2013 MLB Draft: American League Central Summary and Review
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Chicago White Sox
1-17) Tim Anderson, SS, East Central Mississippi CC
2-55) Tyler Danish, RHP, Durant HS, Plant City, FL
3-91) Jacob May, OF, Coastal Carolina
4-123) Andrew Mitchell, RHP, Texas Christian
5-153) Thaddius Lory, RHP, Spring HS, Spring TX
Others of interest: 7) Trey Michalczewski, 3B, Oklahoma HS; 8) Chris
Freudenberg, LHP, South Mountain CC; 14) Tyler Barnette, RHP, Charlotte; 15)
Andrew Wheeler, LHP, Texas Tech
COMMENT: The shortage of infielders in this draft made the toolsy Anderson
very attractive to numerous teams, but the White Sox got there first. Danish
was one of the most successful high school pitchers in the class, but unusual
mechanics and his 6-foot height kept him from going in the first round. May
is a fast switch-hitter who could be a good leadoff man if he shows
sufficient patience, which is questionable. Mitchell drew notice as a
possible late first-round pick and is a steal in the fourth. Pitching
dominated much of the draft before the Sox switched over to college org
types, with Oklahoma prep Michalczewski the main exception due to his youth
and solid hitting skills. Much rides on Anderson, Danish, and Mitchell.
Cleveland Indians
1-5) Clint Frazier, OF, Loganville HS, Loganville, GA
3-79) Dace Kime, RHP, Louisville
4-111) Kyle Crockett, LHP, Virginia
5-141) Sean Brady, LHP, Baker HS, Cape Coral, FL
6-171) Casey Shane, RHP, Centennial HS, Burleson, TX
Others of interest: 7) Kenny Matthews, LHP, Riverside CC; 8) Trevor Frank,
RHP, UC Riverside; 9) Thomas Pannone, LHP, JC of Southern Nevada; 11) Adam
Plutko, RHP, UCLA; 13) Sicnarf Loopstok, C, Western Oklahoma State JC; 14)
Silento Sayles, OF, Mississippi HS
COMMENT: I love Clint Frazier's bat speed: his power potential is enormous;
he also runs well and nobody in this draft hustles more than he does. He's
got some risk too, but he's a sound pick at fifth overall. After that the
Indians focused on pitching, mixing college, junior college, and high school
arms. Kime is a potential fourth starter; Shane has an unusual amount of
upside for a sixth round pick. 13th round pick Lopstook and 14th round pick
Sayles are additional upside guys who need to be tracked closely. A lot rides
on Frazier but the Indians did stock up their minor league pitching.
Detroit Tigers
1-20) Jonathan Crawford, RHP, Florida
1S-39) Corey Knebel, RHP, Texas
2-58) Kevin Ziomek, LHP, Vanderbilt
3-94) Jeff Thompson, RHP, Louisville
4-126) Austin Kubitza, RHP, Rice
5-156) Buck Farmer, RHP, Georgia Tech
Others of interest: 6) Calvin Drummond, RHP, Arizona Christian; 7) Connor
Harrell, OF, Vanderbilt; 14) Ben Verlander, OF, Old Dominion; 15) Raph
Rhymes, OF, LSU; 23) Tyler Alexander, LHP; Texas HS; 35) A.J. Puk, LHP, Iowa
HS
COMMENT: This is like a whos-who list of prominent college pitchers. Crawford
didn't live up to expectations this spring and Knebel got into trouble for
sharing his urine with a teammate trying to dodge a drug test. Both could
still be very effective relievers who reach the majors quickly. Ziomek,
Thompson, and Farmer were very successful in college but project as fourth
starters. Kubitza also has an admirable performance record but the history of
Rice pitchers and his own velocity decline over the last two years is not
encouraging. The lack of upside position players is particularly noticeable,
but it is clear that the Tigers were looking for quick, low-risk pitching
help rather than loud tools.
Kansas City Royals
1-8) Hunter Dozier, SS, Stephen F. Austin State
1S-34) Sean Manaea, LHP, Indiana State
2-46) Cody Reed, LHP, Northwest Mississippi CC
3-82) Carter Hope, RHP, The Woodlands HS, TX
4-114) Zane Evans, C, Georgia Tech
5-144) Amalani Fukofuka, OF, Logan HS, Union City, CA
Others of interest: 6) Luke Farrell, RHP, Northwestern; 11) Xavier Fernandez,
C, Puerto Rico HS; 15) Dominique Taylor, OF, UC Irvine
COMMENT: Dozier was the first real surprise of the first round, but the
Royals saved some money with him that can be applied to Manaea, who fell from
a spot at the top of the draft down to the competitive balance round due to
hip and shoulder problems. If he regains his health, that's one hell of a
one/two punch since there is nothing wrong with Dozier. Reed and Hope are
development projects but both have the ability to be major league starters,
with hard-throwing Reed having more upside. Evans has a power bat and a
strong throwing arm that can work on the mound if he doesn't hit enough. The
rest of the group is relatively undistinguished although Farrell's polish
could help him rise quickly as a fifth starter type. Getting both Dozier and
Manaea is the key though.
Minnesota Twins
1-4) Kohl Stewart, RHP, St. Pius X HS, Houston, TX
2-43) Ryan Eades, RHP, Louisiana State
3-78) Stuart Turner, C, Mississippi
4-110) Stephen Gonsalves, LHP, Cathedral Catholic HS, San Diego, CA
5-140) Aaron Slegers, RHP, Indiana
Others of interest: 6) Brian Navaretto, C, Florida HS; 8) Dustin DeMuth, 3B,
Indiana; 9) Mitchell Garver, C, New Mexico; 11) Nelson Molina, SS, Puerto
Rico HS; 12) Ethan Mildren,RHP, Pittsburgh; 13) Brandon Peterson, RHP,
Wichita State.
COMMENT: Stewart was the best high school pitcher in the draft class and a
potential ace, though he's not quite in the Jose Fernandez or Dylan Bundy
category. The Twins took few chances with their other picks. One exception is
sixth-rounder Brian Navaretto, who has the tools to be a regular major league
catcher but will need considerable refinement. Eades has the look of an
inning-eater; Turner and Garver add catching depth to a system looking ahead
for someone to help Joe Mauer. Turner's glove is quite good but it is
uncertain how much he'll hit. Gonsalves got first-round buzz last fall but
didn't live up to his potential this spring. Puerto Rican infielder Nelson
Molina has an excellent glove but needs help with his hitting.
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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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