Getting drafted as undersized pitcher

Joey DeNato was one of the top college pitchers statistically his senior year at Indiana (13-1, 1.82). He's 5'10", 175. He cruised at 87/88. He was drafted in the 19th round. He didn't have to worry about signing bonus in that round.

Apparently the "reasonable signing bonus"  was not so reasonable as nobody drafted him or attempted to sign him.. 

 

As a senior he won't have any choice/leverage on the signing bonus.  To get a "better position" next year he needs to play better and throw harder but don't be disappointed when the drafting team "offers" 75 to 90%  less then slot money.  Its just the way it is when you have no leverage as a senior.  

I don't know much, so don't shoot me if this is a stupid question.  Since he won't have leverage next year, can he sign as a free agent now?

This is a link to a BaseballAmerica article illustrating some of the newer type issues facing senior signs. Every senior will face these this year,  next year and every year under the current system:

 

http://www.baseballamerica.com...s-gut-punch-seniors/

 

The reasonableness of signing bonus was definitely not the issue (indicated $35K as a junior).  His performance was also not the issue...   2.4 ERA, .185 BAA, 1.05 WHIP 9.9K/9IP, 3-1 record, 3 saves, and no blown saves, and 50 IP in a premier D1 conference.  Inherited 27 baserunning over the season...  3 scored.  Consistent big game results, ability to make guys miss, command...   he had a very good year.

 

I think his slight size leads scouts to believe he is not durable, even though he has had no injuries.  Joey DeNato was a starter, so maybe that helped Scouts get over that misperception.

As a junior he would have signed for 35K?  

Just because a pitcher had a good year doesnt mean he is draft material, if he were, for that a amount they would have scooped him up for a bargain.

 

Sorry, but your son is WAY better off completeing his college education than giving himself away as a junior for 35K.

I dont think it was anything other than he just didnt have pro potential.  Not getting drafted, even at that bargain price, means, go back and fi ish school and we will see how you do next season.

What size is your son?

Not his height or velo. He needs to start seriously working with a trainer if he even wants a chance next year even as a senior.

I suggest you stop taking it personally.  Success at the college level doesnt add up to success on the pro level.

Players are not drafted based upon their accomplishments. Players are drafted because a scout(s) has concluded that a player has a ceiling which will get him to MLB (assuming all stars line up).

 

Now, if a player has years of steady spectacular results against competition which has pro potential (in the eyes of a scout), that is often a proxy scouts use in evaluating a player. So guys like Joey Denato (barely 5' 10" in cleats; utterly dominant against tough top end batters for all four years) and Keegan Yuhl (late round 2014 Houston; barely 5' 10" dominant for all four years) get their shots as seniors. (And, both guys continue that domination in MILB so far).

 

Area scouts will give out FAR more questionnaires then there are draft spots. A player who is not a pick which needs a cross checker (or above) to evaluate, has only his area scout to advocate for the player come draft meeting time. The area scout has only so much influence when advocating against other area scouts.

 

By the bare numbers - sitting 88-9 - the player fits the mold of a senior sign. Doesn't matter the size. While LHPs sitting 88-9 in college are above average, i don't think that's true in proball. Even a guy like Denato who sat maybe 87 in college, now sits roughly 89-90 as a reliever. So it's an uphill battle for the area scout to get a club to use a pick on a LHP RP AS A JUNIOR. There may be exceptions, but that's just the black box of the draft.

 

(yes, the player could sign as a FA. Mike Ford signed as a FA junior following an incredible four week stint at the Cape in 2013.)

 

FWIW, here is my layman advice: work hard, don't look back at this draft (except to use it as motivation to continue to get better), if there is a way to earn a spot in the rotation, so much the better (unless he is a closer); perform well during the summer, have a great scout day in the fall and follow that momentum into the spring, get more credits (enough to graduate would be the cherry on the cake), work on the velo (showing an occasional 93 is better than 91 - it demonstrates that the arm has 93 potential). 

 

Assuming no injury, character issues, and the same type of season, your son will have his opportunity to play proball. Once in proball, everyone has the opportunity to climb the pyramid.

 

(IMO, the academic achievement issue isn't a factor. Top end players from academic schools are drafted - and signed as juniors - in every draft. Once you get out of the top ten rounds, there is no risk to a club in drafting and not signing a player.)

That was great Goosegg, thank you.
I wish people would understand that those questionares are just what they are.
Very interesting article on senior signs.

How much do stats matter? It's good if a player shows his potential. But after a particular lefty with a three year losing record and a high ERA was drafted in the top ten rounds my son commented ...

 

He either has naked pictures of some scout with farm animals or they like he's a lefty, 6'3" and cruises in the low 90's.

 

When the next level is watching, whether it's high school, college or the pros if a player fits the mold it's about future potential upside. If a player doesn't fit the mold he better have some numbers to back up his potential.