Atlanta Braves: what to expect from the 2018 MLB Draft
He Likes Pitching
The first five rounds are certainly not the only ones in the MLB draft, but for a variety of reasons, they are almost certainly the most important, so that – plus a few more interesting later picks – are what we provided on the previous page.
We could dig deeper into rounds, into the reasons for various selections, etc., but there are difficulties with any such analysis without actually having the true draft boards of a team (their player rankings) in front of you.
2010 was nonetheless a particularly impressive draft year – regardless of having so many extra compensation picks. One could just imagine what the Blue Jays team might have looked like today had both Synergaard and Bryant signed and been kept around.
In 2010, AA opened with 5 consecutive pitching picks… 3 from high schools and 2 from college, with 2 other picks (among 5 others) to round out the top 5 rounds. Those other 3? All shortstops.
The first pitching pick – Deck McGuire – did make the majors… for all of 9 innings, and as a Cincinnati Red. He’s back with Toronto this year as part of their AAA team, but clearly he didn’t turn into what the Jays expected as an 11th overall pick.
Still – they did pretty well that year: no doubt.
2011: Anthopoulous was in on the Vanderbilt pitching band wagon, though Tyler Beede hasn’t worked out as well as some others from his alma mater (made the majors this year for the first time – as a reliever with the Giants).
Of the rest, Joe Musgrove is the most notable name – as an Astro. Also notable: 10 picks, 8 pitchers – most from high schools – and 2 outfielders.
2012: Marcus Stroman’s name jumps off the page here. 6 pitchers in 10 picks with 2 outfielders and a third baseman mixed in.
Top pick Dylan (D.J.) Davis has not progressed beyond High-A ball. Aside from Stroman, though, you’d have to call the rest of those five first round picks as busts.
Anthony Alford is the Jays’ 3rd ranked (44th overall) prospect by the reckoning of MLB Pipeline.
6 pitchers, 2 outfielders, 1 third baseman. 5 high schoolers, 4 collegians.
2013: Pretty forgettable results: 1st rounder Phil Bickford did not sign. 2nd rounder Hollon has not played since 2015.
Of those first 5 picks – only Patrick Murphy remains a ranked prospect (23rd) with the organization.
5 pitchers – 3 high schoolers, one from a JuCo program.
2014: Much better draft, though with mixed results. Max Pentecost was the consensus top catcher available, though shoulder injuries have severely slowed his progress.
The last really big deal that Anthopoulos made as Blue Jays’ GM was to get Troy Tulowitski from Colorado in a trade that included prized prospect Jeff Hoffman. You could argue that the deal didn’t exactly work well for either side, though the Rockies were at least the beneficiary of getting Tulo’s money on their books.
2 pitchers, 2 catchers, one outfielder.
2015: Justin Maese is the lone ranked prospect from this group still with the team – 13th. Brady Singer did not sign (more on him in a bit). 1st rounder Jon Harris is still in the organization. Carl Wise retired in 2017. Jose Espada hasn’t progressed thus far.
4 pitchers, one 3B; 3 high schoolers.