HS pitchers taken by the Brewers in the first round

[dpapo]

I was looking at the history of high school pitchers the Brewers have taken over the years in the 1st round and maybe they should just avoid taking one. I'm only half kidding, but it hasn't been pretty.

 

1974 - Butch Edge - (Ended up being taken by Toronto in the 1976 expansion draft) Played one season for Toronto in 1979 and was 3-4 with a 5.24 ERA.

 

1975 - Rich O'Keefe (Never made it to the Majors)

 

1976 - Bill Bordley (Did not sign) Eventually made it to the majors with the Giants for one season (2-3 with 4.70 ERA). Ouf of baseball by 1982.

 

1988 - Alex Fernandez (Did not sign) Went to U. of Miami and eventually was drafted by the White Sox in 1990. Went on to have a productive 10 year major league career with the White Sox and Marlins. (107-87 with a 3.74 ERA)

 

1991-Kenny Henderson - (Did not sign) Eventually drafted by Montreal but didn't make it to the majors.

 

1991 - Tryone Hill - Injury problems, never made it to the majors.

 

1993 - Jeff D'Amico - Only high school pitcher drafted by the Brewers to actually pitch for them in the majors. Could have had a pretty good career if not for injuries. (45-52 with a 4.61 ERA)

 

1998 - J.M. Gold - Injury problems, never mind it to the bigs.

 

2001 - Mike Jones - Injury problems will probably prevent Jones from ever making the majors. Is going to likely have Tommy John surgery soon.

2004 - Mark Rogers - Another pitcher taken who has had injury problems. Hopefully will make a successful comeback.

 

2006- Jeremy Jeffress - Currently at West Virginia.

 

On the other hand, every pitcher the Brewers have drafted coming out of college has made it to the major leagues.

 

1983 - Dan Plesac - A very productive 18 year major league career. (65-71 with a 3.64 ERA and 158 saves)

 

1989- Cal Eldred - Decent 14 year major leaguer that could have been much better if not for injury problems. (86-74 with a 4.42 ERA and 9 saves)

 

1993 - Kelly Wunsch- Never actually pitched for the Brewers and if I remember correctly I believe he may have had some injury problems as well. Would go on to have a 6 year major league career, mostly as a lefty specialist. (11-6 with a 3.76 ERA with 1 save)

 

1997-Kyle Peterson Another pitcher with injury problems. Pitched a couple years for the Brewers. (5-9 with a 4.71 ERA)

 

1999- Ben Sheets Currently the ace for the Brewers. Has had injury and ear (vertigo) problems, but is currently the Brewers ace and may end up having the best career or any pitcher the Brewers have drafted. (61-69 with a 3.83 ERA)

 

EDIT: edited post for readability - Brian the Automator

[gordofieldo]

Im not sure if any of those HS kids were lefties, but I agree, they should avoid HS rhp like the plague. Play old school scout for ten minutes Jack and realize your picks recently were not very good in the pitching department (in the first round).

 

If they go the HS route, I'm rooting for Josh Smoker.

[RyDogg66]

I have to agree. Since we dont have a 2nd rounder to sign I'd draft Weiters, if he is there, and not look back.

[colbyjack]

dpapo, thanks for posting that. It is a very unpleasant reminder.

 

They should stick with shortstops (Thomas, Yount, Molitor, Sveum, Sheffield, Spiers). Maybe that's the key. If they do draft a prep arm, they should draft that player as a shortstop.

[geothite]

He has a formula and I don't see him varying from it.

 

It will either toolsie athlete, big HS arm with a plus-plus-plus fastball if he there that has a high ceiling or a impact bat.

THat has been the formula.

Like you don't like HS pitchers he believes college pitchers are overvalued because of the lack of projectability for many of them and their work loads in college. You might disagree but I think Jack does go through this like an old school scout.

 

I think the Brewers will either take

1. Moustakas

2. the HS arm with the highest ceiling availible if Moustakas is gone (Porcello or Parker; I really think the Brewers because they do not pick until 71 or whatever again will be "willing" to shell out money for a guy like Porcello. He is not just another HS arm, he is one of the best pitching prospect in the draft and would be the #1 pick if he were from FLA, TEX or CA). He simply shouldn't be sitting there when the Brewers picks.

3. If options 1 and 2 wash out they take Heyward who is the best tools guy at the top of the draft.

 

I just don't see Jack Z taking a college pitcher or reaching down for guys who are top 15 but not really a talent who should be taken at #7 to save money.

They have passed on guys but the prospect they took fits the Jack Z profile and in each case I believe the folks who he has passed on have been College Pitchers with very steep financial cost associated with each.

Jack Z has a pattern and it is pretty consistent.

[Tbadder]

Rather than cheap, could the answer here be "principles"? No high schooler should be rewarded with over the slot money because history shows teams get screwed more than they cash in on their investment. The risk is too big. Let the Rangers have Porcello, offer him the slot, and in the same sentence invite him to go to college--no other negoiations. I swear teams don't act like they have any leverage at all. Weiters wants a major league contract somewhere between 7 and 10 million dollars. Give him the slot money, plus a little extra for doing the right thing in going to college, and then invite him to return to Georgia--no other negotiations. If they don't like the money I get the pick back next year, big deal. If the small market teams would step up and pick the expensive players, the Boras clients, etc. and then very kindly offer them the door, I think there would be a lot less of this intrigue and teams would eventually get the players they deserve. I mean what's the point? In the NFL and NBA, generally the best preceived players go to the worst teams.

[Jimbo]

Keep in mind Rich O'Keefe was traded for Mike Caldwell. Although he never pitched in Milwaukee, he didn't turn out to be worthless.