Hrbowski

Image courtesy of Jamie Squire/Getty Images Chris Devenski will become an ace. Chris Devenski is the most underrated player in baseball, and I am on a mission to let everybody know who he is. After his rookie year with the Houston Astros last year he was still largely ignored, so let me give you a briefing. Devenski has one of the best changeups in baseball, and it is no small stretch to say that he can rival the changeup of Kyle Hendricks, and having a signature pitch that is one of the best in the league gives him a jump start on the long list of pitchers waiting to become household names. He also has a sneaky fastball, and a slider that can get batters to chase. Keep an eye on the Astros righty this year. Sonny Gray will be a top 10 starting pitcher. Sonny Gray has become known as the undersized righty who once made it big in the majors, but his real claim to fame is getting exceptional horizontal movement on his pitches, and in doing so he outpaces all other right handed pitchers in the league. Gray has struggled with injuries in the past season, but if he is healthy he has the potential to be a top ten pitcher in wins above replacement, something he has never done before. Here is a not so bold prediction: Sonny Gray will be a hot commodity at the trade deadline. Brian Dozier will be the top second baseman in baseball. If you had told me in July of 2015 that in 2016 Brian Dozier would hit over 40 homers I would not have been surprised, but if you had told me that exactly one year later I would have been. That is how good Dozier’s second half was last year, which led some to say that his outburst was an unrepeatable fluke and that he will come back to earth this year. One thing that naysayers do not consider is that there were some legitimate changes to Dozier’s approach at the plate, and his torrid second half was the result of some hard work. If Dozier can bring the changes over to this year look for him to outperform Altuve, Murphy, and other star second basemen. Mac Williamson will be the Giants starting left fielder. Mac Williamson is another player whom you may not have heard of before, but the corner spot is up for grabs this spring and there is no clear favorite for the job, so even if he does not win the spot right out of camp he should still have a chance to steal it midseason. Williamson has raw power that he can tap into, and if he can start elevating the ball better in games he could collect thirty round trippers. The Giants are perennial contenders for the pennant, and if Williamson gets a starting role look for him to a force at the plate. Keon Broxton will be the first 30-30 player since 2012. Keon Broxton flew under the radar last year, but the center fielder for the Brewers will not be able to do that for much longer. His unique skill set will elevate him above the competition, and Broxton will be on the road to superstardom. Broxton has some concerns, and the fact that he strikes out at a ridiculous rate is one of them. If he can keep a high batting average on balls in play he will still be on base enough to worry pitchers. Freddie Freeman will be the top hitter in the National League. Freddie Freeman did not get enough attention last year because he played on a terrible team, so he was virtually ignored when it came to MVP talk. The Braves’ new ballpark dimensions are more favorable to a lefty hitter than Turner Field, so Freeman has an extra advantage this year, even though he does not need it. It may surprise you, but in recent years Freeman put up similar numbers compared to David Ortiz, and since Ortiz is now retired, baseball fans will need to find a new favorite lefty hitter. We cannot ignore Freeman for much longer. Trea Turner will be the best player on the Washington Nationals. Max Scherzer, Bryce Harper, and Daniel Murphy all play on the Nationals, but Trea Turner is really that good. Turner has blazing speed and surprising power, and with his return to his natural position of shortstop his fielding will no longer hurt his value. Something else that Turner has working for him is that he will get a chance at a full season, and in 73 games last year he hit 13 home runs and stole 33 bases. Another plus is that he will have Harper and Murphy hitting behind him, which is something almost all other hitters would covet. Andrew Miller will win the American League Cy Young. It is getting to the point where the great relievers in baseball can no longer be ignored, and Andrew Miller or the Orioles Zach Britton have the best chance to take home the coveted award. I am going with Miller over Britton because of Miller’s higher strikeout rates. If Miller takes home the award baseball writers will not only have to ignore the fact that Miller is not a starter, but also that he is not even a closer. I am guessing that if they lay aside one prejudice they can lay aside another. The Athletics will make the playoffs. It seems like the Oakland A’s are never projected to make the playoffs, but they are a team that can be put together in bits and pieces and come away with a championship caliber club. 2017 should be no exception, and even though the Athletics have already been projected to have a losing record, they quietly have a solid roster. The pitching staff will be the leading force for the A’s, with Sonny Gray and Sean Manaea being the headliners, and the lineup is solid, which makes the Athletics a legitimate contender. The Houston Astros will defeat the Washington Nationals in the World Series. The Washington Nationals are loaded with talent, but the Houston Astros are a very exciting bunch in 2017. With no mention of the Chicago Cubs or the Boston Red Sox this prediction may surprise some, but the best team in the regular season usually does not win the World Series, and last year’s Cubs were the exception to the rule. The Astros pitching staff is the biggest concern for them right now, but if Dallas Keuchel can get back to his 2015 form they will not need to worry, and I already have pegged Chris Devenski for a breakout year, which would be huge for this team. Overall, the Astros are a great team.

Willson Contreras was called up today after eight seasons in minor league ball, and he is one of the top catching prospects in the game. Catchers take 3-4 more years to develop, so 7 seems about right.

Yeah, people who complain about the draft know nothing. You have to see a player as much as possible before you develop an opinion on him. BTW I thought that people who were mad about the Alex Schick pick were the biggest idiots, LOL.

Rortvedt will probably take about 7 years to develop.

Corbin Burnes could be a Corey Kluber type pick if he falls to the Twins today.

Since when was that Bob?

Dumb move for anyone. The Astros wanted to sign Aiken, and the Cubs don't botch signings, so I don't get your reasoning.

Just about every player who had makeup issues has been a disaster for the drafting team. Bubba Starlin, Donovan Tate, Tim Beckham, Matt Bush, Delmon Young, Josh Hamilton.... The only big time bust (non injury related) who didn't have makeup issues in high school was Josh Vitters.

You have to stay away from guys with makeup issues. Groome, Rutherford, Perez, etc. You are much better off going with someone who won't destroy their own career.

http://2080baseball.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/01/PlayerPic-Spring-2015-PukAJ-Tim-Casey-1050x700.jpeg Photo by Tim Casey #1 Philadelphia Phillies - AJ Puk - lhp - Florida Mickey Moniak is really the only other player who is getting a lot of talk right here. #2 Cincinnati Reds - Nick Senzel - 3b - Tennessee If Puk falls he will be taken here, with Kyle Lewis also in play. #3 Atlanta Braves - Kyle Lewis - OF - Mercer A prep pitcher could go here as well. #4 Colorado Rockies - Mickey Moniak - OF - California High School This pick will likely come down between Moniak and Riley Pint. #5 Milwaukee Brewers - Riley Pint - rhp - Kansas High School The Brewers have a history of going with prep players, so keep an eye on Pint and Jay Groome. #6 Oakland Athletics - Jay Groome - lhp - New Jersey High School Groome's makeup has made his stock take a huge hit, but the A's have been tied to him. Corey Ray or Gavin Lux could go here as well. #7 Miami Marlins - Braxton Garrett - lhp - Alabama High School The guy the Twins want will likely go here. #8 San Diego Padres - Matt Manning - rhp - California High School Cal Quantrill and Manning are the talk for the Padres right now. #9 Detroit Tigers - Ian Anderson - rhp - New York High School Anderson might have a deal with a team, but if he doesn't the Tigers will take him. Justin Dunn should be the pick here if Anderson won't sign with the Tigers. #10 Chicago White Sox - Corey Ray - OF - Louisville #11 Seattle Mariners - Zack Burdi - rhp - Louisville #12 Boston Red Sox - Justin Dunn - rhp - Boston #13 Tampa Bay Rays - Dakota Hudson - rhp - Mississippi State #14 Cleveland Indians - Zack Collins - C/1b - Miami #15 Minnesota Twins - Alex Kirilloff - OF - Pennsylvania High School Garrett is the one the Twins want, but guys like Forrest Whitley and Alex Kirilloff are others who the Twins are linked to. #16 Los Angeles Angels - TJ Zeuch - rhp - Pittsburgh #17 Houston Astros - Cody Sedlock - rhp - Illinois #18 New York Yankees - Bryan Reynolds - OF - Vanderbilt #19 New York Mets - Will Craig - 3b - Wake Forest #20 Los Angeles Dodgers - Jordan Sheffield - rhp - Vanderbilt #21 Toronto Blue Jays - Josh Lowe - 3b - Georgia High School #22 Pittsburgh Pirates - Nolan Jones - SS - Pennsylvania High School #23 St. Louis Cardinals - Blake Rutherford - OF - California High School #24 San Diego Padres - Cal Quantrill - rhp - Stanford #25 San Diego Padres - Delvin Perez - SS - Puerto Rico #26 Chicago White Sox - Gavin Lux - SS - Wisconsin High School #27 Baltimore Orioles - Buddy Reed - OF - Florida #28 Washington Nationals - Forrest Whitley - Texas High School #29 Washington Nationals - Kyle Funkhouser - Louisville #30 Texas Rangers - Taylor Trammell - Georgia High School #31 New York Mets - Eric Lauer - Kent State #32 Los Angeles Dodgers - Connor Jones - Virginia #33 St. Louis Cardinals - Matt Thaiss - Virginia #34 St. Louis Cardinals - Robert Tyler - Georgia

http://image.cdnllnwnl.xosnetwork.com/pics33/800/QD/QDTZMERHGXBTJDM.20160225205201.jpg Dakota Hudson Dakota Hudson is 6'5", 205 lb. right handed pitcher for Mississippi State who was drafted in the 36th round by the Texas Rangers in 2013, but he decided to attend college. Hudson has a great fastball along with a very good slider, yet his not having mastered a third pitch and his fringe command leads to some thinking that he will end up in the bullpen. The righty's ceiling would be a Michael Wacha type workhorse in the middle of a rotation who will provide good value to his team. The Twins have been linked to Hudson, and if Braxton Garrett is gone they could use him as a fall back option. Justin Dunn is a 6'2", 170 lb. right handed pitcher for Boston College who was taken in the 37th round by the Dodgers in 2013. Dunn has a lively fastball that reaches 99 miles per hour, but he does not have an above average secondary offering. He was primarily a reliever until half way through the spring, when he got moved to the rotation, but the Marcus Stroman comp has got him shooting up boards, although he is five inches taller than Toronto's righty. The Twins might be tempted to take Dunn because of the success they have had so far with Tyler Jay, but this quick riser may be gone by the time they pick. I do not really like either of these pitchers, and there will be better players on the board when the Twins pick. If the Twins take one of them it will be because of the prep players they are interested in will not sign with them. Teams that are picking ahead of the Twins such as the Tigers and Red Sox have been linked to both players, so if they have already been selected the Twins probably will not take a college starter, although Cody Sedlock and Zack Burdi have been mentioned as players they are interested in. Tomorrow you can see who I think the Twins will draft in my final mock, and just a few hours later the Twins will make their actual pick.

High floor and high ceiling. He knows how to pitch, has the best curveball, and great command of his pitches.

No way is that happening. Groome and Rutherford are also sliding because of makeup questions.

"Screams."

Hitting guys with 99 on purpose is buddy-buddy? I usually side with the pitcher, but Manny was right to do this.

He wants to be called Ichiro.

It costed an arm and a leg.

Manny Machado charged the mound.

Does this mean that there are as many gators as humans, Gators alumni, or that they love humans?

No mention of him likely being the first home schooled player ever taken in the first round?

Yes. http://twinsdaily.com/blog/531/entry-8355-alex-kirilloff-2016-mlb-draft/

Mickey Moniak Ask any questions in the comments, and I will be more than happy to answer! #1 Nick Senzel - 3b - Tennessee #2 Braxton Garrett - lhp - Alabama HS #3 Mickey Moniak - OF - California HS #4 Jay Groome - lhp - New Jersey HS #5 Kyle Lewis - OF - Mercer #6 Riley Pint - rhp - Kansas HS #7 Alex Kirilloff - OF - Pennsylvania HS #8 Delvin Perez - SS - Puerto Rico #9 A.J. Puk - lhp - Florida #10 Corey Ray - OF - Louisville #11 Forrest Whitley - rhp - Texas HS #12 Nolan Jones - SS - Pennsylvania HS #13 Zack Collins - 1b - Miami #14 Josh Lowe - 3b - Georgia HS #15 Dakota Hudson - rhp - Mississipi State #16 Ian Anderson - rhp - New York HS #17 Matt Manning - rhp - California HS #18 Eric Lauer - lhp - Kent State #19 Jordan Sheffield - rhp - Vanderbilt #20 Justin Dunn - rhp - Boston College #21 T.J. Zeuch - rhp - Pittsburgh #22 Will Craig - 3b - Wake Forest #23 Joey Wentz - lhp - Kansas HS #24 Logan Shore - rhp - Florida #25 Kyle Muller - lhp - Texas HS #26 Bryan Reynolds - OF - Vanderbilt #27 Zack Burdi - rhp - Louisville #28 Alex Speas - rhp - Georgia HS #29 Daulton Jefferies - rhp - California #30 Gavin Lux - SS - Wisconsin HS #31 Heath Quinn - OF - Samford #32 Chris Okey - C - Clemson #33 Cody Sedlock - rhp - Illinois #34 Joe Rizzo - 3b - Virginia HS #35 Matt Thaiss - 1b - Virginia #36 Corbin Burnes - rhp - St. Mary's #37 Cole Ragans - lhp - Florida HS #38 Braeden Ogle - lhp - Florida HS #39 Taylor Trammell - OF - Georgia HS #40 Robert Tyler - rhp - Georgia #41 Connor Jones - rhp - Virginia #42 Carter Kieboom - 3b - Georgia HS #43 Anthony Kay - lhp - Connecticut #44 Kevin Gowdy - rhp - California HS #45 Jameson Fisher - 1b - Southeastern Louisiana #46 Nick Banks - OF - Texas A&M #47 Ryan Boldt - OF - Nebraska #48 Cal Quantrill - rhp - Stanford #49 J.B. Woodman - OF - Mississippi #50 Nick Hanson - rhp - Minnesota HS EDIT: Slot Blake Rutherford in at #11, and bump everyone down one.

Craig won't sign under slot.

It's going to be hard to sign guys if our first two picks are prep players.

Great thread opener by Brian. Sadly I don't have time to read the whole thread.