Discussion: Draft Sleepers for 2009
by John Sickels on May 19, 2009 7:00 AM EDT
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PrintAs the draft approaches, we will be focusing mostly on that for a few weeks. We'll continue to do Hit-and-Runs about regular stuff going on in the minors and majors, but other posts will tend to be draft-oriented.
I'm still trying to finish up some draft research, but I want to get the discussion started before I begin presenting you some material. Today I want to talk about draft sleepers that YOU guys like, guys who aren't being talked about as top round picks, but who look like they could be good choices in the middle rounds or later as sleepers.
Who do you like? They are easier to idenfity at the college level than at the high school level, but if you have some high school names to share, please do so by all means.
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Kyle Seager
I might be stretching the definition of “sleeper” here — Seager was, after all, First Team preseason All-American and is a teammate of Dustin Ackley — but I don’t even hear this guy’s name mentioned in the first few rounds, and I can’ figure out why. He’s got very good control of the strike zone (38:28 BB:K this year, 84:82 for his career) and enough juice in his bat (.250 ISO last year, .187 this year) to think that it will hold.
I think of him as Reese Havens with a little less juice in his bat, and I’d be ecstatic if the Phillies popped him at either #75 or #106.
i'll go with another UNC guy
what about Brian Moran? i’ve heard he’s more impressive on the stat sheet than in person, but I don’t care. You can’t put up a 77:4 K:BB ratio without doing something right.
What is this, Horseville? Because I'm surrounded by naysayers.
+1
I was checking out UNC stats the other day to see how White was pitching and also checking on Ackley since he looks like he may be going to my Mariners. While there Moran’s numbers really caught my eye and I was wondering why he wasn’t getting more hype.
"My mom always taught me it's better to laugh at yourself than to laugh at others. She was so wrong. ;)" -Pedrophile
Canadians
Any Canadians that stick out in the draft, Paxton notwithstanding?
by ofsticksandbats on May 19, 2009 10:57 AM EDT reply actions
Jake Eliopoulos
Jake Eliopoulos a HS LHP from Ontario is ranked by Keith Law and PG as one of the top 100 draft prospects (#83 for Law, #89 for PG)
For a more extensive list check out Bob Elliott’s work.
CF Brett Nommensen, Eastern Illinois
Hitting .521 with a .619 OBA and 11 homers with just seven strikeouts. Hit .402/.518/.603 last year with 35 walks and 15 HBP, and was 18/26 in steals.
Stands just 5’10’’ and comes from a smaller school so he may get overlooked.
Relive Royals History at royalsretro.blogspot.com
Arizona
Preston Guilmet
I am beginning to lose patience
With my personal relations.
They are not deep
And they are not cheap.
W.H. Auden
by jimduquettesucked on May 19, 2009 1:07 PM EDT reply actions
where do people see
Dwight Childs and Dillon Baird going in this draft? How does Baird look defensively at 3B? How does Childs look at the plate?
What is this, Horseville? Because I'm surrounded by naysayers.
Brian Pearl
Draft-eligible soph. pitching in relief for the UW.
josh turley
LHP, Texarkana-Texas High
“sleeper” may not be the right term (was on team USA and the Rangers Area Code team) but hes going to be very good for someone…
Scout: He was a first-round pick right? Got a huge bonus?
KG: Oh yeah.
Scout: Well, he spent a lot of it on milkshakes.
-
Scout to KG: On Sandoval: "Man, that fat [expletive]-er can hit."
another one
slade heathcott- also from texarkana-texas high (no, i dont know them/am involved with their school) — only because he was hurt/ineligible for the majority of the year
but BA ranked him in the top 5 or so two way players in the darft in a recent ask BA
Scout: He was a first-round pick right? Got a huge bonus?
KG: Oh yeah.
Scout: Well, he spent a lot of it on milkshakes.
-
Scout to KG: On Sandoval: "Man, that fat [expletive]-er can hit."
by knockoutking on May 19, 2009 4:34 PM EDT up reply actions
Heathcott violated a zero tolerance alcohol policy.
Alcohol was in his presence, but he reportedly did not drink. He was suspended for the season.
Of course, I might be confusing him with someone else…
by NoNameOnCard on May 19, 2009 7:10 PM EDT up reply actions
damn
that’s so different from like every other high school kid.
or it is, in that he didn’t drink.
Founder of the Johnny Giavotella fan club.
def off there
blew out his knee last year (football), dislocated his shouder about halfway into the season diving for a ball (non-throwing shoulder i believe) — then was ineligible (academics) until their game last nite
Scout: He was a first-round pick right? Got a huge bonus?
KG: Oh yeah.
Scout: Well, he spent a lot of it on milkshakes.
-
Scout to KG: On Sandoval: "Man, that fat [expletive]-er can hit."
by knockoutking on May 20, 2009 12:17 PM EDT up reply actions
fwiw -- turley update:
last night, pitched a 1 hit shutout, won 3-0, outpiched c. cain (waxahachie), 13 k’s, threw 87-88
every report (from fans) ive read said that cain was VERY impressive (90-92 FB, 75-77 CB) but turley stole the show
also, looks like heathcott’s knee is ok (speed is back)
Scout: He was a first-round pick right? Got a huge bonus?
KG: Oh yeah.
Scout: Well, he spent a lot of it on milkshakes.
-
Scout to KG: On Sandoval: "Man, that fat [expletive]-er can hit."
by knockoutking on May 20, 2009 12:18 PM EDT up reply actions
Dan Mahoney, RHP, University of Connecticut
Dan Mahoney has an electric arm. 93-95 mph FB and a knee-buckling curveball. His command is a bit rough. He gives up more hits than you would expect, but I think a lot of that can be attributed to metal bats. Guys just stick their bats out over the plate and the ball rockets off of them because Mahoney is providing the power. I expect him to be a much better pro pitcher than a college pitcher.
Hmm...
There are a few guys whose supposed draft position seem to be all over the place. Here’s some pitchers:
RHP David Hale, Princeton
RHP Jeremy Toole, BYU
LHP Ashur Tolliver, Oklahoma City (guy has been listed all over the place)
LHP Josh Spence, Arizona State
Most people know about Spence’s success, but he’s more of a mid-round pro prospect.
Matt Lenski C Valpo
LH hitting senior catcher leading the horizon in hitting. Good defender as well.
Justin Schafer, SS UC Davis
Think Placido Polanco as ceiling with the bat, but at SS, solid defensively.
College Catcher
Carlos Ramirez, C (Arizona State University)
6’0’’ 220 lbs
Batted third or fourth all season for the Sun Devils. Hitting .344 with 12 2B and 17 HR. Good batting eye with 31BB to 42Ks.
Durable as Ramirez has started all 52 games for Arizona State. Good receiver with a slightly above average arm.
The strikeouts are very concerning.
The Pac 10 isn’t exactly a pitcher’s conference.
by Andy Seiler on May 19, 2009 11:22 PM EDT up reply actions
Erik Castro
He has put up some pretty good numbers while catching for Strausburg at SDSU.
Any Thoughts?
He'll be somewhere in the late teens to early twenties.
Some thought he’ll be moved to third base. At 6’3’’/210, that’s a distinct possibility.
Robert Stock
19 year old college junior, hitting 95 mph on the mound after utterly failing as a catcher. Some team is going to get a really good player when they draft this kid.
Jason Hagerty
Big kid from Miami. He got moved away from catcher because Yasmani Grandal is damn good but Hagerty is an excellent defensive catcher too. He also has some good pop and even some speed and has been improving every year.
Wouldn’t surprise me if he is a top 3 round pick this year. Probably should be a top 3 round pick.
Sleeper - Catcher for Tyler Matzek
Nolan Clark – PGC rated in top 250s nationally somewhere
this year – fielding (maxpreps)
fp 1.000 TC 154 PO 122 A 32 E 0 DP 2 PB 2 Division 1 Southern California – Capistrano Valley
As a Junior – led the league SCL in BA, RBI, OPS hit like 17 doubles gap to gap guy.
As a Senior- obp .424 and 8 ROE , no one will pitch to this kid. gets hit, take a lot of walks
batting – this year
Defensively very very good.
Craig Fritsch, RHP, Baylor
He’s a draft eligible sophomore with pretty poor numbers, but his stuff is way better than his numbers suggest.
At the Big 12 tournament yesterday, he showed the potential his stuff really has. In front of countless area scouts (and quite a few cross-checkers), Fritsch struck out 9 in 4.1 IP. He worked 94-96 with his fastball and hit 97.
His arm angle gives his curveball and change up unique looks. I like them both and think they could both become above average pitches. Both pitches have a chance to become plus.
He’s a classic example in the Scouting vs Stats argument. Has anyone else seen him pitch?
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