2015 Draft

[Phillies]

Pick 107 - Nick Neidert

BA (Mariners #5, Arizona League #6) :
Background: Neidert attracted the Mariners’ attention in an October 2014 outing at the World Wood Bat Championships, when he tossed a two-hit shutout. He missed time during his senior season with elbow tendinitis but returned later in the spring, and the Mariners signed him away from a commitment to South Carolina with a $1.2 million bonus as the 60th overall pick in 2015.

Scouting Report: Neidert is a slight righty who draws comparisons with Tim Hudson, and he brings an advanced approach and feel with a fastball/changeup combination. He hits his spots with a 90-92 mph fastball that has reached 94, and he can locate to either side of the plate. His changeup also has potential to be an above-average offering with deception, sink and fade. He’s still developing feel for a slider that he’s learning to throw from his high three-quarters arm slot. Neidert worked on improving his balance in his delivery so that he can more consistently work down in the zone. He needs to be quicker to the plate with runners on base. Observers rave about his competitiveness and advanced approach. Making his lone relief appearance in the Rookie-level Arizona League playoffs, he tossed four shutout innings to help his team advance to the finals.

The Future: Neidert has a chance to make his full-season debut at low Class A Clinton in 2016 and has No. 4 starter upside–perhaps higher if his velocity improves.

Pick 116 - Mikey White

BA (NYPenn League #17):
White doesn’t have the raw tools of other Southeastern Conference shortstop draftees Dansby Swanson, Alex Bregman and Richie Martin, but the Alabama product’s plus makeup and work ethic allow him to make the most of his talents. White has good hands and is generally reliable in the field, but the consensus is that he won’t be a starting big league shortstop. Teammates at Vermont with Martin this summer, White split time between third base and shortstop, with one game at second base. His tools fit best at second or in a utility role.

“For me, he was more of an instinctive baseball player,” one scout said. “He’s a gamer. He’ll be a good clubhouse guy–he has leadership-type qualities. On the baseball field for me, he’s more of a utility type at the major league level.”

White has fringe-average power and speed, but he’s shown the ability to control the strike zone and make consistent, hard contact with at least an average hit tool. He earned a promotion to low Class A Beloit on July 28 after just 29 games with the Lake Monsters.

Pick 124 - Brandon Koch

BA (NYP League #14):
In a deep, flame-throwing Dallas Baptist bullpen this season, Koch was the electric closer, tallying 14 saves, striking out 76 and allowing just 23 hits in 43 innings his junior season.

Koch’s exceptional strikeout rate and late-game stinginess have so far carried over to the NYP, where he earned six saves in seven opportunities for Hudson Valley. His weapon of choice is a late-breaking, hard-biting slider that was unhittable in college and continued to give pro batters fits. Most scouts grade his slider as a plus pitch, and at least one scout said it might potentially be double-plus one day.

At times, Koch can throw his slider more than his fastball, but it’s not for a lack of velocity. He touched 99 mph this summer and routinely sits in the mid-90s. He fits the mold of a power reliever with the potential to close at the major league level.

“He’s a guy. He’s got stuff,” State College manager Johnny Rodriguez said. “There’s no doubt in my mind on that one.”


Pick 129 - Jhalan Jackson

BA (NYP League #10):
Jackson transferred to Florida Southern from Hillsborough (Fla.) CC and made an immediate impact his junior year, setting a school record with 20 home runs and slashing a monstrous .417/.476/.857. Those numbers expectedly came down to earth in pro ball, but Jackson’s power is a legitimate plus tool.

“You just don’t see kids right out of college with this kind of raw power,” Staten Island manager Patrick Osborn said. “If you were going to construct a right fielder, you would build him to look like this kid.”

Jackson has profile right-field tools, with a plus arm and at least average speed, though his long strides can slow his home-to-first times. He takes good angles and should be an average defender.

Jackson’s plate approach is a bit raw, though he showed the aptitude to make pitch-to-pitch adjustments, especially when he’s shown breaking pitches early. At times, though, he can be too caught up in looking offspeed and become susceptible to velocity inside.


Pick 146 - Josh Tobias

BA (NYP League #19):
Drafted out of a North Carolina high school in 2011, Tobias wasn’t selected again until a strong senior season for Florida in which he returned to switch-hitting after hitting exclusively from the right side. He continued to swing a hot bat with Williamsport, with a contact-oriented, gap-to-gap approach. He led the NYP with 77 hits and ranked second with 26 extra-base hits.

Tobias covers the plate well and has quick hands. One scout gave him an average hit grade and liked his short, compact swing. “He can just hit, man,” Staten Island manager Patrick Osborn said. “He has really good bat speed. He’s an explosive-type athlete–quick-twitch. I like what I saw. I think this kid is going to hit. He’s going to hit for a long time.”

Primarily a third baseman at Florida, Tobias played second base for Williamsport, where he’s athletically capable but not a standout defender. His above-average speed is his best defensive asset. A move to the outfield or a utility role is not out of the question, and he’s drawn comparisons with the Pirates’ Josh Harrison for his versatility.


Pick 176 - Ryan Helsley

BA (App League #13):
Helsley wasn’t a high profile prospect coming out of NCAA Division II Northeastern State (Okla.), but he showed off athleticism, arm strength and potential with his offspeed stuff, prompting the Cardinals to draft him in the fifth round in June.

Helsley quickly made an impression on several evaluators in the Appy League. In the spring, he pitched mostly in the low 90s, touching as high as 96 mph, but this summer his fastball peaked at 98 and sat comfortably at 92-95. The pitch has swing-and-miss velocity and life.

Helsley’s best offspeed pitch this summer was his changeup, which he was comfortable throwing against lefties as well as righties. The pitch has late fade and movement, making it difficult for hitters to time and reverse it with backspin. He is working on his breaking ball, which will be important for his development as a starter.

[Phillies]

Neidert - traded. looks like a very solid prospect
Mikey White - dropped. he's old and didn't hit in A ball.
Brandon Koch - dropped. I don't even know if he's pitching anymore.
Jhalan Jackson - dropped. gambled on power, knowing he didn't make contact. old and still doesn't make contact.
Josh Tobias - old for his level but hits well. traded to Sawx for Buchholz. drop candidate.
Ryan Helsley - very good year, though a bit old for his level. Counting this one as a hit for now

Another great draft

[Guardians]

Neidert - traded. looks like a very solid prospect
Mikey White - dropped. he's old and didn't hit in A ball.
Brandon Koch - dropped. I don't even know if he's pitching anymore.
Jhalan Jackson - dropped. gambled on power, knowing he didn't make contact. old and still doesn't make contact.
Josh Tobias - old for his level but hits well. traded to Sawx for Buchholz. drop candidate.
Ryan Helsley - very good year, though a bit old for his level. Counting this one as a hit for now

Another great draft

LOL. Nice work, hoss.

[Phillies]

Neidert - traded. looks like a very solid prospect
Mikey White - dropped. he's old and didn't hit in A ball.
Brandon Koch - dropped. I don't even know if he's pitching anymore.
Jhalan Jackson - dropped. gambled on power, knowing he didn't make contact. old and still doesn't make contact.
Josh Tobias - old for his level but hits well. traded to Sawx for Buchholz. drop candidate.
Ryan Helsley - very good year, though a bit old for his level. Counting this one as a hit for now

Another great draft

LOL. Nice work, hoss.

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[Guardians]

These were very entertaining posts. Thank you for making me laugh at work! Carry on.

[Phillies]

I did them specifically for you believe it or not.