King

Nothing anymore walking 5.4 per 9 in AA. Gross.

Round 33. Jays take Brayden Bouchey. RHP from University of Louisiana Monroe http://i.imgur.com/LaQ1oqg.png https://baseballdraftreport.com/tag/brayden-bouchey/ Bouchey came into the year with lackluster peripherals (3.75 K/9 and 4.00 BB/9 in 36.1 IP last year) despite intriguing stuff. In weighing performance vs projection, I tend to put more weight on the former when compared to “real” scouts. You can’t scout solely off of statistical output, but it’s a really big piece of the puzzle. This is where the internet can be a bit of a bummer. To get heard, you need to go to extremes. Whether that means extolling the virtues of a player who has put up big numbers with neutral or worse scouting reports (and getting blasted for scouting the box score and discounting projection as a factor) or holding on to beliefs formed in one short look at a player despite all statistical evidence to the contrary (and getting ripped by those who believe development is linear and Heisman Trophies equate to pro success), you need to be LOUD to get recognized. Moderate approaches that attempt to balance a multitude of factors are not nearly as fun to read about, I guess. There’s no need to constantly be hedging one’s bets along the way – that’s simply not realistic – but a little patience, humility, and self-awareness on the part of the evaluator can go a long way. I personally don’t think there’s anything about baseball that’s all that complicated, at least outside of actually playing it well at a high level. Playing is hard, but watching and forming opinions about what you’ve watched is a pretty straightforward endeavor. With few exceptions, if a player has put up impressive numbers at every level of competition along the way, then said player deserves to keep getting chances until he doesn’t. Conversely, if a player have the kind of physical ability that is apparent to a five-year old on his or her first ever day at the park, he’s entitled to a few extra shots even after he’s shown he’s not yet ready to consistently produce. There’s no need to pick a side: the draft goes forty rounds deep every year for a reason, there’s room for all types to get their shot. Some guys produce and produce and produce without it ever looking like they should be able to do the things they do; others can keep it up against a certain level of competition before their fatal flaws are exploited. Some guys take a really long time to go from toolsy athlete to high-performing ballplayer; others never really get past just being bigger, faster, and more athletic than their peers enough to develop the necessary skills they’ll need later on. With Bouchey you get the best (or worst, if you’re a glass half-empty type) of both worlds. Coming into the season, his numbers left little to get excited about. His scouting reports, however, were uniformly upbeat: his 88-92 fastball with real sink, promising curve, plus command, deception in his delivery, and intriguing size (6-6, 210) had those who had seen him up close encouraged about his future. In his case, projection appears to be winning out over prior production, at least now that the (small sample size!) results (12.15 K/9 and 3.31 BB/9 in 16.1 IP) have caught up to his talent level. It doesn’t always work out quite this well, so we’ll enjoy it for now…and hope that Bouchey has turned the corner as a prospect.

Round 32. 1B David Jacob, from Quincy University Hit .392 there with 11 home runs. Division 2 guy.

Round 31. Jays take Marcus Still, CF from Scottsdale CC Hit .344/.404/.553 this past season.

Thats a W lads.

Grilli is pumped.

Round 30. Jake Fishman, LHP Union College New York Hudson Belinsky ‏@hudsonbelinsky 56s56 seconds ago #BlueJays 30th rounder Jake Fishman is very intriguing. Deceptive lefty with insane numbers. http://i.imgur.com/WzaRlNf.png http://www.timesunion.com/tuplus-local/article/Union-College-pitcher-getting-MLB-attention-7395858.php Union College junior pitcher Jake Fishman started the first game of a doubleheader Saturday afternoon at Shuttleworth Park in Amsterdam. It's a ballpark that future major-leaguers have called home and where Joe DiMaggio once played in an exhibition game. This time, the scrutiny was on Fishman, a 6-foot-3 lefthander from Sharon, Mass., who's in a Division III program that's never had a player drafted or reach the majors. Scouts from the Yankees, Angels, Rays and Phillies sat behind home plate with their radar guns and cameras trained on Fishman. He didn't have his best performance, though he did grind through a complete-game victory in a 7-4 decision over Clarkson. Union head coach Paul Mound said Fishman might have struggled with a high pitching mound at Shuttleworth, where Hunter Pence, Brendan Harris and others performed for the summer-league Amsterdam Mohawks before going on to MLB careers. Mound also wondered if the big-league attention might have rattled Fishman. "You know what the funny thing is?" Mound said. "Today's the first day, I honestly think that he saw the scouts because he was doing stuff that was out of character, like shaking off a lot of pitches and throwing the knuckleball when (the catcher) didn't want the knuckleball. Out of character things. I think the front row might have had him for the first time." Afterward, Fishman munched on a boxed lunch with an apple, a banana, a protein bar and a peanut butter and jelly sandwich. He said he wasn't bothered by the scouts. In fact, he feels one of his strengths is tuning out distractions. "It's no different than what it was before,'' he said. "There's just guys watching now." Certainly, he's no longer a small-school secret. Mound said he's been contacted by representatives from about a dozen big-league teams. Fishman was recently named to the midseason watch list for the Golden Spikes Award, given annually to the top amateur baseball player in the country. Of the 60 players on the list, Fishman is one of only two who don't play for a Division I program. "I was shocked,'' Fishman said. "I got off the bus, I forget where we were, and Coach pulled me aside and said, 'You got on the list.' I was, 'What?' I couldn't believe it, but it was an awesome feeling." Mound, who used to scout for the Kansas City Royals, said he's been able to use his contacts to help drum up interest in Fishman. The pitcher's numbers also speak for themselves. He has 5-0 record and a 0.43 earned-run average with 56 strikeouts in 42 innings. Even in his less-than-dominant performance against Clarkson, Fishman didn't allow any earned runs. A pair of infield errors led to the RBI single, sacrifice fly and two-run single that Fishman gave up that day. "He's a rare pitcher,'' Mound said. "He's a 6-3 lefty, and when he's on his game, he's untouchable, quite frankly." And yet he didn't have a single Division I offer coming out of high school in Sharon, a southwest suburb of Boston. Fishman said he was only 5-foot-7 until he had a 7-inch growth spurt during his junior year. Even then, his fastball only reached about 80 miles per hour. "I remember he was 5-5 at one point with a smile on his face that would go ear-to-ear,'' said his high school coach, Joel Peckham. "He sprouted up and his senior year, he was incredible. Beyond his baseball talents, he was a catalyst, he was a positive. He was full of fun and energy." Mound became aware of Fishman through Union pitcher Dan Friedman, also a Sharon native, who since has graduated. After visiting four Division III schools, Fishman chose Union over Skidmore, Babson and Brandeis. The atmosphere agreed with Fishman, a lighthearted personality who likes to ride his skateboard around campus. He has a 3.33 cumulative grade point average in managerial economics. "What really set (Union) apart was, there was no divide between the students and athletes,'' Fishman said. "Everybody's on the same playing field and everybody's friendly to each other, and that's really what attracted me." After getting on a college strength and conditioning program, Fishman added about 25 pounds to get to his current weight of 190. His fastball was clocked at 92 at an invitational tryout in front of a Braves scout last summer, Mound said. "There aren't a whole lot of 6-3 lefties with the kind of run and sink he has on his fastball,'' he said. That could be enough for him to become the first Union player to be chosen in the MLB draft, which is held June 9-11 and will cover 40 rounds. "It would definitely mean a lot for the school,'' Fishman said. "It'd be great to represent Union like that and show what our baseball program can do." Chances are Fishman will be back at Union for his senior year, unless he gets drafted unexpectedly high. He's scheduled to pitch in the prestigious Cape Cod League this summer on a temporary contract for the Wareham Gatemen. He'll get a chance to face top Division I college talent and show that he belongs. Baseball America had him as one of their top D3 guys for the 2016 draft 2. Jake Fishman, lhp/1b, Union (N.Y.): A two-way star at Union, Fishman’s pro future is on the mound. He pairs an 88-91 mph fastball and slider that are tough for lefties to pick up. Read more at http://www.baseballamerica.com/college/small-college-preview/#JELBAZG8ROR22SKD.99

A 3 run dinger here would be icing on the cake.

Round 29. RHP Andrew Deramo, from University of Central Florida https://twitter.com/andrewderamo18 http://i.imgur.com/JCcFAYr.png

Round 28. Jays take HS outfielder Blake Ebo.. https://twitter.com/blake_ebo http://www.trentonian.com/article/TT/20160429/SPORTS/160429658 HAMILTON >> The most impressive hitter you have probably not heard much about in Mercer County this spring is Trenton Catholic Academy’s Blake Ebo. The 6-foot-5 senior outfielder has been stinging the ball since joining the Iron Mikes from his old school, Paul VI. The Lumberton resident, who has already committed to attend University of the Pacific in Stockton, Calif. next year, is hitting at a .436 clip with 17 hits, 17 runs scored and 25 runs batted in. He is one of the reasons TCA has over 40 hits more than it did a year ago after just one month this season. Ebo was a big part of the Iron Mikes’ five-inning, 12-2 win over its Burlington County Scholastic League Independence Division rival Palmyra Friday. Ebo went 3-for-4 with a double, a run scored and five RBIs to help Trenton Catholic Academy remain undefeated at 11-0. “I knew a lot of the guys from outside of school,” said Ebo, who plays AAU ball with the New Jersey Tigers, who also call TCA’s field home. “We knew we were going to do something big this season.” Even with all the Iron Mikes have accomplished in the first month, the games are only going to get bigger since they are currently the top seed in the Mercer County Tournament as well as one of the top seeds in the BCSL Tournament. “I’m not worried,” TCA fourth-year head coach Keith Naylor said. “The more baseball we play the better. It can only make us better, not hurt us.” The addition of a player the caliber of Ebo has changed the Iron Mikes’ dynamic as much as any. It is obvious to see the way he smacks the ball around the field that Ebo puts a lot of time into his craft. “I’ve been working very hard,” Ebo said. “Every day after practice, I stay and hit. I want to hit the ball hard. My teammates get on base, and I hit them in.” After beating out an infield hit ahead of Ismael Garcia’s RBI single in the first inning, Ebo seemed mad at himself after looking at a called third strike with runners at the corners in the third inning. That was bad news for the Panthers because when he returned to the plate in the fourth and fifth innings he made the baseball pay. Ebo blasted a two-run single into center field in the fourth, then came back by ripping a double to left with the bases loaded to score all three in the fifth. His teammates did not do badly at the dish either. Garcia followed Ebo with a two-run double in the third, then scored on a dropped third strike to give the home team a 4-1 lead after Palmyra had tied the game on Dan Mackafee’s RBI ground out in the top half of the inning. Darius Land and Jordan Peterson had two hits apiece and five runs between them at the top of the order. With junior right-handed pitcher Mike Urban limiting the Panthers’ talented lineup to four hits, the Iron Mikes stayed on their impressive roll. “We’re just looking to have fun,” Ebo said. “Win or lose, we just come out and try to compete with whomever we play.” With 118 hits in the month of April alone, Ebo and Co. have been making people take note as Trenton Catholic Academy aims for even bigger rewards in the months to come. http://www.prepbaseballreport.com/news/NJ/On-the-Recruiting-Trail-2016-OF-Blake-Ebo-Paul-VI-0578162934 Blake Ebo is a very projectable outfield prospect who has a large 6-foot-3, 205 pound frame with room to add muscle mass. Ebo moves well for his size, allowing him to play an effective corner outfield position. He plays aggressive in the outfield and gets a solid first step on the fly ball. He shows good arm strength and works through his throw well. Known for his ability to drive the baseball, the strong right-handed hitter has the ability to drive the ball gap-to-gap. As he continues to add strength, Ebo will be a force in a college lineup and could be used as a power type bat who drives in runs. He hits with an upright stance and high back elbow. He uses a small leg kick into his stride as a timing mechanism. Occasionally, he will dip his back elbow, which throws off his swing plane but with more at-bats, he should be able to minimize this. Ebo has very good bat speed that translates to the next level very well. If he decides to put on more size to his lean frame, he could make a move to 1B and become a big power threat. The outfield prospect took time out of his day to discuss with us what seems to be a very exciting, well-paced recruiting process. PBR: Could you give us a brief history of your baseball background? Ebo: I've played baseball since I was 6 years old. My next door neighbor introduced me to the game in his backyard and they noticed that I was pretty good. Recently everything has taken off and I've been invited to an Area Code tryout while being named an Under Armour Preseason All-American. Hopefully there is more to come my way but for right now I am blessed to be able to have these things under my belt! PBR: What summer team will you be playing for in the summer? Ebo: I will be playing for the NJ Tigers under my coach Keith Naylor. PBR: When did the recruiting process start for you? When did you realize that you were a division one type prospect? Ebo: The recruiting process started for me at the end of my freshmen year. I realized I was a division one prospect when I started getting mail from big schools like Miami, Missouri, and Penn State. PBR: What are some of the schools that you are most interested in? Ebo: The schools that I am most interested in are Penn State, Missouri, Clemson, Jacksonville State, Western Kentucky, and Miami. PBR: Have you made any unofficial visits yet? Ebo: Yes I have. I’ve taken unofficial visits to Missouri, Penn State, Jacksonville State, and Wagner. PBR: Have you set a timeline for yourself in the recruiting process? Ebo: Yes; it would be a blessing to commit to a college of my choice by the end of this upcoming summer. PBR: What are your thoughts regarding Prep Baseball Report and the surfacing of PBR in New Jersey? Do you believe it will benefit high school prospects? Ebo: I think PBR is a great way to get your name out there to be able to play at the next level. The fact that PBR has moved to NJ is great because we have some of the best talent in this state. This will benefit high school prospects for sure because of the exposure they will get!

Round 27. High school catcher, Ryan Gold, out of South Carolina Committed to Coastal Carolina University He's a catcher.. so there's that.

http://i.imgur.com/h8lPQGb.png http://i.imgur.com/8AZT2MK.png Day 3

We are going all in on high school pitchers here on day 3, after not taking any in the first 2 days. Nice

Round 26. Ben Anderson, HS RHP from New York The twin brother of top 3 pick Ian Anderson. Nathan Rode ‏@NathanRode 2m2 minutes ago #BlueJays take Ian Anderson's twin, Ben Anderson. Binghamton recuit. Hope their parents taught them to share. #mlbdraft Hudson Belinsky ‏@hudsonbelinsky 2m2 minutes ago #BlueJays just took Ian Anderson's twin brother, Ben Anderson. Binghamton commit. Mid- to upper-80s fastball. Projectable build. #mlbdraft CLIFTON PARK — Growing up, Ben Anderson caught for his twin brother. Anyone else, too, who needed a reliable backstop. Looking around the bullpen at Shenendehowa’s home field during a recent practice, he ticked off one name after another of the teammates for whom he’s spent time stationed in a catcher’s crouch. “I’ve caught for all these guys, actually,” he said. Now, he’s one of them. One of the best, too. While brother Ian Anderson is the unquestioned star of the Shenendehowa pitching staff and projected as a possible first-round pick in this year’s Major League Baseball amateur draft, Ben Anderson has developed in less than two years into one of Section II’s top hurlers. Through his sophomore year, Ben Anderson was a catcher who only visited the mound in emergencies, like when one of his pitchers needed some words of encouragement or his team needed a spot inning from a willing player. Near the end of his sophomore season, though, Shenendehowa assistant coach Keith Lansley saw enough in Ben Anderson that he wanted to incorporate him into some bullpens and throwing sessions for the Plainsmen pitchers. “He thought it would be helpful to the team and the program that I pitch, too,” Ben Anderson said. “I can’t thank him enough for that.” “Next thing you know,” Shenendehowa head coach Greg Christodulu said, “he’s got Division I schools looking at him and then he’s signed, sealed and delivered to Binghamton.” Ben Anderson signed to pitch for Binghamton University this past fall, while his brother did the same for Vanderbilt University. The brothers kept up the twin act this past winter, too. That’s when representatives from all 30 MLB teams visited with Ian Anderson, and roughly a third of those teams also requested some time with Ben Anderson. On the mound, Ben Anderson still has a ways to go to catch up to his identical twin. While Ian Anderson regularly throws his four-seam fastball in the low-to-mid 90s, Ben Anderson pitches comfortably around 85; Ian Anderson tops out at 97, while Ben Anderson has hit 88. The brothers — each listed at 6-foot-4 and 180 pounds; Ben Anderson is actually a little taller while Ian Anderson weighs a little more — primarily work with four-seamers, curveballs and changeups, while Lansley is working with each to develop a two-seam fastball. Throwing all those pitches is new to Ben Anderson, the older twin by about two minutes. He has to spend extra time working on his grips with Lansley, and regularly picks the brains of his brother and dad Bob Anderson — who won a state championship coaching baseball at Schalmont — for advice on his new position. “We talk about what we can do to manipulate the ball, a lot about attacking hitters and what to do out on the mound,” said Ian Anderson, who won a world championship last summer in Japan with the 18U United States national team. Along with Saratoga Springs’ Danny Hobbs and Guilderland’s Matt Pierce — both seniors committed to Siena College — Ben Anderson is in the Suburban Council’s crop of next-best pitchers after his brother. Last year, Ben Anderson posted a 1.56 ERA in 27 innings, and his workload will grow this season, helping to further bolster the Plainsmen’s rotation. “He’s always had a great work ethic and he’s put in the time in the bullpens and on the mound,” said Shenendehowa senior pitcher Nik Malachowski, who produced a 0.47 ERA in 29 2⁄3 innings last year. “For him, it’s been a great transition, but I’m definitely not surprised. He deserves it and he’s worked hard for it.” The constant work-in-progress element to pitching for Ben Anderson is the fine-tuning of his throwing motion from a catcher’s quick fling to a pitcher’s more-extended toss. Most of the catcher-turned-pitcher’s practice work has focused on mechanics, leaving Lansley — who pitched a perfect game for Shenendehowa against Schenectady in the 1994 Section II Class A championship game — impressed with the improvement, and knowing there’s a lot more to come. “I don’t think he’s anywhere near his full potential,” Lansley said. The one thing Ben Anderson cannot use to improve is his brother in the role of catcher. After growing up with Ben Anderson catching for his brother for years, Ian Anderson tried to return the favor this past summer. It didn’t work. “I got hit in the face,” Ian Anderson said. “So we won’t be doing that again.”

Round 25 Casey Legumina HS RHP https://t.co/58KQVKkLhj Hudson Belinsky ‏@hudsonbelinsky 21s21 seconds ago #BlueJays roll the dice on AZ HS RHP Casey Legumina. Missed most of the spring with injury. Has some arm strength and projectable body. http://i.imgur.com/8vw0lN4.png Basha Baseball ‏@BashaBaseball Mar 4 Scouts Guns read Gonzaga Baeball commit Casey Legumina hitting 92-93 consistently @GonzagaBaseball in a one hitter!

Dodgers just drafted Chandler Eden, who we picked last year but didn't sign.

Round 24. Michael Ellenbest RHP Saginaw Valley State http://i.imgur.com/OXOQgsz.png Currently pitching in the Northwoods summer collegiate league for the Green Bay Bullfrogs. http://northwoods.bbstats.pointstreak.com/player.html?playerid=985311&seasonid=29992

Mariners just drafted Ken Griffey Jr.'s kid Trey Griffey

Round 23, Jays take Huntington Beach High School CF Dominic Abbadessa. Plays on the same team as highly touted Hagen Danner. Long Beach State commit. http://www.foxsports.com/west/story/dominic-abbadessa-s-spectacular-plays-propels-huntington-beach-into-cif-ss-d1-final-060215 The Huntington Beach baseball radio announcer had to find a new way to describe outfielder Dominic Abbadessa. When the junior stepped to the plate in the top of sixth inning, the announcer said, "And here comes the man, the myth, the Abbadessa." When you make plays like No. 39 in dark gray did on Tuesday afternoon, you earn the right to have special recognition with a "the" in front of your name. Abbadessa made, arguably, the play of the year in the bottom of the fourth inning in the 4-0 CIF Southern Section Division 1 semifinal win for Huntington Beach (23-8) over Norco (25-6) at Blair Field to advance to Saturday's championship against Hart. There may not be a better play at the college level or in the major leagues this season. Norco No. 6 hitter Trevor Thompson blasted a drive into left field. Abbadessa turned and sprinted towards the wall on a dead run with his entire back towards the infield. It looked to be extra bases for Thompson, with the possibility of even scoring the runner, Patrick Keller, from first. The ball was almost certain to drop. But Abbadessa came up with a Willie Mays-esque over-the-shoulder basket catch, gathered, and fired the ball back into the infield. He hit the shortstop who threw a one-hopper to first to double up Keller, who was in between second and third at the time the catch was made in the outfield. Huntington Beach players celebrated all the way to the dugout on the first base side as Oilers fans stood on their feet in a thunderous ovation. It was the old-fashioned 7-6-3 double play to end the inning. "I'm just running as fast as I can," said Abbadessa, who was also 1-for-4 in the game with an RBI and a run scored. "That's all I want to do. I want to catch the ball. I want to do everything for my team. I didn't think I had it but I just kept running and running and happened to make a good play." Inside the Huntington Beach dugout, the Oilers staff could feel the impact the play was having on the game. The Oilers were up 2-0 at the point with a lot of baseball to be played. If the ball drops, it's a 2-1 game or, at best, they still lead by two but have to deal with runners on second and third with one out. Thanks to Abbadessa, the Oilers faced no such scenario. "Dom is one of the fastest guys around," Huntington Beach head coach Benji Medure said. "He does special, athletic things all the time but that was unbelievable, and it was at a crucial point in the game where it really changed the complexity of the game and, kind of, took the air out of (Norco's) sails. If that ball drops, it's a totally different game."

Torii Hunter just announced the Angels pick, where they took his son Torii Hunter Jr.

Round 22, Connor Eller, RHP Ouachita Baptist University https://twitter.com/C_Eller22 http://www.obutigers.com/images/2015/12/9/player_Eller,%20Connor.jpg http://www.obutigers.com/roster.aspx?rp_id=2138 http://i.imgur.com/MmOKGt9.png Senior sign guy. Cant find much info other than his stats

Round 21 Now after a little break. Jays take Mitch McKown, RHP Seminole State I can't really find anything on this guy except that he pitches and is committed to UCF for next season.

http://i.imgur.com/PnmgrcU.png http://i.imgur.com/ORETsvC.gif

Round 20 time lads. Angel Alicea, RHP Alabama State http://i.imgur.com/3wZBckB.png