2014 Draft class

[Chicago White Sox]

Give me Kolek. A 6'5" 250lb flame thrower with a plus slider and decent curve at only 18 years old sounds great to me.

High-school pitchers are too risky IMO, at least at the top of the draft. Right now, I'm still hoping Hoffman is there at #3.

[Paulstar]

I like Kolek, but I don't know if I'd take him over Rodon, Hoffman, or Turner. Kolek has a nice easy delivery and has great stuff and frame, but I'm worried about how he throws across body. And with him being only in high school, I don't know if he's worth the risk and I think the White Sox as a whole has soured on high school pitchers in the first round ever since Kris Honel (such a promising pick as a hometown kid and great stuff but injuries got the best of him).

 

Rodon is my favorite player right now, but I doubt he drops to 3, but we got a lot of time from now until June. Right now, I'd be happy with either Hoffman or Turner. But it looks like unless Hoffman falls on his face this year, he'll likely be gone before 3. So give me Turner than because defensively it looks like he should have no problem sticking at SS, and if he reaches his offensive potential with his speed, he'll be an all-star shortstop.

Edited January 22, 2014 by Paulstar

[Quin]

I'd be happy with Kolek or Turner.

 

I'd feel safer with the Sox drafting Kolek though.

[BlackSox13]

High-school pitchers are too risky IMO, at least at the top of the draft. Right now, I'm still hoping Hoffman is there at #3.

 

 

I like Kolek, but I don't know if I'd take him over Rodon, Hoffman, or Turner. Kolek has a nice easy delivery and has great stuff and frame, but I'm worried about how he throws across body. And with him being only in high school, I don't know if he's worth the risk and I think the White Sox as a whole has soured on high school pitchers in the first round ever since Kris Honel (such a promising pick as a hometown kid and great stuff but injuries got the best of him).

 

Rodon is my favorite player right now, but I doubt he drops to 3, but we got a lot of time from now until June. Right now, I'd be happy with either Hoffman or Turner. But it looks like unless Hoffman falls on his face this year, he'll likely be gone before 3. So give me Turner than because defensively it looks like he should have no problem sticking at SS, and if he reaches his offensive potential with his speed, he'll be an all-star shortstop.

They are all a risk to some degree. Depending on how the college players do this spring, right now its looking like Rodin and Hoffman could 1 and 2. Nice thing about a HS pitcher is you get them into the your teams system at a younger age to help correct any bad habits they my have developed such as throwing across the body, then again Sale throws across his body too so I wouldn't worry too much about that. You mention Honel but let's not forget Gio Gonzalez either, he turned out pretty well for a 1st rounder out of HS. Its a crap shoot no matter what.

 

For now Kolek is my preference but like I said that could change as June gets closer.

[Paulstar]

They are all a risk to some degree. Depending on how the college players do this spring, right now its looking like Rodin and Hoffman could 1 and 2. Nice thing about a HS pitcher is you get them into the your teams system at a younger age to help correct any bad habits they my have developed such as throwing across the body, then again Sale throws across his body too so I wouldn't worry too much about that. You mention Honel but let's not forget Gio Gonzalez either, he turned out pretty well for a 1st rounder out of HS. Its a crap shoot no matter what.

 

For now Kolek is my preference but like I said that could change as June gets closer.

Gio was a sandwich pick, if I remember correctly, so I excluded him.

 

But yeah, mechanics can be funny where someone with piss poor mechanics can pitch for 20 years with great health, and someone with perceived perfect mechanics can't make it through a year without injury. And you are right about him still being in high school so it will be easier to mold him to your liking. But as I see it, he'd be my forth choice of the four we've discussed.

[BlackSox13]

Gio was a sandwich pick, if I remember correctly, so I excluded him.

 

But yeah, mechanics can be funny where someone with piss poor mechanics can pitch for 20 years with great health, and someone with perceived perfect mechanics can't make it through a year without injury. And you are right about him still being in high school so it will be easier to mold him to your liking. But as I see it, he'd be my forth choice of the four we've discussed.

You're right, he was a sandwich pick so my bad. He was listed as a first rounder but the 38th pick so what you're saying makes perfect sense.

 

Its just a matter of preference is all. I just hope who ever we pick he turns into a stud.

[ChiliIrishHammock24]

My pick right now for sure is Hoffman. Jackson would be nice if he could stick at catcher.

[steveno89]

My pick right now for sure is Hoffman. Jackson would be nice if he could stick at catcher.

 

I see the Marlins taking Hoffman at #2 overall, leaving us with our choice of players after Rodon and Hoffman.

[steveno89]

I see the Marlins taking Hoffman at #2 overall, leaving us with our choice of players after Rodon and Hoffman.

 

The more I think about it, I take back what I posted in the other board about Kolek. He does have tons of talent and could develop into a #1 or #2 starter in a few years. You cannot teach the physical tools that he has, and I could see either Hoffman or Kolek flourishing in our system

[Jake]

Jeff Hoffman - 6.89 K/9, 3.2 BB/9, 1.26 WHIP, 3.20 ERA

 

am I missing something here?

 

I don't care how talented you are, you have to pitch better than that for me to take you at 3. That K rate needs to be at 9 or better this season

[maggsmaggs]

Jeff Hoffman - 6.89 K/9, 3.2 BB/9, 1.26 WHIP, 3.20 ERA

 

am I missing something here?

 

I don't care how talented you are, you have to pitch better than that for me to take you at 3. That K rate needs to be at 9 or better this season

 

 

He was named the top prospect in the Cape Cod League last year, which of course has the best collection of talent of the summer leagues. (Sale also won this award).

 

Sale's sophomore season at FGCU was: 7-4, 2.72 ERA, 1.23 WHIP, 2.72 BB/9, and 10.48 K/9. I am not sure how the various league's compare, but beyond the Ks where Sale clearly wins, the numbers aren't too dissimilar.

 

Actually Hoffman and Sale seem kinda similar in that, not recruited out of high school at all and then exploded in college. But you are right, right now, Hoffman's projections do not match his statistics. If he doesn't dominate this year, he will slide.

Edited January 23, 2014 by maggsmaggs

[Dunt]

Keep in mind that Rock said Rick Hahn loves Trea Turner. Could be a Jose Reyes type player if all the dominoes fall right. If Hoffman doesn't put up some numbers to match his stuff we could see NC State players taken 1-2. That being said, I hate even talking about where players are going to go at this point because it is all too early.

 

Turner can be a very valuable player in this climate even if his power doesn't project to be a big part of his professional game. At the very least he should be a guy should with great range at SS and plus-plus speed to cause some disruption on offense.

 

I would be more than ok with Turner coming to the Sox. Turner batting 1 with Eaton in the 2 hole sounds sexy to me.

Edited January 23, 2014 by Dunt

[ILMOU]

This is closer to what you're looking for Jake.

 

"Hoffman dominated the Cape with sharpened stuff that produced 12 strikeouts per nine and a 6.6 strikeout-walk ratio."

 

“I pride myself on the sink that I get, and that helps me get a lot of ground balls,” Hoffman said.

 

http://www.baseballamerica.com/college/eas...y-jeff-hoffman/

 

Ah, the Cape Cod League. I remember when the Great Brian Morgado looked so good there, and so many here were bummed when we couldn't sign him after the draft.

[Quin]

I'd want Kolek over turner simply because I have more confidence in the Sox turning Kolek into an ace than Turner into Jose Reyes 2.0

 

But I'd love either if they hit their ceiling.

[steveno89]

I'd want Kolek over turner simply because I have more confidence in the Sox turning Kolek into an ace than Turner into Jose Reyes 2.0

 

But I'd love either if they hit their ceiling.

 

I've warmed up to Kolek for a variety of reasons. The top of the draft is where you can and should be looking to take very high upside pitchers. The cost of quality pitching has gone through the roof in the past five years and you can never have too many quality young arms in the system. After Johnson we don't really have much in terms of starting pitching talent in the farm system, so adding Kolek would be a major boost to future pitching depth. I wouldn't be upset with selecting Turner, but I'd rather shoot for the potential #1-2 starting pitcher and develop him.

 

Sale - Kolek - Quintana - Johnson - Danks could be the rotation of a serious contender in a few years

[flavum]

Projecting a high school pitcher being in the rotation with John Danks? Yeah, no.

[ILMOU]

I've warmed up to Kolek for a variety of reasons. The top of the draft is where you can and should be looking to take very high upside pitchers. The cost of quality pitching has gone through the roof in the past five years and you can never have too many quality young arms in the system. After Johnson we don't really have much in terms of starting pitching talent in the farm system, so adding Kolek would be a major boost to future pitching depth. I wouldn't be upset with selecting Turner, but I'd rather shoot for the potential #1-2 starting pitcher and develop him.

 

Sale - Kolek - Quintana - Johnson - Danks could be the rotation of a serious contender in a few years

Agreed with you up until this point. We have a few, and I would expect one or two more to emerge as real prospects by midsummer. Still, BPA is the only way to go, and I kinda hope that turns out to be a pitcher.

 

[Quin]

Projecting a high school pitcher being in the rotation with John Danks? Yeah, no.

 

My guess is it'd be more like Sale-Quintana-Johnson-2 of Danish/Beck/Kolek

[Quin]

http://dcprosportsreport.com/MLBMocks.htm

 

Most mocks have us taking Kolek.

 

I really want him or Turner at this point.

[ChiliIrishHammock24]

http://dcprosportsreport.com/MLBMocks.htm

 

Most mocks have us taking Kolek.

 

I really want him or Turner at this point.

 

Who is Baseball Draft Report and what sport did they think they were drafting for with that mock?

[Quin]

Who is Baseball Draft Report and what sport did they think they were drafting for with that mock?

 

"I’m totally cheating here in calling this a mock draft when it pretty obviously is not a mock draft. This is a mock draft only in that I put team names in front of my first 2014 big board. This is a mock draft in much the same way that Jonathan Givony at Draft Express puts together his early season pre-lottery mock drafts. This is a mock draft only because mock drafts hold much more mainstream appeal than a straight ranking. Calling this a “2014 MLB Draft Mock Draft” (!) gets you 100x the amount of eyeballs. I hate the idea of “selling out” with a mock draft, but I put a lot of time and thought into this list so I’m good with getting it a little extra attention if I can. So, really, it’s a ranking masquerading as a mock draft. Sneaky, right?"

 

"Draft order was made up by me. If you hate it, you’re kind of missing the point. Here are the players…"

[ChiliIrishHammock24]

"I’m totally cheating here in calling this a mock draft when it pretty obviously is not a mock draft. This is a mock draft only in that I put team names in front of my first 2014 big board. This is a mock draft in much the same way that Jonathan Givony at Draft Express puts together his early season pre-lottery mock drafts. This is a mock draft only because mock drafts hold much more mainstream appeal than a straight ranking. Calling this a “2014 MLB Draft Mock Draft” (!) gets you 100x the amount of eyeballs. I hate the idea of “selling out” with a mock draft, but I put a lot of time and thought into this list so I’m good with getting it a little extra attention if I can. So, really, it’s a ranking masquerading as a mock draft. Sneaky, right?"

 

"Draft order was made up by me. If you hate it, you’re kind of missing the point. Here are the players…"

 

Well that's stupid. Baseball drafts on need less than any other sport. Most rankings would end up being nearly the same as a mock draft.

 

EDIT: But I'm also starting to this it's more likely that whoever compiled this mock database is the one who put "Roden", considering they listed "Rondon" as the other name. None of those are correct.

 

And does he explain why he decided to drop the Sox from the 3rd pick to the 9th pick?

Edited January 24, 2014 by Chilihead90

[Quin]

Well that's stupid. Baseball drafts on need less than any other sport. Most rankings would end up being nearly the same as a mock draft.

 

EDIT: But I'm also starting to this it's more likely that whoever compiled this mock database is the one who put "Roden", considering they listed "Rondon" as the other name. None of those are correct.

 

And does he explain why he decided to drop the Sox from the 3rd pick to the 9th pick?

 

He was bulls***ting the whole thing and made a new draft order.

[steveno89]

Agreed with you up until this point. We have a few, and I would expect one or two more to emerge as real prospects by midsummer. Still, BPA is the only way to go, and I kinda hope that turns out to be a pitcher.

 

Ok take Danks out of the projected starting rotation, it was just an example.

 

But outside of Johnson, what starting pitching prospects do we have that get you at all excited? I like Danish, but still feel his sidearm action and quick release still project better as a reliever long term.

 

Beck hasn't shown the upside to be anything more than a #4 or 5 starter at best in the show. Yes, he did look much better after getting promoted to AA, but this incredibly low strikeout rate at A ball has me concerned. He needs to show solid improvement this year to be considered legitimate in my eyes.

 

Outside of these two, who in our system even projects to make the major leagues as a starting pitcher, let alone excel?

 

While I'd be happy to draft Turner, this shows how much we need to stock up on quality arms in the farm system. I like Keaton McKinney later in the draft, he has a solid frame, the best changeup of all HS pitchers and great control.

[Quin]

What would you guys think of taking Jackson Reetz with our second pick if we took Kolek at #3?