This update today is going to jump around quite a bit, but I want to start out with something that relates directly to the site. On twitter I said that I would publish my own draft board on Friday or Saturday. That’s being pushed to tomorrow morning. The draft begins Monday night and will go through Wednesday night.
Ibandel Isabel goes off last night for Daytona
After not playing for nearly a full week, the Daytona Tortugas actually got on the field Friday night. Ibandel Isabel made up for lost time in game 1 of the double header. He reached base three times and hit two long home runs. The first one was to the opposite field. The second one was pulled and just landed this morning. Jason Woodell was at the game and got some video of both home runs. The second one went 438 feet.
Ibandel Isabel with 2 yuuuuuge ?#Reds
The first one looked like he barely got it and it just kept going. The 2nd one was hit even further.#80RAW pic.twitter.com/ryXSk6stWe— Jason Woodell (@JasonAtTheGame) June 2, 2018
The Dayton Dragons flash the leather on Friday
The Dayton Dragons game didn’t go well on Friday night, particularly the last few innings when things got out of hand. But early in the game when it was still close, several Dragons players showed off some defensive skills. John Sansone, Andy Sugilio, and Jose Garcia all made very nice plays during the game. Here’s the video of the plays:
As I tweeted out last night during the game, the Dayton Dragons were flashing the leather. Here’s the highlights of John Sansone (3B), Jose Garcia (2B) and Andy Sugilio (RF). pic.twitter.com/4JBaQcIc6U
— Doug Gray (@dougdirt24) June 2, 2018
Fangraphs latest Mock Draft
Eric Longenhagen and Kiley McDaniel came out with their latest mock draft on Friday afternoon over at Fangraphs. There’s a whole lot of real good information at the link, so if you’re interested in the draft at all beyond the Reds, go read all of the stuff at the link. But, here’s what the duo had to say about Cincinnati.
5. Cincinnati Reds – Nick Madrigal, 2B, Oregon State
Whomever doesn’t go fourth will go here, with Arizona prep lefty Matthew Liberatore a distant third possibility. Both picks 4 and 5 likely play out this way even if it goes Bart-Winn-Mize and Bohm is available at these picks. The Reds have been tied to Canadian prep catcher Noah Naylor, Florida prep center fielder Connor Scott, Illinois prep center fielder Alek Thomas, and Georgia prep righties Kumar Rocker and Cole Wilcox for their second pick, though it’s possible none of them get there. Either Madrigal or Singer should be close to slot value here.
Chris Buckley on the Reds draft strategy
Bobby Nightengale of the Cincinnati Enquirer spoke with Cincinnati Reds scouting director Chris Buckley for an article he wrote on Saturday.
Buckley, entering his 13th draft with the Reds, said the organization’s philosophy is just picking the top talent available. There isn’t a preference between college or high school players.
“Anybody we select is usually, three, four, five years from the Major Leagues,” Buckley said. “It’s not like the NFL Draft where there can be drafts for needs. We’re trying to get as many good players and good pitchers as we can.”
Reds pick up RHP Tommy Bergjans from the Phillies
Matt Eddy has a roster move from last week that was seemingly missed everywhere else. The Cincinnati Reds acquired right handed pitcher Tommy Bergjans from the Phillies. They “traded” for him, sending the Phillies cash (money, not Case). He’s a 25-year-old reliever who is a former 8th round pick. He’s barely pitched this season, throwing just 7.0 innings between Advanced-A Clearwater and Double-A Reading. His first game wasn’t until May 9th, so he likely began the year on the disabled list.
Looking back at his history, from a stats perspective, we can see a guy who has experience starting and throws a lot of strikes. The strikeout rate itself has been all over the place. In 2016 at the Advanced-A level he struck out 9.2 batters per-9-innings pitched. Last season in Double-A that dropped to 7.1. This season, in incredibly limited action, he’s yet to strike a batter out. The other interesting thing is that as he’s moved up each level he’s given up more and more fly balls. In 2017, in Double-A, his ground ball rate was only 37%. He has not been assigned to a team yet in the Reds organization.