What Opening Day Assignments Tell Us About Recent Draftees

Image credit: Riley Greene (Photo by Mark Cunningham/Getty Images)

Organizations have different approaches, so one cannot make sweeping assumptions based on Opening Day minor league roster assignments for recent first-round picks.

For example, the Phillies sent Alec Bohm, drafted third overall out of Wichita State in 2018, to Low-A to open 2019. That was an extra conservative assignment for a high first-round pick from a four-year college. Bohm aced that stop, quickly jumped to High-A and was playing in Double-A by midseason. He was in Philadelphia in 2020.

But it is useful to see where recent draftees are headed. There were three 2020 college first-round picks who received aggressive assignments to Double-A this season: Marlins righthander Max Meyer (picked third overall), Blue Jays shortstop Austin Martin and Angels lefthander Reid Detmers.

The vast majority of college first-rounders were sent to High-A to make their pro debuts. But four players—Twins first baseman Aaron Sabato, Yankees catcher Austin Wells, Orioles shortstop Jordan Westburg and Rays shortstop Alika Williams—have begun their minor league careers in Low-A.

White Sox lefthander Garrett Crochet is the fastest mover—he’s already on a major league roster, but he’s currently on the injured list. Orioles outfielder Heston Kjerstad is also on the injured list as he recovers from myocarditis. Indians shortstop Carson Tucker, drafted out of high school, was held back in extended spring training.

Rays righthander Nick Bitsko is recovering from shoulder surgery. D-backs righthander Slade Cecconi is recovering from a minor wrist injury on his non-throwing hand.

2020 Collegiate First- And Supplemental First-Round Picks
Org	Pick	Player, Pos	Level
MIA	3	Max Meyer, RHP	Double-A
TOR	5	Austin Martin, SS	Double-A
LAA	10	Reid Detmers, LHP	Double-A
DET	1	Spencer Torkelson, 3B	High-A
KC	4	Asa Lacy, LHP	High-A
SEA	6	Emerson Hancock, RHP	High-A
PIT	7	Nick Gonzales, SS	High-A
SF	13	Patrick Bailey, C	High-A
TEX	14	Justin Foscue, 2B	High-A
ARI	18	Bryce Jarvis, RHP	High-A
MIL	20	Garrett Mitchell, OF	High-A
WAS	22	Cade Cavalli, RHP	High-A
ATL	25	Jared Shuster, LHP	High-A
LAD	29	Bobby Miller, RHP	High-A
PIT	31	Carmen Mlodzinski, RHP	High-A
KC	32	Nick Loftin, SS	High-A
CLE	36	Tanner Burns, RHP	High-A
MIN	27	Aaron Sabato, 1B	Low-A
NYY	28	Austin Wells, C	Low-A
BAL	30	Jordan Westburg, SS	Low-A
TB	37	Alika Williams, SS	Low-A

Looking beyond the first round, the most notable assignment is the Marlins’ decision to send lefthander Jake Eder to Double-A. Considering that just three college first-rounders were sent to Double-A, and no second- or third-rounders were, a fourth-rounder jumping straight to Double-A is quite notable and is a sign of confidence in Eder.

On the high school side, the approach is much more universal—every high school first- and supplemental first-rounder on an Opening Day roster was sent to Low-A.

2020 High School First- And Supplemental First-Round Picks
Org.	Pick	Player, Pos	Level
SD	8	Robert Hassell, OF	Low-A
COL	9	Zac Veen, OF	Low-A
CIN	12	Austin Hendrick, OF	Low-A
PHI	15	Mick Abel, RHP	Low-A
CHC	16	Ed Howard, SS	Low-A
BOS	17	Nick Yorke, 2B	Low-A
NYM	19	Pete Crow-Armstrong, OF	Low-A
STL	21	Jordan Walker, 3B	Low-A
OAK	26	Tyler Soderstrom, C	Low-A
COL	35	Drew Romo, C	Low-A

What did 2019 draftees lose by not having a 2020 minor league season? If you look at the Opening Day assignments, the answer is a lot.

Eleven of the 24 college players selected in the first and supplemental first round in 2019 were sent to High-A to start the 2021 season. That means that nearly half of 2019 college top picks were sent to the same level as 14 of the 22 college first- and supplemental first-rounders from 2020.

There are some other players who did get more aggressive assignments. After a strong spring, Blue Jays righthander Alek Manoah was sent straight to Triple-A as was Cardinals lefthander Zack Thompson. Every college player drafted in the top 10 was sent to Double-A.

On the other hand, Rays righthander Seth Johnson was sent to Low-A, a conservative assignment even if Johnson was a recent convert from shortstop to pitching.

2019 Collegiate First- And Supplemental First-Round Picks
Org.	Pick	Player, Pos	Level
TOR	11	Alek Manoah, RHP	Triple-A
STL	19	Zack Thompson, LHP	Triple-A
BAL	1	Adley Rutschman, C	Double-A
MIA	4	JJ Bleday, OF	Double-A
CIN	7	Nick Lodolo, LHP	Double-A
ATL	9	Shea Langeliers, C	Double-A
ATL	21	Braden Shewmake, SS	Double-A
LAD	25	Kody Hoese, 3B	Double-A
MIL	28	Ethan Small, LHP	Double-A
OAK	29	Logan Davidson, SS	Double-A
LAD	31	Michael Busch, 2B	Double-A
TEX	41	Davis Wendzel, 3B	Double-A
SF	10	Hunter Bishop, OF	High-A
PHI	14	Bryson Stott, SS	High-A
SF	15	Will Wilson, SS	High-A
SEA	20	George Kirby, RHP	High-A
TB	22	Greg Jones, SS	High-A (IL)
COL	23	Michael Toglia, 1B	High-A
CHC	27	Ryan Jensen , P	High-A
HOU	32	Korey Lee, C	High-A
ARI	34	Drey Jameson, RHP	High-A
MIA	35	Kameron Misner, OF	High-A
MIN	39	Matt Wallner, OF	High-A
TB	40	Seth Johnson, RHP	Low-A

On the high school side, if you need any further proof that the top of the 2019 draft class could be special, the three top prep picks, shortstops Bobby Witt Jr. and CJ Abrams and outfielder Riley Greene, were sent to Double-A, a more aggressive assignment than many of the college first-rounders.

2019 High School First- And Supplemental First-Round Picks
Org.	Pick	Player, Pos	Level
KC	2	Bobby Witt, SS	Double-A
DET	5	Riley Greene, OF	Double-A
SD	6	CJ Abrams, SS	Double-A
NYM	12	Brett Baty, 3B	High-A
ARI	16	Corbin Carroll, OF	High-A
PIT	18	Quinn Priester, RHP	High-A
MIN	13	Keoni Cavaco, SS	Low-A
CLE	24	Daniel Espino, RHP	Low-A
ARI	26	Blake Walston, LHP	Low-A
NYY	30	Anthony Volpe, 2B	Low-A
PIT	33	Brennan Malone, RHP	Low-A
PIT	37	Sammy Siani, OF	Low-A