Chicago Area Players & The Draft

i like a young left out of st. charles north, danny jimenez! looks like top pick in our area.

Yep, Jiminez is another name that I had been hearing and lately haven't heard too much about.
Another one is Jordan Sivertson.

I wouldn't be surprised if someone took Kyle Hunter from Galesburg.

I wish people would share a little more on this board about what they have been hearing in regards to the draft, especially since it is now less then a month away, like projected rounds for some of these guys. If you ask me, I think Odorizzi, Wright, Reuttiger, Zych, Kapteyn, Martini, and Jimenez will all get drafted, which would be the most high school players ever in the state of Illinois I believe. However, I think only Odorizzi, Jimenez, Wright, and possibly Martini, depending on where he gets selected, will turn professional.

How did Hunter and Galesburg do in the Pontiac Tourney this past weekend?

fvcfan...do you really think that many (7) is the most drafted ever in the state? I think you are wrong...a few years ago we had 3 kids from our school drafted the same year.

And do you know how many were drafted last year?

With the new rules starting last year, the number of kids drafted will likely drop from whatever the record amount was.

As far as the numbers I think there was more than 7 last year in Il. Biela, Smolinski, Crosby, Soto, Kaminska, McFarland, Scapetta, Zawacki and Flanagan come to mind, sorry I am sure I am missing some.

quote:

Originally posted by fvcfan08:
I wish people would share a little more on this board about what they have been hearing in regards to the draft, especially since it is now less then a month away, like projected rounds for some of these guys. If you ask me, I think Odorizzi, Wright, Reuttiger, Zych, Kapteyn, Martini, and Jimenez will all get drafted, which would be the most high school players ever in the state of Illinois I believe. However, I think only Odorizzi, Jimenez, Wright, and possibly Martini, depending on where he gets selected, will turn professional.

I agree, fvcfan08. I would like to hear the word going around about all of the Illinois players regarding the draft. Illinois is loaded with talent.
I agree with all those that you mentioned, along with Stroup and possibly DeBernardis.

I just hadn't seen or heard anything on any of them other than Odorizzi and was curious as to what the word is on these talented young men.

Kyle Hunter is another big name that I haven't heard mentioned lately.

At the start of the season I thought and heard that Prairie Ridge OF Nick Martini would be drafted in the first twelve rounds, possibly as high as seven. My thoughts now are that he will probably be drafted lower, and as of recently the possibility of him playing right away at Kansas State has been very enticing for him. If there is any lingering doubt in scouts heads, just look at his numbers this year: .440 AVG, 5 HR, 25 RBI, 25 SB, and with four regular season games remaining. I know the Tampa Bay Rays were highly interested, so maybe that is still possible for Martini in the eighth or ninth round. The question is: Will he then sign or trade his high school maroon (the Ridge) for college purple (K-State)?

2007 MLB Draft included 48 players from Illinois towns or schools. The players from Illinois schools,the majority of them are from Illinos. If I get time I will get exact number.

Hey fvcfan08,
Where did you get the stats from? Is it on a website?

Otto Roberts from Belleville West should be drafted and Lucas Hileman from AJ should have a chance.

The thing everyone is neglecting to mention here is that this draft is going to be unlike any other, specifically when it comes to selecting high school players. The elimination of the draft and follow system by MLB is going to have tremendous impact on the high school players selected.

The teams will only select players they intend to sign, and no longer take players they want to control for a year while they attend a juco. Now, from a scout's conversation with the player, he will give an idea of how much money it will take to sign him (which in almost all cases is a number far too low, high school kids typically have no idea what the opportunity to play college baseball is worth) and if that number is not consistent or at least close to what the club is comfortable signing him, you will see players go undrafted in favor of other players who may be willing to sign.

To speculate which players may get drafted, and I'm sure after the draft there will be a thread where people express their shock at several players who weren't drafted, is very difficult since there now is much more that goes into the process than ever before.

One thing you have to consider in the draft is that it really is about "signability." Maybe other than the top 3-4 rounds, a kid who gets picked in the 8th round may not be "better" than a kid who is picked in the 48th round. The MLB teams are not going to waste a pick (especially in the top 15 rounds)if their is little chance they can sign you.

signability is a huge factor so that's a great point. Also, the MLB draft is probably the most difficult draft of all the major sports to predict, especially rounds. McFarlan was gonna be a top 8 rounder but nobody would have said 4th last year, and everyone thought Crosby would go in the top 4 rounds and be the first kid from Illinois taken for sure. Everyone had said Soto was signing for sure last year that's why the Twins took him so high and he went to Creighton instead, so u never know.

This year there's been alot of guys at Weaver's games. I am curious about Kapteyan cause I haven't heard his name much. Serrato's getting some looks as is Roberts, both are having solid year's but signed with Big Ten schools so signability comes to play again.

Coach Ope,
The 2007 draft did not have draft & follow either, so this years draft will be similar to last years.

Michael Heesch from Prairie Ridge also has a good shot of being drafted this year.

Mike Heesch? Are you serious? And what about his teammates, do you think either Martini and/or Swank will get drafted pitchandcatch97?

fvcfan, I am serious. I didn't think I had to mention Martini because someone else already had. I believe he will get drafted. I am not sure about Swank as many scouts are a little skittish about his arm slot and ability to consistently get left-handers out at the professional level. Heesch is a scout's dream; 6'6" LHP and expected to grow another inch or two, fastball cruises 86-88 and has touched 90. His ceiling is as high as any high school player in Northern Illinois. But remember, this is just my opinion and I am wrong often.

Good analysis pitchandcatch, and thank you. For your sake and the current coaches at the Ridge's too, I hope at least one of those three get drafted, if not all three. Your right, Heesch is a prototypical guy that if he gets some resources, like minor-league pitching coaches and weight rooms, he can be a real big catch for some team, kind of like a high risk, high reward. It's too bad Swank gets viewed by pro scouts that way, because I have seen him throw multiple times, and I think he is better at his age right now then some of the slingers at the major league level, but that's just my opinion. Martini is a good hitter and is very fast and has a strong arm for the outfield, for some reason I just feel like he will go to school rather then sign, even though it seemed like just six months ago, that's all he wanted to do. Go Prairie Ridge!

While they all three may get drafted and that would be an incredible circumstance for this area, let's put this in perspective. Martini, probably one of 2 kids who could be MVP in the FVC, has a fantastic swing, great speed, plays a good outfield, but size may limit his round in the draft. The 6'6" pitcher undoubtedly has the size, but he has struggled at times with control, most likely a late round pick. As to the the side arm pitcher, he has had tremendous success 2 of the three years he pitched at the varsity level. This year he has been solid, but velocity wise not intimidating and remember he could be in college already. While he might go late, remeber he has an incredible college deal and that may scare teams off. All three are great high school players let's see how it all shakes out next month and the next few years.

I seen Heesche last year before alot of people were talking about him and I thought he was the best prospect I seen to that point. Everyone started talking about his arm slot, how he struggles with off-speed pitches and control. But the fact is he's a 6'6 LHP that has very good velocity and is still growing and with the right coaches should get on track. I think it would be wise for someone to take a shot at him late, you can count the 6'6 LHP that throw 86 on one hand in this area. Swank gets people out plain and simple and he is murder on right handers. The draft are taking alot more specialists and relievers in the last few year so you never know. Martini, might be the best hitter in the state. Like mentioned above, they all have a shot in my opinion and watch out for PR making a run at state. They have the horses.

How many rounds are there in the draft? I'm not certain, but I want to say 40. Can someone help me out?

There are 50 rounds in the draft

Not every team made 50 picks though. Many skipped later round picks due to the end of the "draft and follow." Very few signees after round 30.

In the top ten rounds probably only a handful of Chicagoland players will be drafted. Prairie Ridge has talent, but I really can not see two kids from that team being drafted in the first 15 rounds, especially with their early commitments.

Odorizzi looks like the Bowden of this year.

does anybody know how Corey Kimes is doing this year?

Will see him pitch Wednesday. I've heard his last 2 starts have been rough...not sure though, could just be rumor.

In talking to a couple of coaches that faced him, he is the real deal and doing well.

I'll give you an update.

Thank you I play summer ball with him and I have a feeling he may not be joining us this summer

Sparks?

I know a few players with them and they feel the same way!

He has the size and left arm the pros look for, so either way a great summer for him!

Who all is on the Sparks roster this year?

illinoissparks.com

I finally found the roster which looks loaded with outstanding players.
I can't seem to find a 2008 schedule though.
Anybody have a link for it?

There is an imcomplete version posted on the website. The updated version should be posted soon.

Well if you want the top Illinois draft pick, it will be LHP Christian Friedrich of Eastern Kentucky.(Resides in Evanston, attended Loyola)

http://www.baseballamerica.com/today/draft/
http://web.minorleaguebaseball.com/milb/events/draft_re...dex.jsp?mc=friedrich

He will possibly go as high as the 5th pick in the draft and probably no lower than 14. St. Louis, San Fran, Washington and the Chi-Sox have been at every one of his starts this year

I bet Tyler Ladendorf goes pretty high also. He has been putting up some monster numbers at a juco in texas. I think he might have fallen off some radars out of high school as he was hurt either junior or senior season. How many people had Christian on their radars leaving high school? Congrats to both on great seasons!

Anyone hear about Mark Kelly C at SIU? I wonder where he is slated?

I knew he was he was going to have a good college career, but I did not see this on the horizon. Bottom line is that he pitched huge innings as a freshman and ended up around 10 and 1, things took off from there. He averaged around 12 k's per game that season as well, which ranked him in the top 5 for D1. He has always had a great curve however, one of the best I have ever seen. He was at about 82-84 mph at Loyola and now he can touch 94 to 95 if he has to. Many feel he won't be in the Minors for long.

Best of luck soon to Tyler and Christian.