Rex Brothers
Rumors

In the previous post we took at a look at some of the players from the 2009 MLB Draft that have not signed yet. Jason Churchill of espn.com gives us an update of those prospects who have signed and how their professional careers have started.

For an update on the status of first round draft picks, click here.

• While the Rockies are struggling to sign the #11 pick of the draft, Tyler Matzek, another one of their picks, Rex Brothers (#34) made his professional debut last week and so far has an 8-to-1 K/BB ratio.
• The Dodgers sandwich round pick, Aaron Miller, also started his professional career with an impressive 10Ks in 5.2 IP.
• The 51st pick in the 2009 draft Rich Poythress has signed with Seattle and been sent to Class AA West Tennessee.
• Ben Tootle, who was drafted by Minnesota, has four shutout appearances to start his professional career.
• AJ Morris, a fourth round pick by the Nationals, signed for $270K and has started with five perfect innings.
• San Francisco was able to steal Jason Stoffel in the fourth round and the reliever has pitched much better professionally so far than he did in college.
• Joseph Sanders, a fifth round pick by the Rockies, was hit by a pitch in the jaw in college ball this spring and clearly has not recovered from the traumatic injury yet as he continues to bail out with his swing.
• The Cardinals fifth round pick, Ryan Jackson, has struggled at the plate so far, something many scouts were worried about going into the draft.
• A 13th round pick to the Yankees, DeAngelo Mack has surprised so far, hitting .292 with 16 extra base hits.

Jason Churchill of espn.com has an update on the 2009 MLB Draftees who have signed with their clubs and started their professional careers already.

For an update on the status of first round draft picks, click here.

• Tony Sanchez, #4 overall pick by the Pittsburgh Pirates, has hit .328/.427/.469 so far.
• Tyler Matzek, #11 overall to the Colorado Rockies, has not signed yet and has been working out with his college commitment, Oregon, where he's playing the field and hitting when he's not pitching.
• However, the Rockies have signed their other top picks: Tim Wheeler (#32 overall), Rex Brothers (#34 overall), Nolan Arenado (second round), Ben Paulson (third round), Kent Matthes (fourth round).
• Any talk of Nationals draft pick Drew Storen (#10 overall) being a starter seem to be just that: talk. While getting promoted through the single A ranks, Storen has pitched exclusively in relief.
• The Diamondbacks first round pick, AJ Pollock (#16 overall) has struggled so far.
• Jiovanni Mier (#21 to the Astros) his hit the ball very well so far: .303/.394/.483 with two home runs, two doubles, four triples and four stolen bases in 23 games.
• Mike Trout, #25 overall to the Los Angeles Angels, has crushed the Arizona Rookie League hitting .395/.489/.579 in 10 games. One opposing player said about Trout, "He looks like a big leaguer down here on rehab, spraying the ball everywhere and beating out a routine ground ball to second base."

Keith Law of espn.com provided a reaction to the draft picks from Day 1 of the 2009 MLB Draft. For Day 2 analysis, click here.

Best picks of the first round

• Tyler Matzek, Colorado Rockies, #11 overall: He slid because of signability concerns and the Rockies benefited.
• Shelby Miller, St. Louis Cardinals, #19 overall: Like Matzek, he fell because of contract demands.
• Kyle Gibson, Minnesota Twins, #20 overall: The stress fracture in Gibson's throwing arm scared many teams off, but so long as it heals, the Twins got a steal.

Worst picks of the first round

• Tony Sanchez, Pittsburgh Pirates, #4 overall: It's not that Sanchez is not a first round player, but the Pirates reached too high at #4. The reason was a pre-draft deal that saved the Pirates some money, but they passed on too much talent.
• Randal Grichuk, Los Angeles Angles, #24 overall: Not even in Law's Top 100
• Nick Franklin, Seattle Mariners, #27 overall: Franklin does not have much upside along with below average power and mediocre defense at best.

More Thoughts

• Law liked the Diamondbacks draft of Bobby Borchering and AJ Pollock in the first round and Matt Davidson, Chris Owings and Mike Belifore in the second and third rounds.
• The Cubs took low stat, high upside athletic guys Brett Jackson and DJ LeMahieu.
• Rex Brothers was a steal for the Rockies at #34.

Jason Churchill of espn.com gives us his thoughts on the sandwich picks (compensation picks in between the first and second round) and the second round selections.

• Churchill was surprised that James Paxton lasted until the 37th pick by the Blue Jays.
• Matt Davidson slipped through the draft to the Diamondbacks at #35, but no word on why.
• Colorado continues to have a nice draft, taking Rex Brothers with #34
• Tanner Scheppers finally goes off the board at #48 to the Rangers.  Health appears to be a major concern for Scheppers and is likely the reason he fell.  If he's healthy, the Rangers got a steal.  Churchill thinks that Scheppers will be expensive, around $4M, but how much leverage does he really have at this point?
• Vic Black to the Pirates at #49 is a good fit.
• Kyle Heckathorn could be up in the majors quicky for the Brewers who took the Kennesaw State product at #47.
• A potential first round pick, Rich Poythress fell all the way to the Mariners at #51.
• The same is true for Andrew Oliver who was ranked in the Top 10 in late 2008, but fell to the Tigers at #58.
• The Red Sox took Alex Wilson with the 77th overall pick.  Wilson missed all of 2008 after Tommy John surgery.
• The Indians took outfielder Jason Kipnis with the 63rd overall pick, but will likely move him to second base.

Jason Churchill of espn.com gave us a few quick observations from the first round of the 2009 MLB Draft.

• Three high school pitchers indicated that they were going to demand large contracts and all three went in the first half of round one: Jacob Tuner, Tyler Matzek and Matt Purke.
• The best players available going into the sandwich round picks and the 2nd round are: Tanner Scheppers, James Paxton, Max Stassi and Wil Myers.  The next tier of players includes Tyler Skaggs, Rex Brothers, Tommy Joseph, Rich Poythress and Billy Bullock.
• Churuchill feels that the Rockies did well with their picks of Matzek and Tim Wheeler. 
• Randal Grichuk to the Angels and Nick Franklin to the Mariners, however, Churchill did not approve of. 
• Baltimore and San Francisco passing on Matzek, Shelby Miller and Aaron Crow was eyebrow raising.

The espn.com draft team of Keith Law and Jason Churchill have five (yes, FIVE!) draft updates for us today.  You can find each of them here, here, here, here and here.  We'll summarize them for you in one convenient location...below.

• The Pirates are interested in Tony Sanchez, Zach Wheeler, Matt Hobgood and Grant Green.
• Law likes the following: Wheeler to Baltimore, Tyler Matzek to San Francisco and Alex White to Atlanta. 
• The Braves like Matt Purke but don't want to pay him over slot.
• Atlanta's choice is between White and Mike Minor.  Churchill thinks Drew Storen is in the mix at #7 too.
• The Reds would like Minor, but if the Braves take him Chad Jenkins and Storen are options for them.
• Jenkins and Storen are also options for the Nationals at #10
• Churchill says that is Storen gets past the Nationals at #10, he might fall all the way out of the first round.  The Angels and Mariners like him, but likely do not have him high enough on their draft boards to select him in the 20s.  The Twins have some interest in Storen, but prefer Billy Bullock.
• Bobby Borchering may be the favorite to the Rockies at #11, even over Hobgood.
• If the Rockies do take Borchering at #11, the Diamondbacks will take AJ Pollock and Matt Davidson with their picks at 16 and 17.
• If Kansas City takes Mike Leake with #12 - and indications are that they are seriously considering it - Oakland would then choose between Green, Mike Trout and possibly Donovan Tate.
• Max Stassi worked out for the Red Sox this morning.
• St. Louis is rumored be interested in Purke.
• Detroit might not want to spend the money that Purke and Jacob Turner are rumored to be demanding.  If so, Rex Brothers and Chad James become options for them at #9.  The Tigers have also been linked to Borchering, Mike Trout and Reymond Fuentes.
• The Padres like Donovan Tate at #3, but if they feel they can't afford him, they'll go with Wheeler.  That would mean the Orioles take Hobgood.

Finally, Keith Law's latest Top 15.

1. Stephen Strasburg, Nationals
2. Dustin Ackley, Mariners
3. Tate, Padres
4. Sanchez, Pirates
5. Wheeler, Orioles
6. Matzek, Giants
7. White, Braves
8. Minor, Reds
9. Turner, Tigers
10. Storen, Nationals
11. Borchering, Rockies
12. Leake, Royals
13. Green, As
14. Shelby Miller, Rangers
15. Brothers or Eric Arnett, Indians

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)

A bunch of links to pass along with various 2009 MLB Draft tid bits in them.

• Pete McElroy of masn.com has more confirmation that the Nationals will take Chad Jenkins with the #10 pick.
• The Pirates trade of Nate McLouth has saved them $1.3M.  Perhaps they're stashing money to help sign their first round pick, #4 overall?  The Pirates were very interested in Kyle Gibson, perhaps because he's rumored to be very signable, but recent news of the stress fracture in his throwing arm likely take him out of the picture for the Pirates.  Perhaps Aaron Crow is the choice now.  There is word within this article that the Pirates have also scouted Mike Minor, Alex White, Tony Sanchez (who Jon Heyman of si.com is reporting the Pirates are interested in) and Wil Myers.
• Crow is excited for tomorrow's draft after the disappointment of 2008. 
• The Cardinals were scouting AJ Pollock and Josh Phegley this morning.  Derrick Gould of the St. Louis Post-Dispatch suggests four pitchers the Cards could be interested in who would also likely be available at their pick (#19): Matt Purke, Rex Brothers, Andrew Oliver, Mike Minor.
• Despite not having any early selections in several years, the Red Sox have done an admirable job of drafting.  
• I think everyone agrees with Jim Street of mlb.com that it would be shocking if Dustin Ackley slipped past the Mariners.  Signability might be an issue, but Ackley seems too good to pass up.  The Padres would certainly take Ackley if the Mariners didn't. 
• Tanner Scheppers had a good final start to his "career" with the St. Paul Saints throwing in the upper 90s.  If his draft stock needed any help, this performance gave it a boost.
• The Marlins seem likely to select a pitcher with their first pick, #18.  Jason Churchill of espn.com thinks they should go with the best available player.
• The Phillies are likely to take a young pitcher (read: high school) with their first pick, #75 overall.
• Dan Connolly of the Baltimore Sun sees the Orioles possibilities with the 5th pick as Zach Wheeler, Mike Minor, Mike Leake or Matt Hobgood.
• The Braves are looking to take a pitcher with their first pick (#7 overall) and the selection will likely be a high school player.  Most speculation about the Braves has been between Zach Wheeler or Tyler Matzek.

Everyone has heard about Stephen Strasburg and how the Nationals will selected the San Diego State phenom RHP with the #1 overall pick of the 2009 MLB Draft.  What about the other top pitchers?  Steve Henson of Yahoo! Sports gives us a preview of those who are likely to go in the first round

• Stephen Strasburg - The only way Strasburg doesn't go first is if his advisor's, Scott Boras, contract demands are too much for Washington.
• Aarow Crow - He was selected by the Nationals last year with the #9 pick, but famously couldn't come to terms with Washington and has pitched sporadically for the Fort Worth Cats.  He figures to go somewhere in between #2 to the Mariners and #5 to the Orioles.
• Mike Minor - Many scouts feel that Minor is only a year away from pitching in the majors which makes him attractive.  Some scouts also think that the Minor we're seeing now is the best he'll be which could scare teams off.
• Alex White - White had a tremendous career at UNC that was tarnished by poor outings in the ACC tournament and opening round of the NCAA tournament.  He did pitch well in Saturday's super regional, but the damage may already have been done to his draft stock.
• Tanner Scheppers - While with Fresno State last year, a mysterious shoulder injury kept him on the sidelines while his team won the NCAA title.  He dropped to the second round in 2008 and did not sign with the Pirates, instead playing for the St. Paul Saints.  If he lasted to the middle of the first round, it'd be a surprise.
• Chad Jenkins - His draft stock has been rising with the quality of his change up, but he also boasts a good fastball and slider.  Many predict that he'll end up on the Nationals with Strasburg as the #10 pick.  
• Kyle Heckathorn - Jenkins teammate, he started the season ranked ahead of his teammate, but has since fallen below him.  That's more praise of Jenkins than an indictment of Heckathorn who has thrown hard all year and may be a closer at the professional level.
• Mike Leake - His height, 5-11, is figuratively keeping him down as every other metric seemingly used to indicate pitching success he has.
• Rex Brothers - The proverbial "live arm" Brothers needs to develop a changeup and improve his control.
• Eric Arnett - Scouts compare his large frame to Derek Lowe and Josh Johnson.
• Drew Storen - Storen could be attractive for teams looking for more immediate help.  He's already a reliever in college and thus has had a small work load on his pitching shoulder.
• James Paxton - Positives: 95mph fastball, hard slider.  Negatives: funky arm motion, command needs improvement.
• Kyle Gibson - The "forearm stiffness" Gibson was suffering is infact a stress fracture in his arm that could really hurt his draft stock. 
• Andrew Oliver - A major prospect in 2008, Oliver has had a difficult season and seen his draft stock plummet.