Texas Baseball Offseason

[Eastexhorn]

2 minutes ago, TB14 said:

Pierce was a pitching coach before he was a head coach,

 

[TB14]

I'm aware but I'd think he'd want to manage everything more than focus so much to pitching.

 

[TB14]

Well that didn't take long... Travis Sykora gone with the first pick of the 3rd. He won't make it to campus.

 

[BWilk55]

Per IT Pierce will be the pitching coach next season!

I am curious (for the 2nd season in a row) what went on behind closed doors regarding the pitching coaching this year. Did Pierce take over during the season and perhaps that is what spurred some of the improvement we saw in the 2nd half of the year? 

Also makes me wonder why he has seemed to have an issue hiring a pitching coach that can stick around? I guess with him taking that role it won't be an issue for the time being.

 

[TB14]

Overall I like the staff, just wish there was an extra pitching guru.

 

[BWilk55]

Well that didn't take long... Travis Sykora gone with the first pick of the 3rd. He won't make it to campus.

I'm still curious about this one. The slotted draft value is about 1 million to sign on. Do the Nationals offer him more to get him to sign? If they offer less than the slotted value I bet he doesn't sign.  The million dollars isn't a huge number when weighing playing college ball vs working through the minors, especially with the option to make NIL money while at Texas.

 

[BWilk55]

Well that didn't take long... Travis Sykora gone with the first pick of the 3rd. He won't make it to campus.

I heard it said that this year there was the fewest HS pitchers drafted in the 1st round, it was only 1. Apparently MLB teams have realized that the value in HS pitchers isn't there because it is too hard to predict who will pan out. 7 of the 23 pitchers taken before Sykora were from HS.

 

[TB14]

I'm still curious about this one. The slotted draft value is about 1 million to sign on. Do the Nationals offer him more to get him to sign? If they offer less than the slotted value I bet he doesn't sign.  The million dollars isn't a huge number when weighing playing college ball vs working through the minors, especially with the option to make NIL money while at Texas.

They aren't taking him with that pick without a deal in place. He probably signs for $1.5 million if I had to guess.

Keep in mind minor leaguers get paid a little now and they have the Continuing Education Program for them to get scholarship money if they don't make the bigs. Pretty similar to his NIL you'd think.

 

[TB14]

I heard it said that this year there was the fewest HS pitchers drafted in the 1st round, it was only 1. Apparently MLB teams have realized that the value in HS pitchers isn't there because it is too hard to predict who will pan out. 7 of the 23 pitchers taken before Sykora were from HS.

A lot of that has to do with this being the strongest college crop in a long time. Remember these college juniors were HS seniors in the Covid 5 round draft year. So they weren't able to sign the big deals that year and forced a bunch of extra ones to college.

 

[TB14]

Dylan Campbell goes in the 4th round to the Dodgers.

Lucas Gordon goes in the 6th round to the White Sox.

 

[BWilk55]

They aren't taking him with that pick without a deal in place. He probably signs for $1.5 million if I had to guess.

Keep in mind minor leaguers get paid a little now and they have the Continuing Education Program for them to get scholarship money if they don't make the bigs. Pretty similar to his NIL you'd think.

I do agree that they probably do sign him, not a pick they'd want to waste without a deal in place you'd think. Tricky thing is, where do they get the extra slot value money. They signed Dylan Crews at number 2, he is a Junior so has bargaining power, they can't really give him an underslot value. 

I'm certainly not holding my breath for him to be at Texas but I have some more hope today then I did 2 days ago.

 

[BWilk55]

Dylan Campbell goes in the 4th round to the Dodgers.

Lucas Gordon goes in the 6th round to the White Sox.

Both of these guys probably sign. Not bad draft spots and if they don't return they lose all bargaining power as seniors next year.

Witt didn't get signed, a combo of teams not feeling confident enough to use a high pick on him and also teams being scared away by him being unlikely to sign. He is probably back next season which is hopefully a great outcome for our starting rotation.

LBJ didn't get picked either. He'll be back you'd think.

HS OF Gasparillo also did not get picked in the first 10 rounds - he could have been but has said on twitter he will be at Texas next year.

 

[TB14]

Travis Sthele goes in Round 12 to the Nationals.

Zane Morehouse goes in Round 14 to the Guardians.

Garret Guillemette goes in Round 15 to the Astros.

 

[TB14]

Travis Sthele goes in Round 12 to the Nationals.

Zane Morehouse goes in Round 14 to the Guardians.

Garret Guillemette goes in Round 15 to the Astros.

I'd think most likely all 3 will sign.

 

[BWilk55]

Travis Stehle goes in round 12. He is a 4 yr JR and could decide to return. 

Zane Morehouse went in round 14. I am confused about his classification - MLB.com has him as a senior. Texas baseball site shows him as a redshirt Junior. I count 4 years that he has played (2019, 2021, 2022 and 2023)

Garrett Guilmette went in round 15. He is a 4 yr JR he could return.

 

[BWilk55]

I'd think most likely all 3 will sign.

I think for these guys it comes down to priorities. Are they most interested in starting their professional baseball clocks and trying to make it to the majors? Do they really relish the college baseball experience and want to return to help Texas make a deep run? Drafted in these rounds doesn't come with a huge signing bonus and they could always bet on themselves to have a great season and rise up the draft boards next year (even without bargaining leverage as players with no eligibility remaining).

 

[TB14]

If any of them are serious about making the bigs they will sign. None will get big NIL deals here and won't have any leverage next year in the draft.

I can see why Witt is returning. Probably can make an extra million in a signing bonus if he comes back like he expects. I don't see any of these 3 guys greatly improving their stock.

 

[BWilk55]

If any of them are serious about making the bigs they will sign. 

I'm curious because the baseball draft is a strange thing, why do you think it is that helpful for them to sign deals this season?

If they come back and have similar seasons, get drafted in a similar slot next year, does that hurt their chances of making the majors? Heck, even if they get drafted later they may lose 50-100k in a signing bonus but I'd think theyd have similar chances of progressing through the minors.

If they have better seasons, they could move up the draft boards, get a bigger signing bonus and start off in a better position once they enter the minors.

 

[BWilk55]

I do agree that they probably do sign him, not a pick they'd want to waste without a deal in place you'd think. Tricky thing is, where do they get the extra slot value money. They signed Dylan Crews at number 2, he is a Junior so has bargaining power, they can't really give him an underslot value. 

I'm certainly not holding my breath for him to be at Texas but I have some more hope today then I did 2 days ago.

So not only do the Nationals have to shell out the cash to sign Crews, their pick at #40 was a guy ranked #20 overall, another junior Yohandy Morales. Will they have to give him a signing bonus above slotted value as well?

I'm trying to remain optimistic about our chances with Sykora, but I do believe it's a long shot.

 

[TB14]

I'm curious because the baseball draft is a strange thing, why do you think it is that helpful for them to sign deals this season?

If they come back and have similar seasons, get drafted in a similar slot next year, does that hurt their chances of making the majors? Heck, even if they get drafted later they may lose 50-100k in a signing bonus but I'd think theyd have similar chances of progressing through the minors.

If they have better seasons, they could move up the draft boards, get a bigger signing bonus and start off in a better position once they enter the minors.

One of the biggest things a prospect has going for him is age. If they play well against guys older than them it is a good sign. If they wait another year at this level of competition it will hurt them in professional organizations. When all things are equal the younger player will get the opportunities. 
 

Plus I think all 3 guys will get at least $50k or more bonuses plus scholarship money at the end of their career. NIL isn’t going to pay that for a year at Texas for role players.