Yet another draft season in Cobbfather, so let's round up the Rule 4 draft. The blog continues to have the best scouts in the league! We'll do the same as last season and add in current ML comps to most players. As a reminder comps are to match their projections as closely as possible and not what they may end up like. It's up to you to develop your own talent, don't come looking for us to do the work for you. We'll too busy developing Tim Horton chains throughout America!
1.
New York -
Malachi Mitchell (SS) - Third straight year with the number 1 pick and potential they'll make it 4 straight years. When NY tanks, NY tanks! Maybe this time their tanking will actually win them a title. Mitchell is a solid choice though limited range should keep him away from playing Short but could be a gold glove 3B; or at least a defensive plus there. His bat would be better at short, but your pitchers would love you more than the commish loves Tim Horton's donuts if you played him elsewhere. Mitchell feels like Alex Tarraga at the tail end of his Buffalo career, before he joined New York. I'd say a .275 wOBA with 30ish HRs.
Initial OAV: 51, Age: 18
2.
Colorado Springs -
Robert Flynn (SP) - Year 3 of the rebuild starts with the #2 overall pick for the second year straight. They just can't seem to overtake NY for that top pick. Maybe S60 will be there year...and maybe they'll get a Letter to the Owner. Top should enjoy this comp as he's looking like a slightly softer Tony Lim. I'd give him a 1.25 WHIP with a 3.50 ERA. Starting to feel like top has a type, a lot of his comps are typically of his previous players. Flynn will easily log 260+ innings in a season making 40ish starts. In a typical season we'll see teams with anywhere from 1400-1500 innings pitched.
Initial OAV: 54, Age: 18
3.
Pittsburgh -
Darrell Schneider (RF) - There's starting to be another certainty in life; death, taxes, and NY-Colorado Springs - Pittsburgh drafting in order in the Amateur Draft. Let's look at who they've paired with LF Reese Bruce from last season. This 20 yr old kid comes to majors with near Kyle Crain power and Matty Moss speed; making him a solid pairing for King Bruce. Best comp would be Carlos Soto, but it's not a great comp. Schneider will make less contact, has more power, hits lefties better, and a lot more speed. Small sample size, but another Alex Tarraga S54 comp but DS offers nearly double the speed as AT. I'd put his baseline at .295, 35 HR, 35 SB but have higher expectations than that. He could easily be a Carlos Soto type who hit nearly 40/40 on .290 in S54 & 55. Perhaps Reese Bruce is no longer the King of Pittsburgh, that title shifts to Schneider.
Initial OAV: 64, Age: 20
4.
Austin -
Albert Dykstra (SS) - Earliest draft pick we've seen for Austin in awhile, maybe they've committed to this current rebuild. He's slightly better projected in the field than the #1 pick and assuming he meets projections should be league average at Short. He's getting His comps are all over the place, so we are excited to add him to database, but looks like a .285 wOBA, with a .290ish average and 25 HR. Might have a year or two he gets into the 30s. Fantastic power numbers from the Shortstop position. Odin has to be happy with this pick.
Initial OAV: 66, Age: 20
5.
Dover -
Boomer Quinn (SP) - What I'm more interested to see is, if Dover hangs on to Quinn or moves him for ML ready talent. One of the driving factors with Quinn is how he develops his pitches and if his #1 pitch, a sinker, fully develops. If not, he'll be in trouble. I'll say he has some good velocity and should keep the ball slightly on the ground more than in the air. Think of late seasons of Rico Bonilla or Juan Sanchez with more velocity and slightly better control. I'd put him at a 1.25 whip and a 3.20-3.35 era. Shouldn't have to push too hard for 200k+ in a season.
Initial OAV: 63, Age: 21
6.
Augusta -
Kes Baines (P) - Type D pick for not signing BJ Magill last season. All the internet blogs are saying not signing Magill was a great thing for the franchise as this year's draft is much better than last year's. This guys handles leftie with ease and righties even better. There are not many concerns about his Cut Fastball coming around, just give it a few seasons. Aside from closer to league average control, Baines really issue is staying on the field. The team's medical staff better be ready with him, because it's not the division rivals that will ruin Kes, it will be fighting against his own health. Let's say he stays health, you're looking at Joshua Lough, Teoscar Zurbaran type numbers; 1.00-1.05 whip, 2.65-3.00 era. But you have to ask yourself, does he stand a greater chance to get injured seeing more innings a game or more appearances a season? Starter Roger Simon wouldn't be an awful comp either if he missed a start or two a season.
Initial OAV: 54, Age: 18
7. -
Milwaukee -
Miguel Feliz (1B) - The contact and power of Feliz have to make Milwaukee happy. Not many players in Cobbfather can say they've had his potential in those two categories combined. Not to mention that eye should keep him strikeout total low as well. I'm not even going to reference his comps but let's just say he could easily put him 15-20 HR in the ML this season; though his average might be around .230 and will likely get into the .285/.290 range when he develops and where he'll hit 40 HR easy. Here we are 7 picks in, and can't say I've ever seen a draft this this one since joining Cobbfather back in S45.
Initial OAV: 65, Age: 20
8.
Tacoma -
Allen Roberts (RP) - Clear cut shut down reliever, similar to Baines drafted a few above him, he's got Joshua Lough comps. He might not project as well as Baines but as a TON less injury concern. 1.00-1.15 whip, 3.25 era. Add his velocity and there's a lot to like for this guy, especially playing in a pitchers park for half his games. Relievers are often times a dime a dozen but there are a few exceptions and Roberts will be one of them.
Initial OAV: 50, Age: 18
9.
Minnesota -
Al Vogt (2B) - The speed on this guy is amazing, might as well be named Al Vogo-go! 40-50 steals in a season shouldn't be too much to expect from this guy is Minny lets him run; which shouldn't be a problem. They've been above average in stolen bases since becoming the North Stars. It has only been in recent years that they've become just league average. Let's give him 15-20 HR and while the contact isn't great, his speed down the basepath should help get him .275. Defensively he's perfect fine at Second base. Stolen bases won't win you awards, but he'll produce well and I'd take him in the top of the lineup. Some of our scouts wanted to comp him to Matty Moss, but you'd have to flip the splits, lessen the eye and power. That's enough tweaks to warrant a different comp.
Initial OAV: 51, Age: 18
10.
Charleston -
Pascual Padilla (2B) - Charleston owner should be looking at a combo of division rival Mallex Borenstein from his Santa Fe days and Edwards Ferrara from his Montreal days floor and ceiling. That balances out to nearly 30 hrs, 20 sbs, and a .265 average. Padilla is faster than both, sits between the two in contact, hits lefties better than both and righties slightly worse than the Canadian hitter.
Initial OAV: 67, Age: 22
11.
Montreal -
Stu Hawkins (RF) - Like the #3 pick this guys has power and speed, he's looking more like a comp to Leonel Martinez or Roger Stinnett; he'll be a streaky hitter but should average out to around a .255, 35 hr, and depending on the team's aggressiveness could get up to 55-60 sbs but I'll guess he will likely be in the 35-40 range. Still not bad if you consider the #3 pick was projected as a .290 40/40 and Hawkins comes in at pick 11 as a .255 35/35 hitter.
Initial OAV: 49, Age: 18
12.
Anaheim -
Julio Mangual (RP) - Another reliever selected within the top half of the first round. He's looking like a Stretch Story or Ichiro Suzuki type reliever, 1.25 whip, 3.30 era, though he lacks the velocity of Suzuki but should be a better groundball pitcher than both of them. Not a bad pick at #12 but in this deep draft, you have to wonder if the talent is starting to see a drop off.
Initial OAV: 59, Age: 20
13.
Chicago -
Bradley Nixon (P) - Nixon showed how much stamina he truly has by holding out for the most expensive signing of this season's draft, let's take a look at what the Windy City is in store for. Well hate to break it to you but you've got Jeimer Escobar, a 1.30ish whip, 4.00+ era starter though Nixon will have better velocity and nearly always keeping the ball out of the air. Maybe that's more in line with Edgardo Boscan than Escobar. Either way, I can't keep those drug lords separate. He's slightly above league average.
Initial OAV: 56, Age: 20
14.
Washington DC -
Stephen Telford (LF) - Another high power / high speed prospect, never seen so many in one draft that were drafted this high up. Telford will be the slowest of the bunch but matches the other two in the power department. Telford will also be a bit lacking in his ability to make contact but than again, that's why he's pick #14 and not #3 or 12. His comp will actually be close to #12 pick Hawkins, but Telford makes less contact but handles right handed pitchers better. He is also better on the basepaths which might help him out extend a base or two. Defensively Telford lags behind Hawkins.
Initial OAV: 58, Age: 19
15.
Santa Fe -
Irving Chacin (3B) - The Santa Fe rebuild has been an interesting one, they are shifted gears and back to their big contracts with one last pick in the top 15. Unfortunately he's not quite the talent they were likely hoping for. He has speed, like many others in this year's draft; I'd look for a .245 average, low teens HRs and maybe 20 SBs but that depends how streaky he is season to season with that low contact rate. Chacin has to be the worst position player selected thus far. Not a huge surprise, he's the lowest pick of them all as well.
Initial OAV: 57, Age: 19
16.
Vancouver -
Albert Carrasco (SP) - Northern Tacoma selects Alberto Carrrrrrrassssscoooo, the worst pitcher to date in the draft. But like Chacin that makes sense as he's the highest pick as well. He'll be league average at best, 1.35 whip with a 4.20 era. But he's got Tim Timmons or Paolo Gomez comps written all over him. Still a good ML rotation piece but definitely not someone to build around. He's that final piece you need at the back of the rotation when you are about to tighten the belt and go after the title. Better luck next year Canada, go back to your maple syrup, celebrating Thanksgiving in October, and your color monopoly money. Come back to America when you're ready to compete!
Teodoro Johnson, selected at pick #370 is looking like the Canucks steal of the draft.
Initial OAV: 58, Age: 22
17.
Jacksonville -
Gene Newson (P) - Solid pick here for Jacksonville, grabbing a Louie Combs or Stretch Story type pitcher at pick #17. Should be a 1.15 whip, 3.00 era type if he can meet projections. If he starts, I imagine 80-90 or so pitches but should still get 30-32 starts a season; which puts him in the 150-185 innings pitched. Looking forward to seeing what he does in Florida.
Initial OAV: 49, Age: 18
18.
Montreal -
Rob Wooster (2B) - Type D pick for not signing Tomas Wong. Did Montreal make the Wong decision in Wooster? Woo knows! Also the second pick for Montreal within the top 20. A cheap Tim Combs knock-off, who will likely hit .250 with 10-15 HR, with 10-15 SB. Probably have better luck drafting an actual rooster with this pick. At least you know the rest of your prospects will wake up to work out in time.
Initial OAV: 42, Age: 18
That does it for the protected picks of the draft. Recap: 8 pitchers, 1 left fielders, 3 second baseman, 2 shortstop, 1 third basemen, 1 first basemen, and 1 right fielder. Mixed bag of position players and pitchers drafted this year in the early picks. Of the official first round, 34 picks; 19 of them were pitchers.
Bonus wise it was a mixed bag, with three players signing above slot, lead by Chicago's #13 overall pick who signed for $8.1M! It took #9 Minnesota ($6.2M), #11 Montreal ($4.5M), #16 Vancouver (3.4M) a bit extra above slot to sign their picks. Chicago also spent $8M on #81; might as well have trashed that money; but then again I guess that's what they did.
Let's go prospects, it's nearly your time to shine!! Check back in 10 seasons to see how things turned out and who ended up being the best pick of the draft.
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