The Sox stated process at the top of the draft is to arrive at a final 6 or 7 about a 6 weeks before the draft.  After that point, they fine tune things among the 6 or 7 with no new names allowed in.  Hostetler said they had about 6 in an interview, and that got translated to exactly 6.  It is quite possible that the Sox felt he was one of their "super 7" six weeks ago, and they are talking to all the agents just in case.  In the end, though, he may have ranked 7th out of 7, and he still may rank 7 out of 7 on their short list.  It is kind of interesting if they had identified him as one of the seven best in any case.   Nick is on record that the Sox will get an "impact superstar" at #3, and he has implied that, unlike last year, the top of this draft is unusually deep in that regard.

The team I saw him most linked to before this rumor was the Rangers at #8 and they just had their own new rumor today with it coming out that they might take Kody Hoese. A couple people saw him taking BP in their stadium today. Maybe the reason they moved from Baty to Hoese is that they heard Baty might be gone by their pick, which would seem to fit with this new Sox rumor.

13 minutes ago, Jack Parkman said:

Whenever he's played decent competition he's struggled. 

What are you talking about? He plays in the pac 12 and hes been the best summer hitter in the amateur scene for two years in a row. This is complete nonsense.

Once again Jack, stop making things up and present some facts here. 

Edited June 2, 20196 yr by Look at Ray Ray Run

Guy just had an 1050 ops in Cape cod and Jack is telling me he always struggles vs good competition 

11 minutes ago, Harold's Leg Lift said:

Like I said:  There's some crazy Brett Baty love out there.  

99% of late minute draft hype is about driving the guy you actually wants price down.

11 minutes ago, DirtySox said:

I wonder how much of this is kinda over-correction from Gorman.

Very well could be.

3 minutes ago, Harold's Leg Lift said:

Very well could be.

Kid isnt toolsy enough for me. Not a guarantee to be athletic enough to stick at third. 

If someone took Betty over Vaughn they should be certified into the local facility.

4 minutes ago, Look at Ray Ray Run said:

99% of late minute draft hype is about driving the guy you actually wants price down.

This isn't last minute draft hype.  I said that 2 weeks ago.

Baty is just 1 1/2 years younger than Vaughn. After reading that article by Kiley, about the Progressive approach, not yet fully embraced by colleges, I have a greater appreciation for the advantage of taking a prep prospect. Again, here is where scouting is really difficult and critical. If the Sox evaluate Baty as a talent worth picking 3RD, then they have the advantages of getting him into a professional program, and using a wooden bat, yet they don't have to wait as long to get him to the Big Leagues, as they would with a typical high school prospect. 

It's also interesting to note that Vaughn was not a very good high school baseball player. He really came into his own, when he got to college. In the final analysis, it all comes down to the scouting department. What the Hell do I know. I've never seen either one these kids and if I had, I wouldn't know how to determine whom to select. 

Edited June 2, 20196 yr by Lillian

6 minutes ago, Harold's Leg Lift said:

This isn't last minute draft hype.  I said that 2 weeks ago.

Drafting Betty would be reckless. 

The Sox are drafting either Abrams, Vaughn or Adley. No one else.

Just now, Look at Ray Ray Run said:

Drafting Betty would be reckless. 

It would be the Sox FO trying to get cute when they have no need to. One of Ruschtman, Witt, or Vaughn will be there at 3. Pretty simple stuff in my mind. 

17 minutes ago, Look at Ray Ray Run said:

The Sox are drafting either Abrams, Vaughn or Adley. No one else.

Bold

7 minutes ago, Harold's Leg Lift said:

Bold

It's not about being bold. This is what's happening.

28 minutes ago, Look at Ray Ray Run said:

Drafting Betty would be reckless. 

Nope. I like Vaughn but a big, athletic 3B who mashes from the left side would be unexpected but not reckless. Depending on the economics, might even be genius.

I think worst case is Adley and Vaughn go 1 & 2.  That would make me puke

3 minutes ago, Flash said:

Nope. I like Vaughn but a big, athletic 3B who mashes from the left side would be unexpected but not reckless. Depending on the economics, might even be genius.

Kid is older than some kids entering their junior year of college. Doesnt even qualify to play on a lot of high school travel teams because hes so old.

Vaughn is a generational bat. To pass on Vaughn for some kid 2 years older than some of his peers would be bad.

What is athletic about him? Even for his age he grades out under the 50th percentile in pretty much every athletic trait.

Edited June 2, 20196 yr by Look at Ray Ray Run

1 minute ago, Look at Ray Ray Run said:

Kid is older than some kids entering their junior year of college. Doesnt even qualify to play on a lot of high school travel teams because hes so old.

Vaughn is a generational bat. To pass on Vaughn for some kid 2 years older than some of his peers would be bad.

What is athletic about him? Even for his age he grades out under the 50th percentile in pretty much every athletic trait.

I know we're not supposed to talk about it, but Vaughn also fits the rebuild perfectly.  Say Baty is ready for the majors in 3 years....what happens with Yoan?  I totally understand picking BPA, but given the way the Sox do/don't spend in free agency, acquiring a bat like Vaughn is important IMO.

1 minute ago, Look at Ray Ray Run said:

Kid is older than some kids entering their junior year of college. Doesnt even qualify to play on a lot of high school travel teams because hes so old.

Vaughn is a generational bat. To pass on Vaughn for some kid 2 years older than some of his peers would be bad.

Why does the age difference matter? They will both start their careers and journey through the affiliates at exactly the same time. One can argue Vaughn will progress faster but there is no guarantee (see Magrigal). In all likelihood, Baty will still reach the bigs at a younger age than Vaughn since he is starting his career earlier. 

While Baty is interesting I kinda think it's a leverage ploy.

Regardless, I think Vaughn is too risky to take top 3. All of his value is in his bat. If he's not a perennial MVP candidate it's a bad pick. 

I think drafting Vaughn is stupid and reckless. I don't care if he is potentially the best bat in the class. If he struggles at all in the minors he has zero value, even as a trade chip. I wouldn't touch him inside the top 10 most years, and this one I wouldn't touch him until #7 at the absolute earliest. 

If you're talking about Vaughn as a top 3 pick this must be a historically weak draft class. 

Edited June 2, 20196 yr by Jack Parkman

18 minutes ago, Look at Ray Ray Run said:

Kid is older than some kids entering their junior year of college. Doesnt even qualify to play on a lot of high school travel teams because hes so old.

Vaughn is a generational bat. To pass on Vaughn for some kid 2 years older than some of his peers would be bad.

What is athletic about him? Even for his age he grades out under the 50th percentile in pretty much every athletic trait.

Baty is 7 mos. older than Witt.

Not sure where you are getting data that suggests Baty isn't athletic. That just isn't correct. He's a two-year starter on a very good basketball team and by all accounts, he's a gifted athlete. Vaugh on the other hand is not. 

How much money could the Sox save, by taking Baty and how might they employ those dollars, for other selections, in this Draft?

29 minutes ago, Flash said:

Why does the age difference matter? They will both start their careers and journey through the affiliates at exactly the same time. One can argue Vaughn will progress faster but there is no guarantee (see Magrigal). In all likelihood, Baty will still reach the bigs at a younger age than Vaughn since he is starting his career earlier. 

Age matters because it's a big advantage to be 2 years older than kids your playing against.

20 minutes ago, Jack Parkman said:

Regardless, I think Vaughn is too risky to take top 3. All of his value is in his bat. If he's not a perennial MVP candidate it's a bad pick. 

I think drafting Vaughn is stupid and reckless. I don't care if he is potentially the best bat in the class. If he struggles at all in the minors he has zero value, even as a trade chip. I wouldn't touch him inside the top 10 most years, and this one I wouldn't touch him until #7 at the absolute earliest. 

If you're talking about Vaughn as a top 3 pick this must be a historically weak draft class. 

You said hes bad against good competition. Show me that.

Or Vaughn is a historically good bat prospect. You ever think of that?