Phillies snag Moniak at No. 1 | Perfect Game 2016 MLB Draft Preview Index
With the completion of the 2016 MLB Draft we identify a handful of teams whose drafting efforts stood out. You can view all of the picks from the 2016 MLB Draft – round-by-round and team-by-team – including those that sign leading up to the mid-July deadline, here.
Atlanta Braves
As predicted in Perfect Game’s final mock draft the Braves decided to go with 2015 PG All-American righthander Ian Anderson with the third overall pick. Anderson might be the most projectable pitcher available for this year’s draft, with mid-90s heat and one of the best breaking balls available. Although Anderson will still require a sizable bonus to sign, the Braves should be able carry some of the money saved from the third overall pick to their second selection, Kansas prep lefthander Joey Wentz, one of the fastest-rising prospects this year. The two high school arms give an instant boost to the Braves pitching depth.
As does their third pick, second rounder Kyle Muller, who also enjoyed a dramatic rise up draft boards this spring with a spike in fastball velocity while retaining his impressive command. Fourth rounder Bryse Wilson gives the Braves four promising, live-armed prep pitchers fans can look forward to following rise up through the minor leagues.
There are a couple of college arms sprinkled in among their early picks as well, including Louisville’s Drew Harrington – who doesn’t blow anyone away but certainly is adept at changing speeds and commanding the strike zone with a three-pitch mix – and Gardner-Webb’s Jeremy Walker.
The upside on the hitters selected isn’t nearly as lofty as the pitchers, however Brett Cumberland enjoyed a big season at the plate, although it remains to be seen whether or not he can remain behind it defensively. Matt Gonzalez (Georgia Tech), J.B. Moss (Texas A&M) and Tyler Neslony (Texas Tech) all have a proven track record of success.
Boston Red Sox
Although the Red Sox may have their hands full signing prep lefthander Jason Groome, Perfect Game’s No. 1 overall prospect eligible for this year’s draft, the upside is just far too great not to take that chance. And the Red Sox certainly wouldn’t have used the 12th overall pick on Groome if they didn’t think they could get him in the fold.
They followed up that pick with a series of college players, including FAU shortstop C.J. Chatham and Arizona third baseman Bobby Dalbec in addition to righthanders Shaun Anderson, Mike Shawaryn and Steve Nogosek.
As noted in a feature last week no player had been as consistently successful at the college level on the mound than Shawaryn, who recorded 30 wins, 300 innings and 300 strikeouts during his three-year career at Maryland. Shaun Anderson could be a steal in the third round after being used predominantly out of Florida’s bullpen despite having a starter’s repertoire. Nogosek could be fast-tracked as a live-armed short reliever, a role he thrived in both at Oregon and for Team USA last summer.
And while Dalbec has big power potential at the plate, he also has the ability to dial his fastball into the low-90s with very good sinking life, complementing the pitch well with a slider and a changeup, giving him a fallback option should he struggle to make the necessary adjustments at the plate.
Chicago Cubs
While the Cubs didn’t have a pick until the third round due to their busy offseason on the free agent market, they made a series of interesting picks from the college ranks. These picks were focused mostly on pitching, picking up Thomas Hatch, Tyson Miller, Bailey Clark and Chad Hockin with their third- through sixth-round picks. Hatch has good command of a solid, but not spectacular, three-pitch mix, Tyson Miller is a projectable righthander from the D-II ranks with low-90s heat, Clark has a big arm but struggled with command this season while Hockin has an electric fastball as a projected short reliever but he too will need to hone his command.
After taking a break from pitching in the seventh round to select Bethune-Cookman catcher Michael Cruz (someone needs to handle these arms) they added nine more arms – in a variety of shapes, sizes and projected roles – in succession, including BYU’s Michael Rucker, Ole Miss’ Wyatt Short and Wake Forest’s Parker Dunshee.
Cincinnati Reds
As expected the Reds selected Nick Senzel, one of the safest players, and one of the draft’s best overall pure hitters, with the second overall pick. They followed that selection by taking one of the draft’s more higher-upside talents in Georgia prep outfielder Taylor Trammell with their supplemental first-round pick. Trammell has arguably the highest upside of any player eligible given his five-tool potential, although undoubtedly will take more time than Senzel – who could soar through the minor leagues – to develop.
2012 PG All-American Chris Okey was their second round pick, an undersized yet athletic catcher who enjoyed a huge season at the plate in the middle of a dangerous Clemson lineup.
After taking three position players early the Reds for the most part turned their attention to pitching, starting with the extremely projectable and rapidly improving prep righthander from Minnesota, Nick Hanson. They added another high-upside high school righty in Tyler Mondile in the sixth inning, and a trio of intriguing college arms with their fourth, fifth and seventh round selections; Scott Moss, Ryan Hendrix and Andy Cox.
Reds fans can expect John Sansone to hit at a high level upon entering the system and it will be interesting to see if Mitchell Traver signs as a 17th-round selection or returns to TCU for another (and hopefully healthy) season on the mound.
Milwaukee Brewers
The Brewers early picks resemble the beginning of a college All-American team for the 2016 season, starting with their first pick, Corey Ray, and continuing with third baseman Lucas Erceg and righthanders Braden Webb, Corbin Burnes and Zack Brown.
Ray, the fifth overall pick, is a dynamic player that has been compared to current big leaguers including Andrew McCutchen and Curtis Granderson for the multiple ways he can make an impact on the field. Erceg is a big, physical lefthanded hitter who may be better suited to play right field down the road but could be an intimidating presence in the middle of a lineup sooner rather than later. 2015 PG All-American catcher Mario Feliciano was the team’s third pick, a physical presence of his own that really improved his draft status this spring.
Webb, Burnes and Brown all have live arms with the ability to sit in the low-90s while touching higher. Webb is a rare draft-eligible freshman (although is coming off of his second year in school), Burnes enjoyed a very successful season as he led Saint Mary’s to the postseason for the first time ever in program history and Brown has very good life on a fastball that peaks in the 96-97 mph range.
The team added a second PG All-American and Puerto Rican native in Francisco Thomas in the eighth round, while sixth round Payton Henry and 11th round Chad McClanahan are two more high school hitters with intriguing upsides offensively as the team clearly placed a priority on adding more high-potential bats into their system.
Minnesota Twins
The Twins added some serious athleticism and tools into their system with their top four selections – Alex Kirilloff, Ben Rortvedt, Jose Miranda and Akil Baddoo. Kirilloff was one of the best overall hitters available, Rortvedt one of the best overall catchers, Mirando one of the fastest rising players and Baddoo one of the most athletic and versatile players, giving this year’s effort a very high upside for future success.
After loading up on bats the Twins took a quartet of arms, all that bring something different to the table. Griffin Jax enjoyed a huge year for Air Force and has the size, and repertoire, to continue to progress as a starter. On the flip side, St. John’s Thomas Hackimer is a side-arming short reliever with a low-90s fastball and sharp slider the could be fast-tracked as a setup man. Jordan Balazovic has some upside as a Canadian prep righty, and Alex Schick, although missing most of the 2016 season, was used in a swing role at Cal. Minnesota also took Schick’s Cal teammate Ryan Mason in the 13th round who has some upside as a back-end starter.
Tyler Benninghoff, their 11th-round pick, will be an interesting player to watch if they’re able to sign him (and based on where they took him you have to think that they feel they can). Benninghoff, a three-sport star in a deep year for prep players from Kansas, injured his elbow during the basketball season which limited scouts’ looks at the young righthander, who own a low-90s fastball and one of the best curveballs available for this year’s draft.
New York Mets
Similar to the Brewers effort, the New York Mets loaded up on accomplished college players with their early picks, starting with rising Boston College righthander Justin Dunn. Dunn was one of the most projectable pitchers from the college ranks, armed with a low- to mid-90s fastball and a relatively fresh arm after spending most of his college career as a reliever.
UConn lefthander and fellow Long Island native Anthony Kay gives the Mets two proven college aces, as Kay also has the ability to touch the mid-90s while sitting in the low-90s with a polished three-pitch mix as a starter. Kay profiles similar to current Mets’ starter Steven Matz and could move through the minors quickly.
Florida first baseman Pete Alonso, Louisville third baseman Blake Tiberi and shortstops Michael Paez and Colby Woodmansee, of Coastal Carolina and Arizona State respectively, gives the Mets a promising infield with intriguing offense tools that could progress together up the ladder towards New York.
Chris Viall and Austin McGeorge give the organization two more high-power arms to look forward to, and if they’re able to sign 12th-rounder Matt Cleveland that could give them another high-octane arm in a system that has no shortage of similar pitchers.
New York Yankees
Blake Rutherford lasting to the 18th overall pick in itself was a steal for the Yankees, who quickly pounced on the powerful lefthanded slugger, one that was in consideration for the No. 1 overall pick. Assuming he signs, Rutherford’s bat would fit in nicely given the short porch in right field at Yankees Stadium.
Few players are sound across the board as Louisville second baseman Nick Solak, the team’s second round pick, given his steady approach and line drive swing as a righthanded hitter, not to mention his defensive presence at second base. Prep righthander Nolan Martinez, the team’s third rounder, continues to improve thanks to his low-90s fastball and sharp overhand curve.
Nick Nelson, Brooks Kriske and Connor Jones all have good stuff and could move quickly as bullpen options for the team a few years down the road, while fifth-round outfielder Dom Thompson-Williams has an intriguing tool-set that could allow him to continue to blossom as a professional.
Keep an eye on 16th-rounder Zach Linginfelter, who at this stage is more likely to honor his commitment to Tennessee but would be an absolute steal as a day three pick given his workhorse build and the stuff to match.
Oakland Athletics
Landing Florida lefthander A.J. Puk with the sixth overall pick in itself was steal, a player who entered the year and continued to progress throughout the spring as a candidate for the first overall selection. Puk still has to find more consistency with his command, but his mid- to upper-90s fastball and wipeout slider given the 6-foot-7 lefthander an incredibly high upside.
Cal righthander Daulton Jefferies, the team’s second selection, may not have Puk’s upside but when healthy can sit in the low-90s, touching higher, with a pretty good breaking ball of his own. The A’s also took Puk’s Florida rotation-mate Logan Shore, who could move quickly through the minor leagues thanks to a polished three-pitch mix that includes one of the draft’s best changeups.
The team also added some intriguing bats from the college ranks to follow, starting with Wright State catcher Sean Murphy while including third baseman JaVon Shelby and outfielder Tyler Ramirez.
The A’s lone pick from the high school ranks among the top 10 rounds is Indiana righthander Skylar Szynski, a player who continued to improve from last summer and fall into the spring thanks to a spike in fastball velocity that has the ability to peak in the mid-90s. Signing him away from Indiana as a fourth-round pick would be a significant addition.
Philadelphia Phillies
The Phillies of course had the first overall pick and they used that selection to sign arguably the best pure hitter available for the draft, 2015 PG All-American outfielder Mickey Moniak. Moniak is more than just a hitter however as he plays defense in center field at a high level, has a strong throwing arm and also shows good speed, both in the outfield and on the basepaths.
Assuming the Phillies are able to sign Moniak fairly quickly for a price tag much lower than what was assigned to the first overall pick, they likely will shift that money over to sign their second rounder, another 2015 PG All-American in righthander Kevin Gowdy. Gowdy is one of the most projectable pitchers eligible for this year’s draft and already throws in the low-90s, peaking higher, while showing great command of a three-pitch mix to go along with a mature approach to pitching. Gowdy and Moniak could move relatively quickly given their respective polish.
A third PG All-American was added with their third-round pick, shortstop Cole Stobbe, before the team shifted their attention to the junior college and college ranks. Fifth-round lefthander Cole Irvin doesn’t light up radar guns but is a prototypical crafty lefty thanks to his command of four pitches, while righthanders Grant Dyer and Blake Quinn could move relatively quickly thanks to their low-90s heat.
The savings on Moniak likely could also be used to sign their 11th-round selection, USC recruit Josh Stephen, an outfielder from Southern California who, similar to Moniak, handles the bat extremely well from the lefthanded batter’s box.
San Diego Padres
The Padres draft effort was a risky venture, yet one that also has a very high reward. They were linked as a team that may be interesting in taking a chance on Stanford righthander Cal Quantrill, who hasn’t pitched since early in his sophomore year in 2015 before undergoing Tommy John surgery. Quantrill was pegged at that time as a potential candidate to go first overall in this year’s draft given his size, command, polish and stuff. However, more and more players are enjoying successful recoveries from TJ surgery, so the risk may not be as big as initially thought.
They added another enigmatic player by selecting PG All-American righthander Mason Thompson in the third round. Thompson, like Quantrill, had Tommy John surgery over a year ago, and also like Quantrill his upside is undeniable.
The known commodities come in the form of prep shortstop Hudson Sanchez, Kent State lefthander Eric Lauer, Florida five-tool outfielder Buddy Reed and another PG All-American righthander, Reggie Lawson. Lawson will be no easy sign, although they likely struck a deal with Sanchez to take him where they did and Quantrill may not require the full slot allotment as the eighth overall pick to come to terms.
After Thompson the team loaded up on polished college arms, including Joey Lucchesi, Lake Bachar and Will Stillman, all of whom could add value to a big league pitching staff at some point during their careers. They also took the SEC Player of the Year, Boomer White, in the 10th round, and selected LSU lefthander Jared Poche in the 14th, although White is much more likely of the two to sign. The team’s 15th round pick, Jack Suwinski, is another player to watch should he come to terms.
San Francisco Giants
The Giants’ draft stands out for one player, second-round pick Bryan Reynolds, who happened to be their first selection. Reynolds enjoyed a productive three-year career for Vanderbilt, and has the tools to match his statistical performance. He entered the year as a likely first-round pick but obviously the draft didn’t shake out for him that way. That said, for a team that didn’t have a first-round selection it appears as though they still got one.
In a similar fashion there’s enough in place to like their third through seventh round picks as well. Third round pick Heath Quinn has massive raw power but there are questions about whether or not he’ll hit the ball consistently enough to put it to use; fourth-rounder Matt Krook is more than two years removed from Tommy John surgery and has great stuff but really struggled with his command this season; fifth-rounder Ryan Howard was poised for a breakout season this year for Mizzou but that never happened; sixth-rounder Gio Brusa had huge expectations heading into his junior year in 2015 due to his equally huge power potential but has yet to match those expected hopes; and seventh-rounder Garrett Williams is an extremely athletic lefthander with low-90s heat and a sharp curveball that has battled nagging injuries and inconsistent command during his three-year career with Oklahoma State.
The Giants also took several intriguing names on the third day of the draft giving their effort this year a significant make-or-break aura.
St. Louis Cardinals
It’s hard to remember a year when the Cardinals aren’t mentioned as one of the teams that had a notable drafting effort within days of its completion. Although their first pick, Delvin Perez, has significant question marks after a failed drug test due to the use of PEDs arose within the last week, he is still an extremely talented shortstop whose defensive tools alone bring value to an organization.
Dylan Carlson was their second pick, likely made as a cost-saving measure while still adding a talented young ballplayer into their system. After that they added three productive arms from the college ranks: Dakota Hudson, Connor Jones and Zac Gallen. It’s hard to believe that each of these three players fell to their respective slots, and the Cardinals realistically only need one of them to pan out to make themselves look good by taking them.
Fourth-rounder Jeremy Martinez gives them a backstop with some offensive upside, while fellow PG All-American Walker Robbins, their fifth-rounder, has exciting offensive upside with big power from the lefthanded batter’s box.
Tommy Edman, Andrew Knizner and Matt Fiedler all enjoyed productive college careers much like the three starters the Cardinals selected early in the draft, while Vincent Jackson, Tyler Lancaster and Austin Sexton all have legitimate pro upside among their picks in the teens.
College Recruiting Impact
The players that end up signing from this year’s draft will have a much greater impact on the respective recruiting classes, and we won’t have a full idea of that picture until mid-July. However, here’s a quick look at the top 5 recruiting classes as ranked by Perfect Game.
1. Arizona State: The team’s top three recruits – Gavin Lux, Reggie Lawson and Bo Bichette – were all drafted in the early rounds, making in unlikely they’ll make it to campus. However, the rest of their recruiting class has a very strong chance of arriving in Tempe next fall.
2. North Carolina: Unlike the Sun Devils UNC should be getting most, if not all of their top recruits on campus. PG All-American righthanders Austin Bergner and Tyler Baum seemed like locks to make it onto campus prior to the draft, and fellow righthanders Rob Peto, Bo Weiss and Luca Dalatri were all drafted late on day three. Only Bryse Wilson, the Braves’ fourth-round pick, is expected to sign.
3. Vanderbilt: The Commodores undoubtedly will lose their top three recruits – Ian Anderson, Braxton Garrett and Thomas Jones – to pro ball. However, they should get everyone else to campus of what was already a deep class. Not to mention the impressive classes that have preceded them the past two years which could mean a big season in Nashville.
4. Arkansas: As noted above, Tyler Benninghoff is a wild card, as the Twins didn’t take him in the 11th round if they didn’t think there was a chance they could sign him. PG All-Americans Cole Stobbe and Ben Rortvedt are almost assuredly pro-bound, but fellow Classic participant Dominic Fletcher as well as hard-hitting outfielder Jordan McFarland and pitchers Brenden Heiss and Matthew Cronin, among others, should find themselves in Fayetteville.
5. Louisiana State: Similar to the Razorbacks the Tigers will likely lose their top two recruits, Riley Pint and Nonie Williams, to the draft, but the rest of their recruiting class looks to be intact. That includes live-armed PG All-American righthander Zach Hess, among others, who could help supplement an already young and talented LSU roster.
To view the full recruiting class rankings for the 2016-17 school year, as well as the players that make up those classes, please visit this link.