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

[OnTheBlack]

Thanks - hitting high school (and the juco) hard. I am betting it's by design. The lower reaches of the minors is fairly empty. We need an infusion of some juice into the bottom levels. We already have good depth A+ and above.

 

Ashby sounds terrific. Even if he can be a Taylor Williams type of arm for the pen, that's a victory.

 

 

I think it's a testament to our bullpen that you worded that the way you did. I think Taylor Williams can and will be a back end, high leverage reliever and could succeed in such a role...yet as it is, he's vastly overshadowed by what Jeffress has done this year and then obviously Hader and Knebel. I'm a big Williams fan.

[Jenkins5]

request the great Rev Al Sharpton to give a giant big Amen! I really like Suter the person & clubhouse guy, don’t mind him pitching & I when he pitches well but in no way am I putting him out there to start a game 6 or 7 of a meaningful playoff series. I’d cringe & maybe cry if his number was called in a wildcard play in. Like him, does pretty decent job getting outs but in no way am I confident in him when we need a win. TOR go out there & you believe you will win no matter what. Sheets, Sabathia, Greinke, Yo, and a last year Jimmy Nelson to a decent extent give you that. That is a true TOR.

[Ron Robinsons Beard]

 

These are the most frustrating types of talent. If you try and articulate how a soft tossing lefty who's several years older than average for his league and can't break 90 isn't a "potential TOR arm," you get these absurd type statements suggesting that people "hate" Suter and call him garbage just to exaggerate their point.

 

What Suter is....is a spectator on most real contending teams, OR maybe a loogy. He's done a fine job filling in a multitude of positions, but common sense tells you, he's not the guy you want facing anyone from Houston's rotation(for instance). Not sure why we can't BOTH be happy to see a guy with limited talent succeed and still acknowledge that he has...you know...limited talent!

 

LOL, go back and look at any in-game thread for a Suter start, and there will be posters calling him a garbage pitcher by the second inning. Every single one.

 

By no means am I saying that Suter should be considered anywhere close to a TOR starter. But if he's your #4-5 guy, you are fine. He's going to take the ball consistently, typically give you 5-6 innings, and keep you in the game.

 

Starting game 6 or 7 of a playoff series? When did ANYONE suggest something that absurd?

[Jenkins5]

Starting game 6 or 7 of a playoff series? When did ANYONE suggest something that absurd?

 

People throw his name out as a TOR.... clearly you missed whole context of what I wrote. TORs take the ball in those meaningful games. Suter is decent pitcher but nowhere near TOR. I’d have zero confidence of him taking on a legit TOR in must win game. No one said anything about him pitching in high leverage game 6 or 7 but I feel that is best way to judge a guy on if they are TOR or not.

 

Everyone on here is different but I consider TOR to be Ace, 1A, & #2.

 

Ace is a guy who you believe is a lock to win every game. Think there is 100% they will win.Sabathia, Sheets, Greinke are probably only 3 that I have had that confidence with

 

1A is a guy who you believe can duo with almost anyone and are fairly confident you will win. Not as dominant as Ace but not far off. I’d say 90% sure they will win. This is where I’d put Yo, Jimmy Nelson

 

#2 is a guy who is consistently good. Doesn’t have the pure dominant stuff of the Ace but always puts you in strong position to win. When these guys are on mound I’d say you are 80% sure they will win. Chase Anderson last year, Marcum.

 

Now that’s just me. I favor dominant stuff to be confident in a pitcher as well. Suter, Davies, or any other soft toss command pitcher I never say are higher than 4 because I’m not confident in those guys to win every time out. They need to be perfect hitting spots with much less chance of surviving a mistake.

[Ron Robinsons Beard]

Starting game 6 or 7 of a playoff series? When did ANYONE suggest something that absurd?

 

People throw his name out as a TOR.... clearly you missed whole context of what I wrote. TORs take the ball in those meaningful games. Suter is decent pitcher but nowhere near TOR. I’d have zero confidence of him taking on a legit TOR in must win game. No one said anything about him pitching in high leverage game 6 or 7 but I feel that is best way to judge a guy on if they are TOR or not.

 

Everyone on here is different but I consider TOR to be Ace, 1A, & #2.

 

Ace is a guy who you believe is a lock to win every game. Think there is 100% they will win.Sabathia, Sheets, Greinke are probably only 3 that I have had that confidence with

 

1A is a guy who you believe can duo with almost anyone and are fairly confident you will win. Not as dominant as Ace but not far off. I’d say 90% sure they will win. This is where I’d put Yo, Jimmy Nelson

 

#2 is a guy who is consistently good. Doesn’t have the pure dominant stuff of the Ace but always puts you in strong position to win. When these guys are on mound I’d say you are 80% sure they will win. Chase Anderson last year, Marcum.

 

Now that’s just me. I favor dominant stuff to be confident in a pitcher as well. Suter, Davies, or any other soft toss command pitcher I never say are higher than 4 because I’m not confident in those guys to win every time out. They need to be perfect hitting spots with much less chance of surviving a mistake.

 

I don't believe I missed any context. I agree with you completely. I think we can both agree that Suter (and guys like him) can be useful staff options, and even lower-rung rotation options. But there are many more posters here who want Suter banished to long relief or even starting in AAA than those who truly believe he has TOR potential. Personally, I think his upside is right in between those outcomes, which is pretty much the exact role he's currently serving.

[JDBrewCrew]

https://www.mlb.com/news/jim-callis-2018-mlb-draft-top-10-projection/c-236744566?tid=167757330

 

This mock Callis did right after the draft last year had Turang at #1 and Gray at #5.

[Jenkins5]

https://www.mlb.com/news/jim-callis-2018-mlb-draft-top-10-projection/c-236744566?tid=167757330

 

This mock Callis did right after the draft last year had Turang at #1 and Gray at #5.

 

Saw this earlier, exciting tools both have! Gray may take longer to hit his stride. Gatewood was a look top 5 for a long time prior to draft but same swing & miss issues dropped him despite maybe best raw power in draft. Gray the much better athlete & offers much more on the field as a whole but bat could develop like Gatewood’s. Slow but steady improvements each year.

[Mass Haas]

Brewers draft Crowder's Ashby

Left-hander has 'big decision to make'

Jared Porter, Joplin (MO) Globe

 

One Twitter refresh at a time, Crowder College baseball coach Travis Lallemand spent most of his Tuesday afternoon checking in on pitcher Aaron Ashby’s MLB Draft fate.

 

The name of the Roughrider’s ace popped up around the time Lallemand anticipated — a little after 1 p.m., MLB Draft Tracker (@MLBDraftTracker) reported Ashby had been selected in the fourth round by the Milwaukee Brewers, who took the southpaw with the 125th overall pick.

 

Lallemand’s phone rang just a few minutes later.

 

“I picked up, and it was Ashby,” Lallemand said with a laugh. “He told me I was the first person he called. I said something like, ‘Man, I would have thought of about five better people to call first than me.’”

 

On numerous occasions, Ashby mentioned Lallemand and his uncle — 14-year MLB pitcher and former Crowder standout Andy Ashby — as a couple of the influencers in his decision to return to Crowder this past spring despite being selected by the Texas Rangers in the 25th round of the 2017 draft.

 

“Obviously my uncle was a big influence on me when I decided to come to Crowder, and on my visit, I just connected with Lallemand more than any other coach I’d ever been around,” Ashby said in March. “I was on the phone with both of them every night after I was drafted. ... Like I said, it’s all about family. I’m having a lot of fun right now, and I just want to focus on the season and help the team win. If another pro opportunity comes up in the future, then we’ll see what happens. But right now, I’m just taking it easy.”

 

The decision to return to Crowder proved to be a fruitful one for Ashby, who improved his draft stock by leaps and bounds after leading all NJCAA Division I pitchers in strikeouts (156) and strikeouts per nine innings (18.8) in the spring. He also tossed three no-hitters and finished 11-2 with a 2.29 earned run average.

 

“You hear people say a lot that it’s hard to improve your draft stock from year to year, but I don’t think those people knew about (Ashby’s) work ethic,” Lallemand said. “What’s really cool is reflecting on the growth he had from his freshman season. He just kept working at his craft and working on his body — he put on probably 20 pounds since the end of his freshman season, and his confidence in his pitches skyrocketed.”

 

In the midst of his breakout year, Ashby accepted an offer to continue his career at the University of Tennessee.

 

“He’s about to have another big decision to make this summer, and I’m pretty certain he’s already made it,” Lallemand said. “He’s been very excited about the possibility of playing (Division I) ball at Tennessee, but I think he’ll forego that opportunity to join the Brewers’ organization. It’s his decision. ... So that can be confirmed by him.”

[Mass Haas]

The senior committed to UNC Wilmington but said he will “probably” sign with the Brewers.

 

Brewers draft Lake Norman High pitcher Jarvis in round 5

Senior was 8-2 this season for the Wildcats with one perfect game

By Brian Meadows, statesville.com (NC)

 

The Milwaukee Brewers selected Lake Norman High School ace Justin Jarvis in the fifth round of the Major League Baseball First-Year Player Draft on Tuesday afternoon.

 

Jarvis was taken with the 155th overall pick. He witnessed it while following MLB.com’s live stream of the draft.

 

“I stood up, hugged my dad, all my buddies around me, my nana, my grandpa, my mom,” Jarvis said when asked about his reaction.

 

“I was kind of speechless there for a little bit, but it came back to me.”

 

The senior committed to UNC Wilmington but said he will “probably” sign with the Brewers.

 

Jarvis didn’t say he had a preference as to which organization picked him but noted that he was pleased the Brewers wanted his services. He was in Milwaukee last week for workouts.

 

“I threw in Miller Park and got to meet everyone,” Jarvis said. “I like it. It’s a cool place. I’m looking forward to it.”

 

His high school coach, former Major Leaguer Ty Wigginton, was happy to hear about Jarvis’ good news.

 

“You get the opportunity to go in any round in the draft it’s a dream come true,” Wigginton said. “I’m sure emotions were running high when it happened.

 

“He’s one step closer” to being a major league baseball player, Wigginton added. “It’s a pretty cool achievement for him.”

 

Jarvis had an impressive spring on the mound and helped the Wildcats claim a share of the I-Meck Conference championship. They lost in second round of the 4A state playoffs to eventual runner-up Charlotte Ardrey Kell and finished 24-4.

 

Jarvis posted an 8-2 record and a 1.60 ERA. He struck out 95 batters in 57 innings of work while yielding only 33 hits.

 

The season started with a bang. The 6-foot-3 right-hander tossed a perfect game in a 5-0 win over East Rowan. Utilizing an effective fastball that reached the mid-90s, he struck out 18 of the 21 batters he faced.

 

“I transferred schools this year, but I think I fit right in,” said Jarvis, who previously played at Mooresville High. “The whole team (at Lake Norman) took me in. I did my best to win there. We fell short of a state championship, which we wanted to win.

 

“This kind of just tops off my whole life, honestly.”

[SRB]

His high school coach, former Major Leaguer Ty Wigginton, was happy to hear about Jarvis’ good news.

 

Wow, that's a pretty good high school coach! I think the baseball coach for my high school was the social studies teacher.

[Mass Haas]

Full eight-minute audio interview with Brewers 4th round pick, LHP Crowder College (Missouri) Aaron Ashby; non-committal on signing, but sounds promising, plus an "I love cheese" quote

[Jenkins5]

His high school coach, former Major Leaguer Ty Wigginton, was happy to hear about Jarvis’ good news.

 

Wow, that's a pretty good high school coach! I think the baseball coach for my high school was the social studies teacher.

 

Hey now lol social studies teachers make excellent coaches! Ha However, point very valid, it’d be pretty cool to have such an established professional player coaching you up! Loved watching Ty, always killed the Brewers! One of my fellow football coaches was a 4 year starting WR at Wisconsin which I think is real cool for the kids

 

Great to hear he is excited & already to sign! Promising arm, can’t wait to see what he can do!

[wildcat2237]

For the first time in many years I actually like the Brewers 1st round pick.

 

Turang has all the tools to be a superstar and the brewers got him late in the first round. Just because he didn't not decimate the competition his senior year and because of concerns over his frame. If I'm not mistaken scouts said the same thing about JJ Hardy.

 

I greatly prefer this over a high risk high school pitcher or a college bat like Ray and Hiura. The potential with Turang is incredibly high.

[Jenkins5]

I love Turang, I hear a lot of Trae Turner comps with the impact speed & defense then ton of Yelich comps with the bat at same age. Turner/Yelich? Love it!

 

I will always favor high school ceiling picks. Hiura I was happy about due how incredible his bat is. I was furious over not going Groome at #5 (didn’t wan Puk at all)

[JDBrewCrew]

Draft summary from KLAW

 

Milwaukee Brewers

 

Brice Turang (1) is a plus defender at short with a plus arm and can show a little power at the plate, but he hasn't hit well over the past year, and there's a fair question whether he has the bat speed to be even an average hitter in the future. The defense alone should get him to the majors, but any upside is going to require him to beat expectations for the hit tool.

 

Joe Gray Jr. (2) can flash some first-round tools and looks the part, but he hasn't hit well against good competition in showcases. Mississippi prep bats are a historically dangerous draft class, and Gray didn't endear himself to scouts this spring in home visits. In the second round, it's a reasonable bet on first-round physical gifts. Hawai'ian prep outfielder Micah Bello (2A) is a plus runner with strong hip rotation in his right-handed swing, though he didn't face much good pitching on the Big Island this spring and had to make his bones last summer on the showcase circuit. The St. Mary's commit won't turn 18 until late July and could end up with a valuable speed/power combo, depending on how his body fills out.

 

Aaron Ashby (4) struck out 156 this year in 74.2 innings for two-year Crowder College, with an excessive 43 walks. He's up to 94 and has a power curveball that gets a ton of swing-and-misses. Right-hander Justin Jarvis (5) has hit 95 but pitches more at 91-92 from a very high ¾ slot that gets him on top of the fastball, and his breaking ball is well below-average. He's still fairly projectable, at least. Drew Rasmussen (6) was the Rays' pick last year at 31 overall, flunked his post-draft physical and returned to Oregon State, but he immediately had to have a second Tommy John surgery and missed the season. He was worked very hard by the Beavers after a quick return from his first TJ, and I have no idea what to expect from him or ligament No. 3 going forward.

[JDBrewCrew]

Interview from Brew Crew Ball Blog w Ashby

 

https://www.brewcrewball.com/2018/6/7/17436938/meet-aaron-ashby-4th-round-pick-of-the-milwaukee-brewers

 

Responses seem favorable to him signing.

[Mass Haas]

Brad Ford of BrewCrewBall kicks off his always excellent Q&A series with new Brewer draft picks with this one

 

4th round LHP Aaron Ashby

[JDBrewCrew]

Another source stating Jarvis likely will sign.

 

http://www.lakenormanpublications.com/mooresville_citizen/picked-by-brewers-jarvis-targets-pro-career/article_b58e94f8-69d0-11e8-8f0c-4b7c02d3986b.html

 

Picked by Brewers, Jarvis targets pro career

Justin Parker Jun 6, 2018 Updated 17 hrs ago 0

 

Justin Jarvis, who has "funk in his delivery," was picked in the fifth round by the Milwaukee Brewers.

 

MOORESVILLE – Justin Jarvis was surrounded by friends and family this week when baseball called.

 

The senior pitcher from Lake Norman High was selected by the Milwaukee Brewers in the fifth round of the Major League Baseball First Year Player Draft on June 5. Even though phone conversations with his advisor had led Jarvis to believe the Brewers organization was a potential landing spot, there was still uncertainty until he heard his name called at pick No. 155 to Milwaukee.

 

“That was pretty surreal,” Jarvis said.

 

Then, after receiving hugs from those closest to him, the right-hander fielded a direct call from the Brewers.

 

“They said, ‘Welcome to the Brew Crew,’” Jarvis said.

 

Like most highly rated prep pitchers, Jarvis committed to a college program (UNC-Wilmington) with the understanding that he’d go pro if drafted in the early rounds. According to MLB.com, pick No. 155 will bring an estimated deal of more than $327,000.

 

“I think that’s what I want, to go out and start my professional baseball career and see where it goes,” Jarvis said.

 

Jarvis had an eventful senior year. In his first outing March 2, he threw a perfect game and struck out 18 against East Rowan. He went on to post an 8-2 record with a 1.60 earned run average and 95 strikeouts in 57 innings pitched. On March 23, he threw a one-hitter against the 21-win Hough Huskies.

 

“He was a really good high school pitcher,” Hough coach Jimmy Cochran said. “You see guys that throw hard, but you don’t often see guys that throw 92 to 95, with a curveball he can control and a changeup that’s his swing-and-miss pitch. He’s got a little of what I’d call funk in his delivery.”

 

Lake Norman coach Ty Wigginton played 12 years in the majors after being drafted by the New York Mets in the 17th round out of UNC-Asheville in 1998. Wigginton, who broke in with the Mets in 2002, said Jarvis "will work, he'll listen and he'll do everything in his power" to get better. What advice would Wigginton give his pitcher?

 

"The important thing to remember is it's always a game," said Wigginton, who played for eight big league clubs and hit 169 home runs. "There comes times when it feels like a job, and it is a job. But at the same time, it's the game of baseball."

 

Whenever Jarvis pitched this spring, there were baseball scouts in the stands. As he began his windup, the radar guns would rise in unison behind the backstop. And Jarvis worked out for the Brewers at Miller Park in Milwaukee the week before the draft. It’s all been a lot of attention for Jarvis, who turned 18 as his senior season began.

 

“I kind of just enjoyed it,” Jarvis said. “I tried not to stress too much about it. The last two days (of the draft) have been the most stressful part of it, for sure.”

[JDBrewCrew]

Summary of the Draft from Fangraphs

 

Milwaukee Brewers

Link to Draft Selections

 

SoCal prep SS Brice Turang (1) was the top prep bat in the class a year ago but had just an okay spring that dimmed him in the view of many… Mississippi prep RF Joe Gray (2) has given scouts good and bad looks at dozens of events over the years but finished with a strong spring. At worst, he’s a classic right-field prototype with a volatile bat, but he has a better chance to stay in center than most prospects in that bucket… Hawaii prep CF Micah Bello (2) grew into a potential everyday center fielder this spring with physical development… Junior college LHP Aaron Ashby (4) is the nephew of Andy Ashby and has a plus curveball, low 90s heater, and gaudy numbers… Oregon State RHP Drew Rasmussen (6) is a senior sign who’s rehabbing his second TJ but is up to 97 mph with back-of-the-bullpen stuff at his best… Auburn righty Davis Daniel(11) didn’t have the durability to start this spring, then remade himself into a mid-90s reliever down the stretch… Florida prep RF Elijah Cabell (14) has 65 raw power and arm strength in a Clint Frazier-type swing, but he struck out nearly 30% of the time this spring as a nearly 19-year-old high schooler… Junior college RHP Nick Iverson (15) works in the low-90s and hits 95 mph when he’s on, with solid-average stuff and a back-end-starter profile.

[reillymcshane]

While I am always interested in the MLB draft, I have to plead ignorance about these players for the most part. I learn a bit heading up to the draft, reading the latest mock drafts and opinions from people here on the site (which I appreciate).

 

I'm not going to say if we did well or not - because I just don't know. However, Turang seems like an intriguing player, and I like that he is expected to stay at a premium defensive position. Turang, Gray and Bello offer lots of young, raw talent that will take time to develop - which I'm okay with. Generally, I'd rather go for upside on the premium picks.

 

As always, it will be fun to see how the kids progress.

[JDBrewCrew]

FYI Jarivis's Twitter Bio says "Milwaukee Brewers Organization"

[LouisEly]

Interview from Brew Crew Ball Blog w Ashby

 

https://www.brewcrewball.com/2018/6/7/17436938/meet-aaron-ashby-4th-round-pick-of-the-milwaukee-brewers

 

Responses seem favorable to him signing.

I guarantee you that the Brewers know exactly what it will take to sign at least their top 6-7 picks, if not top 10.

[brewmann04]

Interview from Brew Crew Ball Blog w Ashby

 

https://www.brewcrewball.com/2018/6/7/17436938/meet-aaron-ashby-4th-round-pick-of-the-milwaukee-brewers

 

Responses seem favorable to him signing.

I guarantee you that the Brewers know exactly what it will take to sign at least their top 6-7 picks, if not top 10.

I agree totallyy

[Eye Black]

I am hopeful they get three hitters (Turang, Gray, and Bello) signed quickly and introduced at Miller Park during the next homestand.

[Eye Black]

I am going to assume this is just posturing, but it isn’t exactly what I hoped to read either...

 

Tigers remain optimistic about prized recruit Brice Turang picking college over pros

 

LSU believes there’s still a possibility Brice Turang — one of the top high school prospects in the country — forgoes a huge payday in the pros to come to Baton Rouge in the fall.

 

The LSU signee was selected 21st overall in the MLB draft by the Milwaukee Brewers earlier this week, a slot that values him at $3,013,600.

 

But coach Paul Mainieri said that number is well below Turang’s asking price, leaving open the possibility he plays at LSU next spring.

 

It might be a long shot, but Mainieri is holding out hope Turang may turn down the multi-million dollar deal.

 

“I don't know what’s going to happen,” Mainieri said. “I’ve talked to Brice twice since the draft. He’s not sure what’s going to happen.

 

“I think there’s still a possibility that he comes to school. I’m not going to say it’s 75-percent probability. I’m not saying it’s 50-percent probability. It might be 25-percent probability. But for him to come to school, he’s going to have to walk away from a lot of money. … He’d have to really be gambling on himself that three years from now he’s going to be a much better player, worth a lot more and travel through the minor leagues at a rocket pace.”

 

The shortstop out of Carona, California, was projected as a potential No. 1 overall pick throughout high school, but an underwhelming senior season prompted a brief slide on draft day.

 

Before the draft started, Mainieri figured the odds of Turang making it to LSU depended on where he was selected and whom he was selected by.

 

Knowing Turang was asking for a large sum of money to bypass college, Mainieri figured the only teams with a shot at the prep infielder were the ones with large bonus pools that could be manipulated to fit Turang's demands.

 

If a player selected in the first 10 rounds doesn't sign, his pick's value is subtracted from his club's pool.

 

However, the Brewers have one of the smaller pools in the league at just $6,611,900 to sign all picks in the first 10 rounds.

 

“For three years he’s been hearing he’s going to be the first player taken in the draft,” Mainieri said. “So when we signed him in November, I thought there was very little chance, 5 percent chance, that he'd be coming to school.”

 

If the Brewers weren’t able to come to an agreement with Brice Turang they would receive the #22 selection in the 2019 MLB Draft as compensation.