2017 First-Year Player Draft | Day 1 | June 12 - 7:00 PM ET

[Laika]

Some eyewitness reports from BP: http://www.baseballprospectus.com/article.php?articleid=32018

 

They give Brendan McKay a 70 OFP as both a SP and position player. I don't really get it. Seems like a weird kind of bias because he's good on both sides of the ball, so his athleticism is bumping up his overall projection.

[TwistedLogic]

Some eyewitness reports from BP: http://www.baseballprospectus.com/article.php?articleid=32018

 

They give Brendan McKay a 70 OFP as both a SP and position player. I don't really get it. Seems like a weird kind of bias because he's good on both sides of the ball, so his athleticism is bumping up his overall projection.

 

A guy who has no speed and projects as a first baseman may get selected #1 overall. Like I said, weird draft.

 

Also doesn't BP suck now?

[AdamGreenwood]

The Heimlich situation is unfortunate because I believe that experts in that field are very optimistic about "recovery" rates for people in his exact situation, that is that he'll be blackballed because of the optics involved despite there being a very high probability that he never commits a crime of that nature again. A kid like Seth Romero on the other hand likely still goes in the first round despite some obvious demons that stem well past simple "immaturity".

 

I suspect Heimlich will commit suicide within the next two weeks.

[Laika]

A guy who has no speed and projects as a first baseman may get selected #1 overall. Like I said, weird draft.

 

Also doesn't BP suck now?

 

It is a weird draft for sure. There seems to be a big deficit of up the middle position players and a lot of the college arms and bats seem very boring.

[Laika]

I would be pretty upset if my org tanked and had a top 5 pick and this was the crop of players available.

 

I guess I'd be fine with #1. Probably just take Greene, who seems to at least have the highest upside, and cross my fingers.

[GreekFatAss]

You're right, let's lock it up. No need to discuss the draft. Let's regroup after Day 1 to check out the results.

By all means talk about the prospects, I just don't understand the whole "this source rates x therefore is no good" talk.

[JaysAllMighty]

What are your thoughts about Atkins vs Anthopoulos drafting differences?

[GreekFatAss]

What are your thoughts about Atkins vs Anthopoulos drafting differences?

 

Tinnish or Parker?

[metafour]

Frankie Piliere: thinks the connection of Gavin Sheets to our 28th pick is a case of shopping several guys for potential under-slot deals, although he states that we're still in on several prep players in this spot as well.

 

Can we get Twitter embed already?

[dineke]

What are your thoughts about Atkins vs Anthopoulos drafting differences?

 

Atkins = good, Anthopoulos = fat.

[Captain Adama]

What are your thoughts about Atkins vs Anthopoulos drafting differences?

 

Its way too early to start making those comparisons.

[Brownie19]

I suspect Heimlich will commit suicide within the next two weeks.

 

http://i.imgur.com/eQGJgYu.gif

[TwistedLogic]

Frankie Piliere: thinks the connection of Gavin Sheets to our 28th pick is a case of shopping several guys for potential under-slot deals, although he states that we're still in on several prep players in this spot as well.

 

Can we get Twitter embed already?

 

I mean, we've had it for years and it's used regularly.

 

[TheHurl]

This was posted in the other thread but I'm responding here since this thread will be more active going into the draft.

 

 

 

MLB.com has him with a 45 change-up. Pearson smells a lot like Kolek to me. I hated Kolek going into his draft and I thought the Marlins picking him at #2 was an abomination. It might be more defensible to target a guy like that down at #22, but I don't think I'd have Pearson at the top of my list either way. I don't like guys with s***** control and it doesn't help that his secondaries suck as well.

 

 

and I hear that he pounds the Strikezone and has a plus change. Going to happen a lot with JUCO guys where you get multiple different reports...although he was D1 last year. His velo has increased every year and he has a mature body. LSU promised him Friday starts next year which puts him ahead of Eric Walker, Zach Hess and Caleb Gilbert.

[TheHurl]

That is a very bad idea

 

I ran the Twitter account at one time. I just don't have the time to do it right now.

[TheHurl]

I would be pretty upset if my org tanked and had a top 5 pick and this was the crop of players available.

 

I guess I'd be fine with #1. Probably just take Greene, who seems to at least have the highest upside, and cross my fingers.

 

Yep I see it as a boring , low upside draft. Maybe find someone you can fast-track as a bullpen guy

Edited June 12, 2017 by TheHurl

[Pendleton]

What are your thoughts about Atkins vs Anthopoulos drafting differences?

 

It would probably be easier to draft off of AA due to mass.

[Spanky99]

Draft day mock... if guys like Burger/Houck/ and Carlson drop that would be sweet.

 

http://m.mlb.com/news/article/235886620/mock-draft-for-first-round-of-2017-mlb-draft/

[TwistedLogic]

Here is my wishlist for the Jays first two selections (with prospect profiles from MLB.com). While a lot of these guys are interchangeable to me, the order in which I've listed them is roughly my order of preference.

 

---

Sam Carlson | Rank: 15 | Pos: RHP | Age: 18

Fastball: 60 | Slider: 55 | Changeup: 55 | Control: 55 | Overall: 55

 

http://m.mlb.com/assets/images/7/9/0/210097790/cuts/1_IMG_7186_ew26b79h_9n39oa3c.JPG

 

Scouts already loved Carlson's build and his feel for pitching before his velocity improved significantly this spring, when he was Gatorade's state player of the year. He came out firing this year at 93-97 mph, and his heater already plays better than its velocity because it has sinking and running life and he commands it well. Carlson also fills the strike zone with his slider, which also looks better than ever, and his changeup, which features fade and sink. Unlike most high school pitchers, he trusts his changeup and uses it liberally.

 

---

Evan White | Rank: 18 | Pos: 1B | Age: 21

Hit: 55 | Power: 50 | Run: 60 | Arm: 55 | Field: 70 | Overall: 55

 

http://m.mlb.com/assets/images/2/9/4/225803294/cuts/27793243770_1db3685391_o_goqtgawj_1hsid4nz.jpg

 

White manages the strike zone well and usually focuses on hitting line drives from gap to gap with a relatively flat swing. He has good bat speed and a long frame built to create leverage, so power should come once he adds more strength to his body and more loft to his swing. He's starting to turn on more pitches this spring, which bodes well for his future. A plus runner with solid arm strength, White handled himself well on the outfield corners with the U.S. college national team last summer.

 

---

Griffin Canning | Rank: 17 | Pos: RHP | Age: 21

Fastball: 55 | Curveball: 50 | Slider: 50 | Changeup: 60 | Control: 55 | Overall: 55

 

http://m.mlb.com/assets/images/2/9/0/209769290/cuts/CANNING_GRIFFIN_20160220_BSB_KM02_rx5l4jjd_5nptltw3.JPG

 

Canning isn't the biggest guy in the world, but he really knows how to pitch. His fastball will sit in the low 90s and can touch as high as 95 mph on occasion. His changeup is a plus pitch, one he sells well by maintaining his arm speed and slot, giving it a "pull the string" kind of feel. He throws both a curve and a slider, both potential Major League average pitches, thrown from a simple, athletic and repeatable delivery. He has a strong track record of throwing strikes with all four pitches.

 

Canning has proven to be a durable starter throughout his UCLA career, with a delivery and body type that remind some of Zack Greinke. The right-hander doesn't quite have that ceiling, but he does have the potential to be a solid mid-to-back of the rotation starter in the future.

 

---

Blayne Enlow | Rank: 29 | Pos: RHP | Age: 18

Fastball: 60 | Curveball: 60 | Changeup: 50 | Control: 55 | Overall: 50

 

http://m.mlb.com/assets/images/4/9/4/209484494/cuts/Blayne_Enlow_cxrrxod9_oaj4f2fy.jpg

 

Enlow might have the best breaking ball in the 2017 high school class, with low-80s power and 12-to-6 shape. He operated in the low 90s and hit 94 mph with his fastball early in games on the showcase circuit, though he has worked more at 88-92 mph as a senior and still has to show he can maintain his velocity in the later innings. That shouldn't be an issue once he fills out his oh-so-projectable 6-foot-4 frame. Enlow has a loose, quick arm and a relatively easy delivery. He already fills the strike zone, so the only items on his to-do list are to get stronger and develop a changeup he hasn't needed yet. He has the upside of a frontline starter.

 

---

Hagen Danner | Rank: 41 | Pos: RHP/C | Age: 18

Fastball: 60 | Curveball: 50 | Changeup: 50 | Control: 55 | Overall: 50

Hit: 50 | Power: 45 | Run: 30 | Arm: 60 | Field: 55 | Overall: 50

 

http://m.mlb.com/assets/images/0/8/6/209489086/cuts/Hagen_Danner_7k0tnyw5_0g2zlvez.jpg

 

While Danner is one of the better legitimate two-way players in this Draft class, he has spent more time, especially in showcases, showing what he can do as a pitcher. He has a live fastball that can touch 94-95 mph and complements it with a solid curveball and a changeup that flashes above-average. He can fill the strike zone with all three, coming from a high slot. The UCLA commit also has the chance to be a special catcher. He has good hands and a plus arm defensively and while he's a below-average runner, his athleticism helps him move well behind the dish. He swings the bat well from a crouch set up, with quiet pop that could end up being average power in the future.

 

The one thing scouts agree on is that Danner's grades will improve once he starts to focus on one craft. But even as the spring unfolded, there was division among scouts whether he should stay on the mound or behind the plate at the next level.

 

---

Tanner Burns | Rank: 39 | Pos: RHP | Age: 18

Fastball: 60 | Curveball: 55 | Changeup: 50 | Control: 50 | Overall: 50

 

http://m.mlb.com/assets/images/8/0/4/225671804/cuts/Tanner_Burns_f3594sin_qer8iq95.jpg

 

Burns has a live fastball that parks at 92-95 mph and tops out at 97, and he already shows the ability to command it to both sides of the plate and down in the strike zone. The Auburn recruit owns a hard curveball that can reach the low 80s and grades as a plus pitch at times, though it devolves into more of a slurve in other situations. For a prep power pitcher, he has unusual feel for a changeup and his should become at least an average offering. His father Mike is the former coach at Decatur and the current coach at Calhoun (Ala.) CC, so Burns grew up around the game and is more polished than a typical teenager. Though his lack of size leads to questions about his durability, he's strong and generates velocity with arm speed and athleticism rather than effort.

 

 

---

Nick Pratto | Rank: 13 | Pos: 1B | Age: 18

Hit: 60 | Power: 50 | Run: 45 | Arm: 55 | Field: 60 | Overall: 55

 

http://m.mlb.com/assets/images/9/1/6/221702916/cuts/020417MBa_00100_ikhtfblp_frslo5g2.JPG

 

Pratto has positioned himself as perhaps the best pure high school bat in the country. He's always shown an advanced approach at the plate and the ability to hit for average. What's allowed him to separate from the rest of the class is the added power he showed early this season, though his bat did tail off later on in the spring. Pratto isn't the biggest guy in the world, but he should have at least average in-game power in the future, using his feel for hitting to punish mistakes consistently. Pratto is a plus defender at first, with better range than your average first baseman and an above-average arm that throws upper-80s fastballs off the mound.

 

An outstanding competitor who has been on the mound for key international games as part of Team USA, few doubt Pratto's ability to maximize his tools. High school first base-only types can be a tough profile -- Adrian Gonzalez and Freddie Freeman are the biggest success stories, but Pratto isn't as big. Most believe in Pratto's bat enough, though, to take the Southern Cal commit early in the first round.

 

---

Logan Warmoth | Rank: 27 | Pos: SS | Age: 21

Hit: 55 | Power: 45 | Run: 55 | Arm: 50 | Field: 50 | Overall: 50

 

http://m.mlb.com/assets/images/3/7/4/226272374/cuts/Warmoth_z03kx9cl_xh2428fx.jpg

 

While Warmoth doesn't have a standout tool, he also doesn't have any obvious shortcomings. He's a gifted hitter who controls the strike zone, handles good velocity and uses the entire field. He started to show some power toward the end of his sophomore season, and has enough to hit 12-15 homers per season in the big leagues. Warmoth has solid speed and the savvy to use it on the basepaths. His instincts and quick hands help him make plays at shortstop, and he'll get the chance to play there as a pro. With average range and arm strength, he's probably better suited for second base.

 

---

Nick Allen | Rank: 30 | Pos: SS | Age: 18

Hit: 55 | Power: 30 | Run: 65 | Arm: 55 | Field: 65 | Overall: 50

 

http://m.mlb.com/assets/images/6/8/8/221700688/cuts/020417MBa_00025_9pmh32oo_kp6reh2e.JPG

 

The one thing no one questions is Allen's ability to stick at shortstop. He is a plus defender with outstanding range and more than enough arm to make throws from all over the diamond, making highlight reel plays with regularity, even on big stages like the Perfect Game All-American Classic. While Allen will never hit for power, he has added some strength in his lower half and should be able to continue to do so as he matures, allowing him to shoot the ball to the gaps. He's a plus runner with outstanding instincts, so he can stretch singles to doubles and doubles to triples. Allen does play his home games on turf, so some of his times might be a bit inflated, but no one doubts his skills play on any surface. Allen endears himself to scouts even more with his outstanding makeup and baseball IQ. His supporters see a Jose Altuve type profile, albeit one with less power, but who can stay at short.

[metafour]

Griffin Canning has both elbow and shoulder concerns apparently. Major overuse at UCLA.

[Daniel Labude]

What are your thoughts about Atkins vs Anthopoulos drafting differences?

 

Seems like best player available vs best SP/CF available for first rounds

[Laika]

What are your thoughts about Atkins vs Anthopoulos drafting differences?

 

It's never too early to make these comparisons.

 

Anthopoulos' regime was very flashy in how they collected prospects. They aggressively collected compensation picks under the old CBA, and under the new CBA they made a habit of drafting players that would be tough to sign. They used a bit of a gimmick where they would draft a handful of way under-slot seniors in rounds 5-10 in order to theoretically fund the signing of one or two risky picks each draft class. It should be noted that some of these senior signings actually worked out, such as Kendall Graveman ($5000 bonus). But the vast majority were essentially punted picks.

 

Anthopoulos' regime was inclined to take high school players, envisioning this as the player pool with the highest upside. They were also inclined to taking pitchers. As a scout-first front office, the inclination towards pitching was largely based on the notion that it's just easier to scout pitching. Of course, it's common sense that high school pitching is the riskiest draft commodity there is. In spite of this it seemed to work for the organization; from 2010 to 2012 the draft produced for Toronto players like Sanchez, Syndergaard, Norris, and Stroman, along with some nice late-round surprises like Pompey and Pillar. But the organization could not hit on a single highly-selected position player, except for Alford in 2012. That trend continued for 2013-2015, and the well-spring of nice pitching seemed to dry up too. 2013 and 2015 look like particularly lean draft years. A consistent failure to sign high draftees plagued the Blue Jays. They made it their MO to take tough-signs, but deferring development on a high draft pick every single year starts to hurt your system after some time. It's fair to question a lot of the Anthopoulos regime's draft strategies at this point.

 

Expect Shatkins to run a much different draft process, every year. This is a front office that actually uses and appreciates statistical information and evidence. You won't see them draft a bucket of high school pitchers in most years. Expect a relatively balanced draft that leans college and leans position side, but without any strong biases or gimmicks. They might take 2/3 college players with their day 1 and 2 picks, but they'll definitely take a high upside high schooler if it's the best player on the board.

[TwistedLogic]

Draft day mock... if guys like Burger/Houck/ and Carlson drop that would be sweet.

 

http://m.mlb.com/news/article/235886620/mock-draft-for-first-round-of-2017-mlb-draft/

 

White and Carlson is my best case scenario, so if it goes that way, I'd be extremely stoked.

 

I really don't like Sheets, so I'm hoping that's a misfire on Mayo's part.

[Daniel Labude]

My hope for top 2 picks is 2 of these:

 

Alex Faedo (won't happen)

Keaton Hiura

Jake Burger

Evan White

Nate Pearson

Logan Warmoth

Gavin Sheets

Sam Carlson

Tanner Houck

[TheHurl]

Here is my wishlist for the Jays first two selections (with prospect profiles from MLB.com). While a lot of these guys are interchangeable to me, the order in which I've listed them is roughly my order of preference.

 

Sam Carlson | Rank: 15 | Pos: RHP | Age: 18

Fastball: 60 | Slider: 55 | Changeup: 55 | Control: 55 | Overall: 55

 

Evan White | Rank: 18 | Pos: 1B | Age: 21

Hit: 55 | Power: 50 | Run: 60 | Arm: 55 | Field: 70 | Overall: 55

 

Griffin Canning | Rank: 17 | Pos: RHP | Age: 21

Fastball: 55 | Curveball: 50 | Slider: 50 | Changeup: 60 | Control: 55 | Overall: 55

 

Blayne Enlow | Rank: 29 | Pos: RHP | Age: 18

Fastball: 60 | Curveball: 60 | Changeup: 50 | Control: 55 | Overall: 50

 

Hagen Danner | Rank: 41 | Pos: RHP/C | Age: 18

Fastball: 60 | Curveball: 50 | Changeup: 50 | Control: 55 | Overall: 50

Hit: 50 | Power: 45 | Run: 30 | Arm: 60 | Field: 55 | Overall: 50

 

Tanner Burns | Rank: 39 | Pos: RHP | Age: 18

Fastball: 60 | Curveball: 55 | Changeup: 50 | Control: 50 | Overall: 50

 

Nick Pratto | Rank: 13 | Pos: 1B | Age: 18

Hit: 60 | Power: 50 | Run: 45 | Arm: 55 | Field: 60 | Overall: 55

 

Logan Warmoth | Rank: 27 | Pos: SS | Age: 21

Hit: 55 | Power: 45 | Run: 55 | Arm: 50 | Field: 50 | Overall: 50

 

Nick Allen | Rank: 30 | Pos: SS | Age: 18

Hit: 55 | Power: 30 | Run: 65 | Arm: 55 | Field: 65 | Overall: 50

 

Can really get behind White, Carlson and Burns. Don't like Canning at all.

[TwistedLogic]

I didn't know Jaffe did prospect stuff but his mock as Carlson to the Jays as well.

 

https://www.si.com/mlb/2017/06/12/mlb-mock-draft-2017

 

Can really get behind White, Carlson and Burns. Don't like Canning at all.

 

I had Canning last on my list behind Pratto. I impulsively moved them both higher when I saw their MLB.com rankings but I should have stuck with my guns. I agree that I don't like Canning as much as anyone else on that list, and if metafour's information about the injury concerns is legit, I'd stay away from him entirely.

[TBJ12]

Anyone know if Sportsnet is covering the draft?

[Spanky99]

Anyone know if Sportsnet is covering the draft?

 

No, MLB Network, or online MLB.com.

[WONDERBAT]

I'm trying to find a recent article I was reading that mentioned Ross Atkins meeting with Nick Allen at his house. I wonder if they were looking at him for an underslot, I haven't seen any mocks that have him going in the first round.

[Spanky99]

I didn't know Jaffe did prospect stuff but his mock as Carlson to the Jays as well.

 

https://www.si.com/mlb/2017/06/12/mlb-mock-draft-2017

 

 

 

I had Canning last on my list behind Pratto. I impulsively moved them both higher when I saw their MLB.com rankings but I should have stuck with my guns. I agree that I don't like Canning as much as anyone else on that list, and if metafour's information about the injury concerns is legit, I'd stay away from him entirely.

 

Yikes... he's likely going to drop a lot...

 

Canning medical causing concern

 

With the Draft rapidly approaching, teams are in their Draft rooms, going over details like medical reports. Top pitching prospects submit to things like MRIs. And sometimes, those tests turn up things that get flagged by medical staffs.

 

That is what appears to have happened with UCLA right-hander Griffin Canning. Ranked No. 17 on our Draft Top 200 list, Canning is a highly regarded college arm who was looking like a middle of the first round talent because of his extremely consistent season. But word was spreading as the final weekend before the Draft approached that there were some issues with his medical report that were causing teams to pause at the very least.

 

According to sources from multiple teams, Canning's MRI returned some potential issues. Such reports are not uncommon and it will be up to each team's medical staff to interpret the results, but as of Friday night, some teams had already decided to pass on Canning, while others are waiting to hear back from their doctors on how to proceed.

 

-Mayo