http://www.baseballamerica.com/college/friday-roundup-mark-appel-shows-off-mature-approach-at-usc/ http://sbb.scout.com/2/1281029.html
http://mlbdraftinsider.com/2013/04/the-board-2013-volume-iv/ Top 10 in order according to Chris Crawford- Appel, Gray, Meadows, Stewart, Bryant, Frazier, Wilson, Manaea, Shipley, and Ball
Jose de Jesus Ortiz ?@OrtizKicks 1h An amateur scout I respect says some scouts think Astros will pick Jonathan Gray No. 1 overall and then use 2nd pick on Cavan Biggio.
Want the higher upside player over the player who can make it up faster. Gray > Appel Meadows > Frazier
It isn't about making the big leagues faster, it is a lot to do with floor. Appel has a slightly lower ceiling, but has the much higher floor. Keep in mind people were talking up Ryan Stanek last year, and look what has happened to him. Meadows over Frazier is a no-brainer. The only people who don't have it that way are stuck belieiving in HS boxscores.
Slot values for each pick 1-1: $7,790,400 2-1 (40th overall): $1,397,200 3-1 (74th overall): $747,700 4-1 (107th): $481,900 5-1 (137th): $360,800 6-1 (167th): $270,200 7-1 (197th): $202,300 8-1 (227th): $159,700 9-1 (257th): $149,200 10-1 (287th): $139,400 Like last year, any signing in rounds 11-40 or any undrafted free agent exceeding $100K will count against the pool.
You gotta think that Luhnow will be giving strong consideration to a power hitter with a high AVG and OBP.
Gray's rise up MLB draft boards Spoiler Big weekend ahead for Braden Shipley, D.J. Peterson and other top draft prospects Spoiler
Earlier in the season was on board with Appel (and I'd still be okay with him), but now Gray is the one I want (if they go for an arm 1-1).
I think most people still rate Appel higher than Gray, but the gap is closing. I'd ask if Gray would take $5M if he was picked 1-1, and if he doesn't tell him he'll get the $4M slot if he goes 1-2. With Boras, Appel could be tough to strike a below-slot deal, even despite being a college senior.
No kidding. He can start for us the day after we draft him and he would probably be our ace at the major league level. I still believe we should draft pitcher heavy for the next 2 drafts. I would go crazy and draft high ceiling pitchers with 4 of my first 5 picks this year and the next, and hope that out of the 8 high picks, we hit with 3 or 4. I think Gray or Appel (I've leaned into the Gray camp completely now) and Rodon should provide us with a legit 1-2 punch for years to come, and then if we can add at least 1 or 2 above-average pitchers, that would accelerate the rebuild tremendously.
I think it's going to be tough to play hard ball with those two because they clearly the top two on the board and the number two slot is probably more than we're going to offer. Buxton was probably fine getting over an extra million by falling to the number two spot last year.
Yep, the key is they have to believe they could slip. If you consider yourself a lock in the top 3, you don't have much to gain. If you think you might find yourself at #5 or #6, you definitely need to consider taking a guaranteed $5M. Gray and Appel will be able to get $5M at #2 or #3.
