Day two isn’t near the television gold (shut up) that day one is. Some of that is because they don’t even bother showing it on TV, part of that is because this is a day that has a lot of players selected that no one has heard of.
All that being said, today is a really important day. You may get your stars on day one, but you build your system in day two and three, and there were some really good baseball players who were selected today.
Here are some of the highlights of day two of the 2016 MLB Draft, with plenty of help from our tremendous prospect team.
Round 3:
Best selection: Philadelphia Phillies: Cole Stobbe, SS, Millard West HS (Neb.)
Stobbe reminds me of Nick senzel, a player the Reds took 76 picks earlier. That’s not to say he’s quite as good, but their skill sets are similar. He has a chance for an above-average hit tool from a quick, line-drive swing, and he has enough strength to project average power, too. He’s not going to be a shortstop, but if he’s a 55-hit, 50-plus power guy, he’ll certainly be a quality regular there.
Questionable value:Tampa Bay Rays: Austin Franklin, RHP, Paxton HS (Fla.).
Franklin has big arm strength, clocked up to 96 mph with some run on his fastball. Neither of his secondary pitches flash more than fringe-average, and throwing strikes has not been his forte as a prep. The velocity gives him some upside, but he looks more like a thrower than a pitcher at this point, with plenty of talented prep arms still on the board.
Best selection: Milwaukee Brewers: Corbin Burnes, RHP, St. Mary’s.
I was stunned that Burnes wasn’t taken in the second-round yesterday, and then even more confused when he didn’t go in the third. Good for the Brewers for scooping him up in the fourth. His fastball is plus and touches 95, and he complements that heater with a solid-average slider and two fringe-average pitches in his curve and change. He struggled towards the end of the year, but the overall track-record suggests to me that he’s a future mid-rotation starter.
Questionable value: Boston Red Sox: Bobby Dalbec, 3B, Arizona.
When the year started, Dalbec was one of the best corner infielders in the draft. Then he struck out in 31 percent of his at-bats. There’s no doubt he has power—it’s plus-plus—and he’s not an abhorrent defender at third, but it’s tough to see him contributing with that much swing-and-miss.
Take a look at some video of Dalbec from Adam Hayes:
Closest to the majors: Seattle Mariners: Thomas Burrows, LHP, Alabama.
If you’re looking for a southpaw who could move quickly and give lefties fits, Burrows is that guy. Both the fastball and slider are plus, and because of his arm slot it makes for a real uncomfortable at-bat if you’re hitting from that side. It’s reliever all the way, but it’s a pretty good one.
Round 5:
Best selection: Cleveland: Conner Capel, OF, Seven Lakes HS (TX).
Capel is one of the best athletes in the class, and while he may be difficult to sign at this point, it’s worth the risk. He’s a double-plus runner who can go get it in center, and if he was forced to move to a corner, he has a plus arm. The bat is behind the glove, but there is some offensive upside here from the left side, with a chance for an average hit and fringe-average power tool. He’s fun.
Questionable value: Seattle Mariners: Donnie Walton, SS, Oklahoma State.
Scouts rave about Walton’s makeup and understanding of the game, but that can get you only so far. None of his tools grade out even fringe-average, so expecting him to be anything more than a 25th man is expecting too much. You can argue that that’s not bad for the fifth round, but with a top 200 selection, you should be aiming higher than that.
Closest to the majors: San Diego Padres: Lake Bachar, RHP, University of Wisconsin-Whitewater.
Here’s Mr. Givarz on Mr. Bachar.
Round 6:
Best selection: Chicago White Sox: Luis Curbelo, SS, Cocoa HS (Fla.).
Curbelo may prove to be unsignable this late in the draft, but boy is he a fun flier for the sixth round. Everything projects average except for the power, which may not sound terribly exciting, but when you’re talking about a guy playing a premium position, it’s more intriguing. I would be surprised if they’re able to work something out with him, but again, this late in the draft, it’s more than worth the risk.
Closest to the majors: Boston Red Sox: Steve Nogosek, RHP, Oregon.
Often, these closest to the majors are going to be relief pitchers. But in the case of Nogosek...no he’s totally a reliever. He has one of the quickest arms in the class, and his 93-94 mph fastball plays faster when you have to watch out for his frisbee slider. A future closer? Probably not. A future set-up man who is death on righties? Certainly possible.
Round 7:
Best selection: Tampa Bay Rays: J.D. Busfield, RHP, Loyola Marymount.
From Givarz: He's big. He was the closer for them his sophomore year, transitioned to bullpen, and the stuff backed up later in year as he tired down. Lower slot (not quite low 3/4 but close). A mid 90’s fastball and fringy secondaries. You can do worse.
Closest to the majors: Reid Humphreys, RHP, Mississippi State.
Humphreys was a two-way player for MIssissippi State, but it appears the Rockies prefer him on the mound. Both his fastball and slider flash plus, and he’s generally in the strike zone with those pitches. If the pitching thing doesn’t work out he’s got above-average power and athletic enough to handle right field, but the pitching thing should work out. Our Own Adam McInturff preferred him with the bat, calling him a potential second-division regular.
Round 8:
Best selection: Philadelphia Phillies: Grant Dyer, RHP, UCLA.
I suppose since the Phillies have the first pick in every round they should have the best selection in every round, but I digress. Dyer won’t overpower anyone, but he attacks the strike zone with three useable pitches, and the fastball and curveball are both solid-average. Assuming the change can be average, he can pitch in the back of a rotation.
Closest to the majors: Detroit Tigers: Jacob Robson, OF, Mississippi State.
Hey, back to back Mississippi State guys in this spot. That’s fun, right? Robson is one of the fastest runners in the class, and he uses that speed and quality instincts make him a quality defender at all three spots. There’s zero power here, but he should get on base enough to be a fourth outfielder in a relatively short amount of time.
Round 9:
Best selection: Arizona Diamondbacks: Tommy Eveld, RHP, South Florida.
Eveld has gone through his share of struggles, but as so often is the case, those numbers don’t tell the story of his talent. He’s an athletic right-hander who came to USF to play quarterback, but with a 91-95 mph fastball and two off-speed pitches that flash solid-average, he’s going to make his living on the mound. Assuming the Diamondbacks can make a few mechanical tweaks, he has a chance to be a very interesting arm.
Closest to the majors: Oakland Athletics: Dalton Sawyer, LHP, Minnesota.
Everything I wrote about Burrows applies for Sawyer, with the only differences being that Sawyer’s fastball/slider combo is more above-average, and he’ll also mix in an okay change. He also has a funky, lower arm-slot, and assuming you don’t ask him to ever face a right-handed hitter, he has a chance to be effective.
Round 10:
Best selection: Colorado Rockies: Vince Fernandez, OF, UC Riverside.
Fernandez looks the part at 6-foot-4, 205 pounds, and he’s shown flashes of brilliance during his time at UC Riverside. He’ll never be a high-average hitter, but there’s above-average power potential in his right-handed bat, and his 55-grade speed and arm will serve him well in the corner outfield. It’s boom or bust, but it’s also round ten.
Closest to the majors: San Diego Padres: Boomer White, 2B, Texas A&M.
On top of having one of the best names in the class, Boomer is one of the best collegiate infielders in the class. The hit tool has a chance to be above-average, and he has enough athleticism to play either third or second base. If he can stick at second he’s a regular, but either way, because of his advanced skill set he should move through the San Diego system with relative quickness.
Is Donnie Walton really a questionable pick though when he's a pretty solid senior and they may need to save a bit of money to bring in Joe Rizzo and Bryson Brigman after going full slot on Lewis. I agree that if he wasn't a senior sign that if would be questionable value though
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Is Donnie Walton really a questionable pick though when he's a pretty solid senior and they may need to save a bit of money to bring in Joe Rizzo and Bryson Brigman after going full slot on Lewis. I agree that if he wasn't a senior sign that if would be questionable value though