2014 Brewers' 1st-Rd. Pick Speculation & Overall 2014 Prospects Discussion Thread

[reillymcshane]

Minorleagueball.com has their first mock draft.

 

http://www.minorleagueball.com/2014/3/10/5485534/2014-mlb-mock-draft-version-1

 

They have the Brewers taking pitcher Grant Holmes.

 

12. Milwaukee Brewers: Grant Holmes, RHP, South Carolina HS

 

Holmes is a physcial righty with upper 90's velocity and a knockout breaking ball. There is a chance he ends up at the back of the bullpen but he could be a front end starter if everything works out.

[brewcrewdue80]

Minorleagueball.com has their first mock draft.

 

http://www.minorleagueball.com/2014/3/10/5485534/2014-mlb-mock-draft-version-1

 

They have the Brewers taking pitcher Grant Holmes.

 

12. Milwaukee Brewers: Grant Holmes, RHP, South Carolina HS

 

Holmes is a physcial righty with upper 90's velocity and a knockout breaking ball. There is a chance he ends up at the back of the bullpen but he could be a front end starter if everything works out.

 

At least he's a HS pitcher. Saw video of him in 2013 and it wasn't appealing. Then saw a small video of 2014 and he definitely appeared better. In 2013 the pitches were flat easy to pick up. In the 2014 video the pitches had some more downward plane, the video was taken at an angle a little too far off to decide how easily it was to pick up.

 

You read the mock and at 18...18! the pick of Luis Ortiz with the tidbit that he could be the best of all the HS pitchers drafted in 3 years. Watched another video of Ortiz and I am still a big fan of him should he be there for the Brewers. I think Aiken is gaining steam as noted above that he's off the board before Milw picks. But that's okay if we land Ortiz imo. Oh, and no way Kolek falls to #5 imo. If I'm Houston, I am strongly considering him over Rodon right now. Kolek looks way more impressive to me than Rodon does and he's younger, just what Houston should be after, after tabbing Appel last draft.

[narwhalattack]

Minorleagueball.com has their first mock draft.

 

http://www.minorleagueball.com/2014/3/10/5485534/2014-mlb-mock-draft-version-1

 

They have the Brewers taking pitcher Grant Holmes.

 

12. Milwaukee Brewers: Grant Holmes, RHP, South Carolina HS

 

Holmes is a physcial righty with upper 90's velocity and a knockout breaking ball. There is a chance he ends up at the back of the bullpen but he could be a front end starter if everything works out.

 

At least he's a HS pitcher. Saw video of him in 2013 and it wasn't appealing. Then saw a small video of 2014 and he definitely appeared better. In 2013 the pitches were flat easy to pick up. In the 2014 video the pitches had some more downward plane, the video was taken at an angle a little too far off to decide how easily it was to pick up.

 

You read the mock and at 18...18! the pick of Luis Ortiz with the tidbit that he could be the best of all the HS pitchers drafted in 3 years. Watched another video of Ortiz and I am still a big fan of him should he be there for the Brewers. I think Aiken is gaining steam as noted above that he's off the board before Milw picks. But that's okay if we land Ortiz imo. Oh, and no way Kolek falls to #5 imo. If I'm Houston, I am strongly considering him over Rodon right now. Kolek looks way more impressive to me than Rodon does and he's younger, just what Houston should be after, after tabbing Appel last draft.

 

There's this video:

 

 

I'm no scout, but the fastball doesn't seem that flat and the curveball is very sharp, albeit he seemed to be a bit off on the command. If Aiken is gone by the time the Brewers pick, I'm hoping for either Holmes or Ortiz.

[brewcrewdue80]

 

There's this video:

 

 

I'm no scout, but the fastball doesn't seem that flat and the curveball is very sharp, albeit he seemed to be a bit off on the command. If Aiken is gone by the time the Brewers pick, I'm hoping for either Holmes or Ortiz.

 

 

Here's the same video from behind. Look how quickly the ball shows up off his hands and the fastball doesn't really make a big downward movement/flat

 

 

Here's the newest video. Looks better imo the downward in the FB. And not as quick of seeing the ball out of his hands.

 

 

His Curve as shown in the vid you posted certainly has some great movement.

(I'm still going with Ortiz ahead of Holmes, there's a star presence about him I just feel it watching him pitch)

[brewmann04]

We really need a guy who will be a starter down the road for the Brewers especially @ pick 12

[colbyjack]

The last thing I would call Holmes' fastball is flat. Even good high school hitters don't get fooled by flat high school fastballs, no matter how hard they're thrown. We've heard reports of him reaching triple digits this spring, consistently pitching in the mid-90s, so he's another guy that may not find himself at No. 12.

 

But some really good pitchers will. There's just so many good ones right now, and like I said before, it's like each and every one of them is surpassing expectations. I just got an email earlier today saying Kolek was back up to 102 mph the other day, sitting 95-97 in his most recent outing. If you hear someone call the 2014 draft class weak, ignore them and move on. The bats may not be the greatest, but the number of power arms is ridiculous. I know I campaigned the Brewers to take a position prospect the last few months, but it's hard to imagine them not dipping into the wealth of arms this year.

[narwhalattack]

The last thing I would call Holmes' fastball is flat. Even good high school hitters don't get fooled by flat high school fastballs, no matter how hard they're thrown. We've heard reports of him reaching triple digits this spring, consistently pitching in the mid-90s, so he's another guy that may not find himself at No. 12.

 

But some really good pitchers will. There's just so many good ones right now, and like I said before, it's like each and every one of them is surpassing expectations. I just got an email earlier today saying Kolek was back up to 102 mph the other day, sitting 95-97 in his most recent outing. If you hear someone call the 2014 draft class weak ignore them and move on. The bats may not be the greatest, but the number of power arms is ridiculous. I know I campaigned the Brewers to take a position prospect the last few months, but it's hard to imagine them not dipping into the wealth of arms this year.

 

From the least deep to the deepest, how would you rank the 2005, 2011, and 2014 draft class?

[paul253]

I know I campaigned the Brewers to take a position prospect the last few months, but it's hard to imagine them not dipping into the wealth of arms this year.

 

I would be fine with a number of positions (3B, SS, C even a stud 1B) but seeing so many talented HS pitchers makes me want the Brewers to go the direction. If we use our first two picks on HS arms those two, plus Williams, will give us something to be really excited about. The Brewers system hasn't had much for me to be excited about in quite awhile.

[brewmann04]

Time we find our future #1 and this draft is one of the best places to start.I am wondering about their scouting system i understand it not an exact science but they have to do better picking this high. It a Little dissapointing to See Bradley and Jungman not making big progress especially as College pitchers.

[TheCrew07]

I don't think we necessarily need to be focused on trying to find a #1... I'd be ecstatic with a rotation full of #2s. Give me some youngsters with legitimate impact upside and I'm happy. Later on in the draft I would be happy if the Brewers didn't draft a plethora of college relievers again before round 10.

 

Obviously I had no idea that Aiken would add the 2-3 MPH I was asking for before he graduated HS, damn that late season surge for nothing which pushed the Brewers down the draft board to #12. I would REALLY love a projectable lefty... based on what's happening there's no way Aiken is sitting there at 12, he'd have to seriously tank or come up with an injury concern. There just aren't many lefties around who top out at 95+ and this draft is shaping up to feature premium LHP prospects from both the college and HS ranks in the top 10 picks. *sigh*

[colbyjack]

narwal, I'd rank them 2005, 2011 and 2014. 2005 is going to go down as one of the best draft years ever, possibly right behind the incredible talent that came out in 1985 (thank you BJ Surhoff!). 2014 could compete with 2011 in 3-5 years, but right now since so many of those players, especially pitchers, performing at a high level already it's hard to put a class of high school senior and college juniors above them.

 

TheCrew07, once again I agree with your thoughts, as I don't get too wrapped up in trying to project where a pitcher fits into a starting rotation. I'll take a handful of pitchers that most would label No. 2 starters any day, and I also like the idea of loading up on college relievers later. Assembling an effective bullpen internally is such an underrated quality of a farm system.

[paul253]

I know a lot can change but who are the players that are for sure going to be gone by the time #12 rolls around? Obviously Rodon, Hoffman and Kolek. I doubt Trea Turner or Alex Jackson are there. Most mocks I've seen have Beede, Derek Fischer Jacob Gatewood and Gettys gone as well. So that's 9. That leaves one of Aiken, Ortiz and Holmes available at 12. I'd be ok with that scenario.

[narwhalattack]

It seems like Michael Kopech had the velocity boost too:

 

http://etsn.fm/whitehouses-patrick-mahomes-outduels-mount-pleasants-michael-kopech-with-16-strikeout-no-hitter/

 

"In front of at least three dozen scouts each armed with radar guns, neither Mahomes or Kopech, who could be a first-round pick in June’s MLB draft, disappointed. Kopech, who has signed with Arizona for baseball, touched 98 mph and Mahomes hovered between 92-95."

[paul253]

Any chance Michael Chavis lasts til our second pick?

[Eye Black]

One interesting note on Luis Ortiz from this January interview:

 

Coming off of last summer, what is one area you felt you needed to improve? Did you feel you did?

 

I felt like I needed to improve last summer on my mechanics. I have never had a real pitching coach so as soon as I got the opportunity to learn from one I took everything I could from it. I have improved my mechanics significantly and it feels so good. Not only did I learn my mechanics from a pitching coach, but I also am getting trained by major league pitcher Matt Garza. Learning from a major league pitcher is huge for me. I feel like I’m pitching better than before because of my mechanics; I feel like it has became a natural thing for me.

[splitterpfj]

My mock draft...

 

http://www.baseballintheblood.com/?p=1078

[paul253]

What is Aaron Nola's ceiling? I know he has fantastic numbers but from what I remember he doesn't throw all that hard. Does he have the ability to be ace or does he profile more as an inning eater #3-#4 type?

 

I'm really holding out hope that we get one of Aiken, Holmes or Ortiz and get another talented HS pitcher with out second pick.

[splitterpfj]

Aaron Nola is a pick that would cause an uproar on this site...he's a "safe pick." If the Brewers take him they'll talk about how he's more polished, and won't need as much time in the minor leagues, etc, he's not a future #1, if all goes well, he's a solid big league starting pitcher for ten seasons.

[narwhalattack]

The Brewers need guys with upside rather than safe picks. They have enough guys who can fill in the middle or back of a rotation. The issue is that they don't have many guys that have high ceilings.

[brewcrewdue80]

My mock draft...

 

http://www.baseballintheblood.com/?p=1078

 

You're killing me Splitter taking Nola ahead of my favorite Ortiz! Please no! Lol Jose Fernandez part 2 in the making

[lcbj68c]

 

The only thing I am confident in saying is that Milwaukee will finish with the worst record in the NL. Miami is going to continue to play better, they are younger with very few selling pieces to reduce their talent level for this season.

Milwaukee on the other hand is older, has few young talent to replace all these veterans that should be traded away. Making the team worse overall to finish the season.

 

 

Not e'en close.

[nate82]

My mock draft...

 

http://www.baseballintheblood.com/?p=1078

 

I am going to disagree with you here as this is way to early to pick this player and if the Brewers are going to go with a college pitcher it will probably be Sean Newcomb, LHP, Hartford. Keep an eye on Braxton Davidson, 1B, North Carolina HS as I believe this is a player the Brewers may grab in the 1st round. I don't believe the Brewers are going to draft a pitcher in the 1st round this year and this is someone I can see the Brewers taking with their 1st pick.

[splitterpfj]

Hi nate.

 

Let's just say the picks ahead of Milwaukee went the way I listed them, I sent Davidson to Arizona, and Newcomb to the Reds, but I agree, those are two players the Brewers certainly might take.

 

I don't worry too much about whether the player is from high school or college, or really even what position he plays - I want the team to take the player their scouts believe will have the best major league career - period. There are some high school pitchers I really like, but there are also some really nice young hitters too, including Davidson.

 

I know this, if Milwaukee takes a safer guy over a higher upside guy, a lot of the people who read this forum will flip.

[narwhalattack]

Saw this video the other day:

 

 

That slider at around 1:50. That is just FILTHY!!! :O

[reillymcshane]

Here's a look at Aiken by minorleagueball.com

 

http://www.minorleagueball.com/2014/3/31/5564478/2014-mlb-draft-profile-brady-aiken-lhp-california-hs

 

The author loves him.