And the rest of the pack:
11: Kelley, Christian, C Cal Poly Pomona (CA) - So
12: Moore, Ty, RF UCLA - Jr
13: Ratledge, Logan, SS North Carolina St - Sr
14: Plitt, Chris, RHP South Mountain CC (AZ) - So
15: Hightower, Scooter, RHP Columbia State CC (TN) - Jr
16: Hibbing, Nick, RHP Iowa - Sr
17: Sodders, Austin, LHP Riverside CC (CA) - So
18: Meyer, Stephan, RHP Bellevue University (NE) - Jr
19: Schlabach, Ike, LHP Timber Creek HS (TX) - commit to Texas A&M Corpus Christi
20: Anderson, Tanner, RHP Harvard - Sr
21: Economos, Nicholas, RHP Mercer County CC (NJ) - So
22: Trevillian, Nathan, RHP Amherst County HS (VA) - commit to Liberty
23: McCarthy, Jacob, CF Scranton HS (PA) - commit to Virginia
24: Bormann, John, C Texas - San Antonio - Sr
25: Hill, Logan, RF Troy (AL) - Jr
26: Kemp, Shane, RHP George Washington (DC) - Jr
27: Nagle, Ryan, 1B/LF Illinois Champaign - Jr
28: Baur, Albert, 1B Newberry College (SC) - Sr
29: Falwell, Chris, LHP Cisco JC (TX) - So
30: Wallace, Mike, RHP Fairfield (CT) - Jr
31: Smith, Riley, RHP San Jacinto College North (TX) - So
32: Irvin, Cole, LHP Oregon - Jr
33: Keselica, Sean, LHP Virginia Tech - Sr
34: Spillane, Brenden, 3B Wheeling HS (IL) - commit to Illinois
35: George, Jordan, 1B Arkansas State - Sr
36: Marvel, James, RHP Duke - Jr
37: White, Eli, SS Clemson - So
38: Costello, Conor, RHP Oklahoma State - Sr
39: Scioneaux, Tate, RHP SW Louisiana - Jr
40: Zamora, Daniel, LHP SUNY Stony Brook (NY) - So
Noteworthy that the FO has taken a decidedly collegiate turn; between the higher risk of prep players and the draft pool, which eliminates all but a handful of overslot signings, the Buccos have retooled their approach.
They drafted just five prep players this year, Ke'Bryan Hayes went quickly; the rest were chosen late - Ike Schlabach (6'6" LH pitcher), Nate Trevillian (6'2" pitcher, lo-90's and said to have agreed to a deal already), Jake McCarthy (3-sport OF'er; hit .442) & Brenden Spillane (power bat) on the last day.
Some college guys are interesting. Ty Moore of UCLA has a good stick but may be more of an AL player (ie, DH). NCS's Logan Ratledge was ranked #157 with a strong bat and utilityman projection. Iowa's Nick Hibbing is a 6'6" reliever coming off a strong (1.57 ERA) season and playoff run. Oregon lefty Cole Irvin fell to the Bucs (draft rank #173) after Tommy John surgery last year.
We also noticed a handful of JC guys; they may become the new market inefficiency as the HS kids price themselves out of the draft.
Showing posts with label draft 2015. Show all posts
Showing posts with label draft 2015. Show all posts
Thursday, June 11, 2015
Tuesday, June 9, 2015
Fourth Round: RHP Jacob Taylor
RHP Jacob Taylor, 19, from Pearl River CC (he was signed by LSU for next season) was the Bucs' fourth round pick. Taylor started his college career as a two-way player his freshman year, but his velocity kept improving (he's sitting at 93, touching 97) and the Wildcats turned him into a full-time pitcher. He's also got a solid slider and a developmental change in his tool kit. Taylor was ranked #77 by MLB.com & #97 by Baseball America.
His stats aren't much (2-5/3.90, 44 K and 27 walks in 57-2/3 IP), and he still has some command issues, but for a guy with just nine college starts under his belt, he has all the tools and is the young, upside kind of pitcher the Bucs love to coach up. He's also fair sized at 6' 3", has smooth mechanics and a decent downward plane to his deliveries.
The only question is whether that LSU commitment will be a hurdle in signing him; in that regard, he's the same as trying to sign a hot shot HS senior committed to a major program, except that Taylor will be draft eligible in one year (after his junior season) instead of three.
That'll be it for the picks for awhile; we'll wrap up rounds 5-10 in a post later today.
 |
| Jacob Taylor (photo - Sun Herald) |
His stats aren't much (2-5/3.90, 44 K and 27 walks in 57-2/3 IP), and he still has some command issues, but for a guy with just nine college starts under his belt, he has all the tools and is the young, upside kind of pitcher the Bucs love to coach up. He's also fair sized at 6' 3", has smooth mechanics and a decent downward plane to his deliveries.
The only question is whether that LSU commitment will be a hurdle in signing him; in that regard, he's the same as trying to sign a hot shot HS senior committed to a major program, except that Taylor will be draft eligible in one year (after his junior season) instead of three.
That'll be it for the picks for awhile; we'll wrap up rounds 5-10 in a post later today.
Pirates Call On OF'er Casey Hughston In Third Round
The Bucs selected University of Alabama sophomore outfielder Casey Hughston in the third round today. The 21 year old - today is his birthday - hit .332 with six homers and 44 RBI for the Tide. He's a 6-2, 215 pounder athlete with some power; he also K's at a 25% rate, as this round the Pirates trade contact for power potential. He's a lefty hitter & righty thrower.
Per MLB.com, Hughston has average tools across the board with plus speed and raw power to all fields, with the downside that he sometimes gets pull happy at the plate. They consider him a corner outfield type due mainly to an average arm and some circuitous route running (he was a HS infielder), and projected him as a third-round pick; right on there.
So the Bucs are four picks in without taking a pitcher; they've never gone deeper than their third pick before choosing a hurler before during the Huntington era. Whether that's an organizational sea change in philosophy or just the way this draft has fallen is the question; we'll see what players lay down the road.
 |
| Casey has plenty of reason to celebrate his 21st birthday (photo - Associated Press) |
Per MLB.com, Hughston has average tools across the board with plus speed and raw power to all fields, with the downside that he sometimes gets pull happy at the plate. They consider him a corner outfield type due mainly to an average arm and some circuitous route running (he was a HS infielder), and projected him as a third-round pick; right on there.
So the Bucs are four picks in without taking a pitcher; they've never gone deeper than their third pick before choosing a hurler before during the Huntington era. Whether that's an organizational sea change in philosophy or just the way this draft has fallen is the question; we'll see what players lay down the road.
Bucs Take Another Infielder, Kevin Kramer, at #62
Pittsburgh continued its run on infielders by selecting UCLA junior SS Kevin Kramer, 21, in the second round (#62 overall) in the draft. He lost 2014 to a medical redshirt after shoulder labrum surgery. Like the first two picks, he brings a nice hitting profile to the table, batting .323/.423/.476 with seven home runs and 34 RBIs for the Bruins.
He was originally drafted by the Indians in 2011 out of high school, but passed to join the Bruins, where he became a national champ in 2013 and All-PAC this season. He was a bit of a stretch to be taken this early. MLB.com had him pegged at #165, Baseball America at #133, and scout.com had him in the #103 slot.
Some of that may be due to coming off an injury, and some because he didn't participate in the pre-draft showcases. But Kramer does fit what appears to be the team philosophy last night of selecting infielders that are high average, high contact hitters, and he and first rounder Kevin Newman should both start in A rather than short season ball.
The Bucs spent the first night selecting guys to fill an organizational soft spot with players who should be quick, and likely underslot, signings; we'd expect the FO to look for a couple of prep pitchers today when the draft continues this afternoon.
He was originally drafted by the Indians in 2011 out of high school, but passed to join the Bruins, where he became a national champ in 2013 and All-PAC this season. He was a bit of a stretch to be taken this early. MLB.com had him pegged at #165, Baseball America at #133, and scout.com had him in the #103 slot.
 |
| Kevin Kramer (photo - UCLA.com) |
Some of that may be due to coming off an injury, and some because he didn't participate in the pre-draft showcases. But Kramer does fit what appears to be the team philosophy last night of selecting infielders that are high average, high contact hitters, and he and first rounder Kevin Newman should both start in A rather than short season ball.
The Bucs spent the first night selecting guys to fill an organizational soft spot with players who should be quick, and likely underslot, signings; we'd expect the FO to look for a couple of prep pitchers today when the draft continues this afternoon.
Monday, June 8, 2015
Pirates Take Prep 3B Ke'Bryan Hayes At #32
Pittsburgh got the #32 selection as a comp round pick for losing Russ Martin, and they chose Texas prep (Concordia Lutheran HS, Tomball/Houston TX) 3B Ke'Bryan Hayes, 18, son of ex-Bucco and 14 year MLB player Charlie Hayes. He batted .436 with 16 doubles and three home runs for his HS this year and was an Under Armour All-America.
Hayes has a commitment to Tennessee, but is expected to be a signable pick. He's a big kid - 6'1", 205 lbs - with a good bat. Ke'Bryan isn't real athletic, and projects as a corner IF/OF player in the show. Hayes, for his size, doesn't project as a power guy, but an all-fields double machine who can lose mistake pitches. He's another hard working, high baseball IQ pick, not too surprising considering his bloodlines.
Ke'Bryan was chosen for his batting skills and is expected to be a high average hitter. He'll need coached up in the field - he lost 10 pounds this season, and the Bucs will work his conditioning - but is expected to be a capable defender, and the Pirates aren't real deep in organizational corner infielders.
 |
| Ke'Bryan & pappa Charlie Hayes (photo via Student Sports) |
Ke'Bryan was chosen for his batting skills and is expected to be a high average hitter. He'll need coached up in the field - he lost 10 pounds this season, and the Bucs will work his conditioning - but is expected to be a capable defender, and the Pirates aren't real deep in organizational corner infielders.
The Bucs Pick Arizona SS Kevin Newman #1
The Bucs picked Arizona's junior SS Kevin Newman, 21, with their first selection (#19). The Pirates were in the ballpark with this pick as he was a top-25 to 30 guy on most boards, though his name wasn't associated with Pittsburgh by the mock draft gang. He hit .370 for the Wildcats, and was All-PAC for three straight seasons.
He has a rep as a pure hitter who's tough to whiff with good speed & range, tho time will tell if he has the arm to stay at short. He won the Cape Cod batting title twice (the league's only back-to-back winner), but he has no power to speak of. Some scouting reports say that's because he has such a wide stance and closing it up should unlock at least some gap power. Newman plays the game hard ("scrappy" comes up a lot) and is considered a smart ballplayer and team leader type.
He's the second straight SS the Pirates have taken #1 (Cole Tucker was selected last year, #24 overall) and the fifth taken in the draft, which was particularly deep at the position this year.
He has a rep as a pure hitter who's tough to whiff with good speed & range, tho time will tell if he has the arm to stay at short. He won the Cape Cod batting title twice (the league's only back-to-back winner), but he has no power to speak of. Some scouting reports say that's because he has such a wide stance and closing it up should unlock at least some gap power. Newman plays the game hard ("scrappy" comes up a lot) and is considered a smart ballplayer and team leader type.
He's the second straight SS the Pirates have taken #1 (Cole Tucker was selected last year, #24 overall) and the fifth taken in the draft, which was particularly deep at the position this year.
 |
| Kevin Newman (photo - Arizona Athletics) |
- OF Ian Happ of Mt. Lebanon HS and the U of Cincinnati was taken ninth by the Cubs. He's the first first-round pick to come out of Cincy, Josh Harrison's alma mater.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)