2012 Draft: Update on 11th Round Picks
We continue this morning with the well-liked series of draft reviews, today with an update on players drafted in the 11th round. By popular demand, I'll keep this going into the teen rounds to pick up the overslot draftees.
339) Hunter Virant, LHP, Houston Astros: Didn't sign. Off to UCLA. Good gamble to draft him though.
340) Taylor Rogers, LHP, Minnesota Twins: Excellent so far, 2.27 ERA with 74/17 K/BB in 63 innings between Elizabethton in the Appy League and Beloit in the Low-A Midwest League. College pitcher from Kentucky signed for slot money ($100,000 in this round and subsequent rounds). Any bonus above $100,000 counts against your bonus pool, but $100,000 or less doesn't. Rogers looks good so far, average velocity but knows how to pitch.
341) Kristian Brito, 1B, Seattle Mariners: .193/.226/.266 with four walks, 37 strikeouts in 109 at-bats for AZL Mariners. High school slugger from Puerto Rico signed for slot money, very young and has thunder in the bat but couldn't make contact against rookie ball pitching.
342) Kevin Grendell, LHP, Baltimore Orioles: Slot bonus for high school pitcher from California, 7.27 ERA with 29/11 K/BB in 17 innings for GCL Orioles. High strikeout rate is intriguing. Projectable, somewhat raw, has promising fastball/curve combination.
343) Zeb Sneed, RHP, Kansas City Royals: 7.82 ERA with 40/28 K/BB in 48 innings for Idaho Falls in the Pioneer League, 59 hits. Division II college pitcher earned just a bit over slot at $110,000. Live arm but quite raw for a college pitcher.
344) Rashad Crawford, OF, Chicago Cubs: Slot bonus high school outfielder from Georgia. Hit .167 but drew seven walks and stole four bases in nine games in the AZL before going on the DL in early July. Switch-hitter with some tools.
345) Maxx Tissenbaum, 2B, San Diego Padres: Slot bonus college infielder, hit .296/.430/.379 with 27 walks, 14 strikeouts in 169 at-bats for Eugene in the Northwest League. Lacks power but controls strike zone and provides rock-steady defense.
346) Christopher Diaz, SS, Pittsburgh Pirates: Slot bonus college infielder, hit .217/.277/.274 with 17 walks, 57 strikeouts in 230 at-bats for State College in NY-P. Made 16 errors and didn't hit. Has to do better than that to avoid release buzzsaw.
347) Matt Milroy, RHP, Miami Marlins: Slot bonus college pitcher who throws hard but was erratic in college. 4.11 ERA with 30/23 K/BB in 35 innings for Jamestown in the NY-P. Ended year suspended for drug violation.
348) T.J. Oakes, RHP, Colorado Rockies: Slot bonus college pitcher, average fastball but throws strikes and keeps the ball down, 4.41 ERA with 38/7 K/BB in 49 innings for Tri-City in the NWL, 64 hits allowed (a lot) but also a 2.06 GO/AO.
349) Matt Gonzalez, SS, Oakland Athletics: Didn't sign. Off to Georgia Tech.
350) Logan Taylor, RHP, New York Mets: Overslot bonus ($150,000) for junior college pitcher with good fastball/curve combo, 0.93 ERA with 19/2 K/BB in 19 innings for Brooklyn in the NY-P. Could move fast as relief option.
351) Eric Jaffe, RHP, Chicago White Sox: Slot bonus college pitcher, live arm but unrefined for a college guy, 7.36 ERA with 9/9 K/BB in 11 innings for Bristol in the Appy League. Has potential but it will take time.
352) Nolan Becker, LHP, Cincinnati Reds: Slot bonus guy out of Yale, serious command issues in pro ball so far, 8.44 ERA with 20/14 K/BB in 16 innings, 27 hits allowed. Tommy John survivor.
353) Logan Vick, OF, Cleveland Indians: Expected to go higher than this, ended up signing for $125,000. Baylor product has some tools but hit just .203/.325/.250 in 64 at-bats in the NY-P for Mahoning Valley, though he did draw 10 walks. Possibly a tweener although I think he has more potential than the early numbers show.
354) Brian Rauh, RHP, Washington Nationals: Slot bonus for college pitcher, 3.99 ERA with 43/26 K/BB in 59 innings for Auburn in the NY-P and Hagerstown in the Low-A South Atlantic League. Held his own in pro ball although component ratios aren't great.
355) Grant Heyman, OF, Toronto Blue Jays: High schooler from New York didn't sign. Raw athlete with speed and power, typical Jays draft.
356) Jeremy Rathjen, OF, Los Angeles Dodgers: College senior from Rice hit .331/.448/.496 with 45 walks, 52 strikeouts, 15-for-23 in steals in 248 at-bats for Ogden in the Pioneer League. Good start to his career but we need higher level data.
357) Jonathan Walsh, OF, Los Angeles Angels: University of Texas guy hit .301/.418/.509 with 46 walks, 42 strikeouts in 216 at-bats for Orem in the Pioneer League. As with Rathjen, we need higher level data but it's a good start.
358) Ryan Tella, OF, San Francisco Giants: Sophomore-eligible from Auburn didn't sign. Will re-enter draft in 2013. Runs well and has a chance to hit.
359) Levi Borders, C, Atlanta Braves: High school catcher from Florida didn't sign. Going to South Florida.
360) Trey Williams, 3B, St. Louis Cardinals: First round raw talent, didn't sign, but not going to Pepperdine, will go to JC of the Canyons and try again in 2013.
361) Jamal Martin, OF, Boston Red Sox: Didn't sign. Undersized but runs well, chance to hit. Florida State.
362) Clayton Henning, OF, Tampa Bay Rays: High school outfielder from Kansas, signed for slot, .168/.262/.177 with 14 walks, 38 strikeouts in 113 at-bats in the GCL. Athletic, good football player.
363) Ben Eckels, RHP, Arizona Diamondbacks: High school pitcher from California, overslot at $125,000, good curveball, 4.13 ERA with 56/23 K/BB in 52 innings in the AZL, 50 hits. Worth tracking certainly.
364) Bennett Pickar, C, Detroit Tigers: Slot bonus college catcher with good arm. .212/.294/.272 with 18 walks, 45 strikeouts in 151 at-bats for Connecticut in the NY-P, threw out just 25% and gave up 16 passed balls and seven errors in 50 games. Disappointing.
365) Preston Gainey, RHP, Milwaukee Brewers: Drafted out of Navy. 8.05 ERA with 31/21 K/BB in 38 innings, 46 hits for Helena in the Pioneer League. That won't get it done.
366) Eric Brooks, RHP, Texas Rangers: Junior college pitcher with slot bonus, athletic, good fastball. 3.68 ERA with 48/13 K/BB in 51 innings for Spokane in the NWL, 55 hits. OK, we'll have to see if stuff holds up against better hitters.
367) Caleb Frare, LHP, New York Yankees: Slot bonus high school pitcher from Montana. 2.74 ERA with 23/7 K/BB in 23 innings in the GCL, 17 hits. He was supposed to be very raw but he performed quite well in his first look.
368) William Carmona, 1B, Philadelphia Phillies: Slot bonus college slugger. Hit .348/.392/.533 in 92 at-bats in the GCL (too easy for him), then .221/.270/.327 with six walks and 28 strikeouts in 104 at-bats for Lakewood in the Sally League. Has to do a better job controlling the zone for college success to carry forward.
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