MLB Draft: Rangers Day Two Selections

With all draft picks, the main thing to see is how they will perform when they make their professional debuts. Amateur scouting has made great strides in recent years but is still not an exact science. Some of these players will become Major League players, most will not.

Round 2, Pick 83: Jamie Jarmon, CF, Indian River HS (Delaware), Throws Right, Hits Right

Baseball America Rank: 133

MLB.com:

This athletic football star won Delaware Player of the Year but his future lies in baseball. Jarmon has great speed in the outfield to go along with a great arm that could profile in center or right field. Jarmon generates great bat speed and has enough power to profile as a corner outfielder in the big leagues. He is somewhat raw and does not have the greatest instincts, especially on the base paths, but a team that thinks he can stay in center or add more power to his game will take him in the early going.

Additional report from Baseball Prospect Nation:

Outfielder Jamie Jarmon from Indian River High School (DE) has been a divisive player among scouts this spring. Several scouts I have spoken with dubbed him one of the best athletes on the east coast this spring, while others felt he looked good in a uniform but the athleticism didn’t always show on the field.“He looks really good in his uniform,” said a veteran area scout. “He looks great coming off the bus, but he’s not a superstar athlete for me.”Committed to South Carolina, Jarmon could be a difficult player to sign given the new restrictions in the Collective Bargaining Agreement. Because of the difference of opinion over just how much of an impact athlete he is, Jarmon falls short of earning first round grades with his raw tools and fits more in the fourth to sixth round range. That could mean teams would have to go over-slot with their signing bonus to pull him away from his commitment to USC.Given the questions surrounding Jarmon’s raw hitting ability and general feel for the game, teams could shy away from going hard after him and he could end up playing in the SEC next year. If a team that believes in his impact athleticism has an indication that they can get the deal done for around MLB’s recommended slot, then he could go in the upper end of that fourth to sixth round range and be playing games in the complex leagues by mid-July.

Sounds pretty similar (with a lower upside) to Lewis Brinson. The Rangers seem to be picking best available no matter who comes up – what a team like the Rangers should be doing.

Round 2, Pick 93: Nick Williams, CF, Galveston Ball HS (Texas), Throws Left, Hits Left

Baseball America Rank: 100

MLB.com:

Every Draft class has a number of raw, toolsy high school players, the high-risk, high-reward types that some teams love. Williams fits that mold perfectly.The Texas prepster reminds some of a less-refined Ken Griffey Jr., and a team taking him can only hope he develops as such. Williams has very good raw power, especially to his pull side, and a short swing could mean some good overall hitting skills. A tremendous athlete, Williams has excellent speed that should play once he learns more about baserunning.Defensively, he has a strong arm — as pitcher, he’s touched 94 mph — but he doesn’t throw well yet from the outfield. The raw tools are all there; it will take a team willing to be patient to see them turn into performance. But it could be well worth the wait.

From Baseball Prospect Nation:

“Can dominate Texas high school competition with raw athleticism and explosiveness.  Excellent workout and showcase performer that can put on a show at times. Committed to Texas.”

Stop me if you’ve heard “raw, toosly high school player” when talking about a Rangers draft pick.

Round 3, Pick 123: Patrick Cantwell, C, SUNY Stony Brook, Hits Right, Throws Right

Baseball America Rank: N/A

After choosing all-high school so far, the Rangers opt for a college senior, presumably to save some slot money. Cantwell hit.312 with 32 RBIs. It was the third consecutive year Cantwell hit above .300,and two years ago he hit .361.

The Rest

Notable is the 15th round selection of Jameis Winston who has a scholarship to Florida State to play quarterback and at this point is unlikely to sign but stranger things have happened. Sam Stafford was a 2nd round pick but is coming off of an injury so it will be interesting to see if he will recover.