Blue Jays: 2013 MLB Draft Signing thread

[Angrioter]

link?

 

http://www.bluebirdbanter.com/2013/6/10/4414442/2013-mlb-draft-signing-table

[imsorry4beatinU]

http://www.bluebirdbanter.com/2013/6/10/4414442/2013-mlb-draft-signing-table

 

Doesn't say anything on the table for his name....

[Angrioter]

 

Bickford?

[GD]

http://www.mlbtraderumors.com/2013/06/rockies-gray-expected-to-complete-deal-today.html?utm_source=dlvr.it&utm_medium=facebook

[Angrioter]

http://www.mlbtraderumors.com/2013/06/rockies-gray-expected-to-complete-deal-today.html?utm_source=dlvr.it&utm_medium=facebook

 

Gray for $5,626,400 is a great deal for both. In 3 more years Bickford will cost +6 millions lol

Show him the money ASAP

[GD]

http://www.mlbtraderumors.com/2013/06/mets-nearing-deal-with-first-rounder-dominic-smith.html?utm_source=dlvr.it&utm_medium=facebook

[GD]

http://dlvr.it/3W53gq

 

Signings coming in fast and furious

[o2cui2i]

http://dlvr.it/3W53gq

 

Signings coming in fast and furious

 

did the jays specifically target a first rounder they knew they couldn't sign to get another high pick next year???

[GD]

did the jays specifically target a first rounder they knew they couldn't sign to get another high pick next year???

 

I think Bickford signs. But I think he goes overslot. Which angers the hell out of me.

[o2cui2i]

I think so.

 

not taking some high ranked position players to take a guy that most didn't have high?? it only makes sense if they are looking to get another high pick next year which is supposed to be a better draft.

 

it would also free up some money for every other draftees.

[o2cui2i]

I think Bickford signs. But I think he goes overslot. Which angers the hell out of me.

 

i think they might be better off getting another pick next year if they fire their scouting staff in the off season.

[StevieRay]

 

 

lol

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

what s that supposed to mean? He is changing his mind?

[o2cui2i]

It's what I hope.

 

if they get another first rounder next year and can sign most of their later round this year, it would be a good move. Next year is supposed to be a much stronger draft year.

[GD]

i think they might be better off getting another pick next year if they fire their scouting staff in the off season.

 

That's what I want as well. I don't think it happens, though.

 

lol

 

WTF? Maybe posturing?

[GD]

if they get another first rounder next year and can sign most of their later round this year, it would be a good move. Next year is supposed to be a much stronger draft year.

 

Could you imagine, top 5 pick (Nola? Something like that) AND the #10 pick, most likely Canadian beast Gareth Morgan?

[ace3113]

Baseball America article on our picking Bickford:

 

Righthander Phil Bickford has all the qualities the Blue Jays look for in an amateur pitcher.

 

“I first saw him at the Area Code Games in Long Beach last summer and we’ve been on him ever since,” scouting director Brian Parker said. “He’s one of those guys who’s everything we’re looking for—he’s tall, he’s athletic, he’s young with a good arm. It’s a high-ceiling arm, just the type of guy we’re looking for.”

Toronto nabbed the 17-year-old Bickford, who stands in at 6-foot-4, 200 pounds, with the 10th pick in the draft.

“He was the top guy (for us),” Parker said. “We thought that he would be there.”

Bickford, who attended Oaks Christian High in Westlake Village, Calif., committed to Cal State Fullerton, but Parker feels that he can be signed.

“We’re going to get into signability with him in the next couple of days, once we wrap up with the draft,” Parker said. “We’re confident we’re going to get something done with him.”

Parker feels that Bickford’s fastball is effective enough to get outs in pro ball right away.

“He has outstanding fastball command,” Parker said. “He’s got a big arm. We’ve seen him up to 97 (mph) this spring, and he sits 93-94.

“One of the things we like, and one of the things we work on in this organization, is fastball effectiveness, fastball command and the ability to throw strikes and get people out with his fastball.

“We feel he had one of the best fastballs—college or high school—in the draft.”

Parker said the Blue Jays also liked Bickford’s changeup, but they acknowledged that his breaking ball still is in development.

Bickford notched a 1.72 ERA as a high school senior, allowing 44 hits while striking out 159 in 99 innings.

[ace3113]

BA'S scouting reports on our top picks:

 

PHIL BICKFORD

 

Bickford intrigued scouts with his projectable 6-foot-4, 195-pound body and 88-92 mph fastball last summer at the Area Code Games, and his velocity has jumped this spring, as has his draft stock. He pitches comfortably in the 90-93 mph range and regularly runs his fastball up to 95-96. He has a clean arm action and a three-quarters slot that gives his fastball good life, and he commands it well to both sides, prompting some scouts to grade it as a 70 pitch on the 20-80 scale. He's a short strider with an upright finish, and sometimes his slot drops below three-quarters, causing him to pitch uphill. Bickford's secondary stuff lags behind his fastball. He shows glimpses of a fringe-average slider, but he needs to do a better job staying on top of it. He tinkers with a changeup but seldom uses it because he can dominate high school hitters with his fastball. Bickford pumps strikes and works quickly, and his upside could get him drafted in the back of the first round, but many scouts are more comfortable with him as a second-rounder because of his underdeveloped offspeed stuff. Bickford could be a tough sign away from Cal State Fullerton.

 

CLINTON HOLLON

 

Hollon started throwing in the mid-90s after his sophomore season, establishing himself as a potential first-round pick for 2013. Elbow tendinitis sapped his arm strength toward the end of last summer, but he has bounced back this spring to work at 90-93 mph with a peak of 95. He's athletic and has good arm speed, but the 6-foot-1, 195-pounder also throws with some effort. That costs him command and consistency, though at his best Hollon can display a sharp slider that projects as a plus pitch and a changeup that projects as average. Questions persist about his maturity, which could knock him down to the third round. Though he has committed to Kentucky and may not get selected as early as once expected, teams consider him signable.

 

DANIEL LIETZ

 

In a down draft year in Illinois, Lietz is the best bet for the Prairie State to produce a pick in the first 10 rounds, a reflection of both his talent and his signability. Undrafted last year out of an Illinois high school, he barely attracted any scouting attention in the fall, when he worked at 85-88 mph. But the 6-foot-3, 200-pounder's velocity took a huge jump this spring, with his fastball ranging from 88-93 mph with run and sink. Said one scout of Lieske's stuff: "Everything is crooked." He gets hard bite on a slider he can throw to the back foot of righthanders, and his changeup has similar action to his other pitches. He also employs a curveball, though it lags behind his other pitches. Even with the life on his pitches, Lieske has no trouble filling the strike zone. He issued just six walks in his first 61 innings.

 

MATT BOYD

 

A distant relative of Bob Feller and former first lady Dolly Madison, Boyd looked like a lefthanded specialist in his first three years with the Beavers, using a fastball/slider combo from a low three-quarters arm slot. He was a 13th-round pick by the Reds last year as a junior, but didn't sign and boosted his stock in the Cape Cod League, raising his arm slot and showing a four-pitch mix. After making just two starts in his first three years in college, Boyd became Oregon State's Friday night starter this year, with excellent results. He pitched in the 88-92 mph range this spring, topping out at 94, after touching 96 out of the bullpen on the Cape. He also offers good deception and angle to the plate. Boyd's main issue is that he lacks a true out pitch, which ultimately would limit him to the back of a rotation or a relief role.

 

CONNOR GREENE

 

Long and lean at 6-foot-3, 160 pounds, Greene is all about projection. He has a high waist, long legs and a quick arm, and he has cleaned up his delivery, helping him touch 91-92 mph on occasion. He usually pitches at 87-88, and his secondary stuff is underdeveloped. He throws a splitter rather than a changeup, and the pitch has sink but is inconsistent. His curve has 11-to-5 break, and his best ones rate as 40s on the 20-80 scouting scale. He needs to sharpen it up and improve his command of his entire repertoire. Greene is committed to JC of Southern Nevada.

 

KENDALL GRAVEMAN

 

Graveman has had a productive career at Mississippi as a competitive sinker/slider pitcher. He improved his command in 2013 and had a hot stretch with three complete games in a row. The 6-foot-1, 197-pounder is already 22 and has a mature frame and game. He throws inside when he needs to but generally works hitters away with an 87-91 mph sinking two-seamer and changeup that help him get groundballs. Graveman throws a fringy curveball and has used a slider at times as well, but his breaking ball is short. His durability and fastball control are his biggest assets, and he should go considerably higher than the 36th round, where the Marlins drafted him in 2012.

[ace3113]

Ibid:

 

jacob brentz

 

brentz offers one of the biggest risk/reward dichotomies in the draft. He's a lefthander with extraordinary arm strength, capable of hitting 97 mph and putting on jaw-dropping displays in pregame long toss. But he's new to pitching and raw in every phase of the craft. He showed fifth-round potential as a power hitter with a right-field profile but barely pitched in three high school seasons. His arm strength led to a stint on the mound at the world wood bat association world championships last fall, and his future changed when he touched 96 mph. Brentz still takes classes at parkway south but has spent the spring pitching in a perfect game league in iowa. He has a clean arm action and the ball explodes out of his hand. His athletic 6-foot-2, 195-pound frame and easy delivery lead to hope that he can develop his secondary pitches and command, though they're in the rudimentary stages. Brentz's fastball velocity drops off quickly and dips to 88 mph later in games, and he has shown more feel for his changeup than his loopy breaking ball. A team could gamble on him as early as the second round, which would likely be enough to lure him away from a missouri commitment.

 

eric lauer

 

as the temperatures rose in the midwest, so did lauer's draft stock. He started flashing a 94 mph fastball while looking like he was playing catch. The 6-foot-3, 190-pounder was an all-state wide receiver, and his athleticism translates well to the mound. He has a clean arm action and repeats his delivery, usually pitching at 90-92 mph with his fastball. There are mixed reports on his curveball, though some scouts say his arm speed and aptitude will result in a solid breaking ball. While his changeup also is a work in progress, he has more overall feel for pitching than most high schoolers. Lauer could be difficult to sign away from a commitment to kent state, where he could blossom into a 2016 first-rounder under the tutelage of pitching coach mike birkbeck.

 

ryan tellez

 

though his given name is ryan, tellez earned his nickname as a baby and it's fitting for the best lefthanded power bat in this year's class. He beat clint frazier in the perfect game national showcase home run derby on the showcase circuit last summer and impressed scouts by hitting two home runs over the scoreboard at blair field in long beach, calif., in a preseason game this spring. But even with his prodigious power, tellez isn't just a big lefthanded slugger. Scouts are also impressed with his feel for hitting. He has a patient approach at the plate and excellent hand-eye coordination, rarely swinging and missing. He keeps his hands back, tracks pitches well and drives offspeed pitches to the opposite field with ease. Tellez has worked hard to tighten up his body and moves well for a player 6-foot-5 and 235 pounds. He has played in the outfield this spring and has an average arm, but profiles as a solid first baseman. Tellez is committed to southern california, but will be drafted high enough to forgo that commitment.

 

mike reeves

 

reeves came to florida gulf coast from canada, where he started out as a prep hockey player. His older brother jeff played at winthrop and helped steer mike toward baseball, and the blue jays made him a 42nd-round pick in 2009 out of high school in peterborough, ont. The 6-foot, 201-pound senior has a brian schneider profile as a lefthanded hitter with solid catch-and-throw skills. He has performed well, hitting .333/.416/.393 and showing the ability to handle the bat. He controls the strike zone and has become an accomplished bunter. Reeves lacks power and will have to prove he won't get overpowered by pro pitchers.

 

sam tewes

 

far and away the best prospect in nebraska this year, tewes likely won't make his pro debut until 2016 because scouts believe he's virtually unsignable and destined for wichita state. He's still more about projection than present stuff, but it's easy to dream on a 6-foot-5, 205-pounder with a loose arm and a solid, athletic delivery. He touches 91 mph and flashes a promising breaking ball. He'll need to improve his changeup and his consistency, but he throws strikes and has a feel for pitching. His father doug is a former team doctor for the nfl's minnesota vikings and nba's minnesota timberwolves.

[GD]

I think our common theme this year is guys who didn't used to throw that hard but had big velo jumps. That does correlate with injuries, I'd think.

[GD]

http://www.mlbtraderumors.com/2013/06/rockies-sign-jonathan-gray.html?utm_source=dlvr.it&utm_medium=facebook

 

Gray signs. 4.8MM.

[ace3113]

For reference in case Bickford pulls a Beede on us. Here's the top 20 for the 2014 draft.

 

http://mlb.mlb.com//news/article.jsp?ymd=20130611&content_id=50293726&vkey=news_mlb&c_id=mlb

 

It would be acceptable if the scouting staffs of all 30 Major League organizations got to catch their collective breaths after last week's First-Year Player Draft. But there is no rest for the weary.

 

The summer scene is already upon us -- the elite wood-bat, college-level Cape Cod League opens on Wednesday -- as scouts ramp up for a busy few months of summer leagues, showcases and All-America games. Their evaluations will not be for show. Scouting work this summer will help determine priorities of who to watch next spring. If a player gets hurt or the weather doesn't cooperate, what scouts see now can weigh heavily into a decision next June.

 

Just how busy is the summer schedule? It gets going right away, with the Cape Cod League opener on the college side and the Perfect Game National Showcase, which begins Thursday, for high school players. It runs until late August with the Under Armour All-America Game in Chicago. A look at a very busy few months for scouts:

 

June 12: Cape Cod League begins

June 13-17: Perfect Game National Showcase, Minneapolis

June 19-23: USA Baseball Tournament of Stars, Cary, N.C.

July 23-25: USA Baseball Breakthrough Series, Cary/Durham, N.C.

July 27: Cape Cod League All-Star Game, South Yarmouth, Mass.

July 31-Aug. 3: East Coast Professional Showcase, Syracuse, N.Y.

Aug. 5-10: Area Code Games, Long Beach, Calif.

Aug. 11: Perfect Game All-American Classic, San Diego

Aug. 24: Under Armour All-America Game, Chicago

 

That's the when. How about the who? Obviously, summer performances will go a long way toward determining any kind of rankings for the Draft Class of 2014. But here's a quick look at an early top 20 in terms of potential high-end talent.

 

1. Carlos Rodon, LHP, North Carolina State: The Wolfpack are headed to the College World Series, and Rodon is a big reason why. Even after starting slowly, the big lefty has gone 9-2 with a 3.19 ERA and 170 strikeouts in 118 1/3 innings. There is almost universal consensus that Rodon is the early choice to be No. 1 in 2014.

 

2. Tyler Beede, RHP, Vanderbilt: Beede, who didn't sign as a first-rounder in 2011, is a Golden Spikes Award finalist thanks to a 14-1 record, a 2.32 ERA and a .187 batting average against.

 

3. Alex Jackson, C, Rancho Bernardo HS, Calif.: A two-time participant in the Under Armour game, Jackson has some serious raw power from the right side and is a good leader with an accurate arm.

 

4. Touki Toussaint, RHP, Coral Springs Christian HS, Fla.: This Florida prepster is very athletic with a ton of arm strength, using a clean delivery to fire fastballs that can touch the mid-90s to go along with a hard downer curve.

 

5. Aaron Nola, RHP, Louisiana State: What's a Draft class without a top LSU arm? Nola was LSU's Friday starter this year, going 12-0 with a 1.68 ERA, striking out nearly a batter per inning while holding hitters to a .187 BAA.

 

6. Trea Turner, SS, N.C. State: He's a shortstop who can stay there, a leadoff hitter extraordinaire with plus-plus speed that allowed him to steal 84 bases in his first two seasons of college ball.

 

7. Nick Gordon, RHP/SS, Olympia HS, Fla.: The son of Tom and brother of Dee, Gordon is a legitimate two-way guy who can play shortstop and hit from the left side. He's athletic on the mound, too, with a low-90s fastball and a big curve.

 

8. Michael Cederoth, RHP, San Diego State: The 6-foot-6 right-hander's numbers this year weren't outstanding, thanks largely to some command issues, but he did strike out 109 in 95 1/3 innings and sported an upper-90s fastball at times.

 

9. Nick Burdi, RHP, Louisville: It's not often a college closer gets ranked this highly, but Burdi reportedly hit triple digits during the 2013 season, striking out 61 in 34 2/3 innings.

 

10. Dylan Cease, RHP, Milton HS, Ga.: This year's Draft was partly about the outfielders in Georgia. Cease will make 2014 about pitching, as the right-hander has a loose, electric arm that touched 97 mph this past spring to go along with a good breaking ball and a feel for a changeup.

 

The rest of the top 20:

 

11. Jacob Gatewood, SS, Clovis HS, Calif.

12. Brady Aiken, LHP, Cathedral Catholic HS, Calif.

13. Michael Gettys, OF/RHP, Gainesville HS, Ga.

14. Derek Fisher, OF, Virginia

15. Kel Johnson, OF, Home schooled, Ga.

16. Michael Kopech, RHP, Mt. Pleasant HS, Texas

17. Justus Sheffield, LHP, Tullahoma HS, Tenn.

18. Jack Flaherty, RHP/3B, Harvard Westlake HS, Calif.

19. Mike Conforto, OF, Oregon St.

20. Luke Weaver, RHP, Florida State

[GD]

How the holy f***ing hell is Gareth Morgan not in the top 20?

 

Justus Sheffield, Aaron Nola, Touki Toissant, all great names (Touki :3) that I like a lot, but we REALLY need Jackson if he's good enough to go 3rd.

[Deadpool]

So, Back to BBB's list...

Looks like rounds 2-6 have all signed, 7 is a "likely sign", 9 and 10 signed, 12, 13, 16, 18 (HS pitcher from Pickering, Ont. $75,000), 21, 23, 24, 27, 28.

 

Unfortunately it doesn't look like Rowdy Telez will sign, which sucks because dat name!

 

Also, 4 UFA signings:

 

UFA Corey Gorman LHP Univ. of Scrantan (PA) Signed

UFA Cale Wine RHP Univ. of Louisiana at Monroe (LA) Signed

UFA Joey Lovecchio RHP Univ. of South Florida Signed

UFA Koby Kraemer 3B/IF Indiana State Signed

[GD]

Any news on Brentz? Please tell me we got Brentz.

[imsorry4beatinU]

For reference in case Bickford pulls a Beede on us. Here's the top 20 for the 2014 draft.

 

http://mlb.mlb.com//news/article.jsp?ymd=20130611&content_id=50293726&vkey=news_mlb&c_id=mlb

 

So we drafted Beede, Nola and Luke Weaver? and possibly Wiper in the top 50? Boy they were right when they said Blue Jays were Aggressive. We just let go 4 of the top ones tho... haha wow

Edited June 13, 2013 by imsorry4beatinU

[ace3113]

How the holy f***ing hell is Gareth Morgan not in the top 20?

 

Justus Sheffield, Aaron Nola, Touki Toissant, all great names (Touki :3) that I like a lot, but we REALLY need Jackson if he's good enough to go 3rd.

 

Jackson is a crazy good player. Plus-plus arm solid speed but it's the bat and the power that will make AA drool. Watch some clips of him. I swear he will literally tear the cover off the baseball like Robert Redford in the Natural someday with how hard he hits it.

 

Jacob Gatewood is very similar as well, minus the running speed, but with an arguably better arm.

 

Gareth Morgan is not presently in a lot of top 20s but that could change with a good Perfect Game Classic or Under Armour game this summer or a good spring next year. Right now scouts see a lot of swing and miss in his game, and holes in his swing. Better for us anyway, if he keeps falling to our second pick.

[GD]

Jackson is a crazy good player. Plus-plus arm solid speed but it's the bat and the power that will make AA drool. Watch some clips of him. I swear he will literally tear the cover off the baseball like Robert Redford in the Natural someday with how hard he hits it.

 

Jacob Gatewood is very similar as well, minus the running speed, but with an arguably better arm.

 

Gareth Morgan is not presently in a lot of top 20s but that could change with a good Perfect Game Classic or Under Armour game this summer or a good spring next year. Right now scouts see a lot of swing and miss in his game, and holes in his swing. Better for us anyway, if he keeps falling to our second pick.

 

Got any nice clips you like? Want to watch some video on him in the morning. A catcher to replace JP would be so amazing.

 

What's up with all these Jacobs? Marisnick, Anderson, Brentz, haha.

 

That would be great. Crazy athlete.

[TheHurl]

How the holy f***ing hell is Gareth Morgan not in the top 20?

 

Justus Sheffield, Aaron Nola, Touki Toissant, all great names (Touki :3) that I like a lot, but we REALLY need Jackson if he's good enough to go 3rd.

 

Morgan drops until the summer...then he plays against the top players and if he's successful he climbs again. Part of staying in Toronto. He's hardly a lock for top 20 though.

[GD]

Morgan drops until the summer...then he plays against the top players and if he's successful he climbs again. Part of staying in Toronto. He's hardly a lock for top 20 though.

 

Him dropping to the second round would be so purty.

[Angrioter]

Update

 

 

Signing

02-Clinton Hollon RHP

03-Patrick Murphy RHP

04-Evan Smith LHP

05-Daniel Lietz LHP

06-Matt Boyd LHP

07-Conner Greene RHP Likely signing

09-Chad Girodo LHP

10-Garrett Custons C

12-Tim Mayza LHP

13-Timothy Locastro SS

16-Danny Jansen C

18-Sean Ratcliffe RHP ($75K)

21-Mike Reeves

22-Sam Tewes RHP Likely signing

23-B. Kalfus OF

24-Sean Hurley OF

27-Andrew Florides SS

28-Matt Dermody LHP

30-Rowdy Tellez 1B Likely signing

UFA-Corey Gorman LHP

UFA-Cale Wine RHP

UFA Joey Lovecchio RHP

UFA Koby Kraemer 3B/IF