Cronenworth drafted by Rays/Glines by White Sox
Junior 2B and RHP Jake Cronenworth was drafted today by the Tampa Bay Rays in the 7th round of the MLB Draft. He was the 13th pick of the 7th round, pick 208 overall.
Raoul has diary post about Michigan baseball right now and the pick was mentioned there, but I felt it deserved its own post.
Cronenworth was expected to go today on day 2 and is Baseball America's 194th overall prospect, so 208 seems like a reasonable landing spot for him. Coach Bakich said he expects Cronenworth and the other underclassmen expected to be drafted all to sign.
Cronenworth will be a pitcher with the Rays assuming he does sign. This MLB.com video gives a brief souting report on him, saying he's expected to be a starter initally but eventually end up in the bullpen. They say he has the best splitter in the draft but due to playing 2B so often and some injuries, the rest of his stuff is underdeveloped.
Senior CF Jackson Glines was just drafted in round 10, pick 292 (7th in the 10th round) by the White Sox. Glines wasn't even included in BA's top 500 prospects so this is nice for him to go so early.
Congrats to Jake, Jackson and the rest of the Wolverines who are going to get drafted!
Everything the MLB does makes sense.
Like holding its draft in the middle of your season.
That's after the school year begins. You'd have guys leaving in the middle of the year, basically screwing the players left on the team. Plus it's pretty cool that someone can go from the CWS to the pennant chase in the same summer.
Correct answer + your avatar makes me laugh everytime I see it.
And it is awesome to see someone play in CWS and MLB in the same year. Talk about a dream year for some kid...
CSB: After Bryce Harper won the ROY I met him at an MLB sponsorship event in Vegas and talked to him for a little while. 1. He is a large human being. 2. His local buddies were there with him and they looked like toddlers compared to Bryce. Reminded me how young these budding stars/kids really are and how odd it must be to go from playing amateur one minute to being a celebrity the next.
Best of luck to Jake and hope his dreams come true with the Rays!
Coach Bakich said on the radio a couple of weeks ago he expects Cronenworth and a few of the other draft-eligible juniors to sign and officially end their UM careers. If so, best of luck to them and congrats on a great run to end the season!
Bakich said Glines could go late on day 2 or on day 3, so it's not that surprising for him to be picked in today's final round (10).
Regarding Cronenworth, Tampa Bay actually drafted him as a second baseman. He may be switched later to pitcher, but that's not where they're starting him out.
With him being a senior, I'm sure that had to do a lot with him being picked, especially in the 10th round. It makes sense for a team like the White Sox that have a smaller signing pool bonus this year.
As for Cronenworth, that's surprising that he's a 2B. I'd be shocked if he stuck there.
Bakich addressed Cronenworth's position in a new article. He also indicated he expects him to sign with Tampa Bay.
Tampa Bay listed Cronenworth as a second baseman when they drafted him. The designation surprised the analysts covering the draft for MLB.com, who expected him to be drafted as a pitcher.
"I think most people thought he would get drafted as a pitcher," Bakich said. "It's great, I think it's a bonus. He isn't getting pigeon holed into one department. I think he'll get a chance to pitch at some point, but he will get a chance to showcase all his skills."
While Jackson could elect to return to Michigan for his senior season, Bakich expects him to head to the minor leagues.
"Players that go in the first 10 rounds usually have discussed terms with teams," Bakich said. " You can't take risks taking guys that won't sign with the way the finances are slotted."
That's it for day 2. Through round 10, none of the Michigan signees/commits were drafted. The chances of the recruiting class remaining intact are improving.
Crony is the 2nd ever Wolverine drafted by Tampa Bay. The only other taken was Derek Feldkamp back in the 2005 draft in the 9th round when he was drafted by the then-Tampa Bay Devil Rays.
Glines is the 10th Wolverine to be drafted by the White Sox. The most recent one was Clayton Richard back in 2005. Richard was also on the Michigan Football team that 2004-05 year and played a little bit in the season opener against Miami University when true Freshman Chad Henne was having some troubles early on.
Junior shortshop Travis Maezes went in round 13 to the Royals. He's the 3rd Michigan player drafted, which is the most since 2010.
13 (399): @Royals select Michigan SS Travis Maezes. http://t.co/JDcKkkdzur #MLBDraft
— MLB Draft Tracker (@MLBDraftTracker) June 10, 2015
They're up to round 20, and Evan Hill still hasn't had his name called, and no member of Michigan's recruiting class has been drafted yet.
First 2015 Michigan signee/commit to be drafted is Jonathan Engelmann, who went in round 28 to the Twins.
28 (830): @Twins select Burlingame HS RF Jonathan Engelmann. http://t.co/nSbROvSNCZ #MLBDraft
— MLB Draft Tracker (@MLBDraftTracker) June 10, 2015
Evan Hill still undrafted, so it's looking like he might be returning for his senior year.
Charlie Donovan, another Michigan signee, also goes late, in round 30. Good chance now that Engelmann and Donovan both end up in Ann Arbor.
30 (901): @Brewers select Westmont HS SS Charlie Donovan. http://t.co/skNZGXPt5O #MLBDraft
— MLB Draft Tracker (@MLBDraftTracker) June 10, 2015
Article out today makes it clear that Charlie Donovan will be donning a Michigan uniform:
Despite the lure of pro baseball -- and varying draft projections that had him going in the first handful of rounds -- Donovan told the interested MLB teams that he'd prefer to honor his commitment to Michigan.
Becoming a pro baseball player is his ultimate goal, has been since he was a 10-year-old. For now, though, he wants to be a student-athlete and try out that 4.3 grade-point average in Ann Arbor.
"Every single day the one thing in my mind has been trying to become a Major League Baseball player," said Donovan, drafted Wednesday by the Milwaukee Brewers in the 30th round of the MLB draft. "But I couldn't see myself going into that lifestyle yet. It's a big decision, but I've decided going to college is best for me right now."
Two years from now he'll be joined by Joe, a catcher who fell in love with the Ann Arbor campus when he joined his older brother on recruiting visits. Joe, who this season hit .454 with 10 homers and 43 RBI, also is committed to Michigan.
Joe Donovan commiitted to Michigan last November, the first member of the class of 2017. Here's a feature on him that was published last month.
Jonathan Engelmann hasn't reached a decision yet on his future, per this report.
As a recent graduate from Burlingame, Engelmann could very well be playing center field at the next level. Which level that will be is yet to be determined, as he is currently deciding between a commitment to play on scholarship at University of Michigan or a jump to the professional ranks after being drafted Wednesday by the Minnesota Twins.
“[I’m] very excited, very ready,” Engelmann said. “It’s a blessing. God has put me in a good position … and I thank him every day. There are definitely two options I can choose. It’s exciting.”
Officially signed with the Tampa Bay Rays, couldn't be more excited for the opportunity. https://t.co/WqiZy2DYnj
— Jacob Cronenworth (@JCronenworth10) June 12, 2015
13th-rder Travis Maezes signs w/@Royals for $200k ($100k toward pool). Michigan 3B, sweet LH stroke, strong arm, needs more pop. @MLBDraft
— Jim Callis (@jimcallisMLB) June 20, 2015
Still no word one way or the other on Jonathan Engelmann.