MLB draft is a week from today(june 12th)

[beckdawg]

Teddy Cahill ✔ @tedcahill
I'm all about the Keegan Thompson pick for the Cubs. Maybe the most cerebral pitcher I talked to this year http://www.baseballamerica.com/college/keegan-thompson-leads-surging-auburn/#70QIJMcoQCiOGIuF.97 …

Photo published for Keegan Thompson Leads Surging Auburn | BaseballAmerica.com

 

[chibears55]

Teddy Cahill ✔ @tedcahill
I'm all about the Keegan Thompson pick for the Cubs. Maybe the most cerebral pitcher I talked to this year http://www.baseballamerica.com/college/keegan-thompson-leads-surging-auburn/#70QIJMcoQCiOGIuF.97 …

Photo published for Keegan Thompson Leads Surging Auburn | BaseballAmerica.com

I just read that Boras is his advisor and well before the pick it was said that Thompson won't sign..

Have you seen anything, I'll try and dig it up again..

Edit: can't find anything but the little clip I read.. maybe that was last year

Sent from my SAMSUNG-SM-G935A using Tapatalk

 

[TC in Mississippi]

I just read that Boras is his advisor and well before the pick it was said that Thompson won't sign..

Have you seen anything, I'll try and dig it up again..

Sent from my SAMSUNG-SM-G935A using Tapatalk

I think you're talking about last year after his junior season. He missed the entire year after TJ and didn't think he'd be drafted high enough. Boras might make it tough but I don't think they draft him if they didn't have a good shot at signing him. Unlike some teams Theo never shies away from Boras clients.

 

[beckdawg]

I just read that Boras is his advisor and well before the pick it was said that Thompson won't sign..

Have you seen anything, I'll try and dig it up again..

Sent from my SAMSUNG-SM-G935A using Tapatalk

I'd be surprised if he didn't sign. Typically speaking unless you're a Sophmore if you get drafted you sign out of college. Being a college senior is almost a knock against people. Plus he's already 22.

 

[chibears55]

I think you're talking about last year after his junior season. He missed the entire year after TJ and didn't think he'd be drafted high enough. Boras might make it tough but I don't think they draft him if they didn't have a good shot at signing him. Unlike some teams Theo never shies away from Boras clients.

Yea, I just edited..
It might of been something from last year..



Sent from my SAMSUNG-SM-G935A using Tapatalk

 

[beckdawg]

Thompson sounds a bit like Hendricks with better stuff. At Auburn he had a 2.45 ERA over 253 innings with 7.47 k/9 and 1.99 bb/9

 

[TC in Mississippi]

I saw Keegan pitch in 2015 several times. He doesn't overpower anyone but he a repeatable delivery and a really good curve. He pitches 92-93 mph with his 4 seamer. He probably projects as a reliever but like the other picks you can't rule him out in terms of starting.

 

[beckdawg]

I didn't look up Abbott's numbers from college. Figure i'll throw them up here as well...

2.68 ERA over 218 innings 8.09 k/9 and 2.48 bb/9.

Both Abbott and Thompson seem pretty typical cubs prospects. Not super tools-y but good enough and really solid command.

 

[TC in Mississippi]

That's a good comp with a slightly more velo on his 4 seamer. Most think he'll be in MLB by the end of next year or early 2019.

 

[beckdawg]

Cubs 4th round pick Erich Uelmen

Scouting grades: Fastball: 55 | Slider: 50 | Changeup: 50 | Control: 50 | Overall: 45
Uelmen has gone from a reliever as a freshman to weekend starter as a sophomore to Friday-night ace in his three years at Cal Poly. While he may have thrown a bit harder during a strong showing in the Cape Cod League last summer, he was pitching effectively enough to warrant consideration in the top five founds.

On the Cape, Uelmen was up to 93-95 mph with his fastball, but that was typically earlier in his starts there. As a starter this spring, he's lived generally in the 89-91 mph range, though it plays up because of the terrific two-seam movement he gets on it from his low three-quarters slot, generating a ton of ground-ball outs. The right-hander has average secondary offerings, with a decent slider he uses to get people to chase and feel for a changeup. He's more control over command, but he largely stays in the strike zone.

Largely because he shows better velocity in shorter stints, there are some who feel he might be better suited for the bullpen, where he could be a rally-killing ground-ball machine. A team that takes him early will likely at least give him the chance to start at the next level.

 

[beckdawg]

BA had him 273. MLB.com had him 160. Feels strongly like an underslot guy.

 

[beckdawg]

Cubs front office seems to pretty heavily favor college starters. Haven't drafted any high schoolers this year. Last year in the first 20 rounds didn't draft a high school arm. In 2015 they took Hudson in the 3rd but no other guy in the first 20 rounds. 2014 took Cease, Sands and Steele in 6th, 4th, and 5th respectively and Austyn Willis in the 18th. 2013 cubs took Clifton with 348. 2012 took Blackburn 56, Underwood 67, Ryan McNeil 101, and Anthony Prieto 164.

 

[beckdawg]

Cubs 5th round pick OF Nelson Velazquez

Not in mlb.com's top 200. BA had him 202. High School bat.

 

[beckdawg]

Did a little research on Velazquez. The draft coverage didn't have much on him but they mentioned he was tools-y and had power. He apparently ran a 6.5 60 yard dash. To put that in scouting terms, the #1 overall pick Royce Lewis was a 70 grade and he ran a 6.64. So you're probably talking a power speed combo probably able to play CF. Look forward to see more info on him because he's pretty interesting.

 

[beckdawg]

6th round pick Jeremiah Estrada

Scouting grades: Fastball: 55 | Slider: 50 | Changeup: 50 | Control: 55 | Overall: 45
If one was to base Estrada's Draft status on his summer showcase performance, he'd be approaching the top group of high school right-handers in the country. Looking at how he's pitched this spring, however, could lead an evaluator to leave him off of the Top 100 completely.

Over the summer, Estrada showed electric stuff from his slightly under-sized frame, starting with a fastball that was 93-95 mph. This spring, he's been topping out at 92 mph and often sitting in the upper-80s. He showed one of the best changeups in the country last summer, but hasn't been throwing it much this spring. And he's lost sharpness in his breaking ball as well, a pitch that flashed plus at times and was up into the mid-80s but this spring has come in closer to 80 mph.

Estrada seemed to pitch with a chip on his shoulder last summer and he used that to his benefit. To some evaluators, he's lost that edge, so any team considering him in the early rounds will be doing so based on the right-hander they saw over the summer. Seeing him head to UCLA for college seems a distinct possibility at this point.

BA - 121
MLB - 93

Looks like this is where the cubs have been saving their money for. Coverage mentioned last year people thought he might be a 1st round type guy but he fell back a little. Supposedly came on strong late though.

 

[beckdawg]

Just keeping track here thus far here's how BA and MLB have ranked cubs picks

Little - 36/36
Lange - 34/23
Cory Abbott - 149/187
Keegan Thompson - 124/134
Erich Uelman - 273/160
Nelson Velazquez - 202/NA
Estrada - 121/93

 

[beckdawg]

7th round pick Ricky Tyler Thomas

LHP from Fresno. BA had him as 227. Draft coverage said they almost put him in the top 100 but people thought he was pitching hurt.

 

[beckdawg]

http://www.baseballamerica.com/coll...collegiate-national-team/#cwprIGE1heYjscyk.97

 

[beckdawg]

Thomas had 100 k's in 90.2 innings this year with 52 walks. That's a 9.92 k/9 with a 5.16 bb/9 to go with his 4.86 ERA. Looks to be a bit of a project but obviously there's some upside there. May end up in the bullpen though given his size.

 

[chibears55]

Thanks beck for all these updates..
???

Sent from my LG-V495 using Tapatalk