[Griever20]

2020 First-Year Player Draft

Our first draft with Logan White at the helm, we obviously still prepared well for this draft class despite all the trade ideas running through my mind and the lofty heights we are in record-wise. We will have the 13th pick in every round except the second one and will be very flexible in our strategy here...

Logan wasn't really fond of this draft pool, something I already got accustomed within my Brewers dynasty, and at pick 13, there were two players to choose from... a catcher and a shortstop... and we took the head scout recommendation here.

Round 1 Pick 13: Texas Rangers select C Patrick Bailey(21, 4* HS, 3.5* OSA) out of North Carlina State College(Raleigh, NC)
A switch-hitter with a good arm and some pop in his bat, Bailey also impressed scouts with his great work ethic throughout College as he not only did it on the baseball field but also during his studies. May need a bit of tutoring to get his shot-calling in order behind the plate, but was the best player available here. Wants the slot, $1.7M.

At pick two, a lot of good picks were already gone, and I overruled Logan here and went with another college guy.

Round 2 Pick 12: Texas Rangers select RHSP Jan Figueroa(20, 2.5* HS, 3* OSA) out of Florida International College(Miami, FL)
6'3'' with a fastball in the low 90's, a curveball and a changeup, he should be able to put on some weight and fastball velocity in our minor league system. He does not feature a great makeup, and the control is very iffy. But, there weren't a lot of players left that made Logan salivate. $550k, the slot.

Round three, Logan wanted a high school starter with iffy stamina... nope mate... I went for power instead.

Round 3 Pick 13: Texas Rangers select 1B Braedon Mooris(18, 3* HS, 2.5* OSA) out of Marcus High School(Flower Mound, TX)
Canadian slugger. Hit a blistering .443/.522/.991 with 15 home runs in 27 games against average competition in high school, and Logan has him at 70 out of 80 in home run power. He will cost us $1.7M, a good bit over the slot, and his contact skills may be a bit... questionable... .200 with 35 home runs could also be the result. And no, the name is not a typo...

Round 4 Pick 13: Texas Rangers select SS Sandy A. Richardson(18, 2.5* HS, 2* OSA) out of Miliani High School(HI)
Head scout recommendation. Good fielder in the infield with a decent bat. Not a lot of speed, but could be a good fifth infielder on anybody's roster. Wants the slot, $210k.

Round 5 Pick 13: Texas Rangers select RHSP Travis Hamrick(18, 1.5* HS, 2* OSA) out of Watauga High School(Boone, NC)
Our area scout said we need this changeup in our minor league system. Looking at some footage of him, the changeup is absolutely filthy. The rest is work in progress, but he is only 18.

Round 6 Pick 13: Texas Rangers select CF Mike Fusek(18, 1.5* HS, 1.5* OSA) out of Holyoke High School(CO)
Hit .451 with a 1.435OPS against average competition in high school. Probably more of a corner outfielder if he reaches the majors, there is some solid contact potential here and he has a talent to find the gaps with hard line drives.

Round 7 Pick 13: Texas Rangers select RHSP Joe Tinney(18, 1.5* HS, 2* OSA) out of New London High School(OH)
In 55.2 IP, he posted a 15.4K/9 rate, using a cutter, a curveball, and a knuckle curve effectively. We drafted him based off his stuff and will look to develop the rest.

Round 8 Pick 13: Texas Rangers select RHRP Dave Cornejo(18, 2.5* HS, 4.5* OSA) out of North Salem High School(Salem, OR)
Technically committed to college, but the righty is the second hottest reliever in this draft. In 16 games as a starter, he went 12-0 with a 0.30ERA and 232 strikeouts in 122 innings, averaging 17.1K/9 against average competition. He already has a 93-95mph fastball with a great curveball... I don't know if we can sign him, but we will try.

Obviously, this group is not quite as flashy as our 2019 draft, and drafting with Logan White always is a rollercoaster because he tends to underrate prospects and especially high school kids, and bumps them up as they progress through the minors... which makes drafting a challenge.

Hopefully, some of the college guys will be on the fast track to the majors and live up to their potential...