Let's look back on this draft and see how the pitcher-dominant draft by the Guardians looks now:
Summary - Overall, some really good performances so far (Williams, Fox, Bibee) make this draft look great. In addition, there are lots of guys who are trending in the right direction but who the jury is still out on due to injury or uneven performance. Only a couple of guys appear to be flaming out which, for a 20 player draft a year later, is pretty good in my book.
1st round - Gavin Williams (23) - He has been better than expected, in my opinion. You can't ask for more out of the 23rd pick in a draft than Williams has given us. This is even more dramatic when you see it has been done at high A and AA. Projecting this out, without hiccups along the way he could be in Cleveland and productive by the all-star break next year. That would be unprecedented for the Guardians but appears possible.
2nd round - Doug Nikhazy (59) - He started off this season VERY bad but his last few performances have been outstanding. He may be hurt now and that may change my opinion but the pick looks solid right now. If he could make it to AA and show some effectiveness by the end of the season that would up the value of this selection.
Comp. Balance B - Tommy Mace (69) - Mace has had an up-and-down season. Pitching at Lake County for a whole season we should get an idea of what we have with him. We will see what the second half brings and if Mace can stay healthy.
3rd round - Jake Fox (95) - This pick has looked good as Fox was, by necessity, pushed to low A this year and has more than held his own as a hitter, building on his Complex League season in 2021 after he was drafted. As the first position player drafted by us last year (and only one of 2, total) this pick is definitely a win right now.
4th round - Ryan Webb (125) - If this pick got a grade right now it would be "Incomplete" as Webb had TJ surgery. All signs look good right now although we must consider that he is older than his competition at this point. Time will tell on this one but I and I am sure the Guardians, have high hopes because...
5th round - Tanner Bibee (156) - This pick has been a huge win with Bibee performing well AND getting his fastball up to 98 mph. The fact that these results were achieve mostly at Lake County and have translated to Akron (AA) is even more encouraging.
6th round - Aaron Davenport (186) - Davenport has been so-so this year. The good news is that he more than on K an inning and that he is pitching at high A. This pick is still in play, in my opinion, having the potential to be a 'win' down the road.
7th round - Jack Leftwich (216) - Leftwich started the year at Lynchburg where he was overaged for his competiton. The good news is that he recently got out of there and is pitching at Lake County where he is age approprite. So far so good for Leftwich as this pick, as well, is in play to eventually be a 'win'.
8th round - Rodney Boone (246) - Like Leftwich, Boone had good numbers at low A and has moved up to Lake County where he is holding his own.
9th round - Will Dion (276) - Dion is pitching at low A Lynchburg. He started off the season well and, while still pitching well overall, has tampered off a little bit. He is a little old for his level and he needs to move up to Lake County to see if his stuff, as a short LHP, plays against older competition. His fastball appears a little short, no pun intended, for success at upper levels and that may be why he hasn't been promoted.
10th round - Franco Aleman (306) - Alemen, based on his current season, looks like a miss. Even if he is, it is a 10th round pick.
11th round - Hunter Stanley (336) - Incomplete at this poijnt
12th round - Connor Kokx (366) - Kokx looks like an organizational guy at this point. Some flashes but following the Escobedo line. Not different than his projection at the time he was drafted.
13th round - Davis Sharpe (396) - Sharpe has been just that, performing well in relief at both low A and high A. Again this pick is looking like it might be a win.
14th round - Trenton Denholm (426) - He is still in Lynchburg and is getting hit around a bit. Right now, given his age and his mediocre performance, this pick does not look good, at least right now. Of course, anything you get out of a 14th round pick is a bonus. The point is that these guys should not be at Lynchburg unless they are working on stuff because, as college pitchers, you can't tell a thing and they can't develop effectively beating up on less experienced competition. All they do in those situations is make highlights that their family can paste in the scrapbook.
15th round - Alaska Abney (456) - Abney is at Lake County and is scuffling a bit. Still, he is at Lake County and striking out more than a guy an inning so there is hope there.
16th round - Zach Pettway (486) - He has not pitched much this season and is still in the ACL so this pick must, by definition, get an incomplete.
17th round - Tyler Thornton (516) - Thornton has scuffled at Lynchburg this year but has been much better lately. Too early to give up on him as he is a little underage for low A. Still up in the air on this one but some potential is there.
18th round - Tommy Ventimiglia (546) - This has been the biggest disaster of a pick so far as Ventimiglia is really bad on this ACL team. I mean Rick Vaughan bad. Time will tell if this is due to coming back from injury or if he just flames out at the lowest level of professional ball.
19th round - Reid Johnston (576) - Johnston is having success at Lynchburg but is overage compared to his competition. Like Dion, his real ability, as a 23 year old, will only be measurable once he gets to Lake County and Akron. As long as he stays at Lynchburg his performance will continue to be a mirage.
20th round - Jake Miller (606) - Miller looked OK at the outset as an overage pitcher at Lynchburg. He has not pitched in a while and an injury will set him back and make much harder for him to have an effective pro career. But, as a 20th round pick, any pro success is a victory. Right now, though, we will give this one an incomplete.
No comments:
Post a Comment