2014 MLB Draft

[pogo]

I think Cale has the best shot at as an undrafted free agent. The season was not a stellar season and probably won't generate a lot of excitement at the next level for our seniors.

[1972Shocker]

The Valley had 23 players drafted. 12 pitchers and 7 catchers (2 of which played primarily on the infield this year but were drafted as catchers). Other that the 7 Shocker recruits drafted (of which I expect 2 at most to sign pro contracts) I don't really have any info on Valley recruits that were drafted at this point.

Illinois State - 6:
4/119 - Jeremy Rhoades, 6-4 225 JR RHP
6/189 - Brock Stewart, 6-3 210 JR RHP
12/353 - Dylan Craig, 6-2 210 JR LHP
19/570 - Dan Savas, 6-5 220 JR RHP
23/678 - Mike Hollenbeck, 6-2 225 SR C
38/1151 - Paul DeJong, 6-1 195 SO C (Will probably return to the Redbirds but the pros are sending a message where they would like him to play)
Key Undrafted Seniors: David Suarez, RHP

Wichita State - 4:
1/20 - Casey Gillaspie, 6-4 238 JR 1B
11/340 - A.J. Ladwig, 6-5 210 JR RHP
14/431 - Chase Simpson, 6-1 210 RJr 3B
15/450 - Tyler Baker, 5-9 165 JR C
Key Undrafted Seniors: Cale Elam, Aaron LaBrie, Foster Vielock, Drew Palmer, Dayne Parker, Garrett Bayliff, Erik Harbutz, Micah Green

Dallas Baptist - 3:
3/85 - Cy Sneed, 6-4 185 JR RHP
10/310 - Paul Voelker, 5-10 185 JR RHP
22/664 - Dan Salters, 6-3, 210 SO C
Key Undrafted Seniors: Josh Urban RHP, Mike Weselowski, KJ Alexander

Evansville - 3:
1/8 - Kyle Freeland, 6-4 185 JR LHP
20/603 - Kyle Pollock, 6-0 200 JR C
31/934 - Sam Johns, 6-3 210 SR RHP
Key Undrafted Seniors: Cole Isom LHP, Tyler Miller RHP, Jake Mahon

Indiana State - 2:
17/519 - Tyler Wampler, 6-0 175 SR SS
27/807 - Mike Fitsgerald, 6-1 210 SR C
Key Undrafted Seniors: Kurt Kudrecki RHP, Josh Dove RHP, Cody Zimmerman

Missouri State - 2:
17/522 - Eric Cheray, 6-3, 185 JR C
36/1095 - Cody Schumacher, 6-0, 195 SR RHP
Key Undrafted Seniors: Jake Powers RHP, Clay Murphy RHP, Patrick Drake, Conor Smith

Southern Illinois - 2:
5/148 - Sam Coonrod, 6-2 190 JR RHP
34/1023 - Todd Eaton, 6-1 190 SR RHP
Key Undrafted Seniors: Tyler Dray LHP, Derek Fogel LHP, Matt Murphy RHP, Lee Weld, RHP, Ryan Casillas, Cody Daily, Donny Duschinsky, Matt Jones, Ryan Rosthenhausler

Bradley - 1:
9/260 - Max Murphy, 5-11 195 JR CF
Key Undrafted Seniors: Greg Partyka, Austin Jarvis

[SPEShockAlum]

Define "key" when characterizing undrafted players.

[1972Shocker]

Define "key" when characterizing undrafted players.

Players who contributed to in a somewhat consistent manner. Basically, excluded position players who played in less than half the games an pitchers with only minimal innings. However, I didn't follow any hard and fast rules.

Some of these guys may be easily replaced. Some might be tough to replace. I will leave that up to you to decide. The bottom line is they represent playing time that has to be replaced.

For example some might not consider Micah Green a key player for the Shockers. However, he played in 54 of 59 games and started 52 of those games. At the end of the year we were playing Tanner Dearman some in left. The bottom line is that between Micah Green in left and Garrett Bayliff in right the Shocks have a lot of outfield innings to replace next year. I'm not sold on Dearman being big part of that answer. Most likely Mikel Mucha and Keenan Eaton will join Daniel Kihle in the outfield. We don't seem to be overly deep in the outfield athough you never know when a kid will change positions. Being able to fill Micah's innings and AB's will be a key issue for the Shocks next year. In this case it is also an opportunity.

Some teams had 4 or 5 seniors who pitched or played very little. Those players were not listed. The Shocks and SIU in particular had a lot of undrafted seniors on their rosters most of whom played significant amounts. All 8 of the Shockers seniors were undrafted and all 8 played or pitched meaningful innings and will have to be replaced in addition to our 4 juniors who were drafted and will in all likelihood sign pro contracts.

My goal was to give a feel for which teams had the most innings played to be replaced next year.

[WSUwatcher]

Well said, 1972 -- replacing seniors who went undrafted, which tells something about what the pros thought of their talent level, is a challenge (someone has to play there) and an opportunity (hopefully that someone will be an improvement).

With the size of his recruiting class, I'm guessing that Butler is focusing on the opportunity aspect, because he certainly has a number of someones to try to plug in.

[Cdizzle]

Well said, 1972 -- replacing seniors who went undrafted, which tells something about what the pros thought of their talent level, is a challenge (someone has to play there) and an opportunity (hopefully that someone will be an improvement).

With the size of his recruiting class, I'm guessing that Butler is focusing on the opportunity aspect, because he certainly has a number of someones to try to plug in.

I don't disagree, but Bayliff, LaBrie, and especially Elam were above average college ball players. I'm a little surprised Elam and LaBrie didn't even get a look, as it seems players like that, or lower in talent, have been drafted from WSU before, but I fully admit to not knowing the MLB draft very well.

[ShockTalk]

I don't disagree, but Bayliff, LaBrie, and especially Elam were above average college ball players. I'm a little surprised Elam and LaBrie didn't even get a look, as it seems players like that, or lower in talent, have been drafted from WSU before, but I fully admit to not knowing the MLB draft very well.

I don't fully understand the "slot" money, but here's my take: I noticed some teams drafting seniors in the first 10 rounds and probably have no intention of offering them "at slot" money, thereby leaving the team more to spend on juniors and HS players in the first 10 rounds. However, I would guess these players are the best of the college seniors. The next group of seniors may or may not get drafted at all. Why spend signing money on them when a team can throw money at a junior or HS players of comparable talent (in the team's mind) and entice the to come out now or not go to college. The senior is going to try and latch on with someone anyway. Why else draft Simpson (14th round) and Baker (15th round) and not Elam, LaBrie, or Bayliff in 40 rounds at all?

[1972Shocker]

I think @ShockTalk: is pretty much on it. Teams can still sign their share of seniors like Cale, Aaron and Garrett as free agents without really offering any signing bonus as an incentive unless they really like a particular undrafted player and get into a little bit of a bidding war with another team. OTOH these seniors can kind of search out the organizations they might like to play for to see if there is any interest.

It's not unheard of for an undrafted player to reach the bigs although it's not real common either. Players who went on to have significant major league careers despite being undrafted since the Draft system started in 1965 include Larry Bowa Toby Harrah, Don Money, Claudell Washington, Frank White, Jeff Leonard, Larry Parrish, Dan Quisenberry, Kevin Mitchell Bobby Bonilla, Mike Bordick and Kevin Millar to name more than a few.

[WSUwatcher]

By the way, I also agree that being spurned in the draft as a senior doesn't automatically mean you lack talent. For example, Mike Lansing -- one of the best players in the country as a junior but diminished by a back injury his senior year -- had to start out with an independent team in Miami at a time when independent teams were scarce, second-class citizens. And he went on eventually to a long and prosperous big league career.

Still, the bottom line is that if a team really wants you, even as a senior, they're going to draft you somewhere, if only to ensure that no one else does. And this year's group of WSU seniors had no one a team wanted eagerly enough to do that. Butler has to do better, and his mega-class is the first step in his campaign to do so.

[RoyalShock]

Gillespie close to signing with Tampa:

Jim Callis @jimcallisMLB
1st-rder Casey Gillaspie, @RayS finalizing bonus of $2,035,500, equals assigned value at 20. Wichita St 1B, SH w/power, OBP skills @MLBDraft

Nice payday!

[1972Shocker]

Nice payday!

Indeed. Congratulations to Casey. Hope you catch up with Connor in the not too distant future.

[1972Shocker]

I assume most clubs will try to sign as many of their Top 10 round draft picks as they can as soon as possible so they know where they stand with their bonus budgets and then will turn their attention to those drafted in higher rounds.

[shocks771]

Congrats Casey!!

[mjbaker84]

Pitcher A.J. Ladwig, picked in the 11th round by Detroit, will fly to Lakeland, Fla. on Wednesday and sign, according to his father, Craig. He expects to start his career at Connecticut, Detroit’s Class-A short-season team.



WSU pitcher Cale Elam, an undrafted senior, will also sign with Detroit, according to pitching coach Brent Kemnitz.

Read more here: http://www.kansas.com/2014/06/10/350...#storylink=cpy

[mjbaker84]

Haddox lands at NAIA school — Sophomore outfielder Joe Haddox will transfer to Oklahoma City University, according to his Twitter account.

Haddox, from Moore, Okla., played in 21 game last season, hitting .129 in 31 at-bats.