2013 Amatuer Draft: The Aftermath

After finishing last season at 90-72 the D-Bags drafted in the lower half of the amateur draft for the 3rd straight year.  Jersey has been known for finding gems in their draft position, with their previous first round picks being Mike "Coffin" Bryant, Matt "Downhome" Doyle, and Ernesto Barzaga.  All 3 of those prospects were ranked in the Top 100 before the season started, with Bryant currently on the D-Bags roster.

This year the D-Bags picked 20th and for the first time we saw them take a High School player with their first pick instead of a college one.  They selected a 3B named Richard Coker out of Butler HS in Boston, Mass.  In his senior year he had a slash line of .341/.468/.443 while hitting 2 HR and 15 RBI.  Scouts love his contact combined with his ability to take a walk.  He is not a power player, but Jersey is hoping he can become a guy who can hit .300-.320 with an OBP of .380-.400.

Coker

In the 2nd round at pick 56, Jersey went with another High School player in CL Antonio Mata.  Though he started in high school, Jersey projects him as a closer with above average potential in his fastball and slider.  Mata is Mexican born and played his HS ball at Oceanside HS in southern California.  In 8 starts in his senior year, he went 4-3 with a 3.42 ERA, while striking out 66 batters in 52.2 innings.  

 Mata

In the 3rd round, Jersey took another reliever in Dae-hee Ch'oe.  He is Korean born and played his HS ball at Dublin Jerome HS in Dublin, OH.  While he only throws in the high 80's he has fantastic movement and very good control.  He throws 3 pitches and had an ERA of 2.73 in 26.1 innings, while only giving up 1 HR and 9 BB. Ch'oe also sports an amazing mustache.

Ch'oe

In the 4th round, Jersey finally went back and grabbed a college player, and a very good one at that.  Out of Mississippi State, they selected 4 year starter OF Matt Davidson.  You might recognize that name as he set the college single season for HR last season with 29, and sits 10th all time with 74.  While he hit .335 last year, he doesn't project to a contact hitter against big league pitching.  He falls into the hit it far or strikeout category.  

Davidson

For their 5th round pick, the D-Bags selected their 3rd pitcher of the day in Paul Moore, a 22 year old out of Penn State University.  Moore had an outstanding senior year, going 5-1 in 10 starts with a 2.08 ERA and 1.03 WHIP.  He throws low-mid 90's and throws 3 pitches and is known as a workhorse.  There is a good chance he will be converted to a reliever if he cannot improve his changeup.

Rounds 6-10, which usually lack impact players saw the D-Bags take 2 HS pitchers, 1 HS bat, 1 college pitcher and 1 college bat. 

Hopefully this crop of prospects will add to Jersey's already deep minors and help them maintain their #2 prospect system ranking.  

GO D-BAGS