2016 Draft Pick Discussion, Rounds 6-20

[trwi7]

Seems to be a number of difficult signs so far. Presumably they wouldn't have drafted them if they didn't think signing was likely though, right?

 

We took a bunch of college players including two seniors. We probably have one of the easier groups to sign.

[wichmae]

Seems to be a number of difficult signs so far. Presumably they wouldn't have drafted them if they didn't think signing was likely though, right?

 

We took a bunch of college players including two seniors. We probably have one of the easier groups to sign.

Im not so sure. Just because theyre college guys doesnt make them any less easy. I would bet Burnes will be over slot and then you have the two high schoolers. I wonder if they could save a little bit with Erceg and then have the two senior signs. Gives us a little wiggle room.

[trwi7]

Seems to be a number of difficult signs so far. Presumably they wouldn't have drafted them if they didn't think signing was likely though, right?

 

We took a bunch of college players including two seniors. We probably have one of the easier groups to sign.

Im not so sure. Just because theyre college guys doesnt make them any less easy. I would bet Burnes will be over slot and then you have the two high schoolers. I wonder if they could save a little bit with Erceg and then have the two senior signs. Gives us a little wiggle room.

 

I'm not saying it will be easy but it's easier than a lot of teams. With the way it's set up now it's always better to take the money as a college junior just because there's very little reward for not signing. Look at Kyle Funkhouser not signing last year at 35. Now he drops down to 100 something and exhausted his college eligibility and has no leverage.

[Austin Tatious]

Kyle Funkhouser is a cautionary tale on overplaying your hand and getting your bluff called. He had some high pick buzz which I recall because I was terrified we would take him. His name at one point was associated with Milwaukee until he free fell right before the draft.

[clancyphile]

Daniel Brown LHP Miss St

Brown began his college career at Tyler (Texas) JC, winning the Division III Junior College World Series and the D-III juco pitcher of the year award in 2014 after leading that level in wins (10) and finishing second in strikeouts (87 in 71 2/3 innings). He transferred to Mississippi State in 2015 and opened this season in its weekend rotation before inconsistency landed him in the bullpen. He has thrived in that role, however, showing enough arm strength to go in the first five rounds. When he locates his pitches, Brown is hard to handle. He attacks hitters with a 90-94 mph fastball that's difficult to barrel if he keeps it down in the strike zone. His low-80s slider has been sharper in shorter stints and can overmatch left-handers, and he rarely uses his below-average changeup now that he's coming out of the bullpen. Brown is just 5-foot-9 and generates his hard stuff with some effort in his delivery. He doesn't always repeat his mechanics, which costs him command. Despite some success starting in the Cape Cod League last summer, he profiles strictly as a pro reliever who might be useful in high-leverage situations, especially against lefties.

 

Would be interesting to see if the mechanics can't be fixed. and this guy could be stretched out as a starter...

[clancyphile]

Blake Fox lhp Rice

 

In case you haven't seen one of his pickoff moves yet...

 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zxxUKZ4nCm8

 

I recall the season where Chris Capuano had 12 pickoffs and Sharpie added a half-dozen more.

 

Of course, I'm not sure if that was the year some ump didn't like that pickoff move Sharpie used on Lance Berkman.

[FVBrewerFan]

Clark Eagan taken in 9th round by Pirates. Arkansas via Appleton North HS. Great kid, good luck to him!!

[brewmann04]

Who might still be out there for the crew

[colbyjack]

Reports on a couple of the round 6-10 guys (they others should be easy senior sign types):

 

435. Payton Henry, c/rhp, Pleasant Grove HS

R-R, 6-2, 215, Pleasant Grove, Utah

College Commitment: Brigham Young

 

Henry is a quality two-way prospect who has dominated Utah high school baseball for the last three years. He has hit a combined .479-21-109 in 83 games over that period, including a .519-7-31 mark this year, including 22 walks and only five strikeouts. Henry has a strong and powerful righthanded swing that will play at the next level, and he will especially stand out if he is able to stay behind the plate defensively. Henry has also acted as Pleasant Grove's closer over the same period of time, striking out 33 hitters in 22 innings this year with a fastball that will reach 93-94 mph to go with a solid mid-70s curveball.

 

 

161. Francisco Thomas, ss/3b, Osceola HS

B-R, 6-2/195, Carolina, Puerto Rico

College Commitment: San Diego State

 

Thomas is from Carolina, Puerto Rico and his parents still live on the island but Thomas has played in the summers with FTB Tucci in Central Florida and attended Osceola High School in that part of the state this year. He has some middle infield athleticism, including a very strong throwing arm, but will likely play third base at the next level, where he will be a solid defender. Thomas is a switch-hitter with very good raw bat speed and power potential from the left side and a shorter, more line drive approach righthanded. He was one of four Puerto Ricans that participated in last summer’s Perfect Game All-American Classic along with Luis Curbelo, Mario Feliciano and Alexis Torres.

[gregmag]

This is a general question rather than a 6-10 question, but does any of you draft savants have a sense for which if any of these college guys they might either put right into a full-season league or hope seriously to be able to promote to full-season this year?

 

I'm just curious because we've taken so many high-round college guys. The Brewers generally have been conservative starting guys out, and they arguably got burned being aggressive with Harrison and Gatewood. But it wouldn't be crazy for a new development strategy to accompany this new college splurge.

[And That]

They put Haniger in A-ball right away a few years ago, but I'm not so sure they'll do that with Ray, at least not at the outset.

 

The pitchers will all be on short leashes with innings I assume, so they might not get a ton of work wherever they wind up. Ponce had a brief stop in Helena last year before going to Appleton, if that's any indication.

[Austin Tatious]

Reports on a couple of the round 6-10 guys (they others should be easy senior sign types):

 

435. Payton Henry, c/rhp, Pleasant Grove HS

R-R, 6-2, 215, Pleasant Grove, Utah

College Commitment: Brigham Young

 

Henry is a quality two-way prospect who has dominated Utah high school baseball for the last three years. He has hit a combined .479-21-109 in 83 games over that period, including a .519-7-31 mark this year, including 22 walks and only five strikeouts. Henry has a strong and powerful righthanded swing that will play at the next level, and he will especially stand out if he is able to stay behind the plate defensively. Henry has also acted as Pleasant Grove's closer over the same period of time, striking out 33 hitters in 22 innings this year with a fastball that will reach 93-94 mph to go with a solid mid-70s curveball.

 

 

161. Francisco Thomas, ss/3b, Osceola HS

B-R, 6-2/195, Carolina, Puerto Rico

College Commitment: San Diego State

 

Thomas is from Carolina, Puerto Rico and his parents still live on the island but Thomas has played in the summers with FTB Tucci in Central Florida and attended Osceola High School in that part of the state this year. He has some middle infield athleticism, including a very strong throwing arm, but will likely play third base at the next level, where he will be a solid defender. Thomas is a switch-hitter with very good raw bat speed and power potential from the left side and a shorter, more line drive approach righthanded. He was one of four Puerto Ricans that participated in last summer’s Perfect Game All-American Classic along with Luis Curbelo, Mario Feliciano and Alexis Torres.

 

Probably my two favorite picks along with Burnes. Henry is comparable to Nottingham coming out of school. Exactly the type of kid we should be looking for, especially in that range. Love Thomas' projection at third and upside. Athletes at 3b and catcher - keep going there, again and again.

[MrTPlush]

This is a general question rather than a 6-10 question, but does any of you draft savants have a sense for which if any of these college guys they might either put right into a full-season league or hope seriously to be able to promote to full-season this year?

 

I'm just curious because we've taken so many high-round college guys. The Brewers generally have been conservative starting guys out, and they arguably got burned being aggressive with Harrison and Gatewood. But it wouldn't be crazy for a new development strategy to accompany this new college splurge.

 

All the college guys should be going to Wisconsin next year. Sending them to extended spring training and then rookie ball won't do them much good. They are 21-22 years old which is the average age for an A-ball player.

 

I wouldn't be surprised to see Corey Ray and Daniel Brown get to High-A fast. Ray for obvious reasons and Brown due to the fact he is strictly a reliever allowing him to develop faster. The other pitchers likely are Wisconsin bound next year since they at least have a chance to be starters.

 

Gatewood and Harrison were high school players so they are a bit different. A-ball is about the competition level these college guys were already seeing.

[Mass Haas]

PHOTO GALLERY at the link as well

 

Brewers take Pleasant Grove’s Payton Henry in 6th round

By Steve Luhm, The Salt Lake Tribune

 

Pleasant Grover catcher Payton Henry has a decision to make.

 

The state's two-time Gatorade Player of the Year who hit .519 last season as a high-school senior, Henry was selected in the sixth round of the Major League draft Friday by the Milwaukee Brewers.

 

Henry was the 171st overall pick. He was the only Utahn taken in the first 10 rounds of the draft, which concludes Saturday.

 

"It's crazy, really," Henry said. "… To be honest, I'm just happy to have the opportunity."

 

Henry worked out for the Brewers last week. Darrin Henry, his father and coach at Pleasant Grove, told The Tribune his son "tore it up" during the session. But Payton Henry wasn't sure if his performance impacted Milwaukee's decision to draft him.

 

"I had a good workout but I don't know, honestly," he said. "… When I talked to the Brewers today, they didn't say anything. I think it just happened."

 

Darrin Henry had a good feeling.

 

"They have loved him from the very start," Darrin said. "They just wined and dined him the whole way through it. I think they'll invest in him. We'll go to the negotiating table and see what package they have to offer."

 

Now about that pending decision.

 

Henry has a full scholarship waiting at BYU, if he decides to put his professional career on hold. If he signs with the Brewers, of course, he won't play for coach Mike Littlewood and the Cougars.

 

"I'm just going to play it out and see what happens," Henry said. "I'm sure I'm going to talk with my family and then we'll talk to the Brewers and see what they've got for us. If it works out, it works out. If not, BYU is a great option."

 

Said Darrin Henry: "I know he's really excited today. There's no doubt about that. Once it's settled, I think he'll have to clear his mind and say, 'OK. What's best for me?' [Littlewood] has been a great mentor and very supportive. He wants to make sure he weighs all the options, but of course today was a kid's dream come true. He's on cloud nine."

 

Going into the draft, Milwaukee officials declared the club would take the best player available when it came time for its picks in the draft.

 

Henry's selection seems like evidence of the Brewers' philosophy, since they also took Puerto Rico catcher Mario Feliciano with the 75th overall pick.

 

Feliciano was ranked as the 103rd best prospect in the draft by Baseball America. Henry was No. 153.

 

If he signs, Henry could be assigned to the Brewers' Rookie League team in Helena. If that happens, he will enjoy a homecoming when the Brewers visit Ogden for a four-game series July 16-19.

[Mass Haas]

Provo Herald on Payton Henry (full article)

 

Dad: "He will make his decision (if he signs) by Monday."

[LouisEly]

I really like what they did on day 2. Any pitcher drafted in the 3rd round or later is going to have at least one wart; the question is whether professional coaching will be able to fix those warts. Overall I think they got really good value with the pitchers, and if they can sign Henry and Thomas it will be quite the draft.

 

I know that Ray will not be a huge under-sign, but if they have a deal with him that is $400-500K under slot and that amount (plus the savings on the York pick) is enough to bring Thomas in the fold I will be very happy. With Henry I don't think it is about money, I think it is about whether they will give him two years off to do a mission.

[WV Brew]

Trever Morrison missed a bunch of games for Oregon State at the end of the year with a broken hand.

 

link

[1992casey]

The draft is going so fast today that the audio is next to impossible to follow. Since the mlb.com tracker hasn't updated at all today, all I can gather are bits and pieces. The Brewers have drafted a guy named Morrison, so we have another musical connection. And Dan Plesac's son was just selected by someone; the team has slipped my mind. The only thing I'm sure of is that I'm posting to the right thread because we're still before round 20.

[WV Brew]

Chad McClanahan in rd 11. Prep from Phoenix who is an Arizona State commit (1B/3B). Thomas Jankins in Rd 12. Pitcher/SS from Quinnipiac (Massachusetts native).

[miggs721]

I think we will be able to sign Chad Mclanahan, our 11th round pick, a 3rd baseman committed to ASU

[1992casey]

Morrison must have been round 13.

[Eye Black]

12th or 13th round was Thomas Jankins RHP from Quinnipiac.

[SRB]

It's a down year for Draft talent in Arizona this year, with just one player -- ASU's Bobby Dalbec -- cracking the top 100. McClanahan might be the best high schooler in the state, one who impressed early on when there were general managers aplenty going to see amateur games during Spring Training. The big corner infielder came back down to earth a little bit, but his name was generating some decent top few rounds buzz as the Draft approached. The 6-foot-5 left-handed hitter has a ton of offensive projection and already has a good feel to hit with knowledge of where the barrel of the bat needs to be. He's shown in-game power during his senior year and there should be more as he fills out his frame and adds strength. A solid athlete who also played football, McClanahan has a solid arm at third, though most see a move to first base in his future. He might be athletic enough to handle left field. The biggest question regarding McClanahan might be his signability. The Phoenix native is committed to Arizona State and it was believed that it might be tough to lure him away from heading to campus.

[WV Brew]

Morrison was 12th round. I put the wrong round for Jankins.

[1992casey]

JSOnline is one step ahead of mlb.com:

 

http://www.jsonline.com/blogs/sports/382572821.html

 

The page is currently updated to include McClanahan.