2015 Draft Pick Discussion, Rounds 1-5

[Eye Black]

The Royals going in hard on the Indianapolis-area beat tonight.

[SRB]

Wondering if he will consider going back to school though? Scott Boras isn't one to back down even when things aren't looking all that rosy. Pre-draft articles had quotes from Funkhouser saying he still expected to go in the top ten tonight.

 

EDIT: Or maybe he has a deal with the D-backs, Astros, or Braves.

 

That really only makes sense for a college pitcher if he thinks he can come back and be a top-5 pick. Boras knows that's not going to happen, especially since next year's draft class is so good, so I'm sure he would be happy with >$1M.

 

Strange that he's fallen this far though.

[SRB]

Baseball America report on Clark. Not too shabby!

 

Selection: Trenton Clark, of, Richland HS, North Richland Hills, Texas

 

Clark’s batting grip is a little unorthodox. He eschews batting gloves and he holds his thumbs on the bat like he’s gripping a golf club. It has always worked for him and few who have seen him doubt his ability to hit. One evaluator called him the best high school bat to come out of Texas in the past five years. He’s battled blisters and ankle problems but has still managed to impress this spring, thanks to excellent bat speed and a long track record of performing both on the showcase circuit and internationally. Clark has 70 speed on the 20-to-80 scouting scale at his best, and unlike most of the rest of top of the prep outfield class, Clark should remain in center field for the long-term. He gets good jumps to go with his excellent speed and he has plenty of arm for center. He’s already pretty well filled out physically. He projects as an above-average hitter with future average power. He has an excellent batting eye that allows him to draw walks. He could profile as a top-of-the-order table setter who can get on base and steal, but he has enough pop to end up in the middle of the lineup. Clark has impressed for years with his feel for the game, his leadership qualities and his knack for performing on the biggest stages. He’s committed to Texas Tech.

[MrTPlush]

Not likely Funkhouser would go back to school. He would be a senior and lose all leverage. There is no financial gain from going back to school. Seniors are apopular pick in the later half of the first ten round because the kids have no say in their signing bonus...thus saving bonus pool money. Brewers used this tactic last year. They pretty much take what they get.

[yfinn6]

Funkhouser to Dodgers.

[TheCrew07]

The brewers have an exceptional history with pitcher and injury prevention. What about taking a guy like Matuella? He should have been a top 10 top 5 guy if he didnt get injured.

 

An exceptional history of injury prevention? Nelson and tomorrow Jungmann are the only 2 pitchers to come through the system without having surgery at some point.

 

Its easy to look at what might seem like they have a lot of injuries but that would be only if you compare them to nobody else

 

"In the last 10 years, the Brewers have had just two big leaguers undergo Tommy John surgery, the lowest number in the majors. The entire organization, including the minors, has been just as successful at avoiding the pitcher's worst nightmare — only 12 total procedures since 2005, the second lowest rate of the 30 teams."

 

They would be tied for the lowest if it wasnt for Johnny Hellweg and I think its fair to say the angels played a part in that.

 

Yes but again most of their starters came from outside the organization or had surgery before getting to Milwaukee, it's not really a true assessment of the organization as a whole. I forgot that Thornburg narrowly avoided surgery with the injection, but he still missed basically an entire year.

 

It's another argument that depends entirely on how it's framed, by limiting the query to MLB pitching and TJ it ignores all of TJ in the minors, any other significant injuries, and the larger truth that Brewers have been awful developing pitching. Of course guys like Wolf and Sheets who went under the knife after being let go didn't count either.

 

I realize TJ is the hot injury topic, but the issues go back farther, all the way to middle school and specialization for most of these guys, TJ incidents aren't really about what teams are doing developing pitching when the overwhelming majority are doing the exact same things. The Brewers are not exceptional in any way, they just follow the same "proven" format as everyone else.

[brwrsfan]

There goes Funkhouser to LAD. Thought it would be funny to get him at 40.

 

Who should I be hoping for at this point? Just a few picks left to go...

[PeaveyFury]

Hoping for Betts at this point, I think.

[SRB]

Betts, Ponce, Matuella if you want to get really crazy.

[Eye Black]

Not likely Funkhouser would go back to school. He would be a senior and lose all leverage. There is no financial gain from going back to school. Seniors are apopular pick in the later half of the first ten round because the kids have no say in their signing bonus...thus saving bonus pool money. Brewers used this tactic last year. They pretty much take what they get.

I agree with you that is typically the case, but that isn't necessarily true if the guy comes back with elite stuff and a solid senior year (see Mark Appel). Regardless, I do think he probably signs with Dodgers.

[TheCrew07]

Thank god Funkhouser will not be a Brewer, that is all.

[brewcrewdue80]

My list stil available is Chalmers/Lambert/Matuella-Pitchers Orimoloye/Kingery/Miller-Batters

Still have Ponce and Donny Everett too.

[MrTPlush]

Betts, Kingery, Cody(bias pick for me), and there are some solid middle of the rotation starters out there. Matuella...but that's is a massive risk with questionable high reward.

[Eye Black]

Lots of intriguing options still on the board... Betts, Ponce, Matuella, Kirby, Dewees

[Kelbysdaddy]

Is Betts expected to be a tough sign?

[Bnowell4evr]

Betts, Ponce, Matuella if you want to get really crazy.

 

Throw in Dakota Chalmers and you have the top 4 on my board.

[82brewcrew11]

Thank god Funkhouser will not be a Brewer, that is all.

 

Could not agree more. I was talking with someone "in the know" about Funkhouser and I said I felt that drafting him would be like drafting Jungmann again. He laughed and threw in "Or Jed Bradley" in there.

[MrTPlush]

Is Betts expected to be a tough sign?

 

Probably going to require an overslot signing bonus. Not sure the Brewers could nab him unless that really go cheap the rest of the draft. Which may not be a wise idea.

[BrewersAA]

 

An exceptional history of injury prevention? Nelson and tomorrow Jungmann are the only 2 pitchers to come through the system without having surgery at some point.

 

Its easy to look at what might seem like they have a lot of injuries but that would be only if you compare them to nobody else

 

"In the last 10 years, the Brewers have had just two big leaguers undergo Tommy John surgery, the lowest number in the majors. The entire organization, including the minors, has been just as successful at avoiding the pitcher's worst nightmare — only 12 total procedures since 2005, the second lowest rate of the 30 teams."

 

They would be tied for the lowest if it wasnt for Johnny Hellweg and I think its fair to say the angels played a part in that.

 

Yes but again most of their starters came from outside the organization or had surgery before getting to Milwaukee, it's not really a true assessment of the organization as a whole. I forgot that Thornburg narrowly avoided surgery with the injection, but he still missed basically an entire year.

 

It's another argument that depends entirely on how it's framed, by limiting the query to MLB pitching and TJ it ignores all of TJ in the minors, any other significant injuries, and the larger truth that Brewers have been awful developing pitching. Of course guys like Wolf and Sheets who went under the knife after being let go didn't count either.

 

I realize TJ is the hot injury topic, but the issues go back farther, all the way to middle school and specialization for most of these guys, TJ incidents aren't really about what teams are doing developing pitching when the overwhelming majority are doing the exact same things. The Brewers are not exceptional in any way, they just follow the same "proven" format as everyone else.

 

It actually does include the minors, the two teams tied at first are the giants and mariners. The brewers also won a pretty big sports medicine award coming into this season as being a great organization in pro sports, not just baseball. They do a good job in that regard.

[splitterpfj]

Is Betts expected to be a tough sign?

 

If he is, I haven't heard that, and I know the Brewers really like him...we'll see.

[brewcrewdue80]

Ugh...Come on so we delay the draft with an interview? Couldn't this wait til after tonight's draft? or as a preview before starting tomorrow's draft?

[SRB]

Some of the top-ranked players still available (unless I missed anybody):

 

Baseball America

5 Daz Cameron (OF) HS

21 Donny Everett (RHP) HS

23 Michael Matuella (RHP) CL

26 Nathan Kirby (RHP) CL

28 Chris Betts © HS

32 Alex Young (LHP) CL

34 Dakota Chalmers (RHP) HS

35 Jalen Miller (SS) HS

36 Cody Ponce (RHP) CL

 

Fangraphs

12 Daz Cameron

16 Chris Betts

23 Michael Matuella

27 Bryce Denton (OF) HS

29 Nathan Kirby

32 Scott Kingery (2B) CL

33 Cody Ponce

[splitterpfj]

Donny Everett is expected to be a pricey sign...two guesses who his draft advisor is.

[brewcrewdue80]

10min since last pick before Astros' pick comes in. Shouldn't be this way in my opinion.

[Eye Black]

Forgot about Donny Everett still being available.