The Melvin / Zduriencik / Seid Draft Years -- "The Unsigned Picks"

[Mass Haas]

With the draft coming up next week, this seemed like a convenient time to revisit Brewers drafts since 2003, within the Doug Melvin / Jack Zduriencik / Bruce Seid era, in order to see which draft picks the Brewers failed to sign had success elsewhere. I had recently asked for assistance from the Brewerfan faithful on researching this topic, and our poster "Minigoon" (Chris) came through with a master list, allowing me to go after the details. Thanks!

 

Any links unless otherwise noted, point to a player's Baseball Reference Player Page.

 

2003 Draft:

 

Luke Cannon, OF -- 13th round, subsequently drafted and signed by the Padres in the 21st round, 2006

 

Great name for an outfielder, no? I miss the days of draft-and-follow when we'd look at all the eligible junior college kids all season long and then wonder which might lock down deals prior to the next draft.

 

The Brewers couldn't pry Cannon from an eventual stint at Texas State. Cannon was released by the Padres early in his 2nd pro season, after hitting .211 in 142 career AB's.

 

***

 

Garrett Bussiere, C -- 14th round, subsequently drafted and signed by the Cardinals in the 26th round, 2006

 

Bussiere's college career was at Cal (nothing wrong in pursuing an education there), but his pro career lasted all of 22 games in the Cardinals' system.

 

Unfortunately, it appears Bussiere's career was ended by issues with post-concussion syndrome. Here is a somewhat chilling detailed feature story on Bussiere's plight.

 

Wherever Garrett is today, here's hoping he's completely healthy.

 

***

 

Sheldon Catchot, LHP -- 31st round, subsequently drafted and signed by the White Sox in the 12th round, 2005

 

This Louisiana high school pick of the Brewers went on to pitch in community college and while he did sign with the White Sox, he never threw an official pitch for them, and was released in March of 2007. There doesn't seem to be any record of his injury status or any other status for the '05 and '06 seasons.

 

Catchot did play a bit of independent ball for the "Grays", a traveling team (no home park) within the Can-Am League in 2007, as his link above indicates.

 

***

 

Joe Ayers, 2B/SS -- 36th round, subsequently drafted and signed by the Diamondbacks in the 48th round, 2007

 

Ayers was one of four Alaskans drafted by MLB in 2003, three by the Brewers! Always tough to pull high school kids from Stanford commitments, although Ayers later transferred to Boston College (how about the quality schools in this thread thus far?) He was a senior year sign by the D-Backs, and posted only a .508 OPS over two brief rookie-level pro seasons.

 

***

 

Brent Weaver, RHP -- 38th round, subsequently drafted and signed as a third baseman by the Marlins in the 26th round, 2009

 

It's amazing how many seemingly anonymous players have remarkable stories, regardless whether they made it to the big leagues. Quite the read here.

 

It's what makes some of the compilation projects we've taken on here so much fun to research.

 

***

 

Daryl Maday, RHP -- 43rd round, subsequently drafted and signed by the Giants in the 30th round, 2006

 

The Brewers couldn't pry Maday (a Bristol, Wisconsin resident, by the way) from the University of Arkansas, and he's gone on to have a nice minor league career to this day in the Giants system (after 2007 Tommy John surgery), reaching AAA, although he's currently with AA Richmond in the Eastern League.

 

Here's a recent story about his conversion to closer this year and his status as a former 30th round pick making it to his 6th season in professional ball.

 

***

 

Ryan Zink, RHP -- 47th round, subsequently drafted and signed by the Yankees in the 17th round, 2007

 

Yet another Wisconsin native (Madison) and another subsequent Tommy John patient (2006), Zink went on the the University of Illinois-Chicago (UIC).

 

Zink reached high-A in 2009, which also marked the end of his affiliated career. As his B-R link shows, he toiled in independent ball the last two years. As of this post, it appears Zink has called it a career, as he's not active in 2012.

 

Our own colbyjack, Patrick Ebert, conducted this excellent Q&A with Zink in April of 2006.

 

A reminder -- Patrick's baseball career is going swimmingly, he's the Managing Editor at Perfect Game USA, and you should be following him on Twitter @PGPatrickEbert -- heck, Patrick's own baseball story (original Brewerfan staff member and career graphic artist to amateur baseball and MLB draft guru) deserves a feature article of its own!

 

***

 

Ryan Pardo, RHP -- 50th round, subsequently drafted and signed by the Astros in the 9th round, 2007

 

Pardo's pro career continues to this day, but in independent ball. Pardo did spend two seasons in the Astros' chain, as his link above will detail. His college career was at Florida Gulf Coast. The Reds signed Pardo after his Astros release in February 2009, but Pardo never pitched for a Reds affiliate.

[Mass Haas]

2004 Draft:

 

Andrew Albers, LHP -- 12th round, subsequently drafted and signed by the Padres in the 10th round, 2008

 

See, the Brewers don't sign all their Canadians, Albers is from Saskatchewan. A high schooler in '04, Albers had a solid, but not spectacular four-year career at the University of Kentucky.

 

The Padres gave up on Albers awful quickly for a 10th round pick after he underwent (you guessed it) Tommy John surgery during spring training in 2009.

 

Albers went the independent route (Quebec, naturally) before the Minnesota Twins came calling. You'll find the now 26-year-old starting for their AA club.

 

Albers pitched 6.2 innings in the gold medal game which Canada won to take the Pan American Games in 2011.

 

***

 

Drew Bowman, LHP -- 21st round, subsequently drafted and signed by the Reds in the 5th round, 2007

 

A Colorado High School Pitcher of the Year, Bowman went on to split his college time between Arizona State and Nebraska. He's now pitching in independent ball for the first time, as the Reds released him after a five-year stint in which he moved from starter to middle reliever. The gnashing of teeth over his non-signing in the summer of '04 wasn't necessary after all.

 

***

 

Sean Morgan, RHP -- 25th round, subsequently drafted and signed by the Diamondbacks in the 4th round, 2007

 

The Brewers took a flyer on the Texas high schooler Morgan, but the slider specialist had a strong commitment to Tulane University. In his 3rd pro season, Morgan was on and off the DL with South Bend of the Midwest League, and was released in the spring of 2010.

 

But Morgan's story continues in a unique way, as after a two-year absence from the field, he returned this spring to his hometown to pitch in the independent American Association for the Sugar Land Skeeters.

 

***

 

Ronnie Prettyman, 3B -- 28th round, subsequently drafted and signed by the Mariners in the 10th round, 2005

 

The Cal State Fullerton product spurned the Crew to return to school for his senior year. His five-year pro career, now over and spent all within the Seattle system, saw him post a .699 OPS.

 

***

 

Kanekoa Teixeira, RHP -- 31st round, subsequently drafted and signed by the White Sox in the 22nd round, 2006

 

And we have our first big leaguer!

 

Major League Stats (initial link is minor league stats)

 

Here's the path for the Hawaii native, high schooler when drafted by the Crew, and a juco player when tabbed by the ChiSox:

 

White Sox traded him to the Yankees as an extra piece in a Wilson Betamit deal in November 2008.

 

In December of 2009, the Mariners grab Texeira in the Rule 5 draft.

 

Designated for assignment after two months in the big leagues, Texeira was claimed by the Royals, and despite a month-long DL stint, earned a full year's major league salary in 2010.

 

The Royals DFA'd him in May 2011 where he was claimed by, wait, the Yankees, and he was optioned to AAA.

 

Six weeks later, the Yankees released him.

 

He's currently a member of the Reds' organization (AAA), not on their 40-man roster.

 

***

 

Sean McCraw, C -- 37th round, subsequently drafted and signed by the Mets in the 8th round, 2005

 

There's a name many will recognize, because the Brewers signed McCraw as a free agent in April 2009 after his release by the Mets, and he would be in the Milwaukee system until his Brewer release in August of last year. McCraw had a seven-year minor league run, but with only 21 games above A-ball.

 

McCraw is not currently playing pro ball.

 

***

 

Deik Scram, OF -- 45th round, subsequently drafted and signed by the Tigers in the 18th round, 2006

 

We pined over Scram during the DFE process leading in to the 2005 draft, but the community college pick ended up at Oklahoma State. Scram's six-year journey in the Detroit system, spent mostly at AA, ended with his release in 2011. While he was active, we were reminded of him in MiLB.com's "Moniker Madness" contest each summer.

[Mass Haas]

So there you have the draft years of 2003 and 2004.

 

I hope to have the most eventful of the draft years, 2005, up for you tomorrow, and to complete the set prior to the draft next week.

 

So please feel free to comment on the names above, but please don't spoil the fun by mentioning those in years not detailed yet .

 

Thanks!

[Mass Haas]

The 2005 draft was not only historically strong nationally, but fruitful for the Brewers overall -- Ryan Braun, trade chips Will Inman, Steve Garrison, and Michael Brantley, plus Taylor Green, Zach Braddock, Brock Kjeldgaard and even Brendan Katin's mashing minor league contributions. As you'll see below, this draft could have been truly tremendous.

 

2005 Draft:

 

Jemile Weeks, SS -- 8th round, subsequently drafted and signed by the Athletics in the 1st round, 2008

 

Rickie's little (and we do mean little) brother was indeed drafted as a shortstop, leading us to envision a Weeks-Weeks keystone combo. It's believed that Jemile's dad in particular was a very strong proponent of Jemile going to school (Miami), but word at the time was that the family would listen seriously to the Brewers' overtures.

 

As you're likely aware, the A's have been thrilled with Weeks despite his slow start in 2012 (major league stats, including a pretty dynamic rookie 2011 campaign), FYI the link above is for his minor league numbers.

 

OOPS! Not Brewerfan.net's finest moment

 

***

 

Brent Allar, RHP -- 11th round, subsequently drafted and signed by the Orioles in the 14th round, 2006

 

Allar, a fireballing JUCO pitcher, who was compared to former Brewer reliever Mike DeJean at draft time, spurned the Brewers for TCU. Five minor league seasons in the O's system, spent mostly in the bullpen, produced more K's than innings, but lots of walks, too. Oddly, in his first three seasons, Allar appeared in 55 games, all in relief, and never earned a decision (0-0).

 

In the never-ending injury nexus of these dodge-the-bullet Brewer non-signees, Allar underwent shoulder surgey in '07. He granted this detailed interview prior to his final season in 2010.

 

Allar never reached AA. The Marlins selected Allar in the minor league phase of the Rule 5 draft, but released him prior to the 2011 season.

 

***

 

Ryan Babineau, C -- 13th round, subsequently drafted and signed by the Diamondbacks in the 17th round, 2008

 

A high school catcher from California, Babineau went on to UCLA, where he was their starting catcher all three seasons. Injuries to both hips pretty much ruined his brief pro career, but you'll notice at his link above that after a 2011 away from the game, Babineau is now in independent ball. Still just 25, good luck to him going forward.

 

***

 

Andrew Bailey, RHP -- 16th round, subsequently drafted and signed by the Athletics in the 6th round, 2006

 

Yes, that Andrew Bailey.

 

Minor league stats above, major league here.

 

At this point, I strongly suggest you visit my June 2010 article "Andrew Bailey So Close to Being A Brewer – and Other Tales from the 2005 Draft". Thanks!

 

***

 

Tim Smith, OF -- 17th round, having been previously drafted by the Mets in the 21st round, 2004, and finally drafted and signed by the Rangers in the 7th round, 2007

 

Another unsigned Canadian (Ontario)!

 

Tim Smith, a left-handed bat, posted ridiculous numbers in his freshman year at Midland College, a two-year school in Texas, as he set school records for batting average (.468) and on-base percentage. He also hit eight home runs and had 55 RBIs. Preliminary contract negotiations with the Brewers failed, and then his draft-and-follow chances with the Crew faded after offseason arm surgery.

 

But then Smith raked again in his second juco season, setting school career marks in batting average, on-base percentage, slugging percentage and stolen bases. We all thought for sure he'd be signed prior to the 2006 draft as a DFE.

 

The Brewers did add a last-minute DFE from the '05 class, but it wasn't Tim Smith.

 

The DFE's name? Taylor Green.

 

Smith is still plugging away in his 6th pro season, although he's with his third organization (Rangers to Royals via trade, now with the Braves as a minor league free agent), and was recently promoted to AA Mississippi (Southern League).

 

Tim Smith turns 26 in a couple of weeks, but has yet to see AAA despite solid numbers to this day.

 

***

 

Jake Arrieta, RHP -- 26th round, subsequently drafted and signed by the Orioles in the 5th round, 2007

 

Yes, that Jake Arrieta.

 

Looking back, Arrieta was not a big topic of discussion here in the summer of '05 in terms of whether the Brewers would sign him or not. Arrieta was tied at the hip, it seemed, to 11th round RHP Brent Allar, detailed above. They both attended two-year Weatherford College, both played for the McKinney Marshals in the Texas Collegiate Summer League (Arrieta posted sweet numbers), and then both went off to TCU.

 

Here's Arrieta's major league numbers (minor league numbers are linked above).

 

Arrieta flashes just enough occasional brilliance to make one wonder what could be if it all comes together consistently. Just on that oh-so-close potential alone, he should be considered "one that got away".

 

***

 

Patrick Murray, 1B -- 31st round, subsequently drafted by the Phillies in the 45th round, 2006, and finally drafted and signed by the Phillies in the 34th round, 2010

 

When the Brewers drafted Murray out of a California high school, this was our own Patrick Ebert's note:

 

At 6'2", 250 pounds, Murray offers an intimidating presence at the plate, and exciting power potential as a right-handed hitter. While he played third base and catcher at the high school level, his footspeed probably limits him to first base. Despite his limited speed, he does show good footwork around the bag and has a very strong arm.

 

The Brewers chose to draft-and-follow Murray into juco ball, but a bout of mononucleosis sapped his power and likely soured the Brewers.

 

As noted above, the Phillies did not sign him after his first junior college season, but did when he finished up at Lewis and Clark College (Oregon).

 

Philadelphia released Murray after two middling seasons in the lower levels of their system, detailed at the link above.

 

***

 

Chris Hopkins, OF -- 37th round, subsequently drafted (but not signed) by the Royals in the 44th round, 2007, and finally drafted and signed by the Blue Jays in the 24th round, 2008

 

Chris Hopkins was a very young (17 years old at the time) toolsy junior college selection for the Brewers, there was no chance he would be signed immediately, but he was followed into his second juco season. The Brewers (and/or Hopkins) passed, and he went on to Oregon State (not bad at all) for two seasons, signing as a senior with the Jays.

 

Hopkins was released after four weak seasons (career .219/.329/.277) in Toronto's system, wrapping things up in 2011, where he faced the Brewers' Manatees club in High-A.

 

***

 

Jordan Lennerton, 1B -- 41st round, having been previously drafted by the Blue Jays in the 50th round, 2004, and finally drafted and signed by the Tigers in the 33rd round, 2008

 

Jordan Lennerton was one of seven (!) Canadian draft-and-follows for the Brewers out of the '05 draft (have we mentioned how much we miss the draft-and-follow process? If you need a primer on what DFE was all about prior to its 2007 elimination, click here.)

 

The Brewers followed Lennerton through his 2nd JUCO season in Texas (do all Canadian kids JUCO in Texas?), but Lennerton went on, like Chris Hopkins above, to Oregon State.

 

Now in his 5th pro season and getting his first chance at AA, Lennerton has had an amazingly consistent (compare his line at each level) nice minor league career thus far, particularly for a 33rd round pick. Never a big power threat, his left-handed stick and on-base skills could sneak him a cup of big league coffee at some point, although he's now in his age 26 season.

 

***

 

Kyle Eveland, 2B -- 43rd round, subsequently signed by the White Sox out of independent ball, 2011

 

Jemile Weeks wasn't the only organizational little brother drafted by the Crew in '05, as Dana's sibling Kyle was a junior college middle infielder (thus right-handed, and much less "hefty" than LHP Dana).

 

When affiliated ball did not beckon, Kyle Eveland jumped into indy ball in 2009, and caught the eye of the White Sox. He spent all of 2011 in the ChiSox chain, but was released early this season, and immediately rejoined his former Traverse City (Michigan) independent squad.

 

***

 

Fred Lewis, LHP -- 48th round, subsequently drafted and signed by the Yankees in the 47th round, 2010

 

Lewis was attending Daytona Beach Community College when the Brewers drafted him. He would eventually move on to Tennessee Wesleyan, a four-year school, and is in the midst of his 3rd pro season with the Yankees (now at low-A at age 25), working in middle relief. Loogy or not, Lewis has walked 52 in 73.3 pro innings, so his odds remain extra-long.

[Mass Haas]

Hope you're enjoying the thread. Look for the 2006 draft year (not nearly as exciting as 2005) some time on Thursday.

[igor67]

You always have guys that get away, but that 2005 draft could have been the equivalent of that famous Steeler draft that built their dynasty.

[jschris]

What a treat this thread is! Thank you for all of your hard work!

[homer]

Wow, that 2005 draft was a killer.

[heresrobin]

Awesome stuff Mass. 2005 was the first year that I made an effort to look into the MLB Draft in general. Thanks to this thread, I now remember being a little bummed that we didn't sign Tim Smith.

[Mass Haas]

While I will fill in the remaining years in posts yet to come today and this weekend, we must acknowledge the one that will ultimately be, barring injury, truly THE ONE that got away.

 

So much so, that this player, unsigned from last year, would be, in many minds, the consensus number one overall pick in this year's draft if he were eligible!.

 

***

 

N.C. State pitcher Carlos Rodon making the most of his choice to put MLB dream on hold

By Bret Strelow, Fayetteville (NC) Observer Staff Writer

 

RALEIGH - It was moving day.

 

Carlos Rodon's bags were packed, but he wasn't sure where he'd ultimately go.

 

Rodon faced a life-changing decision last August, on a Monday that served as the signing deadline for young MLB draft picks. His phone buzzed with calls from the Milwaukee Brewers, who had selected Rodon in the 16th round, but attending N.C. State remained an appealing option to the hard-throwing, left-handed pitcher from nearby Holly Springs.

 

Rodon hauled his belongings into a Raleigh apartment that day. When he took a seat and looked around, he realized he had it pretty good.

 

"I had a nice room, nice bed, nice new roommates and new friends," Rodon said. "I thought to myself, 'Maybe I should stay here a couple years and maybe it will work out.'

 

"It was a great decision. It was the best decision of my life."

 

Rodon, a 6-foot-3, 234-pound freshman, is 9-0 with a 1.46 ERA and 126 strikeouts, the nation's third-highest total entering this weekend's NCAA regionals. He is scheduled to start Saturday for the Wolfpack, a regional host that hasn't reached the College World Series since 1968.

 

Recently named the ACC Pitcher of the Year and a Louisville Slugger first-team All-American, the fiery, ultra-competitive Rodon can dominate college hitters with his mix of mid-90s fastballs, power sliders, cutters, curveballs and changeups.

 

Baseball America national writer Aaron Fitt says Rodon would be the first pick in Monday's draft if he were eligible again this year rather than 2014, at the end of his junior season.

 

"He's how you draw them up," Fitt said. "Physical and left-handed, he has a really nice delivery and electric stuff. He's a lot like (Tampa Bay Rays star) David Price, with the same kind of demeanor."

 

Greener days

 

Last weekend, in front of 10,229 fans at Greensboro's NewBridge Bank Park, the largest crowd for a college baseball game in state history, Rodon shut out rival North Carolina for nine innings. The Tar Heels broke through against the Wolfpack bullpen in the 12th, winning 4-0 in an ACC tournament thriller.

 

Thirty-nine years earlier, before a paltry crowd of 175 in Chapel Hill, a left-handed N.C. State freshman named Tom Hayes began the first-ever league tournament with a nine-inning, two-hit masterpiece in a win against Duke.

 

The Wolfpack's past is partly responsible for Rodon's present-day success.

 

Holly Springs High School head coach Rod Whitesell and pitching coach Sebastian Nazabal played important roles in Rodon's development. So did Hayes, the pitching coach for Tri-Nine Conference rival Fuquay-Varina, where Whitesell was previously an assistant.

 

"Carlos and Tom have such a great bond," said Rodon's father, Carlos Sr. "They hit it off from day one."

 

Hayes started working with Rodon during his freshman year at Holly Springs, seven years after Rodon arrived from the Miami area.

 

Rodon's father was born in Cuba and relocated to Miami with his family as a 5-year-old in 1967, during the famed Freedom Flights, a U.S.-sponsored resettlement program for political refugees. Carlos Sr. loved watching the Baltimore Orioles' spring training games at Miami Stadium, and his son began playing baseball before he turned four. They attended University of Miami games together a decade ago, shortly before the family moved to North Carolina.

 

As a ninth-grader pitching against varsity juniors and seniors, Rodon was struggling with his confidence when Whitesell recommended that he visit Hayes. Rodon's mother, Julie, took her son to Hayes' Hit and Run baseball facility in Fuquay-Varina, and Hayes stressed to Rodon that he shouldn't be afraid to throw strikes because his stuff was good enough to beat upperclassmen.

 

"We'll help out whoever comes in, not turn anybody away because they were playing with someone else," Hayes said. "I don't think as a freshman he realized how good he was."

 

Rodon capped that season with two lights-out performances and continued to put in extra side sessions with Hayes to improve as a pitcher and batter, notably working on a cutter after his junior year.

 

It came back to bite Fuquay-Varina's Bengals, with Rodon closing his prep career on a 5-0 run against them. As a senior, he tossed the first no-hitter ever recorded against veteran Fuquay-Varina head coach Milton Senter. Rodon later pitched a complete game in a 3-2 victory over the Bengals in the second round of the 4-A playoffs, a walkoff win that continued Holly Springs' march to a state title.

 

"It's tough when (Hayes) coaches at Fuquay," Rodon said. "But he was nice enough to help me out, and I really appreciate it."

 

Path to Raleigh

 

It's possible that Rodon is in the pros right now if March 24, 2011 had transpired differently.

 

Pitching against Green Hope as a prep senior, with plenty of cross-checking scouts observing, Rodon dealt with a back issue that caused his velocity to drop dramatically.

 

That performance, albeit in a win, affected Rodon's draft stock. Some scouts also wanted to see fewer emotional outbursts and more signs of maturity from Rodon when he was on the mound.

 

Rodon expected to have his name called in the first few rounds of the June draft. The Brewers reportedly inquired about taking him in Round 4 if he'd sign for slot money, and they eventually selected him 12 rounds later, with the 491st overall pick.

 

Rodon could head to N.C. State or sign with Milwaukee. A bonus commensurate to what a player taken after Round 1, as a sandwich pick, or in Round 2 might have been enough to sway Rodon to turn pro. That figure is normally in the neighborhood of $800,000. The Brewers approached the Rodons' number but didn't reach it, a factor in his decision to join the Wolfpack.

 

"Him going to college was a win-win situation, not only because of the exposure and how everything has turned out, which is way beyond what we've expected, but the fact it gave him a little bit of a chance to grow up and come into his own, even though he's still protected and is only 25 minutes away," Rodon's father said.

 

Rodon came out of the bullpen in N.C. State's first game and picked up the win, striking out seven batters and allowing one unearned run in four innings. A day later, he pinch-hit in the eighth inning and drilled a double into the right-center gap. Rodon stumbled as he rounded first but reached second standing up, and the coaches promptly replaced him with 241-pound pinch-runner Danny Canela.

 

Rodon doubled the next time he batted, but he has only seven plate appearances this season. He's too valuable as a pitcher.

 

He throws from a high arm slot and is particularly effective at elevating his four-seam fastball for swing-and-miss strikes.

 

"It explodes out of his hand," Whitesell said. "You see 94 that's hittable, and you see 94 that's, 'Holy cow.' He's got that 'it' factor when it leaves his hand."

 

Rodon's ability to throw power pitches with movement to either side of the plate is another key. Hayes compares it to a skilled driver in golf.

 

"I can hook it, hit it straight or slice it," he said. "I just can't do it when I want to. But he can do those three things."

 

Moving forward, one concern is Rodon's pitch count. In 11 ACC starts, he averaged 119.6 pitches, totaling at least 124 in seven of those games. He has issued 36 walks in 105 innings this season, far better than most people anticipated, but strikeouts take their toll on efficiency.

 

Rodon skipped his scheduled start against non-conference foe CSU Bakersfield in early May, and he fired 257 pitches in less than 14 innings during his next two starts, including a nine-walk outing against Florida State. The next time out, against UNC in Greensboro, he was nearly flawless while fanning a dozen Tar Heels.

 

"Carlos is so different than everybody else," N.C. State head coach Elliott Avent said. "He throws better at the end of the game. He's pretty good at the beginning of the game, too, and the middle, and he's pretty good at the end. His innings creep up on you, and at that point during (early May) he just had so many innings, we could foresee maybe some good things were going to happen down the stretch, we wanted to manage his innings."

 

The individual accolades continue to roll in for Rodon. Now it's time to see if he and his teammates can make a postseason run, perhaps all the way to Omaha.

 

When Rodon picked N.C. State last August, the College World Series became the next destination of note.

[narwhalattack]

Failing to sign Rodon is going to hurt for a long time.

[colbyjack]

It's hard to say that it's going to hurt. Teams, including the Brewers, should have drafted him higher, and now he's the favorite to go No. 1 overall in the 2014 draft. It is tough to think the Brewers got close but couldn't bridge the last gap to get him in their system.

 

Then again, Rodon's development from last year to now was pretty significant. Kind of like a Manny Parra night-and-day progression back in 2002.

[HiAndTight]

You always have guys that get away, but that 2005 draft could have been the equivalent of that famous Steeler draft that built their dynasty.

 

 

When you consider that we'd have Arrieta in the rotation right now(3.98 FIP, 3.56 xFIP at age 26) and I can only imagine he'd be pitching a great deal better in the NLC than ALE, that alone would have been huge.

 

But Jemile Weeks and Andrew Bailey if nothing else could have been great trade chips.

 

 

 

But none of them hurt like Rodon. Throwing a guy like him into our system for just what..50K more? I KNOW you can't look at it like that, the draft is suchup a crap shoot, but dang...that one WILL sting.

 

You'll never know if he could be putting up Bundy-esque numbers right now in Wisconsin and we could be talking about how HE'S our top prospect in the farm system and then in 10 years people could talk about how this X-time Cy Young winner was signed by us in the 16th round!

 

Of course that's highly unlikely, but still...stings.

 

I do love the SS McFarland however. I have high hopes from him. Who's to say if he went to FSU(that was where he was headed, correct?) he could have the same glowing compliments thrown upon him.

 

 

Still, I'm happy with our draft from last year. Two pitchers who should be good middle of the rotation type workhorses for us with the potential to develop a third pitch and take it from average to plus....maybe they get their velocity back up to what it was and end up being #1/2 types?

 

Plus, we still have Jorge Lopez who could end up being a stud for us as well.

 

Hard not to get greedy though and picture Weeks, Arrieta, Bailey and Rodon with us right now.

Still, I'm

[HiAndTight]

Awesome thread by the way.

 

Don't want to get too greedy, but it'd also be fun to see a write up of the late round picks we DID sign.

 

Though I suspect most of us already know. Gennett in the 16th, Kheeler(who I'm still holding out hope for to be either a dominant lefty or even just a SU man if he can get his control down...provided he still throws as hard as he once did and is as hard on lefties as one would imagine.

 

Along with the McFarland's(which there isn't much to write about yet), the big old DT from FSU who I know isn't playing baseball...

 

 

 

Anyway, great thread. Love reading about this...no matter how much it hurts remembering hearing about how we were SO CLOSE with some of these guys. I remember the story about Weeks waiting to walk into class at Miami and it sounds similar to what happened with Rodon.

[Mass Haas]

Milwaukee's 2006 draft produced short-time Brewer, then trade-chip Jeremy Jeffress, more trade components (for Felipe Lopez and C.C. Sabathia, respectively) in OF Cole Gillespie and RHP Rob Bryson, RHP Mike McClendon in the 10th round, and a few players (RHP's Evan Anundsen and R.J. Seidel, OF Lee Haydel) who are still around.

 

***

 

Seven unsigned players from that draft went on to play pro ball:

 

Andrew Clark, 1B -- 18th round, subsequently drafted (but not signed) by the Cubs in the 31st round, 2009, and finally drafted and signed by the Rangers in the 13th round, 2010

 

The Brewers never came very close to pulling Clark away from his Ole' Miss commitment, although Clark would go to leave the school after his freshman year, transferring to Louisville, where he had a productive Big East career.

 

The 24-year-old split last season between Single-A Hickory and High-A Myrtle Beach for Texas, where he posted a .310/.430/.477 slash line with 28 doubles, 14 home runs, 83 walks, and 73 strikeouts.

 

Re-assigned to high-A to begin 2012, Clark voluntarily retired after two games.

 

***

 

Scott Shuman, RHP -- 23rd round, subsequently drafted and signed by the Rays in the 19th round, 2009

 

The Tifton, GA high schooler basically indicated that he was going to visit Auburn University shortly after the draft, and if they were to offer him a scholarship, he would accept, and that's exactly what happened.

 

Shuman, now 24, posted 14 Midwest League saves in 2010, but has shifted to a middle relief role since; he's struggling in his first taste of AA in 2012, his 4th pro season.

 

***

 

Marc Lewis, LHP -- 26th round, subsequently drafted and signed by the Marlins in the 20th round, 2007

 

Lewis had a solid junior season at Creighton University, one-plus year removed from Tommy John surgery. He decided to return for his senior year on a potentially very talented squad.

 

Lewis' lone year in pro ball is reviewable at his link above.

 

***

 

Terrell Alliman, OF -- 28th round, subsequently drafted and signed by the Angels in the 43rd round, 2007

 

Only 17 when drafted, this Ontario, CN product was eligible to continue his secondary high school education in 2006-2007 and chose to do so.

 

The Angels released Alliman early in the 2011 season, which was his 4th in their system.

 

I'll always remember Alliman because the only photo we found for our draft thread at the time must have been from Little League.

 

***

 

David Newmann, LHP -- 29th round, having been previously drafted by the Indians in the 25th round, 2004, and finally drafted and signed by the Rays in the 4th round, 2007

 

Newmann tore a knee ligament during 2008 Spring Training, sidelining him for the entire season, and didn't make his pro debut until 2009. High-A in '09, AA in 2010, Newmann voluntarily retired early in the 2011 season, so hopefully he invested his $250,000 signing bonus well.

 

***

 

Clay Jones, C -- 36th round, subsequently drafted and signed by the Tigers in the 32nd round, 2009

 

Jones was a high school catcher (and football star) who was followed for a year by the Brewers through a juco season. Jones would eventually land at the University of Alabama. Staying at Tuscaloosa through his senior year, Jones had migrated to first base by the time the Tigers came calling.

 

Jones saw Midwest League action each of the past two years, and although MiLB.com still lists him as "active", that doesn't appear to be the case.

 

***

 

Alex Koronis, RHP -- 40th round, subsequently drafted and signed by the Rays in the 11th round, 2009

 

The third pitcher from the 2006 draft to go on to be a Tampa draft pick...

 

Koronis was a Miami high schooler who chose to stay local and attend the "U", but didn't feel it was a perfect fit and he eventually moved to the University of Tampa.

 

So many of these players highlighted in this thread have had Brewer opponent ties through the Midwest, Florida State, and Southern Leagues, and Koronis is no different. He's currently at AA Montgomery, working in middle relief.

 

***

 

We'll take a look at the 2007 draft class non-signees in the next phase of this project.

[igor67]

Amazing talent contrast '05 to '06

[Mass Haas]

I knew I should have made note of these during this draft for future reference, but I know I missed others, please add on to my list below, thanks.

 

2012 draft

 

RHP Brady Rodgers from ASU went to the Astros with the first pick in the 3rd round. The Brewers drafted him in the 39th round in 2009.

 

LHP Steven Okert of the University of Oklahoma was picked by the Giants in the 4th round. He had been drafted twice previously by the Brewers, in the 43rd round in 2010 and 33rd round in 2011.

 

2009 26th round LHP Lex Rutledge was drafted this year in the 6th round by the Orioles out of Samford University.

 

2010 19th round C/OF Rowan Wick, a Canadian product out of Cypress College after a stint at St. John's, was drafted this year in the 9th round by the Cardinals.

[Outlander]

Andrew Clark had a couple of good years, any idea why he decided to retire. Too old to be in high A ball?

[heresrobin]

Was the Kyle Hansen that the Brewers drafted in 2009 the same one who was drafted early this year?

[Mass Haas]

Was the Kyle Hansen that the Brewers drafted in 2009 the same one who was drafted early this year?

 

Thanks! White Sox grabbed the St. John's University pitcher in the 6th round this year; Brewers drafted him as a high schooler in the 40th round in '09.

[Mass Haas]

The Brewers' first unsigned pick from 2011, UNC Wilmington OF Andrew Cain, was drafted by the Giants in the 24th round this year after his senior season. He was drafted by the Brewers in the 12th round last year. Whoops.

[DKM4Boston]

I think this is all of them...though I certainly may have missed one or two.

 

3rd (Round) - Brady Rodgers, RHP, Astros

4th - Steven Okert, LHP, Giants

5th - Mallex Smith, OF, Padres

6th - Lex Rutledge, LHP, Orioles

6th - Kyle Hansen, RHP, White Sox

9th - Rowan Wick, C, Cardinals

14th - Lucas Moran, RHP, Reds

16th - Josh Turley, LHP, Tigers

17th - Alfredo Rodriguez, SS, Brewers

20th - Dennis Jones, OF, Blue Jays

23rd - Richard Stock, C, Indians

24th - Kayvon Bahramzadeh, RHP, Athletics

24th - Andrew Cain, OF, Giants

25th - Josh Smith, LHP, Pirates

38th - Calvin Drummond, RHP, Athletics

40th - Brad Schreiber, RHP, Twins

[Mass Haas]

9th - Rowan Wick, C, Cardinals

 

Rowan Wick comments in featured article

[battlekow]

Mallex Smith ended up signing with the Padres for $375K, which is almost 150% of his pick's slot value of $255K. His name will make it easy to remember to keep tabs on him.

[battlekow]

38th - Calvin Drummond, RHP, Athletics

Drummond narrowly missed being taken in the 34th round for the third time.