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Over at Fangraphs, Kiley McDaniels has posted an early look at the 2015 draft top 51, in which the Astros figure prominently. Before getting to the rankings, McDaniels makes a number of notes, most of which are relevant to the Astros. I will let him do the talking:
Brady Aiken still hasn’t signed and nothing concrete has been announced to that end, so he’s in the 2015 class until further notice. Like Aiken, Phil Bickford’s school is unknown at the moment, but both are expected to go to junior colleges out west.
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- The Astros are once again a big story, as they have the 2nd overall pick (compensation for not signing Aiken) and as of today the 7th pick as well. That’s still fluid with picks 5-9 separated by 2 games with under 20 to go.
- One of the reasons you’ll keep hearing about the Astros and Aiken is because Aiken’s advisor, Casey Close’s Excel Sports Management, represents 6 of my top 15 prospects right now, with a couple of the top 15 prospects still uncommitted to advisors. (I won’t connect specific players to advisors as that only serves to help the NCAA take leverage/college eligibility from kids.) Neither side has said they won’t sign or won’t draft a player from the other side, but the tension from the Aiken/Nix saga certainly doesn’t make this an easy situation to figure.
I will note that as of today, the Astros actually have the 2nd and 8th, not 7th picks. They are in 7th place but that means they will pick 8th because of their compensation pick.
He has Aiken ranked 2nd, behind Florida prep shortstop Brendan Rodgers. If Aiken doesn't go first, it seems unlikely given everything that has occurred the Astros would take him 2nd which means he will have trouble getting a signing bonus of more than 5 million. Duke RHP Matuella is #3. He very well might be a target for the Astros if he is there at 1-2.
Take a look at the list. Who looks good for that 1-8 (approximately)? Will Daz Cameron last that long? I'd love to take Kyle Funkhauser for the Curb Your Enthusiasm references alone.
How about you? Let's hash this out.