Cleveland Sports Forum

the whole 2nd day seems highly questionable. The only pick that is intriguing is Garza, the second of their TJ surgery pitchers

PD on the first 2 days of the draft with quotes from the Tribe:

CLEVELAND, Ohio -- The Indians contend that they are equipped with a top-notch medical staff. So, they took a few risks in this year's amateur draft.

Their first-round choice, Brady Aiken -- the No. 1 overall pick in last year's draft -- underwent Tommy John surgery in March. Their first two selections on Tuesday both suffered shoulder surgeries in the past year. Their eighth-round pick is expected to be sidelined for a year following recent elbow surgery.

"We do feel like we can progress and rehab players," said Brad Grant, Indians director of amateur scouting. "We can get them stronger. We feel like we have a competitive advantage of being able to rehabilitate them. Some teams might find that as a disadvantage. We find that might be undervalued for us and it's something we might try to build off of."

Here is a rundown of the Indians' selections through the first two days of the draft. On Wednesday, the club will make its picks for rounds 11-40, beginning at noon ET.

Round 1 (pick 17): Brady Aiken, LHP, IMG Academy (Fla.)

Throws: L ... 6'4, 205 lbs. ... 18 years old

Was selected No. 1 overall by Houston last season, but did not sign, as the Astros decreased their offer after showing concerns about the condition of his elbow. Underwent Tommy John surgery this spring. Went 7-0 with a 1.06 ERA during his senior year of high school.

Grant's take: "He's a 6-4, left-handed starter who can hit 95 mph with his fastball with very good life to it. He has a plus curveball, a feel for his slider and change up and he's a good strike thrower."

Competitive balance round (pick 42): Triston McKenzie, RHP, Royal Palm Beach High School (Fla.)

Throws: R ... 6'5, 165 lbs. ... 17 years old

Fastball currently sits in the low 90s. Committed to Vanderbilt, the same school to which Justus Sheffield -- the Indians' choice in this round a year ago -- was headed before being selected.

Grant's take: "He has a tall thin frame, but what we like with Tristan is a fastball that's up to 93 mph. He can spin a curveball and has a good feel for a change. He has a very good delivery and throws a lot of strikes."

Round 2 (pick 59): Juan Hillman, LHP, Olympia High School (Fla.)

Throws: L ... 6'2, 183 lbs. ... 18 years old

His parental guardian is former major league pitcher Tom Gordon. Fastball sits in the low 90s.

Grant's take: "He has a solid average fastball at 90 to 91 mph. He has real good life to his fastball with a feel for the curveball and change up. This is another guy who throws a lot of strikes."

Round 3 (pick 93): Mark Mathias, 2B, Cal Poly - San Luis Obispo

Bats: R ... Throws: R ... 6'0, 200 lbs. ... 20 years old

Shoulder injury forced him to spend most of the 2015 season at designated hitter. Known for his bat. Posted a .356/.424/.436 slash line this season with Cal Poly.

Grant's take: "He had a little bit of a setback last summer with shoulder surgery, but he's battled all the way through it and we like the upside with the bat, the ability to control the strike zone and the ability to play multiple positions for us.

"We're going to start him off at second base. He's played third base in the past, too. He had the shoulder injury, so we just have to get that healed and then see where he goes, but he was playing second base at the end of the year for Cal Poly."

Round 4 (pick 124): Tyler Krieger, SS, Clemson

Bats: S ... Throws: R ... 6'2, 170 lbs. ... 21 years old

Another player coming off of an injury to the labrum in the shoulder, he also spent time at DH this season. Posted a .339/.448/.419 slash line this season with Clemson.

Grant's take: "Another bat. Another guy with versatility. He plays short, second, third. He brings some offense and has that versatility."

Round 5 (pick 154): Ka'Ai Tom, CF, Kentucky

Bats: L ... Throws: R ... 5'9, 185 lbs. ... 21 years old

Batted .375 with five home runs, 16 doubles, 51 RBIs, 23 walks and 25 strikeouts this season. Posted a .443 on-base percentage and a .528 slugging percentage, while scoring 41 runs and swiping 15 bases in 16 attempts.

Grant's take: "Another guy who really controls the strike zone well and puts the ball in play. He uses all of the fields. He can play all three outfield spots."

Round 6 (pick 184): Jonas Wyatt, RHP, Quartz Hill HS (Calif.)

Throws: R ... 6'1, 185 lbs. ... 17 years old

Committed to San Diego State. Throws in the 90-94 mph range, and as high as 96 mph, according to MLB.com. The site projects him as a mid-rotation starter. In 12 starts this season, spanning 59 1/3 innings, he posted a 2.24 ERA with 28 walks and 111 strikeouts.

Grant's take: "He's still only 17 years old. His fastball continued to progress through the year to the point where it was up to 97 at the end of the year. He can spin a curveball and has a good feel for a change, too."

Round 7 (pick 214): Nathan Lukes, RF, Sacramento State

Bats: L ... Throws: R ... 5'11, 185 lbs. ... 20 years old

Hit .345 with seven home runs and 38 RBIs this season for the Hornets. Totaled 81 hits in 60 games and logged a .422 on-base percentage and .511 slugging percentage, with 13 stolen bases in 17 attempts.

Grant's take: "A guy with a little bit of power. He can play all three outfield spots."

Round 8 (pick 244): Justin Garza, RHP, Cal State Fullerton

Throws: R ... 5'10, 170 lbs. ... 21 years old

Fastball sits in the low-to-mid '90s. Went 4-3 with a 3.05 ERA and 53 strikeouts in 65 innings before he was diagnosed with an elbow ligament tear, which required Tommy John surgery. As a freshman, he went 12-0 with a 2.03 ERA in 17 starts. He was previously drafted by the Indians in 2012.

Grant's take: "He had three very successful years at Fullerton. He pitched really well for Team USA. Unfortunately, at the end of the season, he had Tommy John surgery, but he's a guy we hope to get into our system quickly, rehab and get out, similar to guys like Pestano and guys we've had in the past. We'll hopefully get him into the system and then partner with him on the rehab and hopefully get him back a year from now.

"He gets the most out of his ability. He can really pitch. He's not the biggest, most physical guy in the world, but he's always been able to pitch and spin a breaking ball. He throws a ton of strikes. He can command the fastball. He can place it wherever he wants."

Round 9 (pick 274): Devon Stewart, RHP, Canisius College (NY)

Throws: R ... 6'2, 184 lbs. ... 22 years old

Went 7-7 with a 3.84 ERA in 16 starts. Tallied 75 strikeouts and 24 walks in 98 1/3 innings. From British Columbia.

Grant's take: "He's a starter and can throw strikes."

Round 10 (pick 304): William Strode, LHP, Florida State

Throws: L ... 6'1, 185 lbs. ... 22 years old

Made 30 relief appearances for the Seminoles this season. Logged a 1.80 ERA, with 17 walks and 46 strikeouts in 35 innings. Limited the opposition to a .189 batting average.

Grant's take: "He can throw pretty hard and get some outs out of the bullpen."

Have you guys heard about this "switch pitcher", Ryan Perez.

http://www.baseballamerica.com/college/ ... yan-perez/

Well we just drafted him in 12th round.

So funny, I just heard Colin Cowherd talking about this kid this morning and I thought how cool is that. I mean dude has hit 94 on the gun. Now the Tribe selects him.

Given our first few picks and now this kid I am no longer going to hate on this draft. Kinda like when the Browns took Johnny. Ok, the kid will probably not make it but oh how fun it will be if he does.

there's a switch-pitcher in the majors. Venditte, is it? just came up a couple weeks ago.

Round 11 RHP from high School Chandler Newman, not in BA's top 500 so no scouting report from them
Round 12 here's Randy Perez, but BA pours cold water on his switch-pitching prospects:
Perez got on the map last summer by pitching well in the Cape Cod League, including hitting 93 mph with his fastball in the league’s all-star game. He also made his name as a switch-pitcher, but his future as a pro is as a lefthanded reliever, because his righthanded stuff is pedestrian. The 6-foot-2, 190-pounder has shown an average-to-above-average fastball from the left side, with his curve being an above-average to plus offering, and that’s his meal ticket. He can locate the curve well and it has good depth. His righthanded arsenal is the same but less firm, with loopier action and shape for the curve. Perez was limited to pitching righthanded much of the spring due to a left triceps strain, and while he pitched well down the stretch, hitting 93 again, he also walked six and threw five wild pitches in four innings during a season-ending postseason loss.

Round 13 college Catcher, Danny Salters,
Salters didn't actually begin playing baseball until he was 13 as he lived in Kenya and Tanzania with his missionary parents. Drafted by the Nationals in the 22nd round last year, Salters is old for a junior (22). Teams like his short, direct lefthanded stroke that is geared more for line drives than for home runs although he has plenty of raw power. He’s tapped into it more consistently in summer ball in Alaska and the Northwoods League than with the Patriots. But there are questions about whether he can handle the defensive responsibilities to stay at catcher. He has plenty of arm, but his receiving, agility and blocking all need to improve.

Round 14 Matt Esparza a college RH pitcher, without a BA scouting report

Round 15 Daniel Sprinkle high school RHP/LB/TE
Sprinkle had opportunities to play college football as either a tight end or outside linebacker--his brother Jeremy is a tight end at Arkansas. But he's taken his broad-shouldered frame to the baseball diamond and dominated. He was named the MVP of the Arkansas' 5-A state championship game as he allowed no earned runs in a complete-game win for White Hall High. Sprinkle has a high-80s to low-90s fastball with decent life and his curveball has improved as he's started to throw it harder. He has all kinds of projection because of his athleticism and athletic frame.

No one listed in the 16th round

Round 17 high school SS Nick Madrigal. We won't cry when he goes to college instead of the Arizona league
Listed at just 5-foot-8, 155 pounds, Madrigal is a mighty mite, a fast-handed shortstop who plays with energy and fire. He’s a magician defensively at times thanks to tremendous hands, quick feet and strong instincts that give him plus range. He's played on high-profile travel ball teams in Northern California, and scouts have seen scores, if not hundreds, of his at-bats. If they have, they know Madrigal makes contact and his hands work at the plate, but he lacks the strength to drive the ball consistently. An Oregon State signee, he should play shortstop for the Beavers, but as a pro his instincts and range may not be enough to mask a fringy arm. Scouts praise Madrigal's winning attitude and work ethic.

Well if he is just going to pitch left handed then I will go back to hating the draft. That's no fun.

On Cowherd this morning they said the kid pitched submarine style from right side, 3/4 from left. Just to add to the oddity.

Jeff Ellis:
Ryan Perez came into the year with a chance to be a top ten round pick. He is a legit switch pitcher who is viewed as a better prospect than Pat Venditte ever has been.

I dunno, Civ, I think you might be shooting this down too quick. Seeing some comments from others who thinks he will give it a go from both sides. And that Francona is intrigued with it.

How about leaving him a starting pitcher and just go with a 4 man rotation, and let him go two of the days, once from each side.

Of course then he'd probably want double the salary.

How about leaving him a starting pitcher and just go with a 4 man rotation, and let him go two of the days, once from each side.

LOL. Best line on the draft coverage!

John Sickel's comments

CLEVELAND INDIANS
1-17) Brady Aiken, LHP, IMG Academy
CA-42) Triston McKenzie, RHP, Florida HS
2-59) Juan Hillman, LHP, Florida HS
3-93) Mark Mathias, 2B, Cal Poly San Luis Obispo
4-124) Tyler Krieger, 2B, Clemson
5-154) Ka’Ai Tom, OF, Kentucky

COMMENT: Very bold at the top with the enigmatic Aiken and two top-quality high school arms. The Indians must be Ok with Aiken’s medical reports and if he comes back as they expect he could be a number one starter. Hillman is exceptionally polished for a prep arm and has seen his velocity increase. Hillman is similar to Justus Sheffield, drafted by the Indians last year in the first round. McKenzie is highly projectable and should be buyable away from Vanderbilt in that slot. The focus then turned to college hitting primarily with role player upside, though the sixth round pick Jonas Wyatt, a prep pitcher from California, is a notable exception. If the Indians have the right read on Aiken’s health and McKenzie’s monetary demands, this looks outstanding.

"outstanding" is a potentially rather positive result for this draft; but because it all depends on three pitchers, one already post-major injury" it's also highly uncertain. It seems after the 3 there's not much to look forward to.

When I rechecked the three kids who made Hot Prospect list last Friday, I noted that Rodriguez and Anderson were both drafted around the 12th-15th rounds. I'm not reading anything that suggests we any high ceiling-high risk middle rounders in this draft[?]

Indians sign their 10th round pick, a rather unexciting reliever. Scrappers just got their closer.

Strode began his college career at Indian River State JC before transferring to Florida State for his sophomore year. He was a key part of the Seminoles bullpen for the next three years, making 74 appearances in his career. He served as Florida State's closer this spring and succeeded in the role despite underwhelming stuff. Strode is deceptive, which helps his mid- to upper-80s fastball play up. His slider is his best secondary offering and he also throws a changeup. Strode's deception makes him especially tough on lefthanded hitters, and he likely fits best as a lefthanded specialist as a professional

BA "draft wrapup"

The Indians delivered perhaps the biggest surprise of the draft when they selected lefthander Brady Aiken at No. 17 overall. Aiken was the biggest wildcard of the draft after not signing with the Astros last year and then undergoing Tommy John surgery this spring. But the Indians were comfortable enough with his medical reports to select him with their first pick. After Aiken, they added Triston McKenzie and Juan Hillman, a pair of high-upside Florida prep pitchers, as well as Mark Mathias, Tyler Krieger and Ka’ai Tom, a trio of college players with strong track records of success at the plate.