S56 Draft Recap

Gabrielle  O. Alvarez-Tillman - Contributing Reporter.

Yet another draft season in Cobbfather, so let's round up the Rule 4 draft. We won't mention any names, but a certain team hired the scouts out from under us, so temper expectations on projections a bit. Let's dig into it! We'll do the same as last season and add in current ML comps to most players - maybe not all. As a reminder comps are to match their projections as closely as possible and not what they may end up like. 

1. Tacoma - Steve Mailman (SP) - I'm seeing a trend. Tacoma with #1 pick in even years. Time to hit Vegas in S58! Let's take a look at the player paired with last year's Scott Stokes (SP) and their other #1 pick Domingo Rodriguez (SP). It's going to be a solid rotation if all three of those guys make and in a pitcher friendly stadium like Tacoma, it should be interesting to see what these guys do. Now to get some bats to put up some runs. With Steve's velocity, the mailman sure isn't ringing twice. He's a slightly better Damaso Ethier but with a lot lower first pitch quality and doubled third pitch to make up for it. Definitely a front line starter without a doubt. 

2.  Mexico City - Marc Olson (SS) - Similar to Tacoma they've taken two starting pitchers the last two years within the top 5 picks but this year shift to the infield. But can the plus arm strength make up for the average range, accuracy and below average glove? I'd set Charlie Hinojosa as his floor. A player who can man Short and put up a good average with high teens to mid-20s HR power and probably about the same depending on his manager letting him run or not. His red flag is his health, one injury could kill him defensively or quickly turn him into your prototypical Rule 5 SS. Solid makeup for a kid who is 20 yrs old. 

3. Augusta - Logan Galloway (RP) - This team missed out on signing their S54 pick, but made up for it by selecting two pitchers last season. It's rare to see a relief pitcher this early in the draft so that should tell you something about Galloway. He's going to be a beast! Imagine prime Radhames Machado, he could be better than that. His down side is that stamina won't last more than an inning, but I could still see him easily pitching 120-135 innings a season at the prime setup man. If you want an ace to your bullpen for the playoffs, Galloway is your man and I'm not even sure he's Scottish. He'll have the best forkball in all of Cobbfather. Might even have a top 5 curveball in all of Cobbfather too. If that doesn't get your knees shaky, then I don't know what will. 

4. Dover - Bernie Paez (2B) - Great health, fantastic speed and posed to be able to lay down a bunt wherever he wants it to go. Watch out KBO Bunt Derby! He shouldn't strike out much, but neither will he impress the chicks who vote on the Hall as his career high in HRs projects to be 10. Think S54 Al Rosario who will hit about .260. Given his health and durability he should see every bit of all 162 games, but we fill that will also drive up his arbitration years given the production of his bat. Given Dover isn't really a team that likes to run, he's probably best traded to a team like OKC who loves to run and could use 18 yr old manning second in their future years. 

5. Washington DC - Gordon Eyre (SS) - We covered the struggle of the previous owner to develop talent, this year's pick sure hopes the new owner will be different. Given the limitations in range and slight below average glove, we'd suspect Eyre will move off short and likely to the hot corner where his power will be better suited. Think Boone Maxwell with his splits reversed and slightly more speed. Similar to #2 pick Olson, a slight injury concern but with the right medical staff he should be fine. 

6. Austin - Viosergy Barrett (SS) - Superb range and arm strength with above average accuracy should be fun to watch at Short. Third Shortstop with an injury concern but with Barrett it's even more pressing given his low contact and splits abilities with his power driving so much of his value at the plate. He's basically a stronger slower Ronald Wilson; he'll be a streaky hitter but I've seen far worse players starting at Short. 

7. Tokyo - Dave Cisco (P) - I like big budgets and I cannot lie. With $122M committed to payroll, one has to wonder what their scouting budget looks like. Maybe the owner's dad did the scouting for the team this year. You gotta like what Pops found at pick 7, a Danys Solis with better control, a hair better splits, but much less velocity and doesn't know how to keep the ball anywhere near the ground. Solis by the way has a career 55-14 mark; that's nearly a .800 winning percentage as he's bounced between the bullpen and rotation down in New Orleans. 

8. Montreal - Dale Baker (2B) - This dude can flat out run, and might even challenge Matty Moss for the All-Time stone base record, IF he can get on base. At the plate he's an Ernest Collins or Yovani Bonilla type of bat. Over the last two seasons those guys have hit .247, .248, .265, .280; with anywhere from 8-27 HR. Let's hope Baker ends up more S54 Bonilla. Has a good chance to stick at 2B for the future. Now if only Montreal could decide if they are rebuilding or going for it, that changes more times than the owner changes his underwear!

9. New York - Charles Strickland (3B) - This is probably the lowest pick you see NY at in the next 5-6 seasons, get ready for a strong rebuild! Strickland seems willing to sign for slot but NY must be saving for that IFA spending over the ratings they see of this high schooler. Not sure if they end up getting a Type D pick next season at #10. They'd be that much closer to shifting money over to scouting and might be more comfortable with their selection. Not to mean they are looking at a possible #1 or 2 pick next year as well. Strickland is a high power, high health type of player who will shift off Short in the majors. Hits Lefties and Righties decently well....when he can finally make contact. 

10. Santa Fe - Braden Bassitt (LF) - Last year's pick appears to be progressing decently enough, but like Tokyo at the #7, this is a high budget team who might not have the scouting budget and resources to correctly identify who exactly their pick is. Defensively Bassitt is going to struggle anywhere outside of first base. Hitting wise he looks like a Mat Patel with a better eye and a metric s#%@ ton more speed. Sadly that speed will go to waste in terms of stolen bases, but I'd imagine in that hitter's park of Santa Fe he probably legs out a few extra hits getting down the base path quicker. 

11. Anaheim - Matt Roberts (SP) - A lot to like about Roberts especially this late in the draft. With comp names like Nigel White, Riger Simon, Louis Conley, Victor Ortega, Alan Street, Joaquin Owe, and Zephyr Gross you know he's going to have a pretty decent career. If you forced me to compare with just one player I'd probably lean Nigel White with the biggest difference being able to keep the ball low. This could be the steal of the draft consider White has won the last 3 NL Cy Young awards. While White is having his "worst" season for the Rising Stars he's still 18-2 through 24 starts with a 1.04 WHIP and 2.50 ERA. 

12. Helena - Yunel Valenzuela (RP) - Is there a vowel in the alphabet this guy doesn't like? YV might challenge Galloway who was drafted #3 as the best relief pitcher in the draft. He also comps to Radhames Machado but also new Expo, Joshua Lough. YV stands to have better pitches than both while keeping the ball almost immediately on the ground. Imagine having the sharpest Shortstop with this guy on the mound. His stamina is low, but he gets himself ready for the next day quickly. Very solid pick here. At 21 yrs old, and playing for the AL West division leading Helena squad, you might actually see him called up pretty quick compared to most players. Let's make the most of that playoff window!

13. Columbus - Junior Morris (LF) - What a jump, this team went from the #1 pick last year to errr....lucky #13. That's a good sign right? Being the third big budget team, this one having a $127M player payroll, I'd expect some talent to fall to later picks this season. No real good comps for the player for Mr Jr Ms. But given his struggle against Lefties, he'd likely split At-bats with another player. 

14. Buffalo - Jason McCallum (SP) - McCallum will be an interesting one to watch, especially for this Bisons team. He's likely an Edgardo Boscan type pitcher; not the name everyone thinks up but gets the job done. Minus this year for Boscan but maybe he's just not a Boston type of pitcher. 

15. Montreal (Type D) - Stefen Diaz (3B) - With their second pick in the top 14, the only team in Canada that really matters selects, Stefen 'Not Curry' Diaz. Talk about another comp for an underrated player, I'd see Diaz as a James Kondou type with a little less speed and slightly worse at making contact. Given the quality I've seen at a #15 pick, this the team should be excited about this one. 

16. Jacksonville - Eury Gomez (CF) - I hate giving two player comps but Gomez falls pretty close to a perfect mix of Rafael Rodriguez and Steve Lalli. If he can stick at CF I'd take the low teens HR with 40-50 SBs on the season. Likely a .260ish type hitter. Bat him in the 9th hole and let him lead get on base ahead of your true leadoff guy and just sit back and watch the double steals happen! 

Recap: 6 pitchers, 1 second baseman, 3 shortstops, 3 center fielders, a left fielder, and 2 third basemen. Very pitcher focused this season.  Most expensive signing: #7 overall to Tokyo - Dave Cisco - $5.8M, well above slot. Let's see if he ends up worth it in a few years. 

Let's go prospects, it's nearly your time to shine!!