2024 MLB Draft Thread

[Brownie19]

I knew a pitcher selected by the Jays would sit 92.

 

That’s what they do.

Would you shut the f*** up.

[mikepelfrey]

I would guess yes.

Actually probably not, based on the fact that he wasn’t falling due to signing concerns. Some teams simply took him off their first round big boards due to his pitching characteristics. Yesavage was well aware of those concerns weeks ago as he’s been questioned about it and been examined extensively by teams

 

I bet he’s just happy to have gone in the first. It’s happened before, the Mets drafted Kumar Rocker at number 9, and after getting a closer look at his medicals, they voided his contract and MLB gave them a 2nd round pick the next year. It’s the reason that some guys slide. Teams can’t afford to give guys these huge contracts to unproven draftees and have them flame out before the even make any return on investment. That gets a GM fired and owners very unhappy.

 

Last April he was ranked as high as number 5 on most boards, so he’s got the talent, no question, it’s just that teams have the concerns about his Release point and even Justin Verlander has had Two Tommy John surgeries, and just to be clear no one has said that Yesavage has any sign of that. It’s just that the high release point could put him at risk.

 

It’s funny how the game has changed, former Cy Young winner and former Blue Jay RA Dickey was born without a ligament in his pitching elbow. And played his entire career without one. If he came along now he would never be drafted. He would be told he couldn’t withstand the rigors of pitching in the big leagues. But that’s the beauty of baseball. Nobody can be counted out.

Edited July 15, 2024 by mikepelfrey

[G-Snarls]

Very happy with this pick

[John Balkabella]

Would you shut the f*** up.

 

Perhaps a little over the top for one who has been proven wrong so many times.

 

Hey, I’m just commenting, and you are being a jerk.

 

But you do you.

[Stangstag]

Would you shut the f*** up.

 

You’re on a roll tonight lol. Giving me some good laughs

[mikepelfrey]

I would guess yes.

Actually probably not, based on the fact that he wasn’t falling due to signing concerns. Some teams simply took him off their first round big boards due to his pitching characteristics. Yesavage was well aware of those concerns weeks ago as he’s been questioned about it and been examined extensively by teams

 

I bet he’s just happy to have gone in the first. It’s happened before, the Mets drafted Kumar Rocker at number 9, and after getting a closer look at his medicals, they voided his contract and MLB gave them a 2nd round pick the next year. It’s the reason that some guys slide. Teams can’t afford to give guys these huge contracts to unproven draftees and have them flame out before the even make any return on investment. That gets a GM fired and owners very unhappy.

[Laika]

The more I read about Trey Yesavage the more I like him.

 

He has some jump on the FB + amazing IVB and a bit of a funky release point

It sounds like he is basically a modern pitching lab product, gyro slider and split-change...

And then it sounds like he has decent control and stamina

 

Khal Stephen's sitting velo is underwhelming. I am a bit disappointed to see 92.9 which wouldn't even be average MLB RHP SP velocity (I don't think).

 

But I guess that kind of prospect is fine at pick 59. Apparently he also has good FB shape a sneaky good FB, and all the pitches and pitchability/command. Maybe they can coach up the velo a grade.

 

Everyone in Blue Jays fan circles is too quick to throw "Deck McGuire" or "Chad Jenkins" or "Jon Harris" at every lower upside College RHP the team ever takes.

[Laika]

Will be interesting to compare these two choices to the College arms Toronto had been taking before 2023.

 

2019

11 - Manoah

 

2020

42 - CJ Van Eyk

77 - Trent Palmer

106 - Nick Frasso

 

2021

19 - Hoglund

 

2022 - nobody really. Ryan Jennings at 128 was more of a wide arsenal, pitchability guy.

 

2023

89 - JWB

[MikeM3]

The more I read about Trey Yesavage the more I like him.

 

He has some jump on the FB + amazing IVB and a bit of a funky release point

It sounds like he is basically a modern pitching lab product, gyro slider and split-change...

And then it sounds like he has decent control and stamina

 

Khal Stephen's sitting velo is underwhelming. I am a bit disappointed to see 92.9 which wouldn't even be average MLB RHP SP velocity (I don't think).

 

But I guess that kind of prospect is fine at pick 59. Apparently he also has good FB shape a sneaky good FB, and all the pitches and pitchability/command. Maybe they can coach up the velo a grade.

 

Everyone in Blue Jays fan circles is too quick to throw "Deck McGuire" or "Chad Jenkins" or "Jon Harris" at every lower upside College RHP the team ever takes.

 

Yesavage is plug and play. He has stuff for whiffs and simultaneously avoids damage (pulled flies). He's like the next iteration of these lab creations where they realize you dont need to give up huge pull side tanks because you just spam your ivb fastball in the upper 3rd.

 

You basically just send him to the mound and do nothing. If we f*** this guy up then we're like Rockies level.

[Brownie19]

I bet he’s just happy to have gone in the first. It’s happened before, the Mets drafted Kumar Rocker at number 9, and after getting a closer look at his medicals, they voided his contract and MLB gave them a 2nd round pick the next year. It’s the reason that some guys slide. Teams can’t afford to give guys these huge contracts to unproven draftees and have them flame out before the even make any return on investment. That gets a GM fired and owners very unhappy.

 

I wonder what % of 1st round picks never player in the majors or have very short, useless careers. I bet it's extremely high. I don't see much evidence that it actually gets GM's fired. It gets you fired in the NFL for sure, maybe in the NBA or NHL, but even they have tons of busts too.

[max silver]

Yesavage is plug and play. He has stuff for whiffs and simultaneously avoids damage (pulled flies). He's like the next iteration of these lab creations where they realize you dont need to give up huge pull side tanks because you just spam your ivb fastball in the upper 3rd.

 

You basically just send him to the mound and do nothing. If we f*** this guy up then we're like Rockies level.

 

Could this guy potentially step right into a major league rotation next season or is he likely to need a bit of seasoning in the minors first?

[Laika]

Yesavage is plug and play. He has stuff for whiffs and simultaneously avoids damage (pulled flies). He's like the next iteration of these lab creations where they realize you dont need to give up huge pull side tanks because you just spam your ivb fastball in the upper 3rd.

 

You basically just send him to the mound and do nothing. If we f*** this guy up then we're like Rockies level.

 

Yeah he seems like a finished product for sure

 

Makes me think of Nick Pivetta.

But with a lab splitter so perhaps without all the early career issues Pivetta had because he was trying to throw changeups and sinkers when he never had those pitches.

 

I believe Pivetta is all spin and FB now. Has spread out his arsenal with multiple breaking balls and a cutter.

[MikeM3]

Could this guy potentially step right into a major league rotation next season or is he likely to need a bit of seasoning in the minors first?

 

Same path as Waldrep who's probably worse. But Braves are super aggressive.

[MikeM3]

Yeah he seems like a finished product for sure

 

Makes me think of Nick Pivetta.

But with a lab splitter so perhaps without all the early career issues Pivetta had because he was trying to throw changeups and sinkers when he never had those pitches.

 

I believe Pivetta is all spin and FB now. Has spread out his arsenal with multiple breaking balls and a cutter.

 

Ya Pivetta could never find breakers and off speed that worked with his high slot. But Yesavage already has them because he was born in a lab.

 

He had 4 pitches with 90th percentile whiff. They all tunnel.

 

The FB might not be a whiff machine because of s*** vaa but might get weak contact.

 

I think the only thing he can develop is an additional fastball because multiple fastballs are cool now.

[Omar]

Could this guy potentially step right into a major league rotation next season or is he likely to need a bit of seasoning in the minors first?

 

The Jays clearly valued a pick that was as close to ready, someone who wouldn't have command issues on the big stage. That being said, if they throw this guy onto the major league roster next season it would developmental malpractice. Start him at AA and go from there.

[Terminator]

Khal Stephen's sitting velo is underwhelming. I am a bit disappointed to see 92.9 which wouldn't even be average MLB RHP SP velocity (I don't think).

 

But I guess that kind of prospect is fine at pick 59. Apparently he also has good FB shape a sneaky good FB, and all the pitches and pitchability/command. Maybe they can coach up the velo a grade.

 

Everyone in Blue Jays fan circles is too quick to throw "Deck McGuire" or "Chad Jenkins" or "Jon Harris" at every lower upside College RHP the team ever takes.

 

This guy seemed like a fine 2nd round pick but then I read about the velo and where he was on draft boards and he seems a little underwhelming.

 

I agree, they must think they can easily unlock more velocity. And if that's the case then he seems like a good pick?

[Terminator]

Can't help but wonder if the front office being on the hot seat lead to these picks...

 

Highly polished college arms close to the big leagues.

 

The first rounder seems like a good pick regardless though so not a huge deal.

[connorp]

The more I read about Trey Yesavage the more I like him.

 

He has some jump on the FB + amazing IVB and a bit of a funky release point

It sounds like he is basically a modern pitching lab product, gyro slider and split-change...

And then it sounds like he has decent control and stamina

 

Khal Stephen's sitting velo is underwhelming. I am a bit disappointed to see 92.9 which wouldn't even be average MLB RHP SP velocity (I don't think).

 

But I guess that kind of prospect is fine at pick 59. Apparently he also has good FB shape a sneaky good FB, and all the pitches and pitchability/command. Maybe they can coach up the velo a grade.

 

Everyone in Blue Jays fan circles is too quick to throw "Deck McGuire" or "Chad Jenkins" or "Jon Harris" at every lower upside College RHP the team ever takes.

 

Can you fault it? Any people like that to play whataboutism with? I don’t know of any that they picked

[max silver]

The Jays clearly valued a pick that was as close to ready, someone who wouldn't have command issues on the big stage. That being said, if they throw this guy onto the major league roster next season it would developmental malpractice. Start him at AA and go from there.

 

For sure he would need to start in the minors. A better question would have been whether he could potentially work his way into the rotation as soon as next season as he might be close to ready to handle that kind of workload as he's up to 90 innings on the season already. If he throws more innings in the minors after the draft that could have him ready for a full season starter workload very soon.

[Spanky99]

Ranked #11 by both MLB.com and BA

 

Sweet pick.

[Pendleton]

Round three gets underway in about fifteen mins

[Laika]

LFG ROSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSS ATKINSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSS

 

save the franchise!

 

pick seven Davis Horwitzes in a row here

[connorp]

Wow. I just realized Billy Amick went the pick after Deck McGuire.

Some pundits actually had Jays picking Amick in the 1st

[Ray]

Rays would get Nathan Flewelling right before our pick lmao.

 

I wanted him so bad. He apparently has the highest exit velo in the high school class out as a 17 year old.

[metafour]

17 year old HS LHP Johnny King is the Jays' 3rd rounder.

[Pendleton]

124

Johnny

King

LHP, Naples (FL)

Bio

Stats

News

Video

AGE

17

BATS

L

DOB

07/26/2006

THROWS

L

HT

6' 3"

WT

210

COMMITTED

Miami

Video scouting report »

 

Scouting grades: Fastball: 55 | Slider: 55 | Changeup: 50 | Control: 45 | Overall: 45

 

As baseball has raced into the analytics era, one thing that makes a team’s Draft model very happy is a young Draft-eligible player. When that player is a left-handed pitcher with potential plus stuff, that’s even better. King, who was generating a lot of buzz as the spring progressed in Naples, Florida, ticks off a lot of those boxes as a southpaw with electric offerings who will still be just 17 years old when the Draft rolls around.

 

King is tall and athletic with an NFL quarterback kind of build. The 6-foot-4 southpaw could eventually have three plus pitches in his arsenal. He already can miss bats with a lively fastball that sits in the low 90s and will touch 94-95 mph regularly, and it’s easy to envision him throwing harder given his frame and already upward trajectory. He combines it with what is often a nasty high-spin power curve thrown typically in the upper 70s that can be a true out pitch. He will use a harder slurve to finish off left-handed hitters, and while his changeup is developing, he shows feel for it and throws it with excellent arm speed.

 

A terrific athlete who is the best hitter on his team and could be a position player prospect if he focused on that, King does have a lot of energy and effort in his delivery, and not all scouts like his arm action. That can impact his command, though many scouts think the Miami recruit will be able to find a repeatable delivery and throw enough strikes at the next level, with a ceiling as a mid-rotation starter.

[John_Havok]

Another decent pick, I actually hope they try him as a two-way player

[Laika]

Pick 125

Sean Keys - College "3B" from a weird school

 

Bucknell University in Pennsylvania has had just one player get drafted and reach the big leagues -- right-hander Eric Junge, a 1999 draftee -- and has had just two players get taken in the top 10 rounds in school history. Keys put himself on the map with a solid sophomore season for the Bison in 2023, followed by posting a 1.254 OPS in the Hamptons Collegiate Baseball League and slashing .385/.422/.769 in 10 Cape Cod League games last summer. He followed it up with a huge junior year, finishing with a .405/.535/.798 line to go along with 13 homers en route to winning Patriot League Player of the Year honors. Big and barrel-chested, Keys is a left-handed hitter who likely will be an analytics darling. He's improved his approach, walking more than he struck out in 2024, and makes consistent hard contact. He rarely swings-and-misses or chases and showed the ability to handle all kinds of stuff, particularly punishing fastballs. He's hit 26 homers the last two years combined at Bucknell, and while some scouts aren't sure the power will play at the next level, his pop with a wood bat in the summer leagues does provide a little more confidence. There's less surety about where Keys will play defensively at the next level. He's been a third baseman throughout his college career, but he's not athletic or agile enough to stick at the hot corner, and he made 11 errors there in 2024. A move to first is the most likely outcome, and there will undoubtedly be teams on Day 2 willing to roll the dice that his left-handed bat will play professionally.

[John_Havok]

Pick 125

Sean Keys - College "3B" from a weird school

 

Bucknell University in Pennsylvania has had just one player get drafted and reach the big leagues -- right-hander Eric Junge, a 1999 draftee -- and has had just two players get taken in the top 10 rounds in school history. Keys put himself on the map with a solid sophomore season for the Bison in 2023, followed by posting a 1.254 OPS in the Hamptons Collegiate Baseball League and slashing .385/.422/.769 in 10 Cape Cod League games last summer. He followed it up with a huge junior year, finishing with a .405/.535/.798 line to go along with 13 homers en route to winning Patriot League Player of the Year honors. Big and barrel-chested, Keys is a left-handed hitter who likely will be an analytics darling. He's improved his approach, walking more than he struck out in 2024, and makes consistent hard contact. He rarely swings-and-misses or chases and showed the ability to handle all kinds of stuff, particularly punishing fastballs. He's hit 26 homers the last two years combined at Bucknell, and while some scouts aren't sure the power will play at the next level, his pop with a wood bat in the summer leagues does provide a little more confidence. There's less surety about where Keys will play defensively at the next level. He's been a third baseman throughout his college career, but he's not athletic or agile enough to stick at the hot corner, and he made 11 errors there in 2024. A move to first is the most likely outcome, and there will undoubtedly be teams on Day 2 willing to roll the dice that his left-handed bat will play professionally.

 

Sound like they just drafted a younger Horwitz with more power

[Laika]

Sound like they just drafted a younger Horwitz with more power

 

Nah they think this guy has some juice. Horwitz was a 24th rounder who was like an .830 to .860 OPS guy in college

 

I dunno how the conferences compare but Sean Keys has video game numbers