2014 Post Draft - News, Signings & Information

mabrowndog

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Sam Travis (@samtrav6) set to make his professional debut for the #Spinners tonight in Connecticut.
 
 
Meanwhile in Fort Myers...
 
Retweeted by Chief Chavis™
Joon Lee @iamjoonlee  ·  1h

According to his Twitter, @MichaelChavis11 just left Boston & is heading towards Fort Myers. Seems like a sign his physical, etc, went well.
 
Devon Fisher ‏@D_Fisher6 7h
I went from ring chasing to dream chasing
 
Devon Fisher ‏@D_Fisher6 1h
#Sox
 

 
 
 
Also in Fort Myers, for some the post-draft red tape blows:
 
Josh Ockimey ‏@josh_ock 9m
Just want to be cleared to play man
 
 

mabrowndog

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39th-rounder Mike Gretler loves the Red Sox, but it still looks like he's college-bound.
 
 
Michael was honored in November at a lunch time assembly for signing his letter of intent to attend and play baseball at Oregon State University this coming fall.
 
At the time of the assembly, he had just recently returned from Boston where he was invited to a workout with the Red Sox at Fenway Park.
 
"The workout in Boston was one of the coolest baseball experiences of my life," he said.
 
Michael added he had always wanted to go to Fenway to watch a game but never imagined his first time in the park would be him playing on the field.
 
The World Series just ended at Fenway less than a week prior to his workout.
 
"Standing on that field where the Red Sox had celebrated just days ago was insane," Michael said.
 
Michael was even able to see and hold the 2004, 2007 and 2013 World Series trophies.
 
Michael said being drafted by Boston was "one of the greatest moments of my life.
 
In fact, he said the Red Sox have always been his favorite team describing that his room is decorated with Red Sox items and a mural of Fenway Park on one wall.
 
The day of the draft, Michael was playing a double header with his summer league team in Vancouver.He said after the first game he checked his phone and that's when he figured it must have happened because his phone "was blown up with text messages."
 
Still he didn't know what team or what round he was drafted in until he read a text from his mom, Nancy Gretler.
 
He had no idea that he would be drafted by any team because he said he had told a number of scouts that unless he was offered "first round money" he would go to Oregon State and play there.
 
Aside from the Red Sox, Michael said throughout the year he had heard from 20-25 teams.
 
Michael said entering into his senior season, he knew there was a 90 percent chance that he would still go to Oregon [State] even if he was drafted by a major league team.
 
Michael added playing for Oregon State will help him have the best chance at succeeding in the majors.
 
The Oregon State Beavers won the Pac 12 for the second year in a row and Michael said he is "beyond excited for the opportunity to play for the coaches down there and do everything I can to help the team win games next year."
 
His parents Nancy and Jim Gretler agree that Michael's decision to attend Oregon State first is the wise choice.
 
At the moment he isn't concerned with what he can bring to a team in the majors.
 
"I know I am far away from being in a position to help a major league team," he said. "(However) one day I hope I will be able to be a franchise leader for an organization but that will be when the time is right."
 
When Michael travels to Oregon [State] in the fall, he said he will spend the first two years working with the exploratory studies program.
 

DJnVa

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20th rounder Devon Fisher is turning down Virginia to sign with the Sox: http://hamptonroads.com/2014/06/western-branch-player-sign-boston-red-sox
Virginia’s baseball program reels in most of the recruits it signs, but Western Branch’s Devon Fisher is one who got away.
 
The catcher on the Bruins’ Group 6A state championship team flew to Florida on Wednesday and planned to sign a pro contract with the Boston Red Sox, who drafted Fisher in the 20th round earlier this month.
 
 

mabrowndog

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2014 draftees assigned to GCL so far include:
 
Michael Kopech, RHP
Kuehl McEachern, RHP
Alex McKeon, C
Hector Lorenzana, SS
Derek Miller, OF
 
With 24 players on the active roster there are still 6 vacancies to fill. We should be seeing 1B Josh Ockimey, SS Michael Chavis, OF Trenton Kemp, OF Tyler Hill and C Devon Fisher active there once their contracts are finalized.
 

TimScribble

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This could turn out to be a great steal.

@alexspeier: Red Sox signed 11th rounder Karsten Whitson - former Padres 1st rounder - for $100K. He was up to 96 mph w/88 mph slider in ACC Tournament

@alexspeier: Whitson will play for the Lowell Spinners.
 

mabrowndog

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TimScribble said:
@alexspeier: Whitson will play for the Lowell Spinners.
 
Yup, he's been added to the roster there along with OF Danny Mars, LHP Jalen Beeks & SS Jeremy Rivera.
 

mabrowndog

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Boston's 22nd rounder has chosen college over the Sox.
 
 
A left-handed hitter, [shortstop J.J.] Matijevic recently had quite a career decision to make — play college baseball for Arizona University or begin his professional career in the Boston Red Sox organization.
 
He was a 22nd round pick of the Red Sox during the Major League Baseball First-Year Player Draft on June 7.
 
Matijevic decided last weekend that he will attend Arizona on a scholarship.
 
“It was very tough decision,” he said. “The Red Sox have been my favorite team and it was an honor to be drafted by them. But I like the atmosphere and coaches at Arizona. Assistant coach Matt Siegel and I have a great bond, and I'm looking forward to playing with my new teammates.
 
“Hopefully in three years, I get drafted again.”
 

mabrowndog

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9th-rounder Kevin Steen is playing summer ball in the wood-bat Sunbelt Baseball League for the Brookhaven Bucks, just NE of Atlanta with their games at Oglethorpe University in case anyone in the area wants to check him out.
 
In a brief video interview clip posted shortly after the draft by WBIR-TV in Knoxville, Steen says the Sox told him, " 'We're probably going to draft you, but just going to follow you through the summer and make sure that you're still pitching well,' and hopefully can increase my value for my money."
 
He's pitched 3 games so far (11 IP), and while he's been tough to hit (.211 BAA in 45 PA, but grain-of-salt applies to early results with hitters still adjusting to wood bats) and has kept teams off the scoreboard (0.81 ERA), he's definitely had some control issues (11 BB, 12 K). FWIW, he had 8 and 9 days between appearances.
 

Lefty_Mom

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mabrowndog said:
As many of us suspected, 28th rounder David Peterson will not be walking through that door. This from the Medford (OR) Rogues of the wood bat West Coast Baseball League (hat tip to Adam Fox over at Sox Prospects for the link):
 
Whether he walks through the door or not, what an honor for our family to have him drafted by this team that means so much to our family.  I appreciate the thoughtful comments about David and the overall information regarding the Sox draft selections and where they stand.  Boston took some terrific kids, Michael Kopech is an outstanding young man from a fantastic family, won't get any BS "Johnny FB" antics from him to be sure!
 

mabrowndog

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Lefty_Mom said:
Whether he walks through the door or not, what an honor for our family to have him drafted by this team that means so much to our family.  I appreciate the thoughtful comments about David and the overall information regarding the Sox draft selections and where they stand.  Boston took some terrific kids, Michael Kopech is an outstanding young man from a fantastic family, won't get any BS "Johnny FB" antics from him to be sure!
 
We fans often forget that behind every single player drafted is a dedicated family celebrating each win and achievement, feeling each loss and setback, and supporting and guiding each decision. Thanks for the post, and best wishes to David for the future wherever his baseball choices take him.
 
(But yeah, if you can just put the pen his hand and kind of nudge his elbow towards' the Sox' offer sheet, I'm sure we'd all appreciate it. ;) )
 

Plympton91

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I will never know what it is like to be as accomplished as your son in baseball, but I am accomplished in academics, having been top of my class at every step in grade school, high school, and college, and then barely made it through a top Ph.D. program. There is nothing in my academic life that I wouldn't trade for the chance to be a major league baseball player.

If I had been so blessed as to have that talent, I would have chosen the path that gave me the best chance to make it in baseball, and worried about getting a college degree later. My understanding is that going pro out of high school gives you the best chance to make it, and that MLB has scholarship programs for minor leaguers who don't make it. Even having been valedictorian of my HS class and with great respect for what education means in this world, I'd have signed out of high school.
 

Brianish

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Plympton91 said:
I will never know what it is like to be as accomplished as your son in baseball, but I am accomplished in academics, having been top of my class at every step in grade school, high school, and college, and then barely made it through a top Ph.D. program. There is nothing in my academic life that I wouldn't trade for the chance to be a major league baseball player.

If I had been so blessed as to have that talent, I would have chosen the path that gave me the best chance to make it in baseball, and worried about getting a college degree later. My understanding is that going pro out of high school gives you the best chance to make it, and that MLB has scholarship programs for minor leaguers who don't make it. Even having been valedictorian of my HS class and with great respect for what education means in this world, I'd have signed out of high school.
 
And then, there are those of us who seem determined to forget that every draftee is an actual person with a dedicated family behind them, celebrating each win and achievement, feeling each loss and setback, and supporting and guiding each decision, which remains their own to make.
 
Best of luck to David, whatever he decides. 
 

mabrowndog

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Thought they'd save more than that on McAvoy, but it still brings them close to even relative to the cap.
 
First 10 rounds (8 bonuses confirmed): -$147,800
Rounds 11-40 (5 bonuses confirmed): +$150,000 (all of the overage on Trenton Kemp).
 
So they're just $2,200 over.
 

mabrowndog

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DRAFT CAP UPDATE (6/23, 10:30 pm)
 
[tablegrid=]# of Confirmed Signings 26 # of Confirmed Bonuses 13 Days Until Signing Deadline 25 Total Slot Value of Signings (1st ten rounds) $5,929,600 Actual Bonuses Paid to Signings (1st ten rounds) $5,781,800 Net +/- in Rounds 1 thru 10 -$147,800 Net +/- in Rounds 11 thru 40 $150,000 Net +/- Overall $2,200 Net % Relative to Signed Slots (1st ten rounds) -2.5% Net % Relative to Signed Slots (all rounds) 0.03% Net % Relative to Total Cap ($6,373,300) 0.03% Projected Tax on Current Overage $1,650 Projected Loss of Draft Picks None Remaining Cap Space $441,500 Remaining Budget Assuming 5% Spending Above Cap $760,165 [/tablegrid]
 

Plympton91

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Brianish said:
 
And then, there are those of us who seem determined to forget that every draftee is an actual person with a dedicated family behind them, celebrating each win and achievement, feeling each loss and setback, and supporting and guiding each decision, which remains their own to make.
 
Best of luck to David, whatever he decides. 
Not sure why my post means I forgot that. Just offering an opinion based on a love of baseball despite having been far more blessed in academics. And I'm sure there's no shortage of people who are saying the opposite to him and his family.

I apologize if it offended or came of as self congratulatory. That wasn't my intention. Everyone has their own list of pluses and minuses that should be respected.
 

Snodgrass'Muff

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Soxprospects.com have three of this year's draftees in the top 20.  Michael Chavis is ranked 12th, Michael Kopech is ranked 17th and Sam Travis is ranked 20th.  Jake Cosart is slotted in at 26th.
 

Mike F

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Always late to the party wonders what is the effect of "after baseball college tuition" deals?
 

Mike F

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My fault. How does such an offer affect the signing bonus pool?
 

mabrowndog

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Most of this year's 27 signed draftees have been placed with affiliates, though there are still some stragglers (contracts still aren't finalized, roster logistics, excused absences, or other unexplained phenomena).
 
EDIT - Revised 6/27 (Gunn signed & sent to Lowell; Moore assigned to GCL; Beeks reassigned from Lowell to GCL)
 
LOWELL (SS-A)
Sam Travis, 1B/LF (2)
Kevin McAvoy, RHSP (4)
Danny Mars, OF (6)
Cole Sturgeon, OF (10)
Karsten Whitson, RHP (11)
Chandler Shepherd, RHP (13)
Michael Gunn, LHP (16)
Jordan Betts, 3B (18)
Brandon Show, RHP (38)
 
GCL SOX (R )
Michael Chavis, SS/3B (1)
Michael Kopech, RHP (1s)
Jake Cosart, RHP (3)
Josh Ockimey, 1B (5)
Ben Moore, OF/C (8)
Jalen Beeks, LHP (12)
Trenton Kemp, OF (15)
Tyler Hill, OF (19)
Devon Fisher, C (20)
Derek Miller, OF (23)
Alex McKeon, C/1B (31)
Kuehl McEachern, RHP (34)
Hector Lorenzana, 2B (37)
Joe Winterburn, C (40)
 
UNASSIGNED
Reed Reilly, RHP (7)
Jordan Procyshen, C (14)
Jeremy Rivera, SS (17)
Taylor Nunez, RHP (27)
 

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Catcher Prochysen (14) has been told he'll be assigned to Lowell. Just waiting for paperwork (visa so he can work in the US) before he officially signs.
 

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mabrowndog said:
Boston's 20th-rounder signed & suited up yesterday:
 
Devon Fisher ‏@D_Fisher6 11h
Dreams really do come true. #Blessed
 
Devon Fisher ‏@D_Fisher6 11h
"You will never make it" "You will never be good enough"...Thank you for the motivation.
 
Correct finger placement on the writing hand, holding down the paper with thumb and forefinger spread wide with the other:   that's the handiwork of a parochial school nun.
 

mabrowndog

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Whole Hog Sports.com
 
 
FAYETTEVILLE — Former Arkansas pitcher Michael Gunn signed a professional contract with the Boston Red Sox on Friday.
 
Gunn was selected by the Red Sox in the 16th round of the MLB Draft earlier this month. He is the fifth and final former Arkansas player to sign professionally this summer.
 
As a junior Gunn set an Arkansas record by allowing only three earned runs in 28 relief appearances. The left-hander will join former teammate Jalen Beeks, a 12th round pick of the Red Sox, on the roster for Boston's short-season affiliate in Lowell, Mass.
 
FWIW, Beeks was sent from Lowell down to GCL today. Not sure what's behind that move, as he hasn't seen any game action with the Spinners yet.
 

mabrowndog

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I tweeted SoxProspects' Chris Hatfield about Beeks, who reminded me:
 

 

Chris Hatfield @SPChrisHatfield  ·  4m

Elbow injury late in coll. season maybe part of it RT @mabrowndog Any rationale for moving Beeks from Lowell to GCL before throwing a pitch?
 
He did miss most of May:
 
But the Diamond Hogs have been without one of their starters since before the SEC Tournament. Jalen Beeks has been out after soreness is in his elbow, which doctors have said was a sprain.
 
 
But I'd forgotten all about it because...
 
CHARLOTTESVILLE, Va. — Arkansas had only hoped for three innings of relief out of pitcher Jalen Beeks before the Charlottesville Regional began.

The junior gave the Razorbacks much more than that at Davenport Field on Sunday.

Beeks threw five scoreless innings during Arkansas’ 10-0 win against Bucknell, successfully returning from an elbow injury. The left-hander allowed three hits and struck out nine, giving Arkansas the quality start it desperately needed to stay alive in the regional and advance to Sunday night’s game against Virginia.

“I was ready for anything,” Beeks said. “I knew I was going to have to pitch, especially after we lost (Saturday). We had to win three games. So I knew I was going to have to pitch, I just didn’t know where.”

Beeks (6-4) got the call a month after his last start at Ole Miss on May 3. The junior felt soreness in his elbow during the outing and was shut down for three weeks, missing starts against Texas A&M, Missouri and in the SEC Tournament.

Arkansas coach Dave Van Horn left the field Saturday night believing Zach Jackson or James Teague would start against Bucknell. After discussing options with pitching coach Dave Jorn following his postgame press conference, Van Horn announced Beeks would take the mound against Bucknell.

The junior delivered, tying his career high with nine strikeouts. He threw 77 pitches.

“We really didn’t know who to pitch,” Van Horn said. “We knew we were going to use Jalen sometime unless things just went incredibly well. The more that I talked to (pitching) coach (Dave) Jorn about it, I wanted somebody that had started. I mean, we lose this game we’re done. And Bucknell, they were coming off a big win. … Just thinking we need to be safe and maybe he can give us 50, 60 pitches. He ended up throwing 75 or whatever. He basically wouldn’t let us take him out after the fourth.”
 
So yeah, maybe the Sox want him to do further rehab down in Fort Myers. I just hope a visit to Dr. Andrews isn't in the offing.
 

mabrowndog

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Another draftee will be joining the club shortly, but I can't imagine any worse circumstances. Just awful...
 
 
Former Gators reliever Ryan Harris is expected to officially sign with the Red Sox soon. Harris was Boston’s 26th-round pick in the MLB amateur draft earlier this month but suffered a family tragedy days later when his older brother, Andrew Harris, was killed June 8 while diving in the Jupiter Inlet in South Florida. Our thoughts and prayers go out to the Harris family
 
From the link to the accident, Andrew was struck and killed by a boat:
 
 
The FWC is reporting that the diver who died in the boat crash Sunday was Andrew Harris, 26, of Jupiter. He was snorkeling in the water with Nicole Kapfer, 26, FWC spokeswoman Katie Johnson said. Kapfer was treated at the hospital for her injuries and released.
 
The two were with a group of people who were boating in the inlet and were the only ones in the water at the time. It’s unclear if a flag marked the spot where they were, Johnson said.
 
The boat that struck them stopped. FWC investigators will be talking to those aboard again today.
 
“At this time, no charges have been filed,” Johnson said.
 

mabrowndog

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Rice4HOF said:
Catcher Prochysen (14) has been told he'll be assigned to Lowell. Just waiting for paperwork (visa so he can work in the US) before he officially signs.
 
He's on his way.
 
 
C Jordan Procyshen (Calgary, Alta.), who was drafted in the 14th round by the Boston Red Sox earlier this month, departed for Lowell, MA this week to begin his professional baseball career with the Spinners — Boston’s short season-A affiliate
 

mabrowndog

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soxhop411 said:
Any news on Kevin Steen?
 
As noted upthread, he's pitching in a summer wood-bat league outside of Atlanta.
 
His most recent outing was Thursday, and despite pitching a 6-inning 2-hitter with 10 Ks and just 1 ER, he's still having major control issues (8 walks). He threw 114 pitches, just 58 for strikes.
 

soxhop411

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David Clary @DCCATVOICE · 51m


Kevin Steen has decided to pursue his professional baseball career in the Boston Red Sox Organization!! Good luck Kevin.

 
 
play by play announcer of Steen's high school.