2016 MLB draft thread.

[KingKat]

J.B. Woodman, OF, University of Mississippi: Power hitter from the left side; made good progress refining his hitting skills this year; hit .323/.412/.578 this year with 14 homers, 12 steals; 33 walks, 48 strikeouts in 232 at-bats, taking sting out of some Cape Cod League struggles last summer. - John Sickels

[Jonn]

Holy s*** Pudge Rodriguez really got fat again.

[Krylian]

lol @ pudge

[King]

Speas wants to face Bautista.

[Jonn]

Harold loves every black player

[jays4life19]

2 more picks till the Jays OTC!

[King]

Harold loves every black player

 

Mike Cameron and Adam Jones comps are flying off the charts tonight

[Orgfiller]

J.B. Woodman, OF, University of Mississippi: Power hitter from the left side; made good progress refining his hitting skills this year; hit .323/.412/.578 this year with 14 homers, 12 steals; 33 walks, 48 strikeouts in 232 at-bats, taking sting out of some Cape Cod League struggles last summer. - John Sickels

 

That's a 18% K rate, not as bad as the original 30+% reports.

[Jonn]

Must be pass Tommy Lasorda's bedtime.

[Jonn]

Alright Blue Jays lets make a splash

[Pendleton]

Draft tracker is great, thanks MLB.com

[Krylian]

MLB wants to skip right over the Jays

[Cyborg]

Would have liked Reynolds there, oh well.

[King]

Scouting grades: Hit: 45 | Power: 50 | Run: 40 | Arm: 45 | Field: 45 | Overall: 45

The son of former big leaguer Dante Bichette, and brother of Yankee farmhand Dante Bichette Jr., Bo Bichette clearly has some serious baseball bloodlines. Like the others in his family, he does things in a less than conventional way, but he has had some success against good competition.

 

 

Over the summer, Bichette showed the ability to square up quality pitching and his raw power was on display when he won the Under Armour All-American Game Home Run Derby in Chicago. This spring, he was still hitting the long ball, but also was getting tied up on mid-range fastballs inside. While he doesn't have the same exact leg kick setup as his father and brother, there are a lot of moving parts to his swing which concerns some scouts. He does have more bat speed than his brother did coming out of high school. A below-average runner, he's probably best suited for second base defensively, or perhaps left field.

 

 

Bichette has been a bit of a polarizing prospect this spring, with some unsure his unorthodox setup will work at the next level. But the bloodlines and the power potential could still have the Arizona State commit off the board in the early stages of the Draft.

[King]

http://twitter.com/boknows1919

[TheHurl]

Nice pick with Bo Bichette. Upside, power, athletic. Awkward though

[flafson]

We got a shortstop, that's new.

[jays4life19]

Dante Bichette was a four-time all-star during his 14-year big league career, and his eldest son, Dante Jr., was the 51st overall pick in the 2011 draft. Five years later, Bo, the youngest Bichette brother, has a chance to go in about that same range. Bichette is home schooled, but plays at nearby Lakewood High. He has had a big spring at the plate, but that has also gotten the attention of opposing teams, who have liberally issued him intentional walks all spring. When he does get the chance to hit, Bichette shows a mature approach at the plate and plus power. The righthanded hitter has exceptionally fast hands, allowing him to whip the bat through the zone and drive the ball. His swing includes a deep load and an exaggerated back elbow swoop, but his bat works through the zone well and he controlled at-bats against elite competition on the showcase circuit. Bichette has a steady glove and a strong arm. He plays shortstop now and could go out as one, but will eventually move to second base or, more likely owing to his 6-foot, 200-pound frame, third base. No matter where the Arizona State recruit ends up defensively, Bichette's main attraction will always be his offensive ability.

[Jonn]

Hair game is on point.

[King]

Hudson Belinsky ‏@hudsonbelinsky 27s28 seconds ago

I am a huge fan of Bo Bichette, one of my favorites. Love him for the #BlueJays. Big power and chance to stick in the dirt. #mlbdraft

 

Nathan Rode ‏@NathanRode 26s27 seconds ago

Nice! I'm a big Bo Bichette fan. More athletic than he gets credit for. Defense is much improved. Oh and he rakes. #mlbdraft #BlueJays

[TheHurl]

The return of the African American baseball player...factor of Football losing athletes or the efforts of MLB to get into black neighbourhoods over the last 10 years?

[burlingtonbandit]

His swing looked a little unconventional but I like the pick.

[King]

Nathan Rode ‏@NathanRode 3m3 minutes ago

I bet he gets a shot to stick at SS. Got him 4.2 down the line this spring. Would profile fine at 2B or 3B. #mlbdraft #BlueJays

 

on Bo B

[Cyborg]

Nice pick. Probably a 2B but still.

[Trouba95]

Do we pick again tonight or not?

[King]

Do we pick again tonight or not?

 

Done.

[TheHurl]

Just the following left tonight:

 

71. San Diego Padres

72. Cleveland Indians

73. Minnesota Twins

74. Minnesota Twins (Compensation for not signing 2015 No. 73 overall pick Kyle Cody)

75. Milwaukee Brewers

76. Atlanta Braves (Via trade with Orioles)

77. Tampa Bay Rays

[King]

Who takes Quinn Hurl?

[THANOS]

Really like the potential of Bichette, excited and hopeful that he rakes.

[King]

Reggie Lawson and Ronnie Dawson would have made a nice duo.