Big ben at night images1/3/2024 “Whatever level I go to (after) I get drafted, I’m going to go there and I’m going to be playing with these kids I’m going to see for years, you know?” Skenes said. If anything, as much as they’ll make an effort to drink in a moment a lifetime in the making, they’ll also be eager to move to the next chapter with the guys they plan to win with down the road. The rest - particularly the constantly-shifting dynamics that shape the top of the draft and all the noise that comes with it - is out of their control. They can control their preparation and their effort. It may take longer in places like Pittsburgh, Washington (second) or Detroit (third).Ĭrews and Skenes insist they are up for whatever no matter when they hear their name called on Sunday. Whomever lands in Texas - particularly if it’s a college player - could be joining an organization on the cusp of a breakthrough. “I think we’ve taken steps in that direction this year.” “Our goal is to pick 30th moving forward,” Young said. Texas has spent the first half of the year leading the competitive AL West and while general manager Chris Young called the draft “a great opportunity” he’s hopeful it’s the last time for the foreseeable future that the Rangers will have a top-five pick. Rocker’s injury is one of the few setbacks the Rangers have endured this season. Rocker did sign with Texas but his 2023 season ended in May when he underwent Tommy John surgery while pitching for Class-A Hickory. The Rangers, who pick fourth, pulled one last July when they took Kumar Rocker third overall, a year after the New York Mets drafted but failed to sign the hard-throwing right-hander. There’s always a surprise or two in there.” “The more we look at past drafts, they never really go like you think they’re going to go. “There are rumors that get spread and you’re not sure where they came from,” Johnson said. He’s been around long enough to know there’s no use in speculating on if Crews or Skenes might somehow be available. Vice President of amateur scouting Sean Johnson expects there to be upward of 10 players in the mix when their turn comes up. Minnesota, who has been near the top of an underwhelming AL Central all season, is picking fifth. So I think we have to stick with the best player available.”Ĭherington vowed the Pirates will spend their full draft allotment but sidestepped when asked if Pittsburgh would go over slot value to lock down the first pick, saying “we’re just focused on getting the board set up and getting the order right or, at least in our opinion right. “Even if you’re talking about a college player that might be a little closer (to the majors) than a high school player, a lot can happen in this game, even between this year and 12 months from now, a lot can happen to our team and what the needs might be and what the fit might be. Not that Cherington thinks his team’s modest step forward in 2023 after consecutive 100-loss seasons will lead him into taking a player that could be in the majors sooner rather than later. The Pirates are in a slightly different position now, with the window to contention far closer now than it was two years ago. The pick came with Pittsburgh still in the early stages of a top-to-bottom overhaul Cherington began when he took over in the fall of 2019, an overhaul predicated on accumulating as many quality prospects as possible. The Pirates went a little off-script in 2021 when they chose catcher Henry Davis at “1-1.” Davis, who made his major league debut last month, signed for under slot value, giving Cherington more money to spend later in the draft. High schoolers Max Clark and Walker Jenkins are short on experience but long on potential. “By group, I really do mean that it goes much deeper than two players.”įlorida outfielder Wyatt Langford put together a season nearly as impressive as Crews’. “We think it’s a strong group,” Cherington said. Whatever it is, Cherington has made it a point in recent weeks to stress who is going at the very top end of the draft isn’t a given. Maybe it’s Cherington’s inherent pragmatism.
0 Comments
Leave a Reply.AuthorWrite something about yourself. No need to be fancy, just an overview. ArchivesCategories |