2012 Baseball Draft: 16th Round in Review

2012 Baseball Draft: Update on 16th Round Picks

Here is an update on players drafted in the 16th round of the 2012 baseball draft and how they performed in their pro debuts.

489) Dan Gulbransen, OF, Houston Astros: College outfielder from Jacksonville, average tools, hit well in college but not in pro ball, .218/.317/.354 with 26 walks, 41 strikeouts in 206 games for Tri-City in the New York-Penn League. Improvement not impossible but it needs to happen quickly.

490) Will Hurt, SS, Minnesota Twins: High school infielder from Kentucky, signed for slot money ($100,000), hit .141/.221/.141 with seven walks, 23 strikeouts in 78 at-bats for the GCL Twins. Totally overmatched at this point, good athlete but lacks strength. Most teams thought he was heading to college at Coastal Carolina.

491) Dominic Leone, RHP, Seattle Mariners: Clemson product with below average size but a good arm, 1.36 ERA with 39/19 K/BB in 33 innings for Everett in the Northwest League, just 20 hits. Has relief possibilities if he can get the walks down, good K/IP and H/IP ratios.

492) Luc Rennie, RHP, Baltimore Orioles: High school pitcher from San Diego area, signed for slot, 3.04 ERA with 27/9 K/BB in 27 innings in the GCL, 24 hits. 88-92, splitter, has potential. Interesting pick.

493) Austin Fairchild, LHP, Kansas City Royals: Overslot ($350,000) bonus for Houston area prep, annihilated in rookie ball with 34.36 ERA (not a typo), 16 walks in 3.2 innings.

494) Mike Hamann, RHP, Chicago Cubs: College arm from University of Toledo, slot bonus, erratic but hits the mid-90s when he's right, threw 12 innings before going on the DL in late July.

495) Ronnie Richardson, OF, San Diego Padres: Undersized speedster with some pop, from Central Florida, hit .233/.396/.352 with 27 walks, 40 strikeouts, 10-for-12 in steals in 159 at-bats for Eugene in the NWL. I felt he was capable of better.

496) Max Moroff, SS, Pittsburgh Pirates: Overslot ($300,000) high school guy from Florida, performed well in small sample in rookie ball (.343/.471/.433 in 67 at-bats), but hey, that's better than performing badly in a small sample. Switch-hitter, positive rep for work ethic, probably winds up at second base but very interesting overall.

497) Brian Ellington, RHP, Miami Marlins: College arm from West Florida, 2.40 ERA with 33/25 K/BB in 30 innings for Jamestown in the NY-P, 20 hits. Good size at 6-4, 200, needs to get the walks down to project well at higher levels.

498) Jeff Popick, OF, Colorado Rockies: Local talent from Colorado Mesa University, older at 23 but has good tools, hit well in Pioneer League (.350/.432/.584) in 137 at-bats. Need higher level data due to age, but he's not a cipher.

499) Melvin Mercedes, SS, Oakland Athletics: Junior college guy from Florida, from the Bronx, hit .381/.440/.495 with 10 walks, 15 strikeouts in 105 at-bats in the AZL. Undersized switch-hitter but has some athleticism.

500) Myles Smith, RHP, New York Mets: Junior college pitcher from Florida, did not sign, going to University of Missouri.

501) Abe Ruiz, 1B, Chicago White Sox: Arizona State first baseman, didn't hit in first look at pro pitching, .240/.324/.313 with 10 walks, 23 strikeouts in 96 at-bats for Great Falls in the Pioneer League. Already 22. Not an auspicious beginning.

502) Nick Routt, LHP, Cincinnati Reds: College lefty from Mississippi State, posted 4.76 ERA with 22/17 K/BB in 23 innings for Billings in the Pioneer, 22 hits. Gets grounders, chokes lefties (.182 average) but needs to get the walks down. LOOGY profile.

503) Cody Penny, RHP, Cleveland Indians: College arm from North Carolina, successful in first look at pro hitters, 2.39 ERA with 34/12 K/BB in 38 innings between NY-P and Midwest League, 27 hits. Middle relief profile, could move quickly if command holds up.

504) Ronald Pena, RHP, Washington Nationals: Junior college pitcher from Florida, low 90s stuff, 6-4, 195 build, 12 innings with a 2.92 ERA and a 9/1 K/BB, five hits allowed between GCL and NY-P. Sleeper potential.

505) Will Dupont, 2B, Toronto Blue Jays: Missouri high schooler signed for a token over slot ($105,000), good speed, hit .214/.365/.286 with eight walks, 15 strikeouts in 42 at-bats in the GCL. Way too many Ks, granted tiny sample. 4-for-5 in steals. Outfielder?

506) Josh Henderson, OF, Los Angeles Dodgers: Virginia prep signed for double slot ($200,000), pre-draft scouting reports all over the map, went 5-for-24 (.208) in pro ball, which tells us nothing. No idea what they have here.

507) Kody Eaves, 2B, Los Angeles Angels: Texas high school guy, signed for slot, signed away from Texas Christian, some power potential. Hit .261/.328/.400 with 16 walks, 34 strikeouts in 165 at-bats in the AZL. Rather raw but there is enough here to keep interest.

508) Ian Gardeck, RHP, San Francisco Giants: College arm from Alabama, throws very hard, has a slider, inconsistent in college. 4.20 ERA with 45/24 K/BB in just 30 innings, 22 hits for Salem-Keizer. Love the K/IP and H/IP, needs to keep the walks down, good development potential.

509) Fernelys Sanchez, OF, Atlanta Braves: New York City prep, would have gone higher if not for broken leg, still cost $210,000. Hit just .155/.269/.224 with nine walks, 32 strikeouts in 58 at-bats in GCL. Horrible contact problems. Very fast if he can use it.

510) Joe Scanio, RHP, St. Louis Cardinals: College arm from Northwestern State, 3.41 ERA with 15/6 K/BB, 2.83 GO/AO in 29 innings for Batavia in the NY-P, 30 hits. Strike-thrower, middle relief type, Cards have had some success with this category in the past. Good organization filler.

511) Stephen Williams, RHP, Boston Red Sox: Oklahoma junior college arm, overslot ($125,000), threw just three innings in rookie ball. Throws hard but had control problems in college.

512) Tommy Coyle, 2B, Tampa Bay Rays: College infielder from North Carolina, hit .265/.373/.391 with 42 walks, 50 strikeouts in 253 at-bats in the NY-P, 20-for-24 in steals. Limited to second base, but patience/steals combo will be interesting to watch at higher levls.

513) Landon Lassiter, SS, Arizona Diamondbacks: North Carolina prep, didn't sign, going to North Carolina for college ball.

514) Josh Turley, LHP, Detroit Tigers: Baylor southpaw, 1.06 ERA with 25/5 K/BB in 34 innings in the NY-P, 23 hits, effective against both lefties and righties so far, below average velocity but good changeup, throws strikes.

515) Adam Giacalone, 1B, Milwaukee Brewers: Kansas junior college guy signed for slot, hit for big power as amateur. Just three homers for Helena in Pioneer but .317/.394/.425 overall line, 35 walks, 66 strikeouts in 259 at-bats. Bat has some polish but power?

516) Janluis Castro, 2B, Texas Rangers: High school infielder from Puerto Rico, signed for slot. Strong debut, .350/.422/.467 with 16 walks, 22 strikeouts in 137 at-bats in the AZL, played well on defense. Just 18, seems very interesting to me.

517) Stefan Lopez, RHP, New York Yankees: College guy from Southeastern Louisiana, low 90s sinker, secondary stuff needs work. 5.68 ERA with 16/5 K/BB in 19 innings for Staten Island in the NY-P, 28 hits. Throws strikes but needs more.

518) Nic Hanson, RHP, Philadelphia Phillies: Junior college pitcher from California, slot bonus, threw strikes but otherwise hit hard in NY-P, 7.00 ERA with 29/5 K/BB in 45 innings, 64 hits. Lanky build at 6-7, 210, just 20.