Cubs Likely To Draft Appel Or Gray: MLB Rumors - MLBTradeRumors.com

Appel has a longer and more durable track record, but comes with sign-ability concerns that only Scott Boras can bring. The somewhat eerie comparisons to Mark Prior should not be an impediment to the Cubs since under Theo those ghosts no longer remain. The sign-ability issue should not be as large with the Cubs either. If Boras can't get what he wants / needs / expects from Chicago, he can't get it anywhere.

The comps on Gray could be too alluring to pass up. And we do know that the Theo's of the world have an affinity for trying to prove that they are smarter than the crowd. That should tip the balance towards Gray.

Astros could make the choice easier for the Cubs, but they may avoid both. They have gone more for top end HS'ers lately ( four of last six years - http://espn.go.com/mlb/history/draft/_/team/hou ) and may find one of the two GA boys a little too enticing to pass up.

from MLBTradeRumors.com
Cubs Likely To Draft Appel Or Gray: MLB Rumors - MLBTradeRumors.com:

Major League Baseball's draft is still about six weeks away, but Gordon Wittenmyer of the Chicago Sun-Times writes that the Cubs are likely to draft either Stanford right-hander Mark Appel or Oklahoma right-hander Jonathan Gray with the No. 2 overall pick. Wittenmyer spoke about the draft to multiple team sources, including manager Dale Sveum who told him:

"Obviously, the two big boys, Appel and Gray, if those guys keep the velocity where it is and everything’s going good, I think it’s hard not to take one of them guys."

Appel and Gray are widely considered to be the top two pitching prospects in this year's draft, but other names such as high school outfielders Austin Meadows and Clint Frazier, as well as San Diego third baseman Kris Bryant and Indiana State lefty Sean Manaea have garnered attention as potential Top 5 selections.

'via Blog this'

For some feedback on Gray, this local source is about as good as it gets. This kids stock could rise all the way to the #2 slot.

from NewsOK:
http://newsok.com/oklahoma-baseball-jonathan-grays-stock-is-on-the-rise/article/3781550

Shades of Gray

OU right-hander Jonathan Gray is dominating college hitters and tempting professional personnel men, with his draft stock climbing toward to the top of this June's MLB Draft — maybe all the way to the top. The vitals on Gray:

Height: 6-4

Weight: 240

Throws: Right

Stuff: Fastball that sits at 94-97 mph and can touch 100; cut-slider that ranges from 83-88; changeup that runs low 80s.

Stats: Gray is 6-1 with a 1.19 ERA and 71 strikeouts in 60 1/3 innings. He's allowed 34 hits and 11 walks. Opponents are batting .167 against him.

Draft stock: Rising. Gray is now being mentioned for the No. 1 overall pick in MLB's June Draft, alongside Stanford's Mark Appel and Indiana State's Sean Manaea, two other noted pitchers.

Compares to: According to baseballdraftreport.com, scouts have favorably compared Gray to several successful pros — Detroit's Max Scherzer, the Mets' Matt Harvey, former Sooner Garrett Richards of the Angels, Pittsburgh top prospect Gerrit Cole. And then there are the eye-opening comps — Roger Clemens and Justin Verlander.