He's been electric as TCU's closer for the past two seasons. Almost unhittable. Then the NC State game happened last weekend during the Fort Worth Regional. Frogs were up one and he gave up a two run shot with two outs and two strikes in the 9th. Frogs went on to lose the game. He's been shaky in every appearance since. It obviously brings back terrible memories of Brad Lidge. At the end of the day, he was a top 25 pick about a month ago and I think he's unbelievable value in the 3rd. Glad we scooped him up.
3B would make sense given his strong arm. He doesn't have much power. It seems like his ceiling will be a utility player (1B, 3B, backup catcher, corner OF maybe).
Round 5, Pick 139: Trent Thornton, RHP, North Carolina 2015: 28 appearances (4 starts), 3-7, 5.08 ERA, 6 saves, 62 IP, 58 H (3 HR allowed), 38 R (35 earned), 31 BB, 81 K, 1.35 WHIP, .240 opponent average
Reality is that the Astros will need to get talent that will take under slot money, because they will need a large chunk of the pool in order to sign Cameron, Tucker, and Bregman.... Also both Eshelman and Ferrell are guys who could essentially be on the quick route to Majors.... So getting close to slot money for them isn't too off the mark.
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" lang="en"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">Astros great draft keeps getting better Riley Ferrell could help the Houston bullpen late this year or next year.</p>— JJ Cooper (@jjcoop36) <a href="https://twitter.com/jjcoop36/status/608320492706144256">June 9, 2015</a></blockquote> <script async src="//platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
Round 6, Pick 169: Nestor Muriel, CF, Carlos Beltran Baseball Academy, Florida, Puerto Rico Still 16! Well, he turns 17 on Thursday. <iframe src='http://m.mlb.com/shared/video/embed/embed.html?content_id=148840583&topic_id=67565098&width=400&height=224&property=mlb' width='400' height='224' frameborder='0'>Your browser does not support iframes.</iframe>
Looking at the slot money, I think the Astros are making moves to have enough money to sign Cameron. http://www.baseballamerica.com/draft/2015-mlb-draft-slots/ The number 37 picks is slotted close to 1.7 million. Bregman was supposed to be the 4th or 5th pick, so maybe the Astros agreed with a 5.65 million deal that leaves 1.75 million t give to Cameron. Tucker was supposed to be going anywhere between 8-10, so giving him 3,600,000 might get it done (equivalent to a # 7 pick). So that is 1.7 + 1.75 + .5 = 3.9 million might be close enough to get it done. If they needed more money, they are going to be able to sign other under slot deals. Probably why Anthony Hermelyn was drafted, a guy who wasn't even in the top 500 prospect list.
I don't think the front office would have picked Cameron if they didn't have a plan in place from the start to sign him. Barring a situation like last year where something crazy shows up on a physical (knock on wood), I think it's almost a lock that we have enough money for Cameron.
Assuming Daz Cameron really had a $5M price tag, the Astros would need to find $2,466,940 in savings elsewhere. If they paid Bregman & Cameron a combined $9M, they would be fine.
Round 7, Pick 199: Michael Freeman, LHP, Oklahoma State 6'8", 235. Mixed reports on velocity, lots of life on fastball, groundball machine. Could be a lefty reliever. 5th-year senior. <blockquote class="twitter-tweet" lang="en"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">Love that pick by the Astros. LHP Michael Freeman. Dominant season. Was a SP at Okla. St but could move quick as LHRP. Lively FB.</p>— JJ Cooper (@jjcoop36) <a href="https://twitter.com/jjcoop36/status/608364379638235137">June 9, 2015</a></blockquote> <script async src="//platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" lang="en"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">Love that pick by the Astros. LHP Michael Freeman. Dominant season. Was a SP at Okla. St but could move quick as LHRP. Lively FB.</p>— JJ Cooper (@jjcoop36) <a href="https://twitter.com/jjcoop36/status/608364379638235137">June 9, 2015</a></blockquote> <script async src="//platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
