2018 MLB Draft - June 4 - 6

[SharoneWright]

+1000!!!!

A plan! And it worked!

[bballsparkin]

Kumar Rocker still hasnt got picked yet? weird. Thought someone would have taken him already

Almost no chance he signs at this point. If he wasn't taken in the top 15, he was going to slide to like the 20th round.

Baseball's draft is so weird.

[Schad]

Baseball's draft is so weird.

Makes sense, in its context. The high school kids have the leverage of going to college, and can demand a certain dollar figure. Beyond a fairly high pick, the chances of them getting that dwindle to nothing, and consequently there's no point in drafting them. Someone will throw a late pick at them just to see whether they have a sudden change of mind, but it almost definitely won't work.

[SharoneWright]

Baseball's draft is so weird.

Makes sense, in its context. The high school kids have the leverage of going to college, and can demand a certain dollar figure. Beyond a fairly high pick, the chances of them getting that dwindle to nothing, and consequently there's no point in drafting them. Someone will throw a late pick at them just to see whether they have a sudden change of mind, but it almost definitely won't work.

If Groshans signs for $1, we could be that team!!

Let's send him over to the house!

[bballsparkin]

Makes sense, in its context. The high school kids have the leverage of going to college, and can demand a certain dollar figure. Beyond a fairly high pick, the chances of them getting that dwindle to nothing, and consequently there's no point in drafting them. Someone will throw a late pick at them just to see whether they have a sudden change of mind, but it almost definitely won't work.

Ya that's true. I've read articles the players don't even make minimum wage while striving for the big leagues. SMDH, that's embarrassing. But then you have the guys who go back because the signing bonus isn't significant enough. I read you're if it's $2 million plus you take it post. Hard to argue against that. I guess it's not weird; more like different.

So what's up with the late picks that eventually settle? Through the drafts numerous times and then maxed out in college? Most of my knowledge with the MLB draft is from this site. Augmented with various sports websites/papers.

[manjusaka]

Watch on YouTube

Watch on YouTube

Watch on YouTube

swing slow-motion begin at 1m15s


I see similarity between the 3 swings, long stride leg-kick, body forward momentum weight transfer, and than the leveled swing plane. Groshans is currently listed 6'3" 178lbs by mlb.com with already quick bat speed and projected with above-average to plus raw power. Big Hurt was listed 6'5" 240lbs, I think there is room for Groshans to pack some muscles and maintain athleticism to handle the 3rd base, some where around 220lbs. That should give him even more raw power.

With his size and leveled swing plane, he should has a decent plate coverage. His approach and ability to barrel the ball remains to be seem. That is the biggest question mark for all hitting prospects. If he can get stronger and with decent hitting ability, his ultimate ceiling is fairly high.

[Al_Oliver]

2. Blue Jays
Texas high school right-hander Adam Kloffenstein (third round, No. 43) has an athletic 6-foot-5 frame and a wide variety of promising pitches: a heavy low-90s two-seam fastball, a four-seamer that reaches 96 mph, a sharp slider that he can turn into a bigger-breaking curveball or a harder cutter, and a tumbling changeup. Righty Sean Wymer (fourth round, No. 85) also has a deep repertoire and succeeded in multiple roles at Texas Christian. Florida prep shortstop Addison Barger (sixth round, No. 143) may wind up at second base, but he has a strong arm and the potential for at least average tools across the board.

https://www.mlb.com/news/best-hauls-on-mlb-draft-day-2/c-280001366

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http://www.tampabay.com/sports/high-schools/2018/06/05/draft-journal-plants-connor-scott-happy-to-be-part-of-a-florida-team-even-if-its-not-college/

Addison Barger is signing

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Day 1:
1 - Jordan Groshans. Magnolia HS (TX). SS
2 - Griffin Conine. Duke (NC). OF

Day 2:
3 - Adam Kloffenstein. Magnolia HS (TX). RHP
4 - Sean Wymer. TCU (TX). RHP
5 - Christopher Bec. U Maine Orono. C
6 - Addison Barger. C Leon King HS (FL). SS
7 - Nick Podkul. Notre Dame (IN). 3B
8 - Joey Murray. Kent State (OH). RHP
9 - Jake Brodt. Santa Clara U. 1B
10 - Cal Stevenson. U Arizona. OF

Day 3:
11 - Steinmetz, Hunter. Missouri State. CF
12 - Allgeyer, Nick. U Iowa. LHP
13 - Wilson, Brad. Ohio Dominican U. RHP
14 - Aiello, John. Wake Forest. 3B
15 - Watson, Troy. U Northern Colorado. RHP
16 - Hiatt, Josh. North Carolina. RHP
17 - Havekost, Austin. Kent St U. RHP
18 - Stadler, Fitz. Arizona State. RHP
19 - Ramos, Adrian. Miami Dade CC South. OF
20 - Capra, Vinny. U Richmond. SS
21 - Lopez, Kobby. Imperial HS. LHP
22 - Burland, Gage. Lewis-Clark St Col. RHP
23 - Squires, Troy. U Kentucky. C
24 - Pascoe, Mike. San Jacinto Col North. RHP
25 - McAffer, Will. Tulane (LA). RHP
26 - Wright, Brett. Auburn (AL). C
27 - Luckham, Kyle. El Dorado HS (CA). RHP
28 - McGuire, Andy. U Texas Austin. 1B
29 - Finfrock, Cre. Central Florida (FL). RHP
30 - Johnson, Cobi. Florida State (FL). RHP
31 - Easter, Austin. UNC Wilmington. RHP
32 - Pulido, Joey. Houston (TX). RHP
33 - Harris, Matt. Florida Atlantic U. RHP
34 - Townsend, Grant. Oral Roberts U. RHP
35 - Palmegiani, Damiano. Vauxhall HS (AB). 3B
36 - Guangorena, Kameron. St. John Bosco HS (CA). C
37 - Caracci, Parker. U Mississippi. RHP
38 - Ruiz, Francisco. Carlos Beltran Baseball Academy. C
39 - Beverlin, Cole. Spruce Creek HS (FL). RHP
40 - Labounty, Drew. U South Alabama. SS

[Al_Oliver]

Tracking day 3 for Blue Jays:

11 - Steinmetz, Hunter. Missouri State. CF
12 - Allgeyer, NIck. U Iowa. P
13 - Wilson, Brad. Ohio Dominican U. RHS
14 - Aiello, John. Wake Forest. 3B

Aiello was the only one of the 4 I could see a write-up on:

Although he had a down year in 2018 hitting .231/.346/.389 with 9 HRs in 56 games, Aiello has a power bat and a strong arm from third base. In 2017 he slashed .328/.417/.643 with 20 HRs in 63 games. He also played for the USA collegiate national team in 2017

[dagger]

Read on Twitter

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Not surprised we’re taking a lot of pitchers on day 3.

[Cyrus]

Nice it looks like we signed our 1st, 3rd round and 6th rounder, now for the others...

[Schad]

Nice it looks like we signed our 1st, 3rd round and 6th rounder, now for the others...

Should be a very straightforward signing period from there. Conine won't be tough, I don't imagine, and the rest are easy signs. Kobby Lopez, a HS LHP taken in the 21st round, is the only one thus far whose signability is at all dubious. I can find very little on him beyond the fact that he was throwing in the low 80s last year, and threw a no-hitter in April.

[HangTime]

The MLB needs rule that forces players to declare for the draft, and if they get drafted, they can't declare for any future drafts.

I mean the number one prospect could be a 2 sport star, and might want to play for his home town team. He could commit to college and deter teams from drafting him. Then he can get picked by his favourite team, and sign.

[Schad]

Disagree. I have no problem with players having that small element of control over their futures, given that baseball is the sort of sport where, after being drafted, you're years away from otherwise making a thin dime or actually playing at the top level. This is literally the only leverage they'll have for, in many cases, ten years or more.

[SharoneWright]

I find the name "Fitz Stadler" highly appropriate for a 6'9" pitcher...

[Schad]

We finally drafted someone on my list: Cre Finfrock, in the 29th round.

[SharoneWright]

A Finfrock:

[Cyrus]

https://www.news-leader.com/story/sports/college/msu/2018/06/06/what-you-need-know-blue-jays-draft-pick-hunter-steinmetz/640885002/

Our 11th round pick.

Looks like Pillar out there.