I think we got three solid pickups. It sure would have been nice to keep Kessler.
Kentucky Baseball 2022
- Thread starter Comebakatz3
- Start date
Yep. He gone. I don't think anyone takes him that high without an assurance that he'll sign for that amount. That, and coupled with the fact that he left the Cape early, indicate to me that he will sign and move on to professional baseball.
Just saw that. Rhodes went higher than I thought. He’s definitely gone now, no question about it.
So let's look at what we have now. It is way too early to look at this, but I think it helps to at least see the depth and possibilities (plus it keeps me from actual work). Let me know what I miss:
1B: Church, Plastiak, Cotto, Kim
2B: Estep, Ritter, McCarthy, Dallas
3B: Estep, Church, Plastiak
SS: Ritter, Dallas
C: Rubalcaba, Liebert, Burkes
RF: Anu, Howe, McCoy, Liebert
CF: Thrasher, McCarthy
LF: Jump
Some other freshmen could play a factor, but this is probably about what our depth looks like.
1B: Church, Plastiak, Cotto, Kim
2B: Estep, Ritter, McCarthy, Dallas
3B: Estep, Church, Plastiak
SS: Ritter, Dallas
C: Rubalcaba, Liebert, Burkes
RF: Anu, Howe, McCoy, Liebert
CF: Thrasher, McCarthy
LF: Jump
Some other freshmen could play a factor, but this is probably about what our depth looks like.
And that's OK, that's the way you build your product. Saw where his slot money was $800K.
Man I hope I am wrong but that doesn't strike me as too good. Maybe Jump and Thrasher will help.
It is good for him, but bad for UK baseball. That is merely because UK has done a poor job finding and developing the talent necessary to replace players like him. We're relying on 2 transfer outfielders literally because we have no one else. I think outside of Anu we'll have no one in the OF that has played SEC baseball and just Anu and Liebert that have played for UK. This is also assuming Anu doesn't take some sort of money given the chance.
Just feels to me like, push comes to shove, UK is losing more and more HS talent and having to continually rely on transfers and JUCO players. You look at that depth chart I posted (which is way too early), but on that entire chart there are just 2 players who arrived as freshmen and are playing and will continue to play (Church and Estep). Burkes and McCarthy both redshirted and we'll see what happens with them. Everyone else is a transfer, or upcoming freshman. So 8 guys on that list are transfers. We will have 1 rising junior that plays and 1 rising sophomore.
Agreed but the nature of the game, especially college baseball. "Good for him but bad for UK baseball." You can say the same thing about when a UK basketball/football player comes out...good for the player, bad for the sport. Vandy, Ole Miss, UF, Miss St getting hit hard but I assure you those coaches turn that around while recruiting.
I'm not sure we'll have much choice if we don't get more transfers. Or I guess Mingione could just throw another MIF out there.
When I first read this, I thought you said MILF!! LOL
When I first read this, I thought you said MILF!! LOL
I mean... can they hit? hahaha
They may not hit, but they sure have to catch as well as some that were out there this year.
Sign 'em up. Might as well. We probably need some more bodies after losing like 15 players.
Heck, Minge would probably cut them if they stepped out of line. LOL
Hmm that is very interesting. Jones information has been very very quiet this season and I have been wondering if he will come back to UK or what. 14th is a bit late, he could come back and raise that, but it might still be tempting to make the jump.
Harney is the one that is interesting to me. He did fairly well in league play. Not dominant, but he was a solid pitcher for the most part. So, I am surprised no one has given him more attention to this point.
I would think Jones would be back. The 14th round might not be enough enticement to leave.
Also, want to point out that Mingione tweeted congrats and that the Marlins were getting a good one regarding Jones. Not sure if there is anything to that other than just trying to be supportive of all his players, but if you take it at face value it sounds like Jones is gone too.
Teams aren't drafting people that they don't know they will sign. He's gone, otherwise they would've used their pick on someone else they knew would sign.
Bosma's first start of the year was against Jacksonville, who was a tourney team. Went 4.2, 6H, 0BB, 5K, 2ER, W. Had several similar starts, but their staff was so deep, they didn't let their guys go very deep in games. Even Bachman who was #9 overall didn't go very deep very often. The Ball State start that he pitched 2 innings in was the last game of the season, that meant nothing to either team, so they went to the pen early to get other guys some last action for the season.
Bosma's first start of the year was against Jacksonville, who was a tourney team. Went 4.2, 6H, 0BB, 5K, 2ER, W. Had several similar starts, but their staff was so deep, they didn't let their guys go very deep in games. Even Bachman who was #9 overall didn't go very deep very often. The Ball State start that he pitched 2 innings in was the last game of the season, that meant nothing to either team, so they went to the pen early to get other guys some last action for the season.
After the 10th round teams are not penalized for players that don't sign, so they can draft them even knowing they won't sign. Some teams do this just to fill a pick knowing the player has no intent on signing.
I guess when you are a Senior with one year of eligibility left then combine that with wanting out of UK, you take it!
Confirms Harney will use his extra year due to COVID to stick around.
Just saw that. Also saw where Vitello signed a new contract for $1.5 million per year.
UT is silly for paying him that much. Great coach, no doubt, but if there was no bidding war for him I don't know why you'd pay him that much. He's making as much, or more, than coaches that have actually won the CWS.
This is a pretty big deal. I am surprised a team didn't take a stab at Harney. He isn't overly projectable, but he pitches pretty well and had 40 strikeouts in 32 innings of league pitching. Pretty solid. Will be interesting to see how UK uses him next year. This year he was going to be a closer until Hazelwood got hurt. So, will they move Lee off of weekends?
That is a pretty bold prediction. What about Hazelwood?
I think it will be hard to move Harney back to closer after he was our best weekend starter. I think Stupp stays on Friday, but Lee's spot is up for grabs. Hagenow's trajectory makes me wonder what happens with him... it was weird that they basically abandoned him at the end and makes me wonder if he had some fatigue issues. Cotto will have to make some strides, but he's got some good experience, so maybe that helps.
Haven't heard anything, but I guess just to look at it and break it down:
I think those that are "eligible" are:
Anu
Degen
Hazelwood
Harper
Liebert
Plastiak
Rubalcaba
Rigsby
I think injuries likely take Hazelwood and Rubalcaba off the list. I heard a rumor at one point that Harper was moving on and going to focus on his future career, but I don't know if that is true. Also heard Rigbsy may be stepping away from the game, but again, don't know the truth of that. I don't know that people have seen enough of Degen to warrant him getting much of a deal, and the same with Liebert.
So, that leaves:
Anu
Plastiak
Plastiak is playing summer ball and I get the feeling he is returning. Not sure that scouts saw quite enough of him in 2021 to throw much money at him. Anu has big potential and that might get him a look by someone. The fact that he hasn't taken steps to get into summer leagues (to my knowledge) makes me wonder if he is willing and ready to take some money and move on.
Re Anu, the fact he's not playing could mean he's recovering from an injury or at least doesn't want to aggravate an injury, needs to do schoolwork or thinks he needs a break to rest. Have seen a lot of really good players pass up intriguing summer league chances for a variety of reasons.
You could be right. I am just speculating. There could be some other factors at play. Still, given that he was a DH I wouldn't think he'd be carrying injuries and wouldn't need a ton of rest. He also just graduated so I don't think he'd need to be catching up on class work or going to summer school. I'd heard at one point that to play in the Cape you needed to be enrolled in grad school if you've already graduated and since he was not enrolled he could not play for Cotuit despite having a contract to play there. So, it could just be that he doesn't want to enroll in grad school and would rather take some undergrad classes in the last year and play again for UK. However, given his age I would think he'd want to do everything he can to get in front of scouts again and try to get drafted and get a contract. So, the entire situation is strange.
Just announced on Twitter that he will return.
Interesting. I had heard a while back that he was planning on moving on with life. Baseball is hard to give up though.
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Has anyone seen where these guys are playing summer ball?
I would like to see some stats on them.
Nope. Oddly, UKbaseball twitter hasn't mentioned any of these guys playing summer ball. Could be that a lot of them just aren't playing this summer.
Last time I looked, maybe a month ago, think I counted maybe 6-8 in various leagues which I believe is more than played the last couple of years.
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