Commissioner of Major League Baseball Rob Manfred announces the selections at the 2015 MLB baseball draft Monday, June 8, 2015, in Secaucus, N.J.
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Puk was selected with the No. 6 overall pick by the Oakland Athletics on Thursday, marking the second straight year a Florida player was drafted by Oakland in the first round.
In a draft that seemed to lack that can’t miss star, the Phillies used the No. 1 pick in to draft Moniak, a 18-year-old, high ceiling, big hitting outfielder that had steadily risen up the draft boards.
The Phillies last picked first (and first picked first) in 1998, when they selected Pat Burrell. The 6-foot-3, 170-pounder is from Shenendehowa High School in upstate NY.
With the third pick, Atlanta took high school right-hander Ian Anderson, who was in attendance at the draft site.
But the high schooler’s newfound fame and fortune came with an extra treat too in the form of a wager with his childhood best friend.
Two players who were mentioned as possibilities for the No. 1 pick dropped out of the top 10. Rather, somewhat like the Astros did in going with Carlos Correa over Byron Buxton back in 2012, the idea would be to take a more affordable player with hopes of adding yet more talent later in the draft.
Shore, Florida’s Friday starter for the last three years, has posted an 11-0 record and 2.44 ERA this season with 80 strikeouts and 25 earned runs in 92.1 innings, whereas Puk (2-3 in 15 starts) has a 3.21 ERA with 95 strikeouts and 25 earned runs in 70.0 innings.
At No. 4, Colorado went with fireballing Kansas high school righty Riley Pint.
The left-handed hitting Moniak is the eighth prep outfielder the Phillies have drafted in the first round.
But as the team with the second highest draft bonus pool – and a team that likely won’t need its $9.015 million first pick slot value to get Moniak signed – the Phils should have the financial flexibility to meet Gowdy’s number.
“I got a little emotional”, Senzel said about receiving the call from the Reds.
At 6-foot-7, Puk throws a mid-to-high 90s fastball and is said to have above average breaking pitches. Milwaukee selected Louisville outfielder Corey Ray to cap the first five picks. Started baseball season late while helping basketball team in postseason, but hit stride quickly.
“I think it’s important to note this is a middle-of-the-field player”, said GM Matt Klentak. But he didn’t sit out the required 30 days or half the season’s games, and so his stats were erased, as were all of the Barnegat wins in which he played.
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The Chicago White Sox selected Miami junior catcher Zack Collins with the 10th choice.
