BA's Draft Report Cards

[Jaypers]

ARIZONA DIAMONDBACKS
Few teams had as many top picks perform as well as the Diamondbacks. If toolsy talents such as Williams, Bray and McPhearson come together, this class could go from good to great.
BONUS SPENDING: $7.12 million
POSITION PLAYERS
BEST PURE HITTER: He didn’t see a ton of elite pitching in high school, but OF Justin Williams (2) adjusted quickly to pro ball, finishing up at low Class A South Bend after tearing through two Rookie levels. His present strength helps him drive the ball consistently. » BEST POWER HITTER: Some scouts thought Williams had the most raw power in the high school class, but 1B Daniel Palka (3) led the Atlantic Coast Conference in home runs (17) and slugging (.637) before hitting nine more homers and slugging .516 in 252 at-bats in his debut. » FASTEST RUNNER: Many scouts considered OF Matt McPhearson (4) the draft’s fastest premium prospect, earning 80 grades on the 20-80 scale when he’s healthy, with a 6.22-second 60-yard dash time. He was slowed by a hamstring injury this spring but stole 15 bases in 18 tries after signing despite a modest .200/.311/.238 start. » BEST DEFENSIVE PLAYER: OF Colin Bray (6) is a 70 runner and long strider in center field, and he has plenty of arm strength.
PITCHERS
BEST FASTBALL: Arizona loaded up on big arms. Athletic RHP Braden Shipley (1) can sit in the 94-98 mph range. RHP Aaron Blair (1s) has heavy sinking life on an 88-94 mph heater that touches higher, while LHP Daniel Gibson (7) reaches 95 from the bullpen. » BEST SECONDARY PITCH: RHP Jimmy Sherfy (10) has a lot of effort in his low-slot delivery but produces plus sliders with mid-80s velocity.
ODDS AND ENDS
BEST PRO DEBUT: Palka and Williams, who may have overachieved in batting .351/.397/.452 with 18 doubles in 208 at-bats over three levels. Sherfy had seven saves and 29 strikeouts in 17 innings, half of them at South Bend. Blair, Gibson and Shipley also pitched for the Silver Hawks in the Midwest League playoffs. » BEST ATHLETE: Shipley, who was recruited as a shortstop, is a fifth infielder after he delivers a pitch, and he ranks right with Bray and McPhearson. » MOST INTRIGUING BACKGROUND: OF Cory Hahn (34) was one of the nation’s top freshman outfielders in 2011 when he injured his spine on a slide while playing for Arizona State, leaving him partially paralyzed from the neck down. He’s remained an inspirational part of the Sun Devils community, which the hometown Diamondbacks honored by drafting him. Shipley’s cousin Jordan was an NFL wide receiver. Four of McPhearson’s brothers played college football, including Gerrick, who was an NFL draftee.
» CLOSEST TO THE MAJORS: Sherfy and Gibson are quick-moving college relievers. » BEST LATE-ROUND PICK: OF Jacob Cordero (11) got $135,000 for his athleticism and bat speed. » THE ONE WHO GOT AWAY: RHP Andy Ravel (21) took his polished four-pitch mix and projectable upper-80s fastball to Kent State.








ATLANTA BRAVES
Atlanta has sped players to the majors in recent years, and Hursh, Wren and Caratini could join that parade. Considering their track record with junior-college products, keep an eye on Brosius and Oliver as well.
BONUS SPENDING: $4.73 million
POSITION PLAYERS
BEST PURE HITTER: Victor Caratini (2) hit .377 in the spring at Miami-Dade CC, then rapped 23 doubles and hit .290/.415/.430 in his pro debut. He has a polished approach and compact, line-drive swing. He’s converting from third base to catcher in instructional league. » BEST POWER HITTER: The Braves believe Caratini will translate some of his doubles into home runs with more experience against pro pitching. Scouts outside the organization aren’t as sure due to a flat bat path. » FASTEST RUNNER: Scouts thought OF Kyle Wren (8) slowed down in 2012 as an eligible sophomore, but his explosive speed was back in 2013. It plays on the bases and in center field. » BEST DEFENSIVE PLAYER: C Tanner Murphy (4) will trail Caratini developmentally, but he has better raw tools defensively, with good hands and arm strength.
PITCHERS
BEST FASTBALL: RHP Jason Hursh (1) is a Tommy John survivor who can pitch from 92-98 mph with his fastball as a starter, with heavy life at times. RHP Carlos Salazar (3) has reached 97 mph as a starter and has a strong build to maintain his velocity. » BEST SECONDARY PITCH: RHP Tyler Brosius (21) hadn’t pitched in two years but picked up a cutter/slider at Walters State (Tenn.) JC this spring. By the end of the year, he was throwing it with power at up to 87 mph while also throwing a solid, hard curveball.
ODDS AND ENDS
BEST PRO DEBUT: Wren was too good for Rookie-level Danville (9-for-22), then hit .328/.382/.456 for low Class A Rome. He ranked third in the organization with 35 steals despite playing just 53 games. Brosius struck out 35 in 27 innings and joined Wren in Rome. Hursh didn’t give up a run in his first 18 innings, spanning into the second inning of his seventh start. » BEST ATHLETE: RHP Alec Grosser (11) has excellent athleticism for a pitcher. He was a prep quarterback and throws plenty of strikes from a low three-quarters slot. He also has the hand speed to improve his below-average breaking ball. OF Connor Oliver (23) is the best athlete among position players. » MOST INTRIGUING BACKGROUND: Wren’s father Frank is the Braves’ general manager. Brosius originally attended North Carolina State as a quarterback, where he sat behind current NFL quarterbacks Mike Glennon and Russell Wilson. After he quit football in August 2012, he turned to baseball after a two-year hiatus and finished his debut in full-season ball. 3B Dylan Manwaring (9) is the son of former big league C Kirt. Unsigned OF Jacob Heyward (38) is the younger brother of Braves OF Jason. » CLOSEST TO THE MAJORS: Hursh and Wren. » BEST LATE-ROUND PICK: Brosius and Grosser, who signed for $400,000. » THE ONE WHO GOT AWAY: The Braves made a hard run at 1B Tyler Kuresa (14), who returned to UC Santa Barbara. Prep OF Stephen Wrenn (28) took his intriguing speed to Georgia.









BALTIMORE ORIOLES
Baltimore had a young draft focused on high-upside preps, but still found potential college contributors in Bierfeldt, Brault and Keller. A farm system in need of depth got an infusion of it.
BONUS SPENDING: $6.35 million
POSITION PLAYERS
BEST PURE HITTER: The Orioles are excited about C Chance Sisco (2), mostly because of his bat. He has tremendous plate discipline for his age, natural rhythm and a feel for the barrel of the bat with some strength from the left side. » BEST POWER HITTER: OF Conor Bierfeldt (12) was a Division III stud as a two-way player, and he has the Orioles intrigued with his well above-average raw power. The 6-foot-2, 220-pounder does a lot right in the batter’s box, from a short swing with strength and leverage to getting plenty of extension and using the opposite field. » FASTEST RUNNER: OF Josh Hart (1s) earns 70 grades on the 20-80 scale for his 3.98-second times to first base. » BEST DEFENSIVE PLAYER: OF Mike Yastrzemski (14) has solid defensive tools, with an average, accurate arm and slightly above-average speed. He layers on tremendous instincts and skilled footwork and routes in center.
PITCHERS
BEST FASTBALL: RHP Hunter Harvey (1) has a fresh, lively arm with a fastball that sits in the low 90s and has touched 97, and it’s easy to project more consistent premium velocity. RHP Jon Keller (22) was expected to get drafted higher thanks to a 90-95 mph fastball that comes out easy. He has also touched 97. » BEST SECONDARY PITCH: Harvey’s curveball flashes plus; the Orioles describe it as “electric” thanks to his good hand speed. LHP Stephen Tarpley (3) also flashes plus with his curve.
ODDS AND ENDS
BEST PRO DEBUT: Sisco fell short of the playing time to qualify for the batting title (.371/.475/.464 in 97 at-bats) but dominated the Rookie-level Gulf Coast League before a promotion to short-season Aberdeen. Bierfeldt led Aberdeen to its first-ever playoff berth, ranking second in the New York-Penn League with 12 homers and leading it in slugging while hitting .264/.351/.511. 1B Trey Mancini (8), who also has plus raw power, set Aberdeen’s single-season hits record (84) while batting .328/.382/.449. » BEST ATHLETE: Hart. » MOST INTRIGUING BACKGROUND: Yastrzemski is the grandson of Hall of Famer Carl. Harvey’s father Bryan was a two-time all-star closer with the Angels and Marlins. 3B Federico Castagnini (30) was born and raised in Italy before moving to Colorado in high school and then playing at Creighton. LHP Travis Seabrooke (5) is the son of former NHL player Glen. » CLOSEST TO THE MAJORS: The Orioles see Harvey moving quickly, but Keller could beat him if he relieves. » BEST LATE-ROUND PICK: Keller, Bierfeldt and LHP Steven Brault (11), a polished Colorado product who is a good enough singer to have performed the national anthem prior to a Northwoods League game last summer. » THE ONE WHO GOT AWAY: The new coaching staff at Georgia successfully re-recruited projectable RHP Robert Tyler (28).









BOSTON RED SOX
Boston invested heavily in building pitching depth in this draft, taking Ball as the first high school lefthander in the draft, and Denney, who looked like a first-round pick heading into the spring.
BONUS SPENDING: $6.24 million
POSITION PLAYERS
BEST PURE HITTER: OF Nick Longhi (30) could become an above-average hitter, with an easy swing, quick bat and an ability to use the whole field. The righthanded hitter faces questions about his ability to hit for power in games but has above-average raw power. » BEST POWER HITTER: C Jonathan Denney (3) has natural strength in his 6-foot-2, 205-pound frame and plus raw power, especially to his pull side. His power might not show up in games right away, as he is still learning to hit and adjusting to quality breaking stuff. » FASTEST RUNNER: OF Bryan Hudson (15) did not get many looks this spring but is a well above-average runner with a quick first step. He is working on getting out of the box quicker. NDFA OF Jervenski Johnson from Louisiana can run the 60-yard dash in 6.4 seconds. » BEST DEFENSIVE PLAYER: SS Mauricio Dubon (26) is a former soccer player who grew up in Honduras and moved to California during high school. He has great body control and feet, soft hands and the ability to throw from all angles.
PITCHERS
BEST FASTBALL: Physical 6-foot-5, 225-pound RHP Joe Gunkel (18) was the talk of instructional league after showing a 90-94 mph fastball with life and command from a low arm slot. RHP Myles Smith (4) can touch 97 mph, and RHP Teddy Stankiewicz (2) can touch 96. » BEST SECONDARY PITCH: LHP Corey Littrell (5) has a plus changeup that flashes even better. Stankiewicz can get caught between two breaking balls at times, but his slider has plus potential. LHP Trey Ball (1) has the makings of a plus curveball.
ODDS AND ENDS
BEST PRO DEBUT: Gunkel struck out 43 percent of the New York-Penn League hitters he faced, with a nearly 11-1 strikeout-walk ratio and 1.29 ERA in 20 innings. RHP Kyle Martin (9) had an inconsistent arm slot and velocity at Texas A&M. Boston raised his slot, and the 6-foot-6 Martin’s velocity returned to 91-95 mph, and he registered a 1.25 ERA at two stops. » BEST ATHLETE: A lean 6-foot-6, 185-pound athlete, Ball is a plus runner who showed potential with the bat and can dunk a basketball. RHP Jalen Williams (16) has a low-90s fastball and was committed to Nicholls State as a wide receiver. At 6-foot-5, 190 pounds, Johnson has rare athleticism and was committed to Southeast Louisiana as a football/ baseball athlete. » MOST INTRIGUING BACKGROUND: OF Jeff Driskel (29) was Florida’s starting quarterback this fall but was lost for the season to a leg injury. LHP Gabe Speier (19) is the nephew of Reds bench coach and former major leaguer Chris. Littrell’s father Jack played in the minors and his grandfather played in the majors. » CLOSEST TO THE MAJORS: Gunkel as a reliever and Littrell as a starter. » BEST LATE-ROUND PICK: Longhi netted $400,000, the most of four over-slot signings after the 10th round; Gunkel for under slot. » THE ONE WHO GOT AWAY: OF Ryan Boldt (22) entered the year as a potential first-rounder, but a knee injury clouded his outlook, so he's now at Nebraska.







CHICAGO CUBS
Bryant was too good for the pitching-starved Cubs to pass up. They went for volume with their pitchers thereafter, with Zastryzny likely to help soon and Clifton the biggest wild card.
BONUS SPENDING: $11.1 million
POSITION PLAYERS
BEST PURE HITTER: 3B Kris Bryant (1) spread out at the plate this spring, keeping his head still and lower while reducing his overall pre-swing movement. That cut down on his swing-and-miss tendencies, and he hit .336 in 128 at-bats in his pro debut. » BEST POWER HITTER: Bryant’s showed his top-of-the-scale raw power all spring, hitting 31 homers to earn BA’s College Player of the Year award, and as a pro, as he hit nine homers and slugged .688. » FASTEST RUNNER: OF Carcer Burks (9) turned in 6.5-second 60-yard times in a predraft workout. OF Jacob Hannemann (3) isn’t as fast out of the batter’s box but flies once under way. » BEST DEFENSIVE PLAYER: Hannemann could stand to add polish, but he outruns his mistakes in center field. C Will Remillard (19) got a $150,000 bonus mostly for his catch-and-throw skills, with his arm being his best tool.
PITCHERS
BEST FASTBALL: Six-foot-7 RHP Scott Frazier (6) tops out at 97 mph and sits in the 94-96 range, but right now he doesn’t generate many swings and misses. LHP Rob Zastryzny (2) sits at 90-91 but adds and subtracts, throws strikes and gets many more swings and misses in the strike zone with his heater. RHP Trey Masek (5) has touched 95 with life. » BEST SECONDARY PITCH: RHP Tyler Skulina (4) stands out for his hard, late power slider in the low 80s.
ODDS AND ENDS
BEST PRO DEBUT: Bryant helped Daytona win the high Class A Florida State League title, hitting .350 in the playoffs. RHP Zack Godley (10) helped Boise reach the short-season Northwest League finals, going 2-0, 2.03 overall with 28 strikeouts in 27 innings. » BEST ATHLETE: Hannemann redshirted for Brigham Young’s football team as a 6-foot-1, 195-pound defensive back, then raked in the spring for BYU’s baseball team after having missed two years while serving on his Mormon mission. He’s strong, fast and explosive » MOST INTRIGUING BACKGROUND: Hannemann, who also is distantly related to assistant general manager for scouting/player development Jason McLeod. RHP Daniel Poncedeleon (14) signed a term sheet but failed his physical, so the Cubs didn't sign him. He has been ruled ineligible to return to his college team, though Houston is appealing the NCAA’s decision. » CLOSEST TO THE MAJORS: Bryant won’t need long at all with the bat; the only question is if he’ll play third base or move to an outfield corner. » BEST LATE-ROUND PICK: RHP Trevor Clifton (12) signed for $375,000. He fell thanks to a raw delivery and his green makeup, but his arm strength produces 91-94 mph fastballs and he flashes plus secondary stuff. He needs a lot of polish. » THE ONE WHO GOT AWAY: Poncedeleon, as well as C Jeremy Martinez (37), a physically mature, strong-bodied centerpiece of Southern California’s recruiting class.




CHICAGO WHITE SOX
Chicago loaded up on power arms like RHP Andrew Mitchell (4), Lowry and Danish, and focused on athletic up-the-middle position players, getting one of the draft’s best athletes in Anderson.
BONUS SPENDING: $5.28 million
POSITION PLAYERS
BEST PURE HITTER: From a wiry build with strong wrists and forearms, SS Tim Anderson (1) has an easy and simple swing, compact path and above-average bat speed. » BEST POWER HITTER: The athletic, switch-hitting 3B Trey Michalczewski (7) has natural strength, bat speed and leverage in his swing, and could eventually hit at least 20 home runs a season. » FASTEST RUNNER: Chicago prioritized athleticism, and came away with three runners who grade as 70 or better on the 20-80 scale: Anderson, OF Adam Engel (19) and OF Jacob May (3). May doesn't maximize his speed out of the box because of a big hack and is learning to use his speed, but he ran the 60-yard dash in 6.3 seconds at his predraft workout. » BEST DEFENSIVE PLAYER: Engel has first-step quickness and gets good reads in center and a fringy but accurate arm.
PITCHERS
BEST FASTBALL: Physical 6-foot-4, 228-pound RHP Brad Goldberg (10) sat 94-96 mph out of the bullpen with above-average sink. RHP Thaddius Lowry (5) can touch 96. RHP Tyler Danish (2) sits in the low 90s from a low arm slot with plus-plus movement at his best and plus command.
» BEST SECONDARY PITCH: Danish has a plus slider and an emerging changeup that flashes plus.
ODDS AND ENDS
BEST PRO DEBUT: SS Toby Thomas (21) hit .319/.329/.462 for Rookie-level Bristol, May hit .286/.346/.461 at low Class A Kannapolis and Engel hit .301/.379/.414 at Rookie-level Great Falls and led the Pioneer League with 31 steals. Goldberg posted a 1.54 ERA across three levels, and Danish had a 1.38 ERA in 26 Appy League innings. » BEST ATHLETE: A standout high school basketball player, Anderson is an outstanding athlete with speed, quickness and natural strength. » MOST INTRIGUING BACKGROUND: May comes from a strong baseball lineage. His father (Lee Jr.) was a 1986 first-rounder and is the Mariners hitting coordinator, his grandfather (Lee Sr.) was a three time all-star outfielder and his uncle Carlos played 10 seasons in the majors. RHP James Dykstra (6), whose fastball touches 94 mph, is the brother of 2006 first-rounder Allan. 1B Cody Yount (37) is the nephew of Hall of Famer Robin and the son of former big league pitcher Larry. » CLOSEST TO THE MAJORS: In a system with a track record of moving arms quickly, Goldberg, who finished at high Class A, has a chance to move swiftly in the bullpen if his slider continues to develop. Danish could move as quickly as any high school pitcher because of his advanced stuff, command and bulldog mentality. » BEST LATE-ROUND PICK: Engel at slot. RHP Matt Ball (11), a projectable 6-foot-5, 195 pounder who touches the low 90s, was the only over-slot selection after the 10th round, signing for $150,000. » THE ONE WHO GOT AWAY: Chicago signed all but four of its picks. LHP Tavo Rodriguez (33), who had inconsistent velocity but was up to 93 mph at times, will attend Oklahoma.

 

[Jaypers]

CINCINNATI REDS
The Reds targeted Ervin and were happy to see him fall to the 29th pick, and Lorenzen should at least become a useful reliever. That allowed bigger risks with later picks like Thompson and Franklin.
BONUS SPENDING: $5.98 million
POSITION PLAYERS
BEST PURE HITTER: OF Phillip Ervin (1) has hit wherever he has played. He hit better than.300 in his first pro season, after doing the same in the Cape Cod League and in all three seasons at Samford. He has the bat speed and eye to continue doing it. » BEST POWER HITTER: 3B K.J. Franklin (2) has plenty of raw power, but he still needs work to bring it into games. A pull-heavy approach makes him vulnerable to pitches on the outer half. » FASTEST RUNNER: RHP Michael Lorenzen (1s) will be a pitcher for the Reds, but he was also a center fielder at Cal State Fullerton and is a plus runner. Among those who will remain position players, Ervin and SS Cory Thompson (5) are fastest. » BEST DEFENSIVE PLAYER: The Reds didn’t draft many standout defenders, though here too Lorenzen could be one if he were a position player. Ervin and Thompson both could be a tick above-average defenders.
PITCHERS
BEST FASTBALL: Lorenzen consistently showed a 96-99 mph fastball out of the bullpen after signing, and his stuff didn’t drop off when he worked back-to-back outings. » BEST SECONDARY PITCH: RHP Ben Lively (4) gets a lot of swings and misses thanks to a deceptive delivery that allows his 91-95 mph fastball to play up, but he also has an above-average slider with good depth. He showed he can bury it or throw it for strikes depending on the situation.
ODDS AND ENDS
BEST PRO DEBUT: Ervin posted a .331/.416/.597 line at Rookie-level Billings. Lively was equally impressive with his 0-4, 0.88 record with 56 strikeouts in 41 innings between Billings and low Class A Dayton. » BEST ATHLETE: Before a car wreck nearly killed him, LHP Chad Jones (9) was a 2010 third-round pick of the NFL’s New York Giants as a safety after a two-sport career at Louisiana State. As noted above, Lorenzen would be a legitimate prospect as a center fielder. » MOST INTRIGUING BACKGROUND: Jones played on national championship football and baseball teams at LSU. He was set to begin his NFL career before the wreck derailed those plans. He has spent the past three years working his way back from severe leg injuries, and when football was no longer an option he started pitching again. He has flashed a 90-92 mph fastball and good slider but is still regaining his stamina. » CLOSEST TO THE MAJORS: Lorenzen jumped all the way to Double-A in his pro debut. He could pitch in Cincinnati in 2014 as a reliever, but he’s more likely to take a slower track as a starter. Lively could also move quickly if he ends up in the bullpen. » BEST LATE-ROUND PICK: C/RHP Jarrett Freeland (15) missed most of his senior high school season due to Tommy John surgery. The 6-foot-7 righthander showed a 92-94 mph fastball before the injury. » THE ONE WHO GOT AWAY: The Reds made a run at OF Willie Abreu (14), a lefthanded hitter with excellent raw power and a solid arm, but he opted to head to Miami.




CLEVELAND INDIANS
Cleveland took the draft’s first high school position player, Frazier, a potential impact hitter with a well-rounded tool set. The organization then focused on the mound, as its next eight picks were pitchers.
BONUS SPENDING: $5.92 million
POSITION PLAYERS
BEST PURE HITTER: OF Clint Frazier (1) had the best bat speed in the 2013 draft class, with tremendous strength in his forearms and wrists and an aggressive approach. Grant Fink (23), who hit .263/.355/.425 this summer, has a strong hit tool for a late-round pick. » BEST POWER HITTER: Frazier uses his bat speed to produce well above-average raw power from a 6-foot, 190-pound frame. The Indians believe he can hit 25-30 home runs a year at the major league level. » FASTEST RUNNER: OF Silento Sayles (14) stole 103 bases this spring, which is believed to be a national high school record, thanks to speed that grades a legitimate 80 on the 20-80 scale. » BEST DEFENSIVE PLAYER: James Roberts (15) saw time at shortstop and third base and has an above-average arm, good actions and steady hands. He could also play second base or the outfield as well because of his speed. He'll need to improve his reads off the bat.
PITCHERS
BEST FASTBALL: RHP Ben Heller (22) sat 92-95 mph and touched 96 after signing. RHPs Jordan Milbrath (35) and Trevor Frank (8) can touch 95. RHP Casey Shane (6) has pitched at 90-94 mph with great sink but was more in the upper 80s this spring. » BEST SECONDARY PITCH: LHP Kyle Crockett (4) has a plus slider. RHP Dace Kime (3) has a plus curveball. LHP Sean Brady (5) has advanced feel, and both his curveball and changeup have plus potential.
ODDS AND ENDS
BEST PRO DEBUT: Frazier was the top prospect in the Rookie-level Arizona League after batting .297/.362/.506 with 21 extra-base hits in 44 games. Brady had a 5-1 strikeout-walk ratio and 1.97 ERA in 32 AZL innings. A trio of college arms carved up the New York-Penn League: Frank, who had a 2.83 ERA with 39 SO/2 BB in 35 IP; LHP Matt Whitehouse (19), who had a 0.72 ERA with 29 SO/4 BB in 37 IP; and RHP Cole Sulser (25), who had a 1.83 ERA with 60K/9 BB in 54 IP. Crockett posted a 0.36 ERA in 25 innings across three levels. » BEST ATHLETE: Frazier and Sayles have loud tools and athleticism. LHP Thomas Pannone (9), who has a fastball up to 93 mph, was drafted last year as an outfielder. » MOST INTRIGUING BACKGROUND: C Sicnarf Loopstok (13), who grew up in Aruba and moved to Pennsylvania during high school, speaks seven languages. His first name comes from spelling his father’s name backward. » CLOSEST TO THE MAJORS: Crockett reached Double-A, and has the command, fastball and breaking ball to be a tough left-on-left reliever. » BEST LATE-ROUND PICK: Cleveland spent $300,000 on RHP Adam Plutko (11) who has feel for pitching, control and solid-average stuff. Sayles showed a surprisingly advanced offensive approach and made strides defensively this summer. » THE ONE WHO GOT AWAY: 2B Ross Kivett (10) was an offensive force for Kansas State and decided to return to Manhattan for his senior season. The Indians made a late run at RHP Paul Young (21), but he's at Mississippi.




COLORADO ROCKIES
Gray and McMahon both could be impact players at their positions.A breakthrough by other arms such as Moll or RHPs Alex Balog (2s), Blake Shouse (5) or Konner Wade (7) would help a pitching-thirsty franchise.
BONUS SPENDING: $9.76 million
POSITION PLAYERS
BEST PURE HITTER: The Rockies love football quarterbacks and got a good one in 3B Ryan McMahon (2), who starred at California powerhouse Mater Dei. His two-sport prowess makes his hitting polish more impressive. He has good hitting instincts, stays inside the ball and uses the whole field like an older hitter. OF Jordan Patterson (4) has a line-drive swing and makes consistent hard contact from gap to gap. » BEST POWER HITTER: McMahon has leverage in his swing and crushed the ball in the Rookie-level Pioneer League, batting .321/.402/.583 and ranking second in the league in slugging. OF Sean Dwyer (11) won the short-season Northwest League home run derby after hitting 12 homers in three college seasons and one as a pro. » FASTEST RUNNER: This class lacks a burner, but OF Terry McClure (8) turns in plus times over 60 yards in workouts. His speed plays more average in games, as does Patterson’s. » BEST DEFENSIVE PLAYER: McMahon has profile third-base tools. SS Pat Valaika (9) is the consummate college shortstop, with fair range but good hands, arm strength and a steady, reliable glove.
PITCHERS
BEST FASTBALL: RHP Jonathan Gray (1) had the best fastball in the draft, sitting at 96-97 mph as a starter and hitting 100 regularly. He’s country strong and has a loose arm but generates that velocity through a sound, powerful delivery. » BEST SECONDARY PITCH: Gray’s slider is well above-average, and his changeup grades out as average but plays up thanks to the quality of his other pitches. The combination helped him strike out 51 in 37 innings of his debut. LHP Sam Moll (3) tops the mere mortals with an above-average slider.
ODDS AND ENDS
BEST PRO DEBUT: Gray went 4-0, 1.93 overall and finished with a dominant five-start stretch with high Class A Modesto. McMahon ranked as the Pioneer League’s No. 4 prospect. Patterson hit .291/.389/.495 with 10 homers as his Grand Junction teammate. RHP Dylan Stamey (14), Grand Junction’s closer, went 4-1, 1.26 with 29 strikeouts in 29 innings. » BEST ATHLETE: McClure has strength to go with his speed and should stick in center field. » MOST INTRIGUING BACKGROUND: Unsigned RHP Kyle Serrano (29) is the son of Tennessee head coach Dave. Unsigned SS Brody Weiss (22) is the son of Rockies manager and former big league shortstop Walt. 3B Mike Benjamin Jr. (13) is the son of the ex-big leaguer of the same name. » CLOSEST TO THE MAJORS: Gray, whose biggest adjustment will be throwing every five days and maintaining the command of his high-voltage stuff. » BEST LATE-ROUND PICK: Stamey could move quickly as a reliever who has touched 95 mph. Valaika also has a chance to fill a role. » THE ONE WHO GOT AWAY: Serrano had first-round talent but decided to pitch for his father with the Volunteers. Weiss was less of a priority and headed to UC Santa Barbara.




DETROIT TIGERS
The Tigers' first seven picks were all college pitchers, and 20 of the 30 players they signed were college arms. The emphasis was on power arms, highlighted by Crawford and Knebel.
BONUS SPENDING: $6.15 million
POSITION PLAYERS
BEST PURE HITTER: Despite switch-hitting 2B Dominic Ficociello’s (12) flagging production each year at Arkansas, the Tigers say he should be a productive hitter and could grow into average power as well. OF Raph Rhymes (15) led NCAA Division I in batting (.431/.489/.530) in 2012, finished his Louisiana State career with a .373 average and posted a .296/.412/.379 line this summer. » BEST POWER HITTER: OF Connor Harrell (7) is susceptible to breaking stuff and has strikeout tendencies, but he led Vanderbilt in home runs the past two years and has the natural strength to develop average power. » FASTEST RUNNER: Harrell is an above-average runner with good instincts on the bases. OF Kasey Coffman (10) also has above-average speed.
» BEST DEFENSIVE PLAYER: Harrell played center field at Vanderbilt and this summer with an average arm and athleticism.
PITCHERS
BEST FASTBALL: Detroit netted a collection of power arms. RHP Jonathan Crawford (1) can sit 92-95 mph with his fastball, featuring above-average life through the zone. RHP Corey Knebel (1s) touches 98 out of the bullpen. » BEST SECONDARY PITCH: Knebel’s curveball is a true out pitch with power and late bite. Crawford also has a plus slider.
ODDS AND ENDS
BEST PRO DEBUT: Knebel had 41 strikeouts and 10 walks along with a 0.87 ERA in 31 innings at low Class A West Michigan. Oft-injured but talented RHP Calvin Drummond (6), whose fastball touches 97 mph, struck out 10.6 per nine in 38 MWL innings with a 2.35 ERA. RHPs Zac Reininger (8), who had a 1.00 ERA and 32 SO/6 BB in 27 IP, and Scott Sitz (28), who had a 2.16 ERA and 23 SO/4 BB in 25 IP, both dominated in the New York-Penn League. » BEST ATHLETE: At 6-foot-3, 205 pounds, Harrell has a rare combination of tools and athleticism for a senior sign. » MOST INTRIGUING BACKGROUND: OF Ben Verlander (14) is the younger brother of Justin, who also attended Old Dominion. The Tigers did not sign OF Torii Hunter Jr. (36), the son of their right fielder. He headed to Notre Dame to play wide receiver but is sitting out this fall because of a broken leg. RHP Austin Kubitza (4) is the brother of Braves third base prospect Kyle. This was the fourth time Drummond, 24, was drafted, and he attended four different colleges. » CLOSEST TO THE MAJORS: Many of the power arms the Tigers drafted could move quickly as bullpen candidates. Knebel’s two-pitch mix make him the strongest candidate to be fast-tracked. » BEST LATE-ROUND PICK: Rhymes provides organizational depth and contact ability. » THE ONE WHO GOT AWAY: Athletic LHP Tyler Alexander (23), the Tigers’ highest-drafted high schooler, had an inconsistent spring and headed to Texas Christian, where he will be draft eligible again in two years.




HOUSTON ASTROS
With the first pick and a $11.7 million bonus pool, the Astros made another significant talent infusion through the draft. After going high school heavy in 2012, Houston went the college route in each of the first five rounds this year.
BONUS SPENDING: $10.82 million
POSITION PLAYERS
BEST PURE HITTER: The Astros say that 1B Conrad Gregor (4) will be an above-average hitter with excellent on-base skills. He does a good job of drawing walks and using the whole field. » BEST POWER HITTER: C Jacob Nottingham (6) has shown plus raw power in batting practice and workouts. Like many young hitters, he didn't translate that into home runs in the difficult conditions of the Rookie-level Gulf Coast League, with one home run in 44 games. » FASTEST RUNNER: 2B Tony Kemp (5) is a 65 runner on the 20-80 scouting scale at his best, and he’s aggressive on the basepaths. He can still improve on some of the finer points of getting a good jump. » BEST DEFENSIVE PLAYER: OF James Ramsey (7) is at least a solid-average center fielder, with a tick above-average speed to go with excellent routes.
PITCHERS
BEST FASTBALL: RHP Mark Appel (1) sits at 93-96 mph and will run it up to 99 on a regular basis. He generates that velocity while throwing primarily two-seamers with good movement. The Astros are working with him on adding more four-seamers as well. » BEST SECONDARY PITCH: Scouts differ over whether Appel’s changeup or slider is the better pitch, and the Astros say both could end up being plus or even plus-plus pitches at their best.
ODDS AND ENDS
BEST PRO DEBUT: 3B Tyler White (33) hit .322/.406/.456 at three different stops while walking (27) more than he struck out (24). RHP Kyle Westwood (13) anchored the New York-Penn League champion Tri-City club, going 2-2, 0.81 in 45 innings. » BEST ATHLETE: Kemp is 5-foot-6, but he packs a lot of strength into his small frame to go with excellent speed. His leaping ability has come in handy at second base, as he can climb the ladder to snag line drives. » MOST INTRIGUING BACKGROUND: Appel was a high-profile Stanford senior after turning down the Pirates as a first-round pick in 2012. Unsigned RHP Kacy Clemens (35) is the son of Roger. » CLOSEST TO THE MAJORS: When a polished pitcher like Appel goes No. 1 overall, fans start counting the days until he arrives in the big leagues. Appel won’t be expected to start the 2014 season in Houston, but he could be there by the end of the year if everything goes well. » BEST LATE-ROUND PICK: Westwood, a senior sign out of Jacksonville, generates a lot of ground balls with a heavy 91-95 mph fastball and a solid curveball. He has enough stuff to be a potentially useful starting pitcher. » THE ONE WHO GOT AWAY: RHP Alex Schick (17) was an intriguing sleeper as a 6-foot-6 righthander who generates excellent downhill angle on his 90 mph fastball, and he has a useful curveball. His skinny frame gives him the potential to add velocity, and teams will see how he develops after three years at California.




KANSAS CITY ROYALS
The Royals said they considered Dozier a legitimate choice at eighth overall, but as the first pick in a two-part plan that saw the Royals nab Manaea with a supplemental pick, he could be part of a draft day coup.
BONUS SPENDING: $8.37 million
POSITION PLAYERS
BEST PURE HITTER: 3B Hunter Dozier (1) recognizes pitches early, doesn’t often chase out of the strike zone and works counts to get a pitch he can drive. He walked more than he struck out in his pro debut. » BEST POWER HITTER: 1B Brandon Dulin (12) has the best raw power, as he’ll show above-average raw power consistently in batting practice. Dozier already has excellent gap power, as evidenced by his 30 doubles in a half-season, and could have the ability to hit 20 to 25 home runs a year at the big league level. » FASTEST RUNNER: The Royals often land at least one top of the scale runner in the draft, but this year, they had to be content with OF Dominique Taylor (15), who is merely above-average. » BEST DEFENSIVE PLAYER: OF Daniel Rockett (9) could have been drafted based solely on the highlight reel of catches of his that have been posted to YouTube. The center fielder is an average runner, but he takes outstanding routes and has a knack for the sensational play.
PITCHERS
BEST FASTBALL: LHP Sean Manaea (1s) dominated the Cape Cod League in the summer of 2012 with a 91-93 mph fastball that touched 96 and played up because of its late life and his deceptive delivery. A torn labrum in his hip bothered him during his junior season at Indiana State and sapped his velocity, especially in later innings, but after surgery he’s expected to make a full recovery. » BEST SECONDARY PITCH: LHP Cody Reed (2) can snap off an above-average slider, though the pitch is wildly inconsistent.
ODDS AND ENDS
BEST PRO DEBUT: Dozier hit .308/.397/.495 between Rookie-level Idaho Falls and low Class A Lexington. His 30 doubles were second-most among all Royals minor leaguers. » BEST ATHLETE: OF Amalani Fukofuka (5) hasn’t played a lot of baseball, but he is an excellent athlete. He had 1,100 yards receiving as a high school senior as he helped his team to the California North Coast Section Division I championship game. » MOST INTRIGUING BACKGROUND: RHP Luke Farrell (6) is the son of Red Sox manager John. He has also overcome multiple benign tumors in his neck that required surgery in 2009 and 2011. He bounced back to finish second in the Big 10 Conference this summer with a 2.13 ERA.
» CLOSEST TO THE MAJORS: Dozier has the advanced approach that should allow him to move quickly. It wouldn’t be surprising to see him begin his first full season in high Class A Wilmington. » BEST LATE-ROUND PICK: LHP Jonathan Dziedzic (13) doesn’t have a particularly high ceiling, but thanks to an average fastball, curveball and changeup, he could end up as a solid back-end starter who throws strikes. » THE ONE WHO GOT AWAY: The Royals liked 1B Shane Conlon (21) and thought they had a good chance to sign the Kansas State junior, but Conlon decided to return for his senior season.

 

[Jaypers]

LOS ANGELES ANGELS
Los Angeles had no first-round pick for a second consecutive year and a miniscule $3 million bonus pool. Scouting director Ric Wilson went for pitching, trying to boost the farm system’s pitching depth.
BONUS SPENDING: $2.63 million
POSITION PLAYERS
BEST PURE HITTER: 3B Cal Towey (17) has an excellent batting eye that gets him into lots of hitter's counts. He can drive the ball, but he’s best at getting on base. He posted on-base percentages north of .400 in all three years at Baylor and led the minor leagues with an astronomical .492 on-base percentage this summer. » BEST POWER HITTER: OF Eric Aguilera (34) projects to have slightly above-average power eventually, thanks to an easy swing that creates leverage. » FASTEST RUNNER: OF Chad Hinshaw (15), a college teammate of Aguilera’s at Illinois State, is an above-average runner with a knack for stealing bases. He was 33-for-37 as a college senior, then added nine in 10 tries with the Angels’ Rookie-level Orem club. » BEST DEFENSIVE PLAYER: Hinshaw is still working on getting better reads and taking better routes, but his speed gives him a chance to be at least an average center fielder with an average arm.
PITCHERS
BEST FASTBALL: RHPs Elliot Morris (4), Harrison Cooney (6) and Garrett Nuss (7) all sit in the 90-92 mph range, touching 95. Morris has the best life on his fastball, while Nuss and Cooney have better command. » BEST SECONDARY PITCH: LHP Nate Smith (8) throws an above-average changeup with conviction. He will use it at any point in the count and will double-up with it because of its effectiveness. RHP Trevor Foss (22) throws an above-average curveball at its best.
ODDS AND ENDS
BEST PRO DEBUT: OF Michael Fish (32) hit .366/.422/.689 with nine home runs between stops in the Rookie-level Arizona League and Orem. Towey posted a .492 on-base percentage that was easily the best among Angels minor leaguers. » BEST ATHLETE: LHP Hunter Green (2) brings a lot of athleticism to the mound, as does RHP Keynan Middleton (3), who was a shooting guard at Lane (Ore.) CC in addition to playing baseball. » MOST INTRIGUING BACKGROUND: RHP Kyle McGowin (5) has an aunt who is Ty Cobb’s granddaughter. » CLOSEST TO THE MAJORS: LHP Cole Swanson (19) was a late-round pick, but like Michael Roth from the Angels’ 2012 draft class, he could move to the majors quickly because of his success in a specialized role. Swanson’s short arm action, deceptive delivery and adequate 88-92 mph stuff should make it hard for lefties to square him up, although they posted a .941 OPS against him in his professional debut. » BEST LATE-ROUND PICK: Fish’s tools won’t wow scouts, but he can hit and he succeeds with a heady, all-out approach. The Angels will keep sending him up the ladder to see if he can continue his early success. » THE ONE WHO GOT AWAY: RHP Blake Goins (12) showed plus stuff at times leading up to the draft. The Angels would have been thrilled to add him to their long list of pitching draftees, but he headed to Texas instead.




LOS ANGELES DODGERS
The Dodgers were pleased by the strong debuts of Anderson and Windle, who both could move quickly. The success of the hitters will depend on Farmer’s development behind the plate and Bellinger’s strength catching up to his skills.
BONUS SPENDING: $5.47 million
POSITION PLAYERS
BEST PURE HITTER: 1B Cody Bellinger (4) has a solid swing and uses the whole field. He needs to get stronger but knows his limitations and sticks to a line-drive approach, relying on his good hands. » BEST POWER HITTER: The Dodgers didn’t draft a pure power bat. SS/OF Blake Hennessey (19) has the most pop now thanks to his present strength. Bellinger could outpace him as he fills out his 6-foot-4, 175-pound frame. » FASTEST RUNNER: 3B Adam Law (12) is a well above-average runner and puts his speed to good use. He stole 40 bases between two Rookie-level stops. » BEST DEFENSIVE PLAYER: Bellinger has Gold Glove potential at first base. C Spencer Navin (11) has reliable, above-average catch-and-throw skills, while SS/2B Brandon Trinkwon (7) makes up for his fringy arm with instincts, soft hands and nimble footwork.
PITCHERS
BEST FASTBALL: The Dodgers’ pitching-heavy draft features several good fastballs, led by RHP Chris Anderson (1), who has touched 98 mph and sits 94-95. He can throw strikes at that speed and pitches downhill. RHP Jacob Rhame (6) also reaches 96-97 mph and fits in a bullpen role, while LHP Michael Johnson (14) has reached 95 mph. » BEST SECONDARY PITCH: LHP Tom Windle (2) had one of the draft’s best sliders, thrown with power at 84 mph and with hard, late break. Anderson will flash a plus, power curveball but isn’t consistent with it.
ODDS AND ENDS
BEST PRO DEBUT: Anderson (3-0, 1.96. 46 IP/50 SO) and Windle (5-1, 2.68, 54 IP/51 SO) both jumped straight to the low Class A Midwest League and thrived. C Kyle Farmer (8), who converted from playing shortstop at Georgia, hit .347/.386/.533 and threw out 39.5 percent of basestealers. Trinkwon tore up Ogden (.362/.411/.587) to move up to Great Lakes and hit six homers as a pro after hitting seven in three seasons at Long Beach State. » BEST ATHLETE: Bellinger likely would be a middle infielder if he didn’t throw lefthanded. » MOST INTRIGUING BACKGROUND: Bellinger’s father Clay earned two World Series rings with the Yankees and played for Greece’s 2004 Olympic team. Law’s grandfather Vern won the 1960 NL Cy Young Award with the Pirates in a 16-year major league career, while his father Vance played 11 big league seasons, then coached the son at Brigham Young. RHP J.D. Underwood (5) is the son of ex-big leaguer Tom and nephew of ex-big leaguer Pat. 2B Tyger Pederson (33) is the older brother of Dodgers prospect Joc. » CLOSEST TO THE MAJORS: Anderson and Windle should reach Double-A, if not higher in 2014. » BEST LATE-ROUND PICK: RHP Greg Harris (17), son of the former big league reliever of the same name, signed for $175,000 to give up an Oregon scholarship. He touched 94 mph in instructional league. » THE ONE WHO GOT AWAY: The Dodgers thought they had a deal done with projectable LHP Ty Damron (13), but he wound up at Texas Tech.




MIAMI MARLINS
Failing to sign two of their top five selections thins the Marlins’ class. Yet Moran should be able to fill a big league hole quickly, and other college products could make up for the loss of Krook and DeLuzio.
BONUS SPENDING: $7.11 million
POSITION PLAYERS
BEST PURE HITTER: 3B Colin Moran (1) was on the short list of best pure hitters in the entire draft class. His hands work well and he uses the opposite field. He also controls the strike zone with a polished approach. » BEST POWER HITTER: OF K.J. Woods (4) looks like a power hitter at 6-foot-4, 215 pounds. A high school defensive end, he has to improve his feel for hitting to get to his power. » FASTEST RUNNER: The Marlins drafted a pair of burners in OFs Ryan Aper (6) and Coco Johnson (11), both capable of 6.4-second 60-yard times. Neither hit in their debuts, though. Aper batted .142/.253/.222 between two levels in 162 at-bats, while Johnson hit .172/.280/.179 for short-season Batavia. » BEST DEFENSIVE PLAYER: Aper’s speed plays in center field as well. C Chad Wallach (5) has a durable frame at 6-foot-3, 220 pounds and has average catch-and-throw skills to go with consistency and baseball savvy. SS Justin Bohn (7) isn’t flashy but has sound defensive tools at short.
PITCHERS
BEST FASTBALL: RHP Colby Suggs (2s) runs his fastball up to 98 mph with heavy life out of the bullpen, sitting 92-96. RHP Trevor Williams (2) usually pitches at 90-91 mph with a two-seamer but reaches 95 with his four-seamer. » BEST SECONDARY PITCH: Suggs throws from a high arm slot that reminds some scouts of Jason Motte, delivering an over-the-top curveball that has reached 85 mph.
ODDS AND ENDS
BEST PRO DEBUT: Area scout Joel Matthews signed two college seniors who shined: RHP Josh Easley (23), who went 5-0, 0.59 with a 43-5 strikeout-walk ratio in 31 innings between three levels; and 6-foot-7 LHP Sean Townsley (25), who touched 93 mph while posting a 41-4 strikeout-walk ratio and 1.44 ERA in 31 innings between the Rookie-level Gulf Coast League and Batavia. Moran posted a .796 OPS in 42 games with low Class A Greensboro. » BEST ATHLETE: J.T. Riddle (13) has wiry strength in his 6-foot-3, 185-pound frame and played better after shifting to shortstop after playing second base in college. He draws Ben Zobrist comparisons. » MOST INTRIGUING BACKGROUND: Moran’s older brother Brian, a lefthander, has reached Triple-A with the Mariners. His uncle B.J. Surhoff was the No. 1 overall pick in the 1985 draft and a 19-year big leaguer. Wallach’s dad Tim had a 17-year MLB career. » CLOSEST TO THE MAJORS: Suggs will pitch in the Arizona Fall League and could reach Miami in 2014. Moran shouldn’t be far behind. » BEST LATE-ROUND PICK: Riddle. » THE ONE WHO GOT AWAY: LHP Matt Krook (1s) didn’t sign after a postdraft exam raised issues that the two sides could not resolve. He’s headed to Oregon. Perhaps more disappointing was 2B/OF Ben DeLuzio (3), who spurned the Marlins to attend Florida State.




MILWAUKEE BREWERS
The Brewers didn’t have a first-round pick, but Devin Williams has first-round talent, and Neuhaus got first-round grades prior to a string of spring injuries. Milwaukee also loaded up on college pitchers with upside.
BONUS SPENDING: $3.88 million
POSITION PLAYERS
BEST PURE HITTER: OF Michael Ratterree (10) seemed destined to star at Rice but hit just .248 in his final two seasons there. He has good bat speed and strength, showing opposite-field pop. He won MVP honors in the Rookie-level Pioneer League, batting .314/.391/.585. » BEST POWER HITTER: At 6-foot-4, 240 pounds, 1B David Denson (15) has strength and massive raw power, earning Ryan Howard comparisons. He hit six homers in his debut, third-best in the Rookie-level Arizona League. » FASTEST RUNNER: The Brewers picked a pair of top-of-the-scale runners in OFs Omar Garcia (7) and Johnny Davis (22), and Garcia ranked second in the Rookie-level Pioneer League in steals with 28 in 34 attempts. » BEST DEFENSIVE PLAYER: SS/3B Tucker Neuhaus (2s) has good hands and the arm strength for the left side of the infield and might be able to handle short, though most scouts see him moving to third base. He split time between the two positions in the Rookie-level Arizona League.
PITCHERS
BEST FASTBALL: RHPs Devin Williams (2) and Taylor Williams (4), who are not related, both throw in the mid-90s. Devin has touched 95-96 mph and has more athleticism and feel, giving him more upside and a chance to start. Taylor topped out in the upper 90s after signing. RHP Andrew Hillis (11), a 6-foot-7 behemoth, also has touched 99. He’s strictly a reliever. » BEST SECONDARY PITCH: Williams’ slider and changeup are inconsistent but both flash plus, and he struck out 39 in 34 AZL innings.
ODDS AND ENDS
BEST PRO DEBUT: Ratterree nearly carried Rookie-level Helena to the Pioneer League title, going 9-for-16 with seven walks in the PL playoffs. Garcia (.305/.425/.335) and Hillis (3-1, 0.44, 5 SV; 21 IP, 23 SO) were also key Helena contributors. » BEST ATHLETE: Davis, a truly explosive runner, gave up a potential college track career for baseball. Devin Williams brings elite athleticism to the mound along with projection and arm strength. » MOST INTRIGUING BACKGROUND: RHP Josh Uhen (5) played at hometown Wisconsin-Milwaukee and became the school’s highest-drafted player. Neuhaus’ father Ken coached collegiately at Bethel (Minn.), and he had to overcome the death of his older brother, a junior-college player, in an offseason auto accident. » CLOSEST TO THE MAJORS: LHP Hobbs Johnson (14) can sit 90-93 mph with his fastball with good life and deception, and would move rapidly as a reliever. RHP Barrett Astin (3), a power sinkerballer, also could rocket to Milwaukee as a reliever. » BEST LATE-ROUND PICK: Denson got $100,000 to give up his Hawaii commitment and already started tapping into his power. » THE ONE WHO GOT AWAY: Projectable RHP Nick Eicholtz (29) is growing into his body and already has touched 93 mph and flashed three other usable pitches. He’s headed to Alabama.





MINNESOTA TWINS
Minnesota took the top high school hurler in the draft in Stewart, a high upside starter with power stuff. The organization loaded up on pitching and catching throughout the draft.
BONUS SPENDING: $8.08 million
POSITION PLAYERS
BEST PURE HITTER: Minnesota prioritized run prevention rather than creation, but C Mitchell Garver (10) has a line-drive stroke, doubles power and uses the whole field with an advanced approach. » BEST POWER HITTER: With a quick stroke and leverage to his swing, C Brian Navarreto (6) has average raw power and should grow into more as he adds strength to his 6-foot-3, 220-pound frame. » FASTEST RUNNER: Lefthanded-hitting OF Zack Granite (14) has well above-average speed, allowing him to get from home to first in less than 4 seconds with a swing geared toward getting out of the box quickly. OF Jason Kanzler (20) has plus or better speed. » BEST DEFENSIVE PLAYER: Minnesota, and many in the scouting community, believed C Stuart Turner (3) was the best defensive college catcher in the draft, with soft hands, advanced blocking ability and a strong, accurate arm.
PITCHERS
BEST FASTBALL: RHP Kohl Stewart (1) put on 10 pounds after signing, and sat 93-96 mph with movement. » BEST SECONDARY PITCH: Stewart has a hard, late-breaking slider that can reach the upper 80s and projects as a plus or better offering. His changeup also flashed plus this spring.
ODDS AND ENDS
BEST PRO DEBUT: With a 93-96 mph fastball, RHP Brian Gilbert (7) posted a 0.78 ERA in 23 innings with as many strikeouts (14) as baserunners (13 H, 1 BB) across two levels. LHP Stephen Gonsalves (4), who made substantial improvement with his curveball this summer, struck out 35 percent of hitters at two levels with a 0.95 ERA in 28 innings. » BEST ATHLETE: The 6-foot-3 Stewart is a physical specimen with an ideal pitcher’s build. Texas A&M recruited him as a quarterback after he scored 71 touchdowns in his junior and senior years combined. » MOST INTRIGUING BACKGROUND: 2B Tanner Vavra (30) lost sight in his right eye at the age of 3 in a fishing accident, but the son of Twins’ third base coach Joe Vavra raked throughout college, with a career.331/.421/.404 line at Valparaiso. A backup quarterback at Fresno State, RHP Tyler Stirewalt (21) threw just 28 collegiate innings but was the talk of Twins instructional league, with a fastball up to 96 mph with sink from a low slot and mid-80s slider. » CLOSEST TO THE MAJORS: Gilbert could move quickly out of the bullpen. » BEST LATE-ROUND PICK: LHP Brandon Bixler (16) generated early spring buzz as a potential early-round talent, with a low-90s fastball and plus curveball, but he struggled to throw strikes. If the Twins fix his mechanics, Bixler could provide tremendous value. » THE ONE WHO GOT AWAY: RHP Logan Shore (29) picked up late helium this spring with a fastball up to 93 mph, but he headed to Florida. 3B Dustin DeMuth (8), a pure hitter with plus speed, returned to Indiana for his senior season after the Hoosiers advanced to the College World Series.





NEW YORK METS
Smith has star potential and would fill a need in New York if he moves as quickly as anticipated. The Mets’ first four selections were all preps, so the rest of the class may take a while to shake out.
BONUS SPENDING: $6.91 million
POSITION PLAYERS
BEST PURE HITTER: The Mets weren’t the only club that considered 1B Dominic Smith (1) the best pure hitter in the entire draft. He controls the strike zone, recognizes breaking balls well and combines excellent hand-eye coordination with bat speed. » BEST POWER HITTER: The Mets believe in OF Ivan Wilson's (3) raw power and approach, faith that wasn’t shaken by a.219/.321/.300 debut in the Rookie-level Gulf Coast League. » FASTEST RUNNER: OF Champ Stuart (6) covered 60 yards in 6.3 seconds in a predraft workout and stole 11 bases in 43 games in his debut. » BEST DEFENSIVE PLAYER: Smith earns well above-average grades at first base and has Gold Glove potential with the hands of a shortstop. SS Luis Guillorme (10) has soft hands and tremendous footwork, making him one of the best middle-infield defenders of the 2013 draft class.
PITCHERS
BEST FASTBALL: RHP Tyler Bashlor (11) signed for $500,000 because of his heater. A junior college outfielder who hit third, then closed late, he has a quick arm that generates easy velocity, sitting 93-94 and reaching 97 mph consistently. » BEST SECONDARY PITCH: RHPs Andrew Church (2) and Johnny Magliozzi (17) both spin good curveballs. Church’s is advanced for a high school pitcher as he controls it well. Magliozzi’s is more of a 12-to-6 hammer.
ODDS AND ENDS
BEST PRO DEBUT: Smith finished strong, finishing with a .301/.398/.439 line and a trip to the Rookie-level Appalachian League playoffs with Kingsport. RHPs Ricky Jacquez (25) and Robby Coles (28) shared closer duties at Kingsport, with Jacquez (2-0, 1.74, 21 IP/33 SO) and Coles (4-1, 1.83, 20 IP/20 SO) saving six games apiece. » BEST ATHLETE: Wilson has impressed the Mets with his play in center field and above-average speed as well as his prodigious strength. Stuart has wiry strength to go with his speed and an above-average arm as well. » MOST INTRIGUING BACKGROUND: 2B L.J. Mazzilli (4) is the son of outfielder Lee, the Mets’ first-round pick 40 years prior. Lee, who played 10 years with the Mets, grew up in Brooklyn, where L.J. hit .278/.329/.381 this summer. OF Jared King (6) played with his brother Jason, a 2011 fourth-round pick who is now in the Tigers system, at Kansas State. RHP Ricky Knapp (8) is the son of Dodgers minor league pitching coach Rick Knapp. » CLOSEST TO THE MAJORS: Mazzilli should move quickly as a middle infielder with solid offensive and defensive tools. » BEST LATE-ROUND PICK: Bashlor got his bonus for a reason, and the Mets also like 1B/C Brandon Brosher (36) for his plus raw power. It’s not clear he has the defensive chops to remain behind the plate. » THE ONE WHO GOT AWAY: Projectable RHP Morgan Earman (21), whose fastball has scraped 93-94 mph, wasn’t committed to college when the Mets drafted him, but they couldn’t get a deal done and he headed to Arizona.

 

[Jaypers]

NEW YORK YANKEES
With three first-rounders, New York came away with a good haul of talent. After five of the first six picks were position players, the Yankees emphasized pitching depth in rounds five-15.
BONUS SPENDING: $8.07 million
POSITION PLAYERS
BEST PURE HITTER: 3B Eric Jagielo (1), who had a late start to his summer because of a strained quad from the spring, has a smooth stroke with loft to all fields, a disciplined approach and the ability to make consistent hard contact. » BEST POWER HITTER: Six-foot-7 OF Aaron Judge (1) has raw power that rates at least 70 on the 20-80 scale, and he can put on a show in batting practice. He has tremendous natural strength in his extra-large frame. Judge injured his quad before he could appear in a game and will play this winter in the Dominican. » FASTEST RUNNER: OF Michael O’Neill (3) has well above-average speed and could profile in center field. But 2B Gosuke Katoh (2), a plus runner, might get to first base faster because of his first-step quickness. » BEST DEFENSIVE PLAYER: SS Tyler Wade (4), who could hit for average, is a good athlete with above-average speed, good actions, steady hands and an above-average arm.
PITCHERS
BEST FASTBALL: The Yankees took four college RHPs who touch 96 mph or better: David Palladino (5), Nick Rumbelow (7), Cale Coshow (13) and Phillip Walby (12), who was up to 98. LHP Tyler Webb (10) pitches with average velocity, but his fastball plays up because of his command and deception. » BEST SECONDARY PITCH: LHP Ian Clarkin (1) has the makings of a plus curveball. Palladino's curveball and Rumbelow's slider are plus at their best.
ODDS AND ENDS
BEST PRO DEBUT: Double-play partners Katoh and Wade had big summers in the Rookie-level Gulf Coast League. Katoh led the GCL with six home runs and ranked second in slugging at .310/.402/.522. Wade batted .309/.429/.370 with 11 steals. LHP Caleb Smith (14) struck out nearly 10 per nine while registering a 1.89 ERA at short-season Staten Island. » BEST ATHLETE: OF Brandon Thomas (8) is a switch-hitting center fielder with power and speed, and O'Neill is also a strong athlete. But Judge was one of the best athletes in the draft, a physical specimen with light-tower power, plus arm strength and average speed. » MOST INTRIGUING BACKGROUND: O’Neill is the nephew of former Yankees right fielder Paul. C Trent Garrison (28) was drafted by the Yankees a year after his twin brother, RHP Tyler, was selected in the seventh round. Unsigned LHP Josh Pettitte (37), who is attending Baylor, is the son of recently retired Yankees LHP Andy. » CLOSEST TO THE MAJORS: Jagielo is an advanced hitter. » BEST LATE-ROUND PICK: Smith has a potentially plus changeup and fastball up to 94. OF Dustin Fowler, who received $278,000, is a good athlete with a simple lefthanded swing and above-average speed. » THE ONE WHO GOT AWAY: Canadian RHP Cal Quantrill (26), the son of former major league pitcher Paul, is a good athlete with a fastball up to 94 mph and an emerging slider. He is also a strong student and is attending Stanford.




OAKLAND ATHLETICS
McKinney’s value is tied into his bat, but it could be a special bat. After him, Oakland added accomplished college arms in Overton, Covey and Wahl. Overton’s reduced bonus due to injury allowed the club to add Akau as well.
BONUS SPENDING: $5.89 million
POSITION PLAYERS
BEST PURE HITTER: OF Billy McKinney (1) combines a good feel for the strike zone with excellent barrel control. Throw in excellent bat speed and he has all the makings of an above-average hitter. While he didn’t show it in his pro debut, 1B Ryon Healy (3) also projects to be an above-average hitter. » BEST POWER HITTER: Healy hasn’t translated the raw power he shows in batting practice into games on a regular basis, but he has the potential to be a 25-home run hitter. » FASTEST RUNNER: OF Justin Higley (13) turned in sub-6.4-second 60-yard dash times during workouts, which makes him a top-of-the-scale speedster. But Higley is a long strider, so it’s arguable that OF Ben McQuown (30) has as much usable speed. He led NCAA Division I with 54 steals in 61 attempts at Campbell in the spring and added 10 in 12 tries as a pro this summer.
» BEST DEFENSIVE PLAYER: C Iolana Akau (20) is advanced for a high school catcher. He shows a plus arm, good footwork and excellent agility. SS Chad Pinder (2s) showed better than expected defense in his pro debut, silencing concerns that he might need to move off the position.
PITCHERS
BEST FASTBALL: RHP Bobby Wahl (5) was touching 95-96 mph in his short stints as a starter this summer. He might touch higher than that down the road if ends up moving to the bullpen. RHP Dylan Covey (4) was consistently 90-92 mph, touching 94 as a starter after turning pro.
» BEST SECONDARY PITCH: Covey can break off a plus breaking ball on a regular basis. LHP Dillon Overton (2) will have to wait until late next year to throw in a game as he recovers from Tommy John surgery, but before the surgery, he showed an excellent changeup.
ODDS AND ENDS
BEST PRO DEBUT: McKinney hit .320/.383/.414 in the Rookie-level Arizona League, then posted an even better .353/.405/.559 line after a late promotion to short-season Vermont. RHP Sam Bragg (19) went 1-2, 1.24 while allowing earned runs in only two of his 19 appearances between three stops. » BEST ATHLETE: In addition to having blazing speed, Higley has size (6-foot-4) and athleticism. » MOST INTRIGUING BACKGROUND: Akau played on Hawaii’s 2008 Little League World Series championship team, making a diving catch in left field and hitting a home run in the championship game against Mexico. » CLOSEST TO THE MAJORS: Wahl and Covey are both polished college pitchers, and their paths could be even quicker if they move to the bullpen. » BEST LATE-ROUND PICK: Akau fell to the 20th round because of questions about how much it would cost to buy him out of his Hawaii commitment, but the A's were able to sign him for $375,000. » THE ONE WHO GOT AWAY: Stanford’s A.J. Vanegas (19) turned down nearly $2 million to go to Stanford, so Oakland wasn’t able to come close to inducing him to giving up his senior year with the Cardinal.




PHILADELPHIA PHILLIES
The Phillies signed an exciting class of hitters, though Knapp had to have Tommy John surgery this fall, which may slow his progress. Their pitching class offers less upside after Keys and Viza.
BONUS SPENDING: $5.57 million
POSITION PLAYERS
BEST PURE HITTER: SS J.P. Crawford (1) exceeded the Phillies’ expectations when he won the batting title in the Rookie-level Gulf Coast League and jumped to low Class A Lakewood. C Andrew Knapp (2) was drafted for his offensive upside. » BEST POWER HITTER: Knapp combines athleticism, strength at 6-foot-1, 192 pounds and a sound swing for above-average power. He tied for the short-season New York-Penn League lead with 20 doubles. » FASTEST RUNNER: OF Justin Parr (8) is a grinder with above-average speed, edging out Crawford. » BEST DEFENSIVE PLAYER: Crawford laps this draft class, as he’s a smooth defender with above-average footwork and hands to go with baseball instincts and a good internal clock.
PITCHERS
BEST FASTBALL: RHP Dan Child (18) has effort in his delivery and his arm action is less than ideal, but he can sit 92-95 mph in relief outings and was an effective bullpen piece for USA Baseball’s college national team in 2012. » BEST SECONDARY PITCH: RHP Tyler Buckley (27) struggled at Arkansas-Little Rock, posting a 6.70 ERA in 48 innings over two seasons. The Phillies saw the ability to spin a breaking ball, though, and that plus curveball helped him post a 2.22 ERA at short-season Williamsport.
ODDS AND ENDS
BEST PRO DEBUT: Crawford, who hit .308/.405/.400 overall while adding 14 stolen bases. RHP Tyler Viza (32) gave up just five runs and posted a 1.41 ERA in 32 innings in the GCL. » BEST ATHLETE: OF Cord Sandberg (3) was committed to Mississippi State to play quarterback and has some stiffness to work out. But he has strength, speed and explosiveness. The Phillies like his swing and power potential. » MOST INTRIGUING BACKGROUND: Sandberg, as well as Crawford, whose father played pro football in Canada and who is a cousin of Dodgers outfielder Carl Crawford. Parr has two brothers, Jordan and Josh, who are infielders in the Diamondbacks system. Unsigned 2B Cavan Biggio (29) is the son of 3,000-hit big leaguer Craig. 3B Logan Pierce (15) played for his father Bobby at Troy. RHP Mark Leiter Jr. (22), son of the former big leaguer of the same name, had a strong debut, going 4-0, 1.20 with 50 strikeouts in 45 innings, including 16 scoreless at Lakeland.
» CLOSEST TO THE MAJORS: Child may get there first as a reliever, but Crawford will challenge him, even as a high school infielder. » BEST LATE-ROUND PICK: Viza and LHP Denton Keys (11), who signed for $350,000. Like many successful Colorado prep pitchers, Keys has a projectable frame (6-foot-4, 200 pounds) and clean delivery, and he has bumped 91 mph. » THE ONE WHO GOT AWAY: The Phillies failed to sign college LHP Ben Wetzler (5, Oregon State) and OF Jason Monda (6, Washington State), who both returned for their senior seasons. They made a hard run at Biggio, a potentially special hitter if not the same all-around talent as his father.




PITTSBURGH PIRATES
After failing to sign Mark Appel last year, the Pirates took Meadows with the compensatory pick and McGuire as their regular first-rounder. If Jones develops, this draft could yield three impact bats.
BONUS SPENDING: $8.98 million
POSITION PLAYERS
BEST PURE HITTER: OF Austin Meadows (1) can make hitting look easy, with a smooth, loose swing, strength and good hand speed through the hitting zone. The ball came off his bat better as a pro than it did during the spring, when heavy draft scrutiny may have weighed on him. » BEST POWER HITTER: SS/OF JaCoby Jones (3) has prodigious power/speed tools. He won the home run derby in the Cape Cod League last summer and has tremendous bat speed and raw pop, though he hit just 14 homers in three seasons with Louisiana State. » FASTEST RUNNER: Jones, Meadows and OF Jeff Roy (19) all are consistent above-average or better runners, with Meadows turning in well above-average times to first after signing. » BEST DEFENSIVE PLAYER: C Reese McGuire (1) hopes to buck the rough history for first-round prep catchers. He has above-average catch-and-throw tools and blocks well. What stood out for Pirates scouts was his natural feel for the game. He reads hitters’ swings, understand game situations and has baseball savvy.
PITCHERS
BEST FASTBALL: RHP Buddy Borden (7) works at 90-93 mph, and his heater plays up due to good sink and command. Several college products throw harder and top out at 95-96, including RHPs Chad Kuhl (9), Justin Topa (17), Brett McKinney (19) and Henry Hirsch (22). » BEST SECONDARY PITCH: LHP Cody Dickson (4) has both a curveball and a changeup that can be above-average pitches. RHP Neil Kozikowski (8) also shows the ability to spin a breaking ball and throws a good changeup.
ODDS AND ENDS
BEST PRO DEBUT: Most of the Pirates’ top picks performed, but none as well as Meadows, the Rookie-level Gulf Coast League’s top prospect. He hit .316/.424/.554 overall with 23 extra-base hits, and McGuire followed him to short-season Jamestown after hitting .330/.388/.392 in the GCL. SS Adam Frazier (5) hit .321/.399/.362 for Jamestown. » BEST ATHLETE: Jones was one of the best athletes in the draft but will have to recover from a knee injury that ended his debut early. » MOST INTRIGUING BACKGROUND: Gary Weiss, father of 3B Erich Weiss (11), played pro ball and spent parts of two seasons with the Dodgers. McKinney’s father Chuck was an eighth-round pick in 1978 and played three minor league seasons. » CLOSEST TO THE MAJORS: Meadows’ boffo start may have accelerated his timetable. Frazier’s combination of polish at the plate and reliability in the field make him a prime candidate. » BEST LATE-ROUND PICK: RHP Billy Roth (16) was more of a hitter as an amateur, but the Pirates like his fresh, loose arm and hand speed. He has touched the low 90s and has flashed an above-average breaking ball. Hirsch had success and hit a lot of 96s. » THE ONE WHO GOT AWAY: The Pirates signed their top targets but will keep a close eye on RHP Bryan Baker (40), a projectable, athletic righty who headed for North Florida.





ST. LOUIS CARDINALS
The Cardinals have had success with college bats of late, but took just two in the first 16 rounds in a draft that favored pitching. They went where the talent was and came up with impact lefthanders led by Gonzales and Kaminsky.
BONUS SPENDING: $7.23 million
POSITION PLAYERS
BEST PURE HITTER: The Cardinals have had great success with college seniors of late, from Allen Craig to Matt Carpenter. It’s hard to expect 2B Mason Katz (4) to reach those standards, but he hit .370 with more walks than strikeouts as a senior at Louisiana State. His pro debut was more modest (.249, 49 strikeouts in 197 at-bats). » BEST POWER HITTER: Lefthanded-hitting OF Ricardo Bautista (12) intrigues the Cardinals with his pure stroke and loft power. He’s just 17 and didn’t homer in his debut in the Rookie-level Gulf Coast League. Katz also has above-average power. » FASTEST RUNNER: Acquiring speed and athleticism was a key to this draft class. Canadian SS Malik Collymore (10) stands out in a deep crowd of runners with above-average speed, including OFs De’Andre Asbury (15), D’Vante Lacy (24) and Vaughn Bryan (35). » BEST DEFENSIVE PLAYER: Bryan covers ground in center, but SS Oscar Mercado (2) got a $1.5 million bonus for his smooth, fluid defense that features good feet, soft hands and a plus arm.
PITCHERS
BEST FASTBALL: RHP Nick Petree (9) had the best 89-90 mph fastball in the draft, a pitch that’s rarely straight and that plays up due to good command. RHP Blake Higgins (16) throws harder when healthy; the Michigan junior-college product made just two starts this spring before needing Tommy John surgery, but Cardinals scouts saw him hit 94-95 mph. » BEST SECONDARY PITCH: The Cardinals got two of the best in the draft from LHPs Marco Gonzales (1) and Rob Kaminsky (1). Gonzales’s changeup helped him limit righthanded hitters to a .212 average in his debut; Kaminsky has a hard, late curveball he controls well.
ODDS AND ENDS
BEST PRO DEBUT: Kaminsky struck out 28 in 22 innings in the Rookie-level Gulf Coast League. Bryan hit .280/.341/.394 with 13 steals and five triples for Rookie-level Johnson City. » BEST ATHLETE: Bryan, Collymore and Asbury combine power with their wheels. Asbury was an all-state wide receiver in South Carolina, while Bryan showed surprising polish defensively and as a switch-hitter. » MOST INTRIGUING BACKGROUND: RHP Blake McKnight (38) didn’t play high school baseball, as he was home schooled. He worked his way up from the junior-varsity team at Evangel (Mo.) to become the NAIA school’s first drafted player. SS J.J. Altobelli (18) is the son of John, coach at Orange Coast (Calif.) JC. » CLOSEST TO THE MAJORS: Gonzales has an outside shot to get to St. Louis by the end of 2014. Petree’s fastball command should also speed his ascent. » BEST LATE-ROUND PICK: McKnight has an 87-93 mph sinker and pounds the strike zone. Bryan and RHP Artie Reyes (40), who has an average fastball and slider, are also legitimate prospects. » THE ONE WHO GOT AWAY: St. Louis signed all but three of its 41 picks. Missouri prep OF/RHP Calvin Munson (31) considered signing but chose football and is playing at San Diego State as a linebacker.





SAN DIEGO PADRES
San Diego started with hitters with present tools then branched out, seeking upside from such players as Verbistky, VanMeter and Idaho prep slugger Mason Smith (4). Their development could determine the class’ depth.
BONUS SPENDING: $6.80 million
POSITION PLAYERS
BEST PURE HITTER: 3B Dustin Peterson (2) has tremendous natural rhythm, his hands work well from his load through the hitting zone, and he’s a baseball rat who loves to work on his swing.
» BEST POWER HITTER: OF Hunter Renfroe (1) has well above-average raw power thanks to his tremendous strength and bat speed. The Padres hope to simplify his swing so he gets to his power more often. » FASTEST RUNNER: OF Rod Boykin (12) turns in plus-plus times from the right side of the plate. » BEST DEFENSIVE PLAYER: Boykin’s speed plays in center field, where he makes it look easy. He also hit better than expected in his debut, belying his limited baseball background by hitting .279/.358/.312 with 11 stolen bases in the Rookie-level Arizona League.
PITCHERS
BEST FASTBALL: RHP Bryan Verbitsky (3) is a 6-foot righty who was a two-way player at Hofstra. The Padres like his arm strength, with a fastball that sits at 92-93 mph, and see more velocity to come as he focuses full-time on pitching. RHP Justin Livengood (10) sits 92-94 mph in short relief bursts. » BEST SECONDARY PITCH: RHP Trevor Gott (6) throws an 80-82 mph breaking ball that has two-plane break, depth and good shape. It’s a hybrid pitch that is usually described as a slurve.
ODDS AND ENDS
BEST PRO DEBUT: Padres instructors have raved about 2B Josh VanMeter (5), and his savvy and good hands helped him hit .278/.378/.348 with nearly as many walks (24) as strikeouts (25) in the AZL. LHP Erik Schoenrock (11) used a good curveball to go 2-3, 2.51 at short-season Eugene with 52 strikeouts and 15 walks in 57 innings. » BEST ATHLETE: OF Jordan Paroubeck (2s) has five-tool ability and athleticism. His total package resembles that of Marlins outfielder Jake Marisnick. » MOST INTRIGUING BACKGROUND: Peterson’s older brother D.J. was the Mariners’ first-round pick, and they narrowly missed joining the Drews as brothers picked in the first round of the same draft. Barry Bonds was a childhood friend of Paroubeck's father and has given Paroubeck private hitting lessons. Livengood gave up baseball for three years before walking on at UNC Wilmington and emerging as a live-armed reliever. Schoenrock’s father Daron was his head coach at Memphis. RHP Max Beatty (32) overcame a bout with testicular cancer that caused him to miss the 2012 college season. » CLOSEST TO THE MAJORS: Renfroe. » BEST LATE-ROUND PICK: RHP Tony Rizzotti (25) signed for $175,000; he appeared set for much more early in the spring, when he flashed first-round stuff. At his best he pitches with a plus fastball up to 96 mph and a hard, power slider. Teams worried about his signability and his injury history. » THE ONE WHO GOT AWAY: The Padres took several highly regarded high schoolers who were tough signs, led by RHP Connor Jones (21, now at Virginia) and including C Chris Okey (31, Clemson) and LHP Garrett Williams (33, Oklahoma State).

 

[Jaypers]

SAN FRANCISCO GIANTS
The Giants’ belief in the bats of Arroyo and Jones was stronger than that of other clubs. So far, so good. The organization’s pitching track record means at least one of these arms will help in San Francisco as well.
BONUS SPENDING: $4.94 million
POSITION PLAYERS
BEST PURE HITTER: The Giants considered SS Christian Arroyo (1) one of the best pure hitters in the class, which pushed him up their draft board. He doesn’t get rattled in the batter’s box and has a knack for getting the barrel on the ball. » BEST POWER HITTER: 3B Ryder Jones (2) has present strength and room to get bigger and stronger, and there’s leverage in his swing. OF Tyler Horan (8) has more present pop and matched the Cape Cod League single-season home run record with 16 in 2012, the year of juiced balls in summer leagues. » FASTEST RUNNER: Puerto Rican OF Joneshway Fargas (11) is a 70 runner on the 20-80 scale with a wiry 6-foot-2, 160-pound build. » BEST DEFENSIVE PLAYER: C Ty Ross (12) handled a staff with plenty of velocity and different looks at Louisiana State and has solid catch-and-throw skills. Some in the organization like Arroyo’s arm strength, internal clock and good hands at second base.
PITCHERS
BEST FASTBALL: RHP Chase Johnson (3) was a college reliever who has hit 97 mph. He sits in the low 90s as a starter but still touches 95-96 mph. » BEST SECONDARY PITCH: The Giants drafted several pitchers who have breaking balls with potential, starting with RHP Dan Slania (5), who throws both a curve and slider. At times he gets in between them; the Giants prefer the slider. LHP Nick Gonzalez (24) and RHP Dusten Knight (28) also have good breaking balls.
ODDS AND ENDS
BEST PRO DEBUT: Arroyo earned Rookie-level Arizona League MVP honors after hitting .326/.388/.511 with 18 doubles. RHP Pat Young (13) went 4-1, 1.22 in 44 innings, then finished with an emergency callup to high Class A San Jose in the playoffs and threw well. » BEST ATHLETE: Some scouts wanted Arroyo to move behind the plate, but the Giants believe in his athletic ability and body control, even if his speed is modest.
» MOST INTRIGUING BACKGROUND: Arroyo was MVP of the gold-medal winning USA Baseball 18U team in 2012. Jones’ father Billy is Appalachian State’s head coach. 3B Jonah Arendado (16) is the younger brother of Rockies third baseman Nolan. RHP Tyler Rogers (10) is the brother of Twins farmhand Taylor, a 2012 draftee. » CLOSEST TO THE MAJORS: Johnson or IF Brooks Bednar (7), a versatile defender with no glaring weakness or true plus tool. » BEST LATE-ROUND PICK: The Giants’ local appeal and a $450,000 bonus lured C John Riley (31) away from a California commitment. He’s a developing defender with good bat speed, and the Giants had inside dope on his makeup via big league pitching coach Dave Righetti, whose brother Steve coaches at Riley’s high school in San Jose. » THE ONE WHO GOT AWAY: OF Ryan Kirby (40) is a fine hitter who batted .316 this summer in the West Coast League; he’s at San Diego. The Giants also took a run at 6-foot-9 RHP Chris Viali (39), who’s at Stanford.




SEATTLE MARINERS
While most teams preferred the pitching in the 2013 draft class, the Mariners were happy to go hitter-heavy in the first five rounds. Peterson, Wilson and OF Tyler O’Neill (3) provide a trio of potential impact bats.
BONUS SPENDING: $6.43 million
POSITION PLAYERS
BEST PURE HITTER: 3B D.J. Peterson (1) was considered one of the best pure hitters in the 2013 draft class. He has short arms, a short stroke and enough bat speed to lace line drives all over the park. He does need to get less pull-happy and use the whole field more. » BEST POWER HITTER: Peterson has the most usable pop and projects to have above-average power, although OF Austin Wilson (2) may have more raw power. He needs to more consistently turn the shows he puts on in batting practice into home runs and doubles in games. » FASTEST RUNNER: OF Ian Miller (14) is a well above-average runner, turning in 4.0-second times from home to first from the left side. Nondrafted free agent Aaron Barbosa, signed after a solid summer in the Cape Cod League, is a true top-of-the-scale runner who stole 19 bases in 22 tries after signing. » BEST DEFENSIVE PLAYER: SS Jack Reinheimer (5) has soft hands, excellent instincts and an accurate arm. He’s more reliable than flashy, but he has a solid chance to stick at shortstop long-term.
PITCHERS
BEST FASTBALL: LHP Ryan Horstman (4) sat at 92-93 mph in the spring at Seton Hall and touched 93-94 as a pro. RHP Kevin McCoy (24) has more pure velocity, as he’ll touch 96, but Horstman’s fastball has more life. » BEST SECONDARY PITCH: LHP Jake Zokan (9) throws a tight, late-breaking curveball that he can locate in the zone and out. It has a chance to be an above-average major league pitch. LHP Eddie Campbell’s (15) breaking ball is a little harder than Zokan’s, but he doesn’t command it as well.
ODDS AND ENDS
BEST PRO DEBUT: RHP Emilio Pagan (10) didn’t allow a run in 15 appearances at Rookie-level Pulaski and struck out 27 in 20 innings. He struggled more at short-season Everett, but still finished with 1-1, 1.03 numbers in 26 innings. Peterson hit .303/.365/.553 between stops at Everett and low Class A Clinton. » BEST ATHLETE: Wilson is a potential five-tool player. Horstman might rival Wilson’s athleticism, as he was approached by the St. John’s basketball team about walking on in addition to pitching for the baseball team. » MOST INTRIGUING BACKGROUND: 1B Justin Seager (12) is the younger brother of Mariners 3B Kyle and older brother of Dodgers SS prospect Corey. Miller is the godson of former Pirates manager Danny Murtaugh. » CLOSEST TO THE MAJORS: Peterson will have to establish a defensive home, as most scouts think he’ll eventually end up in an outfielder corner or at first base, but his polished bat should allow him to move quickly. » BEST LATE-ROUND PICK: Campbell has solid stuff for a lefthander, with a fastball that touches 90-92 mph and a solid curveball. He has a chance to remain a starter. » THE ONE WHO GOT AWAY: Toolsy OF Corey Ray (33) impressed the Mariners at a predraft workout and the club made a run at him, but he opted to go to Louisville.




TAMPA BAY RAYS
The Rays drafted a nice core of up-the-middle high school players in the first four rounds and grabbed one of the biggest power arms in the draft with their second first-rounder by taking Stanek.
BONUS SPENDING: $6.34 million
POSITION PLAYERS
BEST PURE HITTER: Like his older brother, Cardinals 2B and 2011 first-rounder Kolten, 2B Kean Wong (4) is a natural hitter. The lefthanded hitter has a quick, compact swing conducive to hard line drives, an advanced approach and gap power. Switch-hitting SS Riley Unroe (2) has a short stoke, quick hands and uses the whole field.. » BEST POWER HITTER: With a 6-foot-1, 205-pound frame and natural strength, C Nick Ciuffo (1) has above-average raw power, especially to his pull side, that should only improve. OF Hunter Lockwood (11) has plus power potential from a strong build and led the Appalachian League in extra-base hits (25). » FASTEST RUNNER: OF Tom Milone (3) and Unroe are both plus runners with athleticism. Wong is an above-average runner, as is 2B Coty Blanchard (15), who is a good athlete with good actions. » BEST DEFENSIVE PLAYER: The Rays say Ciuffo, Unroe and Milone all have the ability to stay at premium defensive positions. Ciuffo has an above-average arm and leadership ability. Unroe has soft hands, good quickness and an average arm. Milone could be an above-average center fielder.
PITCHERS
BEST FASTBALL: RHP Ryne Stanek (1) can sit 92-95 mph and touch 98 with downhill plane and sink. He was shut down after signing but was pitching at instructional league. RHP Jaime Schultz (14) can touch 97 mph with late life through the zone. » BEST SECONDARY PITCH: Stanek offers a plus breaking ball. RHP Austin Pruitt (9) has a plus changeup to pair with good fastball command and a solid breaking ball.
ODDS AND ENDS
BEST PRO DEBUT: Wong hit .328/.377/.390 in the Rookie-level Gulf Coast League. Pruitt, a $5,000 senior sign, had a 1.44 ERA across two levels. LHP Ben Griset (13) piled up 55 SO/10 BB in 66 IP for short-season Hudson Valley, and RHP Aaron Griffin (10) was right behind him with 54 SO/8 BB in 76 IP. » BEST ATHLETE: Milone, who was a football standout in high school and generated college recruiting interest on the gridiron. » MOST INTRIGUING BACKGROUND: Unroe’s father is former major league infielder Tim. Griffin is the younger brother of A’s righthander A.J. Unsigned C David Sheaffer (38) is the son of former big league catcher Danny, who is the manager of the Rays’ Appy League affiliate. Blanchard played both baseball and football at Jacksonville State, where he started at quarterback and punter as a sophomore, accounting for 2,000 total yards before losing the starting spot as a junior. » CLOSEST TO THE MAJORS: Stanek, with his electric fastball/ breaking ball combo. » BEST LATE-ROUND PICK: Lockwood, who received an over slot $247,500, and Schultz among those who signed for slot money. OF Julian Ridings (18) is a good athlete with power and speed in center field. » THE ONE WHO GOT AWAY: 2B Willie Calhoun (17), who stood out because of his bat, went to Arizona. RHP Stephen Woods (6) has a fastball up to 93 mph and will attend Albany.





TEXAS RANGERS
Scouting director Kip XXXg has never been shy about taking chances to try to land impact players. After loading up on toolsy position players in 2011 and 2012, the Rangers loaded up on arms this time around
BONUS SPENDING: $6.78 million
POSITION PLAYERS
BEST PURE HITTER: In a pitching-heavy draft, the Rangers were able to land a potentially premium bat in SS Travis Demeritte (1). Demeritte has above-average bat speed and an understanding of how to set up pitchers. 2B Evan Van Hoosier (8) is limited defensively, but it’s hard to sneak a fastball by him. » BEST POWER HITTER: If Demeritte develops as expected, he has a chance to hit 20 or more home runs thanks to his bat speed and hands that whip the bat through the zone. » FASTEST RUNNER: Van Hoosier is an above-average runner at his best. OF Ryan Cordell (11) probably would lose a footrace to Van Hoosier, but his speed plays better on the basepaths because of his excellent jumps and instincts. » BEST DEFENSIVE PLAYER: SS Isiah Kiner-Falefa (4) should be able to stay at the position thanks to excellent all-around skills. He makes all the routine plays, displays soft hands and good footwork, shows an accurate arm and has an excellent internal clock, so he knows when to rush and when he has time to wait on a ball.
PITCHERS
BEST FASTBALL: RHP Sam Wolff (6) touched 100 mph coming out of the bullpen this summer. RHP Alex Gonzalez (1) flashed 96 mph as a starter. RHP Akeem Bostic already touches 94 mph with some projection left in his arm. » BEST SECONDARY PITCH: Gonzalez’s slider almost seems like two different pitches at times, as he can throw a harder 88-90 mph pitch with cutting action and a bigger-breaking 84-86 mph ball with more depth. RHP David Ledbetter (3) has the best curveball among the draft class.
ODDS AND ENDS
BEST PRO DEBUT: Wolff went 4-0, 0.60 with five saves in 30 innings between short-season Spokane and low Class A Hickory. Demeritte finished second in the Rookie-level Arizona League with a .411 on-base percentage. » BEST ATHLETE: Bostic played football, basketball and baseball in high school and would have had opportunities to play football in college if he had not made it clear that baseball was his primary sport. » MOST INTRIGUING BACKGROUND: C Joe Jackson (5) is the great-great-great nephew of Shoeless Joe Jackson. RHPs David (3) and Ryan Ledbetter (19) are identical twins who became the first players every drafted from Ohio’s Cedarville College. » CLOSEST TO THE MAJORS: Both Gonzalez and Wolff could fly through the system as relievers, but both will be given chances to start. » BEST LATE-ROUND PICK: The Rangers drafted late-blooming RHP Lucas Lanphere (21) on area scout Steve Flores’ recommendation, then signed him for $400,000 after a post-draft workout. His velocity jumped 5 mph in the past year, giving him a 90-92 mph fastball, an intriguing breaking ball and a projectable 6-foot-2 frame. » THE ONE WHO GOT AWAY: As an all-state basketball player, 6-foot-7 RHP Jackson Lamb (20) already shows a low-90s fastball at his best, and he has lots of projection. He and the Rangers never came close to a deal, so he’ll head to Michigan.





TORONTO BLUE JAYS
Toronto took pitchers with its first nine picks. Losing Bickford hurt, but the Jays continued to load up on high school hurlers with fastball velocity, athleticism and upside, like Hollon and Brentz.
BONUS SPENDING: $3.05 million
POSITION PLAYERS
BEST PURE HITTER: 1B Rowdy Tellez (30) has the ability to become an above-average hitter because of his sound approach, ability to drive the ball to all fields and strong hand-eye coordination. » BEST POWER HITTER: The lefthanded-hitting Tellez could become an above-average power hitter at the major league level and has unparalleled raw power in this class, especially to his pull side. » FASTEST RUNNER: OF Jonathan Davis (15) and SS/2B Tim Locastro (13), who went 40-for-41 in stolen base attempts at Ithaca (N.Y.) last spring, both have well above-average speed. » BEST DEFENSIVE PLAYER: With Davis’ speed and quickness, he could become an above-average defensive center fielder. He has a fringy arm.
PITCHERS
BEST FASTBALL: RHP Clint Hollon (2) has a quick arm that produces fastballs up to 95 mph with downhill plane and above-average life and sink. LHP Jake Brentz (11) shows inconsistent velocity but toches 97 at his best. LHP Matt Boyd (6) worked at 88-92 mph in the Oregon State rotation as a senior but hit 96 on the Cape the summer prior out of the bullpen. » BEST SECONDARY PITCH: Hollon has a plus slider to go with a developing changeup and curveball.
ODDS AND ENDS
BEST PRO DEBUT: 1B L.B. Dantzler (14) led short-season Vancouver to the Northwest League title and was league MVP after leading the league with 20 doubles and nine home runs and batting .302/.385/.504. LHP Matt Dermody (28), who has a fastball up to 93 mph and above-average command, had a 1.77 ERA in 41 NWL innings. OF Chaz Frank (20) finished third in the NWL in OBP (.282/.412/.365). » BEST ATHLETE: Locastro and Davis among position players. Hollon has rare athleticism for a pitcher. » MOST INTRIGUING BACKGROUND: Boyd is a distant relative of Hall of Fame pitcher Bob Feller and former first lady Dolly Madison. RHP Patrick Murphy (3) had Tommy John surgery last summer but touched 93 mph as a junior and offers athleticism and projection. » CLOSEST TO THE MAJORS: Under the current regime, the Jays have not moved their draft picks quickly, but Boyd, who finished at high Class A, could advance quickly because of his command and the tough looks he gives same side hitters. » BEST LATE-ROUND PICK: Though he was a 30th-rounder, Tellez received the most money of any Jays pick ($850,000). Danzler, Dermody and C Mike Reeves (21), a lefthanded hitting catcher who grew up in Canada before attending Florida Gulf Coast, stand out among those who signed more conventional deals. » THE ONE WHO GOT AWAY: The only unsigned first-round pick in this year's draft was RHP Phil Bickford, who went No. 10 overall and will attend Cal State Fullerton. Toronto never came that close to signing him, though it's still not clear exactly why. The Jays will have the No. 11 pick of the 2014 pick as compensation.





WASHINGTON NATIONALS
Despite not having a first-round pick, Washington found power arms in Johansen, Pivetta and Voth. Ward may have to carry an otherwise thin class of position players on his own, however.
BONUS SPENDING: $2.68 million
POSITION PLAYERS
BEST PURE HITTER: 3B Drew Ward (3), the first position player the Nationals drafted, adjusted quickly to pro pitching even though he faced modest prep competition in rural Oklahoma and advanced his timeline by reclassifying from a high school junior to a senior last year so he could enter the ‘13 draft. He batted third most of the summer in the Rookie-level Gulf Coast League and hit .299. » BEST POWER HITTER: Ward’s hit tool is ahead of his power, but he has strength and leverage in his 6-foot-4, 210-pound frame, and the Nationals expect him to come into average or better power. 1B Jimmy Yezzo (7) has plus raw power but must improve his aggressive approach to get to it more consistently. » FASTEST RUNNER: OF Isaac Ballou (15) is an above-average runner with above-average range in center field. » BEST DEFENSIVE PLAYER: SS David Masters (14) is a slick defender with excellent hands, above-average arm strength and easy infield actions. His total package earns comparisons to Paul Janish and Brendan Ryan.
PITCHERS
BEST FASTBALL: The Nationals’ top selection, RHP Jake Johansen (2) touched 99 mph in the spring and did it again after signing, including in instructional league. He generally sits in the 94-96 mph range. He was hittable in college but improved his tempo as a pro and reached low Class A Hagerstown. RHPs Nic Pivetta (4) and Austin Voth (5) both run their fastballs up to 95 mph as well, with Voth usually holding his velocity deeper into starts. » BEST SECONDARY PITCH: Pivetta throws both a hard, downer curveball at 78-80 mph and a slower slurve. The Nats believe his harder breaking ball will play up when he stops throwing the slurve.
ODDS AND ENDS
BEST PRO DEBUT: Voth and Johansen both dominated with short-season Auburn and earned promotions to low Class A Hagerstown. Voth was 3-0, 1.74 overall with 55 strikeouts and just six walks in 41 innings. Johansen posted a 1.92 ERA with 51 strikeouts in 52 innings. » BEST ATHLETE: Ballou, who reminds some scouts of ex-big leaguer Fred Lewis for his athleticism, speed and late development path. » MOST INTRIGUING BACKGROUND: RHP Andrew Cooper (12) is the nephew of NHL coach Joe Quenneville of the Stanley Cup champion Chicago Blackhawks. Masters’ second cousin is “Mad Men” star John Hamm. Versatile IF Cody Dent (22) is the son of former big leaguer Bucky. Unsigned RHP Lukas Schiraldi (35) is the son of former big leaguer Calvin. » CLOSEST TO THE MAJORS: Johansen will race Voth, who has better control. » BEST LATE-ROUND PICK: Ballou and Masters have the chance to be big league contributors. » THE ONE WHO GOT AWAY: The Nats made runs at SS Garrett Hampson (26, Long Beach State) and hard-throwing RHP Andrew Dunlap (33, Rice). They had talks with Schiraldi (Texas) and injured RHP Karsten Whitson (37), an unsigned 2010 first-rounder who chose to return to Florida.