NFL Tickets
The MLB draft is different from the amateur drafts in most of the other mainstream sports, especially the NFL and NBA. The difference is that the majority of the public does not know who any of the players taken in the draft are. There are just too many amateur players, and not enough exposure for college baseball, or high school baseball for that matter.
There are only a handful of people in the country who could be legitimately identified as knowledgeable sources on the MLB draft. Because of that, we have no option but to turn to them for their input on the draft picks as they happen. Most of their opinions are a combination of talking with scouts, MLB front office types, or actually getting to watch the players personally.
The Texas Rangers had three picks on the first night of the MLB draft. Below is a breakdown of the feedback from those who are knowledgeable enough to know what they are talking about.
1st round, pick #29 – Lewis Brinson, OF
Mark Anderson: #Texas #Rangers – Lewis Brinson (OF) – crazy, crazy, crazy athlete, arguably the highest ceiling in the #MLBDraft
Jason Parks: #Rangers fans, welcome a monster toolshed into your system. Lewis Brinson is a project, but the ceiling is absolutely enormous.
Jim Callis: Not a shock #Rangers take athlete at 29. Power/speed package for Brinson that not many in this #mlbdraft can match.
Jason Cole: He’s a 6’4″ outfielder. Boom or bust type guy. High ceiling, but raw.
Supplemental 1st Round, pick #39 – Joey Gallo, 3B
Callis: #Rangers got one of #mlbdraft’s most intriguing talents in Joey Gallo, might be 8 raw power & is 8 arm strength. Their pick at 39.
Cole: Quick-hit scout quote on Gallo: “I like him. That kind of raw juice is special these days.”
Kevin Goldstein: And the Rangers should be awfully happy at this point to get that kind of upside at 29 and 39. Wow.
Supplemental 1st Round, pick #53 – Collin Wiles, RHP
Parks: I just spoke to a veteran scout about #Rangers selection RHP Collin Wiles (#53). His report: “I have never heard of this kid.” #Scouting
Cole: Wiles might be your below-slot pick so you can go above a bit to sign Gallo.
On his TexasFarmReview.com site, Jason Parks expanded on Wiles in a different way, saying “Long, lanky kid w/ plenty of room for added strength; solid athlete…really projectable; big upside; ceiling pick.”
You’ll notice a similar theme among each of these picks by the Rangers. They are all high schoolers, they are all expected to sign with the Rangers, and they are all described as raw, athletic, projectable, and high ceiling types.
The Rangers have displayed a trend lately of stocking their minor league system with high ceiling prospects. Last summer, they gave away record international signing bonuses to 16-year olds Ronald Guzman and Nomar Mazara, who fit the same profile. One of the key reasons the Rangers can pursue this type of prospect is because of the organization strength they have established in the area of talent development. The minor league coaches, trainers, and farm directors have shown the ability to help young prospects in the Rangers system reach their ceilings, and reach them in a timely manner.
Prospects are not a sure thing. High ceilings are not guarantees. Many of these prospects do not have high floors. The Rangers have structured their organization in such a way that they are not depending on every prospect with a high ceiling to achieve that ceiling. They have the necessary talent to compete at the big-league level, and prospects at each level of their farm system that projects to contribute in the future. Tonight, they sought to bring three more young kids into that fold.
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