Early look at the 2009 Draft...

[kar120c]

Gentlemen, as you all know, the Giants have the No. 6 pick in this years MLB Draft (held in July). There are some good names available, and it is never too early to be prepared.

Here is my take on five of the top names, along with my pick for the Giants...

http://assets.teamusa.org/assets/images/athlete/image/2152/full/Strasburg_Headshot_2_-_USA_Baseball.jpg
Stephen Strasburg
(San Diego State University)

For - Excellent choice, big and strong (6'4" 220 ), with an extraordinary right arm (in an early-season game against Nevada, he was clocked at 102 mph - seven times - and struck out 16 in 6 2/3 innings). He has room to grow - and he is very good right now. By all accounts, very coachable (in the Lincecum tradition - he made not need much coaching). An arm like this comes along once in a decade or two.

Against - Can't think of one. But the point is likely moot - barring injury, Stephen Strasburg will be the top pick.

http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_9R5EkS1zV7k/R5A-4dfI3FI/AAAAAAAAAF4/PigTh8Vy6v8/s320/DustinAckleyb.JPG
Dustin Ackley
(University of North Carolina)

For - A very good choice. Perhaps the best hitter in this year's draft. Also, a very talented athlete. And a bit of a Bonds type anomaly - he bats left (which could come in handy for reaching the McCovey Cove) yet he throws right. He is a natural CF, but there is a fly in that ointment (see below).

Against - Hurt his (throwing) arm last season, forcing him to 1B. While he may have some room to grow, at 6'0, 185, he does not project to the size and power for a MLB 1B. The danger is he could wind up as a Jay Payton type. For those of you who don't remember, Jay Payton was universally seen as the best player on his team at Georgia Tech (a team that included Nomar Garciaparra and Jason Varitek) when he was the top choice of the NYM. But he kept getting hurt - he had 3 elbow surgeries before reaching the majors. Jay Payton is a decent player, but his arm injuries kept him from becoming the standout CF he should have been. There is a risk that Dustin Ackley could be on the same path.

http://farm2.static.flickr.com/1116/1392279972_b9f349df23.jpg?v=0
Grant Green
(UCLA)

For - Excellent choice. Big and strong (6'3", 180), with room to grow. By all accounts, great talent and hard worker, playing at a top college program in the Pac 10. He reminds many of JJ Hardy. A good enough defender to stay at SS, players with this promise and polish at that position do not come along very often.

Against - Like Steven Strasburg, Grant Green will likely be gone prior to the Giants turn at No. 6.

http://images.berecruited.com/photos/athletes/large/12059938.jpg
Tyler Matzek
(Capistrano Valley HS, Ca.)

For - Big and strong (6' 3", 215) with room to grow (he is just 18) he has a great left arm (with a 94-mph fastball). By all accounts, an exceptional athlete and a hard worker.

Against - While he is very good, he is considered a step below the Steven Strasburg level. Matzek reminds some of a fellow the Giants already have - Madison Bumgarner. And with Lincecum, Cain, Bumgarner and Alderson all under 26 (not to mention the 27 year old Jonathan Sanchez) do the Giants really need to spend a top 6 pick on another pitcher?

http://vmedia.rivals.com/uploads/1185/616100.jpg
Donavan Tate
(Cartersville HS, Ga.)

For - A five tool talent, big and strong (6'3" 205) with room to grow - he is just 18. He is considered the best prep school player in the country. He also has pedigree - his father, Lars, was a RB in the NFL. He is a natural athlete (bats R, throws R), who plays perhaps the most physically demanding position in the field (CF) with as much ability as any prep star in the last 10 years. And while his primary position is CF, he has spent some time pitching for his HS team (where he has been clocked at 95mph). He can also run (4.4 in the 40). The Giants will need a CF in the years to come, and Tate could be it. He is also an interesting case where the risks in taking him may work in the Giants favor - he has a number of peripheral issues (see below) that may make him available at No. 6 (the Giants slot), whereas a player of this caliber without his issues would likely be a top-3 pick.

Against - As a prep player, he will need time to develop, but this could also work in the Giants favor as this happens to fit in with the Giants current CF picture (serviceable for the next 2-3 years, Aaron Rowand is likely not the long term answer). As for the previously mentioned peripheral issues, Tate is a great football player as well (while he can forego it should he choose to play professional baseball, he has signed a letter of intent to attend North Carolina Univ.). Also, his agent is Scott Boras, so a big signing bonus may be in order (as it was with Posey and his agent, Casey Close). But IMO, considering the potential payoff (an All Star CF, for years to come), these are risks worth taking.


Conclusion: If he is there at No. 6, the Giants should take Donavan Tate.

[SF Kid]

Thanks for the great information brother! Great post.

[Bear]

Great information. Of these five and taking into account the Giants needs I would go for either Dustin Ackley or Donavan Tate. Tate would be my first choice then Ackley however it is close because the Giants need power hitting young players. :D

[TkleMstr52]

Great info, they need a power hitting 1st basemen tho, is there power bats supposed to be available in the second round or later? I prefer a pick who will help sooner rather than later. Not that the Giants wont waste the talent in the minors anyway.

[McCovey]

Tate sounds like the kid to draft. We shall see if he is still available at #6.

[TkleMstr52]

At his age and size, with the most ability in a prep star in the last 10 yrs, that would be a STEAL at six. If he can be ready by the time Angel gets to the bigs. Sweet, we shall see how it shakes out tho.

[McCovey]

At his age and size, with the most ability in a prep star in the last 10 yrs, that would be a STEAL at six. If he can be ready by the time Angel gets to the bigs. Sweet, we shall see how it shakes out tho.
I dunno. The Upton brothers were pretty amazing high school players themselves. But his Tate kid sounds like the real deal.

[Bear]

I dunno. The Upton brothers were pretty amazing high school players themselves. But his Tate kid sounds like the real deal.

We all know what that means. Nothing!:eek:

[McCovey]

We all know what that means. Nothing!:eek:
Of course. At this point all we call do is wait and see how this kid develops over the next 3-4 years.

[Bear]

Of course. At this point all we call do is wait and see how this kid develops over the next 3-4 years.

This is where the scout earns his or her money. I think it is easier to say this guy at 17-18 years old can be a great pitcher than he will be a hitter. The Giants have been great at finding great pitchers, but now the focus is on hitting, and that will be harder.:rolleyes:

[McCovey]

This is where the scout earns his or her money.

Scouts are great at evaluting player skill in the present. They get in trouble when they try to "project" how a player will develop into 4-5 years from today.


I think it is easier to say this guy at 17-18 years old can be a great pitcher than he will be a hitter. The Giants have been great at finding great pitchers, but now the focus is on hitting, and that will be harder.:rolleyes:
There's been a great debate over the past few years whether drafting high school pitchers in the first round is a good idea. There's been a lot of research on this looking at all the high school pitchers drafted in the first round draft since 1965. The overall results are not good. The research suggests that high pitchers are more of an injury risk than college pitchers in general given that they are younger and less physically developed.

http://search.live.com/results.aspx?q=drafting+high+school+pitchers+risk&src=IE-SearchBox

http://sports.espn.go.com/mlb/columns/story?columnist=neyer_rob&id=1811682

[kar120c]

Many good points here...

Bear is right that the Donavan Tate case is where a good scout is worth his weight in gold. And yes McCovey, the Upton brothers did make a splash as preps.

But I would stress (humbly) four things with Tate ...

1) A guy who is 6'3" 205, an all-state football player (at saftey), can throw a baseball at 95mph, and run a 4.4 forty is someone I would be willing to take a chance on and see if he can hit (or be taught how by some of my colleagues). The list of schools that wanted him to play football - USC, Michigan, Notre Dame, etc. - is a testament to how successful those who are paid to know about these things believe a young man like this could be a the highest level of professional sports.

2) Tate has a huge advantage - he has a father who looks after him, and was a professional athlete (4 years as a Tampa Bay RB in the NFL) to boot. While I do not know if it was his choice or his father's, it should be noted that Donavan happened to choose the most successful agent in professional baseball (love him or hate him, there is no doubt that Scott Boras - based on his client roster - holds that title). If this is an early indication of his common sense (or that of whoever is advising him), Donavan Tate (or Lars, his Dad) has something on the ball. I believe a father's guidance is the most valuable asset a young player can have (look at Tim Lincecum).

3) It seems to me that this is the first time in a long while that the Giants have 2 talented hitting coaches in their organization. One is Carney Lansford (who is, in my estimation, doing a good job at the ML level with folks like Fred Lewis and Manny Burriss). And the other is Will Clark (I am hearing that he is a big reason behind the recent promising returns on the development of Travis Ishikawa's bat). Perhaps there is some hope that a talented kid like Donavan Tate could recieve some guidance and education that former Giants prospects (i.e. Pedro Feliz, Todd Linden) did not have available to them, from one or both of these two men.

4) The time would seem to be right for this. If the Giants improve this year (I believe this to be possible) they will likely not see the top 10 in the Draft for some time. And they are, by all accounts (including my own) loaded with good young pitching. If there were ever a time where the Giants could be wise to roll the dice with a potential 5-tool CF, I say that time is now.

[TkleMstr52]

I dunno. The Upton brothers were pretty amazing high school players themselves. But his Tate kid sounds like the real deal.

I was just repeating what it said in his info. I know nothing other than what I just read. Im not saying he is better at this point than the Uptons but thats what I read.

[McCovey]

It looks like Donovan Tate is committed to going to UNC to play football and baseball. :(


Mid-winter draft daydream: Donovan Tate (http://www.nomaas.org/draft/?p=135)

Monday, February 16th, 2009 With AP photos of pitchers and catchers reporting last Friday hitting the internet within a matter of hours, a general euphoria was wafting through even the most depressing corporate America office cubicles. Visions of World Series championships were running through the minds of many baseball fans, especially those of the Yankees, as we saw the first appearances of CC Sabathia and AJ Burnett. Hope springs eternal when Legends Field is opened to laughing and joking millionaires; players who have worked their ways up through the minor league systems of many clubs and now stand at the performance and financial pinnacles of baseball.
As always, this just led me to contemplate the upcoming draft - it’s like carrying a year-round virus. I had been suppressing this one thought that kept creeping up on me because embracing it will likely lead me to great disappointment, but with the immense positivity that P&C brings, I gave in and allowed my mind to engage it.

Donovan Tate.
http://i733.photobucket.com/albums/ww332/nomaasdraftblog/DonovanTate.jpg

A 6′3″, 200 lb stud of an athlete, Tate has gotten a lot of attention because of his skills, but also because he is the son of former Georgia Bulldog and Tampa Bay Buccaneer running back, Lars Tate. For a school with a fairly storied history of RBs, Lars ranks 3rd all-time in career rushing yards and has the second most rushing TDs in school history. In the NFL his career was short, but he was the starting RB for some of those terrible TB teams of the late 80s. It would be safe to say Donovan has some pedigree.
When it comes to tools, Donovan has everything that a scout could dream of. Incredible physical development, rifle arm, blazing speed, and immense power potential. He’s not a sleeper by any stretch of the imagination seeing as he’s already considered a top-5 pick this June. The kid is an athletic monster whose skills translate very strongly to CF and the middle of a batting order (something the Yankees have not touched at the top of the draft recently).
However, those physical gifts also display themselves on the gridiron. While not as highly regarded as a football player, Donovan was still one of the nation’s top football recruits this past year, being wooed heavily by programs such as USC, Michigan, and Alabama. He profiles best as a safety according to most publications, but his dynamic talent made him a QB at Cartersville High School in Georgia. In the end, this is a major reason he committed to UNC, where he will be allowed to play QB for Butch Davis’ up and coming football program and baseball for a national powerhouse.
To further impact his signability, he’s been linked to Scott Boras for a long while now, and he’s not going to come even remotely cheap.
So, we have an elite level athlete who plays up the middle of the diamond and has shown tremendous baseball skills. He is currently rated as one of the top five picks in the entire draft, but:



He is a major dual-sport athlete.
He is committed to one of the more difficult schools to break a high school draftee from.
He has procured the services of Scott Boras.


He’s hit the signability trifecta to an almost unimaginable level, and if any of the top talents are going to fall (excluding unforseen injury in the spring), Donovan seems the most likely candidate at this point. Like I said in the beginning, I don’t even want to think about this because the probability is so low, but the fact that there seems to be a slight glimmer of hope makes it so tempting.
On National Signing Day, when Donovan committed to UNC officially, Butch Davis had this to say (http://blogs.newsobserver.com/accnow/davis-expects-tate-at-unc):Davis said he does expect the outfielder to play football and baseball at UNC, rather than head straight to the MLB.
“I think he’s going to play at Carolina,” Davis said. “I think he loves the idea of coming in and being a multi-sport athlete; he cherishes the idea of going to college.
“Can money change an 18-year-old kid’s mind? Absolutely it can. But I know that talking to his mom, that she and Donavan both love the fact that this University provided them with just about everything that they dreamed about: a great football opportunity, a great baseball opportunity, a great education, close to home. It was just about a home run with everything that we were able to present to him.”
Of course, this daydream could be impacted enormously by the Sox now picking in front of the Yankees (http://www.nomaas.org/draft/?p=134), but in the end that’s why it’s a daydream, right?
http://www.nomaas.org/draft/?tag=donovan-tate

[TkleMstr52]

Is this guy like AnVil?

[McCovey]

Is this guy like AnVil?
Tate is a far better athlete, a 40-40 type of player from what I read.

[TkleMstr52]

The Giants need him!! HUGE BONUS!!!!!!! Not gonna happen, too bad, they got some good pieces and I think he would fit in nicely!!

[McCovey]

The Giants need him!! HUGE BONUS!!!!!!! Not gonna happen, too bad, they got some good pieces and I think he would fit in nicely!!

It would be interesting to see what would happen if he got offered a fat signing bonus?

[TkleMstr52]

Where does he have the best chance of making the most money?? Best chance to stay healthy??

[SF Kid]

Probably be a better football player.

[McCovey]

Grant over at the McCovey Chronicles blog posted this interesting article today.


San Francisco Giants Draft Preview (http://www.mccoveychronicles.com/2009/5/27/890601/san-francisco-giants-draft-preview)

Draft time: Past #6 overall picks of note:
1973 – Johnny LeMaster
1977 – Terry Kennedy
1981 – Kevin McReynolds
1985 – Barry Bonds
1986 – Gary Sheffield
1988 – Monty Fariss
1992 – Derek Jeter
1993 – Steve Soderstrom
2002 – Zack Grienke

I included Monty Fariss only because I had 692 of his 1989 Topps "1st-round pick!" cards. I included Johnny LeMaster because he was nice to me when I saw him in the Redwood City Kaiser when I was four. And I included Steve Soderstrom, Terry Kennedy, Derek Jeter, and Barry Bonds to support my prediction that the player the Giants draft will either be a complete bust, a respectable player with a long career, a star, or the greatest player in the universe.

Obviously, the suck-to-spectacular spectrum is wide open on this one. Heck, it’s an amateur baseball draft. The Giants drafted Ronnie Merrill WHEN THEY COULD HAVE HAD ALBERT PUJOLS omg. But remember, a team with Pujols isn’t drafting in a spot where Lincecum’s available, and we all know that the sacred texts, scrolls, and Bazooka Joe wrappers all point to Lincecum leading us to the Promised Land in 2012. Just forget that Pujols already took a team on his back and won a title. I’m off track now.
Notes on the draft scuttlebutt:


It’s supposed to be a terribly weak draft on college position players, which is the type of pick that Giants fans are most likely to daydream about.
Power high-school arms abound, which seems to fit the Giants’ modus operandi, but others pointed out that this is only John Barr’s (http://sanfrancisco.giants.mlb.com/sf/team/frontoffice_bios/barr_john.jsp) second draft, so maybe there isn’t a whole bunch of predictive information to be found with past Giants drafts. In Barr’s bio, A.J. Burnett, Mike Mussina, Suck It Russell Martin, and Jay Payton are listed as some of his past draftees – so he likes high school pitchers, polished college pitchers, high school position players, or college position players. Got it.
There are interesting college arms, too, like Aaron Crow, Alex White, and Tanner Scheppers. The Giants aren’t in a spot where college/high school should make a huge difference – they aren’t one quick rotation fix away from contending, so they can afford to be patient if they think the best arm that of a high-schooler.
The Giants have been occasionally linked to Donovan Tate, which is mildly alarming. The Giants take talented, toolsy teenaged hitters and make them into productive major league hitters as often as they make them into master sommeliers. Again, though, it’s a new regime. And a whole lot of the excitement about the future has to do with teenagers Angel Villalona, Rafael Rodriguez, and Nick Noonan. It just makes me nervous to think about the tools-to-performance ratio the Giants have worked up over the past couple of decades.

Over the next week and a half, I’m planning on spotlighting a few of the players who could go at #6. So this is a preview of the draft preview to come, I guess. What would you like to see? Grainy YouTube videos? Okay, check. Links? Uninformed analysis? Check. Would y’all like to see a series of draft profiles like the one I did last year (http://www.mccoveychronicles.com/stories/archive?year=2008#5), even more on the draft, or is this the sort of thing that plays well in FanPosts and FanShots without my help?

[McCovey]

Keith Law's mock draft. Interestingly, he doesn't project Donovan Tate to be a first round pick. :nono:


Mock draft: Crow may fly fastest

By Keith Law, Scouts Inc.
Wednesday, May 27, 2009

Two weeks until draft day means we're close enough to the big event that some team preferences for specific players have begun to emerge. This is our first opening-round projection of 2009, based on the best information I have about each team's interest in players and about players' expected bonus demands.
1. Washington Nationals (http://sports.espn.go.com/mlb/clubhouse?team=was)

Stephen Strasburg (http://insider.espn.go.com/mlbdraft/player?id=18793&draftyear=2009), rhp, San Diego State: I look forward to seeing which letter of "Nationals" is missing on the jersey he holds up at the news conference to announce his signing on Aug. 16.

2. Seattle Mariners (http://sports.espn.go.com/mlb/clubhouse?team=sea)

Dustin Ackley (http://insider.espn.go.com/mlbdraft/player?id=18831&draftyear=2009), 1b/cf, North Carolina: There's still a chance they go in another direction, possibly for pitchers Aaron Crow or Tanner Scheppers, but I'd put the chances of them taking Ackley at around 75 percent.

3. San Diego Padres (http://sports.espn.go.com/mlb/clubhouse?team=sdg)

Aaron Crow (http://insider.espn.go.com/mlbdraft/player?id=18849&draftyear=2009), rhp, Fort Worth Cats: He could easily be in their rotation a few weeks after signing, since his arm is fresh and his stuff is big league ready. Their interest in shortstop Grant Green appears to have faded. If they don't take Donovan Tate (http://insider.espn.go.com/mlbdraft/player?id=18808&draftyear=2009), he starts falling and it's unclear where he stops.

4. Pittsburgh Pirates (http://sports.espn.go.com/mlb/clubhouse?team=pit)

Bobby Borchering (http://insider.espn.go.com/mlbdraft/player?id=18813&draftyear=2009), 3b/1b, Bishop Verot HS, Fort Myers, Fla.: The Pirates have been tied to a handful of high school players recently -- including Borchering, Wil Myers and Matt Hobgood -- as potential predraft deals, freeing up money for them to sign the top Dominican prospect this summer, Miguel Angel Sano, who is expected to command Michel Inoa money. Pittsburgh also has interest in the usual suspects here, including Crow and Kyle Gibson ... but not Tanner Scheppers, who hasn't signed the form that would allow Pittsburgh to re-select him.

5. Baltimore Orioles (http://sports.espn.go.com/mlb/clubhouse?team=bal)

Tanner Scheppers (http://insider.espn.go.com/mlbdraft/player?id=18850&draftyear=2009), rhp, St. Paul Saints: The Orioles are caught a little in no-man's land -- they love a lot of players who would be clear overdrafts at No. 5, and they're not willing to pay the opportunity cost of passing on a huge arm like Scheppers (or Crow, if he gets here).

6. San Francisco Giants

Tyler Matzek, lhp, Capistrano Valley HS, Mission Viejo, Calif.: The Giants seem to be leaning toward high school pitching, with Matzek, Zack Wheeler and Shelby Miller all in their mix.

7. Atlanta Braves (http://sports.espn.go.com/mlb/clubhouse?team=atl)

Zack Wheeler (http://insider.espn.go.com/mlbdraft/player?id=18807&draftyear=2009), rhp, East Paulding HS, Dallas, Ga.: Atlanta takes a good Georgia high school player. I'm sure we have stock footage we can roll out for this. Shelby Miller may be the backup plan.

8. Cincinnati Reds (http://sports.espn.go.com/mlb/clubhouse?team=cin)

Grant Green (http://insider.espn.go.com/mlbdraft/player?id=18803&draftyear=2009), ss, USC: They see Green as a shortstop long-term, which is the main controversy with this player right now among scouts. They also love Tyler Matzek and could go that way if Matzek slides past San Francisco and Atlanta balks at his price.

9. Detroit Tigers (http://sports.espn.go.com/mlb/clubhouse?team=det)

Jacob Turner (http://insider.espn.go.com/mlbdraft/player?id=18839&draftyear=2009), rhp, Westminster Christian Academy, St. Louis: Detroit's net is as wide as anyone's, with Wil Myers, Reymond Fuentes and Mike Trout all high on their list. Detroit's scouting director, David Chadd, loves big arms and has danced successfully with Scott Boras in the past, although word is they would like to add position player talent to their system if they can in this draft.

10. Washington Nationals

Kyle Gibson (http://insider.espn.go.com/mlbdraft/player?id=18821&draftyear=2009), rhp, Missouri: He's an appropriate pick for this position who will sign for slot and probably sign right away, giving the Nats the rest of the summer to tangle with Boras over Strasburg. They've also looked hard at Drew Storen, Chad Jenkins, Mike Minor, Rich Poythress, Mike Trout and Billy Bullock, none of whom would cost over slot.

11. Colorado Rockies (http://sports.espn.go.com/mlb/clubhouse?team=col)

Alex White (http://insider.espn.go.com/mlbdraft/player?id=18830&draftyear=2009), rhp, North Carolina: They tend to favor good, athletic bats and big, polished college arms, and since the "good, athletic bats" category is kind of empty this year, it seems more likely they'll go arm. They do like Sacramento State centerfielder Tim Wheeler but have a good chance to get him at 32.

12. Kansas City Royals (http://sports.espn.go.com/mlb/clubhouse?team=kan)

Wil Myers (http://insider.espn.go.com/mlbdraft/player?id=18798&draftyear=2009), c/3b, Wesleyan Christian, High Point, N.C.: The Royals are on a handful of players, including Myers, Yuba City catcher Max Stassi, Yukon High School lefty Chad James and Stanford closer Drew Storen.

13. Oakland Athletics (http://sports.espn.go.com/mlb/clubhouse?team=oak)

Matt Hobgood (http://insider.espn.go.com/mlbdraft/player?id=18816&draftyear=2009), rhp, Norco HS, Norco, Calif.: This is also probably the top end of the market for Everett Williams, and there's some sentiment there for Mike Leake, who would be much faster to the majors.

14. Texas Rangers (http://sports.espn.go.com/mlb/clubhouse?team=tex)

Shelby Miller (http://insider.espn.go.com/mlbdraft/player?id=18795&draftyear=2009), rhp, Brownwood HS, Brownwood, Texas: They're also on Williams and Fuentes, but Nolan Ryan apparently loved what he saw of Miller, and really, can you ever have enough arms in Texas?

15. Cleveland Indians (http://sports.espn.go.com/mlb/clubhouse?team=cle)

Mike Leake (http://insider.espn.go.com/mlbdraft/player?id=18809&draftyear=2009), rhp, Arizona State: I think they'll do cartwheels in Cleveland if this happens.

16. Arizona Diamondbacks (http://sports.espn.go.com/mlb/clubhouse?team=ari)

A.J. Pollock (http://insider.espn.go.com/mlbdraft/player?id=18825&draftyear=2009), cf, Notre Dame: The D-backs are the harlots of the 2009 draft, because if you work the phones, you'll learn that they are interested in every player in this draft. Rules restrict them to one player per pick, however.

17. Arizona Diamondbacks

Tyler Skaggs (http://insider.espn.go.com/mlbdraft/player?id=18812&draftyear=2009), lhp, Santa Monica HS, Santa Monica, Calif.: Fortunately for Arizona, they get to pick twice here. They're also interested to some degree in Jiovanni Mier and Matt Davidson, and I don't think they'd complain if Leake fell to them.

18. Florida Marlins (http://sports.espn.go.com/mlb/clubhouse?team=fla)

Rex Brothers (http://insider.espn.go.com/mlbdraft/player?id=18814&draftyear=2009), lhp, Lipscomb University: Brothers and Chad James appear to be their top two realistic targets. They're very unlikely to go bat here unless the board goes in an unexpected direction.

19. St. Louis Cardinals (http://sports.espn.go.com/mlb/clubhouse?team=stl)

Mike Minor, lhp, Vanderbilt: They want to add a lefty and Minor is a pretty safe if low-upside bet. The Brian Goodwin rumor seems to have quieted down, with mixed feelings on him in the Cardinals' scouting department. He'd be a reach here and a very expensive one.

20. Toronto Blue Jays (http://sports.espn.go.com/mlb/clubhouse?team=tor)

Kyle Heckathorn (http://insider.espn.go.com/mlbdraft/player?id=18796&draftyear=2009), lhp, Kennesaw State: Unlike previous years under J.P. Ricciardi, the Jays will consider high school arms in the first round, although they're not likely to take an unpolished prep pitcher this high.

21. Houston Astros (http://sports.espn.go.com/mlb/clubhouse?team=hou)

Chad James (http://insider.espn.go.com/mlbdraft/player?id=18792&draftyear=2009), lhp, Yukon HS, Yukon, Okla.: Their two major prep pitching signings from last year are off to good starts in pro ball, which doesn't hurt any argument to take a guy like James, even if he ends up signing for more than slot.

22. Minnesota Twins (http://sports.espn.go.com/mlb/clubhouse?team=min)

Drew Storen (http://insider.espn.go.com/mlbdraft/player?id=18802&draftyear=2009), rhp, Stanford: Storen could help their bullpen right away between his stuff and plus command. They're also on California prep shortstop Jiovanni Mier.

23. Chicago White Sox (http://sports.espn.go.com/mlb/clubhouse?team=cha)

Mike Trout (http://insider.espn.go.com/mlbdraft/player?id=18819&draftyear=2009), of, Millville HS, Millville, NJ: They also like Indiana RHP Eric Arnett and Texas HS outfielder Everett Williams.

24. Los Angeles Angels (http://sports.espn.go.com/mlb/clubhouse?team=laa)

Billy Bullock, rhp, Florida: Bullock has a big arm but isn't as polished as Storen. The Angels would love it if Trout fell to them here, and if he gets past Arizona, they might just get their wish.

25. Los Angeles Angels

Reymond Fuentes (http://insider.espn.go.com/mlbdraft/player?id=18834&draftyear=2009), cf, Fernando Callego HS, Manati, Puerto Rico: Fuentes is in the mix at 9, 14, maybe 16/17, and possibly at 11 as well, but the Angels' interest is strong, and he's not likely to be there for their next pick.

26. Milwaukee Brewers (http://sports.espn.go.com/mlb/clubhouse?team=mil)

Matt Davidson (http://insider.espn.go.com/mlbdraft/player?id=18810&draftyear=2009), 3b, Yucaipa HS, Yucaipa, Calif.: Davidson should go higher than this, but questions about his position (he may have to move to first base) have soured some clubs. It would be a huge coup for the Brewers to get a bat like this despite picking 26th.

27. Seattle Mariners

Eric Arnett, RHP, Indiana: Jason Churchill has learned that the Mariners are almost certainly taking college players at 27 and 33 to try to jump-start their farm system. They'd love to get A.J. Pollock here.

28. Boston Red Sox (http://sports.espn.go.com/mlb/clubhouse?team=bos)

Max Stassi, c, Yuba City HS, Yuba City, Calif.: Stassi threw very well last week in front of Theo Epstein, and he's always been able to hit. He shouldn't really get this far, but the time off from throwing (he had a slightly sore shoulder in late April/early May) made him a little harder to cross-check. They've been linked to BC catcher Tony Sanchez, but that sounds a bit like the "they're going to take the local guy" theory, which isn't Boston's MO. They also like Everett Williams and Fuentes if he should get this far.

29. New York Yankees (http://sports.espn.go.com/mlb/clubhouse?team=nyy)

Matt Purke (http://insider.espn.go.com/mlbdraft/player?id=18805&draftyear=2009), lhp, Klein HS, Spring, Texas: The word is the Yankees are waiting with open wallet for someone specific to fall to them, and the most likely candidate is Purke, whose price tag suddenly shot up earlier this month. They've got a list of polished college players as backup plans.

30. Tampa Bay Rays (http://sports.espn.go.com/mlb/clubhouse?team=tam)

Tommy Joseph (http://insider.espn.go.com/mlbdraft/player?id=18815&draftyear=2009), c, Horizon HS, Scottsdale, Ariz.: If the Rays' system is light anywhere, it's behind the plate, and Joseph is a legitimate first-round pick considering his arm and his power.

31. Chicago Cubs (http://sports.espn.go.com/mlb/clubhouse?team=chn)

Brett Jackson (http://insider.espn.go.com/mlbdraft/player?id=18791&draftyear=2009), of, University of California: Scouting director Tim Wilken loves athletes and Jackson hasn't hurt himself with some of his recent performances. Eric Arnett could also fit here if he gets this far.

32. Colorado Rockies

Tim Wheeler (http://insider.espn.go.com/mlbdraft/player?id=18801&draftyear=2009), cf, Sacramento State: If he gets this far, it seems like a good bet the Rockies will take him, since they've at least considered him at 11.

Potential first-rounders whom I didn't project as first-rounders here include Donovan Tate, Rich Poythress, Jiovanni Mier (http://insider.espn.go.com/mlbdraft/player?id=18811&draftyear=2009), James Paxton (http://insider.espn.go.com/mlbdraft/player?id=18817&draftyear=2009), Andy Oliver, Everett Williams (http://insider.espn.go.com/mlbdraft/player?id=18806&draftyear=2009) and Tony Sanchez (http://insider.espn.go.com/mlbdraft/player?id=18832&draftyear=2009). Mychal Givens (http://insider.espn.go.com/mlbdraft/player?id=18822&draftyear=2009) has also received some renewed interest as a shortstop, although I still think he's a far better prospect as a pitcher because of questions about his bat.

[McCovey]

An updated list from Keith Law.


Top 10 begins to materialize

Friday, May 29, 2009

Most clubs start their draft meetings next week, so we should see more specific team/player combinations emerge between now and next Friday or so. In the meantime …


There has been a lot of heat in to see Texarkana outfielder Slade Heathcott (http://insider.espn.go.com/mlbdraft/player?id=18865&draftyear=2009) over the last week, including a lot of action from the Yankees (including scouting director Damon Oppenheimer and two other Yankee execs), Diamondbacks and Phillies. The postponement of Texas high school games earlier this month due to the swine flu scare pushed the playoffs back to this final week, and both Heathcott and his team are on a tear, so he's continuing to play and draw more national scouts rushing in for last looks. The Phillies don't have a first-round pick and aren't likely to get a shot at Heathcott at No. 75.



Pittsburgh GM Neal Huntington flew up to Boston earlier this week to meet with Boston College catcher Tony Sanchez (http://insider.espn.go.com/mlbdraft/player?id=18832&draftyear=2009). Sanchez won't be on the board when the Pirates pick again at No. 49, so this was almost certainly for the No. 4 overall pick.



Here's another way the top 10 could play out, based on some rumors I've heard in the last 24 hours:

Washington -- San Diego State RHP Stephen Strasburg (http://insider.espn.go.com/mlbdraft/player?id=18793&draftyear=2009)
Seattle -- St. Paul Saints RHP Tanner Scheppers (http://insider.espn.go.com/mlbdraft/player?id=18850&draftyear=2009)
San Diego -- UNC CF/1B Dustin Ackley (http://insider.espn.go.com/mlbdraft/player?id=18831&draftyear=2009)
Pittsburgh -- Boston College C Tony Sanchez (http://insider.espn.go.com/mlbdraft/player?id=18832&draftyear=2009)
Baltimore -- Ft. Worth Cats RHP Aaron Crow (http://insider.espn.go.com/mlbdraft/player?id=18849&draftyear=2009)
San Francisco - Sacramento State CF Tim Wheeler (http://insider.espn.go.com/mlbdraft/player?id=18801&draftyear=2009)
Atlanta -- UNC RHP Alex White (http://insider.espn.go.com/mlbdraft/player?id=18830&draftyear=2009)
Cincinnati - Capistrano Valley HS (Calif.) LHP Tyler Matzek (http://insider.espn.go.com/mlbdraft/player?id=18794&draftyear=2009)
Detroit -- Westminster Christian Academy (Mo.) RHP Jacob Turner (http://insider.espn.go.com/mlbdraft/player?id=18839&draftyear=2009)
Washington -- Missouri RHP Kyle Gibson (http://insider.espn.go.com/mlbdraft/player?id=18821&draftyear=2009).





Seattle is still pretty likely to take Ackley, but if they don't, there's a quick ripple effect below them. The Giants, meanwhile, are indicating that they'd rather take a college position player than a high school pitcher.



The standouts from Thursday's workouts in Sebring, Fla. -- prelude to the two-day Florida high school all-star event held there -- were American Heritage SS Deven Marrero and Ferguson HS C Stephen Baron (http://insider.espn.go.com/mlbdraft/player?id=18873&draftyear=2009). Marrero took a strong BP and ran one of his best 60 times ever at 6.9 seconds. Baron, one of the best catch-and-throw guys in this draft, helped address some of the questions about his bat by showing more power than he has in the past.



Forest Hills SS Derek Dennis, of Grand Rapids, Mich., has been attracting some late notice, including visits by at least two scouting directors. Dennis, a tall, slender shortstop with some bat speed, looks like a young Derek Jeter, both in body and in his actions and footwork at shortstop, but his lack of strength is a major concern.



St. Louis is still considering Yukon HS (Okla.) lefty Chad James (http://insider.espn.go.com/mlbdraft/player?id=18792&draftyear=2009) if none of their preferred college arms get to them at 19. They're also high on Kennesaw State RHP Kyle Heckathorn (http://insider.espn.go.com/mlbdraft/player?id=18796&draftyear=2009), who is also in the mix for the Diamondbacks, Blue Jays and Angels, the last of which probably represents a floor for him. The Blue Jays are also high on Heckathorn's teammate at Kennesaw State, RHP Chad Jenkins. (http://insider.espn.go.com/mlbdraft/player?id=18861&draftyear=2009)

[McCovey]

Here is some video of Tim Wheeler.

http://insider.espn.go.com/video/clip?id=4121810&categoryid=3975306

[McCovey]

The draft signing deadline is next week and still no news on the Giants' two first round picks, Zach Wheeler and Tommy Joseph. :rolleyes:

[Bear]

The draft signing deadline is next week and still no news on the Giants' two first round picks, Zach Wheeler and Tommy Joseph. :rolleyes:

How bad will this look if they fail to sign either one?:eek:

[McCovey]

How bad will this look if they fail to sign either one?:eek:
I think they'll sign both at the very end. That has become the norm now with the large bonuses and agents like Scott Boras. I think the prospects missing out on an entire year of playing pro ball is a mistake. But these young guys want all the money they can get. Gone are the days when you can draft and quickly sign someone like Will Clark. Clark was drafted in June 1985 and he played 65 games for the class-A Fresno Giants that summer. Interestingly, Clark was drafted in 1982 out of high school by the Kansas City Royals but didn't sign with them.

[McCovey]

The signing deadline is one week away (August 17th)! :rolleyes:

[Bear]

The signing deadline is one week away (August 17th)! :rolleyes:

That's your birthday!:beerbang:

[McCovey]

That's your birthday!:beerbang:
:beerbang:

[Bear]

:beerbang:

It's also my 41st wedding anniversary.:eek:

[McCovey]

It's also my 41st wedding anniversary.:eek:
Oh that's right! You got married the day I was born! Do you remember how the Giants did on August 17, 1968?

[Bear]

Oh that's right! You got married the day I was born! Do you remember how the Giants did on August 17, 1968?

No, I was busy doing other things that day!

[McCovey]

The Giants still haven't signed their two first round draft picks Zach Wheeler and Tommy Joseph. They have until Monday, August 17th to sign them. :rolleyes:

[Bear]

The Giants still haven't signed their two first round draft picks Zach Wheeler and Tommy Joseph. They have until Monday, August 17th to sign them. :rolleyes:

Let me know on the 18th!:p

[McCovey]

From ESPN's Keith Law.


Updates from Keith Law

•The San Francisco Giants signed second-rounder Tommy Joseph for $712,500.


•The Texas Rangers signed 25th-rounder Riley Cooper for $250,000.


•Word is that Ian Krol (7th round, OAK) is going to JC instead of the University of Arizona after turning down $600K.

[SF Kid]

25th rounder? You have to be kidding me. That is the silliest thing I have ever heard.

Maybe ESPN should sign up for a three week 24 hour a day coverage of the baseball draft.

Ugh.

[McCovey]

25th rounder? You have to be kidding me. That is the silliest thing I have ever heard.

Maybe ESPN should sign up for a three week 24 hour a day coverage of the baseball draft.

Ugh.
This is not as bad as football with their 10,396 mock drafts leading up to the actual NFL draft. Plus, Mel Kiper, Jr is a clown.

[McCovey]

The Giants have less than 12 hours to sign Zach Wheeler.

[Bear]

The Giants have less than 12 hours to sign Zach Wheeler.

Giants sign Zack Wheeler for 3.3 Mil. I sure hope this Kid can pitch and that he is smarter than he looks. So far the Bear is not impressed. However this could all change if he can bring it and win. :beerbang:

[McCovey]

Even the #1 pick, Stephen Strasburg, Signed for a record $15 million signing bonus. Scott Boras strikes again.