Innholdsfortegnelse for Friday, July 03, 2015 i Baseball America

TALENT TRUMPS POSITION What’s behind the Astros drafting a shortstop with their first pick when they were about to call up Carlos Correa for his much-awaited debut? SHANE MAGNESS, @SHANE_MAGNESS91 We write and speak often about how teams do not draft based on current need, which is a wise approach. Teams are drafting a player who generally will be under team control for a significant stretch of the next decade. So with the Astros picking second and Alex Bregman the best guy on their draft board, they had to take him—whether they have Carlos Correa or not. That choice is made even clearer because Bregman has plenty of long-term value, whether he ever ends up getting an at-bat for Houston. Take, for example, the Reds. They drafted Devin Mesoraco in…

Baseball Writer, ESPN.com PHILADELPHIA In his fifth season as Giants shortstop, Brandon Crawford is accustomed to being measured against the likes of Troy Tulowitzki, Andrelton Simmons and his more esteemed positional peers. But he’s carving out a style all his own in San Francisco. The aura of cool begins with the swag, or flair, if you prefer. For as long as people around him can remember, Crawford was fond of wearing wristbands, Titanium necklaces or wraparound shades perched just so atop his cap. During his college days at UCLA, the Bruins had a rule prohibiting players from hanging batting gloves out of their back pockets, so Crawford grudgingly complied. But he pushed the sartorial envelope and made sure those pants were as long and baggy as possible. “We tried to…

NO. 9 PLAYER IN CUBA HEADED FOR U.S. Cuban players are racing for the exits at a faster pace then ever before. The newest player to leave Cuba is Randy Arozarena, an athletic 20-year-old who ranked as the No. 9 player still in Cuba. Arozarena (whose name is spelled “Arrozarena” in some references) is 5-foot-11, 170 pounds with a quick, compact swing from the right side and keen plate discipline with a line-drive approach and occasional power. Playing for Pinar Del Rio this past season, which ended in March, Arozarena batted .291/.412/.419 with three home runs, 36 walks, 37 strikeouts in 285 plate appearances over 74 games. He’s a plus runner ranked who second in Serie Nacional with 15 stolen bases in 21 attempts. Arozarena has split time between the…

Editor in Chief Baseball America johnmanuel@baseballamerica.com Everyone knows baseball is a business. North Carolina State infielder Logan Ratledge discovered the full extent of it, however, particularly for a college senior going through the current draft system. Seniors have always been considered budget-minded draft picks because they have no amateur leverage left; it’s pro ball or nothing. But they have become essential commodities under the new draft rules, a way for teams to stretch their draft signing budgets. Signing a senior for $5,000 when his draft slot is valued at, say, $160,000, yields a savings of $155,000 that can be applied elsewhere. And the savings add up with more seniors. A few clubs took this approach in 2012, the first draft held under the new rules. The process has been refined…

GREENSBORO, N.C. Before the Red Sox broke camp this spring, they weren’t planning on sending Javier Guerra to low Class A Greenville. Instead, they wanted to send their latest shortstop prodigy to extended spring training for a few months, then likely ship him to short-season Lowell. Guerra wouldn’t let that happen. “He wasn’t a surefire guy to come here out of spring training,” Greenville manager Darren Fenster said during his team’s series with the Greensboro Grasshoppers. “He had such a productive spring, which carried off of a very productive instructional league last fall, and he kind of forced our hand, obviously with a very talented infield (already assembled in Greenville) to find a spot.” That spot in tow, Fenster has had to juggle his lineup on a daily basis just…

NEW YORK Given their recent preference for pitchers in the first round, the Yankees unsurprisingly selected an arm with their top pick in the 2015 draft. Since heading his first draft in 2005, scouting director Damon Oppenheimer has a history of taking hurlers early, and he made no exception in 2015. With the earliest pick they have held since they took Matt Drews 13th overall in 1993, the Yankees selected UCLA righthander James Kaprielian at No. 16 overall. The 6-foot-4, 200-pound Kaprielian went 10-4, 2.03 for the Bruins, and in 107 innings he struck out 114 and walked 33. “Kaprielian is a guy we’ve scouted for a long time, and we’re really happy we were able to get him,” Oppenheimer said in a club press release. “He has three quality…

For statistics, organization reports, prospect lists and recent drafts, check out: baseballamerica.com/t/organization-reports/ PHILADELPHIA The Phillies wanted to land a hitter in the first round of the 2015 draft, and they believe they got a good one when they selected prep shortstop Cornelius Randolph with the 10th overall pick. “Best high school bat in the country,” firstyear scouting director Johnny Almaraz said. “He’s somebody we feel has an extremely high ceiling as far as hitting ability is concerned. “He’s got a lot of similarities with a lot of pretty good lefthanded hitters . . . guys who were batting champions. This guy has that type of ability.” Cornelius, who turned 18 on June 2, played shortstop at Griffin (Ga.) High, near Atlanta. That’s the same school that produced 2008 No. 1 overall…

NEW YORK The last time the Mets lacked a firstround pick, they selected lefthander Steve Matz with their top pick in the second round of the 2009 draft. They will be perfectly happy if 18-year-old center fielder Desmond Lindsay turns out to be a similar gem. The Mets selected Lindsay, a product of the Out-of-Door-Academy in Sarasota, Fla., with their second round pick in 2015. New York forfeited its first-rounder when it signed free agent Michael Cuddyer in November. Scouting director Tommy Tanous described Lindsay as an “offensive machine,” while vice president of scouting and player development Paul DePodesta praised Lindsay’s combination of power potential and speed. Tanous said he expected the Mets to have no difficulty signing Lindsay, who is being advised by Barry Meister. Linsday has committed to…

CHICAGO The White Sox have four lefthanders in their big league rotation, and lone righthander Jeff Samardzija will be eligible for free agency this offseason. For these reasons, Chicago looked favorably at Vanderbilt righthander Carson Fulmer when they selected him No. 8 overall pick. “His pedigree is something that speaks volumes about the type of pitcher he is,” scouting director Doug Laumann said. “He has pitched on the biggest stage and won a (College) World Series, and he’s on his way back to another (CWS) this year. “He’s taken the ball every Friday night in a (Southeastern Conference) that, as it stands right now, could have five of the eight teams going to the CWS. We’ve got a lot of history on (Fulmer). I’ve known him for some time. “(Assistant…

KANSAS CITY The last time the Royals selected a high school righthander in the first round they came away with future Cy Young Award winner Zack Greinke in 2002. The Royals selected not one, but two prep righties in the first round this year—and both are from Indianapolis. At No. 21 overall, they selected 6-foot-4, 205-pound Ashe Russell, who throws a mid-90s fastball that touches 98 mph and a devastating slider. General manager Dayton Moore said Russell has a “lot of power” and is “extremely competitive,” invoking Garrett Richards as a comparison point. “I try to work at a fast tempo to keep the hitters off-balance,” Russell said. “I like to control the game at my own pace. I have a low, three-quarters delivery. I think the thing the scouts…

MILWAUKEE With the Brewers foundering on the field and a rebuilding project almost certainly on the horizon, many wondered if the club would play it safe and take a college pitcher in the first round of the draft. General manager Doug Melvin said the club wouldn’t operate that way—and he wasn’t kidding. When high school center fielder Trenton Clark of North Richland Hills, Texas, was still on the board at No. 15, the Brewers didn’t hesitate to select him. “He is a five-tool player and we are excited to get that kind of player,” said scouting director Ray Montgomery, who is running his first draft for the Brewers after replacing the late Bruce Seid. “He has proven to be a team leader and one of the better bats in the…

For statistics, organization reports, prospect lists and recent drafts, check out: baseballamerica.com/t/organization-reports/ ARLINGTON, TEXAS Righthander Dillon Tate did not get drafted out of Claremont (Calif.) High in 2012, and he was lightly recruited by college programs. Only a few schools showed interest in him, but one was Oral Roberts. On that trip to Tulsa, one of the players Tate met was a fellow righthander, Alex “Chi Chi” Gonzalez. If all goes according to the Rangers’ plans, Tate and Gonzalez will be members of the Texas rotation for years to come. The Rangers selected Tate out of UC Santa Barbara with the fourth overall pick in the draft and made him the first pitcher off the board. Tate went 8-5, 2.26 as a junior with 111 strikeouts in 101 innings in his…

OAKLAND Whether it is succeeding in school or improving on the diamond, Florida shortstop Richie Martin is on a mission. The Athletics selected Martin 20th overall in the 2015 draft, citing his versatility, selfmotivation and on-base percentage as draws. “He’s an elite athlete,” scouting director Eric Kubota said. “He can really run and really throw. We think his defense has a chance to be special. He’s an improving performer with the bat . . . We really like the energy and athleticism he brings.” Martin impressed scouts by hitting .364 to finish second in the Cape Cod League batting race last summer, but questions about his bat dropped him in the draft. He has hit in the .290s for a Florida team that is headed to the College World Series.…

DENVER The Rockies selected shortstop Brendan Rodgers from Lake Mary (Fla.) High with the third overall pick in the draft, marking the third time in franchise history Colorado took a shortstop in the first round. They drafted Troy Tulowitzki seventh overall out of Long Beach State in 2005. One year earlier, the Rockies took Chris Nelson ninth overall out of Redan High in Georgia. Rodgers, who turns 19 on Aug. 9, said he was recently measured at 6 feet and 199 pounds and welcomed the possibility of playing home games at Coors Field. “I couldn’t be happier being a Rockie,” Rodgers said. “It’s a hitter’s park and kind of where I wanted to be. And luckily I ended up there.” Scouting director Bill Schmidt said Rodgers has the “ability to…

SAN FRANCISCO Scouting director John Barr snagged a power couple with the Giants’ two first-round picks, selecting righthander Phil Bickford from the JC of Southern Nevada and Boston College first baseman Chris Shaw with the 18th and 31st overall picks. “To be able to get a power arm and a power bat with our first two picks, we’re pretty excited about it,” Barr said. For the second consecutive year, the club took a college righthander with its first pick. Oddly enough, Bickford had previously been an unsigned Blue Jays first-round pick, just like Giants 2014 first-rounder Tyler Beede. Bickford checks in at 6-foot-4, 195 pounds and throws a power slider and a fastball that has topped out at 97 mph out of the bullpen. He sits more in the low…

The FBI and Justice Department are investigating the St. Louis Cardinals to find out if team employees tried to break into the Houston Astros’ player development computer database, The New York Times reported. The probe stems from a breach of the Astros’ database about a year ago that included information about players, trade discussions and other personnel decisions. Deadspin.com and other websites published some of the leaked information last summer. In a statement, Major League Baseball said it “has been aware of and has fully cooperated with the federal investigation into the illegal breach of the Astros’ baseball operations database. Once the investigative process has been completed by federal law enforcement officials, we will evaluate the next steps and will make decisions promptly.” No Cardinals officials have been identified as…

OMAHA The NCAA’s Damani Leech, managing director for championships and alliances, marveled at the increased media attention the College World Series attracts now. Watching the activity on the field at CWS media day on the Friday before the event began at TD Ameritrade Park Omaha, he and his staff were trying to decide what it compares to among other NCAA events. “This day, and the media that’s all around, this is like a Final Four shoot-around day now,” Leech said. “It used to be a legitimate practice for the teams, but now it’s a media day with a little bit of practice mixed in. We’re trying to make sure we strike the appropriate balance with the coaches.” Striking the right balance also involves the potential arrival of Major League Baseball’s…

Columnist, MLB Network BOSTON When Bud Black was fired as manager of the Padres, an immediate lead candidate for replacement was Pat Murphy, who had such an impact on Craig Counsell at Notre Dame that when Counsell got the Brewers managerial job, he wanted Murph as his bench coach. Murphy was Dustin Pedroia’s mentor at Arizona State. He’s been a successful manager in the Padres minor league system, so it was no surprise when he was named interim manager for the rest of the season. And understand this: people love him. Rather than read what I have to say about Murphy, consider these thoughts from one of his Triple-A El Paso players—the very bright, creative and imaginative Cody Decker A Winner At Any Level “ I’ve known Murph going on…

Despite all the public mystery this spring surrounding the first overall pick of the draft, Diamondbacks scouting director Deric Ladnier said his mind was made up “a while back” about the player Arizona would take. He remained convinced after going through the process of meeting with the team’s scouts, and they came to a unanimous decision about the pick “a couple of days” before the draft. But they didn’t make that decision public until the draft began June 8. A little after 7 p.m., commissioner Rob Manfred stepped to the podium in Studio 42 in MLB Network’s studios and announced Vanderbilt shortstop Dansby Swanson was the Diamondbacks choice at No. 1. “This is the player we wanted,” Ladnier said. “We wanted him for a while.” Swanson was the first college…

These are the team-by-team selections for all 40 rounds of the 2015 draft. A total of 1,215 players were selected, and that total Includes picks lost due to free agent signings and gained as compensation for lost free agents, picks not signed last year and from the competitive-balance lottery. Picks gained by each team are noted. ARIZONA DIAMONDBACKS 1. Dansby Swanson, ss, Vanderbilt 2. Alex Young, lhp, Texas Christian 3. Taylor Clarke, rhp, College of Charleston 4. Breckin Williams, rhp, Missouri 5. Ryan Burr, rhp, Arizona State 6. Tyler Mark, rhp, Concordia (Calif.) 7. Francis Christy, c, Palomar (Calif.) JC 8. Kal Simmons, ss, Kennesaw State 9. Pierce Romero, rhp, Santa Barbara (Calif.) CC 10. Joey Armstrong, of, Nevada-Las Vegas 11. Austin Byler, 1b, Nevada 12. Wesley Rodriguez, rhp, Washington…

There’s never a good year to unveil a new independent league, but 2015 has been particularly challenging. The Mount Rainier League died less than two weeks after the season opened. The East Coast League never made it to Opening Day (although it did spawn the North Country League). The Ozarks League and the Heartland League have both announced plans to play this year in the Springfield, Mo., market. Both originally talked about debuting in early June. As of mid-June, though, neither had played a game or had an operating agreement to occupy the ballpark where they have said they will play. The names of the leagues and the cities change from year to year, but the stories remain the same. Players who want to play baseball will travel anywhere and…

BOSTON | Red Sox For statistics, organization reports, prospect lists and recent drafts, check out: baseballamerica.com/t/organization-reports/ BOSTON Most draft-eligible sophomores put themselves in position to be taken near the top of the first round with a head-turning performance in the summer after their freshman season. Andrew Benintendi did the opposite. The Arkansas coaching staff encouraged the center fielder to not play baseball after a freshman year in which he was limited by wrist and hamstring injuries. They encouraged him instead to work out and gain strength. If Benintendi did so, the staff thought, he would take a considerable step forward in his sophomore year that might position him to be a top pick in the 2016 draft. Benintendi followed the plan, adding what he estimated to be about 15 pounds of…

ST. PETERSBURG, FLA. Garrett Whitley understands the concerns about players coming out of the Northeast—that they don’t play enough or against tough enough competition. After the Rays made the athletic center fielder their top pick at No. 13 overall, the product of Niskayuna (N.Y.) High, near Albany, made it clear he is ready to prove them wrong. “I absolutely believe that I can play with anybody on the field,” Whitley said. “Just because I’m from the Northeast doesn’t mean I’m any worse of a player, and I think that I showed that on the circuit last summer. “I think Northeast guys get a bad rap sometimes just because we don’t play year round, but I think more and more guys are coming out here and succeeding.” Whitley felt he showed…

ATLANTA Having strengthened the farm system over the winter with a bevy of trades, the Braves entered the 2015 draft intent acquiring even more impact talent. Taking a cue from long-time Braves draft architect Paul Snyder, first-year scouting director Brian Bridges selected four high school players with his first four picks, including a pair of 17-year-old pitchers in the first round. Bridges admits he did not envision having the opportunity to select lefthander Kolby Allard with the 14th overall pick, not after watching him throw a bullpen session last summer. Yet that was before the San Clemente (Calif.) High senior was limited to seven innings in 2015 as he dealt with a stress fracture in his back. That caused the UCLA commit to fall in the draft to Atlanta. “I…

WASHINGTON The Nationals waited until 11:30 p.m. Eastern time to make their first pick in the 2015 draft, but their slow night sped up when they selected 6-foot center fielder Andrew Stevenson with the 58th overall pick toward the end of the second round. Stevenson, a lefty-hitting junior at Louisiana State, showcases plus speed he puts to use in an athletic outfield for a team that reached the College World Series. He has an unorthodox swing but has improved his hitting mechanics while playing in the demanding Southeastern Conference. Last summer, Stevenson hit .327 in the Cape Cod League and stole 21 of 24 bases to help lead Yarmouth-Dennis to the title. “We’re adding to our already fertile stable of athletes,” general manager Mike Rizzo said. “You know our motto…

CLEVELAND The Indians did more than just take a flier on lefthander Brady Aiken. They used the 17th overall pick on him, and his selection drew an inordinate amount of attention for a mid-first-round pick. First of all, Aiken went No. 1 overall in last year’s draft, and, secondly, he still is in the early stages of rehab from Tommy John surgery he had on March 26. Scouting director Brad Grant said the Indians had no qualms about selecting a player who won’t be able to pitch competitively again until sometime next year. “We’ve done our due diligence on it and we feel very comfortable,” Grant said. “We’re going to work hard with Brady and try to ensure that he gets back to being the pitcher he was before the…

For statistics, organization reports, prospect lists and recent drafts, check out: baseballamerica.com/t/organization-reports/ CHICAGO If president of baseball operations Theo Epstein didn’t draft a pitcher with the Cubs’ first-round pick this year, then that ship probably has sailed, because Chicago plans to avoid top-15 picks from now on. When the Cubs selected Cincinnati outfielder Ian Happ with the No. 9 overall pick, the switch-hitter joined a growing number of top bats drafted by Chicago in the first round. “I definitely heard about the guys who have come before me,” Happ said. “I’m really excited to add to the college bats that are coming through and, hopefully, be the next one to move through the system.” The Cubs previously had used high firstround picks to select shortstop Javier Baez (2011), outfielder Albert Almora…

PITTSBURGH Shortstop Kevin Newman experienced the bitter disappointment of not being drafted following his senior year at Poway (Calif.) High in 2012. “I vowed from that day forward that I was going make 29 major league teams regret that decision,” said Newman, who became an all-Pacific-12 Conference shortstop at Arizona. He didn’t have to worry about being passed over a second time, because the Pirates chose him with the 19th overall pick. “I would say they were the team that saw me the most or the second-most of all the organizations,” Newman said. “All (the Pirates’) front office people came in and I got the impression they were very interested. It’s exciting. It’s a dream come true.” Newman hit .370/.426/.489 in 55 games this spring as a junior with the…

HOUSTON Three years after taking shortstop Carlos Correa with the first overall pick in the 2012 draft, the Astros celebrated his June 7 callup to Houston by selecting Louisiana State shortstop Alex Bregman with their first of two first-round picks in 2015. The Astros chose the 6-foot, 190-pound Bregman with the second overall pick of the draft, which they received as compensation for not signing No. 1 overall pick Brady Aiken in 2014. Then Houston selected prep outfielder Kyle Tucker, the younger brother of Astros rookie left fielder Preston, with the fifth overall pick. “They’re similar hitters to a large degree,” scouting director Mike Elias said of the Tucker brothers, who both bat lefthanded. “Their approach and their swings have some similarities.” Preston Tucker, who became the first Astros pick…

SEATTLE After sitting through 59 player selections, the Mariners finally made a pick in the 2015 draft, selecting high school righthander Nick Neidert in the second round. The Mariners lost their first-round pick after signing free agent Nelson Cruz last offseason, so scouting director Tom McNamara had to sit idly as potential selections came off his draft board. “I think I’m going to need a new shirt I was sweating so bad,” he said. The 18-year-old Neidert, who attended Peachtree Ridge High in Suwanee, Ga., was worth the wait and anxiety for McNamara. “He was the guy we wanted,” McNamara said. “It was a long wait. At 60 (overall), we were pleasantly surprised he was still there.” Neidert is not big and imposing on the mound, and at 6-foot-1, 185…

LOS ANGELES For the first time since 2001, Logan White did not run the Dodgers’ draft, but new scouting director Billy Gasparino followed White’s lead by selecting pitchers with three of the club’s first four picks. Los Angeles drafted Vanderbilt righthander Walker Buehler (24th overall) and Louisville righty Kyle Funkhouser (35th) in the first round, then made Virginia closer Josh Sborz a supplemental second-round pick. For the 12th time in the past 13 years, the Dodgers used their first pick on a pitcher. The lone exception—2012 first-rounder Corey Seager —has been a fine exception. “It definitely wasn’t a target group going into the day,” Gasparino said. “It just kind of fell that way, and we’re very happy that it did. “The starting-pitching market in the draft is always hard to…

Kyle Tucker entered his senior season at Tampa’s Plant High with the school’s home run record within reach. The outfielder had hit 21 home runs in his first three seasons with the Panthers, just eight fewer than his older brother, Preston Tucker, hit in his own career at Plant. Tucker cut into the deficit as the season went on, pulling even with his brother at 29 career homers. That’s where the count stood going into Plant’s final regular season game, a crosstown trip to Jefferson High. On that night, in front of a crowd that included a throng of scouts and a few general managers, Tucker rose to the occasion. He collected four hits and belted two home runs in a 13-2 victory. The homers gave Tucker 31 for his…

Transactions Transactions involving minor league players, i.e. those not on 40-man rosters, covering the period May 29-June 11. Numbers in parentheses indicate draft round. ARIZONA DIAMONDBACKS: Signed RHPs Ryan Burr (5) and Parker Frazier and C Dylan Kelly. Released RHP Derek Eitel, 2B Kevin Frandsen and 3B George Roberts. Traded LHP Vidal Nuno and 1B Mark Trumbo to Mariners for RHP Dominic Leon ATLANTA BRAVES: Signed RHPs David Aardsma, Sean McLaughlin (19) and Alex White; LHP Dana Eveland, C Ryan Lavarnway and OF Brad Keller (15). Released RHPs Mitchell Boggs and Mike Nesseth, LHP Donnie Veal and 2B Corban Joseph. BALTIMORE ORIOLES: Signed RHP Mikey O’Brien. Released RHP Jarett Miller, LHP Frank Gailey, 1B Cory Segui, 3B Hector Veloz and OFs Michael Burgess and Alexander Mercedes. Traded OF Alejandro De…

JANUARY 19 1997 » IN THIS ISSUE: For the fourth straight year, MLBPA boss Don Fehr tops BA’s Power Broker rankings— Bud Selig, Jerry Reinsdorf follow. » ALSO: Three CWS titles in five appearances lift LSU to top of BA Programs of the Decade ranking. In honor of the Padres hiring Pat Murphy, a look back at Alan Schwarz’s 1997 profile: Inside his third-base dugout, shadowed from the beaming sun, Pat Murphy is demonstrating an uppercut. His thick torso rocks back while his legs balance him for perfect support. He keeps his chin tight. Silhouetted against the bright outfield fence, his stance is one boxing trophies are made of. “Watch,” he nods. Then he closes his eyes . . . In a flash, his left arm explodes forward— WHAM!—the fist…

Columnist, MLB.com DENVER In the midst of a postgame conversation, a visitor to Marlins manager Dan Jennings’ office was asked a question. “Tell me the truth. When Dan took the manager job, what was your first reaction?” The visitor smiled. “I wondered if he knew what he was getting into.” Jennings raised his eyebrows. Me too,” Jennings said with a laugh. It has been some kind of a ride for Jennings, who woke up the morning of May 18 as the general manager of the Marlins and hours later was introduced as their new manager, replacing Mike Redmond. It wasn’t something Jennings lobbied for. He had been a backer of Redmond. The last time Jennings was in uniform was 30 years earlier, when he was at Davidson High in Mobile,…

The Rangers’ pick of Dillon Tate at No. 4 overall in the 2015 draft was a breakthrough in many ways—or maybe, more aptly, a Breakthrough. Tate was one of nine black players chosen in the first round—an increase from previous years. He was the earliest black pitcher selected since David Price went No. 1 overall to the Rays in 2007, and he was the highest draft choice ever of a former member of an Urban Youth Academy and the Breakthrough Series—two of Major League Baseball’s initiatives aimed at bringing baseball and softball instruction to underprivileged youth in under-served communities. The nine players chosen out of 36 (25 percent) represents the largest number of black players chosen in the first round in recent memory. For context, four black players were chosen…

While the College World Series started last week in Omaha, the rest of the premier talent in college baseball headed to Cape Cod in Massachusetts. The Cape Cod League has long been one of the best college summer leagues, and 25 of the first 75 picks in the 2015 draft were former Cape League participants. The 10-team league kicked off play on June 9 and will conclude with the championship series in mid-August. Here is a preview of just some of the talent that will take the field this summer for each of the teams in the league. BOURNE BRAVES When the Cape season began, 13th-year manager Harvey Shapiro just had 12 permanent players on his Braves roster. Almost one week into the season, Bourne was still waiting on 15…

When the international signing period opens on July 2, there could be at least 25 players signing for $1 million or more. That doesn’t include Cuban players, who will certainly push that total up as more of them become eligible to sign. Here are reports on some of the best prospects eligible for the upcoming signing period who have drawn praise in conversations with scouts across the game. These players are all 16 years old, unless otherwise noted. Vladimir Guerrero Jr., of Yes, that’s the son of Vladimir Guerrero, and there are some scouts who think Vladdy Jr. is the best player in this year’s class. Aside from the facial resemblance, Vladdy Jr. has the swing mechanics patterned after his father and the best combination of hitting ability and power…

BALTIMORE The Orioles veered from their recent precedent of selecting a pitcher with their first-round pick in the draft. This time, they chose Florida State outfielder D.J. Stewart with the 25th overall pick. Baltimore hadn’t selected an outfielder with its first pick since Nick Markakis in 2003. They hadn’t taken a position player since choosing shortstop Manny Machado in 2010 or a college position player since catcher Matt Wieters in 2007. Stewart batted .318 with 15 home runs, 59 RBIs, a .500 on-base percentage and 69 walks as an FSU junior. He led the nation in free passes. “Stewart is an accomplished college hitter whose power should play well in our park at Camden Yards,” scouting director Gary Rajsich said. “We are excited to have him.” Stewart, who bats lefthanded,…

TORONTO The Blue Jays first locked in on righthander Jon Harris during his senior year of high school in Florissant, Mo., and eventually made him a 33rd-round pick in 2012. He didn’t sign, opting instead to attend Missouri State. “I was 6 feet and 160 pounds coming out of high school, and I knew I wasn’t that high quality of a guy,” Harris said. “I’d fallen in love with the school . . . and felt like Missouri State was best for me in order to get better and get where I am today.” Where he is today is the 29th overall pick in the 2015 draft, once again selected by the Blue Jays, who were surprised, yet happy, to have another shot at Harris. The White Sox at No.…

MIAMI Less than one month after firing manager Mike Redmond and replacing him with general manager Dan Jennings, the Marlins again surprised the industry. Miami selected Canadian high school first baseman Josh Naylor with the No. 12 overall pick in the draft. The lefty hitter has doubleplus raw power, and that is the tool that sold the Marlins. “There is some Prince Fielder in this guy,” scouting director Stan Meek said of Naylor, who turns 18 this month. “He has that kind of bat speed and power.” Naylor, who has a scholarship offer to Texas Tech, has a thick build and is listed at 6-foot-1 and 225 pounds. He attended St. Joan of Arc Catholic SS in Mississauga, Ontario. “(Naylor’s) body is not great,” Meek said, “but he is a…

For statistics, organization reports, prospect lists and recent drafts, check out: baseballamerica.com/t/organization-reports/ MINNEAPOLIS Lefthander Tyler Jay once started a game for Lemont (Ill.) High while it snowed. Already, he has exhibited the talents that might come in handy at Target Field. “Cold’s no problem. I try to keep that mentality that it’s not cold out, it’s no big deal,” said Jay, a lanky lefthander out of Illinois selected sixth overall in the 2015 draft. “Guys don’t want to swing the bat. Using that to your advantage is something you learn playing in the Midwest.” Of course, his 95 mph fastball and harddiving slider give him a big advantage in any weather, which is why the Twins grabbed the 21-year-old junior with the intent of moving him from the bullpen to the…

DETROIT The Tigers prefer hard-throwing pitchers in the draft, and 2015 was no exception. They believe 18-year-old righthander Beau Burrows out of Weatherford (Texas) High will be a top-of-the-rotation starter down the road. They selected him No. 22 overall. “We scouted Burrows as hard as anybody in the draft,” vice president of scouting David Chadd said. “We really, really, really like this kid’s ability. We think he has the potential to be a front-of-the-rotation-type starter. He has a big arm and we like him a lot.” It marked the second time in three years that Detroit took a Texas high school righthander with its top pick. They previously selected Jake Thompson, from Heath, Texas, in the second round of the 2012 draft. Listed at 6-foot-2, 200 pounds, Burrows sits at…

CINCINNATI For the third time in the last nine drafts, the Reds took a catcher in the first round, this year selecting Georgia high school catcher Tyler Stephenson at No. 11 overall. The Reds pounced when Stephenson, who attended Kennesaw (Ga.) Mountain High, fell to them. “It was a very weak draft for catching,” scouting director Chris Buckley said, “and Tyler’s one of the better catchers we’ve seen in a little while. He’s very polished. We think he has a chance to be a totally complete player, and it’s such a hard position to find. We were excited to get him.” Stephenson stands 6-foot-4, but the Reds don’t believe his size will keep him from sticking at catcher. They like his arm—he can reach the 90s off the mound—and his…

ST. LOUIS The Cardinals entered the 2015 draft with a new hand at the wheel, and he immediately broke from type. First-year scouting director Chris Correa eschewed the organization’s recent reputation for prioritizing college players with lengthy performance track records. St. Louis selected prep outfielder Nick Plummer with the 23rd overall pick, and then grabbed two other high schoolers on the first day of the draft. “We had players from high school, college, junior college on the board,” Correa said. “It just worked out that those (prep players) were the best players available for us.” Plummer, an 18-year-old from Brother Rice High in Bloomfield, Mich., hit .520 with 22 doubles and 32 steals in 42 games this spring. The 5-foot-11, lefthanded-hitting outfielder surged into the first-round picture with a strong…

ANAHEIM In addition to celebrating their firstround selection of Taylor Ward, a defensiveminded catcher from Fresno State they selected 26th overall, the Angels had to defend it. The 21-year-old Ward hit .303 with seven homers, 14 doubles and 42 RBIs as a junior— hardly overwhelming numbers at the college level—and ranked as the No. 70 draft-eligible prospect by Baseball America, who described Ward has having “decent pull power, though he lacks a natural feel for hitting.” Scouts rave about Ward’s throwing arm, which is considered one of the best in the country. Some believe his arm would play on the mound if he doesn’t hit. The reaction of most Angels fans on social media to the Ward selection was underwhelming. They felt their team had used their top pick on…

For statistics, organization reports, prospect lists and recent drafts, check out: baseballamerica.com/t/organization-reports/ PHOENIX Shortstop Dansby Swanson had two celebrations on draft day. Just 10 minutes after Vanderbilt clinched its second straight trip to the College World Series, the Diamondbacks made Swanson the No. 1 overall pick. Swanson, his family and Commodores teammates watched the draft on his iPhone from the mound in otherwise somber Champaign, Ill., and when his name was called, his teammates rejoiced with jumps and hugs, just as they had when clinching their CWS berth. Swanson possesses the attributes of a winner, which goes to the heart of what the Diamondbacks sought in their first No. 1 overall pick since Justin Upton in 2005. “He’s a guy who stays in the middle of the diamond,” scouting director Deric…

SAN DIEGO The Padres had only one pick on the first day of the draft—in the middle of the second round—and used it on a high school righthander from Lake Worth, Fla. Austin Smith, who attended Park Vista Community High, has reached 96 mph with his fastball and will turn 19 in July. “He has a big body and a good frame. He’s big, strong and durable,” general manager A.J Preller said of the 6-foot-4, 215-pound Smith. “He has a clean arm action, good delivery and shows three pitches . . . He’s a guy who has multiple ways to get you out, multiple weapons and a good frame to be durable. He checked all those boxes.” Smith, who accepted a scholarship to Florida Atlantic, said a “bulldog determination” is…

For the second time in four years, Parkview High (Lilburn, Ga.) is Baseball America’s 2015 High School Team of the Year. The Panthers finished with a 34-2 record, including a season-ending 26-game winning streak that culminated with a two-game sweep of Walton High to secure Parkview’s third Georgia 6-A state championship in the last five years, and a spot atop the final Baseball America/National High School Baseball Coaches Association national poll. Before all those wins, however, came a single loss that head coach Chan Brown credits as the turning point for his team’s season. It was also the last game they would lose this season. Brown challenged his players to focus on the details needed to become great players, and just as importantly, a great team At that point we…

Baseball Analyst, Senior Writer ESPN.com PHILADELPHIA In those other sports, it’s part of life, part of the intrigue, part of the drama of draft day. Who’s trading up? Who’s trading down? Who’s scheming? Who’s listening? In those other sports, the trading of draft picks is a given. Taken for granted. Buzzed about for weeks. An indispensable part of the fun. And in baseball? We’re still stuck in a 50-year-old time warp. Still banning something that would increase interest in the draft by about a billion times. Trade your first-round pick? Still as illegal as the spitball after all these years. Ridiculous. “I wish we would change this,” says one former scouting director who has gone on to bigger things. “I think it’s long overdue. If we started trading picks, we…