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Posted

Toronto takes Evan Smith.

 

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.

 

EVAN SMITH, lhp, Mary G. Montgomery HS, Semmes

 

Smith’s intriguing 6-foot-5, 190-pound frame caught the attention of scouts last summer, but his mid- to upper-80s fastball left him on the outside looking in among the top handful of high-school prospects in Alabama. That perception changed almost overnight this spring when Smith came out of the gates with a fastball that topped out at 93-94 mph. He also flashed a plus breaking ball and the kind of arm action conducive to one day throwing a quality changeup with fading action. Smith eventually came out of a game while favoring his shoulder and missed several starts, but eventually returned, and his chances of making significant headway in the draft may hinge on how he pitches down the stretch and any lingering health concerns. Unlike all of the other top prep prospects in Alabama, Smith does not have a commitment to a Division I college (he has signed to attend Faulkner State CC) and that may enable him to vault over every one of his peers and become the first high-school player in Alabama drafted in June.

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Posted
Of the three you listed that are currently in the system, two are considered at least top 15 prospects in the system.

 

crappy farm bro (Stilson and Dyson RP)

Posted
I think I'm seeing the strategy here. They're not going the college senior route this year. They're over-drafting high upside arms who will sign for slot or less because of health concerns, rather than saving up bonus space by punting rounds 4-10 and using it to sign 2 big names.
Posted
I think I'm seeing the strategy here. They're not going the college senior route this year. They're over-drafting high upside arms who will sign for slot or less because of health concerns, rather than saving up bonus space by punting rounds 4-10 and using it to sign 2 big names.

 

If thats the case I like this way better. Maybe 1-2 of these guys will work out.

Posted
If thats the case I like this way better. Maybe 1-2 of these guys will work out.

 

If it works it's brilliant, but if it doesn't it will look incredibly stupid. I guess that's the nature of the biz.

 

So instead of coming out of the draft with 5-6 big name guys and a bunch of non-prospect seniors. You could sign 7-8 lesser-known high upside guys, but at least 6 of which may not pan out because of injury.

Posted
Tony Kemp goes...he was friends with someone on the other board. did that guy come over here? I love Vandy guys.
Posted

Daniel Lietz, LHP

6'02" 200lbs DOB: 06/01/94After 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.

Posted
Daniel Lietz, LHP

6'02" 200lbs DOB: 06/01/94After 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.

 

I liked the comment the talking-heads made "nothing he throws is straight".

Posted

Perfect Game

 

DANIEL LIETZ, lhp, Heartland CC (Fr.)

With his 5-4, 2.47 record, Lietz has been the least-effective of the four starters that played pivotal roles in leading a 48-9 Heartland team to a berth in this year’s National Junior College Athletic Association Division II World Series. His record, in particular, pales compared to that of right-hander John Lieske (7-2, 1.30, 62 IP, 16 BB/93 SO), another newcomer who arrived at Heartland in January with considerably more fanfare than the lightly-recruited Lietz, after transferring from Illinois State. But Lietz, a 6-foot-3, 200-pound freshman left-hander, has generated more interest from scouts this spring than any junior-college player in Illinois—and any pitcher ever at Heartland, a perennial junior-college power in recent years. After being clocked mostly from 85-88 mph last fall, and topping at 89 on Scout Day, Lietz’ velocity has been a steady 88-92, and as high as 93—with the velocity increase mostly a factor of getting bigger and stronger in the weight room in the off-season. Lietz pitches primarily to contact with his fastball, but has also displayed excellent command of four pitches, while walking just nine in 66 innings and striking out 59. His slider is his most projectable secondary pitch, his change his most effective. He has a clean arm action, but creates deception with a little funkiness in his delivery.

Posted
Daniel Lietz, LHP

6'02" 200lbs DOB: 06/01/94After 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.

 

Gustavo Chacin ceiling great

Community Moderator
Posted

can someone please keep a running tab of all the picks by the jays. for us who AFK it's hard to read through everything.

 

appreciated if someone can run a list.

 

thanks

Posted
can someone please keep a running tab of all the picks by the jays. for us who AFK it's hard to read through everything.

 

appreciated if someone can run a list.

 

thanks

 

10. Phil Bickford, RHP, HS

47. Clint Hollon, RHP, HS

83. Patrick Murphy, RHP, HS

115. Evan Smith, LHP, HS

145. Daniel Lietz, LHP, JC

Community Moderator
Posted
10. Phil Bickford, RHP, HS

47. Clint Hollon, RHP, HS

83. Patrick Murphy, RHP, HS

115. Evan Smith, LHP, HS

145. Daniel Lietz, LHP, JC

 

thanks... so AA is going ape s*** over arms again. good thing the jays will never have a need opening for a position player.

 

 

http://24.media.tumblr.com/e5aaa0892892c908cd5cfc6ad7a43b82/tumblr_mifkgvAnhi1s5mr1uo1_500.jpg

Posted
10. Phil Bickford, RHP, HS

47. Clint Hollon, RHP, HS

83. Patrick Murphy, RHP, HS

115. Evan Smith, LHP, HS

145. Daniel Lietz, LHP, JC

 

4-10 the s*** rounds

Posted
10. Phil Bickford, RHP, HS

47. Clint Hollon, RHP, HS

83. Patrick Murphy, RHP, HS

115. Evan Smith, LHP, HS

145. Daniel Lietz, LHP, JC

 

We will now only be staffing pitchers on our low minor teams. When not pitching they will all play various positions to maximize their value in trades for older, high upside change of scenery position players.

Posted
We will now only be staffing pitchers on our low minor teams. When not pitching they will all play various positions to maximize their value in trades for older, high upside change of scenery position players.

 

Wow. Makes you wonder how they are going to fill these teams. Especially since they have 3 short season teams...

 

Open tryouts?? Don't they start punting draft picks at some point to get around the cap?? Has that happened yet?

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