It was a close one between Humpty and Boyce who Bondzai took. Will be curious to follow along as they're both in the same division.
Drifterbub, any thoughts on a post-season follow-up/reaction to your predictions? Would be willing to help if desired. Any content increase helps the league as whole I believe.
Not a bad idea. I was hoping that we could do this every year, as well as look back 2-3 years and see where the guys are at.
#1 Pick - Seattle Mariners Drifter Pick - Wallace 'Hat' Bannatyne Actual Pick - Wallace 'Hat' Bannatyne Signed for a whopping $9,000,000, "Hat" had good first year pitching in A ball with a 3.32 era in 15 GS. At 21 yrs old already it looks like the Mariners may try and bring him along quickly. Bannatyne in the #48 overall prospect currently. #2 Pick - Cincinnati Reds Drifter Pick - RF Homer 'Skins' Hunter Actual Pick - (Didn't sign so not in Draft History) #3 Pick - Detroit Tigers Drifter Pick - CF Joe 'Disco' Dale Actual Pick - SP Norm "Humpty"Wood Humpty is currently ranked the #7 best pitching prospect in baseball (#16 overall). The 6'7" southpaw threw an outstanding 1.93 era while starting 13 games in rookie ball last year. Look for the 21 yr old to attack A level with the Lakeland Tigers this season. #4 Pick - Kansas City Royals Drifter Pick - SP John Boyce Actual Pick - SP John Boyce Drifter goes .500 picking the first 4 picks of the 2025 draft. Boyce has an outstanding fastball topping out just under triple digits. Bondzai went the aggressive route starting Boyce in AA ball after only throwing one out in rookie ball this year. He will be 23 by Summer next year and it appears Bond will try and have Boyce contributing at the ML level within a few short years. Time will tell what impact this will have on the development of his pitches. Boyce is the #82 top prospect in baseball. #5 - New York Mets Drifter Pick - 3B Luis 'Big Thunder' Alvarez Actual Pick - RF Homer 'Skins' Hunter Skins was original thought to have gone at #2 to the Reds being one of the best hitting prospects in a pitcher heavy draft, again. Skins did not have a spectacular year hitting the ball in his rookie season in rookie ball but did win the 2026 APP Glove Wizard at RF. Skins is expected to be a top RF at any level he plays with his defense/speed/contact all +++. Hunter is the #15 prospect overall. #6 - Washington Nationals Drifter Pick - SS Felipe Macias Actual Pick - SP Hanus "Turkey Mike" Sekeras The #38 prospect overall was traded by KnightNoles to Boston in an obvious salary dump. Huge win here for the BoSox. Serekas threw 1.73 era in 12 starts last year in R ball. If kdpnutter can keep his job, Sekeras will pay off in this deal in the future. Not to mention Johnny "Seaweed" Watkins was also acquired in this deal which instantly gives Boston a #1 SP. #7 - Los Angeles Angels Drifter Pick - Walt 'Losing Pitcher' Lee Actual Pick - SS Felipe Macias Huh? Besides having the most potential "stars", many are left scratching their heads at this pick in hindsight. Since we are not here to judge, Macias does have + defensive ratings. Macias hit .215/.317/.360 in his first campaign in the Angels org. He has the potential to hit for power but he has a long ways to come at only 19 yrs old. Macias does grade out as the #50 prospect in baseball. #8 - Colorado Rockies Drifter Pick - Bob 'Sliding Billy' Lewis Actual Pick - Bob 'Sliding Billy' Lewis Drifter gets another correct. Here, HAL9100 has decided to throw the youngster to the wolves in AA ball for his campaign within the Rockies org. Lewis threw 5.37 era in 11 starts in Tulsa (AA). Lewis does have the potential to have 4 +++ pitches. Lewis is the first pick of the 2025 draft to not be listed in the top 100 prospects list. #9 - Philadelphia Phillies Drifter Pick - Adrian 'Iron Duke' Aquino Actual Pick - CF Joe 'Disco' Dale Disco was originally expected to be picked at the #3 spot so based on Drifter's selection, Masler picked a deal here. Disco had an unspectacular rookie campaign in rookie ball hitting .237/.340/.620. Disco is a 1B with zero power to speak of but makes up for it with ++ defense/speed. His contact/eye potential has +++ potential. The Phillies signed Disco for $8,000,000 which lands near the top of draft picks for 2025. Disco lands at #85 prospect overall for 2025. #10 - Oakland Athletics Drifter Pick - Charles 'Maverick' Hobbs Actual Pick - Walt 'Losing Pitcher' Lee Another manager who choose to attempt to challenge his rookie pitcher placing Lee in AA to start his career. Confucius Rex appears to have used Lee in a MR role in Midland combining for a 3.06 era while pitching 35+ innings with only 3 starts. Lee comes in as the #65 prospect overall. The Dugout feel free to discuss. I'll leave the post-draft grades to Drifterbub.
Lewis is 22 years old with a 40 control rating. He's staying in AA again next year but I put him at a level that was appropriate for his age and talent, imo. Not quite the same thing as throwing him to the wolves.
Just a figure of speech since most place their rookies in rookie ball regardless of age/talent. Not saying it's the wrong move, some prospect grow from being challenged.
Most college players start in low A or S A ball. Its not unheard of for them to start in A+ and move quickly either.
