MLB 2023 Draft

[Out of the Rafters at the Q]

Outside of Kwan, none of the guys towards the top are small.

We are not signing small guys to significant international deals, nor are we drafting small guys with our highest picks with the best odds to hit.

Why do I keep seeing people say this? Freeman, Arias, Brennan, Bo, Valera, Rocchio, Martinez, Noel, Brito, DeLauter, Velasquez, Francisca, Chourio...these are not small guys here.

You guys are seeing smaller mid-round picks, which have slim chances of making it to the MLB period regardless of their body size, drafted specifically because they have a playable tool that could potentially hit as a steal and extracting that to everyone and it makes 0 sense.

Hey, stop it. Guards draft small. Always have, always will.

How're those vertically-challenged picks like Will Benson and Nolan Jones doing? Can they even see over the steps of the dugout yet?

The advantage to short kings that we draft, like Chase DeLauter, is that they have miniscule strike zones. Gotta make it tough on opposing pitchers!

Although, I can't say that advantage holds true when you look at the pitchers who lack stature like Gavin Williams. He struggles to even climb up the pitcher's mound. It must seem like a mountain to someone that tiny.

 

[Mott the Hoople]

I'm not saying the G's draft "small guys". They draft good athletes who have projectable tools. Good athletes tend to play MIF. There's nothing wrong with that. There's no 100% correct answer.

All I'm saying is it's unusual for the G's to draft "the BIG guys".
Guys like Josh Bell (drafted by the Pirates - Rnd 2)
Giancarlo Stanton (drafted by the Marlins - Rnd 2)
Jake Burger (CWS - Rnd 1)
Aaron Judge (drafted by NYY - Rnd 1 #32)
Matt Olson (drafted by the A's - Rnd. 1)

Now they did draft Ralphy Velazquez who is a reported 6-2 and 235. Probably will get bigger.
He obviously shows power now at a young age.
But then they also took Tommy Hawke who is 5-8 and 155. But he has a good hit tool.

Does Velasquez mean a change in philosophy, or just BPA?
Time will tell.

 

[BimboColesHair]

I'm not saying the G's draft "small guys". They draft good athletes who have projectable tools. Good athletes tend to play MIF. There's nothing wrong with that. There's no 100% correct answer.

All I'm saying is it's unusual for the G's to draft "the BIG guys".
Guys like Josh Bell (drafted by the Pirates - Rnd 2)
Giancarlo Stanton (drafted by the Marlins - Rnd 2)
Jake Burger (CWS - Rnd 1)
Aaron Judge (drafted by NYY - Rnd 1 #32)
Matt Olson (drafted by the A's - Rnd. 1)

Now they did draft Ralphy Velazquez who is a reported 6-2 and 235. Probably will get bigger.
He obviously shows power now at a young age.
But then they also took Tommy Hawke who is 5-8 and 155. But he has a good hit tool.

Does Velasquez mean a change in philosophy, or just BPA?
Time will tell.

I mean, even that isn't true.

Jones, Benson, Johnathan Rodriguez, DeLauter, Velasquez all have been drafted towards the top of the draft since 2016 and the smallest guy in that group is Velasquez at 6'2 235 as an 18 year old.

Even the misses towards the top of the draft, Quinten Holmes and Carson Tucker, were both 6'2 with projectable bodies.

Again, you are confusing mid-round picks where you are drafting for tools with the high picks where you are trying to draft a difference maker.

 

[Out of the Rafters at the Q]

I'm not saying the G's draft "small guys". They draft good athletes who have projectable tools. Good athletes tend to play MIF. There's nothing wrong with that. There's no 100% correct answer.

All I'm saying is it's unusual for the G's to draft "the BIG guys".
Guys like Josh Bell (drafted by the Pirates - Rnd 2)
Giancarlo Stanton (drafted by the Marlins - Rnd 2)
Jake Burger (CWS - Rnd 1)
Aaron Judge (drafted by NYY - Rnd 1 #32)
Matt Olson (drafted by the A's - Rnd. 1)

Now they did draft Ralphy Velazquez who is a reported 6-2 and 235. Probably will get bigger.
He obviously shows power now at a young age.
But then they also took Tommy Hawke who is 5-8 and 155. But he has a good hit tool.

Does Velasquez mean a change in philosophy, or just BPA?
Time will tell.

Isn't Will Benson a first round pick who's massive? Dude was bigger than Stanton when he was drafted.

I'm not sure what you mean about change in philosophy.

 

[CDAV45]

Figurative your, not a literal one. Talking about fans in general, not you specifically.

And I urge everyone not to get too high or too low with the deadline. Don't get all worked up about adding pieces or moving off deadweight or trading half the rotation only to fly off the deep end when those things don't happen.

Weird market shaping up this year.

So it looks like we're going to stand pat? I won't get all worked up, but I will be disappointed and likely make following this team less of a priority until the changes I want to see happen. That's not me picking up my ball and going home either. This team as currently constructed is hard for me to watch. We each have our "thing" I guess.

 

[Out of the Rafters at the Q]

So it looks like we're going to stand pat? I won't get all worked up, but I will be disappointed and likely make following this team less of a priority until the changes I want to see happen. That's not me picking up my ball and going home either. This team as currently constructed is hard for me to watch. We each have our "thing" I guess.

I've been on the "trade Bieber for maximum value" train for a while now.

I think it's pretty clear he, Myles and Rosario aren't being traded.

The front office wouldn't do that to Tito. The team's in a race for the division title and they aren't going to pull the rug out from under him. It would cause more problems with personalities than it would solve via talent acquisition.

I'm all for the "what do you think we should do" discussions--but as far as "what will we do" I'd be surprised if any of those big 3 names we constantly talk about get moved.

I think the most likely thing to happen amongst any of them is Straw to become a part-time starter if someone like OGon plays well enough to force the issue, getting more AB's in RF, sliding Brennan over to CF a little more.

If we sell anything, I expect it to be around the edges--maybe sell a bullpen arm or two plus some 40-man surplus in order to make the team a little better over the next couple years.

 

[CDAV45]

Removing Straw from the starting CF role would be a step in the right direction. If there are no trades then that probably means that OGon will get the call for RF and Brennan takes over the starting CF duties.

Which BP or two would you sell without damaging the BP? That's arguably the most vital part of this team, because they sure as hell can't score many runs or overcome very many late inning deficits. Whatever, I'm not going to worry about it because it won't help anyway. Looks like my evenings will be a little less "tied up".

 

[petes999]

MLB Pipeline -- favorite draft pick by team (don't know if we had one that really stood out but)

Guardians: Alex Clemmey, RHP (second round)
Clemmey had one of the most electric arms in the high school class, pushing his fastball to 99 mph with elite spin rates and carry and also spinning one of the best curveballs in the crop. While he'll require plenty of polish and time to develop, the Rhode Island native is joining an organization known for helping pitchers make the most of their talents.

 

[Hughey0003]

I mean, even that isn't true.

Jones, Benson, Johnathan Rodriguez, DeLauter, Velasquez all have been drafted towards the top of the draft since 2016 and the smallest guy in that group is Velasquez at 6'2 235 as an 18 year old.

Even the misses towards the top of the draft, Quinten Holmes and Carson Tucker, were both 6'2 with projectable bodies.

Again, you are confusing mid-round picks where you are drafting for tools with the high picks where you are trying to draft a difference maker.

What ever happened to Carson Tucker? Is he just not developing or has he continued to get injured?

 

[Martyinnewyork]

What ever happened to Carson Tucker? Is he just not developing or has he continued to get injured?

Tucker has a total of 180 at bats and a .500 OPS in parts of three seasons since being drafted in 2020. Injuries and inability to produce when he has played.

 

[macbdog]

There are like 50 rounds though. So 20% is pretty good

Only been 20 since 2021. In 2020 there were 10. It's 20% of 333 picks in a 10 year period, so 33.3 per year. I think as time goes by, the lower number of rounds boosts that % for all teams.

 

[MattyFos.]

Only been 20 since 2021. In 2020 there were 10. It's 20% of 333 picks in a 10 year period, so 33.3 per year. I think as time goes by, the lower number of rounds boosts that % for all teams.

That's an impressive #

 

[33Y0]

 

[Criznit]

What ever happened to Carson Tucker? Is he just not developing or has he continued to get injured?

He's a total bust. Injuries didn't help, but the numbers speak for themselves...

Year	Age	AgeDif	Tm	Lg	Lev	Aff	G	PA	AB	R	H	2B	3B	HR	RBI	SB	CS	BB	SO	BA	OBP	SLG	OPS
2021	19	-0.9	Indians	ACL	Rk	CLE	6	25	20	6	3	0	0	1	3	1	1	5	4	0.150	0.320	0.300	0.620
2022	20	-0.8	Lynchburg	CARL	A	CLE	38	136	117	12	16	5	1	1	9	5	0	18	55	0.137	0.257	0.222	0.480
2023	21	0	Lynchburg	CARL	A	CLE	13	49	45	3	8	3	0	0	2	0	0	3	21	0.178	0.245	0.244	0.489

 

[DCTribefan]

In case this wasn’t earlier posted, official Guardians draft recap.

2023_draftrecap.pdf | Powered by Box

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