Friday, December 23, 2016
Indians Agree to Terms with Edwin Encarnacion
The Indians' lineup didn't have much power to begin with during their AL pennant run in 2016, so Mike Napoli's departure via free agency left a big hole. The Cleveland front office addressed that hole in a big way, bringing one of the game's preeminent sluggers, Edwin Encarnacion, into the fold on a three year, $60 million deal with an option for a fourth year. Though he'll turn 34 in January, the man can crush home runs like anybody in baseball. His 193 home runs are the second most in baseball over the past five seasons, trailing only Chris Davis' 197. The Indians lineup is filled with above average hitters like Francisco Lindor, Carlos Santana, Jason Kipnis, and Jose Ramirez, though none could really be considered an "anchor." Michael Brantley could assume that role when he returns for the 2017 season, but he has had trouble staying healthy in the past. Encarnacion, on the other hand, can be counted on to anchor that lineup and act as the one big bat that pulls it all together. He represents a clear upgrade over the departing Mike Napoli, as Encarnacion provides more power, on-base ability, and consistency. Last year, the 33 year old batted .263 with 42 home runs, 34 doubles, and an AL-leading 127 RBI over 160 games. For his career, he has 310 home runs, 311 doubles, and a .266 batting average over 1513 games, and he leaves Toronto third on its all time home run list at 239.
Transaction Roundup- 12/16/2016-12/22/2016
Free Agent Signings
Dodgers re-signed Justin Turner (27 HR, 90 RBI, .275 AVG, 4 SB, 2017 Age: 32) to a four year, $64 million deal ($16 million per season). Read more here
Pirates re-signed Ivan Nova (12-8, 4.17 ERA, 1.25 WHIP, 1 SV, 2017 Age: 30) to a three year, $26 million deal ($8.67 million per season). Read more here
Marlins signed Brad Ziegler (4-7, 2.25 ERA, 1.37 WHIP, 22 SV, 2017 Age: 37) to a two year, $16 million deal ($8 million per season). Read more here
Marlins signed Junichi Tazawa (3-2, 4.17 ERA, 1.23 WHIP, 2017 Age: 30-31) to a two year, $12 million deal ($6 million per season).
Pirates signed Daniel Hudson (3-2, 5.22 ERA, 1.44 WHIP, 5 SV, 2017 Age: 30) to a two year, $11 million deal (plus up to $1.5 million in incentives).
Padres signed Jhoulys Chacin (6-8, 4.81 ERA, 1.44 WHIP, 2017 Age: 29) to a one year, $1.75 million deal.
Padres re-signed Clayton Richard (3-4, 3.33 ERA, 1.66 WHIP, 1 SV, 2017 Age: 33) to a one year, $1.75 million deal.
Diamondbacks signed Oswaldo Arcia (8 HR, 23 RBI, .203 AVG, 1 SB, 2017 Age: 26) to minor league deal.
Giants signed Jimmy Rollins (2 HR, 8 RBI, .221 AVG, 5 SB, 2017 Age: 38) to a minor league deal.
Twins signed J.B. Shuck (4 HR, 14 RBI, .205 AVG, 3 SB, 2017 Age: 29-30) to a minor league deal.
Astros signed Juan Centeno (3 HR, 25 RBI, .261 AVG, 0 SB, 2017 Age: 27) to a minor league deal.
Indians signed Chris Colabello (0 HR, 1 RBI, .069 AVG, 0 SB, 2017 Age: 33) to a minor league deal.
Trades
Red Sox traded Clay Buchholz (8-10, 4.78 ERA, 1.33 WHIP, 2017 Age: 32-33) to the Phillies for minor leaguer Josh Tobias (9 HR, 69 RBI, .291 AVG, 10 SB at Class A and High Class A, 2017 Age: 24). Read more here
Yankees traded Nick Goody (0-0, 4.66 ERA, 1.45 WHIP, 2017 Age: 25-26) to the Indians for a player to be named later or cash considerations.
Thursday, December 22, 2016
Stories Behind the Stars: Joe Mauer
Joe Mauer may have been the greatest high school athlete of all time. He was a three sport superstar, excelling at basketball, football, and baseball. From the time he was four years old until his senior year of high school, he dominated the Minnesota sports scene. As a four year old, the local tee ball league asked him not to play because he hit the ball too hard and was a danger to other children, who were on average a year or two older than him (I played tee ball at age six). At Cretin-Derham Hall High School in St. Paul, Minnesota, he starred on the basketball team, being named to the Minnesota All-State basketball team as a junior as well as as a senior. That was his third best sport. On the football team, he starred at quarterback, and he was pretty good: good enough to be named the Gatorade National Player of the Year for football in 2001, his senior year. Many recruiting analysts regarded him as the top high school football prospect in the country. That was his second best sport. I'll repeat that: the best high school football player in the country actually just played football on the side. As a baseball player, he made varsity as a freshman and batted over .542 all four years, hitting .605 as a senior and finishing with a career batting average of .567. He showcased power, too, once hitting a home run in seven straight games. Perhaps most impressively, over 222 high school at bats, he struck out once. Once. His hometown Minnesota Twins selected him first overall in the 2001 MLB Draft, and the rest is history. Thirteen seasons and 1590 games later, he has shown that he did not peak in high school, batting .308 with 130 home runs, three batting titles, and the 2009 AL MVP Award.
Related Readings
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Pirates Re-Sign Ivan Nova For Three Years, $26 Million
The free agent class of starting pitchers was thin to begin with, and with Jeremy Hellickson (Phillies), Rich Hill (Dodgers), and now Ivan Nova (Pirates) all returning to their original teams, it hasn't been very exciting. Having just added Daniel Hudson to the bullpen and being currently engaged in talks with the White Sox over Jose Quintana, the Pirates are addressing their pitching needs all at once. Bringing back Nova is very important, considering Gerrit Cole's injury issues last year and the inherent risks that come with youthful pitchers like Tyler Glasnow, Jameson Taillon, and Chad Kuhl. After a fairly unspectacular half-season with the Yankees (7-6, 4.90 ERA, 1.36 WHIP over 21 games [15 starts]), Nova excelled upon his trade to Pittsburgh, going 5-2 with a 3.06 ERA and a 1.10 WHIP over 11 starts, even tossing a pair of nine inning complete games (a third was cut off at 5.1 innings by rain). With a rotation of Cole, Nova, Taillon, Kuhl, and Glasnow, and Drew Hutchison waiting in case of injury/ineffectiveness, the Pirates rotation no longer looks like an area of need for 2017, though if they acquire Quintana, it could even be a strength. For his career, Nova is 58-41 with a 4.30 ERA and a 1.36 WHIP over 142 games (129 starts).
Phillies Add Buchholz in Trade With Boston
Overview: Red Sox trade Clay Buchholz to Phillies for minor leaguer Josh Tobias.
The Phillies don't plan on contending in 2017, but in bringing on Clay Buchholz in exchange for minor league second baseman Josh Tobias, they have added another veteran arm to the rotation. After Jeremy Hellickson accepted his qualifying offer, the Phillies have also brought on veteran arms Joaquin Benoit, Pat Neshek, and Sean Burnett, while adding veteran hitters Howie Kendrick and Daniel Nava. This influx of veterans could help in the clubhouse as they try to develop their young rising stars, such as Aaron Nola, J.P. Crawford, Mark Appel, Maikel Franco, and Roman Quinn. At the deadline, some of those veterans could then be traded for more prospects, somewhat replenishing the talent lost. As for Buchholz himself, the 6'3" right hander has had a very inconsistent career in Boston, some years looking like a Cy Young candidate and other years struggling to stay in the rotation. For example, in 2013, he made just 16 starts, but in that half season, he went 12-1 with a 1.74 ERA and a 1.02 WHIP. He followed that up with 28 starts in 2014 in which he struggled to an 8-11 record with a 5.34 ERA and a 1.39 WHIP. Last year was somewhat of a middle ground, as he split time between the bullpen and the rotation and finished 8-10 with a 4.78 ERA and a 1.33 WHIP over 37 games (21 starts). Given that the Phillies play in a hitters' park like the Red Sox do, that is about what they can expect from Buchholz. For his career, the East Texas native is 81-61 with a 3.96 ERA and a 1.30 WHIP over 206 games (188 starts), all with Boston. His 81 wins are the 27th most in the Red Sox' storied history.
Going back to the Red Sox, who also save over $13 million in trading Buchholz, is minor league second baseman Josh Tobias. Boston's newest prospect was a tenth round draft pick out of the University of Florida in 2015, but his bat has exceeded expectations during his brief minor league career. After hitting .321 with 19 doubles and four home runs over 61 games for Class A Short Season Williamsport in 2015, he hit .304 with 24 doubles and seven home runs in 93 games for Class A Lakewood this year, striking out 59 times to 31 walks. Promoted to High Class A Clearwater, he scuffled a bit, batting .254 with seven doubles and a pair of home runs in 34 games, striking out 30 times to 12 walks. Already 24 years old (that will happen when you're drafted as a college senior), the clock is already ticking for Tobias to break through, but he's ascended through the low minors fairly rapidly, especially for a tenth round pick. He doesn't have any flashy tools, but he has decent power, good plate discipline, some speed (22 stolen bases in 188 minor league games), doubles power, and he can get on base, so he could make a solid utility man down the line. At 5'9" and 195 pounds, he doesn't have the most projectable build, but if he can turn even some of that doubles power into home run power (playing home games at Fenway will help), there's a chance he could end up a starter in Boston.
Sunday, December 18, 2016
Dodgers Bring Back Justin Turner
Not long after bringing back closer Kenley Jansen for $80 million, the Dodgers re-signed star third baseman Justin Turner for a modest $64 million over four seasons. For the guy who was one of the centerpieces of the lineup that took the Dodgers to Game Six of the NLCS against the Cubs, that's not a lot of money. Turner's name may not quite match up with the likes of Kris Bryant and Manny Machado over at the hot corner, but he is no lightweight. A SoCal native himself, Turner crushed 27 home runs and 34 doubles for the Dodgers in 2016, batting .275 along the way. If you trust Wins Above Replacement (WAR), he was the second most valuable third baseman in the National League, with his 5.6 WAR falling behind only Kris Bryant's 8.4. He even topped Nolan Arenado's 5.2. That's not bat for a guy who, coming into 2014, had never hit more than four home runs in a season. For his career, the Cal State Fullerton product has 58 home runs, 138 doubles, a .282 batting average, and 23 stolen bases (in just 31 tries) over 704 games.
Saturday, December 17, 2016
Marlins Bolster 'Pen with Brad Ziegler
Over the course of a couple of days, the Marlins have revamped their bullpen, re-signing Dustin McGowan and adding former Red Sox relievers Junichi Tazawa and Brad Ziegler for a total of $29.75 million. Ziegler, whose deal is worth $16 million over two years but could grow with incentives, is the best of the three. The sidearming right hander has been fairly inconsistent during his career, but overall he's been very effective in shutting down opponents. Last year, he put up a 2.82 ERA and a 1.46 WHIP in 36 appearances for the Diamondbacks, who traded him to the Red Sox midseason. Over 33 appearances, he only got better, dropping his ERA to 1.52 and his WHIP to 1.25, bringing his season's marks to 2.25 and 1.37, respectively. His numbers with the Red Sox were much more indicative of what the Marlins can expect, given his career trends. At 37 years old, Ziegler is not an elite closer on the level of Aroldis Chapman, Kenley Jansen, or Mark Melancon, but he's competent enough at what he does for the Marlins, or any team for that matter, to feel comfortable with him closing games. For his career, the Missouri State University product is 34-28 with a 2.44 ERA, a 1.23 WHIP, and 85 saves over 604 appearances.
Top 20 Pitchers in the 2016 MLB Draft
I originally wrote this article on June 7th for coverthosebases.com, a baseball website written by my colleague and friend, Devan Fink. Again, the draft is long past, but I will leave this here as a historical reference.
Here is the link to the original article: http://www.coverthosebases.com/blog/silverman-top-20-pitchers-in-the-2016-mlb-draft
High school arms are the strength of this draft, and we see that with nine of the first sixteen of the players on this list coming from the prep ranks. The college arms have been largely disappointing this season, but quite a few have taken big steps forward this year to put themselves in first round conversations. Here are the top 20 arms.
1. LHP Jason Groome (Barnegat HS, NJ)
It would be tough to argue that Groome is not the most talented player in this year’s draft. The consensus is pretty much set on him. He throws a mid-90’s fastball, a devastating curveball, and a decent changeup, all from a very simple, repeatable delivery. The 6’6” left hander is also extremely young for his class, as he won’t turn 18 until August 23rd. All these positives scream “first overall pick,” but I have heard repeated concerns about his makeup and work ethic from multiple sources (and for different reasons, too), leading me to believe there is a chance he burns out and never reaches his potential. However, he is extremely young, and he has plenty of time to mature. I have heard numerous Clayton Kershaw comparisons, though Groome likely will never have Kershaw’s world-famous curveball. Groome is committed to Vanderbilt.
2. RHP Riley Pint (St. Thomas Aquinas HS, KS)
For some reason, the state of Kansas decided to crank out its best high school baseball players all in the same year, and Riley Pint leads that attack. A projectable, 6’4” right hander with an electric arm, he has an outside chance at becoming the first right handed high school pitcher in history to go first overall. To call his arm electric would be an understatement, and I think Scott Coleman over at SB Nation said it best when he described Pint’s pitches as “lightning bolts.” Pint sits in the mid to upper 90’s with his fastball, reaching as high as 102 (!!!). We haven’t seen an arm like this since Tyler Kolek went second overall in 2014, and Pint is of the same caliber. His curveball is inconsistent, but flashes plus with its two plane break. His changeup may be his best secondary offering, as it has both the typical tumble as well as significant armside fade. He struggles with command now due to a difficult to repeat, high three quarters delivery, but if he can harness all of his stuff, we may have a Felix Hernandez on our hands. Pint is committed to Louisiana State.
3. LHP A.J. Puk (University of Florida)
Puk is clearly the top college arm in this draft, and college arms typically do well on draft day. Scouts love the polish, signability, and ability to move through the minors quickly that generally come with this type of player. Mark Appel (2013), Gerrit Cole (2011), Stephen Strasburg (2009), and David Price (2007) have all been recent college arms that became first overall picks, and there is a very good chance the Puk is next in line. I find it very unlikely that he falls to number six, but this is not a mock draft, and this is where I rank him. Puk is 6’7”, left handed, and throws in the upper 90’s with a devastating disappearing slider. He’s working on a changeup, though he’s relied mostly on that fastball/slider combination. Unfortunately, his command is less than stellar, leading to a lack of performance in the Southeastern Conference (SEC), the premier conference in college baseball. His command issues likely stem from two sources; his long levers (remember, he’s 6’7”) that he looks like he is still growing into, as well as a kink in his delivery where he reaches all the way down past his belt before coming back up and throwing.
4. RHP Forrest Whitley (Alamo Heights HS, TX)
After Groome and Pint, there are many players contending for the number three high school pitcher, including Ian Anderson, Braxton Garrett, Matt Manning, and Joey Wentz. While most sources opt for Anderson or Garrett, I personally like Whitley. The 6’7” right hander has really grown into his frame this year, dialing his fastball into the mid 90’s with downhill plane and lateral cutting action. His curveball jumps out of his hand at this point, but it is a big breaker with serious 12-6 movement. If he can refine it even a little bit, it will be at least a plus pitch. He has also shown the ability to toss a solid changeup with some fade. Lastly, he gets bonus points for his name. Whitley is committed to Florida State.
5. RHP Dakota Hudson (Mississippi State)
Coming into this spring, Hudson was a high profile arm who had failed to produce any kind of results or consistency out of the Mississippi State bullpen during his freshman (4.67 ERA, 10/8 K/BB) and sophomore (4.32 ERA, 26/11 K/BB) seasons. Scouts loved the big arm and plus stuff, but he had never proven himself as a reliever, let alone as a starting pitcher. He answered all of those questions in 2016 (2.29 ERA, 101/29 K/BB as of this write-up), dominating SEC competition with his mid 90’s fastball, a power slider in the upper 80’s, and an up and coming curveball and changeup. Even the curve flashes plus at times. The only thing keeping Hudson from ranking even higher is his lack of a track record beyond 2016. Of course, Hudson gets a 70 in the all-important name-tool category.
It would be tough to argue that Groome is not the most talented player in this year’s draft. The consensus is pretty much set on him. He throws a mid-90’s fastball, a devastating curveball, and a decent changeup, all from a very simple, repeatable delivery. The 6’6” left hander is also extremely young for his class, as he won’t turn 18 until August 23rd. All these positives scream “first overall pick,” but I have heard repeated concerns about his makeup and work ethic from multiple sources (and for different reasons, too), leading me to believe there is a chance he burns out and never reaches his potential. However, he is extremely young, and he has plenty of time to mature. I have heard numerous Clayton Kershaw comparisons, though Groome likely will never have Kershaw’s world-famous curveball. Groome is committed to Vanderbilt.
2. RHP Riley Pint (St. Thomas Aquinas HS, KS)
For some reason, the state of Kansas decided to crank out its best high school baseball players all in the same year, and Riley Pint leads that attack. A projectable, 6’4” right hander with an electric arm, he has an outside chance at becoming the first right handed high school pitcher in history to go first overall. To call his arm electric would be an understatement, and I think Scott Coleman over at SB Nation said it best when he described Pint’s pitches as “lightning bolts.” Pint sits in the mid to upper 90’s with his fastball, reaching as high as 102 (!!!). We haven’t seen an arm like this since Tyler Kolek went second overall in 2014, and Pint is of the same caliber. His curveball is inconsistent, but flashes plus with its two plane break. His changeup may be his best secondary offering, as it has both the typical tumble as well as significant armside fade. He struggles with command now due to a difficult to repeat, high three quarters delivery, but if he can harness all of his stuff, we may have a Felix Hernandez on our hands. Pint is committed to Louisiana State.
3. LHP A.J. Puk (University of Florida)
Puk is clearly the top college arm in this draft, and college arms typically do well on draft day. Scouts love the polish, signability, and ability to move through the minors quickly that generally come with this type of player. Mark Appel (2013), Gerrit Cole (2011), Stephen Strasburg (2009), and David Price (2007) have all been recent college arms that became first overall picks, and there is a very good chance the Puk is next in line. I find it very unlikely that he falls to number six, but this is not a mock draft, and this is where I rank him. Puk is 6’7”, left handed, and throws in the upper 90’s with a devastating disappearing slider. He’s working on a changeup, though he’s relied mostly on that fastball/slider combination. Unfortunately, his command is less than stellar, leading to a lack of performance in the Southeastern Conference (SEC), the premier conference in college baseball. His command issues likely stem from two sources; his long levers (remember, he’s 6’7”) that he looks like he is still growing into, as well as a kink in his delivery where he reaches all the way down past his belt before coming back up and throwing.
4. RHP Forrest Whitley (Alamo Heights HS, TX)
After Groome and Pint, there are many players contending for the number three high school pitcher, including Ian Anderson, Braxton Garrett, Matt Manning, and Joey Wentz. While most sources opt for Anderson or Garrett, I personally like Whitley. The 6’7” right hander has really grown into his frame this year, dialing his fastball into the mid 90’s with downhill plane and lateral cutting action. His curveball jumps out of his hand at this point, but it is a big breaker with serious 12-6 movement. If he can refine it even a little bit, it will be at least a plus pitch. He has also shown the ability to toss a solid changeup with some fade. Lastly, he gets bonus points for his name. Whitley is committed to Florida State.
5. RHP Dakota Hudson (Mississippi State)
Coming into this spring, Hudson was a high profile arm who had failed to produce any kind of results or consistency out of the Mississippi State bullpen during his freshman (4.67 ERA, 10/8 K/BB) and sophomore (4.32 ERA, 26/11 K/BB) seasons. Scouts loved the big arm and plus stuff, but he had never proven himself as a reliever, let alone as a starting pitcher. He answered all of those questions in 2016 (2.29 ERA, 101/29 K/BB as of this write-up), dominating SEC competition with his mid 90’s fastball, a power slider in the upper 80’s, and an up and coming curveball and changeup. Even the curve flashes plus at times. The only thing keeping Hudson from ranking even higher is his lack of a track record beyond 2016. Of course, Hudson gets a 70 in the all-important name-tool category.
6. RHP Cal Quantrill (Stanford)
If Quantrill was healthy, he might be battling with A.J. Puk for the best college pitcher in the class. However, he hasn’t thrown a pitch in 2016 due to last season’s Tommy John surgery, so projecting Quantrill is all contingent on his return. He has harnessed his full repertoire of pitches, which includes a low to mid 90’s fastball with diagonal plane, a sinking changeup, and a couple of breaking balls with fairly hard break. As a Nationals fan, I might be biased because of the our success with Lucas Giolito, but the success rate of Tommy John surgery is always climbing, and Quantrill could easily develop into one of the best arms in this year’s draft.
7. RHP Connor Jones (University of Virginia)
Here, we see the first pitchability college arm. Jones, at 6’3”, 200 pounds, is physically maxed out, and with low strikeout rates this year, looks like he doesn’t have much projection in him. However, he’s pretty good for where he is. With a running and sinking low 90’s fastball, a hard breaking slider, and a useable curveball and changeup, Jones’ command of his full arsenal has enabled him to get excellent results in the ACC. He projects as a back-end starter, but one with relatively little risk. He won’t ever be close to an ace, but he certainly won’t bust in the minors.
8. RHP Matt Manning (Sheldon HS, CA)
Manning has been a big time riser in the draft this year, as his fastball has added velocity and his breaking ball has improved considerably. The 6’6” right hander, who is also a star basketball player, uses his long arms and legs for an interesting delivery. After reaching the top of his windup, he initially begins extending towards the right handed batter’s box before pulling himself back on line to the plate. This movement helps him get everything out of his long frame without expending too much effort. He throws an angled, mid 90’s fastball with an inconsistent curveball that flashes plus at times. Word is that his curve has improved considerably this year. He is also working on a changeup. With a projectable frame, he could sit in the upper 90’s with his fastball when it’s all said and done, but it remains to be seen if he can be consistent with his windup and build his control to hit his spots consistently. Manning is committed to Loyola Marymount for both baseball and basketball.
9. LHP Joey Wentz (Shawnee Mission East HS, KS)
The second big Kansas prep player is Joey Wentz. At 6’5” with a strong build, he looks the part of a future big league starting pitcher. He should his considerable strength when he launched a 543 foot home run (with a metal, non-BBCOR bat) over the right-center field scoreboard at Great American Ballpark while touring the showcase circuit as a hitter with a dead arm. Arm healthy now, he has been firing running, angled, low to mid 90’s fastballs with a mechanically sound delivery. He has one of the better changeups in the class, and his curveball has good shape and hard break. Right now, that break is relatively early and therefore easy to pick up, but if he can develop it, he is a potential number two starter. As of now, he looks like a lock to start anyways. Wentz is committed to the University of Virginia.
10. RHP Jordan Sheffield (Vanderbilt University)
If you like schools that crank out first round picks, than Vanderbilt is your go-to. After pitchers Carson Fulmer (8th overall) and Walker Buehler (24th) were taken in the first round last year, Jordan Sheffield will be their top pitcher drafted this year. At six feet tall and 185 pounds, he doesn’t look like your typical first round pitcher. However, he gets everything he can out of that small frame, consistently cranking fastballs in the mid 90’s with a power breaking ball and a changeup that is coming along. Scouts would love to project him as a starter with three quality pitches, but his small frame and high effort delivery could be in the way. If he can’t start at the higher levels, he can fall back on being a late innings reliever or closer.
11. LHP Braxton Garrett (Florence HS, AL)
Garrett has possibly the best curveball in the high school class, and his low 90’s fastball has boosted his stock this spring. Though he throws across his body a little bit, he has an easy and efficient delivery that should help his velocity continue to climb as he strengthens his frame. Aside from that, nothing really stands out with Garrett. He is not particularly exciting as a high-ceiling prospect, but he has a fairly high floor and should be a safe bet to be at least a back-end starter. Like Groome, Garrett is committed to Vanderbilt.
12. RHP Kevin Gowdy (Santa Barbara HS, CA)
Gowdy is a talented, projectable right hander from Santa Barbara, and for some reason, he has slipped on draft boards this spring. Gowdy stands at 6’4” with plenty of room to add good weight, and his fastball is already in the low 90’s with some running life. His changeup is among the best in the high school class, with some lateral diving movement. His slider is inconsistent at this point, but it has the potential to be an above average pitch as he learns to repeat it. His delivery is fairly effortless, and with his solid three pitch mix and above average command, he should be as much a lock to start as any high school right hander. Gowdy is committed to UCLA.
13. LHP Eric Lauer (Kent State University)
Eric Lauer quietly put up one of the greatest college pitching seasons in recent memory. He finished the regular season at 10-2 with a 0.69 ERA and a 0.74 WHIP in a fairly weak Mid-America Conference (MAC), striking out 125 batters in 104 innings and tossing a no-hitter against Bowling Green. Though he might be similar to Connor Jones in that he does not necessarily have a high ceiling, Lauer’s utter domination of the MAC, excellent strikeout to walk ratio (125 to 28 in 104 innings), and four average to above average pitches make him a safe bet for a back-end starter. His fastball only sits in the low 90’s, but he has two solid breaking balls (a curveball and a slider) and his changeup is also a useable big league pitch. Overall, he projects as a back-end starter, and it is very unlikely that he gets stuck in the bullpen.
14. RHP Ian Anderson (Shenendehowa HS, NY)
I’m not quite sure what is harder, hitting against Ian Anderson or spelling Shenendehowa correctly. Anderson throws in the low to mid 90’s fastball from a medium-effort delivery. His slider has a chance to become a plus pitch, but it is very inconsistent right now and flattens out regularly. He has been one of the tougher first round talents to evaluate due to the short upstate-New York season as well as an oblique injury at the beginning of the season, so he is a high risk pick, which caused me to drop him farther than most lists have him. Like his slider, his changeup and command need work. If it all comes together for Anderson like many scouts think it will, he could has top of the rotation potential. Like Groome and Garrett, Anderson is committed to Vanderbilt.
15. RHP Robert Tyler (University of Georgia)
The Bulldogs’ righty has been inconsistent this year, but when he’s going right, he has one of the most electric arms in this year’s college crop. He throws fairly easily in the mid 90’s, and can touch triple digits when he reaches back and cuts one loose. He also has a big breaking curveball that he is yet to harness consistently, but he does have an excellent floating changeup that plays very well off his hard heater. His delivery is fairly difficult to repeat, and coupled with his inconsistency on the mound, he is likely headed for the bullpen. His drafting team will give him a chance to try to start though, and Tyler has some of the highest upside in this year’s college pitching crop, perhaps behind only Puk and Hudson.
16. RHP Jared Horn (Vintage HS, CA)
Another hard throwing right hander is Jared Horn, a northern California high schooler from Napa. While I think it is highly unlikely that he can start in pro ball due to his high-effort delivery, Horn throws in the mid-90’s with a couple of quality breaking pitches and a solid changeup, meaning he has a good chance to develop into a dominant, back-end reliever with a full arsenal. If he somehow manages to stay in the rotation despite the high effort delivery, he has a very high ceiling because he has the arsenal to pull it off. Horn is committed to the University of California.
17. RHP Alec Hansen (University of Oklahoma)
Hansen is one of the more polarizing prospects this year. Coming into the season, he was considered to be one of the top pitching prospects in the entire draft, with a chance to even go first overall. His hard running, upper 90’s fastball, coupled with a pair of above average breaking balls in a slider and a curveball and all coming from a projectable, 6’7” frame, caused scouts to project him as a future ace. However, aside from injury, 2016 could not have gone much worse. Over 14 games (10 starts), he put up a 5.40 ERA and a 1.65 WHIP, walking 39 batters in 51.2 innings and losing his rotation spot entirely. While his long levers help him generate extremely high velocities and plenty of deception, they also inhibit his command. Part of the reason for his inability to throw strikes in 2016 was his failure to repeat his delivery and arm slot with any sort of consistency, and pro coaches will hope that they can fix those issues. I would not quite give up on him yet, as hsi premium stuff is just too much to pass up on once the first round closes.
18. RHP Cody Sedlock (University of Illinois)
Last year, Illinois put together one of the best teams in its history, winning 27 straight games behind Tyler Jay (5-2, 1.08 ERA, 0.70 WHIP), Kevin Duchene (11-2, 1.75 ERA, 1.04 WHIP), and David Kerian (16 HR, 52 RBI, .367 AVG). All three of those guys are gone, but Cody Sedlock has risen to fill the void. After a big showing on the Cape, Sedlock came back to Urbana-Champaign and put up a 2.49 ERA while striking out 116 batters (a school record) in 101.1 innings, putting himself squarely in the first round discussion. Sedlock won’t wow you with his stuff, but he has a hard sinker in the low 90’s with a slider, curve, and changeup to keep hitters off balance. He likely won’t put up big strikeout totals in the bigs like he did in the Big 10, but he will induce weak contact as a mid rotation or back-end starter.
19. RHP Zack Burdi (University of Louisville)
Louisville has had somewhat of a dynasty at the closer’s position over the past few years, with Nick Burdi saving 34 games with a 0.62 ERA from 2013-2014 and his little brother Zack saving 19 games with a 1.44 ERA from 2015-2016. Nick was drafted 46th overall by the Twins in 2014, and Zack could go a little bit earlier this year. He can hit 100 with his fastball, and he typically sits in the upper 90’s with run. His changeup also grades out as at least above average, as he throws it right around 90 miles per hour with some fade. Though his slider is not a wipeout pitch, it has solid movement and plays well off of that 99 mile per hour fastball. Some evaluators think that he can start at the big league level, but I am skeptical of that notion because a) he hasn’t started a single game at the college level, and b) his delivery is fairly difficult to repeat. The fact that he hasn’t started for Louisville is more due to the talent in the Cardinals’ rotation than Burdi’s own skill, but transitioning from relief to starting can be difficult. Burdi’s pitching motion (he throws from the stretch) is very interesting because he actually sets up with his front foot facing second base, almost turning his back to the hitter, before coming back around and firing the pitch. Because of all the rotational movement, I see it as unlikely that he can repeat that delivery over the course of six, seven, eight innings.
20. RHP T.J. Zeuch (University of Pittsburgh)
We finish off this list with four straight college right handers. I actually got the opportunity to watch Zeuch pitch in person against Virginia Tech in Blacksburg, and though he wasn’t quite up to par with many of the scouting reports I’ve read online, he was still very impressive. Standing at 6’7”, he does not have pitching motion-repeatability issues that other tall pitchers often run into. Instead, he consistently uses his long arms to create a steep, downhill plane for his mid 90’s fastball with running life. He tosses a slider in the mid to upper 80’s, which had short but sharp bite when I saw it. His curveball, thrown in the upper 70’s, seemed loopy at times, but I think he can tighten it up and make it at least a useable pitch at the big league level. He also has a changeup, though he barely threw it when I saw him. He should have no problem staying in the rotation with his full arsenal and easy delivery, and his success will depend on his ability to locate his slider and develop his curve and changeup. He gets hurt when he leaves pitches up, and his hard but short breaking slider will either play up or down depending on how well he locates it.
Just missed: Justin Dunn (Boston College), Alex Speas (McEachern HS), Logan Shore (Florida).
Top 20 Hitters in the 2016 MLB Draft
I originally posted this on June 4th for coverthosebases.com, a baseball website written by my colleague and friend, Devan Fink. The draft is long past, but I'll put this here as a historical reference.
Here is the link to the original article: http://www.coverthosebases.com/blog/silverman-top-20-position-players-in-the-2016-mlb-draft
The 2016 Draft is nearly upon us, so let’s take a look at the amateur hitters available this year. There is a lot of high ceiling talent in this year’s draft class, though the college bats have been lacking for the most part. There is no Kris Bryant or Buster Posey, but there is an intriguing set of high upside hitters as well as high floor, safe bets. Below are the top 20 hitting prospects in this year’s draft, in my opinion.
1. OF Mickey Moniak (La Costa Canyon HS, CA)
I’m the high guy on Moniak. He’s not just my favorite hitter, but my favorite player in this draft. I love the quick, smooth, left handed swing, and the athleticism he brings with it. His quick bat and line drive swing should help him hit .290 or higher at the big league level. Many question his future power ability, but I am actually a believer in him developing at least average power, if not above average. When he gets power conscious, he fires his hips just before his swing, and it works. When you put his swing side to side with Bryce Harper’s swing, you’ll see that both of their hips have fired and are in fact out from under their body at contact. I’m not necessarily comparing Moniak’s future hitting ability to that of Harper, but the similarity in the mechanics is there. Additionally, I have heard good things about Moniak’s work ethic. I love this kid as a ballplayer. Moniak is committed to UCLA.
2. OF Kyle Lewis (Mercer University)
Your top college bat is Kyle Lewis, an athletic, powerful outfielder out of Mercer. Coming into the season, he had a lot to prove, as he plays in a smaller conference (the Southern Conference) and his plate discipline was less than exceptional last year. This year, he has proven everything he needed to, obliterating SoCon pitching and dramatically improving his plate discipline. He still strikes out a fair amount, and here is why. He has a lot of movement in not just his hands but everywhere before his swing, which means the bat is not in a very good hitting position as the pitch comes in. When coaches alter a player’s mechanics, there is often a learning curve, but in Lewis’ case, his hands and bat are so fast through the zone that I don’t see him losing any of his power when pro coaches streamline his swing path. I think that will cut down on his strikeouts as well as improve his contact ability.
3. OF Corey Ray (University of Louisville)
Ray is probably the safest bet to be a big league All Star. While he does not have the ceiling of Moniak, Lewis, or many of the players that follow him on this list, he has a relatively high floor as a big league regular. He has the cleanest, smoothest swing in the draft class, and it has enabled him to put up very good, albeit not exceptional, numbers in the Atlantic Coast Conference (ACC), the second toughest conference in college baseball. Despite his short stature (5’11”, 185 pounds), he runs extremely well, and should be able to stick in center field as he moves up the pro ladder. I see him with a ceiling of 15-20 home runs and a .290 or so average, with a floor of double digit power and capable on base abilities. A product of the Jackie Robinson West Little League and White Sox ACE charity program, Ray is a feel-good story as a kid who came from the south side of Chicago, playing high school ball at the same school (Simeon Academy) as NBA stars Derrick Rose and Jabari Parker. He likely won’t fall to the Sox at number ten, but that would be pretty cool if it happened.
4. 3B Nick Senzel (University of Tennessee)
Tier two begins with Nick Senzel, the slugging infielder with the tools to be the top hitter to come out of the University of Tennessee since Todd Helton. Many mock drafts have him going higher than number seven, and as a high-floor college hitter, he may very well deserve to go higher. He has hit extremely well this year in the most difficult conference in college baseball, the Southeastern Conference (SEC), with very good plate discipline, and he projects as an above average third baseman at the big league level. A strong work ethic has enabled him to improve his entire game, and he may even have a higher floor than Corey Ray. However, he is ranked this low because I believe his ceiling is limited. He has a short swing that produces line drives to all fields, though this has given him much more doubles power than home run power. He could improve his game power by turning on pitches, though this likely would hurt his contact ability.
5. SS Delvin Perez (International Baseball Academy, PR)
The youngest player on this list, Perez won’t turn 18 until November 24th. That makes him more than a full year younger than many other high schoolers on this list, such as Blake Rutherford, Drew Mendoza, and Carter Kieboom. As a Puerto Rican shortstop projected to go near the top of the draft, Perez has drawn comparisons to Carlos Correa, though those are largely superficial. I think Francisco Lindor is a better comp, as both were athletic, toolsy shortstops coming out of high school with excellent defensive abilities. Lindor was a better hitter at this point in his career, but Perez is four inches taller than him and can grow into more power. As I said, He’s excellent defensively, and should have no trouble as he matures into a major league caliber shortstop with above average range and arm strength. He is also a very good runner. However, his big flaw is at the plate, where his lanky frame and long arms can cause his swing to get out of control often, with a fairly weak follow through. However, due to his age, I think he can grow into his very skinny, 6’3”, 165 pound frame, and I also think most of his swing issues can be ironed out, making him an average big league hitter. Above average speed/defense + premium position + average bat = top ten pick. Perez has no college commitment, so he should be an easy sign.
I’m the high guy on Moniak. He’s not just my favorite hitter, but my favorite player in this draft. I love the quick, smooth, left handed swing, and the athleticism he brings with it. His quick bat and line drive swing should help him hit .290 or higher at the big league level. Many question his future power ability, but I am actually a believer in him developing at least average power, if not above average. When he gets power conscious, he fires his hips just before his swing, and it works. When you put his swing side to side with Bryce Harper’s swing, you’ll see that both of their hips have fired and are in fact out from under their body at contact. I’m not necessarily comparing Moniak’s future hitting ability to that of Harper, but the similarity in the mechanics is there. Additionally, I have heard good things about Moniak’s work ethic. I love this kid as a ballplayer. Moniak is committed to UCLA.
2. OF Kyle Lewis (Mercer University)
Your top college bat is Kyle Lewis, an athletic, powerful outfielder out of Mercer. Coming into the season, he had a lot to prove, as he plays in a smaller conference (the Southern Conference) and his plate discipline was less than exceptional last year. This year, he has proven everything he needed to, obliterating SoCon pitching and dramatically improving his plate discipline. He still strikes out a fair amount, and here is why. He has a lot of movement in not just his hands but everywhere before his swing, which means the bat is not in a very good hitting position as the pitch comes in. When coaches alter a player’s mechanics, there is often a learning curve, but in Lewis’ case, his hands and bat are so fast through the zone that I don’t see him losing any of his power when pro coaches streamline his swing path. I think that will cut down on his strikeouts as well as improve his contact ability.
3. OF Corey Ray (University of Louisville)
Ray is probably the safest bet to be a big league All Star. While he does not have the ceiling of Moniak, Lewis, or many of the players that follow him on this list, he has a relatively high floor as a big league regular. He has the cleanest, smoothest swing in the draft class, and it has enabled him to put up very good, albeit not exceptional, numbers in the Atlantic Coast Conference (ACC), the second toughest conference in college baseball. Despite his short stature (5’11”, 185 pounds), he runs extremely well, and should be able to stick in center field as he moves up the pro ladder. I see him with a ceiling of 15-20 home runs and a .290 or so average, with a floor of double digit power and capable on base abilities. A product of the Jackie Robinson West Little League and White Sox ACE charity program, Ray is a feel-good story as a kid who came from the south side of Chicago, playing high school ball at the same school (Simeon Academy) as NBA stars Derrick Rose and Jabari Parker. He likely won’t fall to the Sox at number ten, but that would be pretty cool if it happened.
4. 3B Nick Senzel (University of Tennessee)
Tier two begins with Nick Senzel, the slugging infielder with the tools to be the top hitter to come out of the University of Tennessee since Todd Helton. Many mock drafts have him going higher than number seven, and as a high-floor college hitter, he may very well deserve to go higher. He has hit extremely well this year in the most difficult conference in college baseball, the Southeastern Conference (SEC), with very good plate discipline, and he projects as an above average third baseman at the big league level. A strong work ethic has enabled him to improve his entire game, and he may even have a higher floor than Corey Ray. However, he is ranked this low because I believe his ceiling is limited. He has a short swing that produces line drives to all fields, though this has given him much more doubles power than home run power. He could improve his game power by turning on pitches, though this likely would hurt his contact ability.
5. SS Delvin Perez (International Baseball Academy, PR)
The youngest player on this list, Perez won’t turn 18 until November 24th. That makes him more than a full year younger than many other high schoolers on this list, such as Blake Rutherford, Drew Mendoza, and Carter Kieboom. As a Puerto Rican shortstop projected to go near the top of the draft, Perez has drawn comparisons to Carlos Correa, though those are largely superficial. I think Francisco Lindor is a better comp, as both were athletic, toolsy shortstops coming out of high school with excellent defensive abilities. Lindor was a better hitter at this point in his career, but Perez is four inches taller than him and can grow into more power. As I said, He’s excellent defensively, and should have no trouble as he matures into a major league caliber shortstop with above average range and arm strength. He is also a very good runner. However, his big flaw is at the plate, where his lanky frame and long arms can cause his swing to get out of control often, with a fairly weak follow through. However, due to his age, I think he can grow into his very skinny, 6’3”, 165 pound frame, and I also think most of his swing issues can be ironed out, making him an average big league hitter. Above average speed/defense + premium position + average bat = top ten pick. Perez has no college commitment, so he should be an easy sign.
6. OF Blake Rutherford (Chaminade Prep HS, CA)
Rutherford has been on prospect watch lists as long as any high schooler in this draft, and he comes oozing with power and bat speed from the left side. All around, Rutherford has shown the ability to be a star, though the fact that he is the oldest high schooler on this list does ding him a little bit. He turned 19 on May 2nd. He is somewhat inconsistent with his load, sometimes going with a double toe tap and other times taking a long stride towards the pitch. Rutherford, like Moniak, is committed to UCLA.
7. C/1B Zack Collins (University of Miami, FL)
Collins has been a big riser this season, and he could be a top ten or even top five pick. Coming into the season, Collins was viewed as having a very good bat with big time question marks behind the plate. The “very good” label on his bat has changed to “excellent,” has he has obliterated ACC competition, and while he is still very much a question mark behind the plate, reports are that he has worked hard to improve himself there. Even if he ends up at first base, he is a dangerous hitter, with a smooth, powerful swing that generates pop to all fields. He does have a kink where he quickly drops and raises his hands just before the swing, and that worries me slightly. However, David Ortiz does it too, and he’s been just fine with big league pitching.
8. OF Buddy Reed (University of Florida)
Coming into the season, Kyle Lewis, Corey Ray, and Buddy Reed were ready to battle it out to see who was the top college outfielder in the game. Lewis and Ray seem to have won, as Reed’s stock has dropped this spring. The Florida outfielder is one of the best athletes in the draft, with excellent range in the outfield, blazing speed, and a well above average arm. However, his bat might be an even bigger question mark than Delvin Perez’s, as he has failed to take the step forward at the plate that scouts were hoping for in 2016. He needs work on his swing path, which looks all over the place, as well as his plate discipline. I do think it’s way too early to give up on him, as he is one of the younger juniors in the college class, and he is essentially at the same place he was at the beginning of the year. If I had multiple early picks, I might take a chance on Reed early in the draft. As a side note, giving up on switch-hitting could help him get over the hump offensively.
9. 1B/3B Will Craig (Wake Forest)
Don’t let his boring name fool you; this guy can bring the lumber as well as anybody in this draft class. Knocking around ACC pitching even more ruthlessly than Collins, Craig has proven everything he needs to offensively in the NCAA. He did have a fairly poor showing in the wood bat Cape Cod League in 2015 (.242/.366/.318), but his clean, powerful swing should play up in the big leagues. There is a chance he runs into contact issues, but overall, he is one of the best pure hitters in the draft. Like Collins, his glove is a question mark, as he is currently a third baseman but may be forced to move to first base if he fails to improve his athleticism. He does have the arm to remain at the hot corner if he can improve his mobility.
10. OF Will Benson (The Westminster Schools, GA)
I rate Benson more highly than most because I love his swing’s potential. As a tall, decently athletic outfielder from the Atlanta area, he gets a lot of Jason Heyward comparisons, and I’d like to throw in my own personal left-handed Justin Upton comp. Benson’s raw power is very real, even with a mechanically flawed swing. He has good bat speed from the left side, but he does not get much extension at any point in his swing, before or after contact. Still, he produces solid power. He has come a long way with incorporating his lower half into his swing, and I think he can make similar strides with that extension problem. At 6’6”, a Will Benson that uses his whole body for his swing could be deadly. He’s been noted as a gifted student in the classroom, which is a bonus for me. Benson is committed Duke University.
11. 3B Josh Lowe (Pope HS, GA)
The top two way talent in the draft, Lowe has a clean left handed swing that produces some significant power. His tall, athletic frame bodes well for future power development, but I think it is notable that a decent portion of his power is generated by an early hip thrust. I am normally a fan of that type of lower body mechanics, especially since it can be seen in the swings of Bryce Harper, Josh Donaldson, and our good friend from ten spots up, Mickey Moniak. However, when Lowe gets those hips going, they have just a tiny bit of upward movement in addition to their rotational movement, and this is enough to cause his backside to dip ever so slightly in his swing. It hasn’t caught up to him yet, but he may run into contact issues in the upper minors, where every mechanical flaw is taken advantage of. Defensively, he should have no issues staying at third base, especially considering the fact that he has a right arm capable of unleashing mid 90’s fastballs from the mound. Lowe is committed to Florida State.
12. OF Bryan Reynolds (Vanderbilt)
Last year’s Vanderbilt team produced the first overall pick in Dansby Swanson, and they have another hitter who could go in the first round this year. Reynolds doesn’t have any eye-popping tools or stats, but he simply hits and hits well. The switch hitter has consistently produced during his three years at Vanderbilt, and his doubles power seems to have turned into home run power this spring. He had a solid summer on the Cape (.346/.470/.395), albeit without much power, but he answered for that by obliterating his own career highs in home runs and slugging percentage for Vandy this spring.
13. IF Nolan Jones (Holy Ghost Prep HS, PA)
A powerful infielder from the Philadelphia area that has been projected at second, third, and shortstop at times, Jones produces a lot of leverage with his big swing. He has a lot of issues with his swing, as it is long and at times unbalanced, but I am willing to give him the benefit of the doubt as a cold weather high schooler. Despite the issues in his swing, he knows how to hit, and he could be an average defender at second or third base. Jones is committed to the University of Virginia.
14. 3B Drew Mendoza (Lake Minneola HS, FL)
Widely thought of as the toughest sign in this year’s first round talent crop, Mendoza has long been watched as a draft prospect coming out of the Orlando area, generally a hotbed for prep talent. He’s got a clean, linear, left handed swing that produces doubles power right now, and with his lean, 6’4” frame and some pro coaching, he could begin to produce some home run pop. He does get a little off balance at the plate at times with his very long stride, but that is an easy fix. I see him as a future regular at third base, though likely not an All Star. Like Josh Lowe, he is committed to Florida State.
15. 3B Carter Kieboom (Walton HS, GA)
With a very athletic build and solid bloodlines (brother Spencer is a catcher for the Nationals’ AA Harrisburg Senators, brother Trevor is the Georgia Bulldogs’ starting third baseman), Kieboom has a chance to be one of the better hitters in this class. His swing path is long, but I think that is okay because the barrel of the bat stays in the hitting zone throughout nearly the entire swing. He doesn’t get much out of his lower half, but I also have no issue with that. In my opinion, learning to incorporate your lower half is one of the easier adjustments to make for a young hitter, unlike eliminating excess hand movements or changing a swing path. Plus, he has a chance to develop more power once he begins using that lower half more. When it is all said and done, Anthony Rendon could be a possible ceiling. Kieboom is committed to Clemson.
16. OF Alex Kirilloff (Plum HS, PA)
I’m probably lower on Kirilloff than most people in the scouting community, and it’s not that I don’t like Kirilloff as a prospect. He does an excellent job of getting his hands inside the baseball, utilizing a short to it, long through it swing that produces deep line drives. However, I haven’t seen anything from him that justifies putting him in the top half of the first round or really differentiates him from the other top hitters in this class. He has a long stride that alters his eye level significantly as he steps into his swing, with his hands seeming to drop with his body as he falls. Against high school competition, he has quick enough hands that he can bring them back up in time to catch up to the high fastball, but I don’t know how he might fare when that low to mid 80’s stuff he is seeing turns into low to mid 90’s in pro ball. I heard that he played well on the showcase circuit, but all of his hits that I saw on publicly-available video came on low pitches, which his swing is geared to hit. Of course, all prep hitters have their issues, and none of this is to say that I don’t like Kirilloff as a prospect, but I just don’t see him as having proven himself worthy of being better than guys like Jones, Mendoza, or Kieboom. Kirilloff is committed to Liberty University.
17. SS Gavin Lux (Indian Trail Academy, WI)
Wisconsin isn’t exactly known as a baseball talent hotbed; the state’s only major university, the University of Wisconsin, dropped baseball in 1991. However, it is easy to like Gavin Lux, a shortstop from Kenosha with a 70 grade baseball name. He has the ability to stay at shortstop at the next level, and he has more than enough bat to profile there. Although he has a small hitch before he unleashes on the ball, he has a very clean swing for a high schooler and should be somewhat of a high floor player, even if that comes with a low ceiling. Aside from the hitch, where he just twitches a little bit with the bat, Lux also throws his weight at the pitch, which is likely a symptom of him being too power conscious. As a shortstop, he won’t need to hit home runs, and with his clean swing, I see him being able to tone down that early weight transfer and focus on spraying line drives. I did say that he might be a low-ceiling guy, but I think he has a chance to exceed that ceiling. Maybe it’s the fact that there aren’t many shortstops in this draft, or his line drive swing, or maybe it’s just his awesome name (probably his awesome name), but I really like his chances at being an above average shortstop at the big league level. Lux is committed to Arizona State.
18. OF Taylor Trammell (Mount Paran Christian HS, GA)
The Atlanta area is known for its prep talent perhaps more than any metro area in the east, and we’ve already seen Benson, Lowe, and Kieboom on this list. Trammell has perhaps the most helium of any of these players, and he might have the highest ceiling, too. He is extremely athletic, and he might give Buddy Reed a run for his money as the fastest player on this top 20 list (pun intended). He is also a fairly raw, high risk prospect. He has a linear swing right now that produces line drives, though he can get power conscious and begin to dip his backside to generate more power that he doesn’t have...yet. It can be difficult to project these raw, toolsy outfielders, but he has a ceiling of a left handed Adam Jones or Torii Hunter with above average contact and raw power. That said, he has a long way to go to reach that ceiling. Trammell is committed to Georgia Tech.
19. C/1B Matt Thaiss (University of Virginia)
Miami’s Zack Collins isn’t the only power hitting catcher with question marks behind the plate. The University of Virginia has a similar player in Matt Thaiss, though he doesn’t quite match Collins’ overall profile. Like Collins, Thaiss has dominated ACC pitching and led his squad to the NCAA Tournament as a regional host. He has power and hits for contact, with an extremely low strikeout rate in 2016 to go along with double digit home runs. At 5’11”, 197 pounds, he is not very athletic and has almost no projection left, and he has had defensive issues as a catcher. He has manned home plate for the Cavaliers, and some teams have hope that he can stay behind the plate, but that is very much at risk. At the plate, Thaiss’ extremely wide stance gives him a lot of leverage on the ball, though it does cause him to be slow out of the box, which doesn’t help his below average speed. His ceiling has been talked about as something of a Brian McCann, and he has a floor as a decent first baseman.
20. 3B Joe Rizzo (Oakton HS, VA)
I have had the chance to play across from Rizzo on the diamond, as I was an outfielder on the Madison High School team during his sophomore and junior seasons, where his Oakton Cougars met my Madison Warhawks for a game once a year. I have also trained next to him in the batting cages, so I have had multiple in-person looks at Rizzo as a player. The first thing you notice about Rizzo is always his bat; he can crush a ball out of any park, and he has the bat control and batting eye to hit for contact as well. His swing is fairly long, but like Kieboom’s, the bat stays in the hitting zone throughout the swing. His linear swing should produce plenty of line drives to all fields. While the consensus is that he can make it as a big league hitter despite his 5’9” frame, his glove is a gigantic question mark. He is not the most athletic player over at third base, and if he can’t stay there, he may be too short to play first base at 5’9”. The outfield is a possible landing place for him, though he may not run well enough to handle that. One intriguing idea that I heard was a move behind the plate; it may be a longshot, but Rizzo has an excellent work ethic and for some reason, I get the gut feeling that he just might be able to pull it off. Rizzo is committed to the University of South Carolina.
Just missed: Jake Fraley (LSU), Chris Okey (Clemson), Sean Murphy(Wright State)
Sleeper Bonus: C Kyle Hayes (Madison HS, VA)
As far as I know, Hayes isn’t on any team’s radar as a potential draft pick, but I think that could change after a few years of college ball. With a skinny 6’2” frame, he doesn’t look like a catcher, but Hayes has the defensive skills to stay behind the plate no matter what level he reaches. He was my teammate for three years from 2013-2015, and the ball virtually never touched the backstop with him behind the plate. In 2015, he was arguably the most valuable piece on our team when it won the Virginia 6A State Championship. Aside from his plus blocking ability, Hayes has a quick and strong arm, working with pop times regularly around 1.95 and below that also play well for back-picks to bases. As of our last game as teammates in 2015, his bat was well behind his glove, which was the reason that he had gotten little attention from scouts. At the time, he was a contact hitter with below average power, albeit one who consistently squared balls up. I only saw him play twice in 2016, but the overall reports were that his bat improved significantly. It is still behind his glove, and he will most likely always be a glove-first catcher, but his upside is high. His clean swing has routinely produced line drives to all fields, and it is only a matter of him filling out his frame and learning to use his athleticism to drive pitches more consistently before he really breaks out. After some time in the NCAA, I see a very good chance that he continues on the upward trajectory that he is currently on. As a teammate of his, I noticed firsthand that his work ethic was exceptional, and he is always looking for ways to improve on both sides of the ball. None of this is to say that he will be a first round pick or even a top ten rounder come 2019, but his plus glove and arm (with plus-plus potential), coupled with his offensive projection, make him a very intriguing prospect to follow. Hayes is committed to James Madison University.
Rutherford has been on prospect watch lists as long as any high schooler in this draft, and he comes oozing with power and bat speed from the left side. All around, Rutherford has shown the ability to be a star, though the fact that he is the oldest high schooler on this list does ding him a little bit. He turned 19 on May 2nd. He is somewhat inconsistent with his load, sometimes going with a double toe tap and other times taking a long stride towards the pitch. Rutherford, like Moniak, is committed to UCLA.
7. C/1B Zack Collins (University of Miami, FL)
Collins has been a big riser this season, and he could be a top ten or even top five pick. Coming into the season, Collins was viewed as having a very good bat with big time question marks behind the plate. The “very good” label on his bat has changed to “excellent,” has he has obliterated ACC competition, and while he is still very much a question mark behind the plate, reports are that he has worked hard to improve himself there. Even if he ends up at first base, he is a dangerous hitter, with a smooth, powerful swing that generates pop to all fields. He does have a kink where he quickly drops and raises his hands just before the swing, and that worries me slightly. However, David Ortiz does it too, and he’s been just fine with big league pitching.
8. OF Buddy Reed (University of Florida)
Coming into the season, Kyle Lewis, Corey Ray, and Buddy Reed were ready to battle it out to see who was the top college outfielder in the game. Lewis and Ray seem to have won, as Reed’s stock has dropped this spring. The Florida outfielder is one of the best athletes in the draft, with excellent range in the outfield, blazing speed, and a well above average arm. However, his bat might be an even bigger question mark than Delvin Perez’s, as he has failed to take the step forward at the plate that scouts were hoping for in 2016. He needs work on his swing path, which looks all over the place, as well as his plate discipline. I do think it’s way too early to give up on him, as he is one of the younger juniors in the college class, and he is essentially at the same place he was at the beginning of the year. If I had multiple early picks, I might take a chance on Reed early in the draft. As a side note, giving up on switch-hitting could help him get over the hump offensively.
9. 1B/3B Will Craig (Wake Forest)
Don’t let his boring name fool you; this guy can bring the lumber as well as anybody in this draft class. Knocking around ACC pitching even more ruthlessly than Collins, Craig has proven everything he needs to offensively in the NCAA. He did have a fairly poor showing in the wood bat Cape Cod League in 2015 (.242/.366/.318), but his clean, powerful swing should play up in the big leagues. There is a chance he runs into contact issues, but overall, he is one of the best pure hitters in the draft. Like Collins, his glove is a question mark, as he is currently a third baseman but may be forced to move to first base if he fails to improve his athleticism. He does have the arm to remain at the hot corner if he can improve his mobility.
10. OF Will Benson (The Westminster Schools, GA)
I rate Benson more highly than most because I love his swing’s potential. As a tall, decently athletic outfielder from the Atlanta area, he gets a lot of Jason Heyward comparisons, and I’d like to throw in my own personal left-handed Justin Upton comp. Benson’s raw power is very real, even with a mechanically flawed swing. He has good bat speed from the left side, but he does not get much extension at any point in his swing, before or after contact. Still, he produces solid power. He has come a long way with incorporating his lower half into his swing, and I think he can make similar strides with that extension problem. At 6’6”, a Will Benson that uses his whole body for his swing could be deadly. He’s been noted as a gifted student in the classroom, which is a bonus for me. Benson is committed Duke University.
11. 3B Josh Lowe (Pope HS, GA)
The top two way talent in the draft, Lowe has a clean left handed swing that produces some significant power. His tall, athletic frame bodes well for future power development, but I think it is notable that a decent portion of his power is generated by an early hip thrust. I am normally a fan of that type of lower body mechanics, especially since it can be seen in the swings of Bryce Harper, Josh Donaldson, and our good friend from ten spots up, Mickey Moniak. However, when Lowe gets those hips going, they have just a tiny bit of upward movement in addition to their rotational movement, and this is enough to cause his backside to dip ever so slightly in his swing. It hasn’t caught up to him yet, but he may run into contact issues in the upper minors, where every mechanical flaw is taken advantage of. Defensively, he should have no issues staying at third base, especially considering the fact that he has a right arm capable of unleashing mid 90’s fastballs from the mound. Lowe is committed to Florida State.
12. OF Bryan Reynolds (Vanderbilt)
Last year’s Vanderbilt team produced the first overall pick in Dansby Swanson, and they have another hitter who could go in the first round this year. Reynolds doesn’t have any eye-popping tools or stats, but he simply hits and hits well. The switch hitter has consistently produced during his three years at Vanderbilt, and his doubles power seems to have turned into home run power this spring. He had a solid summer on the Cape (.346/.470/.395), albeit without much power, but he answered for that by obliterating his own career highs in home runs and slugging percentage for Vandy this spring.
13. IF Nolan Jones (Holy Ghost Prep HS, PA)
A powerful infielder from the Philadelphia area that has been projected at second, third, and shortstop at times, Jones produces a lot of leverage with his big swing. He has a lot of issues with his swing, as it is long and at times unbalanced, but I am willing to give him the benefit of the doubt as a cold weather high schooler. Despite the issues in his swing, he knows how to hit, and he could be an average defender at second or third base. Jones is committed to the University of Virginia.
14. 3B Drew Mendoza (Lake Minneola HS, FL)
Widely thought of as the toughest sign in this year’s first round talent crop, Mendoza has long been watched as a draft prospect coming out of the Orlando area, generally a hotbed for prep talent. He’s got a clean, linear, left handed swing that produces doubles power right now, and with his lean, 6’4” frame and some pro coaching, he could begin to produce some home run pop. He does get a little off balance at the plate at times with his very long stride, but that is an easy fix. I see him as a future regular at third base, though likely not an All Star. Like Josh Lowe, he is committed to Florida State.
15. 3B Carter Kieboom (Walton HS, GA)
With a very athletic build and solid bloodlines (brother Spencer is a catcher for the Nationals’ AA Harrisburg Senators, brother Trevor is the Georgia Bulldogs’ starting third baseman), Kieboom has a chance to be one of the better hitters in this class. His swing path is long, but I think that is okay because the barrel of the bat stays in the hitting zone throughout nearly the entire swing. He doesn’t get much out of his lower half, but I also have no issue with that. In my opinion, learning to incorporate your lower half is one of the easier adjustments to make for a young hitter, unlike eliminating excess hand movements or changing a swing path. Plus, he has a chance to develop more power once he begins using that lower half more. When it is all said and done, Anthony Rendon could be a possible ceiling. Kieboom is committed to Clemson.
16. OF Alex Kirilloff (Plum HS, PA)
I’m probably lower on Kirilloff than most people in the scouting community, and it’s not that I don’t like Kirilloff as a prospect. He does an excellent job of getting his hands inside the baseball, utilizing a short to it, long through it swing that produces deep line drives. However, I haven’t seen anything from him that justifies putting him in the top half of the first round or really differentiates him from the other top hitters in this class. He has a long stride that alters his eye level significantly as he steps into his swing, with his hands seeming to drop with his body as he falls. Against high school competition, he has quick enough hands that he can bring them back up in time to catch up to the high fastball, but I don’t know how he might fare when that low to mid 80’s stuff he is seeing turns into low to mid 90’s in pro ball. I heard that he played well on the showcase circuit, but all of his hits that I saw on publicly-available video came on low pitches, which his swing is geared to hit. Of course, all prep hitters have their issues, and none of this is to say that I don’t like Kirilloff as a prospect, but I just don’t see him as having proven himself worthy of being better than guys like Jones, Mendoza, or Kieboom. Kirilloff is committed to Liberty University.
17. SS Gavin Lux (Indian Trail Academy, WI)
Wisconsin isn’t exactly known as a baseball talent hotbed; the state’s only major university, the University of Wisconsin, dropped baseball in 1991. However, it is easy to like Gavin Lux, a shortstop from Kenosha with a 70 grade baseball name. He has the ability to stay at shortstop at the next level, and he has more than enough bat to profile there. Although he has a small hitch before he unleashes on the ball, he has a very clean swing for a high schooler and should be somewhat of a high floor player, even if that comes with a low ceiling. Aside from the hitch, where he just twitches a little bit with the bat, Lux also throws his weight at the pitch, which is likely a symptom of him being too power conscious. As a shortstop, he won’t need to hit home runs, and with his clean swing, I see him being able to tone down that early weight transfer and focus on spraying line drives. I did say that he might be a low-ceiling guy, but I think he has a chance to exceed that ceiling. Maybe it’s the fact that there aren’t many shortstops in this draft, or his line drive swing, or maybe it’s just his awesome name (probably his awesome name), but I really like his chances at being an above average shortstop at the big league level. Lux is committed to Arizona State.
18. OF Taylor Trammell (Mount Paran Christian HS, GA)
The Atlanta area is known for its prep talent perhaps more than any metro area in the east, and we’ve already seen Benson, Lowe, and Kieboom on this list. Trammell has perhaps the most helium of any of these players, and he might have the highest ceiling, too. He is extremely athletic, and he might give Buddy Reed a run for his money as the fastest player on this top 20 list (pun intended). He is also a fairly raw, high risk prospect. He has a linear swing right now that produces line drives, though he can get power conscious and begin to dip his backside to generate more power that he doesn’t have...yet. It can be difficult to project these raw, toolsy outfielders, but he has a ceiling of a left handed Adam Jones or Torii Hunter with above average contact and raw power. That said, he has a long way to go to reach that ceiling. Trammell is committed to Georgia Tech.
19. C/1B Matt Thaiss (University of Virginia)
Miami’s Zack Collins isn’t the only power hitting catcher with question marks behind the plate. The University of Virginia has a similar player in Matt Thaiss, though he doesn’t quite match Collins’ overall profile. Like Collins, Thaiss has dominated ACC pitching and led his squad to the NCAA Tournament as a regional host. He has power and hits for contact, with an extremely low strikeout rate in 2016 to go along with double digit home runs. At 5’11”, 197 pounds, he is not very athletic and has almost no projection left, and he has had defensive issues as a catcher. He has manned home plate for the Cavaliers, and some teams have hope that he can stay behind the plate, but that is very much at risk. At the plate, Thaiss’ extremely wide stance gives him a lot of leverage on the ball, though it does cause him to be slow out of the box, which doesn’t help his below average speed. His ceiling has been talked about as something of a Brian McCann, and he has a floor as a decent first baseman.
20. 3B Joe Rizzo (Oakton HS, VA)
I have had the chance to play across from Rizzo on the diamond, as I was an outfielder on the Madison High School team during his sophomore and junior seasons, where his Oakton Cougars met my Madison Warhawks for a game once a year. I have also trained next to him in the batting cages, so I have had multiple in-person looks at Rizzo as a player. The first thing you notice about Rizzo is always his bat; he can crush a ball out of any park, and he has the bat control and batting eye to hit for contact as well. His swing is fairly long, but like Kieboom’s, the bat stays in the hitting zone throughout the swing. His linear swing should produce plenty of line drives to all fields. While the consensus is that he can make it as a big league hitter despite his 5’9” frame, his glove is a gigantic question mark. He is not the most athletic player over at third base, and if he can’t stay there, he may be too short to play first base at 5’9”. The outfield is a possible landing place for him, though he may not run well enough to handle that. One intriguing idea that I heard was a move behind the plate; it may be a longshot, but Rizzo has an excellent work ethic and for some reason, I get the gut feeling that he just might be able to pull it off. Rizzo is committed to the University of South Carolina.
Just missed: Jake Fraley (LSU), Chris Okey (Clemson), Sean Murphy(Wright State)
Sleeper Bonus: C Kyle Hayes (Madison HS, VA)
As far as I know, Hayes isn’t on any team’s radar as a potential draft pick, but I think that could change after a few years of college ball. With a skinny 6’2” frame, he doesn’t look like a catcher, but Hayes has the defensive skills to stay behind the plate no matter what level he reaches. He was my teammate for three years from 2013-2015, and the ball virtually never touched the backstop with him behind the plate. In 2015, he was arguably the most valuable piece on our team when it won the Virginia 6A State Championship. Aside from his plus blocking ability, Hayes has a quick and strong arm, working with pop times regularly around 1.95 and below that also play well for back-picks to bases. As of our last game as teammates in 2015, his bat was well behind his glove, which was the reason that he had gotten little attention from scouts. At the time, he was a contact hitter with below average power, albeit one who consistently squared balls up. I only saw him play twice in 2016, but the overall reports were that his bat improved significantly. It is still behind his glove, and he will most likely always be a glove-first catcher, but his upside is high. His clean swing has routinely produced line drives to all fields, and it is only a matter of him filling out his frame and learning to use his athleticism to drive pitches more consistently before he really breaks out. After some time in the NCAA, I see a very good chance that he continues on the upward trajectory that he is currently on. As a teammate of his, I noticed firsthand that his work ethic was exceptional, and he is always looking for ways to improve on both sides of the ball. None of this is to say that he will be a first round pick or even a top ten rounder come 2019, but his plus glove and arm (with plus-plus potential), coupled with his offensive projection, make him a very intriguing prospect to follow. Hayes is committed to James Madison University.
Transaction Roundup- 12/11-12/16/2016
Free Agent Signings
Dodgers re-signed Kenley Jansen (3-2, 1.83 ERA, 0.67 WHIP, 47 SV, 2017 Age: 29) to a five year, $80 million deal ($16 million per season). Read more here.
Dodgers re-signed Kenley Jansen (3-2, 1.83 ERA, 0.67 WHIP, 47 SV, 2017 Age: 29) to a five year, $80 million deal ($16 million per season). Read more here.
Rockies signed Mike Dunn (6-1, 3.40 ERA, 1.28 WHIP, 2017 Age: 31-32) to a three year, $19 million deal ($6.33 million per season). Read more here.
Cubs signed Koji Uehara (2-3, 3.45 ERA, 0.96 WHIP, 7 SV, 2017 Age: 42) to a one year, $6 million deal.
Orioles signed Welington Castillo (14 HR, 68 RBI, .264 AVG, 2 SB, 2017 Age: 30) to a one year, $6 million deal.
White Sox signed Derek Holland (7-9, 4.95 ERA, 1.41 WHIP, 2017 Age: 30) to a one year, $6 million deal.
Marlins signed Jeff Locke (9-8, 5.44 ERA, 1.53 WHIP, 2017 Age: 29) to a one year, $3 million deal.
Marlins signed A.J. Ellis (2 HR, 22 RBI, .216 AVG, 2 SB, 2017 Age: 36) to a one year, $2.5 million deal.
Marlins re-signed Dustin McGowan (1-3, 2.82 ERA, 1.22 WHIP, 1 SV, 2017 Age: 35) to a one year, $1.75 million deal.
Phillies re-signed Andres Blanco (4 HR, 21 RBI, .253 AVG, 2 SB, 2017 Age: 33) to a one year, $3 million deal.
Brewers signed Tommy Milone (3-5, 5.71 ERA, 1.53 WHIP, 2017 Age: 30) to a one year, $1.25 million deal.
Nationals signed Jacob Turner (1-2, 6.57 ERA, 1.99 WHIP, 2017 Age: 25-26) to a minor league deal.
Nationals signed Tim Collins (missed 2016, 3.54 career ERA, 1.40 WHIP, 2017 Age: 27) to a minor league deal. Read more about the Nationals' signings here.
Nationals signed Emmanuel Burriss (0 HR, 0 RBI, .111 AVG, 1 SB, 2017 Age: 32) to a minor league deal.
Nationals signed Mike Broadway (0-0, 11.81 ERA, 1.88 WHIP, 2017 Age: 30) to a minor league deal.
Cardinals signed Eric Fryer (0 HR, 13 RBI, .267 AVG, 0 SB, 2017 Age: 31) to a minor league deal.
Phillies signed Daniel Nava (1 HR, 13 RBI, .223 AVG, 0 SB, 2017 Age: 34) to a minor league deal.
Phillies signed Sean Burnett (0-0, 3.18 ERA, 1.06 WHIP, 2017 Age: 34) to a minor league deal.
Phillies signed Pedro Florimon (0 HR, 4 RBI, .208 AVG, 0 SB, 2017 Age: 30) to a minor league deal.
Orioles re-signed Logan Ondrusek (0-0, 9.95 ERA, 1.89 WHIP, 2017 Age: 32) to a one year, $625,000 deal.
Mets signed Ben Rowen (0-0, 15.00 ERA, 3.33 WHIP, 2017 Age: 28) to a minor league deal.
Trades
Angels traded Jett Bandy (8 HR, 25 RBI, .234 AVG, 1 SB, 2017 Age: 27) to the Brewers for Martin Maldonado (8 HR, 21 RBI, .202 AVG, 1 SB, 2017 Age: 30) and minor leaguer Drew Gagnon (3-1, 4.48 ERA, 1.30 WHIP, 1 SV at AA and AAA, 2017 Age: 26-27).
Waiver Claims
Phillies claimed Richie Shaffer (1 HR, 4 RBI, .250 AVG, 0 SB, 2017 Age: 26) off waivers from the Mariners.
Nationals Add Four on Minor League Deals
The Nationals added four players on minor league deals, so let's quickly go over them since I cover all Nationals transactions. It is my belief that "there is no such thing as a bad minor league deal," so extra depth is always good. Of the four, Jacob Turner is has the best chance to make an impact. The former first round pick has not even come close to realizing the potential the Tigers saw in him when they drafted him ninth overall in 2009 (with players such as Mike Trout, Paul Goldschmidt, Nolan Arenado, Kyle Seager, Jason Kipnis, Dallas Keuchel, Brian Dozier, etc. still on the table). He came closest in 2013, when he went 3-8 with a 3.74 ERA and a 1.44 WHIP over 20 starts for the Marlins, but after a rough go in 2014 (6-11, 6.13 ERA, 1.60 WHIP), he missed all of 2015, then struggled in limited action in 2016. Over 18 games (2 starts) for the White Sox, he went 1-2 with a 6.57 ERA and a 1.99 WHIP, putting up an ugly 18/16 strikeout to walk ratio in 24.2 innings. Still, he's just 26 years old, and he could be a late bloomer if you look at the glass half-full, as he has put up significantly better numbers in the bullpen (2.91 ERA, 1.52 WHIP in 18 career relief appearances versus 5.22 ERA, 1.50 WHIP in 53 starts). For his career, the St. Louis area native is 12-27 with a 5.09 ERA and a 1.51 WHIP over 79 games (53 starts) for the Tigers, Marlins, Cubs, and White Sox.
Emmanuel Burriss, who attended Woodrow Wilson High School in northwest Washington, D.C., is no stranger to the Nationals' organization. He played 211 games for the Nationals' AAA affiliate, the Syracuse Chiefs, from 2014-2015, and appeared in five games for the Nationals during the 2015 season. He doesn't have much power to speak of, but he is a speedy utility guy who could provide the Nationals with depth at every position now that Danny Espinosa has been traded. For his career, the former Kent State Golden Flash has one home run, 42 RBI, a .237 average, and 41 stolen bases over 326 games since 2008.
Mike Broadway is a longtime farmhand who made his major league debut in 2015 at the age of 28. He pitched decently well out of the Giants bullpen that year, putting up a 5.19 ERA and a 1.56 WHIP over 21 appearances, striking out 13 and walking just one in 17.1 innings of work. He wasn't as good last year, making just four appearances for San Francisco and putting up an 11.81 ERA and a 1.88 WHIP. He'll be AAA bullpen depth who could get called up in the case of injury to a primary Nationals reliever. For his career, the southern Illinois native is 0-2 with a 6.75 ERA and a 1.63 WHIP over 25 appearances, all with the Giants.
Lastly, Tim Collins is an intriguing signing. The 5'7" lefty hasn't pitched since 2014, having sat out both the 2015 and 2016 seasons with a pair of Tommy John surgeries. He may not be ready for the start of the 2017 season, but once he's back, the Nationals have a potential gem here. With the Royals from 2011-2014, he was dominant out the bullpen, putting up a 3.54 ERA, a 1.40 WHIP, and 220 strikeouts in 211 innings over 228 appearances. His best year came in 2012, when he put up a 3.36 ERA, a 1.28 WHIP, and 93 strikeouts in just 69.2 innings over 72 appearances. Still, after four big league seasons then two years recovering from a pair of Tommy John surgeries, he's just 27 years old, and he could end up being the Nationals' lefty set-up man in 2017.
Rockies Add Mike Dunn To Back of Bullpen
Three years after adding Boone Logan on a three year contract, the Rockies have picked up another left handed reliever on a three year deal. Mike Dunn, who will make $19 million over the course of the contract, has had a very successful career in Miami, and he'll go straight to the back of a very mediocre Rockies bullpen. As of now, he's one of two lefty set-up men with Jake McGee behind closer Adam Ottavino, but a games-finished clause in Dunn's contract makes it clear that Ottavino's role as closer is not set in stone. After pitching in at least 72 games four times in five years from 2011-2015, but a forearm strain caused him to miss the first two months of the 2016 season. Still, over 51 appearances, he put up a 3.40 ERA, a 1.28 WHIP, and a 38/11 strikeout to walk ratio in 42.1 innings. Throughout his career, he's held left handed hitters and right handed hitters to similar batting averages, so he's not just a left handed one out guy (LOOGY), and that's why the Rockies think he can close. For his career, the Las Vegas native is 28-25 with a 3.54 ERA and a 1.36 WHIP over 434 appearances.
Dodgers Bring Back Kenley Jansen
With the Dodger's resigning of Kenley Jansen for five years and $80 million, the last of the "big three" closers has signed, after Mark Melancon and Aroldis Chapman signed with the Giants and Yankees, respectively. On the strength of the nastiest cutter since Mariano Rivera, Jansen has established himself as arguably baseball's best closer (a distinction disputed by Andrew Miller, Zach Britton, Aroldis Chapman, and Mark Melancon), posting a WHIP above 0.85 just once in the past five seasons. Last year may have been Jansen's best, as he set career bests in ERA (1.83), WHIP (0.67), and saves (47). Opponents batted just .150 against him, striking out 104 times in 68.2 innings while walking just 11 times. He allowed just 35 hits (and 48 total baserunners when you add in 11 walks and 2 hit batsmen) over those 68.2 innings. In Game Five of the NLDS against the Nationals, he showed his value by pitching 2.1 shutout innings on 51 pitches before handing the ball to "closer" Clayton Kershaw. In case you're wondering, yes, it was painful to watch. He did it again with three perfect innings in Game Six of the NLCS against the Cubs, but the Dodgers were already losing 5-0 when he came in. For his career, the Curacao native is 19-13 with a 2.20 ERA, a 0.89 WHIP (!), and 189 saves over 409 appearances, all with the Dodgers.
Stories Behind the Stars: Albert Pujols
From 2001-2010, Albert Pujols was the greatest player in baseball. Not even Alex Rodriguez could match the unbelievable numbers he was putting up. In each of his first ten seasons, he finished with no fewer than 32 home runs, 103 RBI, 99 runs scored, and 33 doubles, while his batting average never dipped below .312, his on-base percentage below .394, or his slugging percentage below .561. However, until he reached the minor leagues in 1999, the road to success wasn't very straight. Born in the Dominican Republic, he often had to bring his alcoholic father home from softball games. He and his family migrated to New York in 1996, when he was 16, but after witnessing a shooting at a grocery store just two months in, they moved again to Independence, Missouri, right outside Kansas City. As a senior at Fort Osage High School, he looked older, and opposing coaches walked him 55 times in 88 plate appearances in protest. Still, just in those 33 at bats, he crushed eight home runs. He received a baseball scholarship from Maple Wood Junior College in Kansas City, where he hit .461 with 22 home runs as a freshman in 1999.
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Even at the junior college level, that should be enough to get you drafted in the first couple of rounds, right? Wrong. Scouts saw his tremendous ability, but doubts about his age, thick build, future position, and signability scared teams off. A couple of scouts, most notably Red Sox scout Ernie Jacobs and Devil Rays scout Fernando Arango, saw something special in the kid whose home runs sounded like thunderclaps, but they couldn't convince their teams to sign the guy. Pujols actually had a tryout with the Devil Rays in Tropicana Field, and after he crushed balls all over the park, the team's brass still failed to show interest. When the Cardinals drafted Pujols in the thirteenth round, 402nd overall, Arango quit his job with the Devil Rays, having told the higher-ups that Pujols would one day hit 40 home runs in a season.
It didn't take long for Pujols to make the other 29 teams look dumb. He started the 2000 season with Class A Peoria, where he batted .324 with 17 home runs and 32 doubles in 109 games, earning a promotion to High Class A Potomac. There, he hit .284 with a pair of home runs and eight doubles in 21 games, and he was promoted all the way to AAA Memphis, where he played his final three games of the season, batting .214. At this point, just a year after the 1999 draft, it was apparent that Pujols should have gone at least ten rounds higher. Pujols would would make the case that he was better than the draft's "Big Two" Josh Hamilton (first overall, Devil Rays) and Josh Beckett (second overall, Marlins). In 161 games as a 21 year old rookie for the Cardinals, he hit .329 with 37 home runs, 130 RBI, and 47 doubles, and he wouldn't slow down for a full decade. On September 10th, 2003, he hit home run number 40 of the season, and he promptly called Arango. Pujols would reach 40 home runs again in 2004, 2005, 2006, 2009, 2010, and 2015, winning NL MVP awards in '05, '08, and '09. That 2003 season turned out to be one of the greatest in the history of baseball, as he batted .359 with 43 home runs, 124 RBI, 137 runs scored, 51 doubles, and just 65 strikeouts in 157 games. Now, it's safe to say that Pujols is not only the greatest player to come out of the 1999 draft, but the greatest to come out of any subsequent draft aside from 2009 (Mike Trout).
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