Draft Eve: Baseball Christmas in June

by John Sickels on Jun 5, 2025 6:00 PM EDT

(Getty)

Twas the night before Draft Day
And all through the War Room
Not a laptop was silent
Will your farm system bloom?

Scouting reports were piled
On the tables with care
Though your owner did fear
Boras soon would be there

Our plan for draft day is as follows: I will have a Prospect of the Day as usual tomorrow, but the rest of the day will be devoted to draft discussion. I may or may not have one final mock draft. An SBNation Draft Preview with small capsules for 40 possible first-round picks will be posted at Baseball Nation, but my plan is to keep an active discussion going here most of the day.

During the draft itself, I will provide summaries of each pick as they are made at Baseball Nation, while posting more of an opinion-oriented reaction snapshot here. It will be a busy day! It will be a blast.

Use this thread to complete the poem I started above, or just talk about the draft, or spread rumor and innuendo.

Tweet Comment 55 comments | 2 recs |

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I'm ridiculously excited

Looking forward to discussing all of it tomorrow, particularly with all of the knowledgable readers here.

I plan on getting up a draft post on Beyond the Box Score tonight or tomorrow, looking at who I think each team should select in Round 1.

Yes, my real name is actually Satchel.
I'm a columnist for Beyond the Box Score, an SB Nation blog.
Oh, I'm on Twitter, too.

by Satchel Price on Jun 5, 2025 6:09 PM EDT via mobile reply actions

So very excited

The pitchers I want in an order of the greatest want to the least:
A. Bradley, Sonny Gray, Taylor Guerrieri, Matt Barnes

and position players in the same order:
George Springer, Francisco Lindor, Javier Baez, Blake Swihart

That is my wish list for draft-mas. Make it happen, Seid Claus!

by ilikeburritos on Jun 5, 2025 6:19 PM EDT reply actions

Tomorrow should be great. Bruins game and the MLB draft, couldn’t ask for anything more.

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by Marisa Ingemi on Jun 5, 2025 6:48 PM EDT reply actions

Brewers draft

Will the Brewers wind up with either Lindor or Baez or somehow both with 12 and 15. The list of players Im hoping we wind up with in round one are Archie Bradley, Lindor, Baez, Guerrieri, and Sonny Gray. I will be very disappointed with Jungman, Jed Bradley, Springer, Mahtook or Barnes.

by bklynbrewcrew on Jun 5, 2025 7:02 PM EDT reply actions

Seems like we're mostly on the same page

except for our points of view on Springer and Barnes

by ilikeburritos on Jun 5, 2025 7:05 PM EDT up reply actions

Brewers

I want high ceiling players and I just dont see Barnes as having a high ceiling. As for Springer he is a great athlete but I really question whether he will hit enough. I also question any player who has played in a weak conference like the Big East and not absolutely dominated.

The high school guys that will possibly be available all have tremendously high ceilings and that is what this franchise needs badly. We need less 22-24 yr olds in A ball. This draft is incredibly important as the last two drafts are looking pretty bad so far outside of Thornburg who needs to be challenged at a higher level.

by bklynbrewcrew on Jun 5, 2025 7:21 PM EDT up reply actions

I feel like a little kid on Christmas Eve

Don’t even think I’ll do too well sleeping thinking about all the gifts I may get tomorrow night.

That said, rumours of the Jays looking at a low ceiling player like Levi Michael is sort of hurting my buzz.

by 4dizzle on Jun 5, 2025 7:24 PM EDT reply actions

If there is one thing we’ve learned the past year, it’s don’t believe the rumors that involve the Jays as they are not true.

by Sniderlover on Jun 5, 2025 7:26 PM EDT up reply actions

A's draft probably as boring as it gets but .....

one can hope they make a splash.

1st round hopes go like this George Springer, Josh Bell, Daniel Norris, Henry Owens
3rd round hopes Jack Armstrong Jr, Dante Bichette Jr., Kevin Cron, Mason Hope
4rd round Nick Maronde or Brett Mooneyham
5 round Bobby Crocker
6th round Harold Martinez

I would be estatic if they came away with a number of these guys over the next few days.

by Bud Light on Jun 5, 2025 7:26 PM EDT reply actions

Would love to see BB go after Josh ($$$) Bell if he is still there. I know… HS

Bring back the Pac-10!!!

by calas on Jun 5, 2025 9:19 PM EDT up reply actions

continuing the poem

Owner and fan
General Manager and Coach
Established their wish lists
As draft day approached

Frank McCourt counted pennies
The Wilpons as well
Hoping for good prospects
Despite their financial hell

The Rays management drank
They hung out and relaxed
For however they drafted
Their system was stacked

At last draft day cames
The clock chimes did toll
Who would go first
Hultzen, Rendon, or Cole?

And There at the podium
Bud Selig stood tall
To welcome new prospects
to Major League Baseball

by lomo45 on Jun 5, 2025 7:28 PM EDT reply actions 10 recs

that should say “came” not cames

by lomo45 on Jun 5, 2025 7:29 PM EDT up reply actions

+1

excellent!!

by John Sickels on Jun 5, 2025 8:54 PM EDT up reply actions

You should make lomo45 the Poet Laureate of Minor League Ball

__________________________________________________
"He who gets the best players usually wins" - Bobby Bowden

by Russ on Jun 6, 2025 11:15 AM EDT up reply actions

Tigers fan here

I just keep repeating:

I love Victor Martinez . . .
I love Victor Martinez . . .
I love Victor Martinez . . .
I love Victor Martinez . . .
I love Victor Martinez . . .
I love Victor Martinez . . .
I love Victor Martinez . . .

The one constant through all the years, Ray, has been baseball. It reminds us of all that once was good, and that could be again.

by Savoy on Jun 5, 2025 8:02 PM EDT reply actions 1 recs

What time does it start tomorrow?

Hope it’s not during school.

by jackyz on Jun 5, 2025 8:19 PM EDT reply actions

7pm

In Lax We Trust - Official Pro Lacrosse Blog of SBN
Inside Hockey - NHL Analyst
Minor League Ball - Minor League Baseball Analyst

by Marisa Ingemi on Jun 5, 2025 8:22 PM EDT up reply actions

Oh thank you!

That’s Eastern, right?

by jackyz on Jun 5, 2025 8:31 PM EDT up reply actions

yes it is.

In Lax We Trust - Official Pro Lacrosse Blog of SBN
Inside Hockey - NHL Analyst
Minor League Ball - Minor League Baseball Analyst

by Marisa Ingemi on Jun 5, 2025 8:35 PM EDT up reply actions

First draft I've ever really paid attention to

can’t wait!

>mfw

by MonkeyEpoxy on Jun 5, 2025 8:31 PM EDT reply actions

yea

This is my first time I actually took time and read stuff about possible picks. I’m really excited

by Braves24 on Jun 6, 2025 12:10 AM EDT up reply actions

This will be my third year following the draft

and this is one is by far my favorite so far

by pack_fan on Jun 6, 2025 12:17 AM EDT up reply actions

yeah about the same as pack_fan

although I have the Twins’ drafts 1st , 2nd rounds and some 3rd rounders memorized back to 1999

Glen Perkins is throwing 97 MPH in 2011 !!! ~Currently on the DL~

Big fan of Juerys Familia and his repitoire

by SteveHoffmanSlowey on Jun 7, 2025 2:22 AM EDT up reply actions

Me neither

Been following this since last summer

by CaptainCanuck on Jun 6, 2025 3:53 AM EDT via mobile up reply actions

If the Astros are really planning to draft Chris Reed at #11 like Frankie Piliere said

then I’m about as unexcited as you can get.

"Every time you go to that cook-off you get drunk as a poet on payday!"

by DrewRusse on Jun 5, 2025 8:47 PM EDT reply actions

I don't think that one was true

Frankie tweeted later yesterday saying that he’d heard directly from the team that it wasn’t true (though, admittedly, what else are they going to say?) and just a little while ago tweeted that they could very well take Taylor Jungmann.

by 4dizzle on Jun 5, 2025 9:09 PM EDT up reply actions

Good.

That one freaked me out a bit.

"Every time you go to that cook-off you get drunk as a poet on payday!"

by DrewRusse on Jun 5, 2025 9:23 PM EDT up reply actions

I’m sadly going to miss the draft. I’ve got class tomorrow night at around the same time.

"We are all agreed that your theory is crazy. The question that divides us is whether it is crazy enough to have a chance of being correct."
- Niels Bohr

by Frag on Jun 5, 2025 9:30 PM EDT reply actions

Time for a whole new man-crush tomorrow. Just gimme Rendon.

follow @casetines

by Kenneth Arthur on Jun 5, 2025 9:40 PM EDT reply actions

Me, I ain't hoping to avoid disappointment

by Ben Tumbling on Jun 5, 2025 9:45 PM EDT up reply actions

Someone convince

me its gonna be alright as a Pirates fan.

Da'Sean Butler - A Mountaineer Legend

by McCutchenIsTheTruth on Jun 5, 2025 10:12 PM EDT reply actions

Don't think it will be

I heard that the reason the Chris Reed/Astros thing fell apart is that the Pirates have a pre-draft deal to take him at #1.

by 4dizzle on Jun 5, 2025 10:24 PM EDT up reply actions

I wish I could.

by mr. maniac on Jun 5, 2025 10:39 PM EDT up reply actions

Here you go

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Tgf4zq0bi_w

by Ben Tumbling on Jun 5, 2025 10:45 PM EDT up reply actions

As a fellow, long-suffering, Pirates fan (I'm 45)...

…I so badly want the Pirates to take Hultzen, not Cole. I know Cole has the stuff but his slight decline on his fastball lately has me worried about his durability for the long haul. Hultzen is more polished and ready to be in the majors sooner. I think at this point it is down to those 2. Rendon goes to Seattle and then depending on what the Pirates do, the rest of the draft will be very interesting. Summing it all up, I cannot tell you it’s going to be alright until 5 years from now to see if all these picks lately add up to a winning record in the majors…

by rblythepittsteel on Jun 6, 2025 11:09 AM EDT up reply actions

I hate to say it but.............

I think they are gonna screw this one up too. If they take Cole it will be a huge mistake in my opinion. I think it should be Rendon but Cole will be a reach I think.

by emoofb on Jun 5, 2025 10:24 PM EDT reply actions

to me, the only argument for not taking Rendon

is if your med folks absolutely nix it. Other than that, he seems like a no-brainer to me.

by AndrewTorrez on Jun 5, 2025 11:03 PM EDT up reply actions

I'd probably go Rendon too

but Cole is not a “reach”

by pack_fan on Jun 6, 2025 12:06 AM EDT up reply actions

All of the experts are ranking Cole in the top 3 of available talents

Would be FAR from a “reach” to get him. KLaw has Cole ranked #1.

by guru4u on Jun 6, 2025 10:17 AM EDT up reply actions

I still think some how some ways the Rays will end up going really heavy on arms early on

but AT got me really excited at the prospect of having the stars align to really boost the positional depth.

by Dbullsfan on Jun 6, 2025 12:33 AM EDT reply actions

Not saying you're right or wrong

But just looking at his roster, Andrew Friedman knows that good pitching can be gotten from later rounds

James Shields (16th)
Jeremy Hellickson (4th)
Alex Cobb (4th)
Wade Davis (3rd)
Jake McGee (5th)
Matthew Moore (8th)

by Ben Tumbling on Jun 6, 2025 12:43 AM EDT up reply actions

If they heavy on arms just to go heavy on arms I will be "sad"

I'm not sure if you're serious...If you are, the reasons are simple:
1) Dutton’s xBABIP has to be input by hand, so it takes a long time to calculate.
2) I do this for free.

by BWoodrum

by SRQman on Jun 6, 2025 1:18 AM EDT up reply actions

Kyle Winkler left in the first inning with an arm injury. He was seen later on with his arm in a sling.

Adoptive father of 18th round draft pick and future ace, BRANDON ALLEN

by Nnamdi Asomugha on Jun 6, 2025 3:39 AM EDT reply actions

The best part will be when a team takes the first non-consensus pick

A la the Cubs last year with Simpson.

It is hilarious watching fans freak out.

by deezle on Jun 6, 2025 7:49 AM EDT reply actions

And now a duet by Stuart Sternberg and Rebecca Black

Seven p.m., getting set in the evening
Gotta be fresh, gotta go downstairs
Gotta have my Bell, gotta have C.J. Cron
Seein’ everything, draft clock is goin’
Tickin’ on and on, everybody’s pickin’
Gotta get down to the draft room
Gotta make our pick, I see my staff (my staff)

Friedman in the front seat
R.J. in the back seat
Gotta make their mind up
Which guy should we take?

It’s draft day, draft day
Gotta make picks on draft day
Everybody’s lookin’ forward to the supp round, supp round
Draft day, draft day
Makin’ picks on draft day
Everybody’s lookin’ forward to the supp round

Hudson Boyd, Hudson Boyd (yeah!)
Kolten Wong, Kolten Wong (yeah!)
Fun, fun, fun, fun
Lookin’ forward to the supp round

7:45, teams makin’ all their draft picks
Cruisin’ so fast, I want time to fly
Picks, picks, think about picks
You know what it is
I got this, you got this
My friend is by my right, ay
I got this, you got this
Now you know it

Friedman in the front seat
R.J. in the back seat
Gotta make their mind up
Which pick should we make?

Hudson Boyd, Hudson Boyd (yeah!)
Kolten Wong, Kolten Wong (yeah!)
Fun, fun, fun, fun
Lookin’ forward to the supp round

Yesterday was Sunday, Sunday
Today i-is day one, day one
We-we-we so excited
We so excited
We gonna make some picks today

Tomorrow is day two
And day three comes afterwards
I don’t want this drafting to end

Vroom vroom party starter
www.raysprospects.com

by Imperialism32 on Jun 6, 2025 8:51 AM EDT reply actions 4 recs

Awesome!

And sad. LOL

Good job!

by Ryno1984 on Jun 6, 2025 1:09 PM EDT up reply actions

Jonathan Mayo has confirmed that the Pirates will select Gerrit Cole

by ilikeburritos on Jun 6, 2025 9:04 AM EDT reply actions

and the link:

http://mlb.mlb.com/news/article.jsp?ymd=20110606&content_id=20105380&vkey=draftcentral2010&partnerId=aw-5586877784181773940-996

by ilikeburritos on Jun 6, 2025 9:06 AM EDT up reply actions

I like the pick

Too many on this message board (and others) are confusing stats with projection. College stats do not translate well to pro ball at all. I’m glad to see the Pirates are trusting their scouts.

So I assume now the Mariners pop Rendon #2, DBacks take Hultzen #3 and the Orioles take Bundy #4. Does KC go Bauer #5 then?

by guru4u on Jun 6, 2025 10:21 AM EDT up reply actions

Yeah - why in the world would you want to put any stake on what they actually do on the field

by emoofb on Jun 6, 2025 10:46 AM EDT up reply actions

?

So you’d trust stats against inferior competition? Your comment makes no sense whatsoever. You’d see some HS kid who batted .750 against kids that will never even play college ball go first overall in your scenario.

I’m sure you are the guy that passes on guys like Verlander in the draft because the stats weren’t so good.

by guru4u on Jun 6, 2025 2:56 PM EDT up reply actions

Via

mlbbonusbaby.com

from Chris Crawford over at MLB Draft Insider from this chat

10:47 First, a few things — A very, very good source is telling me that the Lindor to Seattle stuff is very legit, and at this point, I’d be surprised if he’s not the pick.

Seems Rendon’s injury may actually be a big concern, at least more than just to the Pirates.

Da'Sean Butler - A Mountaineer Legend

by McCutchenIsTheTruth on Jun 6, 2025 10:00 AM EDT reply actions

Latest Mock on MLB BB

has Hultzen dropping to KC at 5. Interesting.

Scouting the Royals
Royals Prospects

by 306008 on Jun 6, 2025 11:10 AM EDT reply actions

Interesting but...

…Pirates could still take Hultzen at #1. I believe at this point it is down to Cole and Hultzen at #1 (not Rendon). I’m taking Hultzen if I’m selecting but unfortunately I’m not.

by rblythepittsteel on Jun 6, 2025 11:12 AM EDT up reply actions