2020 MLB draft day two: live reaction thread

Yesterday, the Angels selected Louisville lefty Reid Detmers with their first round selection in the draft.

Day two of the draft covers rounds 2-5, of which the Angels will pick in the 3rd round (#82), 4th round (#111), and 5th round (#141). Their second rounder is forfeited due to the signing of Anthony Rendon.

Who should the Halos take? What kind of strategy can/will they employ? Can they sign Detmers under-slot to save some cash for the later rounds? Discuss in the comments!

You can watch and follow on ESPN2 or at mlb.com.

Photo credit: Arturo Padavilla III, Wikimedia Commons

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RexFregosi
Super Member
3 years ago

Dirtbag pitcher works – another LHP

So we ended up with two LHP college and two toolsy HS position player kids – i like it

now go spread those $20k checks around!

WallyChuckChili
Legend
3 years ago
Reply to  RexFregosi

Whoa? What’s this 20k stimulus check you talk of?

RexFregosi
Super Member
3 years ago

we can sign any draft-eligible undrafted player for $20k. no more than that. at least that’ s my understanding

its rule for 2020 to fill out your minor league roster or go get some more prospects. it should be a free-for-all now for all MLB clubs throwing around $20k each

Turk's Teeth
Editor
Super Member
3 years ago

Dirtbag pitcher!

Eric_in_Portland
Legend
3 years ago

these drafts have to be tough for Turk’s Teeth. Looking at his “needs” I see them being ignored. One pick to go. Maybe we’ll get a top catcher who can pitch.

Guest
3 years ago

FWIW from Prospects Live:

WERNER BLAKELY, SS, DETROIT EDISON, AUBURN COMMIT
Blakely is the top-ranked player in the Michigan 2020 class. He is, without a doubt, one of the most electric athletes in the entire state of Michigan. A 6.50 60-yard dash runner, the left-handed hitting Blakely is an impressive prospect.

Blakely has great feel for himself at the plate with strong bat-to-ball skills. He swings a quick bat that takes a level path through the zone and consistently makes contact with the baseball from the left-side of the plate. There is clear projection to Blakely’s frame, he’s only 6-foot-3 and 170 pounds, so there’s reason to believe he could add some power as he grows into his build. Defensively, the athleticism and natural defensive actions that Blakely has lock him into shortstop in the long-term. He has an above-average arm and has thrown 90 mph across the infield before. A left-handed hitting, highly athletic prospect with projection and the defensive actions to stick at shortstop, Blakely could easily get scooped up by a professional team.

RexFregosi
Super Member
3 years ago

5th Sun Devil just went (including two the first day). it just hurts there was no college season this year. ASU likely missed a trip to Omaha

gitchogritchoffmypettis
Legend

If I were Eppler I’d have about 30 smokin hot “brand ambassadors” parked out front of 30 college pitchers houses right now with $20,000 checks in hand and a memorized pitch about how great So Cal is and how the Angels thin pitching farm is full of opportunities for good young arms, please sign here….. t-minus one hour and counting…..

John Henry Weitzel
Editor
Super Member
3 years ago

Good luck with that when Arte being cheap makes everyone sorry

Eric_in_Portland
Legend
3 years ago

What’s the reason there are only 5 rounds?

Maybe we’ll sign undrafted pitchers. Or a catcher.

gitchogritchoffmypettis
Legend

dees boy….. I dooo gnot gnow heeeem.

WallyChuckChili
Legend
3 years ago

Blakely?

I think he writes for HH

Eric_in_Portland
Legend
3 years ago

speaking of HH, not much traffic there. I wonder if they’ll fold it. Anyway, I just wandered over and saw Blakely with a 48″ vertical leap. Didn’t Fat Boy do 50″? It’s still interesting to see. I wonder if I could do 36″.

John Henry Weitzel
Editor
Super Member
3 years ago

Not pitcher

Turk's Teeth
Editor
Super Member
3 years ago

Here we go, #111: Werner Blakely

Unranked by MLB, #297 at Baseball America.

WallyChuckChili
Legend
3 years ago
Reply to  Turk's Teeth

Is this the Taylor Ward pick?

A Guy we could have picked in a later round. Or after the 5th round for 20k

Turk's Teeth
Editor
Super Member
3 years ago

There’s no such thing as a Taylor Ward pick outside of the top 100 picks, in the 4th-10th. It’s all scouting and projection. Must have simply been a kid they liked and scouted for awhile.

To put it in perspective, each of the past six picks have been outside the Top 200 prospects in the MLB Pipeline.

gitchogritchoffmypettis
Legend

Jake Eder off the board…. I thought he’d be nice in the 4th…. so did the Brewers.

John Henry Weitzel
Editor
Super Member
3 years ago

So 4th round. Who you like?

WallyChuckChili
Legend
3 years ago

A toolsy SS

Jim Atkins
Super Member
3 years ago

So can we trade a couple outfielders for an actual functioning catcher?

matthiasstephan
Super Member
3 years ago
Reply to  Jim Atkins

But we just got Stassi? I mean, that is a Premium move, right? right?

Turk's Teeth
Editor
Super Member
3 years ago

I had forgotten how much Keith Law liked him. Ranked him as a first-round talent, with a Jacoby Ellsbury comp:

“19. David Calabrese, OF, St. Elizabeth Catholic (Ontario, Canada) HS, Age: 17

Calabrese gets a lot of comparisons to a young Jacoby Ellsbury as a plus-plus runner who rivals Crow-Armstrong for the best defensive center fielder in the draft. He’s short to the ball with a good approach, staying back to make more contact at the cost of power, although his body points to double-digit homers down the road. Scouts did get to see him briefly against young pro pitchers this March before his team’s tour of Florida ended abruptly, so they have a sense of how he might handle velocity or better spin. He’s also one of the youngest players in the class, turning 18 in late September, which will appeal to teams like Cleveland, the Dodgers, or the Giants who all value player age very highly in the draft.”

ihearhowie3.0
Super Member
3 years ago
Reply to  Turk's Teeth

Yeah and with the Baseball America ranking 30 picks higher, it just seems like taking good value/best player on their board more than wanting another OF. TBH I’m good with it. The Angels need pitching but the system just needs talent wherever it can maximize it.

gitchogritchoffmypettis
Legend
Reply to  Rahul Setty

I gotta say, it doesn’t seem like Billy has been given the “go cheap” order by Arte. I’d imagine the logic is “pay this kid 200K a year to skip college till he’s 21 and give pro ball a shot”. They’ll have to pay him to keep him out of Fayetteville.

matthiasstephan
Super Member
3 years ago
Reply to  ihearhowie3.0

So, he is the opposite of Taylor Ward – draft someone in the third round that was projected to go in the first, and in a position we don’t necessarily need rather than one we are desperate for?

ryanfea
Super Member
3 years ago

I wonder if the Angels will ever trade from their great outfield depth. We are stacked there

hockey_duckie
Member
3 years ago
Reply to  ryanfea

I was thinking the same thing.

If Eppler is picking BPA and results in a collection of outfielders, then will he be more than willing to trade them for pitchers or catchers?

I get that the further away from the 1st round, the unlikeliness a player will be an MLB player. But we’re collecting a lot of OF’s.

Our first two picks were Detmers in the first and Rendon in the 2nd round. That’s not a bad get, tbh.

Eric_in_Portland
Legend
3 years ago

did we just pass here?

Turk's Teeth
Editor
Super Member
3 years ago

Baseball America raved about David Calabrese. Speed/defense, youth had him favored in models.

John Henry Weitzel
Editor
Super Member
3 years ago
Reply to  Turk's Teeth

So that’s good?

Turk's Teeth
Editor
Super Member
3 years ago

The Angels have zero need for this type of player, and there were more interesting names on the board, but the Angels have never drafted for need, and Eppler really isn’t focused on building a balanced portfolio.

Jeff Joiner
Editor
Legend
3 years ago
Reply to  Turk's Teeth

Nice. Committed to Arkansas which is a great program. Probably have to be pretty good to get an offer from there.

Jeff Joiner
Editor
Legend
3 years ago

Eppler gets his high school outfielder.

Jessica DeLine
Admin
Super Member
3 years ago

There’s our outfielder…

John Henry Weitzel
Editor
Super Member
3 years ago

Ummmm. That’s not pitching