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Jonathan Mayo's latest mock draft

Jonathan Mayo has his latest mock draft up. There are some notable mid-round changes.

12. Kansas City Royals: Kyle Gibson, RHP, University of Missori
Normally, the Royals would probably be ecstatic for Gibson to be available here and not just because it'd be a "backyard" pick. But Gibson had two straight starts of dropped velocity, throwing a reported 82-87 mph in his regional win last weekend. He was quoted as saying that it was just some forearm tightness caused by the long season. The alarm bells you're hearing are that baseball folk will make a quick leap from "forearm tightness" to an elbow problem. If he can get the medical question answered, this is a good spot for him. If not, he could keep sliding. As a backup, there was word that North Carolina high schooler Wil Myers had impressed recently in a workout.
Last week's projection: Tony Sanchez

13. Oakland A's: Tanner Scheppers, RHP, St. Paul Saints
Speaking of medical questions, whether the one about Sheppers' shoulder can be answered will determine where the big right-hander goes. He's thrown very well this spring and to most who have seen him, he looks just fine. What team doctors say is a different story and Scheppers is planning on meeting with some teams individually for examinations. Some teams have already passed on him, but the A's are still studying it carefully. Stuff-wise, he belongs higher.
Last week's projection: White

14. Texas Rangers: Shelby Miller, RHP, Brownwood HS, Texas
Last week, it appeared like Miller might go above this spot, leaving the Rangers with the option of taking Purke and dealing with that potential signability issue. It's not that Purke is completely out of the question, but as mentioned last week, the Rangers have been on Miller all along.
Last week's projection: Purke

15. Cleveland Indians: Eric Arnett, RHP, Indiana University
Without one of the better high school arms making it down here, it's looking like the college-pitcher angle will play well here. The Indians were at Arnett's regional start en force and they liked how the big right-hander competed. He's a good athlete with great makeup who will sign quickly, something that works in his favor.
Last week's projection: Brothers

 

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Draft Notes

Jun 2009 from Royals Review - 45 comments

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My biggest question is with Tate. If he’s not at #3 How far down the board is he dropping?

by dogdays on Jun 5, 2025 2:13 PM EDT reply reply actions actions   0 recs

he's out of the 1st round on mayo's board.

i don’t always trust them. but he has to have some fairly legit connections. i think Tate is scaring people with asking price and UNC [+football].

by daveh33 on Jun 5, 2025 5:08 PM EDT to parent up reply reply actions actions   0 recs

Tate not making it past Oakland

All teams just need to man up.. offer slot and get a pick in next years draft (which may be better and no worse) if they do not take it.

by novaoakland on Jun 5, 2025 10:58 PM EDT to parent up reply reply actions actions   0 recs

Draft Chat Now

Doug and I over at First Inning are doing a draft chat right now.

MLB Bonus Baby - A Draft Blog - Author
First Inning - Amateur Draft Contributor

by Andy Seiler on Jun 5, 2025 3:02 PM EDT reply reply actions actions   0 recs

Tyler Cannon

Anyone have any thoughts on him or where he’s slated to go? I’ve been watching UVA in the CWS quite a bit the last week or so (tough loss today). Not many upper classmen, but he is one. He looks to have decent range and enough arm strength, although he may be more of a 2nd baseman.

by toonsterwu on Jun 5, 2025 11:20 PM EDT reply reply actions actions   0 recs

He's not supposed to go early.

Definitely squarely in the second day, maybe in the 8-10 round range, maybe a little later. Like you said, he won’t stick at short, but I don’t think he’s a second baseman, either.

MLB Bonus Baby - A Draft Blog - Author
First Inning - Amateur Draft Contributor

by Andy Seiler on Jun 6, 2025 5:31 AM EDT to parent up reply reply actions actions   0 recs

you don't think he's a possible 2nd base option?

just curious, is that for offensive or defensive reasons (assuming defensive). I’ve seen him off and on throughout his collegiate career and, physically, it always seemed possible. His bat wouldn’t really fit in the OF, unless it’s CF, and I’m not sure he’s a CF. I always assumed it’d be 2nd or bust for him in the pros.

by toonsterwu on Jun 6, 2025 6:19 AM EDT to parent up reply reply actions actions   0 recs

Third.

He’s not quick enough to play up the middle. And I’m not too sure of his pivot. There’s been some talk of him converting him to catcher if I remember correctly.

MLB Bonus Baby - A Draft Blog - Author
First Inning - Amateur Draft Contributor

by Andy Seiler on Jun 6, 2025 6:29 AM EDT to parent up reply reply actions actions   0 recs

ugh

don’t think he has the bat/power for 3rd. I like the kid, though, so here’s hoping if you are right.

by toonsterwu on Jun 6, 2025 8:23 AM EDT to parent up reply reply actions actions   0 recs

AJ Pollock

Okay, been having this discussion in several places. Seems to be popping up on the Cubs radar, which is why I’m interested. Someone sell me on why AJ Pollock might be tthat good to justify grabbing in the first for a system, like the Cubs, that has plenty of holes in it. I’m just not sure I see it, but he is getting connected to them. I just feel like, without getting into a wall of text, that you can find similar talents later, so I wouldn’t want to spend on a Pollock high for the Cubs. Add in the Cubs lack of high impact talent, and I just don’t see it.

by toonsterwu on Jun 6, 2025 11:48 AM EDT reply reply actions actions   0 recs

He's not just connected to the Cubs in the first.

He’s in the discussion starting with the Mariners at #27, and he’s been heavily connected to the Rockies at #32.

As for the tools, he’s got an above-average hit tool, is an above-average runner, and he can play center field. Not just a fringy center field, either. He’s got decent pop, but it’s probably closer to the average side. If you want to know what kind of damage he can do, just look at what he did on the Cape last summer. He had the best results of any hitter. In other words, there’s really nothing bad about him. In a class that has tons of question marks, Pollock’s a pretty safe pick. He has risk like any other draft pick, but his risk is less than most. He can be a Major League center fielder in a relatively short period of time, and I wouldn’t be surprised to see him as a .300+ hitter in his prime with good-enough pop (think 15-20 homers in his prime). If he works the entire field, which he can, he can probably rack up a number of doubles. That’s pretty good value. It’s just not high-end talent, which you can’t really expect at #31, especially with the Red Sox and Yankees probably nabbing the last of the high-end talent that has signability issues.

MLB Bonus Baby - A Draft Blog - Author
First Inning - Amateur Draft Contributor

by Andy Seiler on Jun 6, 2025 11:55 AM EDT to parent up reply reply actions actions   0 recs

if he's a 15-20 homer guy

The guy you wrote about is basically what people thought Ryan Flaherty has a chance to become last year at this time. If so, then that changes my opinion a bit to the point where I’d be okay with the pick, although there’s probably a lot of guys I would still prefer. I’d seen projections that suggested less power, and that would bother me.

by toonsterwu on Jun 6, 2025 12:06 PM EDT to parent up reply reply actions actions   0 recs

Well, like I said, it's 15-20 in his peak.

Not 15-20 every year from start to finish. The power’s not great from him. Just average for a starting Major League outfielder.

MLB Bonus Baby - A Draft Blog - Author
First Inning - Amateur Draft Contributor

by Andy Seiler on Jun 6, 2025 12:18 PM EDT to parent up reply reply actions actions   0 recs


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