Official pre-Draft thread

[CJ9]

Interesting answer from Keith Law's chat today.

Travis: What is it about the Shane Baz delivery that concerns you?

Keith Law: It’s that he lacks deception and I’ve had scouts say they have seen hitters square him up in the mid 90s. But I had another scout say the other day it’s a 7 fastball, 6 curve, 6 slider, and how do you say no to that? (He makes a valid point.)

 

[Julio3000]

Relax, guys, whoever we take is going to be the guy who was #1 on our board all along.

 

[MadduxFanII]

I am prepared to sign under-slot if taken with the #5 pick.

 

[Horsehide Harry]

As we sit here first week in June at 22-29 with the draft approaching I can't help thinking what a great thing it was for the team to surge through the last month and a half of 2016 building momentum going into 2017..........

 

[Coach_Chris]

You should probably alert the rest of the baseball world. Everyone else seems to think he is a top shelf arm.

Pretty sure the local high school and summer team coaches know. He does have potential. I hope he has clicked. Going from a bullpen summer showcase team to a top 5 pick is a good year.

I just fear the fast risers. Especially since he is at a 1A high school competition (less than 500 students) and seeing how his coach uses him. If you have a "stud" arm.... wouldn't you throw him game one in the best out of 3?

 

[praeceps93]

Pretty sure the local high school and summer team coaches know. He does have potential. I hope he has clicked. Going from a bullpen summer showcase team to a top 5 pick is a good year.

I just fear the fast risers. Especially since he is at a 1A high school competition (less than 500 students) and seeing how his coach uses him. If you have a "stud" arm.... wouldn't you throw him game one in the best out of 3?

As a high school baseball coach, there are any number of reasons you wouldn't, actually. Small injury, academic-related problems, trying to time home field advantage to give him a best shot in more high-leverage games, etc.

 

[praeceps93]

Kind of off topic, but the travel team I coached with today is led by Billy Wagner. Such a cool guy.

 

[SJ24]

In Keith Law's latest chat, he says "people he trust" are saying things about Gore they don't even say about Greene.

I'll be really excited if we take him.

 

[Tapate50]

In Keith Law's latest chat, he says "people he trust" are saying things about Gore they don't even say about Greene.

I'll be really excited if we take him.

I'll be mildly surprised if he's there at this point.

 

[Preacher]

In Keith Law's latest chat, he says "people he trust" are saying things about Gore they don't even say about Greene.

I'll be really excited if we take him.

Gores the pitcher I want, I was listening to a BaseballAmerica guy on a recent Braves podcast talking about Gore, really impressive stuff.

Very athletic kid with really good stuff.

 

[CJ9]

Pipeline updated its list to 200 prospects: http://m.mlb.com/prospects/2017?list=draft

 

[smootness]

Crazy to see how far Schwarz has fallen.

 

[CJ9]

Longenhagen's first Fangraphs mock: http://www.fangraphs.com/blogs/fangraphs-2017-mock-draft/

5. Atlanta – Royce Lewis, SS, JSerra HS (CA)
There have been a lot of crazy rumors about the Braves and they can’t all possibly be true, but of course the Braves haven’t been afraid to do things differently in order to maximize the overall talent they get in a single class before. As such, we have to at least consider the possibility they might get creative here. I think they’d like McKay or Gore and there’s a chance they cut an underslot deal (it would have to be at a huge discount and would still be risky), but Lewis is the best player on the board in this scenario.

 

[Hudson2]

I know. Schwarz this time last year was gonna be a top 5 prospect, he completely fell off. I just see Wright, Greene, Gore, and Lewis as the top 4. Sucks we couldn't have lost just 1 more game.

 

[Preacher]

Longenhagen's first Fangraphs mock: http://www.fangraphs.com/blogs/fangraphs-2017-mock-draft/

5. Atlanta – Royce Lewis, SS, JSerra HS (CA)

There have been a lot of crazy rumors about the Braves and they can’t all possibly be true, but of course the Braves haven’t been afraid to do things differently in order to maximize the overall talent they get in a single class before. As such, we have to at least consider the possibility they might get creative here. I think they’d like McKay or Gore and there’s a chance they cut an underslot deal (it would have to be at a huge discount and would still be risky), but Lewis is the best player on the board in this scenario.

I'm just really meh on Lewis, how do you guys feel about him?

Haseley went 7th in that mock.

 

[nsacpi]

Longenhagen's first Fangraphs mock: http://www.fangraphs.com/blogs/fangraphs-2017-mock-draft/

5. Atlanta – Royce Lewis, SS, JSerra HS (CA)
There have been a lot of crazy rumors about the Braves and they can’t all possibly be true, but of course the Braves haven’t been afraid to do things differently in order to maximize the overall talent they get in a single class before. As such, we have to at least consider the possibility they might get creative here. I think they’d like McKay or Gore and there’s a chance they cut an underslot deal (it would have to be at a huge discount and would still be risky), but Lewis is the best player on the board in this scenario.

Interesting that picks 4-9 in the Fangraphs mock were all hitters. I think things are lining up for us to get a hitter.

 

[CJ9]

I'm just really meh on Lewis, how do you guys feel about him?

I think I'm higher on him than most here. Really good bat speed, Longenhagen said he doesn't see any questions about his offense at the next level. Probably an OF, but that doesn't concern me. I just want someone who can make an offensive impact.

 

[nsacpi]

I'm just really meh on Lewis, how do you guys feel about him?

Given that he might stick at short or move to another premium position (center), I think he has more upside than the other top bats who are projected to play corner outfield or infield.

 

[Hudson2]

Longenhagen's first Fangraphs mock: http://www.fangraphs.com/blogs/fangraphs-2017-mock-draft/

5. Atlanta – Royce Lewis, SS, JSerra HS (CA)
There have been a lot of crazy rumors about the Braves and they can’t all possibly be true, but of course the Braves haven’t been afraid to do things differently in order to maximize the overall talent they get in a single class before. As such, we have to at least consider the possibility they might get creative here. I think they’d like McKay or Gore and there’s a chance they cut an underslot deal (it would have to be at a huge discount and would still be risky), but Lewis is the best player on the board in this scenario.

I really hope they take BPA and I don't just mean on their board so they can get an under slot deal.

 

[smootness]

Given that he might stick at short or move to another premium position (center), I think he has more upside than the other top bats who are projected to play corner outfield or infield.

Well, Adell can play CF...so....