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MLB Draft: (**UPDATED: Cats begin signing pro deals**)

  • The MLB Draft starts tonight and continues the next few days. With only the 1st round and supplemental rounds tonight there isn't going to be an Kentucky goes selected, but there will be some the next two days, including: Luke Maile, Taylor Rogers, Jerad Grundy, Michael Williams and potentially Thomas McCarthy, Alex Phillips, Cameron Flynn and Zac Zellers.

    But the most intriguing prospect is Brian Adams, who is now committed to baseball and was selected by the CIncinnati Reds in the 45th round of the 2009 draft. He hasn't played much at Kentucky (1. Because he bounced back and forth between sports and 2. Because like Pedro Cerrano in Major League "Bats, they are sick. I cannot hit curveball. Straightball I hit it very much. Curveball, bats are afraid.") but he is a physical freak, crazy athlete, fast, puts on a show in BP, etc.

    PerfectGame.org's Kendall Rogers said he thinks it's very possible Brian Adams could be the first UK player taken, and if not could very well be in the first 6 rounds. His thoughts from a few weeks back when we talked:

    "The really intriguing guy is Brian Adams. The thing about him is regardless of how well he hits because he's a guy who is 6-4, 220 and can run like a deer somebody is going to take a chance on him. A guy who is that good of an athlete, I'd be shocked if he gets out of the first five or six rounds. I think there is somebody out there who will take an athlete like that and think they can do something with him.

    "Athletically, he reminds me a lot of Drew Stubbs. Stubbs at Texas was not a great offensive player. He had some moments where he was but he was a 6-4, 210 guy who could run and was a high draft pick and is now in the pros. He wasn't an ultra-seasoned college hitter. He had high strikeout totals. From an athletic standpoint that's a good comparison. Before the season we had (Adams) going between the third and eighth round so I can see him going third our fourth round.

    "Think how he would be if he had full instruction year round from a professional organization. He could be a stud, a big time guy. I would say he'll be a four to six rounder. That's my wild guess."

    This post has been edited 5 times, most recently by Matt May on 6/12/2012 at 8:45 AM

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  • As much as I hate to say it, he does remind you of Stubbs. Almost a clone, physically.

    You never know with those 5-tool guys. He could make it big in a few years.

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    Jeff Drummond

  • Jeff Drummond said...

    As much as I hate to say it, he does remind you of Stubbs. Almost a clone, physically.

    You never know with those 5-tool guys. He could make it big in a few years.

    Exactly. I have no idea whether he can really PLAY or not. I know he can put on a show in BP, but with extended playing time in the minors can he improve? Who knows. But he's got every single tool you could ask for in a big-time baseball prospect.

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    Matt May ●

  • Good luck to all of the UK players who are draft eligible.

    Selfishly, as an alum/fan who really enjoyed seeing UK baseball become relevant nationally this year, I will be interested to see who will be returning for next year's squad. Matt, you named a whole bunch of juniors with a chance to get drafted. May be premature to ask this question, but any scuttlebutt from the UK camp while you were "killing" time in Gary as to UK juniors likely to be drafted and leave early. Looks like the draft could make a serious dent in Gary Henderson's roster for next year (2 of 3 weekend starters, one of your best hitters (if not the best) in Maile, and two solid outfielders.

    Jeremy Grey

  • Jeremy Grey said...

    Good luck to all of the UK players who are draft eligible.

    Selfishly, as an alum/fan who really enjoyed seeing UK baseball become relevant nationally this year, I will be interested to see who will be returning for next year's squad. Matt, you named a whole bunch of juniors with a chance to get drafted. May be premature to ask this question, but any scuttlebutt from the UK camp while you were "killing" time in Gary as to UK juniors likely to be drafted and leave early. Looks like the draft could make a serious dent in Gary Henderson's roster for next year (2 of 3 weekend starters, one of your best hitters (if not the best) in Maile, and two solid outfielders.

    First, well played. #SurviveGary

    Second, my conversations this weekend basically leave me with the impression that Maile, Rogers, Grundy are pretty much gone unless they go well below where they're expecting and/or the money is way low. As for Flynn and Zellers, you never say never (Lance Ray, etc.) but the feeling is those guys aren't legit early round guys and are probably organizational fillers for a MLB franchise at this point. Barring major surprise the feeling is they'll come back, ala Michael Williams last year, and try to improve their stock.

    I think their weekend rotation will be as good if not better next year. Corey Littrell will become the Friday night guy and then you slot much more mature, experienced and improved sophomore A.J. Reed and Chandler Shepherd into those other two slots. That's awfully good. My question would be: who becomes your Tuesday/Wednesday guys like Reed and Shepherd were this year? Those guys won them a lot of game. Sam Mahar (who by the way didn't pitch the last few weeks because he had a 'tender' arm) is being groomed to replace Alex Phillips. You still have Tim Peterson (assuming he doesn't leave upon being drafted), Trevor Gott and others in the pen.

    I'd say you'll see some lineup like (not taking into account recruits):
    C - Micheal Thomas/Thomas Bernal
    1B - AJ Reed/Jeff Boehm (big-time power)
    2B - JT Riddle
    SS - Matt Reida
    3B - Paul McConkey/Thomas Bernal
    CF - Austin Cousino
    RF - Cameron Flynn/Jeff Boehm
    LF - Zac Zellers/Lucas Witt
    DH - AJ Reed/etc.

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    Matt May ●

  • Good luck to all the draft eligible players. Hope they go high with good teams.

    Keep Calm & Stoops On..

    _Mike_

  • Brian Adams was just taken in the 8th round (#255 overall) by the San Diego Padres in MLB Draft. First Kentucky player selected. The Padres have scouted UK a lot in recent years, drafting Sawyer Carroll (2008), Andrew Albers (2008) and Chris Bisson (2010)

    This post has been edited 2 times, most recently by Matt May on 6/5/2012 at 3:45 PM

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  • Awesome! Congrats to Brian.

    Keep Calm & Stoops On..

    _Mike_

  • Kentucky C/1B Luke Maile has just been selected in the 8th round (#272 overall) by the Tampa Bay Rays. With Maile going in the 8th round it would be difficult to see him passing that up and returning to Kentucky for senior season.

    This post was edited by Matt May on 6/5/2012 at 4:01 PM

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  • Matt May said...

    Brian Adams was just taken in the 8th round (#255 overall) by the San Diego Padres in MLB Draft. First Kentucky player selected.

    Amazing actually, given that he barely played for us this year and was beaten out by younger players. How many at bats did he get total in the season? 25 or 30?

    Tskware

  • Tskware said...

    Amazing actually, given that he barely played for us this year and was beaten out by younger players. How many at bats did he get total in the season? 25 or 30?

    23. Was 6-of-23 (.261) with 0 walks and 10 K's. Had 1 2B, 1 HR, 3 RBI. Appeared in 13 games, started 6.

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  • Sounds like Taylor Rogers to the Twins in the 11th round.

    This post was edited by Jeff Drummond on 6/5/2012 at 6:06 PM

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    Jeff Drummond

  • Matt May said...

    Kentucky C/1B Luke Maile has just been selected in the 8th round (#272 overall) by the Tampa Bay Rays. With Maile going in the 8th round it would be difficult to see him passing that up and returning to Kentucky for senior season.

    Yes! I'll be able to see him play in a year or two for the Bowling Green A affiliate of the Rays. Good pick up. Congrats to Luke!!

    Keep Calm & Stoops On..

    _Mike_

  • Good to see UK baseball's impressive streak of draft picks continuing with this class. Hope to see Luke Maile playing for the Rays' affiliate here in Bowling Green.

    Jeremy Grey

  • Jeremy Grey said...

    Good to see UK baseball's impressive streak of draft picks continuing with this class. Hope to see Luke Maile playing for the Rays' affiliate here in Bowling Green.

    Might take a couple years but he should be there. Have you watched the Hot Rods lately? Pretty damn good.

    Keep Calm & Stoops On..

    _Mike_

  • A bit OT, but us local Lexington guys may get to see the No. 1 pick overall play - Astros may send him to their Class A Legends. I saw Bryce Harper play one game last year, so would be nice to make it two in a row.

    Tskware

  • Kentucky 3B Thomas McCarthy was just selected by the Chicago White Sox in the 18th round (#561 overall) of MLB Draft

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    Matt May ●

  • Also, Austin Cousino and A.J. Reed named Freshman All-America by Louisville Slugger and Collegiate Baseball

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    Matt May ●

  • Tskware said...

    A bit OT, but us local Lexington guys may get to see the No. 1 pick overall play - Astros may send him to their Class A Legends. I saw Bryce Harper play one game last year, so would be nice to make it two in a row.

    Ole Bryce sure is something. My god that kid plays the game hard. He's cocky as hell but you've gotta love his effort. Full speed always.

    tWhit ●

  • Kentucky RHP Tim Peterson was just selected by the New York Mets in the 20th round (#620 overall) of MLB Draft

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    Matt May ●

  • Kentucky LHP Alex Phillips was just selected by the Detroit Tigers in the 21st round (#664 overall) of MLB Draft

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    Matt May ●

  • Kentucky OF Cameron Flynn was just selected by the Miami Marlins in the 23rd round (#707 overall) of MLB Draft

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    Matt May ●

  • Flynn will now have a really interesting choice whether to sign or return to school. UK had figured he'd be back, but 23rd round not bad.

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    Matt May ●

  • Matt May said...

    Flynn will now have a really interesting choice whether to sign or return to school. UK had figured he'd be back, but 23rd round not bad.

    Peterson will be interesting too. I was expecting he'd definitely be back... but going in the 20th round was higher than I expected. Am surprised he we went before Phillips (although just by one round).

    dswan

  • Kentucky LHP Jerad Grundy (@jgrundy22) was just selected by the Minnesota Twins in the 27th round (#820 overall) of MLB Draft. Minnesota clearly likes UK's left-handed pitchers.

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    Matt May ●

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