The DDT - Draft Day 1 thread

[Folkways]

He had just about the biggest clusterf*** of a season that a quaterback could have and he still hasn't committed to baseball. This guy is looking like a two sport bust because he's in love with the wrong sport.

There is some youtube videos of him hitting, his bat-speed is incredible, that is a shame though hopefully something changes his mind.

[Angrioter]

10 pitchers, one catcher

[Angrioter]

Jacob Brentz HS LHP

18 years old, 97Mph

http://wapc.mlb.com/play/?topic_id=40395496&content_id=27676331

[theblujay]

Isn't Brentz one of the guys on Gordie's list?

[Abomination]

MLB.com is showing Brentz as being drafted as an outfielder. Can someone confirm we drafted him as a pitcher?

[theblujay]

Hes was one of the best prep arms still on the board. Hardest throwing lefty for sure.

 

So he's a guy who gonna be a tough sign?

[Angrioter]

Blue Jays - Tim Mayza JR LHP

 

11 pitchers, one catcher

[theblujay]

They're going for a new record of pitchers taken in the draft.

[Angrioter]

Finally

Blue jays - Timothy Locastro JR SS

6'01" 175lbs DOB: 07/14/92

[KingKat]

Jacob Brentz HS LHP

18 years old, 97Mph

http://wapc.mlb.com/play/?topic_id=40395496&content_id=27676331

 

The fact that you can still draft a guy like this in round 11 is big part of what's so infuriating about this draft. You can always find a guy that's raw and throws hard late in the draft. That's the argument that Nox keeps making.

[ace3113]

Keith Law:

Jacob Brentz

 

Brentz might have the best pure left-handed arm in the draft class, hitting the upper 90s this spring (97 to 100 depending on whom you ask) and pitching at 90-95 even in cold weather. His curveball is a work in progress, slow with a big, round break that looks pretty but that won't likely fool pro hitters, and a tendency to ?cast? the pitch when he releases it.

 

He comes from a 3/4 slot, getting under the ball often. It's not a great delivery, with an elbow wrap behind his head and too little hip rotation for that kind of velocity. He's a great arm-strength pick given his age, but he's raw as a pitcher and probably needs more delivery help than you'd like to see on a first rounder.

 

Fastball 60 70 -- --

FB Movement 45 45 -- --

Command 35 55 -- --

Control 40 50 -- --

Curveball 40 45 -- --

Changeup 50 55 -- --

Feel for Pitching 40 50 -- --

[ace3113]

Perfect Game:

 

Jacob Brentz

Position: LHP

Height: 6-2Weight: 195

Bats/Throws: L-L

Birthdate: Sept. 14, 1994

High School: Parkway South

City, State: Ballwin, Mo.Travel

Team: St. Louis Pirates

Commitment: Missouri

Projected Draft Round: 1-2

 

We’ll put this in the most simple manner possible. Left handed pitcher Jake Brentz is one of the more unique prospects, with one of the most unique resumes, that has come across the high school baseball prospect scene in the last two decades. Brentz was recently moved up to the No. 8 position in the Perfect Game 2013 class rankings. The Perfect Game staff takes class rankings very seriously as an evaluation of our own opinion on the relative merits of a particular player. The next five players in the rankings are Reese McGuire, Jon Denney, Justin Williams, Ian Clarkin and Trey Ball, which pretty much says what needs to be said about what Perfect Game thinks of this Missouri based left-hander’s potential. Last year as a junior at Parkway South High School in suburban St. Louis, Brentz threw 4 1/3 innings, compiling an 11.31 ERA and allowing 5 hits and 4 walks to go with 5 strikeouts. That was pretty much the extent of his pitching experience as of last spring. However, Brentz did hit .394-4-31 with 13 doubles as a strong armed and fast outfielder, and was being recruited by numerous college teams, including SEC members Missouri and Arkansas, as a position player. He’s a very talented athlete who would get professional scout’s attention without ever stepping on the mound. Last fall, Brentz began working with St. Louis Pirates coach Rick Strickland as a pitcher after Strickland noted Brentz’s arm strength and asked him if he’d ever considered pitching more often. When the Pirates competed in the WWBA Kernels Foundation Championship in late September, Brentz only played in the outfield, although Perfect Game was already getting information about his potential as a pitcher. When the Pirates traveled to Jupiter, Fla., to play in the WWBA World Championship in late October, it was time for the proverbial “cat out of the bag” on the biggest scouting stage in baseball. Brentz came in from the outfield to close a game on Saturday in front of a huge crowd of scouts, many of whom had a forewarning of what might happen, and sat at 94 mph to retire the side and get the save. Some scouts had him as high as 96 mph. Brentz pitched again on Monday in a consolation game with fellow Pirates top prospect right handed pitcher Devin Williams, in front of one of the larger crowds of scouts to ever watch a consolation game anywhere, and was 91-93 while working in his curveball more often. After the initial Saturday night appearance, Perfect Game founder and President Jerry Ford asked the PG staff to have Brentz come up to the tower at Jupiter so he could meet him. Needless to say, that is an intimidating situation for any young man. I was there watching and listening, as I have been many times when Jerry has talked to a prospect. Brentz was as composed and well-spoken as anyone I’ve seen and stood out for his honesty and self-awareness of just where he just might be in the baseball world. Jerry said afterward, “This kid has a chance to be really, really good.” Brentz and his family made the decision during the winter that he would take a different route on the baseball trail. They elected to continue to work on his pitching mechanics and build arm strength with Strickland at The Sandlot facility in St. Louis and to travel up to Iowa on weekends during the spring to pitch in the Iowa Spring League and participate in the trio of events that Perfect Game holds in Cedar Rapids during the spring: the Pitcher/Catcher Indoor Showcase in February, the Spring Top Showcase in April and the National Pre-Draft Showcase in May. Thus far the results have been spectacular and have led directly to Brentz’s No. 8 ranking in the PG class rankings and a potential first round slot in the June Draft. Brentz sat in the 92-94 mph range at the Pitcher/Catcher Indoor and showed some idea how to spot his fastball, especially to left-handed hitters, while getting good movement and life down in the zone. Maybe the most impressive thing about his performance was watching how easy the ball came out of his hand and how he used his high level athleticism to throw. As a scout you were left saying, “This kid has hardly ever pitched to hitters in his life and he is throwing strikes and not working that hard to throw a plus fastball.” While the horrible spring weather in the Upper Midwest hasn’t been ideal for Brentz or the scouts, he’s taken two more very positive steps forward. He touched 97 mph (a Perfect Game event record for a left handed pitcher) in his first Iowa Spring League outing and 95 mph in his second appearance while consistently maintaining plus fastball velocity. Perhaps more importantly, he showed confidence in both his curveball and changeup as developing pitches, with one PG scout commenting that his changeup the second outing might have been his best pitch. This Sunday Brentz will throw in front of a large scouting contingent at the Spring Top Showcase. He’ll then have a couple more weekends of Iowa Spring League play, along with mid-week bullpens in St. Louis, before the National Pre-Draft Showcase on May 13. He will undoubtedly have a number of private team workouts in the three weeks leading up to June 6 and the first day of the draft. That should complete chapter one of this unique baseball prospect journey.

[KingKat]

Yeah I really don't understand that. If there are guys like Brentz available so late, what makes Bickford special? Bickford doesn't even really have a breaking ball.

 

The best argument for Bickford is that they are planning to lowball him. If they meet his demands it will be a seriously risky investment.

[ace3113]

Another lefty pitcher. This time from the college level. Tim Mayza

 

Perfect Game:

 

TIM MAYZA, lhp, Millersville University (Jr.)

 

Regardless of what flaws they may have, left-handers who live in the low-90s with their fastball and have the big league frames to match will always be sought after commodities. Mayza showed off a 90-93 mph fastball in the Cape Cod League last summer for the Cotuit Kettleers, but proved to be more raw in the secondary offering department. His curveball at 75-79 mph flashed potential, and good downward action but was mostly inconsistent in terms of command. But, it’s his easy, over-hand arm action and plus velocity that caught the eye of scouts. And, he followed that Cape League showcase with a huge spring for Millersville. Posting an 11-3 record, Mayza held hitters to just 73 hits in 98 2/3 innings pitched. He also posted a 1.55 ERA and struck out 91 batters, while walking only 27. His plus velocity showed up consistently, while his secondary attack still proved to need some work. Teams will be considering him in the 6-9 round area.

[ace3113]

Isn't Brentz one of the guys on Gordie's list?

 

Yes.

[ace3113]

I wanna add high school catcher Chris Okey to my list. Really nice prospect. Super athletic. Love the bat speed and approach. Arguably the second best defensive catcher in the class. I think he'll move fast with his bat too.

 

CHRIS OKEY, c, Eustis HS

 

Of all the top high school prospects in Florida, Okey has probably done the most to solidify and improve his draft stock this spring. He’s hit .423-4-24, showing more power both in games and in workouts/batting practice than scouts thought was there in his 6-foot, 180-pound frame. He’s also excelled in other parts of the game, walking 16 times as opposed to only 6 strikeouts while stealing bases at a perfect 15-for-15 clip. The irony of that last number is Okey has only allowed 10 runners to steal, while throwing out 7, in 25 games this spring.

[Angrioter]

Blue Jays - L.B. Dantzler 1B

5'11" 200lbs DOB: 05/22/91

[KingKat]

There is no such thing as a 1B prospect.

[Angrioter]

[baseballsss]

Ben Verlander. Justin's brother. Cool.

 

that doesn't have a superstar pitcher ring to it

[ace3113]

I pretty much don't expect any big name bats (other than a insurance/courtesy draft) at this point. Whatever money they saved from 3-10, is all going to Brentz if he wants it. Book it.

[ace3113]

Should be put in the first post, Instead of the draft order

 

Sorry, I'm too lazy to do it right now. I'll do it after the draft.

[Angrioter]

Blue jays- Jonathan Davis OF R/R JR

5'08" 188lbs DOB: 05/12/92

[ace3113]

Jonathan Davis OF. Another position player. WTF!

 

He probably has a strong arm, they're going to convert him to pitcher in a few years.

[Angrioter]

jonathan davis of. Another position player. Wtf!

 

5'08" of ?

[Angrioter]

He probably has a strong arm, they're going to convert him to pitcher in a few years.

 

f***ing smart (ALA Justin "Swag" Jackson)

[DuckDuckGose]

The fact that you can still draft a guy like this in round 11 is big part of what's so infuriating about this draft. You can always find a guy that's raw and throws hard late in the draft. That's the argument that Nox keeps making.

 

That's not really true. Obviously you CAN get good pitchers at the back end of the draft but, normally front-end starters come from the 1st round or international FA. Take a look at some the best starters (just went down the list of leaders) from around the MLB;

 

Verlander - 1st rounder (2nd overall)

Kershaw - 1st rounder (7th overall)

Cain - 1st rounder (25th overall)

Hamels - 1st rounder (17th overall)

Zimmermann - 2nd rounder

Scherzer - 1st rounder (11th overall)

Wainwright - 1st rounder (29th overall)

Harvey - 1st rounder (7th overall)

Lee - 4th rounder

Shields - 16th rounder

Latos - 11th rounder

Lester - 2nd rounder

Buchholz - 1st rounder (42nd overall)

Miller - 1st rounder (19th overall)

Bailey - 1st rounder (17th overall)

Strasburg - 1st rounder (1st overall)

Bumgarner - 1st rounder (10th overall)

Felix - International FA

Anibal - International FA

Darvish - International FA

 

Additionally to sign high upside HS pitchers you need to use your leverage to get them away from college. Money talks but, the money isn't necessarily there after round 1 or 2. To lock up Brentz the Jays need to save money in the other rounds of the draft. We aren't talking a couple hundred K either, we are talking a couple million which, is going to be very hard to find for any GM in any draft. I'd love to see AA get this done but the most likely scenario is he goes to college and is a 1st round pick in a couple years.

[KingKat]

Your shifting the discussion. I'm not saying top end starter don't come from the early rounds. I'm saying projects like Bickford can always be found later.

[Angrioter]

Blue jays - Danny Jansen C R/R HS

6'02" 215lbs DOB: 04/15/95

[DuckDuckGose]

Your shifting the discussion. I'm not saying top end starter don't come from the early rounds. I'm saying projects like Bickford can always be found later.

 

But just because you can doesn't mean you should. Besides there aren't pitchers as projectable as Bickel unless they have a firm college commitment or crazy signing demands and you are not going to get a FB like Bickford's that late (upper 90's sure but not 95-97mph with command). Basically you either pay him like a 1st round pick after the 10th or you take him early and pay him like a 1st rounder.