Hager has until Aug. 15 to decide whether to sign a professional contract or fulfill his college commitment to Arizona State, but he and his father said Monday the chances are good that he will sign with the Rays.
"Arizona State is a great place to play ball, but I'm ready to start my future in pro ball," Hager said. "Talking it through with my family, we want to have the right negotiations and everything, but hopefully (the money) will stay put."
Scott Hager added: "It's our belief that in talking with Tampa, we want Jake to sign and want him to go to work. It'll benefit him if he can sign and get like two months under his belt instead of waiting for the deadline in August."
========================================== On #52 Snell:
"It felt great," said Snell, who had a 1.00 earned-run average and struck out 128 batters in 63 innings in his senior season. "It was the best feeling. I can't even describe it. I'm so pumped to play for the Rays. I just want to play baseball."
Snell's father, Dave, said the family will decide over the next few days if his son, who has committed to the University of Washington, is going to sign.
"It's a big accomplishment for all his hard work," Dave said. "It's well deserved and now he's got to go out and prove himself."
============================================ On #42 Ames (sounds like a lock to sign!):
Ex-LCC pitching coach Rob Hippi said he was not certain, but could not recall a Lower Columbia baseball player being drafted as highly as Ames. Ames was selected in the 46th round of the 2009 MLB Draft by the Philadelphia Phillies and in the 30th round of the 2010 draft by the Colorado Rockies, but opted to continue pitching as an amateur each time. This time, however, Ames plans on turning pro. "I feel like I'm ready. I want to go and play ball," he said. ... Ames was 8-1 with one save, a 2.05 earned run average and had 108 strikeouts in 88 innings this season for Lower Columbia. His best fastball velocity of the season was 100 mph. He allowed one earned run in three appearances spanning 15 innings during the NWAACC tournament over Memorial Day weekend. Through it all, professional scouts packed the bleachers and walkway behind home plate at David Story Field whenever he pitched.
Hippi said that Rays' scouts were "all over (Ames)." Ames has not discussed compensation with the Devil Rays, but plans on doing so when he is finished with classes at Lower Columbia in 10 days.
"I haven't signed anything, and I have some school to take care of first," he said. "I will wait until after my last final (June 16). But I'm going to sign. There's no reason I'm not going to sign."
On #41 Goeddel (doesn't sound as positive, some is just the reporters spin though):
The question now: will he sign?
Goeddel is committed to UCLA, where his brother Erik spent three years before being drafted by the Mets last year.
“It’s definitely going to be a fun and long process,” said Goeddel, who will spend the summer with the Wenatchee AppleSox in Washington. “As of right now I’m still planning on going to UCLA. We’ll see what happens with the Rays.”
Despite some pre-draft rumors about his signing demands, Goeddel said he has no figure in mind. Considering the team that drafted him, you’ve got to think the odds are very good that Goeddel follows through with his plan and plays at UCLA. The Rays aren’t exactly known for their deep pockets. Plus, they had 10 picks today –- including four in front of Goeddel — so there will be no desperation to get this pick signed and off to the minors.
On #38 Martin (sounds like an at-slot pick, and he has his slot $ about right according to my estimates):
The Chicago White Sox told Corona Santiago's Brandon Martin that they wanted to make him the 47th pick of Major League Baseball's First Year Player Draft on Monday. That plan was foiled by the Tampa Bay Rays, who took Martin 38th.
The senior shortstop had accepted an offer to play at Oregon State, but he knows where he's leaning. "Definitely pro ball," he said.
Having been taken five picks into the compensation round, Martin said he will likely receive a slot contract valued at around $800,000.
Due to a mysterious back injury, Martin watched from the bench as Santiago was eliminated from the postseason last month by Huntington Beach Edison. Martin says he's now "back to 100 percent."
On #60 Harris (Cal State Los Angeles?? Is that UCLA?):
Harris was one of Tampa Bay's seven compensation round picks. He was watching on TV at home with his family and ran outside screaming when his name was called. "I got up and went right out the door. I had neighbors looking at me wondering what was going on," Harris said.
Harris had heard that he could go as high as the compensatory round and the Rays were among the top three teams he heard from, but it still came as a surprise. "I'm so happy right now," he said. "I definitely didn't expect to be taken today. I'm at a loss for words."
Harris spoke briefly with the Rays on Monday night and will talk to them more to figure out the next step. "I feel honored to be able to experience this," Harris said.
All three East Bay players have made college commitments -- Ross to UCLA, Stephenson to Washington and Harris to Cal State Los Angeles -- but have until Aug. 15 to be signed by their new major league club.
More on #32 Hager (optimistic young man, if nothing else :):
Hager also has a scholarship to Arizona State, meaning he’ll have to decide between signing with the Rays or attending college. College players aren’t eligible for the draft for three years. Hager, however, sounded pretty set on joining the Rays’ farm club. He calls their star third baseman Evan Longoria his favorite player. “Hopefully I will be playing alongside him soon,” Hager said.
15th rounder Parmenter via http://www.yumasun.com/sports/parmenter-70560-yuma-cibola.html
"“I've thought about it a lot,” Parmenter said. “It's looking really positive on the pro side, but in the back of your mind, you still want to get that education. You only get an opportunity like this once and that's kind of how I'm weighing things — just looking back and forth, teeter-totter.”
Parmenter likely won't be making up his mind for a few weeks. He said the Tampa Bay organization called him and said it would track his progress as he plays in traveling baseball competition this summer. Parmenter said he expects to keep a dialogue with both Tampa Bay and Arizona as he goes forward."
Goetzman has signed to play collegiately at Florida Gulf Coast University in Fort Myers. Major League clubs retain the rights to a selected player until August 15 or until the player begins or returns to a four-year college.
Goetzman said he definitely will turn pro. ... However, Goetzman is projected as an outfield prospect. It’s a position he has played in the past. “I played center field growing up,” he said. “I just started playing shortstop just to fill a hole. I feel good in center field.”
Still, the player said Tuesday that he'll use the next few weeks to evaluate his future, one that could take him straight to professional baseball or to Columbia, where he would suit up for the defending NCAA champion Gamecocks. Either option, he said, is a good one.
"Ultimately, it's just going to go on a gut feeling," English said. "They're both awesome, awesome situations. It's a win-win situation. There's really no wrong choice on how I feel." English received his heads up phone call from Beverly Hills Sports Council, the California-based advisor and sports agent firm. From there, he then spoke with Tampa Bay Rays scout Brad Matthews, whom English spent plenty of time getting to know during his final year with the Sharks. ... English said his scholarship offer from USC is just shy of a full ride, an honor given the 11.7 scholarships NCAA Division I teams are allowed.
Carter confirmed Monday that he intends to sign with the Rays, ending his run at WKU prior to his senior season.
“I loved all of it,” Carter said. “After high school I wasn’t sure what I was going to do and I actually signed (with WKU) past the signing day. It was sort of last minute, but I really appreciated everything people did for me at Western. I always want to thank coach Finwood, coach Allen, coach Myers for everything. And all the players and all the fans and friends. I appreciated everything.”
Carter’s not sure what the immediate future holds, he said, as he will now wait for his contract details to be worked out before heading to one of the Rays’ minor league teams.
One of those teams sits a few miles down the street from the WKU campus - the Bowling Green Hot Rods currently serve as the low-Class A affiliate of the Rays.
In college, Smith played in the infield and at catcher and finished this past season as the Eagles’ closer. He was listed as a shortstop on the Draft Tracker at mlb.com, but says he will be on the mound in the Rays’ farm system.
“They just wanted me to pitch,” Smith said. “A couple of the Tampa guys saw me pitch on a spring-break trip down at Daytona Beach.”
Smith is a right-hander, whose fastball reaches the mid-90s. He led the team this year with six saves. He sported a 2.87 ERA in 17 appearances and 15-2/3 innings.
ok so i have to ask now that the draft is over can we get some predictions on who you think will end up where for short season ball. can we have a guess for hudson valley and princeton rosters?
I was just about to ask the same thing. Also, when will we know for sure where each player is assigned? The day the games start? A couple days before? A week?
From the St. Petersburg Times "[RJ] Harrison said the Rays have been in contact with Guerrieri, and he plans to make a trip to South Carolina next week to meet with him and his family."
It seems that Guerrieri didn't answer Harrison's call Monday night, so they left a message. Then, Guerrieri at some point told the media his advisors directed him not to give interviews, which led to this whole "the Rays haven't talked to him!" thing. But it sounds like the area scout did talk to him Monday night, and Harrison talked to him either Tuesday or Wednesday. A little weird that he's not giving even local media interviews, but I don't think it's anything to worry about at this point.
I'll try to get a post up on short-season rosters soon but it's tough to know much of anything. Last year's high school picks still don't know if they'll be in HV or Princeton yet
I was thinking of doing one also but sort of decided not to. I was going to break it down by position for the 3 ss teams using the XST roster and the draft selections. But since we don't know which picks are even going to sign, and since HV starts play the 17th, seemed like kind of a waste of time. We'll have the real rosters in a week, at least for HV, and then Princeton and GCL a couple of days later. They usually have 'meet the team' nights a day or two before the first game, so rosters around the same time. I'll see if I can find out when HV and P-Rays will release rosters.
“It’s definitely going to be a tough decision,” Tyler Goeddel said about whether to go to college or sign with the Rays. “I’m just going to wait and see what they (Tampa Bay) say. They haven’t contacted me since the night I was drafted. Right now, I’m planning to go to UCLA in the fall.” ... Goeddel missed a month of his senior season due to a nasty bout of mono. He returned 15 pounds lighter to help the Lancers secure the No. 1 overall seed in the Division I playoff bracket. ... Goeddel will play in a summer collegiate league in Washington state this summer.
FGCU assistant coach Rusty McKee said he'd be shocked if the Rays don't sign Goetzman, who also was recruited by Central Florida and Miami.
"I think the Rays will do whatever they can," McKee said. "I don't think they would've drafted him if they didn't think they could sign him. I've talked to Granden and he's got an advisor and he's pretty educated."
23rd rounder Matt Johnson is a senior, so a lock to sign.
=========================================
24th rounder Charles Cononie is also signing, he's graduated from Towson:
Now, Charles Cononie said he is savoring these last few days at home until the real work begins. Where Cononie heads next is still not certain, but he said he is hopeful he will find out within the next day or two. He could be on the road as soon as Friday, he said.
32nd rounder Ryan Turner will sign (finally), here are comments from his college summer-league team in North Carolina:
Two current members of the Edenton Steamers have been chosen in the Major League Baseball draft. Shortstop John Polonius was selected by the Cleveland Indians in the 30th round Tuesday and reliever Ryan Turner was taken in the 32nd round by the Tampa Bay Rays Wednesday.
But the Steamers only expect to lose one of them — Turner.
“He’s signing,” Edenton general manager Chip Pruden said Wednesday. “He made the trip to the Outer Banks today, but he won’t be playing any more.”
It was the fourth time that Turner, a junior from Tarleton State who notched four saves and did not allow an earned run in four appearances with the Steamers, has been drafted, the third time by the Rays. He was also drafted by the Braves last year.
“I talked to a Tampa Bay area scout Tuesday night and he told me they were going to be taking lots of pitchers. He said there was a possibility they would take me. My mom came running down the stairs screaming after she saw my name show up on the computer this morning. Then the team called and told me they had picked me and they would be calling me later to get everything organized.” ... Butler went to McNeese from Temple (Texas) Junior College, where he went 6-2 with a 4.66 ERA in 2009. After having “Tommy John” elbow surgery in May of 2009, Butler made 20 appearances at McNeese in 2010, going 1-4. Butler said he has fully recovered from the surgery. “Working with Coach (Terry) Burrows, I have been able to get back to where I was before the surgery,” he said.
Comments from 35th rounder John Magliozzi, a Florida commit:
"I was really surprised, but going into it I knew that if I told people what I wanted for a number I might drop a little bit," Magliozzi said. "But things ended up working out."
Magliozzi said he is "not necessarily" ready to give the Gators his full attention, saying "As of right now, we'll see what the Rays have to offer and go from there."
Looks like we'll be getting ourselves a couple of Muleriders, 33rd and 38th rounders, since they are both seniors:
Southern Arkansas senior starting pitcher Dan Bream (6-6, 185, Sr., Coldwater, Mich.) and senior catcher Brandon Choate (6-0, 205, Sr., Hooks, Texas) will pursue their professional baseball careers with the same organization, as both were selected Wednesday in the final rounds of the last day of the Major League Baseball draft by the Tampa Bay Rays. ... Bream was the ace of this year's Southern Arkansas staff, posting a 12-3 record and one save with a 2.49 ERA, with team-highs of 98 strikeouts in 108 1/3 innings of work. He made 15 starts in 17 appearances, with two shutouts in five complete games, and was honored as an All-South Region honoree on the three post-season teams. ... Choate becomes SAU's first catcher ever to be drafted, earning All-America honors this season in 47 games behind the plate. He hit .313 with a team-leading 14 home runs and .647 slugging percentage, and added 22 doubles and 54 RBI. Choate committed just eight errors in his two-year career at Southern Arkansas, only three this season, while throwing out 16 of 42 trying to steal for a 38 percent rate this spring. ... "We are extremely excited for Dan and Brandon," stated Mulerider Coach Steve Browning. ... "Ricky Drexler, area scout for Tampa Bay, followed both of these guys all year long and it paid off for not only him, but for them as well."
37th round Tanner Poppe sounds like one who will not sign:
Two years ago, out of high school, Kansas City made Poppe their 37th-round selection. Instead of signing, he elected to go to college. All indications point to him following the same path this year.
“He’ll definitely be back,” KU coach Ritch Price said. “I think being drafted speaks volumes for his potential, but he needs to continue to develop. He’s not ready to go play professional baseball yet and, you know what, Tanner knows it.” ... Poppe, a physical therapy major who owns a 3.9 GPA, started 13 games this season and finished 3-6 with a 3.66 ERA. He was second on the team in innings pitched (71 1⁄3) and strikeouts (47). Despite putting up solid numbers in his first year as a full-time starter, Price said Poppe was focused on continuing to improve in college.
“When he goes out, he wants to be ready to be a guy who has a career, not just a guy who signs and plays two years and he’s done,” Price said.
This clip is from over a year ago, on June 16, 2010, which mentions 16th rounder Bret McAfee (and will help explain the next one):
Big success is not guaranteed for an area baseball hopeful who attends a Tampa Bay Rays tryout, but Tampa Bay scout Pat Murphy remembers four years ago when a skinny 14-year-old got his attention with his glove-popping fastballs. ... Murphy said Jenkins' success is an example on why high school baseball players should check out open tryouts by Major League teams, such as the one Murphy held Wednesday at The Ballpark of Hallsville. It is the 10th year Murphy has held such a camp in the area, the fifth straight year he has worked with Hallsville baseball coach Scott Mitchell, who also works with the Rays. ... Murphy has East Texas roots as a native of New Boston with several relatives living in Kilgore and Longview. He said he feels like he has a pipeline to a somewhat ignored area of good baseball talent in East Texas, especially in one area. "The trend for guys in this area is athleticism. There are guys who can run," Murphy said. "We like guys who can run, like Carl Crawford and B.J. Upton." Running — in the form of 60-yard dashes — was one of three areas position players were tested at Wednesday's tryout. They were also tested on throws from their positions and hitting with 12 swings each. ... Murphy said among the players who caught his attention were Pine Tree senior shortstop-center fielder Brett McAfee and Hallsville senior first baseman Blaise Warrick.
And here is why the tryout mattered for McAfee (and check out these bonus demands!!!):
McAfee holds the unusual distinction of being drafted despite not playing a single inning of his senior season. The 5-11 right-hander had Tommy John surgery on his elbow on March 7 and missed all of the 2011 season for Pine Tree, but was still the 510th pick of the draft.
"I'm very excited about it," McAfee said. "I wasn't real sure what round I would be taken in, and I was a little surprised that they took me in the 16th round."
Rays representatives met with McAfee last Saturday, and were informed of what it would take to sign McAfee away from Panola. "If they give top three to five round money, then I will be signing. They know what to expect," McAfee said. "If not, I plan on going to Panola and upping my status for next year's draft."
McAfee said the Rays have been receiving updates about his recovery, and the two sides will meet next week to begin contract negotiations.
"For them to go ahead and draft him that high without playing his senior year, that means Tampa Bay must be really high on him," said Steve Marrs, Pine Tree's head baseball coach from 2007-10. "I would not be surprised if he went ahead and signed." ... "It's his decision," Marrs said. "There's advantages both ways, but I know that Brett has a real desire to play professional baseball."
Another senior who should sign, 41st rounder Shay Crawford:
Senior left-hander Shay Crawford was chosen in the 41st round by the Tampa Bay Rays (pick No. 1260). He was drafted by Area Scout Milt Hill with help from local scout George Koontz.
“Shay had arguably the best season ever by a pitcher in a Flames uniform culminated with one of the most impressive single game performances against Lubbock Christian in the World Series,” noted Lee coach Mark Brew.
“Several organizations had put Crawford (11-2, 1.22 ERA) on the draft board, but I think the Rays organization is a good fit for him,” added Brew. “They have a great track record of developing pitchers and the fact that Shay is left-handed should help him tremendously. I am really excited that he got this opportunity.”
Another senior who will sign, update on 39th TJ Geith:
"First of all, I was glad for T.J.," coach Robichaux said. "I'm always glad when someone gives our seniors a chance to play pro ball. In Austin's case, I told him it's an honor to be drafted because pro teams are choosing about 1,500 players a year in the United States. It's a privilege to get drafted." ... "I knew I had a chance to get drafted as a senior," said Geith, the 44th player to be drafted from the program under coach Robichaux. "I'm just excited to get a chance to keep playing baseball." ... Regardless of where he ends up, Geith is ready to compete. "When I got picked up by the White Sox two years ago, I really didn't have anything to celebrate because I knew I was going to play in college," Geith said. "This time around I actually get a chance to go play pro ball and see what I can make of it."
Dave Kubiak may have some explaining to do when his new club, the Tampa Bay Rays, finds that he has a New York Yankees logo tattooed on the inside of his left arm. But there is an explanation.
Kubiak, who played for the Southold/Greenport Clippers when he attended Southold High School, wears the tattoo as a tribute to his late grandfather, Arthur Phillips. Phillips, who died last year, was a tremendous Yankees fan. ... Kubiak, a 6-foot-7, 245-pound right-hander, was the Great Danes’ ace pitcher, starting 14 games on the mound this season. He recorded a 4.72 earned run average as a senior and led the Albany pitching staff with 73 strikeouts. He threw five complete games, including one shutout, and allowed 43 earned runs in 82 innings of work. ... Kubiak’s pitching arsenal includes a two-seam fastball, four-seam cutter, curveball, changeup and splitter. Kubiak said that one of the things he learned at Albany was that he cannot strike everyone out. He describes himself as a ground-ball pitcher.
“I’m not going to throw 89, 91 [miles per hour] and overpower anybody any more,” he said. “I’ll strike some people out, but that’s not what I’m looking for. I’m pitching to contact. … Make them get thrown out. It’s a hard game as it is, don’t make it harder.”
Kubiak said he expected to sign a contract Saturday and then receive an assignment, possibly in West Virginia, possibly in Hudson Valley. From here on in, though, he will be facing wood bats, not aluminum ones. “Thank God,” he said. “I’m done with aluminum bats.” ... What is the best thing about being drafted?
“Just knowing that I have a job now and it will probably be the best job I ever had,” he said. “It’s crazy that they’re giving me money to play this game.”
“(The Rays) called to say they were going to pick me, perhaps in the first round, so we were waiting and waiting,” Davis said. “We went over to (Elk Grove head coach Jeff ) Carson’s house to hang out, waiting to hear something. Then they called me this morning and said they’d pick me the second or third round.”
Davis didn’t get the call then and needed to leave to drive to a photo shoot in downtown Sacramento. On his way, a representative from the Rays finally phoned. ... Davis said the Rays’ brass is expected to come to his home in a little more than a week to discuss a contract.
Davis has a tough decision to make this summer because he’s already inked a letter-of-intent to Cal State Fullerton, annually one of the top college programs in the country. ... “I’ve got so many options going on right now,” he said. “The calls from Fullerton want me to come to Fullerton, but I want to sit back and just weigh my options.” ... Davis is Carlson’s 10th Elk Grove player to be drafted out of high school and thinks he’ll have a nice offer brought to him by the Rays.
“He has a great opportunity at a great baseball school at Fullerton to fall back on,” Carlson said. “He’ll have great leverage in his negotiations. Just because he was drafted fifth round doesn’t mean he’ll get fifth round money. They’ll have to come to him with something like second round money to entice him to think about maybe signing this year.”
Sounds like 20th rounder Garret Smith may be the first to sign:
Smith has not yet signed a contract with the team, but will do so on Thursday night. The terms of the deal haven't yet been disclosed to Smith, and most likely won't be shared with the public. ... Smith will learn his fate tonight, as the scout drives up from New York to present him with his contract and inform him of where he will play. Smith said that the earliest he may start playing is in two weeks.
Taylor Guerrieri: "I've always pictured myself playing college baseball first before any professional baseball takes place," Guerrieri said. "I'm a huge Gamecocks fan, and I'm still very committed to [South Carolina]. It's going to be a tough decision."
Was Gurreier considered a tough sign coming in to the draft? And any news on if or when Torrez may sign? I know he doesn't really have any standout tools, but I just saw a preseason draft top 150 list and he was #29 on it and it said he could potentially be a good offensive 2B. Did Torrez's season this year really drop him that much?
What exactly is the problem with sending Sale, Vettleson, and Brett to the New York-Penn League? Do they *really* need to be facing freshly-drafted high school pitching?
I agree~why not Sale, Vettleson, Brett, DePew, O'Connor, and the list goes on, on HV's roster? Several of the players listed on Anonymous' list were in HV last year, and I would not consider them strong. And why on earth is Dickmann coming back to HV? and McEachern? Strange lineup, to be sure. HV could be in for a long season.
As a long time HV fan, I sometimes wonder why decisions are made, but then realize this although a team, this is an evaluation and instructional league. More individual than team. I would still rather watch these young men give it all they have versus the high paid prima donnas that inhabit the major leagues. Go Gades Cant wait
Sale, Brett, O'connor, and Dixon all have a lot of growing to do. Saw them all in XST. O'Connor was pulled from a game because he was lazy. He let a guy on first not only get second on a pass ball, but also get 3rd. Dixon jogged after a ball yesterday in a game and the guy hitting got an in the park homerun. The roster was not a speculation it is the actual roster. Yall think the guys that are going to hudson valley aren't very good, but from what I saw in XST those guys were the best there. And I think some of those guys are going to surprise you. Yall say you don't play favorites, but apparently you do. I mean Sale, Brett, and Dixon all struggle in XST you send them up to the NYPL they are going to struggle there too.
well it is what is. i am looking forward to the renegade season. i really think some people are going to be surprise with the guys that are coming up. yea maybe they aren't all first, second, third, or even in the top ten rounds of last year or previous drafts. but i can guarntee you they are ballplayers and they are prospects of this organization. maybe not the bloggers "top prospects" but they are prospects and they are pretty dang good ones. i am willing to bet by the end of the year they might even be in the rays top prospects and some of these boys the bloggers like so much will be moved down on the list.
Totally unrelated to the draft but any information on Oscar Hernandez in the VSL? Dude is raking .421/.506/.908 with 11 HR in 76 AB. Kid is 17 years old and that is some video game numbers right there.
I would caution the Rays on sending a lower skilled group to Hudson Valley. There was serious talk of switching afiiliates at the end of the last PDC, a couple of more bad seasons might seal the deal.
The more I look at the HV roster, the more I realize how little talent we've been given this year. (I have seen several of them play.) Princeton is, again, becoming the low level "stacked" team. TB keeps picking high draft high school picks and the recent trend seems to be to send the kids to GC or Princeton and then the best jump over HV to Bowling Green. Only time will tell, but I forecast a real challenge for Coach Jared Sandberg. Let's go Gades!
12th rounder Trevor Mitsui was named the area prep player of the year by the local paper (1s/52 Blake Snell also made 1st team all-area). Lots of interesting background on him, tales of 500-foot homeruns etc., but here is the signing part:
Mitsui hasn't made the decision to go pro or honor his commitment to the UW, nor will he anytime soon before the Aug. 15 deadline. At this point he feels it's a 50/50 decision. He admits it would be exciting to continue to play with Snell, who also signed with UW but is widely speculated will sign with the Rays after being selected 52nd overall.
“It would be really cool if we got a chance to room together down at rookie ball,” Mitsui said. “We're both from the same high school. We started playing ball since we were 11 or 12 and we've been on the same team ever since. It's cool to have someone to share all those memories with.” ... For now Mitsui will enjoy playing summer ball for the Seattle Stars, where opponents haven't realized how to pitch around him yet the way Wesco teams did. In his first two games of the summer season he hit 4-for-6 with two homers. When the summer is done he'll decide between UW where he thinks he'd study either business or criminal justice and a contract with the Rays.
I really like the profile of this Mitsui kid. Great average to go with excellent power and plenty of growth still there. My sleeper pick in years to come, hoping it starts with signing on the Rays dotted line.
I guess game summaries and any discussion of current players/prospects has no juice. Look's like it's gonna be all draft - all the time until August. Yawn ...
We'll be getting back to those this week (probably tomorrow), I just needed a bit of time to unwind after the draft. Plus we'll have short-season team previews once the rosters come out.
Oh ... and I should have my first MiL-Breakdown up within the next week. And then it's going to be coming regularly again. Sorry for the Draft related pause of them.
BurGi i love your breakdowns. Looking forward to another one. Glad your going to be doing them weekly. I am also looking forward to the releases of the short season rosters :) Go Gades, PRays, and GCL Rays!!!
The Rays' second-round pick, Palmetto High OF Granden Goetzman, said he's going to sign at Tropicana Field tonight and catch the Red Sox game. "I'm excited to get my pro career going," he said. "It's going to be a good day."
The[y] also added 32nd round pick RHP Ryan Turner, 33rd round pick RHP Daniel Bream and 41st round pick LHP Shay Crawford. They have now signed 23 draftees.
Nice news on Mitsui. He's the best of the late picks by a long shot IMO, and the stories I've heard about him make him sound like Justin Smoak coming out of high school. No way he'll sign before the deadline though - there's no slot for 12th rounders, but I suspect it would take at least fourth round money (possibly much more) to get him to sign, and MLB just isn't going to approve a big money bonus for a lower pick before the deadline approaches. - Brick
Nice, long profile on 2nd rounder Lenny Linksy. Here is the portion on signing, no idea what it means:
While he still plans to finish his degree in either business or psychology, the young Linsky is ready to begin his journey to the major league level, beginning with the Rays instructional leagues before working his way up through the minor league system.
“I haven’t made up my mind 100 percent just yet, but I want to focus on baseball for a year and develop my body, as well as my pitching. I am hoping at one point I will be finishing at Hawaii. They got me so far and I want to finish with a degree,” Linsky said. “I believe I can do it and that is driving me. I would see it as a failure if I was a pretty good minor league player who never made it.”
Camdenton played Warsaw during the spring season. In a Tri-County Conference game at Osage in early May, Eierman crushed a homer on the first pitch of the game.
"The thing that sets him apart from a lot of kids at the high school level is how he approaches things," Moulder said. "He hustles all the time. He stands out just because of how he approaches the game. Plus, he's a very talented player."
Moulder said he spoke to Eierman's dad, who played minor league baseball, on Tuesday night. Eierman hadn't yet made a decision on signing with Tampa Bay or playing in college at LSU.
Update on 37th rounder Tanner Poppe of Kansas (Robby Price's dad is their coach):
Senior ace T.J. Walz; Saturday starter Tanner Poppe, a 21-year-old sophomore; and junior closer Colton Murray were picked on Days 2 and 3 of the draft. Poppe is expected to return next season, but the other two figure to be gone.
Magliozzi, who has not completely ruled out an offer from Tampa Bay, hit .629 this season and was 7-0 with an 0.95 earned run average with 73 strikeouts in 42 innings. He will probably play for an AAU team in Georgia this summer before heading to the University of Florida.
If Hager signed, it would already be our 5th draftee signed from the 1st round, yet we still have another 5 to go. Guerreri, Mahtook, Eierman and Carpenter top my list of who I want signed next
That number 5 is based off the fact that Ames and Harris have pretty much signed.
Jake Hager has signed, now the earliest pick to ink a deal. Harrison will visit Guerreri on Wednesday. Haven't heard a word on Mahtook but I was dreaming of the Princeton OF of Sale, Mahtook, Vettleson....
I think Ames will go to the Princeton rotation at first. Maybe move up to HDV later on.
I think Mahtook and Guerrieri won't sign before the deadline as they will get some overslot money. Only Mahtook has a chance in my opinion to sign earlier (maybe slight overslot).
Thought Linsky and Garvin would have signed by now.
Yeah, I was thinking we would lock up all the 1st rounders cept for Guerrieri and Mahtook fast. Surprised Martin and Garvin haven't signed yet. Goedell may not be signed at all but I hope he is.
According to MLB.com (Bill Chastain), Floethe has been assigned to Hudson Valley, Harris to the GCL, and Ames and Hager to Princeton.
Hager is the big surprise, as I don't think they've sent any HS draftees to Princeton the year they signed since they added the GCL team. It is doubly surprising since Princeton already has two SSs in Taylor Motter and Felix Gonzalez. Granted, Gonzalez is a non-prospect and I would be very happy if Motter turned into a Bortnick-type prospect, but the GCL team has outfielder Ariel Soriano playing SS. Perhaps they expect to sign Martin soon and send him to the GCL?
This article quotes Hager as getting a $966,000 bonus, we'll have to try and confirm which is correct:
Hager said he agreed to a $966,000 signing bonus. Baseball America reported that Major League Baseball's suggested bonus for the No. 32 pick was $954,000.
"It's great, but I'm not worried about the money right now and I'm just ready to go out and play ball and pursue my dream," Hager said.
Hager could have negotiated until Aug. 15, but said signing early will allow him to play this summer rather than wait until next season. Hager said he will head to Princeton, W.Va., on Thursday to report to Tampa Bay's Appalachian League franchise. Princeton's season started on Tuesday.
Former Hawaii pitcher Lenny Linsky officially began the next phase of his baseball career by signing a contract with the Tampa Bay Rays today.
Linsky signed his first professional contract at Tropicana Field, the Rays’ home in St. Petersburg, Fla., and was assigned to the Hudson Valley Renegades, the Rays’ short-season single-A affiliate in the New York-Penn League.
“I really don’t have words to describe it,” said Linsky, who leaves today to join the Renegades.
Thanks anon, saw it too. 1s/38 Brandon Martin has signed:
The Rays signed another compensation-round pick, SS Brandon Martin, No. 38 overall, and were close with second-rounder RHP Lenny Linsky (No. 89). Scouting director R.J. Harrison had his first meeting with top pick RHP Taylor Guerrieri, and talks will continue.
I like the suggestion of a list with columns stating players names, and where they were assigned, but I'd also like a 3rd column saying whether they were college, juco, or high school. So far, it looks as though Princeton is becoming the "dream team" of the TB Rays- nice for Michael Johns.
I added a "Team" column to the right side showing which affiliate they were initially assigned. I figured it would be easier to keep it all in one place for reference. I put the ? in on guys who haven't been assigned yet just to remind myself to check on them. Anything else that should be added?
Doug, Nice additions to the chart, easy to read with all info in one place. Also the Rays Depth Chart is a good place to go to check rosters of all the teams in the Rays System. I know it is probably a lot of work to keep this current. It has passed up the cork board. Keep up the good work, it is appreciated.
It was just something I was looking for to see how easy the signing is to see if they are in HS, JC, a JR or a SR. Really would only add the JR and SR part so can I request that all seniors get a * near their name? I just want to know who's a lock to sign, thank you.
Thanks everyone, sorry I didn't have that on there sooner. We had it last year, just forgot to add it on this year. If you want to compare where signees were sent last year to this year just go to "Draft History" at the top and then click on "2010 Signing Board". I haven't gone back and compared the affiliate assignments yet, but if anyone wants to, that's where the info is.
Joeybw, that sounds like another good idea. Probably should note seniors and sophomores too, and everyone else is a junior. I've forgotten who all the senior (and soph) picks were at this point, so I'll have to go back and look them all up, might take me a while. But I agree, it's worth doing.
Tom, thanks on the depth chart. It's only bad when all of the full-season rosters are announced and when the short-season ones come out. Otherwise I just check every day and update, not too hard. If you get behind though, big mess. The standings take a lot more of my time every day.
Update on 5/180 J.D. Davis (note: he has been offered a contract, all drafted players are, they just haven't agreed on terms, meaning bonus amount):
Tampa Bay’s fifth round pick, Elk Grove’s J.D. Davis, now has another item to consider in his decision whether to attend Cal State-Fullerton or sign a professional contract.
Fullerton head coach Dave Serrano resigned June 15 to become the head baseball coach at the University of Tennessee.
According to Davis’ father, Greg, his son is now waiting to see who will replace Serrano. He added that a representative of the Rays have visited their home, but didn’t offer a contract.
I don't know how crazy it may sound but I think Mitsui will be the best talent out of our draft class if we can get him signed.
Besides the obvious front 2, there are still some guys here I would love to see signed. I expect to hear Garvin signed any day. I really, really hope we can sign Goedell. Other guys I would love to see get signed are Torrez, Eierman, Carpenter and McCafee
Being from the Seattle Area, I can tell you about Mitsui. He is a Monster. He not only can hit a ball a country mile but has a nice swing. He hits the ball on the barrell consistently and strikes out very seldom.He can hit for a good average on top of the power. Good plate discipline, a hard worker and great individual. Your scout up here in the Pac NW should be getting a pay raise as he has corraled some excellent talent up here. All 3 of last yrs picks as well as Snell, Ames, and Mitsui this year. Well Done Rays!
Yes,I believe he is signable.I think he was easily a top 3 Round pick. He however is a good student and could go to the University of Washington to increase his worth. I think he could be the Huskies number 4 hitter right now as a Freshman. Imho this kid is a better hitter than Sale with the same kind of power.
Mahtook said Friday there hasn’t been much progress in his negotiations with the Tampa Bay Rays, who picked him with the 31st spot in the 2011 Major League Baseball Draft last month. ... “LSU is an absolutely great, special and awesome place, and I wouldn’t hesitate to go back,” Mahtook said. “If I could go back for my senior year, get my degree and finish off my career there playing for a really good team that has a chance to win a national championship, I’d love that. The door to LSU is still completely open for me, and that’s still a very attractive option to me. I’m very open-minded about the idea of going back.” ... “I have talked to them a few times since I got drafted and they’ve been good, informational talks,” Mahtook said.
“Whatever pace the process moves at is fine with me. I’ve enjoyed talking to them and they’ve been good to me. It all boils down to me wanting to be treated fairly and I feel like they’ve done that.
I have a question. A player that was drafted in the lower rounds, 25th and on. What is the chance of them recieving an offer? Is it still good that, a team who has not offera player yet, but is still in contact with the draftee, have a chance of recieving an offer by the deadline?
I'm assuming the player in question is playing summer ball and the team is monitoring that while staying in contact. I don't know for sure but my guess is that all the college players likely received a take it or leave it offer of the minimum signing bonus, which is customary. It's not totally out of the realm of possibility for a late, late-round HS guy to sign for a sizable offer (the Phillies gave Jarred Cosart a big bonus as a 38th rounder out of HS) but it's unusual and would likely depend on summer ball performance. Same goes for Junior College players, I imagine.
Didn't think Davis was gonna sign actually. Anyway still a lot of guys that we need to make sure we get signed, headlined by the top 2 picks of course but Goedell, Mitsui, Torrez and Garvin please. Not a huge fan of Garvin but just sign all the 1st rounders.
FWIW, BA is reporting that "Under draft provisions for two-sport athletes, Tampa Bay will spread Eierman's bonus over five years. The net present value of his bonus is $498,521."
I'm confused. Did 3B Riccio Torrez sign or didn't he? Tampa Bay Rays website still says, "UNSIGNED." Baseball America and Rays Prospects say that he did sign. If he did sign, where is he? To where is he being assigned?
I'm pretty sure Torrez has signed. The confusion might be coming over the final details and they may not be pushing it since he probably wont play this season at this point.
The one that confuses me is 5th rounder, JD Davis, I read he signed and now I'm reading he wont be signing.
Estimated slot for the first 5 rounds: $9,629,400
ReplyDeleteOn #32 Hager:
ReplyDeleteHager has until Aug. 15 to decide whether to sign a professional contract or fulfill his college commitment to Arizona State, but he and his father said Monday the chances are good that he will sign with the Rays.
"Arizona State is a great place to play ball, but I'm ready to start my future in pro ball," Hager said. "Talking it through with my family, we want to have the right negotiations and everything, but hopefully (the money) will stay put."
Scott Hager added: "It's our belief that in talking with Tampa, we want Jake to sign and want him to go to work. It'll benefit him if he can sign and get like two months under his belt instead of waiting for the deadline in August."
Link: http://www.lvrj.com/sports/rays-call-emotional-for-hager-123313593.html
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On #52 Snell:
"It felt great," said Snell, who had a 1.00 earned-run average and struck out 128 batters in 63 innings in his senior season. "It was the best feeling. I can't even describe it. I'm so pumped to play for the Rays. I just want to play baseball."
Snell's father, Dave, said the family will decide over the next few days if his son, who has committed to the University of Washington, is going to sign.
"It's a big accomplishment for all his hard work," Dave said. "It's well deserved and now he's got to go out and prove himself."
Link: http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/mariners/2015250572_basenotes07.html
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On #42 Ames (sounds like a lock to sign!):
Ex-LCC pitching coach Rob Hippi said he was not certain, but could not recall a Lower Columbia baseball player being drafted as highly as Ames. Ames was selected in the 46th round of the 2009 MLB Draft by the Philadelphia Phillies and in the 30th round of the 2010 draft by the Colorado Rockies, but opted to continue pitching as an amateur each time. This time, however, Ames plans on turning pro. "I feel like I'm ready. I want to go and play ball," he said.
...
Ames was 8-1 with one save, a 2.05 earned run average and had 108 strikeouts in 88 innings this season for Lower Columbia. His best fastball velocity of the season was 100 mph. He allowed one earned run in three appearances spanning 15 innings during the NWAACC tournament over Memorial Day weekend. Through it all, professional scouts packed the bleachers and walkway behind home plate at David Story Field whenever he pitched.
Hippi said that Rays' scouts were "all over (Ames)." Ames has not discussed compensation with the Devil Rays, but plans on doing so when he is finished with classes at Lower Columbia in 10 days.
"I haven't signed anything, and I have some school to take care of first," he said. "I will wait until after my last final (June 16). But I'm going to sign. There's no reason I'm not going to sign."
Link: http://tdn.com/sports/baseball/article_3017171a-90ba-11e0-b084-001cc4c03286.html
On #41 Goeddel (doesn't sound as positive, some is just the reporters spin though):
ReplyDeleteThe question now: will he sign?
Goeddel is committed to UCLA, where his brother Erik spent three years before being drafted by the Mets last year.
“It’s definitely going to be a fun and long process,” said Goeddel, who will spend the summer with the Wenatchee AppleSox in Washington. “As of right now I’m still planning on going to UCLA. We’ll see what happens with the Rays.”
Despite some pre-draft rumors about his signing demands, Goeddel said he has no figure in mind. Considering the team that drafted him, you’ve got to think the odds are very good that Goeddel follows through with his plan and plays at UCLA. The Rays aren’t exactly known for their deep pockets. Plus, they had 10 picks today –- including four in front of Goeddel — so there will be no desperation to get this pick signed and off to the minors.
Links: http://blogs.mercurynews.com/hssports/2011/06/06/rays-draft-st-francis-goeddel/
On #38 Martin (sounds like an at-slot pick, and he has his slot $ about right according to my estimates):
ReplyDeleteThe Chicago White Sox told Corona Santiago's Brandon Martin that they wanted to make him the 47th pick of Major League Baseball's First Year Player Draft on Monday. That plan was foiled by the Tampa Bay Rays, who took Martin 38th.
The senior shortstop had accepted an offer to play at Oregon State, but he knows where he's leaning. "Definitely pro ball," he said.
Having been taken five picks into the compensation round, Martin said he will likely receive a slot contract valued at around $800,000.
Due to a mysterious back injury, Martin watched from the bench as Santiago was eliminated from the postseason last month by Huntington Beach Edison. Martin says he's now "back to 100 percent."
Link: http://www.pe.com/sports/highschool/content/all/stories/PE_Sports_Local_D_local_kid.40083da.html
On #60 Harris (Cal State Los Angeles?? Is that UCLA?):
ReplyDeleteHarris was one of Tampa Bay's seven compensation round picks. He was watching on TV at home with his family and ran outside screaming when his name was called. "I got up and went right out the door. I had neighbors looking at me wondering what was going on," Harris said.
Harris had heard that he could go as high as the compensatory round and the Rays were among the top three teams he heard from, but it still came as a surprise. "I'm so happy right now," he said. "I definitely didn't expect to be taken today. I'm at a loss for words."
Harris spoke briefly with the Rays on Monday night and will talk to them more to figure out the next step. "I feel honored to be able to experience this," Harris said.
All three East Bay players have made college commitments -- Ross to UCLA, Stephenson to Washington and Harris to Cal State Los Angeles -- but have until Aug. 15 to be signed by their new major league club.
Link: http://www.mercurynews.com/sports/ci_18220109?nclick_check=1
More on #32 Hager (optimistic young man, if nothing else :):
ReplyDeleteHager also has a scholarship to Arizona State, meaning he’ll have to decide between signing with the Rays or attending college. College players aren’t eligible for the draft for three years. Hager, however, sounded pretty set on joining the Rays’ farm club. He calls their star third baseman Evan Longoria his favorite player. “Hopefully I will be playing alongside him soon,” Hager said.
Link: http://www.lasvegassun.com/news/2011/jun/06/las-vegas-tyler-anderson-picked-first-round-colora/
15th rounder Parmenter via http://www.yumasun.com/sports/parmenter-70560-yuma-cibola.html
ReplyDelete"“I've thought about it a lot,” Parmenter said. “It's looking really positive on the pro side, but in the back of your mind, you still want to get that education. You only get an opportunity like this once and that's kind of how I'm weighing things — just looking back and forth, teeter-totter.”
Parmenter likely won't be making up his mind for a few weeks. He said the Tampa Bay organization called him and said it would track his progress as he plays in traveling baseball competition this summer. Parmenter said he expects to keep a dialogue with both Tampa Bay and Arizona as he goes forward."
On #2/75 Goetzman:
ReplyDeleteGoetzman has signed to play collegiately at Florida Gulf Coast University in Fort Myers. Major League clubs retain the rights to a selected player until August 15 or until the player begins or returns to a four-year college.
Goetzman said he definitely will turn pro.
...
However, Goetzman is projected as an outfield prospect. It’s a position he has played in the past. “I played center field growing up,” he said. “I just started playing shortstop just to fill a hole. I feel good in center field.”
Link: http://www.bradenton.com/2011/06/08/3256824/rays-draft-palmetto-slugger.html
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On 13/420 Tanner English:
Still, the player said Tuesday that he'll use the next few weeks to evaluate his future, one that could take him straight to professional baseball or to Columbia, where he would suit up for the defending NCAA champion Gamecocks. Either option, he said, is a good one.
"Ultimately, it's just going to go on a gut feeling," English said. "They're both awesome, awesome situations. It's a win-win situation. There's really no wrong choice on how I feel."
English received his heads up phone call from Beverly Hills Sports Council, the California-based advisor and sports agent firm. From there, he then spoke with Tampa Bay Rays scout Brad Matthews, whom English spent plenty of time getting to know during his final year with the Sharks.
...
English said his scholarship offer from USC is just shy of a full ride, an honor given the 11.7 scholarships NCAA Division I teams are allowed.
Link: http://www.thesunnews.com/2011/06/08/2207435/english-taken-by-rays-in-round.html
On #2/89 Lenny Linsky (sounds like a lock):
ReplyDeleteWalters and Linsky said they expected to begin negotiations on a contract today and were hopeful to report for summer ball as early as next week.
Link: http://www.staradvertiser.com/sports/sportsnews/20110608_Rays_take_Linsky_in_the_second_round.html
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On #1s/56 Kes Carter (another lock to sign):
Carter confirmed Monday that he intends to sign with the Rays, ending his run at WKU prior to his senior season.
“I loved all of it,” Carter said. “After high school I wasn’t sure what I was going to do and I actually signed (with WKU) past the signing day. It was sort of last minute, but I really appreciated everything people did for me at Western. I always want to thank coach Finwood, coach Allen, coach Myers for everything. And all the players and all the fans and friends. I appreciated everything.”
Carter’s not sure what the immediate future holds, he said, as he will now wait for his contract details to be worked out before heading to one of the Rays’ minor league teams.
One of those teams sits a few miles down the street from the WKU campus - the Bowling Green Hot Rods currently serve as the low-Class A affiliate of the Rays.
Link: http://bgdailynews.com/articles/2011/06/07/sports/sports2.txt
Very interesting on #20/630 Garret Smith:
ReplyDeleteIn college, Smith played in the infield and at catcher and finished this past season as the Eagles’ closer. He was listed as a shortstop on the Draft Tracker at mlb.com, but says he will be on the mound in the Rays’ farm system.
“They just wanted me to pitch,” Smith said. “A couple of the Tampa guys saw me pitch on a spring-break trip down at Daytona Beach.”
Smith is a right-hander, whose fastball reaches the mid-90s. He led the team this year with six saves. He sported a 2.87 ERA in 17 appearances and 15-2/3 innings.
Link: http://www.telegram.com/article/20110608/NEWS/106089891/1009/sports
Any chance we will be able to sign John Magliozzi?
ReplyDeleteI don't think we got enough college players.
ReplyDeleteok so i have to ask now that the draft is over can we get some predictions on who you think will end up where for short season ball. can we have a guess for hudson valley and princeton rosters?
ReplyDeleteAnon @ 5:24
ReplyDeleteI was just about to ask the same thing. Also, when will we know for sure where each player is assigned? The day the games start? A couple days before? A week?
Well this is not a good start to the Guerrier negotiations.
ReplyDeletehttp://www.theledger.com/article/20110607/NEWS/110609450/1344/sports?Title=Rays-Can-t-Reach-No-1-Pick-Guerrieri-
From the St. Petersburg Times
ReplyDelete"[RJ] Harrison said the Rays have been in contact with Guerrieri, and he plans to make a trip to South Carolina next week to meet with him and his family."
It seems that Guerrieri didn't answer Harrison's call Monday night, so they left a message. Then, Guerrieri at some point told the media his advisors directed him not to give interviews, which led to this whole "the Rays haven't talked to him!" thing. But it sounds like the area scout did talk to him Monday night, and Harrison talked to him either Tuesday or Wednesday. A little weird that he's not giving even local media interviews, but I don't think it's anything to worry about at this point.
I'll try to get a post up on short-season rosters soon but it's tough to know much of anything. Last year's high school picks still don't know if they'll be in HV or Princeton yet
ReplyDeleteI was thinking of doing one also but sort of decided not to. I was going to break it down by position for the 3 ss teams using the XST roster and the draft selections. But since we don't know which picks are even going to sign, and since HV starts play the 17th, seemed like kind of a waste of time. We'll have the real rosters in a week, at least for HV, and then Princeton and GCL a couple of days later. They usually have 'meet the team' nights a day or two before the first game, so rosters around the same time. I'll see if I can find out when HV and P-Rays will release rosters.
ReplyDeleteNews 1s/41 Tyler Goeddel:
ReplyDelete“It’s definitely going to be a tough decision,” Tyler Goeddel said about whether to go to college or sign with the Rays. “I’m just going to wait and see what they (Tampa Bay) say. They haven’t contacted me since the night I was drafted. Right now, I’m planning to go to UCLA in the fall.”
...
Goeddel missed a month of his senior season due to a nasty bout of mono. He returned 15 pounds lighter to help the Lancers secure the No. 1 overall seed in the Division I playoff bracket.
...
Goeddel will play in a summer collegiate league in Washington state this summer.
Link: http://losaltos.patch.com/articles/st-francis-high-third-baseman-taken-in-mlb-draft
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2/75 Granden Goetzman:
FGCU assistant coach Rusty McKee said he'd be shocked if the Rays don't sign Goetzman, who also was recruited by Central Florida and Miami.
"I think the Rays will do whatever they can," McKee said. "I don't think they would've drafted him if they didn't think they could sign him. I've talked to Granden and he's got an advisor and he's pretty educated."
Link: http://www.news-press.com/article/20110608/FGCU/106080385/Two-Eagles-go-second-day-MLB-draft?odyssey=mod|newswell|text|Sports|s
23rd rounder Matt Johnson is a senior, so a lock to sign.
ReplyDelete=========================================
24th rounder Charles Cononie is also signing, he's graduated from Towson:
Now, Charles Cononie said he is savoring these last few days at home until the real work begins. Where Cononie heads next is still not certain, but he said he is hopeful he will find out within the next day or two. He could be on the road as soon as Friday, he said.
Link: http://germantown.patch.com/articles/cononie-selected-by-tampa-bay-in-major-league-draft
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26th rounder Raymond Church was also a senior, at Florida Atlantic, so another likely sign.
32nd rounder Ryan Turner will sign (finally), here are comments from his college summer-league team in North Carolina:
ReplyDeleteTwo current members of the Edenton Steamers have been chosen in the Major League Baseball draft.
Shortstop John Polonius was selected by the Cleveland Indians in the 30th round Tuesday and reliever Ryan Turner was taken in the 32nd round by the Tampa Bay Rays Wednesday.
But the Steamers only expect to lose one of them — Turner.
“He’s signing,” Edenton general manager Chip Pruden said Wednesday. “He made the trip to the Outer Banks today, but he won’t be playing any more.”
It was the fourth time that Turner, a junior from Tarleton State who notched four saves and did not allow an earned run in four appearances with the Steamers, has been drafted, the third time by the Rays. He was also drafted by the Braves last year.
Link: http://www.dailyadvance.com/sports/2-steamers-drafted-1-will-sign-528657
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Another likely sign, 34th rounder Zach Butler:
“I talked to a Tampa Bay area scout Tuesday night and he told me they were going to be taking lots of pitchers. He said there was a possibility they would take me. My mom came running down the stairs screaming after she saw my name show up on the computer this morning. Then the team called and told me they had picked me and they would be calling me later to get everything organized.”
...
Butler went to McNeese from Temple (Texas) Junior College, where he went 6-2 with a 4.66 ERA in 2009. After having “Tommy John” elbow surgery in May of 2009, Butler made 20 appearances at McNeese in 2010, going 1-4.
Butler said he has fully recovered from the surgery. “Working with Coach (Terry) Burrows, I have been able to get back to where I was before the surgery,” he said.
Link: http://www.americanpress.com/lc/blogs/wpnewssum/?p=21565
Comments from 35th rounder John Magliozzi, a Florida commit:
ReplyDelete"I was really surprised, but going into it I knew that if I told people what I wanted for a number I might drop a little bit," Magliozzi said. "But things ended up working out."
Magliozzi said he is "not necessarily" ready to give the Gators his full attention, saying "As of right now, we'll see what the Rays have to offer and go from there."
Link: http://espn.go.com/blog/boston/high-school/post/_/id/7770/mlb-draft-weathered-expectations-on-day-3
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Looks like we'll be getting ourselves a couple of Muleriders, 33rd and 38th rounders, since they are both seniors:
Southern Arkansas senior starting pitcher Dan Bream (6-6, 185, Sr., Coldwater, Mich.) and senior catcher Brandon Choate (6-0, 205, Sr., Hooks, Texas) will pursue their professional baseball careers with the same organization, as both were selected Wednesday in the final rounds of the last day of the Major League Baseball draft by the Tampa Bay Rays.
...
Bream was the ace of this year's Southern Arkansas staff, posting a 12-3 record and one save with a 2.49 ERA, with team-highs of 98 strikeouts in 108 1/3 innings of work. He made 15 starts in 17 appearances, with two shutouts in five complete games, and was honored as an All-South Region honoree on the three post-season teams.
...
Choate becomes SAU's first catcher ever to be drafted, earning All-America honors this season in 47 games behind the plate. He hit .313 with a team-leading 14 home runs and .647 slugging percentage, and added 22 doubles and 54 RBI. Choate committed just eight errors in his two-year career at Southern Arkansas, only three this season, while throwing out 16 of 42 trying to steal for a 38 percent rate this spring.
...
"We are extremely excited for Dan and Brandon," stated Mulerider Coach Steve Browning.
...
"Ricky Drexler, area scout for Tampa Bay, followed both of these guys all year long and it paid off for not only him, but for them as well."
Link: http://www.ksla.com/story/14871846/saus-bream-and-choate-taken-in-mlb-draft-by-tampa-bay
37th round Tanner Poppe sounds like one who will not sign:
ReplyDeleteTwo years ago, out of high school, Kansas City made Poppe their 37th-round selection. Instead of signing, he elected to go to college. All indications point to him following the same path this year.
“He’ll definitely be back,” KU coach Ritch Price said. “I think being drafted speaks volumes for his potential, but he needs to continue to develop. He’s not ready to go play professional baseball yet and, you know what, Tanner knows it.”
...
Poppe, a physical therapy major who owns a 3.9 GPA, started 13 games this season and finished 3-6 with a 3.66 ERA. He was second on the team in innings pitched (71 1⁄3) and strikeouts (47). Despite putting up solid numbers in his first year as a full-time starter, Price said Poppe was focused on continuing to improve in college.
“When he goes out, he wants to be ready to be a guy who has a career, not just a guy who signs and plays two years and he’s done,” Price said.
Link: http://www2.kusports.com/news/2011/jun/08/ku-pitcher-tanner-poppe-popped-37th-round-tampa-ba/
Thursday night news roll:
ReplyDeleteThis clip is from over a year ago, on June 16, 2010, which mentions 16th rounder Bret McAfee (and will help explain the next one):
Big success is not guaranteed for an area baseball hopeful who attends a Tampa Bay Rays tryout, but Tampa Bay scout Pat Murphy remembers four years ago when a skinny 14-year-old got his attention with his glove-popping fastballs.
...
Murphy said Jenkins' success is an example on why high school baseball players should check out open tryouts by Major League teams, such as the one Murphy held Wednesday at The Ballpark of Hallsville. It is the 10th year Murphy has held such a camp in the area, the fifth straight year he has worked with Hallsville baseball coach Scott Mitchell, who also works with the Rays. ...
Murphy has East Texas roots as a native of New Boston with several relatives living in Kilgore and Longview. He said he feels like he has a pipeline to a somewhat ignored area of good baseball talent in East Texas, especially in one area. "The trend for guys in this area is athleticism. There are guys who can run," Murphy said. "We like guys who can run, like Carl Crawford and B.J. Upton." Running — in the form of 60-yard dashes — was one of three areas position players were tested at Wednesday's tryout. They were also tested on throws from their positions and hitting with 12 swings each.
...
Murphy said among the players who caught his attention were Pine Tree senior shortstop-center fielder Brett McAfee and Hallsville senior first baseman Blaise Warrick.
Link: http://www.news-journal.com/sports/sports/article_a5203258-9125-5be2-a531-d91dfb99003d.html
==============================================
And here is why the tryout mattered for McAfee (and check out these bonus demands!!!):
McAfee holds the unusual distinction of being drafted despite not playing a single inning of his senior season. The 5-11 right-hander had Tommy John surgery on his elbow on March 7 and missed all of the 2011 season for Pine Tree, but was still the 510th pick of the draft.
"I'm very excited about it," McAfee said. "I wasn't real sure what round I would be taken in, and I was a little surprised that they took me in the 16th round."
Rays representatives met with McAfee last Saturday, and were informed of what it would take to sign McAfee away from Panola. "If they give top three to five round money, then I will be signing. They know what to expect," McAfee said. "If not, I plan on going to Panola and upping my status for next year's draft."
McAfee said the Rays have been receiving updates about his recovery, and the two sides will meet next week to begin contract negotiations.
"For them to go ahead and draft him that high without playing his senior year, that means Tampa Bay must be really high on him," said Steve Marrs, Pine Tree's head baseball coach from 2007-10. "I would not be surprised if he went ahead and signed."
...
"It's his decision," Marrs said. "There's advantages both ways, but I know that Brett has a real desire to play professional baseball."
Link: http://www.news-journal.com/sports/article_304bc012-c2fb-5c0f-8c0f-e082f3b7cc40.html
Another senior who should sign, 41st rounder Shay Crawford:
ReplyDeleteSenior left-hander Shay Crawford was chosen in the 41st round by the Tampa Bay Rays (pick No. 1260). He was drafted by Area Scout Milt Hill with help from local scout George Koontz.
“Shay had arguably the best season ever by a pitcher in a Flames uniform culminated with one of the most impressive single game performances against Lubbock Christian in the World Series,” noted Lee coach Mark Brew.
“Several organizations had put Crawford (11-2, 1.22 ERA) on the draft board, but I think the Rays organization is a good fit for him,” added Brew. “They have a great track record of developing pitchers and the fact that Shay is left-handed should help him tremendously. I am really excited that he got this opportunity.”
Link: http://www.clevelandbanner.com/view/full_story/14003962/article-Zajac--4-Flames-drafted-by-MLB?instance=home_sports
===============================================
Another senior who will sign, update on 39th TJ Geith:
"First of all, I was glad for T.J.," coach Robichaux said. "I'm always glad when someone gives our seniors a chance to play pro ball. In Austin's case, I told him it's an honor to be drafted because pro teams are choosing about 1,500 players a year in the United States. It's a privilege to get drafted."
...
"I knew I had a chance to get drafted as a senior," said Geith, the 44th player to be drafted from the program under coach Robichaux. "I'm just excited to get a chance to keep playing baseball."
...
Regardless of where he ends up, Geith is ready to compete. "When I got picked up by the White Sox two years ago, I really didn't have anything to celebrate because I knew I was going to play in college," Geith said. "This time around I actually get a chance to go play pro ball and see what I can make of it."
Link: http://www.theadvertiser.com/article/20110609/SPORTS/106090314
36th David Kubiak sounds likely to sign:
ReplyDeleteDave Kubiak may have some explaining to do when his new club, the Tampa Bay Rays, finds that he has a New York Yankees logo tattooed on the inside of his left arm. But there is an explanation.
Kubiak, who played for the Southold/Greenport Clippers when he attended Southold High School, wears the tattoo as a tribute to his late grandfather, Arthur Phillips. Phillips, who died last year, was a tremendous Yankees fan.
...
Kubiak, a 6-foot-7, 245-pound right-hander, was the Great Danes’ ace pitcher, starting 14 games on the mound this season. He recorded a 4.72 earned run average as a senior and led the Albany pitching staff with 73 strikeouts. He threw five complete games, including one shutout, and allowed 43 earned runs in 82 innings of work.
...
Kubiak’s pitching arsenal includes a two-seam fastball, four-seam cutter, curveball, changeup and splitter. Kubiak said that one of the things he learned at Albany was that he cannot strike everyone out. He describes himself as a ground-ball pitcher.
“I’m not going to throw 89, 91 [miles per hour] and overpower anybody any more,” he said. “I’ll strike some people out, but that’s not what I’m looking for. I’m pitching to contact. … Make them get thrown out. It’s a hard game as it is, don’t make it harder.”
Kubiak said he expected to sign a contract Saturday and then receive an assignment, possibly in West Virginia, possibly in Hudson Valley. From here on in, though, he will be facing wood bats, not aluminum ones. “Thank God,” he said. “I’m done with aluminum bats.”
...
What is the best thing about being drafted?
“Just knowing that I have a job now and it will probably be the best job I ever had,” he said. “It’s crazy that they’re giving me money to play this game.”
Link: http://suffolktimes.timesreview.com/2011/06/14185/baseball-southold%E2%80%99s-kubiak-drafted-by-tampa-bay-rays/
On 5th rounder J.D. Davis:
ReplyDelete“(The Rays) called to say they were going to pick me, perhaps in the first round, so we were waiting and waiting,” Davis said. “We went over to (Elk Grove head coach Jeff ) Carson’s house to hang out, waiting to hear something. Then they called me this morning and said they’d pick me the second or third round.”
Davis didn’t get the call then and needed to leave to drive to a photo shoot in downtown Sacramento. On his way, a representative from the Rays finally phoned.
...
Davis said the Rays’ brass is expected to come to his home in a little more than a week to discuss a contract.
Davis has a tough decision to make this summer because he’s already inked a letter-of-intent to Cal State Fullerton, annually one of the top college programs in the country.
...
“I’ve got so many options going on right now,” he said. “The calls from Fullerton want me to come to Fullerton, but I want to sit back and just weigh my options.”
...
Davis is Carlson’s 10th Elk Grove player to be drafted out of high school and thinks he’ll have a nice offer brought to him by the Rays.
“He has a great opportunity at a great baseball school at Fullerton to fall back on,” Carlson said. “He’ll have great leverage in his negotiations. Just because he was drafted fifth round doesn’t mean he’ll get fifth round money. They’ll have to come to him with something like second round money to entice him to think about maybe signing this year.”
Link: http://www.egcitizen.com/articles/2011/06/09/sports/doc4df167ba97a6d409513075.txt
Sounds like 20th rounder Garret Smith may be the first to sign:
ReplyDeleteSmith has not yet signed a contract with the team, but will do so on Thursday night. The terms of the deal haven't yet been disclosed to Smith, and most likely won't be shared with the public.
...
Smith will learn his fate tonight, as the scout drives up from New York to present him with his contract and inform him of where he will play. Smith said that the earliest he may start playing is in two weeks.
Link: http://boston.sbnation.com/boston-red-sox/2011/6/9/2215632/2011-mlb-draft-garret-smith-tampa-bay-rays-boston-college-baseball
This is great stuff. You shouldn't hide it in the comments.
ReplyDeleteGoetzman will sign next week:
ReplyDelete"The 18-year-old is expected to sign with the Rays sometime next week. He is represented by agent B.B. Abbott, a Tampa resident."
http://www.baynews9.com/article/sports/2011/june/259982/Rays-Draft-Pick-Granden-Goetzman-Looking-To-Make-A-Name-For-Himself
i have seen who is going to hudson valley from XST they are going to have a strong team this year. looking forward to seeing how they do.
ReplyDeleteTaylor Guerrieri: "I've always pictured myself playing college baseball first before any professional baseball takes place," Guerrieri said. "I'm a huge Gamecocks fan, and I'm still very committed to [South Carolina]. It's going to be a tough decision."
ReplyDeletehttp://tampabay.rays.mlb.com/news/article.jsp?ymd=20110610&content_id=20283348&vkey=news_tb&c_id=tb
Where did you ever see the Hudson Valley list? Isn't that a deep dark secret? :)
ReplyDeleteWas Gurreier considered a tough sign coming in to the draft? And any news on if or when Torrez may sign? I know he doesn't really have any standout tools, but I just saw a preseason draft top 150 list and he was #29 on it and it said he could potentially be a good offensive 2B. Did Torrez's season this year really drop him that much?
ReplyDeleteTorrez can't do anything until ASU is out of CWS
ReplyDeleteHudson Valley Roster:
ReplyDeleteWinder
Bryles
Lyerly
Guillen
Biagini
Malm
Olivares
Querecuto
Reginatto
Pitchers:
Bellatti
Dickmann
Jannis
Woodall
W. Rodriguez
Colon
Leary
Markel
McEachern
Partridge
What exactly is the problem with sending Sale, Vettleson, and Brett to the New York-Penn League? Do they *really* need to be facing freshly-drafted high school pitching?
ReplyDeleteI agree~why not Sale, Vettleson, Brett, DePew, O'Connor, and the list goes on, on HV's roster? Several of the players listed on Anonymous' list were in HV last year, and I would not consider them strong. And why on earth is Dickmann coming back to HV? and McEachern? Strange lineup, to be sure. HV could be in for a long season.
ReplyDeleteTaylor Motter(17) and Andy Bass(18) both signed on 6/10
ReplyDeleteSale is struggling mightily in XST. Let's leave the roster decisions to the people who see them every day.
ReplyDeleteThis comment has been removed by the author.
ReplyDeleteAs a long time HV fan, I sometimes wonder why decisions are made, but then realize this although a team, this is an evaluation and instructional league. More individual than team. I would still rather watch these young men give it all they have versus the high paid prima donnas that inhabit the major leagues. Go Gades Cant wait
ReplyDeleteWhile mentioning Josh Sale, Did anyone notice there was a Youtube account, whether it's him or not, with a few XST videos of him hitting?
ReplyDeletehttp://www.youtube.com/user/JoshSale
Sale, Brett, O'connor, and Dixon all have a lot of growing to do. Saw them all in XST. O'Connor was pulled from a game because he was lazy. He let a guy on first not only get second on a pass ball, but also get 3rd. Dixon jogged after a ball yesterday in a game and the guy hitting got an in the park homerun. The roster was not a speculation it is the actual roster. Yall think the guys that are going to hudson valley aren't very good, but from what I saw in XST those guys were the best there. And I think some of those guys are going to surprise you. Yall say you don't play favorites, but apparently you do. I mean Sale, Brett, and Dixon all struggle in XST you send them up to the NYPL they are going to struggle there too.
ReplyDeleteIs it just me, or does it sound like Davis wasn't really happy with being selected in the 5th after being told rounds 1-3?
ReplyDeleteFrom what i heard Brett has been tearing it up since April
ReplyDeletewell it is what is. i am looking forward to the renegade season. i really think some people are going to be surprise with the guys that are coming up. yea maybe they aren't all first, second, third, or even in the top ten rounds of last year or previous drafts. but i can guarntee you they are ballplayers and they are prospects of this organization. maybe not the bloggers "top prospects" but they are prospects and they are pretty dang good ones. i am willing to bet by the end of the year they might even be in the rays top prospects and some of these boys the bloggers like so much will be moved down on the list.
ReplyDeleteTotally unrelated to the draft but any information on Oscar Hernandez in the VSL? Dude is raking .421/.506/.908 with 11 HR in 76 AB. Kid is 17 years old and that is some video game numbers right there.
ReplyDeleteI would caution the Rays on sending a lower skilled group to Hudson Valley. There was serious talk of switching afiiliates at the end of the last PDC, a couple of more bad seasons might seal the deal.
ReplyDeleteThe more I look at the HV roster, the more I realize how little talent we've been given this year. (I have seen several of them play.) Princeton is, again, becoming the low level "stacked" team. TB keeps picking high draft high school picks and the recent trend seems to be to send the kids to GC or Princeton and then the best jump over HV to Bowling Green. Only time will tell, but I forecast a real challenge for Coach Jared Sandberg. Let's go Gades!
ReplyDelete12th rounder Trevor Mitsui was named the area prep player of the year by the local paper (1s/52 Blake Snell also made 1st team all-area). Lots of interesting background on him, tales of 500-foot homeruns etc., but here is the signing part:
ReplyDeleteMitsui hasn't made the decision to go pro or honor his commitment to the UW, nor will he anytime soon before the Aug. 15 deadline. At this point he feels it's a 50/50 decision. He admits it would be exciting to continue to play with Snell, who also signed with UW but is widely speculated will sign with the Rays after being selected 52nd overall.
“It would be really cool if we got a chance to room together down at rookie ball,” Mitsui said. “We're both from the same high school. We started playing ball since we were 11 or 12 and we've been on the same team ever since. It's cool to have someone to share all those memories with.”
...
For now Mitsui will enjoy playing summer ball for the Seattle Stars, where opponents haven't realized how to pitch around him yet the way Wesco teams did. In his first two games of the summer season he hit 4-for-6 with two homers. When the summer is done he'll decide between UW where he thinks he'd study either business or criminal justice and a contract with the Rays.
Link: http://www.heraldnet.com/article/20110612/SPORTS01/110619959/1004/sports
I really like the profile of this Mitsui kid. Great average to go with excellent power and plenty of growth still there. My sleeper pick in years to come, hoping it starts with signing on the Rays dotted line.
ReplyDeleteIs there anywhere I can find a chart of the 2011 draft picks who have signed?
ReplyDeleteThis chart will be updated once they're official.
ReplyDeleteI guess game summaries and any discussion of current players/prospects has no juice. Look's like it's gonna be all draft - all the time until August. Yawn ...
ReplyDeleteWe'll be getting back to those this week (probably tomorrow), I just needed a bit of time to unwind after the draft. Plus we'll have short-season team previews once the rosters come out.
ReplyDeleteKevin - Thanks. Wasn't meaning to be snarky. You guys do a great job and cover a lot of ground.
ReplyDeleteSuprised with games starting Friday that there arent official signing yet.
ReplyDeleteOh ... and I should have my first MiL-Breakdown up within the next week. And then it's going to be coming regularly again. Sorry for the Draft related pause of them.
ReplyDeleteBurGi i love your breakdowns. Looking forward to another one. Glad your going to be doing them weekly.
ReplyDeleteI am also looking forward to the releases of the short season rosters :) Go Gades, PRays, and GCL Rays!!!
Well, looks like 44/1350 Jordan Leyland of UC Irvine can sign now. They just lost in an amazing comeback by Virginia.
ReplyDeleteMonday night news on 2/75 OF Granden Goetzman:
ReplyDeleteThe Rays' second-round pick, Palmetto High OF Granden Goetzman, said he's going to sign at Tropicana Field tonight and catch the Red Sox game. "I'm excited to get my pro career going," he said. "It's going to be a good day."
Link: http://www.tampabay.com/sports/baseball/rays/tampa-bay-rays-look-forward-to-testing-themselves-against-red-hot-boston/1175152
So how do you think the pitchng staff will be this year for HV.Heard Bellatti and Partridge looked good in XST.Hope HV has a good year.GO GADES.
ReplyDelete2/75 Goetzman is official:
ReplyDeleteThe Rays announced the signing of second-round pick Granden Goetzman before Tuesday's game against the Red Sox.
The 75th overall pick will now be traveling down to Port Charlotte to play in the Gulf Coast League.
Link: http://mlb.mlb.com/news/article.jsp?ymd=20110614&content_id=20466190¬ebook_id=20479624&vkey=notebook_tb&c_id=tb
3 more:
ReplyDeleteThe[y] also added 32nd round pick RHP Ryan Turner, 33rd round pick RHP Daniel Bream and 41st round pick LHP Shay Crawford. They have now signed 23 draftees.
Link: http://www.baynews9.com/article/sports/2011/june/262817/Rays-News-and-Notes
BA is reporting that Goetzman signed for $490,000, just $4,900 over slot.
ReplyDeletehttp://www.baseballamerica.com/blog/draft/2011/06/goetzman-gets-first-over-slot-deal/
Nice news on Mitsui. He's the best of the late picks by a long shot IMO, and the stories I've heard about him make him sound like Justin Smoak coming out of high school. No way he'll sign before the deadline though - there's no slot for 12th rounders, but I suspect it would take at least fourth round money (possibly much more) to get him to sign, and MLB just isn't going to approve a big money bonus for a lower pick before the deadline approaches. - Brick
ReplyDeleteMatt Rice's bonus was 25,000
ReplyDeleteany news at all on Bradley Hendrix? thx
ReplyDelete22nd rounder Brad Hendrix (Auburn) was still not signed as of Wednesday night.
ReplyDeleteNice, long profile on 2nd rounder Lenny Linksy. Here is the portion on signing, no idea what it means:
While he still plans to finish his degree in either business or psychology, the young Linsky is ready to begin his journey to the major league level, beginning with the Rays instructional leagues before working his way up through the minor league system.
“I haven’t made up my mind 100 percent just yet, but I want to focus on baseball for a year and develop my body, as well as my pitching. I am hoping at one point I will be finishing at Hawaii. They got me so far and I want to finish with a degree,” Linsky said. “I believe I can do it and that is driving me. I would see it as a failure if I was a pretty good minor league player who never made it.”
Tidbit on 3rd rounder Johnny Eierman:
ReplyDeleteCamdenton played Warsaw during the spring season. In a Tri-County Conference game at Osage in early May, Eierman crushed a homer on the first pitch of the game.
"The thing that sets him apart from a lot of kids at the high school level is how he approaches things," Moulder said. "He hustles all the time. He stands out just because of how he approaches the game. Plus, he's a very talented player."
Moulder said he spoke to Eierman's dad, who played minor league baseball, on Tuesday night. Eierman hadn't yet made a decision on signing with Tampa Bay or playing in college at LSU.
Update on 37th rounder Tanner Poppe of Kansas (Robby Price's dad is their coach):
ReplyDeleteSenior ace T.J. Walz; Saturday starter Tanner Poppe, a 21-year-old sophomore; and junior closer Colton Murray were picked on Days 2 and 3 of the draft. Poppe is expected to return next season, but the other two figure to be gone.
Rays on verge of signing Ames and Harris (Jim Callis: http://www.baseballamerica.com/blog/draft/2011/06/rays-sign-two-sandwich-picks/)
ReplyDeleteFirst update in a while on 35th rounder John Magliozzi:
ReplyDeleteMagliozzi, who has not completely ruled out an offer from Tampa Bay, hit .629 this season and was 7-0 with an 0.95 earned run average with 73 strikeouts in 42 innings. He will probably play for an AAU team in Georgia this summer before heading to the University of Florida.
There's word out that Jake Hager has signed
ReplyDeleteIf Hager signed, it would already be our 5th draftee signed from the 1st round, yet we still have another 5 to go. Guerreri, Mahtook, Eierman and Carpenter top my list of who I want signed next
ReplyDeleteThat number 5 is based off the fact that Ames and Harris have pretty much signed.
Updated to include Jeff Ames (and his bonus total, reported by Jim Callis) and Jake Floethe (who tweeted he is signing tonight)
ReplyDeleteDoes anyone know where Ames is going? Hudson Valley a safe bet?
ReplyDeleteMy guess would be Hudson Valley as a reliever but JuCo guys are tough to peg.
ReplyDeleteLoving all these signings but man I wish we could get our top 2 signed early enough to play this season.
ReplyDeleteJake Hager has signed, now the earliest pick to ink a deal. Harrison will visit Guerreri on Wednesday. Haven't heard a word on Mahtook but I was dreaming of the Princeton OF of Sale, Mahtook, Vettleson....
ReplyDeletehttp://www.tampabay.com/sports/baseball/rays/tampa-bay-rays-james-shields-shares-al-player-of-the-week-hopes-for/1176421
I think Ames will go to the Princeton rotation at first. Maybe move up to HDV later on.
ReplyDeleteI think Mahtook and Guerrieri won't sign before the deadline as they will get some overslot money. Only Mahtook has a chance in my opinion to sign earlier (maybe slight overslot).
Thought Linsky and Garvin would have signed by now.
Yeah, I was thinking we would lock up all the 1st rounders cept for Guerrieri and Mahtook fast. Surprised Martin and Garvin haven't signed yet. Goedell may not be signed at all but I hope he is.
ReplyDeleteGarvin cannot sign yet as Vanderbilt is still in the College World Series.
ReplyDelete@Anon: That's right. Forgot about that. He pitched yesterday against a loaded Florida team. 6 IP, 5 H, 3 ER, 1 BB, 9 SO (!!). Solid outing!
ReplyDeleteHager signed according to Jim Callis.
ReplyDelete$963K Bonus.
According to MLB.com (Bill Chastain), Floethe has been assigned to Hudson Valley, Harris to the GCL, and Ames and Hager to Princeton.
ReplyDeleteHager is the big surprise, as I don't think they've sent any HS draftees to Princeton the year they signed since they added the GCL team. It is doubly surprising since Princeton already has two SSs in Taylor Motter and Felix Gonzalez. Granted, Gonzalez is a non-prospect and I would be very happy if Motter turned into a Bortnick-type prospect, but the GCL team has outfielder Ariel Soriano playing SS. Perhaps they expect to sign Martin soon and send him to the GCL?
I think it would be great if another column could be added to show where the players get assigned.
ReplyDeleteI second the motion to add the assignment column.
ReplyDeleteLenny Linsky is flying to FL today(per his Facebook) with the status "The Journey Begins"....
ReplyDeleteLooks like our hawaiian-punch is about to start his career.
This article quotes Hager as getting a $966,000 bonus, we'll have to try and confirm which is correct:
ReplyDeleteHager said he agreed to a $966,000 signing bonus. Baseball America reported that Major League Baseball's suggested bonus for the No. 32 pick was $954,000.
"It's great, but I'm not worried about the money right now and I'm just ready to go out and play ball and pursue my dream," Hager said.
Hager could have negotiated until Aug. 15, but said signing early will allow him to play this summer rather than wait until next season. Hager said he will head to Princeton, W.Va., on Thursday to report to Tampa Bay's Appalachian League franchise. Princeton's season started on Tuesday.
That is a nice team coming together in P-Ray country.
ReplyDeleteFloethe signed for $105,000
ReplyDeletehttp://www.tampabay.com/blogs/rays/content/starters-rays-astros-2
ReplyDeleteWe have signed Martin, about to sign Linsky and it looks like we will be able to sign Garvin real soon.
2/89 Lenny Linsky has signed:
ReplyDeleteFormer Hawaii pitcher Lenny Linsky officially began the next phase of his baseball career by signing a contract with the Tampa Bay Rays today.
Linsky signed his first professional contract at Tropicana Field, the Rays’ home in St. Petersburg, Fla., and was assigned to the Hudson Valley Renegades, the Rays’ short-season single-A affiliate in the New York-Penn League.
“I really don’t have words to describe it,” said Linsky, who leaves today to join the Renegades.
So if Linsky signed and is going to HV, then is Woodall still the closer or not?
ReplyDeleteWell, according to Topkin, we signed another 1st rounder: Brandon Martin
ReplyDeleteShould sign Garvin any day with Vandy be knocked out today.
Has anyone heard anything on Goedell lately? Really want to get him signed.
Thanks anon, saw it too. 1s/38 Brandon Martin has signed:
ReplyDeleteThe Rays signed another compensation-round pick, SS Brandon Martin, No. 38 overall, and were close with second-rounder RHP Lenny Linsky (No. 89). Scouting director R.J. Harrison had his first meeting with top pick RHP Taylor Guerrieri, and talks will continue.
Why has Torrez and Carpenter not signed yet? being lower upside college guys thought a quick sign was in the cards for them
ReplyDeleteI like the suggestion of a list with columns stating players names, and where they were assigned, but I'd also like a 3rd column saying whether they were college, juco, or high school. So far, it looks as though Princeton is becoming the "dream team" of the TB Rays- nice for Michael Johns.
ReplyDeleteI added a "Team" column to the right side showing which affiliate they were initially assigned. I figured it would be easier to keep it all in one place for reference. I put the ? in on guys who haven't been assigned yet just to remind myself to check on them. Anything else that should be added?
ReplyDeleteDoug, Nice additions to the chart, easy to read with all info in one place. Also the Rays Depth Chart is a good place to go to check rosters of all the teams in the Rays System. I know it is probably a lot of work to keep this current. It has passed up the cork board. Keep up the good work, it is appreciated.
ReplyDeleteIt was just something I was looking for to see how easy the signing is to see if they are in HS, JC, a JR or a SR. Really would only add the JR and SR part so can I request that all seniors get a * near their name? I just want to know who's a lock to sign, thank you.
ReplyDeleteAny news on Mahtook, Goedell, Eierman and Mitsui?
Thank you for adding the "placement" column...PERFECT! Also, 6th rounder Jake Floethe is here in the Hudson Valley.
ReplyDeleteThanks everyone, sorry I didn't have that on there sooner. We had it last year, just forgot to add it on this year. If you want to compare where signees were sent last year to this year just go to "Draft History" at the top and then click on "2010 Signing Board". I haven't gone back and compared the affiliate assignments yet, but if anyone wants to, that's where the info is.
ReplyDeleteJoeybw, that sounds like another good idea. Probably should note seniors and sophomores too, and everyone else is a junior. I've forgotten who all the senior (and soph) picks were at this point, so I'll have to go back and look them all up, might take me a while. But I agree, it's worth doing.
Tom, thanks on the depth chart. It's only bad when all of the full-season rosters are announced and when the short-season ones come out. Otherwise I just check every day and update, not too hard. If you get behind though, big mess. The standings take a lot more of my time every day.
Floethe is reported to be at HV.
ReplyDeletehttp://www.poughkeepsiejournal.com/article/20110622/SPORTS03/106220325/Renegades-Markel-enjoys-new-role-starter?odyssey=mod%7Cnewswell%7Ctext%7CPoughkeepsieJournal.com%7Cs
Update on 5/180 J.D. Davis (note: he has been offered a contract, all drafted players are, they just haven't agreed on terms, meaning bonus amount):
ReplyDeleteTampa Bay’s fifth round pick, Elk Grove’s J.D. Davis, now has another item to consider in his decision whether to attend Cal State-Fullerton or sign a professional contract.
Fullerton head coach Dave Serrano resigned June 15 to become the head baseball coach at the University of Tennessee.
According to Davis’ father, Greg, his son is now waiting to see who will replace Serrano. He added that a representative of the Rays have visited their home, but didn’t offer a contract.
Jim Callis tweeted that Martin's bonus was $860,000, $1,400 more than slot.
ReplyDelete12/390 Trevor Mitsui has been named to the USA TODAY First Team All-USA team.
ReplyDeleteI don't know how crazy it may sound but I think Mitsui will be the best talent out of our draft class if we can get him signed.
ReplyDeleteBesides the obvious front 2, there are still some guys here I would love to see signed. I expect to hear Garvin signed any day. I really, really hope we can sign Goedell. Other guys I would love to see get signed are Torrez, Eierman, Carpenter and McCafee
10/330 RHP Jacob Faria out of Gahr HS in California has signed.
ReplyDeleteBeing from the Seattle Area, I can tell you about Mitsui. He is a Monster. He not only can hit a ball a country mile but has a nice swing. He hits the ball on the barrell consistently and strikes out very seldom.He can hit for a good average on top of the power. Good plate discipline, a hard worker and great individual. Your scout up here in the Pac NW should be getting a pay raise as he has corraled some excellent talent up here. All 3 of last yrs picks as well as Snell, Ames, and Mitsui this year. Well Done Rays!
ReplyDeleteIs mitsui signable? Perhaps he could be our diamond in the rough like pujol
ReplyDeleteYes,I believe he is signable.I think he was easily a top 3 Round pick. He however is a good student and could go to the University of Washington to increase his worth. I think he could be the Huskies number 4 hitter right now as a Freshman. Imho this kid is a better hitter than Sale with the same kind of power.
ReplyDeleteMitsui and Tyler Goeddel are the two names I am hoping will sign.
ReplyDeleteYou can add 31st rounder Issac Gil to the list of signings.
ReplyDeleteThe Rays signed RHP Isaac Gil, the 31st-round selection out of ASA College (N.Y), and have now signed 33 of their 60 picks
According to Topkin anyway: http://www.tampabay.com/sports/baseball/rays/tampa-bay-rays-jeff-niemann-looking-to-lower-aim-in-strike-zone/1178495
Thanks Anon, hadn't seen that yet.
ReplyDeleteHere's the latest on Mahtook:
ReplyDeleteMahtook said Friday there hasn’t been much progress in his negotiations with the Tampa Bay Rays, who picked him with the 31st spot in the 2011 Major League Baseball Draft last month.
...
“LSU is an absolutely great, special and awesome place, and I wouldn’t hesitate to go back,” Mahtook said. “If I could go back for my senior year, get my degree and finish off my career there playing for a really good team that has a chance to win a national championship, I’d love that. The door to LSU is still completely open for me, and that’s still a very attractive option to me. I’m very open-minded about the idea of going back.”
...
“I have talked to them a few times since I got drafted and they’ve been good, informational talks,” Mahtook said.
“Whatever pace the process moves at is fine with me. I’ve enjoyed talking to them and they’ve been good to me. It all boils down to me wanting to be treated fairly and I feel like they’ve done that.
According to BA, Jacob Faria signed for 150K.
ReplyDeleteGarvin and Torres are the two that I'm really surprised about right now.
ReplyDeleteI have a question. A player that was drafted in the lower rounds, 25th and on. What is the chance of them recieving an offer? Is it still good that, a team who has not offera player yet, but is still in contact with the draftee, have a chance of recieving an offer by the deadline?
ReplyDeleteI'm assuming the player in question is playing summer ball and the team is monitoring that while staying in contact. I don't know for sure but my guess is that all the college players likely received a take it or leave it offer of the minimum signing bonus, which is customary. It's not totally out of the realm of possibility for a late, late-round HS guy to sign for a sizable offer (the Phillies gave Jarred Cosart a big bonus as a 38th rounder out of HS) but it's unusual and would likely depend on summer ball performance. Same goes for Junior College players, I imagine.
ReplyDelete3rd rounder Johnny Eierman has signed according to Kendall Rogers. Will update the chart when I can...
ReplyDeleteCan't believe Garvin hasn't sign. We need to get our first 2 picks signed along with Mitsui, Torres and well, Garvin. Sign all the 1st rounders.
ReplyDeleteFrom twitter @aaronfitt:
ReplyDeleteTough loss for #UCIrvine: #Anteaters say 8th-rounder John Alexander, a projectable first baseman, has agreed to terms with #Rays. #mlbdraft
Fifth-round draft pick 3B J.D. Davis is close to signing, as is 28th-round C Blake Grant-Parks.
ReplyDeleteSource: http://www.tampabay.com/sports/baseball/rays/tampa-bay-rays-manager-joe-maddon-hopes-his-core-players-remain-through/1183084
Didn't think Davis was gonna sign actually. Anyway still a lot of guys that we need to make sure we get signed, headlined by the top 2 picks of course but Goedell, Mitsui, Torrez and Garvin please. Not a huge fan of Garvin but just sign all the 1st rounders.
FWIW, BA is reporting that "Under draft provisions for two-sport athletes, Tampa Bay will spread Eierman's bonus over five years. The net present value of his bonus is $498,521."
ReplyDeleteThanks. Alexander's will almost certainly be the same way as he was a two-sport guy as well with volleyball.
ReplyDeleteI'm confused. Did 3B Riccio Torrez sign or didn't he? Tampa Bay Rays website still says, "UNSIGNED." Baseball America and Rays Prospects say that he did sign. If he did sign, where is he? To where is he being assigned?
ReplyDeleteI'm pretty sure Torrez has signed. The confusion might be coming over the final details and they may not be pushing it since he probably wont play this season at this point.
ReplyDeleteThe one that confuses me is 5th rounder, JD Davis, I read he signed and now I'm reading he wont be signing.
In the BA draft podcast, Manuel and Callis both said that Garvin deal hit a snag but would not elaborate.
ReplyDeleteMatt Ramsey 19th round signed on Saturday, 8/13.
ReplyDeleteRiccio has played two games to date with the GCL Rays
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