While we were in Chicago it was draft time again, and here's our 2027 haul:
About the high picks:
Sponheim:
A high-school 1B who's projected to mash and will have to, given he has no projected defensive value or speed. But 1B has been a black hole of sorts in this save for the Rays so here's hoping he someday fills it.
Strickland:
Our supplemental 1st rounder for the free agent loss of Tyler Glasnow, Strickland's another high schooler from the left side of the defensive spectrum but if the projections pan out, he will rake. Exceptional bat-to-ball skills for a guy who swings at most everything.
Bennett:
A college starter who looks like a potential mid-rotation piece.
Cowles:
A high school pitcher who looks like a potential back end of the rotation piece.
Vitelli:
My favorite kind of prospect, the guy listed as a pitcher who's secretly a potential stud hitter in the making. Pay no attention to those pedestrian pitching ratings and instead check out the numbers on the far right, which are elaborated on here:
Very interesting.
Moore:
Your prototypical college closer who can hopefully help us before the end of the decade.