And That

ROUND 4 (125th overall): Aaron Ashby, LHP (Photo: Ross Martin) Height: 6'1 Weight: 170 B/T: L/L School: Crowder JC (MO) Year: JC Sophomore Hometown: Kansas City, MO DOB: 5/24/98 SCOUTING REPORT: MLB Pipeline: Scouting grades: Fastball: 55 | Curveball: 60 | Changeup: 50 | Control: 45 | Overall: 45 Andy Ashby pitched at Park Hill High (Kansas City, Mo.) and Crowder (Mo.) JC before embarking on a 14-year big league career. His nephew Aaron is following the same path and is one of the top junior college pitching prospects this spring. After turning down the Rangers as a 25th-rounder last summer, he returned to the Roughriders and led all Division I juco pitchers in strikeouts (156) and strikeout rate (18.8 per nine innings). Ashby's money pitch is a plus curveball that he can manipulate into a harder, shorter slider at times. He opened his sophomore season throwing in the upper 80s but ended the year working at 91-94 mph while reaching double-digit strikeouts in his last five starts, including 17 in his final outing. He also has a changeup that he doesn't use very often. Ashby is athletic but has a funky delivery that hampers his ability to throw strikes. Some scouts worry that most of his swings and misses come out of the zone, either on curveballs down or fastballs up, and wonder how his stuff will play against more advanced hitters. He'll play next season at Tennessee if he doesn't turn pro. 2080 Baseball: Ashby had some late-season helium thanks to an uptick in fastball velocity that saw the lefty sitting 90-to-93 mph and touching 94. That, coupled with a big-bending curve with plus bite give him an adequate one-two punch with which to attack pro hitters, and could get him off the board as early as the third round to a team believing they can help smooth out his control issues (he averaged over five walks per nine innings pitched this spring). Baseball America: Ashby, the nephew of ex-big league pitcher and fellow Crowder (Mo.) alumnus Andy Ashby, has posted some of the most absurd statistics in baseball this year. Ashby arrived at Crowder as an 83-86 mph lefty with a decent breaking ball without the strength to always repeat his delivery. He walked eight and allowed six runs in 0.2 innings in his collegiate debut, but by the end of the season he threw a complete game to beat Seminole State (Okla.) JC to get Crowder to the NJCAA World Series. This year, Ashby’s stuff has gotten better and better. The Tennessee signee was 88-91 with a plus curveball early in the season, but as the weather warmed up, he consistently sat 90-94 mph with his above-average fastball. It’s his plus curveball that hitters can’t touch. He can throw it back-to-back-to-back, baffling hitters even when they are looking for it. At one point, Ashby allowed one hit in a 19-inning stretch, as he recorded strikeouts for 45 of those 57 outs. Ashby’s control does waver—he’s walking 5.2 per nine innings—but he also generates loads of swings and misses. He leads all Division I junior college pitchers with 156 strikeouts (and 19 strikeouts per nine innings) to go with an 11-2, 2.29 record. Ashby has gotten stronger, but he still has a skinny frame that could fill out further. He works a lot of deep counts because of his control, which explains why he has worked into the eighth inning only once all season as of mid-May. His best pitching is likely still ahead of him, but his present breaking ball and plenty of fastball should be enough to get him drafted in the third or fourth round. Perfect Game: Perhaps the most prolific strikeout pitcher in all of baseball this season, not just at the JUCO level, Crowder's Aaron Ashby struck out 156 hitters in 74 2/3 innings, good for a ridiculous 18.80 strikeouts per nine innings. A solid-sized, athletic lefty, Ashby dominated his opponents all season long with a good mix of funk and stuff. He's capable of working into the low-90s with his fastball and moving it around the zone, and complements the fastball extremely well with a hammer breaking ball that projects to be a bat-missing pitch for the duration of his career. He's viewed more as a reliever in terms of projection, but has legitimate Major League upside with that breaking ball from the left side. He's committed to Tennessee, and if he should make it campus there would almost immediately become one of their top pitchers. LINKS: Brewers draft Crowder's Ashby VIDEOS:

CB ROUND B (73rd overall): Micah Bello, OF http://www.hawaiiprepworld.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/06/1st-OF-Micah-Bello-HIL-e1528137866492.jpg (Photo: Micah Bello) Height: 6'0 Weight: 165 B/T: R/R School: Hilo HS (HI) Year: HS Senior Hometown: Hilo, HI DOB: 7/21/00 SCOUTING REPORT: MLB Pipeline: Scouting grades: Hit: 50 | Power: 40 | Run: 60 | Arm: 60 | Field: 50 | Overall: 45 It can be difficult for high school players from Hawaii to gain exposure, though Bello was seen at the Area Code Games last summer, Perfect Game's WWBA World Championship in the fall, and also participated in a Prospect Development Pipeline event in Los Angeles in February. The upside of hailing from Hawaii? Getting to work out with the Cardinals' Kolten Wong and his brother, Rays prospect Kean, during the offseason. Bello profiles as a top-of-the-order catalyst who can impact the game with his speed on both sides of the ball. The right-handed hitter makes consistent contact and projects to be an average hitter. He needs to add strength, but there is some extra-base pop in his swing. He has the kind of speed to steal bases and cover a lot of ground in the outfield, with the chance to be an above-average defender eventually, and a plus arm to boot. There hasn't been a top-five-round pick from Hawaii since Ian Kahaloa went to the Reds in the fifth in 2015, and the last time a high school position player from there went that early was when the younger Wong brother joined Isiah Kiner-Falefa as fourth rounders in 2013. Bello, a St. Mary's commit, has the chance to join that select group. Perfect Game: Hawaii is only periodically represented on the high school top prospect and draft lists and Bello's fast rise this spring makes 2018 one of those years. He is a young quick-twitch athlete who grades out as plus or better both for his running speed and for his arm strength from the outfield, a combination that should make him a very good defensive center fielder. Offensively, Bello is a righthanded hitter who has a short and quick swing that is well suited for a speed profile, although anything above gap power is strictly a projection at this point. 2080 Baseball: Universally considered the top draft prospect in Hawaii, Bello is a plus runner and with a plus arm. Committed to St. Mary’s, he fits the bill of a top of the order table setter. Though he lacks present power, there’s room to add strength on his thin frame. Baseball America: Hawaii’s top draft prospect by a wide margin, Bello held his own during the Area Code Games and stood out at the MLB Prospect Development Pipeline showcase with an opposite-field, standup triple. The 6-foot, righthanded-hitting Bello has average or better tools across the board and a long track record of hitting. He takes aggressive swings with a small leg kick, above-average bat speed and a level bat path that produces frequent hard line drives. He’s aggressive but takes good at-bats and shows average power potential. Bello is playable in center field, but his average speed and above-average arm profile best in right field. He is one of the youngest players in the class, so his tools are still growing. Bello spent the offseason working out with Kolton and Kean Wong to prepare for pro ball. He is committed to St. Mary’s but expected to sign. LINKS: Hawaii Tribune Herald — Bello primed to be Big Island’s next big hit VIDEOS:

ROUND 2 (60th overall): Joe Gray Jr., OF (Photo: Chris Todd) Height: 6'3 Weight: 195 B/T: R/R School: Hattiesburg HS (MS) Year: HS Senior Hometown: Hattiesburg, MS DOB: 3/12/00 SCOUTING REPORT: MLB Pipeline: Scouting grades: Hit: 45 | Power: 55 | Run: 55 | Arm: 70 | Field: 55 | Overall: 50 Gray hails from a Hattiesburg (Miss.) High program that hasn't had a player drafted since 2007 yet has produced five big leaguers, most notably Wendell Magee. He emerged as a top prospect for the 2018 Draft as a sophomore, and while he has plateaued a bit, there are still few players with better all-around potential in his prep class. As a toolsy right-handed hitter from the Deep South with a similar build, he draws comparisons to Torii Hunter. Gray has two loud tools in his raw power and arm strength. With his lightning-fast bat and his strength, he can hammer balls out of the park to all fields from the right side of the plate. The Mississippi recruit might have the best arm among 2018 high school position players, having been clocked at 98 mph from the outfield at the Perfect Game National showcase last June, though his accuracy sometimes leaves something to be desired. There are some swing-and-miss concerns with Gray's bat because he has been inconsistent against quality pitchers on the showcase circuit, though he helped his cause by performing well at the World Wood Bat Association World Championship in October and at the National High School Invitational in March. He has solid speed and takes good routes in center field, giving him a chance to play there in pro ball. With his power and arm, he fits the classic right-field profile. Perfect Game: Joe Gray Jr is a 2018 OF with a 6-3 195 lb. frame from Hattiesburg, MS who attends Hattiesburg HS. Outstanding physical build, very projectable. 6.75 in the sixty, plays much faster on the baseball field. Outstanding range in the outfield, gets quick jumps and runs direct routes, laser arm strength, fields the ball easily and gets rid of it quickly, highest level defensive tools. Right handed hitter, hits from a wide base with a short swing and good extension out front, generates big bat speed and power in batting practice, game swing is less fluid and consistent but the big tools are there with more repetitions. Good student, verbal commitment to Mississippi. Selected for the 2017 Perfect Game All-American Classic. Perfect Game NHSI: Adams debut has overshadowed the performance of a not dissimilar athlete in Hattiesburg centerfielder Joe Gray Jr. (2018, Hattiesburg, Miss.). Gray made significant changes to his approach and swing at the plate between the summer and the fall, simplifying and shortening most aspects of his swing, and they've really taken hold based on his consistent at-bats and hard line drive contact. He's not shown the plus lifting power he flashed during the summer but it is there laying latent to be brought out gradually with more repetitions of his sounder present approach. Gray does not have Adams’ running speed, as few baseball players at any level do, but watching him throw the ball from the outfield generates the same excitement in this scout as watching Adams run. 2080 Baseball: Gray has one of the more appealing skillsets in this draft, though his raw collection of tools doesn’t consistently translate to on-field success. High-waisted and athletically built, Gray stands out before even picking up a bat or ball. There’s some swing-and-miss in Gray’s right-handed swing, but he’s got plus bat speed and a lofty plane which produces above-average-to-plus raw power to all fields when he connects. A rangy defender in center, Gray gets good jumps and tracks the ball well. He’s got a cannon for an arm – one of the best among outfielders in this class – grading out as a double-plus tool. The Ole Miss commit runs well too, producing above-average times to first base as well as a second gear underway due to a long fluid stride. Baseball America: So, scout, do you feel lucky? If it all clicks for Gray, he could be one of the better high school sluggers in this draft class, as he’s got a plus arm, currently turns in plus run times and can be an above-average defender in center field. And that’s before you even start to talk about Gray’s power. He has the size, frame and strength to be a future 25-30 home run hitter. Gray will likely trade some of that speed for size as he matures, which is why long term he’ll likely end up in right field. But with his arm, the former shortstop should remain a defensive asset as he gets good jumps and reads. What leaves many evaluators skittish about Gray is his struggles to make consistent contact. He swung and missed as much as any prominent high school prospect on the showcase circuit last summer. He kept tweaking his stance to improve and he did show better contact skills late last year at Jupiter’s World Wood Bat showcase. If Gray is a well below-average hitter, which some scouts see as his future, the rest of the tools won’t play nearly as much, but you can find evaluators who see him as a future average hitter with plenty of additional plus tools to dream on. Prep Baseball Report: Lean, projectable and athletic 6-foot-3, 195-pound frame. Athleticism plays on defense. Long, easy strides that covers the ground. Aggressive drop step, takes efficient routes on balls hit over his head. Arm action is long & loose. Plus arm strength w/ good 4-seam carry & accuracy. RHH w/ above avg bat speed & smooth path w/ leverage through the zone. He can get big at times, adding length to his swing, causing some swing & miss. But drives the ball with authority when he stays short. Pull approach w/ + raw power. Showed increased patience as the season progressed. LINKS: VIDEOS:

ROUND 1 (21st overall): Brice Turang, SS (Photo: Will Lester) Height: 6'1 Weight: 165 B/T: L/R School: Santiago HS (CA) Year: HS Senior Hometown: Corona, CA DOB: 11/21/99 SCOUTING REPORT: MLB Pipeline: Scouting grades: Hit: 55 | Power: 40 | Run: 60 | Arm: 55 | Field: 55 | Overall: 50 Turang entered last summer as perhaps the top player in the entire class, and certainly among the high school set. A combination of a relatively pedestrian summer showcase performances and an extremely high expectation bar, a trend that has continued this spring, caused his star to fade, though he's still one of the better prep players in the nation. Turang does everything fairly well, though a lack of a true plus carrying tool is one reason why scouts were a bit down on him. Most feel he has the chance to be a plus hitter with an advanced approach at the plate using a high-contact, line-drive spray kind of approach. With a lean frame, there is some question about how much strength he'll add, with believers thinking power will come. Most feel he is a long-term shortstop, though some don't see it as a slam dunk. Some feel Turang suffered more from being seen for so long that he was bound to get knocked simply for not being the best player on the field at all times. Others haven't seen him dominate the way they feel a top-of-the-Draft prospect should in high school. He is committed to LSU, which could become an issue depending on when he's selected. Perfect Game: One of the top prospects in this year's crop of California talent is PG All-American Brice Turang. The shortstop has been near the forefront of the scouting community for some time now and will certainly draw large crowds of scouts and evaluators in to see him as he is currently a projected first round pick. Turang is a quality prospect who does so many things right on a baseball field and attacks everything with a polished, professional approach. The Louisiana State signee is viewed upon as a prototypical shortstop prospect, however he has also shows the athleticism and twitch to play centerfield for his high school team if need be. The bat is the selling point here as his approach at the plate is so polished and disciplined, especially for an amateur prospect. The frame looks stronger through the lower half, however there is still plenty of room for additional development, and Turang operates in the box like he knows exactly how he's going to be pitched. He looks to drive the ball the other way but will also hunt fastballs over the inner half when he looks to ambush. The bat-to-ball skills stand out and Turang still has the look of a high selection in this year's draft. Perfect Game NHSI: One of the prospects who entered this event as a projected first-round pick and has received enormous attention is West Coast shortstop Brice Turang (2018, Corona, Calif.). It has become a spectacle for every one of the LSU signee’s at-bats, but Turang has showed out well in all aspects thus far. As mentioned earlier in this feature, BP is a very important tool for scouts to evaluate prospects in terms of their approach, swing, and raw power. Turang took some of the best BP of the event to date with a really smooth lefthanded stroke and turned on the barrel with authority. He currently has probably average raw power and you can project a bit more than that at the next level. The difference in offensive approach has been notable in game, as he seems to allow his speed to do more of the work during the game. The aforementioned speed classifies Turang as a plus runner, posting times consistently in the 4.1 second range, including a best time of 4.12 seconds. Turang gets out of the box quickly and already has notched a couple of infield singles on the tournament, while the speed aids him defensively. He ranges effortlessly to both sides and has such a natural feel for the position that makes difficult plays look routine; one example that comes to mind is a pop up probably about 130 feet deep on the left field line that Turang had the whole way and made rather easily. The overall skill-set and tools make him a strong first round candidate, and his at-bats will be heavily attended for the remainder of the event as Turang is still going ot be looked upon to turn the barrel over with authority going forward. In what turned out to be a matchup for the ages, No. 22 John Curtis Christian (La.) upset No. 6 American Heritage (Fla.) 2-1 and there were a number of impact players on both sides. Brandon Davis (2018, Kenner, La.) has been the catalyst for the John Curtis lineup and the Tennessee signee showed a number of intriguing tools. Davis operates in one mode on a baseball field and that’s full-speed, from the get-go of the event he has been going all-out on both sides of the ball. Davis showed off the defensive chops during this game with a sliding, over-the-shoulder grab in shallow left field to rob a hit and maintain the slim lead. The offensive approach features a similar mantra as he doesn’t sit around and wait for pitches when he will jump on and hammer the first pitch he likes. Davis looks to drive the ball on a line but will also hit a fair share of ground balls and allow his speed to work; the best run time of the event thus far he has recorded is 4.42 seconds but his quick burst out of the box allow his speed to play up. 2080 Baseball: A year ago, Turang was a shortlist contender for the top overall selection in this class. His game has not progressed as expected, and while he put together solid but unspectacular summer and spring, the profile now fits better in the mid-to-late-first than atop it. A smooth defender at shortstop, Turang ranges well to either side and displays soft hands and above-average arm strength with easy carry across the diamond, with little question he can be an above-average defender at the next level. The LSU commit has a fluid line drive swing with above-average bat-to-ball skills and an all fields approach. It’s unclear if he’ll hit for much power as a professional, as he hasn’t consistently flashed that tool during his amateur career, but advocates insist there’s enough strength and bat speed to project out. Turang’s speed is an asset, as he consistently produces home-to-first times in the 4.05-to-4.15 range from the left side, then subsequently shows long, fluid strides as he zips around the bases. He’s a clean fit for shortstop at the next level and there’s still a chance when the dust settles Turang will be left standing as the best position player in the draft class. Baseball America: Turang is one of the most famous prep players in the 2018 class and entered the draft cycle as the top high school player in the nation. A four-year varsity starter at Santiago (Corona, Calif.) High, Turang also played for USA Baseball’s 18U National Team in 2016 and 2017, more than holding his own playing on the 2016 club that featured 2017 No. 1 and No. 2 overall picks Royce Lewis and Hunter Greene, respectively. In fact, you wouldn’t have to search far to find a scout who said Turang was the best player on the team, despite the fact that Turang never played in the international tournament in Mexico after getting hit in the face by a pitch. Because of his exposure and history as a talented player at such a young age, teams have been somewhat disappointed with Turang since last summer. He’s never struggled, but he’s also never wowed scouts in the same way that he did as an underclassman. Even with that said, Turang was still voted a first-team Preseason All-American, the best pure hitter in the class, the best defensive infielder in the class with the second-best arm, and the No. 3 athlete in Baseball America’s preseason survey to major league scouting directors. Turang is among the more polished prep players with an advanced left-handed hit tool and rarely swings and misses with a patient approach that allows him to hit the ball where it’s pitched. Turang’s loudest tool is his speed, which is at least plus and likely plus-plus, allowing him to wreak havoc on the bases and also cover a large swath of ground defensively. He can make throws from multiple angles, on the run, up the middle and in the hole, and also has the sure hands and footwork that should allow him to stay at the position at the next level. At just 6-foot-1, 165 pounds, the biggest knock on Turang is his size. Some teams are worried about the impact he’ll make at the next level and don’t anticipate him having much more than fringe-average raw power. While Turang might not be filling up a scout card with 6- and 7-grade tools, he does everything well, has a long track record of succeeding against elite competition and plays a premium position as a lefthanded hitter. Prep Baseball Report: Turang has wiry strength with room to fill out his 6-foot, 160-pound frame. The son of a big leaguer, he has always shown excellent instincts in the game. He routinely puts the bat on the ball and can drive it to all fields. He began to show some raw power in BP this spring, but his game is more about living in the gaps for doubles and triples. He can tend to leak out with his front side, preventing him from making hard contact, but he keeps his hands back and still manages to put the ball in play. He is a plus runner and uses his speed and instincts to be a menace on the base paths. That speed also plays defensively, giving him above average range at shortstop. He is a very good athlete, seemingly able to make any play and throw on the move. He has athletic actions and good footwork. Fangraphs: As an underclassman, Turang looked like he might be the best prospect on a Southern California Area Code team that included Hunter Greene, Nick Allen, Jeremiah Estrada, Hans Crouse and several other excellent prospects. His balletic actions at shortstop and plus arm and athleticism gave Turang a stable floor, while his precocious feel to hit (he struck out just twice as a junior) and chance to grow into power made him a potential star. Turang looked like the best player in the class until last summer when he suddenly looked lethargic and uncomfortable at the plate. He's been better this spring, but not so great that concerns about his developmental direction have been quelled. Teams who value several years of performance are likely to value Turang more highly, and he should be off the board anywhere between the mid-teens and early twenties. Jeff Ellis: Turang is going in the top 20 picks. There is some prospect fatigue with him and some disappointment at him being basically the same player he was a year ago. Yet, that player is still a potential above average starter at shortstop. He never became the eye popping talent but, instead, was a steady, reliable defender with plus speed and an average hit tool. It might not be the most exciting profile, but it is a profile of a player who could start for the majority of teams in MLB. From April Turang is what he is and, while that is pretty good, it seems like he is being penalized for not being more. People wanted him to be the next great prep shortstop, a future star, and, while might not look like another Lindor or Correa, he still profiles as an upper division starter, for me, at the second hardest position to find on the diamond. He is a future plus defender at short with an average offensive profile and plus speed. I still see a lot of Trea Turner, specifically the 2017 version. From January Turang might be suffering from overexposure right now. He has been around and talked about for multiple years. He looks like a future leadoff hitter who is a plus defender at shortstop. His speed and defense are his best tools. His hit tool seems to range from people thinking average to plus in the future. If it ends up being either of those, then he should be an easy starter. The reason he is not higher for me is the lack of power. The profile is similar to Madrigal’s, but he has proven himself on a higher stage. John Sickles: A year ago, high school shortstop Brice Turang was a leading candidate to go one/one in the 2018 MLB draft. That’s not going to happen now. Turang is still a first-round talent and could still be an early pick, but his chance to go first-overall has faded. Let’s explore. The basics first. Turang is a prep shortstop from Santiago High School in Corona, California. He has been on the radar for years, which is both a blessing and a curse (more on that in a moment). He’s been on the showcase circuit since 2014. He played for Team USA in both 2016 and 2017. He’s also a bloodline talent, as the son of former MLBer Brian Turang. As a California player scouts have had many looks at Brice during the high school regular season and during summer play against top competition. Name an important player evaluation event and Turang has likely been there. He’s also a much-coveted college recruit with a Louisiana State scholarship as leverage. Physically, Turang is a left-handed hitter and right-handed thrower born November 21, 1999. He isn’t one of the younger players in the prep class, but he’s not one of the older ones either. He was 5-10, 150 a few years ago but has matured out to 6-1, 165. His best physical tool is running speed, with grades varying between 60 and 70 depending on the source; you can split the difference and give him a 65 if you like. He has a good arm, too, 55 or 60 depending on the source. He has loose, easy athletic actions and looks natural in the infield. The tools fit those of a major league shortstop and that by itself makes him worthy of notice. What about the bat? Well, that’s good, too. Turang has a sound sense of the strike zone and is one of the best pure hitters in the draft. The general consensus is that he’ll hit for average and get on base and will need less refinement than most high school bats. Power projection is the only real question. As noted above he doesn’t carry a lot of weight on his frame and that’s led to doubts about his power at higher levels despite his refinement as a hitter. Optimists point to Turang’s impressive power displays in batting practice, Perfect Game noting that Turang shows “a really smooth lefthanded stroke and turned on the barrel with authority. He currently has probably average raw power and you can project a bit more than that at the next level.” That said, PG also notes that Turang’s approach seems to change in actual games, where he doesn’t unleash his power as readily. Other sources pick up on that, MLB.com noting Turang uses a “high-contact, line-drive spray kind of approach” in live games. That fact, combined with a frame that may not have much room to add additional strength, pushes him down draft boards for many clubs. Familiarity can breed contempt, the old saying goes. Baseball America summarizes this well in their draft report: Because of his exposure and history as a talented player at such a young age, teams have been somewhat disappointed with Turang since last summer. He’s never struggled, but he’s also never wowed scouts in the same way that he did as an underclassman. There are a couple of ways you can look at this. ***Turang has been nitpicked in favor of shiny new toys and it has unfairly impacted his draft status; or ***Turang is more polished and experienced than most of his peers and has less room to grow as a player, particularly as a hitter. The thing is, these statements are not in contradiction. Both can be true and I think they are. So, where does he land in the draft? The perceived safety of college players and the normal lust for pitching has pushed Turang out of the top five. Most mock drafts have Turang as a candidate starting in the teens, with some projecting that he could fall into the late 20s. At that point signability comes into play. If he falls too low, it could be tempting for him to pass on an offer he doesn’t like, go to LSU, rake for three years, then (hopefully) shoot back to the top with a larger paycheck in 2021. All that said, if you step back and look objectively you’ll see a player with a proven track record who should be handle shortstop in the majors while hitting for average, getting on base, stealing while there, and who could develop more in-game pop if the power optimists are right. It would not surprise me if Turang ends up going a bit higher than currently expected. LINKS: Wisconsin State Journal — Brewers select high school shortstop Brice Turang with 21st pick in draft VIDEOS:

This thread will be used to post all draft picks in order of their selection, as well as page-by-page details of the picks, which we will slowly but surely add to in the coming days. A moderator will update the picks and player profiles. If you have comments/links about a player, please post them in the appropriate discussion thread. Bold indicates the player has signed. 1 (21). Brice Turang, SS, Santiago HS (CA) 2 (60). Joe Gray Jr., OF, Hattiesburg HS (MS) CB Rd. B (73). Micah Bello, OF, Hilo HS (HI) 4 (125). Aaron Ashby, LHP, Crowder JC (MO) 5 (155). Justin Jarvis, RHP, Lake Norman HS (NC) 6 (185). Drew Rasmussen, RHP, Oregon State 7 (215). David Fry, C, Northwestern State 8 (245). Luis Gonzalez, RHP, PJ Education School (PR) 9 (275). Arbert Cipion, CF, Passaic County Technical Institute (NJ) 10 (305). J.T. Hintzen, RHP, Florida Southern College 11 (335). Davis Daniel, RHP, Auburn WILL NOT SIGN 12 (365). Korry Howell, SS, Kirkwood CC (IA) 13 (395). Reese Olson, RHP, North Hall HS 14 (425). Elijah Cabell, OF, TNXL Academy (FL) WILL NOT SIGN 15 (455). Nick Trogrlic-Iverson, RHP, Central Arizona College WILL NOT SIGN 16 (485). Alec Barger, RHP, Polk State College (FL) WILL NOT SIGN 17 (515). Clayton Andrews, LHP, Cal State Long Beach 18 (545). Scotty Sunitsch, LHP, Washington State 19 (575). Peyton Zabel, RHP, T.F. Riggs HS (SD) WILL NOT SIGN 20 (605). Joey Matulovich, RHP, California 21 (635). Steve Hajjar, LHP, Central Catholic HS (MA) WILL NOT SIGN 22 (665). Joey Baran, LHP, Lackawanna College (PA) 23 (695). Jared Platero, RHP, Beckman HS (CA) WILL NOT SIGN 24 (725). Wade Beasley, RHP, Home School - Horatio (AR) 25 (755). Pablo Garabitos, OF/LHP, Lakewood Ranch HS (FL) 26 (785). Connor Sparks, RHP, Marion M. Graham Collegiate HS (SK) 27 (815). Brady Schanuel, RHP, Iowa 28 (845). Kekai Rios, C, Hawaii 29 (875). Nander De Sedas, SS, Montverde Academy (FL) WILL NOT SIGN 30 (905). Basilio Pacheco, LHP, Segerstrom HS (CA) 31 (935). Matt Dillard, LHP, St. Pius X HS (TX) 32 (965). Jonny Cuevas, 3B, Palm Desert HS (CA) WILL NOT SIGN 33 (995). Brandon Hylton, 1B, Ridge HS (NJ) 34 (1025). Michael Mediavilla, LHP, Miami 35 (1055). Josh Watson, OF, TCU WILL NOT SIGN 36 (1085). Brandon Williamson, LHP, North Iowa Area CC WILL NOT SIGN 37 (1115). Franklin Hernandez, RHP, Central Florida JC 38 (1145). Aidan Maldonado, RHP, Rosemount HS (MN) WILL NOT SIGN 39 (1175). Caleb Marquez, C, Blue Springs HS (MO) 40 (1205). Wes Clarke, C, Liberty Christian Academy (VA) WILL NOT SIGN

Paolo Espino moved to the Helena roster to make room for Wilkerson.

RHP Aaron Wilkerson activated off of the Sky Sox' DL after a 10 day stay. Have not heard the corresponding move, though it's safe to assume a pitcher was involved as Colorado Springs already had 14 pitchers active.

Wisconsin postponed.

The Brewers have signed 27 year old RHP Danny Reynolds to a minor league free agent deal and activated him tonight for Biloxi. He was a 6th round pick of the Angels back in 2009 and played in the Braves system last year.

Liz was released off of the Sky Sox roster, De La Cruz was released off of the Helena roster, and Pena/Franco were released off of the DSL co-op roster.

RHP Jayson Rose and LHP Blake Fox have been assigned to Wisconsin's 7-day DL. They had been on the Helena roster to this point. C Natanael Mejia is listed as a coach for the Brewers' co-op team in the DSL, but remains on Biloxi's 7-day DL as a break glass in case of emergency catcher option.

Final: Kane County 2, Wisconsin 1 Cougars Edge Rattlers 2-1 Wisconsin starts homestand with a tough loss By Chris Mehring / Wisconsin Timber Rattlers GRAND CHUTE, WI - The Kane County Cougars held on to defeat the Wisconsin Timber Rattlers 2-1 on Friday night at Neuroscience Group Field at Fox Cities Stadium. The Rattlers had great opportunities in both the seventh and ninth innings, but could not cash in with a key hit. Tristen Lutz gave the Rattlers (24-31) the lead in the bottom of the second inning. The Wisconsin right-fielder tripled to right to score Gilbert Lara from first base for a 1-0 lead. Kane County (28-25) went in front in the top of the fourth inning. Ernie De La Trinidad doubled to start the inning. Ryan Tufts followed with a single to put runners on the corners. Joey Rose grounded into a force play at second and beat the throw to first for an RBI fielder's choice as De La Trinidad scored to tie the game. Wisconsin starting pitcher Wilfred Salaman's night ended after walking Jorge Perez. Reliever Carlos Herrera entered the game and got the second out of the inning, but walked Yan Sanchez to load the bases. Herrera had an 0-2 count on Jasrado Chisholm, but threw a wild pitch to allow Rose to score and the Cougars were up 2-1. Jeff Bain, the starter for the Cougars left after six innings. He struck out seven and allowed one run on four hits. The Rattlers put together a rally in the bottom of the seventh as Cougars reliever Erbert Gonzalez walked the first two batters he faced. A sacrifice bunt by Joantgel Segovia move the tying and go-ahead runs into scoring position. However, Gonzalez struck out the next two batters to maintain the one-run cushion. Wisconsin made it even more interesting in the ninth inning against Kane County close Matt Brill. Lutz was hit by a pitch to start the inning. Morrison drew a walk with one out and Segovia reached on an infield single to load the bases. Brill regrouped and struck out the next two batters to end the game and earn his sixth save of the season. Kane County is 7-1 in eight games against Wisconsin in 2018. The Timber Rattlers and Cougars will play game two of their series on Saturday night. Christian Taugner (1-4, 3.83) is the scheduled starting pitcher for Wisconsin. Mack Lemieux (1-4, 4.96) is set to start for the Cougars. Game time at Neuroscience Group Field at Fox Cities Stadium is 7:05pm. *** Wisconsin Box Score Wisconsin Game Log

It is, but Payton Henry earned his spot in Wisconsin this spring so their hand was a little forced. Feliciano's injury may have even been a little blessing in disguise in that he didn't have to get thrown to the wolves in the Carolina League early in the season. Feliciano saw a good deal of outfield work this spring, which many including myself have assumed would be his long-term position so we'll see how much catcher he ends up playing with the Mudcats. McDowell has obviously been great behind the dish.

He was held back in extended spring training due to an injury, the nature of which eludes me at the moment.

Final: Wisconsin 7, Cedar Rapids 2 Rattlers Close Road Trip With 7-2 Win at Cedar Rapids Hernández wins 7th, Segovia & Lutz each have three hits By Chris Mehring / Wisconsin Timber Rattlers CEDAR RAPIDS, IA - The Wisconsin Timber Rattlers ended their eleven-game road trip with a 7-2 win over the Cedar Rapids Kernels at Perfect Game Field on Thursday night. Nelson Hernandez tossed another solid game and the offense delivered key hits when they were needed. Wisconsin (24-30) scored a run in the first and a run in the second to take a 2-0 lead. Cedar Rapids starting pitcher Tanner Kiest threw a wild pitch with two outs in the first inning to allow Joantgel Segovia to score. In the second, Kiest uncorked another wild pitch with two outs and Tristen Lutz scored. Cedar Rapids (25-26) tied the game in the third inning on a two-out, two-run single by Jose Miranda. The game remained tied until the top of the sixth inning. Demi Orimoloye singled to start the inning and stole second. Then, Gabriel García drew a one-out walk. Lutz grounded a double down the line at third and Orimoloye scored the go-ahead run. Trever Morrison was next and he hit a sacrifice fly to center to score García for a 4-2 lead. Timber Rattlers starting pitcher Nelson Hernández allowed one more hit after the single by Miranda in the third. He would go six innings, allow four hits, walk one, and strike out five to put himself in position for his seventh win of the season. Robbie Hitt was the first Wisconsin reliever and he retired the first four batters he faced before giving up a double to Royce Lewis in the eighth. Hitt struck out the next batter, but gave up a single to Miranda that put Kernels on the corners. Rodrigo Benoit was called in from the Wisconsin bullpen to relieve Hitt and he struck out Jacob Pearson to end the inning. Wisconsin tacked on some insurance in the ninth inning. The frame started with Morrison being hit by a pitch and Nick Roscetti reaching on a bunt single. Segovia followed with a single to left - his third hit of the ninth - to send Morrison home. An errant throw to the plate allowed Roscetti and Segovia each move up a base. A wild pitch by Kernels reliever Jared Finkel allowed Roscetti to score the second run of the inning. Payton Henry followed with a single through the drawn-in infield to score Segovia with the final run of the inning. Benoit pitched a 1-2-3 bottom of the ninth to close out the game. Hernández won his sixth straight decision and tossed his seventh quality start of 2018 with his performance on Thursday night. He is tied with Maverik Buffo of the Lansing Lugnuts for the Midwest League lead in wins. Wisconsin ended the road trip with a 4-7 record. They were 2-2 at Quad Cities, 1-3 at Kane County, and 1-2 at Cedar Rapids. The Timber Rattlers return home to host the Kane County Cougars on Friday night. Wilfred Salaman (0-0, 21.60) is the scheduled starting pitcher for the Timber Rattlers. Jeff Bain (3-1, 2.91) is set to start for the Cougars. Game time at Neuroscience Group Field at Fox Cities Stadium is 7:05pm. *** Wisconsin Box Score Wisconsin Game Log

Hiura hit 2 bombs today, OPS over 900. Slow start, schmo start.

Yah, I don’t think Gatewood is a top 100 or even 200 guy right now but keep in mind that he’s only 22. Almost exactly a full year younger than Ray. There aren’t a ton of 22 year olds with 300+ PAs in AA, and many that do fit that criteria are top 100 types. There’s plenty of reason to be bullish on Gatewood despite his bumpy path to this point.

Struck out the side in the 8th, all swinging... On 11 pitches no less.

Bickford hitting 90. Not great but also not 85.

I've seen Supak throw a few good changeups this year, though I don't know how the pitch projects at the big league level. He also has a good feel for moving the ball around the plate, and pitch sequencing in general. I think he has at least a decent shot to remain as a starter.

For the most part, the top Brewers' pitching prospects work low and vary their look by going up high. I'd say that would more or less be true of Burnes, Woodruff, Jankins, Brown, Webb, Ponce, Houser, and Medeiros. I don't know if that's by design or chance, but it is what it is. From my observation, Ortiz and to a lesser extent Diplan and Wilkerson work more up, though Ortiz, Diplan, Wilkerson, and Supak have very few commonalities beyond that. And of those four, I'd say Supak is the only one who I expect to be high in the zone. The others will work lower.

Supak has been around 91-93 from what I’ve heard this year. His curveball is, IMO, still easily his best pitch. He’s a bit atypical in that he likes to work up in the zone with his fastball. Partly to change eye level when he spins his big breaking curve.

Final: Cedar Rapids 15, Wisconsin 4 Wisconsin Drops 15-4 Decision at Cedar Rapids Kernels homer four times in the ninth inning to crush Rattlers By Chris Mehring / Wisconsin Timber Rattlers CEDAR RAPIDS, IA - Jose Miranda hit a grand slam and drove in a total of six runs for the Cedar Rapids Kernels in their 15-4 win over the Wisconsin Timber Rattlers Wednesday afternoon at Perfect Game Field. The Kernels pulled away from Wisconsin by hitting four home runs in a nine-run eighth inning. Cedar Rapids (25-25) scored twice in the bottom of the first inning. Wisconsin starter Bowden Francis got ahead of lead-off batter Akil Baddoo 0-2, but wound up issuing a walk. Baddoo would steal second base to get into scoring position. Royce Lewis followed with an RBI single to drive in Baddoo. Later in the inning, Miranda doubled to center and Lewis scored to put the Kernels up 2-0. Wisconsin (23-30) loaded the bases with one out against Kernels starter Blayne Enlow. However, the Kernels got out of the inning with a double play ball Francis had two outs with none on in the bottom of the second, but issued another walk to Baddoo to extend the inning. An errant pickoff throw allowed Baddoo to take second base. Then, Lewis and Alex Kirilloff had back-to-back RBI doubles and the Kernels were up 4-0. The Rattlers took advantage of some wildness by Enlow to tie the game with a four-run third inning. Devin Hairston and Joantgel Segovia walked to start the inning. Trever Morrison reached on a bunt single and a wild throw to first by Enlow allowed Hairston to score. Segovia would score - and Morrison would take third - on a wild pitch by Enlow to pull the Rattlers to within two runs. They weren't done. Pat McInerney walked and stole second to get into scoring position. Gilbert Lara tied the game with a two-out, two-run double up the first base line. However, the Kernels would retake the lead in the bottom of the third. Robby Rinn singled with one out and Ben Rortvedt followed with a double to score Rinn all the way from first to give Cedar Rapids a 5-4 lead. The game was halted by rain after the bottom of the third inning for a rain delay. Payton Henry started the top of the fourth after a 26-minute delay with a single, but he was left stranded when the inning ended. Matt Hardy relieved Bowden Francis to start the bottom of the fourth and hit Lewis with one out. Lewis stole second and scored on a two-out double by Miranda to give the Kernels a 6-4 advantage. The game remained 6-4 until the eighth inning. Michael Petersen, who had relieved Hardy to start the sixth inning, walked the first two batters he faced in the eighth before retiring Lewis on a flyball to medium center. The runner at second tagged and took third, the throw to third missed the cutoff man and the runner from first wound up on second base. The Rattlers elected to walk Kirilloff intentionally to load the bases. Unfortunately, the strategy backfired on the Rattlers as Miranda blasted a long homer to left on a 1-0 pitch for a grand slam and a 10-4 lead. Jacob Pearson was next and he launched the next pitch to left for another homer. That was all for Petersen. Jose Cuas took over on the mound and his second pitch to Rinn left the yard to right field for three consecutive home runs. Rortvedt would be next and he doubled before Cuas got the second out of the inning. Then, Jordan Gore double to send Rortvedt home. The final blow of the inning was when Baddoo homered to right for the fourth Cedar Rapids home run of the inning. The Rattlers got a leadoff single from Henry in the ninth inning, but it wasn't nearly enough. Jose Martinez retired the final three batters in order to close out the game. Wisconsin hitters went out quietly as three Kernels pitchers retired 13 of the final 14 Rattlers to bat in the game. The final game of the series - and of Wisconsin's eleven-game road trip - is Thursday night. Nelson Hernández (6-2, 4.33) is the scheduled starting pitcher for the Rattlers. Cedar Rapids has not named their starter yet. Game time is 6:35pm. *** Wisconsin Box Score Wisconsin Game Log

Final: Cedar Rapids 6, Wisconsin 5 Late Lead Slips Away to Kernels Wisconsin drops 6-5 decision after leading 5-2 By Chris Mehring / Wisconsin Timber Rattlers CEDAR RAPIDS, IA - The Wisconsin Timber Rattlers let one get away on Tuesday night. The Cedar Rapids Kernels rallied from a 5-2 deficit to defeat the Rattlers 6-5 in game one of a three-game series at Perfect Game Field on Tuesday night. The Timber Rattlers (23-29) scored three runs in the third inning to take the lead. Gilbert Lara started the inning with a single. Trever Morrison, in his first game since April 8, followed with a single to put runners on the corners. Nick Roscetti put the Rattlers up with an RBI single to score Lara. Then, Demi Orimoloye tripled to right to score both runners for a 3-0 lead. The Kernels (24-25) answered with two runs on four straight hits to start their half of the third inning. Three straight singles by Jordan Gore, Jacob Pearson, and Royce Lewis opened the frame. Alex Kirilloff followed with a two-run double to pull the Kernels to within a run and put the tying and lead runs in scoring position with no outs. Wisconsin starting pitcher Alec Bettinger rebounded to retire the next three batters without allowing a run and kept the Rattlers up 3-2. Bettinger would retire the final twelve batters he faced in the game as he worked six frames for the fifth consecutive time as a starter. The offense added to the lead with single runs in the fourth and fifth inning. In the fourth, Morrison singled with two outs to drive in KJ Harrison from third. In the fifth, Orimoloye hit his fifth home run of the season, a solo homer to left, and the Rattlers had a 5-2 lead. Wisconsin had a chance to add to their lead in the top of the sixth. Zach Clark tripled to start the inning. Lara was next and he hit a high chopper near third. Clark tried to get back to the bag, but he was tagged out by the third baseman, who threw to first in time to get Lara for the double play. Morrison was next and he singled for the tenth hit of the night for the Rattlers. That drove Kernels starter Bailey Ober out of the game. Reliever Melvi Acosta entered the game and got the final out of the inning. Bettinger, who had a chance at his fifth straight win, gave way to reliever Gabe Friese to start the bottom of the seventh inning. Friese hit the first batter he faced and walked the third batter he faced, but had two outs and a full count on Lewis with two outs. Lewis, the #1 pick of the 2017 draft, doubled to right and both runners scored to cut the Rattlers lead back to one run. Then, Kirilloff singled to send Lewis home with the tying run. Jean Carlos Arias started the Kernels eighth inning with a single, stole second, and went to third on a ground out. Robby Rinn drove in Arias with a double to left and the Kernels had a 6-5 lead. Acosta closed out the game with a 1-2-3 ninth inning. He retired all ten Rattlers he faced in the game to pick up his first win of the season. Wisconsin is 3-6 on the first nine games of this eleven-game road trip. The Rattlers have had the lead into at least the seventh inning in three of the losses. Game two of the series is Wednesday afternoon. Bowden Francis (1-2, 4.93) is the scheduled starting pitcher for the Timber Rattlers. Cedar Rapids has named Blayne Enlow (0-1, 3.28) as their starter. Game time at Perfect Game Field is 12:05pm. *** Wisconsin Box Score Wisconsin Game Log

Final: Wisconsin 4, Kane County 3 Rattlers Hang On To Beat Kane County Wisconsin beats Cougars 4-3 on Memorial Day By Chris Mehring / Wisconsin Timber Rattlers GENEVA, IL - The Wisconsin Timber Rattlers earned their first victory of the 2018 season over the Kane County Cougars with a 4-3 decision on Memorial Day afternoon at Northwestern Medicine Field. The Rattler had to rally twice and hold on at the end to salvage a win in the final game of the four-game series. Kane County (25-22) took an almost immediate lead. Gabriel Maciel dropped a bunt single on the first pitch of the bottom of the first. Jasrado Chisholm doubled on a 1-0 pitch and the Cougars had runners at second and third with no outs. Yoel Yanqui was next and drove a pitch to center. Both runners tagged after Zach Clark made the catch. Maciel scored easily as the throw went into third. However, the throw was wild and wound up out of play and Chisholm scored for a 2-0 lead. The Timber Rattlers (23-28) had an almost immediate answer to tie the game. KJ Harrison drew a walk and Pat McInerney reached on an error to start the top of the second. Gilbert Lara cracked a bad-hop single to left to score Harrison and send McInerney to third base. Later in the inning, Brent Diaz evened the score with a sacrifice fly to score McInerney. The Cougars went back in front in the bottom of the second inning. Eduardo Diaz doubled to start the inning, was sacrificed to third, and scored when he beat the throw home on a grounder off Rattlers starting pitcher Christian Taugner. Wisconsin charged back to the lead in the fourth inning on a two-out, two-run single by Joantgel Segovia. That was it for the scoring. Taugner settled in after the second inning. He allowed two hits over his final five innings of work and left the game with a 4-3 lead. Monday was the first time Taugner had pitching seven innings as a professional and it was his fourth quality start in his last five starts. It was up to lefty Cody Beckman to close out the game as he entered in the eighth. Beckman walked the lead-off batter, but picked him off first before retiring the next two batters. In the ninth, Beckman retired the first two batters before a single, an error, and a wild pitch put they tying run on third and the winning run on first. Beckman finished the game with a flourish by striking out Rose to end the game. The Timber Rattlers continue their road trip with the first game of a three-game series against the Cedar Rapids Kernels at Perfect Game Field on Tuesday night. Alec Bettinger (4-3, 3.86) is the scheduled starting pitcher for Wisconsin. The Kernels have named Bailey Ober (1-1, 7.84) as their starter. Game time is 6:35pm. *** Wisconsin Box Score Wisconsin Game Log