Im always wrong when it comes to the mlb draft... only pick i ever got right was the kris Bryant pick (unfortunately) .. thanks to the resident experts for the insight!
http://m.mlb.com/news/article/235985612/astros-draft-uncs-jb-bukauskas-at-no-15/ Astros director of scouting and player development Mike Elias isn't sure at what level Bukauskas will start for the Astros, though he could skip the short-season clubs considering his experience and level of competition. The 20-year-old went 9-1 with a 2.53 ERA in 15 starts this year, striking out 116 batters and walking 37 in 92 2/3 innings. "He's a young junior with a three-pitch mix, plus his fastball we've gotten up to 98," Elias said. "He has a plus slider and a changeup he hasn't used a ton at the college level because he hasn't had to but we view as a future above-average pitch as well. To get that kind of power stuff in the middle of the first round is a coup for us, and we had him rated as early first-round talent." Astros area scout Tim Bittner called Bukauskas a "quiet bulldog." "From the start, after the anthem, once he takes the mound, he's very cool, he's very under control, but it's a determined look," he said. "Very few things rattle him, whether he's getting squeezed or things going on behind him. He's a guy that keeps his head and stays the course throughout the game." Elias said Bukauskas has tools to succeed, no matter the size. "He's plenty big," he said. "It's all about the results and the stuff coming out of your hand." http://m.mlb.com/news/article/235991940/astros-draft-joe-perez-with-no-53-pick/ "But we prefer his talent as a hitter and we're going to send him out as a third baseman," Elias said. "He's got a plus arm, he's huge power. He can hit. He had a tremendous season in some of the best high school baseball you'll find in the country down there in Broward County in South Florida." Perez, 17, hit .526 (40-for-76) with 14 doubles, nine home runs, three triples and a 1.726 OPS during his senior year. The right-handed-hitting infielder was named a 2017 Rawlings-Perfect Game first-team All-American, as well as a 2016 underclass first team and 2015 underclass second team selection by Perfect Game. http://m.mlb.com/news/article/235991946/astros-draft-corbin-martin-from-texas-am/ "Martin was one of Texas A&M's best pitchers this year," Astros director of scouting and player development Mike Elias said. "They moved him from the bullpen to the starting rotation later in the season. His stuff held up. We believe he's got pitches that project very well on the Major League level." Elias said Martin has two breaking balls and a changeup to go along with his upper 90s fastball that usually sits between 92-94 mph. "We're going to develop him as a starter," Elias said. "He's got the arsenal to do so, and he's got the body and durability to do so. And that's how we view him." http://m.mlb.com/news/article/235992058/astros-draft-jj-matijevic-from-arizona/ Matijevic led the Arizona offense in his junior season by batting .383 (92-for-250) with 30 doubles, 10 homers, 65 RBIs and a 1.069 OPS in 59 games. He led the Pac-12 this season in batting average, doubles, slugging, hits, RBIs and total bases. "We like his bat, we like his power, he can steal some bases here and there, and we just like what he's done with the stick," said Mike Elias, Astros director of scouting and player development. "He's played some second base at Arizona, he's played some first, he's played some left field. I don't know what the defensive plan will be for him going forward. That's something that we'll evaluate once we get him in the field, but he's a bat first."
http://www.houstonchronicle.com/spo...as-selected-by-11215186.php?cmpid=chronstrrpc Tim Bittner, the Astros' area scout for the Carolinas and Virginia, first called Elias about Bukauskas after watching him pitch as a prepster out of Stone Bridge High School in Ashburn, Va. Set on attending North Carolina, Bukauskas told teams not to select him, though the Arizona Diamondbacks still drafted him in the 20th round. In addition to Bittner, Elias saw Bukauskas pitch numerous times over the pitcher's three years at UNC. Astros special assistant Sig Mejdal, director of player personnel Quinton McCracken and senior scouting advisor Charlie Gonzalez were also among those to scout him. "He hasn't been a hard guy to dig up," Elias said. "He's been at the forefront of the college baseball scene since arriving on campus. He's been on Team USA (at the collegiate level). So he has been a banner college baseball player."...................................................... They used the 53rd overall pick on Joe Perez, a two-way high school player they plan to develop as a third baseman. Perez is scheduled to undergo Tommy John surgery on Tuesday in Pensacola, Fla. - the renowned Dr. James Andrews is performing the operation - but the Astros felt the potential of his righthanded power bat and arm at third base was too valuable to pass on....................................... Perez, from Archbishop McCarthy High School in Southwest Ranches, Fla., could have been drafted as a pitcher. The 17-year-old has dialed up his fastball to 97 mph and has "a nasty breaking ball," Elias said. If the Astros are able to sign him - he has a commitment to the University of Miami - they will supervise his Tommy John recovery at their spring training complex in West Palm Beach, Fla., with the hope he can take at-bats next spring. "We appreciate his talent both ways and viewed him as a top pick in either direction," Elias said, "but we want to try the bat first, for sure."
The Astros never seem to do well with their college pitcher draftees but at first glance the night looks pretty good. Never expected JB to still be on the board.
That's the first I've seen of Martins curve being elite and his velocity being that high. I thought his curve was just above average and he sat in the low to mid 90s on his FB. If that's true that those 2 pitches are that good then the pick is better than I thought.
John Sickels on J.J. Matijevic Spoiler To finish up our series of player profiles for Monday’s 2017 MLB Draft, let’s look at University of Arizona first baseman J.J. Matijevic. THE BASICS J.J. Matijevic grew up on a cold-weather environment, playing high school ball in North Huntingdon, Pennsylvania. He drew notice from scouts as early as 2011 but was committed to the University of Arizona and considered a difficult sign on graduation in 2014. He went in the 22nd round to the Boston Red Sox but eschewed the pros for college. He had a mediocre freshman season, hitting just .238/.317/.406, but hit well in the Cape Cod League that summer. He improved as a sophomore in 2016 with a .287/.332/.414 line. He then took a massive step forward in the 2016 Cape Cod League, hitting .376/.449/.553 with the wooden bat along with an excellent 12/10 BB/K ratio in 85 at-bats. He kept it up this spring, emerging as one of the most dangerous hitters in college baseball with a .383/.436/.633 line for the Wildcats. He hit 10 homers and 30 doubles with a 23/38 BB/K in 240 at-bats. STRENGTHS Matijevic is a left-handed hitter and thrower born November 14, 1995. In high school Matijevic was listed at 5-10 or 5-11, 200-210 pounds. He’s 6-0/6-1 now and in better shape, 195-200, and the improvement in his conditioning has unlocked his talent. He’s improved his swing mechanics since his freshman year while showing a much sharper batting eye. Arizona isn’t an easy place for a power hitter and some of those doubles could be home runs at higher levels. His record over two summers in the Cape Cod League (.349/.381/.507 in 229 at-bats overall) gives analytically-oriented teams more confidence in his bat. Although he doesn’t have a standout defensive tool he’s become a solid first baseman, making just two errors this year for a .996 fielding percentage. His makeup is also a plus. WEAKNESSES Matijevic doesn’t have the plus arm strength or running speed to project as a super defender at another position, although he puts in a good effort everywhere and might make a respectable left fielder. It remains to be seen if his home run power will blossom enough for a first baseman in the major leagues. He doesn’t have the pure athleticism or massive raw power teams look for in an early pick and his skills may be maxed out. OVERALL PROJECTION Matijevic is the type of polished hitter who will make short work of A-ball, but whether he becomes a possible regular first baseman or just a good role player may not become apparent until he reaches Double-A or Triple-A. In a normal year he’s probably a third round pick, but the shortage of quality college bats (and his own strong track record with wood) could move him up a round.
Day 2 slot values: Round 3, Pick 91: $597,800 Round 4, Pick 121: $437,400 Round 5, Pick 151: $326,600 Round 6, Pick 181: $249,600 Round 7, Pick 211: $195,300 Round 8, Pick 241: $158,100 Round 9, Pick 271: $141,600 Round 10, Pick 301: $133,500
If Perez really was an underslot deal then they'll likely take an overslot guy at 91. The subsequent amounts just aren't enough. There are a lot of good HS pitchers left, several who were ranked in the top 50. Also a couple SS and Mason House an OF I think could be pretty good.
I don't have any inside information on Perez, but there have been a few people in the media saying Perez is expected to be a tough sign. It makes no sense with him having TJ, but it has been floated out there.
