As always there's some interesting names, some stellar prospects and 30 GMs maneuvering to get their grubby hands on as many of them as possible. After all the draft is the life blood of the 25-man roster and deserves to be glorified! Here at kissmyastros.com we've decided to give an early preview and some of our musings on the 2024 FCM Draft Class:
The First Four - Best Chance At Becoming A Superstar
1) SS Jason Blume - 21yrs Old - Tulane
The consensus on Blume is that he's the best shortstop prospect to come through the draft since Houston stole Peter Conwell late in the 1st Round just four seasons ago. The similarities don't stop there: they both dominated college ball for 3 seasons with incredible power, eye and contact while lighting up the base paths with blazing speed. Blume actually outperformed Conwell's slash line as a Jr. in college: .428/.539/.786 (17HR, 26 SB in 215 ABs) for Blume as compared to Conwell's .353/.447/.683 (17HR, 27 SB in 249 ABs). Blume may never become a top tier fielder like Conwell but has a very realistic chance to actually have a better bat and steal more bases than his counterpart. That alone makes him the clear cut number 1 pick in my opinion. Projection: 1st Overall Pick
2) RHP Billy Crum - 17yrs Old - HS Allegheny, PA
At 17 years old he's already consistently hitting the mid 90s consistently on the radar gun with a ton of life. Combined with a deceptively effective curve ball and a circle change that's just good enough to keep hitters on their toes and you start to realize you have a very complete package for a 17 year old. He struggles with the long ball from time to time but his control and power are incredibly advanced for his age and more than make up for it. The 6'5" right-handed pitcher gets the nod over the rest due to his upside, age and the fact movement is the easiest vital to improve on while working through the minors. Projection: Top 5 Selection
3) RHP Carlo Fileto - 22yrs Old - Hawaii
Hailing from Navojoa, Mexico Carlo Fileto is a flamethrowing righty who may be my most controversial selection for the first four. The only thing you can really complain about was his tendency to get tired sometimes but despite his endurance issues he averaged nearly 6.5IP per start over his college career and nobody was more effective over that period in the NCAA. With an insane 12.4K/9IP and 1.7BB/9IP rate going for him his game should easily translate to the professional level. That being said, 50/50 seems to be the going rate so if he stalls out he'll fade quickly. A perfect example of high risk/high reward. Projection: Top 5 Selection
4) LF Bruce Verbos - 21yrs Old - Auburn
Remember this is a list of the guys I feel are most likely to reach super star status, nothing more. This guy has the advanced talent and upside you look for when you think of superstar in the draft. His career numbers are unrivaled, particularly what he did in college: 1 HR every 7.94 PAs (every other game and once every 6.46 ABs), an RBI every 2.5 PAs with a .457/.566/1.056 slash line his senior year! He's not the obvious or traditional choice due to his glove and vitals differential but when it comes to superstars this kids got more of a track record than anyone in this draft except Blume so he's an easy choice. Projection: Top 10 Selection
3 Potential Sleepers
The only criteria here is that they have to have less than 80s peak upside at the time of writing. These guys not only have the potential to make the pros, but also to make an impact on their respective teams.
1) RHP Phil Bevilacqua - 20yrs Old - Lafyette
With the traditional Fastball/Slider combo you look for in a closer and power to burn this kid could end up closing for a successful major league team. He may never achieve the flashy overall but if he can maintain something resembling his current vitals/overall relationship he could save a lot of games especially if you consider his biggest weakness (movement) hasn't hurt him too terribly much to date. Projection: Late 3rd, Early 4th
2) SS Sean Deck - 19yrs Old - HS Harrisburg, PA
The light and switch hitting shortstop has everything you look for in a SS except for a little speed. He has plus contact, eye and defense with just enough speed to not be a liability on the base paths, as my colleague AndyP likes to say. He can even handle the hot corner furthering his value and chance to make the show. His contact, eye and defense should develop so even if he never learns to drive the ball deep I think Deck has the potential to get a shot on a major league club at some point in his future at worst and could be a regular infielder for a contending team. Projection: Mid to Late 4th
3) 3B Jon Long - 19yrs Old - HS Reading, PA
Another prospect from Pennsylvania of note, Jon Long has the potential to become a middle of the order threat. His game has a few glaring holes (Speed, Glove, Health) but his bat has enough upside that it could overcome his shortcomings. Of my potential sleepers Long has the highest ceiling but is the longest shot to make the show at some point in his career. Projection: Late 4th
Honorable Mentions: 1B Paul Roth, SS Virgil Lavedre, LF Omar Batancourt
3 Super Sleepers
77 or lower Peak at the time of writing with less of an emphasis on having a stand out career and more of a focus on guys who I think will develop into utility or back up roles and have average to above average skill sets.
1) 1B Sheldon Mazeroski - 21yrs old - Clemson
Sheldon has the advantage of a February birthday, a history of improving season to season and (potentially) some missing upside he normally experiences based on career trends. He's a candidate to jump predraft and onto the radars of a few more teams but as of now he has a late round projection. Despite imperfect vitals differential, being a college kid and only 10 points of upside he has the potential to bust but in his 7 year career he's done nothing but produce and that's why he makes my list. Projection: Early 5th
2) RHP Giovanni Fontela - 20yrs old - Texas Tech
Anytime a pitcher has solid control/power with movement as a liability the first thing I look at is how many HRs did he give up. Movement develops more easily than its counterparts and Fontela fits that mold perfectly. With a late birthday and his raw skills he has the right makeup to take a jump before the year is out. He's exactly what you look for in a late round pitcher but with the vultures FCM features in the draft he probably won't slide. Projection: Late 4th
3) DH Brian Hansen - 22yrs old - Arizona State
I hesitate to include a bat but Brian has the potential to develop into an Adam Dunn or Mike Chitty with a little more contact. He will mash lefties, there's no doubt, and I think his bat could easily develop against righties. He has as much power as any prospect will ever have and, somehow, an even better eye. Projection: Late 5th, Early 6th
Honorable Mentions: RHP Raul Tinall, SS Adam Ewart, 3B Gregg Scott, RF Blake Cleaves
Notable Names
C Brian Adams - No Relation
RP Derek Anderson - No Relation
1B Graham Boone - 4th Generation Major Leauger - Son of Aaron, Grandson of Bob, Great-Grandson of Ray
RP Albertus Cordero - 2nd Generation Major Leaguer - Son of Chad
SP Grady Cusack - Son of Actor Jon Cusack
CF Ralph Hansen and 1B Brian Hansen - Sons from seperate Hansen brothers born after the band moved to Canada
3B Denis Helmuth - Son of famou poker player Phil Helmuth
RP Jeremiah Hernandez - Dad: Billy Joe, Mom: Magdalena...constantly made fun of as a kid
RP Jason Lomax - Younger brother of CIN SP Stan Lomax (JPS it's mandatory you draft him)
3B Jon Long and RF Ryan Long - Grandsons of Howie Long, Nephews to Chris Long
Name of the Draft: Tie: SP Adam Sadlier and T.V. Wilkinson
Projected Top 10:
1st - ??? (Via LAD) - SS Jason Blume
2nd - LAA - RHP Carlo Fileto
3rd - ??? (Via MIL) - RHP Billy Crum
4th - SEA - LF Bruce Verbos
5th - PHI - RHP Ryu Sakamoto
6th - COL - 3B Denis Helmuth
7th - LAA (Via SFG) - RHP Jay Mantle
8th - BOS - 1B Martin Bawden
9th - CLE - RHP Grady Cusack
10th - SDP - LHP Kenneth Dorton
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