2020 1st round pick (2): Heston Kjerstad - OF - (Junior) (Arkansas)

[ISU94]

Just now, Can_of_corn said:

I liked Correa at 1-1 more than I do Kjerstad at 1-2.

The hindsight I'm sure has little to do with it.

[eddie83]

2 minutes ago, Moose Milligan said:

I'm pissed.  

10 years of seeing Martin light us up while we've got an outfield with 40 speed.

And yet I keep hearing he plays a premium position. 

A CF with 40 speed?

[Orioles1954]

2 minutes ago, Can_of_corn said:

I agree the risk is a lot less, but I'm not seeing much ceiling here.

Led Team USA with .395 average and OPSed 1.100 after 16 games. 

[Greg Pappas]

Kjerstad's offensive skill-set has not been doubted... as most believe he'll be a really good pro hitter.  My post earlier about .280 with 30 HR's and an .820 OPS may wind up light.  I hope he at least matches that and has a great career here.  The truth of the matter is that we don't know everything that went on at #2... so I'll defer to Elias' judgement, per usual.  It doesn't mean I'm happy about the pick, but as I calm down, I'm trying to be more open to understanding.

[backwardsk]

1 minute ago, joelala said:

Pissed as well.  Kjerstad's swing looks like it has a really odd timing mechanism where he dips his hands very low.  If he doesn't fix it he'll get hammered up and in.

I’d like to hear in an interview what they’ve identified in his swing and what they will work on mechanically.

[Pushmonkey]

Where was he mocked to before the draft?

[Enjoy Terror]

14 minutes ago, Greg Pappas said:

I think years from now we will lament not taking Austin Martin at #2. Frankly I was yelling at the screen in anger.

Now that he’s a Blue Jay you can do it 18 times a year.

[Can_of_corn]

3 minutes ago, ISU94 said:

How? His bat is next level and definitely the best LH bat in the class.

Let's not act like this guy isn't special.

Poor walk numbers, unexceptional speed and little defensive value.

The left handed power is there, I'll give him that.

[spiritof66]

3 minutes ago, interloper said:

Well I'm all in. Martin is no surer thing than Heston IMO. We have no lefty power bat in the system really.

Yeah, we'll need someone to replace Chris Davis after a couple more years, and this apparently was the closest comp available.  

Can Kjerstad pitch a little, or play a bad third base?

[backwardsk]

How long does this go tonight?  Just to 29 or the competitive balance picks too?

[SteveA]

4 minutes ago, ISU94 said:

There's also been plenty of instances of going against the grain and coming out ahead. 

Drafts or super volatile, MLB drafts even more so. This also allows more flexibility to take guys later that we may not have had an opportunity to do so for money reasons. If they think the player is close value wise with Martin, then it makes sense.

And this draft is even MORE volatile because these guys did not play for scouts to see over the last 2+ months.

(Not an endorsement of the Kjerstad pick, but definitely a fact).

[Enjoy Terror]

His Twitter handle, @hestonkjerstad, sounds like a Dutch word

[ArtVanDelay]

Cornering the DH market.  Bold strategy, let’s see if it pays off.

[Es4M11]

24 minutes ago, interloper said:

Elias and team deserve waaay more benefit of the doubt than saying he's "saving money" at this stage. We have some of the game's best evaluators and analytics. Let's just see! Interesting.

I'm not ready to condemn the pick, but these are the same evaluators that blew the Mark Appel and Brady Aiken picks -- that is to say that these guys are not infallible.

My initial reaction is that I do not like the pick with who else was available.

[SteveA]

Just now, backwardsk said:

How long does this go tonight?  Just to 29 or the competitive balance picks too?

Competitive balance picks too.

2nd round starts tomorrow.