2014 MLB Draft Analysis - bayers3's Dynasty

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2014 MLB Draft Analysis

Posted on June 1, 2014 at 12:41 PM.

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THE BOSTON GLOBE (RED SOX DYNASTY REPORT)

It's June 5th, and that means time for the 2014 first year player draft. Winning the World Series doesn't help your position in the draft, but that doesn't mean Boston had problems finding some promising players. The Red Sox had the 26th slot heading into Round 1, and the 29th pick through Round 5. Thanks to the Yankees (Jacoby Ellsbury) and Tigers (Stephen Drew) the Red Sox would get two additional picks during Compensation Round A (#32 and 33).

The Red Sox do not have any glaring holes at the moment, especially when it comes to pitching, but they are a bit thin on organizational depth at C, 1B, 3B, and OF. They should be set in the near future at C and 3B, especially if Blake Swihart (AA Portland) and Garin Cecchini (AAA Pawtucket) continue to improve. The Red Sox would go into this draft with their eye on a few OF prospects, but things didn't work out as they had hoped.

MLB Draft 2014
Pick	Team	Player	Pos	Ht	Wt
26	Red Sox	Leonys Bravo	RHP	6'-3"	175
32	Red Sox	Braxton Davis	LHP	6'-3"	180
33	Red Sox	Roddy Gibson	RHP	6'-4"	180
61	Red Sox	Pedro Santana	SS	6'-0"	165
93	Red Sox	Issac Koufax	1B	6'-2"	200
123	Red Sox	Rico Berroa	3B	5'-8"	150
153	Red Sox	Adam Castro	RHP	6'-6"	180

1 (26) : RHP Leonys Bravo - 18 (San Pedro de Macoris, Dominican Republic)

Unfortunately for Boston the best available players did not meet their current organizational needs, but you can never have enough pitching and it was hard for management to pass on a high-upside arm who slipped in the draft. Bravo was one of the hardest throwing prospects this year, sitting in the upper 90's with a plus four-seam fastball with some movement. His command could use some work, but most scouts feel his fastball could grade out as an 80 with some work. He doesn't have a dependable secondary offering at the moment, getting by mostly by overpowering hitters, but if he could develop a changeup or slider in the next few years he could be a good 3rd starter or set-up man / closer.

CA (32) : LHP Braxton Davis - 22 (University of Louisville, KY)

Boston's first, and only, college pick for the 2014 season. Davis has a nice profile, lefty with good-not-great mechanics and delivery, with mostly above average stuff. Very good with the glove, has a plus fastball that he can throw for strikes and a decent change and cutter that are hit or miss. Good extreme ground ball college pitcher that has shown durability and sustained success throughout his time at UL, mostly likely he will find himself in AA or AAA by the end of next season and make his way to the bullpen at the very least. High-floor low-ceiling type player with immediate impact.

CA (33) : RHP Roddy Gibson - 18 (Vista Murrieta HS - Murrieta, CA)

A bit similar to Leonys Bravo, doesn't throw quite as hard but shows better command of his fastball. Lacks a dependable secondary pitch, but still managed to dominate HS hitters, comes from a well regarded program. Despite his overall numbers he could be streaky at times, looking dominant over a stretch and then looking very hittable and frustrated at times. Scouts were very split on projections, some seeing a future middle reliever while some see a future #3 starter. Fell in the draft due to signability and character concerns.

2 (61) : SS Pedro Santana - 18 (Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic)

Another draftee out of the Dominican Republic, but without the upside of Boston's first (Bravo). Santana looks be be a plus defender, with his glove/arm grading out around 70, and showing 70-80 speed on and off the base paths. Lacks power and has the plate discipline of an 18 year old, looks his age at the plate and struggles with off speed pitches. Has an athletic frame and reminds scouts of Texas 2B Jurickson Profar, if he can improve his hitting to be league average he could be a valuable utility man with speed.

3 (93) : 1B Issac Koufax - 18 (Bosqueville HS - Waco, TX)

Raw dual-sport athlete (Football & Baseball), draws comparisons to James Loney as a high-floor low-ceiling type prospect. 6'2" 200, very strong, but doesn't show any HR power at the plate. Strength comes from being an excellent contact hitter with a line-drive swing and well above average plate discipline, makes hard contact and hits alot of doubles. Also very good defensively at 1B, unclear if he can play 3B, but having a plus defender at 1B with the potential to hit .300 isn't something to complain about. Fell in the draft due to depth and power available at 1B, if he can hit for more power after some work in the minors he could be a real steal.

4 (123) : 3B Rico Berroa - 18 (Monterrey, Mexico)

Another raw high-upside dual-sport athlete (the other football this time) with a very Rays-ish toolsy defender feel. Berroa is a plus defender with the glove and arm to man the hot corner, very speedy with 30+SB potential, but seems to profile more as an outfielder or middle infielder considering his lack of pop at the plate and diminutive size (5'8" 150). Reminds scouts of 2B Jose Altuve, currently lacks the plate discipline or pitch recognition to hit .300, projects as a utility infielder.

5 (153) : RHP Adam Castro - 18 (Acton-Boxbrough HS - Acton, MA)

Local HS pitcher joining the Red Sox growing stable of power arms. Very tall and lanky with a funky side armed delivery (Chris Sale anyone?) with serious issues finding the plate. Very sharp splits concerned scouts, as left-handed hitters killed him (hit .455) regularly, possibly ruining his long term chances at staying a starter. Despite his splits he struck out a ton of hitters with an upper 90's four seamer and a change-up that needs some serious work, but he also managed to walk almost as many as he struck out. The coaching staff will have their hands full, but Castro will have time to work on his command and add some polish to his secondary offering. His best outcome is probably a 5th starter, worst outcome he never passes AAA.

Overall Analysis

The 2014 draft class isn't bad, but it certainly failed to shore up organizational depth problems. For a team with alot of solid pitching prospects still in the minors (Owens, Ranaudo, Webster, Ball, Barnes) it's hard to understand why 4 of 7 total selections were pitchers with no OF's taken, perhaps Berroa will be moved. Aside from Braxton Davis (University of Louisville) the Red Sox went heavy on high-school talent, some with a clear path to the majors and some high-risk players that could never get out of the minors.