After a hectic three-day, twenty round affair, the 2018 MLB Player Draft is over. Based on the results of the draft, the Nationals came in with the following game plan: Get Pitching, College Preferred. That was not a surprise after going hitter heavy the last couple of years. Below are some notes on the first ten picks.
1.27 – Mason Denaburg, RHP – Merritt Island HS
Denaburg is a 6-3 righty committed to the University of Florida and missed some time this year due to bicep tendinitis. It seems typical that Washington would try to buy a guy that fell in the draft due to injury. He has a three-pitch mix, low to mid-nineties fastball, high seventies curve and mid-eighties changeup. (Video from Fangraphs)
2.65 – Tim Cate – LHP Connecticut
Cate is a 6-foot lefty with a solid three pitch mix too. Also, like Denaburg, has injury concerns. He had TJS in high school and missed a couple of starts this year with a barking elbow. Due to his size and injury concerns, he figures to have a future role in relief but the Nationals will give him all the chances in the world to be a starter.
#Nationals select LHP Tim Cate out of the University of Connecticut with the 65th overall selection of the #MLBDraft
Video is of this season, pitching in March against USF. @federalbaseball @TalkNats2 pic.twitter.com/XjF8sVg78T
— Adam McInturff (@2080adam) June 5, 2018
3.101 – Reid Schaller, RHP – Vanderbilt
Schaller is a redshirt freshman from Vanderbilt. He was a rare redshirt freshman due to having TJS and did not pitch at all last year. He pitched for Vandy out of the pen sitting mid-nineties.
4.131 – Jake Irvin, RHP – Oklahoma
Irvin, another college righty, is 6-6, 225 lbs. He too, also has a starters three pitch mix of fastball, slider, and changeup. However, unlike the three picks prior, there is no history of injury.
5.161 – Gage Canning, CF – Arizona State
The Nats finally chose a hitter in Round 5 with Gage Canning, a left-hand hitting and right-hand throwing CF from Arizona State. At 5-11, with a strong arm but average speed he will probably move to a corner. However, he does not profile as a power guy but more of a line drive/hit it in the alley doubles hitter.
Gage Canning is @Nationals bound!#MLBDraft #BackThePac pic.twitter.com/CpSod20Fvf
— Pac-12 Network (@Pac12Network) June 5, 2018
6.191 – Andrew Karp, RHP – Florida State
Karp is a 6-2 righty that had 97 strikeouts in 81 innings for Florida State this season. He is a safe college starter with a four-pitch mix (fastball, changeup, curve, and slider).
7.221 – Chandler Day, RHP – Vanderbilt
The Nationals went to Vanderbilt again for their next selection. Day is a 6-5 righty with a three-pitch mix of fastball, changeup, and curve. At Vanderbilt this year, he pitched in the bullpen and saved three games. Also had 45 strikeouts in 36 innings.
8.251 – Tyler Cropley, C – Iowa
The Nationals changed it up a bit with their next pick of Tyler Cropley, a catcher from the University of Iowa. This year, he hit .342/.449/.578 with twenty doubles, nine home runs, and fifty RBI. More importantly, he is known as one of the best defensive catchers available in the draft. I love this later pick and excited to see what he can do to help the young Nationals pitchers in the minors.
. @TylerCropley was selected in the 8th Round (251st pick) by the @Nationals … 2 #Hawkeyes in top-10 rounds for 2nd straight year! #Hellerball pic.twitter.com/AjfwpHOHUX
— Iowa Baseball (@UIBaseball) June 5, 2018
9.281 – Tanner Driskill, RHP – Lamar University
In the ninth round, the Nationals went back to the pitching well and chose Tanner Driskill, a righty from Lamar University. He appeared in 17 games and had a 4.00 ERA.
10.311 – Carson Shaddy, 2B – Arkansas
Carson Shaddy was chosen by the Nationals in the tenth round. Shaddy hit .331/.430/.620 with 11 home runs this season and played second this year. He has experience at catcher and had TJS two years ago but is also 23-years-old.
Featured image – from USA Baseball on Twitter
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