The Official 2017 MLB Amateur Draft Thread

[Chuck]

The Angels 5th round choice is coming. They're on the clock.

[Chuck]

Joseph Booker, RHP. 

I'm not finding anything from MLB or BA on him. 

[red321]

unpolished big arm that is going to take awhile to develop - Joseph Mayo...mlb talking head. Committed to South Alabama currently.

[Dreams]

4 High Schoolers within the Angels' top 5 picks

[Inside Pitch]

1 minute ago, Chuckster70 said:

Joseph Booker, RHP. 

I'm not finding anything from MLB or BA on him. 

https://www.perfectgame.org/players/playerprofile.aspx?ID=469163    

[Chuck]

1 minute ago, red321 said:

unpolished big arm that is going to take awhile to develop - Joseph Mayo...mlb talking head. Committed to South Alabama currently.

Perfect Game says he hit 97 mph with his fastball. hmm

[Dave Saltzer]

From perfect game, has a 90 mph fastball. 6'2" 205 lbs. 

[Second Base]

You know we've entered full on money saving mode when MLB, BA, and PG have nothing on the guys we are drafting.

[John Smith]

Taylor Blake Ward‏ @TaylorBlakeWard  5m5 minutes ago

More

Joseph Booker goes to #Angels in fifth round, Alabama prep arm, project arm with good feel to spin breaking ball, good football player

[Angelsfan1984]

1 minute ago, Scotty@AW said:

You know we've entered full on money saving mode when MLB, BA, and PG have nothing on the guts we are drafting.

Exactly.

[Chuck]

Fine by me. I'm thrilled over our first three picks. 

[Dick B Back]

2 hours ago, nando714 said:

2nd player from HBHS already taken 

But but but catcher from HB has a certain not quite right about it. Hope he does better than ours did.

[Chuck]

Crazy that  Tanner Burns is still out there. Ranked 39th by MLB, 38th by BA. 

Three generations of Burnses have starred at Decatur (Ala.) High, and Tanner is the best of them yet. Though he was the Alabama state 6-A hitter of the year in 2016 and ranks among the national prep leaders in home runs this spring, his future is on the mound. A small right-hander with a big arm, the 2017 Gatorade state player of the year has drawn comparisons to Grant Holmes (a 2014 first-rounder) and J.B. Bukauskas (a lock to be a 2017 first-rounder). Burns has a live fastball that parks at 92-95 mph and tops out at 97, and he already shows the ability to command it to both sides of the plate and down in the strike zone. The Auburn recruit owns a hard curveball that can reach the low 80s and grades as a plus pitch at times, though it devolves into more of a slurve in other situations. For a prep power pitcher, he has unusual feel for a changeup and his should become at least an average offering. His father Mike is the former coach at Decatur and the current coach at Calhoun (Ala.) CC, so Burns grew up around the game and is more polished than a typical teenager. Though his lack of size leads to questions about his durability, he's strong and generates velocity with arm speed and athleticism rather than effort.

[red321]

23 minutes ago, Scotty@AW said:

You know we've entered full on money saving mode when MLB, BA, and PG have nothing on the guys we are drafting.

I'm thinking they are saving money to take a run at Matt Harrington

[Angelsfan1984]

5 minutes ago, Chuckster70 said:

Crazy that  Tanner Burns is still out there. Ranked 39th by MLB, 38th by BA. 

Three generations of Burnses have starred at Decatur (Ala.) High, and Tanner is the best of them yet. Though he was the Alabama state 6-A hitter of the year in 2016 and ranks among the national prep leaders in home runs this spring, his future is on the mound. A small right-hander with a big arm, the 2017 Gatorade state player of the year has drawn comparisons to Grant Holmes (a 2014 first-rounder) and J.B. Bukauskas (a lock to be a 2017 first-rounder). Burns has a live fastball that parks at 92-95 mph and tops out at 97, and he already shows the ability to command it to both sides of the plate and down in the strike zone. The Auburn recruit owns a hard curveball that can reach the low 80s and grades as a plus pitch at times, though it devolves into more of a slurve in other situations. For a prep power pitcher, he has unusual feel for a changeup and his should become at least an average offering. His father Mike is the former coach at Decatur and the current coach at Calhoun (Ala.) CC, so Burns grew up around the game and is more polished than a typical teenager. Though his lack of size leads to questions about his durability, he's strong and generates velocity with arm speed and athleticism rather than effort.

This is someone I would have loved in the 3rd on. There must be something there that isn't known to the public. I'd still take a chance on him.

[red321]

In cases like this there is a good chance they've let it be known unless they get blown away with an offer they are most likely dead set on going to college

[Angelsjunky]

Word is that Burns is unsignable at that draft slot. He'll likely go to college and be a first round draft pick in a few years.

[Chuck]

Just now, red321 said:

In cases like this there is a good chance they've let it be known unless they get blown away with an offer they are most likely dead set on going to college

I thought about that too. 

[Angelsfan1984]

5 minutes ago, Angelsjunky said:

Word is that Burns is unsignable at that draft slot. He'll likely go to college and be a first round draft pick in a few years.

Always such a gamble. You blow out an elbow/shoulder or just don't live up to the projection and you get zilch.

[Taylor]

1 minute ago, Angelsfan1984 said:

Always such a gamble. You blow out an elbow/shoulder or just don't live up to the projection and you get zilch.

But you're en route to getting a fully paid-for college degree to start your career. Signing into the MLB is just as much of a gamble.

[Cdaniel]

Hey bruin fans, how is Sean Bouchard as a player?

[eaterfan]

1 minute ago, Taylor said:

But you're en route to getting a fully paid-for college degree to start your career. Signing into the MLB is just as much of a gamble.

MLB has a scholarship program to pay for your college too. You might not get into the same schools you would have, but you might.

[red321]

16 minutes ago, red321 said:

I'm thinking they are saving money to take a run at Matt Harrington

I'm going to quote myself...because damn...that was a good line...

In looking up Matt Harrington...holy shit...dude went from turning down around a 4 million dollar bonus and now he's working at a costco tireshop (according to Wikipedia).

[red321]

12 minutes ago, Chuckster70 said:

I thought about that too. 

pretty sure you won't be drafted and half to make that decision Chuck!

[Cdaniel]

Loading up on OF and RHP