2010 Supplemental First Round Update
2010 Supplemental First Round Update
Per reader request, here is an update on supplemental first round picks who have signed. As with the first rounders yesterday, the sample sizes are small and conclusions are dangerous to draw at this stage, but the information is provided for your convenience.
Mike Kvasnicka, 3B, Astros: Hitting .179/.276/.264 in 29 games for Tri-City in the New York-Penn League, 15 walks, 23 strikeouts in 106 at-bats. Splitting time between third base, catcher, and outfield, data set too small to draw conclusions at any position. I wonder if all the position switching could be impacting his hitting; it would be interesting to see a breakdown of how he's hitting when playing each position, but I don't have that data.
Aaron Sanchez, RHP, Blue Jays: Pitched in one game so far for GCL Jays, 1.2 innings, three hits, two runs, two strikeouts. Strikeouts are nice to see. At this point he's just getting used to pro ball.
Matt Lipka, SS, Braves: Hitting .333/.394/.411 in 22 games for the GCL Braves, eight steals in 10 attempts, eight walks, seven strikeouts in 90 at-bats. Impressive hitting so far, not much isolated power, but lots of speed and an even BB/K ratio. Error-prone on defense so far, eight miscues in 19 games.
Bryce Brentz, OF, Red Sox: Hitting .150/.224/.257 in 30 games in the New York-Penn League, 10 walks, 38 strikeouts in 113 at-bats. This is pretty ugly; serious problems with plate discipline and contact so far against professional pitching. Too early to panic...but some concern is warranted.
Taylor Lindsey, SS, Angels: Hitting .253/.269/.347 in 16 games for the AZL Angels, two walks, 15 strikeouts in 75 at-bats. I hate the BB/K ratio. He's stolen five bases in six attempts, which is good, but the bat looks pretty raw on paper at least. Has switched over to second base with decent results thus far.
Noah Syndergaard, RHP, Blue Jays: Four innings so far for the GCL Jays, four hits, one run, one walk, two strikeouts. 8.00 GO/AO ratio is interesting even in such a small sample size.
Ryan Bolden, OF, Angels: .145/.266/.218 in 16 games for the AZL Angels, six walks, 31 strikeouts in 55 at-bats. I know it is rookie ball and just 16 games. But....31 strikeouts in 55 at-bats? That's beyond ugly. Bolden clearly has a huge amount of work to do bringing his bat up to professional standards. Sort of takes raw tools to an extreme.
Asher Wojciechowski, RHP, Blue Jays: 12 innings for Auburn in the New York-Penn League, 11/4 K/BB, six hits, one run. Impressive performance in a small sample. He hasn't pitched since July 2nd but he's just been shut down to limit his innings after a large college workload, no injury involved.
Taijuan Walker, RHP, Mariners: Four innings for the AZL Mariners, one hit, two unearned runs, two walks, six strikeouts. Miniscule sample but nothing to complain about.
Mike Olt, 3B, Rangers: Hitting .288/.395/.490 in 28 games for Spokane in the Northwest League, 17 walks, 27 strikeouts in 104 at-bats. Quite solid numbers, though not spectacular. High walk rate, but strikeouts also high. Defense at third OK, error rate higher than ideal but sample is small.
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I've only actually seen Brentz play one game so far.
But I have to say, the guy was swinging at absolutely everything thrown to him. Struck out on a pitch very down and very away. One of those jobs where you have to look like an idiot throwing your body across the zone to make contact…And then don’t.
USG
by Ben Buchanan on Jul 21, 2025 11:04 AM EDT reply actions
That’s surprising to me, but it just goes to show you that drafting is such an inexact science. I thought Brentz might have struggles with the Ks, but not be utterly inept at actually hittng the ball. Of course, it’s such a SSS and a lot of it might just be nerves and trying to impress too much. The other guy that really surprises me (in a disappointing way) is Mike Kvasnicka. I thought he was a much more posished hitter than that.
"There ain’t much to being a ballplayer, if you’re a ballplayer." - Honus Wagner
by Fla-Giant on Jul 21, 2025 11:20 AM EDT up reply actions
Not worried about Kvasnicka
As John said, he has a lot on his plate in terms of playing three very different positions and trying to learn third base. His strikeout rate is only 19% with a walk rate of 12% so I suspect a lot of his struggles are luck-based.
I know minor league batted ball data isn’t reliable, but I’m also seeing a 26% line drive rate, which suggests to me that he’s definitely being bit by some bad luck/good defense.
by OremLK on Jul 21, 2025 11:45 AM EDT up reply actions
If it's unreliable (and it is), how can you definitively label it bad luck?
by jar75 on Jul 21, 2025 1:29 PM EDT up reply actions
Meant to add
“…if that’s accurate, it suggests to me…” Sorry.
by OremLK on Jul 21, 2025 2:04 PM EDT up reply actions
Yeah, I didn’t mean to imply that there was anything worrisome so early in his season. I was just saying that he was a guy that I thought would take to ss-A ball without a hiccup.
"There ain’t much to being a ballplayer, if you’re a ballplayer." - Honus Wagner
by Fla-Giant on Jul 21, 2025 10:06 PM EDT up reply actions
Speaking as a Gopher fan, Kvasnicka always struck as being pretty streaky (unlike McCallum last year), though I’ve never actually looked through any data to back this up.
by J. Michael Neal on Jul 23, 2025 11:10 AM EDT up reply actions
I'm not very high on Brentz
Think he got overrated because of his video game numbers as a sophomore.
by jar75 on Jul 21, 2025 11:35 AM EDT up reply actions
thanks John
Great job, as usual, putting all of this togehter and making it easy on us minor league ball fans.
"There ain’t much to being a ballplayer, if you’re a ballplayer." - Honus Wagner
by Fla-Giant on Jul 21, 2025 11:21 AM EDT reply actions
+1
Thanks very much, John. Much appreciated.
by robertgold on Jul 21, 2025 11:34 AM EDT up reply actions
Olt's defense
should be solid. If there’s any aspect of his game that’s consistently underrated it’s his defense. Very good actions (his footwork is ideal) and a good arm. I think any poor early returns will correct themselves. The power numbers and walks seem to be in line with his ability. I still consider him a sleeper to be an every day player — though perhaps not as a Ranger and not for some time — a la Gyorko.
by blackoutyears on Jul 21, 2025 1:32 PM EDT reply actions
I was super high on Olt leading up to the draft
Excellent pick by the Rangers.
by OremLK on Jul 21, 2025 2:05 PM EDT up reply actions
He seemed to divide scouts
but I liked what I saw for the most part. I think he made some adjustments as the season went on, and I think people will be surprised by the solid D. And yeah, I seem to remember you being in his corner. You had a lot of good opinions on the draft.
by blackoutyears on Jul 21, 2025 3:29 PM EDT up reply actions
Kvasnicka per minorleaguesplits.com
C: .250/.250/.400 HR 0/3 BB/K
3B: .091/.205/.091 5/4 BB/K
RF: .186/.308/.302 2 2B HR 8/13 BB/K
DH: .300/.364/.400 2B 1/3 BB/K
http://bullpenbanter.com
by gatling on Jul 21, 2025 2:34 PM EDT reply actions
forgot
I forgot they had that data. Thanks gatling
by John Sickels on Jul 21, 2025 4:33 PM EDT up reply actions
Was just getting ready to do that
Glad I scanned replies first, thanks…
by killa on Jul 21, 2025 7:20 PM EDT up reply actions
Lipka
what kind of grade would you give him after his performance so far? Do you think he can stick at SS or will he have to move?
by braves32 on Jul 21, 2025 2:51 PM EDT reply actions
I'm not John
But I’ll say a B- maybe a solid B if he shows more power and improved D by the end of the season.
by Jay212033 on Jul 21, 2025 3:55 PM EDT up reply actions
lipka
Much too early to say for sure. . .but B- sounds about right
by John Sickels on Jul 21, 2025 4:34 PM EDT up reply actions
Hey John would Walker make your mariners top 20?
…they should send down Huntington & Nutting, because they aren’t ready, either. - royshowell
by Marinerfanjake on Jul 21, 2025 3:18 PM EDT reply actions
walker
Perhaps. Would depend on what other guys in the system are doing and i haven’t reviewed that lately
by John Sickels on Jul 21, 2025 4:34 PM EDT up reply actions
He's basically all projection at the moment but still carries a lot of risk.
I agree with JY from USSM and Mariner Minors. Walker has gotten into baseball late in his life. While that may mean his arm is more “fresh”, it also means he hasn’t had the years of development of command and control and developing anything resembling secondary stuff. He’s about as raw as fresh otoro sushi and has the upside of being just as tasty.
Of course, he could also give you food poisoning and… where the hell am I going with this analogy?
Fans are typically idiots.
by The Typical Idiot Fan on Jul 21, 2025 5:56 PM EDT up reply actions
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