1. Guardians: Travis Bazzana 2B, College.
2024(A+): .238/.369/.396, 3 HR, 5 SB, 13.9 BB%, 25.4 K%, 122 PA.
Disappointing BA for a guy who came advertised as a high average hitter with doubles power and a motor. This line looks more like a 3-true outcomes guy without the power. A+ is an aggressive post-draft placement even for a 1-1 from a major college program.
2. Reds: Chase Burns RHP, College.
Burns did not get into any game action after the draft so we'll have to wait on next season for early returns. Has tools to be a fast riser.
3. Rockies: Charlie Condon OF, College.
2024(A+): .180/.248/.270, HR, 4 SB, 3.7 BB%, 31.2 K%, 109 PA.
I'm always skeptical of one-dimensional sluggers who put up huge numbers in college. A+ is an aggressive post-draft placement but this line is scary bad.
4. A's: Nick Kurtz 1B, College.
2024(A): .400/.571/.950, 4 HR, 28.6 BB%, 20.0 K%, 35 PA.
2024(AA): .308/.400/.385, 13.3 BB%, 20.0 K%, 15 PA.
2024(AFL: .353/.450/.608, 2 HR, 9 BB, 16 K, 60 PA.
Another of those one-dimensional college slugger types. So far he's hit everything in sight in small samples and could rocket to the majors.
5. White Sox: Hagen Smith LHP, College.
2024(A+): 0-1, 3.52, 7.2 IP, 8.22 K/9, 2.35 BB/9, 4.57 GB/FB.
Tiny sample but good numbers in an aggressive placement.
6. Royals: Jac Caglianone 1B, College.
2024(A+): .241/.302/.388, 2 HR, 2 SB, 5.6 BB%, 20.6 K%, 126 PA.
2-way player in college who looks like he'll be a hitter in the pros. Huge power projection. Again, A+ is an aggressive placement right out of the draft.
7. Cardinals: J J Wetherholt 3B/2B/SS, College.
2024(A): .295/.405/.400, 2 HR, 2 SB, 12.7 BB%, 11.9 K%, 126 PA.
Played multiple positions in college but exclusively SS is junior season. So far the Cardinals have played him at SS too. Tremendous all-around hitter in college. Good numbers so far in the pros. Will enhance his value if he can stick at SS.
8. Angels: Christian Moore 2B, College.
2024(A): .545/.583/1.000, HR, 8.3 BB%, 0.00 K%, 12 PA
2024(AA): .322/.378/.533, 5 HR, 2 SB, 8.2 BB%, 29.6 K%, 98 PA.
Angels have been drafting college position players then force-feeding them to the majors. Don't be surprised if Moore is the first member of this draft class to make his MLB debut.
9. Pirates: Konnor Griffin SS, HS.
First high school draftee. Did not see game action after the draft.
10. Nationals: Seaver King, SS, College.
2024(A): .295/.367/.385, 3 3B, 10 SB, 10.0 BB%, 14.4 K%, 90 PA.
Contact/speed hitter who should stick at SS.
11. Tigers: Bryce Rainer SS, HS.
Trend here of players drafted out of high school not seeing game action post-draft.
12. Red Sox: Braden Montgomery OF, College.
Did not see game action post-draft.
13. Giants: James Tibbs III OF, College.
2024(A): .415/.429/.512, 2.4 BB%, 26.2 K%, 42 PA.
2024(A+): .134/.216/.239, 2 HR, 9.5 BB%, 33.8 K%, 74 PA.
A+ numbers look bad but if look at game logs, he went 1 for 46 in his first 11 games then went 8 for 26 with 2 HR in his last 6. He should start 2025 in A+ Eugene and I think he will do great with a promo to AA by midseason. I think he'll end up having more gap power than HR power but hit for a high average.
14. Cubs: Cam Smith 3B, College.
2024(A): .313/.404/.771, 6 HR, 14.0 BB%, 21.1 K%, 57 PA.
2024(A+); .333/.421/.500, HR, 10.5 BB%, 15.8 K%, 57 PA.
2024(AA): .263/.300/.474, 5.0 BB%, 15.0 K%, 20 PA.
James Tibbs III teammate at FSU. Great start to pro career. Should move fast through the Cubs system.
15. Mariners: Jurrangelo Cijntje RHP/LHP, College.
Ambidextrous switch-pitcher. Did not see game action post-draft.
16. Marlins: P J Morlando OF, HS.
Had just one PA post-draft.
17. Brewers: Braylon Payne OF, HS.
2024(A): .438/.526/.625, 4 SB, 15.8 BB%, 15.8 K%, 19 PA.
Aggressive placement. SSS.
18. Rays: Theo Gillen OF, HS.
2024(A): .154/.353/.192, SB, 23.5 BB%, 41.2 K%, 34 PA.
Aggressive placement. SSS.
19. Mets: Carson Benge OF, College.
2024(A): .273/.420/.436, 2 HR, 3 SB, 15.9 BB%, 20.3 K%, 69 PA.
Pretty good numbers in a small sample.
20. Blue Jays: Trey Yesavage RHP, College.
Did not appear in games post draft.
21. Twins: Kaelen Culpepper SS, College.
2024(A): .297/.366/.541, 2 HR, 2 SB, 7.3 BB%, 4.9 K%, 41 PA.
0224(A+): .210/.310/.306, HR, 2 SB, 11.3 BB%, 18.3 K%, 71 PA.
Again we see a pattern where A ball may be to conservative a placement for college draftees but A+ may be too aggressive? Bring back short season A ball! Of how about start a fall league just for same season drafted players?
22. Orioles: Vance Honeycutt OF, College.
2024(A): .226/.333/258, 4 SB, 11.1 BB%, 36.1 K%, 36 PA.
2024(A+): .100/.100/.100, 0.0 BB%, 55.0 K%, 20 PA.
Very small sample but the rap on Honeycutt in college was too many K's. Yikes!
23. Dodgers: Kellon Lindsay SS, HS.
Another player drafted out of HS who did not appear in games post draft.
24. Braves: Cam Caminiti LHP, HS.
2024(A): 0-1, 3.00, 3 IP, 12.00 K/9, 0.00 BB/9.
This is one I will watch closely. Widely projected to go to the Giants at #13. I like the Tibbs pick but suspect Caminiti may have a higher ceiling and the Giants have had a lot of success drafting HS pitchers, especially LHP's.
25. Padres: Kash Mayfield LHP, HS.
Did not appear in any pro games post-draft.
26. Yankees: Ben Hess RHP, College.
Did not appear in any game post-draft.
27. Phillies: Dante Nori OF, HS.
2024(A): .240/.424/.280, 4 SB, 24.1 BB%, 21.2 K%, 66 PA.
Tools/speed project. Did not appear in any top draft prospect rankings.
28. Astros: Walker Janek C, College.
2024(A+): .175/.214/.289, HR, 3.9 BB%, 29.1 K%, 103 PA.
Again, A+ is very aggressive placement even for a top college player immediately post-draft.
29. D'Backs: Slade Caldwell OF, HS.
Did not appear in any pro games.
30. Rangers: Malcolm Moore C, College.
2024(A+): .209/.298/.374, 3 HR, 3 SB, 7.7 BB%, 27.9 K%, 104 PA.
Aggressive placement.
Summary:
This draft was college-heavy, especially in the top half of the first round which usually means it is generally a weak draft. I like James Tibbs III and think he will move up fast but wonder if Cam Caminiti might ultimately have a higher ceiling. Later draft means fewer players see game action in their draft season, especially HS players. In past, it was routine for players drafted out of college to be assigned to short season A ball and players out of HS assigned to rookie ball. Teams now seem to struggle with where to place their drafted players or whether to just keep them in camp until the next full season.
No comments:
Post a Comment