Tuesday, June 4, 2019

2019 MLB Draft Day 2 Post

Alright, folks, in years past I've done one post per pick, but that's a lot of separate posts for a three-day span. So this is the running post for Day 2, Rounds 3-10. Keep in mind I used to have a job that would allow me to just sit and stare at the Draft Tracker all day with few to no distractions. That is not the case. If it gets behind, don't worry, we'll get caught up ASAP.

Round 3 (106th pick overall): Jordan Brewer
Slot Value: $549,000

Jordan Brewer is a 21-year old 6'1" 195lb righty Junior from the University of Michigan, ranked as the 108th draft prospect by the Draft Tracker. Brewer was the Big Ten Conference Player of the Year and 1st Team All-Big Ten outfielder. He had a day on March 15, hitting two home runs - including a grand slam - with 7RBI against Manhattan. As a JuCo transfer, this was his first year at Michigan, and he hit .349/.409/.612 with 12HR and 44K:24BB in 209 ABs. He did not ground into a double play once all season.

Brewer was on track to walk on to Michigan's football team before dislocating his shoulder. The Detroit Free-Press' Jim Seidel:
A proven college hitter, who is a versatile five-tool player. He runs like a deer and plays fantastic outfield defense. He has a strong arm, hits for power and for average...And he has a big upside. He's still learning how to hit - he credits the Michigan coaches for unlocking his power - is a threat on the bases, and can play all three outfield spots and first base. 


Round 4 (136th pick overall): Colin Barber
Slot Value: $410,100

Colin Barber is a 6'0" 185lb lefty outfielder from Pleasant Valley High School in Chico, California. Perfect Game wrote:
Medium athletic build with good present strength and room for more. 6.51 runner, works through the ball aggressively in the outfield with athletic actions, gets on top of his throws and creates good carry, centerfield tools. Left-handed hitter, hits from a spread open stance, has very quick hands with a short line-drive swing, works to all fields with a high-contact approach, can get some jump off the barrel when on time. Projects well in all areas.

He hit .493 with a .634 OBP with 6K:33BB in his senior year for Pleasant Valley. Barber has a commitment to Oregon (and grew up an A's fan), but maybe $410,100 and that Oregon just fired their coach, can change that. He is MLB Pipeline's #172 prospect on their Top 200.

Watch him take some BP:



Round 5 (166th pick overall): Hunter Brown
Slot Value: $306,800

Hunter Brown is a 6'2" 203lb junior RHP from Wayne State University in Michigan. He was selected to the D2CCA All-America First Team, ABCA/Rawlings All-America Second Team, and the NCBWA All-America Third Team in 2019. He threw 85.1IP at Wayne State in 2019, allowing 62H/21ER, with 114K:39BB (2.21 ERA / 1.14 WHIP), holding batters to a team-best .203 BA.

Baseball America wrote him up as an under-the-radar prospect Up North, noting that his velocity was in the upper 90s, with a slider in the low 80s. Baseball America:
There's some length in the back of his arm stroke, which could potentially hurt his strike-throwing ability moving forward, but it's a fairly easy operation altogether. Brown's pure stuff should be enough to get him off draft boards before Day 3, and he is one of the most interesting Division II players in the 2019 draft class.


Round 6 (196th pick overall): Matthew Barefoot
Slot Value: $239,000

Matthew Barefoot is a 6'0" 205lb righty-hitting/lefty-throwing senior CF from Campbell University, who play their home games at Jim Perry Stadium in Buies Creek, North Carolina, where the Astros' High-A Carolina League affiliate played for the previous two seasons while the stadium in  Fayetteville was being built.

Barefoot hit .311/.407/.570 for Campbell in 2019 with a team-high 14HR (2nd-highest had 7HR) and stole 25 bases in 31 attempts. He was rated as the #148 prospect in MLB.com's Prospect Watch. Campbell coach Justin Haire:
I've told a bunch of people, he's just a true professional in the (batter's) box. He's basically a professional hitter, and has been for three years for us. Nobody shows up every day with a more consistent mindset than Matthew Barefoot. I'm just really proud of him.

Round 7 (226th pick overall): Blair Henley
Slot Value: $188,900

Henley, a  6'3" 190lb (he narra!) junior RHP from the University of Texas, comes out of Arlington Heights High School, where he was a 2016 Rawlings/Perfect Game All-American Honorable Mention pitcher after throwing three consecutive no-hitters, and was drafted by the Yankees in the 22nd Round of the 2016 Draft. For UT this season, Henley was 6-4 in 73.2IP with 62K:34BB, a 3.54 ERA / 1.48 WHIP, earning All-Big 12 Honorable Mention.

Burnt Orange Nation says Henley has a high-80s/low-90s fastball with command over his curve. More Burnt Orange Nation:
Pro scouts are lukewarm on Henley because his stuff hasn't really gotten better since he started his career as a Longhorn....After going in the 2016 draft as a 22nd-Round pick to the Yankees, Henley was a well-rounded right-hander out of high school with an 88-92mph fastball. And three years later, he's a well-rounded right-hander with an 88-92mph fastball. He's a solid strike thrower with a fringe fastball and changeup, but an excellent curve will get him some positive reviews.


Round 8 (256th pick overall): Luis Guerrero
Slot Value: $160,300

Guerrero, a 5'11" 185lb sophomore originally from The Bronx but attending Miami-Dade College, earned Player of the Year honors in 2019, hitting .266/.333/.456 for the Sharks. In a nice profile during his freshman year, a teammate said of Guerrero:
Luis is a relentless worker who puts the team first. Even as a freshman he's a leader by example who pushes others to be better. He's the guy I chose to workout with because I know I'm going to get better with him pushing me.

Guerrero hit .348 as a freshman for Miami Dade, after being ranked as the #1 shortstop in New York by Perfect Game. Miami Dade coach Danny Price says the Astros "outsmarted some people."

Committed to USF, and says he has "a decision to make."

Round 9 (286th pick overall): Peyton Battenfield
Slot Value: $148,400

Battenfield, a 6'4" 224lb RHP from Oklahoma State, won three state titles at Verdegris High School in Claremore, Oklahoma. For OK State in 2019, Battenfield threw 58.2IP, allowing 39H/19ER, 71K:21BB as a multi-inning reliever. Opponents hit .186 against him this season.

Round 10 (316th pick overall): C.J. Stubbs
Slot Value: $142,200

Stubbs, a 6'3" 200lb pitcher/catcher (drafted by the Astros as a pitcher) from USC, is the brother of Current Astros Great Garrett Stubbs. C.J. Stubbs missed the entire 2018 season after getting Tommy John Surgery. He came back in his senior season and focused on catching, hitting .285/.378/.466 with 44K:20BB.

According to Mark Berman, he and the Astros have an agreement, and he will sign.