2012 Draft: Update on Ninth Round Picks
We continue this morning with the well-liked series of draft reviews, today with an update on players selected in the ninth round. By popular demand, I'll keep this going into the teen rounds to pick up the overslot draftees.
279) Daniel Minor, RHP, Houston Astros: Undersized (5-11, 190) below-slot college pitcher with decent stuff, 2.75 ERA with 48/10 K/BB in 59 innings for Greenville in the Appy League, 51 hits, 1.88 GO/AO. A nice start to his career.
280) L.J. Mazzilli, 2B, Minnesota Twins: Didn't sign, goes back to University of Connecticut for his senior year and attempt for larger bonus in 2013.
281) Jamodrick McGruder, 2B, Seattle Mariners: Slot bonus college second baseman, runs well, has some tools but undersized, splitting time between LF and 2B. Hitting .229/.349/.275 with 38 walks, 37 strikeouts in 236 at-bats for Everett in the Northwest League, 25-for-29 in steals. Speed/walk combo is useful but needs to show more pop.
282) Brady Wager, RHP, Baltimore Orioles: College pitcher with slightly below slot bonus, works with sinker/slider, 5.67 ERA with 24/10 K/BB in 33 innings between GCL Orioles and Aberdeen in the New York-Penn League, 1.67 GO/AO. Middle relief type.
283) Daniel Stumpf, LHP, Kansas City Royals: excellent so far, 1.55 ERA with 34/8 K/BB in 29 innings for Burlington in the Appy League, 20 hits, 1.79 GO/AO. Slot bonus for junior college pitcher, has good velocity, sleeper type.
284) Chadd Krist, C, Chicago Cubs: College senior, veteran catcher with good defensive rep, tiny bonus with no leverage, hitting .273/.335/.429 with 18 walks, 35 strikeouts in 198 at-bats between AZL and Peoria in the Midwest League. 27% of runners caught so far.
285) River Stevens, 2B, San Diego Padres: .241/.303/.282 with 15 walks, 22 strikeouts in 170 at-bats for Eugene in the NWL. Not much hitting yet, defense at second, short, and third has been mediocre. Below slot bonus for junior college guy.
286) D.J. Crumlich, SS, Pittsburgh Pirates: College senior with tiny bonus, hitting .286/.349/.374 with 19 walks, 43 strikeouts in 227 at-bats for State College in the NY-P. Good defense at second and third base, utility projection.
287) Nick Wittgren, RHP, Miami Marlins: Slot bonus for college pitcher, average velocity but deceptive and throws strikes, 1.26 ERA with 43/5 K/BB in 29 innings, 24 hits between Jamestown in the NY-P and Low-A Greensboro. Impressive so far, could be nice middle man.
288) Zach Jemiola, RHP, Colorado Rockies: Hammered in 7.2 innings (14 hits, 12 runs) for Grand Junction in the Pioneer League and hasn't pitched since mid-July. Slot bonus for high school pitcher, live arm but considered raw.
289) Dakota Bacus, RHP, Oakland Athletics: Slot bonus for college pitcher, 1.20 ERA with 35/5 K/BB in 30 innings, 12 hits for AZL Athletics. Too old for the competition, but he's done well and flashed plus stuff in college. Keep an eye on him.
290) Richie Rodriguez, 2B, New York Mets: Below slot bonus college infielder, hitting .122/.194/.153 with seven walks, 20 strikeouts in 98 at-bats for Brooklyn in the NYP. Decent glove but the bat has been awful. You get what you pay for with $10,000.
291) Micah Johnson, 2B, Chicago White Sox: Slot bonus for college infielder, has some tools, hitting .286/.372/.415 with 34 walks, 65 strikeouts, 19-for-25 in steals in 248 at-bats for Great Falls in the Pioneer League. Needs to cut back on the Ks but has sleeper potential.
292) Daniel Pigott, OF, Cincinnati Reds: Good college player but blah tools result in below-slot bonus. Hitting .323/.348/.460 for Billings in the Pioneer League, but with unattractive 3/22 BB/K ratio in 124 at-bats.
293) Jacob Lee, RHP, Cleveland Indians: 3.12 ERA with 47/12 K/BB in 43 innings for Mahoning Valley in the NY-P, 36 hits. Microscopic bonus (just $2,500, that seems really exploitive to me since he is an actual prospect and not just roster filler) but has pitched well this year, has a nice curve, and can get into the 90s.
294) Derek Self, RHP, Washington Nationals: Below slot college pitcher, solid in pro ball so far, 3.13 ERA with 24/8 K/BB in 32 innings for Auburn in the NY-P, 29 hits, 12 saves. Good fastball/cutter combination.
295) Jordan Leyland, 1B, Toronto Blue Jays: .235/.311/.348 with 14 walks, 30 strikeouts in 132 at-bats for Vancouver in the NWL and Bluefield in the Appy. Big power hitter at Azusa Pacific but hasn't hit in pro ball, small bonus guy of course.
296) Zach Bird, RHP, Los Angeles Dodgers: 4.54 ERA with 46/17 K/BB in 40 innings for the AZL Dodgers, 36 hits, 2.38 GO/AO. Slightly overslot bonus for high school arm. Projectable, K/IP and grounders point to potential. A major sleeper.
297) Michael Roth, LHP, Los Angeles Angels: 3.60 ERA with 19/8 K/BB in 20 innings for Orem in the Pioneer League, 20 hits, 2.70 GO/AO. Lefties hitting .179 against him. Very successful in college but small bonus since he throws 34 MPH. Future LOOGY.
298) Shilo McCall, OF, San Francisco Giants: Overslot high school outfielder from New Mexico, has power potential, .246/.366/.377 with 25 walks, 43 strikeouts in 138 at-bats for AZL Giants. Expected to be raw and he is.
299) Steven Schils, RHP, Atlanta Braves: Below slot college pitcher, throws hard but extremely raw, gave up on hit but nine walks and eight runs in three games (one inning pitched) for GCL Braves before being shut down in July.
300) Rowan Wick, C, St. Louis Cardinals: Below slot junior college catcher, good arm, power, athletic, extremely raw. .156/.233/.273 with five walks, 21 strikeouts in 77 at-bats for GCL Cardinals. Gave up 12 passed balls and four errors in 12 games behind the plate.
301) Mike Miller, SS, Boston Red Sox: .250/.330/.322 with 27 walks, 34 strikeouts in 236 at-bats for Lowell in the NY-P, 17-for-20 in steals. Decent defensive player, could be utility guy, effective stealer despite mediocre speed. Small bonus college guy.
302) Joey Rickard, OF, Tampa Bay Rays: Slot bonus college outfielder, runs well, good makeup, .296/.384/.396 with 14 walks, 25 strikeouts, 10-for-12 in steals in 159 at-bats for Hudson Valley in the NY-P. Fourth outfielder profile.
303) Jeff Gibbs, RHP, Arizona Diamondbacks: Below slot college pitcher, couldn't get people out in college despite good stuff. Still can't get anyone out: 13.10 ERA with 40 walks, 20 strikeouts (not a typo) in 23 innings between NWL and AZL.
304) Jake Stewart, OF, Detroit Tigers: Slot bonus college outfielder, good tools, didn't live up to expectations at Stanford, and he's also not hitting in the NY-P: .212/.263/.320 with 17 walks, 57 strikeouts in 231 at-bats for Connecticut.
305) Alex Lavandero, RHP, Milwaukee Brewers: Slot bonus from a Miami high school, live arm but serious control problems so far: 15.43 ERA with 8/20 K/BB in 12 innings, 20 hits in the AZL.
306) John Niggli, RHP, Texas Rangers: 10 innings in the AZL, 6/2 K/BB, 17 hits, nine runs. Tiny bonus from Liberty University, not much stuff, throws strikes.
307) Derek Varnadore, RHP, New York Yankees: Cheap bonus college senior, but erratic in college, better in the pros so far, 3.31 ERA with 35/10 K/BB in 49 innings for Staten Island in the NY-P, 42 hits. Could be a relief sleeper.
308) Jordan Guth, RHP, Philadelphia Phillies: Cheap bonus college arm, cold weather background and inconsistent track record. 5.23 ERA with 15/2 K/BB in 31 innings for Williamsport in the NY-P, 35 hits. Hasn't walked anyone yet, but strikeout rate is low.
As you can see, more teams went with the below slot bonus strategy in this round, looking more for organizational filler than real prospects. Some of these guys would have been 30th round picks in past drafts, if they were drafted at all.
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