Draft Pick Discussion, Rounds 21-50

[brewmann04]

Let Hope the Brewers can get it done with Gibson who seems to have alot of potential.

[gobrew23]

Anyone have an idea of what kind of offer will have to be made to get Gibson signed?

[battlekow]

FanGraphs' Dan Budreika on 35th-round pick Taylor Mark: "biiiiiiiig, physical HS C outta AZ goes to the brewers in round 35...big kid. some question ability to stay behind plate. AZ commit. likely a tough sign since he went so late. plays with intensity"

[Nader Raider Tim]

What about Conor Fisk from Grafton High School? Is he most likely going to be a tough sign or is he more of a fringe prospect? PG gave him a 9.5 in their PG Grading scale.

 

http://www.perfectgame.or...erprofile.aspx?ID=155929

[PrinceEatMeat]

And the Brewers just drafted Billy Schroeder in the 47th round. That's a suck up pick if I've ever seen one. One round after Tigers took Verlander's brother Ben.

[battlekow]

And the Brewers just drafted Billy Schroeder in the 47th round. That's a suck up pick if I've ever seen one. One round after Tigers took Verlander's brother Ben.

Just to be clear, that is indeed Bill Schroeder's son. And they followed that pick by taking Marques Kyles, the son of bullpen coach Stan Kyles, in the next round. Marques is a 6'9" (!) LHP.

[sheethead]

And the Brewers just drafted Billy Schroeder in the 47th round. That's a suck up pick if I've ever seen one. One round after Tigers took Verlander's brother Ben.

Just to be clear, that is indeed Bill Schroeder's son. And they followed that pick by taking Marques Kyles, the son of bullpen coach Stan Kyles, in the next round. Marques is a 6'9" (!) LHP.

Proving there are way too many rounds in the June Amateur Draft.

[battlekow]

Proving there are way too many rounds in the June Amateur Draft.

They went out on a high note, though, drafting Chad Jones from LSU--that's Chad Jones, former star safety for LSU and 3rd round draft pick by the (New York) Giants.

 

As Jim Callis said about an hour beforehand: "At this point,

considering what's left in the #mlbdraft, I wouldn't think

twice about taking a flier on LHP/OF/S Chad Jones."

[HiAndTight]

At one point this spring I was told via the PG chain that a few teams considered Gibson to be the best prep LHP in the nation. I think it's safe to say that signing him away from Florida would be a HUGE signing, and unlikely to happen. Given the number of college players the Brewers have taken, it's not like they have a lot of unsignable prospects, so in other words, crazier things have happened...

 

Given the Brewers recent success with drafting players later on for above slot deals, and a smaller draft budget with a number of college picks, plus a pretty standard 1st rounder(or at least he appears to be), I wouldn't be the least bit surprised if we signed Gibson.

 

I also think spending 360-400K on a pitcher here is a far better investment if you believe him to be among the nations elite Left Handed prep arms, than...well, any FA signing.

 

I'm betting the Brewers get this one done.

[1e Corbeau]

I also think spending 360-400K on a pitcher here is a far better investment if you believe him to be among the nations elite Left Handed prep arms, than...well, any FA signing.

I, too, would like to see them sign Gibson, but if he's truly a potential top HS LHP with a commitment to Florida, it's going to cost a lot more than $400k. I'd think more in the $1 - $2 M range, but that's a guess, too.

[DHonks]

Interesting that Taylor Mark went to the HS I coach at. I coach girls golf there, although I teach at a rival school in the district (Horizon HS). Horizon is more known for baseball, having produced Brandon Wood and a AAA pitcher--I think named Alderson. I don't really have many sources at Pinnacle to ask about this Taylor Mark kid. Well...maybe I do. I think the boys golf coach is his former coach. I'll look into it

[HiAndTight]

I also think spending 360-400K on a pitcher here is a far better investment if you believe him to be among the nations elite Left Handed prep arms, than...well, any FA signing.

I, too, would like to see them sign Gibson, but if he's truly a potential top HS LHP with a commitment to Florida, it's going to cost a lot more than $400k. I'd think more in the $1 - $2 M range, but that's a guess, too.

That's mid to upper 1st round money. I'd be fairly stunned if that's what it took to sign him. Seems to be pretty similar to Gennett from last year.

 

It might be more than 400K, but I can't imagine it even approaching 2 million.

[biedergb]

HiAndTight wrote:

It might be more than 400K, but I can't imagine it even approaching 2 million.

I thought it was stated that he told teams what it would take. Maybe he thinks it's worth $1M + to forgo college and become a pro, and if that's what he thinks then that's what it takes. Not sure what he is envisioning, but if he is top rated prep arm now, he may believe he could become a top 10 pick in college and expect that kind of money now to forgo it all. I don't think we should commit anything close to $2 M to him personally.

[1e Corbeau]

Again, I'm just guessing on what a bonus for Gibson might be, but here's my methodology for $1-2M:

• BA had him ranked #148: last year's #148 got SS Daniel Fields [6-180 DET] got $1.6M (but should be noted he is a Detroiter, so may have gotten a bump for the local angle)
• colby mentioned he heard some teams had him ranked as the top HS LHP; last year's top LHP bonuses: Matzek [1-11 COL, $3.9M (above slot)], Purke [1-14 TEX, DNS], James [1-18 FLA, $1.7M], Skaggs [1s-40 LAA, $1.0M]
• Analogies suck, but I'm using one, so I'll declare it for context: Whitefish Bay HS LHP Kevin James [9-289, TB] got $0.625M and doesn't seem as highly regarded as Gibson's reports are (BA didn't have him ranked, for instance) and his commitment to BC seemed weaker than Gibson's commitment to Florida

Interesting that you bring up Gennett, though, as BA had him 154. Howell was 105 and Hall 134 on the same list, which would put the number under $1.0M by those comps.

 

I'm likely projecting some wishful thinking, but Gibson's comments from the post-draft story make it seem like he has a number that he'd sign for, that the Brewers know what it is, and he's willing to forego the Florida commitment if the Brewers meet it. And, as colby points out on page 1 of this thread, the Brewers don't seem to have any tough signs in the early rounds. Keeling looks like the first challenge, maybe Bates, but it sounds like the Brewers have a good idea on him.

[battlekow]

Family ties highlight Crew's Day 3 picks
Jordan Schelling/MLB.com

MILWAUKEE -- For their picks in the 47th and 48th rounds of the 2010
First-Year Player Draft on Wednesday, the Brewers didn't have to go far
to do their research, as they selected the sons of two club employees.

In the 47th round, with the 1,419th overall pick, the Brewers selected
left fielder Billy Schroeder, son of former Brewers catcher and current
Brewers broadcaster Bill Schroeder.

One round later, with the 1,439th overall pick, left-handed pitcher
Marques Kyles, son of bullpen coach Stan Kyles, was the Brewers' pick.

For Schroeder, a 6-foot, 210-pound senior from Grand Canyon University,
the Brewers' selection is an honor, but it does not appear as though he
will join the organization.

"He's not going to play, he has other irons in the fire," said Bill
Schroeder of his son before Wednesday's game. "But it was nice of them
to do that."

Kyles, on the other hand, has different plans than Schroeder.

According to his father, there's a good chance the 6-foot-9 senior out
of Limestone College will sign on to play with the Brewers.

"He's looking forward to it; it's a good opportunity for him," Kyles
said of his son. "He's graduated, and with the way the job market is
now, there's not a whole lot of things out there even though he had a
double major.

"He's looking forward to having time to devote just to baseball over the
next year."

According to Ray Montgomery, assistant amateur scouting director for the
Brewers, the picks have to do with more than just name recognition,
too.

For one, Stan Kyles is a lefty, something the club valued highly in the
Draft.

"Left-handed pitching is always in demand," Montgomery said. "I don't
think you can ever have enough of that."

Kyles' size, in addition to being a lefty, make him a prime candidate to
be the type of "gem" the club was looking for on the Draft's final day.
With its knowledge of his father's ability as well, Kyles was the
perfect fit for a late-round selection.

"I played with Stan Kyles about 30 years ago, and Stan was a good
player," said Bruce Seid, the Crew's scouting director. "Marques is a
6-foot-9 lefty. He's got a ways to go, but he's got a lot of whip to his
arm and he'll get some time to develop. We're happy to be able to bring
him in to be a Brewer."

[battlekow]

Elon players could be pro teammates

Bob Sutton/Burlington Times News

 

Elon University players were scattered throughout the amateur baseball draft for the second year in a row.

 

As it unfolds, it could be a get-together for catcher Mike Melillo and pitcher Daniel Britt.

 

A day after Britt was selected by the Milwaukee Brewers, Melillo was drafted by the same organization Wednesday. Melillo was picked in the 31st round with the 939th pick overall.

...

Melillo, who’s Elon’s all-time home run leader with 39, leaves this weekend for Helena, Mont., where he’s expected to be joined by Britt on the Pioneer League team.

 

“That would be fun to keep playing with someone you know,” Melillo said.

 

Melillo said he covets the opportunity to play at the next level.

 

“You don’t ever know until you get the phone call,” Melillo said. “It’s better than working.”

 

Helena is the same starting point that two area high school players had 11 years ago. Catcher Brian Foster out of Western Alamance and outfielder Terry Mayo out of Eastern Guilford began their professional careers there in 1999 with the Brewers organization.

 

Melillo was a part of three NCAA regional teams with Elon, though last week’s appearance ended with the Phoenix failing to win a game in Atlanta.

 

“It was a tough way to go out there at the end,” said Melillo, who’s vacationing at Cape Cod before returning to New Jersey on the weekend and departing for Montana. “Hopefully, they can keep it moving in the right direction.”

[battlekow]

Baseball America scouting report on Conor Fisk:

The state's top prospect, righthander Conor

Fisk

, needs polish before he'll be ready for pro ball. He has

touched 92 mph in some indoor showcases, but usually works at 88-90 mph

with his fastball and sometimes struggles to throw strikes. He'll flash

an interesting slider but it too needs more consistency, and he also

needs to firm up his 6-foot-1, 200-pound frame. He'll be draft-eligible

again next year if he attends Wabash Valley (Ill.) CC as planned.

[battlekow]

Baseball America scouting report on Scott Matyas:

Righthander Scott Matyas set a Minnesota record with 15 saves as a

draft-eligible sophomore in 2009, then turned down the Yankees as a

29th-round pick to return to the Gophers. He showed more velocity this

spring, working in the low 90s and commanding his fastball well after

recovering from an early-season forearm strain. An athletic 6-foot-4,

215-pounder, he uses a loopy curveball as his second pitch. He had Tommy

John surgery in 2005.

[battlekow]

Baseball America scouting report on Chad Jones:

If Chad Jones had stuck to baseball, he was gifted enough to be a

potential first-round pick as either an outfielder or a lefthanded

pitcher. A 6-foot-3, 220-pounder with super athleticism, he showed

strength, speed, an 88-93 mph fastball and a power slider in limited

baseball action at Louisiana State, playing a key bullpen role on the

Tigers' 2009 College World Series champions. He also won a national

title in football as a safety, and the New York Giants took him in the

third round of the NFL draft in April. A baseball team will take a flier

on Jones in case football doesn't work out.

[battlekow]

BA's John Manuel on Jones:

 

Jones is a great pick, frankly. Drafted as an

outfielder, he has all kinds of athletic ability as he showed in Omaha

last year, with speed to patrol the outfield and a powerful left arm

that allowed him to become LSU's top setup man down the stretch last

year. He hit 92 mph repeatedly in last year's College World Series while

showing off a nice slider.

 

 

[battlekow]

Brewers draft Central grad who beat odds

Josh Weir/Canton Repository

 

If he ever dons a Major League Baseball uniform, Eric Marzec will undoubtedly have overcome some obstacles in working his way through the minor leagues.

 

Fortunately, Marzec should be ready. The Central Catholic High School alum is all too familiar with obstacles.

 

Marzec, drafted in the 30th round Tuesday by the Milwaukee Brewers, is about to embark on his professional baseball career. The 909th overall pick plans to sign a contract as early as today and fly to the Brewers’ training facility Monday in Arizona. Then it’ll probably be off to the Brewers’ short-season rookie-league team in Helena, Mont.

 

The 5-foot-11, 210-pound right-handed pitcher has endured tests both mental and physical to get to this point.

 

“You can appreciate what you have, because in a heartbeat, you can be done playing,” Marzec said. “I understand that and feel fortunate for every opportunity to still play. I’m 22-years old and still get to play a game. That’s pretty sweet.”

 

And he plans to play for a while.

 

Marzec’s senior season at Youngstown State was interrupted in March when he collided with a teammate going for a fly ball while playing center field.

 

The damage was significant. He was diagnosed with a concussion. He had bleeding on the brain and four broken bones in his face.

 

He would miss more than three weeks of games and classes.

 

“I was lucky to come back and play this season,” said Marzec, who finished the season 3-3 with a 3.92 ERA, including holding a potent Wright State team hitless for 5 2/3 innings in a rare start late in the year. “I missed 20 games, but I was able to come back ... and show the scouts what I can still do.”

 

He wasn’t so lucky his junior season. Marzec suffered a broken left hand when he was hit by a pitch while batting. He wore a cast for three weeks and never returned to the mound.

 

Marzec’s phone never rang on draft day 2009. He thought back to high school.

 

Marzec was diagnosed with a stress fracture in his hip shortly after his junior season at Central. Surgery put two pins in his right hip and had him on crutches for six months. It also scared off many colleges as doctors questioned if he’d be able to play sports again.

 

“Schools I was talking to kind of dropped off,” Marzec said. “I was lucky enough to play my senior year at Central and that turned out to be my best year.”

 

Marzec was the Division III Ohio Player of the Year, going 10-1 with a 1.60 ERA, batting .370 with four home runs and leading Central to the state semifinals.

 

That translated into a shot with Youngstown State. And despite the difficulties, he has made the most of it.

 

“I kind of feel the same way now,” Marzec said. “I know, personally, I’ve got the stuff to be at (the professional) level right now. I think I’m going to open some eyes when I get up there. I was just worried about getting my foot in the door, because I’ll take care of it from there.”

 

Marzec pitched mostly in a relief role with the Penguins because his coaches felt that would limit the stress on his arm from playing in the field every day, as well. A versatile player with speed and power, Marzec batted .310 with 17 home runs, 84 RBIs and 17 stolen bases the last three years.

 

Also, his repertoire of a low-to-mid-90s fastball to go with a hard slider worked well out of the bullpen.

 

“It kind of fits the type of pitcher I am,” Marzec said. “I’m more of a power guy, coming in and going right after hitters. But I’m cool with whatever, (starting or relieving).

 

“I think it’s going to be a change for me knowing all I have to do is pitch. It might be an advantage, showing up at the park and being able to focus on one thing every day. It might allow me to excel.”

 

http://www.cantonrep.com/archive/x1932556567/g12c000000000000000bb12c34226f26fa218065ffba9c994c1ef57833f.jpg

(Ron Garchar/Youngstown State)

[battlekow]

Rattlers' Shaw drafted by Brewers

St. Clair Murraine/Tallahassee Democrat

 

Florida A&M outfielder Derrick Shaw started his day wondering if showers in the New England area would hold off long enough for him to play his first game with the Holyoke Blue Sox of the New England Collegiate Baseball League.

 

The rain didn't let up Wednesday, but by the time word came that the game would be washed out, Shaw still had reason to celebrate: He had been drafted by the Milwaukee Brewers.

 

The Brewers picked Shaw, who played baseball and football at FAMU, in the 41st round. His selection makes him the first FAMU player drafted by a major-league team since the Chicago Cubs signed outfielder Dwaine Bacon in 2001.

 

"Accomplishment, man," said Shaw, explaining his emotions during a telephone interview. "It's a dream come true."

 

Shaw said he will likely spend the next week playing with Holyoke while the Brewers negotiate his contract. Once that is done, he will likely be sent to join the Brewers' rookie team in Arizona or its A-league affiliate in Helena, Mont.

 

Shaw's two-year career at FAMU ended on a bit of a sour note. The Rattlers failed to make the Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference playoff with just three conference wins in 18 games and an overall record of 10-31-1. Shaw was consistent at the plate, though, with a .411 batting average.

 

Shaw closed the season strong with three of his six home runs in FAMU's final home series against Coppin State. He was an All-MEAC first team selection at the end of the season, his second time attaining the honor.

 

How far Shaw goes in the pros would depend on his production.

 

"You don't know," said Brett Richardson, who runs FAMU baseball operations. "It's a tough business because baseball isn't like the other sports where when he gets drafted you're thrown into a position. He has the drive and he definitely has the ability to make it.

 

"It's just whether he is going to get a few breaks. I think he has as good a chance as anybody to make it."

 

Wherever Shaw ends up as he launches his professional career he said he intends to maintain the same work ethic that made him FAMU's leading hitter this past season.

 

"This is really a blessing," he said. "I have had to work hard all my life to play pro ball. It's a passion of mine. It never stops, but now I'm at another level. It's no longer an extracurricular activity. Now it's my job. I'm not stopping where I am."

 

http://cmsimg.tallahassee.com/apps/pbcsi.dll/bilde?Site=CD&Date=20100610&Category=FAMU05&ArtNo=6100332&Ref=AR&MaxW=550&MaxH=650&title=0

(Florida A&M)

[Mass Haas]

The Olympian (WA)

 

Seth Harvey, a 2006 River Ridge grad who just wrapped up his senior season at Washington State, was picked by the Milwaukee Brewers in the 37th round (1,119th overall). Harvey is a right-handed pitcher, and went 3-1 with a 4.88 ERA this spring.

 

He will report to Helena, Mont., home of the Helena Brewers of the Advanced Rookie League, on Sunday. The team’s first game is June 21 against Missoula.

 

“I’m looking forward to living out my dream,” Harvey said. “This is why I play baseball … I’m very excited.”

[Mass Haas]

LSU's Jones and Dishon drafted

By Glenn Guilbeau, gannett.com

 

BATON ROUGE — Chad Jones was chosen for the third time on Wednesday on the final day of the Major League Baseball Draft.

 

Jones, a former safety on the LSU football team as well as a former relief pitcher and outfielder on the baseball team, was selected in the 50th and final round by the Milwaukee Brewers with the 1,509th selection. Jones did not play baseball this past season since he put his name in for the NFL Draft last January a year early as a junior, and he was picked in the third round by the New York Giants. His plan is to play for the Giants.

After his senior year of high school at Southern Lab in Baton Rouge, Jones was picked in the 13th round of the MLB Draft in 2007 by the Houston Astros, but he opted to play football and baseball at LSU. He was a member of the Tigers' 2007 national championship football team and LSU's 2009 national championship baseball team. Jones started pitching late in the 2009 season after spring football and compiled a stunning 2.70 ERA in 6 2-3 innings with three walks and seven strikeouts. Playing sparingly in the outfield before spring football, he hit .343 in 35 at-bats with two doubles, a home run and six RBIs.

Also drafted Wednesday by Milwaukee was LSU redshirt sophomore outfielder Johnny Dishon of Beaumont, Texas. Dishon went in the 42nd round to the Brewers as 1,269th pick. Dishon hit .213 this season through 14 starts with four home runs, three doubles and one triple.

Four juniors from LSU's 2010 team were drafted on Monday and Tuesday — pitcher Anthony Ranaudo in the supplemental first round as the 39th overall pick to Boston, catcher Micah Gibbs in the third round to the Chicago Cubs, outfielder Leon Landry in the third round to the Los Angeles Dodgers and pitcher Austin Ross in the eighth round to Milwaukee.

 

***

 

Major league draft a quirk-filled event

Jason Pugh, Shreveport Times

Milwaukee, which has a litany of pitching issues at the big-league level, decided to select LSU's Chad Jones — the same Chad Jones who turned down a million-dollar signing bonus when the Houston Astros drafted him out of Southern Lab three years ago.

Jones actually played baseball in college, carving out a remarkable final six weeks of his sophomore season when he became LSU's "Dreadlocks of Doom" — a left-handed specialist who happened to double as a 4.5-second 40-running free safety.

Jones figured football was his future this spring and decided to focus on preparing for April's NFL Draft. It turned out to be a prudent decision as the New York Giants selected Jones in the third round.

[olliegjw]

What about Conor Fisk from Grafton High School? Is he most likely going to be a tough sign or is he more of a fringe prospect? PG gave him a 9.5 in their PG Grading scale.

 

http://www.perfectgame.or...erprofile.aspx?ID=155929

It sounds like he is not going to sign.