The Draft is here! I'll post our picks here and scrounge what I can on our new Blue Jays.
10. Phil Bickford RHP HS California
47. Clinton Hollon RHP HS Kentucky
83. Patrick Murphy RHP HS Arizona
AZ Central Article, Tommy John
Perfect Game: "PATRICK MURPHY, rhp, Hamilton HS, Chandler
Murphy, a long, loose, projectable righthander, easily ranked as the top
prep arm in Arizona for the 2013 draft until hurting his pitching elbow
during the 2012 season and undergoing Tommy John surgery last summer.
He hasn’t pitched since, although he is back throwing and there is a
chance he might throw a bullpen or two prior to the draft. If he does,
and flashes any semblance of the raw stuff that he featured as a junior
at Hamilton High, notably a 92-mph fastball and the makings of an
impressive curve, then it’s entirely possible a team could take a stab
at Murphy in the top 10 rounds—though it’s highly unlikely he would ever
go as early as the second to fourth rounds, where he projected prior to
his injury. Murphy has committed to Oregon, and that appears to be his
more-likely option in the short term, especially since he has been
assured all along by Ducks officials that his scholarship offer will be
honored."
115. Evan Smith LHP HS Alabama
Perfect Game: "PROSPECT ON THE RISE: Evan Smith, lhp, Mary G. Montgomery HS, Semmes. With a fastball that topped in the high-80s last summer, Smith did not rank among Alabama’s 10 best high-school prospects in the 2013 draft class entering his senior year, but the 6-foot-5 lefthander has added 4-5 mph in velocity while almost every one of the state’s top-ranked prep players has regressed to some degree—for any number of reasons. If enough clubs are scared off by right-hander Keegan Thompson’s stated desire to attend college at Auburn, Smith could conceivably surface as the first pick from the state’s high-school ranks."
145. Daniel Lietz LHP JC Illinois
MLB.com: "After going undrafted out of high school last year, Lietz jumped onto Draft boards this spring when he showed a sharp increase in fastball velocity. His fastball mostly sat in the mid-80s a year ago, but after spending a winter in the weight room, Leitz throws in the upper-80s to low-90s. He is listed at 6-foot-2, 200 pounds and scouts think he may have room to get even stronger. Lietz also throws a slider, changeup, splitter and curveball. His slider and changeup both have the potential to be Major League-average offerings. Lietz isn't afraid to pitch to contact with his fastball and has a good feel for pitching."
175. Matt Boyd LHP Oregon State
MLB.com: "Boyd spent his first three years at Oregon State as a reliever, but is starting for the first time as a senior after not signing with the Cincinnati Reds, who took him in the 2012 Draft. As a starter, he's shown the ability to mix four pitches well, all of which could be Major League average as he develops them. Big, strong and durable, he throws his fastball, curve, slider and changeup around the plate consistently and varies his arm slot to give hitters different looks. A team that takes Boyd can give him the chance to remain as a starter, knowing that he had success as a lower-angle lefty reliever in the past."
205. Conner Greene RHP HS California
MLB.com: "Greene is part of the California prep pitching class. At 6-foot-3, 165 pounds, Greene is tall and projectable and also has the stuff to back it up. He gets great downward plane on his fastball and it could be a plus pitch in the future as he fills out. He has shown good feel for both his curveball and his splitter. Both secondary pitches have the chance to be Major League average. His command is a problem, however, and will need to improve in order for him to be successful at higher levels. He'll get the chance to do that at the College of Southern Nevada if he doesn't sign."
235. Kendall Graveman RHP Mississippi State
MLB.com: "Graveman has capably moved to the front of the Mississippi State rotation to fill the void left by the departure of Chris Stratton, a 2012 first-round selection. Graveman was a 36th-round pick himself a year ago, but returned to school for his senior year. He uses a sinker-changeup combination to produce plenty of groundouts. Graveman's fastball sits in the upper-80s with heavy sinking action and his changeup is a solid offering. Graveman throws a curveball as well, but it is a below-average pitch. Graveman has good command and has proven to be durable in college, which should make him a solid senior sign."
265. Chad Girodo LHP Mississippi State
325. Jacob Brentz LHP/LF
MLB.com: "Lefties with plus velocity will always generate interest, and Brentz was moving up boards with his spring performance. A two-way standout from the Missouri high school ranks, there's no question Brentz's future is on the mound, especially after touching the upper-90s with his fastball during this, his senior season. He's also shown some ability to spin a breaking ball. Brentz is still pretty raw on the mound, but you can't teach that kind of arm strength. When it comes from the left side especially, it's going to continue to bring scouts in to take a look right up until Draft Day."
355. Tim Mayza LHP Millersville University
Picks N Prospects: "Tim Mayza, LHP Millersville (6’3, 215) Mayza came to Cotuit as a temporary player and was one of the last players to make the team. Mayza went 1 and 1 with a 9.35 ERA in 17.1 innings while striking out 20, walking 10, and giving up 31 hits. Mayza struggled as a Kettleer, but he was facing a higher level of competition than he had ever faced before since he was the first player ever from Division 2 Millersville to play in the cape league. But there is a glimmer of hope for Mayza, his FB sat 90-93, and topped at 94. Mayza’s problem was that he had no real secondary pitches, he played with a few different pitches as the season went on including a curve and a change up which did show some improvements towards the end of the season in his start on August 7th where he went 2.2 innings striking out 4 while giving up 4 hits, 2 walks, and one earned run. But he even tipped his off speed pitches in some outings by having a slower arm speed with his secondary pitches than his fastball, and it just seemed like he was lobbing his secondary pitches instead of throwing them. Draft: 35- undrafted. Mayza is a good sized lefty with a good fastball so someone might take him. Mayza is a good guy and seems willing to work but needs a really really good pitching coach to straighten him out and help him develop secondary pitches along with fix his arm slot and arm speed. I just think that if Mike Roberts and pitching coach Alex Gett, who both helped so many pitchers improve a great deal this summer, couldn’t help Mayza get going with secondary pitches and arm speed then there are very few guys who can and I don’t think those guys are single A pitching coaches."
385. Tim Locastro SS Ithaca College
415. L.B. Dantzler 1B South Carolina
445. Jonathan Davis OF Central Arkansas
475. Danny Jansen C HS Wisconsin
505. Eric Lauer LHP HS Ohio
MLB.com: "Lauer, who turns 18 the night before the Draft begins, is one of the most projectable pitchers in this year's draft. Listed at 6-foot-3, 190 pounds, Lauer, a left-hander out of Midview High School (Ohio), has a clean, loose delivery and is already throwing in the upper-80s. Scouts believe he will unlock more velocity as he physically matures and builds upper-body strength. Lauer also throws a curveball and changeup, both of which are promising but still need development. He has a good feel for pitching and is around the plate with all three of his pitches. Lauer is committed to Kent State."
535. Sean Ratcliffe RHP HS Canada
565. Christian Vasquez SS Lubbock Christian University
595. Chaz Frank OF North Carolina
625. Mike Reeves C Florida Gulf Coast University
655. Sam Tewes RHP HS Nebraska
MLB.com: "Tewes' projectability and athleticism gives scouts plenty to dream about. He is listed at 6-foot-2, 205 pounds and regularly touches the low-90s with his fastball. His best secondary pitch is his promising breaking ball and he is also developing a changeup. Tewes, a right-hander out of Waverly H.S. (Neb.), has good command and already shows a good feel for pitching. He still has plenty of work to do, especially to improve his consistency, but Tewes has all the tools to be successful. He is committed to Wichita State."
685. Brendan Kalfus OF St. Mary's College
715. Sean Hurley OF Central Arizona College
745. Scott Silverstein LHP Virginia
775. Tanner Cable RHP Northwest Mississippi CC
805. Andrew Florides SS HS New York
835. Matt Dermody LHP Iowa
865. Garrett Pickens RHP Delta State
895. Rowdy Tellez 1B HS California
MLB.com: "Big, strong, left-handed-hitting first basemen don't come through the Draft all that often these days. Tellez fits that mold, and his ability to do damage with the bat was generating some buzz this spring. The Northern California area product has a good idea of what he's doing at the plate. He hits the ball with authority to all fields and he should be able to hit for average. His power tool is even better, with an ability to hit the ball out anywhere, with plus-plus pop to the pull side. Tellez is a capable fielder at first base, but there's no question what teams are looking at. It's that bat and the team that covets his power from the left side the most will be the one to take him."
925. Brison Celek 1B University of South Carolina
955. Josh Sawyer LHP HS Texas
985. Edgar Cabral C HS California
1015. Dane Dunning RHP HS Florida
Baseball Factory: "Dane Dunning | RHP | 6-3/200 | 2013 | Clay (FL) HS 5/25/12 - Lean and wiry right hander with an electric arm. Fastball ball sat 86-88 even late into at least his fourth inning. Arm works from glove in sequence and full and loose out front. Spun tight breaking ball at 73-74 with depth and life to action down in the zone. Saw a few CH at 78. Athletic delivery, strike thrower. Attacked the zone with fastball and was able to put away hitters with breaking ball. Projectable velocity as he fills out his frame."
1045. Akoni Arriaga RHP HS Hawaii
1075. David Harris SS Southern Arkansas
1105. Brett Barber RHP Ohio University
1135. Jon Nunnally Jr. OF HS Arizona
Father is AAA Buffalo hitting coach.
1165. Zach Levinson SS HS New York
1195. Antonio Ruiz 1B HS California
