[SPEAKER_01]: Hello and welcome to future projects in this episode 163 of the show to special cross-posing episode.

[SPEAKER_01]: It's also going to be on our main baseball America podcast feed.

[SPEAKER_01]: I'm Carlos Closo joined by Ben Badler and joined by Jacob Rudner for a very special amateur player draft that we do every year.

[SPEAKER_01]: Ben, how are you doing?

[SPEAKER_00]: I'm great.

[SPEAKER_00]: I'm excited for the season.

[SPEAKER_00]: I'm excited for an extra special podcast with Jacob today.

[SPEAKER_03]: Yeah, Jacob, what's up, and how are you?

[SPEAKER_03]: I'm doing well.

[SPEAKER_03]: I always look forward to my annual future projection appearance to put together one of these drafts.

[SPEAKER_03]: It was fun last year.

[SPEAKER_03]: So I feel like I have different strategies this time.

[SPEAKER_03]: So I can defeat you guys in the section slide.

[SPEAKER_01]: Yeah, so for those who are maybe unfamiliar, we've been doing this for a few years now.

[SPEAKER_01]: I think this is our fourth year of doing the draft last year.

[SPEAKER_01]: It was the same trio here, myself been in Jacob.

[SPEAKER_01]: The goal is to basically try and draft the best possible teams we can from the 2026 class.

[SPEAKER_01]: As you guys are listening to this podcast, the season will be essentially underway.

[SPEAKER_01]: D1 baseball starts today on Friday as the podcast airs myself and Jacob are going to be out in Texas watching what's really talented players.

[SPEAKER_01]: I'm sure Ben is going to be keeping eye on things wherever he's going to be at.

[SPEAKER_01]: But I feel like this has been a fun exercise to kind of mimic what happens in a draft room and also give us an excuse to talk about the class.

[SPEAKER_01]: Feel out the strengths and weaknesses of the class.

[SPEAKER_01]: And since we've been doing this, this is the most talented and potentially the deepest

[SPEAKER_01]: draft class we've had.

[SPEAKER_01]: I was selling Jacob prior to we prior to getting on the show.

[SPEAKER_01]: I was doing some strategizing in the lead up to this trying trying to figure out like which areas I need to be specific about and be on top of and it really feels like this year more than any year.

[SPEAKER_01]: I'm not like too concerned about missing any particular category.

[SPEAKER_01]: How do you guys feel going into this Jacob will start with you first?

[SPEAKER_03]: I feel really good.

[SPEAKER_03]: I mean, we were talking about it.

[SPEAKER_03]: This is a great draft class.

[SPEAKER_03]: And so I feel like you, there's like more depth here.

[SPEAKER_03]: I also think that at the top, you have a lot of options.

[SPEAKER_03]: And can go a couple of different ways and not be in a bad spot for the way that we calculate who wins this, especially, you know, even past Rockshelowski.

[SPEAKER_03]: I think that there's a lot of value to be had.

[SPEAKER_03]: So yeah, I do agree with you.

[SPEAKER_03]: Like this is a, I don't know that there's a spot where I feel worried

[SPEAKER_00]: Yeah, I feel really strong about my abilities to draft, so I'm glad you guys do too.

[SPEAKER_01]: Yeah, okay, so I'll run down really quickly the kind of format and the system we're doing.

[SPEAKER_01]: We basically all have to draft a roster that includes one catcher, two corner infillters, two middle infillters, three outfielders, four pitchers, and one utility spot.

[SPEAKER_01]: And for our purposes, the utility spot is basically a free space.

[SPEAKER_01]: You can draft whatever position

[SPEAKER_01]: that you want, the only constraints beyond the positions that we have are, you have to have at least six high school players and at least six college players, it's 13 total players.

[SPEAKER_01]: So one of those categories will be seven, one will be six, but you have to at least get to that six player threshold so you can't just load up on high score, just load up on college.

[SPEAKER_01]: So that's kind of the strategic element to it.

[SPEAKER_01]: For the position groups, we've typically done it to where, if both, if there's like a tweener position player that you have, you're trying to sneak a,

[SPEAKER_01]: a third basement on some middle and field advice versus kind of the other two who are not drafting have final say and can dictate whether or not that position is fair.

[SPEAKER_01]: We've randomized the draft order and our order will be Ben then Jacob then myself will do snake order.

[SPEAKER_01]: So I'll pick twice then I'll swing back around.

[SPEAKER_01]: Anyone have any questions, comments, clarifications, anything to say before we kick this this puppy off.

[SPEAKER_01]: I know let's have a

[SPEAKER_00]: I am going to take Rocholowski at number one.

[SPEAKER_00]: I am not in this prize.

[SPEAKER_00]: Anybody, look, I think shortstop is extremely deep in this class.

[SPEAKER_00]: So, you know, sometimes we look at different positions of strengths and weaknesses, how we're going to build out our teams for this.

[SPEAKER_00]: Arachalowski is just a very obvious picket.

[SPEAKER_00]: Number one, overall.

[SPEAKER_00]: Not totally sure where I'm going to go with my other short stops after this, but I have Arachalowski.

[SPEAKER_00]: I feel very strong about about that pick.

[SPEAKER_01]: I, you know, I'm hopeful that whoever is, well, not whoever.

[SPEAKER_01]: I'm hopeful that the white socks have a similar mindset to you.

[SPEAKER_01]: If the draft board stays the same, we don't have to do this whole song and dance about, oh, are they actually gonna take Brock Jelasker?

[SPEAKER_01]: Are they not?

[SPEAKER_00]: Oh, they're gonna have, they're gonna have five guys on their board that they're talking about.

[SPEAKER_00]: You're gonna hear about going right into the draft, right?

[SPEAKER_00]: And Rock Jelouse is gonna say, yeah, okay, sure.

[SPEAKER_00]: I'll take off your bonus pool, please.

[SPEAKER_01]: Maybe the least surprising pick of the entire draft here.

[SPEAKER_01]: Right, you'll say all of your pool, but all of your, all of this is a lot of least.

[SPEAKER_01]: This one, anyone basically picking one, I feel like this would have been the obvious choice.

[SPEAKER_01]: It would have been just getting cute to go otherwise.

[SPEAKER_01]: So I guess maybe the more exciting pick here is number two for Jacob.

[SPEAKER_03]: Yeah, I was hoping for number one that would have been really cool and easy and as Ben demonstrated required a little thought this from required more thought for me because I do think that if there's going to be a player that challenges rock shellowski which I really don't think will happen it will come from the college pitching class and so I'm going to take a

[SPEAKER_03]: I'm going to avoid it because I think that the path to that requires taking a haircut in the way that we play this game is with draft value.

[SPEAKER_03]: So I have to go at Grady Emerson here.

[SPEAKER_03]: Secures me my leading shortstop where I go after this, not entirely sure, but I do think that if the white socks are going to get weird and still pay near full value, it's via the high school shortstop route.

[SPEAKER_03]: So I'll take Grady.

[SPEAKER_01]: Yeah, I was kind of hopeful that you were going to get you.

[SPEAKER_01]: It may be take someone who is not name gradie Emerson, because I do feel like even still like Rock is an obvious one.

[SPEAKER_01]: One, I feel like gradie is just the obvious pick at two.

[SPEAKER_01]: I would have loved to for him to slide there.

[SPEAKER_01]: So I'm kind of torn on if I want to double up on a position group and make like life more difficult for you guys if I want to go for some balance.

[SPEAKER_01]: Man.

[SPEAKER_01]: I'm going to go ahead and lock in my first of this too because I just feel very confident about Cameron Flooky on the mound.

[SPEAKER_01]: He's our top pitcher on the board.

[SPEAKER_01]: It's basically a chalk board to start here.

[SPEAKER_01]: It's been one, two, three, not really shaking things up too much.

[SPEAKER_01]: I'm tempted to double up on pitching at this start because I do think this draft is just really deep for hitters, but I think I'm just going to avoid that.

[SPEAKER_01]: Man, I'm torn.

[SPEAKER_01]: I'm gonna go Jacob Lombard for number four.

[SPEAKER_01]: Maybe the tools you just play are in the class.

[SPEAKER_01]: I feel like the obvious next up high school player in this group after Grady Emerson.

[SPEAKER_01]: And I feel like taking a balanced approach at this stage is just gonna make like easier for me down the road.

[SPEAKER_01]: So Cameron Flookie is my pitcher, Jacob Lombard.

[SPEAKER_01]: At short stop or middle infield, and we'll go back to Jacob unless you guys have any thoughts on that pick.

[SPEAKER_03]: No thoughts for me, just actually mostly a thankful take away from that.

[SPEAKER_03]: I was concerned that you were going to go back to back pictures there.

[SPEAKER_01]: Because actually, if I took Jackson Florida, it'd be hardbreaker for you.

[SPEAKER_03]: It would've been.

[SPEAKER_03]: And so I'm going to make sure that I get him.

[SPEAKER_03]: Jackson Florida is my pick.

[SPEAKER_03]: I actually think that Jackson Florida might be the number one picture in this class.

[SPEAKER_03]: And that's not saying much because it's not a large gap between one and two.

[SPEAKER_03]: And as we have it, it's flukey one and Florida two.

[SPEAKER_03]: There's just a lot of positivity about what Florida has done this off season.

[SPEAKER_03]: I think that he's a pretty sure bet to go within the top five-ish this July.

[SPEAKER_03]: He should perform in that conference and so it feels just as safe as Flutti at Coastal.

[SPEAKER_03]: I think Bulls should be, you know, maybe some of the highest floor players besides Chalowski in this class.

[SPEAKER_01]: Yep.

[SPEAKER_01]: I think that's a take that makes a lot of sense.

[SPEAKER_01]: I really struggled a little bit passing on to on Florida there.

[SPEAKER_01]: So I get two picks here.

[SPEAKER_01]: You do, yep.

[SPEAKER_00]: All right, for, well, for one of my picks, I want to make sure I get one of these top three college pitchers.

[SPEAKER_00]: So I'm going to take Lee and Peterson from Florida with my pick.

[SPEAKER_00]: I guess it doesn't matter which order I'm taking them in, but I know I want to take him.

[SPEAKER_00]: There's a lot of good high school.

[SPEAKER_00]: pitching in this class.

[SPEAKER_00]: I think there are some other college pictures we're a little bit deeper down the board.

[SPEAKER_00]: We'll see how it plays out what my constraints are with college versus high school guys.

[SPEAKER_00]: But I want to make sure I get one of four of Flooky Peterson.

[SPEAKER_00]: So I'll take a Liam Peterson here.

[SPEAKER_00]: I think I'm going to go, I'm going to go next with Justin LeBron short stop from Alabama.

[SPEAKER_00]: I got two college short stops.

[SPEAKER_00]: I'm very college heavy here.

[SPEAKER_00]: You are.

[SPEAKER_00]: LeBron.

[SPEAKER_00]: He certainly has some question marks with the way that he hit in SEC play.

[SPEAKER_00]: But I think you have a true short stop like the bat speed.

[SPEAKER_00]: I think I think the bat will take another step forward this year.

[SPEAKER_00]: I mean, it wasn't like he was bad last year.

[SPEAKER_00]: I don't want to like.

[SPEAKER_00]: make it sound like he was awful last year or anything like that.

[SPEAKER_00]: We have him as a likely top 10 pick and somebody who maybe goes right behind.

[SPEAKER_00]: Rock chalesque it.

[SPEAKER_00]: Number two.

[SPEAKER_00]: Yeah.

[SPEAKER_00]: So, um,

[SPEAKER_00]: I think there's I think there's a lot of good short stops this year.

[SPEAKER_00]: I think maybe you guys might be a little bit more aggressive with short stops.

[SPEAKER_00]: So I was an expecting to get Rock Chalowski and Justin LeBron, but as I as I say that a lot, I'm pretty happy right now.

[SPEAKER_01]: Yeah, do you feel like both those guys have a chance to be like the first two players off the board?

[SPEAKER_01]: I also feel like it's telling that we all felt the need to tackle one of these college pictures we have in this top tier, just that lens of security that that profile is giving us to help kind of fill out the rotation.

[SPEAKER_01]: I feel like it's notable in pitching is something in general for me that in the past I have kind of regretted not tackling early.

[SPEAKER_01]: So it's interesting to kind of react to all of us jumping on that demo.

[SPEAKER_00]: Now, what put, what put, I know we have on our draft board, we have LeBron, one spot ahead of Jacob Lumbard, what made you take Lumbard, head of LeBron?

[SPEAKER_01]: I feel like there is less of a risk for Jacob Lumbard to slide outside of the top 10 compared to Justin LeBron.

[SPEAKER_01]: I think Justin LeBron, if he struggles again in conference play, it doesn't make significant adjustments to the swing and miss.

[SPEAKER_01]: I feel like he could fall a little bit further

[SPEAKER_01]: the same ability to slide, just given the competition he's going to play in South Florida.

[SPEAKER_01]: It feels like, yeah, it feels like people are just so enamored with the toolset and the pure upside.

[SPEAKER_01]: I was really torn between the two because I'm I'm more on the bullish side of Justin LeBron, but it was like, it was also part I knew I wanted fluki and I wanted to stay this balance as I could early with high school and college and so without me being able to separate

[SPEAKER_01]: with the ton of confidence.

[SPEAKER_01]: I just went for that, that demographic balance.

[SPEAKER_03]: I was surprised you did that just because of how much I know you like Justin LeBron, but at the same time, I think that your logic is very sound based on the feedback, because there has been a lot of chatter in the evaluation world going into the season that, you know, indicates maybe there's a split opinion a little bit on Justin LeBron.

[SPEAKER_03]: I think that the majority of the feedback is very high

[SPEAKER_03]: That's reflected by where we have him, but at the same time, I do think that there are people who have questions about the hit tool that exist and I wonder what those people how loud those people will be at the end of the year.

[SPEAKER_03]: So it's a I like that's a good point that you did make the safer pick there.

[SPEAKER_01]: All right, Jacob, we're back to you.

[SPEAKER_03]: Yep, this is where I'm going to get a little bit weird, but if there's one thing I learned from last year, it's that attacking my catcher value is going to be important.

[SPEAKER_03]: I think low swan area that you really beat us in was when you snagged like Irish last year, and I'm not going to allow myself to fall victim to that this year.

[SPEAKER_03]: So I'm taking Ryder health wreck.

[SPEAKER_03]: I do think there's another catching option that is kind of guaranteed draft value but the feedback that we've heard out of Arkansas from people who have seen them in the scouting community the last couple weeks has been really positive.

[SPEAKER_03]: Sounds like he's taken a step forward defensively which was a question from last year.

[SPEAKER_03]: We know that the bat is arguably the best of the position among college guys.

[SPEAKER_03]: So if I'll say, Carlos, you and I talked about this on the draft pod like there's a real chance that he slides up into the top 20 come draft day.

[SPEAKER_03]: We actually both predicted it to be

[SPEAKER_03]: Again, felt like a safe move to me, and yeah, health-free, health-free, it's the pick.

[SPEAKER_01]: Yeah, I feel like we are in this draft.

[SPEAKER_01]: We're solidly in the range where there's not a clear tear break for me, like basically all the players who are available, I kind of like to the same degree.

[SPEAKER_01]: And so I'm thinking more strategically for how to fill out the roster more than anything.

[SPEAKER_01]: So I'm going to go kind of in a similar route to you, Jacob, at least targeting some positions.

[SPEAKER_01]: I feel like might be trickier to handle.

[SPEAKER_01]: And so for my next pick, I'm going to go corner and fill it.

[SPEAKER_01]: I'm going to say Ace Reese at Mississippi State.

[SPEAKER_01]: the third baseman, I think there's a chance that I'm pro ball.

[SPEAKER_01]: Be moved to first base, but in terms of just power in this class power and hitting ability, I feel like it's one of the more exciting profiles in the class and there are a ton of middle and field.

[SPEAKER_01]: profiles to pick from.

[SPEAKER_01]: So after securing one of the elite players in Jacob Lombard, I feel less inclined to attack that and target that for now.

[SPEAKER_01]: And then after getting a rease at corner in field, I'm going to go back to the rotation and I'm going to get Carson Bolamon.

[SPEAKER_01]: I think Carson Bolamon is the safest high school pitcher in this class.

[SPEAKER_01]: I think this is an excellent

[SPEAKER_01]: uh... pre-pitching class in general i feel like at this stage bologna is the most likely to actually be taken inside the first round i feel like with a strong spring he could push up inside the top ten it's it's no guarantee that we get a high school picture in that range especially when there's so many good hitters uh... but i just have a lot of faith that um... like he's a rock solid pitching prospect he there's nothing in his game that concerns me i think he's one of the

[SPEAKER_01]: could be one of the quicker moving high school players in this class, and that maybe is telling because it's a profile that typically takes a long time, so I feel good about getting who I think is not pretty clearly, but reasonably safely the top high school pitcher in the class.

[SPEAKER_03]: Why am I over rowhouse for you?

[SPEAKER_01]: From me, it's just the command.

[SPEAKER_01]: I think I'm curious how Ben may be viewed the command and control for Bullomb versus Rojas.

[SPEAKER_01]: I feel like Joe Rojas is maybe a better natural athlete and the actual arm speed is a little bit quicker and more loud, but Bullombons ability to command the fastball to command his secondaries.

[SPEAKER_01]: Just like the pure pitching field he shows on the mound, the ability to mix and match and attack hitters, is super advanced.

[SPEAKER_01]: I mean, they were both on the same,

[SPEAKER_01]: 18-unational team, last summer and fall, Balomon was the better pitcher there.

[SPEAKER_01]: So I just, I just have a lot of confidence that his game is like another level of polish for me.

[SPEAKER_00]: Yeah, if I had to give the ball to one starting pitcher of those two tomorrow to win a game right now, I would take Bowlem on and not just of those two probably of any pitcher in the class.

[SPEAKER_00]: The pitch ability that he has is pretty unreal for his age.

[SPEAKER_00]: Now, granted his age is older for the class like he could if he if he if he if Wake Forest had him in there, you know, on their roster right now, I think he could start for them.

[SPEAKER_00]: right away.

[SPEAKER_00]: He's extremely polished.

[SPEAKER_00]: The fastball command, the command of two breaking balls, two really good breaking balls is just extremely impressive to see.

[SPEAKER_00]: Long-term, I would rather have Gioro hosts.

[SPEAKER_00]: I think there's some more upside there.

[SPEAKER_00]: I think he's going

[SPEAKER_00]: bowl them on probably ends up with the better breaking stuff, but I would probably lean to our geo row house, but I think both of these guys could and probably will end up both being first round arms.

[SPEAKER_00]: Otherwise say that and it is a pretty stacked draft, but being left-handed with those kind of traits that those guys have is going to push them.

[SPEAKER_00]: I know it's pushing them high upwards, right?

[UNKNOWN]: Right.

[SPEAKER_03]: I will go back to you, I'm going to surprise you guys here.

[SPEAKER_03]: This is this is not a very me pick and it actually scares me.

[SPEAKER_03]: It scares me because I think that there's a lot of developments still to be done, but Tyler Spangler is who I'm going with now.

[SPEAKER_01]: I see Ben, I see Ben a little disappointed with this one.

[SPEAKER_01]: So you might have to do that.

[SPEAKER_03]: I had to feel like I would both surprise you guys and disappoint Ben.

[SPEAKER_03]: But I just think the potential is really, really high.

[SPEAKER_03]: I do agree with something that you said Carlos recently when you and I were podcasting together on the draft pod, which is that he does kind of have the most to show.

[SPEAKER_03]: Maybe this year in terms of like tool set and kind of having that carrying tool.

[SPEAKER_03]: And he doesn't yet totally have that, but I think he's good.

[SPEAKER_03]: Eventually, and so maybe not the flashiest present pick, but I think that when it comes to draft value and potential future value, it could be one of the better ones.

[SPEAKER_03]: So I'm definitely going to let him slip to the cracks.

[SPEAKER_01]: You maybe have two of the most exciting and just beautiful swings in this class between Goody Emerson and Toshbank.

[SPEAKER_01]: If you're looking at like pure hit tools, you wanted to say these are the top two guys.

[SPEAKER_01]: I think you'd get away with that pretty easily.

[SPEAKER_00]: I'm grinding my teeth right now because I was going to take him and just put him in the utility spot.

[SPEAKER_00]: That's how much I like Tyler's playing.

[SPEAKER_00]: I already have two short stops.

[SPEAKER_00]: I know I have other spots to fill out.

[SPEAKER_00]: I was going to just take him anyway.

[SPEAKER_00]: So I, well, I don't like that pick, but, uh, good.

[SPEAKER_01]: All right, we're to you, Ben.

[SPEAKER_01]: You got two picks.

[SPEAKER_01]: You currently have three college players, Rochilowski, Justin LeBron, and Liam Peterson.

[SPEAKER_00]: Yeah, so I'm currently auditing off of the off of that pick.

[SPEAKER_00]: I think I will go there a career with my next pick.

[SPEAKER_00]: I need some nice.

[SPEAKER_00]: I need to go feel the more.

[SPEAKER_00]: Yeah, I don't know that the college outfielders are quite as strong.

[SPEAKER_00]: Maybe as, I think corner in field is the weakest among the.

[SPEAKER_00]: the positions right now.

[SPEAKER_00]: But college outfit, it feels like there's like a bunch of interesting guys, nobody where it's like the complete package that you want to see all of these guys have their little question marks.

[SPEAKER_00]: But with Couriel, I just, I really like the polish.

[SPEAKER_00]: I like the left-handed swing.

[SPEAKER_00]: I like the back control.

[SPEAKER_00]: It's a ton of contact.

[SPEAKER_00]: I think he has really strong defensive instincts in, well, we saw it on the corner last year.

[SPEAKER_00]: We saw it in center field throughout his time in high school.

[SPEAKER_00]: I don't have much question.

[SPEAKER_00]: He's going to be a good defensive center fielder this year.

[SPEAKER_00]: My question with him is going to be.

[SPEAKER_00]: the power like how much power do we see kind of a slender kind of a narrow frame to so I don't know that big power is that we're going to come, but he's only a freshman last year and even if he doesn't hit for huge power, I like the hitting ability on base skills and defense at a premium position in center field, so if he will be he will be my next pick and then.

[SPEAKER_00]: Hmm, I make a back-to-back here, college outfielders, and...

[SPEAKER_00]: Um, I'm sort of debating between AJ Grascia, a few other data.

[SPEAKER_00]: Let's go with AJ Grascia, uh, just believer in, in the bat, um, so I'll go, I'll go curry, Ellen Grascia for my two, two college outfielders.

[SPEAKER_01]: Two outfielders and Ben is currently at five college players.

[SPEAKER_01]: So we'll see if this comes back to make his life painful as he has to figure out high school players to get to six, but, um, I think all these players on your

[SPEAKER_01]: Our guys, I could easily see going in the top 10, so it's hard to knock what you're building over there, Ben.

[SPEAKER_03]: Jake, I was just, yeah, I'll just say, before I announce my pick, I do think that your question I'm curious about the power apparently is something that's looked a lot better in the preseason.

[SPEAKER_03]: The early feedback is that they've worked a lot on on strength.

[SPEAKER_03]: He's put on some good weight and they've worked on angles too.

[SPEAKER_03]: Just trying to put the ball on the air and make sure that his best contact is heading towards the wall.

[SPEAKER_00]: So we're all about.

[SPEAKER_03]: Yep.

[SPEAKER_03]: Yep.

[SPEAKER_03]: Team Ben off to a good start.

[SPEAKER_03]: Um, this is weird.

[SPEAKER_03]: Ben has five college guys.

[SPEAKER_03]: I'm taking my third high school player.

[SPEAKER_03]: EJ booth.

[SPEAKER_03]: I'm going to take you to the booth.

[SPEAKER_03]: Yeah.

[SPEAKER_03]: I knew I didn't do it.

[SPEAKER_03]: And with you and the double pick behind me, I was not going to get a chance this was smart.

[SPEAKER_03]: I'm going to survive the turn.

[SPEAKER_03]: So, I'm taking the most athletic guy at the top of the board of my opinion, save

[SPEAKER_03]: I don't know if there's anybody who's more athletic than E.J.

[SPEAKER_03]: Booth.

[SPEAKER_03]: I've talked about this already numerous times over on other podcasts.

[SPEAKER_03]: He is one of my favorite players in this class.

[SPEAKER_03]: It could be outstanding.

[SPEAKER_03]: And I wouldn't be surprised to see him in the top 10.

[SPEAKER_03]: Enjoy.

[SPEAKER_03]: So have fun Carlos.

[SPEAKER_01]: Yeah, this one's painful.

[SPEAKER_01]: I really was hoping that that he would last.

[SPEAKER_01]: I was starting to get worried that.

[SPEAKER_01]: Like, once just looking at Ben's college players, I thought Booth would have been maybe a player who's looking at, because I think he's one of the best high school, just hitters available in general regardless, and none of us had tackled outfield until this turn, it's been just nothing but outfielders.

[SPEAKER_01]: So I feel the need to continue filling out this demographic.

[SPEAKER_01]: I'm just going to go best player available at a position I need to fill out.

[SPEAKER_01]: That's Drew Burris.

[SPEAKER_01]: Kind of expected

[SPEAKER_01]: After Couriel went off the board, then I thought you were going to stack Couriel and Burris, but you going with Grosse makes sense too and I appreciate Jacob's just him being enamored with the toolset that Eric with has because I think in terms of like tools and excitement.

[SPEAKER_01]: Jay Booth does excite me a little bit more than Burst, but it's really hard to be disappointed with maybe college baseball's most productive hitter, and a profile that just has a lot of safety.

[SPEAKER_01]: I kind of like the fact that Burst feels like he's balancing out the upside and risk that I have with Jacob Lombard.

[SPEAKER_01]: So Burst is my first pick.

[SPEAKER_01]: After that, I'm not sure if I want to keep

[SPEAKER_01]: backling the Alfield demographic because I do think we're approaching a bit of a tier break here in the Alfield, and I wouldn't want to get too too deep into that demographic this year.

[SPEAKER_01]: So I'm torn between an Alfielder and another short stop.

[SPEAKER_01]: You guys both have your middle and field players taken, I think I'm going to stick in the Alfield and I'm going to take.

[SPEAKER_01]: Hmm.

[SPEAKER_01]: Man, I'm really torn here.

[SPEAKER_01]: This is maybe the trickiest pick that I've had so far.

[SPEAKER_01]: Just take Blake Bow and Carlos, come on.

[SPEAKER_01]: I want to.

[SPEAKER_01]: I want to.

[SPEAKER_01]: Yeah, I'm going to take Blake Bowen and the influence I have.

[SPEAKER_01]: I was torn between Blake Bowen and Cyrus Straussnider in the outfield.

[SPEAKER_01]: And then I was also debating, I don't want to say the other person was debating actually in case he's not on the radar for you guys.

[SPEAKER_01]: But Blake Bowen has some of the E.J.

[SPEAKER_01]: booths.

[SPEAKER_01]: traits for me in the sense that he was a strong performer on the circuit.

[SPEAKER_01]: He's got loud, power, speed tools.

[SPEAKER_01]: I love this swing.

[SPEAKER_01]: I love the physicality that he brings to the table.

[SPEAKER_01]: And so I'll go with Boon.

[SPEAKER_01]: And we're back to Jacob.

[SPEAKER_03]: Um, you guys are going to have to make a, a positional determination on this one, but I am finally going to take a call of the guy Chris a copian from Texas A&M.

[SPEAKER_01]: Yeah, that's the other guy was debating here.

[SPEAKER_01]: So I think that makes some big stuff.

[SPEAKER_03]: Um, no, super hard EVs.

[SPEAKER_03]: I'm curious to see how it translates to the SEC, because I think that that transition from any conference, but especially in the big 10, maybe goes a little bit under disgust.

[SPEAKER_03]: I guess it's a really big move.

[SPEAKER_03]: Um,

[SPEAKER_03]: But I'm reasonably confident that he's going to have a good season and the feedback has been really hot early.

[SPEAKER_03]: So it felt like a safe pick.

[SPEAKER_03]: Now I think he's a third baseman at the next level and that's when the feedback we have on listed at shortstop.

[SPEAKER_03]: I have two middle and fielders already on there.

[SPEAKER_03]: So if it's utility on fine with it, but I was going to attempt to sway the two of you into letting me put him in a corner in field spot.

[SPEAKER_01]: Um, he played 47 games at third base of Maryland in 24.

[SPEAKER_01]: I also think he's more likely to play third base in the future.

[SPEAKER_01]: He played 20 games at third base in the Cape.

[SPEAKER_01]: So corner and field is perfectly fine for me.

[SPEAKER_01]: Yeah, I was going to put him as well.

[SPEAKER_01]: Cool.

[SPEAKER_01]: All right.

[SPEAKER_01]: Chris, our copian is the pick.

[SPEAKER_01]: Ben, we are going back to you.

[SPEAKER_01]: And I'll say I'm just on a copian.

[SPEAKER_01]: I feel like

[SPEAKER_01]: Um, hit power combination.

[SPEAKER_01]: One of the very best in the college class.

[SPEAKER_01]: If he has a strong ear, looks fine.

[SPEAKER_01]: It sure stops another player.

[SPEAKER_01]: If he's not into the top 10, even moved inside like top 5 range with a strong ear, that wouldn't shock me at all.

[SPEAKER_01]: I just think that the context skills, the impact, the strength, they're all really, really good here.

[SPEAKER_00]: I have gone very college at the, and now I am now he is paying the price, and I'm thinking about where to pivot to next, so I get two picks in a row here.

[SPEAKER_01]: You do, yes.

[SPEAKER_01]: Every time you pick, you'll have two picks in a row for the rest of the dress or by the way.

[SPEAKER_01]: You know what?

[SPEAKER_01]: I know Ben's thinking.

[SPEAKER_01]: He really wants to take Tyler Bell, because he loves him, but he doesn't know

[SPEAKER_00]: Gotta get, you know what I'm gonna do and I'm surprised I'm gonna do this, but I will take Von Lacky here.

[SPEAKER_00]: Wow.

[SPEAKER_01]: Six straight cards.

[SPEAKER_01]: Oh, and I will also say I was basically just sitting on Von Lacky.

[SPEAKER_01]: I was like, oh, I'm definitely gonna get Von Lacky now.

[SPEAKER_01]: Jacob took her to Hellfrik.

[SPEAKER_01]: Yeah, Ben has no high school players.

[SPEAKER_01]: He's gonna take Will Brick for catchers.

[SPEAKER_01]: I'm just gonna wait till he does that and I'll take Von Lacky.

[SPEAKER_01]: My plans have been foiled.

[SPEAKER_00]: So, well now, you can wait a while time for bricks, so maybe that was a mistake by me.

[SPEAKER_00]: Well, although you also might just throw them onto the tree spot.

[SPEAKER_00]: That actually is an important point.

[SPEAKER_00]: I might actually be a good way to box you out of really the top three catchers on the board.

[SPEAKER_00]: And then I need to do it.

[SPEAKER_00]: Throw a block because I am good.

[SPEAKER_00]: So, now you got two people who might box you out.

[SPEAKER_01]: I think it's some other fun options there.

[SPEAKER_01]: I'm not too worried.

[SPEAKER_00]: But yeah, I get a little skittish over the high school catchers.

[SPEAKER_00]: Unless I'm, you know, I think it's an elite elite bad.

[SPEAKER_00]: And I like, yeah, I like Will Brick.

[SPEAKER_00]: He might go in the first round.

[SPEAKER_00]: I just have a little bit more hesitant with the high school catchers, Von Lackey, collegiate catcher, a lot to like there with him, just the overall skill set.

[SPEAKER_00]: Hmm.

[SPEAKER_00]: I got to take one of these high school arms.

[SPEAKER_00]: Rell house and birthwicker still in the board, right?

[SPEAKER_02]: Hmm.

[UNKNOWN]: Hmm.

[SPEAKER_00]: Boy, it's a tough one.

[SPEAKER_00]: I'm going to start with G.O.R.L.O.

[SPEAKER_00]: us.

[SPEAKER_00]: Yeah.

[SPEAKER_00]: Nice.

[SPEAKER_00]: Like him, lefty, buttery, smooth deliveries, six foot four, up to 98, probably still more or still in there, some feel for a slider.

[SPEAKER_00]: Like, still kind of refining the shape of that pitch.

[SPEAKER_00]: We're really good to sweep to it when it's on, when it's at its best.

[SPEAKER_00]: A lot of us just started to look, started to trace to him.

[SPEAKER_00]: Really deep high school pitching group.

[SPEAKER_00]: here.

[SPEAKER_00]: So probably snap up some more of these guys later.

[SPEAKER_00]: Okay.

[SPEAKER_01]: Nice.

[SPEAKER_01]: You got your first high school on board.

[SPEAKER_01]: And I will say anyone who is betting on band going six up, six down college, congratulations.

[SPEAKER_01]: That is not something I expected given how much you have praised this high school class.

[SPEAKER_01]: So I guess I can.

[SPEAKER_00]: I can still speak another one in there too, right?

[SPEAKER_01]: Yeah, you can get up to one more.

[SPEAKER_01]: Once you get your next college player though, that's the last

[SPEAKER_01]: And we're back to you Jacob.

[SPEAKER_03]: Yep.

[SPEAKER_03]: I'm going to I'm going to play protect here because I'm worried that he won't survive the Carlos turn.

[SPEAKER_03]: And so I'm going with Gabe Gackle from Arkansas.

[SPEAKER_03]: This is a big this is a big.

[SPEAKER_03]: gamble at this point because I'm not so confident that he is going to hold on to his rotation spot just because they've tried this before.

[SPEAKER_03]: It didn't work last year.

[SPEAKER_03]: He made the majority of his appearances out of the bullpen.

[SPEAKER_03]: He's a really good reliever and he's proven that in the SEC and the stuff is like.

[SPEAKER_03]: I mean, you can make the case that he has some of the best stuff in this class.

[SPEAKER_03]: If he's a reliever, though, the value will suffer.

[SPEAKER_03]: If he's not, I think that he could soar pretty high and with the first round.

[SPEAKER_03]: So I know you like him.

[SPEAKER_03]: I like him too, and I wanted to protect and make sure that he got onto my roster.

[SPEAKER_01]: Yeah, the pitching is starting to get a little bit thinner here.

[SPEAKER_01]: So I like that pick for me.

[SPEAKER_01]: You have a balanced team as well.

[SPEAKER_01]: Right now, Jacob, four college players.

[SPEAKER_01]: It looks like three high school players.

[SPEAKER_01]: So there are a ton of different areas I could go.

[SPEAKER_01]: And I don't really want to tackle catcher quite yet.

[SPEAKER_01]: I think corner-in-field is going to get tricky for you guys here soon, but I'm going to keep stacking pictures.

[SPEAKER_01]: I think I was a little bit worried when you mentioned pitching that you were going to take Coleman-Borthwick, who I love.

[SPEAKER_01]: I love Coleman-Borthwick, I think just the power and precision in athleticism that he has on the mound is tremendous, like part of me, hesitates at the high school pitching demographic and every year, actually that's not true.

[SPEAKER_01]: I never hesitate at this demographic.

[SPEAKER_01]: What I mean to say is, I typically think, oh, I should play it safe with my pitchers and take the elite college arms, but I just like these high school pitchers better than the college pitchers available,

[SPEAKER_01]: I'm happy to take a guy like Boorthwick.

[SPEAKER_01]: I think he belongs in the first round.

[SPEAKER_01]: I think his sliders among the best in the class, the way that he's talked about as an athlete, and as a pitcher is just tremendous.

[SPEAKER_01]: I've only ever seen him dominate, and I just think in terms of peer stuff and physicality and command, it's right up there with all the high school pitchers who we've taken with Carson Bowleman with Gia Rojas.

[SPEAKER_01]: I'm tempted to take another high school pitcher here, but because he's still on the board and I consider him last time, I'm going to take what I think is like the last of this top tier of Alfielders, and I'm going to grab Saw Your Straw Snyder from TCU, put him in the Alfield.

[SPEAKER_01]: Again, I debated him with my last pick.

[SPEAKER_01]: I think he's got a really exciting combination of tools, physicality, performance a year ago, was way better than what I would have expected him to do.

[SPEAKER_01]: In his first year of college, I have some hesitance about the pure hit tool and some of the aggression that's underlying in the approach, but.

[SPEAKER_01]: He can run, he can hit for power, he can throw.

[SPEAKER_01]: I just think he brings a lot of tools to the table.

[SPEAKER_01]: And if he has a strong gear, I don't see why he can't hit the very top of the outfield tier in this class.

[SPEAKER_01]: So that's me wrapping up my outfielders.

[SPEAKER_03]: Nice.

[SPEAKER_03]: I'm not think that I would get to this point, but I'm taking Joey Voltsko.

[SPEAKER_03]: think that if it's a decent year, like even decent year, and we see signs of progress from a straight current standpoint, I think that there are some delivery mechanical changes that have occurred that we need to actually see over a longer period of time before we can actually be confident, and then there's like, arsenal changes that are intriguing, but all kind of hypothetical to me until we see them.

[SPEAKER_03]: But again, if it is decent,

[SPEAKER_03]: I am pretty confident that he'll fly up to board.

[SPEAKER_03]: He has long been viewed as one of the top stuff guys in the country.

[SPEAKER_03]: He's just never had his had the results to justify a higher draft ranking.

[SPEAKER_03]: And that is, that's it.

[SPEAKER_03]: I mean, if it is decent, even slightly improved from last year in the strike, then I can just overall appealing stats department.

[SPEAKER_03]: I don't see how he doesn't fly very high up into the first round.

[SPEAKER_01]: Yep.

[SPEAKER_01]: Yeah, tremendous pure stuff.

[SPEAKER_01]: I think between Flora, Gackle, Volchko, it's pretty clear that Jacob likes stuff.

[SPEAKER_01]: I think this stuff he has in the staff is some of the best in the entire class.

[SPEAKER_01]: All college starting rotation, notably, I don't know if you intend to do that, or if just kind of how we have the board played out, but that's maybe something to know as we go here back to Ben, who has six college players, one high school player currently.

[SPEAKER_00]: Hmm.

[SPEAKER_00]: I am thinking to go in the college route again, too.

[SPEAKER_00]: I kind of want to snipe Tyler Bell here.

[SPEAKER_00]: He is the best player I think on the board, right?

[SPEAKER_01]: Yeah, I would say so.

[SPEAKER_00]: Carl, Carl, we'll see he's another endfielder.

[SPEAKER_01]: Uh-huh.

[SPEAKER_00]: I do.

[SPEAKER_01]: But he really wanted to lock yourself into that pen.

[SPEAKER_01]: Did he really want to?

[SPEAKER_01]: I might.

[SPEAKER_01]: I might.

[SPEAKER_01]: I might.

[SPEAKER_01]: I might.

[SPEAKER_01]: I might.

[SPEAKER_00]: and Jacob is done with infielders.

[SPEAKER_00]: I don't want to just gift rapid to you.

[SPEAKER_01]: I got some other, I got some other positions I need to.

[SPEAKER_01]: And I got catcher.

[SPEAKER_01]: I think the pitching is thinning out here, so.

[SPEAKER_01]: Yes, you want me to feel like if you like Belle and you want to lock yourself into high school only, do it.

[SPEAKER_00]: So he's not the only college guy I'm thinking about over there are, I hate to hear that.

[SPEAKER_00]: You know what?

[SPEAKER_01]: Do you guys feel like at this stage in the draft as you continue to think through your options, Ben?

[SPEAKER_01]: Do you feel like there's been a talent drop off?

[SPEAKER_01]: Because I don't really feel that.

[SPEAKER_01]: I feel like everyone, I've still been pretty excited about everyone I'm taking in this range.

[SPEAKER_01]: Like I feel like once we get outside of the, I don't know, like once Jacob Blombard, Justin LeBron, Jackson Floor, those three and our five to six on the board, I feel like really, all the next like 15, 20 players, I like them all on the same range.

[SPEAKER_01]: I could see them all winding up,

[SPEAKER_01]: kind of in the same range on draft day.

[SPEAKER_01]: Like it wouldn't shock me if who you took right or help for it, could few rounds ago, Jacob was like, 11th player off the board, same way with, with Lackey, with Borthwick, with Stross Knight or with Graf.

[SPEAKER_01]: Like I feel like he's just, the numerical separation is much bigger than the actual tier of talent separation in my mind.

[SPEAKER_03]: Or in field is where I start to get really worried at this point.

[SPEAKER_01]: Yeah, that's why I was really happy with Ace Rees.

[SPEAKER_03]: The corner is the position where it drops off big time.

[SPEAKER_00]: Yeah.

[SPEAKER_00]: I agree with that.

[SPEAKER_00]: I am going to go.

[SPEAKER_00]: So the next rank outfielder on our board is Kevin Roberts Jr.

[SPEAKER_00]: Right.

[SPEAKER_00]: I'm going to take him.

[SPEAKER_00]: I need high school players.

[SPEAKER_00]: I'm a fan of Kevin Roberts Jr.

[SPEAKER_00]: Thought I might be able to wait until a little bit later, but now I'm not totally certain.

[SPEAKER_00]: how long he's going to still be there.

[SPEAKER_00]: Really young for the class, six foot five, strong physical, pretty dynamic, athlete, big time, big power now.

[SPEAKER_00]: I think there's significantly more power still to come.

[SPEAKER_00]: Just when you look at his size, his age still being 17 years old, the strength and leverage in his swing.

[SPEAKER_00]: And I think it's a pretty good idea of the strikes on,

[SPEAKER_00]: You know, the pure hitter of maybe like a great Emerson, that kind of guy, but I actually think he does do a pretty good job putting the bat to the ball.

[SPEAKER_00]: He's no longer a limb hitter, but he actually is pretty good bat to ball skills and arm strength as well.

[SPEAKER_00]: To be determined like you know center field and he's buying shortstop right now to but you know put him put him in our outfield and feel feel good about that one.

[SPEAKER_00]: And then I got to take one more.

[SPEAKER_00]: See, I'm debating.

[SPEAKER_00]: All right, I'll tell you the college, guys.

[SPEAKER_00]: I'm sure you want to do that.

[SPEAKER_00]: Yeah, yeah, I guess.

[SPEAKER_00]: Oh, look, one of the obvious ones is, as I think Jacob was probably alluding to, was Gavin Grohovic in, or just the lack of, did we turn off the other day?

[SPEAKER_00]: the drop-off in corner infield talent, but Gavin Grohovic is one that appeals to me.

[SPEAKER_00]: I wouldn't like some more college pitching, though.

[SPEAKER_00]: Yep.

[SPEAKER_00]: And I don't know if I wait, if Tegan Coons is still going to be available later on.

[SPEAKER_00]: I'm going to go with Tegan Coons and put him and Lee and Peter Jones smart pick to to Friday night starters in the SEC Peter Center for Tegan Coons at Tennessee.

[SPEAKER_00]: I just think he has it was really good in the cap last year he has really good stuff draft eligible sophomore now he's going to get a chance to, you know, be the main guy at Tennessee and I think he's going to

[SPEAKER_00]: I, I really like his feel for spin, now always have, I've, I've long been a teacancoon's fan, so haven't him and Lee and Peterson at the top of my rotation.

[SPEAKER_00]: I mean, no, no, it is respect to jail real loss.

[SPEAKER_00]: I guess he's in there leading the college guy's rotation.

[SPEAKER_00]: I'll, I'll take that.

[SPEAKER_01]: I feel like it would have been not cool for you to come out of this draft without having gotten teak and coins.

[SPEAKER_01]: I feel like you are the teak and coins guy on the staff at this stage.

[SPEAKER_01]: So congratulations.

[SPEAKER_01]: And with that pick, though, Ben, you cannot take any more college players for this.

[SPEAKER_00]: I'm just boxed out.

[SPEAKER_00]: Yeah.

[SPEAKER_00]: I was looking at the college.

[SPEAKER_00]: I was thinking him, like I like Owen Kramkowski, a little bit deeper.

[SPEAKER_00]: down the board at Arizona.

[SPEAKER_00]: I was like, maybe wait a little bit later, get him, you know, Brady Ballinger from my corner in fielder.

[SPEAKER_00]: I know I could get miles Bailey later.

[SPEAKER_00]: If I wanted to, that was maybe going to be my last pick.

[SPEAKER_00]: Right.

[SPEAKER_00]: I mean, how the board shaked out.

[SPEAKER_00]: But I guess I've boxed myself onto those gentlemen.

[SPEAKER_01]: All right.

[SPEAKER_01]: We'll go to you, Jacob.

[SPEAKER_01]: You have two outfits, spots, corner in field, one more picture and utility spot.

[SPEAKER_03]: Yeah, this is this is a scary moment for me because I think that there's a few names that if I don't pick them here, they're on Carlos's, you know, mine, maybe on the periphery a little bit.

[SPEAKER_03]: I'm not sure because Ben just named him aloud.

[SPEAKER_03]: I'm going to take Bree Ballinger.

[SPEAKER_03]: Um, I really wanted to do wanted him.

[SPEAKER_03]: Yeah.

[SPEAKER_01]: Yeah.

[SPEAKER_03]: Yeah.

[SPEAKER_03]: Yeah.

[SPEAKER_03]: Yeah.

[SPEAKER_03]: I wanted him and I was afraid that Ben just kind of planted that seed in your brain and it was going to cause you to take him.

[SPEAKER_03]: I think he's one of the best pure hitters in this draft and and he is the first basement all the way.

[SPEAKER_03]: It's not there's no positional flexibility there.

[SPEAKER_03]: But you're drafting the bat, and so of the remaining corner in field options, I like him more than Grohovic, Grohovic's coming off of a bad shoulder injury that caused him the missed whole season.

[SPEAKER_03]: I just have more confidence that Brady Boundger will have a great year at Kansas and B is just the better bat overall anyway, so it feels like a safe pick to me.

[SPEAKER_03]: I don't really see him sliding a lot in the draft, and I think there's going to be enough value there that he made sense in a fitting position group.

[SPEAKER_01]: Oh, I feel like I'm in a lovely position right now because Jacob has now filled up his entire infield.

[SPEAKER_01]: Ben is not able to select a college player.

[SPEAKER_01]: The two top players on the board right now are Eric Becker and Tyler Bell, who I'd be thrilled to add to my team.

[SPEAKER_00]: They have no leverage at all in this draft.

[SPEAKER_00]: Yeah, they're just going to slide.

[SPEAKER_01]: So the one issue is, although Jacob does have a utility spot.

[SPEAKER_01]: He can draft at least one more college player.

[SPEAKER_01]: I think I would be more upset with myself if I tried to game this out and let Tyler Bell float and take a risk that Jacob would just put him into his utility and figure it out.

[SPEAKER_00]: He'll just go back to Kentucky.

[SPEAKER_00]: You know he'll do it.

[SPEAKER_00]: He will do it.

[SPEAKER_01]: He won't sign with me if I try and lowball me or without his leverage.

[SPEAKER_01]: So I'm basically looking at Eric Becker, Tyler Bell, Chris Rembert, all the top college hitters on the board, all the top overall players on the board.

[SPEAKER_01]: I think I'm just going to not get you with it.

[SPEAKER_01]: I'm going to take Tyler Bell and put him in Millenfield.

[SPEAKER_01]: I've been looking at him for a little bit now.

[SPEAKER_01]: I've been waiting on him.

[SPEAKER_01]: I was tempted to do last, last year I did the same exact thing.

[SPEAKER_01]: I've our cat was still on the board.

[SPEAKER_01]: And you guys basically couldn't draft I've us.

[SPEAKER_01]: So I just waited and took him with my last pick at Util.

[SPEAKER_01]: I don't want to risk how it will go into Jacob's utility spot.

[SPEAKER_01]: So I'm going to grab him, put him in my middle and field.

[SPEAKER_01]: I'm really torn between Eric Becker and Chris Rembert, actually.

[SPEAKER_01]: One of those I want to throw into my utility spot.

[SPEAKER_01]: I also think, yeah, I mean, Ben can't take a college player.

[SPEAKER_01]: So I think Grohovic is kind of my safety net corner in filter at this point.

[SPEAKER_01]: So I'm just going to take Eric Becker, really good pure hitter, solid short stop production for two years.

[SPEAKER_01]: Virginia has been tremendous.

[SPEAKER_01]: I think you actually have some sneaky pop in there as well.

[SPEAKER_01]: I think both my reservations with Tyler Bell and Eric Becker is just like how much power do we have from these two profiles.

[SPEAKER_01]: But I just think both of them are very well-rounded, very safe, productive, college short stops.

[SPEAKER_01]: So I'll throw Eric Becker into my utility spot.

[SPEAKER_03]: Yeah, if you didn't take a bell there, it would have been like if Ben didn't take Koons, both of those guys were my next picks on my soul.

[SPEAKER_01]: So I have six college players.

[SPEAKER_01]: I still need a pitcher, a corner and a filter and a catcher.

[SPEAKER_01]: We go back to Jacob and it's two alphabets, a pitcher and a util.

[SPEAKER_03]: With one college spot left, importantly.

[SPEAKER_03]: Correct.

[SPEAKER_03]: I'm going to use it now, I'm going to end my college draft reason being because Carlos you have room to do the, actually I really don't have to do this, but I like the player enough and I'm going to anyway, even Robins, I think has some of the most upside in this draft among the guys who are just outside of our first round projection.

[SPEAKER_03]: At the moment, the data is tremendously loud from his days at Seaton Hall.

[SPEAKER_03]: You

[SPEAKER_03]: put up huge numbers last year transfers to Texas and the feedback out of Austin has been that he's been fantastic and that's defensively he's looked really good.

[SPEAKER_03]: The bat has continued to play even though he's facing a really good Texas pitching staff now for the last couple months.

[SPEAKER_03]: probably among the people who we have ranked outside the first round right now, besides maybe Joey Volcco, I think that he would be the least surprising to end up in the first round in July.

[SPEAKER_03]: I'm that confident that he's kind of gearing up for a big year.

[SPEAKER_03]: So that rounds out my my college picks and yeah glad to have him.

[SPEAKER_01]: Nice.

[SPEAKER_01]: All right, Ben, we're back to you.

[SPEAKER_01]: And Ben, for those listening, he still needs two corner in-fielders and he's a pitcher, and he's got a utility spot to fill out, and he is tapped out of the college demographic.

[SPEAKER_00]: Yeah, so I got to take a high school... Well, I guess I got a utility spot, but I have two high school corner in field, or two corner in field spots of pitcher, and then a utility.

[SPEAKER_00]: I don't want to wait on pitching because I can only take a high school pitcher.

[SPEAKER_00]: There's a lot of high school pitching that I still, like, I know I'm going to get some high school pitcher that I like.

[SPEAKER_00]: So I kind of want to wait on that.

[SPEAKER_00]: I feel like if I go high school corner and field here, I'm also like stretching beyond where they should go in the draft, but also

[SPEAKER_00]: have to take one of them or take two of them right at some point.

[SPEAKER_00]: And there's not like an obvious unless I want to go the pitching route and just fill out my last pitching spot.

[SPEAKER_00]: There's not like an obvious high school player that I would just be like, oh, this guy's too good.

[SPEAKER_00]: I have to take him here for utility

[SPEAKER_00]: I I think I will just fill up my two high school corner and field spots here and I am going to take I'm going to take Dominic Santa Relly and I'm going to take Bo Peterson.

[SPEAKER_01]: Yeah, great picks.

[SPEAKER_00]: Dominic Santa Relly, huge, huge power, big time, bad speed, physical guy pretty athletic for his size.

[SPEAKER_00]: I don't know, whatever.

[SPEAKER_00]: Like, we'll probably just put him at first base.

[SPEAKER_00]: Hey, runs it well enough.

[SPEAKER_00]: Maybe you could put him out in a corner out field spot too and be fine, but put him at first base.

[SPEAKER_00]: Big time, juice, and impact from the bad and emboe Peterson, just one of the better hit power combinations.

[SPEAKER_00]: in this class, strong arm.

[SPEAKER_00]: It'd be like an interesting pitching prospect too.

[SPEAKER_00]: If for some reason things don't click with the bat, I think it's just a much better prospect as a hitter.

[SPEAKER_01]: Yeah, these are, I feel like the two very clear high school corner and filters to take.

[SPEAKER_01]: And it's not typically a demographic that's really loaded because there's some of the short stops in high school and the bar to clear offensively to be a high school corner and field prospect in this range is so high, but I think these are two guys who kind of meet the bar since release power is like shockingly impressive.

[SPEAKER_01]: And I feel like Bo Peerson's swing is just so naturally,

[SPEAKER_01]: not groove, but it's just built for him to impact the ball, put it in the air with a lot of easy power.

[SPEAKER_00]: And Carlos has a corner in field spawn with the correct more high school need than college.

[SPEAKER_00]: So I wanted to.

[SPEAKER_01]: I was I was definitely sizing up both those names.

[SPEAKER_01]: Some a little bum that you took them.

[SPEAKER_01]: So it's strategic picks for me.

[SPEAKER_03]: I hope this is a, yeah, I'm hoping that this is a similar strategic caliper here at Jensen Hirschhorn is the pick reason being you also need pitching and pretty much has to be from high school except for Carlos, I think he's a

[SPEAKER_03]: pretty easy guy to dream on.

[SPEAKER_03]: He's a huge frame.

[SPEAKER_03]: What is he six-foot seven?

[SPEAKER_03]: He's got a real three-pitch mix.

[SPEAKER_03]: There's room for him to still kind of grow into the body a little bit and he's a really good strike thrower, which is the platform that I am most confident to stand on amongst the high school pitching demographics.

[SPEAKER_03]: So

[SPEAKER_03]: Not my favorite group to pick from.

[SPEAKER_03]: I'm much more of a college pictures over high school pictures guy, but there are just too many college bats that I wanted to get onto my team.

[SPEAKER_03]: So you knew that I was going into this that I would need one high school picture.

[SPEAKER_03]: And that's the one that I generally wanted because it was going to be this late.

[SPEAKER_01]: I like that pick because I know Ben also has to fill out his pitching and Jensenhurst corn should have been a candidate for him.

[SPEAKER_01]: Okay, I feel like at this point I just have to take Will Brick off the board.

[SPEAKER_01]: I got to catch her whole.

[SPEAKER_01]: Everyone has to take high school players.

[SPEAKER_01]: You both still have utility spots.

[SPEAKER_01]: It wouldn't at all shock me if someone just took Will Brick because both they like him and to spite me to make me push further down the catching demographic.

[SPEAKER_01]: I think.

[SPEAKER_01]: Break, like Ben was saying earlier, he has a chance to go pretty high in the strat, I think he's very clearly the top high school catcher in the class.

[SPEAKER_01]: I do think there's a bit of a tier break between the college catchers.

[SPEAKER_01]: You guys took Ryder Hellfreak Von Lackey between Will Break, but I do think Break has a really nice combination of offensive upside, fast speed, power projection, and defensive building athleticism behind the plate.

[SPEAKER_01]: So it just feels like a no-brainer.

[SPEAKER_01]: I feel like I'd be getting a little bit too cute to not take him off the board here, even though I have some capacity to kind of wait you guys out since you can't take anymore college players.

[SPEAKER_01]: So now I have one of the pictures that I saw.

[SPEAKER_00]: I was going to move up my board a little bit.

[SPEAKER_01]: Yeah, here we go.

[SPEAKER_01]: I figured I've got to bend-batter favorites between will-bick and Tyler Bell, so I feel pretty good about that.

[SPEAKER_01]: Now I'm torn about whether or not I tackle corner-intfield or pitcher.

[SPEAKER_01]: I think it just makes sense to go pitcher because both my options for corner-intfield are college players.

[SPEAKER_01]: Although as I say that, there is depth of high school pitcher that I just feel confident in taking any number of pitchers, so I'm not opposed to that.

[SPEAKER_01]: I guess I'll ask you guys this.

[SPEAKER_01]: Um, could I convince you to have Chris Rembert be a corner in field position.

[SPEAKER_01]: I think he's a second base third base type.

[SPEAKER_01]: If you wanted to say he's more second base.

[SPEAKER_01]: That's fine.

[SPEAKER_01]: He's kind of played all over.

[SPEAKER_01]: He's played second.

[SPEAKER_01]: He's played right field.

[SPEAKER_01]: He's played left field.

[SPEAKER_01]: Um, so I would motion to put him at corner in field, but if you guys reject that, I understand what it is.

[SPEAKER_00]: Second base on the corner, do they move or something?

[SPEAKER_01]: So he's second base now, but I think second base third base, I think he could easily play third base in pro ball.

[SPEAKER_01]: It's definitely more of a no projections than Chris and Copian, for example.

[SPEAKER_03]: Yeah, he has no reps at third base in his single college season or over the summer when he did play all the over like he said, so I'm inclined to say no.

[SPEAKER_01]: I'm not.

[SPEAKER_01]: I'll leave it to Ben.

[SPEAKER_00]: Yeah.

[SPEAKER_01]: Well, if you say no, I think I need unanimous decision.

[SPEAKER_01]: So I'll just take.

[SPEAKER_01]: I'm not going to take them now because you guys can't take them.

[SPEAKER_01]: So I'm going to go to the high school pitcher.

[SPEAKER_01]: Well, take my pick of who I prefer here.

[SPEAKER_01]: All right, the guy's up taking an instrument.

[SPEAKER_00]: I know, I know you want your accent or your accent or your accent.

[SPEAKER_01]: Well, Ben wants Joseph contraris probably, so it would be really fun to steal him from Ben.

[SPEAKER_01]: It's like this glitter change up guy in the class.

[SPEAKER_01]: So I'm, I'm between Joseph contraris and Logan Schmidt.

[SPEAKER_01]: Um, which one would hurt him more?

[SPEAKER_01]: You know?

[SPEAKER_01]: I think I'm going to take just a contraris.

[SPEAKER_00]: I think I would rather have Joseph contraris, but I'm feeling good about whoever I get for.

[SPEAKER_00]: Yeah, so I think it's a nice gold pitch.

[SPEAKER_01]: Joseph contraris.

[SPEAKER_01]: Lean, projectable arm, six foot four.

[SPEAKER_01]: I think the very best change up in this class may be high school and college.

[SPEAKER_01]: He's also younger for the class so be 18.2 on draft day.

[SPEAKER_01]: Yeah, pretty good pitcher in terms of just like command ability to make some match.

[SPEAKER_01]: I think maybe his capacity is spendable.

[SPEAKER_01]: It's a little underrated because the change up is so obviously good now, but he has this mid 80s slider that flashes plus has high spin rates.

[SPEAKER_01]: He's been up to 98.

[SPEAKER_01]: Like he checks a lot of boxes.

[SPEAKER_01]: I feel like maybe he gets a little bit slept on because there are just so many good high school pitchers in this class.

[SPEAKER_01]: So I'll take interest in the reason for him over a Logan Schmidt.

[SPEAKER_01]: I typically do lean towards the

[SPEAKER_01]: the left-handed pitching demo, but just greater confidence in conviction and the secondaries here is kind of the rationale in addition to a little mini-spite factor for Ben.

[SPEAKER_03]: I'm going to go and with my penultimate pick, take eight and release.

[SPEAKER_03]: It's probably my scariest pick.

[SPEAKER_03]: Oh, that's what I'm back to back.

[SPEAKER_03]: Dad, it's a band.

[SPEAKER_03]: That is wonderful.

[SPEAKER_03]: Oh, man.

[SPEAKER_03]: I mean, yeah, I've got questions about whether or not he's going to ever be strong enough.

[SPEAKER_03]: He's a great hitter though, and he's got a great understanding of the zone and I would argue he's the best defensive player in this class Maybe at any position.

[SPEAKER_03]: So sorry Ben I wasn't gonna let that slip when I had a feeling he wasn't getting back to me

[SPEAKER_01]: Yeah, Ruiz is tremendously gifted, defensively, like a no-brainer, short stop.

[SPEAKER_01]: I think you could probably put him up, but then he shorts up in this class and say he's as good or better than everyone.

[SPEAKER_01]: And while the offensive impact is maybe a question, he does control his own really well.

[SPEAKER_01]: He makes a lot of contact.

[SPEAKER_01]: I think there's impure hitting traits there to, man, and a contrarse, raise back to back in our hearts, you pin.

[SPEAKER_01]: You're going to be taking both of those guys.

[SPEAKER_00]: There are a lot more than contraris because I wanted to have my utilities, but I don't want to take two pictures here and put a picture, especially a high, and I have to take a high school player, and I want to put a high school player in my utility spot, I feel much better about having Ruiz, a streamer of a Rock Chilazki, Justin Lebron, Aiden

[SPEAKER_01]: So you have a picture and a utale to fill.

[SPEAKER_01]: This will be your complete team once you make your picks.

[SPEAKER_00]: I got I got a probably pivot to a different high school hitter.

[SPEAKER_00]: It looks like

[SPEAKER_00]: The best ones on our board, what Trevor Condon, Brady Harris, Noah Wilson, Cole-Kinninger, James Clark, James Clark.

[SPEAKER_00]: I am.

[SPEAKER_00]: You know what, let's do it.

[SPEAKER_00]: James Clark just keeps being glad you took James Clark.

[SPEAKER_01]: He could easily go on the first round.

[SPEAKER_00]: Up, up, arrow on him, huge up arrow, you know, was a Princeton commit.

[SPEAKER_00]: Now he's uncommitted.

[SPEAKER_00]: I'm sure he can choose pretty much whatever school he wants to go to.

[SPEAKER_00]: Now, but just kind of

[SPEAKER_00]: more under the radar coming into the year, so I'm early in the summer.

[SPEAKER_00]: I was like, oh, that actually looks like really good.

[SPEAKER_00]: That's a, that's a great pickup for Princeton.

[SPEAKER_00]: And then over the summer, I was like, oh, no, that's, that's going to be a good pickup for some MLB team, because the swing works.

[SPEAKER_00]: He performed really well all summer.

[SPEAKER_00]: would feel better about Aiden release, but I'll feel good about putting James Clark into that spot.

[SPEAKER_00]: And now it's a question of which high school pitcher am I taken here?

[SPEAKER_00]: I like Logan Schmitt.

[SPEAKER_00]: He's a good arm.

[SPEAKER_00]: Caden Wachter is really appealing to me.

[SPEAKER_00]: Just very smooth, polished, very pitch-o-ish looking guy with good stuff to tray rangel, long time fan of his, can really, really spend the ball pretty athletic up to 98.

[SPEAKER_00]: Command can kind of come and go.

[SPEAKER_00]: I want to take him.

[SPEAKER_00]: I don't very high on him.

[SPEAKER_00]: I'm going to go with saving on Sims here as six foot eight throw in a hundred miles an hour.

[SPEAKER_00]: He looks like he's going to throw about a hundred and six miles an hour.

[SPEAKER_00]: one day, probably some more risk, like Logan Schmidt is a little bit more polished than Sam's.

[SPEAKER_00]: I don't think Sims is raw.

[SPEAKER_00]: I wouldn't take just like a totally raw high school picture here, but it's like a

[SPEAKER_00]: like a Jacob, Missier Rowski body, like that.

[SPEAKER_00]: It's a very different slot.

[SPEAKER_00]: He comes from a much steeper angle than Missier Rowski, but man, it's just like power, power stuff.

[SPEAKER_00]: I think there will be enough strikes there, like enough feel for the slider.

[SPEAKER_00]: I don't think it's just like an all fastball only guy, so

[SPEAKER_00]: Once you're different options there I like, I'll go with safety on Sims.

[SPEAKER_00]: I would have taken Joseph Contreras if he was available though, if you're correct.

[SPEAKER_01]: Yes, love that.

[SPEAKER_01]: Well, save guns Sims is a fun name to throw in there.

[SPEAKER_01]: Absolutely electric, arm talent, and just kind of a freak look on the mound.

[SPEAKER_01]: So that is your team wrapped up.

[SPEAKER_01]: We'll run through them all once they're from Pittsburgh back to you, Jacob, for one outfits, but you have, and I believe you have to do high school.

[SPEAKER_01]: I wonder if you're going to pick.

[SPEAKER_03]: I actually don't I don't know I don't know if you know who I'm gonna pick.

[SPEAKER_01]: I am my assumption is Trevor Condon, but I'll be let's see if I Is pretty good.

[SPEAKER_03]: Yes, I did like a gas when I had to put on my best poker face when Ben was like, well We have Trevor Condon.

[SPEAKER_03]: I was like, no, don't do it.

[SPEAKER_03]: And then you didn't so I will.

[SPEAKER_03]: Yeah, I was super impressive Jupiter when I saw him and I and to kind of use Ben's line like

[SPEAKER_03]: some of these guys really stand at you and you see him in person for the first time and he was that guy for me in Jupiter like it just kind of jumped off the page.

[SPEAKER_03]: Good swing but like the way he gets out of the box and the athlete I think was the most impressive part of his game and he plays super hard which is always kind of fun to watch so you know I'll I'll bet on on the hard-nosed you know centerfield

[SPEAKER_01]: Yeah, between Trevor Condon, Aden Ruiz, you have two of the more exciting spark plug short guys who actually really complete baseball demographic.

[SPEAKER_01]: So it's a very fun team, Jacob has.

[SPEAKER_01]: Okay, we're back to me.

[SPEAKER_01]: I've got six high school six college.

[SPEAKER_01]: I could technically go in either direction here.

[SPEAKER_01]: I've got corner in field to fill.

[SPEAKER_01]: I feel like the,

[SPEAKER_01]: The fit here is kind of a no-brainer.

[SPEAKER_01]: I'm just going to take Gavin Grohovic Texas A&M since I can convince you guys, let me put Chris Rembert there.

[SPEAKER_01]: The reason I prefer Rembert is to just have a lot more confidence in the peer-hit tool.

[SPEAKER_01]: I think Rembert is one of the the very best peer-hitters in the class.

[SPEAKER_01]: I think without him.

[SPEAKER_01]: being selected here.

[SPEAKER_01]: He's maybe the best available player who no one could kind of fit onto a roster, but Grohovic does have a ton of strength, a ton of power.

[SPEAKER_01]: He had 23 home run 16 doubles in his first year in 2024, then he dealt with injury in 2025.

[SPEAKER_01]: So this is the one I'm most uncertain about I would say of my roster, which I feel good because it is the last pick, but just the the positional fit, the talent makes.

[SPEAKER_01]: makes the most sense here.

[SPEAKER_01]: I would like to feel a little bit more confident and his ability to just make make contact, show a little bit more refinement in the approach, but there's no doubt he has a ton of strength, ton of power.

[SPEAKER_01]: We'll see if you can stick it there, base as well.

[SPEAKER_01]: So that, I think it's a good pick.

[SPEAKER_01]: That does it fellas.

[SPEAKER_01]: We all did seven college players, six high school players.

[SPEAKER_01]: If you guys want to each run down your teams, so we can refresh people, Ben will start with you at the

[SPEAKER_00]: Yeah, Vaughn Lacky, it catcher a couple high school corner and fielders with Dominic Santa Reallion, Boe Peterson, really strong up the middle.

[SPEAKER_00]: We all have, or I think we're all strong up the middle.

[SPEAKER_00]: I don't think you could screw that one up too bad, right?

[SPEAKER_00]: But Rochalowski and Justin LeBron, two college, middle and fielders, college heavy in the outfield with Derek Riel and AJ Grosio and then

[SPEAKER_00]: Kevin Roberts, Jr.

[SPEAKER_00]: Rounded on my outfield from the high school ranks, pitching.

[SPEAKER_00]: I got Lee and Peterson and Teagan Cunes from the college side.

[SPEAKER_00]: Lefty G.O.

[SPEAKER_00]: Rojas and right-hander savings on Smith on the high school side.

[SPEAKER_00]: I got the Sims.

[SPEAKER_00]: What did I say?

[SPEAKER_00]: Smith.

[SPEAKER_00]: Savion Smith.

[SPEAKER_00]: No.

[SPEAKER_00]: I did not mean to.

[SPEAKER_00]: Savion Smith.

[SPEAKER_00]: Savion Sims and the six foot eight high school right in pitcher throwing 100 miles an hour on February 9th or whatever it was, where his first start was pretty good start to the year and then James Clark, a very buzzy high school outdoor season.

[SPEAKER_00]: High school of shortstop in California.

[SPEAKER_01]: Nice.

[SPEAKER_01]: All right, Jacob.

[SPEAKER_03]: Yep.

[SPEAKER_03]: I went triple college, catcher, rider, helferic, corner infielders, Chris, a copian, and Brady Balinger, who I'm very high on and think is one of the better hitters in the draft.

[SPEAKER_03]: Up the middle, double high school, greedy Emerson, Tyler Spangler, I feel like that's kind of the

[SPEAKER_03]: The Benz Chalowski LeBron version of the high school side outfield, E. J. Booth, Aiden Robbins from the college side and then Trevor Condon, pictures.

[SPEAKER_03]: I went quadruple righties, Jackson Flora, Gabe Gackle, Joey Volchko, and Jensen Hirschkorn, and then at the utility spot, Benz Guy, Aiden Ruiz.

[SPEAKER_00]: And then as I say, Spangler was going to be my first utility guy and he took him and then

[SPEAKER_00]: Yeah, no, we're very excited to have James Clark on Team Baddler though.

[SPEAKER_01]: My team is at catcher.

[SPEAKER_01]: I took the top high school catcher in the class and it will break my corner infield to college players Ace Reese and Gavin Grahovic.

[SPEAKER_01]: In the middle infield, I've split it up there.

[SPEAKER_01]: Jacob Blombard from the prep ranks Tyler Bell from the college ranks in the outfield.

[SPEAKER_01]: Similar deal to Collegian's Juberess and Sawyer Straw Snyder, rounded out with Blake Bowen from the high school ranks.

[SPEAKER_01]: It is a high school heavy rotation for me.

[SPEAKER_01]: I have Cameron Flooky from the college side and then beyond that, it's Carson Bulamon, Coleman Warthwick, Joseph Contreras, to mad up my staff and then my utility spot is called Shore Stop Eric Becker.

[SPEAKER_01]: So those are our teams.

[SPEAKER_01]: Let us know which team you guys prefer if there are any players you think we may be slept on and should have drafted.

[SPEAKER_01]: But guys, now that we've done this,

[SPEAKER_01]: Does this change how you're thinking about the class at all?

[SPEAKER_01]: You have any picks you really like from other teams, some picks you maybe regret on your own and these strategic errors or things you did that make a lot of sense in this class.

[SPEAKER_01]: I'll say, my two favorite picks from y'all's rosters.

[SPEAKER_01]: I feel like Jacob had a number of picks that you kind of scooped me on, but I really like the Eric Booth Jr. pick, and I also like him just going and getting his guy pretty balinger.

[SPEAKER_01]: That was definitely a player that I was kind of sizing up, I think is just overall hitting chops stack up really nicely for Ben, I think the last pick of James Clark is actually the sneaky really good pick that

[SPEAKER_01]: And he's a little bit further down on our board, but it wouldn't shock me at all if you had a really strong spring and went off in the pairing of Justin LeBron and Rochulowski while it's like, those are maybe picks that you wouldn't like look at and say, oh, those are really good picks because they're kind of no brainers like that's a good easily be the one to in the draft right there.

[SPEAKER_01]: So it's hard to not look at that mental infield and get really excited.

[SPEAKER_01]: So those are the picks from you guys that I really liked.

[SPEAKER_03]: I would say,

[SPEAKER_03]: that Ben snipe me twice kind of, well, that's a teacan cone was great pick just because I felt like he was floating around a little longer than I expected and it got to a point where I had him next on my board.

[SPEAKER_03]: Carlos, you did the same thing with Tyler Bell, but that was just kind of we all were in a weird position, draft-wise, and it forced him down the board, whereas like it was open universe and position-less, I think that he would have gone much sooner.

[SPEAKER_03]: So that was a good pick.

[SPEAKER_03]: And then I think, yeah, Ben and your last pick James Clark is a sneaky great one that has changed to probably make you a lot of money on your team.

[SPEAKER_00]: I like the Spangler one was a good one, getting him, I mean, him and Brady Emerson, in a high school deal in your middle and field is good.

[SPEAKER_00]: And you got A&R, we used to.

[SPEAKER_00]: That's a, you're strong up the middle.

[SPEAKER_00]: I'll give a credit there.

[SPEAKER_00]: And then just seeing on the,

[SPEAKER_00]: I think just seeing how early some of the college pitchers went, like it's a deep high school pitching group, but we know teams prioritize the collegiate arms, and that is like a clear trio, at least for right now, at the top with Liam Petersen for a, and Cameron Fluckey.

[SPEAKER_00]: But I also know, like I don't know, who exactly maybe it's taking coups, maybe it's probably somebody else jumps up and is like, you know, the Kate Anderson know this year, we don't have them in the first round range coming into the air and then by mid-season, we're like, oh, well, no, this guy should be calling like top 10 overall.

[SPEAKER_00]: So I'm sure one of these college arms that we didn't take, like I don't know if there's somebody in particular for you guys, like who we didn't take, that you were surprised, didn't get taken or that you were

[SPEAKER_00]: you know, eyeball and next to somebody could jump up and I'm sure one of these college arms that we didn't take will look back on the be like, oh man, none of us took him will we, are we smoking.

[SPEAKER_01]: Yeah last year just looking, last year just looking at our our arms that we took no one took.

[SPEAKER_01]: Liam Doyle, no one took any of us in.

[SPEAKER_01]: I'm hopeful that we don't wind up with it with arms like that this year, because I would like to have them ranked appropriately to start with, but I do think that is a demographic that every year there are players who are not talked about inside the top 30, top 50 of the class that just have a strong spring and jump up the board.

[SPEAKER_01]: And I do think that once you get out of the first three that we had go off in our first six picks, I believe Cameron Fluke, Jackson Flora, Liam Peterson, a dis kind of an open race.

[SPEAKER_01]: I don't know who it's going to be, but I think there are some compelling players deeper on the board who could make strides, just a matter of who goes out and actually does it.

[SPEAKER_01]: So that'll definitely be something interesting to watch.

[SPEAKER_03]: I think that.

[SPEAKER_03]: The early season candidates are guys like Cole Carlone had a game with the draft a little bit differently.

[SPEAKER_03]: I had him kind of on my list as maybe my fourth pitcher and go off for college spots on the mound.

[SPEAKER_03]: He's going to start frayers on the state and strike to me as a guy who's like if he sticks in the rotation, he could strike out 120 batters in the big 12 and have a really big loud year and has upper 90 stuff with a plus slider like that somebody who to me maybe goes a lot better than we'll be having currently ranked if it works out as a starter.

[SPEAKER_03]: trade-beard, maybe you can say the same thing if he shows more velocity at four of the state in a successful in a power conference last year than numbers were in line with somebody who would go maybe in the top 15.

[SPEAKER_03]: So those are the guys that I think we didn't get to because it would have been really hard to justify drafting them right now based on what we currently know.

[SPEAKER_03]: But if we were going to aggressively project out, they would probably be the next two pictures.

[SPEAKER_03]: that I would look at maybe morning star at Wake Forest's another guy, but I think there's a lot of potential.

[SPEAKER_03]: There's a deep group of arms that I think can make the jump.

[SPEAKER_03]: But, Dancia, your earlier question Carlos, one thing for me and I'll spoil the story that I'm going to put up at BA on Thursday, February 12th, you know, anything for future production.

[SPEAKER_03]: I think that this

[SPEAKER_03]: Class is so strong that it kind of gives weight to the caliber of the top three pictures so like to your point then we took those three guys Liam Peterson Cameron Flooky Jackson floor super early and that stands out to me just because the quality of the class around them high school

[SPEAKER_03]: Short stops are pretty good at the top.

[SPEAKER_03]: You have a pretty decent college bat class I think at the top and yet those guys stand alone pretty clearly to me as like must have Among the first six picks or five picks whatever ended up being Just goes to show you like we've had three pictures college pictures in the top 10 going into the year before I don't know how many of those classes are like definitively better than this one other than the skins year that ended up having you know him

[SPEAKER_01]: Yeah, I think it's a deep group though.

[SPEAKER_01]: I mean, we drafted what 39 players here and I feel like there's still a lot of players that we couldn't quite get to that.

[SPEAKER_00]: I'm still excited about so the high school pitching in particular really jumps out to me.

[SPEAKER_00]: I'm curious how many guys end up going in the first round and then how many guys will end up.

[SPEAKER_00]: I'm sure a lot of these guys will end up getting pretty good bonuses beyond the first round two on over what deals.

[SPEAKER_00]: And then I'm sure a lot of them are going to go to college baseball because there's only so much you can do with the bonus pool space that you're given and there's a lot of other good players in the college side and the high school position player side too.

[SPEAKER_00]: So like if I, that's kind of why I waited on the high school pitching side, I mean, I want to get

[SPEAKER_00]: one of the big three college pitchers.

[SPEAKER_00]: I could took Peterson early, really like Tegan Coons.

[SPEAKER_00]: I think he has a chance to move up into that upper tier first round, so I went and got him.

[SPEAKER_00]: But then I was like, well, all right, ended up with

[SPEAKER_00]: Jill Rollhaus and Savian Sims, but if I ended up getting, you know, like Logan Schmidt or Tray Rangel or Caden Latter or, you know, you just go deeper down the board with guys like Sean Duncan or Denton Lord or Caden McCarthy or, you know, like even like super deep down the board, like a not super deep, but even outside the top 100, like we get into the arms in that range,

[SPEAKER_00]: pictures, whether, you know, it's like a, like a Jake Carba or Brody Bumila, you know, coming back from an injury this year, but like, there's a ton of really good high school arms that I'd be happy to have on these team, like just some of them out for robots and Sims, that's definitely really good.

[SPEAKER_01]: Yeah, I'm very curious to see like count many of these guys are actually going to get drafted in sign because we know that demographic is just one that most teams like to steer clear of.

[SPEAKER_01]: There's only so many dollars going around in the draft available to all those players once a certain range hits and kids aren't getting this like 2.5, 3 million dollar price tag they're like, hey, I've got like a power conference commit, I'm betting on myself, I

[SPEAKER_01]: all of the impetus and we were talking about the city to the city to a hundred range pitcher where we have them on the board now he's slated get five million dollars or more dacks Whitney same kind of deal we had him in the thirty to fifty range i think coming out of high school he's looking like a potential one-one candidate here from now like a lot of these guys have once they start to knock it

[SPEAKER_01]: what they think they're worth.

[SPEAKER_01]: They're going to bet on themselves, go to school, try and push themselves into the first round.

[SPEAKER_00]: So, or even like a William Schmidt who pulled himself out of the draft to write at the last minute or I guess what technically told teams not to draft them, whatever the official terminology is basically pulled himself out of the draft was a first round caliber arm.

[SPEAKER_01]: Yeah.

[SPEAKER_01]: Okay.

[SPEAKER_01]: Any other final thoughts from from Jacob?

[SPEAKER_01]: You have anything else to add?

[SPEAKER_03]: Nope, I enjoyed this always, curious to see how this all shakes out.

[SPEAKER_03]: It's going to be a fun year.

[SPEAKER_03]: Like, one thing that I think is fun is just, I guess my final thought is that.

[SPEAKER_03]: First, great as this draft is I think it's exciting because like there is a level of ambiguity behind Brock Salaski like who belongs where and it's not because there's a lack of talent but the exact opposite like you can make an argument for a lot of guys and a lot of different orders because there is so much elite talent in this draft and that's always exciting so you know excited to to get going here and we're minutes at this point away from competitive baseball so yeah it's been a need any final comments for you before we get out here.

[SPEAKER_00]: I feel really good about my team.

[SPEAKER_00]: I think last year, I made some decisions in the draft that as I was going through it, I realized I boxed myself in and maybe I did a little bit this year on the college side, but can't argue, or I can't feel bad about the players I ended up with.

[SPEAKER_00]: So I'm going to go get about team battle this year.

[SPEAKER_01]: I will say, last two years, I've cleared the $50 million signing bonus threshold and it's a lot of years to push that range for me.

[SPEAKER_00]: Jacob Carlos has this scoring rubric that only exists in his own mind of signing the quickest, it's just the quickest feedback we get.

[SPEAKER_01]: We had to wait 10 years to see who's team was actually better.

[SPEAKER_01]: So, first indicator is the industry liked my team better than y'all.

[SPEAKER_00]: Yeah.

[SPEAKER_00]: So, basically by Carlos's scoring system that only he cares about.

[SPEAKER_00]: If I had drafted, you know, a while ago, if we had done this, if I had drafted like Mark Appell or Elijah Green by his definition, those would be a home run grand slam for him.

[SPEAKER_00]: Hey, for him.

[SPEAKER_01]: Ben's 2024 draft a couple of the players that he took that didn't sign pretty prominent names right now.

[SPEAKER_01]: Brendan Lawson, Derek Curiel, William Schmidt, Tegan Cunes.

[SPEAKER_01]: Well, we'll fix those guys.

[SPEAKER_00]: I'll send my guys to college if the money is not there if the fish is not right.

[SPEAKER_00]: We're playing long-term, long-term, long-horizon games here.

[SPEAKER_00]: We're not in it for the, we can do it.

[SPEAKER_01]: Look at a high school.

[SPEAKER_01]: Oh, that's tremendous.

[SPEAKER_01]: Okay.

[SPEAKER_01]: I think we're kind of nearing the end here.

[SPEAKER_01]: So, as always, very fun exercise.

[SPEAKER_01]: We'll circle back after the draft and just do a quick little restock here.

[SPEAKER_01]: All the bend doesn't count it as any sort of.

[SPEAKER_01]: And again, it's a rolling by now.

[SPEAKER_01]: Yeah, catch us back here in 10 years, but again, happy D1 opening day to everyone who celebrates been a long time coming.

[SPEAKER_01]: We're excited to actually get the season rolling actually start to see some of these players go out there and do the thing on the baseball field.

[SPEAKER_01]: We appreciate you guys listening.

[SPEAKER_01]: We appreciate you guys supporting baseball America definitely stay tuned to the site.

[SPEAKER_01]: There's gonna be a lot of content coming on the amateur side.

[SPEAKER_01]: We're not too far away from pro stuff getting rolling as well.

[SPEAKER_01]: So just thank you guys for for the support and allowing us to do this work.

[SPEAKER_01]: We cannot do it without you.

[SPEAKER_01]: So for Ben, for Jacob, I'm Carlos, so long everybody.

[SPEAKER_01]: We'll see you next time.