2018 Blue Jays Season Thread

[Roof-Daddy]

Originally Posted by Parallex

Jays take Adam Kloffenstein (RHP) a faller from yesterday. Same HS as Goshans. If they saved any $$ on his teammate at #12 they'll need to spend it on him (Committed to TSU). Expect to see some senior signs today JIC.

Big body, good stuff. Hopefully they get him signed.

[flames_fan_down_under]

Three players ranked in the top 50 in MLB pre-draft rankings.

Groshans 31st
Conine 50th
Kloffenstein 43rd

http://www.sportingnews.com/ca/mlb/n...f1rbqg3iiz0ct6

Groshans batted .444 with 11 home runs and 36 RBIs this season. He hit 22 home runs in his career. Kloffenstein batted third and was second on the team with nine home runs. Despite his power prowess, though, he is likely to be taken as a pitcher in the upcomgin draft.

[Roof-Daddy]

Another RHP with the 4th round selection: Sean Wymer

Wymer served as a troubleshooting reliever on Texas Christian's College World Series club in 2017, the fourth straight year the Horned Frogs reached Omaha. Though he was extremely valuable in that role, retiring 35 of the 39 batters he faced while recording two wins and a save during the NCAA postseason, TCU shifted him into its rotation this spring. Though his stuff hasn't been as crisp as it has in the past and he missed time with back issues early in the season, he has still shown enough to factor in the first three rounds of the Draft. Wymer has four quality pitches and there's little consensus as to which is his best. He'll flash a well-above-average curveball at times, though there are other times when his hard slider is his superior breaking ball. He doesn't worry about radar guns, working at 89-92 mph with a quality sinker, though he can reach back for 95-96-mph heat when he needs to. As if that's not enough, Wymer can also unveil a solid changeup and fully trusts the pitch. Though he's not big, he's athletic and repeats his delivery, allowing him to throw a ton of strikes and boding well for his durability. He has advanced feel for pitching and mixes his pitches masterfully.

Four plus pitches and can reach 95-96 when he wants to. Sounds good to me.

[cross16]

Jays must really like their Texas area scout. 3/4 picks so far from Texas.

[Roof-Daddy]

Seen reports that Kloffenstein has signed for $2.5 million.

That's big money for where he was picked, but good that the jays signed him. (If true)

Link

Two sources confirmed the Blue Jays are offering Kloffenstein a first-round level signing bonus of about $2.5 million and he will forgo his commitment to TCU.

The slotted amount for the No. 88 spot is just over $650,000. The Blue Jays are offering almost $2 million more than that.

[Parallex]

Related to the above Jays just drafted Chris Bec, unranked 4 year senior out of the university of Maine. AKA guy that will sign for a hotdog and get the Jays a bigger bonus pool to spend on others.

[cross16]

Boy, that's a lot of bonus pool to make up. Seems like his stuff is worth it and have to assume their first rounder will sign for less than the recommend slot bonus.

[Parallex]

Originally Posted by cross16

Boy, that's a lot of bonus pool to make up. Seems like his stuff is worth it and have to assume their first rounder will sign for less than the recommend slot bonus.

If they can save close to a mil on Groshans use up their permitted (taxed) overage then they have to punt a pick or two to make up the difference so I assume we'll see another senior sign soon (I like the idea of punting on Senior catchers if you gotta punt... help break in the IFA & Prep pitchers with an experienced receiver) and then probably slot guys.

[Karl]

Originally Posted by Parallex

See I think that really proves my point... guys traded for as prospects were not Aces at the time, Price cost a fortune in $$, Sale cost a fortune in prospects.

They're very hard to get so you need a lot of bullets in that gun to make sure you hit.

Also Trevor Bauer is a complete ####heel ####wad I'd rather the Jays miss the playoffs then give him a single dime.

Ugh.

It's than.

[Parallex]

Originally Posted by Karl

Ugh.

It's than.

Alright

[Roof-Daddy]

6th round selection, SS Addison Barger:

King High School has had its fair share of high Draft picks, dating back to former big leaguer Derek Bell, a second-rounder in 1987 and up to 2012 supplemental first-round pick Keon Barnum. Barger doesn't look like a top-two-round guy at this point, but his skills on both sides of the ball could land him in the top five. Barger is a left-handed hitting middle infielder who has shown some plus bat speed at times this spring. It's more of a line-drive approach at present, but there is raw power for him to tap into as he progresses in the game. Defensively, Barger has a strong arm and good hands, though with fringy speed, at best, the question remains whether he can stick at shortstop long-term. Scouts think Barger can begin his career at the premium position and let him play his way off, with second or third a more likely landing place. Seeing Barger end up as an offensive-minded second baseman from the left side of the plate might be the best scenario, and he could profile best as a super-utility type who can hit. There is some offensive upside, and that could be enough to entice a team to sign him away from his Florida commitment.

Doesn't seem like a punt pick. Offensive upside, super utility potential.

[Parallex]

Originally Posted by Roof-Daddy

6th round selection, SS Addison Barger:



Doesn't seem like a punt pick. Offensive upside, super utility potential.

No, not a punt pick at all. I'm surprised, I wasn't expecting to see any Preps taken from here on out.

Smart play for the Jays at this point if they're going to punt another pick... Noah Song. He's ranked... but he's Navy so I doubt anyone legit drafts him since they'd have to wait out his military committment. So draft him sign him below slot and if he wants to play after he's done his tour you can reinstate him and maybe get a (albeit rusty) talent down the line.

[Parallex]

Jays pick Nick Podkul 4Y Junior 2B/3B out of Notre Dame.

I see nothing interesting about him. I suspect he signs for slot or maybe a bit below.

[Roof-Daddy]

Originally Posted by Parallex

Jays pick Nick Podkul 4Y Junior 3B out of Notre Dame.

The Notre Dame second baseman hit .312 with a .433 on-base percentage and .525 slugging percentage this year -- leading the Fighting Irish in all three slash line categories -- while adding eight home runs and nine stolen bases in 11 tries. Podkul doesn't wow you with his tools, but he's hit in the ACC, he has a good feel for the game, and he's a solid defender.

...

[cross16]

Originally Posted by Roof-Daddy

...
Quote:
The Notre Dame second baseman hit .312 with a .433 on-base percentage and .525 slugging percentage this year -- leading the Fighting Irish in all three slash line categories -- while adding eight home runs and nine stolen bases in 11 tries. Podkul doesn't wow you with his tools, but he's hit in the ACC, he has a good feel for the game, and he's a solid defender.

That is probably the most vague scouting report i've ever seen from a website. pretty funny stuff.

[Beninho]

The Jays strategy is interesting and I think pretty smart. Kloffenstein was a first round talent that dropped because teams were worried he won’t sign. Jays spreading their wealth on their first 3 picks and all 3 should sign.

[Parallex]

Originally Posted by Beninho

Kloffenstein was a first round talent that dropped because

Fringy first round talent... most ranking sources had him in the early mid-40's. If it's true that they're signing him for 2.5M that's the dollar amount allocated to the 27th slot.

[SuperMatt18]

Originally Posted by Beninho

The Jays strategy is interesting and I think pretty smart. Kloffenstein was a first round talent that dropped because teams were worried he won’t sign. Jays spreading their wealth on their first 3 picks and all 3 should sign.

I kind of like it just because the MLB draft seems like more of a crap shoot compared to the other major league drafts.

Instead of going after a guy who is going to command above his slot in round 1 - they take a guy who they can save some money on, then spread that across their 2nd and 3rd picks to get 3 guys who are top 50 talents giving them more shots at a top talent.

Seems smart to me.

[cross16]

I agree it is a very good strategy.

That being said, I still would have preferred more pitching earlier in the draft.

[Beninho]

Originally Posted by cross16

I agree it is a very good strategy.

That being said, I still would have preferred more pitching earlier in the draft.

I would’ve as well but clearly the Jays felt those pitchers would’ve commanded too much money for their strategy to work. They obviously think Kloffenstein has a lot of potential left to hit and I’m sure they are happy that they will be able to have full control on his development. Two high schoolers in the first 3 picks is definitely a gamble but could pay off big time.