<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" lang="en"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">An early look at the 2016 <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/MLBDraft?src=hash">#MLBDraft</a> order and bonus pools from <a href="https://twitter.com/hudsonbelinsky">@hudsonbelinsky</a>: <a href="https://t.co/kDTNnG76VY">https://t.co/kDTNnG76VY</a> <a href="https://t.co/mjHcvKesaW">pic.twitter.com/mjHcvKesaW</a></p>— Baseball America (@BaseballAmerica) <a href="https://twitter.com/BaseballAmerica/status/673983169809420288">December 7, 2015</a></blockquote> <script async src="//platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script> For the first time since 2011, the Houston Astros will be outside of the top 10 in the draft order. As of this moment, they will be picking 19th in the 2016 draft. A lot can change between now and June, however. The last time the Astros had the 19th pick in a draft was in 2010, and they selected Mike Foltynewicz with the 2nd of their 2 1st-round picks. Houston's 2nd round pick for now is the 59th overall selection, and their 3rd round pick at the moment is the 97th overall pick. Right now, their estimated bonus pool is $4,136,756, which ranks 22nd.
First time in several seasons I'm happy to say that I'm not that interested in the Astros draft. Nice to be winning again.
Well, this is where you stock the system with proven guys to help push the blue chip prospects. I'd suspect the Astros target a lot of college guys this draft. The total bonus pool is only a little more than the Astros gave to Kyle Tucker.
Eh... the Cardinals didn't seem to have much of a problem doing that, and they never had high draft picks nor did they routinely hand out huge bonus' (before the current pool system went into affect). They not only had a pretty good graduation rate through their system, but they also stockpiled enough talent to make several deadline deals for proven/star players. Good thing the guy overseeing most of those drafts also happens to be our GM.
Unlike Morey or Smith, Jeff Out now has been excellent drafting. Even being limited, I feel real confident that Out how will draft the right guys. With just over 4.1 million, that 1st rd pick Astros need to hit on it.
I wonder if, given our relatively small pool, Luhnow takes a conservative approach in the 2016 draft. Maybe targeting high floor/low ceiling players who will cost less? Will be interesting.
It's a small pool relative to our usual standards, but it's not a small pool by normal standards. It's the type of pool we are likely to have for the forseeable future. Luhnow will just draft the best players available with each pick like everybody else does. No reason to take any kind of unusual approach. The Astros selected AJ Reed and DJ Fisher with late 1st/early 2nd Rd picks. We are more than capable of getting quality prospects without the high picks. Not to mention guys like Nottingham,Daniel Mengden, Brett Phillips and Preston Tucker who were found with later picks.
This is around the spot Luhnow was picking at every year when he was finding talent that helped the Cards win a championship and be a legit contender year after year. With the bonus pool in place there's going to be plenty of Lance McCullers/Daz Cameron types.
As contact becomes harder to make and a more valuable skill, I wonder if the "high floor/low ceiling" players become "high floor/high ceiling" players.
In fairness, we probably would not have drafted and signed guys like Nottingham or Phillips without our large bonus pools.
Speaking about the 2016 Mlb Draft in a nutshell right now: it's a neat draft on top, top heavy with big time potential on pitching. There is 4 big time pitching prospects and there is a steep drop off. As far as top of the line hitting prospects, this ain't the draft. What makes it neat is the top 4 prospects 1. AJ Puk 2. Jason Groome 3. Alec Hansen 4. Riley Pint They all have Ace potential....You have a 6'7 power lefty in College and a 6'7 power righty as well. In the high school ranks you have a power lefty with major upside and a power righty with major upside. All 4 have great size, power, electric stuff & potential. The other prospects im not really excited about, but you have hitters like Rutherford, Ray, and Banks taken early on as well. Overall is pitching is deep but hitting is light thin as far as top of the line hitters. The Astros right now are in line with the 19th pick. If anyone in front of us signs a class A free agent they would lose their 1st rd pick and the Astros would move one spot higher. The way Luhnow can draft and crunches the numbers in the draft to get the most value out of it, I'm very confident he will end up with a nice haul. With only 1 pick in the top 50 this year that 1st rd pick has to be on point and be one hell of a big time prospect, specially given that the 19th slot be worth over 2 million.
The first ten picks are protected, so the best the Astros could move up to would be the #11 pick. I'd probably expect the 15th or 16th pick. Given the slot money in the range, I bet they play it safe and take a college guy for near slot. It'll probably be an underwhelming pick at the time. You just gotta hope it turns out to be a Michael Wacha type pick (or AJ Reed).
The high school class of 2013, provided that they did not transfer to a junior college, is eligible once again. In the 2013 draft, the Astros drafted 4 high school players who decided to go to college first. Here's how they've fared: 17th Round, 2013: Alex Schick, RHP, Cal 2014 (FR): 7 appearances (4 starts), 2-1, 3.18 ERA, 17 IP, 8 H, 7 R (6 earned), 16 BB, 10 K, 1.41 WHIP 2015 (SOPH): 26 appearances (2 starts), 3-2, 3.61 ERA, 36.1 IP, 25 H, 19 R (17 earned), 21 BB, 46 K, 1.27 WHIP, .195 opponent average 20th Round, 2013: Daniel Pinero, SS, Virginia As a sophomore, Pinero was drafted in the 36th round by the Tigers in last year's draft. He elected to return to school. 2014 (FR): 68 games (all starts), .261/.372/.286, 22 RBI, 39 R, 36 BB (8 HBP), 31 K, 10 SB (3 CS), .658 OPS 2015 (SOPH): 67 games (all starts), .308/.409/.419, 6 HR, 29 RBI, 60 R, 39 BB (5 HBP), 37 K, 9 SB (2 CS), .828 OPS 31st Round, 2013: Scott Burke, RHP, UCLA 2014 (FR): 16 appearances (all in relief), 0-1, 5.31 ERA, 20.1 IP, 19 H (3 HR allowed), 15 R (12 earned), 7 BB, 16 K, 1.29 WHIP, .244 opponent average 2015 (SOPH): 9 relief appearances, 5.40 ERA, 6.2 IP, 5 H, 4 ER, 3 BB, 6 K, 1.29 WHIP, .208 opponent average 35th Round, 2013: Kacy Clemens, RHP/1B, Texas Clemens was UT's starting 1B as a freshman, then became a pitcher as a sophomore. 2014 (FR): 65 games (63 starts), .212/.331/.245, HR, 21 RBI, 20 R, 37 BB, 50 K, .576 OPS 2015 (SOPH): As a hitter: 30 games (24 starts), .204/.339/.204, 10 RBI, 4 R, 9 BB (1 HBP), 12 K, .543 OPS As a pitcher: 10 appearances (9 starts; pitched in a shutout), 3-2, 4.17 ERA, 45.1 IP, 39 H (2 HR allowed), 21 ER, 18 BB, 21 K, 1.26 WHIP, .238 opponent average
With the Nationals signing Daniel Murphy, the Astros now hold the 18th pick in the 1st round. Their 2nd round pick is now #60 overall. In the 3rd round, the Astros have the 97th pick, and for rounds 4-40, add 30 to that number. So their 4th round pick will be 127th overall, their 5th round pick is #157, and so on, so forth. The Astros' estimated bonus pool is just under $6 million ($5,959,850). The 2016 MLB Draft will begin on June 9 and will conclude on June 11.
Wait a minute Mr T. How did the Astros money pool for the Job amateur Draft went from 4,1 to almost 6 million hmmmm. I did some accounting myself, 6 million makes alot more sense. If the Astros do keep their 1st rd pick, I believe they'll move up two more spots at 16th. Pretty unbelievable considering that (Astros) push the World Champs to the brink of elimination in the playoffs and were obviously their biggest threat last year as we found out. A few bonehead decisions from Hinch cannot deterred my enthusiasm in 2016. Like putting out weakest reliever (Perez)in the 7th inning in a crucial 4th game in Kansas City or leaving Will Harris 2 batters to long when the pressure obviously was getting to him. But that was last season but going into next, Astros look much better in paper and now have experience playing in the playoffs. Go stros