Draft Round-Up
Thursday, June 11 2009 @ 05:42 PM EDT
Contributed by: Dave Rutt
Here are some links and analysis following both days of the draft.
If you guys find any links to info, stats, video, etc. on
these guys, I'd be happy to post it up here, so just leave whatever you
find in the comments! Hopefully we can create a comprehensive
compendium of the good guys' new faces.
Here's some info on the first 5 picks, copied from the other night's thread:
Toronto Blue Jays 2009 Amateur Draft Selections
Round 1, 20th overall, RHP Chad Jenkins, Jr., Kenesaw State, 6-4, 225. Born December 22, 1987. MLB.com Scouting Report.
Here's some video of Jenkins courtesy of YouTube. Jenkins
was the Atlantic Sun Conference player of the year after going 8-1 with
a 2.54 ERA. He pitched 92 innings, giving up 80 hits with a K-BB mark
of 98-15. Scouting reports describe Jenkins as a good command
pitcher who throws a 90-94 MPH fastball along with a 80-85 MPH slider
that's considered to be his out pitch and a 80-83 MPH change that's
plus.
Rotoworld considers him to be a number three or four starter. Scouting director Jon Lalonde comments on the selection of Jenkins. Baseball America has additional comments from Lalonde about Jenkins. Jordan Bastian of bluejays.com files a story on Jenkins along with some video.
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Round 1 (Supplemental), 37th overall, LHP James Paxton, Jr., Kentucky, 6-4, 215. Born November 6/1988. MLB.com Scouting Report.
A Canadian lad from Ladner, B.C. who is represented by Scott Boras, Paxton delivers
serious heat with a fastball ranging from 92-98 MPH and is reported to
have a power slider. However, scouting reports also indicate he hasn't
developed a third pitch and needs to work on his control and command.
He went 5-3 with a 5.86 ERA this season but his K/BB total was 115-20
in 78 1/3 innings. This is a pick the Jays received from the Yankees
for signing you know who as a free agent.
Bob Elliott of the Toronto Sun had a piece on Paxton earlier this week. The Vancouver Sun talked to Paxton late last month. Another Bob Elliott article last month compares Paxton to fellow Canadian lefty Jeff Francis.
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Round 2, 68th overall, LHP Jake Eliopoulos, 6-3, 178, Sacred
Heart HS - Newmarket, ON/Brantford Red Sox (Intercounty League). Born
May 21/1991. Video on Eliopoulos here, here and here.
Born in the Ukraine, scouting reports says Eliopoulos has a three-pitch mix featuring a high 80's fastball with an occasional foray into the low 90's, a change and a curve. PG Crosschecker.com
says he needs to work on his fastball command but it does have good
movement and improve his consistency of his other pitches. It's hoped
that his velocity will improve once he fills out. The top-ranked
Canadian high school pitcher in the draft, he had a 1.13 ERA in two
starts with Brantford while racking up 12 K's in eight innings.
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Round 3, 99th overall, RHP Jake Barrett, 6-4, 235, Desert Ridge HS - Arizona. Born July 22/1991. MLB.com Scouting Report.
Compared to Kevin Millwood in terms of his build, Barrett
is described to have plus stuff but needs to refine his command
according to the MLB.com draft experts. He was considered to be the
best high school arm in the state of Arizona. His fastball clocks in
at 90-94 MPH but doesn't have a lot of movement. He's able to locate
it and command it. Barrett also throws a power curve and
splitter in the mid to high 70's. He may need to get into better shape
but is lauded for his fastball command and his composure on the mound.
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Round 3, 104th overall, OF Jacob Marisnick, 6-4, 200, Riverside Poly HS - California. Born March 30/1991. Video on Marisnick here.
That's three Jakes in a row! Now they have to select a Fat Man!! The MLB.com panel describes Marisnick
as one of the best athletes in the draft and a five-tool talent. The
big question is his bat as he reportedly struggled with the stick. The
right-handed batter, who has been compared to Hunter Pence, has a commitment to Oregon. This was the other compensation pick for the Yankees signing whatshisname.
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Erika Gilbert of MLB.com has a round-up of day 2. Here are the Jays' picks from rounds 4-30.
Round 4 (130th) -- Ryan Goins, SS, Dallas Baptist University: Chosen as the NCAA Division I Independent Baseball Player of the Year, Goins put up impressive power numbers at the plate this year, hitting 22 home runs and 17 doubles while batting .371. The junior from Texas -- a pitcher in 2008 -- has a plus arm.
Round 5 (160th) -- Ryan Schimpf, 2B, Louisiana State University: After a solid showing in the Summer Valley League, where Schimpf hit .392 with 11 home runs in 27 games and walked more than he struck out, the 5-foot-9 second baseman broke out in his junior year, hitting .320 with 12 home runs in 67 games for the Tigers. He was even better in the playoffs, batting .419 with with two home runs in LSU's 13-game postseason run. Schimpf has been a reliable second baseman and has also spent some time in the outfield.
Round 6 (190th) -- K.C. Hobson, RF, Stockdale HS: Hobson is a 6-foot-3 left-handed hitter with plus power, as he hit 13 home runs this year -- a school record. He also batted .488 while knocking in 47 runs in 28 games. Although the Jays chose him as a right fielder, Hobson is also a pitching prospect with a low-90s fastball and a curveball.
Round 7 (220th) -- Egan Smith, LHP, College of Southern Nevada: Smith, who was drafted by the Indians in the 35th round of the 2008 First-Year Player Draft, chose to return to college instead of signing with Cleveland. The 20-year-old, who stands at 6-foot-4 and weighs 195 pounds, has a low-90s fastball and impressive strikeout numbers, fanning 76 batters in 63 1/3 innings en route to a 2-4 record with a 2.98 ERA and 23 walks.
Round 8 (250th) -- Brian Slover, RHP, Cal State Northridge: Serving as the Matadors' primary closer, Slover received All-Big West honors in 2009 after posting a 1.39 ERA in 29 appearances. The 6-foot-3, 230-pound junior showed strong command, striking out 48 batters in 45 1/3 innings while issuing only 15 walks, and his nine saves were fourth in the conference. He has good fastball velocity and a mid-80s cut fastball as well.
Round 9 (280th) -- Aaron Loup, LHP, Tulane University: The 5-foot-11, 180-pound junior from Louisiana made 17 appearances, including eight starts, in 2009, posting a 5.93 ERA. His strikeout numbers are solid -- Loup fanned 61 batters in 57 2/3 innings this year -- but his strikeout-to-walk ratio is more impressive at 6.8 strikeouts per walk.
Round 10 (310th) -- Yan Gomes, C, Barry University: After transferring to Barry before this season, Gomes was named Sunshine State Conference Player of the Year. A 39th-round pick by the Red Sox in 2008, the 21-year-old doesn't have a lot of speed, but he can hit for average and power. His .408 batting average was fourth in the conference, and his 19 home runs and .765 slugging percentage were second and third in the conference, respectively. The Jays selected Gomes as a catcher, but the 6-foot-2, 215-pounder has spent more time at third base during his college career.
Round 11 (340th) -- Sean Ochinko, C, Louisiana State University: Ochinko has shown power at times over his career, batting .493 in 215 at-bats in 2009. The 5-foot-11, 205-pounder from Maryland lost his job as the team's starting catcher after struggling in the first few weeks of '08, and he went into this season as LSU's everyday first baseman.
Round 12 (370th) -- Bryson Namba, 3B, Pearl City HS: Namba has power to the gaps and has shown an ability to hit to all fields. He stands at 6-foot-2 and weighs 210 pounds, and he plays solid defense. He has a good arm, and his coach expressed interest in using him as a closer.
Round 13 (400th) -- Matthew Morgal, RHP, Southern Nazarene University: Morgal was drafted in the 18th round out of high school in 2005 by Minnesota, but he went to Seminole Junior College to improve his stock. Morgan has bounced around a bit, leaving Seminole after his coach passed away and going to Lamar University before winding up at SNU. His fastball touches 94 mph and although he considered himself a ground-ball pitcher, the lanky 6-foot-5, 210-lb right-hander struck out a school-record 121 batters this year.
Round 14 (430th) -- Lance Durham, 1B, University of Cincinnati: The UC junior broke school records for hits (99) -- a record previously held by the Red Sox's Kevin Youkilis -- and batting average (.429) this year, and led the Big East Conference in hitting. Originally selected in the 45th round of the 2006 Draft as a high schooler, Durham said he would wait to see where in this year's Draft he was chosen before deciding whether to return to UC for his senior year.
Round 15 (460th) -- Andrew Hutchison, RHP, Lakeland Senior HS: The 6-foot-2, 165-lb Hutchison posted an ERA of 1.11 this year. The 18-year-old struck out 100 batters in 57 innings while walking only 18.
Round 16 (490th) -- David Sever, RHP, St. Louis University: Sever posted an ERA of 3.60 -- 10th in the Atlantic 10 Conference -- for the Billikens this year, opting to return for his senior year after being drafted by the Dodgers in the 21st round last year. His fastball touches 92-93 mph and he also throws a slurve-type breaking ball and a workable changeup. His control is good, as the the 6-foot-4 right-hander walked only 25 batters this year while striking out 70.
Round 17 (520th) -- Steven Turnbull, RHP, University of Iowa: Turnbull was a struggling starter with a high ERA and shoulder problems in 2008 before moving to the bullpen turned his season around. Since moving to the 'pen, Turbull's fastball has gone from 90 to 96 mph and the 6-foot-3, 220-lb flamethrower struck out 43 in 32 1/3 innings this year with an ERA of 5.29.
Round 18 (550th)-- Robert Webb, RHP, Northwest Florida State College: Webb is a power pitcher with a mid-90s fastball who is working on a curveball to complement his heater. He was drafted in the 12th round of last year's Draft by Arizona -- and likely would have been picked higher if not for signability concerns -- but he did not sign. His ERA was 4.93 in 62 innings in 2009.
Round 19 (580th) -- Dennis Tepera, RHP, Sam Houston State University: Tepera was 2-1 in 20 appearances as a junior this year. He struck out 36 batters in 43 innings.
Round 20 (610th) -- Kevin Nolan, SS, Winthrop University: Nolan spent time at third base and shortstop this year, and he has the versatility to play any infield position. The 6-foot-2, right-handed 21-year-old doesn't hit a lot of home runs, but he makes contact at a high rate and has good speed. He hit .392 this year, walking more than twice as often as he struck out.
Round 21 (640th) -- Kurt Giller, RHP, Manhatten HS: Giller is a 6-foot-2, 215-lb right-hander with an ERA under 1.00, a fastball in the high 80s and a 12-to-6 curveball. The Jays will have to lure him away from the University of Nebraska, as the 18-year-old has signed a letter of intent to play for the Cornhuskers next year.
Round 22 (670th) -- Matt Fields, RHP, Gonzaga University: Fields, the 2009 West Coast Conference Pitcher of the Year, was second in the WCC in ERA (2.86) and wins (8), and two of his final three starts -- all wins -- were complete games. The 6-foot-3, 190-lb right-hander is a ground-ball pitcher who doesn't give up a lot of home runs and has good control. He struck out 73 batters and walked 28 in 88 innings for Gonzaga this year.
Round 23 (700th) -- Brad Glenn, OF, University of Arizona: The 6-foot-2, 220-lb Glenn is a strong hitter with exceptional power. He was drafted by Oakland in the 17th round last year, but he chose to return to Arizona for his senior year. The 22-year-old worked to improve his defense at third base, but the Jays see him as an outfielder.
Round 24 (730th) -- Matt Nuzzo, SS, Brown University: The 6-foot, 204-lb former high school football player has been a solid run producer for Brown, leading the team in RBIs and total bases and finishing second in runs scored over the past two seasons. He has also shown signs of power, hitting 11 runs in 44 games with a .618 slugging percentage.
Round 25 (760th) -- Samuel Strickland, LHP, Texas A&M University-Kingsville: Strickland has shown the ability to go deep into games, as he finished five of the 12 games he started this year. The 6-foot-5 left-hander struck out more than a batter per inning, fanning 82 in 71 2/3 innings while walking only 30.
Round 26 (790th) -- Lance Loftin, RHP, Texas State University: Loftin put up good offensive numbers as a third baseman, but the Jays like his arm a little better. He struck out around a batter per inning out of the bullpen this year, posting a 3.09 ERA in 32 innings.
Round 27 (820th) -- Brian Justice, RHP, St. Mary's College: The 23-year-old Justice, who missed all of 2007 due to injury, had a better season this year than last, lowering his ERA and walks while raising his strikeout rate. In 12 starts and one relief appearance, he struck out 59 and walked 16 with an ERA of 4.31.
Round 28 (850th) -- Zach Outman, RHP, Saint Louis University: A teammate of Toronto's 16th-round pick, Outman averaged more than a strikeout per inning this year, with an ERA of 5.92.
Round 29 (880th) -- Zach Anderson, RHP, University of Buffalo: Anderson did not have a great ERA at 6.61 this year, but the 6-foot-1 22-year-old struck out an impressive 55 batters in 49 innings, mostly out of the bullpen.
Round 30 (910th) -- Timothy McDonald, OF, Edison HS: McDonald did not show a lot of power in 2009, but had a .418 average and, at 6-foot-3 and 215 pounds, has good size. He also demonstrated some speed, stealing 17 bases in 19 attempts.
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John Sickels has some post-draft impressions. Here's what he has to say about the Jays' first 5 rounds:
Toronto: I like Chad Jenkins a lot at 20th overall, and think that's a solid choice for the Jays. James Paxton in the supplemental round is a potential bargain, provided he can get his gopher ball tendencies under control, giving them two of the top college arms available this year. Jake Eliopoulos in the second round is probably an overdraft, but I can understand it since he's a Canadian guy. The high school southpaw will need plenty of time, but is a nice mixture with the college guys at the top. I also love Jake Barrett in the third round, a high school pitcher from Arizona who throws hard and has solid command. Also in the third round was Jake Marisnick, tools outfielder who was rated as a supplemental talent by some teams but has some questions about his bat. Fourth round pick Ryan Goins, SS from Dallas Baptist, and fifth round pick Ryan Schimpf, 2B from LSU, have excellent college statistics and can hit, but may have to move to other positions. A mixture of college, JC, and high schoolers fill out the rest of the class. I like the mixture of college and high school guys at the top, tools and polish. Looks like a good class to me.
Every year, Sickels does a real-time shadow draft with the Twins' picks. For what it's worth, he picked Jake Barrett in the second round with the 70th overall pick. The Jays got Barrett with the 99th pick. Sickels also picked David Sever in the 15th round, while the Jays got him in the 16th.
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