MLB Draft Day 2 Thread

[Jeffreauxdawg]

Mississippi State commit James Wood goes #62 at the end of RD 2 to Padres. Bonus slot $1,102,700.00.

I would guess he is going. He is a high ceiling low floor guy. Too much risk he could struggle against SEC pitching like he did this year his Senior year in high school.

 

[Jeffreauxdawg]

Booger Nikhazy went #58 to Cleveland.

 

[Dawg1979]

MLB Draft Tracker has Tanner Allen as a 1B ????

 

[AlSwearengen]

Yeah, we apparently need Wood to go pro. Crazy isn’t it?

 

[Jeffreauxdawg]

Mississippi State commit Jordan McCants #88 to Marlins. $678,600 slot value. A round or two earlier than expected.

 

[PartTimeGenius]

Was curious about Wood. At one point he was a PG top 5 prospect, correct?

 

[Mobile Bay]

Booger Nikhazy went #58 to Cleveland.

He won't do well now that they are not allowed to wipe them on the ball

 

[Jeffreauxdawg]

Wood had a terrible senior year at IMG. He hit .258 with 3 HR in 90 plate appearances. 3 guys on his team hit over .400 and 6 others over .300. He was 4th in HR as well with a couple of guys doubling him up in HR totals.

 

[PartTimeGenius]

Yikes

 

[Jeffreauxdawg]

If we were going to lose one, I would not mind it being him. Big tall guy obviously has a hole in his swing. Light tower power in BP but can't bring it to the game. Gonna take a few years to figure that out in extend spring training and low a ball.

 

[PartTimeGenius]

Be interesting to know if the jump in weight had any correlation to on field production. 205-240.
Did he fill out, or just get lazy and have no work ethic.

 

[Jeffreauxdawg]

Middle of the 4th now. I would start looking for TA around here and possibly MacLeod, but he could slip a few rounds down. Who ever drafts TA is getting a steal.

 

[Jeffreauxdawg]

TA went #118 to Marlins. Middle of round 4. $487,900 bonus slot. Congrats TA and good luck.

 

[Dawgg]

TA went #118 to Marlins. Middle of round 4. $487,900 bonus slot. Congrats TA and good luck.

30 round improvement in basically a season and a half.

 

[Jeffreauxdawg]

Eric Cerantalo #139 to Royals. $398,000 bonus slot. Congrats. Hopefully he can find "it". The stuff against UAB was unreal.

 

[Dawgg]

Cerantola is a Royal in Round 5.

 

[Junction John]

Seems like a great "pick" by the Tribe**

 

[Jeffreauxdawg]

UVA's Griff McGarry #145 to Phillies. Strictly based on postseason performance. Good for him.

Looks like MLB cares a lot more about high ceiling pitchers than track record. Cerantola and McGarry can be filthy.

 

[Dawgg]

McLeod is a Twin at pick #159.

 

[Jeffreauxdawg]

MacLeod #159 to Twins. End of 5th round. $327,200 Bonus Slot. I think he goes, but it's not inconceivable to see him come back if the there is room for him in the rotation.. But with Sims, Fristoe, Cade Smith, Preston Johnson and others looking for starting spots next season... He may be told to sign.

Will be rooting for him to put it together.

 

[Bulldog from Birth]

It’s more potential than recent performance. McGarry is likely picked at a similar spot regardless of a couple great postseason starts. The ceiling on both McGarry and Cerantola is a Cy Young Award. Command and mechanics are much easier to teach than a 97 mph effortless heater.

 

[57stratdawg]

Good for him. Hope he makes it to the show soon.

 

[Quincy A. Wagstaff]

I didn't watch a single Louisville game this year, but I can't help but notice they have had 4 guys taken in the first 6 rounds (including #1 overall) and didn't make the NCAA tournament.

 

[Jeffreauxdawg]

McGarry pitched his way into that #145 slot with his posteason starts. The upside has always been there, but he was so bad before those starts he was a day 3 guy. Not in the top 250 on MLB.com and was ranked #311 by BA. Just seeing the flashes was enough to convince the Phillies to scoot up several rounds... Not arguing, all the picks are about potential and McGarry is filthy. But putting it together on the big stage is a big deal. Will Bednar probably made himself +$2 million with his CWS performances.

 

[anon1787432961]

Cerantola is a Royal in Round 5.

Headed to a KC game and will sit behind the plate and wear protective gear and cheer for him

 

[Lawdawg.sixpack]

No Braden Montgomery (Madison Central) yet. Guess he's heading to Stanford...

 

[ronpolk]

No Braden Montgomery (Madison Central) yet. Guess he's heading to Stanford...

What’s the story with him? Did state and ole miss just not recruit him or did he just want to go to Stanford?

 

[graddawg]

What’s the story with him? Did state and ole miss just not recruit him or did he just want to go to Stanford?

He comes from a family that values the benefits of a Stanford education--his mother is a doctor. We would have loved to have him, but we couldn't compete academically.

 

[DAWG61]

********, Stanford's Turf Grass Management sucks

 

[Jeffreauxdawg]

Good for him on going to Stanford for a science based education and not that overrated liberal arts college Vandy.***

 

[GhostOfJackie]

Eric Cerantalo #139 to Royals. $398,000 bonus slot. Congrats. Hopefully he can find "it". The stuff against UAB was unreal.

He will. Woodruff finally reached his potential when he got into a professional program, and was not that impressive in Starkville. I think we see the same type of thing once Cerantola matures and gets around those coaches. Woodruff shined in the fall and practice just like Cerantola did. His stuff is electric and he will get it under control.

 

[ronpolk]

He comes from a family that values the benefits of a Stanford education--his mother is a doctor. We would have loved to have him, but we couldn't compete academically.

I can’t really fault a kid if he’s factoring education quality into the decision. Hard to beat a Stanford degree.

 

[Quincy A. Wagstaff]

Texas Tech and Florida with the most picks through 10 rounds: 7 each.

 

[NWADog]

Reports that the Walling kid is coming to Starkville.

https://twitter.com/robbiefaulk247/status/1414716197224976386?s=21

 

[11thEagleFan]

Been listening to Supertalk this afternoon and not a word about Reed Trimble getting taken at #65. Damn. He gone.

 

[Jeffreauxdawg]

Now that we are through round 10 it looks like the Dogs have lost 3 croots to the draft. McCants, Wood, and Bruns should all sign. Does look like we are getting Andrew Walling on campus. Walling was ranked #143 in the MLB.com rankings and was projected as high as round 3. Mid 90's fastball lefty. 6'3" 220. 10-2 with 3 complete games and a 2.45 era this season in Juco. 107K and 27BB in 69-2/3 this season. Should win a weekend starters role next season.

If Sims converts to a starter and Walling can handle the transition... The pitching could be ridiculous next season. The 3rd weekend starter position would be crazy ridiculous competition from Hootie, Cade Smith, Preston Johnson, and Fristoe. Tepper, Stinnett, Simmons, and possibly Johnson if he isn't starting, would all compete for a closer's role. I'm skipping a lot... But if Walling is what I think he is and Sims can develop the change a little and move into a starting position, you may be looking at 2 first rounders on Friday and Saturday and another half dozen power arms competing for innings.

Need a few bats to develop. (Leach, please do everyone a favor and cut Cumbest this summer so he can practice this fall.) The middle of the order should be sick next year with LoTan, Kamren James, Luke Hancock, and Kellum Clark all back. We need to figure out the outfield and find a home for Luke Hancock defensively. 2nd base is a question with Meche the only guy we know can play it on the roster... I am interested to see what Aaron Downs can do though. If his PG profile is right, the dude will be the fastest guy on the team with a 6.45 60 time and at 5-11 205, he has serious pop in his bat. Built like Foscue and runs like Mays.


Here is where I am thinking we could be looking at next season after today.


Pitching

Starters
#1 Sims
#2 Walling
#3 Cade Smith
#4/Midweek Fristoe (Needs a lot of work on command)

Bullpen

#1 Closer - Parker Stinnett
#2 Setup/Stopper/Backup Closer- Preston Johnson
#3-4 Long Man- Houston Harding and Brandon Smith
#4 Lefty Specialist- Cam Tullar
#5 Ground Ball Specialist - Chase Patric
#6-10 Middle Relief- Mikey Tepper, KC Hunt, Stone Simmons, Pico Kohn (True Freshman)

Lineup

1. Jess Davis - CF (Bats L)
2. Kamren James - 3B (Bats R)
3. Luke Hancock - DH (Bats L)
4. Logan Tanner - C (Bats R)
5. Kellum Clark - 1B (Bats L)
6. Brad Cumbest - LF (Bats R)
7. Brayland Skinner - RF (Bats L) (Alternative Kyte McDonald Bats R)
8. Lane Forsythe - SS (Bats R)
9. Davis Meche - 2B (Bats L) (Alternative Aaron Downs incoming freshman Bats R)

I'm guessing a couple of guys will get drafted tomorrow and go pro and somebody will get hurt in the fall, but there is a lot to work with. 3 things that I think would make this team Omaha ready again next season.

1. Sims can transition into a starter. He seems to have the stamina and the best 1-2 pitches in the country possibly. If he can develop a change or hell, even a splitter to throw lefties and mix up righties the 3rd time through the order, he will win the Golden Spikes award next year and lead the country in strikeouts.
2. Hancock doesn't get drafted tomorrow and decide to go. He is such a tough at bat and always seems to put the ball in play with a runner on 3rd and less than 2 outs. Need that mature left handed stick next season.
3. Cumbest, Forsythe, and Skinner/McDonald need to take the next step at the dish. Cumbest looks like Paul Bunyan up there, but still slashed .306/.372/.537 this year. He needs to practice this fall. Baseball is his future. Forsythe just needs conviction at the dish. He was hitting over .300 until the Vandy series this year. He then bounces back and goes 4-11 in the finals. He should be a .290/.390/.410 guy next year if he just gets back to driving the ball center-right. Skinner I am not so sure about. He seems lost at the plate, but he hit over .350 in 2019 and 2020 in juco, so I know there is something there.

I feel ridiculous that I have Brandon Smith and Hootie in the pen if they come back. They would be weekend starters on almost any other team. I also watched Preston Johnson get stretched out in Game 2 and look like a freaking horse out there throwing 70+ pitches. He could start too. Wild. I'm guessing one or two of those guys get drafted tomorrow and take the money. If not, next year's staff is going to be a lot better than this year.

Steel wool boys... and lots of it.

 

[57stratdawg]

Good breakdown. I’m watching Harding and Hancock. If we get both through; sky is the limit. I assume we’d be in the discussion for preseason #1.

I like the idea of letting Kam James leadoff next year.

 

[Joe Schmedlap]

We must try our best not to confuse education with wisdom though.

He comes from a family that values the benefits of a Stanford education--his mother is a doctor. We would have loved to have him, but we couldn't compete academically.

 

[trob115]

Stinnett has a chance to be in the rotation for the 3rd spot too. He wants an opportunity to start. He needs to reign in his control issues, but his stuff is electric.

 

[messageboardsuperhero]

It’s hard to predict the weekend rotation right now outside of Sims. I guess if he struggles as a starter he can go back to the pen, but I think he may be SEC pitcher of the year in 2022 as our Friday night starter.

We currently have Sims, Walling, Cade Smith, Fristoe, Preston Johnson, Mikey Tepper, Houston Harding (could still go pro), Brandon Smith, Stone Simmons, Stinnett, and maybe even Walker/Kohn competing for a spot as freshmen. Between those 9-11, it’s hard to envision us NOT having three emerge to give us a great rotation. Pitching will be elite and more talented in 2022 than it was this past year.

Offense looks better on paper than it did at this point a year ago. James, Logan Tanner, and Clark are going to be monsters and hit 15+ bombs each. If Hancock comes back, he will hit 10 and have a .400+ OBP. Cumbest should be better. I expect at least 1-2 of these freshmen will play significant roles. You could see:

C- Tanner
1B- Hancock/Clark/Hines
2B- Meche/maybe Downs
3B- James
SS- Forsythe
Corner OF- Cumbest
CF- Davis/Skinner/Corder
Corner OF- Downs/Higgins/Corder
DH- Clark/Hancock/Hines

That is not only a great offensive lineup, but also an elite defense with Tanner, Forsythe, Meche, and maybe Jess Davis playing the four middle spots. We may win 20+ SEC games for the third season in a row.