2016 Mariners Draft Recap

The MLB draft happened over the last weekend. It spanned three days and 40 rounds. This tended to be among Jack Zduriencik's better days as M's GM probably because he came from a scouting background. He tended to grab widely acclaimed talent. It was his regime's inability to develop that talent that ultimately left much to be desired.

I was curious to see how different a Dipoto draft would look from a Zduriencik draft. Dipoto seemed to respect the job that Zduriencik's scouting department did, so much so that he kept Tom McNamara as the head of scouting. McNamara through his role essentially runs the draft so there was some reason to believe that the M's picks might not look all that different.

Ultimately, there is some evidence that the Dipoto Mariners take a bit different style of ballplayer. However, some players picked - especially early on - look a whole bunch like the players that the Mariners have picked in years past. Without further ado, pick-by-pick takes on the Mariners draft, complete with a grade of each pick:

1. Kyle Lewis, OF, Mercer - No-brainer pick, courtesy a few teams above the Mariners reaching for players less talented. Lewis is the first player ever drafted from Mercer in the first round of any pro sports draft (not just baseball), so to say he is a small school prospect is an understatement. However, Lewis annihilated Southern Conference pitching for two years, earning conference player of the year honors two years in a row. This year he also was selected as the NCAA baseball player of the year too. Furthermore, Lewis performed admirably the last two summers in the Cape Cod League, which features a high level of competition and wooden bats. Lewis's power in particular translated fine in the Cape, which is noteworthy. Lewis was athletic enough to play center field at Mercer but I think he ultimately will find a home in left or right field. His height and swing path both suggest some issues making contact in the future, but at 6'4" he never projected to hit for average. What Lewis brings is legitimately good power with the potential for good defense. His ability to work counts will determine just how good of a hitter he becomes. I doubt Lewis becomes a star, but it's easy to see how he could become an above average starter in the middle of a lineup. Grade: A
2. Joe Rizzo, 3B, Oaktown HS (VA) - Rizzo is a pretty interesting pick, and perhaps says something about the Dipoto regime's values. Rizzo has some things traditional scouts love, namely a beautiful swing and good arm. However, Rizzo is undersized and because of that lacks the kind of projection that scouts tend to love. He also is unlikely to play up the middle defensively, further hampering his upside. With all that said, maybe this pick doesn't say much about Dipoto. Rizzo's best-case comp might be none other than Kyle Seager, and the Mariners have a history of picking these types of fringy hitters under Tom McNamara. Brad Miller and Chris Taylor, though both shortstops, also like Kyle Seager were "reaches" without some of the prototypical tools (though as college prospects). Rizzo has a commitment to South Carolina, which has a reputation as a harder school to sign players away from. Still, Rizzo is unlikely to see his stock go much higher as a prospect. He needs to decide how much he wants a college experience over starting professional baseball. My guess is that he signs and could be a candidate to rise through the early levels of the minor leagues relatively quickly, never garnering much attention as a prospect but hitting too much to not get a shot. Grade: C
3. Bryson Brigman, SS, San Diego - Brigman sprayed the ball around as a hitter with limited power in college. With that said, Brigman generally played in parks that favored pitchers and in a few Cape Cod league at-bats his gap power showed up. Brigman will never hit for much power, but he very much fits the Chris Taylor/Drew Jackson mold, which seems to be one that McNamara favors and that the Mariners do pretty well with. Grade: C
4. Thomas Burrows, LHP, Alabama - Burrows closed for the Crimson Tide and figures to stay a reliever as a pro. He could progress quickly through the minors, especially given the M's lack of bullpen depth. I would say he is the odds-on favorite to be the first player from this draft class to appear in Safeco Field. Grade: A
5. Donnie Walton, SS, Oklahoma State - Walton is an undersized middle infielder that hit well enough at Oklahoma State. He is a senior so should have an easy time signing. Picking him seems at least partially tied to Joe Rizzo as it seems like Walton could sign for under slot value and give the M's some breathing room in negotiation with Rizzo. I think the Mariners could have found more upside with this pick and still saved money, though Walton has a chance to provide organizational depth up the middle. Grade: D
6. Brandon Miller, RHP, Millersville - Miller comes from a division II school, so small with a relatively low level of competition. However, Millersville was very good this past year and Miller was clearly the staff ace. He dominated, allowing just 63 hits in over 100 innings while striking out over a batter an inning. Moreover, he had a strong showing in the Cape Cod league, which features lots of the best Division I players in the country. Miller also looks the part of a pro pitcher, standing at 6'4" with a durable pitching frame. Nice pick at this stage in the draft. Grade: A
7. Matt Festa, RHP, East Stroudsburg - Festa is a redshirt senior from a small university so he seems like another player likely to sign and maybe for a discount. Festa anchored his pitching staff and blew away hitters all year, though against substandard competition at a relatively advanced age. He is also undersized. Grade: D
8. Nick Zammarelli, 3B, Elon - Zammarelli's best tool is power. However, it comes with plenty of strikeouts. He struck out in about a third of his at-bats in the Cape Cod League over the summer, which is alarming to say the least. However, he also clearly improved throughout his college career. Zammarelli could be fun to watch as a good test case over how well the Mariners teach players to "control the zone." He needs to refine his swing and approach to let his power show through in games. Grade: C
9. Jason Goldstein, C, Illinois - Goldstein is a senior backstop who started all four years at Illinois in the underrated Big Ten conference. He was productive though did not develop all that much in college. That suggests he might be what he's going to be. Goldstein might fly through the lower levels of the minors but I do not see enough of a bat to ever be a contributor in the majors. However, it does not take much of a bat to be a serviceable catcher, even as a backup. Grade: D
10. David Greer, 3B, Arizona State - The Mariners might have to go above slot to sign Greer, and also might have the resources to pull that off with some of the seniors taken in earlier rounds. Greer is a bit of a three true outcome type - lots of walks, lots of strikeouts, and developing power. He still has mostly gap power, but the number of extra base hits has gone up exponentially over his college career. Greer's holes combined with his significant development the past few years suggest a player who could blossom as a professional. Grade: B
11. Michael Koval, RHP, Cal Poly Pomona - Another small school pitcher, Koval was the ace for another great Division II team. Koval's ERA and hits allowed were sparkling but he struck out fewer batters than would be expected for a legitimate pro prospect from a small school. He reminds me a bit of Edwin Diaz and Steve Cishak with a bit of cross-fire, side-arm action in his delivery. I wonder if that means the Mariners will convert him into a reliever and see if his stuff plays up. A bit of a reach for my taste at this spot in the draft. Grade: D
12. Tim Viehoff, LHP, Southern New Hampshire - Viehoff is a senior from a small school but he absolutely crushed his competition. Flawless production, albeit the age and level of competition must be noted. However, this is a stage in the draft where a player with this kind of track record makes all the sense in the world. Also, Viehoff uncorked 10 wild pitched in just 14 starts, which actually might be a good thing. Pro catchers are much better at blocking pitches, and wild pitches tend to be partly caused by pitches the move around and are tough to handle. Grade: A
13. Reggie McClain, RHP, Missouri - Another senior, but this time from the vaunted SEC. He performed admirable, though did not dominate. McClain might have pitched to too much contact, actually, as he walked only 9 batters in 101 innings as a senior. He certainly knows how to control the zone, which at least means he will set a good example of the style the Mariners want to cultivate. He is rather old by prospect standards as he is already 23. Grade: B
14. Kyle Davis, RHP, USC - Yet another senior pitcher, Davis flew under the radar at USC. He worked his way into the starting rotation, though never did much to look all that good or bad. Interestingly he worked as a reliever in the Cape Cod league a few summers ago and also found his most success out of the Trojans bullpen as a sophomore. He was drafted last year by the Blue Jays but opted not to sign, and got drafted several rounds earlier this year. He could have a future as a reliever. Grade: B
15. Danny Garcia, LHP, Miami (FL) - Some scout in the M's organization must see something they can do to fix Garcia. He took a noticeable step backwards this year after looking like he was on track to become a relatively high draft pick. He became more hittable this year with both a reduced strikeout rate and elevated home run rate. With that said, sometimes if a pitcher gains velocity they will give up more home runs and lose command. I don't know exactly what happened with Garcia, but it is the kind of trend that suppresses value yet there could also be plausible reasons to see the problems as a step back before a few steps forward. Grade: D
16. Lyle Lin, C, Junipero Serra HS (CA) - The school buries the story here. Lin is the first Taiwanese player every drafted. For those of you saying "wait, I remember Chien-Ming Wang and he's from Taiwan!" you are correct. He signed as a free agent though. I don't have much on Lin, though looking at his YouTube highlights he appears to have simple stroke that seems rather mechanical for better and worse. It's at least fun to make history. Grade: C
17. Dimas Ojeda, LF, McClennan CC - Ojeda is listed as a first baseman so left field is presumably a projected position switch the Mariners will try. Moreover, Ojeda's statline suggests more gap power which is not ideal for first base offense, and his build suggest a lithe body capable of covering some ground. Lots of players have gaudy offensive statlines at McClennan; frankly, Ojeda does not stand out among his teammates. Maybe the roster is loaded with future professionals. It would have to be for this pick to make sense. Grade: F
18. Robert Dugger, RHP, Texas Tech - Dugger notched just one year at the D-I level and it was out of the bullpen. So, very small sample size to work with statistically, but what he did was solid. Not the worst value at this point. Grade: C
19. DeAires Moses, CF, Volunteer State (TN) - Moses is listed at just 5'9" and 170 pounds. He also did not hit a home run this past season. He has some gap power and I am guessing projects as an above average defender in center field to get drafted this high. Grade: D
20. Eric Filia, RF, UCLA - Filia is a 5th year senior, so older at 23 years old. He also missed the past two seasons before playing a full slate of games in 2016. Filia got drafted because he has an incredible eye. He somehow walked 41 times despite limited contact and power ability. He controls the zone and is more likely to set a good example of the M's philosophy than make a dent in the majors. Still, he seems like a helpful player to have in the organization. Grade: B
21. Austin Grebeck, CF, Oregon - Grebeck is a pest, plain and simple. He has limited contact and virtually no power, yet still walks a fair amount. He plays a bit like his father, Craig Grebeck, a scrappy outfielder who played for handful of teams around the turn of the millenium. I don't know if Dipoto is good friends with Craig Grebeck, but they probably ran into each other during their MLB careers. This could be partly a pick for him and partly another "Control the Zone" exemplar for other prospects to watch. Grade: C
22. Jansiel Rivera, CF, Methuen HS (MA) - I can't find much on Rivera the player, but he has to have one of the most intriguing stories in the draft. Apparently Rivera moved to the Dominican Republic to play there for a few years before moving back to the states on May 6. He told his high school coach he would get drafted when he moved back, though the coach had no idea what to make of such a bold statement after a few years away. So, the Mariners likely gave Rivera some sort of guarantee and almost certainly ran into him while scouting in the Dominican. He seems like a true sleeper prospect they stumbled upon to some degree. The story alone makes him worth the pick at this point. Grade: B
23. Jack Anderson, RHP, Penn State - A reliever his whole career in college with some success one summer in the Cape Cod league. Also a senior so easy to sign. Good pick at this stage in the draft. Grade: B
24. Trey Griffey, CF, Arizona - I don't know when the Mariners stopped thinking they were drafting real prospects, but they most certainly thought they were through at this point. Trey is Ken Griffey Jr.'s son, and he is a wide receiver for the Wildcats football team. He hasn't played an inning of baseball at Arizona. What a coincidence that he was listed as a center fielder and drafted in round 24...quite the coincidence indeed. The Year of Griffey Worship continues. Grade: A
25. Ryan Fucci, CF, Wright State - Fucci is strikeout prone, and probably too strikeout prone to make it far as a professional. However, he also has some speed and gap power. He will sign since he is a senior. Grade: B
26. Elliot Surrey, LHP, UC Irvine - The Mariners loaded up on college seniors, perhaps suggesting that Jerry Dipoto prefers some experience even in the lowest levels of the minors. Surrey had a solid career at UC Irvine and now gets a chance to pitch as far as he can go in the pros. Grade: A
27. Paul Covelle, RHP, Franklin Pierce - Yet another senior, Covelle had a strong senior season and garnered some attention from the Cape Cod summer league. Worth taking a chance on at this stage. Grade: B
28. Nathan Bannister, RHP, Arizona - The senior right-hander was a steady performer throughout his college career and even held his own in the Cape Cod league in 2014. He probably won't miss enough bats to make it to the majors but he is more than worth taking a chance on at this stage in the draft. Grade: A
29. Steven Ridlings, RHP, Messiah - It's always a good sign when Google tries to autocorrect your spelling to the person they think you meant, but of course Google was wrong! Ridlings is very much a small school prospect, but he was a highly productive senior that improved over time. It was fun tracking down some info on him and finding a hidden gem of a season. Grade: A
30. Tyler Duncan, CF, Edward Milne SS (BC) - Duncan is a Canadian prep star whom has at least one friend that really believes in him, judging from the yelling in the background of the camera phone video I could find to "scout" him. Duncan sets up wide in his batting stance and has rather quiet mechanics. His slight uppercut produces loft and from the looks of it some power potential, though his approach might leave him susceptible to high velocity, particularly up in the strike zone. In the end, this is probably a pick that's a favor to some area scout in the M's draft room that wasn't getting much action. Grade: C
31. Lincoln Henzman, RHP, Louisville - Henzman is the rare draft-eligible sophomore and he might have slipped through the cracks. He struggled somewhat out of the Louisville bullpen this season, at least by traditional metrics. However, his strikeout rate and relatively weak contact against him suggest he might have been the victim of bad luck. The Mariners have a bit of a steal if they can get him to sign but if I were him I would return to school and take my chances at improving my draft stock. Grade: C
32. Kenyan Yovan, RHP, Westview HS (OR) - Yovan is committed to the University of Oregon and would likely take a signing bonus to get in the fold. I doubt he signs, but maybe he grew up loving the Mariners and that changes his mind. Grade: C
33. Morgan McCullough, SS, West Seattle HS (WA) - Local kid, and maybe he signs if he really wants a taste of pro baseball. McCullough is undersized but his raw skills suggest a capable defender up the middle with a bat that might generate some gap power. McCullough is also a University of Oregon recruit but I can't find as firm of information on how likely he is to stick with that commitment. My gut says he has a better chance to sing than Yovan, for whatever that is worth. Grade: B
34. David Ellingson, RHP, Georgetown - Solid reliever with a year of eligibility left. No real reason for him to sign this year. Grade: D
35. Will Ethridge, RHP, Parkview HS (GA) - Ethridge comes from one of the better prep baseball programs in the nation at the moment and is committed to Mississippi. There is no reason to expect that he will sign. In fact, he has already stated he will go to Ole Miss since being drafted. He is all about his projectable frame at the moment. Grade: D
36. Joe Venturino, 2B, Rampano College - Rampano is a DIII school, and I suppose the draft would have been incomplete without such a small school popping up somewhere. The Mariners definitely did not shy away from small schools in this draft. Venturino has virtually no power but good plate discipline and speed. He controls the zone, and as a DIII alumnus myself I enjoy seeing players at this level selected. Grade: A
37. Eli Wilson, C, Garfield HS (WA) - Eli is Dan Wilson's son, and if he can block pitches anything like Dan then he has a future in baseball. Eli is definitely to some degree a legacy pick, but unlike Trey Griffey much earlier, Eli actually plays baseball. Moreover, he signed a letter of intent with Minnesota in March which is conveniently where his father played baseball in college. Nice sentimental pick here, and this might not be the last we hear about Eli in baseball as well. Grade: A
38. James Reilly, RHP, Albertus Magnus HS - I can't find anything on Reilly. Some scout saw him and liked him. He is the rare pitcher that bats left-handed but throws right-handed, which might suggest some substantial batting in his background. Grade: D
39. Camryn Williams, SS, Gaither HS (FL) - Williams enjoyed a solid senior season. I don't know where he is committed to playing but I doubt he signs. Grade: C
40. Adley Rutschman, C, Sherwood HS (OR) - Rutschman is committed to Oregon State and the overwhelming odds are that he sticks to that. Still, nice shout out to a relatively local kid. It is interesting that the Mariners listed him as a catcher but he might pitch for the Beavers. Grade: B

Overall draft trends:

• Weighted* GPA of draft grades: 3.06 (B)
• Players by education level: 11 high school, 2 community/junior college, 12 college underclassmen, 15 college seniors
• 19 pitchers drafted, 21 position players
• 15 right-handed pitchers, 4 left-handed pitchers
• Positions drafted, most to least: 6 CF, 4 C, 4 SS, 3 3B, 1 2B, 1 LF, 1 RF, 1 OF

*Weighted so that earlier picks are more valuable. This is done by taking the reciprocal of the overall pick and then averaging the sums. So, pick 60 is worth 1/60, while pick 70 is 1/70. So pick 70 is weighted less than pick 60, but differences become smaller and smaller as the draft wears on.

Overall draft thoughts:

I like this draft class quite a bit more than last year's, which using the same methodology ended up with a cumulative 2.29 GPA. However, I should note that I did not like Andrew Moore much and absolutely hated Drew Jackson. Both of them have turned out to be much better than I thought. Time will tell how good the class of 2016 turns out to be.

A couple trends say something about the Mariners as an organization though. They clearly showed an agenda with the positions they had draft picks announced as. I doubt it is a mistake that the Mariners had more players listed as catchers, shortstops, and centerfielders than anywhere else on the diamond, especially given that the only position they drafted nobody at was first base. It is pretty obvious that Jerry Dipoto's philosophy is to allow players to start their careers at the most premium defensive position possible and play it as long as possible.

Furthermore, given this stance, it seems telling that Joe Rizzo was announced as a third baseman. If the Mariners saw any potential for him to stick at shortstop they probably would have announced him as playing that position (he played it a fair amount in high school). Additionally, Kyle Lewis is the only prospect the Mariners listed simply as "outfielder" without a specification of which outfield position. I did not think much of this distinction on day one, but after seeing the rest of the draft unfold that seems like a pretty solid hint that the Mariners are honestly uncertain if Lewis can play center field as he has in college.

Dipoto and co. skewed rather old this year too with a large percentage of college players and college seniors in particular. This largely happened in the middle to later rounds and that probably is not a fluke. We have already seen that Dipoto likes minor league teams with a mix of polished talent around prospects. It's why the M's farm teams are winning much more across the board than in recent history.

The Trey Griffey pick, though symbolic, was also insightful. It came surprisingly early for symbolic pick, which suggests to me that most of the back half of the draft was spent looking for minor league depth that fits the organization. Hitters picked late tended to walk a ton in college, and pitchers tended to throw lots of strikes. In other words, players who control the zone.

It's easy to imagine Everett featuring a pretty strong team looking at this draft class, which could be fun. I also wonder if this college-heavy approach was partially a response to the raw, young players Jack Zduriencik picked near the end of his tenure - in particular players we haven't seen yet this year, like Nick Neidert and Gareth Morgan. It's interesting to wonder if many of the college seniors taken by the Mariners are viewed as peer mentors for the organization's core prospects. There is some evidence to suggest just that. Reggie McClain and Eric Filia will both turn 24 this year and they both posted absurd walk rates in college. They will model exactly what it means to control the zone.

Ultimately, I think this class produces three MLB players: Kyle Lewis, Thomas Burrows, and then one of Joe Rizzo, Bryson Bringham, and Brandon Miller. Some dark horses to become prospects are David Greer, Tim Viehoff, and Jansiel Rivera. I would add any of the prep players in the last 10 rounds that sign to the list as well.

This isn't a sexy class on paper, but it has the look of a solid one. The real test remains if the Mariners can develop their own talent. They have struggled with that in the past; hopefully this draft class one way or another helps them figure out how to help their own prospects blossom.

2015 Mariners Draft Recap

By now you regular readers of the Musings have probably figured out that I scaled back my draft coverage this year. It's simple an awful time of year with my work to put together something so extensive. The draft started on my first day of summer break - which means the prep would have had to entirely been finalized during my most intense time of the year as a math teacher. So it didn't happen.

Recaps don't hit the same problems though, so here we go! The Mariners draft so far, complete with grades. I will update periodically as picks come in:

2 (60) - Nick Neidert, RHP, Peachtree Ridge HS (GA) - This is a solid pick. Neidert has a good fastball, a surprisingly good change-up, and a clean delivery that bodes as well as anything for future health and command. Neidert likely slid a bit on draft boards because he lacks prototypical size (at "only" 6'1") and some tendonitis near the end of the year sidelined him and hampered his productivity. Neither of these issues are huge concerns over the course of whatever career Neidert will have. Plus the Mariners have a bit of a track record developing prep arms under Zduriencik. Taijuan Walker and Brandon Maurer come to mind. Grade: B

B (72) - Andrew Moore, RHP, Oregon State - Moore is an undersized college righty with fringy stuff. His fastball is MLB average at best. His change-up might be slightly better. His breaking ball is something he can get over for strikes, but that's about it. With that said, Moore was a three-year starter at Oregon State, a perennial powerhouse in college baseball at this point. Moreover, Moore improved significantly each year. His profile reminds me some of Andrew Carraway, a prolifically productive pitcher in the ACC before getting drafted by the Mariners. Carraway topped out in AAA. Obviously the Mariners think Moore is a bit more by drafting him this early. He should progress to the upper levels of the minors rather quickly, and then we will find out just what kind of prospect he is. Grade: C-

3 (94) - Braden Bishop, CF, Washington - Scouts agree that Bishop can defend center field, and defend it very well. That's huge for the Mariners, who have very few prospects in the system that might become viable MLB center fielders. The question is how much Bishop will hit. The most encouraging thing I notice is his walk rate steadily improving, which suggests better and better plate discipline. Bishop's power also spiked this season, but the NCAA changed bat rules this year so power was up across the board. Bishop profiles as a slap hitter with marginal gap power, and since that's what he is he would do well to cut down on his strikeouts. Bishop's skillset is reminiscent of James Jones. Grade: C

4 (125) - Dylan Thompson, RHP, Socastee HS (SC) - Thompson pairs nicely with Neidert as far as this draft class goes. Thompson lacks the pure power of Neidert, but also possesses clean mechanics with a body that promises to fill out and add some velocity in future years. Thompson has an advanced feel for his offspeed pitches, most notably a change-up. It is interesting that the Mariners nabbed two prep arms with advanced change-ups, given that finding one with a change-up is rare enough. I would have liked him at pick 72 (where Moore went), so I love him here. Grade: A

5 (155) - Drew Jackson, SS, Stanford - The Mariners have done well picking college infielders under Jack Zduriencik, especially ones that flew under the radar a bit. Brad Miller, Chris Taylor, and Kyle Seager all fit this mold. Unfortunately, Jackson won't be joining this list. I am highly skeptical of his  hitting. Jackson has no power, and except for this year's Stanford campaign, never hit for average either. Personally I think his hitting was inflated by an unsustainable BABIP rate. Major reach here. Grade: F

6 (185) - Kyle Wilcox, RHP, Bryant - The Mariners are digging pretty deep with this pick. Wilcox had an overall pedestrian career at Bryant, which plays ball in one of the weakest division I conferences in the nation. However, underneath the overall mediocre numbers are a couple interesting trends. Wilcox always had rather high walk rates but balanced that with low hit rates. He seems to be a bit wild, but to also possess some good stuff. This is further reinforced by his Cape Cod league numbers, where both his walks and strikeouts skyrocketed. Wilcox needs to improve his command drastically and perhaps a move to the bullpen would suit him well. Grade: D-

7 (215) - Ryan Uhl, 1B, Indiana (PA) - Uhl is a 6'6", 230 lb hulk of a first baseman that hit very much like a hulk his senior season. He slugged 29 home runs in only 142 at-bats, which is INSANE even at a small college like Indiana University Pennsylvania. Interestingly Uhl had only hit 13 home runs in his previous three seasons combined, so Uhl could be a one-year wonder. This draft did not have much in terms of power prospects, and the Mariners are thin at first base, so Uhl is a guy worth taking a flyer on. Grade: B

8 (245) - Cody Mobley, RHP, Mt. Vernon HS (IN) - I can't find a ton on Mobley yet, but I like what I've found. He is listed at 6'3" and 185 pounds, which suggests some room to grow. He also has played some shortstop in his prep career, which suggests some good athleticism. Scouting reports suggest velocity in the upper 80s and he also combines that with an above average breaking ball. He has a commitment to Evansville which was firm enough that it was assumed he would go to school unless drafted in the first ten rounds. Although the M's have gone college-heavy so far, the three prep arms they've picked so far will define how successful this draft class is. Grade: A

9 (275) - Conner Hale, 3B, LSU - Hale lacks power, but he amassed a track record of hitting, particularly in his junior and senior seasons. Hale hit in the vaunted SEC and also the prestigious Cape Cod League this past summer. Hale strikes out more than would be ideal, particularly with his questionable power, but this is round 9. Overall, there are lots of tools to like at this stage in the draft. His real path to the majors will be adding defensive versatility and learning to pinch hit well. Grade: A

10 (305) - Darin Gillies, RHP, Arizona State - Gillies pitched out of relief for the most part with a few spot starts his senior year. He broke out a bit as a senior as his rate states (Ks, walks, hits) improved quite a bit across the board. Gillies also possesses good size at 6'4". He is probably organizational relief depth, but you never know. Grade: B

11 (335) - Dylan Silva, LHP, Florida State - Silva is a reliever that has always lacked control, but the control has improved. It still needs to improve quite a bit more. However, Silva also strikes out a ton of batters. This is a solid spot in the draft to take a chance on a relief prospect. Grade: B

12 (365) - Logan Taylor, 3B, Texas A&M - Taylor is a solid hitter and has flashed solid hitting across several seasons, including the prestigious Cape Cod League. He doesn't have an obvious strength or weakness. His profile reminds me some of what Stefen Romero looked like coming out of Oregon State. Another solid pick at this stage in the draft. Grade: B

13 (395) - Matt Clancy, LHP, St. John's - Clancy is another southpaw reliever. He has produced in every season (and league) he played in. Interestingly, his strikeout rate spiked in summer league play, which tends to mimic pro ball more than college baseball because of the use of wooden bats. Lefty relievers never make top prospect lists, but they have value. Grade: B

14 (425) - Jio Orozco, RHP, Salpointe Catholic HS (AZ) - The consensus is that Orozco is better than this draft slot suggests, which means he likely slid due to signability issues. The fact that the M's picked him here suggests that they think they have a chance to sign him because this is a little early to take totally long shots to sign. Orozco, like other prep arms the M's drafted this year, has an advanced change-up for his age. It's hard to argue at this point that wasn't a point of emphasis in the organization, which is interesting. Do they think they can coax one of these prep arms to learn Felix's deathly change-up? I like this pick as far as talent goes, but I worry about the odds of Orozco signing unless the Mariners can't get one of their other prep arms signed. Grade: C

15 (455) - Ryne Inman, RHP, Parkersville HS (GA) - Really hard to find stuff on Ryne specifically, though his baseball team is legendary in Georgia. Inman is tall at 6'5" and appears to throw in the mid to upper 80s. The Mariners likely see the potential for more velocity with strength and maybe even some mechanical adjustments. Seems like a bit of a reach, particularly when considering possible signability issues of high-schoolers picked in this range. Grade: C-

16 (485) - Ricky Eusebio, OF, Miami (FL) - Some scout dug real deep for Eusebio. He was a backup his whole career at Miami, which means he got some playing time, but rather little. However, this past season he seemed to take a major step forward that might be legitimate and not just small sample size luck. Eusebio could return to Miami for his senior season and that would seem to be wise if he has a path to a starting job and is a bona fide pro prospect. So, I wonder about Eusebio's signability, but there is little doubt somebody really likes him within the Mariners organization. This was quite a dig. Grade: D

17 (515) - Joe Pistorese, LHP, Washington State - Local picks are always nice, and Pistorese flew a bit under the radar thanks to an injury this season. He's a senior, so he will sign. Pistorese also lacks strikeouts, so he looks like organizational depth. But, at least he is local organizational depth and a lefty. This still seems a bit early to take a player like this. Grade: D

18 (545) - Anthony Misiewicz, LHP, Michigan State - Misiewicz has largely been a good lefty reliever during his time in college. He also can return to Michigan State for his senior year, though I wonder how much that would improve his draft stock. He just might sign, and if he does, this is a nice pick. Grade: C

19 (575) - P.J. Jones, C, Washington State - Another local pick, and a senior to boot! Catching depth is always needed, and Jones provides that. He doesn't hit for much average or power, and his sleight 5'9" frame doesn't promise much future power. However, Jones guns down baserunners at a good rate, so he brings some defensive value. Grade: C+

20 (605) - Parker McFadden, RHP, Yelm HS (WA) - The Mariners are raiding the Cougars! McFadden is a WSU commit. McFadden is short but throws very hard, as high as 97mph according to some readings. He will have an interesting decision to make, especially if he has always dreamed of playing for the Mariners. Is McFadden true to the blue? Grade: B

21 (635) - Rob Fonseca, 1B, Northeastern - Fonseca hit for his entire college career, which included a successful stint in the Cape Cod League this past summer. As a college senior he will sign too. Terrific pick at this point in the draft. Grade: A

22 (665) - Joey Strain, RHP, Winthrop - Strain is a tad short and a tad light to have an ideal pitching body, which probably helps to explain why he has been overlooked. Moreover, he has been hit pretty hard in relief roles, though combines that with high strikeout and low walk rates. Strain might be the rare pitcher who is a little too aggressive in the strike zone. He also had a successful year working out of the bullpen in the Cape Cod League this past summer, which further makes me wonder if he will fare better against the wood bats he'll face in pro ball. Grade: B

23 (695) - Art Warren, RHP, Ashland - Fun fact: Warren is the first player drafted from Ashland (it's in Ohio) since 1989! Ashland is a small school even by small school standards. Warren transferred from Cincinnati though. He was relative effective in Ashland's rotation, though he had a ton of walks. He also walked a bunch of batters at Cincinnati. This looks like a huge reach. Grade: F

24 (725) - Lance Thonvold, RHP, Minnesota - Never broke through with the Golden Gophers thanks to significant control problems. He was wildly effective in the Cape Cod League though, which might be worth a little something. Thonvold is a college senior so he should be an easy player to sign. I suppose he has that going for him too. Grade: C

25 (755) - Joseph Peeler, RHP, East Rowan HS (NC) - Tall, lanky prep arm with ability that goes beyond this pick. He already throws in the low 90s with a feel for some breaking pitches. He has signed with UNC-Wilmington. I would assume he goes to school, but a glance at his Twitter feed does show just how exciting and huge getting drafted is. Grade: C

26 (785) - Ljay Newsome, RHP, Chopticon HS (MD) - Newsome is another prep arm, but at least as of late May had not decided where he was going to college. Perhaps he is not going at all at this point. He also had a performance for the ages in the 3A state championship baseball game, so he's a gamer for whatever that is worth. Newsome just might sign, and he just might be good. Intriguing pick. Grade: A

27 (815) - Michael Rivera, RHP, Colegio Hector Urdaneta (PR) - Rivera's video reminded me some of Erasmo Ramirez. Rivera is similarly stiff and upright in his upper body with a short arm motion, though he is a fair amount taller than Ramirez. Rivera also broke off a couple breaking balls with some depth, suggesting a feel for spinning the baseball. It's hard to imagine his body filling out much more, but he might add some velocity with refined mechanics. Grade: B

28 (845) - Taylor Perez, SS, Saint Leo - Another small school selection, Perez at first glance looks like he can hit a little bit. However, all his hitting stats are below the team cumulative averages, so I doubt he hits much as a professional. Perez is also a junior so he could return to school too. He is probably a great defender to get drafted this early, but all things considered this seems like an unnecessary reach. Grade: F

29 (875) - Jared West, LHP, LSU-Shreveport - While LSU-Shreveport is an NAIA school (even below D-III), West transferred from the University of Houston. He was also a fairly productive starter for Houston, and was just as productive at LSU-Shreveport. You would think a 6'6" lefty able to get outs in D-I would dominate in NAIA, but West did not. Still, a tall lefty with success is worth a flyer at this point in the draft. Grade: C+

30 (905) - Augustus Craig, RF, Columbia - Any Ivy League player named Augustus! How can't you love this pick? He appears to go by Gus, which is still pretty cool. Craig is a senior and has hit well both the last few years. He is also a senior, and even hails from Oregon, so is rather local. Grade: A

31 (935) - Logan James, LHP, Stanford - James is an undersized lefty reliever with bad control that could go back for his senior year at Stanford. Logan, if you are reading this, stay at Stanford. It's an amazing school. That degree is worth waiting a year to start your pro career. James isn't much of a prospect. Grade: F

32 (965) - Colin Tornberg, RHP, UT-Arlington - I have no idea what the M's see in Tornberg, partly because there is little info available on Tornberg. However, what is available on the internet paints a picture of significant room for improvement. He is a senior though so he should sign. Grade: D

33 (995) - Julius Gaines, SS, Florida International - Gaines can't hit, but middle infield depth is necessary in any minor league system. Gaines is a senior so he will sign. Grade: B

34 (1025) - Kyle Ostrowski, LHP, Lincoln Way North HS (IL) - Ostrowski has a letter of intent to go to Purdue, and it is generally a safe bet that prep players picked this late decide to go to college. If Ostrowski signs, he'll bring a nice pitching frame with clean mechanics that promises to gain velocity. He is a nice pick if he signs. Grade: D

35 (1055) - Gianni Zayas, RHP, Florida International - Junior righty with obvious control issues. He might not sign, and doesn't look like much without significant improvement if he does sign. Grade: F

36 (1085) - Matt Walker, RHP, Weatherford College (TX) - Walker is a bit of a project, but worth a chance this late. He stands plenty tall at 6'6", and struck out lots of batters, but also walked more than you would like to see. However, tall limbs are hard to wrangle and use to command a baseball. Perhaps Walker can improve and become a bullpen piece. A longshot for sure, but at least you can imagine a path to the majors with this pick. Grade: B

37 (1115) - Colton Sakamoto, CF, Westview HS (OR) - Sakamoto commited to the University of Oregon before his senior season even started. That, plus this late of a pick, suggests that Sakamoto won't sign. He played football in high school too, so he's a good athlete. The Mariners could use some centerfielders in their system too. Sakamoto probably won't be one of them, but at least the M's tried to address a need here. Grade: C

38 (1145) - Dalton Kelly, 1B, UCSB - Kelly likely got drafted thanks to a very strong showing in a summer league, though he carried his success into the college season too. He broke out to a degree, but is still just a junior and might be wise to stay in school and try to get drafted higher next year. Not the worst pick talent-wise, but I don't see a big reason that he would sign. Grade: D

39 (1175) - Dante Ricciardi, SS, Worcester Academy (MA) - Ricciardi is a rare left-handed hitting shortstop (but throws right, because literally every shortstop throws right-handed). His head moves a bit too much for my taste in the batters box, but his swing is level and stays in the strike zone a long time. He has a commitment to Georgetown, which isn't particularly noted for its baseball program, so perhaps he chooses to sign if he really wants a career in pro ball. Grade: D-

40 (1205) - Mike Rojas Jr., C, Gulf Coast HS (FL) - Rojas comes from a baseball family, as his grandpa is former MLB All-Star Cookie Rojas, and his father (Mike Rojas Sr.) has coached in the majors. Rojas, according to his family, has all the tools to make the majors. However, his .153 average in high school is quite the counterpoint to said confidence. His commitment is to Chipola junior college, a juco baseball powerhouse, because he wants to be a pro. He might jump at this opportunity now, because the advantage of the juco route is that it is not subject to the NCAA agreement where players do not become draft eligible until they are juniors. Grade: D

Weighted* Draft GPA: 2.29 (C+)
*Weighted so that earlier picks are more valuable. This is done by taking the reciprocal of the overall pick and then averaging the sums. So, pick 60 is worth 1/60, while pick 70 is 1/70. So pick 70 is weighted less than pick 60, but differences become smaller and smaller as the draft wears on.

Final Comments: The Mariners just drafted a draft class. It's fairly pedestrian, all things considered. Maybe slightly disappointing in my book, but neither a disaster nor all that great at first glance.

The early prep arms picked - Nick Neidert, Dylan Thompson, and Cody Mobley - will ultimately decide the fate of this class. They have the most upside and will likely eat up most of the bonus money the Mariners have available. This will be a successful draft if one of those three becomes an MLB starter. If two of them become MLB contributors this will be an especially good draft.

It might be fair to criticize the dearth of position players in the M's draft class, especially the lack of power, but power prospects were few and far between in this draft. I would much rather that the Mariners stay true to where they saw talent on the draft board. They dug for a few guys who flashed power in obscure places among the college ranks, and that's satisfying enough for me in this draft class.

2014 Draft: Mariners Recap

The MLB Draft wrapped up today, meaning all 40 of the Mariners draft picks are in. Time to take a glance at all of them with the always entertaining and fleetingly insightful pick-by-pick grades!

1. Alex Jackson, RF, Rancho Bernardo HS (CA) - Great fit for the organization and great value, even at sixth overall. Jackson was in the discussion for best bat in the whole draft class, and he's certainly the most compelling right-handed bat, and the M's could really use some right-handed juice to balance out the lineup. Jackson could stick at catcher but the Mariners are smartly moving him off the position to let his back carry him as far and fast as it can. Grade: A
2. (Actually competitive balance round B) Gareth Morgan, OF, Blyth Acadamy (ON) - Morgan was, without question, the top Canadian prospect in this year's draft class. Like Alex Jackson he packs a ton of power in his right-handed bat, though he is more raw with more contact issues. Still, pick 74 was the right range for him and he fits an organizational need. Neither he nor Jackson are surefire things, so I particularly like that the Mariners got both of them. The odds of multiple prospects flaming out are lower than just one. Grade: A
3. Austin Cousino, CF, Kentucky - Cousino has a concerning strikeout rate, but mixes gap power with good speed and tremendous defense at a premium defensive position. Looks like a fourth outfielder at best to me. I don't mind his skillset, but this is a little early to take him. Grade: D
4. Ryan Yarbrough, LHP, Old Dominion - Yarbrough, a senior, has great size at 6'6" but not much production. Uninspiring selection, though it's worth noting that it seems the Mariners on day 2 reached over and over - possibly to save some money to make sure they get both Jackson and Morgan signed. Worth keeping in mind, though this is still very early for a guy like Yarbrough to go. Like Cousino, I have no problem with Yarbrough getting drafted, but this is way too early for what he brings to the table as a prospect. Grade: F
5. Dan Altavilla, RHP, Mercyhurst College (PA) - Altavilla completely dominated at Mercyhurst and also got a few innings in the Cape Cod league last summer. He walked too many batters there but held his own. Not a bad guy to take a chance on; I'm intrigued to see what he does. Grade: B
6. Lane Ratliff, LHP Jones County JC (MS) - Ratliff struck out a bunch of batters in the junior college ranks but also gave up a bunch of home runs. Like several of the M's day 2 guys, I like that he got drafted, but I don't think he needed to be drafted this high. Still, that K rate is really nice and sometimes home runs are fluky. I'll trust the M's on this one. Grade: C
7. Taylor Byrd, LHP, Nicholls State - Quietly productive lefty that cut down his walk rate dramatically from his junior to senior season without a drop in his strikeouts or uptick in hits allowed. Nice pickup at this point in the draft. Grade: B
8. Kody Kerski, RHP, Sacred Heart - Diminutive righty that looks like he has tapped out all his potential. Not much growth in his stats from junior to senior season. Perhaps he looks better in a bullpen role? He was productive as a starter. Grade: D
9. Peter Miller, RHP, Florida State - It's hard to make sense of Miller's stats. They are all over the place. His playing time cut down as a senior, which suggests other FSU pitchers surpassed him. FSU is one of the premier baseball programs in the nation though. Still, Miller was a 16th round draft pick last year and took some steps back this year. No need for him to get drafted this high. Grade: F
10. Adam Martin, C, Western Carolina - Another senior college player drafted by the Mariners, Martin packs a punch with his bat, though it comes with lots of strikeouts. He also plays a premium defensive position, which is a plus. Nice pick. Grade: B
11. Jay Muhammad, RHP, Coral Springs Christian Academy (FL) - I don't have much to go off of or say with Muhammad. The video linked to shows a body that's easy to dream about growing and increasing velocity with it. He already throws 86mph or so, with a few 90mph readings thrown in. Maybe the Mariners know he'll sign even though this is a bit late for some prep players. Grade: C
12. Nelson Ward, SS, Georgia - The junior shortstop really improved his plate discipline and hit for a little more gap power. I like the progress, especially if he can stick at shortstop. His growth in college is impressive. Grade: A
13. Marvin Gorgas, RHP, East Hampton HS (CT) - Gorgas is small but packs a punch, consistently hitting the low 90s with his fastball. He extends well. No doubt he would have been a higher pick if he was taller. I'm impressed someone with his stuff was still available here. Grade: A
14. Chris Mariscal, SS, Fresno State - He better field because he doesn't look like much of a hitter. Grade: F
15. Lukas Schiraldi, RHP, Texas - Most interesting thing to me is that Schiraldi is listed at 6'4" on his Baseball Cube page, but 6'6" on the MLB draft tracker. He's tall either way, but a surprise growth spurt might explain his lack of control and strikeouts this year. I hope it does, because otherwise I can't find a redeeming quality in this pick. Grade: D
16. Wayne Taylor, C, Stanford - Dude can't hit and he's getting a Stanford education. Wayne, if you read this blog, stay for your senior year and get your degree. You'll get drafted again next year. Grade: F
17. Trey Cochran-Gill, RHP, Auburn - He's a short right-hander that doesn't strike anyone out in relief. Oh, and Trey is a junior, so he can go back to school and see if he improves his stock. Huge fan of this pick. Grade: F
18. Nick Kiel, LHP, Bellevue CC (WA) - I'll never argue with a local pick on day 3. Never. Plus, though Kiel is undersized, he was a lights-out ace! Grade: A
19. Rohn Pierce, RHP, Canisius - Doesn't strike anyone out, but also doesn't walk anyone or give up hits. A junior and a candidate to go back to school and see what happens next year. Grade: D
20. Hawtin Buchanan, RHP, Mississippi - Love the name, and considering he's from Biloxi, Mississippi I can hear in my head the heavy southern drawl I desperately hope he has. Hawtin has pitched very little for the Rebels, but when he has he's been ineffectively wild - with strikeout though! And he's 6'8". And his name is Hawtin. I just can't hate on this pick, all things considered. Grade: C
21. Jay Baum, SS, Clemson - Sneaky good pick if he signs, given that he's a junior. Baum's double rate exploded this year and he's always made consistent contact. Some clear signs he's starting to square up the ball in ways he hasn't before. I could see him getting picked much earlier next year if he goes back to Clemson for his senior year. Grade: B
22. Jarrett Brown, LHP, Georgia - This junior lefty reliever had a brutal season. Stay in school, Jarrett! You'll get drafted next year and odds are you'll get picked higher. Grade: F
23. Pat Peterson, LHP, NC State - I like Pat's brother, Eric, more but Pat will do at this stage in the draft (if he signs; he's another junior). Steady producer that keeps improving. Grade: B
24. Sheehan Planas-Arteaga, 1B, Barry - I'm a sucker for small school guys with huge numbers on day 3, and Sheehan fits that mold perfectly. He had 41 walks this season. Nobody wanted to pitch to him and yet he still slugged .600. Grade: A
25. Vinny Nittoli, RHP, Xavier - Don't like the low strikeout rate, but do like the significant growth from season to season. Perhaps he could miss more bats in a relief role too. Nice pick at this stage in the draft. Grade: B
26. Taylor Smart, SS, Tennessee - I'll avoid all the dumb puns with this pick and simply note that, though Smart played for Tennessee, he was born in Maple Valley, WA! That and he had a solid senior season for the Vols. Grade: A
27. Andrew Peterson, 2B, Oregon State - No bat, but at least the Mariners kept contact with one of the best baseball programs in the region. Grade: D
28. Dominic Blanco, C, Gulf Coast HS (FL) - Do you get excited when a draft pick has no chance of signing? Stop being excited. My biggest pet peeve with the MLB draft is how every team punts late picks on high school players with pretty much no chance of signing. Grade: F
29. Tyler Herb, RHP, Coastal Carolina - I will cave in with my words here and say that Herb could use a spicy out pitch. But at least he's a seasoned senior that should sign. Grade: C
30. James Alfonso, C, Hartford - Fun fact! Jeff Bagwell went to Hartford. He was also drafted 26 rounds before Alfonso. James has a decent bat and plays one of those premium defensive positions. Also a senior. Grade: B
31. DeAires Moses, CF, East Nashville Magnet School (TN) - I'll give some points just for the name. Also, I love when a place of education is called a magnet school with no further explanation. What does a magnet school in Tennessee attract? BBQ? Blues guitar players? Can DeAires Moses cook some mean ribs or play some cold-blooded pentatonic riffs? Grade: D
32. Chase Nyman, 2B, East Mississippi JC (MS) - Nyman brings some speed and contact ability, and he's already set to sign. He had a circuitous route as an amateur, starting at Ole Miss, then going to Chipola JC, then East Mississippi, and he planned to walk on at Mississippi State until the Mariners drafted him. Grade: B
33. Tom Verdi, SS, Connecticut - Really question Verdi's hitting ability, but he plays shortstop and has a little speed. Also a senior. Grade: C
34. Andrew Summerville, LHP, Lakeside HS (WA) - Although a prep pick, a local one. Maybe he wants to be true to the blue! Grade: B
35. Chris McGrath, LHP, Marist School (GA) - Not a local prep pick. Extremely doubtful he wants to be true to the blue. Grade: F
36. Spencer Hermann, LHP, Fisher - Lefty with decent numbers at a small school. Grade: C
37. Sam Lindquist, RHP, Stanford - Tall righty that rarely pitched, but he's from Mercer Island. Grade: A
38. Taylor Zeutenhorst, OF, Iowa - Cool name and he hit 9 home runs this past season out of nowhere, though with a stunning number of strikeouts. Grade: B
39. Kavin Keyes, 3B, Oregon State - Keyes lacks power but makes contact, for what it's worth. Grade: C
40. Scott Manaea, C, St. John's HS (NY) - Prep catcher that won't sign to finish the draft. Wooooo. Grade: F

Overall I like this Mariners draft class. I love how they handled their two picks on day one. Those picks seemed to cast a heavy shadow on day two, although I still think the Mariners could have found more talent without risking bonus money. Lastly, day three was nice, with several local picks in the late rounds. The success of the class clearly rides on the broad shoulders of Jackson and Morgan at the top, though a handful of arms that could develop into bullpen pieces or spot starters were added as well. I'd call this a strategic haul that complements the pieces already in the farm system.

2014 Draft: Day 3 Preview

It's getting very late so I won't write much. I'll say more about the Mariners draft in my annual pick-by-pick rundown, but day 2 at first glance looks pretty boring by design. Lots of...affordable picks today, potentially because Alex Jackson and Gareth Morgan come with some noteworthy price tags. I'm okay with affordable picks if it means getting both of those guys signed.

Day 3 is the day I like to turn and give whatever due respect I can to college seniors. As I comb through data I'm constantly amazed at the tremendous seasons players have across the nation...only to not get drafted. I wouldn't go as far as saying it's a shame, especially now that the draft is 40 rounds instead of 50, but I will say that I like the idea of more baseball teams using late round picks to honor good careers with a paycheck in a rookie league for a few months. Just give these players enough of a taste of pro ball for some of these noteworthy players in their own right to be able to say they were drafted and played a few pro games. On a related note, the number of accomplished players in college who do nothing, even in the minors, reminds me how difficult baseball is, and just how phenomenal even the worst MLB players are.

Here it is, the list for the third and final day of the draft, rounds 11 through 40:

Remaining from the Day 2 Preview

• Mike Alexander, C, Delaware State
• Dustin Beggs, RHP, Georgia Perimeter College
• Jace Conrad, 2B, Louisiana-Lafayette
• Matt Cooper, RHP, Hawai'i
• Matt Fraudin, RHP, Gardner Webb
• Connor Goedert, 3B, Neosho County CC
• Chase Harris, OF, New Mexico
• Casey Jones, UT, Elon
• Jake Kelzer, RHP, Indiana
• Conor Lourey, RHP, High Point
• Keaton McKinney, RHP, Ankeny HS (IA)
• Cody Mincey, RHP, South Carolina
• Aaron Nardone, OF, Delaware State
• Julio Nunez, UT, Alabama A&M
• Connor Panas, 1B/3B, Canisius
• Eric Peterson, RHP, NC State
• Brandon Rawe, OF, Morgan State
• Joel Seddon, RHP, South Carolina
• James Vasquez, 1B, Central Florida - Hit well with an advanced approach at the plate, though his bat is his only tool.

Some college seniors more than worth recognizing

• Kevin Archbold, LHP, Albany
• Anthony Azar, C, Sam Houston State
• Mat Batts, LHP, UNC-Wilmington
• Tim Colwell, OF, North Dakota State
• James Connell, RHP, Kennesaw State
• Montana Durapau, RHP, Bethune-Cookman
• Joey Epperson, LF, UCSB
• Casey Grayson, 1B, Houston
• Sean Godfrey, OF, Ball State
• Mackenzie Handel, OF, Stephen F. Austin
• Zach Hirsch, LHP, Nebraska
• Tyler Kuresa, 1B, UCSB
• Bo Logan, LHP, Florida Atlantic
• Whit Mayberry, RHP, Virginia
• Kyle McKenzie, RHP, Tulane
• Danny Mooney, RHP, Davidson
• Clay Murphy, RHP, Missouri State
• Seth Neely, 1B, Wofford
• Ryan Plourde, C/OF, Fairfield
• Chase Raffield, OF, Georgia State
• Bennie Robinson, 1B, Florida A&M
• Dan Savas, RHP, Illinois State
• J.P. Sportman, OF, Central Connecticut State
• Scott Weathersby, RHP, Mississippi
• T.J. Weir, RHP, Ball State
• Nic Wilson, 1B, Georgia State
• Andrew Woeck, RHP, NC State
• Brian Wolfe, 1B, Washington

The MLB draft resumes at 10 a.m. Pacific time, and I'd recommend using the MLB.com draft tracker. 

2014 Draft: Day 2 Preview

I don't have a ton of time to write about day one tonight, but there isn't much to say either that hasn't already been said. If you read my top 27 preview yesterday you probably noticed that I called Alex Jackson the Mariners dream scenario. So, I like the M's top pick, to say the least. I also like Gareth Morgan at pick 74. Great fits, great value, great everything. Definitely some bust potential in both bats, but that power is something the Mariners really need to grab in the draft. Between D.J. Peterson Austin Wilson last year, plus Alex Jackson and Gareth Morgan this year, I like the odds that the Mariners have at least one future masher in their farm system now.

Without further ado, some more names to watch out for on day 2...

Still Available from my top 27 (ranking in parentheses):

• LHP Aaron Brown (23)

Some additional position prospects to watch for:

• Caleb Adams, OF, Louisiana-Lafayette - Flashed good power and good patience for an underrated Ragin' Cajuns team.
• Mike Alexander, C, Delaware State - Senior, but very productive bat at a premium position. Might be worth a pick, especially for a team with pricey draft picks from earlier in the draft.
• Jace Conrad, 2B, Louisiana-Lafayette - A little aggressive at the plate, but chance to hit for some average with speed at a position where it doesn't take much offense to be productive.
• Connor Goedert, 3B, Neosho County CC - Goedert is set to go to Wichita State and on some level replace first round pick Casey Gillaspie. However, I'd be curious to see if an MLB could convince him to go pro this year. I like Goedert's hitting potential.
• Chase Harris, OF, New Mexico - New Mexico is a launching pad, but Harris still looks like a good hitter to me.
• Rhys Hoskins, 1B, Sacramento State - Polished approach at the plate with power, though accomplished in a small school against lower college competition.
• Casey Jones, UT, Elon - Did a little bit of everything, both offensively and defensively, at Elon.  Makes me wonder if all that flexibility can play up and congeal into some sort of MLB player.
• Kevin Krause, C/OF, Stony Brook - Productive small school player at a premium position. Worth a look as the draft advances into the later stages.
• Trace Loehr, SS, Rex Putnam HS (OR) - Not sure about Loehr's power potential, but solid contact ability with a chance to stick at a premium defensive position.
• Jordan Luplow, OF, Fresno State - A bit of a one-year wonder, but an intriguing speed/power combo if he is the real deal.
• Gareth Morgan, OF, North Toronto Collegiate Institute (Canada) - The best Canadian prospect this year. Morgan has significant power potential but makes inconsistent contact. I don't think his swing needs as much reworking as Michael Gettys's though.
• Aaron Nardone, OF, Delaware State - Extremely productive senior.
• Julio Nunez, UT, Alabama A&M - Similar to Casey Jones; a little bit of everything everywhere. Maybe enough of his skills develop to make him a future big-league player.
• Connor Panas, 1B/3B, Canisius - Exhibited power and speed, though with more strikeouts than I'd like to see in a small school prospect.
• Milton Ramos, SS, American Heritage School (FL) - I wonder about the bat, but the fielding is really good, and worth drafting him for alone.
• Matthew Railey, OF, North Florida Christian HS (FL) - Railey's bat is his calling card. Could hit for average and power.
• Brandon Rawe, OF, Morgan State - Flashed some power and hitting ability, though against lower level college competition.
• James Vasquez, 1B, Central Florida - Hit well with an advanced approach at the plate, though his bat is his only tool.

Some additional pitching prospects to watch for:

• Dustin Beggs, RHP, Georgia Perimeter College - One of the most productive pitchers in the JUCO ranks
• Matt Campbell, RHP, Clemson - A senior, but very productive in the ACC. I like ACC players.
• Dylan Cease, RHP, Milton HS (GA) - Would be picked higher but he has injury concerns (and a body/windup that would suggest injury concerns). Really good stuff though.
• Michael Cederoth, RHP, San Diego State - The lazy comparison is former Aztec fire-baller Stephen Strasburg, but the better Aztec comparison is D'Backs closer Addison Reed. Cederoth doesn't have either pitcher's breaking stuff, but he's a productive closer with an electric fastball.
• Matt Cooper, RHP, Hawai'i - A senior but utterly dominant. Worth a pick, especially for a team worried about salary bonus totals.
• Zac Curtis, LHP, Middle Tennessee State - One of my favorite "sleepers" in the draft. Curtis looks like a LOOGY on the mound given how short and slight of build he is. However, he rushes the ball up in the low 90s and was one of the most productive pitchers in all of college baseball this year.
• Austin DeCarr, RHP, Salisbury School (CT) - Prep players from northern schools get less exposure to due shorter baseball seasons so I try to keep closer eyes on guys like DeCarr. Has good size, velocity, and some feel for a breaking ball.
• Brock Dykxhoorn, RHP, Central Arizona College - Deserves to be drafted based only on his name, but he's also been extremely productive.
• Mike Franco, RHP, Florida International - Productive college arm that's flown under the radar a bit despite stuff that grades as MLB legit, including velocity in the low 90s.
• Matt Fraudin, RHP, Gardner Webb - Small school pitcher that gave up some extra base hits but the rest of his peripheral stats look really good.
• Jace Fry, LHP, Oregon State - Not elite K numbers, but extremely productive for a great team in a very strong conference.
• Jonathan Holder, RHP, Mississippi State - One of the most productive college closers of all time, for what it's worth. Holder's best pitch is a hammer curve. Probably not much of a ceiling with him but it's easy to see him as a bullpen contributor in the near future for someone.
• Jake Kelzer, RHP, Indiana - Kelzer is another sleeper pick of mine. His main sport has been swimming despite his 6'7" frame. I kind of want to see him swim, honestly. He pitched very well out of Indiana's bullpen this year though with feel for a breaking ball.
• Conor Lourey, RHP, High Point - Have to feature Lourey just to link to this fantastically college-grade feature on him for a High Point sports broadcasting class. Also, Lourey is a 6'8" behemoth on the mound with big-time production, though out of bullpens at lower levels of competition.
• Keaton McKinney, RHP, Ankeny HS (IA) - Another more northern prospect. Features a good frame with a good fastball and solid mechanics.
• Cody Mincey, RHP, South Carolina - Super productive reliever in the SEC
• Eric Peterson, RHP, NC State - Bit of a home run problem but everything else in his numbers was great. Interestingly, sometimes college pitchers that make it in the pros have elevated home run rates. Not completely sure why, but perhaps because they've built velocity suddenly and not figured out how to command it quite yet?
• Jeremy Rhodes, RHP, Illinois State - Extremely productive college arm, albeit in a small conference.
• Reed Reilly, RHP, Cal Poly - Some control issues, but very difficult to hit and a nice, big frame for pitching.
• Bradley Roney, RHP, Southern Miss - Like Reilly, some control issues, but pro-caliber stuff and results in college that support the scouting reports on his stuff.
• Carson Sands, LHP, North Florida Christian HS (FL) - Prep left that might have got buried amidst all the great lefties in this draft. Nice pitching ability right now with classic body type that looks like it could fill out and add velocity.
• Jordan Schwartz, RHP, Niagara - Another small school arm with intriguing stats, outside a small home run issue.
• Joel Seddon, RHP, South Carolina - Burst on the scene this year as a highly productive member of the Gamecocks bullpen. His lack of playing time before this year is a blessing and a curse - is he a fluke or could he potentially be ready to take off? Certainly worth taking a chance on in day 2.

The MLB draft resumes at 10 a.m. Pacific time, and I'd recommend using the MLB.com draft tracker.

2014 Draft: My Top 27

The MLB draft starts tomorrow! Even as my work year winds down with the end of school, I spared enough hours to look through the college ranks and "scout" the top prep players - and by "scout," I mean scour YouTube after looking at whatever free lists I could find across the internet.

I wouldn't say my draft list is a joke. I spend some legitimate time on it and do what I can to bring my own perspective and insights. However, quite frankly, if my draft board outperforms anybody's (especially an MLB team's) then they need to reconsider how they are using their resources. Me, volunteering maybe 15 hours of my time with only publicly available data and videos, should never beat out a professional scouting department.

The scary thing, to me at least, is that I probably could run a pretty decent draft with the info I gather most years. Let that thought sit in as I unveil my 2014 top 27, the shortest list in a while because of the shortest first round in a while. Enjoy!

27. Luis Ortiz, RHP, Sanger HS (CA) - Ortiz features a power fastball and power breaking ball which together make him one of the most productive pitchers in this year's prep class. That is no small accomplishment because this draft class features a ton of really good prep pitchers. There have been some concerns with Ortiz's conditioning but his physique improved considerably this season. All things considered, he looks like a future closer to me if he reaches his full potential.

26. Tyler Kolek, RHP, Shepherd HS (TX) - You will have a very hard time finding a list with Kolek lower. He's in the discussion for the first overall pick, and the rumors I'm reading suggest he won't make it past the White Sox at third overall. I came into this process assuming I would rank Kolek first overall but the more I thought about him and where he should rank he slipped down my draft board. The case for Kolek is pretty simple: he's blessed with a phenomenal arm. Kolek hits 100mph in high school with stunning ease. Some say he is the hardest prep thrower they've ever seen. That arm strength was why I expected to put him first overall on my draft board. However, when I watched some video of him pitching, all I saw was throwing. I saw no pitching. Kolek throws really hard all the time. The good news is that his fastball is so overwhelming that it's enough to destroy prep batters. It won't be enough as a professional. I still like Kolek, but this draft class is loaded with pitchers who throw nearly as hard as Kolek with more command, better off-speed pitches, and a better feel for pitching.

25. Sean Reid-Foley, RHP, Sandalwood HS (FL) - Reid-Foley bounced all around my rankings and if I kept thinking about this list he would probably bounce around some more. His skill set has a hard time standing out in this year's crowded prep crowd, which is both his greatest strength and weakness. Reid-Foley throws pretty hard (into the low 90s) but doesn't have elite velocity. He's got good breaking stuff. He also has good command. Reid-Foley does a little bit of everything well but has no signature thing, like Tyler Kolek's blazing velocity for instance.

24. Spencer Adams, RHP, White County HS (GA) - I seem to be a bit higher on Adams than other rankings I've seen, though not much higher. I think he will sneak into the first round one way or another. Adams has a prototypical pitcher's body - tall, long limbs, and easy, repeatable mechanics. I like him a ton because he also plays basketball, which suggests tremendous athleticism and the potential for rapid growth as he focuses on baseball. It's the same formula that catapulted Taijuan Walker to where he is in the Mariners system today. Adams doesn't throw quite as hard as Walker, but he could add some velocity in time. Adams already has a simple wind up, and he has a breaking ball that flashes as a good pitch.

23. Aaron Brown, LHP, Pepperdine - Brown also plays the outfield at Pepperdine but his future is on the mound. He hits for power and not much else. Brown is already an accomplished pitcher and I like his potential to develop more than most college lefties as he focuses only on pitching. It also helps that Brown does not have to rely on "pitchability" (basically some mix of command and the ability to zig when a batter wants to zag). He has a good arm.

22. Matt Imhof, LHP, Cal Poly - Imhof is sort of like the collegiate version of Sean Reid-Foley. He's easy to lose in the mix because the college ranks have a crazy number of good left-handed starting pitchers. Imhoff cuts an imposing figure on the mound at 6'6" and each year at Cal Poly has figured out how to leverage his frame into better and better results. Imhof held his own on Team USA last summer and followed up with a terrific junior campaign. The significant growth from year to year makes me wonder how high Imhof's ceiling is. Maybe he's found it, maybe there are a few more major steps forward to come.

21. Nick Burdi, RHP, Louisville - There was some noise that Louisville would transition Burdi to the starting rotation this year, but they kept him at closer where he slammed the door (again) all season long. Burdi features a fastball that sits in the upper 90s that could get him to the majors in a hurry if he stays a reliever. I would keep him in the bullpen if I was the team drafting him.

20. Bradley Zimmer, OF, San Francisco - Finally, a position player! I think this is a bit of a down year for bats, but really it's hard to tell because this is definitely a great year for pitching. Zimmer brings an intriguing power/speed combo to the ballpark, though with some contact issues. His skill set reminds me some of Chris Young (the outfielder, not the Mariners pitcher/savior of the rotation.)

19. Sean Newcomb, LHP, Hartford - I've seen some whispers that Newcomb could be the Mariners pick at number six. That's a bit high for him if you ask me, though not a bad pick. Newcomb has great stuff, namely a fastball that can reach 95 or so from the left side. Also, while Newcomb is a pitcher from a small school, he held his own in the prestigious Cape Cod League last summer. Usually someone like Newcomb would be higher on my board but there's simply so many quality arms this year.

18. Kyle Freeland, LHP, Evansville - Freeland and Newcomb are essentially interchangeable on my board, though they are not the same pitcher. Freeland doesn't have Newcomb's pure power (though Freeland throws in the low 90s so he's not a soft tosser). He possesses stunning command. Freeland's skill set outperformed Newcomb in the Cape Cod League so I went with him above Newcomb here.

17. Jacob Lindgren, LHP, Mississippi State - I've seen Lindgren cracking top 100 lists but I am higher on him than most. To start with, Lindgren's production is comparable to both the guys below him on my list, Newcomb and Freeland, but he got his results in a major conference at a larger school. He was overpowering as a reliever this year, though not exactly a revelation given how productive he was as a starting pitcher his sophomore year. Lindgren features a fastball in the low to mid 90s (depending on if he is starting or relieving) and a nasty curveball that lefties in particular struggle against. I would try Lindgren as a starter but he should make a good bullpen lefty if starting doesn't work out.

16. A.J. Reed, 1B, Kentucky - Reed is a classic slugging first base prospect. He will hit singers. He will also strike out. No college bat has more power than Reed, hence his ranking on this list. I wouldn't be annoyed if the Mariners took him, though it would be a reach and Reed's contact issues give him so bust potential. Reed pitches some for Kentucky too so perhaps there is some more growth to come at the plate. He's a better hitter than pitcher so there isn't much doubt he should play first base as a pro.

15. Aaron Nola, RHP, LSU - Nola is a pretty popular pick for the Mariners at number six in mock drafts. While he wouldn't be a bad pick I'm not sure he would be a good one either. Nola had a magical season at LSU that capped off a remarkably productive college career. Nola's greatest asset is his command, though to say he is a soft-tosser when he throws in the low 90s would be disingenuous. Still, Nola's breaking stuff isn't too special (other than his ability to place it), though his three-quarters delivery seems to add some deception. He profiles as a guy that could make it to the majors very fast but doesn't have much of a ceiling. Still, Nola might be the safest bet in the whole draft to make a contribution as a starting pitcher - just quite unlikely to ever anchor a staff. I'd like to see the Mariners go for some star power; Safeco Field can help guys less than Nola perform like Nola.

14. Daniel Gossett, RHP, Clemson - Much like Lindgren, I see Gossett popping up later on most prospect lists and few seem as high on him as me. In general, I think ACC prospects get undervalued. It is the best baseball conference in the nation. Gossett's scouting report reads similar to Nola's - righty with good command, relatively mediocre stuff (a low 90s fastball and solid change up) and great command. His numbers are very similar to Nola's too, but he performed in a tougher conference. Clemson's team isn't as good as LSU's, and Nola also had a long scoreless innings streak that generated buzz. I think these are the main reasons that Nola is better known than Gossett. Niether of those facts mean much going forward. In my eyes, Nola and Gossett are pretty much the same pitching prospect, though Nola is likely to go in the top 10 and Gossett has a good chance to wait until day 2 to get drafted.

13. Kodi Medeiros, LHP, Waiakea HS (HI) - I like Medeiros more than most, sort of. Really I just value his skill set more than most. Few argue with Kodi's electric stuff. He generates insane movement on all his pitches, and his sidearm delivery makes the pitches even tougher to pick up. Medeiros has the nastiest stuff of any pitcher in this draft, college arms included. However, he also has trouble commanding his pitches, didn't face very stiff competition, and looks like the type of pitcher that could break down early in his career. Medeiros is a polarizing prospect, but I've got enough of the Seahawks mentality in me to love him. Don't worry about the faults, worry about the strengths. Medeiros has some unreal stuff from the left side. Watch how much trouble the catcher has because he keeps underestimating how much the ball will move. The catcher is Jakson Reetz, a very good prospect in his own right likely to be drafted on day 2, or potentially near the end of day 1:

12. Trea Turner, SS, NC State - Turner's spot on my big board has as much to do with position scarcity as it does his talent. Turner flashed blazing speed on the base paths as a freshman, and his speed is still his best tool. Everything else about Turner is largely unspectacular, but he also boasts no liabilities. Decent bat, decent power, decent patience, decent defense...solid all around. He does all of that at shortstop though, so all his tools play up considerably. There aren't many shortstops, even in the Major Leagues, with the mix of tools that Turner possesses. He could be a good leadoff hitter, which at shortstop carries significant value. He's another popular name linked to the Mariners, and depending on how the draft goes, I could be rather content with him at number six.

11. Nick Gordon, SS, Olympia HS (FL) - Gordon has emerged as a consensus top-5 pick so I have some explaining as to why I have him ranked this low. Gordon didn't look all that good in summer showcase events, which is where all the Youtube videos come from, so he started completely off of my board. However, scouts say he fixed some of the flaws he showed at the plate in the summer, and the production he had his senior year backs that up. At the end of the day Gordon is a borderline five-tool talent at a premium defensive position. I saw an extremely raw batter in summer showcases, but his senior season quelled some of my concerns. Gordon will get billed a "can't miss" phenom if  he goes in the top 5, but that's an exaggeration. There are holes and concerns, particularly with his approach and consistency at the plate, but his talent is more than worth taking a chance on.

10. Michael Chavis, 3B, Sprayberry HS (GA) - Chavis plays shortstop but I think his home will be at third base. Chavis has a great bat and his body type suggests he will fill out and lose some of the mobility that lets him range around at shortstop for the time being. With that said, Chavis already carries a big stick and more size will bring more power. There's also a strong record of shortstops becoming elite defenders at third base. Evan Longoria and Manny Machado come to mind.

9. Touiki Toussaint, RHP, Coral Springs Christian Academy (FL) - Toussaint, in my opinion, has the most upside of any prospect in this entire draft. I hope you are sitting down before you watch him unleash his curve ball (first one snaps off around the 31 second mark):

Medeiros has the most electric stuff of any pitcher in this draft, but Toussaint's curve ball is the deadliest pitch in the entire draft. It's absurd, and as it turns out, Toussaint hasn't quite figured out how to command it yet. That's partly because Toussaint is also a starting outfielder on his prep team, and would be a legitimate pro prospect as an outfielder. However, that curve ball is the reason everyone believes he is a pitcher (well, that and because his fastball gets into the upper 90s).

What's even more amazing about Toussaint is that he didn't start pitching until 4 or 5 years ago. He got a much later start than other elite prospects. This is partly due to his back story. Toussaint is Haitian, and he says he learned to deal with draft prep pressure from watching his father, a high ranking politician in Haiti. Toussaint wasn't a child in the United States' hyper-competitive elite sports culture which tends to identify athletic talent early on.

This will be my longest write up on any prospect, if you haven't guessed by now. Toussaint is my favorite prospect in the 2014 draft. His coaches say he lights up a room with his positive energy, and why wouldn't he be happy with his crazy athletic ability and even crazier curve ball? Toussaint is still quite raw, and too raw for me to rationally put him atop this year's big board. However, I hope Toussaint lands in an organization that knows how to cultivate pitching prospects because I want to see him harness all his potential.

8. Brandon Finnegan, LHP, TCU - Finnegan is relatively short. He might be six feet tall, he might not be. However, he brings the heat, touching 95mph throughout his starts and complimenting his fastball with some nice off speed offerings. Finnegan has been a productive college pitcher and was one of the better arms for Team USA last summer. He profiles as a guy who could fly through a minor league farm system.

7. Michael Conforto, LF, Oregon State - Conforto is a super local product, considering that he graduated from Redmond High School. He didn't get drafted out of high school, which is rare for a college slugger so high on draft boards as a junior. I'm not the only one high on him, though I have him a bit higher on my board than most. Conforto can flat-out rake. He hits for average and power with an advanced approach at the plate. He has a good feel for the strike zone and exhibits great plate coverage with his swing. The knock on Conforto is his athleticism, which likely limits him defensively to left field. This draft class has lots of defensive liabilities though, and few of them offer the kind of talent and skills at the plate that Conforto brings. He would be an interesting pick for the Mariners at six, though he is left handed, like just about every other impact bat the Mariners already have.

6. Max Pentecost, C, Kennesaw State - Pentecost surged up my draft board as my research unfolded. I have my worries about him because he played at a rather small school, but his video tape looks good, his Cape Cod numbers last summer were great, and scouts generally like his game. Most think Pentecost can stick behind the plate, which boosts his value. Most also think he projects as a doubles hitter though I think he has a bit more power than that. He certainly flashed more in the Cape Cod league last summer. Regardless, good hitters are hard to find at catcher, whether they are double hitters or something more.

5. Casey Gillaspie, 1B, Wichita State - The younger brother of White Sox third baseman Connor Gillaspie, Casey is likely to get drafted even higher than his older brother who is a former compensatory first round selection. Casey is a switch hitter that will play first base because he doesn't have the athleticism for really anywhere else. Gillaspie pretty much profiles to be everything the Mariners hope for Justin Smoak. Casey is a switch-hitter that has flashed above-average power with a great approach at the plate and sure hands with unspectacular range at first base. Gillaspie is a realistic target for the Mariners at the sixth pick and he is one of two college bats I would seriously consider if I were Jack Zduriencik.

4. Kyle Schwarber, C, Indiana - Here's the other college bat I would target if I were Z. Schwarber will likely be available for the Mariners. I'm a bit higher on him than most, though I'm not totally sure why. Schwarber has a great bat and he plays a premium position. There's significant doubt about Schwarber sticking at catcher but he might be athletic enough to handle a corner outfield spot, and should have a good enough bat for first base too. The Mariners could still use hitters and their biggest holes are in the corner outfield and first base. Either Schwarber fills an organizational need or he sticks at catcher where he becomes tantalizing trade bait (assuming Mike Zunino locks down catcher, which looks safe if you ask me). The only knock on Schwarber from a Mariners perspective, is that he's a left-handed bat.

3. Alex Jackson, C/OF, Rancho Bernardo HS (CA) - In a perfect world the Mariners get this guy right here, but I don't expect him to fall outside the top five. Jackson is likely the best power prospect in this draft. There are questions about whether he sticks as a catcher or not, though I personally think he can. His transfer on throws to second is impressively quick. I think the bigger question is if a team wants to keep Jackson's bat in the minors long enough to iron out all the intricacies of catching. I know I wouldn't. I'd put him in right field from day one and let him hit his way to the majors.

2. Carlos Rodon, LHP, NC State - Rodon had a "down" season, although the bigger problem is that most probably had insane expectations of him. He emerged early on as the runaway top prospect in this class, though he never should have been given that title. Yes, the stuff is filthy, and he's left-handed to boot. However, while Rodon's strikeout totals have always been silly, his walk rates have always suggested some command issues. Control is still an issue but it continued to improve this year. I hope the team that drafts Rodon doesn't rush him.

1. Brady Aiken, LHP, Cathedral Catholic HS (CA) - I think the argument over who's the top prospect in this draft is over. Aiken more or less came out of obscurity, especially in this loaded draft for pitchers. He gained velocity on his fastball this year but didn't lose command of his breaking pitches. Aiken has an overwhelming arsenal, especially for high school, because he's able to control all of his pitches and is liable to throw his breaking pitches at any time and throw them for strikes. That's what separates Aiken from his peers, and everyone in this draft for that matter. That and he's left handed. Never hurts to be left handed.

It seems fitting that the year of the Tommy John surgery would feature a draft loaded with pitchers, especially prep pitchers, the most likely to need those TJ surgeries down the road. I am curious to see if teams pick the best player available or go with the best at positions of need, because some team pretty early on is going to have a choice between a position player or higher ranked pitcher. Will some prep arms slide or not?