BB: D3 MLB Draft projections, picks and free-agent signings

[infielddad]

cubs,
You may be and probably are getting completely accurate information on what has been said.
Unfortunately, come draft day, what is said now often does not reflect draft day choices.
Even as late as the evening before the draft, our son was getting calls saying 7th to 15th round. The team which drafted him brought in a cross checker about 10 days before the draft and round 10 was the discussion.
Well, on draft day each of those come and go for our son and many, many others who have been told similar round information by scouts.
Ours started getting calls in the 14th round and was picked in round 25.
One of the great mysteries and frustrations of the draft sometimes.

[Gramps]

I'd also like to submit TIM SAUNDERS, MARIETTA.  Here are his stats:

Saunders, Marietta  .389, 46R, 70H, 7 2b, 6  3b, 3HR 49RBI, 23-20 SB .940 FLD

[CrashDavisD3]

Expect pitchers to go first. Very few position players get drafted and those that do will not go high. MLB scouts do not have lot of respect of the numbers that d3 hitters put up. It is because of the quality of pitching hitters face at the d3 level.  If you don't believe look where the POY guys ended up in the draft over the last several years

[BigPoppa]

I have a pretty reliable source that has reported that Koback could go anywhere between the 5th-10th rounds.  While I am not disputing it, does anyone know the last time a D3 Position Player weent int he Top 10 Rounds?

Not sure on the last, but Oshkosh's Jarrod Washburn was a second rounder in '95... and then he stuck it up our tails for 9 innings that same night in Salem.

[CCIWFAN6]

Living 400 miles from Bloomington (and having no inside knowlege contacts), I have no idea of his interest or scout contacts - but what about Jason Pankau, who has dominated the CCIW for two years, and dominated the CWS last year?

Someone will roll the dice on Pankau. If he is not drafted, I'd expect him to sign as a free-agent soon afterwards.

After talking with the coaching staff, it sounds like Jason had a couple of inquiries during the middle of the season that slowed down at the end. I would not say there is no chance, but it did not seem overly optimistic that he would be drafted.  Having seen him throw a lot over the 4 years, I would love for him to get a shot.  Fastball velocity is a little below average for a righthanded pitcher, but he gets a lot of run on the pitch with his 3/4 release point and can throw a good breaking ball and change for strikes.

[CCIWFAN6]

The draft begins next week. Who are this year's prospects? I'll get it started with the players listed on the MLB draft tracker and those I've heard with draft buzz. Thanks, infielddad.
Travis Otto, Illinois Wesleyan (who is a golfer for IWU as far as I can tell)

Travis never played baseball at IWU, instead electing to golf.  He is the son of Dave Otto who played MLB baseball for a while and has filled in on Cubs broadcasts for a number of years.

[CCIWFAN6]

I have a pretty reliable source that has reported that Koback could go anywhere between the 5th-10th rounds.  While I am not disputing it, does anyone know the last time a D3 Position Player weent int he Top 10 Rounds?

Zach Lutz from Alvernia went to the Mets in the 5th round in 2007. He is currently in Triple A for the Mets, but has battled injuries much of his career, while putting up very good numbers when healthy.

[cubs]

I have a pretty reliable source that has reported that Koback could go anywhere between the 5th-10th rounds.  While I am not disputing it, does anyone know the last time a D3 Position Player weent int he Top 10 Rounds?

Not sure on the last, but Oshkosh's Jarrod Washburn was a second rounder in '95... and then he stuck it up our tails for 9 innings that same night in Salem.

I was talking about Position Players, not pitchers.....  If pitchers were in the mix, former WIAC Pitchers Jordan Zimmerman (Stevens Point) and Jack Taschner (Oshkosh) each went in the 2nd Round in 2007 and 1999 respectively.  Zimmerman was the 67th overall pick, while Taschner was the 75th.

[cubs]

I have a pretty reliable source that has reported that Koback could go anywhere between the 5th-10th rounds.  While I am not disputing it, does anyone know the last time a D3 Position Player weent int he Top 10 Rounds?

Zach Lutz from Alvernia went to the Mets in the 5th round in 2007. He is currently in Triple A for the Mets, but has battled injuries much of his career, while putting up very good numbers when healthy.

Nice Find!!!!  +K

The highest I was able to find was Oshkosh SS Tim Jorgensen who went in the 8th Round in 1995.

[cubs]

Oops!!!!

I was able to find a couple more D3 guys that went in the early rounds:

1987-Oshkosh OF Terry Jorgensen-2nd Round (29th Overall)
1981-Oshkosh SS Jeff Carl-2nd Round (29th Overall)
1976-Oshkosh OF Darien Boyland-2nd Round (45th Overall)

[CrashDavisD3]

Oops!!!!

I was able to find a couple more D3 guys that went in the early rounds:

1987-Oshkosh OF Terry Jorgensen-2nd Round (29th Overall)
1981-Oshkosh SS Jeff Carl-2nd Round (29th Overall)
1976-Oshkosh OF Darien Boyland-2nd Round (45th Overall)

My point exactly. In recent years position players do not go very high. Look at the numbers the POY guys in recent years put up and were drafted either in the very late rounds or not at all. So when guys talk about position players going into the draft, recent history does not support their viewpoints on early round drafts for position players.

[CCIWFAN6]

Oops!!!!

I was able to find a couple more D3 guys that went in the early rounds:

1987-Oshkosh OF Terry Jorgensen-2nd Round (29th Overall)
1981-Oshkosh SS Jeff Carl-2nd Round (29th Overall)
1976-Oshkosh OF Darien Boyland-2nd Round (45th Overall)

My point exactly. In recent years position players do not go very high. Look at the numbers the POY guys in recent years put up and were drafted either in the very late rounds or not at all. So when guys talk about position players going into the draft, recent history does not support their viewpoints on early round drafts for position players.

Most of this comes from a scouting/projection standpoint.  With a pitcher, Zimmerman for example, you can see the velocity on the radar gun, the sharpness of a breaking ball, and the arm action on a change up and project how those will play at the next level. 

It is much more difficult to project how successfull hitters will be against better velocity, recognizing better breaking pitches, and having the ability to hit with a wood bat.  Many of the division 1 players that are drafted highly play in extremely competitve wood bat summer leagues.  Most division 3 players do not get this opportunity.

[cubs]

Expect pitchers to go first. Very few position players get drafted and those that do will not go high. MLB scouts do not have lot of respect of the numbers that d3 hitters put up. It is because of the quality of pitching hitters face at the d3 level.  If you don't believe look where the POY guys ended up in the draft over the last several years

I can tell you right now, regardless of whether a guy hits ..300, .400, or .500 it has no bearing on where he gets drafted.  What he puts up for RAW nuimbers has more impact.  It's why guys that have been National Player of the Year haven't been drafted, while guys that didn't make an All American Team have gone in the Top 25 Rounds.

[cubs]

Oops!!!!

I was able to find a couple more D3 guys that went in the early rounds:

1987-Oshkosh OF Terry Jorgensen-2nd Round (29th Overall)
1981-Oshkosh SS Jeff Carl-2nd Round (29th Overall)
1976-Oshkosh OF Darien Boyland-2nd Round (45th Overall)

My point exactly. In recent years position players do not go very high. Look at the numbers the POY guys in recent years put up and were drafted either in the very late rounds or not at all. So when guys talk about position players going into the draft, recent history does not support their viewpoints on early round drafts for position players.

Most of this comes from a scouting/projection standpoint.  With a pitcher, Zimmerman for example, you can see the velocity on the radar gun, the sharpness of a breaking ball, and the arm action on a change up and project how those will play at the next level. 

It is much more difficult to project how successfull hitters will be against better velocity, recognizing better breaking pitches, and having the ability to hit with a wood bat.  Many of the division 1 players that are drafted highly play in extremely competitve wood bat summer leagues.  Most division 3 players do not get this opportunity.

I think this is one situation where the new bats are going to help guys make the adjustment from the metal bat to the wood bat a little easier.

[infielddad]

Oops!!!!

I was able to find a couple more D3 guys that went in the early rounds:

1987-Oshkosh OF Terry Jorgensen-2nd Round (29th Overall)
1981-Oshkosh SS Jeff Carl-2nd Round (29th Overall)
1976-Oshkosh OF Darien Boyland-2nd Round (45th Overall)

My point exactly. In recent years position players do not go very high. Look at the numbers the POY guys in recent years put up and were drafted either in the very late rounds or not at all. So when guys talk about position players going into the draft, recent history does not support their viewpoints on early round drafts for position players.

Most of this comes from a scouting/projection standpoint.  With a pitcher, Zimmerman for example, you can see the velocity on the radar gun, the sharpness of a breaking ball, and the arm action on a change up and project how those will play at the next level. 

It is much more difficult to project how successfull hitters will be against better velocity, recognizing better breaking pitches, and having the ability to hit with a wood bat.  Many of the division 1 players that are drafted highly play in extremely competitve wood bat summer leagues.  Most division 3 players do not get this opportunity.

These are some reasons I think Kyle Felix will be drafted.  After his sophomore year, he played for Mill City in the NECBL and made the All Star game.  Late into the season, he had good power and average numbers, close to .300. He tailed right at the end but still hit something like .280 for 40 or so games. He was hurt last Summer which is unfortunate because he could not play in a Wood bat league.
Felix is big, strong and a very good hitter, with some power.  Scouts know he can hit with wood against good DI pitching based on his NECBL showing.  I just am not sure where he might be seen as a catcher at the next level.
He does appear to have more upside offensively.
If he can grade out as a catcher, I think OshDude would have it right that he goes during day 2, rounds 2-30.