2017 MLB Draft Thread, June 12-14

[vaff87]

Just did some Twitter digging. Blue Jays scouts were seen watching 6'6 175 pound HS RHP Caden Lemons two days ago. Lemons is ranked #74 on MLB.com and #96 on BA.

Fking hell and I thought I was a stick figure.

Gains points because Lemons is the sort of last name that makes for an infinite number of bad puns and nicknames. Loses points becasue he's on the Caden/Braden/Jayden continuum.

Chris Sale is listed at 6-6 172

[ldnk]

Just did some Twitter digging. Blue Jays scouts were seen watching 6'6 175 pound HS RHP Caden Lemons two days ago. Lemons is ranked #74 on MLB.com and #96 on BA.

Fking hell and I thought I was a stick figure.

Gains points because Lemons is the sort of last name that makes for an infinite number of bad puns and nicknames. Loses points becasue he's on the Caden/Braden/Jayden continuum.

Chris Sale is listed at 6-6 172

Randy Johnson was 6'9" 200 lbs

[Skin Blues]

Fking hell and I thought I was a stick figure.

Gains points because Lemons is the sort of last name that makes for an infinite number of bad puns and nicknames. Loses points becasue he's on the Caden/Braden/Jayden continuum.

Chris Sale is listed at 6-6 172

Randy Johnson was 6'9" 200 lbs

9-11 was an inside job

[Wally West]

Who Keith Law Has the Jays Taking With Their First Round Pick

[​IMG]22. Toronto Blue Jays
Jake Burger, 3B
Missouri State

Burger has real power and rarely strikes out, though scouts think the power is ahead of his hit tool. He’s very likely to end up at first base.

[-MetA4-]

Baseball America's 3rd mock:

http://www.baseballamerica.com/draft/mock-mlb-draft-3-0-major-league-baseball-draft/

22. Blue Jays

The college performer moving up is Kentucky’s Evan White, a premium defender at first base and USA Baseball Collegiate National Team alum who has helped lead the Wildcats to a top 10 season. In SEC play, White has hit .387/.452/.602 in 93 at-bats.

Pick: Evan White, 1b, Kentucky

28. Blue Jays

Toronto won’t be able to avoid Lange here, even though his fastball more frequently has topped out at 93 rather than the 96 he’s shown in previous years. Fastball command is a bigger issue for Lange than velocity, but his plus curve has allowed him to still strike out 10.8 per 9, higher than his career rate coming into the season.

Pick: Alex Lange, rhp, Louisiana State

[Schad]

Evan White at 22 is certainly not the most appealing option.

[Skin Blues]

Evan White at 22 is certainly not the most appealing option.

You mean "premium defender at first base" doesn't get you excited about the future?!

[Schad]

Evan White at 22 is certainly not the most appealing option.

You mean "premium defender at first base" doesn't get you excited about the future?!

If we can also get a starter noted for their top-notch pickoff move (for a righty) it's birdie championship time.

[ldnk]

Evan White at 22 is certainly not the most appealing option.

You mean "premium defender at first base" doesn't get you excited about the future?!

If we can also get a starter noted for their top-notch pickoff move (for a righty) it's birdie championship time.

WHIP of 1.87 and ERA of 2.04 because every single will get thrown out at 1B

[-MetA4-]

Jonathan Mayo's new mock:

22. Blue Jays: Keston Hiura, OF/2B, UC Irvine

There is no question Hiura can hit, keeping his average over .400 all year, and he could go higher as a result. The one thing limiting his stock is the fact he hasn't played in the field all spring, with an elbow injury many think will require Tommy John surgery.

28. Blue Jays: Bubba Thompson, OF, McGill-Toolen HS (Mobile, Ala.) (Compensation pick for Edwin Encarnacion signing with the Indians)

Some think the Blue Jays will be very college heavy, but after getting Hiura at 22, maybe they go the toolsy high school route with Thompson, who has tons of ceiling.

Interestingly enough he also mentions that we have interest in diminutive HS SS Nick Allen who he has going one pick earlier at 27 to the Cubs.

[Wally West]

Jonathan Mayo's new mock:

22. Blue Jays: Keston Hiura, OF/2B, UC Irvine

There is no question Hiura can hit, keeping his average over .400 all year, and he could go higher as a result. The one thing limiting his stock is the fact he hasn't played in the field all spring, with an elbow injury many think will require Tommy John surgery.

28. Blue Jays: Bubba Thompson, OF, McGill-Toolen HS (Mobile, Ala.) (Compensation pick for Edwin Encarnacion signing with the Indians)

Some think the Blue Jays will be very college heavy, but after getting Hiura at 22, maybe they go the toolsy high school route with Thompson, who has tons of ceiling.

Interestingly enough he also mentions that we have interest in diminutive HS SS Nick Allen who he has going one pick earlier at 27 to the Cubs.

What do you make of Hiura as an advanced college bat?

[Schad]

What do you make of Hiura as an advanced college bat?

If he doesn't stick at 2B, he's a LF with mediocre power and defense. Which isn't ideal.

[Black Watch]

Just did some Twitter digging. Blue Jays scouts were seen watching 6'6 175 pound HS RHP Caden Lemons two days ago. Lemons is ranked #74 on MLB.com and #96 on BA.

Fking hell and I thought I was a stick figure.

Gains points because Lemons is the sort of last name that makes for an infinite number of bad puns and nicknames. Loses points becasue he's on the Caden/Braden/Jayden continuum.

No offense, but I always pictured you as a perfect sphere (with just hair on top and shoes at the bottom).

[Schad]

No offense, but I always pictured you as a perfect sphere (with just hair on top and shoes at the bottom).

It's the manatee avatar. For verisimilitude, picture me as a meth addict who tried to tidy up, because that's pretty close to my baseline appearance. But I did it without the meth, so I have that going for me.

[Wally West]

What do you make of Hiura as an advanced college bat?

If he doesn't stick at 2B, he's a LF with mediocre power and defense. Which isn't ideal.

Ouch! I haven't really done my findings waiting for baseballamerica to expand their list to 500 and MLB.com to 200 before I start looking at guys seriously. He may also need Tommy John Surgery.

Schad, do you remember being high on Aaron Judge his draft year? I remember you liked him alot. I remember being high on him myself putting him on my "Want" list his draft year but I was pretty new to this baseball thing and probably would've taken Trey Ball over him. Another ouch!

[Schad]

My memory is beyond awful, so I can neither confirm or deny. Judge is a hell of a lot better at putting bat to ball than I would have anticipated, given his frame; his K rate is still quite high, but in a range that plays given his power...his average will fall off, but he's looking like he could be mid-career Adam Dunn without the complete inability to play any position competently, which is quite valuable.

Pretty sure I also liked Trey Ball, because that name. The fact that a game named Trey Ball is a draft bust is the ultimate proof that the universe is cold and unfeeling.

[Wally West]

My memory is beyond awful, so I can neither confirm or deny. Judge is a hell of a lot better at putting bat to ball than I would have anticipated, given his frame; his K rate is still quite high, but in a range that plays given his power...his average will fall off, but he's looking like he could be mid-career Adam Dunn without the complete inability to play any position competently, which is quite valuable.

I think he can be more then that. Can't really think of a comp unless you wanna say Giancarlo lite.

Pretty sure I also liked Trey Ball, because that name. The fact that a game named Trey Ball is a draft bust is the ultimate proof that the universe is cold and unfeeling.

You sir, have a great sense of humour!

[Wally West]

Jim Callis's New Mock Draft

22. Blue Jays: Logan Warmoth, SS, North Carolina
Toronto is also looking at college bats, and Warmoth is going to be in play for almost every team in the 20s until he comes off the board.

28. Blue Jays: Hans Crouse, RHP, Dana Hills HS (Dana Point, Calif.) (compensation for Edwin Encarnacion signing with Indians)
Besides Crouse, prep right-handers not previously mentioned who could sneak into the first round include fellow Californians Matt Sauer and Hagen Danner (some teams prefer Danner as a catcher), Tennessee's Stephen Jennings and Texas' Bryce Bonnin.

Baseball America's Mock Draft 3.5

22. Blue Jays
Missouri ace Tanner Houck struggled a bit in the SEC tournament.

Pick: Tanner Houck, rhp, Missouri

28. Blue Jays
Toronto won’t be able to avoid LSU strikeout artist Alex Lange here.

Pick: Alex Lange, rhp, Louisiana State

Not a fan of any of these picks. Schad, Met what do you guys think?

[Hoopstarr]

We need to reload and do it fast with an all-timer or two mixed it. No pressure.

[-MetA4-]

I've warmed up to Warmoth a lot as he's apparently got some real pop in his bat, so even if he has to move to 3B he doesn't automatically become useless. The offensive profile is a lot better than I initially gave him credit for. I don't mind that pick at 22 anymore; it wouldn't even be a reach as he potentially doesn't even get to our pick given his hot end to the season here.