Three Possible Tribe Targets for the 2016 Draft

Here we are, in the midst of a life changing couple of days. Baseball players who have pushed and played their whole lives and have devoted themselves to the field between the white lines will be chosen to be the potential future of the MLB. Some will make it to the Show, and some will fall short, but starting Thursday, they’ll all have a chance to live out their dreams, because it’s finally draft week!

Recently, I’ve falling head over heels in love with the lower levels of professional baseball, and the at core of that love are the Indians short season single-A Mahoning Valley Scrappers. Why is this important? Because, it was there I found my passion for the Major League draft, and saw for the first time what talent can come from it, and even more so, what that talent can turn into. After the 2015 MLB Amateur draft, I found players like RHP Triston McKenzie (CBA, 42^nd overall), LHP Juan Hillman (2^nd round, 59^th overall), 2B Mark Mathias (3^rd round, 93^rd overall), CF Nathan Lukes (7^th round, 214^th overall) just to name a few, who have been tearing up the minor leagues (note: McKenzie has been in the Rookie league since being drafted. Expected to start in Mahoning Valley this season.).

These three players that I have picked rank among the top 50 in MLB’s top 50 draft list, while two of them rank in Baseball America’s top 100 high school/college lists. These aren’t exactly guys I 100% except the Indians to jump on, but a sample of what I hope to see in the traits and talent level from all of their picks on June 9^th.

LHP Eric Lauer
Kent State University

He was previously drafted by the Toronto Blue Jays in 2013, in the 17^th round out of high school, but did not sign and ended up going to Kent State University. The 21-year-old southpaw will probably go before the Indians can get their hands on him, but he stood out to like McKenzie did last year but for a different reason. Where Triston was flashy and shiny in his deceptive delivery, Lauer is very smooth and precise. If there was one way to sum up his arm, I would compare the feeling watching him as the same that someone with OCD sees a display set up exactly to their liking. Perfect. Flawless. And because Lauer is still young, the potential is there to get even better. He has a collection of pitches of which his command over them is excellent, with a mid-90’s fastball, and a combination of off-speed pitches ranging from 74-77 mph curve, to a high 70’s-82mph slider.

In 2016, his win/loss is at an impressive 10-2, with three of those games going nine innings deep. Over the course of 104 IP, Lauer only gave up eight ER, four HR, and struck out 125. All of that and much more results in an astounding 0.69 ERA for the season.

He’s an impressive piece of work, with a very high ceiling of potential and wherever he ends up, will continue to impress at every level.

RHP Matt Manning
Sheldon High School, Sacramento CA – Committed to Loyola Marymount

I am torn with this 18 year-old righty from Sheldon HS in Sacramento, CA. Manning has the mentality that I crave in young athletes, grounded, but very driven on and off the field, and I believe he gets the ability to keep his head straight learning from his father, former NBA player Rich Manning. Up until his junior year, Matt played basketball full time, then moved to baseball and pitching full time. At the start of the commitment move, his fastball was up around 87-89 mph, and since then has gained some chutzpah, regularly hitting around 94 MPH, while in short stints can reach upwards of 97. His curve ball has bite, and a lot of promise with a powerful break and solid depth, but as far as other pitches go he has only those two in his arsenal.

This spring, he pitched 22.1 innings, and ended up with 14 walks, but 42 strike outs, along with a 2.51 ERA. Last fall in Peoria, AZ, he impressed scouts in the Arizona Senior Fall Classic, with three innings of work, striking out eight, and only gave up a double and three walks. This tells me that when he gets locked in he can be almost untouchable, but getting to that point can be bumpy.

Now for the torn part, the 6’6”/185lbs pitcher is committed to Loyola Marymount where he will be able to play both sports he loves. Part of me believes that he will take the commitment above the signing, with the potential of being drafted again out of college. That being said, he is well worth a look this early in his career with the idea of a potential successful bullpen type of path ahead of him.

C Matt Thaiss
University of Virginia

The 6 foot tall New Jersey native will most likely be drafted for his bat before his defensive skill behind the plate, though there is potential there for him to become a better catcher or even get moved to 1B at some point. He was previously drafted in 2013 by the Boston RedSox in the 32^nd round out of high school. After that he attended the University of Virginia where dominated in his sophomore year. In that year he led his team in SLG (.512), OBP (.413) and finished second in hitting with 82 hits, and hit a solo home run in College World Series pushing a win over Florida to clinch berth in CWS Finals. He finished 14th in ACC in batting (.323) and fourth in RBI (60), and also ranked fourth in ACC in RBI (29) and seventh in doubles (10) in conference games.

In 2016, Thaiss batted a solid .382 in 220 AB, while only striking out 14 times. He also hit ten home runs for the second consecutive season. His swing is quick and it’s consistent as is his discipline at the plate and that along with his stats in college can give a clear view of the player he will hopefully become down the road. As a catcher, he is raw at best, but slightly average but he plays hard and his reliable and I believe that can be backed up by how many games he has caught for consecutively in his college career (started 67 or 68 games in 2015, 41 of them were catching).

The Indians need to add to their catching depth, though he might not be the exact catcher to do so, but the fact that he has a hot bat and gives teams the option of playing catcher or 1B could be seen as great value.

Right or wrong, Cleveland or not, all of them are about to have the baseball world at their cleats. The draft isn’t about picking players to fill the needs of now, but to build for the future.  The goal is to find players who can hold their own, learn how to fill out as solid athletes and upstanding men, and will make adjustments and trust the process when needed. Over the last few seasons, Cleveland has been successful in finding players who check all those boxes.  I cannot wait to see who they choose to continue that same trend and change the life of a kid whose passion is nothing short of nine innings.