Here are Monday’s agreements from the top few rounds of the draft (rankings referenced are courtesy of Baseball America, MLB.com, Fangraphs and ESPN’s Keith Law — with the scouting reports from MLB and Fangraphs both coming free to the general public)…
- The Athletics have a deal in place with second-rounder Jameson Hannah, per Jon Heyman of Fan Rag (via Twitter). He’ll take home a $1.8MM bonus, a fair bit north of the $1,414,200 allocation that came with the 50th overall selection. Coming into the draft, MLB.com was by far the most bullish outlet on Hannah, grading the Dallas Baptist product as the 32nd-best player available. He’s said to possess outstanding speed, some decent power projection, and a solid hit tool at the plate along with the chops to play center.
Earlier Updates
- The Cardinals agreed to terms with Wake Forest right-hander Griffin Roberts on a $1,664,200 bonus — the full slot value of his No. 43 selection — per MLB.com’s Jim Callis (on Twitter). Opinions on Roberts were somewhat split, with Baseball America most favorably ranking him 47th in the class, while Fangraphs pegged him 84th overall. Reports on him praise Roberts for possessing one of the best sliders of any amateur in the country, but there’s also quite a bit of uncertainty as to whether he can be a starter at the professional level or if he’ll be a bullpen piece. He also had control issues prior to the 2018 season.
- MLB.com’s Jonathan Mayo tweets that the Angels are in agreement with second-round pick Jeremiah Jackson on a $1,196,500 bonus that represents a full-slot signing. Law’s ranking of Jackson as the No. 23 prospect in the class was the most aggressive, as he wrote that while Jackson was unlikely to be the first high school shortstop off the board, he was perhaps the most promising. Kiley McDaniel and Eric Longenhagen of Fangraphs write that Jackson’s stock soared once he began wearing glasses and immediately began raking. McDaniel and Longenhagen note that opposing teams simply opted to intentionally walk Jackson in 11 of his final 13 plate appearances in high school and peg him as a potential everyday third baseman.
- In a fairly sizable over-slot signing, FanRag’s Jon Heyman tweets the Indians agreed to a $900K bonus with sixth-rounder Raynel Delgado, whose No. 193 overall selection came with a value of $235,600. The switch-hitting prep infielder out of Florida has impressed scouts with his bat speed and hit tool from both sides of the dish, but questions about his defense and a commitment to Florida International pushed him down the board a bit. BA ranked him 83rd, touting the potential for plus power from both sides of the dish. Callis and Mayo peg him as a potential offensive-minded second or third baseman down the line.
From MLB dot com: “In 2015, Tom Eshelman went in the second round to the Astros. Two years later, the Phillies took Connor Seabold in the third round. This year, it’s Colton Eastman’s turn and he’s hoping to join his predecessors in the top three rounds.”
Tom Eshelman was pursued by the Phillies in the Giles trade. Now the Phillies own all three of these guys who have sub par stuff.
What level of incompetency makes an active effort to acquire pitchers like this and spends high level capital to make the acquisition?
It looks like intentional destruction.
Yeah but at the time those guys all had good pitchability and knew how to succeed without premium stuff. I honestly think that’s more important than just having great stuff anyway, since velocity can decline so much.
Look at Tim Lincecum for example. He had amazing stuff in his prime, but once he lost velocity he had no idea how to adjust and now he’s minor league depth even in a best case scenario.
Also, some teams have great success with those types of pitchers. The Indians took Shane Bieber, Aaron Civale, Eli Morgan, and a few other pitchers outside of the top few rounds and they’re now among their better pitching prospects.
“I honestly think that’s more important than just having great stuff ”
You should send a resume to the Phillies, they’d hire you.
Well what use is having good stuff if you don’t know how to use it? If you can’t pitch, it doesn’t matter how hard you throw
Problem here is michaels use of the term “good stuff”. “Good stuff ” is not used to describe speed. “Hard stuff” is. Good stuff means good breaking ball, good use of all pitches, nasty cutters like Rivera had.
So good stuff is better to have than hard stuff. I think that’s what you mean. You should have said good stuff IS more important than hard stuff. I believe Casey’s Partner would agree.
Tom Eshelman
Connor Seabold
Colton Eastman
Three Long Island Ducks.
Trade capital and two 2nd round picks for three Long Island Ducks.
They prob would since they on the upside this season.
The only good thing that came from long Island is their iced tea.
Is Reynel Delgado at all related to the D-Backd Randall Delgado?
For the most part I will trust the Cardinals ability to assess pitching talent.
Has anyone seen ANYTHING at all of the braves prospects signing?
I’m not trying to hijack the thread, but I’ve been extremely busy the past week and haven’t heard anything.
I don’t know but some could still be playing in the CWS. Or just got eliminated from them.
CaseysPartner is bitter and angry. Let him be please…..
“McDaniel and Longenhagen note opposing teams simply opted to intentionally walk Jackson in 11 of his final 13 PA…”
That’s incredible even in HS.
Why would the Cardinals chunk out $1.6 million on a pitcher that they know he already has problems as a starter and no control as a reliever?????