2016 Rule IV Amateur Draft; Jersey Shore

It's draft time again and that means one of GM Josh Swain's favorite times of the year.  Swain has done a fantastic job drafting taking the teams 2 superstars in Bryant and Doyle, as well as the team's current SS Adam Morrow and the team's future SS Lawrence Shroeder and recently traded Richard Coker.  In 6 years of drafting one thing has been common for the Bags, taking a bat in the first round.  And most notably taking an infield bat.  5 out of the 6 years the team's first round pick was an infiender: Bryant, Doyle, Coker, Schroeder and Brodeur.  The only other first rounder that wasn't an IF was CF Ernesto Barzaga who never developed and is out of the league.  This year we saw things change.

1st Round:
With Jersey's first pick coming at pick 31 in the first round they went and different direction and chose SP Gianluigi Ciottone out of the University of Nebraska.  Ciottone was a solid starter for Nebraska for 4 season averaging over 11 K/9 while walking 3.5 per/9 and limiting his HR.  Swain was ecstatic to get him at 31.  "I'll be honest we had him as a Top 3 SP in this draft and him falling to 31 is amazing, I would have taken him 20-25 picks sooner if we had position" Swain said.  The one knock on Gianluigi is the lack of a decent 3rd pitch.  He does throw a changeup, but it is very raw and limits it in games.  The Bags will try to help improve the pitch in the offseason and track his results from there.

2nd Round:
Having 2 second round picks, Jersey went the same route with both picks.  Both high stuff/high movement MR, one out of HS and one out of college.  The first was pick 40 of the 2nd round and 113th overall, MR Gil Dickson out of Randall HS.  Dickson served as the closer for Randall for 4 years, totally 31 saves in his 4 seasons.  He finished his HS career with a 2.70 ERA, racking up 99 K's in 60.0 IP.  He throws an above average fastball and curveball and tops out at 94 MPH.

2 picks later at 115th overall, Jersey selected SP/MR Claude Pinard out of the University of Louisville.  Pinard was a college starter and finished school with a 16-7 W/L record, striking out 271 batters in 67.2 IP. He was one of the best starters in the country his senior year having a 2.13 ERA and finishing 6-0.  Jersey has already come forth and stated he might get some minor league starts but with only 2 pitches he will probably be regulated to straight bullpen duty.  Pinard throws an excellent sinker which keeps the ball on the ground almost 75% of the time.  Combine that with his power to hit 99 MPH, you have some great potential.

3rd Round:
For the 2nd round in a row Jersey would have 2 picks.  With the first the trend continued and Jersey selected MR Pat Wright out of Dublin Jerome High School at pick 45 of the 3rd round, 169th overall. Wright started for 4 seasons tallying a 20-6 record in 32 starts amassing an amazing 319 K's and only 38 BB's 199 IP.  He like Pinard only throws 2 pitches and probably will be regulated for bullpen duty and if there was a knock on his pitching it's his movement. He gave up 29 HR in 32 stats.

2 picks later Jersey selected another pitcher and it's 5th of the day taking MR Jesus Ramos out of Buchanan High School with pick 47 of the 3rd round, 171st overall.  Ramos played at Buchanan for 3 seasons compiling a 3.53 ERA, making 14 starts in 23 appearances.  His control is his strong point rating at a 16 on a 20 point scale.  He will be sent to A ball Manhatten.

4th Round:
With it's 4th round pick, 203rd overall, Jersey selected Nicaraguan born 23 year old MR out of the University of Minnesota Sergio Hernandez.  Hernandez was selected 90th overall last year by the New Orleans Looters but failed to sign.  He reportedly played ball in the South American league this season before re-entering the draft pool.  Sergio was the primary closer for UMN, but what stands out is his 73% groundball rate and the fact he only gave up 4 HR in 89.2 IP in college.  He will report to AA Gainsville.

5th Round:
For Jersey's 5th round pick they finally shied away from the arms and selected a bat.  At 231st overall they selected 3B Michael Swanson out of UCLA.  This is the 3rd time time Swanson has been drafted and will turn 25 later this year. Not the ideal draftee.  He was selected 134th overall by Toronto in 2014, then 160th overall by your Jersey Shore D-Bags last season.  Swanson doesn't have much upside with the stick but has elite speed and has a great glove.

6th: CF Guillermo Cardenas
7th: MR Juan Patino
8th: CF Charlie Nichols
9th: LF Joseph Randall
10th:  RF Greg McDaniel

Overall another strong draft for the Bags.  The pitching will restock the system and give them one of the deepest systems in MR prospects in the BSA.  If Ciottone can develop like Jersey hopes, he could be an absolute steal at pick 31.

GO D-BAGS