Frank Mozzicato MLB draft

[superjohn]

Anyone seen this kid pitch for East Catholic? He's a UConn commit and was just selected #7 overall in the MLB draft by the Royals tonight, it's safe to say he'll never suit up for UConn. His rise is meteoric, threw 4 straight no hitters this past season and has been arguably the hottest prospect in the country. CT. kids don't get drafted this high out of high school, last time it happened was Bobby V.

 

[MDHuskFan]

Anyone seen this kid pitch for East Catholic? He's a UConn commit and was just selected #7 overall in the MLB draft by the Royals tonight, it's safe to say he'll never suit up for UConn. His rise is meteoric, threw 4 straight no hitters this past season and has been arguably the hottest prospect in the country. CT. kids don't get drafted this high out of high school, last time it happened was Bobby V.

He’s been one of the fastest risers FOR SURE.
It’s also odd though, specifically how the MLB draft works. He was someone who was picked as an under slot guy. That’s not a knock, but just an odd thing I’ll never under about the MLB draft. Wishing this kid an amazing career

 

[BigErnMcCracken]

I’ve been following this kid for the last couple months. 7th overall is insane. What a story.

 

[Fantana]

Saw him a couple times and the number of scouts at his games was mind boggling. He was so dominant it wasn’t fair. Unfortunately his competition wasn’t the best as East Catholic plays many of the public teams in hartford area so he didn’t face many kids who’s baseball careers extended past high school. Thought he would obviously make a great college pitcher but so hard to project how his stuff will translate professionally. His curve is his best pitch and does run it up to 90 consistently as a just turned 18 year old kid.

 

[SportsFan88]

the fact that he went 7th is mind blowing, but the kid has been as dominant as any pitcher in recent ciac memory for me, Matt Havey included

 

[SportsFan88]

Anyone seen this kid pitch for East Catholic? He's a UConn commit and was just selected #7 overall in the MLB draft by the Royals tonight, it's safe to say he'll never suit up for UConn. His rise is meteoric, threw 4 straight no hitters this past season and has been arguably the hottest prospect in the country. CT. kids don't get drafted this high out of high school, last time it happened was Bobby V.

Yea the royals are gonna offer him like 6 mil, like you said he ain’t suiting up for UCONN but this is awesome nonetheless

 

[methodology]

Yea the royals are gonna offer him like 6 mil, like you said he ain’t suiting up for UCONN but this is awesome nonetheless

That's 100% not true the slot value for his draft position is $5,432,400. This was an under slot draft pick meaning they will probably offer him in the $3-4 million range. This allows the Royals to save money to make an over slot pick in today and try to sway a player to sign rather than go/ stay in college

Orioles did the same thing at #5 albeit not as big as a reach as the Royals. The Astros did this strategy when they picked Carlos Correa #1 as the slot value was $7 million and they signed him for $4.5 million the saving go to being more aggressive in later rounds and trying to add a talent with the extra money who most thought was unsignable

 

[the Q]

That's 100% not true the slot value for his draft position is $5,432,400. This was an under slot draft pick meaning they will probably offer him in the $3-4 million range. This allows the Royals to save money to make an over slot pick in today and try to sway a player to sign rather than go/ stay in college

Orioles did the same thing at #5 albeit not as big as a reach as the Royals. The Astros did this strategy when they picked Carlos Correa #1 as the slot value was $7 million and they signed him for $4.5 million the saving go to being more aggressive in later rounds and trying to add a talent with the extra money who most thought was unsignable

Yup. Kid gets a bump in prestige and probably a little extra money than if he played it straight.

The royals have a bunch of money to throw around to land a few extra signability kids in the next few rounds.

The hard caps are something I really hate about the mlb draft.

Just having to factor In signability was hard enough. But then just capping everyone with arbitrary numbers makes it even worse

 

[huskymedic]

That's 100% not true the slot value for his draft position is $5,432,400. This was an under slot draft pick meaning they will probably offer him in the $3-4 million range. This allows the Royals to save money to make an over slot pick in today and try to sway a player to sign rather than go/ stay in college

-> Picking Mozzicato that high seemed to signal the Royals plan to be creative with the signing-bonus pool by signing Mozzicato for less than the $5,432,400 slot value for the No. 7 pick and offering more to later picks.

Read more here: https://www.kansascity.com/sports/mlb/kansas-city-royals/article252712558.html#storylink=cpy <-

 

[WhereistheDove?]

Just having to factor In signability was hard enough. But then just capping everyone with arbitrary numbers makes it even worse

It's a much better system than what previously existed, where big market teams who were picking late in the first round could throw a ton of money at a top-5 talent who the small market teams couldn't afford (or when the players just forced their way down the draft board to get to a certain team). There is a lot more parity with the rules currently in place.

 

[UConnStats]

He will probably be a big underslot signing at 7, but still just surreal to see a CT HS kid rise so high. Hopefully Royals fans have some patience because it’s going to take time for his projectability to become production in terms of velo, secondaries, etc.

 

[the Q]

It's a much better system than what previously existed, where big market teams who were picking late in the first round could throw a ton of money at a top-5 talent who the small market teams couldn't afford (or when the players just forced their way down the draft board to get to a certain team). There is a lot more parity with the rules currently in place.

The teams that spent the most in the draft before the new rules were kc and Toronto….

Teams chose what their draft budgets would be.

But the big market thing was a a boogie man for the same people who think salary caps are for “competitive balance”

 

[methodology]

The teams that spent the most in the draft before the new rules were kc and Toronto….

Teams chose what their draft budgets would be.

But the big market thing was a a boogie man for the same people who think salary caps are for “competitive balance”

Not exactly true which is why they created the international signing pool money with the draft pool changes. The smaller market teams could only compete/ build through drafting and development. The large market teams didn't value that as much because they could just throw large sums of cash at any free agent and they were also dominating the international big ticket players coming to the MLB

The new system is more fair. If they truly want a fair system that will create more parity then it would be a complete revenue sharing across all teams meaning the Yankees, Red Sox, Dodgers etc would have to share all their profits from YES, NESN, and all those regional sports network. Then it would be level playing ground and scouting/development would really show

 

[JohnFSilver]

I don't know how draft works with cap etc. anymore, but $4 M...you just can't turn that down. Like, you can't. It is irrational. He can always go to college if it doesn't work out in six years. 24 years old, in college, a millionaire IF the baseball thing doesn't work out.

 

[WhereistheDove?]

I don't know how draft works with cap etc. anymore, but $4 M...you just can't turn that down. Like, you can't. It is irrational. He can always go to college if it doesn't work out in six years. 24 years old, in college, a millionaire IF the baseball thing doesn't work out.

If a player like him was drafted this high as a presumed below-slot signing, there is almost certainly a verbal agreement in place.

 

[Ant3411]

Any relation to the family that owns Mozzicato Bakery in the south end?

 

[UConnStats]

Any relation to the family that owns Mozzicato Bakery in the south end?

Lol had the same thought myself (still unsure)

 

[superjohn]

Any relation to the family that owns Mozzicato Bakery in the south end?

Yes

 

[kansashusky]

Royals fan here. The fans want Dayton Moore's head on a spike. We have never developed pitching and this was an out of left field selection. I am guessing new ownership will clean house shortly.

 

[HooperScooper]

That's 100% not true the slot value for his draft position is $5,432,400. This was an under slot draft pick meaning they will probably offer him in the $3-4 million range. This allows the Royals to save money to make an over slot pick in today and try to sway a player to sign rather than go/ stay in college

Orioles did the same thing at #5 albeit not as big as a reach as the Royals. The Astros did this strategy when they picked Carlos Correa #1 as the slot value was $7 million and they signed him for $4.5 million the saving go to being more aggressive in later rounds and trying to add a talent with the extra money who most thought was unsignable

Red Sox did the same thing last year when they chose high school infielder Nick Yorke in the 1st round and then used the extra money to convince 3rd round pick (they didn't have a 2nd round pick) Blaze Jordan to sign rather than go to college. I think it's a common practice in baseball.

And yes, the MLB draft is very strange. As opposed to the NBA, NFL and NHL, most high draft picks never pan out and some take a long time to reach the majors.

 

[Waquoit]

If they truly want a fair system that will create more parity then it would be a complete revenue sharing across all teams meaning the Yankees, Red Sox, Dodgers etc would have to share all their profits from YES, NESN, and all those regional sports network. Then it would be level playing ground and scouting/development would really show

If they wanted a truly fair system they would get rid of the draft completely. Why should the system give money to teams that just pocket it, that won't use it to compete?

 

[HooperScooper]

A friend of mine's son played against him this past season and said he was "unhittable". But I guess I would expect the #7 draft pick to be unhittable in high school.

Another guy I talked to has a son who played AAU baseball with Mozzicato for a few years and said he was really skinny and didn't throw that hard a few years ago. His son's high school team was playing East Catholic this past season and his son was all worried about facing Mozzicato. His father says, "What are you worried about? Frankie doesn't throw that hard." Then he watched the game and was blown away how good he was.

 

[HobokenHusky]

That's 100% not true the slot value for his draft position is $5,432,400. This was an under slot draft pick meaning they will probably offer him in the $3-4 million range. This allows the Royals to save money to make an over slot pick in today and try to sway a player to sign rather than go/ stay in college

Orioles did the same thing at #5 albeit not as big as a reach as the Royals. The Astros did this strategy when they picked Carlos Correa #1 as the slot value was $7 million and they signed him for $4.5 million the saving go to being more aggressive in later rounds and trying to add a talent with the extra money who most thought was unsignable

Off the top of my head the guy they went and got later and paid over slot for was lance McCullers jr so……… it worked out for them.

 

[Kenny11]

What determines if its a under slot or overslot or normal slot pick? Is that announced when the draft pick takes place or just assumed?

 

[Blaneylover]

Anyone seen this kid pitch for East Catholic? He's a UConn commit and was just selected #7 overall in the MLB draft by the Royals tonight, it's safe to say he'll never suit up for UConn. His rise is meteoric, threw 4 straight no hitters this past season and has been arguably the hottest prospect in the country. CT. kids don't get drafted this high out of high school, last time it happened was Bobby V.

Although not drafted in the top 10, Watertown's Rico Brogna was the 26th pick in the first round in 1988. Drafted by the Tigers. Played for the Mets, Phillies, Red Sox and Braves.

 

[Rico444]

A friend of mine's son played against him this past season and said he was "unhittable". But I guess I would expect the #7 draft pick to be unhittable in high school.

Another guy I talked to has a son who played AAU baseball with Mozzicato for a few years and said he was really skinny and didn't throw that hard a few years ago. His son's high school team was playing East Catholic this past season and his son was all worried about facing Mozzicato. His father says, "What are you worried about? Frankie doesn't throw that hard." Then he watched the game and was blown away how good he was.

He really was unhittable in high school. He threw four consecutive no-hitters at one point this year.

 

[Rico444]

What determines if its a under slot or overslot or normal slot pick? Is that announced when the draft pick takes place or just assumed?

Each pick through the first 10 rounds is assigned a value. Add up the value of each of a team's picks, and that gives you the number a team is allowed to spend on those 10 picks (or actually, they can go over by either 5 or 10%, can't remember which). What determines how much a player gets is basically negotiation, but certain players have more leverage than others. Mozzicato is unlikely to be a top 5 pick in 3 years when he's eligible for the draft again, so he's unlikely to make more money than what he will be offered by the Royals (even if it's underslot). That's why he is likely to sign for below the slot value. The top high school prospects have a good chance to be big-time college players and get drafted highly in 3 years, so they can walk away from the table if the team that drafts them doesn't offer enough money, because they'll most likely make a bunch in a few years anyway.

 

[navery12]

What determines if its a under slot or overslot or normal slot pick? Is that announced when the draft pick takes place or just assumed?

It's just assumed from a fan standpoint, but teams have a better idea. They'll get on the phone with prospects and get an idea of what it's gonna take to sign the kid.

Generally high school guys will be the overslot picks since it'll take a strong offer to convince them to pass up college. The exception is someone like Mozzicato who was projected late 1st but taken early 1st, so you can offer him the money he was expecting to get and save the difference for later picks.

 

[Waquoit]

so you can offer him the money he was expecting to get and save the difference for later picks.

And hopefully Frank said "let's split the difference".

 

[Waquoit]

Royals fan here. The fans want Dayton Moore's head on a spike.

All 7 of you?