Cubs First Round Pick: Albert Almora

In Minor Leagues, Transactions by Obstructed View Staff110 Comments

In the first rund with the 6th overall pick the Cubs selected Albert Almora. No surprise here.

Almora is a latter-day A.J. Hinch in that he has become a go-to player for USA Baseball national teams from a young age. Almora was USA Baseball's 2011 athlete of the year after being MVP of the 18-and-under Pan American Championships in Colombia in November 2011. He tied Hinch's USA Baseball record by playing on his sixth national team, and scouts love his grinder approach and in-game savvy. What's more, Almora has outstanding tools. The Miami signee, in one scout's words, "has no issues. He's got above-average tools everywhere, and they all play. He has tools and he uses them." He doesn't turn in blazing times when he runs in showcases (generally he's a 6.8-second runner in the 60), but his game instincts help him steal bases and cover plenty of ground in center field. Scouts consider his defense major league-ready right now, with plus grades for his accurate throwing arm. With natural hitting rhythm and plenty of bat speed, Almora is a line-drive machine with a loose swing who stays inside the ball, relishes velocity and handles spin. He should have 20-homer power down the line, sufficient if he slows down and can't play center, and a definite bonus if (as expected) he stays in the middle garden. He plays the game with both ease and energy and may have some projection left in his athletic 6-foot-1, 175-pound frame. The Miami signee is considered one of the draft's safer picks and could sneak into the first 10 selections. — Baseball America

From mlb.com on Almora

Almora has played for USA Baseball as much as any player in history. He's played in big situations and shown natural leadership abilities over the years.

He's also got many tools to get excited about. He should be an above-avearge hitter at the next level, with an ability to drive the ball to all fields. He'll have above-average power as well and shows it in games now, especially to the pull side. He's a solid average runner and knows what to do on the basepaths. Defensively, he's a plus center fielder with excellent arm strength and range.

All of his tools play up because of his plus makeup and work ethic. That combination should have plenty of teams in the first round taking a long look at him.

More updates to come.

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Comments

  1. Author
    mb21

    Yeah, I’m fine with it too. He’s a very good player. I’d have gone with Appel, but he’d have been my next choice.

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  2. Akabari

    Anyone else think there HAS to be something wrong with Appel, like an injury or something? He’s in free fall.

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  3. Author
    mb21

    @ Akabari:
    Maybe demanding too much money, but now he’s screwed if that’s true so I don’t think I believe that. It’s not like he was a consensus number 1 or anything.

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  4. shawndgoldman

    It’s funny how context colors our opinions. Had this been the pick in the Hendry era, I would have been going crazy that we arguably passed up the best pitchers in the draft for a guy with “incredible makeup.”

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  5. Author
    dylanj

    its Boras. And with these new budgets teams under us can’t spend on him either and have money left for anyone else.

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  6. Author
    bubblesdachimp

    The one thing I am thinking mb is Scott boras is smarter then anyone in the room. I bet he goes to the nats and gets more then anyone don’t know how but I bet it happens.

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  7. Author
    dylanj

    Shawn- he has good makeup sure but they didn’t draft David Eckstein he has all the tools you want with an early pick

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  8. Author
    mb21

    The Pirates, Marlins, and Rockies can’t even sign Appel for as much as as the 1st round slot money given their budgets. The A’s could, but barely. The Mets can’t. Neither can the White Sox, Reds, Indians and Nationals. Only the Blue Jays, Cardinals and A’s could sign him for 1st pick money and the Cardinals can’t considering they have 14 picks including 2 in the first round. The blue Jays are in the same boat. There just isn’t a team who can sign Appel for that money so I’m confident that’s not what’s going on here.

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  9. Author
    dylanj

    Ok he goes to the Nats who ONLY HAVE 4.4 to spend. They aren’t going to blow their draft on 1 freaking guy.

    Or maybe they should since they are in the NL (dying laughing)

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  10. Author
    mb21

    @ shawndgoldman:
    I mentioned earlier today that I have a hard time getting excited about a toolsy player and I’m still that way. I do think Appel was behind Zimmer and Gausman, but not far behind and definitely better than Almora.

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  11. shawndgoldman

    @ dylanj:

    No doubt. But if this were a year ago, it would have really grated on me that they “passed” on Appel for a guy that everyone was gushing about “makeup” and “work ethic.”

    Don’t get me wrong: clearly this guy has tools. What’s more, I trust these guys. But that’s part of why I’m not complaining right now.

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  12. Author
    bubblesdachimp

    “@keithlaw: All I can say is it’s not about ability or injury. RT @SoxFanForsyth: @keithlaw Signability problems with Appel?”

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  13. Author
    dylanj

    and this holds true for us too. We only have 7 some million to spend. Thats how much the Astros had for the first pick. If they couldn’t cut a deal then we couldn’t either

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  14. Akabari

    @ dylanj:
    And Bubbles who addressed him, that makes sense. Interesting.
    Well as I typed this Pirates took him. Thats interesting. And very unexpected.

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  15. Author
    mb21

    @ bubblesdachimp:
    That route doesn’t exist. He could go play in Japan first and that would make him eligible to sign with a team here, but they’d probably have to post him in order for that to happen.

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  16. Author
    mb21

    mb21 wrote:

    Appel just screwed himself.

    That’s if there were money demands and I don’t believe there was. The Pirates wouldn’t have selected him if that’s true.

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  17. Author
    dylanj

    yeah MD you have to wonder if once Boras saw they were fucked he had to swallow his pride. Unless Boras convinces the Pirates to fuck the rest of their draft (lets hope so) he just got pwned

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  18. Author
    mb21

    @ bubblesdachimp:
    Ok. He wasn’t rated the highest by the rankings so the only way that would have happened is if he was taken before them. $50 is fine, but I’ll bet you $500 if you want.

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  19. Author
    mb21

    @ dylanj:
    I’m guessing he just wasn’t as high on the team boards as some people thought. I thought the best pitchers were Zimmer and Gausman and they were taken back to back. Based purely on talent Appel probably should have been the 3rd pitcher taken, but Fried is a lefty so that may push him higher at that point in the draft.

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  20. Author
    mb21

    @ bubblesdachimp:
    So a small market team in the middle of rebuilding is going to pay a large tax and give up their first round pick next year? There’s no way that happens. None. That’s the opposite of good thinking and the opposite of how a team rebuilding would handle the draft.

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  21. Author
    bubblesdachimp

    @ mb21:

    Alright 50 bucks. I bet he will get the most money of any pitcher.. Although part of me thinks we will never know because there will be some serious side shit going on.

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  22. Author
    Mercurial Outfielder

    I’m fine with Almora, but I think it’s a clear signal this FO doesn’t plan to contend in 2013 and maybe even 2014. Appel was the clear pick if that was plan.

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  23. Author
    dylanj

    another thing to consider is this- This is a weak weak year and next year is supposed to be better. The Pirates can offer Appel the recommended amount and if he says no his only recourse is to go back to Stanford. In that case the Pirates get the # 9 next year plus their other pick.

    ALL the power is with the teams in this new CBA

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  24. Author
    mb21

    @ bubblesdachimp:
    OK, so they give 9 other picks $100,000, which isn’t possible, and they’re left with $5.5 million to give Appel. You do realize even if a team drafted the worst player in the draft with the 1st overall pick he’d get more than a million bucks, right? He’d get nowhere near slot, but he’d get a hell of a lot more than he’d have gotten if he was picked last. So they can take the worst players available and they’re still going to be spending more than $900,000 on those 9 picks.

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  25. Akabari

    Maybe I’m reading too much into things (And I probably am, (dying laughing) ), but Jed saying “We’d be hard pressed to walk away not being content with the pitching we took” or whatever, and making it pretty obvious that they wouldn’t take a pitcher with the first pick, maybe that means something? Need based picks are always iffy in baseball since you can’t predict, but maybe all this Theo “I’m in disguise!” stuff means they have a lot of pitchers they feel are undervalued, and not so for other positions?
    I dunno, maybe I’m crazy.

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  26. Author
    mb21

    @ dylanj:
    If the Pirates can get him signed and still say within budget they will. If Appel wants all that much money they won’t budge and they shouldn’t.

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  27. Author
    Mercurial Outfielder

    By Harold Reynolds’ logic, if I beat Fridge Perry in a footrace, I have elite speed. Good to know.

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  28. Author
    bubblesdachimp

    “@CarrieMuskat: #Cubs Jason McLeod says Almora was top player on their board. “He fits the criteria of what we were looking for.””

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  29. Author
    SVB

    Just sayin’
    AJ Hinch: 350 g, 953 AB .219/.280/.356
    And a Quade-like managerial career.

    I love the make-up/leadership commentary. I think that’s great. I hope he gets to use it in the majors.

    OK, maybe I’m being a little harsh on the manager comparison.

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  30. Author
    mb21

    @ Rice Cube:
    If it takes four years you’re probably not that good or coming off a serious injury. Some guys are draft eligible sophomores. Can’t remember the qualifications though.

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  31. Author
    mikeakaleroy

    Anyone else think that Uncle Bud hesitates EVERYTIME he says “(Next Team) is now on the………….clock”, because he’s repeating in his brain “Don’t say cock. Don’t say cock.”

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  32. Author
    mikeakaleroy

    @ Rice Cube:

    Perhaps, or he throws strikes back to the pitcher after every pitch? If the umpire will allow him that is.

    /comedycallback

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  33. Author
    mikeakaleroy

    @ Rice Cube:

    Who’s in charge of that book anymore, is it Angry Old Man Stone, or is Brenly in charge? I can’t keep track since the owner of the book is also unwritten.

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  34. Aisle424

    (dying laughing)
    (dying laughing)
    (dying laughing)

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  35. Author
    Mercurial Outfielder

    @ mb21:
    Doesn’t it have something to do with their having been previously drafted out of high school?

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  36. shawndgoldman

    Are we pulling for anyone specific to drop to the Cubs?

    I have no idea how the new rules work. Can they sign someone “over-slot” with this pick? My sense from almost-reading stuff on this is that they can’t do that anymore.

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  37. Author
    Rice Cube

    @ shawndgoldman:
    I think they could go overslot but then they wouldn’t be allowed to spend on the other draft picks. You can spend the first-ten-rounds pool of money however you want but cannot exceed the total amount by too much.

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  38. Author
    mb21

    @ Mercurial Outfielder:
    Here’s the criteria

    High school players, if they have graduated from high school and have not yet attended college or junior college;
    College players, from four-year colleges who have either completed their junior or senior years or are at least 21 years old; and
    Junior college players, regardless of how many years of school they have completed

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  39. shawndgoldman

    @ Rice Cube:

    I’d bet there’s some interesting calculus there. I mean… is it more likely a top-10 talent is more likely to make the majors than the guys you’d “normally” get in rounds 5-10, combined? Could you make headway by bundling your money to draft one guy overslot, and then grab a bunch of underslot guys in later rounds?

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  40. Author
    Mercurial Outfielder

    Aaaaannnnd MLB Network cites his COLLEGE WIN-LOSS RECORD. HURRDURRDERP

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