2018 Draft Pick Discussion, Rounds 1-5 [7/5 -- 1st rounder Turang signs]

[KeithStone53151]

This draft gets more and more frustrating by the pick. Are we expecting to contend by trading for the Zach Davies and chase Anderson's of the world? That is not a blue print for success.

 

And to whoever mentioned we are following the cubs blue print, their pitching situation is almost exclusively free agent spending. They also drafted in the top 10 for 5 straight years and got a generational talent at number 2 overall.

 

Actually, trading mediocre hitting and free agent-to be relievers for 2 top pieces in a rotation sounds like a great strategy.

 

Davies + Anderson = top rotation pieces? I like both of those pitchers, but neither are much more than back of the rotation arms. Last year anderson was a very good #3 starter but he's struggling quite a bit this year and looks much more like a back end arm. How many teams do you see rolling out arms like Anderson and Davies as the #1 and #2 in the playoffs and winning?

 

I've tried staying optimistic on our draft picks for years, but come on man...you have to at least try to develop your own pitching. And you can't rely on getting lucky and having a Corbin Burnes fall into your lap in the 4th round every year.

 

Even if I try to keep an open mind on the picks, I generally just don't like them. This shortstop, I'm not convinced he's going to hit. At least with Ray and Hiura, theoretically they'd mash minor league pitching enough to tempt a team to trade for them for value in AA or AAA...most of Turang's value is going to be wrapped up in his defense and I doubt we see that big statistical season in high A or AA that gets him rated highly on prospect lists. Also light hitting shortstops are a dime a dozen. Joe Gray feels like Keon Broxton is his realistic ceiling. And Bello has tweener written all over him. Not a good enough defender for CF, can't hit enough or for enough power to play a corner.

[Eye Black]

It was a small sample size (9 games), but here are the Player Stats for Turang and others on the Team USA 18U team last summer.

[And That]

Here are the best remaining, based on my list from yesterday. It's likely that at least the top three - Rocker, Wilcox, Siani - are going to college at this point. The Brewers don't pick next until the 4th round, #125 overall. That means there will be 46 picks before the Brewers go on day 2. Currently the 47th best remaining prospect on the list is Jeremy Pena, the SS from Maine.

 

[pre]Rank Name Position Level School High Rank

16 Kumar Rocker RHP HS North Oconee HS (GA) 6

23 Cole Wilcox RHP HS Heritage HS (GA) 8

36 Mike Siani OF HS Penn Charter School (PA) 22

48 Adam Kloffenstein RHP HS Magnolia HS (TX) 22

49 Tristan Pompey OF D1 Kentucky 15

51 Blaine Knight RHP D1 Arkansas 33

52 Tristan Beck RHP D1 Stanford 15

57 Nander De Sedas SS HS Montverde Academy (FL) 23

62 Konnor Pilkington LHP D1 Mississippi State 30

64 Kyle Isbel OF D1 Nevada-Las Vegas 43

65 Zach Watson OF D1 Louisiana State 39

67 Slade Cecconi RHP HS Trinity Prep (FL) 24

68 Jake Wong RHP D1 Grand Canyon 59

72 Jonathan Ornelas SS HS Kellis HS (AZ) 48

75 Austin Becker RHP HS Big Walnut HS (OH) 45

80 Elijah Cabell OF HS TNXL Academy (FL) 55

81 Ryder Green OF HS Knoxville Christian Academy (TN) 65

83 Colton Eastman RHP D1 Cal State Fullerton 67

84 Aaron Hernandez RHP D1 Texas A&M-Corpus Christi 67

85 Raynel Delgado 3B/SS HS Calvary Christian Academy (FL) 56

86 Zack Hess RHP D1 Louisiana State 60

88 Durbin Feltman RHP D1 Texas Christian 41

89 Steven Gingery LHP D1 Texas Tech 70

90 Nick Northcut 3B/RHP HS Mason HS (OH) 54

91 Garrett Wade LHP HS Hartselle HS (AL) 44

92 Trey Riley RHP JC John A. Logan JC (IL) 61

93 Chandler Champlain RHP HS Santa Margarita Catholic HS (CA) 58

94 Cal Raleigh C D1 Florida State 53

95 DaShawn Keirsey Jr. OF D1 Utah 63

96 Kyle Bradish RHP D1 New Mexico State 43

97 Kam Guangorena C HS St. John Bosco HS (CA) 75

98 Alex McKenna OF D1 Cal Poly 77

100 Jaden Hill RHP HS Ashdown HS (AR) 66

101 Cole Sands RHP D1 Florida State 60

102 Sean Wymer RHP D1 Texas Christian 73

103 Dylan Coleman RHP D1 Missouri State 44

104 Matt Mercer RHP D1 Oregon 64

105 Richie Palacios SS D1 Towson 59

106 Jonathan Childress LHP HS Forney HS (TX) 66

108 Hogan Harris LHP D1 Louisiana-Lafayette 90

109 Blaze Alexander SS HS IMG Academy (FL) 74

110 Adam Hill RHP D1 South Carolina 72

111 Dominic Pipkin RHP HS Pinole Valley HS (CA) 64

112 Gage Canning OF D1 Arizona State 67

113 Landon Marceaux RHP HS Destrehan HS (LA) 65

115 Bren Spillane 1B/OF D1 llinois 60

116 Jeremy Pena SS D1 Maine 81

117 Alfonso Rivas III OF/1B D1 Arizona 86

118 Brett Hansen LHP HS Foothill HS (CA) 47

119 Trey Dillard RHP JC San Jacinto JC (TX) 69

120 Jake Irvin RHP D1 Oklahoma 76

121 D.J. Artis OF D1 Liberty 80

122 Isaiah Campbell RHP D1 Arkansas 73

123 Kendall Logan Simmons 3B/SS HS Tattnall Square Academy (GA) 79

124 Adam Wolf LHP D1 Louisville 52

125 Aaron Ashby LHP JC Crowder JC (MO) 100

126 Grant Koch C D1 Arkansas 71

128 Terrin Vavra 3B D1 Minnesota 76

129 Nick Dunn 2B D1 Maryland 81

131 Luke Heimlich LHP D1 Oregon 44

132 Mason Englert RHP/SS HS Forney HS (TX) 92

133 Jonathan Stiever RHP D1 Indiana 78

134 Luke Bartnicki LHP HS Walton HS (GA) 39

135 Kerry Wright RHP HS Montverde Academy (FL) 115

136 Austin Wells C HS Bishop Gorman HS (NV) 70

137 Jake Mangum OF D1 Mississippi State 75

138 Cody Deason RHP D1 Arizona 74

139 Owen Sharts RHP HS Simi Valley HS (CA) 70

141 Jackson Goddard RHP D1 Kansas 96

142 Hugh Smith RHP D3 Whitworth 71

143 Isaiah Carranza RHP D2 Azusa Pacific (CA) 101

144 Carlos Cortes OF D1 South Carolina 74

145 Charles Mack SS/3B/C HS Williamsville East HS (NY) 118

146 Max Marusak OF HS Amarillo HS (TX) 62

148 C.J. Willis C HS Ruston HS (LA) 86

149 Reid Schaller RHP D1 Vanderbilt 71

150 Lawrence Butler OF HS Westlake HS (GA) 89

151 Brett Kinneman OF D1 North Carolina State 104

152 Brandon Williamson LHP JC North Iowa Area JC 91

154 Joey Gerber RHP D1 llinois 104

155 Grant Witherspoon OF D1 Tulane 89

156 Noah Song RHP D1 Navy 103

157 Garrett McDaniels LHP HS Pee Dee Academy (SC) 89

158 Jason Bilous RHP D1 Coastal Carolina 90

159 Blake Rivera RHP JC Wallace State JC (AL) 100

160 John Rooney LHP D1 Hofstra 116

161 J.P. Gates LHP/1B HS Nature Coast Tech HS (FL) 102

162 Frank German RHP D1 North Florida 92

163 Justin Jarvis RHP HS Lake Norman HS (NC) 80

164 Drew Rom LHP HS Highlands HS (KY) 98

165 Nolan Kingham RHP D1 Texas 100

166 Jack Neely RHP HS Churchill HS (TX) 101

168 Taj Bradley RHP HS Redan HS (GA) 117

169 Ryan Feltner RHP D1 Ohio State 123

170 Brandon Dieter SS/RHP HS South Hills HS (CA) 113

171 Austin Bergner RHP D1 North Carolina 65

172 Davis Martin RHP D1 Texas Tech 119

173 Ryley Gilliam RHP D1 Clemson 103

174 Adam Hackenberg C HS Miller School (VA) 54

175 Jacob Campbell C HS Craig HS (WI) 109

176 Korey Holland OF HS Langham Creek HS (TX) 117

177 Seth Halvorsen RHP/OF HS Heritage Christian Academy (MN) 107

178 Kody Clemens INF D1 Texas 84

179 William English RHP HS Western International HS (MI) 112

180 Nick Meyer C D1 Cal Poly 105

181 Bryce Montes de Oca RHP D1 Missouri 111

182 Ty Madden RHP HS Cypress Ranch HS (TX) 123

183 Braydon Fisher RHP HS Clear Falls HS (TX) 81

184 Addison Barger SS/C HS King HS (FL) 115

185 Niko Decolati 3B/OF D1 Loyola Marymount 64

186 J.T. Schwartz SS/3B HS Corona Del Mar HS (CA) 126

187 Ford Proctor SS D1 Rice 124

188 Sean Guilbe SS/3B HS Berks Catholic HS (PA) 124

189 Zack Haake RHP D1 Kentucky 100

190 Robert Neustrom OF D1 Iowa 132

191 Bo Blessie RHP HS Lee HS (TX) 62

192 Drew Rasmussen RHP D1 Oregon State 69

193 Brandon Howlett 3B HS Jenkins HS (FL) 54

194 Austin Cox LHP D1 Mercer 73

196 Noah Davis RHP D1 UC Santa Barbara 116

197 Nick Lee RHP D1 Louisiana-Lafayette 85

198 Ethan Reed RHP HS Aliso Niguel HS (CA) 94

199 Tyler Holton LHP D1 Florida State 95

200 Justin Wrobleski LHP HS Sequoyah HS (GA) 86

201 Steve Hajjar LHP HS Central Catholic (MA) 115

202 Eric Cole OF D1 Arkansas 73

203 Jack Perkins RHP HS Kokomo HS (IN) 96

204 Tarik Skubal LHP D1 Seattle 127

205 Cory Acton 3B/2B/OF HS American Heritage School (FL) 147

206 Michael Byrne RHP D1 Florida 49

207 Riley Thompson RHP D1 Louisville 124

208 Andrew Moritz OF D1 UNC Greensboro 143

209 Kyle Datres 3B D1 North Carolina 150

210 Ryan Olenek OF/2B D1 Mississippi 112

211 Sam Bordner RHP D1 Louisville 129

213 Brandon Neeck LHP HS Horace Greeley HS (NY) 156

214 Ryan Weiss RHP D1 Wright State 159

215 Bryce Bush 3B/1B HS De La Salle Collegiate HS (MI) 89

216 Hayden Jones C HS Carroll HS (IN) 111

217 Mateo Gil SS HS Timber Creek HS (TX) 76

218 Mason Montgomery LHP HS Leander HS (TX) 83

219 Jake Mulholland LHP D1 Oregon State 84

220 Devlin Granberg OF D1 Dallas Baptist 85

221 Michael Plassmeyer LHP D1 Missouri 131

222 Erik Tolman LHP HS El Toro HS (CA) 90

223 John Malcom 1B HS Detroit Country Day HS (MI) 119

224 Kingston Liniak OF HS Mission Hills HS (CA) 160

225 Cole Henry RHP HS Florence HS (AL) 138

226 Nick Sprengel LHP D1 San Diego 93

227 Andrew Quezada RHP D1 Cal State Fullerton 132

228 Nick Fortes C/1B D1 Mississippi 115

229 Hunter Feduccia C D1 Louisiana State 106

230 Johnny Aiello 3B D1 Wake Forest 137

231 Levi Kelly RHP HS IMG Academy (FL) 167

232 Joe DeMers RHP D1 Washington 118

233 Brian Eichhorn RHP D1 Georgia Southern 131

234 Cody Morris RHP D1 South Carolina 142

235 Jimmy Herron OF D1 Duke 165

236 Luke Heyer 3B D1 Kentucky 123

237 Jonathan Heasley RHP D1 Oklahoma State 124

238 Adam Scott LHP D1 Wofford 126

239 Caleb Kilian RHP D1 Texas Tech 128

240 Preston Hartsell OF HS Corona Del Mar HS (CA) 130

241 Blair Henley RHP D1 Texas 133

242 Kyle Luckham RHP HS El Dorado HS (CA) 143

243 Brendan Donovan INF/OF D1 South Alabama 135

244 Kendrick Calilao OF HS The First Academy (FL) 137

245 Ethan Smith RHP HS Mount Juliet HS (TN) 137

246 Brandon Birdsell RHP HS Conroe HS (TX) 138

247 Antoine Duplantis OF D1 Louisiana State 139

248 Franco Aleman RHP HS Alonso HS (FL) 140

249 J.J. Schwarz 1B/C D1 Florida 152

250 Deacon Liput SS/2B D1 Florida 149

251 Edgar Gonzalez RHP D1 Fresno State 160

252 Michael Flynn RHP D1 Arizona 182

253 Jawuan Harris OF D1 Rutgers 176

254 Vinny Tosti OF HS Mater Dei HS (CA) 159

255 Colby Gomes RHP HS Millard West HS (NE) 161

256 Daniel Bies RHP D1 Gonzaga 162

257 Zach Linginfelter RHP D1 Tennessee 166

258 Jared Poland 2B/3B/RHP HS Cathedral HS (IN) 170

259 Jarren Duran 2B D1 Long Beach State 170

260 Josh Winder RHP D1 VMI 170

261 P.J. Hilson OF/RHP HS Nettleton HS (AR) 171

262 Sean Chandler RHP JC Iowa Western CC 172

263 Nick Pogue RHP HS Eau Gallie HS (FL) 175

264 Andrew Perez LHP D1 South Florida 176

265 Brett Finnel RHP HS Woodcrest Christian (CA) 179

266 Andrew Eyster OF JC Santa Fe JC (FL) 179

267 Charlie Cerny RHP D1 Illinois-Chicago 180

268 Ryan Cusick RHP HS Avon Old Farms HS (CT) 188

269 Tyler Ras RHP/OF HS Middletown North HS (NJ) 188

270 Will Ripoll RHP HS Curtis Christian HS (LA) 183

271 Adrian Del Castillo C HS Gulliver Schools (FL) 194

272 J.J. Montgomery RHP D1 Central Florida 184

273 Jon Olsen RHP D1 UCLA 184

274 Wesley Clarke C HS Liberty Christian Academy (VA) 187

275 Eric Cerantola RHP HS-CAN Holy Trinity Catholic SS (ON) 189

276 R.J. Freure RHP D1 Pittsburgh 189

277 Patrick Raby RHP D1 Vanderbilt 190

278 Thad Ward RHP D1 Central Florida 192

279 Zaid Walker OF HS Homewood-Flossmoor HS (IL) 193

280 Jacob Maton RHP HS Glenwood HS (IL) 194

281 Brandon Lockridge OF D1 Troy 194

282 Owen Miller SS D1 Illinois State 195

283 Kaleb Hill LHP HS Watson Chapel HS (AR) 197

284 Aidan Maldonado RHP HS Rosemount HS (MN) 198

285 Carter Lohman LHP HS Hamilton Southeastern HS (IN) 199

286 Jonah Davis OF D1 California 200

287 Lency Delgado SS HS Doral Academy Charter HS (FL) 200

288 Cesar Salazar C D1 Arizona 200[/pre]

[And That]

Some of my favorite remaining guys the Brewers could target early on day 2:

 

Jake Wong, RHP, Grand Canyon U

Durbin Feltman, RHP, TCU

DaShawn Keirsey Jr., OF, Utah

Kam Guangorena, C, St. John Bosco HS (CA)

Jeremy Pena, SS, Maine

Bren Spillane, 1B, Illinois

D.J. Artis, OF, Liberty

Aaron Ashby, LHP, Crowder JC (MO)

Hugh Smith, RHP, Whitworth

Owen Sharts, RHP, Simi Valley HS (CA)

Brandon Williamson, LHP, North Iowa Area JC

Jacob Campbell, Craig HS (WI)

Drew Rom, LHP, Highlands HS (KY)

Bryce Montes de Oca, RHP, Missouri

Drew Rasmussen, RHP, Oregon State

Hunter Feduccia, C, LSU

[SoCalBrewfan]

you have to at least try to develop your own pitching. And you can't rely on getting lucky and having a Corbin Burnes fall into your lap

 

It seems like your argument is that developing pitching = drafting pitchers in the first two rounds, so by that definition, Fiers or Burnes or Woodruff don't count. I disagree; developing has to mean more than just high draft picks. And, to be clear, Jimmy Nelson does or doesn't count? What about Kirby, Ponce, Medeiros, Lopez, Lemons, all chosen before the third round? The data just don't support your claim that they're not trying....they also support the notion that drafting pitching comes with considerable risk.

 

I honestly think the Brewers would be happy to draft a pitcher high but that their valuation process discounts pitchers enough (due to inconsistency and injury risk) that the BPA on their board is seldom a pitcher. This front office has a very clear idea of how they value players, and they clearly go with value over need. I think that's exactly how they should approach the draft.

 

They also have what one writer called a broad demographic outlook. They do not have a narrow point of view of where to get talent...such that the four top pitchers in their system entering the year included two middle tier college draft choices (Woodruff, Burnes) and two acquired in trades (Peralta, Ortiz). Those guys have largely outshined the first and second round picks, though of course that can change.

[SoCalBrewfan]

Owen Sharts? Poor kid....

[And That]

Ten college hitters the Brewers could target to make an impact in Helena/Wisconsin (h/t to D1 Baseball for these):

 

Cal Raleigh, C, FSU

Grant Witherspoon, OF, Tulane

Terrin Vavra, SS, Minnesota

Kody Clemens, 2B, Texas

Cameron Warren, IF, Texas Tech

Keegan McGovern, LF, Georgia

Luke Bonfield, OF, Arkansas

Nick Fortes, C, Mississippi

Kyle Gray, IF, West Virginia

Devlin Granberg, OF, Dallas Baptist

[And That]

Owen Sharts? Poor kid....

Owen Sharts’ name literally means “to be in poop debt”

[KeithStone53151]

you have to at least try to develop your own pitching. And you can't rely on getting lucky and having a Corbin Burnes fall into your lap

 

It seems like your argument is that developing pitching = drafting pitchers in the first two rounds, so by that definition, Fiers or Burnes or Woodruff don't count. I disagree; developing has to mean more than just high draft picks. And, to be clear, Jimmy Nelson does or doesn't count? What about Kirby, Ponce, Medeiros, Lopez, Lemons, all chosen before the third round? The data just don't support your claim that they're not trying....they also support the notion that drafting pitching comes with considerable risk.

 

I honestly think the Brewers would be happy to draft a pitcher high but that their valuation process discounts pitchers enough (due to inconsistency and injury risk) that the BPA on their board is seldom a pitcher. This front office has a very clear idea of how they value players, and they clearly go with value over need. I think that's exactly how they should approach the draft.

 

They also have what one writer called a broad demographic outlook. They do not have a narrow point of view of where to get talent...such that the four top pitchers in their system entering the year included two middle tier college draft choices (Woodruff, Burnes) and two acquired in trades (Peralta, Ortiz). Those guys have largely outshined the first and second round picks, though of course that can change.

 

I believe you aren't serious about developing pitching if you aren't willing to try and get the best talents in your system for further development. Of the pitchers you listed, only Lemons was drafted on Stearns watch...and he is the only pitcher taken before round 3 in the last 3 years. So 8 position players and 1 pitcher, they also aren't involved with the most highly rated pitchers in the international market. I do like and appreciate that we try and acquire pitching by trade from time to time, but teams with GM's not named Dombrowski or Epstein also aren't going to give up 20 year old Madison Bumgarner or 20 year old Stephen Strasburg. The only way to get those pitchers is to draft/develop them yourself.

 

We definitely are fairly active in the 4-10 range on pitcher, or at least we have been the last 2 years. Going that route greatly diminishes our chances of getting that home run pitcher. It still exists, but it's an odds/numbers game.

[KeithStone53151]

you have to at least try to develop your own pitching. And you can't rely on getting lucky and having a Corbin Burnes fall into your lap

 

It seems like your argument is that developing pitching = drafting pitchers in the first two rounds, so by that definition, Fiers or Burnes or Woodruff don't count. I disagree; developing has to mean more than just high draft picks. And, to be clear, Jimmy Nelson does or doesn't count? What about Kirby, Ponce, Medeiros, Lopez, Lemons, all chosen before the third round? The data just don't support your claim that they're not trying....they also support the notion that drafting pitching comes with considerable risk.

 

I honestly think the Brewers would be happy to draft a pitcher high but that their valuation process discounts pitchers enough (due to inconsistency and injury risk) that the BPA on their board is seldom a pitcher. This front office has a very clear idea of how they value players, and they clearly go with value over need. I think that's exactly how they should approach the draft.

 

They also have what one writer called a broad demographic outlook. They do not have a narrow point of view of where to get talent...such that the four top pitchers in their system entering the year included two middle tier college draft choices (Woodruff, Burnes) and two acquired in trades (Peralta, Ortiz). Those guys have largely outshined the first and second round picks, though of course that can change.

 

I will admit that I'm happy to hear that many of you like the value in the picks. A majority of you know far and away more about these players and talent development than I do. Of course I'm hopeful the picks pan out as intended, the lack of pitching is simply frustrating.

[Jenkins5]

I literally posted 19 years of drafts.... Brewers have not avoided pitchers, in fact they have taken more first round pitchers than bats during that span. If you are talking since front office had changed to Montgomery.....

 

2015

1. Trent Clark Wasn’t suppose to be there, most advanced & professional hitter in HS.... best value

CBA Nate Kirby

2. Cody Ponce

3. Nash Walters

4. Demi O

5 Blake Allamand

 

2016

1. Ray (only place pitcher I’d prefer instead but Pint was gone, Puk & Groome both have had major arm injuries since)

2. Erceg- proved quick why brewers loved him

CBA Feliciano -

3. Webb

4. Burns

5. Z. Brown

 

Under Johnson

1. Hiura (do you blame him?)

CBA T. Lutz (again can you blame them? Got guy you were targeting at 9 in 2nd round... mashed last year)

2. C. Lemon high ceiling pitcher

3. KJ Harrison

4 Brenden Murphy LHP

 

So I don’t see your argument except you think Brewers should avoid who they feel is the best value & player to just take pitchers... to take pitchers. Brewers aren’t scared to take arms. Just hasn’t fallen that way. Some people will complain just to complain & see worse in everything. Done debating this though.

 

You stick to board regardless, do best to develop that talent into quality prospects, quality prospects lead to either pro players or trade bait to get pro players. Those pro players are eventually traded for prospects.

 

Again we have developed a total of 3 actual SPs in 20 years.... that’s not good and that is with us pretty close to evenly drafting position players & pitchers in first 2 rounds during that time

[And That]

And ten college pitchers the Brewers could target to make an impact in Helena/Wisconsin (h/t to D1 Baseball for these as well):

 

Frank German, RHP, North Florida

Colten Schmidt, LHP, Louisiana

Chris Gau, RHP, Jacksonville

Colton Eastman, RHP, Fullerton

Josh Maciejewski, LHP, Charlotte

Clayton Andrews, LHP, Long Beach State

Jake Irvin, RHP, Oklahoma

Adam Wolf, LHP, Louisville

Miller Hogan, RHP, Saint Louis

Daniel Bies, RHP, Gonzaga

[3and2Fastball]

I look at our farm system and the only hitter I'm excited about is Hiura. And then I'm cautiously optimistic on a few others. There are lots of pitchers in our farm system I'm excited about.

 

It certainly makes sense to restock on position players at the top of this draft. And I trust that Turang & Gray were rated higher by the Brewers than any pitcher available at the time of their pick.

[And That]

Courtesy of Perfect Game, report on Brice Turang from the 2018 NHSI:

 

One of the prospects who entered this event as a projected first-round pick and has received enormous attention is West Coast shortstop Brice Turang (2018, Corona, Calif.). It has become a spectacle for every one of the LSU signee’s at-bats, but Turang has showed out well in all aspects thus far.

 

As mentioned earlier in this feature, BP is a very important tool for scouts to evaluate prospects in terms of their approach, swing, and raw power. Turang took some of the best BP of the event to date with a really smooth lefthanded stroke and turned on the barrel with authority. He currently has probably average raw power and you can project a bit more than that at the next level. The difference in offensive approach has been notable in game, as he seems to allow his speed to do more of the work during the game.

 

The aforementioned speed classifies Turang as a plus runner, posting times consistently in the 4.1 second range, including a best time of 4.12 seconds. Turang gets out of the box quickly and already has notched a couple of infield singles on the tournament, while the speed aids him defensively. He ranges effortlessly to both sides and has such a natural feel for the position that makes difficult plays look routine; one example that comes to mind is a pop up probably about 130 feet deep on the left field line that Turang had the whole way and made rather easily.

 

The overall skill-set and tools make him a strong first round candidate, and his at-bats will be heavily attended for the remainder of the event as Turang is still going ot be looked upon to turn the barrel over with authority going forward.

 

In what turned out to be a matchup for the ages, No. 22 John Curtis Christian (La.) upset No. 6 American Heritage (Fla.) 2-1 and there were a number of impact players on both sides. Brandon Davis (2018, Kenner, La.) has been the catalyst for the John Curtis lineup and the Tennessee signee showed a number of intriguing tools. Davis operates in one mode on a baseball field and that’s full-speed, from the get-go of the event he has been going all-out on both sides of the ball. Davis showed off the defensive chops during this game with a sliding, over-the-shoulder grab in shallow left field to rob a hit and maintain the slim lead. The offensive approach features a similar mantra as he doesn’t sit around and wait for pitches when he will jump on and hammer the first pitch he likes. Davis looks to drive the ball on a line but will also hit a fair share of ground balls and allow his speed to work; the best run time of the event thus far he has recorded is 4.42 seconds but his quick burst out of the box allow his speed to play up.

[And That]

And another Perfect Game report on Turang:

 

One of the top prospects in this year's crop of California talent is PG All-American Brice Turang. The shortstop has been near the forefront of the scouting community for some time now and will certainly draw large crowds of scouts and evaluators in to see him as he is currently a projected first round pick. Turang is a quality prospect who does so many things right on a baseball field and attacks everything with a polished, professional approach. The Louisiana State signee is viewed upon as a prototypical shortstop prospect, however he has also shows the athleticism and twitch to play centerfield for his high school team if need be. The bat is the selling point here as his approach at the plate is so polished and disciplined, especially for an amateur prospect. The frame looks stronger through the lower half, however there is still plenty of room for additional development, and Turang operates in the box like he knows exactly how he's going to be pitched. He looks to drive the ball the other way but will also hunt fastballs over the inner half when he looks to ambush. The bat-to-ball skills stand out and Turang still has the look of a high selection in this year's draft.

[KeithStone53151]

I literally posted 19 years of drafts.... Brewers have not avoided pitchers, in fact they have taken more first round pitchers than bats during that span. If you are talking since front office had changed to Montgomery.....

 

2015

1. Trent Clark Wasn’t suppose to be there, most advanced & professional hitter in HS.... best value

CBA Nate Kirby

2. Cody Ponce

3. Nash Walters

4. Demi O

5 Blake Allamand

 

2016

1. Ray (only place pitcher I’d prefer instead but Pint was gone, Puk & Groome both have had major arm injuries since)

2. Erceg- proved quick why brewers loved him

CBA Feliciano -

3. Webb

4. Burns

5. Z. Brown

 

Under Johnson

1. Hiura (do you blame him?)

CBA T. Lutz (again can you blame them? Got guy you were targeting at 9 in 2nd round... mashed last year)

2. C. Lemon high ceiling pitcher

3. KJ Harrison

4 Brenden Murphy LHP

 

So I don’t see your argument except you think Brewers should avoid who they feel is the best value & player to just take pitchers... to take pitchers. Brewers aren’t scared to take arms. Just hasn’t fallen that way. Some people will complain just to complain & see worse in everything. Done debating this though.

 

You stick to board regardless, do best to develop that talent into quality prospects, quality prospects lead to either pro players or trade bait to get pro players. Those pro players are eventually traded for prospects.

 

Again we have developed a total of 3 actual SPs in 20 years.... that’s not good and that is with us pretty close to evenly drafting position players & pitchers in first 2 rounds during that time

 

I get that under Melvin's tenure we've tried extensively to target pitchers early, the ballgame changes when the GM changes. 3 years and 9 picks before round 3...with 1 pitcher and 8 position players taken. That trend makes it look fairly intentional that they are targeting hitters early, or the way they value players leads to hitters being taken early.

[And That]

Perfect Game report on Joe Gray Jr:

 

Joe Gray Jr is a 2018 OF with a 6-3 195 lb. frame from Hattiesburg, MS who attends Hattiesburg HS. Outstanding physical build, very projectable. 6.75 in the sixty, plays much faster on the baseball field. Outstanding range in the outfield, gets quick jumps and runs direct routes, laser arm strength, fields the ball easily and gets rid of it quickly, highest level defensive tools. Right handed hitter, hits from a wide base with a short swing and good extension out front, generates big bat speed and power in batting practice, game swing is less fluid and consistent but the big tools are there with more repetitions. Good student, verbal commitment to Mississippi. Selected for the 2017 Perfect Game All-American Classic.

 

Perfect Game NHSI report on Gray:

 

Adams debut has overshadowed the performance of a not dissimilar athlete in Hattiesburg centerfielder Joe Gray Jr. (2018, Hattiesburg, Miss.). Gray made significant changes to his approach and swing at the plate between the summer and the fall, simplifying and shortening most aspects of his swing, and they've really taken hold based on his consistent at-bats and hard line drive contact. He's not shown the plus lifting power he flashed during the summer but it is there laying latent to be brought out gradually with more repetitions of his sounder present approach. Gray does not have Adams’ running speed, as few baseball players at any level do, but watching him throw the ball from the outfield generates the same excitement in this scout as watching Adams run.

[KeithStone53151]

Owen Sharts? Poor kid....

 

I can hear an announcer now... "Sharts out of the 2 hole..."

[And That]

Perfect Game report on Micah Bello:

 

Hawaii is only periodically represented on the high school top prospect and draft lists and Bello's fast rise this spring makes 2018 one of those years. He is a young quick-twitch athlete who grades out as plus or better both for his running speed and for his arm strength from the outfield, a combination that should make him a very good defensive center fielder. Offensively, Bello is a righthanded hitter who has a short and quick swing that is well suited for a speed profile, although anything above gap power is strictly a projection at this point.

[SRB]

Keith, I think the key is that teams like the Brewers need to try to develop TOR pitchers. That's not the same as formulaically drafting them in the first two rounds if a position player you like better is sitting on your draft board.

 

Plenty of high-upside arms will be available today, and down the line the key is to trade for the future Bumgarners before they are Cy Young mainstays, when they have already proven themselves as established prospects but can be had in trades (hopefully one day we trade All Star SS Orlando Arcia because he's in his walk year and Turang is dominating AAA).

[clancyphile]

Bello excites me - I get a bit of a Troy Stokes vibe from those reports... and we know how Stokes has emerged.

 

Turang's report seems to indicate he has very good OBP skills and he can hit for average. I'm hoping to get a Jeff Cirillo-type bat at shortstop - a clear upgrade over Arcia at the position.

[clancyphile]

Keith, I think the key is that teams like the Brewers need to try to develop TOR pitchers. That's not the same as formulaically drafting them in the first two rounds if a position player you like better is sitting on your draft board.

 

Plenty of high-upside arms will be available today, and down the line the key is to trade for the future Bumgarners before they are Cy Young mainstays, when they have already proven themselves as established prospects but can be had in trades (hopefully one day we trade All Star SS Orlando Arcia because he's in his walk year and Turang is dominating AAA).

 

Roegner seems to be showing the promise to be that TOR arm... and he was a 22nd-round pick.

[Ron Robinsons Beard]

Keith, I think the key is that teams like the Brewers need to try to develop TOR pitchers. That's not the same as formulaically drafting them in the first two rounds if a position player you like better is sitting on your draft board.

 

Plenty of high-upside arms will be available today, and down the line the key is to trade for the future Bumgarners before they are Cy Young mainstays, when they have already proven themselves as established prospects but can be had in trades (hopefully one day we trade All Star SS Orlando Arcia because he's in his walk year and Turang is dominating AAA).

 

Roegner seems to be showing the promise to be that TOR arm... and he was a 22nd-round pick.

 

Judging by the continuous Suter hate in the in-game threads, it has already been decided that if a pitcher doesn't throw in the mid-90s, he is worthless.

[And That]

Bello excites me - I get a bit of a Troy Stokes vibe from those reports

I don't know that they're that similar. Bello is 3-4 inches taller and built more lithely than Stokes. Bello has a plus arm and projects to be a plus defender in center, while Stokes has a below average arm and is fringey in center. Bello has a bigger leg kick and bent rear leg from an open stance with hands set much higher than Stokes. Stokes has a very calm swing, though not as much bat speed.

[Eye Black]

Bello excites me - I get a bit of a Troy Stokes vibe from those reports

I don't know that they're that similar. Bello is 3-4 inches taller and built more lithely than Stokes. Bello has a plus arm and projects to be a plus defender in center, while Stokes has a below average arm and is fringey in center. Bello has a bigger leg kick and bent rear leg from an open stance with hands set much higher than Stokes. Stokes has a very calm swing, though not as much bat speed.

Maybe the video is deceiving, but from what I can tell in the limited video footage available of Bello his bat speed looks exceptional. Appears to have very quick wrists.