beckdawg
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So recapping... think the last 2 picks were feel good story things. I'm not sure they are legitimate prospects. I can't find shit about Steiner other than his facebook page. Gibis is kind of interesting because he's apparently friends with 36th round pick Jacob Campbell who might be a tough sign. I know the cubs gave him some sort of courage award as well. So, it sorta feels like this is a PR type pick but maybe helps them with Campbell who's a pretty good prospect(154 mlb.com) and committed to U of I.
The draft in my eyes is really about 3 players. Brennen Davis is probably the highest ceiling guy. If he irons out his hit tool he's going to be a monster. You're talking potential 60 power on a 60-70 grade runner in CF. Obviously Nico Hoerner will be a big deal as the #1 pick. I'm not sure he has huge upside. Unless he finds some power he looks like more of a Zobrist type. And I don't mean the Zobrist who'd already broken out. I mean the multi position great make up guy he was before he became a star. But those have value and if he finds power then ya know.... he's Zobrist. Cole Roederer is the last big guy. You're potentially talking a 20/20 CFer with good hit tool. He's supposedly pretty polished for a HS player.
That's the "cream of the crop" as it were. Kohl Franklin stands out as someone who is interesting. I don't know much about him scouting wise but the cubs don't usually take HS pitching early. Since theo came over the only HS pitchers taken in the first 10 rounds have been Paul Blackburn(56 overall), Duane Underwood(67 overall), Ryan McNeil(101), Anthony Prieto(164), Sands(109), Steele(139), Cease(169), Bryan Hudson(82), and Jeremiah Estrada(195). Not entirely sure where mcNeil and Prieto were in draft ranking circles but the rest were all top 200 picks. Franklin isn't and they used the 188 pick on him. Typically 6-10 round picks are used to save slot money not use on HS players.
Mitchell Parker and Tyler Ras if they sign are interesting. I *think* cubs have a good shot at signing them. Parker fell farther than expected but he seemed keen on going pro. They could offer him like 200k over the $125k you can give 11th+ round picks without counting and that'd basically be 5th round money. Ras seemed enchanted on instagram by his wrigley visit. Adding those two would bolster a kinda lack luster 1-10. As I said a bunch earlier it felt like they were saving money with some of those picks. It's not so much that they were bad picks but they were guys who were expected a bit later. So, I was hoping they'd grab some guys liek Parker/Ras seem to be.
As for the rest of the guys, most of the pitching has a definite reliever look. I think that sort of works because the cubs are pretty set from A-AAA with starters. They drafted high k/9 low command guys by in large. That's kind of interesting though because they were college arms. I think they may try the same sort thing they did with Rollie Lacy and Michael rucker which is start some of these guys in the bullpen and if they show enough command give them a chance to start. They have interesting stuff but need to refine their command a bunch.
In terms of bats, the cubs clearly felt they had a big need for CF type OFers who have speed and high contact. they drafted like a dozen guys that fit that mold. I don't hate the approach because you're pretty likely to find someone who'll work doing that and if you find "too many" guys can play RF/LF.
The draft in my eyes is really about 3 players. Brennen Davis is probably the highest ceiling guy. If he irons out his hit tool he's going to be a monster. You're talking potential 60 power on a 60-70 grade runner in CF. Obviously Nico Hoerner will be a big deal as the #1 pick. I'm not sure he has huge upside. Unless he finds some power he looks like more of a Zobrist type. And I don't mean the Zobrist who'd already broken out. I mean the multi position great make up guy he was before he became a star. But those have value and if he finds power then ya know.... he's Zobrist. Cole Roederer is the last big guy. You're potentially talking a 20/20 CFer with good hit tool. He's supposedly pretty polished for a HS player.
That's the "cream of the crop" as it were. Kohl Franklin stands out as someone who is interesting. I don't know much about him scouting wise but the cubs don't usually take HS pitching early. Since theo came over the only HS pitchers taken in the first 10 rounds have been Paul Blackburn(56 overall), Duane Underwood(67 overall), Ryan McNeil(101), Anthony Prieto(164), Sands(109), Steele(139), Cease(169), Bryan Hudson(82), and Jeremiah Estrada(195). Not entirely sure where mcNeil and Prieto were in draft ranking circles but the rest were all top 200 picks. Franklin isn't and they used the 188 pick on him. Typically 6-10 round picks are used to save slot money not use on HS players.
Mitchell Parker and Tyler Ras if they sign are interesting. I *think* cubs have a good shot at signing them. Parker fell farther than expected but he seemed keen on going pro. They could offer him like 200k over the $125k you can give 11th+ round picks without counting and that'd basically be 5th round money. Ras seemed enchanted on instagram by his wrigley visit. Adding those two would bolster a kinda lack luster 1-10. As I said a bunch earlier it felt like they were saving money with some of those picks. It's not so much that they were bad picks but they were guys who were expected a bit later. So, I was hoping they'd grab some guys liek Parker/Ras seem to be.
As for the rest of the guys, most of the pitching has a definite reliever look. I think that sort of works because the cubs are pretty set from A-AAA with starters. They drafted high k/9 low command guys by in large. That's kind of interesting though because they were college arms. I think they may try the same sort thing they did with Rollie Lacy and Michael rucker which is start some of these guys in the bullpen and if they show enough command give them a chance to start. They have interesting stuff but need to refine their command a bunch.
In terms of bats, the cubs clearly felt they had a big need for CF type OFers who have speed and high contact. they drafted like a dozen guys that fit that mold. I don't hate the approach because you're pretty likely to find someone who'll work doing that and if you find "too many" guys can play RF/LF.