2017 Draft Pick Discussion, Rounds 1-5

[82brewcrew82]

http://www.jsonline.com/story/sports/mlb/brewers/2017/06/13/brewdraft-13/388395001/

 

Well that article certainly makes it clear that the Brewers did their due diligence regarding the elbow and are confident in that aspect of things. Not being a pitcher, I'm not sure TJS is as long of a term issue as it is with pitchers. Even so, it sounds like he has already had opinions that he isn't going to need surgery to fix it. Time will tell but the bat is legit.

 

They also seem very confident in his ability to play 2B. I just can't get all that worked up over that issue.

[colbyjack]

A few have asked about players that are still available. Allow me to point out that any high school player that is still available, especially if they were ranked in the top 50, are likely to be signability risks. We're going to see a lot more college players taken from this point forward, although the 3rd and 4th rounds should still have a handful of prep players sprinkled in. Players like Jacob Heatherly and Blayne Enlow, if I had to guess, are college bound at this point, or at least are likely going to need a larger bonus to get them in the fold.

 

LouisEly asked who a few Corbin Burnes-esque college pitchers may be. I would agree with the premise (even if it wasn't said) that with Hiura and Lutz going with the first two picks that I would expect a run on arms, particularly from the college ranks, similar to last year. Erich Uelmen could be one, who actually profiles somewhat similar to Burnes. He doesn't throw as hard as Burnes, at least not consistently, but he's a well built righty with strength and a solid 3-pitch repertoire. Colton Hock, who I've mentioned before, is another intriguing option. He has very good size and very good stuff with a relatively fresh arm, but also doesn't have much starting experience the past few years. Trevor Stephan was mentioned but his teammate Blaine Knight could also be an option. However, Knight is eligible as a true sophomore and may be more inclined to return to Arkansas. That said, his upside is higher than Stephan's with the ability to touch 95-96, although his fastball is fairly straight, and a pretty good slider. The best pitchers available could be from the JUCO levels as RHP Ryley Widell and LHP Daniel Tillo offer present stuff with future upside.

[Ennder]

Do we think Lutz is going to sign? Sure seems like his dream was to play college ball for Texas.

[And That]

Wasn't it something like 3 guys in the first 5 rounds (for all teams) didn't sign last year?

 

I don't think the Brewers would have taken Lutz if they weren't pretty sure they could sign him.

 

As for Burnes-esque, Tristan Beck is still out there, and they similar in that they both wear rec specs.

[3and2Fastball]

Hiura on his arm: "Right now, it feels good. It hasn't bothered me all year. I won't know if it's completely healed until I begin throwing again and get another MRI. It never bothered me when I swing or do other activities. My goal is to not have surgery. I was told by the doctors it was not required. I'm looking forward to seeing if it's good to go and good to throw."

 

The kid can flat out hit. Excited about his potential

[reillymcshane]

Do we think Lutz is going to sign? Sure seems like his dream was to play college ball for Texas.

I read "Lutz is expected to be signable if drafted in the first couple of rounds."

 

http://www.minorleagueball.com/2017/6/5/15732616/tristen-lutz-of-arlington-texas-2017-mlb-draft

 

How Sickels knows this, it doesn't say, but no reviews of Lutz seem to indicate he's going to be a tough sign. I'm guessing that he threw out a number - say $1M or $2M or whatever - and said to teams that was his price to skip college.

[JackNicholson1974]

Colton Hock, who I've mentioned before, is another intriguing option. He has very good size and very good stuff with a relatively fresh arm, but also doesn't have much starting experience the past few years.

 

This got my hopes up quite a bit, as I quick went to google to see if Hock was a RHP or a LHP. Alas, he is a RHP, which means if we draft him we wont be able to refer to him as Hock the LOOGY.

[gregmag]

http://www.jsonline.com/story/sports/mlb/brewers/2017/06/13/brewdraft-13/388395001/

 

Sounds like the Brewer's saw video of Hiura playing shortstop in high school and that was enough to convince them that he's a second baseman. I'm really interested in what happened at UC-Irvine...did Hiura move to the outfield because a different player had shortstop locked down or what was it that resulted in the move? Add in the elbow issues and it raises more questions about the defensive aspect.

 

I also am wary about the Brewers likely putting off surgery for him. Even the quote states that there is "uncertainty" with how the rehab will progress. With the early end to the college season it seems like now would be the time to get the elbow right and only lose a minimal amount of at-bats at Wisconsin/Helena. He hurt the elbow in April 2016. He re-injured it in November. 7 months did not fix the problem. The injection allowed him to hit but he could not play the field. Partial tear of the UCL. Sure looks like a long-term issue if not corrected by surgery.

I assume the Brewers aren't going to tell the media "he needs surgery" when they're going to be negotiating with the kid and his family, who might not think he needs surgery. Plus no team in the run-up to the draft gets to give him a full medical work-over, so they don't actually know if he needs surgery.

[Harry Doyles JD]

Wasn't it something like 3 guys in the first 5 rounds (for all teams) didn't sign last year?

 

I don't think the Brewers would have taken Lutz if they weren't pretty sure they could sign him.

 

As for Burnes-esque, Tristan Beck is still out there, and they similar in that they both wear rec specs.

 

Two in the top ten rounds, according to Jim Callis last night.

[Boomer5]

Do we think Lutz is going to sign? Sure seems like his dream was to play college ball for Texas.

I read "Lutz is expected to be signable if drafted in the first couple of rounds."

 

http://www.minorleagueball.com/2017/6/5/15732616/tristen-lutz-of-arlington-texas-2017-mlb-draft

 

How Sickels knows this, it doesn't say, but no reviews of Lutz seem to indicate he's going to be a tough sign. I'm guessing that he threw out a number - say $1M or $2M or whatever - and said to teams that was his price to skip college.

 

There's no way the Brewers would have drafted him if they didn't know his number to sign and could afford it in the pool.

 

He will sign.

[MilwaukeeBeers]

Y'all are really testing my patience today.

Nevertheless my wants at the beginning of the third round start with

Tristian Beck- Probably not enough to sign

Blayne Enlow- Not enough to sign

Nick Allen- Not enough to sign

Jacob Heatherly- Probably not enough

Alex Scherff- No idea

Jake Eder- No idea

James Marinan- No idea (Partial to him as another HS arm)

 

Probably should go college arm though cough Beck cough.

[Yount19]

Great video on Hiura..

 

Hoping for Beck in the 3rd round..

[homer]

I enjoy following the draft but the truth is nobody knows, the players just aren't that projectable. I'm sure there were Angels fans who were upset when Trout was drafted instead of their guy. Over half of the players drafted today will not post a positive WAR in the majors. I went back and looked at the 2010 draft since that one should mostly be done producing, there were 11 of the top 30 players I even recognized. Some of that 11 have basically done nothing at the majors. The baseball draft is throwing darts blindfolded and hoping to hit the board. So it is really hard for me to get too pumped up or too upset with who is taken.

 

I am in the same boat. I like reading up on guys we pick but I have never been disappointed at missing out on one guy or another. I do think Melvin reached a number of times because the system needed pitching. But even saying that I still got excited about a guy like Arnett's potential.

[And That]

Remaining members of the top 200 draft prospects still on the board as we begin round 3.

[And That]

...and there goes Enlow to the Twins with the first pick in the third.

 

...and there goes Heatherly to the Reds with the second pick in the third.

[brwrsfan]

Enlow and Heatherly the first two to get picked today.

[82brewcrew82]

Enlow and Heatherly gone quickly.

[And That]

I really liked Mason House, who the Padres just took.

[MilwaukeeBeers]

Nick Allen gone to the A's as well. Perfect pick for them.

[82brewcrew82]

I'm guessing a lot of deal making going on last night after teams knew what they were working with.

[Harry Doyles JD]

KJ Harrison, a catcher....drafting for need here?

[WV Brew]

Another Hawaiian.

[And That]

I had Harrison 95th overall, so he seems to be going right about where he should. Interesting to see if he will stick at catcher or not.

[jw5511986]

I preferred Banuelos but Harrison was really highly thought of a few years ago.

[Harry Doyles JD]

Just read the synopsis, seems many doubt he can stick at catcher, more like a 1B...hit tool is why he's drafted. Brewers going with the Cubs draft mantra a little here?