2024 Draft - Part 30 - Initial Thoughts About Day 2 of the 2024 Draft

1,  Regarding the HS school pitchers from today:

• If they can sign them all, great.  But it is a big risk.  They took this gamble last year with Mooney and I think they got screwed when it took a larger than expected bonus to sign him, meaning they didn't have the bonus pool excess to sign HS pitcher Heuer and Marohn.  
• Also, doesn't that mean we can't exactly gamble on day 3 as we likely won't have extra money and we likely would end up like we did in 2023 if we do.
• Has anyone considered that they don't have a very good record developing HS pitchers.
• How about the years that current Guardians players are signed through:
• Ramirez - 2028
• Clase - 2028
• Gimenez - 2029
• Bibee - 2028 (FA)
• Williams - 2029 (FA)
• Kwan - 2027 (FA)
• Josh Naylor - 2025 (FA)

****Likely time to the majors for these HS pitchers - Best case, 2028, likely case: 2029, 

We didn't exactly bring in talent in this draft, except for Bazzana, who will help in the competitive window of our biggest stars.

2. Regarding The Rest of the Day 2 picks

College pitchers: good thing

High effort college pitchers: Not a good thing

I heard a lot of utility infielder and 4th outfielder comps for some 4th and 5th round picks.  This tells me that I am not sorry that we drafted all pitchers on Day 2.

3. Day 3 excitement 

Not sure I have any.  I think all the fireworks were done on Day 1 and Day 2.   But the guys I would like to get on Day 3 are:

• Mason Koch - Creighton, RHRP -in transfer portal
• Micah McDowell - OF - OSU; senior sign.  Hit .400 hitting 2nd behind Bazzana this year
• Owen Boerema - RHP - Kansas State - senior sign - workhorse, pitched almost 100 innings this year.
• John Bay, OF - Austin Peay - Big HR threat but not showing much plate discipline to go with his HRs this summer at the Cape.
• Pierce Coppola - LHP - Florida - Had one great start in the College World Series but only worked 9 ip before that this year.
• Matt Willadsen - NC State RHP - Injured all year so may or may not want to sign.  Worth a pick if there is a chance, though.

These were all guys in my mock draft as late day 2 or day 3 guys.  I think we won't be drafting any HS pitchers if we are sure we are going to sign all the HS pitchers we have drafted already.  It wouldn't hurt to take a couple of flyers or college sophs in case something falls through.  Not sure about Koch now as he is a draft-eligible sophomore and I am not sure we have the money to sign him.  but if we could get some or all of these guys tomorrow I think it would be a very good day.  It will keep me checking the internet so I guess that qualifies as excitement.

 

Maybe we end the draft with our first JUCO D&F under the new rules.  Who knows.