NL EAST DRAFT REVIEW S15

ATLANTA BRAVES

Round	Pick	Player	Age	Pos	Back- ground	Bonus	Potential	SUMMARY
1	7	Tony Matos	18	P	HS	$3,440K	ML SETUP	Solid Reliever, but he is a reach so high in the draft, great splits, 2 pitches and solid stamina, low durability/stamina combo though
1	35	Bruce Mahoney	18	RF	HS	$920K	AAA cup of coffee in the ML	Great speed and base running potential, but his makeup is low enough to make teams doubt he makes his projections, weak batting eye and a poor left handed split further limits Bruce's chances.
1	43	Quinn LaRocca	20	P	JC	$600K	ML Setup	LaRocca could be a great reliever if he makes his potential, but his extreme poor makeup will make that a challenge. He has some development and could make the ML with moderate growth.
1	49	Neftali Javier	18	P	HS	$600K	ML LONG RELIEF	Potential is there for a solid reliever, his stamina will keep him from making a lot of starts in his career. Good control and decent splits should get him to the Show, Poor makeup will make him a passing interest.
2	67	Matt Bruney	21	P	COL	$550K	4A SETUP	Might get a shot in the ML, but he has average splits and slightly better pitches, good velocity means he will strikeout a few, but his poor durability will limit him.
2	71	Heinie Howell	20	P	JC	$550K	4A SETUP	Can't get a left out, but as a right hand specialist he might have some success, good durability and control but only 1 knockout pitch
2	89	Trent Green	18	P	HS	$550K	AAA	Poor splits, decent pitches, great control. No chance to make the ML.
3	104	Flip Rowan	22	C	COL	$425K	AAA	Good bat, but a struggle in the field, a team could get away with him as a catcher, but the question is does his bat really make up the difference. Below average makeup will keep him out of the ML
4	136	Merv Clark	22	P	COL	$350K	AA	Poor control and barely average stamina will limit him to a minor league career.
5	168	Julio Francisco	22	1B	COL	$250K	AA	Doesn't hit enough to play 1B for anyone, he actually runs so bad it might hurt a team if he gets on base.

SUMMARY: Atlanta was a team that needed a great draft of some solid hitting prospects. The farm already has a stable of young and talented pitching. I think the saying goes you can never have to much of a good thing. Again Atlanta reloads their bullpen with quality arms. They should look to convert a few of these guys into one great bat to build around for the future.
Grade: C

Norfolk Train Wrecks

Round	Pick	Player	Pos	Age	Back- ground	Bonus	Potential	SUMMARY
1	15	Gustavo Figureoa	2B	19	JC	$2,152K	ML	Solid LF prospect, but far from spectacular. He has good power, solid splits and batting eye, but is a poor fielder. His low makeup might make him a reach to make the ML as a full time starter.
3	112	Francisco Gandarilla	SS	20	JC	$362K	ML Field specialist	Not much of a hitter, but a great fielder in potential, he also has almost no makeup but is pretty well developed might be close to his fielding potential when the time comes.
4	144	Joey Leslie	SS	18	HS	$298K	AA	Defensive specialist, his poor splits and no makeup, do you even develop with makeup around 0?
5	176	Dusty Morandini	CF	18	HS	$225K	AA	Good fielder, good runner, piss poor hitter, he hits a DITR on his hitting and he could be in the league

SUMMARY: Farm is starting to look healthy with a few good prospects from last seasons draft and a few solid young prospects already in the league to build around. Figureoa has good potential, but I'm not sure he can be depended on to make a quick impact in the league. Gandarilla might be a solid pick for a team needing to fill just a need, but Norfolk needs more all-around talent at this time
Grade: C+

Pittsburgh Pirates

Round	Pick	Player	Pos	Age	Back- ground	Bonus	Potential	SUMMARY
1	5	Lew Crosby	SP	19	JC	$3,630K	ML ALL-STAR	Great starting pitching with 4 great pitches excellent splits and control. Great strikeout velocity to boot. This guy should dominate the league when he makes it.
1	25	Chris Martin	SP	19	JC	$1,750K	ML	Has the pitches and control to be great, but his splits will limit his effectiveness, could be a bottom of the rotation guy, but he will be a 5.00+ ERA guy
1	34	Hugh DeWitt	P	18	HS	$960K	ML CLOSER	Could be an effective reliever with his good control and decent splits, he has 3 good pitches and teams would consider him a fine closer
1	48	Max Picasso	SP	20	JC	$600K	ML	Middle of the rotation guy who throws a soft pitch, but induces many groundballs a great pitcher for a small park.
1	62	Carter Hensley	SP	21	COL	$600K	4A	Weak against the right handers, but his average pitches will make it hard to break the league ful-time. He is solid though and should get a few ML innings in his career.
5	166	Frank Posey	P	21	COL	$250K	AAA	Strikeout pitcher with poor splits, I'm not sure he will even make AAA

SUMMARY: Crosby might be the best starting pitcher in the draft. Martin in the least will fill a hole in the rotation. All around this could be a great Draft for Pittsburgh to build around.
Grade: A

New York Burros

Round	Pick	Player	Pos	Age	Back- ground	Bonus	Potential	SUMMARY
1	23	Bart Hogan	C	18	HS	$1,940K	ML	Best DH available, but poor makeup and health will keep him from become anything in the field. On an AL team he might make sense in the NL he's a pinch hitter, he has a long way to develop, but he is only 18. I think he's a big risk in the 1st round.
1	30	Felipe Martinez	P	18	HS	$1,290K	ML CL	His biggest knock is his poor durability, but he can pitch and do it effectively. 3 pitches, good velocity, and great splits.
1	41	James Pribanic	2B	18	HS	$680K	ML LF/RF	He might make a good corner outfielder, he has good speed and a decent bat at this point in the draft.. his durability will be a question as a full-time starter.
1	45	Alex Rooney	P	21	COL	---	ML Long RP	Signing issues, but a solid long reliever, he has below average left hand split which will slow his progress in the league.. His great control and pair of great pitches will ensure he makes it.
1	46	Pedro Franco	RF	22	COL	$600K	ML OF	Solid everyday hitter, he is not going to win many awards for his glove or his bat, but he has pop in his bat and can play in the big leagues everyday.
2	94	Tom Valdes	LF	18	HS	$550K	AAA	Poor splits good power, but no defense. He is not going to go very far.
3	113	Roy Brown	CF	21	COL	$425K	AA	Speed and nothing else, he's not playing CF for sure.
3	127	Torey Matthews	RF	21	COL	$425K	AA	Good batting eye is wasted on a poor fielder and below average hitter.
4	134	Cecil Hiller	SS	22	COL	$350K	AA	Solid defender, but not a SS or a hitter or arunner. Oh boy
4	159	Morgan Hemingway	1B	19	JC	$350K	AA	All power no chance
5	191	Ralph Strange	P	20	JC	$250K	4A	Decent 5th rounder he has some props In his pitches and splits. He is also a pinpoint control guy. He might see ML time if he makes his split projections.

SUMMARY: Traditionally the strongest minors in the league. NY is always stacked with talent. New York is looking for a Grade A here, but I'm not sure I can see that grade. Hogan could be a huge reach for a NL team, He can hit but with no chance at a field position he will be limited in his role with a national league club. The rest of the draft is something to be proud of with solid ML talent in the rest of the 1^st round picksand anytime you can pull a potential guy in the 5^th round you have to be happy.
Grade: A-