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
