2017 Official Draft Pick Selection/Signing Thread

[And That]

This thread will be used to post all draft picks in order of their selection, as well as page-by-page details of the picks, which we will slowly but surely add to in the coming days.

 

A moderator will update the picks and player profiles. If you have comments/links about a player, please post them in the appropriate discussion thread.

 

Bold indicates the player has signed.

 

1 (9). Keston Hiura, 2B/OF, UC Irvine (California)

CB Rd. A (34). Tristen Lutz, OF, Martin HS (Texas)

2 (46). Caden Lemons, RHP, Vestavia Hills HS (Alabama)

3 (84). KJ Harrison, C/1B, Oregon State (Oregon)

4 (114). Brendan Murphy, LHP, Mundelein HS (Illinois)

5 (144). Nick Egnatuk, 3B, Immaculata HS (New Jersey)

6 (174). Devin Hairston, 2B/SS, Louisville (Kentucky)

7 (204). Bowden Francis, RHP, Chipola College (Florida)

8 (234). Jayson Rose, RHP, Utah (Utah)

9 (264). Dallas Carroll, 3B, Utah (Utah)

10 (294). Alec Bettinger, RHP, Virginia (Virginia)

11 (324). Max Lazar, RHP, Coral Springs HS (Florida)

12 (354). Je'Von Ward, CF, Gahr HS (California)

13 (384). Abdiel Layer, SS, Colegio Angel David HS (Puerto Rico) WILL NOT SIGN

14 (414). Gage Workman, SS, Basha HS (Arizona) WILL NOT SIGN

15 (444). Christian Santana, RHP, American Heritage School (Florida) WILL NOT SIGN

16 (474). Justin Bullock, RHP, South Granville HS (North Carolina)

17 (504). LG Castillo, CF, Lancaster HS (New York)

18 (534). Ledgend Smith, LHP, Binger Oney HS (Oklahoma) WILL NOT SIGN

19 (564). Noah Campbell, SS, Cardinal Gibbons HS (North Carolina) WILL NOT SIGN

20 (594). Austin Rubick, RHP, Ventura College (California)

21 (624). Dylan File, RHP, Dixie State (Utah)

22 (654). Brandon Presley, LHP, Florida Southwestern State College (Florida)

23 (684). Cam Robinson, RHP, University HS (Florida)

24 (711). Robbie Hitt, RHP, Quinnipac (Connecticut)

25 (744). Karlos Morales, LHP, South Hills HS (California)

26 (774). Carson McCusker, RF, Folsom Lake College (California) WILL NOT SIGN

27 (804). Cody Martin, RHP, University of Tampa (Florida)

28 (834). Roberto Delgado, RHP, Oklahoma City University (Oklahoma)

29 (864). Brent Diaz, C, Louisiana Tech (Louisiana)

30 (894). Cody Beckman, LHP, North Carolina State (North Carolina)

31 (924). Rylan Kaufman, LHP, Friendswood HS (Texas) WILL NOT SIGN

32 (954). Miller Hogan, RHP, St. Louis University (Missouri) WILL NOT SIGN

33 (984). Kyle Jacobsen, CF, Allatoona HS (Georgia) WILL NOT SIGN

34 (1014). Garrett Crochet, LHP, Ocean Springs HS (Mississippi) WILL NOT SIGN

35 (1044). Davis Bradshaw, CF, McLaurin HS (Mississippi) WILL NOT SIGN

36 (1074). Kenny Corey, IF, UC Santa Barbara (California)

37 (1104). Christian Taugner, RHP, Brown (Rhode Island)

38 (1134). Robie Rojas, C, Sam Houston State (Texas)

39 (1164). Robert Henry, CF, Brown (Rhode Island)

40 (1194). Trevor Koenig, LHP, St. Cloud Tech HS (Minnesota) WILL NOT SIGN

[And That]

ROUND 1: Keston Hiura, 2B/OF

 

http://www.baseballamerica.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/01/Keston-Hiura-2016-tf.jpg

(Photo: Tony Farlow)

 

Height: 6'0

Weight: 185

B/T: R/R

School: UC Irvine

Hometown: Valencia, CA

DOB: 8/2/96

 

SCOUTING REPORT:

MLB Pipeline:

Scouting grades: Hit: 60 | Power: 50 | Run: 50 | Arm: 45 | Field: 45 | Overall: 50

 

College bats are often hard to find, especially legitimate first-round candidates. Based on his ability at the plate alone, there is no question Hiura fits that profile. But a lack of a true defensive home, complicated by an elbow injury that has limited him to designated hitter duties only at Cal Irvine this spring, has made it a little tougher to figure out where Hiura belongs on a Draft board.

 

Hiura has hit everywhere he's been, including all three years at Irvine and a strong performance for Team USA this past summer. He has a short stroke with a ton of bat speed. There's been a little more swing and miss to his game this spring, perhaps pressing a tiny bit trying to show how good of a hitter he is to offset any defensive concerns. Even so, he's hit for a high average and shows at least average in-game power, with the ball coming off of his bat differently than most. Hiura has played center field in the past and some second base. His actions are ok on the dirt, but his footwork will need to improve, with some scouts feeling maybe putting him in left so his bat can move more quickly is the best course of action.

 

Some scouts in the area believe Hiura will need Tommy John surgery, which will obviously slow down his development timetable once he joins the pro game. As long as a team knows that going in, they could be getting one of the most advanced bats in the class.

 

Perfect Game:

Every year there seems to be a few prospects who can absolutely hit, and hit at a high level, but raise questions as to where the rest of their game profiles. This year, there is no one in the class more highly thought of and projected to be drafted earlier than UC Irvine's Keston Hiura.

 

Comfortably projected by scouts to have both plus hit and power tools, Hiura is going to be an impact bat at the next level who can hit in the middle of the order and be productive. The concerns, however, have to do with where he's going to end up profiling defensively at the next level. Having played all over the place throughout his career, including second base, third base, and some outfield, Hiura may hit well enough for that conversation not to be a significant one several years down the road.

 

He has been DH'ing all season at UC Irvine due to an elbow issue, one that also caused him to stay out of the defensive lineup with Team USA all of last summer, so that is also an concern for scouts, seeing as it's hard to project a prospect to play a position when they can't actually see the prospect play defense.

 

Regardless of where he ends up playing professionally, and the general consensus among scouts, as well as our own Steve Fiorindo (who has seen Hiura quite a bit), is that he fits best at second base with the ability to move to left field if necessary. Regardless of where he ends up playing defensively he's definitely going to hit and be an impact player as a result. As such, he's almost assuredly a first rounder right now with a chance to sneak into the top half as more and more teams buy the bat and worry about positions later.

 

2080 Baseball:

Nursing an arm injury, Hiura was limited to DH duties for the duration of the spring, leading to questions about his future position and whether he’ll require surgery after the draft. The USA Baseball Collegiate National Team alum is regarded as having one of the better bats in this class and the numbers corroborate that assessment, with Hiura slashing .442/.567/.693 with 50 walks to just 38 strikeouts across 262 plate appearances this season. In addition to the plus hit tool, Hiura also flashes above-average power, capable of hitting 20 home runs annually at the next level.

 

Defensively, Hiura has logged time in the outfield and at second base in the past, with evaluators split as to where they think he fits best as a pro. The path of least resistance may be on the grass, where Hiura would likely require less developmental attention and his bat could push him quickly through a minor league system. Though the potential for surgery is a dark cloud hanging over the profile, Hiura won’t turn 21 until August, making missed time less of a concern. Even with the positional questions Hiura is an elite talent and could come off the board as early as the top ten picks.

 

Chris Crawford:

Hiura is one of the pure right-handed hitters in the class. He has a quick stroke that is built for making hard contact to the opposite field, and if you challenge him, he can turn on pitches well enough to project fringe-average power. He has a below-average arm and is athletically limited, so he's going to have to play in the corner. He's also spent some time at second, but he profiles best as a bat-first corner outfielder who could move quickly because of the advanced hit tool.

 

Baseball America:

Hiura will be one of the toughest calls in the draft, as one of the top college bats available with projection needed for his defense and future position. Offensively, Hiura has few peers in college, as he hit 14 homers as a prep senior in Southern California’s strong Foothill League, then hit his way onto USA Baseball’s Collegiate National Team with two strong seasons to begin his career at UC Irvine. He was one of Team USA’s top hitters while playing DH last summer, then ranked among national leaders in batting, walks, on-base and slugging percentage through early May this spring. At 5-foot-11, 190 pounds, Hiura has a compact swing path, present strength and plus bat speed. Combine that with a feel for the barrel and excellent strike-zone judgment, and Hiura was producing as much hard contact as any hitter in the country. Scouts who like him grade him as a plus hitter with plus power, while others see him above-average (55 on the 20-80 scouting scale) rather than a true plus (60). Hiura has an elbow injury that has kept him from playing in the field since April 2016, and while he had a platelet-rich plasma injection in January that had his arm feeling better, he has not thrown this spring, though he usually takes ground balls in pregame. An average runner who played center and left field in his first two years, Hiura could be an outfielder and could be a second baseman, but most teams believe he’s having elbow surgery as soon as he signs.

 

LINKS:

JS Online - Brewers select college second baseman Keston Hiura in first round despite elbow injury

AUDIO via WSSP 105.7 FM's Morning Show Tue. 6/13: "UC-Irvine Baseball Head Coach Mike Gillespie joined Chuck and Bart to talk about the Brewers first round pick Keston Hiura."

AUDIO via the Bill Michaels Show Tue. 6/13: More with Mike Gillespie

FanRag - What Keston Hiura brings to the Milwaukee Brewers

Santa Clarita Valley Signal - Valencia grad Hiura picked by Brewers at No. 9

The Baseball Cube Statistics: Keston Hiura

[And That]

ROUND CB Rd. A: Tristen Lutz, OF

 

(Photo: Donald J. Boyles)

 

Height: 6'3

Weight: 210

B/T: R/R

School: Martin HS (Texas)

Hometown: Arlington, TX

DOB: 8/22/98

 

SCOUTING REPORT:

MLB Pipeline:

Scouting grades: Hit: 50 | Power: 55 | Run: 50 | Arm: 60 | Field: 55 | Overall: 50

Martin High (Arlington, Texas) has produced a pair of first-rounders in Todd Van Poppel and Ben Grieve and two more big leaguers in Matt Blank and Nathan Karns. Lutz has the potential to add to both lists as he has built off a strong showing at the World Wood Bat Association World Championship in October with a fine senior season.

 

Lutz's calling card is his big right-handed power, the product of bat speed and strength. He might have even more pop if he had less of a crouch in his stance and got more leverage out of his 6-foot-3, 210-pound frame. He's more than just a slugger, as he has natural hitting ability, recognizes pitches well and uses the whole field.

 

If Lutz were more than an average runner, he'd be a lock for the first round. The Texas recruit gets the most out of his speed, running the bases well and showing better-than-expected range in center field. He'll almost certainly move to right field in pro ball, where his strong, accurate arm will play nicely.

 

Perfect Game:

If you put all the top prospects in the country in order according to their physical strength and build, Texas high schooler Tristan Lutz would be right near the top. His 6-foot-3, 210-pound chiseled frame is immensely strong without being tight and restricted and he stands out even on a field crowded with top players.

 

Lutz has also stood out for his performance. He was among the top hitters at two of the last major events on the 2016 circuit, the Area Code Games and the WWBA World Championships, giving scouts a positive last impression going into their winter planning. He has also been a consistent high level for Arlington Martin High School, annually one of the top programs in the country.

 

For a right handed hitter with his strength and raw power, Lutz has a very short and direct swing and has consistently shown the ability to hit the ball as hard to right centerfield as he does pulling the ball. He hits from a deep bent knee crouch, which doesn't help his ability to lift the ball with any consistency, but he does consistently square up the ball hard, which given his strength, results in a steady diet of line drives and extra base hits. Scouts project that his power will improve as he stands taller in the box.

 

Lutz's secondary tools are very solid. He runs in the mid-4.2's from home to first, which is solid average major league speed, and has a plus throwing arm from the outfield. He plays centerfield at present but has the prototype tools to be a above average defender in right field.

 

Lutz has been slowly moving up team's draft boards all spring as more and more scouts appreciate his combination of strength driven tools and polished high school skills. With how much his stock has already gone up, it would be shocking if he even exceeded his second-third round projected draft position above.

 

2080 Baseball:

Lutz is a physical specimen with plus raw power and big-time bat speed. For a big body, he stays relatively short to contact, working with natural loft in his finish and easy carry when he gets into one. Lutz moves well enough to handle center field at present but is a better fit in right at the next level where his solid speed, plus arm, and power profile are a natural fit.

 

While a corner-0outfield profile isn’t an easy first round fit for a prep bat, Lutz’s offensive upside makes him easily one of the top talents in the draft class, placing him squarely in consideration for teams in the back-half of the first round. With a chance to hit for solid average to go with 25-plus home runs annually and enough speed and leather to be an asset on an outfield corner, he’s a lock to come off the board on Day One.

 

LINKS:

Brewers.com - Crew's No. 34 pick is high school OF Lutz

FanRag - What Tristen Lutz brings to the Milwaukee Brewers

[And That]

ROUND 2: Caden Lemons, RHP

 

http://www.chattanoogan.com/photos/2016/3/article.320884.2.large.jpg

(Photo: Dennis Norwood)

 

Height: 6'6

Weight: 175

B/T: R/R

School: Vestavia Hills HS (Alabama)

Hometown: Birmingham, AL

DOB: 12/2/98

 

SCOUTING REPORT:

MLB Pipeline:

Scouting grades: Fastball: 65 | Slider: 50 | Curveball: 45 | Changeup: 50 | Control: 45 | Overall: 45

 

Lemons was a known quantity entering his senior season at Vestavia Hills (Ala.) High, but the difference between his present stuff and his projection was wide enough that he figured to continue his career in college at Mississippi. He has narrowed that gap considerably this spring, however, as his velocity soared and caused his Draft stock to do the same.

 

As a regular on the showcase circuit, Lemons topped out at 91 mph with his fastball. This spring, his heater has sat at 90-93 mph and climbed as high as 97. His 6-foot-6 frame and low three-quarters delivery create difficult angle and sink, increasing his fastball's effectiveness.

 

Lemons struggles to repeat his arm slot, which makes it difficult for him to stay on top of his breaking pitches and control his entire arsenal. His slider shows more potential than his curveball, and he'll flash a changeup as well. Packing more strength onto his slender frame would help him maintain his mechanics better while theoretically adding even more power to his fastball.

 

Perfect Game:

After topping out at around 91 mph and working in the high-80s after PG National, Lemons was seen as a high end projection play and someone, once he filled out his body, could be a strong righthanded arm. The frame is still extremely lean and lanky, but the fastball velocity has ticked up this spring, touching as high as 96-97 mph per some reports and was up to 95 mph during Perfect Game’s single viewing. That kind of power arm normally indicates someone who will be drafted in the top three or four rounds, not someone who finds their way going to college.

 

Lemons has extremely long limbs with a high-waisted frame and extreme length on both his arms and legs. He uses that length to generate extension down the mound and whips his arm throughout a loose and full arm circle. The arm strength and speed along with the coordination of his body allow him to gain that velocity and he goes to the fastball often. Though the fastball has ticked up in terms of the top of the range, he works comfortably in the 89-92 mph range.

 

Currently, the secondary pitch that Lemons has the most confidence in is his big breaking curveball. The pitch generates good angle upon delivery and shows sharpness with downward tilt in the mid-70s. It is an effective offering both at being thrown for strikes in the zone and getting chase swings down in the zone.

 

He has had some of the strongest buzz and has climbed draft boards as one of the biggest risers this spring, mostly due to his increased velocity. Regardless, Lemons has an extremely high ceiling as a pitcher and if he can add some good weight, whether that be through professional training programs or in a college program, the velocity of his fastball should only continue to climb. The projection still left on his body and arm coupled with the current velocity levels make Lemons an extremely intriguing piece to MLB organizations come June’s draft.

 

2080 Baseball:

Lemons is a long, limby power arm with lots of sling to his game. The Ole Miss commit has seen a marked increase in his velocity this spring, now sitting regularly in the low 90s and reaching up into the 96/97 mph range on occasion in the early innings. Evaluators love the projection in his frame and the uncomfortable at bats he forces upon hitters thanks to his long limbs and solid extension.

 

Lemons shows some feel for a rudimentary slider that can flash average and has worked with a fringy changeup as well, each of which show promise. He’ll break off an occasional “show me” curveball, as well, though it may lack utility at the next level. Lemons fits somewhere in the third to fifth round range, depending on your thoughts on spring velo spikes and the likelihood of long-limber prep arms growing into average control and command.

 

LINKS:

Ledger-Enquirer - Former Northern Little League player taken high in MLB draft

[And That]

ROUND 3: KJ Harrison, C/1B

 

(Photo: Oregon State Athletics)

 

Height: 6'2

Weight: 205

B/T: R/R

School: Oregon State

Hometown: Kailua, HI

DOB: 8/11/96

 

SCOUTING REPORT:

 

MLB Pipeline:

Scouting grades: Hit: 55 | Power: 50 | Run: 30 | Arm: 50 | Field: 50 | Overall: 45

Harrison played his high school ball in Hawaii for his father Kenny, who played briefly in the Pirates system, and was an intriguing enough offensive-minded catching prospect for the Indians to select late in the 2014 Draft. After three years at Oregon State, the bat skills are still there, though the catching ones might not be.

 

Harrison has shown the ability to hit for average and power at times for the Beavers, reaching double digits in home runs as both a freshman and sophomore. That power hasn't shown up as much in his junior season, but some of that is because of a more refined approach at the plate and a willingness to take what pitchers are giving him. He's been pitched away a lot, and rather than sell out for power, he's tried not to do too much, and many scouts feel the pop is very much still there. As a right-handed-hitting first baseman, it will have to be at the next level.

 

Harrison has caught a few times this spring, but not enough for teams to have a real comfort level with how he looks back there. Some scouts believe he could go back behind the plate, but wonder if it would slow down his advanced bat too much. Being able to catch would obviously increase his value, but it's his bat that will get him drafted in the early rounds regardless of position.

 

Perfect Game:

One of the potentially more intriguing storylines of the 2017 draft, Oregon State’s K.J. Harrison has been lauded as one of the best pure hitters in college baseball since stepping foot on campus, but retains some positional concerns about where he’ll profile in professional baseball.

 

A catcher by nature, Harrison hasn’t seen a lot of reps behind the plate, due mostly to the presence of ’16 third rounder Logan Ice and current freshman Adley Rutschman, but his tools at the catcher positon are intriguing even though he’s spent most of his time at first base, where he’s a solid defender in his own right. He has solid arm strength and his footwork on throw downs is clean, but the blocking skills and overall lateral agility raise some question marks, as does the projectability of his receiving skills.

 

Regardless, Harrison’s calling card is the bat. He’s hitting .365/.427/.510 thus far in 2017 and has shown over the course of his career that there is plenty of juice in the bat as well. With a very easy, powerful swing generating plenty of bat speed and seemingly effortless loft, Harrison projects to hit for both average and power at the next level, and collectively scouts aren’t worried about projecting his bat into the future.

 

His draft stock likely hinges on where he profiles defensively. If a team believes he can catch at an average level long-term he’ll likely be taken quite high in the draft, whereas if he’s seen as more of a first baseman he could slip a little. From our perspective, there’s no reason not to send him out as a catcher when first signed, as he shows the tools necessary to project behind the plate long-term with more and more repetitions.

 

2080 Baseball:

Since arriving at Corvallis in 2015, multi-position K.J. Harrison has consistently shown a strong hit tool, slashing .300/.396/.520 and twice earning All-Pac-12 honors. During OSU’s recent series against Stanford (7-for-13 with five RBIs), Harrison continued hitting everything thrown at him, leading the Beavers through a perfect weekend.

 

Harrison possesses a compact, mature body, with muscular strength in his lower half to match his broad shoulders and chest. The first baseman and catcher was relegated to DH duties during the weekend due to a lingering wrist issue, but the injury didn’t phase his offensive game.

 

Starting from a crouched stance, Harrison utilizes a moderate leg lift as a timing mechanism while transferring power into his back leg and hip. The hands show a little wiggle pre-pitch, but quiet down while loading before exploding into the zone with a short, compact swing. Harrison makes hard contact at the front of the hitting area, finishing up and through balls to create loft and utilize his strong frame to drive pitches into the outfield. With a swing that has some moving parts, Harrison showed athleticism and timing regularly finishing in a balanced position and making hard contact. He showed a keen ability to recognize pitches, fouling off tougher ones before doing damage to mistakes up in the zone. He may need to show more in-game power potential to entice teams that view him as more of a first baseman than as a catcher, over the long term, but either way he should get early-round attention thanks to the hit tool alone.

 

Chris Crawford:

During his freshman season, Harrison looked like a potential first-round pick. Two poor summers and a so-so sophomore year have seen his stock drop substantially, but there are still reasons to be intrigued.

 

Harrison has big raw power from the right side, generated from his strong wrists and leverage. The swing has considerable length, however, and his struggled with offspeed pitches make the hit tool below-average. He’s a former catcher and still possesses a strong arm, and he should be fine at the not-so-hot corner.

 

There’s risk here, but a team who falls in love with the power will take Harrison before the end of round three -- assuming he bounces back from his poor summer.

 

LINKS:

JS Online - Brewers believe Oregon State's K.J. Harrison has tools for catcher

The Baseball Cube Statistics: K.J. Harrison

[And That]

ROUND 4: Brendan Murphy, LHP

 

http://www.dailyherald.com/storyimage/DA/20160426/sports/160428921/AR/0/AR-160428921.jpg&updated=201604262221&MaxW=800&maxH=800&noborder

(Photo: Steve Lundy)

 

Height: 6'4

Weight: 200

B/T: L/L

School: Mundelein HS (Illinois)

Hometown: Mundelein, IL

DOB: 1/1/99

 

SCOUTING REPORT:

 

MLB Pipeline:

Scouting grades: Fastball: 60 | Curveball: 45 | Changeup: 55 | Control: 50 | Overall: 45

For the second time in six Drafts, scouts are flocking to see a left-hander at Mundelein (Ill.) High. Ryan Borucki landed late third-round money ($426,000) after dropping to the 15th round because he needed Tommy John surgery. Murphy hasn't had any health issues and could go in the top five rounds this June as clearly the top prospect in the state of Illinois.

 

Murphy usually operates at 88-91 mph and tops out at 93 with his fastball. He commands it well, generates some armside run and should have a plus heater once his 6-foot-4 frame adds muscle. He does a good job of selling his fading changeup, which shows signs of becoming a plus pitch.

 

Murphy exhibits much more feel for his changeup than his slurvy breaking ball. It's more of a soft curveball at this point, and he may be better off working with a harder slider in the future. More strong than athletic, the Arizona State recruit repeats his delivery and lives in the strike zone.

 

Perfect Game:

Murphy has been on the prospect radar for a good while now, having participated in the prestigious Perfect Game National Showcase last summer and followed that up with an appearance at the Area Codes in August. Always lauded as a projectable, athletic lefthander with good size and a good changeup; Murphy retains that profile, but has taken several steps forward this spring regardless.

 

Now working consistently in the 88-93 mph range with his fastball, Murphy creates good angles to the plate and and both his body and ease of operation lead scouts to believe that he has some projection remaining in terms of velocity. His changeup is still his out pitch, flashing plus pretty often this spring and doing enough to earn consistent 55 (on the 20-80 scale) grades from scouts. The change has late, bottom-falling-out action at the plate with good deception and velocity differential; and projects to miss bats consistently for the rest of his career. His slider still lags behind the fastball/changeup combo at this point; but has flashed enough sharpness and spin this spring to earn some average projections from scouts. With a good body, projection remaining, and potentially three average-or-better pitches; Murphy is a bit of wildcard in the Midwest. Some scouts believe he could come off the board as early as the top of the 3rd round.

 

LINKS:

Chicago Tribune - Mundelein's Brendan Murphy, Libertyville's Evan Skoug taken in MLB draft

Daily Herald - Mundelein pitcher Murphy drafted by Milwaukee Brewers

[And That]

ROUND 5: Nick Egnatuk, 3B

 

http://media.nj.com/njcom_photos/photo/2015/04/30/17667720-large.jpg

(Photo: James Kratch)

 

Height: 6'2

Weight: 185

B/T: R/R

School: Immaculata HS (New Jersey)

Hometown: Basking Ridge, NJ

DOB: 12/21/98

 

SCOUTING REPORT:

 

MLB Pipeline:

A high school infielder, Egnatuk wows scouts in batting practice with 60-grade raw power, but he hits a lot of ground balls during games. He's struggled against good pitching, and a bulky body might require him to move to left field at the next level. But the potential to put the ball out of the ballpark is there.

 

Perfect Game:

Egnatuk wasn't on most scout's radars before last August but was very impressive, especially offensively, in the East Coast Pro Showcase and the Area Code Games that month to establish himself as perhaps a late rising Northeast hitting prospect.

 

Egnatuk's best tool is unquestionably his right handed bat. He has a crisp and strong swing that is high on line drive contact and enough strength to drive the gaps. He also runs from 4.2 to 4.3 from the right side and will be able to beat out some infield hits and stretch some singles into doubles. Defensively, Egnatuk has shown the ability to make the athletic play, especially with his athletic quickness, but will need more repetitions to get consistent on the routine plays. His arm has big league average strength but his lower release slot tends to make some throws tail.

 

LINKS:

 

GET TO KNOW: 2017 3B NICK EGNATUK

Brewers select Immaculata's Nick Egnatuk in MLB Draft

[And That]

ROUND 6: Devin Hairston, 2B/SS

 

http://www.kyforward.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/06/Devin-Hairson.jpg

(Photo: University of Louisville)

 

Height: 5'7

Weight: 170

B/T: R/R

School: Louisville

Hometown: Lexington, KY

DOB: 4/7/96

 

SCOUTING REPORT:

 

MLB Pipeline:

Though he has been one of the best players on one of college baseball's best teams this spring, Hairston creates mixed opinions among scouts. Those who like him think he could go as high as the third round and envision him as a big league utilityman and perhaps even a regular if he hits enough. Those who don't worry about his lack of size and speed and can't find a profile he fits.

 

A versatile defender who can play anywhere in the infield, Hairston committed just two errors in his first 58 games this spring. He doesn't have great range at shortstop and his arm hasn't bounced all the way back since surgery to transpose a nerve in his elbow during the fall, yet he still finds a way to make plays. He likely will fit better at second base in pro ball, though his instincts are exceptional and his proponents won't bet against him being able to handle shortstop.

 

Hairston occasionally can turn on balls, but at 5-foot-7 and 170 pounds he knows he won't be a power hitter. He concentrates on making contact from the right side of the plate and has good bat-on-ball skills. He doesn't walk much and he's a below-average runner, so he'll contribute little offensively beyond his batting average.

 

Perfect Game:

Hairston is a well-known name among scouts and evaluators, something that’s bound to happen when you’re the starting shortstop on one of the nation’s top collegiate teams, along with making a stint on the Collegiate National Team. He’s a quality athlete and defender, projecting to stay up the middle, thanks to his instincts and advanced overall actions. His approach at the plate is geared to a high contact rate while working the gaps, showing a short and quick stroke with a nice overall feel for the barrel. On the whole Hairston is a solid baseball player who has performed at a very high level each of the last two seasons and is a key piece that help makes the offense go.

 

2080 Baseball:

Hairston’s is a tough profile to nail down. The diminutive shortstop shows a high level of comfort and high baseball IQ on the field to go with a solid track record of performance, but he’s a fringy runner with below-average pop who might not have quite enough strength and speed to fit into a true super-utility role at the next level.

 

Hairston is an aggressive bat who can sting the ball to the pull side, but is less effective driving the opposite field gap. He’s cool in the box and matched up well against better arms this year, but the ceiling for damage is limited and he’ll likely need to rely on quality of contact and BABIP in order to produce enough to be a regular on a 25-man roster. He could fit in the fourth- to sixth-round range, with teams who believe there is a little more pop to unlock skewing towards the early part of that range.

 

LINKS:

The Baseball Cube Statistics: Devin Hairston

[And That]

ROUND 7: Bowden Francis, RHP

 

(Photo: Chipola Athletics)

 

Height: 6'5

Weight: 235

B/T: R/R

School: Chipola College (Florida)

Hometown: Tallahassee, FL

DOB: 4/22/96

 

SCOUTING REPORT:

 

Perfect Game:

An extremely physical righthander who is committed to hometown Florida State; Chipola's Bowden Francis did a great job of helping to lead Chipola to a National Championship this year. As a matter of fact, with ace Evan Steele missing a good part of the season, Francis led the team in innings pitched. Francis primarily works with a fastball in the mid-90's, touching as high as 97 mph this season; attacking hitters with the pitch early and often while doing a pretty solid job overall of throwing consistent strikes. He also mixes in a breaking ball that will show as a solid average offering at times; though it will need continued refinement.

 

LINKS:

Brew Crew Ball - Meet the Milwaukee Brewers’ 7th Round Pick Bowden Francis

Tallahassee Democrat - Francis brothers go in MLB Draft

[And That]

ROUND 8: Jayson Rose, RHP

 

http://www.sltrib.com/csp/mediapool/sites/dt.common.streams.StreamServer.cls?STREAMOID=rmJoISoaeE5P9FOLgnZAxc$daE2N3K4ZzOUsqbU5sYuQydbK4$iXBMnDqig95ObKWCsjLu883Ygn4B49Lvm9bPe2QeMKQdVeZmXF$9l$4uCZ8QDXhaHEp3rvzXRJFdy0KqPHLoMevcTLo3h8xh70Y6N_U_CryOsw6FTOdKL_jpQ-&CONTENTTYPE=image/jpeg

(Photo: Bruce Newman)

 

Height: 6'0

Weight: 180

B/T: R/R

School: Utah

Hometown: Alpine, CA

DOB: 2/20/96

 

SCOUTING REPORT:

 

Perfect Game:

Rose isn't getting as much draft buzz as fellow Ute Riley Ottesen, but Rose is very good in his own right. The ace of the staff for two years now, Rose is a bit undersized and his slender frame causes some concerns in terms of potential durability over 200+ innings at the professional level; but Rose has been very durable at Utah, regardless. He threw 94 innings this season with a 3.35 ERA, striking out 82 hitters in those 94 frames and allowing a mere .241 batting average against. The calling card for Rose is undoubtedly his plus changeup, which he's comfortable throwing in any count vs. any hitter, and will double/triple up on the pitch as well. He has been up to 92-93 mph with his fastball but usually sits in the 87-91 mph range with solid control; and he does a good job of using a pair of fringe-average offerings in his slider and curveball to set up the fastball/changeup combo.

 

2080 Baseball:

To say that Rose has a live arm would be an understatement. His ability to get his arm quickly through the slot was one of the first things I noticed, and something that stuck with me through his outing. The junior righty didn’t get the win Friday night in Corvallis, but it wasn’t due to a lack of performance on his part. Equipped with a deceptive, low-90s fastball that jumped on hitters, a live two-seamer that runs away from lefties, a circle changeup that generated plenty of whiffs, and wipeout breaking ball, Rose limited the Beavers to five hits and two earned runs with eight punch outs over seven innings.

 

The Golden Spikes Award watch list member hasn’t had the best numbers this season thus far, but Friday’s start was a big step forward, after a rough outing in which he gave up nine runs to Oregon the previous week. Along with his good stuff, Rose showed great poise, as he was un-phased pitching through rain showers and fielding errors. Given Rose’s small frame, he may be better suited for the bullpen in the long term, where his live arm can play up in shorter stints. However, he does have multiple offerings and a deceptive delivery that plays the stuff up so there’s a good chance a major league team tries to develop him as a starter. If Rose can take his stuff from Friday into his future starts, he should see his name being called in the middle-20s rounds of the 2017 MLB draft.

 

LINKS:

The Baseball Cube Statistics: Jayson Rose

[And That]

ROUND 9: Dallas Carroll, 3B

 

http://www.sltrib.com/csp/mediapool/sites/dt.common.streams.StreamServer.cls?STREAMOID=VGl55H7LNxWT3FB7HWO32s$daE2N3K4ZzOUsqbU5sYsimmJi7GY5e1Il6dnv_uMSWCsjLu883Ygn4B49Lvm9bPe2QeMKQdVeZmXF$9l$4uCZ8QDXhaHEp3rvzXRJFdy0KqPHLoMevcTLo3h8xh70Y6N_U_CryOsw6FTOdKL_jpQ-&CONTENTTYPE=image/jpeg

(Photo: Steve Griffin)

 

Height: 6'0

Weight: 205

B/T: R/R

School: Utah

Hometown: West Jordan, UT

DOB: 5/18/94

 

SCOUTING REPORT:

 

Perfect Game:

One of the better contact hitters in college baseball, Carrol had a very good senior season for the Utes, leading the team in hitting at .369 with an overall slash of .369/.465/.591. He collected 17 doubles and 7 home runs; but what really stands out is that Carroll only struck out 19 times in just shy of 250 plate appearances. Carrol's best tool is that pure bat to ball skill; he's capable of manipulating the barrel and while he can get bat on nearly everything; he's not over-aggressive and is willing to take his walks. As a matter of fact, his approach is rather patient; a pretty good trait to have when coupled with his bat-to-ball skills and gap pop. He's a decent defender at third base and should be fine there long term, overall. He's also commended for his makeup and leadership skills.

 

2080 Baseball:

Carroll is the anchor in the Utes’ lineup, with a .404 batting average and 14 extra-base hits entering last weekend. The senior mans the hot corner and should be able to stay there at the next level given his strong arm and plus instincts. Carroll struggled on Friday against Beavers’ ace Luke Heimlich, going 0-4, but he did bounce back on Saturday with a double and a clutch two-out solo home run in the 16th inning that nearly ended Oregon State’s consecutive win streak. Sunday was relatively quite for him as he went 0-for-2 with a walk.

 

Despite only recording three hits this weekend, Carroll stands out for his advanced feel for contact (11 strikeouts in 127 plate appearances this season), which could serve him well at the next level. Rather than having one outstanding tool, Carroll is the type of player that is solid at all facets of the game. He has above-average bat speed that translates into gap-to-gap power. An above-average runner for a third baseman, Carroll is on pace for 10-to-15 stolen bases this season. With a solid all-around tool set, Carroll should get drafted in the middle rounds of the draft as a senior sign. He clearly has a high baseball aptitude, which could help him move to the upper levels of an organization’s system quickly.

 

LINKS:

The Baseball Cube Statistics: Dallas Carroll

[And That]

ROUND 10: Alec Bettinger, RHP

 

(Photo: Virginia Athletics)

 

Height: 6'2

Weight: 185

B/T: R/R

School: Virginia

Hometown: Woodbridge, VA

DOB: 7/13/95

 

SCOUTING REPORT:

 

D1 Baseball:

Bettinger is a very seasoned senior righty with an 87-91 fastball and three decent secondary pitches, but he needs to refine his command.

 

LINKS:

InsideNOVA - Milwaukee Brewers select Hylton graduate Alec Bettinger in 10th round

The Baseball Cube Statistics: Alec Bettinger

[And That]

ROUND 11: Max Lazar, RHP

 

http://www.elitesquadbaseball.org/wp-content/uploads/2016/08/CpDW4VpUkAEdShg.jpg

(Graphic: Florida Atlantic University)

 

Height: 6'3

Weight: 165

B/T: R/R

School: Coral Springs HS (Florida)

Hometown: Coral Springs, FL

DOB: 6/3/99

 

SCOUTING REPORT:

 

Prep Baseball Report:

The FAU commit has been on the rise throughout the spring, not only continuing to showcase his ability to pound the strike zone, but do it with a 90-91 mph fastball that holds up over seven innings. He has a high front side and clean, high 3/4 slot that produces quality tilt on the fastball with late life. The off speed offerings will need to improve, but he has shown the ability to throw strikes with quality stuff and projectability.

 

LINKS:

[And That]

ROUND 12: Je'Von Ward, CF

 

(Photo: Thomas R. Cordova)

 

Height: 6'5

Weight: 190

B/T: L/R

School: Gahr HS (California)

Hometown: Long Beach, CA

DOB: 10/25/99

 

SCOUTING REPORT:

 

Perfect Game:

A 2016 Perfect Game All-American, Carrier-Ward's future as a prospect lies heavily in his offensive projection, especially with how he develops his outstanding power potential. He has a long limbed 6-foot-5 build with a young body and won't turn 18 years old until late October. Carrier-Ward has always had advanced barrel to ball skills for a taller young player and has made significant gains with his strength and raw bat speed over the last year.

 

Athletically, Carrier-Ward fits a left field/first base profile on defense, with sub-7.0 speed in the sixty but a below average throwing arm on the big league scouts scale. If he fulfills his power projection, his defense will be a secondary concern.

 

LINKS:

[And That]

ROUND 13: Abdiel Layer, SS

 

http://elvocero.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/01/IMG_3981-2-795x530.jpg

(Photo: Bryan Eloy Garcia)

 

Height: 6'2

Weight: 170

B/T: S/R

School: Colegio Angel David HS (Puerto Rico)

Hometown: San Juan, PR

DOB: 8/8/98

 

SCOUTING REPORT:

 

Perfect Game:

Abdiel Layer is a 2017 SS/2B with a 6-2 165 lb. frame from San Juan, PR who attends Colegio Angel David HS. Tall and slender athletic build, looks like he's gained some strength and has plenty of room to add more. 6.80 runner, has good balance and body control in the infield, shows athleticism, good hands to both sides, can come and get the ball and get ride of it quickly, smooth defender, arm strength solid and projectable. Switch hitter, better bat speed and strength right handed, has a fluid swing that is just waiting for the strength to kick in, more rotational and mechanical left handed. Should keep improving as he gets stronger in all areas.

 

 

LINKS:

[And That]

ROUND 14: Gage Workman, SS

 

http://mediadownloads.mlb.com/mlbam/2017/03/25/images/mlbf_1247179583_th_43.jpg

(Photo: MLB.com)

 

Height: 6'3

Weight: 185

B/T: S/R

School: Basha HS (Arizona)

Hometown: Queen Creek, AZ

DOB: 10/24/99

 

SCOUTING REPORT:

 

Perfect Game:

Workman was originally part of the 2018 class until reclassifying as a 2017 last year and is exceptionally young for a 2017 prospect, with an October, 1999 birthdate. Workman's father, Widd, was a third round pick out of Arizona State in 1996 as a right handed pitcher, marking the fourth time he'd been draft since graduating high school in 1992, in part because he was draft eligible during his two-year LDS mission.

 

Workman is a loose and graceful athlete with tons of physical projection due to his build and age. His most projectable tool is his swing and power potential, power potential that probably won't be realized for years but is definitely there with Workman's swing type waiting for future strength to kick in. Workman has played shortstop in the past but profiles best at third base moving forward and could be potentially above average there with time.

 

LINKS:

[And That]

ROUND 15: Christian Santana, RHP

 

http://www.baseballamerica.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/03/Christian-Santana-2017-abr.jpg

(Photo: Baseball America)

 

Height: 6'2

Weight: 190

B/T: R/R

School: American Heritage School (Florida)

Hometown: Hialeah, FL

DOB: 7/17/99

 

SCOUTING REPORT:

 

Perfect Game:

Santana is a young right hander who won't turn 18 years old until after the draft but who has a strong but still very projectable build that is ideal for a pitching prospect. He has a full, loose arm action and a high 3/4's arm slot and has learned to repeat his mechanics much better this spring than he has previously demonstrated. Santana's fastball has been up to 94 mph this spring and he's maintained his velocity well while showing an improved ability to throw strikes to different spots. Santana's curveball has also become more consistent in both spin and release and become a legitimate second weapon for him.

 

LINKS:

[And That]

ROUND 16: Justin Bullock, RHP

 

http://www.newsobserver.com/sports/high-school/jxwm7s/picture90223522/alternates/FREE_640/Bullock

(Photo: Dean Strickland)

 

Height: 6'2

Weight: 195

B/T: R/R

School: South Granville HS (North Carolina)

Hometown: Creedmoor, NC

DOB: 5/12/99

 

SCOUTING REPORT:

 

Perfect Game:

Bullock just concluded one of the more impressive four-year varsity careers in the 2017 class as a two-way player, going 11-1, 0.55 on the mound with 124 strikeouts in 63 innings and hitting .476-11-46 with 16 doubles in 30 games. His career totals are 37-9, 1.49 on the mound and .436-30-131 at the plate.

 

Bullock will be a primary pitcher at the next level, although the possibility of his playing two-ways at North Carolina State certainly exists. He throws from a complex, multi-part arm action and delivery that has plenty of energy in it but his athleticism enables him to hold those mechanics together well. Bullock's fastball generally works in the 89-91 mph range and will top out at 93, while he does a good job throwing strikes with a big breaking mid-70's curveball and fairly advanced changeup.

 

LINKS:

[And That]

ROUND 17: LG Castillo, CF

 

http://s3.amazonaws.com/bncore/wp-content/uploads/2017/06/Castillo-1.jpg

(Photo: Harry Scull Jr.)

 

Height: 6'2

Weight: 215

B/T: R/R

School: Lancaster HS (New York)

Hometown: Lancaster, NY

DOB: 7/18/99

 

SCOUTING REPORT:

 

Perfect Game:

Castillo is a superb athlete who is listed at 225 pounds for football, where he was an All-State selection at wide receiver and also punted and returned kicks, but also runs a 6.5 sixty. He has huge strength in his right handed swing in baseball and can hit the ball as hard as any player in the class.

 

Despite this, Castillo falls firmly into the category of players who need much more seasoning before they try their hand at professional baseball. He has a very arm oriented swing at the plate that incorporates very little lower half for either bat speed or timing and has young left field tools and fundamentals on defense.

 

LINKS:

[And That]

ROUND 18: Ledgend Smith, LHP

 

(Photo: KT King)

 

Height: 6'3

Weight: 206

B/T: L/L

School: Binger Oney HS (Oklahoma)

Hometown: Norman, OK

DOB: 1/14/99

 

SCOUTING REPORT:

 

Prep Baseball Report:

LHP Ledgend Smith (Binger-Oney HS, OK) has a 6-foot-2, 190-pound athletic frame and can pitch at 87-90, touching 91.

 

LINKS:

[And That]

ROUND 19: Noah Campbell, SS

 

http://www.baseballamerica.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/06/Noah-Campbell-2017-abr.jpg

(Photo: Baseball America)

 

Height: 6'0

Weight: 185

B/T: S/R

School: Cardinal Gibbons HS (North Carolina)

Hometown: Durham, NC

DOB: 6/06/99

 

SCOUTING REPORT:

 

Perfect Game:

Campbell is a switch-hitter who is currently much better from the left side of the plate and by the end of last summer, where he was a regular at major events, was hitting left handed even against left handed pitchers. His left handed swing is strong with very good bat speed and plenty of gap power and Campbell's 55/60 grade running speed enables him to beat out hits from the left side and take extra bases. Campbell had a strong spring offensively, hitting .478-3-21 in 23 games with 15 stolen bases.

 

Defensively, Campbell seems to be best suited for second base at the next level or perhaps third base. His father, Darin, was drafted three times during the 1980's, including in the fifth round out of high school in 1985 and eventually signed as a 22nd rounder out of UNC in 1988 with the Indians. The elder Campbell played third base during his short professional career.

 

LINKS:

[And That]

ROUND 20: Austin Rubick, RHP

 

http://cdnak1.psbin.com/img/mw=450/cr=n/d=m4buw/ofys4ofnsbp3r6x6.jpg

(Photo: Ventura College Athletics)

 

Height: 6'4

Weight: 205

B/T: R/R

School: Ventura College (California)

Hometown: Buena, CA

DOB: 8/11/97

 

SCOUTING REPORT:

 

Perfect Game (September 2016):

The highly touted Rubick struggled in both his freshman year at Arizona and this summer with the Halos. Despite the choppy results, there is no denying the arm talent that motivated the Indians to take him in the 27th round of the 2015 draft. Rubick has the ideal pitcher's build at 6-foot-3 and 210-pounds and his fastball works in the low-90s. Rubick has transferred to Ventura College for his sophomore year and this might be the perfect environment for him to begin to harness his big arm.

 

LINKS:

[And That]

ROUND 21: Dylan File, RHP

 

(Photo: Stan Plewe)

 

Height: 6'1

Weight: 180

B/T: R/R

School: Dixie State (Utah)

Hometown: St. George, UT

DOB: 6/4/96

 

SCOUTING REPORT:

 

LINKS:

The Spectrum - Dixie State's Dylan File drafted by Brewers

[And That]

ROUND 22: Brandon Presley, LHP

 

(Photo: Linwood Ferguson)

 

Height: 6'7

Weight: 205

B/T: R/L

School: Florida Southwestern State College

Hometown: Key West, FL

DOB: 11/21/96

 

SCOUTING REPORT:

 

LINKS:

[And That]

ROUND 23: Cam Robinson, RHP

 

(Photo: orlandohighschoolbaseball.com)

 

Height: 5'11

Weight: 187

B/T: R/R

School: University HS (Florida)

Hometown: Deltona, FL

DOB: 9/06/99

 

SCOUTING REPORT:

Perfect Game:

Cameron Robinson is a 2017 RHP/OF with a 6-0 175 lb. frame from Deltona, FL who attends University HS. Medium athletic build, has some developing strength. High 3/4's to over the top arm slot with a balanced pause over the rubber, will drift to the plate early at times creating command/consistency issues, arm is fast and loose coming through. Fastball up to 91 mph, velocity comes easy and is consistent, fastball mostly straight. Hard slurve type breaking ball, is tight and sharp when he stays behind it and his arm is on time. Did not observe a change up. Has two very good pitches if he can develop consistency in his mechanics; he is athletic enough to do so. Ran a 6.93 in the sixty and showed his arm strength and athleticism from the outfield. Good student, verbal commitment to North Florida.

 

LINKS: