MLB Draft - 3rd day results and analysis

OK, let's talk about what the Indians did in the 3rd day of the ML draft.  But before we do, let's put this in context.  From 2011-2014 h3re are the significant guys the Indians drafted AND signed after the 10th round.

2011: Cody Anderson, Ryan Merritt, Shawn Armstrong, Shawn Morimando
2012: Nellie Rodriguez, Louis Head
2013: Adam Plutko, Ben Heller, Jordan Milbrath

So you can see that while the Indians have found some gems in the later rounds they are usually pitchers and, except for maybe Plutko (and Anderson if he gets healthy) are not difference makers over the long haul.

So, back to today's selections.   I had said last night that you can expect college pitchers, up the middle college players and 2-3 HS flyers.   That appears to be what happened.

HS Flyers (1) - Korey Holland HS OFer (MLB #141 draft prospect picked at 433),  6 of the last 7 picks were HS players including Kaleb Hill (#205 BA),

Six of the last 7 players the Indians selected were high schoolers.  It is possible that if Hankins doesn't sign they will spread the money around to all their late-round HS draftees and to Duplantis.

Summary:

I don't see many surprises in the final 30 rounds.   The Indians historically draft a lot of college pitchers in this part of the draft and drafted a lot this year.  I truly believe that this is an all-your-eggs-in-one-basket draft with that 'basket' being Hankins.  Yeah, there are other guys who are quality prospects but I think they want Hankins really badly and constructed their draft to sign him AND to bring in college pitching depth into their system towards the development of relief pitchers including their closer of the future.  As I said after the first day, I think this draft and the 2017 draft signal that the Indians are, in the next year or two, going to start a massive rebuild.  Nothing I saw the second and third days changes that.   All the college pitchers drafted on those days are ticketed, eventually, for the bullpen.   If you believe that it means the development path of some of these guys might get a little long, meaning that they will likely start being effective about the time the rest of our prospects hit the majors in 2022-24.

To file something away for next year, if the Indians are truly contemplating a rebuild, look for them to select mostly college players near the top of the draft next year as their development path would put them in line with what our 2017 HS draftees are on.