Jersey Shore 2017 Amatuer Draft

July 1st rolled around in this 2017 season and took it's eyes off of the D-Bags league best record and turned to the league's first year player draft, or know as the Rule IV draft. For the first time in a few years Jersey would have no supplemental picks and would have 10 players in 10 rounds of the draft.  Much like last year Jersey drafted a heavy pitching class with 4 of their 5 picks being young arms to add to their farm system.

Round 1
SP Roland Martin - Temiskaming District Secondary School - With the 32nd overall pick the D-Bags were 
ecstatic when Martin fell to them. GM Josh Swain said afterwards they had him in their overall Top 10 and finding a quality High School arm that late was a great start for the ballclub.  Martin pitched 3 seasons at TDSS compiling just a 9-4 record in 25 starts, striking out 185 batters in 149 IP, leaving school with a 4.09 ERA. The D-Bags seem to be more excited about the under the surface statistics.  The 2.37 FIP he carried for his 3 year career and the 11.12 K/9 to go along with the 4.87 K/BB.  Jersey's plan is to help him establish an "out" pitch and continue to add to the pristine control he has shown in High School.  When and if he is signed, he will report to A ball Manhattan.

Round 2
CL John Charles - University of Minnesota - 102nd overall pick, 2nd round.  The Bags again went pitching but this time went the relief route.  Charles had originally been drafted by the Boston Rebels in 2014 draft but they failed to sign him and continued on to UMN to play 3 years. Over the past 3 years he has been one
of the best closers in the college ranks going 6-2 with 41 saves.  He struck out an astonishing 131 batters in just 70 IP while carrying a 2.19 ERA and a 0.76 WHIP. This isn't the first time Jersey has drafted out of the UMN.  In 2015 they slected Fabrice Brodeur with their first round pick.  Brodeur currently is playing for Jersey's AAA affiliate in Tuscaloosa.

Round 3
1B Antonio Enriquez - Masconomet High School - 150th overall, Round 3.  Jersey picked their only bat in the first 5 rounds going with switch hitting 1B Enriquez. not your prototypical 1B as he lacks power, but he
does have above average contact and rarely strikes out.  He is more of a station to station type runner with slow speed and lacks much defense but his ability to get on base doesn't go over looked.  In his 4 year HS career he hit .427, had an OBP of .496 and a career OPS of 1.115.  He only amassed 12 HR and 26 2B in 344 AB, but had a better than 1:1 K/BB ratio as well.  It will be interesting to see how he adapts to pitching at higher levels.



Round 4
SP Matt McGinnity - John Jay High School - 187th Overall, Round 4.  Picking in the 4th round, Jersey selected their 2nd HS starter of the draft in McGinnity from Waterville, New York. McGinnity here is an interesting pick seeing his track record over his career and a big let down his final season.  Most teams had
him slated as a MR, but the reason he slipped into the 4th could be because of the changeup he has tried to evolve over the past year.  He throws an above average cutter and slider while hitting the mid-90's.  Even if he doesn't succeed into becoming a professional starter, he may have a future as a reliever.


Round 5
SP Antonio Pereira - University of Cincinnati - 215th overall, Round 5.  Jersey seemed to get a steal here in Round 5 and we are surprised both of their round 3 and 4 picks were taken over Pereira.  He was the ace
of the Bearcats staff last year going 4-2, having a crazy 0.92 ERA, 0.77 WHIP, giving up 1 HR ans striking out 65 batters in 58.2 IP.  Control isn't his best attribute, but improved on it greatly from junior to senior season.  With 3 decent pitchers and a ground-ball percentage of 74%, he certainly has a chance of reaching the next level if he can improve on his control. 

Even in a very deep draft once you get to the bottom the players tend to fall off.  That's what happened in this draft between rounds 6-10.  

Round 6 - RF Miguel Vallejo - 3rd time he has been drafted.  24 year with little hitting upside. Plays above average defense and has elite speed.
Round 7 - LF Steve Jennings - Speedy OF out of Georgia Tech.  Has tools to be elite defender.  Hit .354 in his senior season, if he improves he could pan out to be a 4th OF type.
Round 8 - RF Josh Boyer - 25 year old. At one point he could have made a decent player, but being drafted 3 other times besides this one and not playing over 3 years has diminished his skills.
Round 9 - Util Todd Ross - 25 year old.  Another 4th time draftee, first time out of the 3rd round.  Plays all IF positions well, elite speed, not much with the bat.  Could stick on for awhile as a defensive specialist.
Round 10 - 1B George Young - 25 year old.  A trend of taking older draftees late in the draft.  Previously drafted by LA, POC and JAK.  Doesn't have much upside in any area besides a slick glove at 1B.

Well there's the class of folks.  A top heavy young class of high school players and a late half of players who should be in AAA right now but never will get a chance. We will see how the first 1-2 round picks go as Jersey has had an excellent track record of drafting BSA quality talent in those rounds.

GO D-BAGS