Season 29 Amateur Draft
Winners and Losers
Atlanta, GA (McC) – This year the McCabe Magazine staff will
be evaluating all 32 players selected in this years first round of the amateur
draft.
This year we are proud to announce that Hall of Famer
Tony Cortes has joined our scouting department
to help us scout the incoming talent. Tony played 18 years in the major leagues
with St. Louis, Kansas City, and the New York Mets. We are honored the 8 time MVP
has chosen to provide his expertise to McCabe Magazine. We found the 3 time World
Series champion riding a tractor on his farm in his hometown of Barahona, in
the Dominican Republic. He has made approximately $195.7 million during his
playing career and works 10 hour days on his 150 acre marijuana plantation.
Tony explains “it’s only a matter of time before the legalization of marijuana;
the health benefits strongly outweigh any outdated complaints and issues.” Although
he never smoked the illegal plant as a big leaguer, in retirement he’s found
that it helps with the daily aches and pains he received as a result of a 20
year pro career.
The only drawback he says “sometimes I forget, I mean I
forget a lot, I’m getting very forgetful, simple things like, where did I
parked the tractor, which way to the bathroom, where did I leave that bag of
Doritos?” We will agree with him on that one, he asked me my name several times
during the interview, and why was I there. He also wanted to provide our
readers with his website for investment opportunities but, he forgot the
address. However, when it comes to baseball this former 13 time all-star knows
his baseball. And we are glad to have him, especially the stoners that work in
the IT department.
That said the McCabe Magazine scouting department and panel of
experts have put together a scouting report for the 32 amateurs in this year’s major
league draft. We will also rate these players in terms of will they make it to
the major leagues, will they be a star, or will they be a life time
minor-leaguer.
Season 29 Amateur Draft
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Pick
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Fran
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Player
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Pos
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Age
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Back-
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Cur
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ground
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Level
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1
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NY1
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SS
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21
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COL
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RL
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Can’t miss major leaguer, contact hitter should hit 290,
above average power, blazing speed some scouts got him 4.2 and 4.3 in the 40.
Can play every position except SS.
Pick
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Fran
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Player
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Pos
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Age
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Back-
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Cur
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ground
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Level
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2
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KC
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P
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21
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COL
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Turner is a 21 year-old college Junior from Pittsburgh (Jr.
College) who has yet to sign. He and his consultant/agent Rex Brantley is requesting
a signing bonus of $9,380,000 which is $6 more than
Matty Phillips, the first overall selection. We
wish you luck with that one. Kansas City has had 3 top 5 selections in season
28 and 29 that have not signed. Someone in the front office needs to check
players sign ability before making these selections.
Pick
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Fran
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Player
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Pos
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Age
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Back-
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Cur
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ground
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Level
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3
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CLE
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P
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20
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JC
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RL
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We didn’t have Chambers going in the first 15 picks solely
because he is projected as a setup/closer. However, we do think he’ll be one of
the best out of the bullpen. His best pitches are the Changeup and Curve which
already is major league quality. There are major leaguers with less stuff than
this kid. Should be on a fast track to the majors.
Pick
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Fran
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Player
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Pos
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Age
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Back-
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Cur
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ground
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Level
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4
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KC
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CF
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21
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COL
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Marshall is another amateur getting bad advice from his
agent Jim Porzio. Marshall and his camp are asking for a $9,286,550 signing
bonus and have yet to sign. Another bad selection by the Royals.
Pick
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Fran
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Player
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Pos
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Age
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Back-
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Cur
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ground
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Level
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5
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SEA
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P
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18
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HS
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Another wasted pick, Oliveros is a 18 year-old high schooler
that has his heart set on attending Penn State University in Happy Valley,
Pennsylvania.
Pick
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Fran
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Player
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Pos
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Age
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Back-
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Cur
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ground
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Level
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6
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PHI
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LF
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20
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JC
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LoA
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Willie Payne is the best pro prospect on our board. List as
a Leftfielder he should end up at firstbase. He’s by far the best hitter in the
draft, should hit for average, power and on-base percentage, with 4.4 speed.
Our projections as an All-Star, MVP candidate with these eye popping numbers 45
HR, 129 RBI, 332 BA 40 SB and a 1.120 OPS. What a steal at number 6.
Pick
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Fran
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Player
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Pos
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Age
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Back-
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Cur
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ground
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Level
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7
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BOS
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P
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18
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HS
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RL
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This projected starter has 5 pitches with the curveball
being his go-to pitch. Dougherty is a location and placement type hurler, his
top 4 pitches are all off speed with his fastball hitting the gun in the low
80s. We think his velocity will improve slightly, but not much more. Should
hold down the 3
rd slot in the rotation.
8
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BAL
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Marvin Hartley
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CF
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20
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JC
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HiA
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Another excellent selection. Hartley won the
Julian Alvarez Junior College of the Year Award
which is named after Hall of Famer Julian Alvarez who played at Carl Albert
State College in Poteau, Oklahoma. Hartley batted .389 with 32 Home Runs, and 128
RBIs his final season at UA. We look for him to hit for average with a lot of
pop in the bat, and should win a number of Gold Gloves. The only question is
durability.
9
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MIL
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Will Swindell
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P
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18
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HS
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RL
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This is the best projected starting pitcher in the draft. We
had him going in the top 3 picks and wonder how and why he fell to the 9
th
pick. The Milwaukee Journal Sentinel reported that
brentcnb President/Owner knocked down several
staffers getting to the phone to make the selection. Swindell has 4 pitches
with the sinker and change-up being the best. Can get righties and lefties out,
should go deep into games, with very good control. Projected major league
All-Star.
Jennings is the only college senior selected in the top 10
of the amateur draft, and we are wondering why. McCabe draft experts had
Jennings projected to go as a mid to late compensation pick. He has tons of
power however, we don’t think he’ll be able to hit major league pitching. If he
makes the majors we feel he’ll hit an average of about 20 Home Runs and a very
low average, 220 – 230.
We project Spencer to make the majors as a 3rd
baseman and has major defense coming out of college. Some think he is major
league ready but our team of experts feels his bat will be best served with a
minima of about 3 years in the minors.
Carson will be a 4th or 5th starter in
the Big leagues. Will have trouble getting lefties out, big drop off between 3rd
and 4th pitches, very durable and ought to log 200 + innings yearly.
Projected setup/Closer, has excellent control of pitches,
will dominate lefties. He throws a Screwball and a 4-Seam Fastball that are the best
we’ve seen coming out college.
The finest defensive player on our board can play every Big
league position, with a major league arm, and should be a Gold Glove candidate
every year. Hitting will be an issue, has major league power however, will have
a high number strikeouts with very little walks.
We’re not sure if McConnell will ever make it to the Majors,
however if he does it will be as a 5th starter, innings eater, or
long-reliever.
Murray is another player we think will be able to play any
big league position. We project him as a 3rd basemen or 2nd
base starter and should hit for average.
If Wulf makes the big club it will be for his defense. Has
an excellent glove and arm with above average range. He’s a contact hitter with
absolutely no power, and I mean none!
Clemens and his agent Scott Campbell held out for a signing
bonus of $8,225,550, which made him the highest paid player in this year’s
amateur draft which is $4,315,550 over the second highest paid player
Bo Forster (signed $3,910,000) a 2
nd
round selection of the Toronto Blue Jays. With all that cash maybe he can get
that front tooth replaced.
Another defensive specialist that won’t make the majors if
he had to depend on his bat. Should get to the big club solely on his glove
work as a defensive replacement. AA talent.
This is the worst 1st round selection we’ve seen
in quite some time. Grant is a short reliever that will have trouble getting
rookie ball hitters out. The 6’7” is a high school three sport star who average
19 points, 10 rebounds, and 2.5 blocks as New England all-state Player of the Year. He might
be best served to accept an offer he received from the Boston Celtics to
play in their summer league and D-League team.
We don’t see Hundley getting pass AAA. He’ll have a
difficult time hitting minor league pitching and be relegated to a pinch runner role in the high minors.
Bauer left Pepperdine University after his Junior year in
which he helped Pepperdine reach the College World Series for the 3rd
time in his 3 years where they lost to the eventual nation champions, Texas
Longhorns, Oregon State Beavers, and The Ohio State University. Pro prospect
projections; average 17-10, with a 3.28 ERA.
Watson was a one and done at Union County College in
Cranford, NJ. He has 4.2 speed and should make the big leagues as a utility
infield and outfielder. Will have major problems hitting right-handers in the
Big leagues.
The first catcher taken and the best catcher taken in the
draft. He will be excellent at handling major league pitchers. Our only concern
with him is his ability to hit righters; we have him rated at .190 vs RH and
330 vs LH.
Will make the majors as a setup/closer. He has closer stuff with
a nasty 4-Seam Fastball and velocity 95 – 98. This high schooler had college offers from; Oklahoma,
Kentucky, Michigan, and Kansas State.
The second best catcher on our board is a much better hitter
than Rusney Rosado, but doesn’t possess the defensive skills as our number one
catcher. Hitting projections; .315 BA, 45 HR, 125 RBI, and 1.200 OPS.
Rusin can also play every position on the field and should
hit .280 – 290 in the majors. He was another player dropping from his preseason
rankings as the result of several off the field incidents one of which involved
the theft of Playboy magazines from the local Seven/Eleven.
The 28
th player selected in this year’s draft has
yet to sign with Tampa Bay. We are still trying to figure out why the Rays have
taken this position. Johnson and his representative Nick Brown are only requesting
a signing bonus of $2,440,500 which is only $900,000 more than the player
selected ahead of Johnson. A person close to the situation told Deadspin.com that
owner
rsskfs23 got into a shoving match with Johnson’s
agent over the bonus demands.
Patrick will not make it pass the AAA level in the Twins
organization. He has no velocity on his best pitch the 4-Seam Fastball which will
get him through an AAA lineup one time, two times is a stretch.
This 18 year-old will make the big leagues as a 5th
starter in the rotation and long-reliever. Scouts clocked his fastball at 95-
100 with above average control. The next 3 pitches in his arsenal are the
Slider, Curve, and Change-up and will all work off the Fastball. If he’s getting
the 4-Seamer of the plate he’ll be tough to beat.
Hernandez is a contact hitting Leftfielder with no pop in
the bat and blazing speed. He is the fastest player selected in the first round
and should make a major league roster as the 3rd or 4th outfielder.
Lambo is a AAA player that will never hit professional
pitching. Can hit 425 foot Home Runs if he can find the ball and make contact.
Has an excellent glove and with good range. However, the lack of hitting will
keep this young outfielder in the minors throughout his career.
