Quote from fenn68 on December 14, 2023, 3:25 am

MLBPipeline just released its TOP 100 for the 2024 draft. Obviously way too early to hone in on individual players … the coming spring will see players fade badly or make strides up the charts (especially in the HS ranks).

Interesting to note that on the Top 30 … 23 are College types and the 7 HS prospects don’t sit that high (8-14-19-20-23-24-30). Most teams like to be conservative with their #1 pick would expect those College types will get picked for higher chance of making the ML at what may be a lower relative signing cost.

That may play into Preller’s style … he seems to recently gravitating toward HS types with some risk but high upside. Good chance he will have a deep pool of HS types with his 1st pick

Quote from Randy Manese on December 14, 2023, 7:20 am

Padres recent trend has been young for their class HS players and probably want to add to pitching depth, particularly LH pitching.  A couple of HS arms that fit the bill may be Cam Caminiti (17 at time of draft) and Noah Franco (will turn 18 just before the draft).  Both are ranked in the 20's by Baseball America (BA), however, MLB has Cam (cousin of Ken) at #19 so he would have to slip a little for the Padres to have a shot.  MLB also has 18 year old RH SP Ryan Sloan as a fast-rising HS player who may make it to Round 1, but BA still sees him in the late 2nd or early 3rd Round.  If the Padres want a college lefty, Jonathan Santucci out of Duke may be the guy they pick; they've had recent success with Duke players so they probably have a real good feel for whether he's worth a 1st round pick.

The real gem to be added to the Padres system as mentioned by other posters will/should happen on January 15, 2024, when switch-hitting shortstop Leodalis de Vries signs.  If there is still enough money to sign him, the expectation is that he will quickly move past all other middle infielders in the system with the exception of Jackson Merrill.  Scouting reports indicate he doesn't quite have as good a hit tool as Merrill (but still expected to be very good) but may have a better chance to stick at shortstop than Merrill.  Heard one evaluator say that de Vries sometimes is too aggressive at the plate, letting his body leak forward from his upright stance, which takes away from his ability to barrel the ball and adjust to breaking stuff; this seems correctable, however, and is the only knock I'm aware of regarding his hitting projection - otherwise, quick wrists and excellent bat speed and hand/eye coordination with potential low 20's HR power at maturity.  Wouldn't be surprised if he starts at the Arizona Complex League vice Dominican Summer League in 2024.

Quote from MrPadre19 on December 14, 2023, 1:33 pm

And he's FAST!

Love the fast kids....."speed never slumps"!...

and please,don't say "you can't steal first base".

🙂

 

 

Quote from BoosterSD on December 14, 2023, 2:06 pm

Quote from MrPadre19 on December 14, 2023, 1:33 pm

And he's FAST!

Love the fast kids....."speed never slumps"!...

and please,don't say "you can't steal first base".

 

 

Well then, if they cant hit better teach them to lean into the ball and get hit. 😜😂

 

Quote from MrPadre19 on December 15, 2023, 3:52 am

“ Scouting reports indicate he doesn't quite have as good a hit tool as Merrill (but still expected to be very good) ”

😉

Quote from fenn68 on December 15, 2023, 4:27 am

Since every 16-17 year old has a LOT of room to develop (or not) … the best any team can do is rely on their projections (vs other prospects because they will be signing players). If DeVries is the best prospect in the mind of the Padres and appears to be the best prospect on a consensus basis … that is where you put the money. Must imply that … at this point … the other prospects have more perceived faults.

Wonder if there will be any financial hang up on the Padres signing DeVfries? Think the Padres pool number is around $4.6MM … last year Salas signed for $5.6MM … problem?

If DeVries signing demand is close to Salas (basically back off the rumored commitment to the Padres) … will the Padres make a trade or trades to acquire more pool money? (A number of teams do not really focus on international).

Quote from MrPadre19 on December 15, 2023, 10:24 am

The Rays have $6.52 mil so maybe we can work something out?

Do we know which teams don't usually use their allotment?

 

Quote from Randy Manese on December 15, 2023, 12:28 pm

I'm a little worried but not that much about signing de Vries.  I think we would have heard loud "rumors" by now that he has backed off of his pre-signing deal but these negotiations have gone on for a very long time and it is rare if a player who is mentioned signing for one team actually goes to another.   I think Salas was a generational player and everyone knew it - de Vries will be very good but no one expects him to project to Salas' level, hence, a slightly lower signing bonus is appropriate; it still may be the top bonus given out this year.