2011 MLB Draft

The MLB draft is unique in several ways compared to the drafts for any other major sport. In the NFL and NBA, the players are funneled directly through college, whom viewers can directly relate with because of the amount of players that will end up on national television. In the MLB draft, players are coming from Division I to Division III as well as high schoolers and players from junior college (comparable to the NHL draft). Unfortunately it’s nearly impossible have seen some of the top-10 players in the draft for a non-scout. Also it makes it tough when these players are going to be stashed away in the minor leagues for the next couple of years, when the NBA and NFL draftees will immediately have an on-field presence. To me, that adds to the intrigue of the MLB draft, as you can see players develop in the minor leagues. Although most people are unaware of any MLB future draftees, I’ve decided to break a couple of players that you will want to know about in the near future.

DRAFTEES

The 2011 MLB Draft begins this evening and as in every draft, there are a couple of players that are going to end up as perennial All-Stars. One pitcher is arrogant, unorthodox, and has tons of mileage. However, that what makes UCLA’s Trevor Bauer the face of the 2011 draft class.

TREVOR BAUER

Bauer’s stats are off of the charts. As of the draft, he is 13-2 with a 1.25 ERA, has struck out a nation’s-best 203 in 136.2 innings, has walked only 36, held batters to a .154 batting average and has thrown 10 complete games. In comparison, his teammate Gerrit Cole is in contention to be selected by the Pittsburgh Pirates first overall is 6-8 with a 3.31 ERA and 119 strikeouts in 114.1 innings. Although the stats can’t tell the entire picture, Bauer is performing against big time competition in the PAC-10, and has been doing it consistently for the past three seasons. Along with impressive numbers, Bauer throws a fastball that sits in the 92-94 mph range and tops out at 97. Along with his fastball, Bauer throws a nasty 76-79 mph curveball, and low 80s slider. He also throws a changeup and possibly a splitter.

Now many will question why Bauer isn’t in contention to be selected first in the draft. There are three major flaws:

1. Cockiness:
There are stories of Bauer being a bad teammate in high school, and something that he has needed to work on at UCLA. There also has been speculation that he has been frustrated that he has been under-the-radar due to pitching behind Gerrit Cole. Also, a story involving Bauer yelling at a California player that he had a bad relationship with in high school after getting him out, all raise red flags. However, I’m a person that likes to see cockiness on the mound. It shows that he won’t be a pitcher that will be flustered if he gets in early trouble, or some of his pitches aren’t effective. If I was a general manager, I want my pitchers to be competitors, and you can see Bauer is with his 10 complete games on the season.


2. Unorthodox
Bauer has been compared to San Francisco Giants’ Tim Lincecum, and not because of Bauer’s stature. Although Bauer is only 6’2’’ and 185 pounds, he has a delivery that has some extra corkiness, comparable to Lincecum. Bauer also has some unique ways of warming up. He is a strong proponent of long-toss, routinely throwing the ball over 300 feet. Also, Bauer use to soak balls in water to build arm strength, and for the first warm-up pitch of each inning, Bauer will stand behind the mound and perform a crow-hop pitch off of the rubber, teaching himself to throw as hard as he can, reportedly reaching over 102 mph on his crow-hop off of the mound. Although teams will probably try to force Bauer to do their workout regimes, which will mean a scaled back use of long-toss and his first warm-up pitch routine will probably be axed, it is evident that Bauer has a strong arm, and has been able to avoid arm troubles with his unique delivery.

3. Mileage
Unfortunately, you can’t throw 10 complete games in one season without throwing a lot of pitches, which has scared some teams away. He has logged a ton of innings at UCLA in his career (373.1); his unorthodox warm-ups may have helped build arm strength. Unfortunately it’s the big question on whether to invest millions of dollars into a pitcher that has thrown more pitches than most, but it’s one that should force teams to move Bauer through the minors as quickly as possible.

Overall, Trevor Bauer is going to be something special in this draft. Whether it’s a bust or the best player from the 2011 draft class remains to be seen, but I’m willing to put a lot of stock into him, as he has proved year in and year out that he is the real deal.


BUBBA STARLING

Everyone knows that person who is just good at everything they attempt to do. Well, the best of all those athletes is Bubba Starling. This Kansas senior in high school is able to do it all, as he will likely be a top-10 pick in the draft, but would be #1 overall if there weren’t concerns that he will not sign with a team to compete for the starting quarterback position at the University of Nebraska. Starling is considered one of the best quarterbacks in the nation for incoming freshmen, as well as a star basketball player (averaged around 30 points per game), and a top talent in the country for baseball.

In football, he was a faster Tim Tebow type, running for 2,417 yards and 31 touchdowns on 172 attempts. He will fit the perfect option-style quarterback offense at Nebraska and immediately compete with sophomore Taylor Martinez for a starting quarterback spot. However, he will likely commend a $6 million offer to not play baseball and enter the minor leagues.

Another problem with Starling is that agent Scott Boras is advising him; Boras can’t enter negotiations however, because that would forfeit Starling’s college eligibility. Boras is notorious for getting his clients record contracts, and making the negotiating process long and weary for Major League teams.

Is it worth it for teams to enter a lengthy process, in which a player has much leverage as Starling to play multiple sports at a top school like Nebraska? That’s the big question that we will find out tonight, but scouts have assured everyone that once Starling decides to begin his MLB career, everyone will be in for a treat.


DANNY HULTZEN

Danny Hultzen had a high chance of being selected first overall in the draft until worries of high contract demands entered the picture. At the University of Virginia, ranked number one in the country, Hultzen has gone 11-3 with a 1.57 ERA and 148 strikeouts in 103.1 innings pitched. The left-hander throws a low 90s fastball with a strong slider, curveball and changeup. He has a lot of potential to be a high-end pitcher in a Major League rotation but is also known as the safer pick in the draft.


GERRIT COLE

Gerrit Cole will likely be the number one pick in the draft this evening, and although his numbers haven’t been as superior as teammate’s Trevor Bauer (profile mentioned above), but he has the intangibles that give him the most potential. His fastball sits in the 96-99 mph range and tops out at around 101 mph. He also throws a low-90s sinker and a changeup that scouts believe would be one of the best in the Major Leagues today. Although the scouts love him, I’m not as big of a fan of him, because I feel that he lacks the strong breaking ball that will be essential at the Major League level.



Well here is your quick guide to the 2011 MLB draft. Although they have tried to show it on television, it will never have the impact that the NBA or NFL drafts possess. However, hopefully I can look back on this post in the next five years and prove that I pointed out a future All-Star.