1st Pick

[bnw7870]

What does every one think about Austin Wilson or Aaron Judge with our first pick?

[Slade-OH]

I'd be all for either of those players with the 22nd pick. Both are big, athletic, physical specimens - Wilson in particular could pass for a middle linebacker - with more room for further development than the average college player. I feel like Wilson probably won't be available though.

[Roll Tide]

How about Hunter Renfro? Be nice to have a real homegrown power hitter in the system.

http://www.denverpost.com/broncos/ci_22422149/nfl-found-its-way-pueblo-see-thunderwolves-prospect

[LookinUp]

This forum is very quiet relative to past years. That's probably because first pick speculation can only be narrowed to 40ish players, and 2nd pick speculation is probably 50-60 players. Here are a couple of links about the top prospects in the draft. Availability is anyone's guess.

http://throughthefencebaseball.com/2013-mlb-draft-top-50-prospects/31272/

Kieth Law here:

http://insider.espn.go.com/mlb/story/_/id/9177224/mark-appel-jonathan-gray-top-prospects-2013-mlb-draft

[LookinUp]

I think Wilson is a high riser who, if he falls to us, could be a very nice pick.

Judge scares me. Contact issues at his level lowers him to supplemental/2nd round area for me. Love the projection, but afraid of the contact. Seems like a higher bust potential than others.

[Stotle]

How about Hunter Renfro? Be nice to have a real homegrown power hitter in the system.

http://www.denverpost.com/broncos/ci_22422149/nfl-found-its-way-pueblo-see-thunderwolves-prospect

For power, Baltimore's best bets are their slot will probably be one of the following (some of these likely to be off the board in the 11-20 range):

Hunter Renfroe (RF, Miss St)

Austin Wilson (OF, Stanford)

Dom Smith (1B, Serra HS (Los Angeles, Calif.))

Jon Denney (C, Yukon HS (Yukon, Okla.))

DJ Peterson (1B, New Mexico)

If they go with an arm instead, at 22, or a skill position like Nick Ciuffo (C, Lexington HS (Lexington, Calif.)), they could go for some pop in the supplemental round with someone like Eric Jagielo (3B/OF, Notre Dame) or Aaron Judge (OF, Fresno St.).

[lovetoaster]

If they go with an arm instead, at 22, or a skill position like Nick Ciuffo (C, Lexington HS (Lexington, Calif.)), they could go for some pop in the supplemental round with someone like Eric Jagielo (3B/OF, Notre Dame) or Aaron Judge (OF, Fresno St.).

Ha! Funny you mention him, I know his dad. I did not realize he was that high of a draft prospect. I mean, I knew he was good, but I guess I am not as up on my draft prospects as I normally am. So I take it you think highly of him?

[Stotle]

Ha! Funny you mention him, I know his dad. I did not realize he was that high of a draft prospect. I mean, I knew he was good, but I guess I am not as up on my draft prospects as I normally am. So I take it you think highly of him?

Yes. I participated in a "should draft" with our partners, Perfect Game, and the Orioles were one of the teams I was responsible for. I grabbed Ciuffo with the 1st Rd selection and Conor Jones (rhp, Great Bridge Chesapeake, VA))with the Supplemental pick.

Link:

http://www.perfectgame.org/Articles/View.aspx?article=8210

Also, I had a full write-up with video over at Baseball Prospectus:

Nick Ciuffo | C | Lexington HS (Lexington, SC)

Height/Weight: 6-foot-1/205 pounds

B/T: L/R

Draft Day Age: 18y 3m

Scouting Video:

Ciuffo lands almost directly between Denney and McGuire on both sides of the plate (lacking Denney’s offensive upside and coming in a step behind McGuire defensively), but his strong defensive profile and intriguing, if unrefined, offensive potential stand a good chance of landing him somewhere in the first 30 picks. Ciuffo’s catch-and-throw game and receiving skills are both well above average, with a chance to ultimately play as plus. His pop times have ranged 1.85 to 2.02 for me, with the majority of in-game throws clocking in around 1.95. At his cleanest, he shows a quick release and above-average to plus raw arm strength with solid accuracy.

Offensively, Ciuffo has a simple swing with strong hands that work well for him. He shows little issue handling balls in all four quadrants, and this spring has begun to manifest in-game power with more regularity. Proponents of the University of South Carolina commit see a sturdy backstop that should have no trouble reaching the majors as a catcher, with the chance to provide above-average value for the position. Ciuffo’s commitment to South Carolina, his dad’s alma mater, is a bit of a wild card, but provided he is signable for first-round money, he should see time in a minor-league system this summer, whether he’s drafted on Day One or early on Day Two.

Link to full article on catchers: http://www.baseballprospectus.com/article.php?articleid=20425

[OriolesMagic83]

What about Hunter Harvey, High school right hander from NC. Sounds a lot like Bundy.

I wonder if his demands will be outrageous since his father was a major leaguer. #20 on the throughthefence site.

I would be surprised to see the O's pick anyone other than a pitcher.

20. Hunter Harvey, RHP, Bandys HS (NC)

The 6’-3”, 190-pound right-hander has touched 97 mph with his fastball this season and it sits comfortably at 92-95 mph. He adds a solid change-up and curveball but has relied mostly on overpowering hitters with his fastball this year. Over 26.2 innings, he has a ridiculous 60 strikeouts (20.3 K/9) while allowing just seven walks. On March 28, he struck out 17 over six innings, allowing three hits and one walk. A live arm who is the son of former major league closer, Bryan Harvey.

Read more at http://throughthefencebaseball.com/2013-mlb-draft-top-50-prospects/31272#X94Bkk4pTWC6EBlR.99

[weams]

29. Robert Kaminsky, LHP, St. Joseph HS (NJ)

One of the top southpaws in the 2013 MLB draft, Kaminsky is a player who keeps climbing the draft boards. His fastball can touch 96 mph, and he also adds a hammer curve that sits in the mid 70s. His change-up is still developing but is already a solid pitch. He has great control and can be un-hittable at times. Went 8-2 as a junior with 103 K/20 BB over 53 innings, allowing just 12 hits including three no-hitters. Another strong season could propel him into the upper half of the 2013 MLB draft.

Read more at http://throughthefencebaseball.com/2013-mlb-draft-top-50-prospects/31272#hcAMvtOwyQTK1keM.99

[bpilktree]

I saw Harvey pitch last thursday i believe. He wis the real deal. He went 8 innings gave up a roller between short and third and that was it. The scouts had him around96 most the game with a nice curve. He stuck out 16-17 hitters out of the 24 he retired in the playoff game.

[Bagel Necklace]

Intrigued by the kid McGuire out of Nova but I have to think DD goes with a college arm given our needs and Gausman's quick rise.

[Stotle]

Intrigued by the kid McGuire out of Nova but I have to think DD goes with a college arm given our needs and Gausman's quick rise.

McGUire's past hip issues and questionable shortstop profile makes him, in my opinion, a reach at that point in the first round. Considering BAL has a supplemental pick, and the difference between the college arm at 22 and 35 isn't likely to be great, I'd be inclined to grab something other than college pitching with my first selection (all else equal).

[luismatos4prez]

I just checked out a ton of mocks. There's a lot of ways this could go. These guys are always picked around our pick though.

LHP Marco Gonzales

C Nick Ciuffo

RHP Chris Anderson

SS Oscar Mercado

1B/3B Eric Jagielo

RHP Phil Bickford

RHP Hunter Havey

OF Aaron Judge

1B Dominic Smith

OF Ryan Boldt

RHP Andrew Thurman

RHP Alex Gonzalez

[Stotle]

I just checked out a ton of mocks. There's a lot of ways this could go. These guys are always picked around our pick though.

LHP Marco Gonzales

C Nick Ciuffo

RHP Chris Anderson

SS Oscar Mercado

1B/3B Eric Jagielo

RHP Phil Bickford

RHP Hunter Havey

OF Aaron Judge

1B Dominic Smith

OF Ryan Boldt

RHP Andrew Thurman

RHP Alex Gonzalez

You can remove Boldt and Mercado from the list. Other than that, those are all names that could reasonably be in play.