2025 Draft Discussion

[Reds]

So am I really going to have the only two picks of the day, and they took place shortly after 7am?

You made 'em count though, mostly haha. Ben Hess was a total steal there. O'Ferrall is also a baseball player.

No seriously though he's a safe, solid, boring pick given the floor and chances are that he's a big-leaguer, which would def be value at this point. Personally though, if I don't see a 70 or 80 elsewhere in the toolshed, 30 power is just a no-go for me.

I am counting on the Orioles expertise to find and develop a bit more pop there, am I wrong in expecting that?

[Orioles]

So am I really going to have the only two picks of the day, and they took place shortly after 7am?

You made 'em count though, mostly haha. Ben Hess was a total steal there. O'Ferrall is also a baseball player.

No seriously though he's a safe, solid, boring pick given the floor and chances are that he's a big-leaguer, which would def be value at this point. Personally though, if I don't see a 70 or 80 elsewhere in the toolshed, 30 power is just a no-go for me.

I am counting on the Orioles expertise to find and develop a bit more pop there, am I wrong in expecting that?

I suppose if there's any org to depend on to develop an IF bat, they are it. Something could click, but every draft pick is a shot at an average or above-average starting player. They can be found in every round. If I only get 5 or 6 swings every year at drafting those guys, I'm going for it every time. However, I'm comfortable with more swing-and-miss than most (literally and figuratively). I've definitely passed on some valuable pieces though, especially dudes that developed power on their way to the big leagues. I guess I think it's easier to refine the batting eye and approach of a player with existing power than it is to develop usable game power (unless the guy is super young and really has a lot of room to fill out physically).

[Reds]

I get it, and probably read 5-6 write-ups on the guy. It was close, but Law's broke the tie, so I took him. High floor, low ceiling works for me in that spot.

[Orioles]

With pick 70, the Braves will select Kyle DeBarge (SS) - DOB: 07/15/2003

https://youtu.be/cAQSZhazYk8?si=jzAq4sv1r4WnD7Fc

[Orioles]

Fuuuck. Only needed Rivas to slip 3 more spots. I thought about taking him at 66.

[Marlins]

Sorry Dan. Actually, going into the draft I was initially planning on taking Dorian Soto at 30 then Rivas at 41. Then Soto went 29th and screwed up all my plans...

[Orioles]

Dang, 5 picks so far today gents.

This must be some kind of record. Positively humming along.

And yes, I'm sure I just jinxed it.

Stephen of Esterhazy! The selection is yours, sir, and the time to strike is now! Good luck.

[Marlins]

Last year, once the draft officially started (10 picks in), we averaged 6 picks a day...

[Rockies]

What is our current average?

[Athletics]

I will eventually pick tonight, but narrowing down options...so likely not happening until you all are asleep.

[Orioles]

I will eventually pick tonight, but narrowing down options...so likely not happening until you all are asleep.

No worries. I never sleep though, so don't count me out to fire away with a choice at 3:37 AM.

Even with Rivas gone, I like my options at 77 whoever you decide to take.

[Cardinals]

What is our current average?

A little under 4.

[Phillies]

What is our current average?

A little under 4.

What’s the number if we remove Pat’s average?

[Orioles]

A few thoughts so far...

Looks like I'm betting heavy on prep arms this year but I like my draft class so far. My only immediate regret is passing on Hyeseong Kim at 47. Yes, it would've gone against my general draft philosophy, but he also might've been my starting 2B this year. Kudos to Ken for getting him 8 picks after that.

After a year where my organization was badly battered by pitching injuries (Barriera, Eury, Espino, Bradish, Graterol), I'm hoping prepsters Caminiti, Oakie and Bateman will inject some pitching talent into the pipeline and line up as reinforcements in a couple years. Bonemer and Wilfri De La Cruz give me a couple more high ceiling slugging young IF to sit on. Picks 107 and 147 to go for the O's.

I can't tell if JP is having a heck of a draft, or if it just seems like that because every other pick is fucking his. Either way I'm a big fan of his haul of Hagen Smith, Theo Gillen, Seaver King, Cris Rodriguez, Rainiel Rodriguez and Santucci so far. Looks like Perryman is roping in a typically quality collection of J15 toolsheds with Josuar Gonzalez and Brailyn Antunez. I'm def also a fan of Nils's draft to this point. Not picking until 30 and still adding Kellon Lindsay, Kash Mayfield and Harold Rivas is pretty impressive. Hard not to have a good draft when you pick first and get Roki Sasaki, but I also really like Nate's Yorger Bautista (31) and Cobb HIghtower (61) selections.

Let's keep this shit moving fellas!

[Rockies]

Thanks for the shout out. I have pondered trading up a few spots here and there, but all my guys had been falling to me.. until pick 91.

RedSox, Rangers(which, still shows as an Angels pick at #89 in the draft thread, btw), and Angels messed up pick 91 for me. I was looking at going INT again as I liked that group of players, particularly was looking hard at Shotaro Morii and Ayden Johnson.. When Morii was selected I was worried, and rightfully so as a run happened. I was hoping to have Johnson fall so I could add another Bahamian to the group of Jazz and Walcott. But it was not to be.

So Kale Fountain it is.. and I liked him but thought he could be there at 94 before the run happened. If anything, I've got 80 grade names going on this draft... Cobb Hightower and Kale Fountain are great baseball names. I was hesitant to dip into the Padres well again, but I think Its important to remember that their system is thin because of trades and graduations - not from lack of identifying talent. So I felt the gamble was worth it at 91 on Fountain - I'd seen him pretty high on some lists and liked some the reports I read.. Felt he was really good value at 91 at this point in the draft. Guess we'll see.

Overall, I am finding that although there's been a considerable drop off in talent after the first 10 or 12 players, there are still a lot of players to like.. and I'm more surprised that I've found players I really like this late.

Some other's drafts that stand out to me:

WhiteSox - Wetherholt and Condon at the top already make this a great haul.. I'm not worried about Condon yet.. and I like the gamble on the arms taken later.
RedSox - Kurtz, Sloan, Burkholder, Lewis, Soto in the 1st round? Ridiculous..
Cardinals - Tons of talent injected into the rebuild via this draft - I love Smith, Gillen, and the Rodriguez picks the most. Santucci and Sirota could be sneaky good picks.
Orioles - Caminiti and Bonemer are super solid picks, and I had my eye on Oakie as well.
Phillies - didn't pick until 43 and came away with Dickerson, Dix, and Amick so far.. Not too shabby. Not too shabby at all.
Marlins - Linsday, Mayfield, Rivas, and a gamble on Coronil?
Athletics - Surprising draft strategy from my point of view, not what I expected, but I like it.. Pena, Salas, and Defrank are some big INT names.. and Hill came out throwing gas this spring.

edit.. I should add Braves to this as well. Cam Smith, Doughty from the Indians pitching factory, Alvarez, DeBarge is pretty damn solid.

[Orioles]

Kale Fountain was next on my list when I took Bateman. I wanted Kash badly and loved the Cobb Hightower pick. You're absolutely right about the Padres (I hope). Hedged my bet a little by moving Lizarraga to get Bateman to keep it to just 3 of their top BA top 10 (De Vries, Cruz, Bateman). My top 10 is all Padres and Reds (Duno, Collier, Stewart).

Yeah, clearly in my quick glance at the draft board I overlooked Tullar's Red Sox haul to this point. Kurtz, Sloan, Lewis (big fan) and Soto all have star potential, and Morii was next on my list after Fountain when I picked at 87. Pretty impressive group.

You're also right that the White Sox have had a strong draft on second look. Love Wetherholt, Condon and Shields. Not sure about Neighbors, but I think AD made those high picks count.

I'd say the Marlins so far have acquired the most potential impact for their draft position. Since high-floor, low-ceiling players are immediately dead to me, I love Nils's draft class of high-ceiling teenagers. I probably would've taken one of the next two guys picked (Yorger Bautista or PJ Morlando) instead of Kellon Lindsay at 30, but Mayfield, Rivas and Coronil are all guys I really like and I def would've drafted Kash or Rivas if either lasted a few more picks.

[Marlins]

Thanks Dan. That Lindsay pick threw me for a loop as I was certain I was just going to take Soto there. Oh well.

[Orioles]

Strong class for the Nats too: Konnor Griffin, Vance Honeycutt and Tommy White with his first 3 picks.

[Brewers]

What’s the roster size supposed to be again?

[RedSox]

55, 10 draft

[Reds]

55, 10 draft

In other words a maximum of 45 non-draft players and up to 10 draft players from the last two drafts (2023 & 2024).

[Padres]

Apparently the draft died ... again!

[Mets]

Not posting in the marketplace thread - I have #110 & #140 currently remaining. I will move either - just looking to turn it into more '23 or '24 guys worth holding onto. I also have plenty of guys I'm willing to pick if they come up to me.

[Orioles]

Just can't quit those prep pitchers. That's 4 HS hurlers for me so far this draft. Caminiti, Oakie, Bateman, Meccage.

[Orioles]

College is for dweebs. My haul of high schoolers and my J15er will end up winning me the draft, again. Sorry dudes.