The Fringe Five Draft Prospects: Draft Results
To the extent that all human endeavor is futile, the author’s attempt this past Tuesday to identify a small collection of amateur prospects likely to develop into better professionals than their draft slots might otherwise suggest — this endeavor was also futile. Perhaps even moreso, actually, owing to how — with the exception of having once had kind words, apparently, for the minor-league version of Chris Heston — the author’s credentials in this (and every) field are minimal.
Regardless of its worth (or lack thereof) I did produce a document featuring certain collegiates who possess profiles similar to players in the past (Matt Carpenter, Ben Zobrist) who’ve parlayed a combination of above-average baseball skills and below-average physical tools into successful careers. Nine of the ten players included in that post were selected by major-league clubs this week in the draft, and what follows represents a record of which teams signed which of those prospects in which rounds — with a view, I suppose, towards beginning to monitor their progress through affiliated baseball.
Eric Cheray, C/2B, Missouri St. (Sr) (Profile)
Club: N/A Round: N/A
Profile in Brief
Senior hitter with excellent plate discipline, perhaps less excellent infield defense. Selected in the 17th round by Oakland last year; undrafted, curiously, this one.
Ricky Eusebio, CF, Miami (Jr) (Profile)
Club: Seattle Mariners Round: 16th
Profile in Brief
At least average center-field defender with strong offensive season in strong conference (i.e. the ACC).
Peter Fairbanks, RHP, Missouri (Jr) (Profile)
Club: Texas Rangers Round: 9th
Profile in Brief
Tommy John survivor who hits 94 mph regularly in starting capacity and recorded strong numbers in conference (i.e. the SEC) distinguished for producing successful major-league pitchers.
Chris Keck, 3B, UCLA (Sr) (Profile)
Club: Colorado Rockies Round: 18th
Profile in Brief
Defensively adequate third baseman who produced one of top (maybe) predictive batting lines in Pac-12.
Jordan Stephens, RHP, Rice (RS-Jr) (Profile)
Club: Chicago White Sox Round: 5th
Profile in Brief
Tommy John survivor with combination of performance and arm speed rare among fringe types.
The Next Five
The other five players worthy of attention.
Adam Choplick, LHP, Oklahoma (RS-Jr)
Selected in the 14th round by the Texas Rangers.
Landon Cray, CF, Seattle (Jr)
Selected in the 18th round by the Tampa Bay Rays.
Drew Ferguson, CF, Belmont (Sr)
Selected in the 19th round by the Houston Astros.
John Kilichowski, LHP, Vanderbilt (So)
Selected in the 39th round* by the Chicago Cubs.
*Likely for reasons of signability.
Alex Perez, 2B/SS, Virginia Tech (Sr)
Selected in the 23rd round by the Minnesota Twins
Useless Table
Here, for some reason, is a collection of all the names mentioned above arranged into the form of a table and sorted by round numbers.
Name | School | Class | Pos | Club | Round |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Jordan Stephens | Rice | Jr | RHP | CHA | 5 |
Peter Fairbanks | Missouri | Jr | RHP | TEX | 9 |
Adam Choplick | Oklahoma | RS-Jr | LHP | TEX | 14 |
Rickey Eusebio | Miami | Jr | CF | SEA | 16 |
Chris Keck | UCLA | Sr | 3B | COL | 18 |
Landon Cray | Seattle | Jr | CF | TBA | 18 |
Drew Ferguson | Belmont | Sr | CF | HOU | 19 |
Alex Perez | Virginia Tech | Sr | 2B/SS | MIN | 23 |
John Kilichowski | Vanderbilt | So | LHP | CHN | 39 |
Eric Cheray | Missouri St. | Sr | C/2B | N/A | N/A |
Carson Cistulli has published a book of aphorisms called Spirited Ejaculations of a New Enthusiast.
No one else has posted, so I will. Carson, the useless table is much appreciated.