Draft Pick Discussion, Rounds 1-5; Latest -- Dylan Covey doing well at U of San Diego

[bjkrautk]

Not thrilled with throwing another pick at a 1st round HS pitcher....but I now have to hope that Covey bucks a trend and becomes the first Brewers 1st round HS Pitcher to pitch in the majors since the 1993 draft (Jeff D'Amico, if you were wondering; Neugebauer and Gallardo were second rounders).

 

Cautiously pessimistic...but I didn't follow the draft prospects well enough this year.

[YoungGeezy]

My fingers are just crossed they don't baby him like they did with Odorizzi. I'm really excited about the pick as of right now and hope the next move is draft Allie or Cole if they are still sitting there. My hope is one of them will still be on the board and I don't see the brewers being scared to pay up. If the "BPA" approach is true and one of those two are there that without a doubt needs to be the pick.

 

I have a feeling that somewhere in this draft maybe in the top 10 rounds(? not sure where scouts have him) the Brewers are going to Draft Cory Vaughn. With how they like there bloodlines and having inviteed him to the pre-draft workout it just seems to make sense. Plus when I was way young Greg Vaughn was my first ever favorite Brewer. The younger Vaughn is has a nice 6'3 225 frame and is a hammer at the plate. From the clips I have seen I'd compare him to a bigger Khris Davis, but that is limited view so maybe Colby could shine some more light on him

[uwisfan]

i really like the pick. Cant base your planning off the fact that the organization has stunk at picking HS pitchers.. have to go with the best player avaialable and someone with upside and he has that. Even if the HS arms have flamed out, what have their college arms done.. Arnett? Frederickson? Also, and in spite of the Brewers bad luck, players are more equipped to overcome arm injuries than in the past. Have to expect that medical treatment will continue to get better over the years.

[battlekow]

Maranatha's Covey goes to Brewers with 14th pick

Miguel A. Melendez/Pasadena Star-News

PASADENA - The normally cool, calm and

collected Dylan Covey couldn't hold his emotions anymore.

 

 

The senior pitcher from Maranatha High School erupted in

celebration after he was selected 14th overall by the Milwaukee Brewers

in Major League Baseball's first-year player draft on Monday.

 

 

Dozens of friends and family members packed Dr. Sam and Angela

Lee's residence in Pasadena to anxiously await the inevitable.

 

 

Covey exploded onto the national scene in his sophomore year

when he pitched at the PGWWBA World Championship in Jupiter, Fla. He

struck out 18 batters in a game against the Kansas City Royals scouts

team and drew raves from the reported 350 or so scouts in attendance.

 

 

The 6-foot-2, 200-pound senior right-hander led the Minutemen

(19-10) to the CIF Southern Section Division 5 quarterfinals this past

season and posted a 7-1 record with three saves, a 0.40 ERA, 138

strikeouts and 20 walks in 70.2 innings. He also hit .414 with a home

run and 17 RBIs and led the Minutemen to a Division 5 championship last

year.

 

 

Covey's 96 mile-per-hour fastball wowed more than several

dozen scouts who attended his games this year.

 

 

His sharp breaking ball reaches an above-average velocity in

the 78-82 mph range. Aside from his athletic gifts it was his humble

demeanor that made him attractive to so many professional teams.

 

 

It culminated in MLB Commissioner Bud Selig announcing Covey's

name. It didn't matter that he mispronounced it.

 

Covey's parents, Darrell and Angela, met with 28 of the 30 clubs

in their living room to discuss their son's future. In the end, it was

the Brewers with whom Darryl said the family felt closest when the

courting process started nearly two years ago.

 

 

"I'm definitely excited to go there," Covey said. "It's kind

of weird saying I'm a Milwaukee Brewer.

 

 

"I still have the `M' on my hat."

 

 

Covey, the 2009 Star-News Player of the Year, and an Aflac

All-American recently was selected Gatorade's California Baseball Player

of the Year. He was invited by the commissioner's office to attend the

draft in Secaucus, New Jersey. He politely declined.

 

 

"You saw all this," Covey said. "Just because of this

atmosphere. I don't think it would have been the same sitting in the

draft room. It was really fun seeing them all erupt.

 

 

"I was pumped because I had been waiting for this moment the

last two years. The worst is over now. It's time to focus on the next

stage."

 

 

Bryce Harper of Southern Nevada Junior College was the No. 1

overall pick by the Washington Nationals.

 

 

Contract negotiations will begin soon, and Covey said he feels

confident the team will sign him.

 

 

"I don't really know what the figure is going to be," he said.

"I'm hoping to have a two in front of it. I didn't really talk to them

about the money aspect, but we'll see what happens. I'm confident we'll

get what we need."

 

 

Darrell Covey will handle his son's negotiations instead of

hiring an agent. That keeps his amateur status safe should he not sign

and accept the baseball scholarship offered by University of San Diego.

 

 

All indications, however, point to Covey signing to come one

step closer to living out his dream.

 

 

"I would say it's really, really strong that I sign," Covey

said. "A first-round pick is a really good investment for a major league

team. I have a really good feeling we'll fulfill our plan."

 

 

Darrell, who was drafted by the New York Mets in 1968,

received text messages and phone calls minutes before Covey's selection.

Covey ignored his phone.

 

 

Throughout the process, it was his father who provided a

steady and guiding hand.

 

 

"Maybe except for two games my dad's been to my games my whole

life," Covey said. "He flew with me everywhere, put out the money to

fly me and fly with me. If you can count with one hand how many games

he's missed, then that's pretty remarkable.

 

 

"I'm now one step closer to my dream because of him. When I

get to the major leagues and get on that mound I'll look back on all

this and I'll owe it to my family."

[jeffy]

Funny that there seems to be somewhat conflicting versions of reality between the Covey and the Brewers:

 

To say the least, Covey was surprised to be picked by the Brewers.

"I don't even think I know how to spell Milwaukee," said Covey, who added that he hadn't talked to many representatives of the Brewers of late.

"I wasn't really expecting the Brewers."

http://www.jsonline.com/blogs/sports/95825834.html

 

“We know Dylan real well. We weren't sure that he would get to us but he did.

“This gave us the opportunity to take somebody we really wanted. Dylan is a fantastic young man. Our scouts Dan Huston and Corey Rodriguez were heavily involved in this situation, got to know him real well, got to know the family real well.”

http://www.jsonline.com/blogs/sports/95831059.html

 

[homer]

I guess my point is how would a reliever help Milwaukee's pitching situation? Is another reliever going to make this a .500 ball club? All Seid has been talking about is building a championship rotation, I'm not seeing how that concept meshes with what Melvin was quoted as saying.

 

Basically all he really said was I give them credit for not being incredibly stupid... what wonderful insight.

Or it could mean that the only college pitchers left projected as bullpen guys. To me, that was a throwaway line by Melvin.

[1e Corbeau]

Or it could mean that the only college pitchers left projected as bullpen guys. To me, that was a throwaway line by Melvin.

I read it in the same manner that homer did: the college guys on the board might have been closer to being MLB contributors, but their max contribution might be in the 'pen.

 

Now, here's hoping for an "over slot" pick in the second or third!

[LouisEly]

James Nelson?

 

From the scouting report - no lie:

 

"Physical Description: Nelson is big and physical, a

bigger version of Jeff Suppan."

 

NOOOOO!!!!!

[brosto1]

Those are not necessarily conflicting reports. Covey said "of late" not that he hadn't spoken at all to the Brewers.

[Paulus88]

"Physical Description: Nelson is big and physical, a bigger version of Jeff Suppan."

Wow there is no way to make a worse impression with this fanbase than be compared to Suppan.

[monty57]

Nelson has to be the guy they're planning on fast-tracking to get to the big leagues. Announcers on MLB.com call Nelson a mid-to-back end of the rotation guy who won't light up the radar but will give you 200 innings. Gets a lot of ground balls.

[jeffy]

Those are not necessarily conflicting reports. Covey said "of late" not that he hadn't spoken at all to the Brewers.

Yes, but reading them both it is like (exaggerating a bit) Covey says: "who are the Brewers, never heard of them" while the team says: "We're like family". No big deal, just seemed kind of funny.

[pete]

I never thought of Soup as physical.

[wishicouldhit]

AJ Cole is still on the board, they draft the best avail right? would they draft him

[battlekow]

Tyler Thornburg's college splits

[battlekow]

Those are not necessarily conflicting reports. Covey said "of late" not that he hadn't spoken at all to the Brewers.

Covey:

"I met with them a couple weeks back, but they never really talked to

me other than that and haven't really given me any phone calls."

[Boisebrewer]

Man, Pitt better not take Cole or I will be really unhappy.

[battlekow]

Baseball America' John Manuel: "Lincecum Lite in RHP Tyler Thornburg, who is 5-foot-11, 190, beat Florida early in season, will give up hitting, may move quick in bullpen"

[TuesdaysWithRillo]

I am going to go out on a limb and guess that the 4th round pick will be a position player.

[battlekow]

MLB scouting report on Nelson:

Fastball: Nelson throws his fastball in the 91-94

mph range.

 

 

Fastball movement: It's heavy and

downhill, but it has below-average life.

 

 

Slider: It's solid average, thrown

80-84 mph, and it's a tilted, hard, late-breaking pitch.

 

 

Changeup: He has an average

changeup, but he doesn't throw it much.

 

 

Control: His overall command is

average.

 

 

Poise: He's very good on the mound,

very competitive.

 

 

Physical Description: Nelson is big

and physical, a bigger version of Jeff Suppan.

 

 

Medical Update: Healthy.

 

 

Strengths: Three pitches that are

average or a bit better, with the ability to command them. Good mound

presence.

 

 

Weaknesses: There's a lack of life

to his fastball, and he needs to develop that third pitch, especially to

use against left-handed hitters.

 

 

Summary: There will invariably be a

number of college arms taken at or near the top of the Draft. Once you

get past that top tier, there are always steals to be found. Nelson

could very well fit into that group as Alabama's Saturday starter. He's

got three pitches, with the fastball and slider being his best two

options. If he can develop his changeup, he could be a very good

starting option for a team that's seeking some advanced pitching after

that first group.

[battlekow]

MLB scouting report on Thornburg:

Fastball: Thornburg can run his fastball up to 95

mph.

 

 

 

Fastball movement: It's fairly

straight, but he shows the ability to throw downhill despite his size.

When he elevates it, it has little riding life.

 

 

 

Curve: He throws a get-me-over slow

curve, 68-71 mph, and then a 75-78 mph hard breaking ball, usually out

of the zone, to get strikeouts.

 

 

 

Changeup: He has a good,

above-average changeup and excellent arm speed when he throws it.

 

 

 

Control: He's generally around the

plate, but his overall command is below average, leading some to believe

he's destined for a bullpen role.

 

 

 

Poise: He's got good mound presence.

 

 

 

Physical Description: Thornburg is

an athletic, but undersized, right-hander who uses a delivery similar to

Tim Lincecum's.

 

 

 

Medical Update: Healthy.

 

 

 

Strengths: Excellent fastball and

above-average changeup. As a two-way player, his athleticism helps him

on the mound.

 

 

 

Weaknesses: He gets swings and

misses on the hard curve now, but if he continues to not throw it for

strikes, it won't work at the next level. He has below-average overall

command.

 

 

 

Summary: As a two-way player,

Thornburg hits cleanup while playing right field on Friday, then is the

DH on Saturday before taking his turn in the rotation on Sunday. There's

a lot to like about him on the mound, with an above-average fastball

and changeup. He's going to have to learn to throw his curve for strikes

and command the ball better if he wants to remain a starter, but even

if that doesn't work out, he could have a very nice future coming out of

the 'pen. Scouts are always looking for good games on Sundays, so

Thornburg will get plenty of looks before Draft Day.

[colbyjack]

I offered some thoughts on a start I saw of Nelson's here:

 

http://www.5tooltalk.com/collegenotes5-16-10.html

 

Nelson was one of my preseason sleepers to make some noise this year and finally start to build off of his promise. He has been doing just that, and tossed the first complete game of his college career against Ole Miss on Saturday.

 

He doesn’t throw particularly hard, maxing out 92 and sitting in the 88-91 range. His fastball offered more late life when he pitched at 87-88, and for the most part he did a good job staying down in the zone. He was still throwing 90 in the sixth, and was 86-88 by the ninth. His slider is throw with the same arm action and delivery as his fastball, making it that much more difficult to pick up. His 11-to-5 groundout to flyout ratio supports his profile as a prototypical sinker-slider pitcher.

 

That of course means his upside isn’t the highest, but his step forward this year has been encouraging. He has a large frame, and his arm action appears to be clean, meaning he should be able to pitch consistently deep into ballgames. The more he pitches to contact against wood bats at the next level the more success he could have given his approach.

 

As noted in the quoted text, he was one of my preseason sleepers entering the year, and responded well this season, especially down the stretch. He threw a complete game against Auburn in the SEC tournament, allowing only one run.

[TuesdaysWithRillo]

Could we have found our future 1B in Hunter Morris? This pick makes me smell a Prince trade coming soon.

[battlekow]

MLB scouting report on Hunter Morris:

Hitting ability: Morris has an above-average bat all

around, with a solid approach. He'll occasionally get around the ball,

but he's rarely fooled more than once.

 

 

Power: He has serious raw power from

the left side and should have at least average, if not better, power in

the future.

 

 

Running speed: He's got

better-than-you'd-think speed.

 

 

Base running: He has sneaky speed,

definitely not a base-clogger.

 

 

Arm strength: He's got an average

arm that would be playable in the outfield.

 

 

Fielding: He's gotten much better at

first base and is athletic enough to handle a corner outfield spot.

 

 

Range: Has enough range to play the outfield

when asked.

 

 

Physical Description: Morris has a body type

similar to the Colorado Rockies' Brad Hawpe.

 

Medical Update: Healthy.

 

 

Strengths: The bat, both the

approach and the raw power.

 

 

Weaknesses: Early in his college

career, he was a little overweight. He's changed his body since, but

he'll have to watch his conditioning.

 

 

Summary: Morris certainly isn't new

to the Draft scene as a second-round pick of the Red Sox in 2007. His

biggest strength, his bat, hasn't changed. If anything, it's gotten

better as he's clearly brushed off a ho-hum sophomore year to put up

terrific numbers this season. He's got a solid approach and very good

power from the left side. He's capable enough to play either first base

or a corner outfield spot, and it's looking like he'll have the kind of

bat usually associated with those positions. Advanced hitters with power

from the left side usually don't last too long, so don't expect Morris

to have to wait around much before hearing his name called.

[True CryM]

Jesse Hahn still on the board.