For that kind of money, I'm surprised the Astros just didn't draft Mac Marshall in the 5th round. Mac Marshall was nearly consensus the higher rated prospect. Either they really like Nix or Marshall was hard-set on $2m.
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" lang="en"><p>Source: $1.5 million figure is incorrect on Jacob Nix's contract. "No. Not true."</p>— Tyler Stafford (@JeffBlogwell) <a href="https://twitter.com/JeffBlogwell/statuses/479083700101992448">June 18, 2014</a></blockquote> <script async src="//platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
After watching UVA in the CWS, really wondering why we didn't pop Artie Lewicki in the 7th instead of Velasquez. Velasquez has put up pretty awful numbers for a college reliever while Lewicki has shown to have some pretty good stuff. 93-95mph with life. Dominated the ACC this year. Would have been a cheap senior sign. He did have TJ after 2012 and missed most of 2013, but he's showed he can be a clutch bullpen arm so far from what I've seen.
WTHB has obtained a copy of Greeneville's preliminary roster. Looks like a pretty stacked club to me. 12 players from the 2014 class will start off in the Appy League. LHP Zach Davis (25th round) RHP Dean Deetz (11th round) RHP Brock Dykxhoorn (6th round) RHP Joshua James (34th round) RHP Eric Peterson (37th round) RHP Keegan Yuhl (35th round) 3B Connor Goeddert (15th round) 1B Bryan Muniz (22nd round) SS Antonio Nunez (18th round) C Trent Woodward (20th round) OF Sean McMullen (30th round) OF Ramon Laureano (16th round) Dayne Parker, who's listed as an infielder, is an undrafted free agent from Wichita State. Here are his stats: 2014: 50 games, .300/.401/.444, 5 HR, 30 RBI, 25 R, 25 BB (6 HBP), 22 K, 2 SB (1 CS), .845 OPS
Point made. However, the best predictor of future performance is past performance, and if this Velasquez kid can't get his ERA below 4.75 and strikeout anywhere close to a batter an inning while giving up more than a hit per inning in the Mountain West Conference...I find it hard to believe he will succeed at the next level. Then you have Lewicki, who, based on my very limited knowledge of either pitcher, has shown an above average fastball with life and velocity with a curveball described as "easily plus" by the Tiger scouts who drafted him while putting up some pretty good numbers in the ACC and is putting up a great showing at the highest level of college baseball right now. Also would have been cheaper to sign since he's a senior.
Kyle Gehrs is a LHP from Central Missouri who is listed on the GCL roster. Jason Bell is (or rather, was) one of his teammates on the Mules baseball team. <blockquote class="twitter-tweet" lang="en"><p>BRING THE GEHRS! Shout out to my boy <a href="https://twitter.com/gehrsE10">@gehrsE10</a> on signing with the Astros. Nobody deserves it more than him. Astros becoming UCM South?</p>— Jason Bell (@J_Bell_11) <a href="https://twitter.com/J_Bell_11/statuses/477159564866228224">June 12, 2014</a></blockquote> <script async src="//platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script> 2014: 14 appearances (11 starts, 1 complete game, pitched in 1 shutout) 7-3, 3.84 ERA, 63.1 IP, 62 H (4 HR), 34 R (27 earned), 26 BB, 71 K, 1.39 WHIP, .254 opponent average
Here's where all the draft picks have been assigned. Tri-City A.J. Reed (2) J.D. Davis (3) Derick Velazquez (7) Bryan Radziewski (9) Jay Gause (10) Ryan Bottger (12) Jamie Ritchie (13) Nick Tanielu (14) Ryan Thompson (23) Vince Wheeland (24) Mott Hyde (26) Brandon McNitt (27) Alex Hernandez (40) Greeneville Brock Dykxhoorn (6) Dean Deetz (11) Connor Goedert (15) Ramon Laureano (16) Antonio Nuñez (18) Trent Woodward (20) Bryan Muniz (22) Zach Davis (25) Sean McMullen (30) Robert Kahana (32) Josh James (34) Keegan Yuhl (35) Dayne Parker (undrafted) GCL Ben Smith (17) Ruben Castro (19) Richard Gonzalez (29) Dexture McCall (31) Edwin Medina (33) Justin Ferrell (36) Kyle Gehrs (undrafted) Aaron Vaughn (undrafted)
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" lang="en"><p>The University of Virginia is playing for a national championship! On to the next one <a href="https://twitter.com/search?q=%23CWS2014&src=hash">#CWS2014</a></p>— Derek Fisher (@DeFish23) <a href="https://twitter.com/DeFish23/statuses/480480414759280640">June 21, 2014</a></blockquote> <script async src="//platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
