If that sounds a little resigned, well, it’s because just four (4) points separate #8 from #12. Statistically speaking, all of these surveys have been the (dreaded) small sample size but when there are 23 pitchers across 10 ballots (which is actually identical to last year), there’s whole lot more noise than signal.
Before I continue, ze list:
- Erick Fedde
- Seth Romero
- Will Crowe
- Wander Suero
- Nick Raquet
- Jackson Tetrault
- Austin L. Adams
- Jefry Rodriguez
- Joan Baez
- Alex Troop
Others receiving votes: Grant Borne, Gabe Klobosits, Brigham Hill, Austin Voth, Tomas Alastre, Weston Davis, Kyle Johnston, Matt Crownover, Steven Fuentes, A.J. Bogucki, Matt DeRosier, John Simms, Jorge Pantoja
Eight of those names are new to the list, five are from last June’s draft. So my snarky “Erick Fedde and the 2017 Draft class” wasn’t that far off, was it?
Other thoughts…
• Fedde returns as #1 and is a near-lock to graduate in 2018, IF he’s healthy.
• Fedde, Romero, and Crowe were the only three pitchers named on every ballot.
• Voting was so close that nos. 11 and 12 might have made it with just one or two more votes or one or two positions higher, and no. 11 was only named on two (2) ballots.
• Austin Voth, who was an underdog and favorite here (some idiot actually thought he might get the nod ahead of Fedde), fell the farthest (last year’s #3) and hardest (two votes) and also has questions of his health due to his velocity slipping from fringe-average to “well, he’s usually around the plate.”
• It is, however, disturbing that two of these players are 26 years old (Adams will turn 27 in May) – it’s never a good sign when a prospect is no longer eligible for the Selective Service.
As always, feel free to discuss in the comments.