2016 Draft Position

Tapate50 said:
I mean having a terrible season sucks, but having the no 1 overall pick is pretty damn exciting actually.
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It is, especially with the additional prospect of adding the top international guy, and maybe the top guy overall, in Maitan.

If we can also lock up the catcher ranked 2nd among internationals, you're talking about possibly adding the top 2 players in a very good international pool (including the top guy in a decade) as well as the #1 pick in the draft. That is definitely something to get excited about.
 
Julio3000 said:
I really appreciate the renewed focus on and resources devoted to the international market.
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Yes. This is the exciting part about what is happening. I hate to lose, but I do realize that two steps backwards this year are needed for this team to take a giant leap forward in the next couple of years. I'm excited that the focus on player procurement has been placed back onto the scouts, who are the ones who travel thousands of miles every year to turn over every rock and stone in attempt to bring talented players to the organization. I believe ever since 2009 when Roy Clark left the organization shortly after the draft that the upper front office level folks stopped listening to the scouts doing the grunt work and started letting financial implications and organizational depth effect their decisions. Now, the team is back to the way it was under Shurelholz. The scouts are trusted and their input is valued. When they tell upper management that Austin Riley is the best power bat from the high school level in the draft, maybe in the entire draft, they listened. Turns out, the scouts are correct at least initially on their assessment.

Not only that, but the changes that were made with the media agreement, as well as the agreement to build the new stadium in Marietta has opened up a new revenue stream that will allow the organization to be more aggressive when it comes to signing international free agents and even going over slot to sign draft picks. This is why it is rumored that we will be signing Kevin Maitan and Abraham Gutierrez in the international signing period next year. Both players will likely immediately become top 10 prospects in the system. Now we will also have a #1 or #2 overall pick likely to add to that, and another high pick in the competitive balance round that was obtained from Florida. Then, the 2nd round pick will be high as well. So, that is possibly three more elite level prospects that could be added to a system that needs it.

Another thing that I think gets overlooked is how much involvement John Coppolella will have going forward and how he is going to integrate the more advanced analytical methods and mesh it with the scouting information from the scouts. Say what you want about John Hart, but that man has produced some successful GMs. Many of those GMs, like Jon Daniels, Mark Shapiro, Ben Cherington, Paul Depodesta, Chris Antonetti, AJ Preller, and Josh Byrnes are more of your "new age" executives who take into account the analytics (in some cases, too much like Depodesta).

Overall, this time next year, the team on the field may not be a great deal better, but when we start talking about our prospects, we will be mentioning Ozhanio Albies, Kolby Allard, Kevin Maitan, Abraham Gutierrez, Austin Riley, Ronald Acuna, Touki Toussaint, Mike Soroka, Ricardo Sanchez, Juan Yepez, Isranel Wilson, and possibly some prospects like Jason Groome as potential elite prospects in baseball.
 
KB21 said:
Another thing that I think gets overlooked is how much involvement John Coppolella will have going forward and how he is going to integrate the more advanced analytical methods and mesh it with the scouting information from the scouts. Say what you want about John Hart, but that man has produced some successful GMs. Many of those GMs, like Jon Daniels, Mark Shapiro, Ben Cherington, Paul Depodesta, Chris Antonetti, AJ Preller, and Josh Byrnes are more of your "new age" executives who take into account the analytics (in some cases, too much like Depodesta).

Overall, this time next year, the team on the field may not be a great deal better, but when we start talking about our prospects, we will be mentioning Ozhanio Albies, Kolby Allard, Kevin Maitan, Abraham Gutierrez, Austin Riley, Ronald Acuna, Touki Toussaint, Mike Soroka, Ricardo Sanchez, Juan Yepez, Isranel Wilson, and possibly some prospects like Jason Groome as potential elite prospects in baseball.
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Good summation KB. It will be nice to have some much needed analytical approach to combine with solid scouting with Coppy in charge. And if we truly sign Maitan and Gutierrez (and possibly more) from the int signings next year I'm going to be a really happy camper.
 
Plus, we may get to see what Christian Pache and Derian Cruz can do next year.

You could convince me to go with a high upside college arm, if that arm is there in the top 2, by using the argument that the system will be loaded with 16-19 year old prospects by have very few 20-21 year old prospects. We may need to add someone that can move fast and jump up alongside Lucas Sims's age group very quickly. I would only do that if you consider someone like AJ Puk, Robert Tyler, or Alec Hansen and elite arm. Of those, Hansen may have the most untapped potential.

Here is Kiley McDaniel's dated comments on Hansen:

1. Alec Hansen, RHP, Oklahoma: In high school, Hansen was a big dude with some arm speed that hadn’t quite put it together. Last summer in the Cal Collegiate League, he ran it into the high-90’s and showed flashes, then continued that this spring. He basically has the same stuff as Dillon Tate (94-97, touch 99 mph, 65 or so slider, 55 or so changeup) but is 6’7/235 (Tate is 6’1/190) and is getting his first extended look as a starter as a sophomore (Tate made his first collegiate start this spring, as a junior). There’s some understandable command issues and growing pains given the size and newness of the wipeout stuff, but Hansen is just scratching the surface.
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For good measure, I throw in his comments on AJ Puk and Robert Tyler:

4. A.J. Puk, LHP, Florida: Puk also has a chance to jump into the elite category, but he’s a two-way guy (with plus raw power from the left side) on a team with a deep staff, so he hasn’t pitched as much as some of his peers. He was also recently arrested for climbing on a construction crane with a teammate, which clouds his future just a bit. At his best, the 6’7/230 Puk sat 92-95 mph, touched 96 mph, worked in a plus slider and shows starter traits. 5/9/15 UPDATE: After his suspension for the crane incident, Puk has ticked up, looking more focused, sitting 94-97 early, hitting 98 mph and holding 93-96 late into games. If he continues doing this into the summer, he’ll jump a couple more spots, but there’s been some inconsistency from Puk in his college career.
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7. Robert Tyler, RHP, Georgia: Tyler is another guy that could jump into the elite category but has been on the shelf for a few months with arm soreness. It sounds like he’s close to returning and late last spring and early in the summer, he showed a new level of performance, sitting 95-98 mph in short stints with a plus changeup and enough breaking ball and command that he’s still got a good shot to start. 5/10/15 UPDATE: Tyler came off the DL and hit 97 mph last week then 99 mph this week. He looks to be back to normal and there’a case to be made he should be even higher than this.
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A college guy that I follow closely who will gain some helium this year is Mississippi State's Dakota Hudson. He pitched very well in the Cape this summer and was listed as the 10th best prospect there. In the Cape, he was reportedly holding 94-96 consistently on his fastball with improved command. Dakota hasn't pitched as much as expected at Mississippi State, but similar to Jacob Lindgren, Mississippi State has a tendency to produce these pop up guys that come out of nowhere to become 1st round picks. Dakota will head a potential strong staff that includes Austin Sexton, Zach Houston, and Daniel Brown.
 
KB21 said:
Yes. This is the exciting part about what is happening. I hate to lose, but I do realize that two steps backwards this year are needed for this team to take a giant leap forward in the next couple of years. I'm excited that the focus on player procurement has been placed back onto the scouts, who are the ones who travel thousands of miles every year to turn over every rock and stone in attempt to bring talented players to the organization. I believe ever since 2009 when Roy Clark left the organization shortly after the draft that the upper front office level folks stopped listening to the scouts doing the grunt work and started letting financial implications and organizational depth effect their decisions. Now, the team is back to the way it was under Shurelholz. The scouts are trusted and their input is valued. When they tell upper management that Austin Riley is the best power bat from the high school level in the draft, maybe in the entire draft, they listened. Turns out, the scouts are correct at least initially on their assessment.

Not only that, but the changes that were made with the media agreement, as well as the agreement to build the new stadium in Marietta has opened up a new revenue stream that will allow the organization to be more aggressive when it comes to signing international free agents and even going over slot to sign draft picks. This is why it is rumored that we will be signing Kevin Maitan and Abraham Gutierrez in the international signing period next year. Both players will likely immediately become top 10 prospects in the system. Now we will also have a #1 or #2 overall pick likely to add to that, and another high pick in the competitive balance round that was obtained from Florida. Then, the 2nd round pick will be high as well. So, that is possibly three more elite level prospects that could be added to a system that needs it.

Another thing that I think gets overlooked is how much involvement John Coppolella will have going forward and how he is going to integrate the more advanced analytical methods and mesh it with the scouting information from the scouts. Say what you want about John Hart, but that man has produced some successful GMs. Many of those GMs, like Jon Daniels, Mark Shapiro, Ben Cherington, Paul Depodesta, Chris Antonetti, AJ Preller, and Josh Byrnes are more of your "new age" executives who take into account the analytics (in some cases, too much like Depodesta).

Overall, this time next year, the team on the field may not be a great deal better, but when we start talking about our prospects, we will be mentioning Ozhanio Albies, Kolby Allard, Kevin Maitan, Abraham Gutierrez, Austin Riley, Ronald Acuna, Touki Toussaint, Mike Soroka, Ricardo Sanchez, Juan Yepez, Isranel Wilson, and possibly some prospects like Jason Groome as potential elite prospects in baseball.
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That is exciting. The issue that I have with it is that every guy on that list (plus some others who have a chance like Davidson) are 3 or more years away from even sniffing the ML.

That means that if they are going to compete in 2017, then they have to sign some FA who can impact the big league team in a big way and/or trade for some players who can impact in a big way and/or trade for some high end talent that is close enough to be in the bigs in 2 years having a big impact. #1 can be done, except the bats needed aren't really available and/or in play. #2 is possible but typically expensive in terms of talent cost and/or payroll (therefore diminishing your list somewhat). #3 would require additional sale of existing big league assets (therefore adding to your list somewhat but diminishing the big league club in the short term).

At the risk of being repetitive, I favor a combination of 1&3. Sign FA pitchers taking advantage of the relative FA glut. Trade existing ML starters like Miller and/or Teheran for additional ml talent that is closer to being impactful, bridging the time between now and when your list is ready.
 
Julio3000 said:
I really appreciate the renewed focus on and resources devoted to the international market.
Click to expand...

As do I. It was a talent stream that was underutilized of late.

We could really be looking at a high end farm system for a few years with the potential talent infusions we are in line to grab.

Whats the scoop on Abe Gutierrez ? I haven't heard we were solid on him yet? Link? Scouting report?
 
Tapate50 said:
As do I. It was a talent stream that was underutilized of late.

We could really be looking at a high end farm system for a few years with the potential talent infusions we are in line to grab.

Whats the scoop on Abe Gutierrez ? I haven't heard we were solid on him yet? Link? Scouting report?
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I don't have any solid information, but he's the clear #2 in that class. It's basically Maitan clearly by himself at #1, then Gutierrez clearly by himself at #2, at least right now. I haven't even heard any other specific names.

Here's an excerpt from Kiley McDaniel's article about next year's July 2 class:

One more name has been brought up as a high end guy in the 2016 class: Venezuelan C Abraham Gutierrez, who trains with former big leaguer Carlos Guillen. Gutierrez is average to plus across the board with precocious all fields power and the tools to stick behind the plate. He’s obviously also very young, so it’s very early to throw lofty comparisons around like with Maitan, but scouts have said Gutierrez’s overall game is along the lines of Mike Piazza.
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That's the same article in which he compared Maitan to Juan Gonzalez and Miguel Cabrera. Obviously those comparisons mean less for 15- and 16-year-olds, but give me all of that.
 
By the way, here's a video for Maitan:

[video=youtube;ZU2fXwYwgBo]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZU2fXwYwgBo[/video]

Now keep in mind he was 14 when that video was taken, and realize that bat speed is likely getting significantly better than it already is.

Here's a video of him doing defensive drills as well:

[video=youtube;OP95XWY6sP0]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OP95XWY6sP0[/video]
 
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