Round 5 - Bryan Opdyke - C

[deeswan]

Brian Updike High School catcher, no info on MLB.com.

[SoCalBrewfan]

It's spelled Opdyke. BA:

 

His offensive prowess a year ago led to his selection to Team USA's 2002 junior squad. His lefthanded power potential cannot be ignored but his catching skills need refinement. He also rankled scouts with a flashy, overconfident approach.

[SoCalBrewfan]

One pick later, our Chandler-Gilbert connection Billy Hogan goes...

[950opsLHcatcher]

MLB:

 

"Muscular build. Average bat speed with strength. Solid catch and throw. Shifts and blocks well. Struggling with bat. Lacks intensity offensively."

 

Basically, MLB scouting is saying he sucks. Great. Go Brian!

[SoCalBrewfan]

Sucks and doesn't try hard.

 

Edit: That's my translation of MLB's report...not my opinion. This pick reminds me of Jason Belcher, a lefty bat who also went in the 5th, had once been highly rated but fell of a bit before the draft IIRC.

[Danagger]

WOW

 

www.perfectgame.org/updat...pageid=270

 

Sounds like one heck of a bat? Maybe a corner infield prospect as well?

[futurefan]

I have known Bryan for most of his life and I believe he will be a big surprise for the Brewerfan family. He has very good mechanics behind the plate and good power from the left side with a very good eye. Also a great kid with a quiet confidencel Will be a good addition.

[Danagger]

www.google.com/search?hl=...+opdyke%22

 

some impressive search results...

[Member]

Is he the left handed 950 OPS catcher we have all been searching for?

 

[colbyjack]

Struggling with bat? MLB needs to do their homework.

 

SoCal, good call, as Opdyke is very comparable to Belcher as a catcher. Hopefully he can stay behind the plate. Not sure what happened to him, but at one point he was projected as one of the top 10 prospects for this year's draft. I haven't had much time to research the reason, as it's back to work for this guy http://forum.brewerfan.net/images/smilies/smile.gif .

[ssp]

Bryan Opdyke, C 6' 2/195 Tucson, AZ Baseball America

Has a good body, strong arm, is athletic behind the dish. #1 tool is his bat, the ball jumps.

 

Perfect Game quotes this. They say his best tool is his bat. Seems to be reports that he has good defense too. I think I like this pick more than our other catcher. Here's another link.

 

www.tucsoncitizen.com/spo...cruit.html

[MassBrew]

Latest from Tuscon:

 

Another elite-level recruit that Univ. of Arizona baseball coach Andy Lopez is likely to lose is Catalina Foothills catcher Bryan Opdyke, a fifth-round pick of Milwaukee. The catcher is seeking about $800,000 to sign. The Brewers opened at about $350,000. Ultimately, even if Opdyke and the Brewers don't come to terms, he is unlikely to fulfill his letter of intent to Arizona. The Wildcats are set at catcher for two more years with rising star Nick Hundley. Opdyke's best option, other than Milwaukee, is probably at JC power Central Arizona College.

[futurefan]

As usual the Tucson paper was not even close. The numbers mentioned were off by hundreds of thousands. I do not know the actual figures but ignore these numbers. I believe the numbers were around the 200,000 mark to 250,000. I hope this one gets done soon.

[SoCalBrewfan]

The players from the 2002 draft chosen around where Opdyke was got bonuses in the $225K range...I'd be surprised if he was a lot different from that...maybe $250K? I can't see him getting two or three times that...but of course what do I know?