On Wednesday, the St. Louis Cardinals announced that they have agreed to terms with three of their top five selections from last week’s MLB Draft. Catcher Robert Stock (second round), right-handed pitcher Joseph Kelly (third round) and shortstop Ryan Jackson (fifth round) each agreed to contracts.
Stock was a two-way player with the USC Trojans as he also was a member of the pitching staff. Stock batted .226 with six home runs and 30 RBI this past season. He walked 23 times and struck out 24 in 137 at-bats. Stock batted .263 with 14 home runs and 74 RBI in his three-year Trojan career. He made national headlines after he bypassed his senior year in high school to join the Trojans as a 17-year-old freshman in 2007. Stock was named 2005 Baseball America Youth Player of the Year. Stock will begin his pro career at short-season Johnson City as a catcher.
Kelly, from the University of California-Riverside, was named Big West Conference Pitcher of the Year as a freshman in 2007. This season, he was 1-1 with a 5.65 ERA in 23 games out of the bullpen. Kelly’s father, Joseph Sr., played football at Vanderbilt and for the San Diego Chargers.
Playing for perennial powerhouse Miami, Ryan Jackson was regarded as one of college baseball’s top defenders in his three-year career at UM. After hitting .236 as a freshman in 2007, Jackson earned All-America honors as a sophomore after his average jumped 124 points to .360. The Miami Springs, Fla. native led the 2008 `Canes with 19 doubles, and tallied 38 in his career. This past season, Jackson hit .263 with four homers, 38 runs scored and a .362 on-base percentage. In his three collegiate seasons, Jackson hit .293 with eight homers, 103 RBI, 115 runs scored and 19 stolen bases. He is expected to open with Batavia.
This make the official signing count 35 of 50 of the organization’s 2009 draftees.
What am I missing about Robert Stock being taken so high in the draft? What do the Cardinals expect to have as a finished product when he reached St.Louis?
Stock must be very good defensively to warrant a high pick. Since just a sophmore by age, the Cards are hopeful his hitting will improve. Pitching is a fallback option. Seems like a smart choice.
Stock was pitching and catching at the same time (obviously in different games). No way a player can work enough on both at the same time. His 09 performance as a hitter is not an indication of his ability.
Most major league pitchers were the best hitters on their high school team. Many of them have the ability to hit but not the time to work on it.
The Cardinals probably have their pitchers work on hitting more than any other team in the National League. Just another edge that Tony is always looking for.
Bittle is a senior so I expect him to sign so if they land Miller they have done good. Now let’s see how the supposed high risks work out between the lines.
No one’s answered the question. Brian do you care to take a shot at it?
Jumbo; why does it seem like a smart choice? You’re assuming that maybe he’s good defensively. He doesn’t seem to be a good hitter or pitcher. Jack of all trades and master of none.
The Cards value defense at catcher (Barton in 2003 notwithstanding). For them to draft a catcher in the 2nd round, he is likely to be strong defensively. We know his arm is strong from the pitching.
College stats are notoriously unreliable (e.g., Sam Freeman). Stock played in a very difficult league, not an easy league. He was a year underage, so should improve with the bat. He swings left, while most catchers swing right. Our other left swinging catchers (Anderson, Cutler, Yarbrough) are hit first. This guy gives another dimension.
I guess I’ll just have to let it play out with Stock. Anderson was a high draft too, if I recall correctly. The bottom line is that I have a lot of faith in Luhnow and his team. If they say he’s good I guess I’ll just have to wait and see what they do.