Author Topic: 2025 MLB Draft (Read 28759 times)

JCA-CrystalCity · « **Reply #475 on:** July 13, 2025, 07:12:48 pm »

There was the snide remark from Longenhagen saying we looked for guys with projectability and batting practice power and overlooked holes in swings so Holliday fit the bill. It's in his system evaluation.

Logenhagen had Willits 5 and Bremner 7 in his last draft update today.

JCA-CrystalCity · « **Reply #476 on:** July 13, 2025, 07:17:37 pm »

Quote from: nobleisthyname on July 07, 2025, 10:54:39 am

Fangraphs' Eric Longenhagen had some thoughts on the upcoming draft pick in light of the Rizzo firing as part of his writeup of that Nationals' farm system:

this post has the longenhagen quote about questionable hit tools for Nats top picks made him think we'd take Holliday

blue911 · « **Reply #477 on:** July 13, 2025, 07:18:56 pm »

Quote from: Slateman on July 13, 2025, 07:10:37 pm

Eh, if you can play shortstop, you can play just about anywhere. Look at the Padres

Yeah, first time I’ve heard people nagging because a player could play the toughest position

JCA-CrystalCity · « **Reply #478 on:** July 13, 2025, 07:21:59 pm »

Quote from: tomterp on July 10, 2025, 01:29:39 pm

One take on the draft, thinking ss Eli Willets to be a legit candidate. Not yet 18...

https://districtondeck.com/nationals-plans-for-1-pick-in-mlb-draft-coming-into-focus-after-mike-rizzo-firing-01jzkc0wrnwc

this post starts a discussion of Willits for several replies. Nice call by district on deck

varoadking · « **Reply #479 on:** July 13, 2025, 07:23:09 pm »

Welp...sure fooled me...I didn't see this comin'. Wonder how much under slot he signed for?

SkinsNatFan21RIP · « **Reply #480 on:** July 13, 2025, 07:24:45 pm »

https://blogs.fangraphs.com/2025-mock-draft/

Oof reading the blurb about our pick is rough. So yeah, they went cheap. Can’t believe we’re doing this crap in the draft as well

nobleisthyname · « **Reply #481 on:** July 13, 2025, 07:25:37 pm »

I'm tentatively optimistic about the pick. I didn't like the hit risk of Holliday or the relatively low ceiling of Anderson. Willits' defense seems to suggest a decent floor and his age and hit tool a projectable ceiling. Plus signing underslot means more money to spread on other picks.

bluestreak · « **Reply #482 on:** July 13, 2025, 07:27:53 pm »

I hate what you people here have made me: what seems like a shill for the team.

Not even two weeks ago I was reading how Holiday was performing poorly against the best pitchers and that this was potentially an ominous sign.
Kiley McDaniel said the same thing.
ESPN and McDaniel had Willits as number 3 prospect. Eric Longhagen at Fangraphs has him at 5. Neither had Holiday as 1-1. I think the consensus is that Holiday isn’t a slam dunk 1-1, but has high risk and high reward potential.

Also, as others have stated, money not spent on pick 1 can be spent on other picks. This is a strategy that other teams have used. It’s not necessarily the team cheaping out.

Willits is a completely reasonable pick. Holiday is not some slam dunk like Harper and has some red flags. I may have picked Anderson, but this pick certainly isn’t a reason for the wailing and gnashing of teeth I see here.

The team sucks. I haven’t been happy with how they have run things or performed. But come on, this is simply not that bad…

NatsLSU · « **Reply #483 on:** July 13, 2025, 07:29:16 pm »

Quote from: blue911 on July 13, 2025, 07:18:56 pm

Yeah, first time I’ve heard people nagging because a player could play the toughest position

Let’s just draft SS in the first 3 rounds for the next 5 years. We will have all the infield talent and create a shortage and then teams will be begging to trade with us for our talented infielders. We are the laughingstock of the league right now. Just an awful pick and so incredibly cheap.

imref · « **Reply #484 on:** July 13, 2025, 07:32:07 pm »

Quote from: NatsLSU on July 13, 2025, 07:29:16 pm

Let’s just draft SS in the first 3 rounds for the next 5 years. We will have all the infield talent and create a shortage and then teams will be begging to trade with us for our talented infielders. We are the laughingstock of the league right now. Just an awful pick and so incredibly cheap.

I disagree, this wasn't a bad pick. The Angels pick is the one that has folks scratching their head. And a ton of SS are going early because that's where the best athletes typically play. They can easily be moved elsewhere.

imref · « **Reply #485 on:** July 13, 2025, 07:37:19 pm »

ESPN compares Willits to some guy named Kevin McGonigle in the Tigers' system whom I've never heard of, but is apparently tearing up the minors.

The Tigers drafted him with the 37th overall pick in 2023. He has gone from A to AA so far this year and is currently their #1 prospect.

https://www.milb.com/player/kevin-mcgonigle-805808

Smithian · « **Reply #486 on:** July 13, 2025, 07:46:13 pm »

We just went with a well regarded, generally top 3 or top 5 talent in a horribly weak at the top draft and people are losing their minds acting like we passed on Strasburg or Harper

This is a bad draft. It’s a crapshoot.

welch · « **Reply #487 on:** July 13, 2025, 07:58:44 pm »

Quote from: Slateman on July 13, 2025, 07:10:37 pm

Eh, if you can play shortstop, you can play just about anywhere. Look at the Padres

Hmm, or look at Carter Kieboom, SS converted to 3B. And while shortstops than Kiebbom field other positions, they can't necessarily hit well enough to hold down other positions.

Of course, I hope that DeBartolo knows what he has done, and Willits becomes a sparkplug at SS. He seems to play hard, so maybe the team can trade CJ.

Natsinpwc · « **Reply #488 on:** July 13, 2025, 08:00:39 pm »

Find out in a few years. Not a bad idea to take a big swing.

JCA-CrystalCity · « **Reply #489 on:** July 13, 2025, 08:18:13 pm »

https://www.mlb.com/news/eli-willits-drafted-no-1-by-nationals-in-2025-mlb-draft

Best hit tool in the draft with defense to stick at SS.

Quote

A switch-hitter who's better from the left side, Willits has a good eye and is already quite a mature hitter for his age. His bat-to-ball skills are excellent, and he's shown the ability to consistently hit line drives. Though he has some raw power, he likely would top out at 15 homers a year in the bigs.
...
Willits has good speed and a strong arm, and he also displays good instincts in the field -- qualities that scouts believe will only get better as he develops physically. He will likely continue as a shortstop, but he could also develop into an outfielder. Willits is said to be a more developed teenage version of Yankees shortstop Anthony Volpe.

tomterp · « **Reply #490 on:** July 13, 2025, 08:19:49 pm »

Quote from: welch on July 13, 2025, 06:22:45 pm

The MLB.com commentators say the Nats are saving draft money. Harold Reynolds saing Willits is an underslot pick

Money saved on pick #1 is available to pay other draftees. Often, you can dangle a fat bonus in front of a high-schooler or college kid who may go back to school, and get them to sign instead. In that way money saved in round 1 can be valuable in allowing you to be more aggressive in later rounds.

JCA-CrystalCity · « **Reply #491 on:** July 13, 2025, 08:20:35 pm »

Quote from: SkinsNatFan21RIP on July 13, 2025, 07:24:45 pm

https://blogs.fangraphs.com/2025-mock-draft/

Oof reading the blurb about our pick is rough. So yeah, they went cheap. Can’t believe we’re doing this crap in the draft as well

fwiw, this mock had him as our pick.

Kevrock · « **Reply #492 on:** July 13, 2025, 08:23:22 pm »

He doesn’t bash the pick, it’s just speculation about the thought process.

imref · « **Reply #493 on:** July 13, 2025, 08:23:37 pm »

FTP is up: https://www.wnff.net/index.php?topic=42174.0

tomterp · « **Reply #494 on:** July 13, 2025, 08:25:17 pm »

Quote from: SkinsNatFan21RIP on July 13, 2025, 07:24:45 pm

https://blogs.fangraphs.com/2025-mock-draft/

Oof reading the blurb about our pick is rough. So yeah, they went cheap. Can’t believe we’re doing this crap in the draft as well

Money saved on the #1 pick is available to use on later picks. It is a strategy to maximize the talent, not to end up with an unspent draft pool. They have $16,597,800 for the full draft.

imref · « **Reply #495 on:** July 13, 2025, 08:26:15 pm »

So the Orioles have picked two catchers so far. Can we trade for Rutschman?

welch · « **Reply #496 on:** July 13, 2025, 08:29:26 pm »

How did Baltimore get these extra picks?

bluestreak · « **Reply #497 on:** July 13, 2025, 08:29:41 pm »

Quote from: imref on July 13, 2025, 08:24:18 pm

LaViolette is still available.

Too bad Nats don’t pick again until 49

imref · « **Reply #498 on:** July 13, 2025, 08:31:24 pm »

Quote from: bluestreak on July 13, 2025, 08:29:41 pm

Too bad Nats don’t pick again until 49

he went to Cleveland. Gotta think the Nats go for pitching next.

bluestreak · « **Reply #499 on:** July 13, 2025, 08:31:43 pm »

Quote from: welch on July 13, 2025, 08:29:26 pm

How did Baltimore get these extra picks?

Compensation for losing Santander and Burnes and another in trade.