Offishial news, 7/10/23: Day 1 draft picks; hottest hitters in the system

[Ely Sussman]

View full article

[Guest kommenter]

So their first pick was a high school pitcher that throws 100 mph. Am I the only one who remembers the immortal Tyler Kolek, our first round draft pick in 2014 who we signed for $6 million? He then had Tommy John surgery and was released a few years later without making to the majors. It will be ten years next year, maybe he can throw out an opening pitch.

Back in those days we old-timers will remember we used to get our news from a website called fishstripes. Here's what they had to say about Kolek: "no one has a harder-throwing pedigree than Kolek, who is considered to have the fastest fastball in the modern draft era. The Marlins have recounted tales of him being caught at 102 mph on their own radar guns in their visits to him in the offseason."

Minor league players are high risk, most never make it. High school players even riskier and those throwing 100 the riskiest. Even signing a proven major league pitcher like Cueto did not work. Meyer's not a prospect, he's a lottery ticket.

I can understand that you go for the best talent available in the draft when your slot comes up. But I would trade him for a bit more seasoned hitting prospect after the World Series but before he needs Tommy John surgery.

[Ely Sussman]

This guy is a far more complete pitcher than Kolek was. That being said, I'm not thrilled that they're devoting so much of their draft money to an individual pitcher when the organization is effective at taking lesser, cheaper talents and making them better.

[Guest Lee Stoops]

Lesser, cheaper talents ... like Rogers and Garrett? They were the best first rounders of the last several years

[Ely Sussman]

Jake Eder was a 4th-round pick, and at this moment, I have him as a comparable if not slightly better prospect than Noble. Eury Pérez was a $200k signing. Miami's breakout minor league pitcher this year, Patrick Monteverde, signed for $47.5k.