WF Baseball Off-season Thread

[Deaconblue]

So, is the point that the WF pitching lab wouldn't turn 50 cent into an effective pitcher?

If he was willing to put in the work of throwing 10,000 pitches...

 

[IAppreciateIt]

Assuming a weekend rotation of Hartle, Burns and Massey (which may or may not be as it plays out as there's a chance Massey stays in the pen):

won't really be material to the performance of the team, but we will also be running up against the 40 man roster limit, so a few of guys probably won't end up making the team.

from what i can tell, right now we have 41 possible players:

#	Name	Class	Source	Position
1	Jake Reinisch	4 - Sr	Return	3B/OF
2	Cameron Gill	4 - Gr	Transfer	C
3	Mitchell Salvino	4 - Gr	Transfer	CF/OF
4	Tate Ballestero	4 - Gr	Transfer	IF/OF
5	Will Schomberg	4 - Gr	Transfer	RHP
6	David Falco	4 - Gr	Transfer	RHP
7	Cole Roland	4 - Gr	Return	RHP
8	Chase Walter	4 - Gr	Return	RHP
9	Nick Kurtz	3 - Jr	Return	1B
10	Chris Katz	3 - Jr	Return	C/OF
11	Josh Hartle	3 - Jr	Return	LHP
12	Michael Massey	3 - Jr	Return	RHP
13	Crawford Wade	3 - Jr	Return	LHP
14	Will Ray	3 - Jr	Return	RHP
15	Seaver King	3 - Jr	Transfer	2B/3B/SS
16	Chase Burns	3 - Jr	Transfer	RHP
17	Pirmin Brechbuhl	3 - Jr	Return	OF
18	Will Andrews	3 - Jr	Return	RHP
19	Marek Houston	2 - So	Return	SS
20	Jack Winnay	2 - So	Return	1B/3B
21	Joe Ariola	2 - So	Return	LHP
22	Austin Hawke	2 - So	Transfer	2B
23	Will Gervase	2 - So	Transfer	LHP
24	Andrew Noland	2 - So	Return	OF
25	Zach Johnstone	2 - So	Return	LHP
26	Ben Shenosky	2 - So	Return	RHP
27	Hudson Lee	2 - So	Return	LHP
28	Cam Nelson	1 - Fr	Freshman	OF
29	Jeter Polledo	1 - Fr	Freshman	SS
30	Ryan Preisano	1 - Fr	Freshman	IF
31	Brady Morningstar	1 - Fr	Freshman	RHP
32	Haiden Leffew	1 - Fr	Freshman	LHP
33	Brody Shawn	1 - Fr	Freshman	RHP
34	Andrew Koshy	1 - Fr	Freshman	RHP
35	Antonio Morales	1 - Fr	Freshman	IF/OF
36	Javar Williams	1 - Fr	Freshman	OF
37	Liam Willson	1 - Fr	Freshman	IF
38	Jeff Gunther	1 - Fr	Freshman	RHP
39	AJ Camp	1 - Fr	Freshman	LHP
40	Branden Brown	1 - Fr	Grayshirt	RHP
41	Charlie Jones	1 - Fr	Grayshirt	RHP

 

[Pilchard]

Don't think WF is done at adding players. So, yes, a couple of those names won't be on the 2024 roster.

 

[deacon14]

won't really be material to the performance of the team, but we will also be running up against the 40 man roster limit, so a few of guys probably won't end up making the team.

from what i can tell, right now we have 41 possible players:

#	Name	Class	Source	Position
1	Jake Reinisch	4 - Sr	Return	3B/OF
2	Cameron Gill	4 - Gr	Transfer	C
3	Mitchell Salvino	4 - Gr	Transfer	CF/OF
4	Tate Ballestero	4 - Gr	Transfer	IF/OF
5	Will Schomberg	4 - Gr	Transfer	RHP
6	David Falco	4 - Gr	Transfer	RHP
7	Cole Roland	4 - Gr	Return	RHP
8	Chase Walter	4 - Gr	Return	RHP
9	Nick Kurtz	3 - Jr	Return	1B
10	Chris Katz	3 - Jr	Return	C/OF
11	Josh Hartle	3 - Jr	Return	LHP
12	Michael Massey	3 - Jr	Return	RHP
13	Crawford Wade	3 - Jr	Return	LHP
14	Will Ray	3 - Jr	Return	RHP
15	Seaver King	3 - Jr	Transfer	2B/3B/SS
16	Chase Burns	3 - Jr	Transfer	RHP
17	Pirmin Brechbuhl	3 - Jr	Return	OF
18	Will Andrews	3 - Jr	Return	RHP
19	Marek Houston	2 - So	Return	SS
20	Jack Winnay	2 - So	Return	1B/3B
21	Joe Ariola	2 - So	Return	LHP
22	Austin Hawke	2 - So	Transfer	2B
23	Will Gervase	2 - So	Transfer	LHP
24	Andrew Noland	2 - So	Return	OF
25	Zach Johnstone	2 - So	Return	LHP
26	Ben Shenosky	2 - So	Return	RHP
27	Hudson Lee	2 - So	Return	LHP
28	Cam Nelson	1 - Fr	Freshman	OF
29	Jeter Polledo	1 - Fr	Freshman	SS
30	Ryan Preisano	1 - Fr	Freshman	IF
31	Brady Morningstar	1 - Fr	Freshman	RHP
32	Haiden Leffew	1 - Fr	Freshman	LHP
33	Brody Shawn	1 - Fr	Freshman	RHP
34	Andrew Koshy	1 - Fr	Freshman	RHP
35	Antonio Morales	1 - Fr	Freshman	IF/OF
36	Javar Williams	1 - Fr	Freshman	OF
37	Liam Willson	1 - Fr	Freshman	IF
38	Jeff Gunther	1 - Fr	Freshman	RHP
39	AJ Camp	1 - Fr	Freshman	LHP
40	Branden Brown	1 - Fr	Grayshirt	RHP
41	Charlie Jones	1 - Fr	Grayshirt	RHP

Does Chase Walter have more eligibility? I thought he was done

 

[Complacent Deac]

Let's get a stud outfielder and then we should be ok.

 

[Pilchard]

Chase Walter was freshman in 2019 @ G'town, 2020 was a COVID year and did not count, played @ G'town in 2021, sat out the 2022 season, and played for WF in 2023. So, assuming that 2022 counts as a RS year, Walter could return in 2024.

 

[redwing42]

Don't think WF is done at adding players. So, yes, a couple of those names won't be on the 2024 roster.

Watch out, you might summon NJDeac with that kind of talk.

 

[WindyCityDeac]

I'm pretty sure the NCAA only allows 27 players in uniform for road games. 4 unifomred coaches.
I don't think that increased with the rosters...but I could be wrong

 

[IAppreciateIt]

I would give Katz every opportunity to be a starting corner outfielder. A few Wake parents have mentioned that he is one of the hardest workers in the team.

I can’t say I know anything directly about the work ethic of Katz but wouldn’t at all be surprised at what you say. Loved the story from him this year about the team Polaroid journal …..seemed like a super great teammate especially one who was a top 10 NC recruit coming in, has only seen spot duty so far and could easily be sulking some. Would love to see him finish his time at Wake with a bang.

I have no real info, but I fully expect Katz to have an every day role, even if we add another transfer or two.

If I had to handicap likelihood to get 100 PAs in conference play (injuries aside), I think there are three guarantees (Kurtz, King, Houston), and then I'd throw Katz in that next tier with Cameron Gill, followed by Jake Reinisch and Jack Winnay -- so seven guys who I think have a greater than 50% chance of playing most days.

There are other guys who have a shot at playing a lot (Hawke, Ballestero, Nelson, Salvino, some of the other freshmen), but I think that will mostly be decided by what other transfers we get and how they play in the fall.

 

[Wakelaw2006]

Adding to above

3 (84): Seth Keener, RHP, Wake Forest (Pick value: $833,900)
Agreed to deal, but terms were not yet disclosed. Keener went 8-2 with a 2.69 ERA for the Demon Deacons this past season. He started eight of those 23 appearances, striking out 94 and walking 20 over 70 1/3 innings. He is viewed as a starter by the White Sox.

Sully:

 

[vtwhat etc]

A bunch of y'all are talking about stadium size.

Nobody is talking about the damned organ player in Omaha or the NCAA's archaic policies against playing 'ABG', 'Notorious Thugs '(rest in peace, biggie), and 'Lifestyle'. Rich Gang for life.

 

[Seeya]

Sully:

Started to look around to see if any news on the other unsigned Wake guys (believe only Wilken, Hawke, Johnson and Bennett remain?) and noticed that Guardians signed their 13th round pick to $375k which is even above the slot of their 5th round pick from Lville….and, of course, Hawke in 6th. Interested to see what happens with him and all the other Acc guys around him.

 

[Wakelaw2006]

Brock:

 

[WakeForestRanger]

Nice shoes.

 

[Pilchard]

Surprised that Sullivan signed for slightly below slot. He had the most leverage of any WF draftee as he has two years of eligibility left and is young for a college draft pick. Also, any pitcher signing with the Rockies needs a pay bump to put up with the future PTSD.

FWIW, Hawke may have already signed. Someone reported seeing him headed to Cleveland‘s training facility in AZ; which means he signed or agreed in principle and was about to sign.

Will be fun to follow all our Deacs in pro ball

 

[ipitytheblue]

I'll admit the MLB draft is too complicated for me but why are our guys signing for below slot? I understand there are differences in leverage depending on college eligibility and other factors. Is that solely why Brock would take a 25% deal below slot?

 

[WindyCityDeac]

I'll admit the MLB draft is too complicated for me but why are our guys signing for below slot? I understand there are differences in leverage depending on college eligibility and other factors. Is that solely why Brock would take a 25% deal below slot?

They may take lower slot bonuses and negotiate higher salaries. Teams sell them it helps the org and give on the salary part of the deal.

 

[Seeya]

Surprised that Sullivan signed for slightly below slot. He had the most leverage of any WF draftee as he has two years of eligibility left and is young for a college draft pick. Also, any pitcher signing with the Rockies needs a pay bump to put up with the future PTSD.

FWIW, Hawke may have already signed. Someone reported seeing him headed to Cleveland‘s training facility in AZ; which means he signed or agreed in principle and was about to sign.

Will be fun to follow all our Deacs in pro ball

Thanks and agree on looking forward to following them all. And also agree on surprising that Sullivan signed under as a sophomore and top LH while the Va Tech RH soph pitcher Hackenberg signed for 600k over slot in 2nd . For sure are some crazy dynamics to the whole draft/signing process ….looking at Nationals and see they signed and underpaid all of their 6 through 10 round picks for $20,000 each including Gavin Dugas from LSU in round 6 so that they apparently could pay the extra $1 million above slot demanded by Crews and his agent….seems a super uncool move in my book to do to your former teammate but maybe just me…

 

[deacon14]

I'll admit the MLB draft is too complicated for me but why are our guys signing for below slot? I understand there are differences in leverage depending on college eligibility and other factors. Is that solely why Brock would take a 25% deal below slot?

Brock was projected lower in the draft than he actually went, which would have been associated with a signing bonus closer to what he actually got. Sometimes teams will draft guys earlier than projected intentionally, in order to go below slot on that selection so they can go above slot on other selections.

The guys signing below slot aren’t surprised when they get a below slot offer. Their agents communicate a signing bonus number to interested MLB teams, and the player will sign for something close to that number regardless of what the draft slot is.

It’s honestly easier to just completely forget about draft slot values when thinking from a player perspective, just know that 99% of the time players are signing deals that at least match their desired signing bonus pre-draft.

 

[Say Hey Deac]

Started to look around to see if any news on the other unsigned Wake guys (believe only Wilken, Hawke, Johnson and Bennett remain?) and noticed that Guardians signed their 13th round pick to $375k which is even above the slot of their 5th round pick from Lville….and, of course, Hawke in 6th. Interested to see what happens with him and all the other Acc guys around him. View attachment 4434

Interesting too that Cleveland drafted back-to-back draft-eligible sophomores in Hawke and the Duke SS.