MLB: 2016 First Round Picks Finish Up Their First Regular Seasons
The MLB draft was in June and over 40 rounds, over 1,000 players were added into professional baseball. How did they do?
In looking at the draft, it’s good to check different levels, so the first page will look at the first 41 selections, the second page will look at those players selected in the 2nd through 10th round who have performed well, and the third page will look at those who were drafted in the 10th through 40th rounds that performed well. Enjoy!
First Round
1. Mickey Moniak, Philadelphia Phillies – High school pick played the entire summer in the Gulf Coast League. Stat Line: .284/.340/.409, 4 triples, 10 steals, 11/35 BB/K
2. Nick Senzel, Cincinnati Reds – Worked his way up to A ball quickly and played most of his season there. Stat Line: .305/.398/.514, 24 doubles, 7 HR, 18 SB, 38/54 BB/K
3. Ian Anderson, Atlanta Braves – High school arm worked his way up to advanced rookie level after starting in the GCL. Stat Line: 10 G, 39 2/3 IP, 2.04 ERA, 1.13 WHIP, 12/36 BB/K
4. Riley Pint, Colorado Rockies – High velocity high school arm struggled with advanced rookie level. Stat Line: 11 G, 37 IP, 5.35 ERA, 1.78 WHIP, 23/36 BB/K
5. Corey Ray, Milwaukee Brewers – Aggressively placed in high-A and had understandable struggles adjusting to moving up that quickly. Stat Line: .247/.307/.385, 5 HR, 9 SB, 20/54 BB/K
6. A.J. Puk, Oakland Athletics – Very solid numbers in New York-Penn League, though his FIP was significantly higher than his ERA, indicating he may have had some luck involved. Stat Line: 10 G, 32 2/3 IP, 3.03 ERA, 1.07 WHIP, 12/40 BB/K
7. Braxton Garrett, Miami Marlins – Did not pitch due to signing late after a long high school season.
8. Cal Quantrill, San Diego Padres – Jumped up three levels in his first season with varying levels of success, but showed he was healthy and worth this draft slot. Stat Line: 12 G, 37 IP, 5.11 ERA, 1.27 WHIP, 8/46 BB/K
9. Matt Manning, Detroit Tigers – Big strikeout numbers in GCL, though FIP a run and a half higher than ERA. Stat Line: 10 G, 29 1/3 IP, 3.99 ERA, 1.16 WHIP, 7/46 BB/K
10. Zack Collins, Chicago White Sox – After working all the way to high-A, will play in Arizona Fall League in October. Stat Line: .244/.396/.435, 6 HR, 33/46 BB/K
11. Kyle Lewis, Seattle Mariners – Solid start to pro career cut short by major knee injury. Stat Line: .299/.385/.530, 16 XBH (in 30 G), 3 SB, 16/22 BB/K
12. Jason Groome, Boston Red Sox – Limited due to high school work load, but on the New York-Penn roster as a HS pitcher. Stat Line: 3 G, 6 2/3 IP, 2.70 ERA, 1.05 WHIP, 4/10 BB/K
13. Joshua Lowe, Tampa Bay Rays – Worked up to advanced rookie as a high school hitter, flashing solid pitch recognition. Stat Line: .249/.374/.405, 5 HR, 37/59 BB/K
14. Will Benson, Cleveland Indians – Toolsy Georgia HS outfielder played in the Arizona Rookie League and flashed tools but needing refinement. Stat Line: .209/.321/.424, 6 HR, 10 SB, 22/60 BB/K
15. Alex Kirilloff, Minnesota Twins – Personal favorite HS OF out of Pennsylvania had a very solid season in advanced rookie ball. Stat Line: .306/.341/.454, 7 HR, 11/32 BB/K
16. Matt Thaiss, Los Angeles Angels – Moved off of catcher immediately to let the bat play, and it showed up well as he advanced up to full-season ball. Stat Line: .292/.361/.462, 19 doubles, 6 HR, 26/32 BB/K
17. Forrest Whitley, Houston Astros – Big righty (6’7, 240) moved up to advanced rookie in his first year. Stat Line: 8 G, 18 2/3 IP, 4.82 ERA, 1.34 WHIP, 6/26 BB/K
18. Blake Rutherford, New York Yankees – Preseason top 5 talent fell to the Yankees and played like his preseason talent level, moving up to the Appy League. Stat Line: .351/.415/.570, 4 triples, 3 HR, 13/30 BB/K
19. Justin Dunn, New York Mets – Converted closer was worked in the New York-Penn League as a starter. Stat Line: 11 G, 30 IP, 1.50 ERA, 1.17 WHIP, 10/35 BB/K
20. Gavin Lux, Los Angeles Dodgers – HS shortstop moved up to advanced rookie Pioneer League due to solid play. Stat Line: .296/.375/.399, 5 triples, 28/51 BB/K.
21. TJ Zeuch, Toronto Blue Jays – Jumped up 3 levels to full-season A-ball in the Midwest League due to performance in earlier levels. Stat Line: 9 G, 34 IP, 4.50 ERA, 1.12 WHIP, 7/38 BB/K
22. Will Craig, Pittsburgh Pirates – Highly-rated college hitter started at short-season A-ball and showed excellent pitch recognition, though not quite the power expected. Stat Line: .280/.412/.362, 2 HR, 41/37 BB/K
23. Delvin Perez, St. Louis Cardinals – Positive PED test in pre-draft workouts dropped him from top 5 to this slot, but showed talent in GCL. Stat Line: .294/.352/.393, 4 triples, 12 SB, 12/28 BB/K
24. Hudson Sanchez, San Diego Padres – Considered by many as an overdraft, but showed well in rookie ball, earning a promotion to short-season A-ball. Stat Line: .280/.338/.366, 10 SB, 18/47 BB/K
25. Eric Lauer, San Diego Padres – Excellent college performer continued performing in the minor leagues, working his way all the way to full-season ball in the Midwest League. Stat Line: 10 G, 31 IP, 2.03 ERA, 1.07 WHIP, 9/37 BB/K
26. Zack Burdi, Chicago White Sox – Burdi worked in the bullpen for the White Sox, working his way all the way to AAA. Stat Line: 25 G, 38 IP, 3.32 ERA, 1.13 WHIP, 20/51 BB/K
27. Cody Sedlock, Baltimore Orioles – Threw a ton in college, so the Orioles did manage his innings in the New York-Penn League. Stat Line: 9 G, 27 IP, 3.00 ERA, 1.07 WHIP, 13/25 BB/K
28. Carter Kieboom, Washington Nationals – Family connection pick (brother is in the Nationals system) hit for power but some struggles with pitch recognition in the GCL. Stat Line: .244/.323/.452, 4 HR, 12/43 BB/K
29. Dane Dunning, Washington Nationals – Florida product picked ahead of many of his teammates expected to go higher, and he showed it was a wise selection with his performance in the NYPL. Stat Line: 8 G, 35 2/3 IP, 2.02 ERA, 0.93 WHIP, 7/32 BB/K
30. Cole Ragans, Texas Rangers – Surprised many by coming off the board this early, as he had some injury concerns his senior year. Limited innings in ARL. Stat Line: 4 G, 7 2/3 IP, 4.70 ERA, 2.22 WHIP, 6/9 BB/K
31. Anthony Kay, New York Mets – College lefty signed late with a lot of mileage on the arm, so he did not pitch in pro ball in 2016.
32. Will Smith, Los Angeles Dodgers – Late-rising college catcher that really jumped up levels to high-A in his first pro season. Stat Line: .246/.355/.329, 4 HR, 29/50 BB/K
33. Dylan Carlson, St. Louis Cardinals – Surprise pick for most draft “experts”. Showed some good defense in the GCL and some flashes of tools offensively. Stat Line: .251/.313/.404, 3 HR, 4 SB, 16/52 BB/K.
34. Dakota Hudson, St. Louis Cardinals – Very good college performer moved to the bullpen to manage his innings in pro ball and pitched well up to high-A. Stat Line: 12 G, 13 1/3 IP, 0.68 ERA, 1.28 WHIP, 7/19 BB/K
35. Taylor Trammell, Cincinnati Reds – Possibly the fastest player in the draft. Sent to advanced rookie Pioneer League. Stat Line: .303/.374/.421, 6 triples, 24 SB, 23/57 BB/K
36. Jordan Sheffield, Los Angeles Dodgers – Vanderbilt product moved quickly to full-season A-ball in the Midwest League. Stat Line: 8 G, 12 IP, 3.75 ERA, 1.42 WHIP, 6/13 BB/K
37. Daulton Jefferies, Oakland Athletics – Big time arm that was injured in his draft year after projecting as a top 10 pitcher. Stat Line: 5 G, 11 1/3 IP, 2.38 ERA, 1.15 WHIP, 2/17 BB/K
38. Robert Tyler, Colorado Rockies – Big arm from University of Georgia really struggled with control in his pro debut. Stat Line: 5 G, 7 IP, 6.43 ERA, 2.57 WHIP, 16/5 BB/K
39. Anfernee Grier, Arizona Diamondbacks – Toolsy player that was a spring riser up draft boards spent most of his time at DH as he got used to pro ball. Stat Line: .236/.277/.337, 2 HR, 9 SB, 3/26 BB/K
40. Joey Wentz, Atlanta Braves – Exceptional start in GCL and finished strong in Appy League in first pro season out of Kansas HS. Stat Line: 12 G, 44 IP, 3.68 ERA, 1.34 WHIP, 25/53 BB/K
41. Nick Lodolo, Pittsburgh Pirates – Did not sign with the Pirates
Next: 2nd-10th Rounders