Boras clients...

[NastyTwig]

So what top picks in this years draft are going to be represented by Boras? Would just like to know who we can cross off the list...

[colbyjack]

Here are the ones we know for sure:

 

Luke Hochevar-RHP-Tennessee

Mike Pelfrey-RHP-Wichita State

Tyler Greene-SS-Georgia Tech

Mark McCormick-RHP-Baylor

Jason Neighborgall-RHP-Georgia Tech

 

We probably won't hear about the HS ones for quite some time, as this kind of info doesn't leak out so easily, and many people think (especially parents of the players themselves) that this information really is nobody's business. Although we did know that Pelfrey, McCormick and Neighborgall were all Boras advisees coming out of high school.

 

Hochevar, Pelfrey & Greene are all top-10 players overall.

[colbyjack]

In today's weekly college BA chat, Will Kimmey revealed that St. John's RHP Craig Hansen is also advised by Boras.

 

EDIT: Add Texas catcher Taylor Teagarden to the list as well.

[batman]

From the other thread: And chalk one more talented player to the Boras list: Taylor Teagarden (sorry Bill).

 

Argh... that's too bad.

 

I wonder what would happen if like 50% of the top draft eligible players signed on with Boras. Would their prices remain high? Would teams still take a pass on them? Or would it diminish the "Boras premium" somewhat? Interesting to think about, anyway.

 

~Bill

[nikip43]

I didn't like seeing that last name being on the Boras list.

 

Teagarden really caught my attention in my preliminary draft reading. Looks like I'm a Clement fan now.

[colbyjack]

Teagarden being represented by Boras may not be as bad as one of his other players since Teagarden at this point in time really isn't considered a top 5-10 overall pick. That means he's not going to price himself out of our range because he currently isn't in our range. I would guess his range is in the $1.5-1.8 million dollar range right now as projected 10-15 overall selection. Boras values slot value, and if the Brewers were to approach them and offer $2.2 million for instance at the 5th overall selection, they may jump all over it.

[SoCalBrewfan]

Are you advocating taking Teagarden at #5? That seems like a reach to me, especially if Clement is on the board.

 

For all that the Brewers have done pretty well not drafting for need, it sure seems like there's some good talent, near major league ready, at 3B and C that will be available at #5, and some money to spend to sign a premium guy, given that we have no second rounder.

[batman]

I'm almost certainly in a small minority, but I like Teagarden better than Clement. Everything I've read indicates that he's about as close to Major League ready defensively as an NCAA catcher could be and could turn into Mike Matheny pretty quickly. His plate discipline is also very solid and I think he could develop into a productive hitter in the mold of a guy like Damian Miller. Clement is more likely to become an offensive force but he's also much more likely to wind up a below average prospect at another position (like Munson, who Patrick compared him to).

 

I'm certainly not qualified to fairly evaluate his defense, though, without seeing him play more than twice. If the defensive question marks are more hype than reality, then he looks like a super hitter. Teagarden just has the polished defensive game and outstanding makeup that scream "sure thing!" to me, even if his ceiling is much, much lower than other potential picks.

 

I'm in love with Alex Gordon, too, but I've resigned myself to hearing him taken in the top four.

 

~Bill

[SoCalBrewfan]

could turn into Mike Matheny pretty quickly

 

Aaaaaah! Run away! Got your sights set high for the #5 overall pick, eh? http://forum.brewerfan.net/images/smilies/wink.gif

[colbyjack]

Are you advocating taking Teagarden at #5? That seems like a reach to me, especially if Clement is on the board.

 

If both were there, which I believe they will, I'd take Clement without thinking twice. I've seen both play a little bit now, and while I think Teagarden could be a stud behind the plate for years, and could get to the big leagues quickly, you just can't pass on Clement's offensive potential, which is much greater than Teagarden's. I don't see the Brewers taking Teagarden for his defense alone, I just brought up that scenario to point out that Teagarden's affiliation with Boras may not be bad for someone that wishes to take him higher than where many expect him to be selected.

 

And while I compared Clement to Munson, that has more to do with the fact that they're both from USC and they both hit left-handed. I didn't necessarily mean that Clement will follow a similar career path, and in fact the more I learn about Clement the more I believe he'll be able to stay behind the plate.

 

Clement gets high marks for character too, and he does a very good job throwing out base-runners.

 

I guess the biggest question for me is the margin for error with catchers. Catchers, from both HS & college, have a tougher time making it to the big leagues than HS right-handed pitchers IIRC. And since even the best ones only seem to play 70-80% of the time, do you spend a high first-round pick on a catcher?

[brettac1]

Is Clement considered to be very close to ML ready? Like could he start out like Prior did, maybe in high A? Obviously they are completely different, as Prior was a pitcher, but if he were able to start out fairly high in the system and thus be relatively close to the bigs he'd be worth drafting that high.

[batman]

Aaaaaah! Run away! Got your sights set high for the #5 overall pick, eh? http://forum.brewerfan.net/images/smilies/wink.gif

 

I was going to compare him to Gary Bennett, but I figured that was a bit of a reach. http://forum.brewerfan.net/images/smilies/smile.gif

 

It would be a very risk averse choice, obviously, but I just don't like the idea of taking a catcher with defensive question marks with that high of a pick.

 

I'd much rather they take someone else entirely, a non-catcher, but I don't know who that player is yet.

 

I still think they should have taken Sowers last year, BTW. http://forum.brewerfan.net/images/smilies/wink.gif

 

~Bill

[colbyjack]

Is Clement considered to be very close to ML ready? Like could he start out like Prior did, maybe in high A? Obviously they are completely different, as Prior was a pitcher, but if he were able to start out fairly high in the system and thus be relatively close to the bigs he'd be worth drafting that high.

 

Clement probably is going to need a few years in the minors. Where he starts depends on how quickly he signs. The team showed with both Weeks and Gwynn from two years ago that they weren't opposed to starting them both at low-A, so Clement, or any college player, might start their career there. If Clement signed quickly enough, like within two weeks of the draft, I would be tempted to have him play at Helena to begin the season, and after 100-150 ABs bump him up to low-A (assuming he hits well). Then, next year you would start him at high-A, or even AA depending on how well he responds. But I think he will need at least two full seasons in the minors.

 

Another thing I like about Clement is that he hits with wood in batting practice, so there shouldn't be a huge adjustment period because of that.

 

I still think they should have taken Sowers last year, BTW.

 

You an me both Bill http://forum.brewerfan.net/images/smilies/smile.gif . I might have taken Chris Nelson before both Sowers & Rogers.

[colbyjack]

A couple of prep players have now emerged as Boras advisees: LHP Mark Pawelek, the fastest rising HS senior, and OF Jay Bruce, another player on the rise.