Monday, June 04, 2018

5 MLB teams with most 1st-round Draft success

5 MLB teams with most 1st-round Draft success
Importance of the MLB Draft


I guess we should not be surprised that the Giants did not male this list. Let's see if their luck changes tonight.

from mlb.com
https://www.mlb.com/news/5-mlb-teams-with-most-1st-round-draft-success/c-235346730?tid=167757330

5 clubs that have had the most 1st-round success

To say the Draft is an inexact science for Major League teams would be an understatement. Of course, that uncertainty is part of what makes it so compelling.

And if a franchise is able to bunch together a few strong picks first-round picks, the payoff can be huge. That's one way a championship team is built.
With the 2018 Draft beginning on Monday (6 p.m. ET on MLB Network and MLB.com), we looked back at first-round results in the 30-team era, going back to when expansion Arizona and Tampa Bay participated for the first time in 1996. While the opening round can include extra compensation picks, only top 30 selections who subsequently signed with that team were included in the research.
Obviously, not many players from the past few Drafts have established themselves in the Majors yet, but a 21-year sample from 1996-2016 (no one from last year's Draft has reached the big leagues yet) still provides a meaningful look at the event's challenges and rewards. During that time, clubs signed 608 of those top 30 picks, less than half of whom have produced a positive career Wins Above Replacement (WAR) total according to Baseball-Reference.com, through May 22. Just 56 of those (9.2 percent) have reached the 20-WAR plateau thus far, and 11 have made it to 50 WAR.
Of course, over the years, some teams have fared better than others at turning high Draft picks into productive Major Leaguers. Here is a look at the five best of those -- in terms of total WAR -- plus a few more who appear to be on the rise:
1. Philadelphia Phillies: 181.4 WAR15 picks (average slot of 14th), 8 with positive WARChase Utley and Cole Hamels became franchise cornerstones. Those two, along with Pat Burrell, Brett Myers and Adam Eaton (the pitcher) had prominent roles on the Phillies' 2008 World Series championship team. Hamels ('02) remains the club's most recent pick to return significant value, but Aaron Nola has been one of the top pitchers in the National League this season. It remains to be seen if J.P. Crawford and Mickey Moniak (the top overall pick in 2016) will also help form the core of the future in Philly.
2. Oakland Athletics: 171.8 WAR26 picks (average slot of 19th), 14 with positive WARMark Mulder and Barry Zito, two-thirds of the team's "Big Three" starting pitchers, were first-rounders. Eric Chavez, Joe Blanton and Nick Swisher also played major roles for Oakland. The well dried up a bit after 2003, however, aside from Sonny Gray and Addison Russell, who was traded to the Cubs as a prospect. Slick-fielding third baseman Matt Chapman (2014) has produced about 6 WAR in less than a full season's worth of games, but losing promising left-hander A.J. Puk ('16) to Tommy John surgery this spring was a big blow.
3. Arizona D-backs: 163.7 WAR21 picks (average slot of 16th), 13 with positive WARThis placement comes with no shortage of frustration, considering that Arizona's most productive pick, Max Scherzer, blossomed after being traded. Justin Upton and Trevor Bauer also are starring for other clubs now, and A.J. Pollock (a free agent at season's end) has seen a productive career (19.6 WAR) interrupted by frequent injuries. While Archie Bradley has found success in the Majors, he's done so as a reliever, and 2015 No. 1 overall selection Dansby Swanson was dealt away that same year.
4. Los Angeles Angels: 155.7 WAR18 picks (average slot of 19th), 9 with positive WARTroy Glaus, the No. 3 overall pick in 1997, was named Most Valuable Player when the Halos beat the Giants in the 2002 World Series. Jered Weaver developed into the club's ace, twice finishing in the top three for the American League Cy Young Award voting. And in Mike Trout, the Angels landed a player who is already sixth in career WAR among all the top-30 picks from 1996-present, despite being drafted in 2009. The organization's most promising pick since Trout, left-hander Sean Newcomb, came up with the Braves after going to Atlanta in the Andrelton Simmons trade.
5. Minnesota Twins: 153.3 WAR23 picks (average slot of 15th), 13 with positive WARThe Twins hit it big with 2001 No. 1 overall pick Joe Mauer, who has provided more than 50 WAR and remains with the team. Michael Cuddyer, Denard Span, Matt Garza and Glen Perkins all enjoyed their share of big league success as well. Byron Buxton (No. 2 overall, 2012) anchors the organization's more recent picks, with more help potentially on the way from the likes of prospects such as Nick Gordon.
ON THE RISEWashington Nationals (119.4 WAR)The franchise's late years in Montreal produced little. But Ryan Zimmerman (2005) became a franchise cornerstone, and Stephen Strasburg ('09), Bryce Harper ('10) and Anthony Rendon ('12) -- all top-six selections -- are stars in their primes.
Houston Astros (120.3 WAR)George Springer (2011), Carlos Correa ('12) and Alex Bregman ('15) were key players in last year's championship run and could help the Astros repeat. Kyle Tucker ('13) and Forrest Whitley ('16) are top prospects leading the next wave to Houston.
Chicago Cubs (92.7 WAR)Kris Bryant (No. 2 overall in 2013) is already close to being the club's most productive top-30 pick of this period. Javier Baez ('11), Albert Almora Jr. ('12), Kyle Schwarber ('14) and Ian Happ ('15) are all contributing to the big league club as well.
The 2018 Draft will take place Monday through Wednesday, beginning with the Draft preview show on MLB Network and MLB.com at 6 p.m on Monday. MLB Network will broadcast the first 43 picks (Round 1 and Competitive Balance Round A), while MLB.com will stream all 78 picks on Day 1. MLB.com will also provide live pick-by-pick coverage of Rounds 3-10 on Day 2, with a preview show beginning at 12:30 p.m. ET. Then, Rounds 11-40 can be heard live on MLB.com on Day 3, beginning at noon ET.
Go to MLB.com/draft to see the Top 200 Prospects list, mock drafts from MLB Pipeline analysts Jim Callis and Jonathan Mayo, the Draft Tracker, the complete order of selection and more. And follow @MLBDraft on Twitter to see what Draft hopefuls, clubs and experts are saying.
Andrew Simon is a research analyst for MLB.com. Follow him on Twitter @AndrewSimonMLB.


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Giants Top Minor League Prospects

  • 1. Joey Bart 6-2, 215 C Power arm and a power bat, playing a premium defensive position. Good catch and throw skills.
  • 2. Heliot Ramos 6-2, 185 OF Potential high-ceiling player the Giants have been looking for. Great bat speed, early returns were impressive.
  • 3. Chris Shaw 6-3. 230 1B Lefty power bat, limited defensively to 1B, Matt Adams comp?
  • 4. Tyler Beede 6-4, 215 RHP from Vanderbilt projects as top of the rotation starter when he works out his command/control issues. When he misses, he misses by a bunch.
  • 5. Stephen Duggar 6-1, 170 CF Another toolsy, under-achieving OF in the Gary Brown mold, hoping for better results.
  • 6. Sandro Fabian 6-0, 180 OF Dominican signee from 2014, shows some pop in his bat. Below average arm and lack of speed should push him towards LF.
  • 7. Aramis Garcia 6-2, 220 C from Florida INTL projects as a good bat behind the dish with enough defensive skill to play there long-term
  • 8. Heath Quinn 6-2, 190 OF Strong hitter, makes contact with improving approach at the plate. Returns from hamate bone injury.
  • 9. Garrett Williams 6-1, 205 LHP Former Oklahoma standout, Giants prototype, low-ceiling, high-floor prospect.
  • 10. Shaun Anderson 6-4, 225 RHP Large frame, 3.36 K/BB rate. Can start or relieve
  • 11. Jacob Gonzalez 6-3, 190 3B Good pedigree, impressive bat for HS prospect.
  • 12. Seth Corry 6-2 195 LHP Highly regard HS pick. Was mentioned as possible chip in high profile trades.
  • 13. C.J. Hinojosa 5-10, 175 SS Scrappy IF prospect in the mold of Kelby Tomlinson, just gets it done.
  • 14. Garett Cave 6-4, 200 RHP He misses a lot of bats and at times, the plate. 13 K/9 an 5 B/9. Wild thing.

2019 MLB Draft - Top HS Draft Prospects

  • 1. Bobby Witt, Jr. 6-1,185 SS Colleyville Heritage HS (TX) Oklahoma commit. Outstanding defensive SS who can hit. 6.4 speed in 60 yd. Touched 97 on mound. Son of former major leaguer. Five tool potential.
  • 2. Riley Greene 6-2, 190 OF Haggerty HS (FL) Florida commit.Best HS hitting prospect. LH bat with good eye, plate discipline and developing power.
  • 3. C.J. Abrams 6-2, 180 SS Blessed Trinity HS (GA) High-ceiling athlete. 70 speed with plus arm. Hitting needs to develop as he matures. Alabama commit.
  • 4. Reece Hinds 6-4, 210 SS Niceville HS (FL) Power bat, committed to LSU. Plus arm, solid enough bat to move to 3B down the road. 98MPH arm.
  • 5. Daniel Espino 6-3, 200 RHP Georgia Premier Academy (GA) LSU commit. Touches 98 on FB with wipe out SL.

2019 MLB Draft - Top College Draft Prospects

  • 1. Adley Rutschman C Oregon State Plus defender with great arm. Excellent receiver plus a switch hitter with some pop in the bat.
  • 2. Shea Langliers C Baylor Excelent throw and catch skills with good pop time. Quick bat, uses all fields approach with some pop.
  • 3. Zack Thompson 6-2 LHP Kentucky Missed time with an elbow issue. FB up to 95 with plenty of secondary stuff.
  • 4. Matt Wallner 6-5 OF Southern Miss Run producing bat plus mid to upper 90's FB closer. Power bat from the left side, athletic for size.
  • 5. Nick Lodolo LHP TCU Tall LHP, 95MPH FB and solid breaking stuff.