Today is the day when dreams are realized at the MLB Draft. Teenagers and college players will become professional baseball players, and future stars will get their start. Rounds #1 and #2 will be picked tonight with coverage on MLB Network at 7pm EDT.
There is no clear cut #1 pick this year for the Philadelphia Phillies. Do they go for the college pitcher who could be starting for them next year or Mickey Moniak who is a High School outfielder who will not be ready for the Majors for a while.
Major update to @JimBowden_ESPN's Top-25 "Big Board" for the 2016 MLB Draft. @MickeyMoniak moves to the top. pic.twitter.com/sxQ9jAsqhy
— MLB Network Radio on SiriusXM (@MLBNetworkRadio) June 8, 2016
General Managers’ careers are sometimes hinged to their Draft Picks successes and failures. As Jerry Crasnick of ESPN writes, “Will [the Phillies] select Florida’s A.J. Puk, a 6-foot-7 left-handed pitcher with an upper-90s fastball? Or will they opt for Kyle Lewis, a talented outfielder from Mercer University in Macon, Georgia? Option No. 3 is Mickey Moniak, a high school outfielder from Southern California. Based on the insights of several industry insiders with knowledge of this year’s draft, those appear to be the names in play.”
One thing Mike Rizzo and staff have done with 1st round picks is make an impact. Yes, there were some early stumbles in the Rizzo era like the Aaron Crow pick in 2008 who did not sign and with Destin Hood as that year’s 2nd pick who fizzled out.
The real magic started in 2009, it was Stephen Strasburg at #1 and the Nats also had the 10th overall pick in the 2009 Draft which they used for Drew Storen. The Storen pick will be debated, and that pick has now turned into Ben Revere via a trade. Rizzo’s 12th round pick that year was Nate Karns who was traded for Jose Lobaton and Felipe Rivero. In 2010, it was Bryce Harper and Sammy Solis in the 2nd round. In 2011, the Nats had 3 picks in the 1st round in 2011 which was the year they selected Anthony Rendon, Alex Meyer, and Brian Goodwin. Alex Meyer was traded for Denard Span and Brian Goodwin is now becoming a late-bloomer prospect. In 2012, Rizzo selected Lucas Giolito with the 16th overall pick. In 2013, the Nationals forfeited their 1st round pick for signing free agent Rafael Soriano. In 2014, the Nats selected Erick Fedde with the 18th overall pick and the Nats forfeited their 1st round pick in 2015 for signing free agent Max Scherzer.
The Nationals team has a stamp on it with direct impact from drafts of prior years which really dates back to 2004 when the Expos selected Ian Desmond in the 3rd round and in 2007 when the Nationals selected Jordan Zimmermann in the 2nd round. Both of those players will now represent draft compensation in this year’s draft for the Nationals who hope to strike gold with their 28th and the 29th picks in the draft which came as draft compensation for Zimmermann (Tigers) and for Desmond (Rangers) who both signed with other teams and had draft compensation tied to them. The Nationals slotted 1st round pick which was #17 overall at the time was forfeited for signing Daniel Murphy.
Besides Jordan Zimmermann drafted in 2007, the Nats selected Steven Souza in the 3rd round who was traded for Trea Turner and Joe Ross. Also in 2007 the Nats selected Derek Norris in the 4th round, and he was traded for Gio Gonzalez.
The Nationals allocated pool total for this year’s draft is $7,635,500, which is up from the $4,102,700 the Nats had last year because the Nats didn’t have a 1st round pick. The Nats allotted slot value for pick #28 is $2,065,900 and $2,034,600 for pick #29. For pick #58 in the 2nd round $1,107,000 and pick #94 in the 3rd round is $635,800. The Nationals have 4 picks in the Top 100.
Baseball America’s site gives some of the best predictions and you can follow it here: http://www.baseballamerica.com/draft-preview/
Baseball America’s Blog is in a Disqus format so members here can comment there as well on this link here.
Here is Mayo and Callis picks: http://m.mlb.com/news/article/182933128/opening-round-picks-in-2016-mlb-mock-draft
