A's Draft A Rotation Full Of Arms, Including Puk

AMERICAN LEAGUE

HOUSTON ASTROS

THEME OF THE DRAFT: Go to college. Yes, the Astros did draft high school righthander Forrest Whitley in the first round. But they didn’t draft another high school player until outfielder Avery Tuck in the 26th round. Altogether the Astros drafted only three high school players, focusing on proven college talent. Ohio State outfielder Ronnie Dawson (2) was one of the best hitters in the Big Ten. Tulane catcher Jake Rogers (3) was arguably the best defender in the draft. The approach carried over into later rounds with players such as Texas A&M second baseman Ryne Birk (13), a first-team All-American.

UPSIDE GUY: Lefthander Carmen Benedetti’s (12) stuff backed up this spring as he served as a two-way star at Michigan. But if he can focus on pitching, he has shown a 92-94 mph and quality changeup in the past.

LOS ANGELES ANGELS

THEME OF THE DRAFT: Believe in bats. All three of the Angels’ top picks have excellent hit tools. Virginia catcher Matt Thaiss (1) and shortstop Nonie Williams (3) might both end up moving to other positions, but they were drafted for their bat speed and feel to hit. The same could be said for Michigan State’s Jordan Zimmerman (7), who might not be able to stick at second base long-term, but he was one of the more productive hitters in the Big Ten this year.

UPSIDE GUY: Buffalo righthander Mike Kaelin’s (15) stuff is much bigger than his 5-foot-9 frame. He’s got a chance to move quickly as a low-leverage reliever.

OAKLAND ATHLETICS

THEME OF THE DRAFT: Arms are on the way. Few teams stocked up on college pitching as much as the A’s. Between Florida lefthander A.J. Puk (1), Cal righthander Daulton Jefferies (1s), Gators righty Logan Shore (2), Gonzaga righthander Brandon Bailey (6) and Stetson righthander Mitchell Jordan (10), plus Minnesota lefty Dalton Sawyer (9), Oakland added more than a full rotation of productive college arms.

UPSIDE GUY: He might be tough to sign as an eligible sophomore but Texas A&M righthander Brigham Hill (20) has the stuff and the SEC success to be a great late-round addition if the A’s can afford him.

SEATTLE MARINERS

THEME OF THE DRAFT: Track record. When the Mariners began their draft meetings, they couldn’t have expected to end up picking Mercer outfielder Kyle Lewis, as few expected the College Player of the Year to last until pick No. 11. Lewis had a monster spring, but that wasn’t all that uncommon for Seattle’s picks. The same could be said for Oklahoma State shortstop Donnie Walton (5), Millersville (Pa.) righthander Brandon Miller (6), Elon third baseman Nick Zammarelli (7) and Arizona State’s David Greer (10).

UPSIDE GUY: Seattle drafted two of the top prep prospects in the Pacific Northwest. Righthander Kenyon Yovan (32), an Oregon commit, has shown a fastball up to 94 mph, while two-way player Adley Rutschman (40), committed to Oregon State, has power on the mound, at the plate and on the gridiron, where he booted a 63-yard field goal in the fall.

TEXAS RANGERS

THEME OF THE DRAFT: Upside. This was a typical Rangers draft in that Texas valued tools over track record. Prep righthander Alex Speas (2) has exceptional arm speed and a promising fastball/slider combo but he’s inconsistent at this point. Lefthander Kyle Roberts (5) is consistently wild right now. Texas is betting on a great arm and the fact that the junior college lefty hasn’t yet had consistent pitching instruction. Righthander Kyle Cody (6) is big and throws hard, but his Kentucky career has been very inconsistent.

UPSIDE GUY: Shortstop Jonah Reynolds (13) is athletic and has a strong arm, but the Patrick Henry (Va.) CC product has a raw bat that will need to develop.

NATIONAL LEAGUE

ARIZONA DIAMONDBACKS

THEME OF THE DRAFT: Oh, Canada. There’s a pretty good track record of Canadian lefthanded-hitting high school catchers with better bats than gloves (namely Justin Morneau and Joey Votto). Arizona took one in Andy Yerzy (2) and followed it up with 6-foot-6 righthander Curtis Taylor (4) from British Columbia and added two more Canadians on Day Three. There were only 15 players from Canada drafted, so the Diamondbacks snapped up more than a quarter of them.

UPSIDE GUY: Morehead State righthander Tyler Keele (15) has the ability to miss bats with velocity, giving him a chance to be a useful reliever.

COLORADO ROCKIES

THEME OF THEIR DRAFT: Throw hard. The Rockies selected righthander Riley Pint (1), one of the hardest throwing high school pitchers in draft history, fourth overall and followed with Georgia righty Robert Tyler (1s), one of the few pitchers in this draft whose fastball comes close to matching Pint. After that the Rockies played it straight. They didn’t need to draft many senior signs in the first 10 rounds; instead they let the board come to them round after round.

UPSIDE GUY: Outfielder Vince Fernandez (10) struck out a lot at UC Riverside, but on the right day he flashes plus power, athleticism and profile tools for right field.

LOS ANGELES DODGERS

THEME OF THEIR DRAFT: Late-bloomers. First-round Louisville catcher Will Smith (the Dodgers’ second first-round pick) slugged .331 last year. This year he hit .386 in a breakout season that vaulted him into the first round. Second-rounder Mitchell White was barely on any scout’s radar when the season began, by the end he was impressing crosscheckers by striking out 11 per nine and touching 96 with his fastball at Santa Clara. St. Mary’s ninth-rounder Anthony Gonsolin has upside as he has yet to focus on pitching because he preferred hitting.

UPSIDE GUY: Righthander A.J. Alexy (11) could get an above-slot bonus after the Dodgers saved some money with college seniors toward the back of the first 10 rounds. He’s shown three pitches, including a solid-average fastball, and projection remaining in a fresh Pennsylvania prep arm.

SAN FRANCISCO GIANTS

THEME OF THEIR DRAFT: Can you throw hard? We’ll figure out the rest. San Francisco believes in its ability to develop pitchers. At the top of the draft San Francisco picked a pair of productive college outfielders, but after that, the Giants became the wayward home for hard-throwing pitchers with quality breaking balls and no semblance of control or command. That’s the story for Oregon lefthander Matt Krook (4; 49 BB in 53 IP this year); lefty Garrett Williams (7; 60 BB in 73 career IP at Oklahoma State); Albany righthander Stephen Williams (8; 116 walks in 149 career IP) and lefthander Alex Bostic (10, 45 walks in 50 IP in three years at Clemson). The approach continued in later rounds with Louisiana-Lafayette righty Reagan Bazar (17). Because they didn’t throw enough strikes to earn innings in college, most of those arms come with low mileage. They’ll get regular innings in the Giants’ minor league system.

UPSIDE GUY: Central Michigan lefthander Nick Deeg (30) had a very poor start to his season, but he had a good Cape Cod season last summer and he returned to form late in the season. He’s 88-91 mph with a two-seamer, four-seamer and changeup that works in and out.

SAN DIEGO PADRES

THEME OF THEIR DRAFT: Patience. While most teams with numerous early picks front-loaded their drafts (such as the Braves), the Padres spread their money further down their draft. Prep shortstop Hudson Sanchez (1) was not considered a first-rounder by most teams and is expected to sign a below-slot deal. But the Padres used their financial advantage to draft talented, and potentially pricey righthanders Reggie Lawson (2s) and Mason Thompson (3). San Diego could also make runs at signing late-round picks Hunter Bishop (24) and/or lefthander Ryan Rolison (37).

UPSIDE GUY: Center fielder Trevyne Carter (11) is a toolsy preseason prep All-American who is a 6.5-second runner over 60 yards and has plus athleticism. His bat is raw, but the Padres have time.