(Updated 8/2/2022) 2022 MLB Draft and Roster Management Discussion Thread

[cobbwebb0710]

The kids that they give all the losing team’s championship merchandise to wouldn’t even want a Mets jersey

LMAO! Somewhere, there is a tribe of Aborigines that think the Mets are the 2015 World Series champs!

 

[AthensVol2007]

True Southerners cheer for the Braves.

1/3 of the state of TN and most of the Delta disagree with you.

 

[VolPack22]

As long as Ohtani is an above average two way player, he should win MVP every single season.

 

[MAD]

The kids that they give all the losing team’s championship merchandise to wouldn’t even want a Mets jersey

Cold blooded

 

[TN_gal]

 

[TheMookieMonster]

I bet we see TV get a bit more aggressive in the transfer portal now. Likely add 2-3 more guys, mostly pitchers after how our bullpen has been completely raided. And, it could theoretically get worse if Sewell gets drafted tomorrow and decides it’s time to leave and jump start his professional career since his stock isn’t likely to increase much more.

 

[Volprofch05]

I bet we see TV get a bit more aggressive in the transfer portal now. Likely add 2-3 more guys, mostly pitchers after how our bullpen has been completely raided. And, it could theoretically get worse if Sewell gets drafted tomorrow and decides it’s time to leave and jump start his professional career since his stock isn’t likely to increase much more.

Maybe some potential transfers that were worried about playing time will take another look now

 

[Volfan1000]

Holy moly ROCKER AT 3![/QUOTE)

Rocker at 3 to Texas did not surprise me because his teammate from Vanderbilt is already in the org and they will do well with Texas.

 

[Volfan1000]

Wow. Cade Horton #7? Draft is getting a bit nuts.

I was surprised that Vitello did not recruit that kid from Virginia Tech that grew up as a Volunteers fan.

 

[lukeneyland]

He will become nearly unhittable if he can add a 2-seam or get even 3/4 inches of run in any direction.

I feel like there were times where he had some significant arm side run on his fastball. When he pitched in the Astros stadium the scoreboard registered his pitch as a sinker. I’m not sure how accurate that thing is or isn’t.

 

[Volfan1000]

Boom! Murphy is going to be a stud. Kid already has filthy stuff. I’m excited for him.

Braves hoping that Murphy could be an Ohtani clone.

 

[VolPack22]

Braves hoping that Murphy could be an Ohtani clone.

That would be awesome!

 

[VolNRaleighNC]

1/3 of the state of TN and most of the Delta disagree with you.

Then they are transplants and not true Southerners.

 

[Aladywhovolunteer]

I was surprised that Vitello did not recruit that kid from Virginia Tech that grew up as a Volunteers fan.

The number 9 selection in the MLB draft, Virginia Tech's Center Fielder Gavin Cross grew up on the Tennessee side of Bristol and attended Tennessee High School. However, I have not seen where he was a Tennessee fan...but you may be right.

His dad (Adam) attended ETSU and played three years of professional baseball. Two years with the Braves and one with the Padres.

Gavin was recruited by Virginia Tech, Duke, Liberty and Tennessee. Coach Dave Serrano would have been the head coach at Tennessee during the main recruitment of Gavin. However, Gavin developed his game very late ... as he was rated by Perfect Game as the 37th best baseball player in the state of Tennessee and 500th best player in the nation coming out of high school.

Coach Vitello said after Gavin was selected 9th, ....you can't sign everyone and Gavin had struggled some ...with his game in high school. Coach Vitello went on to say, Gavin's recruitment was primarily during his (Coach Vitello) transition and we (Tennessee) had missed on him.

Tennessee's future center fielder would be Drew Gilbert. According to Perfect Game Drew was the 10th best left handed pitcher coming out of high school. As Coach Vitello said, "You can't sign everyone."

 

[Naterade_23]

Too lazy to search through the entire thread. What are the chances any of our guys come back? Will they probably all sign?

 

[Volprofch05]

Too lazy to search through the entire thread. What are the chances any of our guys come back? Will they probably all sign?

We’re thinking it’s likely most all will sign. Some (ie Mabrey) have already said they will. Some discussion that Stephenson might consider coming back, but most seem to think he’ll sign.

 

[NighthawkVol]

We’re thinking it’s likely most all will sign. Some (ie Mabrey) have already said they will. Some discussion that Stephenson might consider coming back, but most seem to think he’ll sign.

I don’t see any way Seth comes back. He was picked shockingly high. Coming back would be crazy.

If a guy’s name was called Sunday or Monday, you can wave goodbye, barring strange circumstances. Especially if he was selected higher than projected.

 

[NighthawkVol]

I bet we see TV get a bit more aggressive in the transfer portal now. Likely add 2-3 more guys, mostly pitchers after how our bullpen has been completely raided. And, it could theoretically get worse if Sewell gets drafted tomorrow and decides it’s time to leave and jump start his professional career since his stock isn’t likely to increase much more.

He has a bunch of JUCO pitchers coming in. I guess it depends on how he feels about those guys’ ability to pitch well right away. Same for high schoolers Hunter Sloop and Dillon Orr, assuming that don’t get drafted and sign. I think Orr will contribute as a freshman.

 

[Volprofch05]

If you're wondering where these guys will play as they progress, I came across the link below that lists minor leagues for each team.

2022 Minor League Affiliates | Baseball-Reference.com

 

[TN_gal]

Re: our bullpen - I went through our current roster, incoming class, and JUCOs, and here is the list of pitchers we have: (Note: I'm not including Sewell - as I'm assuming he'll turn pro)

Current roster:

LHPs
Gavin Brasosky
Kirby Connell
Wyatt Evans
Drew Patterson
Jake Fitzgibbons
Kaleb Meredith
Zander Sechrist

RHPs
Chase Dollander
Seth Halvorsen
Chase Burns
Drew Beam
Hollis Fanning
Andrew Kribbs
Ethan Smith

Incoming class:

LHPs
Andrew Behnke
Bradley Gagen

RHPs
Jerry Garcia
Austin Hunley
Caden Marcum
Bennett Myers
Dillon Orr
Brady Robertson
AJ Russell
Hunter Sloop

JUCO signees:

LHPs
Jacob Bimbi

RHPs
Aaron Combs
Bryce Jenkins (OF)
Zach Joyce
Turner Swistak

 

[TheMookieMonster]

Re: our bullpen - I went through our current roster, incoming class, and JUCOs, and here is the list of pitchers we have: (I'm not including Sewell or Ethan Smith - as I'm assuming they'll turn pro)

Current roster:

LHPs
Gavin Brasosky
Wyatt Evans
Drew Patterson
Jake Fitzgibbons
Kaleb Meredith
Zander Sechrist

RHPs
Chase Dollander
Ethan Smith
Seth Halvorsen
Chase Burns
Drew Beam
Hollis Fanning
Andrew Kribbs

Incoming class:

LHPs
Andrew Behnke
Bradley Gagen

RHPs
Jerry Garcia
Austin Hunley
Caden Marcum
Bennett Myers
Dillon Orr
Brady Robertson
AJ Russell
Hunter Sloop

JUCO signees:

LHPs
Jacob Bimbi

RHPs
Aaron Combs
Bryce Jenkins (OF)
Zach Joyce
Turner Swistak

Thanks, Gal! Appreciate you putting this together. I think you forgot Kirby though.

I trust Anderson to develop these guys, but certainly is a lot of unknowns for the bullpen on that list. I’d like to see us bring 1-2 arms in from the portal if possible.

 

[cobbwebb0710]

Is Sechrist more valuable as a midweek starter or as a strong lefty, coming out of the pen?

 

[TN_gal]

Thanks, Gal! Appreciate you putting this together. I think you forgot Kirby though.

I trust Anderson to develop these guys, but certainly is a lot of unknowns for the bullpen on that list. I’d like to see us bring 1-2 arms in from the portal if possible.

You're welcome, Mookie! Yes, I had a brain blip about Kirby ( to me). I have since added him in.

I agree there are currently a lot of unknowns for the bullpen, and like you, trust Coach A and his development. Based on his interviews, I think Coach V has the roster set for next season, but there certainly could be some late transfer additions.

 

[VolPack22]

Re: our bullpen - I went through our current roster, incoming class, and JUCOs, and here is the list of pitchers we have: (I'm not including Sewell or Ethan Smith - as I'm assuming they'll turn pro)

Current roster:

LHPs
Gavin Brasosky
Kirby Connell
Wyatt Evans
Drew Patterson
Jake Fitzgibbons
Kaleb Meredith
Zander Sechrist

RHPs
Chase Dollander
Ethan Smith
Seth Halvorsen
Chase Burns
Drew Beam
Hollis Fanning
Andrew Kribbs

Incoming class:

LHPs
Andrew Behnke
Bradley Gagen

RHPs
Jerry Garcia
Austin Hunley
Caden Marcum
Bennett Myers
Dillon Orr
Brady Robertson
AJ Russell
Hunter Sloop

JUCO signees:

LHPs
Jacob Bimbi

RHPs
Aaron Combs
Bryce Jenkins (OF)
Zach Joyce
Turner Swistak

Starting pitching will not see much of a drop off. The bullpen has a lot of unknowns. I assume Halvorsen could take on the Sewell long relief role or spot start as needed so that should help. Kirby will be the closer and has proven he can pitch multiple innings as well. We will need the other guys to step up and fill the middle relief role. I don’t think our overall ERA will be as low as it was this past year but it should still be one of the better staffs in the country, even with the draft exodus.

 

[TN_gal]

Is Sechrist more valuable as a midweek starter or as a strong lefty, coming out of the pen?

Everything may be on the table next season. I can see Sechrist coming out of the pen.