2014 MLB Draft: An Early Look

[ace3113]

Ok, here's what I found.

 

223. Cre Finfrock, RHP, Martin County HS, Stuart, Fla.

 

Finfrock has one of the quicker arms in the high school class and has shown consistent 92-94 mph velocity this spring, touching 96. He has some deception to his delivery, hiding the ball well, and his fastball plays up with plus life. His breaking ball has at least average potential, though it can get sweepy. His changeup flashes average. Finfrock throws strikes and projects for at least average control, but he'll have to overcome the bias against short high school righthanders. He is 5-foot-11, 166 pounds, leading many evaluators to project him in the bullpen and push him down draft boards. The Central Florida commit missed time down the stretch with a hand injury.

[ace3113]

Here's what BA has on Castellani. Surprising to see no mention of Houck in their top 500. He looks a lot better than some of the guys on that list.

 

98. Ryan Castellani, RHP, Brophy Prep, Phoenix

 

Castellani has been a known entity in scouting circles for some time, showcasing draftable stuff for the last three years and showing well at the Tournament of Stars as an underclassman. While his stuff has not progressed quite as much as scouts who saw him two years ago had hoped, he has present stuff, pitchability and an ideal pitcher’s body. After touching the mid-90s early in the spring, Castellani has settled in at 88-92 mph, similar velocity to what he showed as an underclassman. His fastball plays up with downhill plane, heavy sink and arm-side run at its best. He is a strike-thrower who can locate to both sides of the plate with the potential for at least average control. He has a four-pitch mix, with both his slider and changeup flashing above-average at their best, while his curveball shows average potential. His secondary stuff has some inconsistencies and will need to be sharpened. At 6-foot-3, 198 pounds with broad shoulders and long extremities, the Arizona State commit offers a projectable physique with some present strength.

[ace3113]

Ok, that's it. This is my dude. From what I've seen I just have a really good feeling about this kid. I hope someone takes him in a signable round so I can see how he does.

 

 

[TwistedLogic]

Yeah I'm jumping on Ace's Castellani bandwagon. Feels like a strong pick for where he's ranked.

[ace3113]

Nice. Let it be us.

 

http://www.nytimes.com/2014/06/01/sports/baseball/a-future-barely-dimmed-by-elbow-surgery.html?smid=tw-share&_r=1

 

East Carolina pitcher Jeff Hoffman, who was universally projected to be a top-of-the-first-round pick before an elbow injury that resulted in Tommy John surgery, isn’t going to enjoy following the first round of the draft. “The competitor in me makes it hard for me to see, maybe, a bunch of guys get picked ahead of me — guys that I know aren’t better than me, some guys out of high school that don’t really understand the game of baseball yet,” says Hoffman. Nonetheless, he remains confident in his ability, and he hasn’t changed his goal of helping a big-league team within two years. “[E]verything happens for a reason, and whatever team takes the so-called risk and drafts me is going to get the best player in the draft.”

[GD]

Oh s***, that's some confidence. I really want this guy lol.

[TwistedLogic]

Yeah I just read that article and I was going to say the same thing, that is some incredible confidence, and for some reason it doesn't even come off as cocky to me, I don't know, maybe that's just me. I'm begging for him to fall to the Jays and I'm begging for the Jays to pick him. It just scares me that teams are going to have smartened up and understood that TJS is barely a concern anymore; I mean just look at Giolito's stock right now.

[ace3113]

New video of Freeland pitching in his conference tournament. I know it's not likely but if we somehow got him and Hoffman at 9 and 11 I might actually squeal like a little girl.

 

[TwistedLogic]

New video of Freeland pitching in his conference tournament. I know it's not likely but if we somehow got him and Hoffman at 9 and 11 I might actually squeal like a little girl.

 

 

The probability of Turner and Toussaint instead is bothering me :/

 

Would you be happy if Nola slid to 9 and the Jays took him? I don't really like Toussaint's delivery, he looks like an injury risk.

 

I'm really worried that they might not even be in on Hoffman. AA very subtly implied that the Jays might go for a hitter or a college guy in the first round this year, and if it's true that they've already got a deal with Toussaint in place, that leaves Hoffman out.

[GD]

Jays probably aren't gonna go for Nola imo.

 

I think they're definitely in on Hoffman, though. Seems like a perfect fit.

 

Money is on Turner/Hoffman, hoping for Conforto or Zimmer or Freeland and Hoffman. Don't think we're in on Pentecost, unfortunately.

[TwistedLogic]

They can pick whatever the hell they want as long as they take Hoffman. If they draft him, they can take Turner, Toussaint, Conforto, don't care, I like them all.

 

Though I'm hoping they don't reach for Howard.

 

Stupid draft needs to come sooner >.<

[ace3113]

The probability of Turner and Toussaint instead is bothering me :/

 

Would you be happy if Nola slid to 9 and the Jays took him? I don't really like Toussaint's delivery, he looks like an injury risk.

 

I'm really worried that they might not even be in on Hoffman. AA very subtly implied that the Jays might go for a hitter or a college guy in the first round this year, and if it's true that they've already got a deal with Toussaint in place, that leaves Hoffman out.

 

I'm not that high on Toussaint. The ceiling is enormous but the delivery and lack of command scare me. Given the amount of pitching available in this draft with comparable stuff and much better command I would want someone else to take the risk on Touki.

[TwistedLogic]

I'm not that high on Toussaint. The ceiling is enormous but the delivery and lack of command scare me. Given the amount of pitching available in this draft with comparable stuff and much better command I would want someone else to take the risk on Touki.

 

I agree on Touki, but what about Nola? And would you prefer Turner to Touki?

[43211234]

I agree on Touki, but what about Nola?

Sounds like Nola will be gone by the time the Blue Jays pick.

 

I'd love Touki and Hoffman. Law being so sour on Trea Turner scares me off him.

[TwistedLogic]

Sounds like Nola will be gone by the time the Blue Jays pick.

 

I'd love Touki and Hoffman. Law being so sour on Trea Turner scares me off him.

 

It's a possibility, but there's also a possibility that Nola slides a bit. This is going to be a really volatile draft and I don't think it's going to be easy to predict where everyone goes, which is why the mocks keep changing so much, so quickly.

 

I feel like best case scenario is Gordon and Hoffman. I also don't mind Schwarber or Conforto there, but if the Jays decide that they don't want a bat, I want them to go after Nola if he's available. If he isn't, I think I do like Toussaint more than the other guys available at that spot.

 

@ace, who's your ideal arm at 9, assuming the good players get picked where they're mostly expected to get picked? In other words, who's the guy you prefer alternative to Touki?

[GD]

I don't want Nola or Touki. I don't think Nola will get to us or we want him - he probably would have been linked to us - but Touki has sounded like a pretty obvious fit here as well. I don't want him.

[ace3113]

It's a possibility, but there's also a possibility that Nola slides a bit. This is going to be a really volatile draft and I don't think it's going to be easy to predict where everyone goes, which is why the mocks keep changing so much, so quickly.

 

I feel like best case scenario is Gordon and Hoffman. I also don't mind Schwarber or Conforto there, but if the Jays decide that they don't want a bat, I want them to go after Nola if he's available. If he isn't, I think I do like Toussaint more than the other guys available at that spot.

 

@ace, who's your ideal arm at 9, assuming the good players get picked where they're mostly expected to get picked? In other words, who's the guy you prefer alternative to Touki?

 

If Freeland's not an option my hope is probably Holmes if it's a pitcher. Not the most pictureques physique and doesn't have much if any projection, but pure power stuff with his fastball 92-94 (supposedly up to 98), hard breaking slider, and he's got pretty good command for a high school kid.

[Angrioter]

Would you be happy if McGuire slid to 9 and the Jays took him? I don't really like Chris Sale delivery, he looks like an injury risk.

 

Sound familiar?

[Angrioter]

If Freeland's not an option my hope is probably Holmes if it's a pitcher. Not the most pictureques physique and doesn't have much if any projection, but pure power stuff with his fastball 92-94 (supposedly up to 98), hard breaking slider, and he's got pretty good command for a high school kid.

 

Freeland is hurt...Am I right?

[ace3113]

Freeland is hurt...Am I right?

 

I don't think so. It would be big news if he was though.

[crazy47larry]

i really hope they just pick hoffman at #9. i dont want to play games with a potential talent like that. AA is not averse to injury risk at all and has capitalized on this in the past several times (smorals foot and hollons arm come to mind) which gives me hope. i am starting to think he doesnt make it to us though.

 

this could follow the similar davis/stroman script from before though which slightly worries me. they could draft the speedy, athletic, highly projectable, low feel, and kind of raw speed demon in trea turner then grab the sliding high potential but discounted college arm in hoffman. turner vexes me and i hope the jays dont pick him but he seems like the only bat we would pick with one of those top picks, and i would hope to get at least one bat early on.

[GD]

Hoffman at 9 isn't a bad idea, but it really depends on who's off the board.

[GD]

I can't remember a draft in recent years in which everyone and their mothers knew who we were taking lol. It just seems like these are perfect fits.

[GD]

Why do you think it is a perfect fit?

 

The org's been constantly linked to them, they're in our pick range, they fit the scouting bill (up the middle talent Turner, risk/reward Hoffman). I still think Conforto>Zimmer>Turner, but IIRC, AA has always stressed up the middle talent.

[GD]

Lugo's playing like s***, isn't he? Barreto isn't sticking at short. I wouldn't be worrying about the DSL. Again, I don't know if Turner is the BPA, but you don't pass up a first round talent because of position. You fill out positions in the later rounds, and in the earlier rounds, you take the BPA in your eyes and worry about positions later.

[GD]

Lugo hit .324 in the month of May (~~115 wRC+)

 

Full sample is still 89 wRC+. Hopefully he'll be looking up, but again, you don't just pass up on Turner (if he's the BPA in their eyes) for someone worse because of position.

[GeorgiaPeach]

If we took Hoffman @ 9, is Monte Harrison too much of a reach at 11?

[GD]

If we took Hoffman @ 9, is Monte Harrison too much of a reach at 11?

 

Probably, yeah, but I totally see why you're thinking about him. He's gonna be really good imo.

 

If we went Hoffman/9, Monte/11, signed them underslot, and then started taking all of the tough signs, I'd be fine with that. Of all of the off-the-board/reaching guys at 11, Monte is my favorite. And then Schwarber/Pentecost.

[GD]

Small feature on Gareth Morgan rn on pre-game.

[Angrioter]

We are clogged at the SS position

 

Dunedin - Emiliooooo

Lansing - Lugo

Vancouver - Barreto

Bluefield - Urena

GCL - Gudino

DSL - Vasquez/Almonte/Severino

 

Barreto ceiling is high but..............2B or CF. We must improve our MIF or centerline; Trea #11 (Gordon out of the board) and Hoffman/Nola #9