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http://www.sacbee.com/sports/mlb/article212362854.html Madrigal talks draft, idols, OSU baseball Blueprint of a baseball player’: Elk Grove's Nick Madrigal is an inch from MLB history BY JOE DAVIDSON jdavidson@sacbee.com June 01, 2018 09:53 PM CORVALIS, ORE. Mike Parker is in his 20th season calling baseball on the radio for Oregon State, and he's asking listeners to bare witness to something special. "I’ve been saying on the broadcasts to savor these last games, because we won't see a guy like Nick again," Parker said. "I’m starting to miss him already." That would be Nick Madrigal, slight of built and immeasurably titanic in this sport otherwise. The second baseman out of Elk Grove High School is at the forefront of the Beavers' College World Series hopes and is projected as a top-five pick in Monday's Major League Baseball draft. If he goes in the top six picks, Madrigal would be the highest drafted regional player in any of the major sports (NFL, NBA, MLB, NHL). And, depending on whom you believe, he would either be the shortest player picked that highly since the June draft began in 1965, or an inch from the record. Oregon State lists him as 5-foot-8; his father says he's 5-7. Mike Madrigal, after all, was there for his son's premature birth 21 years ago, when Nick arrived at just under 4 pounds alongside his slightly heavier twin, Ty. "Nick's been small his whole life, but that has never ever slowed him down," Mike Madrigal said. "He was so small at birth, I could put the twins in the palm of each hand. As soon as Nick was old enough to walk and hold a Wiffle ball bat, he did. He'd rather do that than ride a bike." Madrigal will be in Corvallis on draft day, on a couch, if not in the OSU batting cages, where he often winds up even after a three-hour practice. He will be in the rented house he shares with scores of teammates located barely a relay throw from campus. Family and friends will pack in, but no media, despite inquiries from across the country. M This is typical of Madrigal's low-key nature. "Genuine class and humility is what I think when it comes to Nick Madrigal," Parker said, poring over game notes and looking out from the Goss Stadium press box, eyeing the prized infielder. OSU coach Pat Casey is also big on his leader, a three-year rock of reliability in the field, in the lineup and as an example of never being satisfied. The Beavers have one captain this season: Madrigal, which speaks of his team-wide reputation. Madrigal is batting .395 with 27 RBIs despite missing 26 games with a hand injury. He has struck out just five times in 119 at-bats. "He's unbelievable," Casey said. "He's going to be a big leaguer in a short period of time. He's going to play the game for a long time. His instincts are off the charts. I give him a ton of freedom because he's a thoroughbred and you've got to turn him loose. "Who ever drafts him will get an absolute jewel of a player. If you had a blueprint of a baseball player, Nick's picture would be there. That's all you'd need – Nick." Casey said Madrigal's skills trump any question of size. MLB evaluators suggest the same thing. "Size isn't a problem because the kid can flat-out play," said a National League scout who requested anonymity. According to Baseball Reference's records back to 1965, the only middle infielder drafted in the first round at 5-8 or shorter was Joey Cora, who at 5-7 went 23rd overall to San Diego in 1995. Further proof that players can perform regardless of height: Dustin Pedroia at 5-9 won the A.L. MVP in 2008 (and The Bee's 2001 Player of the Year award at Woodland High). Jose Altuve of the Astros and Ozzie Albies of the Braves have also enjoyed MLB success at 5-8 or shorter. These players worked their way up from their roots in the Sacramento area to play in the majors. Here's a look at who is where on MLB rosters for the 2018 season. Photos by The Associated Press. Angel Guerrero "Just a driven kid. He knows what he wants," Mike Madrigal said. "At age 8, 10, 12, 13, he knew what he wanted to be. His brother Ty wanted to be a fireman (and is a pitcher at Saint Mary's now). Nick wanted to be a ballplayer. Scouts tell me he's compared to Altuve. He's going to be a big leaguer. Wow." Baseball executives have picked his brain on his son, he said. What makes him tick, and just how competitive is he? "One asked me who won in ping pong between me and Nick," Mike Madrigal said from the OSU stadium seats. "I took a deep breath and told the truth: Nick. My son's paddle was broken, ball ruined, and that's how competitive he is." After a recent series against UCLA, Nick Madrigal reflected on how far he's come. He admits the draft is on his mind, especially given the media attention, but he still refers to it as, "If I'm fortunate enough to get drafted." "I remember sitting in a room as a little kid, watching baseball, and I just knew that's what I wanted to do with my life," he said. "Some people wish and hope but I set goals and I try to hold myself to them. I'll never stop working." Madrigal counts Jake Rodriguez, a former Elk Grove High and OSU standout, as one of his role models. He was inspired by Rodriguez's ability to handle pressure situations and how seriously he took the sport. Now on the OSU coaching staff, Rodriguez heaps praise on the pupil. "He's by far the best player and person I have been around," said Rodriguez, an All-Pac-12 honorable mention catcher/infielder in 2012. "He is the ultimate teammate and handles success and failure with the utmost class. His play on the field speaks for itself. He has the best baseball IQ I’ve seen from a player in my time as a ballplayer and coach." Rodriguez added, "What's so special about Nick is his willingness to treat everyone with dignity and respect. He will sign every autograph and take every picture." Mike Madrigal could have envisioned a lot of autograph signings ahead for his son after he received his first scholarship offer. It was from OSU well before Madrigal played an inning of high school baseball. "We thought, 'An offer in eighth grade? You kidding? This is unreal.' Then I started to think, what is this? Is Nick going to be another LeBron James or Bryce Harper?' You have to catch yourself. He's not one of them," he said. "He's just going to be the best Nick he can be." Nick said they were unsure of how to handle the early offer, but that he wouldn't change a thing. "It was unheard of and it was a surprise to get that offer," he said. "But once I visited here, I fell in love with the program. It's all worked out perfectly – everything."

Perhaps better for the Sox. Better overall is quite subjective.

That’s what happens when you overlook character to add talent...karma turns him into Devenski on another team.

I’m resigned to starting a Nick Madrigal thread to go along with Voldemort... Collins not in the starting line-up, sigh. Basabe and Adolfo the only 800+ ops guys now at W-S of the legit prospects.

The White Sox (and no other MLB team) would have drafted him at #8 if they believed that... Other than Royce Ring, Poreda...Burdi in the supplemental round, I can’t remember ANY teams in Major League Baseball taking guys who projected to come out of the bullpen in the 1st round. It’s just not done, except for a once in a generation reliever, who’s undoubtedly being drafted as a starter and will fail in that quest along with way.

If the average major league starter is averaging 94-95 right now...why would we want a pitcher with only two pitches who’s below that line or peaking at it right now? When’s the last time a White Sox-developed minor league pitcher with a “plus” slider or curve or changeup (other than Rodon’s slider) actually came to the big leagues and sustained that initial “plus” scouting report from college as a major league pitcher? Why not just go out and do the scouting to find a Mikolas (like the Cards did) in another organization that’s close/r to the big leagues? There’s going to be Patrick Corbin, Nathan Eovaldi (hell of an arm, but most potential unrealized), Gio Gonzalez, Dallas Keuchel, Lance Lynn (could be a bargain), Charlie Morton, Pomeranz, Garrett Richards, JA Happ, Tyson Ross, Ryu, Ervin Santana....surely they can FIND one bargain from that list when all of the big money will be going to Machado/Harper at the top of the class.

Who have been the five best position players the White Sox have identified in the last 5-7 years (other than Abreu)? They’re all middle infielders: Semien Eduardo Escobar Tim Anderson Fernando Tatis, Jr. Yoan Moncada (I’ll admit that’s a bit of a stretch, as he was a 3B but was projected by many at 2B) You can even add Carlos Sanchez, Leury Garcia and Tyler Saladino (starting over Arcia this year before he went down with the ankle injury) if you want... That’s a much better track record than the pitching, where you have Rodon (that was as obvious as Moncada), Alec Hansen...and, what else?

We’re #4 (or #27 depending on how you look at it). Actually, that’s NOT a good thing, in terms of RS/RA differential. Marlins, Orioles (especially after trading Machado/Britton), Royals (see Orioles) and Reds (much tough division in terms of depth/quality) probably are going to push us back to picking #4/5 (again)...especially if they bring up Kopech/Jimenez.

You’re saying Singer for that reason....I’ll choose to go with Madrigal, who is the ultimate “gym rat” if there was such a thing for the sport of baseball.

http://amp.sacbee.com/sports/spt-columns-blogs/hometown-report/article212010339.html Blueprint of a Baseball Player: Nick Madrigal There’s no doubt in my mind if you look at all his intangibles, work/practice ethic, leadership, baseball IQ....he’s the pick of the “new direction” of White Sox scouting/talent evaluation. Just because they haven’t turned the corner with Giolito and Fulmer doesn’t naturally make Singer the better choice...any more than they shouldn’t have picked SInger if Fulmer were duplicating their August/September numbers from last year.

Only because of the new Takatsu frisbee pitch...

Pitchforks out if it’s Singer...

freedom from arbitrary or despotic government or control We can argue about libertarianism (freedom from government intrusion in their healthcare, freedom to have marijuana be legalized, etc.) vs. Trump’s arbitrary or despotic government. Other than attempting to limit assault weapons, ObamaCare and drone attacks in the Middle East, what has the “other side” done to take away your freedoms and liberties (keeping in mind that we have sacrificed a LOT of them due to the Patriot Act in the wake of 9/11)? Isn’t America still the best place to be an entrepreneur, to launch a start up? The least amount of government restrictions (now) on businesses small and large (of course, that’s not incorporating the very real costs of environmental damage being done, but short-term profits and more jobs, so more or less okay)? As a libertarian, surely you don’t want more intrusion of “Christian-first” theology into political life, do you? The problem is that you don’t see how your posts come off because none of us can be truly objective about our prejudices and biases...in this case, throwing all of those controversial/divisive beliefs behind something vague or innocuous-sounding like “freedom/liberty” doesn’t mean they’re just swept under the rug and other posters will ignore them. Today, you attacked me on religion and I’m pretty sure you can’t even come up with a single thing I’ve ever argued about religion (positive or negative) simply because, well, Strange Sox, Soxbadger, Illinilaw, Rock Raines, PTAC, Dick Allen and myself (along with Reddy) have been a FEW of the most consistent posters in Filibuster over the last year or so and we’re easy targets. And the “flippant” back and forth we now get (that substitutes for real/substantive political conversation) is simply a reflection of the fact that 95% of Americans don’t have the time or inclination to really learn the in’s and out’s of the policies that are being discussed by our leaders. Distractions. Do you really believe that our president wants to talk about policy, and to learn some nuances...? That’s a bridge too far, even for his supporters.

Also, amazing how much Latin American hitting talent CLE has unearthed...basically donated a DH/cleanup hitter to the best team in the NL. That doesn’t even include the best catching prospect in baseball, Mejia.

We need a strike thrower who won’t throw 90-100 pitches in 3+ innings (Fister-esque). Easier said than done apparently.

Not sure what the heck Moncada was doing (ensuring the RBI with no outs?)...guess he assumed the throw was going through to home. Pretty sloppy baserunning and fielding the last 10 days. Hopefully he’s bottomed out.

Isn’t that reactive stance something we are trying to get away from...?

Except this (attendance dominance) didn’t happen for good until the 1984-1989 abyss for the Sox. We all know the reasons. At least 50% self inflicted.

Needs to attack that 3-1 fastball...guess he was looking offspeed, outguessed himself.

You just described most of America. How many would you consider to be well-informed? Fox News, CNN, MSNBC...but how many Americans also read The New York Times, Washington Post, Wall Street Journal, Financial Times, etc.? Reading is a critical skill that’s rapidly decreasing in an age where people are more obsessed with posting their latest meals, vacation photos and selfies at Instagram. And, IMO, until you spend years and years outside of America, you don’t really understand the positives and negatives of what it’s like on the outside. Things like civil rights and privacy (in China, there’s a camera every 50 meters and police are now using real time AI ingrained into their sunglasses to track criminals), poverty/homelessness, education, infrastructure, technology....are all quite eye-opening. Try spending one year in Kansas City, Kansas, as an AmeriCorps Promise Fellow and you’ll see the real America that exists only in your imagination (and the news). See the poverty in Mumbai (Kibera). Try walking down streets with soldiers armed with machine guns posted every 100 meters like in Colombia. Visit Laos/Cambodia/Bangladesh and interact with begging children who should be in school but are forced by parents or gangs into street life. You’ll be singing a different tune about privilege and “us” having it so easy and “you” having it so rough.

It does suck for single mothers or 75-85 year old greeters at Wal-Mart...

Rick Hahn never curses!

But those are not for franchise value...

If you went by the HoF examples, you’d only have Chris Sale and Mark Buehrle (a few votes, let’s say 10%). So we suck at drafting (especially position players)...well, there’s some earth-shattering news.

Obviously, their numbers in both those categories were Top 10 in 2006 or 2007...so what does that make them? The potential (untapped) of a major market franchise trapped by a decade of mediocrity forcing them back into mid-market status, I guess? We don’t know for sure because we’ve never had a consistently-winning White Sox team in any of our lifetimes....unless you go back to the 50’s and 60’s, when the Yankees and playoff format usually blocked them.