Arizona Desert Swarm - 2015 MLB Draft: When were Arizona Wildcats players and commits draftedYour No. 1 free source for all things Arizona Wildcatshttps://cdn.vox-cdn.com/community_logos/46873/ds-fave.png2015-07-09T16:02:55-07:00http://www.azdesertswarm.com/rss/stream/85080842015-07-09T16:02:55-07:002015-07-09T16:02:55-07:00Xavier Borde signed with Baltimore Orioles<h3 class="link-title"><a rel="nofollow" href="https://twitter.com/ShotgunSprD1/status/616679493374119936">Xavier Borde signed with Baltimore&nbsp;Orioles</a></h3>
<div class="description"><p><p>Xavier Borde signed with the Orioles back on June 30th, and has <a href="http://www.baseball-reference.com/minors/player.cgi?id=borde-000xav" target="new">pitched three games in the Gulf Coast League</a></p></p></div>
https://www.azdesertswarm.com/2015/7/9/8925203/xavier-borde-signed-with-baltimore-oriolesJason Bartel2015-06-19T12:37:22-07:002015-06-19T12:37:22-07:00Arizona misses out on top three pitching signees
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<p>Not exactly an encouraging sign so far</p> <p>The <a href="http://www.sbnation.com/mlb-draft" class="sbn-auto-link">MLB Draft</a> will forever be the strangest of the four major sports, and the most unpredictable. It's also the only one that has a direct impact on whether or not college coaches will actually ever coach the players they recruit.</p>
<p>The <a href="https://www.azdesertswarm.com/" class="sbn-auto-link">Arizona Wildcats</a> had four 2015 signees taken in the 2015 draft, with two of them going in the third round. All four of those signees are pitchers, which was somewhat troubling considering the pitching depth is, well, not good right now. Also troubling is that Jay Johnson is known more as an offensive guy than a pitching guy.</p>
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<p>After Thursday afternoon, Arizona officially missed out on <a href="http://www.azdesertswarm.com/2015/6/18/8810327/arizona-baseball-wildcats-commit-max-wotell-signs-with-new-york-mets" target="_blank">both</a> of the <a href="http://www.azdesertswarm.com/2015/6/18/8810367/arizona-baseball-wildcats-commit-javier-medina-signs-with-rockies" target="_blank">players</a> that were drafted in the third round (Max Wotell and Javier Medina) as well as 14th round pick Jio Orozco. 27th round pick Austin Rubick still remains out there. Another highly-touted pitching recruit, Sati Santa Cruz, <a href="http://www.gvnews.com/sports/santa-cruz-talks-about-next-steps-on-journey-to-mlb/article_38df44b8-d359-5563-b95f-8d9adaa34123.html" target="_blank">will not go to Arizona after not being drafted</a> and instead go to Central Arizona College.</p>
<p>When Jay Johnson took over as Arizona's new head coach the day before the draft, his primary goal was to get these guys on campus.</p>
<p>"We gotta get in a couple of these guys' homes that will get drafted," Johnson said <a href="http://www.azdesertswarm.com/arizona-baseball/2015/6/8/8748777/arizona-baseball-jay-johnson-officially-named-new-head-coach-of-the-wildcats/in/8420474" target="_blank">the day he was introduced</a>. "I've kind of assessed where we can make an impact, and that's where we're going to start."</p>
<p>It seems he did not make the impact he needed to.</p>
<p>Max Wotell is understandable as a guy who didn't come, because the <a href="https://www.amazinavenue.com/" class="sbn-auto-link">Mets</a> signed him for more than the pick value was worth. But Javier Medina signed for under the slot value, and Orozco's a 14th round guy. Under normal circumstances, it would be a no-brainer for a 27th round guy like Rubick to come to Arizona, but with the coaching change, nothing's official until it's official.</p>
<p>Coach Johnson's a person <a href="http://www.azdesertswarm.com/arizona-baseball/2015/6/11/8767389/arizona-baseball-wildcats-jay-johnson-get-through-mlb-draft-in-dream/in/8420474" target="_blank">who prided last year's Nevada recruiting class as not having a single signee</a>, so maybe his ways aren't working at Arizona, or it's just a matter of these guys committing to Andy Lopez, and not sure about what the future holds with Johnson at the helm.</p>
<p>"My strategy is to find out what that player wants," Johnson continued. "And then I try to give them a message that they can achieve that at the University of Arizona, and I'm very confident that we have a lot of things that young players are going to want."</p>
<p>Either way, missing out on the top three pitching recruits in this class will certainly hurt the Wildcats in the 2016 season. In addition, Cody Hamlin has signed with the <a href="https://www.pinstripealley.com/" class="sbn-auto-link">Yankees</a> as an undrafted free agent, and Bobby Dalbec has made it clear that <a target="_blank" href="http://www.wildcatuniverse.com/2015/05/25/respect-your-elders-batcats-hoping-to-bring-back-large-group-of-seniors-in-2016/">he would prefer to not be "the guy" in the rotation</a>. Johnson has brought in a guy to catch, junior college catcher Ryan Haug, with the losses of Riley Moore and Handsome Monica. But who's going to throw to him?</p>
<p>Just a bit concerning that Johnson went down 1-2-3 in the MLB Draft, and that they were all pitching prospects. But at least he went down swinging.</p>
https://www.azdesertswarm.com/arizona-baseball/2015/6/19/8815095/arizona-baseball-wildcats-miss-out-on-top-three-pitching-recruitsJason Bartel2015-06-18T18:09:57-07:002015-06-18T18:09:57-07:00Arizona baseball: Wildcats commit Javier Medina signs with Rockies<h3 class="link-title"><a rel="nofollow" href="https://twitter.com/SosnickCobbe/status/611620900530552833">Arizona baseball: Wildcats commit Javier Medina signs with&nbsp;Rockies</a></h3>
<div class="description"><p><p>The first three Arizona commits drafted in the MLB Draft have signed with their clubs after Javier Medina joined the Rockies</p></p></div>
https://www.azdesertswarm.com/2015/6/18/8810367/arizona-baseball-wildcats-commit-javier-medina-signs-with-rockiesJason Bartel2015-06-18T17:55:05-07:002015-06-18T17:55:05-07:00Arizona commit Max Wotell signs with Mets<h3 class="link-title"><a rel="nofollow" href="https://twitter.com/Mets/status/611625397667667969">Arizona baseball: Wildcats commit Max Wotell signs with New York&nbsp;Mets</a></h3>
<div class="description"><p><p>Another Arizona commit has decided to skip college and turn pro. Wotell signed for a bonus of $775,000, which is more than the $666,500 slot value for the 88th pick</p></p></div>
https://www.azdesertswarm.com/2015/6/18/8810327/arizona-baseball-wildcats-commit-max-wotell-signs-with-new-york-metsJason Bartel2015-06-17T14:15:27-07:002015-06-17T14:15:27-07:00Scott Kingery signs with Philadelphia Phillies<h3 class="link-title"><a rel="nofollow" href="https://twitter.com/PSISports/status/610955527179206656">Scott Kingery signs with Philadelphia&nbsp;Phillies</a></h3>
<div class="description"><p><p>Arizona second baseman Scott Kingery signed with the Phillies for full slot value of $1,259,600</p></p></div>
https://www.azdesertswarm.com/2015/6/17/8800075/scott-kingery-signs-with-philadelphia-philliesJason Bartel2015-06-15T14:18:26-07:002015-06-15T14:18:26-07:00Pirates officially sign Kevin Newman<h3 class="link-title"><a rel="nofollow" href="https://twitter.com/Pirates/status/610542093988200448/photo/1">Pirates officially sign Kevin&nbsp;Newman</a></h3>
<div class="description"><p><p>The Pirates <a href="http://m.pirates.mlb.com/news/article/130785064/pirates-lock-up-first-round-pick-kevin-newman" target="new">announced that they have signed Arizona shortstop Kevin Newman</a></p></p></div>
https://www.azdesertswarm.com/2015/6/15/8786101/pirates-officially-sign-kevin-newmanJason Bartel2015-06-14T17:52:45-07:002015-06-14T17:52:45-07:00Kevin Newman reportedly agrees to terms w/ Bucs
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<p>The signing should become official on Monday</p> <p>According to <a href="http://www.mlbdailydish.com/2015/6/9/8754729/mlb-draft-2015-draft-signings-tracker" target="_blank">Chris Cotillo of MLB Daily Dish</a>, former Arizona Wildcats shortstop Kevin Newman has agreed to terms with the Pittsburgh <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://www.bucsdugout.com/">Pirates</a></p>
<p>Newman is expected to sign for close to slot value, which for the 19th overall pick, is $2,273,800.</p>
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<p lang="en" dir="ltr">Landed in Pittsburgh baby! Couldn't be more excited to get things rolling! <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/BUCN?src=hash">#BUCN</a></p>
— Kevin Newman (@OfficialKBN) <a href="https://twitter.com/OfficialKBN/status/610208794489016320">June 14, 2015</a>
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<p>And sweet photoshop work here:</p>
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<p dir="ltr" lang="en"><a href="https://twitter.com/OfficialKBN">@OfficialKBN</a> can't wait to see you at PNC! <a href="http://t.co/mPLyrWuEXw">pic.twitter.com/mPLyrWuEXw</a></p>
— John Lucas (@johnlucas18) <a href="https://twitter.com/johnlucas18/status/610209029844041729">June 14, 2015</a>
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<p><a href="http://www.bucsdugout.com/2015/6/14/8779419/pirates-agree-to-terms-with-kevin-newman" target="_blank">According to Bucs Dugout</a>, the Pirates have a bit of a logjam at shortstop in the minor league system right now. The most likely option for Newman as his first assignment is the Low-A, Short-season West Virginia Black Bears, since current prospect <span>Cole Tucker</span> is at the full-season West Virginia Power. There is also the rookie-league Bristol Pirates, but first-round, college picks typically end up in at least A-level ball.</p>
<p>Scott Kingery also seems close to signing, as he went to Philadelphia on Sunday.</p>
https://www.azdesertswarm.com/arizona-baseball/2015/6/14/8779507/arizona-baseball-kevin-newman-reportedly-agrees-to-terms-with-piratesJason Bartel2015-06-11T12:34:46-07:002015-06-11T12:34:46-07:00Jay Johnson potentially has dream draft at Arizona
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<figcaption>Jason Bartel</figcaption>
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<p>A pretty light draft for Arizona as a whole in 2015</p> <p>When Jay Johnson accepted the Arizona Wildcats head coaching job on Monday, he <a target="_blank" href="http://www.azdesertswarm.com/arizona-baseball/2015/6/8/8748777/arizona-baseball-jay-johnson-officially-named-new-head-coach-of-the-wildcats">called the job his "Dream Job"</a> and "The greatest day of my life".</p>
<p>Well, he may have just had his "Dream Draft" as far as trying to get this program righted.</p>
<p>Arizona itself had <a target="_blank" href="http://www.azdesertswarm.com/arizona-baseball/2015/6/7/8744043/2015-mlb-draft-arizona-wildcats-players-and-commits-drafted">only three players selected</a> in the <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="http://www.sbnation.com/mlb-draft">MLB Draft</a>. Only Cal and Utah (one each) had fewer players selected throughout the Pac-12.</p>
<p>Two of those players were obvious, and there was never a chance they were coming back in both <a target="_blank" href="http://www.azdesertswarm.com/arizona-baseball/2015/6/8/8748723/2015-mlb-draft-results-kevin-newman-picked-overall-by-the">Kevin Newman</a> and <a target="_blank" href="http://www.azdesertswarm.com/arizona-baseball/2015/6/8/8748761/2015-mlb-draft-results-arizona-if-scott-kingery-selcted-48th-overall-phillies">Scott Kingery</a>. When both were officially selected in the Top 50 picks, that just solidified that there will be an entirely new middle infield in Tucson in 2016.</p>
<p>The third pick was a bit of a surprise, as redshirt junior <a target="_blank" href="http://www.azdesertswarm.com/arizona-baseball/2015/6/10/8762841/2015-mlb-draft-results-arizona-lhp-xavier-borde-selected-by-baltimore-orioles">Xavier Borde went in the 36th round</a>. His choice of turning pro or returning to school is totally a personal option, and whether or not he thinks he can turn himself into a high draft pick in 2016. Having the entire starting rotation of Cody Hamlin, Nathan Bannister and Tyger Talley go undrafted could turn out to be huge, plus another year of a guy like Bobby Dalbec only helps ease the transition for Jay Johnson.</p>
<p>But Borde was not the only potential member of the 2016 pitching staff drafted, as four Arizona signees were picked in <a target="_blank" href="http://www.azdesertswarm.com/2015/6/9/8753005/arizona-commit-javier-medina-drafted-by-rockies-in-third-round">Javier Medina</a>, <a target="_blank" href="http://www.azdesertswarm.com/2015/6/9/8753031/arizona-commit-max-wotell-drafted-by-new-york-mets-in-third-round">Max Wotell</a>, <a target="_blank" href="http://www.azdesertswarm.com/2015/6/10/8760927/arizona-commit-jio-orozco-drafted-in-14th-round-by-seattle-mariners">Jio Orozco</a>, and <a target="_blank" href="http://www.azdesertswarm.com/2015/6/10/8762403/arizona-commit-austin-rubick-drafted-by-indians-in-27th-round">Austin Rubick</a>.</p>
<p>Social media is a big deal to Arizona Athletics, and this was the first action on Johnson's twitter feed after taking the Arizona job. Retweeting this tweet by <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://www.blessyouboys.com/">Tigers</a> pitcher <span>David Price</span>.</p>
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<p dir="ltr" lang="en">I know today is a big day for a lot of baseball players...high school kids GO TO COLLEGE!! Can't miss out on the best 3-4 years of your life</p>
— David Price (@DAVIDprice14) <a href="https://twitter.com/DAVIDprice14/status/607920799299813376">June 8, 2015</a>
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<p>At Monday's press conference, which was the first day of the MLB Draft, coach Johnson said "My first message is to the guys who coach (Andy) Lopez just signed. It's a talented group of players that have tremendous upside, have tremendous potential, and have a big, important decision in their life over the next couple days. And fellas, if you were in this room right now to see the support you have, the environment you have, you're coming to Arizona. You're not bypassing this."</p>
<p>Since pitching was the issue during the early and middle parts of the season, getting four pitching prospects on campus that are highly-regarded enough to get drafted out of high school is key.</p>
<p>"We gotta get in a couple of these guys' homes that will get drafted probably (Tuesday) or Wednesday," Johnson said. "I've kind of assessed where we have a chance to make an impact and that's where we're going to start."</p>
<p>The timing of the official hiring of Johnson seemed too perfect. The day before the draft started, then having that first press conference just hours before the first picks began rolling in. But it was not the highest priority to get the deal done then.</p>
<p>"I knew it could go all through Omaha," athletic director Greg Byrne told me on Monday. "I had been doing a bunch of research, but I just didn't know how things would shake out from a postseason perspective, so it could have gone on for a lot longer."</p>
<p>"It was an added bonus that we could do it within these time frames," Bryne continued. "But it wasn't the driving force, but it was something I had in mind."</p>
<p>"I have to give Greg a lot of credit on that," Johnson added. "To have an athletic director that understands the dynamic of the draft and our sport, and how it's so much different than any other sport in college athletics was really important."</p>
<p>"Last Friday (May 29th) when we first talked on the phone, that was a point of emphasis for him, and obviously a point of emphasis for me," coach continued.</p>
<p>Changes in the MLB Draft through the Collective Bargaining Agreement between MLB owners and the MLBPA have put an emphasis on the first ten rounds, and "slot values". This has changed how some coaches recruit players, based on what they think their signability will be.</p>
<p>"The real issue with the draft right now is that there's some first-rounder right now that they say 'Instead of giving you two million, let's give 'em 1.5," Andy Lopez explained at the end of the season. "And he says 'Yeah, I'll take a million and a half, what the heck'. And now that $500,000 is available for the 35th round pick. So if there's a 35th rounder sitting down there, (the team's) going 'Yay, we got him'. And then he signs. So the draft means absolutely nothing anymore until it's all done. It's a whole different animal now."</p>
<p>"Last year, we did not have a single player in the recruiting class sign a pro contract," Johnson said of his 2014 class at Nevada. "It's really about not who you sign, but how many good ones you actually get to campus. So my job is not only to get them to say 'Hey, we're coming to the University of Arizona', but really educate them on what is in front of them in terms of, there's two paths to Major League Baseball, one through college and one through the low minor leagues."</p>
<p>"And there's a ton of research that is unbiased that says that for the majority of young players, college is the way to go."</p>
<p>If Johnson can bring in the guys he wants, there's no reason to believe that this program can't get turned around sooner than later.</p>
<p>"We're not that far away," Greg Byrne stated. "Coach Lopez and I talked about that. That's part of what made this job very attractive to (Johnson)."</p>
<p>It's a big few weeks for Johnson, who comes in with the reputation of being a recruiting mastermind. Let's see what kind of tricks he has up his sleeve.</p>
https://www.azdesertswarm.com/arizona-baseball/2015/6/11/8767389/arizona-baseball-wildcats-jay-johnson-get-through-mlb-draft-in-dreamJason Bartel