2012 Cubs Draft Thread

[Jntg4]

That was strongly hinted on the MLB Network broadcast. I think the Cubs think they can get Almora either right at slot or a little below which could give them flexiblity in signing guys like Blackburn.

Was it? I didn't get a chance to listen after they announced his name because I was writing about it for WSD.

 

[dabynsky]

They said he had a strong commitment to a school (Az State I think), and a few other places have written that there are signablity concerns, guessing Bleacher Nation was one since that is the place I check most consistently.

 

[Jntg4]

They said he had a strong commitment to a school (Az State I think), and a few other places have written that there are signablity concerns, guessing Bleacher Nation was one since that is the place I check most consistently.

Oh, I thought you meant about him actually seeming eager to start his pro career, not the other part. Never mind.

 

[Rice Cube]

Today's action starts at 11 AM Central. I think it's mostly rapid fire conference calls and you can listen to the feed for rounds 2 through 15.

Draft Central | 2012 First-Year Player Draft | MLB.com: Events

 

[dabynsky]

Jim Callis on ESPN 1000 this morning. Here is the tidbits I picked up:
*Both Chicago first round picks were guys they were tied too
*Almora third best high school bat and most polished. Thinks he has plus tools and that he should be able to stick in centerfield.
*Hawkins was a guy the White Sox were hoping to get. As best of high school power hitter in the draft. Prototypical right fielder, with plus power and arm.
*Cubs fell in love Almora. Cubs told him that it was a stretch to say that he was number 1 overall on their board. Concerns about Appel cost part of the reason they didn't draft him. Doesn't second guess the Cubs for not taking Appel, thinks that Appel's cost might limit what they could do later in the draft.
*3/4 of the top 10 picks make it to the majors, and half become starters according to Callis
*Castro:Thinks he can mature. He is 22 years ago was signed when he was 16. Would like him to be more mature but gives him the benefit of the doubt. Doesn't think he will turn into Milton Bradley

 

[dabynsky]

Astros go with a college SS Nolan Fontana. Seems like a guy that is likely to sign after taking a tough sign in Lance McCullers. Oakland A's going with a college position player as well. Wonder if we are going to see a run on college players after all the high schoolers went yesterday.

 

[dabynsky]

5 picks so far (4 college guys/1 high school). Cubs on the clock.

 

[dabynsky]

Cubs take right handed Duane Underwood out of high school. Turns 18 in July. 6'2" right handed starting pitcher. Some upside. Hit 96-98 on the gun I think. Commited to Georgia.

 

[dabynsky]

Interesting read about Duane Underwood from a few weeks ago.
The good:

Underwood showed first-round stuff on the showcase circuit, and at his best his fastball sits in the 91-94 mph range. He's athletic and spins a breaking ball, though his curve often is soft in the 73-75 mph range. He also has a firm but effective changeup.

After two strong outings where he was back in top form, touching 97 mph and staying locked in for several innings,

The bad:

Underwood regressed last week against Dunwoody (Ga.) High, hitting 96 in the first inning but dropping off quickly.

"He does well when there's no adversity," a second AL scout said. "But if guys get on base, if there's an error or a bloop, before you know it the wheels fall off.

"I want to like the kid. A lot of us do. He's a good kid, and it's a real good arm, fast hands—all the things you look for. I'm not sure if he's overthrowing the breaking ball or being too fine with the fastball command. I think he just loses concentration, and it comes apart. I think right now, it's too much to see him going in the first round or even the comp round."

 

[dabynsky]

Apparently Law had him at number 52 in his pre-draft top 100 prospects. So not a bad snag with a pick in the mid 60s.

Cubs 2nd Round Pick (67th Overall) -

Duane Underwood

Pope HS (Ga.), Senior

Height: 6’2″, Weight: 205

Position: RHP

DOB: 07/20/1994

Bats: R, Throws: R

Underwood is everything you’d want from a high school pitcher: athletic with arm strength, a chance to have three at least Major League-average pitches and outstanding mound presence.The Georgia product will sit in the low 90s with his fastball typically, but he can reach back for 95-96 mph occasionally. His secondary offerings aren’t as good as the fastball, but both his curve and changeup have a chance. When he throws them right, his curve can have a very good 12-to-6 late break and his changeup can be very deceptive.He doesn’t throw either consistently right now and he does have some issues with command at times. His poise, knowledge of the game and athleticsm say he’ll continue to evolve as a pitcher, meaning he could start moving up charts this spring.

 

[Jntg4]

Ya, and Johnson was ranked a good 10 spots ahead of where we got him too

 

[dabynsky]

Cubs 3rd round pick number 101:
Ryan McNeil-another right handed high schooler starting pitcher
More of a project. Headed to Long Beach State. Put up impressive numbers. Two sport athelte. Hit 93-94 towards the end of the year after starting at slowly.

 

[Rice Cube]

2012 Draft Coverage | Draft Tracker: Ryan McNeil, High School Pitcher - Video | MLB.com: Multimedia

Seems like a bit of a reach but probably about right for the third round.

 

[dabynsky]

ESPN had him as number 80 amongst high school prospects.

A few months old but here is scouting report from ESPN:

One could argue that McNeil belongs as high as No. 7 on this lists %u2014 the last four players on this are all worthy adversaries. He's got an aggressive arm with upside, and he has touched 94 mph with his fastball. He also employs a slider. McNeil has committed to Long Beach State, but he could perform his way into the top 50 of the draft come June. Marina (Marina, Calif.) pitcher Trevor Megill all 6-foot-7 of him would have ranked here, but he decided to enroll early at Loyola Marymount.

--Jason A. Churchill



Notes



The class is highlighted by right-handed pitcher Ryan McNeil, out of Nipomo, Calif. The younger brother of current Dirtbag UTL Jeff McNeil, Ryan is one of the top recruits in the country. Ranked No. 34 by Perfect Game and No. 54 by Baseball America, McNeil was a standout at the 2011 Area Code Games and was selected as a 2011 AFLAC All-American.

Head coach Troy Buckley says:
"Ryan is an athletic, physical pitcher that we are excited to have join our program," said Buckley. "He is rated as one of the top high school arms, not only in California, but in the entire country. He will provide an immediate impact on the mound for us when he enrolls."

 

[bleacherbum54]

Cubs 3rd round pick number 101:
Ryan McNeil-another right handed high schooler starting pitcher
More of a project. Headed to Long Beach State. Put up impressive numbers. Two sport athelte. Hit 93-94 towards the end of the year after starting at slowly.

No he is not he is heading to rookie ball no way we take him w/o knowing if he will sign IMO.

 

[dabynsky]

No he is not he is heading to rookie ball no way we take him w/o knowing if he will sign IMO.

Only posting what they are saying and he is committed to there. I agree that Theo and Jed probably have a good idea that these guys would sign, but at the same time these guys do have leverage of being able to go to school since only Johnson is a college player.

 

[dabynsky]

Surprised that the Cubs are going with the high school arms. Not shocked that it has been pitcher heavy following Almora, but just thought they might have snagged a college reliever by now.

 

[Rice Cube]

Only posting what they are saying and he is committed to there. I agree that Theo and Jed probably have a good idea that these guys would sign, but at the same time these guys do have leverage of being able to go to school since only Johnson is a college player.

I think that leverage only goes so far. The sandwich picks in particular will make almost as much as what they would pay Almora (what's an extra $500K to $1MM with compound interest right). If they're getting "you can retire like right now" money (i.e. $500K or more) they're very likely to just skip college unless they have a greedy agent.

 

[Rice Cube]

Surprised that the Cubs are going with the high school arms. Not shocked that it has been pitcher heavy following Almora, but just thought they might have snagged a college reliever by now.

They probably just want as much upside as possible and they'll convert all the shitty ones into relievers later.

 

[dabynsky]

More on McNeil. This is from last year in Baseball America:

• Later Saturday at Arrowhead Credit Union Ballpark—home of the high Class A Inland Empire 66ers—some quality arms from the 2012 class were on display. Righthander Ryan McNeil (Nipomo High), a Long Beach State commit, was very impressive for the Wahoos Scout Team against Cardinals Red. McNeil, who has a physical 6-foot-3, 210-pound frame, showed an 89-92 mph fastball and flashed a very good power slider in the 79-84 range. He also showed nice feel for an 81 mph changeup, using it to get a strikeout against one lefthanded hitter.