Rays Prospects -Top hitters #15 Tyler Bortnick

I'm glad that Tyler is getting some well deserved recognition. At the same time I hate reading reports like that one. Nothing against Aaron Fitt or BA but what they think will not stop anyone.

The truth is, players will end up determining where they end up. Sure the First round types will be given more rope, but that doesn't stop the rest.

Also, if we want comps, there are a few on the current Rays roster.

I hope Tyler continues to do well and ends up being a Major League star.

I know we take some flack for being too positive at times on players. But IMO too negative is worse. And if you're going to be negative, you should know exactly what you're talking about.

Hell, it's easy to say the guys drafted first are the best prospects. It's easy to find something wrong with the rest. And it's easy to be wrong both ways.

The odds are against them all. But those that keep producing are likely to make it. Only the writers care where they were drafted when evaluating them. Look at the current MLB rosters or even the all star game rosters and see where players were drafted. It would be interesting to see what was written back when some of these guys first started. Start with 13th rounder Jason Bartlett (how good is he?) Another 13th rounder just won his second consecutive MVP award.

Still, it's always best to get the recognition and I guess this is some good recognition for Tyler.

Just an out-there question PG.
Off the top of your head, can you think of anyone who was never drafted (free agent signee) who became an all-star, or at the least, a solid yearly contributor.

Just curious.

Workinghard: Not quite meeting your criteria, but almost: Mike Piazza was a 50th (?) round draft pick who rumor has would not have been drafted at all if Tommy Lasorda wasn't his Godfather (I think I got that right). Pains me to say this as a life long Giants' fan, but Piazza ended up doing okay. :>

PGstaff, here's something that proves your point even more clearly.
From the Arizona Instructional League:

First-rounders galore

In just about every camp throughout instructs, teams have invited members of the 2006 draft class to continue the learning process. Different clubs invite a different number of the recently drafted, but one thing is almost certain: The top pick for each organization is almost undoubtedly there.

You could, if you so chose, drive around Arizona and see all this first-round talent: RHP Greg Reynolds (Rockies, No. 2 overall); LHP Clayton Kershaw (Dodgers, No. 7); LHP Kasey Kiker (Rangers, No. 12); OF Tyler Colvin (Cubs, No. 13); RHP Jeremy Jeffress (Brewers, No. 16); INF Matt Antonelli (Padres, No. 17); C Hank Conger (Angels, No. 25); RHP Bryan Morris (Dodgers, No. 26); RHP Kyle McCulloch (White Sox, No. 29).

The Royals' top pick, No. 1 overall selection Luke Hochevar, will be in Arizona. But he'll be competing in the Arizona Fall League, not in instructs. The Diamondbacks haven't signed their top pick, Max Scherzer (No. 11 overall), but their supplemental first-round pick, Brooks Brown (No. 34) is at instructs. The A's didn't have a first-rounder, but their top pick, Trevor Cahill (second round), is in camp



Dernell Stenson MVP at Arizona Instructional League:

Former Coastal Carolina University baseball outfielder David Sappelt was named the Dernell Stenson Most Valuable Player at the conclusion of the Arizona Fall Instructional League, it was announced recently.

Sappelt led all Cincinnati Red minor leaguers with 47 stolen bases in 2009. He hit .283 with 24 doubles, 10 triples, seven home runs and 46 RBI between Dayton and Sarasota, the Low-A and High-A affiliates of the Reds.

Sappelt was a 9th rounder in 2008.

Didn't Mike Lansing make the all star game one year? And wasn't he an undrafted free agent, maybe off one of the indy league teams?

workinghard,
Just about every Latin born player who became an all-star. Eric Gagne was drafted in the 30th round but didn't sign and later was signed as an undrafted free agent.

quote:

Originally posted by PGStaff:
At the same time I hate reading reports like that one. Nothing against Aaron Fitt or BA but what they think will not stop anyone.

A friend told me something once that I try to adhere to, do not pay attention to reports, good or bad and FWIW never respond to anything written as a parent. I have tried real hard to follow that advice.

The reason being, no matter what anyone's opinion, even our own, the only one that matters are the ones paying the paycheck.

BTW, mine was a high prospect, but he's had some pretty negative things said about him in teh past years, right now considered a bust from the 2007 draft. You take the good with the bad, and let the players prove them right or wrong on the field.

My son in law lives ten minutes from the Renegades stadium and he raved about the Bortnick boy---and my son in law know his baseball----


Great way for Tyler to start is pro career

Thanks for the kind comments. A little surprised to see this thread posted here but thanks nonetheless.

Ian Kinsler is probably the poster boy for late round draft choices doing good these days.

CJ Retherford is an undrafted free agent for the White Sox who is an eyelash away from the big leagues.

CD, Actually Kinsler was drafted in the 17th round.

From the All Star Game rosters…

Heath Bell RHP SD signed as an undrafted Free Agent, he was drafted in the 69th round in 1997 but did not sign at the time.

Here are some (not so high draft picks) who were on the all star rosters…

Orlando Hudson – 43rd rd
Mark Buehrle – 38th rd
Brian Fuentes – 25th rd
Ryan Franklin – 23rd rd
Ted Lilly – 23rd rd
Jason Bay – 22nd rd
Zach Duke – 20th rd
Albert Pujols – 13th rd
Jason Bartlett – 13th rd
Trevor Hoffman – 11th rd
Brad Hawpe – 11th rd

There were also 6 Free Agents, from Foreign Countries, Japan, Dominican Republic, Venezuela, Panama.

Workinghard,

I believe Kevin Millar would qualify. As an undrafted free agent he has had a nice career. He also was a player with the historical 2004 World Series Champion Boston Red Sox.