow HS 1-1 Andres Andrade, and like Gold Mine, Iglesias will need to work to improve his defense. Either way, expect a long and fruitful career for Mountain Man. Grade: A+
1-2 Miami (via LR) selects: Boys 'Einstein' van Donkelaar, 21yo RF, Utah(NED)
Miami dealt from depth, shipping off top prospect Nelson Eastick to move up 7 spots in order to grab van Donkelaar. The Dutch outfielder was electric in his first 3 years in Salt Lake City, though he slowed down a tad this past year. He has few if any holes in his swing, though the jury is still out on how much power he exactly has. His roughly 30 HR a season average at the college level should be his peak at the WBL level. He runs some pretty good routes in Right, and has a rocket arm that ensure he'll stay at the position at least a little bit longer than Niek Ploeg managed. If he can keep up his approach at the plate, he should be a solid 3 WAR player at the WBL level in an already packed young Miami outfield with Salvador Garcia and Andres Andrade. Grade: A-
1-3 Istanbul (via MOS) selects: Brian Brown, 21yo 3B, Cal Poly(USA)
GM Tankee Cane has to feel delighted with this pick. He managed to trade down from the 1-1, acquiring Scott Kinney who looks like he's ready to fill the legendary shoes of Tomas Gonzales at Short within a year's time, and he still manages to pick up a third baseman to fill an organizational hole. Brown pulls the ball with lightning quick bat speed, posting 63 HR over the past two years on the way to picking up an MVW in 2059 and finishing 2nd in 2060. He's no slouch defensively either, posting a 13.7 ZR this past season with the help of his rocket arm, ensuring he can stick at 3B. His power still has to show at the big league level though, and that'll make or break his value. If he can hit his ceiling, he should be a big slugging threat in the Istanbul middle of the order. If not, his weak contact ability could relegate him to a bench role. And of course, no matter what, he'll always be, fairly or no, compared to both Ramon Iglesias and Jeremy Dickey, though the 3 are all different players despite the shared position. Grade: A
1-4 Berlin selects: Grigorii 'Crabby' Aleskovsky, 18yo 2B, Jacksonville(RUS)
Berlin picked up Aleskovsky, one of the better prospects to come out of Russia in recent years. He's been a star for Jacksonville, though the jury is still out on his future value. He was able to start tapping into his power the past two years, and could be a 25 HR threat at the big league level. He has a smooth motion that could keep his batting average closer to .300 than .200, and should be able to cut down on strikeouts as he matures. His defense is a bit iffy, with a weak arm that keeps him on the right side of the infield, but he should be passable enough up the middle. Overall, Aleskovsky has a ways to go, but his ceiling is good enough to dream on. Grade: B+
1-5 Buffalo selects: Jeremy Dickey, 18yo 3B, Minneapolis(USA)
Buffalo grabs Dickey, another third baseman, though he was mostly overshadowed by Iglesias. That's not fair too Dickey of course, who's improved on both sides over his 4 years. He hit 25 HR in 74 games, and he should grow into his power to put up similar numbers at the big league level. He lacks any obvious holes in his swing as well, and his work ethic could lead to an even better approach. He should end up an average defender at the hot corner, though his 16 ZR at 3B was one of the best in HS this past season. Overall, Dickey is a solid prospect like the other two 3B picked in previous picks, and he has the tools to eventually make it to Buffalo's roster. Grade: A
1-6 Buenos Aires selects: Koceila Nsoah, 18yo LHSP, Corpus Christi(RSA)
Buenos Aires takes the first pitcher off the board in a relatively weak class. Part of the weakness of this class was that all of the premier starting pitching was from high school, and therefore very raw. Nsoah is no different, though he did show flashes of brilliance this past season. He only has two years of pitching experience under his belt, one of which was cut short by elbow inflammation. Part of that has led to questions about his low velocity. Still, he can generate ground balls with a sinker-change combo that sits in the mid 80s. If he can continue to keep the ball down and refine his command, Nsoah could actually be a very valuable player. He has a ways to go though, and he'll need to keep his head down and get to work to hit his ceiling if the velocity never comes. Grade: B-
1-7 Buffalo(via LIS) selects: Ze Eirosa, 18yo SS, Lexington(POR)
Eirosa is the first shortstop off the board, picked up by Buffalo. He should slot in as one of the top Buffalo prospects up the middle, and he has the ability to stick at the position with a rocket arm. He's also lightning fast both on and off the basepaths. He hit 17 HR for Lexington last year, but he doesn't project too much long term power. Ultimately, Eirosa is a solid prospect. There's some long term concern about his offense, and he has a ways to go, but it's pretty easy to project a big league career in some capacity, even if it's ultimately in the bottom of the order. Grade: B+
1-8 Seoul selects: Kaspar Bosendorfer, 21yo SS, Arizona(GER)
Bosendorfer comes off the board right after Eirosa, though he has many more flaws than his Portuguese counterpart. Bosendorfer hit just 92 wRC+ at Arizona last year, hinting at more struggles across the minor league ladder. He's a bit slower, and has a significantly weaker arm that could ultimately relegate him to second base, or a bench role, as his defense won't be able to catch up to his bat. He does have a very smooth action though, and shouldn't give up many, if any, errors. Ultimately, his career will be made or broken on his bat, and he has a ways to go to guarantee any success. Grade: C-
1-9 Little Rock(via FB) selects: Jack Wilson, 21yo LF, Syracuse(USA)
Wilson has a bit of an unorthodox profile. He's got a solid bat with great speed and an excellent ability to avoid swinging and missing, but doesn't hold much power behind it. He's not very slow, but runs terrible routes in the outfield and might ultimately have to move to DH. He put up wrC+ in the 120s until his last year at Syracuse, where he hit 88. The Tennessee native will have to improve, either offensively or defensively, to provide any value to Little Rock. Grade: C-
1-10 Dublin selects: Tyler Charette, 21yo 2B, North Carolina(USA)
Charette has been a lynch pin in the Tar Heel offense for years now. He's hit around 20 HR each year, and this past year he finally tapped into his 80 speed and grabbed 44 bags. He has a solid all around profile, with his solid approach at the plate bolstering his ability to take the ball deep when needed. Defensively, he should be able to stick at second, though he could also move to Third if absolutely needed despite a lackluster arm. There are some concerns regarding his clubhouse presence though, so he'll need to do some growing up to stick at the major league level. Grade: B
1-11 Amsterdam selects: Aaron Wakely, 18yo 1B, Minneapolis(USA)
Wakely was one of the premier high school power bats during his tenure in the cold white north, including a 26 HR year as a sophomore. He has quick bat speed and combines in with a solid approach, making him well rounded on offense. Defensively he ultimately is a bit too hamfisted for even 1B, relegating him to DH in the future. That will limit his value, so it remains to be seen if the bat will be able to carve him a spot on a big league roster with so many good DHs out there. If not, he could be a very solid bench bat in his own right. Grade: B
1-12 United Kingdom selects: Khoury 'Piranha' Ferran, 21yo RF, Virginia Tech CHOKIES(EGY)
Ferran rapidly rose up draft boards this summer after socking 37 HR, a year removed from hitting 32. From past players at the college level following the schedule lenghtening, we can generally tell that's a good sign for big future power. Fitting that United Kingdom, the team that snatched up Constantino Salinas, picked up another here. Ferran is no Salinas of course, as he's a bit worse on defense, relegated to right where he's more useful for his arm than his routes, and he doesn't have much speed to work with. Ultimately, he should be able to settle in right away at the AA level, hit a bunch for a couple of years, and join a UK squad that is quietly acquiring a lot of power. Grade: A
1-13 Buffalo(via Miami) selects: Jose Velez, 18yo 1B, Fresno(PR)
The third pick of the round for Buffalo lands them Jose Velez. The lefty put up some decent high school HR, but only managed 12 HR last year, a bad sign for a player without a position. He's slow, uncoordinated, with a bad approach. Buffalo will have to dream that his BABIP never regresses to the mean, or else they'll walk away from this pick very underwhelmed. Grade: F
1-14 Istanbul(via NDR) selects: Kim Ngoc, 21yo SS, Fullerton(THA)
Istanbul parted ways with perpetual prospect Kichibei Matsubara to acquire the 1-14. The pick helps further bolster their middle prospects, as Ngoc put up solid college numbers. He's shown rapid lateral movement and the ability to make something out of nothing in the field, though his arm is a touch slower than the average shortstop. That could hint at an ultimate home on the right side of the bag, where he'd be a gold glover with ease but may not have the bat to match. Still, he hit 14 HR last year, and 18 the year before, and if he can continue to develop his bat, he could start in the bottom of the order. If not, he could always find a home as a utility man across the infield. Still, it's possible Matsubara figures it out and Istanbul, yet again, finds themselves with their pants on the ground in terms of finding a long term center fielder. Grade: B
1-15 Kabul selects: Seif 'Electric' Zaid, 21yo CF, North Carolina(EGY)
Zaid is both the second player from North Carolina, and the second Egyptian to be selected. He's a toolsy player, who will ultimately be valued for those defensive and speed tools. He has rocket legs and rocket arms. The jury is still out on his offense, which has taken a step back since his freshman and sophomore years. +24 ZR in one season is more than enough to give him a starting job in the 9 hole, of course, but he'll still need to ensure he's covered at least somewhat offensively. Grade: B
1-16 Seoul(via FAX) selects: Jason Quintanilla, 18yo LHSP, Fresno(USA)
Quintanilla was a pivotal player for the Raisins, consistently maintaining a solid FIP, despite the significant break in his senior year where he posted an ERA in the 2s and a FIP in the 4s. He has 3 solid pitchers, a fastball-curve-circle change combo that he controls well with some good movement. He uses that to generate ground balls, though he doesn't have the velocity to blow by hitters. That should ultimately grant him a place at the back of a rotation, though it's possible he's relegated to a pen role if he can't learn to limit walks at the major league level. Grade: B+
1-17 Las Vegas selects: Baz Ubaydah, 21yo LF, Delaware(EGY)
How about those corner outfielders from Delaware, huh? Baz was another solid bat for the Hens, posting 24 HRs last year, though he did accompany it with 98 K's. He's lagging a bit behind against lefty pitchers, and he'll need to either correct his platoon split, or hit even better against righties to survive at the major league level. Still, he has major power, and is a solid defender in left, making all the routine plays and then some. That he fell this far is a testament to both the depth of the class, as well as GM Doh's ability to find good talent. Grade: A-
1-18 Helsingborg selects: Tanenr Lau, 18yo RF, Lexington(CAN)
The champs select another solid piece for their pipeline in Lau, though the Canadian isn't without his risk. He played just 13 games in his senior year around a hip injury, which calls into question his future speed and ability to play in right. He does have a very good arm though. In his junior year, he was one of the best bats in high school, so the potential is very much still there. If he can stay healthy, he has the ability to act as a 4th outfielder for the Hammers, or possibly be dealt to a team in need of a RF. If he loses some more steps and can't field, though, it'll be a waste of a pick. Grade: B-
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