2013 MLB Draft: American League West Summary and Review
http://0rz.tw/2yrui
Houston Astros
1-1) Mark Appel, RHP, Stanford
2-40) Andrew Thurman, RHP, UC Irvine
3-74) Kent Emanuel, LHP, North Carolina
4-107) Conrad Gregor, 1B, Vanderbilt
Others of interest: 5) Tony Kemp, 2B, Vanderbilt; 6) Jake Nottingham, C;
California HS; 7) James Ramsay, OF, South Florida; 29) Randall Fant, LHP,
Arkansas:
COMMENT: The Astros made the obvious and logical choice at the top of the
draft by selecting Appel. After that, they filled in mostly with college
players, which is logical given the amount of money it could take to sign
Appel. More goes into this than going just for pure upside; you have to look
at the money, too; the Astros know what it will take to get Appel signed and
had to run their draft accordingly. Thurman and Emanuel are possible fourth
starters who might not need long in the minors. The Astros picked a lot of
college players in middle and later rounds, which is a strategy that the
Cardinals have used to great effect in building system depth. One exception
is power-hitting Jake Nottingham, possibly a steal in the sixth round if
everything comes together.
Los Angeles Angels
2-59) Hunter Green, LHP, Warren East HS, Bowling Green, Kentucky
3-95) Keynan Middleton, RHP, Lane Community College
4-127) Eliot Morris, RHP, Pierce Junior College
5-157) Kyle McGowin, RHP, Savannah State
Others of interest: 6) Harrison Cooney, RHP, Florida Gulf Coast; 9) Stephen
McGee, C, Florida State; 10) Grant Gordon, RHP, Missouri State; 11) Jonah
Wesely, LHP; California HS
COMMENT: With no first-round pick the Angels needed to be creative and I
think they did a good job here, grabbing a top 30 quality prospect with
Hunter Green in the second round, then two lively junior college arms who
will need some development work but have considerable upside. McGowin,
Cooney, Gordon, and 7th round pick Garrett Nus and 8th round pick Nate Smith
all add decent enough arms to a thin farm system. There isn't much in
position talent, with walk machine Stephen McGee being the best of the lot.
This isn't a spectacular group, but given their bonus pool of just
$2,998,200, I think the Angels did a reasonable job of adding organizational
depth to the system.
Oakland Athletics
1-24) Billy McKinney, OF, Plano West HS, Plano, TX
2-63) Dillon Overton, LHP, Oklahoma
2S-71) Chad Pinder, SS, Virginia Tech
3-100) Ryon Healy, 1B, Oregon
3S-106) Chris Kohler, LHP, Los Osos HS, Rancho Cucamonga, CA
4-131) Dylan Covey, RHP, San Diego
5-161) Bobby Wahl, RHP, Mississippi
Others of interest: 6) Kyle Finnegan, RHP, Texas State; 7) Dustin Driver,
RHP, Washington HS; 8) Tyler Marincov, OF, North Florida; 12) Dakota Freese,
RHP, Des Moines Area CC: 19) A.J. Vanegas, RHP, Stanford
COMMENT: This looks very good to me, featuring a diverse mix of upside and
value though they'll have to get creative with the money if they want to sign
Driver away from UCLA. McKinney is one of the most polished high school
hitters in recent memory. Overton, Pinder, Healy, and Marincov were all
success stories in college who could be solid role players. Covey, who has
already signed, is a former first round pick who struggled for San Diego but
might thrive in pro ball. Wahl fell unexpectedly but the talent that made him
a projected first round pick in February is still there; he's awesome in the
fifth round if they can make the money work. Lottery ticket Freese can hit 95
and has a big-bending curveball, but command problems and makeup concerns
dropped him down. He'll be interesting to follow at least. Overall, I like
what Oakland did even if they can't sign Driver. (NOTE: According to Twitter,
Driver signed a few minutes before I posted this article. No word on $$$).
Seattle Mariners
1-12) D.J. Peterson, 3B, New Mexico
2-49) Austin Wilson, OF, Stanford
3-85) Tyler O'Neill, OF-C, Garibaldi SS, Maple Ridge, BC
4-117) Ryan Horstman, LHP, St. John's
5-147) Jack Reinheimer, SS, East Carolina
Others of interest: 6) Corey Simpson, OF, Texas HS; 12) Justin Seager, 1B,
Charlotte; 29) Chantz Mack, OF, University of Miami-Florida.
COMMENT: Peterson had a thunderous college campaign and most sources think
his bat will move quickly, although not everyone thinks he can remain at
third base. Austin Wilson has outstanding athletic gifts but never fully
lived up to expectations in college; that may or may not change in pro ball,
but the tools for stardom are there if he can tap them. O'Neill is
highly-respected as a hitter but they'll be more pressure on his bat as an
outfielder than as a catcher. College choices with modest tools but good
track records fill out many slots, perhaps freeing up enough money to assure
that power-hitting 6th rounder Simpson passes up the University of Houston.
29th round college senior Chantz Mack was the leading Hurricane hitter this
spring and led the club in steals and walks, but has never excited talent
evaluators with a 5-11, 205 build.
Texas Rangers
1-23) Alex Gonzalez, RHP, Oral Roberts
1-30) Travis Demeritte, SS, Winder-Barrow HS, Winder, Georgia
2-62) Akeem Bostick, RHP, West Florence HS, South Carolina
3-99) David Ledbetter, RHP, Cedarville College
4-130) Isiah Kiner-Falefa, SS, Mid-Pacific Institute
5-160) Joe Jackson, C, The Citadel
Others of interest: 6) Sam Wolff, RHP, New Mexico; 7) Nick Gardenwine, RHP,
Kaskaskia CC; 12) Derek Thompson, LHP, John A. Logan JC; 19) Ryan Ledbetter,
RHP, Cedarville College; 27) Sherman LaCrus, C, Western Oklahoma State JC
COMMENT: I have to like this class just because of the cool names, but
there's considerable talent here too. Gonzalez is potentially a steal at 24th
overall and could be in the majors very quickly. Demeritte has one of the
best bats in the high school class, at least for power potential, though his
ultimate position is uncertain. Bostick is a huge upside play, high risk,
high reward. 'Mid-Pacific Institute' sounds like a subsidiary of the Hanso
Foundation, Weyland-Yutani, or North Central Positronics, although
Kiner-Falefa is less likely to destroy the world and more likely to develop
into a solid defender with an okay bat. Jackson (great-great-great nephew of
Shoeless Joe) has a good glove and hit the snot out of the ball this year.
Woolf has a very live arm, and both Illinois junior college picks bear close
watching. Overall I think this is well done.
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＊Athletic frame.
＊High baseball IQ. Xander
＊Smooth, fluid swing. Bogaerts
＊Elite batspeed. #01
＊Strong and explosive hands.
＊Above-average-to-better power ceiling, potential 30 home run bat.
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