Check back here for live updates and commentary from HH staff as the Angels make their day 2 picks. We’ll post summaries below and more feedback in the comments section. This post also serves as the open thread for draft day 2 comments from everyone.
3rd Round
Jack Kochanowicz, RHP, Harriton HS (PA), 6’6” 220lbs
Angels taking a potential overpay candidate in Jack Kochanowicz, prep RHP from PA. Great size/projection, arm speed is plus, FB been up to 94-95 with life, CB flashes plus. Certainly a good amount of upside there if he signs.
— Brian Sakowski (@B_Sakowski_PG) June 4, 2019
3 (92): @Angels select Harriton HS (PA) P Jack Kochanowicz. https://t.co/hk2qgcVEgg #MLBDraft
— MLB Draft Tracker (@MLBDraftTracker) June 4, 2019
From MLB Pipeline
Kochanowicz has an 89-93 mph fastball that tops out at 95 with riding life up in the strike zone. His 6-foot-6 frame and high-three-quarters arm slot provide plenty of downhill plane, and his size also creates extension that adds to the quality of his fastball package. He has high spin rates and good depth on his mid-70s curveball, which could be a hammer once he gains more velocity. Kochanowicz has some sink on his changeup and while it’s often too firm, it should improve as he throws it more often. Many tall, young pitchers have trouble keeping their deliveries in sync, but he repeats his mechanics well and provides strikes.
4th Round
Erik Rivera, LHP/OF, Puerto Rico Baseball Academy (PR), 6’2” 200lbs
4 (121): @Angels select Puerto Rico Baseball Academy LHP Erik Rivera. https://t.co/3l9Y8WIsBe #MLBDraft
— MLB Draft Tracker (@MLBDraftTracker) June 4, 2019
Angels take Erik Rivera, lhp/of from PR. Two way guy, has upside as a LHH OF with power upside, think most prefer him on the mound at this point, ran his FB up to 97 mph this spring, the arm speed and athleticism are loud tools.
— Brian Sakowski (@B_Sakowski_PG) June 4, 2019
From Baseball America (which ranked him the #2 best prospect from Puerto Rico):
A two-way player committed to Florida International, Rivera is an athletic, 6-foot-2, 195-pound outfielder and lefthander. Rivera has two big tools in his natural arm strength—which is among the best outfield arms in the 2019 prep class—and above-average raw power from the left side, though he has some significant swing-and-miss tendencies that were evident at a few big showcases last summer. Rivera gets pull-happy and needs to improve his timing, and he’s added even more muscle to an already strong frame this spring, which has created bulk and slowed his bat speed. Because of his rawness at the plate, most in the industry might prefer Rivera on the mound, where he is in the 88-92 mph range with his fastball and has improved a mid-70s curveball this spring.
5th Round
Garrett Stallings, RHP, Tennessee, 6’2” 200lbs
5 (151): @Angels select Tennessee (TN) P Garrett Stallings. https://t.co/QatLkGy8Bp #MLBDraft
— MLB Draft Tracker (@MLBDraftTracker) June 4, 2019
Turk:
Friday night starter for a very good Tennessee team. Competitive, durable backend starter type.
Baseball America:
It’s hard for scouts not to compare Stallings and Mississippi’s Will Ethridge, as both are Friday starters in the Southeastern Conference who succeed with average stuff. Ethridge’s stuff is a tick harder, but Stallings has a tick more feel for pitching. The 6-foot-2, 200-pound righthander has a four-pitch mix where no single pitch even flashes plus. But his 89-91 mph fringe-average fastball plays up because of his plus control and advanced command. He also has shown he can throw his average slider and average curveball for strikes as well. He will flip in a below-average change regularly to keep hitters guessing. Stallings doesn’t have enough stuff to miss even SEC bats, but he knows how to pitch in traffic and he is quite steady and reliable—he finished the seventh inning in nine of his 15 starts as of late May. That durability and reliability should get him picked somewhere between the fifth and ninth rounds.
6th Round
Zach Peek, RHP, Winthrop (SC), Age 21, 6’3” 185lbs
Baseball America:
A 6-foot-3, 185-pound righthander, Peek has a clean delivery and loose, projectable frame as well as a solid track record of performance in the Big South. Peek’s best season was as a sophomore in 2018, when he posted a 3.74 ERA over 14 starts and 89 innings with an impressive 4.1 strikeout-to-walk ratio. This spring, Peek has been hit more than his 2018 season—8.7 hits per nine through 13 starts compared to 7.9 a year ago—but scouts still like his ease of operation and his stuff. Peek’s fastball has been up into the mid-90s at its best, though he normally pitches more in the 90-93 mph range with two solid secondary offerings in a big, 11-to-5 curveball and a solid changeup. Peek has shown ability to manipulate his breaking ball and change the shape depending on the situation, so some scouts are willing to project a half-grade and give him an above-average breaker in the future. While his stuff isn’t overwhelming, there’s a solid three-pitch mix, future physical projection and good strike-throwing history. All of that adds up to an intriguing arm who could go in the middle of Day 2.
6 (181): @Angels select Winthrop (SC) P Zach Peek. https://t.co/vFdjPO7HI1 #MLBDraft
— MLB Draft Tracker (@MLBDraftTracker) June 4, 2019
7th Round
Davis Daniel, RHP, Auburn (AL), Age 21, 6’1” 190lbs
Baseball America:
Davis has been a highly regarded prospect since coming out of high school in Alabama, when he was drafted in the 34th round by the Cubs in 2016. Daniel immediately factored into Auburn’s rotation as a freshman and then split time as a starter and reliever with the Tigers in 2018, when he was a draft-eligible sophomore and was selected in the 11th round by the Brewers. His 2019 season was ruined by an arm injury that eventually led to Tommy John surgery, having thrown just two innings in his season debut. That complicates things for Daniel, who could have been a top-100 prospect with a healthy season because of a fastball that’s been up 97 mph, a solid breaking ball and a good changeup. Daniel struggled with his control at times when healthy—he walked 4.32 batters per nine innings during his sophomore season—and his fastball flattened out and became too hittable. His injury status will make him something of a wild card in the draft this year.
With their 7th round pick, the @Angels select RHP, Davis Daniel. Was up to mid-90's before season-ending TJ. #MLBDraft #Angelshttps://t.co/rjCUqED4w4
— Kyler Peterson (@KPeterson813) June 4, 2019
8th Round
Kyle Brnovich, RHP, Elon University (NC), Age 21, 6’2” 190lbs
Baseball America:
Brnovich has had a lot of success at Elon thanks to a swing-and-miss slider that helped him rack up 347 strikeouts over his first 268 innings (11.65 strikeouts per nine innings), including 73 innings this spring. His delivery is a bit unusual, relying on late hip rotation to get his arm through on time, but he has a good track record of throwing strikes and has made a below-average operation largely effective. He shows good arm speed and the ability to spin the ball with consistency, to the point where some scouts grade his slider out as a plus-plus pitch. Brnovich pitches in the 88-92 mph range with his fastball—a fringe-average offering at best—so he predominantly pitches off of his slider, mixing in a changeup on occasion. He is a good athlete, but his delivery and fastball velocity leave questions as to whether he should be used in the bullpen moving forward. There’s no reason to not run Brnovich out as a starter until he proves otherwise, however, especially with his strong track record and potentially devastating breaking ball.
Turk:
Brnovich was just outside of the top 100 for Baseball America (#107). Solid value to get him this late.
Rick is excited:
#Angels 8th round pick, Kyle Brnovich RHP.
— Jared Tims (@Jared_Tims) June 4, 2019
89-91 has touched 94 out of the pen. Plus curveball(might be one of the best pitches in this draft). Also works with a changeup. 110 SO, 42 BB in 86 IP. pic.twitter.com/a7cB0WDgb3
9th Round
Zach Linginfelter, RHP, Tennessee (TN), Age 22, 6’5” 220lbs
Baseball America
A bout of mononucleosis ruined Linginfelter’s chances to be a top draft pick coming out of high school in 2016, and the Nationals’ 19th-round selection last year wasn’t enough to buy him out of returning to Knoxville for his junior season. This spring, Linginfelter has been very up and down. After two years working primarily out of the bullpen, he moved into Tennessee’s weekend rotation in 2019. He showed moments of greatness—including striking out 13 batters in six dominating, shutout innings against Indiana early this season. But he also had three other outings in which he was knocked out before the fourth inning began, which explains his 5.16 ERA. Repetition and consistency are key for Linginfelter going forward. He has a great arm, but his delivery too often falls apart as he closes himself off and loses feel for the strike zone. He can sit 92-95 mph and touch 97 mph with his plus fastball. His mid-80s slider and changeup are both average pitches with his breaking ball flashing above-average and even plus at times with power and depth. His control is average as he can find the strike zone, but his command lags far behind that. He frequently catches too much of the zone, which explains why he’s given up 10 home runs this year. Some scouts say he would be best off to move directly to the bullpen in pro ball, where his fastball and slider would potentially play as plus pitches. But a team with a long-term view may see him as a big, 6-foot-5, 220-pound righthander who just needs plenty of time to develop consistency.
Here is RHP and 9th rounder Zach Linginfelter #Angels
— Jared Tims (@Jared_Tims) June 4, 2019
Low 90 to mid 90’s touches 97 with a slider. Will probably be a reliever. Struggles with command at times. pic.twitter.com/u0hhV7RtGM
10th Round
Chad Sykes, RHP, UNC Greensboro, Age 23, 5’11” 180lbs
10 (301): @Angels select UNC Greensboro (NC) RHP Chad Sykes. https://t.co/A32kLprFCL #MLBDraft
— MLB Draft Tracker (@MLBDraftTracker) June 4, 2019
Honor roll kid!
Here’s a feature from his school.