Draft prospect preview: RHP J.B. Bukauskas

[NorthSideSox72]

This pitcher probably gets picked before Sox pick at 11, but he had a rough outing recently and some suggest he could fall a bit (even before that outing). Here's the profile on Bukauskas.

 

[almagest]

Seems like a lot of concern he could be a reliever. I'd rather focus on positional talent early and take pitching to develop in the later rounds.

[fathom]

If Fulmer doesn't figure it out and Sox did end up with Bukauskas he has the potential to be a big scapegoat for Sox fans. The undersized college pitchers could be the new toolsy outfielders.

 

I should say, Sox drafting Fulmer was not Plan A at all that draft day. They had multiple "deals" or talks with guys and Benintendi was their guy.

 

Tyler Jay also was in play I believe

[tray]

I wish Hahn had insisted on Benintendi instead of Moncada ...even without Kopech. Or just hung on to Sale and traded him to another team. Sox Draft picks the last few years have not been game changers. Collins, Fulmer, Rodon, Courrtney Hawkins.

Boston beats us out for Benintendi and we get Fulmer with the next pick. Unreal. And we could have Drafted Trea Turner instead of Rodon. Maybe KW is wrong about Luis Robert as well. Tank? For what? Another high Draft pick that turns out like some of those guys?

Sox futility with the Draft has been a combination of poor talent evaluation , very bad luck and some bad judgment.

 

 

[Quin]

What the hell?

[caulfield12]

Trea Turner has a 710 ops right now...not nearly the dynamic offensive force he was over a half season last year.

 

Benintendi at 755.

Edited June 5, 2017 by caulfield12

[tray]

What the hell?

 

Yea, I think Benintendi will prove to be a better player and hitter than Moncada. Hope I'm wrong.

 

And I would have loved to have Trea Turner rather than Rodon.

Courtney Hawkins is a bust.

 

Yea, WTH!

 

 

[steveno89]

I wish Hahn had insisted on Benintendi instead of Moncada ...even without Kopech. Or just hung on to Sale and traded him to another team. Sox Draft picks the last few years have not been game changers. Collins, Fulmer, Rodon, Courrtney Hawkins.

Boston beats us out for Benintendi and we get Fulmer with the next pick. Unreal. And we could have Drafted Trea Turner instead of Rodon. Maybe KW is wrong about Luis Robert as well. Tank? For what? Another high Draft pick that turns out like some of those guys?

Sox futility with the Draft has been a combination of poor talent evaluation , very bad luck and some bad judgment.

 

I highly doubt Benintendi was ever made available in the offseason by Boston.

 

Moncada and Kopech look very promising, and Basabe and Diaz are solid depth prospects with some upside. Hard to say it was not a good deal for both teams.

[Dominikk85]

Trea Turner has a 710 ops right now...not nearly the dynamic offensive force he was over a half season last year.

 

Benintendi at 755.

 

to be fair turner missed a month with an oblique strain and still might not be at full strength again. he should be given some time before you evaluate his season.

 

as for benintendi I think he will hit but I don't think he will be an MVP candidate as some red sox fans think. I think he will hit for good average and OBP but his power probably is more like average (20 HR or so). still might be a 4 win player but I don't think he will be nelson cruz bat plus jasons heywards defense as some red sox fans seem to expect.

 

I still think moncada has a higher ceiling but AB is a much safer bet because of his combination of contact skills, plate discipline and defense and at least decent power.

[TheFutureIsNear]

Not only is Bukauskas a small right handed college pitcher like Fulmer, but they also both have violent deliveries. Jb seems like he has to generate a lot of torque in his upper body/shoulder rather than with his lower body like he should. Could very easily lead to arm trouble later.

[caulfield12]

to be fair turner missed a month with an oblique strain and still might not be at full strength again. he should be given some time before you evaluate his season.

 

as for benintendi I think he will hit but I don't think he will be an MVP candidate as some red sox fans think. I think he will hit for good average and OBP but his power probably is more like average (20 HR or so). still might be a 4 win player but I don't think he will be nelson cruz bat plus jasons heywards defense as some red sox fans seem to expect.

 

I still think moncada has a higher ceiling but AB is a much safer bet because of his combination of contact skills, plate discipline and defense and at least decent power.

 

Schoenfield has written an in depth story about Turner this week at ESPN.com. (Eaton and Rayburn shoutouts.)

 

Without Adam Eaton, the Nationals don't have another obvious candidate, but it's also clear Baker isn't deploying his most optimal lineup as he bats Daniel Murphy fifth and Anthony Rendon sixth -- with two lesser hitters batting in the top two spots (Ryan Raburn hit second on Monday). Baker's mindset seems to be: OK, Bryce Harper hits third and I want Ryan Zimmerman to protect him. Then I want Murphy to protect Zim. And Rendon to protect Murph. That gives Baker a L-R-L-R order -- overrated in my opinion, especially when you're talking about four good hitters -- but in the process he may be giving an extra at-bat to worse hitters. Why not move up Rendon or Murphy -- or both -- in front of Harper and Zimmerman? Imagine the RBI opportunities.

 

Anyway, after playing so well last year, Turner has been a bit of a disappointment. While he hit .342 in his half season in 2016, his low walk rate and aggressive approach made it also clear that pitchers could learn to take advantage of that approach. The good sign is Turner's chase rate has actually declined from last year, from 32 percent to 24 percent. His well-hit rate is actually higher than last year as well, so some of this is the hits just aren't falling as much. Look, he's going to swing the bat; walking isn't his game. The key is for him to not attack the pitcher's pitch. In his first two at-bats, he grounded out on a 1-0 changeup at the bottom of the zone and a 1-1 slider in on his hands. Those are good counts to look for a pitch in his zone, not to swing at borderline strikes. He did reach on an infield single in his third at-bat -- that speed -- and made a nice play deep in the hole at shortstop, but I'd like to see some adjustments at the plate.