Jared Mitchell
Rumors

The August 17th deadline to sign plays from the 2009 MLB Draft is fast approaching. We'll use this page to update the signing status of all the first round picks.

The deadline for players to sign is August 17, 2009

1. Stephen Strasburg, Washington Nationals - Despite speculation that he would not signed, agreed to a $15M contract. (updated 8/17/09)
2. Dustin Ackley, Seattle Mariners - Agreed to a $7.5M signing bonus. (updated 8/17/09)
3. Donovan Tate, San Diego Padres - Instead of going back to UNC to play football, signed a contract with a 6.25M signing bonus (updated 8/17/09)
4. Tony Sanchez, Pittsburgh Pirates - Signed a well-publicized contract before the draft
5. Matt Hobgood, Baltimore Orioles - Signed a contract
6. Zach Wheeler, San Francisco Giant - Signed for $3.3M (updated 8/17/09)
7. Mike Minor, Atlanta Braves - Signed a contract with a record $2.42M signing bonus (updated 8/8/09)
8. Mike Leake, Cincinnati Reds - Agreed to a $2.2M contract (updated 8/15/09)
9. Jacob Turner, Detroit Tigers - Received a Rick Porcello-like signing bonus of $5.5M (updated 8/17/09)
10. Drew Storen, Washington Nationals - Signed a contract
11. Tyler Matzek, Colorado Rockies - Rumors were that it would take a lot of money to keep Matzek away from Oregon: signed for $3.3M (updated 8/17/09)
12. Aaron Crow, Kansas City Royals - Agreed to a $3M contract with the Royals (updated 9/21/09)
13. Grant Green, Oakland As - Agreed to a $2.75M signing bonus (updated 8/15/09)
14. Matt Purke, Texas Rangers - Decided to go to college instead of signing with the Rangers (updated 8/17/09)
15. Alex White, Cleveland Indians - Got a bit less than Minor, $2.25M signing bonus (updated 8/17/09)
16. Bobby Borchering, Arizona Diamondbacks - Agreed to a contract with a $1.8M signing bonus (updated 8/15/09)
17. AJ Pollock, Arizona Diamondbacks - Signed a contract
18. Chad James, Florida Marlins - Agreed to a $1.7M contract (updated 8/15/09)
19. Shelby Miller, St. Louis Cardinals - Inked a $2.875M signing bonus (updated 8/17/09).
20. Chad Jenkins, Toronto Blue Jays - Signed for $1.359M (updated 8/15/09)
21. Jiovanni Mier, Houston Astros - Signed a contract
22. Kyle Gibson, Minnesota Twins - Signed a $1.8M contract (updated 8/17/09)
23. Jared Mitchell, Chicago White Sox -Signed a contract
24. Randal Grichuk, Los Angeles Angels -Signed a contract
25. Mike Trout, Los Angeles Angels - Signed a contract
26. Eric Arnett, Milwaukee Brewers - Signed a contract
27. Nick Franklin, Seattle Mariners - Signed for $1.28M (updated 8/15/09)
28. Reymond Fuentes, Boston Red Sox - Signed a contract
29. Slade Heathcott, New York Yankees - Agreed to a $2.2M signing bonus (updated 8/17/09)
30. LeVon Washington, Tampa Bay Rays - Ultimately did not sign with the Rays (updated 8/17/09)
31. Brett Jackson, Chicago Cubs - Signed a contract
32. Tim Wheeler, Colorado Rockies - Signed a contract

Let's take a look at some of the news and rumors from around baseball today.

• The Angels are looking for bullpen help.
• BJ Ryan was released by the Blue Jays.  The Jays are really dominating the news and rumors, huh?
• The White Sox signed their 2009 MLB Draft first round pick Jared Mitchell.
• The Reds are close to signing their top two picks from the 2009 MLB Draft, Mike Leake and Brad Boxberger.

• Chuck Finder of The Pittsburgh Post Gazette says that the Pirates reached for Tony Sanchez.  I think everyone realizes that they did, but the pick was a financial one: he'll sign for less.
• The Diamondbacks had eight picks in the first three rounds - Bobby Borchering and AJ Pollock in the first round - and hope they will mine some impact players writes Nick Piecoro of The Arizona Republic.
• Jerry Brewer of The Seattle Times believes that Dustin Ackley was the right pick for Seattle.  I don't think anyone is going to argue with that.  Buster Olney of espn.com thinks that the top of the Mariners order could go 1. Ichiro Suzuki, 2. Ackley by 2011.
• The Padres aimed to draft ahtletic players with their early 2009 draft picks says Bill Center of The San Diego Union-Tribune.  Donovan Tate certainly fits that bill.
• By drafting Tyler Matzek the Rockies now have to make sure he doesn't go to Oregon for college.  It could cost them writes Irv Moss of The Denver Post.
• The Blue Jays are very impressed with their first round draft picks', Chad Jenkins, stuff, according to Richard Griffin of The Toronto Star.
• Minnesota took a gamble on Kyle Gibson who ended his season with a stress fracture in his forearm says La Velle Neal of The Minneapolis Star Tribune.
• Jared Mitchell has a high ceiling for the White Sox hopes Joe Cowley from The Chicago Sun-Times.
• The Red Sox hope that Reymond Fuentes has a similar career path to Jacoby Ellsbury writes Sean McAdam for the Boston Hearld.
• The Ranges have not been afraid to spend money on their draft picks recently and Kevin Sherrington of The Dallas Morning News notes that 2009 was no different.
• Marlins first round draft pick Chad James hopes he's on the major league roster in three years.
• LeVon Washington, the Rays first round draft picks, is ready to sign.
• The Orioles are not worried that Matt Hobgood was not rated as high as they had him in the 2009 draft.
• While Mike Trout (#24 to the Angels) was at the MLB studios at the draft, Stephen Strasburg watched the broadcast from his couch.

Here's a review of the first round of the 2009 MLB Draft.

1. Washington Nationals - Stephen Strasburg, RHP, San Diego State University
2. Seattle Mariners - Dustin Ackley, OF, UNC
3. San Diego Padres - Donovan Tate, OF, Cartersville HS, GA
4. Pittsburgh Pirates - Tony Sanchez, C, Boston College
5. Baltimore Orioles - Matt Hobgood, RHP, Norco HS, CA
6. San Francisco Giants - Zach Wheeler, RHP, East Paulding HS, GA
7. Atlanta Braves - Mike Minor, LHP, Vanderbilt
8. Cincinnati Reds - Mike Leake, RHP, Arizona State
9. Detroit Tigers - Jacob Turner, RHP, Westminster Christian Academy, MO
10. Washington Nationals - Drew Storen, RHP, Stanford
11. Colorado Rockies - Tyler Matzek, LHP, Capistrano Valley HS, CA
12. Kansas City Royals - Aaron Crow, LHP, Fort Worth Cats
13. Oakland As - Grant Green, SS, USC
14. Texas Rangers - Matt Purke, LHP, Klein HS, TX
15. Cleveland Indians - Alex White, RHP, UNC
16. Arizona Diamondbacks - Bobby Borchering, Bishop Verot HS, FL
17. Arizona Diamondbacks - AJ Pollock, OF, Notre Dame
18. Florida Marlins - Chad James, LHP, Yukon HS, OK
19. St. Louis Cardinals - Shelby Miller, RHP, Brownwood HS, TX
20. Toronto Blue Jays - Chad Jenkins, RHP, Kennesaw State
21. Houston Astros - Jiovanni Mier, SS, Bonita HS, CA
22. Minnestoa Twins - Kyle Gibson, RHP, Missouri
23. Chicago White Sox - Jared Mitchell, CF, LSU
24. Los Angeles Angels - Randal Grichuk, LF, Lamar Cons HS, TX
25. Los Angeles Angels - Mike Trout, CF, Millville Sr. HS, NJ
26. Milwaukee Brewers - Eric Arnett, RHP, Indiana
27. Seattle Mariners - Nick Franklin, SS, Lake Brantley HS, FL
28. Boston Red Sox - Reymond Fuentes, CF, Fernando Callejo HS, CA
29. New York Yankees - Slade Heathcott, OF, Texas HS, TX
30. Tampa Bay Rays - LeVon Washington, 2B, Buchholz HS, FL
31. Chicago Cubs - Brett Jackson, CF, University of California - Berkeley
32. Colorado Rockies - Tim Wheeler, OF, Cal State - Sacramento

For picks 1-5, 6-10, 11-15, 16-20 and 27-32 click on the links.

7:49pm With the 21st pick of the 2009 MLB Draft the Houston Astros select Jiovanni Mier.  The Twins are on the clock.

7:51pm Baseball Rumor Mill Best Available: Jared Mitchell, Tanner Scheppers, Kyle Gibson

7:53pm It's getting difficult to predict picks here because the draft has been a bit jumbled.  My guess is the Twins take Scheppers.  He's been playing in Minnesota for the last year anyway.

7:54pm With the 22nd pick of the 2009 MLB Draft the Minnesota Twins select Kyle Gibson.  The Chicago White Sox are on the clock.

7:55pm I love this pick.  Everyone knows about the stress fracture in his right arm which affected his end of season performance, but so long as the injury is not serious long term, they're getting a Top 10, maybe Top 5 pick at #21.

7:56pm What will be interesting going forward is seeing where Jared Mitchell goes.  He's been splitting time between baseball and football at LSU and I love the athleticism which is why I have him as my best available player.  However, it's obviously a pure upside pick.

7:57pm The White Sox have been rumored to be interested in position players, I wonder if they'd be excited by Mitchell's upside.  He seems like general manager Kenny Williams and manager Ozzie Guillen's type of player.

7:58pm With the 23rd pick of the 2009 MLB Draft the Chicago White Sox select Jared Mitchell.  The Angels are now on the clock for two picks.

7:59pm It's no surprise that I like this pick.  Harold Reynolds informs us that Kenny Williams played two sports in college as well.  The pick makes even more sense.

8:01pm Baseball Rumor Mill Best Available: Tanner Scheppers, Rex Brothers, Wil Myers.

8:03pm With the 24th pick of the 2009 MLB Draft the Los Angeles Angels select Randal Grichuk.  The Angels remain on the clock.

8:04pm Everyone knows that the Angels love high school players so where the player came from is not much of a surprise.  What is a surprise is that they passed up guys like Everett Williams, Mike Trout and Reymond Fuentes.

8:05pm I like Tyler Skaggs or Garrett Gould with this next pick for the Angels.

8:08pm With the 25th pick of the 2009 MLB Draft, the Los Angeles Angels select Mike Trout.  The Milwaukee Brewers are now on the clock.

8:09pm Fun scene at the draft with Trout in attendance.  I think this is going to be the future of the draft in years to come as it gains steam.  Harold Reyonlds tells us that they asked every player in the country to come to the draft and Trout was the only one who said yes.  I have a feeling that's going to change with the face time Trout just got.

8:13pm With the 26th pick of the 2009 MLB Draft, the Milwaukee Brewers select Eric Arnett.  The Mariners are on the clock.

Bob Elliot of The Toronto Sun put together his predictions for the first round of tonight's draft.  For previous mock drafts, click here.

1. Stephen Strasburg, Nationals
2. Dustin Ackley, Mariners
3. Tyler Matzerk, Padres
4. Aaron Crow, Pirates
5. Alex White, Orioles
6. Zach Wheeler, Giants
7. Drew Storen, Braves
8. Mike Minor, Reds
9. Jacob Turner, Tigers
10. Chad Jenkins, Nationals
11. Rex Brothers, Rockies
12. Grant Green, Royals
13. Mike Leake, As
14. Shelby Miller, Rangers
15. Eric Arnett, Indians
16. Andrew Oliver, Diamondbacks
17. Bobby Borchering, Diamondbacks
18. Mike Trout, Marlins
19. Tanner Scheppers, Cardinals
20. AJ Pollock, Blue Jays
21. Matt Purke, Astros
22. Wil Myers, Twins
23. Tony Sanchez, White Sox
24. Matt Hobgood, Angels
25. Jeff Malm, Angels
26. Jared Mitchell, Brewers
27. Rich Poythress, Mariners
28. Max Stassi, Red Sox
29. Donovan Tate, Yankees
30. Everett Williams, Rays
31. Slade Heathcott, Cubs

Jonathan Mayo of mlb.com has given us a number of mock drafts over the past month which can all be viewed here.  For his mock draft prior to this one, click here.

But, those are all in the past.  Let's get to his most recent mock draft published this morning.

1. Stephen Strasburg, Nationals
2. Dustin Ackley, Mariners
3. Donovan Tate, Padres (last week, Mike Minor)
4. Aaron Crow, Pirates
5. Zach Wheeler, Orioles
6. Tyler Matzerk, Giants
7. Alex White, Braves (last week, Shelby Miller)
8. Mike Minor, Reds (last week, Mike Leake)
9. Matt Purke, Tigers (last week, Jacob Turner)
10. Drew Storen, Nationals
11. Mike Leake, Rockies (last week, Rex Brothers)
12. Wil Myers, Royals (last week, Kyle Gibson)
13. Grant Green (last week, Tanner Scheppers)
14. Shelby Miller, Rangers
15. Eric Arnett, Indians
16. Rex Brothers, Diamondbacks (last week, AJ Pollock)
17. Bobby Borchering, Diamondbacks
18. Chad James, Marlins (last week, Chad Jenkins)
19. Chad Jenkins, Cardinals (last week, Grant Green)
20. Tim Wheeler, Blue Jays (last week, Everett Williams)
21. Jared Mitchell, Astros
22. Matt Hobgood, Twins
23. Everett Williams, White Sox (last week, Mike Trout)
24. Mike Trout, Angels (last week, Garret Gould)
25. Jiovanni Mier, Angels (last week, Matt Purke)
26. Garret Gould, Brewers (last week, Matt Davidson)
27. Tanner Scheppers, Mariners (last week Tony Sanchez)
28. Jacob Turner, Red Sox (last week, Max Stassi)
29. Brett Jackson, Yankees
30. Tommy Joseph, Rays (last week, Jiovanni Mier)
31. AJ Pollock, Cubs (last week, Tim Wheeler)
32. Kyle Gibson, Rockies (last week, Slade Heathcott)

Jason Churchill of espn.com gives us a nice update from the NCAA Super Regionals this past weekend.

• Alex White recovered nicely from a difficult finish to his season with an excellent performance against East Carolina.  An NL club's area scout felt he should go in the Top 10.
• Dustin Ackley continues to impress scouts and get rave praise: "His best tool is his makeup -- he's a bunch of above-average tools rolled into one doggone good package."
• Jared Mitchell continues to befuddle scouts who do not know how to project a player who impresses, but hasn't fully focused on baseball while playing football at LSU as well.  Churchill feels he is similar to Jacque Jones or Mike Cameron.
• One scout felt that DJ LeMahieu, a draft eligible sophomore has looked good, but could benefit from another year in college.
• Billy Bullock blew a save for Florida against Southern Mississippi and showed some weaknesses to scouts.  He continually threw fastballs, often with very little command.  Nevertheless, he still projects as a solid reliever in the big leagues.
• Mike Leake: "Leake is just a good, solid right-handed pitcher with command of three or four quality pitches," said an AL club's West Coast area scout.
• Jason Kipnis may not find a home in center fielder in the major leagues, but still should warrant consideration because of his bat.

One NL VP of scouting had some interesting comments about the 2009 MLB Draft class:

"[The class is] not one you want to stretch your budget for in terms of bonuses unless you're a club with money to spare. But those that aren't drafting high but have a pick in the right spot after the first 20 and maybe an extra pick, too, they're going to get two top-10 or -15 players, if they want to spend. This is what's wrong with the draft.  The teams that need the help are drafting in the top 10, but since they can't afford the best players sometimes, they pass, sending that player to a 'have' team. It's why there is a lot of talk about trading draft picks.  Come the end of the draft, many of the have-nots will have draft classes that pale in comparison to those that had fewer picks and drafted 20 slots lower. That's not the end result we all want with the draft. Baseball has to look at that and the slotting system and make some changes."

Great article here about the scouting and drafting process from February through the draft.  The article talks about the Phillies, but could truthfully be applied to any team.

Earlier, we previewed the pitchers would could go in the first round of the upcoming 2009 MLB Draft.  Similar to how Stephen Strasburg is expected to go first overall to the Washington Nationals, Dustin Ackley is expected to go #2 overall to the San Diego Padres.  Only rumors of a high price tag appear to be possible to derail the selection.  But after Ackley, who's available from the position players?  Steve Henson from Yahoo! Sports previews the position players.  Unlike the pitchers who figure to fill the Top 10 with either just Ackley or one other position player, the ranks are significantly thinner from the guys who play defense.

• AJ Pollock - The jack of all trades, Pollock could rise to the majors faster than any other positional prospect, but lacks the upside that scouts drool over.
• Tony Sanchez - Recent mock drafts have him going anywhere from the 20s to as high as #4 to the Pirates as teams struggle to put his tremendous season into perspective.  The Red Sox have been rumored to be interested in him with their pick at #28.  He might not be there.
• Rich Poythress - A true power hitter, that's all that Poythress really bring to the table unfortunately. 
• Jared Mitchell - He was recently named the best collegiate athlete in the draft, Mitchell is pure upside as his split duties as a wide received on the LSU football team has prevented him from giving his full attention to baseball.
• Tim Wheeler - His speed and defense scouts seem to agree on, but many think that his 18 HRs are an anamoly.  Otherwise Wheeler would be in the discussion with Ackley.
• Brett Jackson - Similar to Pollock, Jackson displays good, but not great ability in many areas, but unlike, say, Poyhtress, he does not do one thing very well. 

Jason Churchill of espn.com breaks down the best, well, everything for the draft on Tuesday.  Below is a sample of some of the categories

Best Fastball
High School: Jacob Turner
College: Stephen Strasburg
Notable: Billy Bullock

Best Curveball
High School: Chad James
College: Stephen Strasburg
Notable: Ben Tootle

Best Slider
High School: (tie) Tyler Matzek and Zach Wheeler
College: Aaron Crow
Notable: Rex Brothers

Best Changeup
High School: Tyler Matzek
College: (tie) Kyle Gibson and Mike Minor
Notable: Aaron Crow

Best Command/Control
High School: Tyler Matzek
College: Stephen Strasburg
Notable: Mike Leake

Best Hitter (Avg)
High School: Matt Davidson
College: Dustin Ackley

Best Power Hitter
High School: (tie) Matt Davidson and Max Stassi
College: Dustin Ackley

Best Athlete
High School: Donovan Tate
College: Jared Mitchell