Is it too early to Stalk the 2017 Draft?

Another name to watch is J.B. Bukauskas, pitcher at UNC. I haven't seen him extremely high up on 2017 lists, but that may be because he's only 5'11" and doesn't project as well. But he is absolutely killing it at the college level as a sophomore.

J. B.'s awesome (and one of my favorite sleepers). He was great against Louisville and Corey Ray last weekend.
 
What would happen if beer just dropped out of Clemson today and enrolled at a juco for summer term?

He'd be eligible in 2017.

It happens periodically that a heralded guy from a four-year program will transfer to a JC for his second season. It's usually all about draft status.
 
He'd be eligible in 2017.

It happens periodically that a heralded guy from a four-year program will transfer to a JC for his second season. It's usually all about draft status.

If I were beer, I would finish this year and then play juco ball next season. I would take the money asap
 
It's quite unfortunate for us that we're this terrible a year too early. I would say I'm ok with us getting the #1 pick again in 2018, but I really wouldn't be.

It's terrible that Beer decided to leave high school early to go to Clemson. He should have been a high school senior in this draft.
 
Also, I'm convinced that had Austin Riley gone to MSU and not signed with Atlanta, his numbers would be similar to Beer's.
 
Also, I'm convinced that had Austin Riley gone to MSU and not signed with Atlanta, his numbers would be similar to Beer's.

Maybe...

Beer... .395/.533/.732

Pretty good, but there's a guy in the acc that's better in all categories...

Craig (wake forest 3b)... .417/.551/.826
 
It's terrible that Beer decided to leave high school early to go to Clemson. He should have been a high school senior in this draft.

He got bad advice from Landon Powell, who did the same thing (except he went to South Carolina). It's a little bit different in this case, but the net effect is the same. Powell was an 18-year-old high school junior (and Boras client) who was ruled a free agent under the draft rules in place in 2000 after no one drafted him. He went to South Carolina after Boras couldn't get what he was seeking in terms of a contract for him. The Cubs drafted him in the 25th round after his junior season, but he returned to South Carolina instead of signing. Powell ended up being 1st round pick on the Oakland A's in 2004 (after his senior season). MLB changed the rules a couple of years later to make high school juniors ineligible for the draft after Jeremy Bonderman was drafted after his high school junior season.

PS--Bryce Harper took the GED after his high school sophomore season and enrolled in Community College so he would be eligible for the 2010 draft at age 17.
 
Apparently there will be a generational talent in the 2018 draft. We should plan our 2017 season accordingly. Maybe keep Fredi around an extra year.

Laugh if you like but the probability is that the Braves will have no choice in the matter. If you look at the 2017 season and what is likely to be on the Atlanta team then, the record is unlikely to be significantly different than it is this year.

I know we all like to cobble together the trade for Braun or Lucroy or the signing of a Freese or Prado and then extrapolate that Albies and Swanson will be up to save the day. When the reality is that the Braves can probably bring enough veterans in to move the needle just enough to establish bad mediocrity instead of historic awfulness.

I'm willing to endure another year of historic awfulness if it gets us early picks AND allows the Braves to keep their cash to spend in the 17-18 FA market instead of blowing it on mediocre guys like Freese and Prado or trading for guys on the wrong side of their baseball age curve.

* Make 2016 picks count.

* Go BIG on the international market this year.

* Trade all remaining marketable assets for high end near term or long term talent that will be ready and controllable during the resurgent period - Freeman, Teheran, Markakis, Grilli, Aybar, Inciarte, Beckham, AJ, Flowers, maybe even Smith and Viz IF, IF the return is good enough.

* Play carefully in the 16-17 FA market, looking for bargains that are short term contracts or that can be moved.

* Make the 2017 Draft count.

* Bargain hunt on the international market unless the rules change.

* Evaluate talent holes in the organization and go big (for Atlanta) on the 17-18 FA market

* Pick early and make the 2018 draft count while fielding a competitive team in 2018 loaded with young talent at the ML level and backstopped like shark's teeth throughout the minor league level.

2018 - begin a long run of playoff excellence.
 
Looks like the Wake guy is someone the Braves might take a look at. What is his projected draft position? So you can't draft college freshman? College players must be 20 yo?
 
I don't think it's too early to contemplate the possibility there might be a generational talent in the 2019 draft and configure the 2018 team accordingly. Is Bryce Harper a free agent after 2017 or 2018?
 
Looks like the Wake guy is someone the Braves might take a look at. What is his projected draft position? So you can't draft college freshman? College players must be 20 yo?

I thought Craig was a 1B...

if a player goes to a 4 year college, then he is not eligible to be drafted until he finishes his Junior year or becomes 21.. Junior college is different.. I think 2 years or 19 maybe.. can't remember.
 
I thought Craig was a 1B...

if a player goes to a 4 year college, then he is not eligible to be drafted until he finishes his Junior year or becomes 21.. Junior college is different.. I think 2 years or 19 maybe.. can't remember.

Haven't seen him play 1 time this year. I just looked at his profile here...

http://www.d1baseball.com/player/will-craig-craigwi42/

Listed as 3b and pitcher... Good stats at each position
 
Looks like the Wake guy is someone the Braves might take a look at. What is his projected draft position? So you can't draft college freshman? College players must be 20 yo?

21 or finished college junior year if at a four-year school. No eligibility limits pertaining to age on JUCOs. See Bryce Harper example I posted above. Unless something has changed, if you're at a JUCO, you're eligible for the draft.
 
I don't think it's too early to contemplate the possibility there might be a generational talent in the 2019 draft and configure the 2018 team accordingly. Is Bryce Harper a free agent after 2017 or 2018?

Now! Now! I want it Now!

"You can't have it now Junior. It's not done cooking. It might make you sick."

Now! Now! It'll taste OK. It's done enough. It's got chocolate and nuts. I want it NOW!

"It also has raw eggs, and sugar and brownie mix, all needs to cook. It takes time. Have some patience."

Now! Now! At least let me lick the spoon.
 
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