2014 Blue Jays Draft | Signings, Bonuses and Rumors Thread

TwistedLogic · June 7, 2014

Toronto Blue Jays (2014) First Year Player Draft

2014 Bonus Pool: $9,458,500

Total Bonus Pool (+5%): $9,931,425

[center][size=2][color="#000000"][b]01|Jeff Hoffman		[color="#A9A9A9"]($3,080,800)[/color]|[color="#4B0082"]$3,080,800	[/color]
01|Max Pentecost	[color="#A9A9A9"]($2,888,300)[/color]|[color="#4B0082"]$2,888,300	[/color]
02|Sean Reid-Foley	[color="#A9A9A9"]($1,128,800)[/color]|[color="#4B0082"]$1,128,800	[/color]
03|Nick Wells		[color="#A9A9A9"]($0,661,800)[/color]|[color="#4B0082"]$0,661,800	[/color]
04|Matt Morgan		[color="#A9A9A9"]($0,458,000)[/color]|[color="#4B0082"]$0,300,000	[/color]
05|Lane Thomas		[color="#A9A9A9"]($0,343,000)[/color]|[color="#4B0082"]$0,750,000	[/color]
06|Grayson Huffman	[color="#A9A9A9"]($0,256,800)[/color]|[color="#4B0082"]$0,225,000	[/color]
07|Zach Zehner		[color="#A9A9A9"]($0,192,400)[/color]|[color="#4B0082"]$	[/color]	
08|Justin Shafer	[color="#A9A9A9"]($0,159,900)[/color]|[color="#4B0082"]$0,125,000	[/color]
09|Ryan Metzler		[color="#A9A9A9"]($0,149,300)[/color]|[color="#4B0082"]$0,010,000	[/color]
10|Jordan Romano	[color="#A9A9A9"]($0,139,400)[/color]|[color="#4B0082"]$0,025,000	[/color]
11|Jake Latz		[color="#A9A9A9"]($0,100,000)[/color]|[color="#4B0082"]$	[/color]	
12|Tanner Houck		[color="#A9A9A9"]($0,100,000)[/color]|[color="#4B0082"]$	[/color]	
13|Gunnar Heidt		[color="#A9A9A9"]($0,100,000)[/color]|[color="#4B0082"]$[color="#A9A9A9"]SIGNED[/color]	[/color]
14|Chase Mallard	[color="#A9A9A9"]($0,100,000)[/color]|[color="#4B0082"]$[color="#A9A9A9"]SIGNED[/color]	[/color]
15|Ryan McBroom		[color="#A9A9A9"]($0,100,000)[/color]|[color="#4B0082"]$[color="#A9A9A9"]SIGNED[/color]	[/color]
16|Michael Papierski	[color="#A9A9A9"]($0,100,000)[/color]|[color="#4B0082"]$	[/color]	
17|Quinn Carpenter	[color="#A9A9A9"]($0,100,000)[/color]|[color="#4B0082"]$	[/color]	
18|Dusty Isaacs		[color="#A9A9A9"]($0,100,000)[/color]|[color="#4B0082"]$[color="#A9A9A9"]SIGNED[/color]	[/color]
19|Cliff Brantley	[color="#A9A9A9"]($0,100,000)[/color]|[color="#4B0082"]$[color="#A9A9A9"]SIGNED[/color]	[/color]
20|Aaron Attaway	[color="#A9A9A9"]($0,100,000)[/color]|[color="#4B0082"]$[color="#A9A9A9"]SIGNED[/color]	[/color]
21|Drew Lugbauer	[color="#A9A9A9"]($0,100,000)[/color]|[color="#4B0082"]$	[/color]	
22|Todd Isaacs Jr.	[color="#A9A9A9"]($0,100,000)[/color]|[color="#4B0082"]$	[/color]	
23|Zach Pop		[color="#A9A9A9"]($0,100,000)[/color]|[color="#4B0082"]$	[/color]	
24|Conor Fisk		[color="#A9A9A9"]($0,100,000)[/color]|[color="#4B0082"]$[color="#A9A9A9"]SIGNED[/color]	[/color]
25|Rob Winemiller	[color="#A9A9A9"]($0,100,000)[/color]|[color="#4B0082"]$	[/color]	
26|Bobby Wheatley	[color="#A9A9A9"]($0,100,000)[/color]|[color="#4B0082"]$[color="#A9A9A9"]SIGNED[/color]	[/color]
27|Owen Taylor		[color="#A9A9A9"]($0,100,000)[/color]|[color="#4B0082"]$	[/color]	
28|Chris Carlson	[color="#A9A9A9"]($0,100,000)[/color]|[color="#4B0082"]$[color="#A9A9A9"]SIGNED[/color]	[/color]
29|Chris Murphy		[color="#A9A9A9"]($0,100,000)[/color]|[color="#4B0082"]$	[/color]	
30|Kevin Garcia		[color="#A9A9A9"]($0,100,000)[/color]|[color="#4B0082"]$[color="#A9A9A9"]SIGNED[/color]	[/color]
31|David Pepe		[color="#A9A9A9"]($0,100,000)[/color]|[color="#4B0082"]$[color="#A9A9A9"]SIGNED[/color]	[/color]
32|JT Autrey		[color="#A9A9A9"]($0,100,000)[/color]|[color="#4B0082"]$[color="#A9A9A9"]SIGNED[/color]	[/color]
33|Chase Wellbrock	[color="#A9A9A9"]($0,100,000)[/color]|[color="#4B0082"]$[color="#A9A9A9"]SIGNED[/color]	[/color]
34|Brandon Hinkle	[color="#A9A9A9"]($0,100,000)[/color]|[color="#4B0082"]$[color="#A9A9A9"]SIGNED[/color]	[/color]
35|Joey Aquino		[color="#A9A9A9"]($0,100,000)[/color]|[color="#4B0082"]$[color="#A9A9A9"]SIGNED[/color]	[/color]
36|Yan Rivera		[color="#A9A9A9"]($0,100,000)[/color]|[color="#4B0082"]$	[/color]	
37|Michael Kraft	[color="#A9A9A9"]($0,100,000)[/color]|[color="#4B0082"]$[color="#A9A9A9"]SIGNED[/color]	[/color]
38|Keith Weisenberg	[color="#A9A9A9"]($0,100,000)[/color]|[color="#4B0082"]$	[/color]	
39|James Lynch		[color="#A9A9A9"]($0,100,000)[/color]|[color="#4B0082"]$[color="#A9A9A9"]SIGNED[/color]	[/color]
40|Trent Miller		[color="#A9A9A9"]($0,100,000)[/color]|[color="#4B0082"]$[color="#A9A9A9"]SIGNED[/color]	[/color]

FA|Austin Davis		[color="#FFFFFF"]($0,000,000)[/color]|[color="#4B0082"]SIGNED	[/color]
FA|Joe Claver		[color="#FFFFFF"]($0,000,000)[/color]|[color="#4B0082"]SIGNED	[/color]
FA|Jonathon Wandling	[color="#FFFFFF"]($0,000,000)[/color]|[color="#4B0082"]SIGNED	[/color]
FA|Brett Wellman 	[color="#FFFFFF"]($0,000,000)[/color]|[color="#4B0082"]SIGNED	[/color]
FA|Turner Lee		[color="#FFFFFF"]($0,000,000)[/color]|[color="#4B0082"]SIGNED	[/color]
[/b][/color][/size][/center]

Amount of Pool Used: $9,194,700

Pool Used vs Slot: $9,266,100

Total Slot Savings: $71,400

5% Overage Allowance: $472,925

Excess Budget Available: $544,325

Remaining Budget (+5%): $665,325

Edited July 9, 2014 by TwistedLogic

TwistedLogic · June 7, 2014

http://i.gyazo.com/84c2921dd752d152b05cd5b687dbc917.png

SAAviour · June 7, 2014

Nice thread...please keep updating it. Thanks!

TwistedLogic · June 7, 2014

TL, can you take screenshots of the Jays draft tracker page (on here http://mlb.mlb.com/mlb/events/draft/y2014/drafttracker.jsp#ft=round&fv=26) once the draft is over and post it in the OP?

Will definitely do that. I already have one in the 2nd or 3rd OP for the results of the past two days, but once its done, I'll reformat the thread and bring it to the main post.

P2F · June 7, 2014

This article says Matt Morgan will sign.

ace3113 · June 7, 2014

Great job to King and Twisted for keeping us all up to date. Yoeman's work you guys put in.

flafson · June 7, 2014

Now sign on the dotted line!!

You can be a great agent, haha.

Angrioter · June 7, 2014

Now, we need a Ranking of our 40 new guys.

1-Hoffman

2-Reid-Foley

3-Pentecost

4-Weisenberg

5-Wells

6-Thomas

7-Houck

8-Latz

GD · June 7, 2014

1. Hoffman

2. Pentecost

3. SRF

4. Wells

5. Latz

6. Houck

7. Thomas

8. Weisenberg

Maahfaace · June 8, 2014

GSnarls, Chappy, Admin or Hurl, could we get a lock on all the Draft GDTs? Just so that everything will now be ITT and we won't have so many threads on the go

King, why aren't you a moderator? You contribute more than anyone on this Site, seems silly that you have to ask to have threads modified

GD · June 8, 2014

I think King would actually be a solid mod

But the ones we have now are damn good so eh

Oh and yeah we should probably ban Metallitard's fourth account

Angrioter · June 8, 2014

Drew Lugbauer

Arlington High School senior Drew Lugbauer was selected in the 21st round of the Major League Baseball First-Year Player Draft by the Toronto Blue Jays on Saturday.

"It's probably the greatest feeling in the world. I couldn't be more excited,'' said Lugbauer, who added he's still planning to play next season at the University of Michigan.

"I hope in three years I can take the two off that number and be a first rounder.''

Lugbauer, a 6-foot-3, 220-pound catcher, signed a National Letter of Intent and is scheduled to be a catcher next season at Michigan.

"We spoke to the Blue Jays before the draft and they knew I was going to school. I'm really thankful they selected me,'' Lugbauer said.

"I'm going to keep doing what I've been doing and try to develop as a player to the best of my ability (at Michigan).''

Thanks

Maahfaace · June 8, 2014

so what is the point of drafting Drew Lugbauer if he's fully committed to college? Was he just a back up we could throw a ton of money at in case we didnt sign morgan, pentacost or that papainksi kid?

ace3113 · June 8, 2014

Not sure if this will work, but some video of our picks.

Jeff Hoffman:

http://player.ooyala.com/iframe.html?ec=RoMmYybjogiylqBv-7Cl7GtqmUvvT7oj&pbid=54336dcb785040c480af63ffdc2b2d97&platform=html5-fallback#ooid=RoMmYybjogiylqBv-7Cl7GtqmUvvT7oj

Max Pentecost:

http://player.ooyala.com/iframe.html?ec=xnM3I2bjqWeuCOCUcxmhU92SJcHR-ZG2&pbid=54336dcb785040c480af63ffdc2b2d97&platform=html5-fallback#ooid=xnM3I2bjqWeuCOCUcxmhU92SJcHR-ZG2

Sean Reid-Foley:

http://player.ooyala.com/iframe.html?ec=BsZ2xzazrm2t3PnPw36pmrdjxCMffGu6&pbid=54336dcb785040c480af63ffdc2b2d97&platform=html5-fallback#ooid=BsZ2xzazrm2t3PnPw36pmrdjxCMffGu6

Nick Wells:

http://player.ooyala.com/iframe.html?ec=c4NzgzbjrFfWAQTzC1YjRDA1L8wEKejJ&pbid=54336dcb785040c480af63ffdc2b2d97&platform=html5-fallback#ooid=c4NzgzbjrFfWAQTzC1YjRDA1L8wEKejJ

Matt Morgan:

http://player.ooyala.com/iframe.html?ec=Q3eDczbjqfheJbq7I2JJENKdxX56wiV4&pbid=54336dcb785040c480af63ffdc2b2d97&platform=html5-fallback#ooid=Q3eDczbjqfheJbq7I2JJENKdxX56wiV4

Lane Thomas:

http://player.ooyala.com/iframe.html?ec=pmY2k1bjoPpu1HJehN2G9hoZA9o6Y7Z0&pbid=54336dcb785040c480af63ffdc2b2d97&platform=html5-fallback#ooid=pmY2k1bjoPpu1HJehN2G9hoZA9o6Y7Z0

Jake Latz:

http://player.ooyala.com/iframe.html?ec=ljaGk1bjpVmzL2wuGRftbC5Vb_umlqVT&pbid=54336dcb785040c480af63ffdc2b2d97&platform=html5-fallback#ooid=ljaGk1bjpVmzL2wuGRftbC5Vb_umlqVT

Todd Isaacs:

http://player.ooyala.com/iframe.html?ec=4wcGk1bjqJyCkrEtNQ6P3pxZn9B4-Kj0&pbid=54336dcb785040c480af63ffdc2b2d97&platform=html5-fallback#ooid=4wcGk1bjqJyCkrEtNQ6P3pxZn9B4-Kj0

Angrioter · June 8, 2014

Hoffman kid

“When I started meeting with the Blue Jays, I got a real good sense of what the organization was about and I know that they’re an organization that’s up-and-coming,” Hoffman said. “They’re ready to win and they’re ready to win now. … As soon as I can, as soon as I’m back on the mound, I’m going to try to make an impact on that team.”

TwistedLogic · June 8, 2014

so what is the point of drafting Drew Lugbauer if he's fully committed to college? Was he just a back up we could throw a ton of money at in case we didnt sign morgan, pentacost or that papainksi kid?

This is a common misconception, so I thought I'd just clear it up. If you fail to sign one of your picks, you can't use that money elsewhere. You'll lose that portion of your slotted budget. Your only viable option for these cases is to sign someone significantly below their slot, and then allocate the leftover slot dollars on another player.

They probably made this rule to prevent teams from abusing their budgets. An example: someone punts the top overall pick by drafting a no-named JuCo kid at 1.1 and then uses 8 million dollars to sign six 1st-2rd round talents.

Ziggyy108 · June 8, 2014

This is a common misconception, so I thought I'd just clear it up. If you fail to sign one of your picks, you can't use that money elsewhere. You'll lose that portion of your slotted budget. Your only viable option for these cases is to sign someone significantly below their slot, and then allocate the leftover slot dollars on another player.

They probably made this rule to prevent teams from abusing their budgets. An example: someone punts the top overall pick by drafting a no-named JuCo kid at 1.1 and then uses 8 million dollars to sign six 1st-2rd round talents.

That would be so amazing if a top 3 team took a college senior that signed for around $5000

Ziggyy108 · June 8, 2014

http://i.imgur.com/no2gRjV.png

Todd Isaacs Jr.

Thats sick.

Ziggyy108 · June 8, 2014

Hoffman kid

“When I started meeting with the Blue Jays, I got a real good sense of what the organization was about and I know that they’re an organization that’s up-and-coming,” Hoffman said. “They’re ready to win and they’re ready to win now. … As soon as I can, as soon as I’m back on the mound, I’m going to try to make an impact on that team.”

Beautiful ....

When's the earliest we could see him??? Around next september if he can come back healthy and show his talent???

Ziggyy108 · June 8, 2014

1. Hoffman
2. Pentecost
3. SRF
4. Wells
5. Latz
6. Houck
7. Thomas
8. Weisenberg

It's disturbing that the potentially 8th best player taken by us in the draft was a 38th round pick. I understand how the draft and CBA works but it's still stilly.

I'm guessing though you don't know much of anything about any of the other guys we took and are just basing your list of BA or MLB lists.

GD · June 8, 2014

It's disturbing that the potentially 8th best player taken by us in the draft was a 38th round pick. I understand how the draft and CBA works but it's still stilly.

I'm guessing though you don't know much of anything about any of the other guys we took and are just basing your list of BA or MLB lists.

Me? I've studied Hoffman a fair bit, Pentecost a lot, Wells a good bit, SRF a fair bit, Latz a lot, Houck not really, Thomas a bit, and Weisenberg not really.

Angrioter · June 8, 2014

http://i.imgur.com/no2gRjV.png

Todd Isaacs Jr.

Ceiling: Eury Perez - arm

TwistedLogic · June 8, 2014

Lugbauer not signing ---> TL update OP

Well it says that he's planning on playing in college next season, but I wouldn't say that's completely definitive. The Jays have probably yet to talk to him. Plans change. Rowdy's did. Let's wait to see what ends up happening when the dust settles.

http://i.imgur.com/no2gRjV.png

Todd Isaacs Jr.

Hilarious. Does this mean that Isaacs is signing?

Angrioter · June 8, 2014

Well it says that he's planning on playing in college next season, but I wouldn't say that's completely definitive. The Jays have probably yet to talk to him. Plans change. Rowdy's did. Let's wait to see what ends up happening when the dust settles.

Hilarious. Does this mean that Isaacs is signing?

Afro, dumb and can run.......................Rajai Davis?

TwistedLogic · June 8, 2014

Gunnar Heidt is signing. Chalk him up!

http://www.postandcourier.com/article/20140607/PC20/140609339

"We talked money before the draft and they gave me what I was looking for," Heidt said. "I'm not ready for my college career to end just yet."

Wait so he got what he's looking for, but is also not ready for his college career to end? What does that even mean? I guess I'll put him down as signing for now.

ace3113 · June 8, 2014

Ace, do you have anything from PG/BA on Chris Murphy? I am very interested in this guy we've drafted.

Read more: http://www.lowellsun.com/latestnews/ci_25920226/blue-jays-draft-chris-murphy#ixzz340hPuWWD

He's a monster

I'll check. I haven't checked the PG website since Wednesday. They usually don't do a ton of post-Draft stuff.

TwistedLogic · June 8, 2014

Draft Signings: Twins, Royals, Rangers, D’Backs, Cubs

By Charlie Wilmoth [June 7, 2014 at 9:14pm CDT]

Here’s a roundup of today’s key news regarding signings from the draft.

The Twins have agreed to a slightly below-slot bonus with 9th rounder Matt Murphy, tweets Callis. The Bradley outfielder will get $130K, just over $20K below his slot amount.
A few more drafted players have agreed to terms with the Royals, per Pete Grathoff of the Kansas City Star (Twitter link), though bonus amounts have not yet been reported. High school shortstop Dawon Burt (fourth round; $420K slot) and Texas A&M righty Corey Ray (fifth round; $314K slot) are both in agreement, joining sixth-rounder Logan Moon (see below).
The Rangers have agreed to terms with fourth-rounder Brett Martin on a $475K deal, MLB.com’s Jim Callis tweets. The deal comes in $67K above the $408K bonus pool value of the pick. The lefty Martin hails from a Tennessee junior college.
The Rangers have also agreed to terms with tenth-rounder and Abilene Christian catcher Seth Spivey for $10K, tweets MLB Daily Dish’s Chris Cotillo. The signing would allow the Rangers to save about $128K against their bonus pool, which would appear to help them balance their budget after the Martin signing is complete.
The Diamondbacks have signed third-rounder Matt Railey, the outfielder himself tweets. Railey, a Florida high-schooler, had a commitment to Florida State. There is no immediate word on his bonus, but the pool value of the pick is $603K.
The Cubs have agreed to terms with third-rounder and Virginia Tech catcher Mark Zagunis for $615K, Cotillo tweets. The deal saves the Cubs about $100K against the draft pool value of the pick.
The Astros have agreed to terms with eighth-rounder Bobby Boyd, MLB.com’s Brian McTaggart reports. There is no immediate word on a bonus for the junior outfielder from West Virginia University, but pool value for that pick is around $163K. McTaggart also reports that the Astros have agreed to terms with tenth-rounder Jay Gause, a junior pitcher from Faulkner University. The pool value for Gause’s pick is $142K.
Georgia high school lefty Mac Marshall plans to head to LSU rather than going pro, the pitcher himself tweets. MLB.com had ranked Marshall the No. 66 prospect in the draft, but he was not taken until the 21st round by Houston, surely due in large part to teams’ awareness of his reluctance to sign.
The Reds have agreed to terms with fifth-rounder Tejay Antone, a tall righty from a Texas community college, at the bonus-pool figure of $308K, Cotillo tweets. Antone had planned to head to Auburn next year if he didn’t end up signing.
The Royals have agreed to terms with sixth-round pick Logan Moon, Cotillo tweets. The senior outfielder from Missouri Southern will get less than the bonus pool value of about $235K.

ace3113 · June 8, 2014

Ace, do you have anything from PG/BA on Chris Murphy? I am very interested in this guy we've drafted.

Sorry, nothing on Murphy but I'll post PG's notes on all of our draft picks along with their PG 500 ranking.

11. Jeff Hoffman, rhp, East Carolina University (JR)
R-R, 6-4/190, Latham, N.Y.
Previously Drafted: Never drafted

Just as Hoffman appeared poised to take a stranglehold on the top spot in the 2014 draft, coming off a 16 strikeout performance, the injury bug bit hard as he’s now sidelined following Tommy John surgery. That said, most scouts seem confident that they’ll see that same 94-97 mph fastball, plus changeup, and plus-plus curveball come back when he returns to the mound. When healthy, a strong case can be made that Hoffman’s stuff is unmatched in this class.

16. Max Pentecost, c, Kennesaw State (JR)
R-R, 6-2/190, Winder, Ga.
Previously Drafted: Rangers ’11 (7)

Pentecost had a breakout, magical summer on Cape Cod last summer that earned him the league’s MVP award, and he seemed to carry that performance right into this spring. He’s hit .421 through his first 52 games for the Owls, blasting eight home runs and stealing 15 bases along the way. Pentecost is rare animal for a catcher in that he’s an above average athlete that has present plus speed. His hit tool will be his ticket to the big leagues, but he’s as well rounded a player as there is in the class and will stick behind the plate.

22. Sean Reid-Foley, rhp, Sandalwood HS
R-R, 6-3/210, Jacksonville, Fla.
College Commitment: Florida State

Reid-Foley has been a rock all spring, putting up a series of very consistent and very dominating performances in front of an increasingly appreciative audience of scouts. Florida scouts are often left comparing Reid-Foley’s consistency/stuff profile with that of the flashier but less predictable Touki Toussaint while debating who would make the better draft pick.

142. Nick Wells, lhp, Battlefield HS
L-L, 6-5/175, Haymarket, Va.
College Commitment: College of Charleston

Wells has been dubbed by scouts as one of the the most improved prospects in the eastern part of the country, as his velocity has improved from 83-86 mph all the way up to 93 this spring. He sits consistently at 88-91 mph and flashes a sharp, above average curveball. His changeup has also shown above average potential, although he has not used that pitch much this spring, but the glimpses scouts have gotten have left them highly impressed. With his projectable frame, most believe he’s still only scratching the surface of his potential. And, he’s obviously already tapped into some of that projection at a rapid pace. Scouts love the way his arm works and the way he consistently pitches downhill.

134. Matt Morgan, c, Thorsby HS
R-R, 6-2/205, Thorsby, Ala.
College Commitment: Alabama

Morgan is a strong 6-foot-2 athlete whose strength plays well on both sides of the plate. The Alabama commit shows the skills to stay behind the plate at the next level with very strong catch-and-throw skills. His pop times consistently register sub-2.0 with a strong throwing arm, delivering on-line strikes to second base. His righthanded bat shows plenty of raw power and strength along with the ability to drive the ball to all parts of the park.

130. Lane Thomas, of, Bearden HS
R-R, 6-0/175, Knoxville, Tenn.
College Commitment: Tennessee

Thomas has a plus arm, as well as plus wheels, as his 91 mph velocity on the mound and 6.63 run time would indicate. Scouts have been waiting for those tools to come together, but his bat started to come together more consistently in the fall. That has continued this spring, and he’s moved himself into a solid position as a draft prospect. His frame projects well and scouts are of the belief that his power stroke will continue to develop. Scouts grade his arm as a 60 on the 20-80 scale, and his speed grades out as a 60-65. He’s an aggressive player that has won over scouts with aptitude and style of play this spring. A consistent performer against high school pitching, with the way his defense and speed profile, it’s easy to see how he’s climbing boards.

306. Justin Shafer, rhp-of, University of Florida (JR)
R-R, 6-3/210, Lake Wales, Fla.
Previously Drafted: Never

Shafer started all 59 games for Florida as a sophomore, including four on the mound, and hit .300-5-26. He has become somewhat of the forgotten player on the Gators this year as a junior and has played sporadically both in the field (.207-1-10) and on the mound (0-0, 5.20 in 27 innings). Scouts recognize he is still a first rate athlete who may have suffered in his development by doing too many things. He is considered a better pro prospect as a pitcher, with a low-90s fastball and a good slider.

363. Jake Latz, lhp, Lemont HS
B-L, 6-2/180, Lemont, Ill.
College Commitment: Louisiana State

Latz started off the summer and fall circuit very strong and had the attention of cross-checkers after he retired 21 straight hitters at the Perfect Game National and the Tournament of Stars while topping out at 90 mph with a big 74 mph curveball. He lost velocity over the course of the summer and fall, however, and was more of a mid-80s hurler who had to nibble to survive. He came back this spring with a stronger body and a reinvigorated fastball that regularly worked in the upper-80s and topped out at 91 mph. Latz’s curveball is a very solid second pitch that should give him the immediate ability to get outs at the next level, which could be college given his commitment to Louisiana State.

458. Tanner Houck, rhp, Collinsville HS
R-R, 6-5/210, Collinsville, Ill.
College Commitment: Missouri

Houck has a long-limbed pitcher’s build that is very loose and projectable. He has some mechanical issues, including a cross-body delivery that has him landing on his heal and falling off balance, but his arm stroke is clean and fast. Houck has topped out at 92-93 mph in short bursts this year and pitches in the 88-91 mph range when extended. He throws a mid-70s curveball that shows good bite and depth at times along with a low-80s changeup.

220. Gunnar Heidt, ss, College of Charleston (JR)
B-R, 6-0/200, Murrells Inlet, S.C.
Previously Drafted: Never

Area scouts have debated the merits of Heidt and fellow shortstop Joey Pankake at the University of South Carolina for the better part of two years, and now that the 2014 draft is almost at hand, it will be curious to see which player goes off the board first. A complicating factor has entered the equation in the case of both players, though, as Pankake, considered the better offensive threat of the two, was shifted to third base this year, while Heidt, generally acknowledged as the better defender but a significant offensive contributor in his own right, was lost for the balance of the 2014 campaign when he sustained a broken hand in late April. At the time of his injury, Heidt was leading the Cougars in batting (.335) and stolen bases (15), and was second in homers (4) and RBI (30)—a significant upgrade from last summer in the Cape Cod League. Heidt’s real value may be in the field, where he is a very capable defender at shortstop, though he may eventually move across the bag to second base. His athleticism, gamer-mentality and 6.5-second speed in the 60 help to round out his game.

485. Mike Papierski, c, Lemont HS
B-R, 6-3/210, Lemont, Ill.
College Commitment: Louisiana State

Papierski gets somewhat overlooked with all the high level catchers in Illinois this year but he is a legit top 10 talent, although a scholarship to Louisiana State might defer that status for three years. He has a big and strong body at 6-foot-3, 210-pounds and is a switch-hitter at the plate with a shorter swing righthanded and more extension and power lefthanded. Papierski keeps his actions short and compact well for a catcher his size and is plenty athletic behind the plate.

459. Dusty Isaacs, rhp, Georgia Tech
R-R, 6-1/205, Lebanon, Ohio
Previously Drafted: Pirates '10 (50)

Isaacs decided to return to Georgia Tech for his senior season and has been a valuable piece to the Yellow Jackets bullpen this spring. Splitting time with Sam Clay as the team's closer, Isaacs holds a 1.81 ERA with eight saves, second in both categories on the team, each behind Clay. Isaacs' fastball works in the 92-93 mph range and shows a feel for a slider as his secondary offering. His arm action is clean and easy and occasionally generates arm-side run on his fastball. He maintains his arm speed on his changeup that shows sinking action and gives him three pitches to use out of the bullpen at the next level.

324. Drew Lugbauer, c/3b, Arlington HS
L-R, 6-4/210, LaGrangeville, N.Y.
College Commitment: Michigan

A big-bodied catcher with raw power to spare, Lugbauer presents an intriguing profile behind the dish. His game is centered around his easy pull-side lift, but he also shows the requisite tools behind the plate, including a strong throwing arm. Whether scouts believe he can stick there long-term will make up much of their determination on where he stands as a prospect. The only reason there’s a question mark there is because of his size. His hands work very well behind the plate and he gets the ball out quickly. He’s a little long to the ball at the plate, but his power potential may outweigh that with scouts.

239. Todd Isaacs, of, American Heritage HS
R-R, 6-1/175, Delray Beach, Florida
Commitment: None

This report may as well be for both Anfernee Seymour and Todd Isaacs, as they are fundamentally the same player playing at the same school with the same background and the same tools. Both players are among the fastest players in the 2014 class, with 6.2-6.3 speed in the 60-yard dash and are capable of getting down the first base line in under 4.0 seconds. Each has significant arm strength from the outfield and the obvious range and speed for center field. But both are from the Bahamas and have a limited background in baseball and also lack the physical strength in addition to development time to project as hitters. Seymour has a longer track record as a prospect but Isaacs has the better and more projectable body. They are both names to be remembered as 80 level big league tools are infrequently found, especially in this area of the draft.

296. Zachary Pop, rhp, Notre Dame Catholic HS
R-R, 6-4/220, Brampton, Ontario
College Commitment: None

Pop holds Canada’s only realistic hope of landing a pitcher in the top 10 rounds of this year’s draft—if only because he is the only arm north of the border who topped 90 mph on a recurring basis this spring. He reached 91 mph at the Major League Scouting Bureau’s pre-draft workout in Ontario in mid-May, and recently peaked at 93 mph in Cedar Rapids, Iowa at Perfect Game's National Pre-Draft Showcase. Pop has a long, live, slinger-like arm action that creates deception in his delivery, but he lacks feel for his secondary stuff. His 80-81 mph slider appears to be his best breaking-ball option, but the pitch needs added tilt as it has a tendency to flatten out coming from his low three-quarters slot, especially when he gets under it. Pop has limited projection because he is physically strong already, even at age 17, and may be earmarked for a bullpen role if his secondary pitches don’t show improvement.

74. Keith Weisenberg, rhp, Osceola HS
R-R, 6-4/185, Seminole, Fla.
College Commitment: Stanford

Weisenberg had a dominant spring, posting a well below 1.00 ERA and pitching in the low-90s with command virtually every time out. His slider and changeup have continued to develop and his tall, athletic build and loose arm action promise for more to come in the future. Scouts are also very mindful that the Stanford signee currently ranks fourth overall in his high school class academically.

Edited June 8, 2014 by ace3113

NorthOf49 · June 8, 2014

Seems like a lot of players, minor league players aren't very happy about the Manziel pick.

I've seen it on twitter lol. Minor league players are stupid. Manziel isn't taking anyone's spot. The Padres will just have to sign one more undrafted free agent to compensate for this. The same number of players will be playing baseball no matter how goofy teams are with their picks.

4.2k · June 8, 2014

Has anyone posted Law's AL draft reports?

http://insider.espn.go.com/blog/mlb-draft/post?id=1964?ex_cid=InsiderTwitter_LawALrecaps

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