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

[battlekow]

ESPN scouting report on Tyler Thornburg:

 

Thornburg isn't a big kid nor does he have a projectable frame, but

he has the velocity to be a starter in pro ball with a good fallback

option in the pen if starting doesn't work out.

 

 

Thornburg is 91-94 as a starter and touched 95 in relief last summer.

His best offspeed pitch is a changeup at 78-82 with good arm speed;

he'll throw a curve in the upper 70s but lacks feel for it. He takes a

moderate stride but lands stiffly on his front leg and may have more

velocity in there if the stride gets longer. Thornburg comes from a high

¾ slot, almost over the top, getting good downhill plane on his

fastball and a chance for depth on his curve.

 

His best case scenario would be to work at 92-95 or so with two

average offspeed pitches and the plane on his fastball to keep the ball

in the park, which is a mid-rotation starter for many teams.

 

[battlekow]

ESPN scouting report on Dylan Covey:

 

Covey comes from a high 3/4 slot and will sit 93-94 in most outings,

touching 96 on his best days. He gets on top of the ball very well,

driving it down in the zone, although he needs to do that more

consistently.

 

 

He'll show four pitches, with the slider as more of a show-me pitch

at this point; he'll show a hard curveball with two-plane break in the

upper 70s, and a hard changeup with more run than fade around 83-84 mph.

Covey's arm works extremely well, and he generates great arm speed with

a long, forceful stride towards the plate.

 

At 6'2", 205, he offers a little less projection than some of the

skinnier kids in this draft, but he's probably one of the closer prep

arms to the big leagues.

 

[HiAndTight]

ESPN scouting report on Dylan Covey:

 

Covey comes from a high 3/4 slot and will sit 93-94 in most outings,

touching 96 on his best days. He gets on top of the ball very well,

driving it down in the zone, although he needs to do that more

consistently.

 

 

He'll show four pitches, with the slider as more of a show-me pitch

at this point; he'll show a hard curveball with two-plane break in the

upper 70s, and a hard changeup with more run than fade around 83-84 mph.

Covey's arm works extremely well, and he generates great arm speed with

a long, forceful stride towards the plate.

 

At 6'2", 205, he offers a little less projection than some of the

skinnier kids in this draft, but he's probably one of the closer prep

arms to the big leagues.

 

I know it's been said, but again, he really reminds me of Yo and Odorizzi.

 

I hope we can be a tad more aggressive with Covey as it'd be nice to see him in HiA possibly by the 2nd half of next year, though that's probably overly optimistic.

 

I'll readily admit when we grabbed Mat Gamel I was uninspired. Gave him little thought, so I don't pretend to be an expert on these guys, but this draft was pretty uninspiring to me. If we can get Gibson into the mix, I'll be a little happier with the draft.

[battlekow]

Cool video of Dylan Covey's friends and family going nuts as his selection is announced, followed by a slideshow and congratulatory messages:

 

[battlekow]

12 from Alabama taken in MLB draft

Vince Ferrara/Crimson Tide Examiner

 

“It is an honor for me to be drafted this high by a good club and a good

organization,” Nelson said. “I am looking forward to it and I am real

optimistic about the situation and I am pretty happy. But I have some

business to finish here first.”

 

“I think I can bring a consistent reliable start. I think I am somebody

that can pitch a lot of innings and compete and win at the professional

level. I feel like I’ve got good enough stuff to win at every level. I

like competing against other people.”

[Hammer]

I heard Covey on some random public radio show this evening. He said that he plans to sign very soon. Sounds like he is a very religious person and he and his family prayed together about the decision. The earlier he signs the better (obviously).

[Tedaldtada]

Man, that vid gave me chills. Good for him. Seems like he has surrounded himself with decent, and talented, people.

[logan82]

I heard Covey on some random public radio show this evening. He said that he plans to sign very soon. Sounds like he is a very religious person and he and his family prayed together about the decision. The earlier he signs the better (obviously).

He also learned how to spell Milwaukee.

[Mass Haas]

WSSP audio interview with Dylan Covey

[colbyjack]

If you want to watch Jimmy Nelson pitch this weekend, tune into ESPN coverage of the Super Regionals. Nelson will start the first game of the series tomorrow at Clemson at 5pm.

[Mass Haas]

Just catching up, Cory Provus' interview with Dylan Covey

[Tedaldtada]

I wouldn't ask if I had cable, but I hope someone is gonna pay close attention to Jimmy's start this weekend. And, a brief report would be sweet too! http://forum.brewerfan.net/images/smilies/wink.gif

[Mass Haas]

Zionsville's Miller going pro

Posted by Patrick Dorsey, IndyStar.com

 

Former Zionsville baseball player Matt Miller -- who spent his last three years pitching for the University of Michigan -- is about to start his pro career.

 

That's what he said by phone Friday, indicating that he has agreed to terms with the Milwaukee Brewers, who selected him in the fifth round (159th overall) of the 2010 Major League Baseball Draft on Tuesday. Miller said his bonus was in the low six figures, and that he will report to Milwaukee's rookie league affiliate in Helena, Mont., on Sunday (the season starts June 21).

 

"It was the right opportunity for me and my family," said Miller, who plans on returning to school after the season. "Michigan's a great place, but this doesn't come around often, something like this."

 

Miller, a 6-6 right-handed pitcher whose growth spurt in high school helped him land a scholarship with the Wolverines, said he "really didn't" imagine ever getting drafted this high while at Zionsville.

 

But he concentrated on developing in Ann Arbor. His numbers -- a 5.06 ERA, 51 strikeouts in 64 innings (17 appearances, 10 starts) -- weren't overwhelming this past year, but Miller said his fastball has gone from high-80s entering college to mid-90s now. His off-speed stuff -- curve, slider, change -- is "still developing," he said, with the curve considered his best.

 

Some scouting reports suggest Miller might be best suited for a relief role, something he occupied during his first two years at Michigan.

 

Whatever the path, he's about ready to start on it.

 

"I'm not really nervous," he said. "I'm kind of (eager). As a college player, you're shipped off to several leagues at the end of the season. And some of these leagues are notorious for having strong competition and good players. So I view this as just another summer league, with better players. So it's the next step, the next challenge."

[stalton]

Just listened to the Covey interview by Provus and one thing made me chuckle. Covey noted that because of the metal bats and occasional spotty defense, he would try to pitch to contact less than usual.

 

Sounds like a great fit for Milwaukee

[battlekow]

Brewers' first pick has had interesting life

Tom Haudricourt/Milwaukee Journal Sentinel

 

Dylan Covey, the high-school right-hander from Pasadena, Calif., selected in the first round of the June draft by the Milwaukee Brewers, already has led an interesting life.

 

Beginning at birth.

 

Not many 18-year-olds have brothers twice their age. Angela Covey told the Los Angeles Times that she and husband Darrell decided to stop having children after sons Brian, 37, and Nathan, 32, were born.

 

Angela had a surgical procedure to prevent more pregnancies but years later changed her mind and had the operation reversed.

 

"Then, one December, I thought I had the flu and it turned out to be Dylan," she said.

 

The Coveys home-schooled Dylan until it was time for him to go to high school. They then decided to send him to Maranatha High School, a small private school that Nathan attended.

 

There was some uncertainty because Dylan already was developing into a promising baseball player.

 

"We struggled with the fact we would be sending him to a small school, but it was right for him," said Angela.

 

Though Maranatha didn't always play top baseball schools, Dylan emerged as a top prospect by excelling in showcases across the country as well as in Area Code Games.

 

"We've been on Dylan Covey for quite some time," said Brewers scouting director Bruce Seid. "He was really good in those showcases. When the lights came on, Dylan Covey performed."

 

Darrell Covey was drafted by the New York Mets in the 22nd round in 1968 as a third baseman out of Pasadena City College. He did not sign a pro contract, however.

 

"I went surfing instead," he said with a laugh. "I had some talent but I didn't have the character makeup to make it through a minor-league system."

 

The father has been a huge factor in his son's career, spending money to send him to the showcases and attending all but two of his prep games.

 

"It's a real strong family," said Seid. "The one thing you look for in a young man is the support that he has. We've got to know his family, and they're nice people."

[Mass Haas]

Specific to 2nd round pick Jimmy Nelson in Bama's 5-4 win over Clemson:

 

Clemson got to Alabama starter Jimmy Nelson, plating three runs in the bottom of the third to pull within two runs at 5-3.

Nelson (9-3) pitched 6 2?3 innings and gave up four runs on nine hits with a season-high five walks. He struck out four. Gaspard said the heat took its toll on the 6-foot-6, 240-pounder. Nelson said he tried to keep the ball down and let his defense work behind him.

“I was tired, but I did my best to put that out of my mind,” Nelson said. “I tried just working through it and compete out there and let my defense pick me up.”

After Clemson missed a potentially big inning in the fifth, pinch-hitter Chris Epps came through with a sharply hit ball down the left-field line that the speedy junior turned into a RBI-triple.

Nelson pitched into the seventh inning, but was pulled after two walks loaded the bases with two outs. Gaspard brought in Jonathan Smart, who got out of the jam with a fly out to right field.

[colbyjack]

Nelson definitely looked as though the heat was getting to him, as he wasn't as strong late as he had been in the other games I had seen him this year. His stuff wasn't the problem, as he seemed to be pumping his 4-seamer up there pretty well and was throwing a dynamite slider, but his command really was all over the place. Fortunately for him he was effectively wild at times, but I would have liked to have seen more of his 2-seamer. He threw a couple that actually looked and acted a little like a changeup, but with true downward dive.

 

We of course know he's a big fella. While he's well proportioned there is a higher risk for him adding bad weight over the next 5-10 years.

[jwill535]

The one thing I liked was that he could throw his slider for both a strike and effect.

[battlekow]

Top pick Covey and crew meet Brewers

Adam McCalvy/MLB.com

 

ANAHEIM -- Brewers first-round draft pick Dylan Covey donned the team's

uniform for the first time on Monday. The right-hander, along with his

parents and his two older brothers, made a 45-minute drive south from

Pasadena, Calif., to visit with Milwaukee players before their

Interleague series against the Angels.

 

 

Before he gets into uniform for real, Covey and the Brewers have to come

to terms on a contract. Negotiations have yet to begin, said Dylan's

father, Darrell Covey, who is handling talks to help preserve his son's

amateur status. Dylan Covey has a scholarship offer from the University

of San Diego.

 

 

"Dylan wants to play and they want him," Darrell Covey said. "That's as

much as I know right now. ... I just believe we are going to get it

done. The Brewers feel like a great fit, I don't know why that is.

Sometimes, something will happen in your life and as time goes on,

you'll start having doubts. With this, as time is going on, it feels

better and better every day. It's not a done deal yet, but we're very

optimistic."

 

 

His son echoed that enthusiasm.

 

 

"Not that I look at it and try to see myself with another team, I can't

do it," Dylan Covey said. "Milwaukee might be the perfect fit for me."

 

 

Darrell Covey spoke Sunday morning via telephone with Brewers amateur

scouting director Bruce Seid, who is in the Dominican Republic looking

at players. The Coveys are not expecting the Brewers to make an initial

offer until the middle of the next week at the earliest.

 

 

Previous reports have set the parameters for negotiations. The signing

bonus recommended by Major League Baseball for the 14th selection is

about $1.7 million. Dylan Covey told the Pasadena Star-News on Draft

night that he hopes his bonus has "a two in front of it." He stood by

that request on Monday.

 

 

The sides have until Aug. 16 to find middle ground.

 

 

"The Brewers have been pretty clear that they are not going to try to

pull any strings, and we're not going to do that either," Dylan Covey

said. "I think we're going to get the job done pretty quick."

 

 

The Covey clan on Monday included Dylan; his parents, Darrell and

Angela; and two older brothers, Brian and Nathan. Brewers assistant

general manager Gord Ash helped show Covey around with West Coast

crosschecker Corey Rodriguez and area scout Dan Huston. The first big

leaguer to walk up and offer congratulations was Trevor Hoffman.

 

 

In his senior season at Maranatha High School, Covey went 7-1 with a

0.40 ERA and three saves with 138 strikeouts compared to 20 walks in 70

2/3 innings pitched.

 

"I think I'm ready to go," he said.

[logan82]

He said he would like a $2 million signing bonus for his son even though

the recommended Major League Baseball bonus for that slot is about $1.7

million.

 

If that is all it is going to take they should have this done quickly.

[YoungGeezy]

Yeah shouldn't be to long at all, kinda weird that the Brewers still hadn't offered Covey anything yet, I'm guessing they were just waiting until they all went out there for the Angels series.

[logan82]

Darrell Covey spoke Sunday morning via telephone with Brewers amateur

scouting director Bruce Seid,

who is in the Dominican Republic looking

at players. The Coveys are not expecting the Brewers to make an initial

offer until the middle of the next week at the earliest.

[colbyjack]

Jimmy Nelson's college season is over as Alabama got knocked out of the Super Regionals by Clemson. He tossed 110 innings this year, so he will be brought along slowly (similar to Arnett last year) when he does sign. I wouldn't be surprised if the Brewers had him lay off his slider the rest of this summer like they also did with Arnett last year. They may even take their time signing him because of that.

[Mass Haas]

Alabama juniors leaning toward going pro
CLEMSON, S.C. | It’s impossible to project the 2011 Alabama baseball team without first knowing what the juniors who were drafted in the Major League Amateur Draft last week will choose to do.

On Monday, Jimmy Nelson, Josh Rutledge and Ross Wilson each said they haven’t decided either way, but the feeling around the Alabama program is that each will choose to start their professional careers.

“I haven’t even talked to the team or my family about it yet,” Nelson said. “My agent’s been talking to the (Milwaukee Brewers), but he’s been good dealing with it and letting me deal with my business here. I’ll just let this soak in and get over this, and then I’ll start thinking about it in a couple of days.”

Nelson, a right-handed pitcher, was the first Crimson Tide player selected, going in the second round.

[Boisebrewer]

Good to see Hunter Morris sign quickly. Anyone know what affiliate he will start at? BC or Huntsville?