He turned 21 less than a month ago. He's just a kid who's made childish decisions. Smoking weed? Taking a picture with a bong? Fighting a teammate? None are good looks, obviously. And clearly that's not a type of behavior UH can endorse. Maybe this is the lesson he needed. I'm not gung-ho about drafting risky players. But if a stud drops and the risk is palatable, and we think we can address it--than I'm good with it. Not saying we should difinitively draft him. All depends who else is on the board at 15. My point was that he might be talented enough--and his youthful errors harmless enough--to take him.
He wasn't kicked off UH for prioritizing his MLB future over the team. He is out of control and never should have been reinstated to begin with but UH was desperate. He has serious off the field issues.
Hell, it worked for (eta) "I'm Matt ****ing Bush"...12 years later. Only took Hamilton 8, I can't give you the stats on the guys who just flamed out, because nobody remembers them. (eta2) Singleton might be a reference point for guys who had problems, never cared enough and got paid and then....
Another mock draft coming in hot. Chris Crawford considers Virginia OF Adam Haseley as a "solid value pick" at #15. He previously had the Astros picking Seth Romero.
Sorry for being naive -- I don't follow college baseball or the Cougars -- but what are his off the field issues? Another poster suggested he liked to smoke weed. If that is the extent of it, I don't see that as a big enough red flag for us to pass.
MLB.com mock is up, they have Astros taking 3B Jake Burger. Here are the groups of prospects I'd like to see Houston zero in on: 15: HS RHP Shane Baz, HS OF Austin Beck, college RHP Griffin Canning, college OF Jeremy Kendall 53: HS LHP Trevor Rogers, HS OF Tristen Lutz, HS C Hagen Danner, HS OF Heliot Ramos (overslot, pretty confident at least one of those will fall) 56, 75, 91: college RHP Jake Thompson, college C Riley Adams (underslot), college RHP Glen Otto, college C Evan Skoug, college LHP Seth Romero, college OF Michael Gigliotti, college RHP Zach Pop, college C Connor Wong Then focus on college bats (with 1-2 Sr signs to save money for whoever they pick at 53) in rounds 4-10. 11-40 should focus purely on high upside: injured college arms, college hitters with one elite tool, under the radar HS players with soft bonus demands, JuCo players.
Not showing up; or Showing up when he wants to Failing tests Being out of shape Physically fighting with his teammates Verbally fighting with his coaches Million dollar arm with a ten cent brain.
Someone with a lower pick (20's or later) is gonna roll the dice on his upside, because the talent is top 10 level, I hope the astros want no part of that with their first pick.
Most definitely someone will roll dice. However, late first round picks, without looking it up, probably have historically given about 20 million surplus value. Doubt a team risks it on their first pick. My guess would be early second to a team that saved some slot money with first pick at the earliest. Granted, that is not much different than a late first in value, but seems teams are more willing to go low makeup after they have picked once. Teams have been more willling lately to take injured players in late first so you may be right... still no way talent available at 15 makes it worth taking the risk as others have suggested.
He doesn't have the leverage most juniors have, since he does not have a college program who wants him back. He will be lucky to sign at slot.
Spoiler: Who Keith Law Has the Astros Taking in His First Mock Draft 15. Houston Astros David Peterson, LHP Oregon A 6-foot-6 lefty, Peterson has been sitting 90-94 in recent starts and has an unbelievable 117-to-8 strikeout-to-walk ratio this year, capped by a 20-strikeout outing on April 28 against feeble Arizona State.
First round Astros could draft Keston Hiura (college 2B/OF, 60 hit tool) and sign him to an significantly under slot deal since it looks like he might need TJ surgery. Insurance if the Astros lose 'Tuve in FA. Then we know the 'Stros will find high upside guys with strong commits in the next few rounds to spend those savings on.
Astros appear to have Keston Hiura in their sights. Baseball America doesn't think that he'll fall to 15 though; they have him going 12th to Pittsburgh. Spoiler
Damn, I wasn't thinking there was much of a chance that Hiura would be off the board. I guess the success of recent advanced college bats (Benintendi, Bregman, Schwarber, Happ) is driving his stock up.
Agreed. I'd be super happy with Kendall. He's like the Buxton of college OF'ers, ridiculously toolsy and can make a big impact even if his hit tool is only average. If he successfully reworks his swing he could easily be the best player in the draft class down the line. I know college players that have sub-optimal batting profiles are red flags, but the Astros haven't been shy taking guys like Springer or Fisher. (granted Springer's contact problems were a lot less problematic than Kendall's). It's sounds like most people are thinking college bat for the Astros.
