May 22, 2013

Indians Select Tyler Naquin in 1st Round of 2012 MLB Draft

June 4, 2012 by 26 Comments

In what struck most draft-mavens as a bit of a surprise, the Cleveland Indians selected OF Tyler Naquin out of Texas A&M in the first round of Monday night’s Rule 4 Draft.

Naquin hit .380 (92-242) with 18 2B, 6 3B, 3HR & 49RBI in 61 games with Texas A & M this year.  Interestingly, quite a few draft experts had Naquin’s college teammate Michael Wacha going to the Indians, a right handed pitcher who is now looking likely to fall out of the top 20.

There is currently some sentiment floating around that the Indians selected Naquin with the hopes of saving some of their budget for later rounds (each team is allotted a capped budget to spend on their first 10 draft picks; exceeding this figure results in draconian penalties including the loss of future first-round picks).  Such a strategy would allow them to go over-slot on a second round pick, as some talented players continue to fall down boards due to signability concerns.

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  • Jack

    baseball is broken

  • Foghorn Leghorn

    I dont know much about the MLB draft, but I wanted that Courtney Hawkins kid who ended up with the White Sox two picks before us.  Naquin is a lefty who hits for average but not for power… sounds familiar to this team.  

  • Dee P

     Agree 100% based on what I assume you mean.  If the Indians picked a player in the first round not focused on the best player but instead finances then this entire system is a sham. 

  • Vindictive_Pat

    Yep… sounds like we just drafted Michael Brantley.  I know the least about baseball drafts than any of the major sports drafts, but it’s hard to get excited about a guy like this unless he gets on base an ungodly amount and is the next coming of Tony Gwinn.  The Tribe FO did a nice job of predicting Kipnis’s power though, so maybe they see something with this guy’s stroke.

  • http://twitter.com/PEngle39 Phil Smith

    Very similar players; Kipnis and Naquin, that is. Brantley with more power is also a decent comp but Naquin also has the best outfield arm of anyone in the draft…..think Choo like. Could be Choo’s replacement in RF in a few years…..

  • Pwthomasiii

     Funny you mention Tony Gwynn, some people have compared him to Gwynn because he has a doubles machine. 

  • Vindictive_Pat

    Is 18 doubles a lot for the college season?  I honestly don’t know. I would take a doubles machine though.

  • Jack

    IndeeP.

  • BisonDeleSightings

    I didn’t read Tony Lastoria’s comment to mean they specifically took Naquin in order to save money.  I took it as “the Indians will probably be able to sign him under slot – if so, that frees up money later in the draft.”

  • mgbode

    selig screwed this thing up even more.  the budget is only for ‘signed’ players which means that even players expected ‘under slot’ have undue leverage (you want my budget, then here’s what I want back).  this is just ridiculous.

    (said regardless of draft pick.  i’m glad we didn’t draft wacha though I haven’t seen these guys all that much compared to fball & bball players)

  • Hypno_Toad

    From Baseball America:

    “Naquin is the best pure hitter in this year’s class”That’s all I needed to hear. Who cares if he doesn’t hit for power? Do people complain that Ichiro didn’t hit enough homers in Seattle? Naquin apparently has very good speed, is the “best pure hitter in his year’s class”, and has “the best arm strength in this year’s draft”. 

    Does that not sound like a great OF pospect to have in your system? Just like we drafted Asdrubal’s replacement last year (Lindor) we drafted Choo’s this year. This next fire sale is gonna hurt in 2-3 few years…..

  • 5KMD

    Should be interesting to see what happens to the Priates and Appel. Supposedly should have gone #1, but he’s a Boras client. May not sign.

  • Natedawg86

    You don’t see a lot of guys with tons of speed anymore like Henderson and Lofton.  Really changes the game when they can steal at will.

  • kjn

    Please don’t compare this kid to Ichiro. Or Lindor for that matter. Lets not count any chickens on any ANY MLB draft pick.

    While part of me is glad people pay more attention to the draft since it usually translates into more interest in the minors, it drives me nuts that they tend to approach it like the NFL draft. Half of these 1st rounders will be lucky to see the majors. Another half will be lucky to get more than a cup of coffee. From that remaining lot, maybe a handful will go on to have quality careers.

    Maybe the Indians know something we don’t. Heck, they probably do since this is their job. I’m hopefully. That said, I think the general reaction to this pick has been fair- he’s a great college hitter (which doesn’t always transkate), who doesn’t seem to have a pure OF position, doesn’t project for a lot of power, has a plus arm (though I’ve read some call it average), and a lot of speed. Reads a lot like Trevor Crowe to me.

    But if he’s a baller, then he’ll make it.

  • kjn

    While Kenny had speed, Henderson had a ton of it.

  • kjn

    Can you explain what you mean here? I don’t follow.

    I don’t see how players (outside of, maybe, a few of the elites) have more leverage than they did before. I know you’ve been down on the new draft rules, maybe rightfully so, but I don’t think we should make assumptions about how this will play out until teams actually start signing players.

    I will agree on this– it is, and always has been, ridiculous that MLB teams basically negotiate terms with players BEFORE they draft them. But if anything, that calls for Selig to impose rules that are even more strict.

  • kjn

    Another thing I haven’t heard said enough is that this kid will be 22 next year. He should reach the majors rather quickly and could contribute rather quickly. Wonder if this was a window pick?

  • mgbode

    every team gets a budget for each pick.  but you only get the money allotted for that pick if you sign them.   so, if a player is willing to sign for under slot, then you can use that money for a different round to entice them to sign.

    you are correct that we need to see how this will actually play out, but I see a couple implications right off the bat:

    1. hardly anyone will sign until the actual deadline if their agent is good (which thankfully is earlier now)

    2. as the deadline approaches, someone that is willing to sign for under-slot can try to get ‘other’ things included in their contract or they can threaten to not sign.  if they don’t sign, then the team doesn’t have that extra money to pay what they have been offering a different draft pick.   anytime you lose control of negotiations, you give leverage to those who do control it.  it’s dangerous.

  • mgbode

    i’m thinking that our FO doesn’t think we’ll be able to re-sign Choo.  maybe he can be ready for 2014 spring training?

  • kjn

    I’ve never read that if a player fails to sign then the team loses the money allotted to that spot. You have a source for that? Not that I don’t believe you. Just curious.I’ve been unable to find a place online where all the specifics of the new rules are written out.

  • James

    Am I the only one that gets extremely frustrated with Cleveland Indians fans? It seems like most people completely understand the limitations of the NBA and the strategy of Dan Gilbert. Why can’t they do the same with the Dolans and the Indians? The Indians have such a small margin for error and the front office does a great job of making the most out of the least. Why did the Indians draft a very signable player this year? BECAUSE MLB CHANGED THE RULES. Before the Indians could pay their first round pick virtually anything they wanted. Now MLB mandates that each team has a set amount of money they can spend based on their draft picks. The signing deadline has been pushed up from mid August to Early July as well, making players that are tough signs—–tougher signs. The Indians clearly think they can get more talent by alotting more money to some of their lower round selections–which in the major league draft does not always mean lower talent. Our 2nd rounder last year was a top 15 talent who slid because his agent was Boras. Educate yourself on the economic reality of running a baseball team and you’ll realize that the Indians front office is actually one of the better ones in baseball. Derek Lowe for a potential LOOGY guy and 5 million? That’s a STEAL. 

  • Natedawg86

    He was like a poor mans Henderson.  Loved having him though.

  • kjn

    You are corret (not that I ever doubted that). “If the Pirates don’t sign Appel, the $2.9 million they’ve been allocated to sign him disappears.”

    Well, that sucks. Could they have made it any harder for teams? I guess the hope is that it’ll force teams to hardball tough Boras-style clients.

  • Hypno_Toad

    I did not compare him to Ichiro, just pointed out that you can have a good offensive game without having much power. 

    I agree with you 100% on the frustration from people treating it like the NFL draft. There were people actually freaking out that he was left handed, as if he was going to suit up today for the Detroit series and add to our left handed heavy lineup. Ridiculous.

    But yeah the MLB draft is a crap shoot. Just ask the Royals and Luke Hochevar. 

  • mgbode

    sorry, didn’t see the question until just now.  IPI and Verducci both recently had articles outlining it, but I see that you found it yourself.

  • mgbode

    i’m more frustrated that the Indians didn’t figure out the rule4 draft inefficiency until 2008 and Bud Selig closed the door on it in 2011.  quick 3yr window of what should have been a 10yr window.

    new market inefficiency:   Pirates take Appel at #8 in a weak draft (potential top3 player in draft but Boras client hard-to-sign).   If they don’t sign him, then they get the #9 pick in next year’s draft (supposed to be better).   So, they either get a guy at slot who is better than that slot, or they get basically the same pick in a better draft.

    Well played Pirates, well played.