"astrosaj" is Jim Callis' son, A.J. <blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p><a href="https://twitter.com/search?q=%23Astros&src=hash">#Astros</a> sign 9th rounder Brian Holberton for $150k. <a href="https://twitter.com/search?q=%23mlbdraft&src=hash">#mlbdraft</a></p>— astrosaj (@astrosaj) <a href="https://twitter.com/astrosaj/statuses/352105343892979713">July 2, 2013</a></blockquote> <script async src="//platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script> So, that's $800 over slot.
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p>RHP Mark Appel is scheduled to make his professional debut on July 5 with Class A Tri-City. He will report to the club on July 4. <a href="https://twitter.com/search?q=%23Astros&src=hash">#Astros</a></p>— Brian McTaggart (@brianmctaggart) <a href="https://twitter.com/brianmctaggart/statuses/352163618755842048">July 2, 2013</a></blockquote> <script async src="//platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
Jim has tweeted about astrosaj before, and based on the tweets I think it's his son. No idea why his son is an Astros fan though.
Updated, as of 7/3 Bold = signed, or has indicated that he will sign Italics = will not sign, or has indicated that he is unlikely to sign 1st Round: Mark Appel, RHP, Stanford (SR); signed for $6.35 million ($1,440,400 under slot recommendation) 2nd Round: Andrew Thurman, RHP, UC-Irvine (JR); signed for $1,397,200 (slot recommendation), to Tri-City 3rd Round: Kent Emanuel, LHP, North Carolina (JR); signed for $747,700 (slot recommendation), to GCL for now, Tri-City later 4th Round: Conrad Gregor, 1B, Vanderbilt (JR); signed for $481,900 (slot recommendation), to Tri-City 5th Round: Tony Kemp, 2B, Vanderbilt (JR); to Tri-City, signed for $250,000 ($110,800 under slot recommendation) 6th Round: Jake Nottingham, C, Redlands HS, Redlands, CA (committed to Oklahoma); to GCL, signed for $300,000 ($29,800 over slot recommendation) 7th Round: James Ramsay, CF, South Florida (JR); to Tri-City, signed for $175,000 ($27,300 under slot recommendation) 8th Round: Jason Martin, CF, Orange Lutheran HS, Orange, CA (committed to Long Beach State); to GCL, signed for $159,700 (slot recommendation) 9th Round: Brian Holberton, C, North Carolina (JR); to Greeneville, signed for $150,000 ($800 over slot recommendation) 10th Round: Austin Nicely, LHP, Spotswood HS, Grottoes, VA (committed to Virginia); signed for $610,000 ($470,600 over slot recommendation), to GCL, also received $150,000 towards his college education 11th Round: Devonte German, RHP, Bishop Manogue HS, Reno, NV (committed to Nevada) 12th Round: Chase McDonald, 1B, East Carolina (JR); to Greeneville 13th Round: Kyle Westwood, LHP, North Florida (SR); to Tri-City 14th Round: Chris Cotton, LHP, LSU (SR); to Tri-City 15th Round: James Farris, RHP, Arizona (JR) 16th Round: Dillon Newman, RHP, Baylor (JR) 17th Round: Alex Schick, RHP, Cathedral Catholic HS, San Diego (committed to Cal) 18th Round: Adam Nelubowich, 3B, Washington State (RS JR); to Tri-City 19th Round: Jake Rodriguez, C, Oregon State (JR); to Tri-City 20th Round: Daniel Pinero, SS, Western Technical-Commercial School, Toronto (committed to Virginia) 21st Round: Jon Kemmer, LF, Brewton-Parker College (Georgia); says he's heading to Tri-City 22nd Round: Sebastian Kessay, LHP, Scottsdale CC (Arizona) (2nd-year JUCO); to Greeneville 23rd Round: Thomas Lindauer, SS, Illinois (JR); says he's heading to Tri-City 24th Round: Nathan Thornhill, RHP, UT (JR) 25th Round: Albert Minnis, LHP, Wichita State (JR); says he's going to Tri-City 26th Round: Austin Chrismon, RHP, Christopher Newport University (Virginia) (JR); to Greeneville 27th Round: Pat Christensen, RHP, La Salle (SR); to Tri-City 28th Round: Jordan Mills, LHP, St. Mary's (California) (JR); to Greeneville 29th Round: Randall Fant, LHP, Arkansas (SR); to Tri-City 30th Round: Jorge Perez, RHP, Seminole State College (Oklahoma) (2nd-year JUCO); to GCL 31st Round: Scott Burke, RHP, Glendora HS, Glendora, California (committed to UCLA) 32nd Round: Zach Morton, RHP, Northwestern (5th-year SR); to Tri-City 33rd Round: Tyler White, 3B, Western Carolina (SR); to GCL 34th Round: Brett Booth, C, Alabama (SR); to GCL 35th Round: Kacy Clemens, RHP, Memorial HS (Houston) (committed to UT) 36th Round: J.D. Osborne, LHP, Wofford (5th-year SR); to Greeneville 37th Round: Josh Melendez, CF, New Mexico (SR) 38th Round: Ronnie Mitchell, CF, Dallas Baptist (SR); to Tri-City 39th Round: Juan Carlos Santos, RHP, Arlington Country Day School, Jacksonville (committed to Jacksonville); to GCL 40th Round: Tyler Brunnemann, RHP, Hardin-Simmons (SR); to Greeneville Undrafted Free Agents Jack Mayfield, 2B, Oklahoma; to Greeneville Troy Scribner, RHP, Sacred Heart; to GCL Ryan Connolly, RHP, Coastal Carolina; to Greeneville Parker Hipp, IF, New Mexico State; to Greeneville Tanner Mathis, OF, Ole Miss; to Greeneville Kevin Ferguson, LHP, Northeastern; to GCL Brett Clements, C, Nova Southeastern; to GCL Alex Melendez, OF, Puerto Rico Baseball Academy and High School; to DSL Chris Munnelly, RHP, North Carolina; to GCL
I think German & Emanuel will sign. Surprised Melendez hasn't signed as a senior. Maybe he is ready to start his more likely career.
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p>MLB sources: Astros reach agreement pending a physical with 3rd-round pick Kent Emanuel from North Carolina, the ACC Pitcher of the Year.</p>— Mark Berman (@MarkBermanFox26) <a href="https://twitter.com/MarkBermanFox26/statuses/352525710201589760">July 3, 2013</a></blockquote> <script async src="//platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
Kent Emanuel got over-pitched at UNC, so I suspect he will only get a handful of starts at TriCity (my bet). I also bet Emanuel and Appel both will not pitch over 50 innings more this summer. There is no just no upside.
The Astros should have the monies left to sign German. I wonder what the story is for the other HSers who have not made a choice yet: 17th Round: Alex Schick, RHP, Cathedral Catholic HS, San Diego (committed to Cal) 31st Round: Scott Burke, RHP, Glendora HS, Glendora, California (committed to UCLA)
Jim Callis (@jimcallisBA): Your bonus-pool-savings leaders as of now: #BlueJays ($1,305,020), #Astros ($1,077,300), #RedSox ($690,500), #Rockies ($490,700). #mlbdraft @jimcallisBA: Most #mlbdraft $ if pay tax but not lose 1st-rder: #Astros ($1,662,240), #BlueJays ($1,624,930), #RedSox ($1,032,010), #Rockies ($1,000,670)
If we were willing to pay them, we could probably sign them. German was expected in the $300-350K range. Just a matter of what the scouts and Luhnow say they are worth.
Here is an article listing some potential UFAs. The gist of the article is that there are players the Astros could sign for $100,000 or less, who do not have solid commitments for the next year. The Day After the Draft: One More Step By Matt Garrioch on Jun 10 2013, 8:00a Most teams are done with the draft, and honestly, I want to be too, but I can't. There is more talent out there to take a crack at. When a player goes undrafted, they are considered Non-Drafted Free Agents. Yep, free agency. I have a crack at signing these guys to my Astros Shadow system. Each player can get $100,000 with no hit to the allotment that MLB allows us. So today, I would call everyone of these players and their advisors. Many would pay zero attention to a $100,000 offer because they have D1 scholarships waiting but there are a few that have either a Junior College offer or no commitment at all. There are some sleepers here that should jump to pro ball. The top targets that should be signable: Ronnie Healy, C, Florida HS: Big power potential. Good actions behind the dish, even though he may have to move to 1B. I really like the bat. Committed to Broward CC. CD Pelham, P, South Carolina HS: He's a really good athlete and has been up to 93 this spring. He's committed to Spartanburg Methodist which is a decent Juco but could be signable. He's very raw but intriguing. Thomas Rogers, P, Virginia HS: Easy 89 MPH from the left side. No commitment. Just blows my mind why nobody drafted this guy. Jamar Burnette, OF, Canada HS: Athletic. Swing and miss issues but a great athelte. Austin Paschke, OF, Georgia HS: Long swing but big power potential. No commitment. Matt Walker, P, Texas HS: He's committed to Weatherford JC so should be signable. He's in the upper 80's with a lot of projection. Could be interesting. Peton Attaway, OF, Louisianna HS: He is commited to Mississippi but he has a lot of tools and would be worth a shot to see if he'd sign. Aldo Koutsoyanopulos, 3B, California HS: Good athlete. Not a great bat but one to watch in JC next year. It could come around. Chad Sheppard, P, Georgia HS: Huge kid. No commitment. Not an athlete but the power potential intrigues me. I wouldn't give him $100K but I'd see if he's interested in playing pro ball. I don't know but I just see something there. Trey Griffin, OF, Tennessee JuCo: Favorite since HS. Not giving up on him yet. Just too many tools. He's been in JuCo for a while but the stats look like he's coming around this year. I would give him a shot in pro ball. Zach Alvord, 3B, Tampa JuCo: Good athelte, good swing. Well rounded player that should get a shot.
The signing deadline for 2013 Rule 4 drafted players is 5 p.m. ET on July 12, 2013. Time is drawing nigh.
I prayed for the first time in a few eternities this morning, and my first prayer was that the Astros sign Devonte German for $500,000.
I don't care what they sign him for. Just git r dun. Send in Jeff Bagwell & Craig Biggio. And give him an iPad.
