2022 Jersey Shore Amateur Draft

The draft has always been one of GM Josh Swain's favorite events of the year and this year was no exception despite it's critical reception.  Many GM's raised concerns about lack of top end talent available in this year's draft, but Swain saw it differently seeing a draft that was high on middle round talent despite lacking superstar talent.  Here is what Jersey Shore came away with with the draft was done.

1.21 - OF Ed Murray - 18 years old - Broken Arrow High School. Murray is a 3 year High School starter who projects to be a corner OF in the bigs who's contact was ranked among the highest in this year's draft class.  While he displays little power and and patience at the plate is lacking, he rarely strikes out and speed + gap projects him as a 33-35 doubles a year guy in the future.  His final high school slash line was .451/.505/.595, while only striking out 18 times in over 100 games.  It may be awhile for him to mature and move up through the system, but projects out as a 2-slot hitter.

2.54 - SP Rodney Hall - 20 years old - University of Washington.  A 2-year full time starter pitching for UW, Hall throws 3 above average pitches while throwing in low 90's.  He projects out to be an innings eater with high stamina and while he never may be an ace, a ceiling of say a pitcher like Ron Eager could be in his future.

3.92 - SP Sloan Numbers - 18 years old - Dublin Jerome High School.  Dipping back into the HS pool for the third pick, the D-Bags selected 3 year high school starter Numbers.  While he won't overpower you and hasn't developed an "out" pitch yet, he does throw 4 pitches and has shown his strength in control.  He projects out to be a mid-low end starter at the time.  Jersey scouts hope that when he grows into his 6'5" frame he can add a couple MPH to his fastball and improve his K numbers, but that's just a hope.

4.124 - C Greg Lee - 18 years old - Broken Arrow High School.  Lee was a bit of a head scratching pick just because so little was known about him.  In 3 years in high school he only played in 25 games and only appearing in 1 game his senior year.  Jersey held a private workout and found he had a good swing and great fundamentals behind the plate, but just very, very raw.  He doesn't project to have much power, but as a 4th round pick if they can find a spot starter at catcher in the future, this pick could be worth it.

5.152 - SP Matt Johnston - 18 year old - Madawaska Valley High School.  For the 4th time in 5 picks Jersey went with a HS player, and this being the third starting pitching as well.  Johnston actually pitched out of the pen his sophomore and junior years before starting this last one.  He is a big kid sitting at 6'2", weighing 220 pounds and throws 3 pitches.   None of his pitches are dominant but knows how to pitch low in the zone and keep the ball on the ground.  His lacking of an out pitch could hold him back, but if he improves could be a low end rotation type guy.

6.180 - CF Jeff Bane - 18 years old - Sante Fe High School. Didn't sign and will attend college next season

7.208 - SP Enrico Lozano - 20 years old - Georgia Tech University.  College starter that will be converted to a reliever.  Only throws 2 pitches and lack in speed only hitting 90 or so on the gun

8.236 - SS Mitch Thomas - 20 years old - University of Oregon.  Top end speed and who's top attribute is his glove and not hit bat.  Needs to limit K's because he doesn't walk much, projects out to be a utility type player.

9.264 - SP Bryan Glover - 18 years old - Billings West High School.  Didn't sign and will attend college next season

10.292 - CF Mark McDonald - 21 years old - Ohio State University - Can play all over the diamond, but specialized in the OF.  Has top end speed and can steal bases at will.  Was 20/22 in SB's in his last season at OSU.  Won't make it far with the bat.

Hopefully a couple of these names will rise through the ranks and being playing nightly in Jersey someday.  The current Jersey Shore roster contains 5 former 1st round picks (Bryant 2010, Schroeder 2014, Brodeur 2015, Martin 2017, Carter 2018) while 2016 1st round pick SP Ciottone is AAA and 2013 Coker and 2011 Doyle are on other rosters.  When will Murray join these ranks? Only time will tell.

GO D-BAGS 

2015 Jersey Shore Amateur Draft

2015 was a little different than 2014 where the D-Bags had 9 picks in the first 4 rounds.  This season they had two extra picks in the Supplemental round and a total of 7 picks in the first 4 rounds.  With the amount of players not being signed in recent years as well as the amount of compensation picks those picks which use to be in the 60's-70's are now 100+ which creates not the talent level it once did.


As it has been in the past, Jersey drafted heavy on hitting and heavy on college players. 10 of their 13 players were position players, many older.  Here's the breakdown:


Similiar to last year Jersey picked late in the 1st round, this year 25th overall.  They picked a college IF with this pick as they did last year as well, this time taking 22 year old SS out of U of Minnesota Fabrice Brodeur.  Brodeur is a rangy infielder with a big arm who projects as a SS or 3B with some time in the league.  Fabrice was having a fabulous 3 year career before a sudden drop in production his senior year.  Despite the drop across the board he still went 1st round. Fabrice will report to single A where Jersey hopes  he can work the kinks out of his swing.


In the supplemental round Jersey had 2 picks, picks from the losses of Gordon Brown and Marv Williams.  The 1st of the two was pick 10 in the supplemental round at 45th overall and with that pick the Bags selected CL Gerald "Top Dog" Johnson.  Johnson attended Rocky Point HS in NY and is a flame throwing lefty.  College closers don't see many innings, but in his 3 HR seasons Top Dog almost average 2 K's per inning.  Johnson will just add to the relief arms in Jersey's already well stocked stystem.


Their 2nd pick in the supplemental round came 10 picks later at 55th overall.  The pick was very similar to their last pick.  In fact not only were the players the same age, the attended the same High School.  The pick was local New Yorker 19 year old MR John Hall.  This right hander was downright filthy in his 3 years at Rocky Point and most notably his Sr. year.  In 28.1 IP he gave up 13 hits, walked 3 and struck out 50 on his way to an astounding 0.32 ERA and 0.56 WHIP.  He doesn't strike out as many as Top Dog but he has better control, if signed Jersey plans to send him to A ball.


With Jersey's 1st of 2 2nd round picks, compensation from Niagara Falls, the Bags selected 23 year old OF Juan Cabanas.  Cabanas, a local Jersey boy, played 3 years at Villanova and was drafted in the 2nd round and 64th overall last season by Kansas City and failed to sign.  Jersey took him 36 picks later this year. Cabanas hit .330 in 4 years at Nova and has good speed while and being an above average LF.


With Jersey's own pick in the 2nd round they took another 23 year old speedy OF from St. Johns, Caleb Farrell.  Farrell has a knack for stealing bases and some power.  He doesn't project to be a great major league hitter, but should hang on with his speed and defense.


In the 3rd round Jersey took another speedy college defender in UCLA 3B Michael Swanson.  Swanson has a big arm and his best attribute would be his power where he hit 35 HR in 3 seasons.  He does have a knack to strikeout and at 23 years old already, his time might be running short.


4th Round Pick: C Juan Salas, 24 year old college catcher from Pittsburgh.  Speed and good OBP player
5th Round Pick: 3B Jorge Perez, 24 year old 3B from Mississippi.  Power player, above average defender.
6th Round Pick: College OF Dale Sims.  Speedster, not much else.
7th Round Pick:  HS MR Michael Pitts.  Poor pitcher, won't last long.  Never posted an ERA below 5.00
8th Round Pick:  OF Flint Knight. College player, good speed and defense.
9th Round Pick: HS 3B Julio Manuel.  Big arm, good speed, not much with the bat.
10th Round Pick: SS Tony Tibbs.  Utility player, little talent.


Weird draft for Jersey, took a lot of older players.  High potential with the first 3 picks and not much more out of the rest of the draft.  Would be surprised to see half of them on the roster next year.  Don't be surprised to see at least 2 picks not get signed and Jersey to receive picks next year.