Hello everyone! Welcome to Last Word on Sports’ coverage of the 2014 MLB Amateur Draft. Tonight Alena Docena and I will be providing live commentary and updates on the proceedings of the first night of the draft on Twitter, which starts at 7PM ET on MLB Network and MLB.com. Below, we will be providing a constantly updated list of the draft results, and you can follow us on Twitter at the official account of the baseball department, @MLBFB, Alena’s account @alenadee20_LWOS, and mine @StelliniTweets. We’ll have all the commentary, predictions and rapier sharp wit that you could possibly ask for, starting at 6:30 ET. To wet your whistle until then, here’s my take on who I believe to be the top ten players available, and where I think they’ll end up.
For those of you who are new to this draft stuff, here’s the draft order for tonight. Once again, the Houston Astros will have the top pick, and probably for the last time for a long while. The fruits of so many years of struggle are beginning to show at Minute Maid Park. Youngsters such as Jarred Cosart, George Springer, Dallas Keuchel, Collin McHugh and Jon Singleton are making their presences felt, with many more on the way. The New World Order is also making its presence felt in Miami, who has the second pick. Then it’s the two teams from the Windy City, the White Sox and Cubs.
Projected to make up the top three picks are pitchers Brady Aiken, Carlos Rodon, and Tyler Kolek. Aiken seemingly has a lock on the Astros’ selection if the recent buzz is to be believed, but don’t be so sure. We all remember a few years ago when uberprospect Byron Buxton also had a “lock” on the Astros #1 overall pick, and he was usurped by Carlos Correa. GM Jeff Lunhow works in mysterious ways, so keep an eye out for an upset.
Once again, we’ll be here all through both rounds that are being broadcast tonight, and we hope you enjoy.
First Round
1. Houston Astros – LHP Brady Aiken
No surprises here. Aiken has been advertised as the clear favorite for the Astros for months now, and the hype was real. Aiken is famous for his powerful breaking pitches and Clayton Kershaw comparison, so the Astros could have something incredible here. If Mark Appel bounces back from his slow start this year, Houston could have an absolutely filthy pitching staff in the coming seasons.
2. Miami Marlins – RHP Tyler Kolek
The huge right-hander is hitting 100 MPH on his fastball in high school. That’s all you really need to know.
3. Chicago White Sox – LHP Carlos Rodon
At the beginning of the season it was unimaginable that Rodon would go anywhere but first overall. But his “fall” to the third slot is more of a reflection of him being good rather than great for NC State this year. The ChiSox have a history of developing pitching well, so don’t expect Rodon to be anything but good once he makes it to the show, which he could do very quickly.
4. Chicago Cubs – C Kyle Schwarber
This is a bit of a bargain buy for the Cubs. Schwarber is the best college bat of the group, but Alex Jackson is better overall. This allows the Cubs to spend more on pitching later on.
5. Minnesota Twins – SS Nick Gordon
Brother of Dee Gordon, son of Tom Gordon. Plus defensive shortstop, with leadoff-hitter type profile. Solid pick for the Twins, as he should be ready relatively soon. He could play defense in the big leagues right now.
6. Seattle Mariners – C/OF Alex Jackson
Here’s the right handed bat the Mariners desperately need. Jackson could hit 25/30 homers at some point while hitting for average. He may not stick behind the plate but his cannon of an arm should aid him in the outfield.
7. Philadelphia Phillies – RHP Aaron Nola
Control, control, control. Nola doesn’t set fire to the strike zone like Kolek, but he throws hard enough and destroyed the SEC. Probably my favorite pitcher in this draft, and the Phillies desperately need pitching. Also, the fact that his name is “NOLA” and went to LSU makes me happy.
8. Colorado Rockies – LHP Kyle Freeland
Freeland is another power/control combo like Nola. I really like the direction that the Rockies FO has been taking recently with picks strong pitching picks like the recently promoted Eddie Butler and Jonathan Gray. If they can manage to have Freeland, a Rockies fan by birth, to maximize ground balls they could neutralize the homer-happy confines of Coors Field.
9. Toronto Blue Jays – LHP Jeff Hoffman
Hoffman is currently recovering from Tommy John surgery. While this is a risky move by the Jays, they also have the 11th pick so they can afford to sink on Hoffman. Before he got hurt, Hoffman was a candidate to go first overall. He’s got strong powerful stuff, and if he gets healthy could pay big dividends.
10. New York Mets – OF Michael Conforto
Conforto’s main calling card is power, and lots of it. That’s why I had the Rockies taking him. While the Mets lack some power in their system, Citi Field swallows up homers sometimes, but Conforto has enough thump to hit the ball out in Queens. He’ll eventually slot into the middle of the New York lineup, if he pans out.
11. Toronto Blue Jays – C Max Pentecost
Craig Biggio is the comp scouts have used to describe Pentecost. He’ll hit for average and a bit of power, while also playing solid defense behind the plate. He’s also got a little bit of jump in his legs and may swipe a few bases here and there. The Jays desperately needed some catching depth and have done well for themselves with this pick
12. Milwaukee Brewers – LHP Kodi Medeiros
Medeiros is a fun lefty out of Hawaii, the first Hawaiian to go in the first two rounds in over ten years. He’s projected to sit around 95 MPH on his fastball once he hits the bigs, with lots of movement too. His solid secondary pitches will make him a very menacing presence on the mound.
13. San Diego Padres – SS Trea Turner
Turner can run like a gazelle and field at a Gold Glove level, but his bat is a reason for concern. There’s no power to speak of, and while he could eventually hit for solid average and OBP, it’s a tough sell for the San Diego minor league hitting coaches.
14. San Francisco Giants – RHP Tyler Beede
Beede comes out of the same program as David Price and Sonny Gray, Vanderbilt. Beede even occasionally talks on the phone with Price before he tales the mound. Previously drafted 21st overall out of high school, the only hitch in his game is difficulty repeating his delivery. The sky, however, is the limit.
15. Los Angeles Angels – LHP Sean Newcomb
Another fireballing lefty? Surprise surprise. Newcomb is very polished, but doesn’t have the incredible secondary stuff of the top pitchers that are already off the board. However, he’s a smart pitcher and minor league seasoning could improve his breaking and off-speed offerings. The Angels are also very hungry for pitching in their system and Newcomb is a very welcome addition.
16. Arizona Diamondbacks – RHP Touki Toussaint
He’s committed to Vanderbilt, but the DBacks may be able to lure him away from the pitching think-tank. The typical hard fastball goes along with a killer curve, which makes the fact that he didn’t get into baseball until age eleven even more impressive. After trading away Tyler Skaggs and Trevor Bauer, they like Toussaint as a compliment to Archie Bradley and Brandon Shipley.
17. Kansas City Royals – LHP Brandon Finnegan
Finnegan is smaller than the average lefty at 5’11’, which has lead to speculation that he’s closer material rather than sticking as a starter. That’s not necessarily a bad thing for the Royals, who repeatedly churn out hard-throwing bullpen pieces.
18. Washington Nationals – RHP Eric Fedde
Fedde recently underwent Tommy John surgery, but that hasn’t been a deterrent for the Nationals in the past. Recent pick Lucas Giolito also was a Tommy John patient when the Nats took him, and is now one of the top pitching prospects in all of baseball. GM Mike Rizzo is hoping to catch lightening in a bottle twice.
19. Cincinnati Reds – RHP Nick Howard
Howard has two main pitches, which a lot of scouts say points him towards the bullpen. Indeed, Howard is already a closer with Virginia. However, the Reds have turned relievers into starters in the past with players like Tony Cingrani, and teams typically don’t use high picks with the bullpen in mind.
20. Tampa Bay Rays – 1B Casey Gillaspie
The brother of White Sox third baseman Connor Gillaspie, Casey is a powerful switch-hitter that one scout compared to Mark Teixeira. That’s high praise, but given that baseball seemingly runs in the family it may not be too far off from the truth. It’s not surprising in the least to see the Rays opt for a bat over an arm, as their farm hasn’t produced a strong hitter since Evan Longoria (Wil Myers was acquired in a trade late in his development).
21. Cleveland Indians – OF Bradley Zimmer
Another one with baseball in his blood, his brother Kyle was a first round pick by the Royals in 2012. Zimmer can pretty much do it all, with power being the weakest of his tools. However he’s basically a poor man’s Alex Gordon if he pans out, with a little less pop and not as great of a glove (but then again, it’s hard to compare anyone defensively to Gordon). Another great OF pick by the Indians, who last year took the mega-hitting Clint Frazier.
22. Los Angeles Dodgers – RHP Grant Holmes
Like pretty much every other pitcher in this draft, the Dodgers took Holmes for his power fastball and nasty curve. His most intriguing quality is his already impressive control, which is usually not present in high school arms. Holmes could blossom into a solid #2 or #3 starter.
23. Detroit Tigers – OF Derek Hill
Hill’s another of my favorite players in this draft. He may be Peter Bourjos with power, or conversely Torii Hunter without it. Regardless, he’s a monster with the glove and will steal loads of bases. The bat will be slower to develop than the rest of the tools but it’s a great pick for the Tigers.
24. Pittsburgh Pirates – SS Cole Tucker
Here’s the first upset of the night. MLB.com had him in the sixties in their rankings, but the Pirates have a desperate need in the middle infield in their system. He should be a good defender and his bat may surprise further down the line.
25. Oakland Athletics – 3B Matt Chapman
Another upset here. Chapman can definitely hit, but apparently has made bullpen appearances in which he hit the upper 90’s. Oakland has converted players from other positions in the past (Josh Donaldson comes to mind), so Billy Beane could definitely like the flexibility.
26. Boston Red Sox – SS Michael Chavis
A Clemson commit, he can play all over the infield and hit. Now that Xander Boegarts has graduated to the big leagues, he fills the hole of strong-hitting infielder that Boegarts left. He’s prototypical Boston though, an average-driven smaller guy with power potential.
27. St. Louis Cardinals – RHP Luke Weaver
Weaver’s delivery is a pretty thing to watch, and his selection by the Cardinals is almost a sign that the rest of the world may have undervalued him. Don’t be surprised to see him in St. Louis very soon. As a side note, the kid’s absolutely hysterical. I foresee some very interesting Intentional Talk interviews in his future.
28. Kansas City Royals – LHP Foster Griffin
Griffin actually doesn’t have the fireballs that most draftees do. What he does have is phenomenal secondary stuff, and could easily be a strong mid-rotation starter.
29. Cincinnati Reds – SS Alex Blandino
Blandino most likely won’t stick at shortstop, projecting more as a corner infielder or outfielder. His bat merits his selection here, though. He’s the prototypical Stanford hitter who will slap the ball all over the field, but the Reds may want to see him develop more power before bringing him up.
30. Texas Rangers – RHP Luis Ortiz
Ortiz could have gone higher in the draft had it not been for an arm injury earlier in the year. However, all of his pitches are solid and he’s shown a commitment to playing pro ball by dropping lots of excess weight prior to this season.
31. Cleveland Indians – LHP Justus Sheffield
Sheffield has very strong stuff but has a commitment to Vanderbilt, which he’s apparently very interested in fulfilling. However, should the Indians draw him away from college, he will be a very strong piece in their system. He’s already thrown two no-hitters in high school.
32. Atlanta Braves – OF Braxton Davidson
Davidson has a very plus bat and a large frame to grow in to. He’ll quickly develop power in the minors and be a first-half hitter for the Braves. Davidson is reminiscent of Giants first baseman Brandon Belt.
33. Boston Red Sox – RHP Michael Kopech
Kopech has the raw stuff to make it in the Majors, but as of right now his wonky delivery could eventually relegate him to bullpen duty. The Red Sox have fantastic pitching development, and should be able to tinker with Kopech’s delivery to make him a front-line starter.
34. St. Louis Cardinals – Jack Flaherty
Surprise surprise, the Cardinals took an RHP. Flaherty posted video game numbers in high school, but fell this low due to a strong commitment to UNC. But if there’s one team that could draw him away from college, it’s the Cardinals and their tradition in developing righty pitching.
Comp Round A
35. Colorado Rockies – 2B Forrest Wall
36. Miami Marlins – C Blake Anderson
37. Houston Astros – OF Derek Fisher
38. Cleveland Indians – OF Mike Papi
39. Pittsburgh Pirates – OF Connor Joe
40. Kansas City Royals – C Chase Vallot
41. Milwaukee Brewers – SS Jacob Gatewood
Second Round
42. Houston Astros – 1B AJ Reed
43. Miami Marlins – SS Justin Twine
44. Chicago White Sox – RHP Spencer Adams
45. Chicago Cubs – RHP Jake Stinnett
46. Minnesota Twins – RHP Nick Burdi
47. Philadelphia Phillies – LHP Matt Imhof
48. Colorado Rockies – RHP Ryan Castellani
49. Blue Jays – RHP Sean Reid-Foley
50. Milwaukee Brewers – OF Monte Harrison
51. San Diego Padres – OF Michael Gettys
52. San Francisco Giants – C Aramis Garcia
53. Los Angeles Angels – RHP Joe Gatto
54. Arizona Diamondbacks – LHP Cody Reed
55. New York Yankees – LHP Jacob Lindgren
56. Kansas City Royals – RHP Scott Blewett
57. Washington Nationals – LHP Andrew Suarez
58. Cincinnati Reds – 3B Taylor Sparks
59. Texas Rangers – SS Ti’quan Forbes
60. Tampa Bay Rays – RHP Cameron Varga
61. Cleveland Indians – RHP Grant Hockin
62. Los Angeles Dodgers – OF Alex Verdugo
63. Detroit Tigers – RHP Spencer Turnbull
64. Pittsburgh Pirates – RHP Mitch Keller
65. Oakland Athletics – RHP Daniel Gossett
66. Atlanta Braves – RHP Garret Fullenchek
67. Boston Red Sox – 1B Sam Travis
68. St. Louis Cardinals – RHP Ronnie Williams
Comp Round B
69. Arizona Diamondbacks – OF Marcus Wilson
70. Arizona Diamondbacks – SS Isan Diaz
71. St. Louis Cardinals – RHP Andrew Morales
72. Tampa Bay Rays – RHP Brent Honeywell
73. Pittsburgh Pirates – RHP Trey Supak
74. Seattle Mariners – OF Gareth Morgan
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