Former Brewers draftees

[battlekow]

'Born to play ball': Marcus Knecht takes next step when he hears name at MLB draft

Bob Elliott/Toronto Sun

We can hear host Martine Gaillard now: “Welcome to Sportsnet

Connected ... and tonight’s special edition of Sportsnet ‘Knecht-ed.’ ”

 

North York outfielder Marcus Knecht, 20, will be the top player from

the GTA selected when the annual Major League Baseball amateur draft of

high schoolers and collegians begins Monday night.

 

The first 50 selections will be made on Monday. Rounds 2-30 go

Tuesday and the final 20 take place on Wednesday.

 

Knecht, projected as the 50th best prospect by the Perfect Game

scouting service and 94th by Baseball America, will either go Monday

night or early Tuesday afternoon.

 

The Jays have four of the first 41 picks (11th, 34th, 38th and 41st)

and nine in the first three rounds.

 

Knecht worked out for the Jays on Wednesday morning at the Rogers

Centre in front a cadre of scouts, and then taking batting practice

again with Delino DeShields, Jr., for manager Cito Gaston.

 

Knecht has been to Dallas to show his swing to Chicago Cubs and the

Tampa Bay Rays scouts; to Lufkin, Tex., for Cincinnati Reds scouts; to

Anaheim for the Los Angeles Angels; to Jupiter, Fla., for the Florida

Marlins and Bradenton for the Pittsburgh Pirates.

 

* * *

 

Knecht had all of 15 plate appearances with the Oklahoma State

Cowboys in 2009. How is it possible to climb so quickly up the draft

boards?

 

How did a Canadian who spent winters playing triple-A hockey for the

Don Mills Flyers and Markham Islanders against the likes of John Tavares

and Steve Stamkos while playing summer hockey with P.K. Subban, reach

this point?

 

Tavares skates with the New York Islanders, Stamkos the Tampa Bay

Lightening and Subban the Montreal Canadiens, all reaching the top of

their chosen profession.

 

And now, Knecht is one sentence away — “We choose outfielder Marcus

Knecht, of North York, Ont., Canada, as our selection” — to starting on

his next step on the road to the majors in his sport.

 

One scouting director, who throws around compliments like 10-pound

shot puts, termed Knecht a “definite future major-leaguer.”

 

A year ago June, Knecht informed Oklahoma State he would not return.

 

“The coaches didn’t explain anything about playing time,” Knecht said

during a break in his whirlwind tour.

 

“The three starting outfielders last year were all either juniors or

seniors. Two were drafted last June. The positions were locked down

before I went there.”

 

What to do?

 

“I didn’t want to go through that again,” said Knecht of his season

of inactivity. So, he called former coach Danny Bleiwas of the Ontario

Blue Jays for advice.

 

“I trusted Danny,” he said.

 

The two have had a long relationship.

 

Bleiwas first met Knecht at brother David Bleiwas’ Green Diamond ball

camp in Stouffville. Knecht was age five and Bleiwas was a teenager.

 

“Marcus was the best at age five, the best at age 20,” said Bleiwas.

 

Knecht was warming in the bullpen when Billy Hurley got the final

outs for Ontario, coached by Peter Kottaras and Bleiwas, against British

Columbia to win the 2005 Canadian bantam title in Windsor.

 

Bleiwas suggested Knecht transfer to Connors State College.

 

Since 2000, Bleiwas and assistant coach Shawn Travers have sent more

than 30 players to Connors and coach Perry Kieth.

 

A junior college powerhouse, Connors is located in Warner, Okla.,

half an hour south of Muskogee, the town Merle Haggard made famous with

the lyrics:

 

“And I’m proud to be an Okie from Muskogee,

 

A place where even squares can have a ball.

 

We still wave Old Glory down at the courthouse,

 

And white lightnin’s still the biggest thrill of all.”

 

Knecht provided a few thrills around eastern Oklahoma as the Cowboys

held the No. 1 ranking in the U.S., in May. Besides the slugging

outfielder, other Canadians played a major role: right-hander Chris

Nagorski and catcher Peter Bako, both of Mississauga; infielder James

Kottaras [also a past Brewers draftee, and George's brother] and outfielder Brodie Ross, both of Markham; Toronto

right-handers Cam Gray and Nick DaSilva; Guelph’s Tyler Wheeler and

catcher Jeremy Kral of Prince George, B.C.

 

Knecht ran (a 6.54 clocking in the 60), hit for power (grading to 70

power on a scale where 80 is the highest), hit for average, fielded and

showed a strong arm as the complete package.

 

“It worked out well,” said Knecht, who hit .453 with 23 homers, 20

steals and a .540 on-base percentage.

 

Kieth tells a story of a marathon scrimmage of 20 innings last fall.

 

Knecht already had two homers. Pretty good day? He came up in the

15th with men on first and second, hit a sharp ground ball to short and

hustled to beat the throw the throw from second, avoiding a double play.

 

* * *

 

Mike Knecht was born in Xenia, Ohio, and moved to Canada at age 11

with his parents who ran a tourist camp outside of Sault Ste. Marie.

 

Mike graduated from the University of Western Ontario in 1985, met

Gail in Toronto and they wed in ’88.

 

Marcus came along on June 21, 1990.

 

Mike is now sales rep for Coldwell Banker Terrequity Realty, while

Gail works at Mitchell Sandham Insurance.

 

Marcus began playing baseball in Agincourt before switching to North

York, quickly earning a reputation as one of the better pitchers in his

age group.

 

“That’s what I was known for — a good pitcher. I thought I was a

big-league pitcher back then,” said Knecht.

 

He played hockey then, too.

 

“I was quick and could score,” Knecht said.

 

“I loved to hit people, but, by the ninth grade, I was 100% baseball.

When I stopped playing hockey, I didn’t worry about the OHL.

 

“I was born to play ball. It’s ingrained in my brain structure, I

love hitting.”

 

After the bantam nationals, Knecht had to decide which elite team to

play with.

 

“There was pressure for Marcus to play for the Toronto Mets,”

recalled Bleiwas, who had Tyler Johnstone, a former Ontario Blue Jay at

Auburn University, call to help recruit the Knechts.

 

“We thought he was the type of special player to go to a big

conference school,” Bleiwas said.

 

Knecht was 16 when called up to play for the Jays 18s at the

All-American Classic in Memphis and hit the very first pitch for a

homer.

 

He returned to Memphis in the summer of 2009 and was spotted by

Oklahoma State recruiters, hitting seven homers in six games.

 

Knecht declined to return last September, sticking with Connors.

 

When he had a hot start in fall ball at Connors, Oklahoma State coach

Frank Anderson came calling for next fall. Knecht chose to sign a

letter of intent to the North Carolina State Wolfpack this fall.

 

No hard feelings, just no thanks.

 

“They gave me free tickets to the Oklahoma State-Oklahoma football

game,” Knecht said.

 

Why go back to a place where you get in 10 games, starting two, out

of 58?

 

Knecht was (2-or-12, both homers) for a .167 average with two walks

and was hit by a pitch.

 

Where did his work ethic come from?

 

“My dad is a driven man. Watching him and his positive attitude rubs

off on people,” Knecht said. “He’s always positive.

 

“Danny Bleiwas is a good friend and Sean Travers helped a lot.”

 

Last summer, playing with the Intercounty league’s Oshawa Dodgers,

Travers sat Knecht down and told him a year from now, baseball would be

his job, he told him he had to take batting practice every day.

 

Knecht did so and took out a membership at a fitness club.

 

“I’ve seen him at every step of his career, from the nationals to the

recruiting process when we worked as hard to get him into the

organization as anyone,” Bleiwas said. “He’s an absolute pleasure to

coach.”

 

* * *

 

This isn’t the first time Knecht heads into the draft.

 

In 2008, he was the top local high-schooler but withdrew his name.

 

“I wasn’t mentally ready, I wanted to try school,” Knecht says.

 

Still, Milwaukee Brewers scouting director Jack Zduriencik and scout

Jap Lapp chose Knecht in the 23rd round after making Brett Lawrie of

Langley B.C., a first-round selection.

 

“We got Lawrie, maybe his teammate will talk him into playing,”

Zduriencik said. Lawrie and Knecht were teammates with the Canadian

junior team which lost in the quarterfinals at the world championships

in Edmonton.

 

This time is different.

 

A seven-team tour for private workouts. Meeting GMs, scouting

directors, national cross checkers and area scouts. And renewing

acquaintances with Jays scouting director Andrew Tinnish, whose hitting

camp Knecht attended as a teenager.

 

“Going off rumors, I’ve heard I could anywhere from supplemental

first round, to the third,” Knecht says.

 

“I’ll be happy with that.”

 

He has put on a show for both the Angels and the Jays. Both teams

have additional picks in the supplemental first round. The Jays choose

34th, 38th and 41st, while the Angels are at 37th and 40th. One will be

well-Knecht-ed.

[Cracked Bat Collector]

As a big Arizona State baseball fan, I must point out that last year's 39th round pick, Brady Rodgers has been stellar for the Sun Devils this year. In 16 games he has allowed just 37 hits and 9 walks and struck out 53 with a 1.44 ERA (in 56.1 innings). He threw 8 shutout innings on Friday allowing just 2 hits against #20 Arizona.

I'm also a big ASU fan and he's been fun to follow this season. Makes you wish even more than we would have signed him. Met him at a game this spring and he seemed like a really cool kid.

[colbyjack]

2009 26th rounder, lefty Lex Rutledge, is off to a good start on the Cape this summer, coming off of a very strong freshman campaign serving as Samford's closer, and is part of the Team USA trials set for early July.

 

http://samfordsports.cstv.../spec-rel/061610aaa.html

[Mass Haas]

Story on the Brewers' 2005 47th round pick, RHP Jay Broughton, who opted for college at the time, and has now found affiliated work with Boston after going the indy route for his introduction to pro ball.

[colbyjack]

Former Brewers draftee Lex Rutledge, who was invited to compete for a spot on Team USA this past summer but missed the cut, was recently ranked Perfect Game's #10 Cape prospect:

 

10. Lex Rutledge, lhp, Harwich (So., Samford)

 

Dominant as a freshman closer at Samford, Rutledge was just as overpowering as a starter for Harwich. He made four appearances for the Mariners before leaving for the Team USA trials, then opted not to return to the Cape after failing to make the cut.

 

Though he's not big at 6-foot-1 and 185 pounds, Rutledge has a quick arm and as much stuff as any Cape lefthander. His 90-94 mph fastball and hard slider are at least the equal of Bradley's, though Bradley commands his pitches better. Rutledge goes after hitters but doesn't always locate his pitches where he wants.

 

The Bradley they refer to is Georgia Tech's Jed Bradley, another LHP that was ranked #4 on Jim Callis' list.

[colbyjack]

Baseball America released their top 25 recruiting classes for the coming college baseball season today, and some notable Brewers draftees were listed among the top teams. Dylan Covey of course is the prize of USD's class, coming in at #4, while Daniel Gibson was the second player noted (after Karsten Whitson) for the Gators' #6 class. Gulf Coast CC transfer Andrew Morris was among those mentioned for Auburn's #20 rated class.

 

(link for subscribers)

http://www.baseballameric...uiting/2010/2610793.html

Edit: And Kyle Winkler was recently named the #98 prospect eligible for the 2011 draft by Perfect Game (again, link for subscribers):

http://www.perfectgame.or...s/View.aspx?article=5048

[battlekow]

Former Brewers draftees taken in the most recent draft, with BA scouting reports when available:

• 2008 37th-rounder Kyle Winkler went to the Rays in the 10th round

  With Matt Purke ailing, Winkler has replaced him as Texas Christian's ace. Hitters have a tough time squaring Winkler's pitches up, especially his 91-95 mph fastball with heavy sink. He has added velocity this spring, not only to his heater but also to his slider, which reaches the mid-80s. His breaking ball is more effective when he throws in the low 80s, and some scouts would like to see him break out the hard curveball he used in high school. His improved changeup gives him a solid third pitch that he should throw more often, and his command also has taken a step forward. If Winkler had ideal pitcher size rather than checking in at 5-foot-11 and 205 pounds, he'd be a mid-first-rounder. His delivery isn't the smoothest, but it's also deceptive and doesn't feature a terrible amount of effort. Scouts have noted his competitive streak for years, going back to when he led the U.S. national team to a gold medal at the 2006 Pan American Youth Championships with a 1.15 ERA. [Winkler fell in the draft after suffering a stress fracture in his elbow.]

• 2008 29th-rounder Tommy Collier went to the Tigers in the 22nd round

  Collier was the leading winner on San Jacinto's 2009 College World Series team but had Tommy John surgery last year. The Gators eased him back in a relief role, and the 6-foot-2, 205-pounder showed a low-90s sinker and signs of a plus changeup. His hard slider used to be his bread and butter--and throwing too many may have led to his torn elbow ligament--but he babied his breaking ball this spring. Drafted twice previously (29th round by the Brewers in 2008, 49th round by the Blue Jays in 2009), Collier is expected to sign rather than follow through on a commitment to Houston.

• 2010 40th-round Scott Matyas went to the Tigers in the 27th round (signed)
   
  
• 2008 43rd-rounder Dexter Price went to the Diamondbacks in the 30th round (signed)
   
  
• 2008 34th-rounder Calvin Drummond went to the Nationals in the 34th round

  Drummond, a 6-foot-3, 212-pound redshirt sophomore, was a 34th-round pick out Huntington Beach High in 2008, and he started college at Arizona State before transferring to Orange Coast CC for the 2009 season. He sat out 2010 after transferring to USD, then led Toreros starters with a 3.29 ERA this spring. He came out of the chute strong, impressing scouts with a 91-94 mph fastball, a good 85-87 cutter, and a serviceable curveball and change. He settled into the 87-91 mph range as the spring progressed, and his feel for pitching was spotty. His delivery has funk and effort, and he could benefit from more seasoning in college, though a team could make a run at him inside the top 10 rounds.

[colbyjack]

I had the chance to see Brady Rodgers pitch for Team USA in Omaha on Friday. He was mostly in the upper-80s, showing good command of his fastball with a pretty good, big, slow curveball.

 

http://i5.photobucket.com/albums/y155/colbyjack/bradyrodgers370-2.jpg

 

And for the record, Tyler Thornburg looked really good today http://forum.brewerfan.net/images/smilies/smile.gif. I love it when someone who knows nothing about a prospect, because he's not a mainstream guy, and the only thing said person can come up to say about him, more than once, is, "it looks like he's been working on his delivery quite a bit."

[Mass Haas]

2008 50th round LHP Sean Nolin starting to climb up Toronto's prospect chart:

 

http://jaysjournal.com/2012/03/24/jays-journal-top-50-blue-jays-prospects-no-32-sean-nolin/