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2015 Amateur Draft

Indians Sign Brady Aiken

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JUNE 22: The bonus is for $2,513,280, Callis tweets.

JUNE 19: 5:25pm: The precise bonus value is not yet known but will be above the slot allotment, Jim Callis of MLB.com reports on Twitter.

11:10am: The Indians announced the signing of Aiken, noting that he’s already completed a medical evaluation with the team and is rehabbing at the club’s Spring Training complex in Goodyear, Ariz.

11:00am: The Indians have signed left-hander Brady Aiken, the No. 17 overall pick in this year’s draft, reports Jordan Bastian of MLB.com (on Twitter). Terms of the bonus are unknown, although the 17th overall slot comes with a value of $2,393,600, according to Baseball America.

Aiken, of course, has been in baseball headlines for more than a year. Selected with the first overall pick by the Astros in the 2014 draft, Aiken was widely expected to sign and even headed to Houston to take a physical and finalize his contract. However, the Astros came away from the physical feeling uneasy about the status of the ulnar collateral ligament in Aiken’s left elbow and reduced their bonus offer from roughly $6.5MM to $5MM. Aiken elected not to sign and in the offseason enrolled at the IMG Academy in Florida in order to be eligible again for the 2015 draft.

Aiken’s season at IMG didn’t last long, however. He left his first start of the season, stating afterward that “something felt a little wrong” in his throwing elbow, and further tests revealed that he had torn the UCL that had given the Astros pause. Aiken underwent Tommy John surgery shortly thereafter.

The injury naturally caused Aiken’s draft stock to drop a bit, but the mystery surrounding his elbow may have caused his stock to slip a bit further. Multiple reports headed into the draft indicated that there was general concern surrounding Aiken’s elbow because his Tommy John surgery and UCL were both said to be abnormal. Houston was said last summer to be concerned by general size of Aiken’s UCL — said to be smaller than a standard elbow ligament — and the difference from that of a straightforward Tommy John case created genuine befuddlement among draft experts as to where he might be selected and which team might take the gamble on Aiken’s highly talented left arm.

Cleveland stepped up and took that gamble, and the potential reward they face if Aiken is fully healthy and can have a normal career moving forward is sizable. Aiken was widely labeled as one of the top talents in each of the past two draft classes. Despite the injury, Aiken was ranked 17th in this year’s draft by Kiley McDaniel of Fangraphs, 22nd by Baseball America, 24th by MLB.com (Jonathan Mayo and Jim Callis) and 27th by Keith Law of ESPN.com.

Aiken sits in the low 90s with his fastball and has topped out at 96-97 mph, and McDaniel labels three of his pitches — fastball, curveball and changeup — as future plus pitches, giving each an average-or-better grade at present despite his age. Mayo and Callis praised his advanced command and a curveball that added more power and depth late in Aiken’s prep career. BA termed Aiken a “standout athlete,” noting that the former high school quarterback also comes with an ideal 6’3″, 210-pound frame. ESPN noted that as good as Aiken’s pure stuff is, his delivery is one of the cleanest they’ve seen out of a high school pitcher in quite some time (making the injury concerns all the more confounding).

Draft Signings: Hale, Red Sox, Cleavinger

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Here are some of the latest notable signings from the amateur draft.  All slot value information is courtesy of Baseball America…

  • Mariners ninth-rounder Conner Hale has announced he has signed with the club via his Twitter page.  The M’s have their other nine picks from the first 10 rounds of the draft already signed at a total cost of just over $4.113MM according to MLB.com’s draft bonus tracker.  This leaves $73.8K remaining in their draft bonus pool (which was slightly less than $4.187MM) and Hale’s 275th overall draft placement carries a slot value of $158.3K.  Since he’s a senior, it’s perhaps unlikely he signed for full slot, giving Seattle a bit of breathing room should they spend extra on any of their post-10th round draftees.
  • The Red Sox announced the signings of Ben Taylor (7th round), Tucker Tubbs (9th) and Mitchell Gunsolus (10th) last week, and according to the MLB.com bonus tracker, all three college seniors signed for well below their assigned slot values.  Taylor signed for $10K despite a $212.5K slot value for the 201st overall pick, Tubbs for $5K ($163.5K as 261st overall) and Gunsolus for $10K ($152.7K as 291st overall).
  • This combined $503.7K in savings helped the Red Sox ink eighth-rounder Logan Allen, whose signing was officially announced today by the club.  Allen said last week that he had verbally agreed to a bonus worth over four times more than his $175.1K slot value as the 231st overall pick, and MLB.com’s Jim Callis reports that Allen received $725K.
  • The Red Sox also announced the signings of three other draft picks today, including outfielders Tate Matheny (4th round) and Jagger Rusconi (5th).  Callis reports that Rusconi signed for a full-slot value of $384K.  It isn’t yet known what Matheny (son of Cardinals manager Mike Matheny) signed for, though his draft placement carries a $512.7K slot value.
  • The Orioles announced that they have signed third-round pick Garrett Cleavinger.  MLB.com’s Jim Callis reports that Cleavinger will receive a $500K bonus, less than the $559.3K slot value assigned to the 102nd overall pick.  The Oregon left-hander was ranked as the No. 185 prospect in the country by Baseball America prior to the draft.  If Cleavinger continues to strike out batters as he has in college, BA says that he might need much minor league time.
  • The O’s also confirmed the signing of seventh-rounder Gray Fenter, and surely Cleavinger’s below-slot deal helped Baltimore to sign Fenter to an above-slot $1MM deal while remaining within the limits of its bonus pool.

Braves Sign First Round Pick Mike Soroka

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The Braves have reached agreement with first-round choice Mike Soroka, according to Jim Callis of MLB.com (on Twitter).  Soroka will receive about $1.97MM, the full value of his slot.

Atlanta selected the Canadian right-hander with the No. 28 overall pick in the draft.  Callis describes Soroka as having solid athleticism with the potential to develop three solid pitches.  The high schooler already boasts a 94 mph fastball, though Baseball America lists his above-average curveball as his best pitch as this time.  BA noted that there is some concern about his across-body finish to his arm action, but he has no history of arm problems.

Soroka was committed to play for Cal, but the lure of the major leagues ultimately won out.  The 6’5″ hurler was rated No. 90 in his class by BA, 67th by Kiley McDaniel of Fangraphs, 60th by MLB.com (Jonathan Mayo and Jim Callis), and 61st by Keith Law of ESPN.com.  Soroka, who turns 18 in August, was one of the youngest players in this year’s class, as Teddy Cahill of BA recently wrote.

Prospect Notes: Van Steensel, Bonuses, Ortiz

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Twins relief prospect Todd Van Steensel provides a fascinating look at his finances in an article by MiLB.com’s Ashley Marshall. Most minor leaguers make very little money, and Van Steensel demonstrates what that means in practical terms. He’s had to borrow to pay rent, and he sometimes saves money by taking clubhouse leftovers home. “When the season started, I had $50 in my checking account and then waited 10 days for my first paycheck,” says Van Steensel. “I don’t have enough money for a savings account because I try to save money for emergencies like rent.” Here are more notes on prospects.

  • At least Van Steensel has been able to lean somewhat on the $60K bonus he received upon signing in 2008, however. Not all minor leaguers have that luxury, and that includes most players drafted as college seniors, since that group of players has little leverage to negotiate bonuses. Former NC State infielder Logan Ratledge, who recently signed with the Pirates, describes his frustrating negotiating process to Baseball America’s John Manuel. Twice, a team asked Ratledge if he would sign for $100K if they drafted him in the early rounds. Both times he said yes, but the team drafted other players instead. Later, a different team offered him a $20K bonus, but a third team promised Ratledge $100K if he told other teams not to draft him on Day 2, so Ratledge told the team offering $20K that he would have to pass. The team offering $100K didn’t follow through on its offer, though, and finally the Pirates drafted Ratledge in the 13th round. He signed for $5K.
  • Jhailyn Ortiz is one of the top Dominican outfielders available in the international signing season that begins July 2, BA’s Ben Badler writes (subscription required). Ortiz is likely to get a bonus of around $4MM, with the Phillies possibly being among the bidding teams. Given his size, though — he weighs 260 pounds at age 16 — he appears likely to move to first base. He has terrific power, but there are enough questions about his ability to make contact that he isn’t on par with a top international prospect like 2014 Brewers signee Gilbert Lara. “I’ll take Gilbert Lara every day over Jhailyn Ortiz,” says an international director. “He’s a for sure right-right first baseman who was not close to anything with spin. I know he has raw power, but Lara is a better hitter with more power.”

Draft Signings: Marshall, Hillman, Blankenhorn, Davila

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It’s time to get caught up on some draft signings. Slot values courtesy of Baseball America.

  • The Giants have agreed to a well-above-slot, $750K bonus with fourth-round pick Mac Marshall, Chris Cotillo of SB Nation tweets. You might remember that Marshall was taken in the late rounds last year by the Astros, who fell short of a rumored last-minute attempt at a deal with him as they tried to work things out with Brady Aiken. Marshall had been set to play for LSU, but ultimately ended up in Junior College so that he could re-enter the draft.
  • Second-rounder Juan Hillman inked with the Indians, the club announced. The deal is for $825K, per Paul Hoynes of the Plain Dealer (via Twitter). Cleveland also announced several other signings, including third-rounder Mark Mathias and fourth-round pick Tyler Krieger. MLB.com rated Hillman the 52nd-best player available, noting that the prep lefty is the son of long-time big leaguer Tom Gordon and half-brother of Dee Gordon. ESPN.com’s Keith Law had the highest grade on Hillman, ranking him 31st heading into the draft on the basis of his excellent feel and command at a young age.
  • Twins third-rounder Travis Blankenhorn gets a $650K bonus, Callis tweets. The high school third baseman was taken 80th overall, which came with a $754K slot allotment. Baseball America rated Blankenhorn 75th on its board, citing his athleticism, nice swing, and overall solid tools. Minnesota also added fourth-round pick Trey Cabbage for an above-slot $760K bonus, also per a Callis tweet. His signing was previously reported, but not the bonus amount, which lands well above the slot value of $517,900.
  • The Royals went over $300K above slot ($431,100) to sign high school lefty Garrett Davila, Callis tweets. He receives a $746K bonus after entering the draft rated within Law’s top 100 list. His fastball is not a very impressive offerin at present, but he has an above-average curve and still has some growing to do.
  • Javier Medina, the third-round pick of the Rockies, gets $740K to forego his commitment to the University of Arizona, Callis reports on Twitter. The 77th overall pick came with a $789,700 allotment, so Colorado will pick up some savings to add a pitcher who shows more feel than pure stuff, per Baseball America.
  • Pirates third-round selection Casey Hughston lands a $700K bonus that lands $107,300 above the slot value, per Callis (via Twitter). The Alabama outfielder has good all-around tools in addition to plus raw power, MLB.com wrote in raking him 95th among available players. Pittsburgh fourth-rounder Jacob Taylor, a righty from Pearl River Community College, has agreed to a $500K bonus, Callis tweets. That represents a $60.6K bump over the slot value for the 127th overall pick.
  • The third-round pick of the Tigers, Dallas Baptist pitcher Drew Smith, announced that he has signed (h/t to MLB.com’s Jason Beck). Callis reports on Twitter that the live-armed college righty will take home the slot value of $575,800.
  • The Braves have agreed to a $550K deal with third-round pick Anthony Guardado, Callis tweets. That signing saves the club $106,300 against the slot value of the 89th pick. Callis calls the high school righty a true pop-up prospect, and indeed he did not receive much pre-draft attention.
  • Fourth round pick Demi Orimoloye will sign for a $450K bonus, according to Callis (on Twitter), just shy of the $456,600 allotment for the 121st pick. The Canadian outfielder (who was born in Nigeria) drew rave reviews from BA, which rated him 41st heading into the draft based upon his loud tools and tall ceiling. There’s a lot of polishing that needs to be done, it seems, but Orimoloye looks to be a nice risk for the Brewers at this price tag.
  • Phillies fifth-round pick Bailey Falter, a projectable lefty, gets an above-slot $420K bonus, Callis tweets. Philly took him 144th overall, which came with a $373,100 slot value.
  • The 11th-round pick of the Mets, lefty Jake Simon, has agreed to a $400K bonus, Callis tweets. $300K of that money will count against New York’s overall pool, as any amount over $100K does for players taken after the tenth round.

Rockies Sign Mike Nikorak, Tyler Nevin

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JUNE 19: Nevin received an even $2MM bonus, tweets Jonathan Mayo of MLB.com. That places him about $373K over slot value.

JUNE 18, 2:49pm: Second-round selection Tyler Nevin has also agreed to terms, Bob Nightengale of USA Today reports on Twitter. Like his father, veteran big leaguer Phil Nevin, the would-be UCLA commit is a third baseman. MLB.com rated Nevin just inside the top fifty available prospects.

Nevin’s bonus remains unreported at present. The 38th pick came with a $1,626,500 allocation.

2:23pm: The Rockies have announced the signing of righty Mike Nikorak, the 27th overall selection in the draft. He’ll receive a $2.3MM bonus, per MLB.com’s Jim Callis (via Twitter).

The slot value for the comp pick was $2,004,600, meaning that Colorado went nearly $300K over to draw him away from a commitment to the University of Alabama. That eats up a decent portion of the $723K that the team saved in signing its first selection, Brendan Rodgers.

Callis says that Nikorak has the highest ceiling of any prep arm in this year’s draft class, and indeed the MLB.com team rated him the 15th-best player available. His big fastball has lost steam at times, but MLB.com says that it has plenty of movement regardless. While he’ll need to keep developing his secondary offerings, Nikorak is said to have excellent athleticism and still has not filled into his sizable frame.

Baseball America agrees that Nikorak has top-of-the-rotation upside, rating him 16th among draft-eligible players. Meanwhile, ESPN.com’s Keith Law placed Nikorak in his 22nd slot, noting some control issues, and Kiley McDaniel of Fangraphs put him in the 25th place on his board while pointing out that there were some velocity drops at times this year.

Royals Agree To Terms With Nolan Watson

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The Royals have agreed to an at-slot, $1,825,200 bonus with 33rd overall selection Nolan Watson, Jim Callis of MLB.com tweets. That pick came to the club for losing James Shields in free agency after he declined a qualifying offer.

Kansas City has also put its other two highest selections in the books, with Ashe Russell’s signing announced yesterday and second-round pick Josh Staumont also reportedly agreeing to terms. All said, K.C. is just $6K over its draft pool from those three signings, and it has locked in significant savings from several choices further down the line.

Watson earned the 36th spot on the board of Kiley McDaniel of Fangraphs, the top slot awarded by a draft pundit. Something of a late-bloomer who played high school ball in Indiana, Watson impressed with a mid-90s fastball. MLB.com, which ranked him 61st among draft-eligible players, also noted that Watson owns three promising offspeed offerings.

ESPN.com’s Keith Law had Watson in the 50th overall spot, while Baseball America rated him 56th. Law likes Watson’s ceiling due to his quick arm, but notes that the youngster could ultimately end up as a pen piece if he can’t clean up his mechanics somewhat.

Marlins Sign Second-Rounder Brett Lilek

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The Marlins have announced the signing of second-round pick Brett Lilek, a lefty out of Arizona State. Lilek will receive a $1MM bonus, according to MLB.com’s Jim Callis (via Twitter).

The 50th overall selection, with which Miami took Lilek, came with a $1,196,800 slot value. That means that the club saved $196.8K with the signing. The Marlins had already gone over slight by about half a million dollars to sign catcher Justin Cohen and righty Chris Paddack, so those savings were obviously needed to help the team manage its board.

Miami has now announced the signings of eight of its top ten picks. Surprise first-round pick Josh Naylor has yet to agree to terms, and the same holds true for ninth-rounder Reilly Hovis.

MLB.com was the only outlet that rated Lilek as a top-100 prospect, putting him in the 84th position on its draft board. His fastball reaches the mid-90s at times, but it is mostly an average pitch. But the MLB.com team likes his curve and change to become average-grade MLB offerings.

Lilek has had control issues at times, which Baseball America cited before the draft as the reason he had slid down some draft boards. But he still managed to rate just inside the top fifty on draft day.

Mets Sign Desmond Lindsay, Max Wotell

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The Mets have announced the signings of the team’s top two selections in this year’s draft. New York sacrificed its top selection to sign outfielder Michael Cuddyer, who had declined a qualifying offer from the Rockies.

Second-rounder Desmond Lindsay inked for a full-slot value of $1,142,700, MLB.com’s Jim Callis tweets. And third-round selection Max Wotell has agreed to a payday of $775K, also per Callis (Twitter link). The 88th slot with which he was taken came with a $666,500 value, meaning that the Mets went over $100K above slot to draw him from the University of Arizona.

Lindsay, a high school outfielder out of Florida, was limited by injury this year but shows a nice overall blend of tools, per Baseball America. He rated 102nd on BA’s board, which credited his hands and bat speed at the plate, plus running ability, and potential to play center field as a pro. ESPN.com’s Keith Law had the highest grade on Lindsay, ranking him 72nd among draft-eligible prospects. Law does note that the youngster’s “plate discipline is still an open question.”

Wotell placed as high as 140 on pundits’ lists, with that slot awarded by Kiley McDaniel of Fangraphs. The high school southpaw “has exceptional projection,” per Baseball America, which notes his “wiry frame and loose arm.” Per that report, Wotell will need to develop his change to throw along with his low-to-mid-90s fastball and solid breaking ball.

Braves To Sign Austin Riley

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The Braves have agreed to a $1.6MM bonus with supplemental first round pick Austin Riley, a client of MVP Sports, Jim Callis of MLB.com tweets. Riley’s payout is a shade under $100K north of the $1,506,400 slot allocation for the 41st pick.

Riley offers two-way potential out of high school, profiling as a third baseman on the position side. It appears that Atlanta will utilize him at the hot corner, though it’s always nice to have some down-the-line pitching potential if things don’t work out.

The Braves obviously viewed Riley more favorably than did most draft observers. The highest grade placed on Riley came from MLB.com, which rated him the 106th-best player available while noting that his ability to hit pro-level fastballs is a question mark. Baseball America had Riley in the 164th slot, crediting his power upside (and bat speed) while noting that he’ll have work to do to boost his standing in the field.

Riley becomes Atlanta’s earliest  selection to sign. The club has yet to agree to terms with first-rounder Kolby Allard and comp pick Mike Soroka.

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