College guys are normally the safe low potential type pitchers. The D-Backs recently have been taking the college guys and you see where that has gotten us. We have a bunch of 4-5 type guys and no aces. Our only ace prospect is Jarrod Parker, who was drafted out of high school.
Yes you take risks taking a high school kid but sometimes the reward outweights the risk. In this case I think Whitson is worth the risk.
I agree 100%. The college arms we took in previous years were low risk low ceiling guys... meaning that they have a great chance to make it to the majors but as low impact guys (i.e. back of the rotation arms).
Drew Pomeranz is the second best pitcher in the draft (behind Jameson Taillon) and is a lefty, something the D'backs need desperately. He might not fall to the D'backs but if he does the team should pounce immediately.
If he is not there I expect the D’backs to go after Deck McGuire but they have also been linked to Matt Harvey out of North Carolina. Harvey was a top rated HS pitcher when he came out a few years ago but fell due to bonus demands. Apparently he has had control problems since then but is still considered a 1st round pick. However, he might be a big reach with the sixth pick overall.
McGuire strikes me as more of a middle of the rotation starter who can be an innings eater (ie later career Andy Benes type) but not someone who can be the ace of a staff. He was a steady performer in college but does not have a high ceiling. The righty also seems to struggle in tough situations and does not produce when dealing with pressure.
Karsten Whitson (Chipley (Fla.) HS) is a name I have been hearing a lot about in regards to the D’backs. He is supposed one of the few high school pitchers in the draft who can move quickly with a mid-90s fastball and plus off-speed pitches.
If Pomeranz is off the board then Karsten Whitson would be a good backup plan. Last years draft proved that the team did not prefer college over high school but took the best talent (still not that big on Bobby Borchering though).
Anyway here are the first six picks as I see them:
1. Nationals - Bryce Harper, c, JC of Southern Nevada
- Hit 29 homers in just over 200 at bats
2. Pirates - Manny Machado, SS, Brito Miami Private HS
- HS SS has a ton of potential, people compare him to A-Rod, but what talented HS SS is not compared to A-Rod?
3. Baltimore - Jameson Taillon, rhp, The Woodlands (Texas) HS
- Best pitcher in the draft falls to the Orioles
4. Royals - Yasmani Grandal, c, Miami
- This one should be easy… the Royals already are said to have a deal in place for the best college backstop in the draft. It has been mentioned as a rumor, then a fact, then a rumor that this deal exists with the latest news being that it is just a rumor. However, where there is smoke there is fire. I believe the Royals pick Grandal here.
5. Indians - Drew Pomeranz, lhp, Mississippi
- I really do not think that the Indians will pass up someone like Pomeranz. A lefty who throws mid-90s is nothing to pass up.
6. Diamondbacks - Karsten Whitson, rhp, Chipley (Fla.) HS
- HS pitcher who throws mid-90s and has the ability to move quickly through the organization. LHP Chris Sale (Florida Gulf Coast) is also a possibility and I cannot believe I forgot him. He is a lot like Pomeranz (Sale is 6-6 and throws a good fastball with a plus off-speed pitch) but he is raw and very skinny.
