Jeff Luhnow was on KTRS this morning and said that the Cardinals second round pick Robert Stock has signed. He will report to Johnson City, where he will be the team’s opening day catcher. Luhnow also stated the club has signed 20 of its other draft picks, but no other names have been released as of yet. Stock’s signability was a little bit of a question mark. He’s just 19 and could possibly have gone back to USC for his senior year in order to re-establish himself as a premier prospect.
I actually sort of like the idea of having him catch to start out with. At that end of the defensive spectrum, any team would welcome the extra depth, and not long ago Stock was drawing raves from scouts for his bat and defensive ability at catcher. While he struggled to hit at USC, youth is on his side. He can always go back to pitching.
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Erik,
Thanks for the info, have always been a Robert Stock fan.
Now go enjoy your new baby!
Congratualtions!
Thanks. Me. so. sleepy.
And if he later returns to the mound, there will be low miles on that arm. If he was a starter, it might be a bigger issue.
Its nice to see any upper round guys signed. If for some reason he wouldn’t have signed it would have been a BIG wasted pick with so many other talented players available. I am not sure how it will work out (C or Pitcher) long term but hopefully he can excel at one!
another thing to consider would be the innings jump he would experience this year if he continued pitching this summer. the previous 2 years he was a reliever at USC, but after moving to the rotation he logged 77.2 innings. he would likely get 60 innings or so if he pitched full time this summer which would bump him well over 100 after only throwing about 40 total the last 2 years.
When will we know what picks have been signed? Is it just if word leaks such as this case with Stock or is there a deadline that must be met? Has anyone heard how negotiations with Miller are progressing? Also, anyone with connections know if we have signed Virgil White or the SS we took in the 30th round I believe? I think his name was Binghames?
Sorry for all the questions, they have just been on my mind lately and since I’m new to the draft-following craze I’m still trying to build up my knowledge. Any help with any of the above questions would be greatly appreciated!
Tyler Bighames is signed.
http://www.news-press.com/article/20090613/HSS11/90613001/1011/sports01
The deadline is August 15. We can expect most of the later round guys to sign way before then. Let’s just hope the Miller negotiations don’t turn into a drawn out dramatic affair that lasts until the deadline.
it was actually pushed back to august 17th this year, and for the previous poster there was an article stating that bighames signed on friday.
I just feel good about a guy I’ve know about for three or four years already. When you know someone’s name as a 16 year-old, he has to have upside.
Goold is saying Virgil Hill Jr. has also signed. http://www.stltoday.com/blogzone/commishs-hot-stove/commishs-hot-stove/cardinal-beat-updates/2009/06/kyle-lohse-plays-catch-and-other-sunday-nuggets/
There should be an announcement of the roughly 2 dozen players that have signed sometime tomorrow. Always a good sign to see half of your picks sign so quickly…but we all the the big one is the kicker….and I believe it will linger on a bit to sign Miller.
I’m wondering if a poll was set up to ask those in the Cardinals “Hyperventilating Prospect Geek” community, about if you prefer Stock to start or hit.
Personally I think that he has shown that he is a pitcher over the last two years at USC, and thats what he should be as a Cardinal. And a starting pitcher at that. He needs to be conditioning his arm at this young of an age to start. And I have a feeling that when he does make the switch to pitching he’ll be a bit to old to start the conversion to starting, thus condemning him to the bullpen, and wasting his talent.
My impression was that Stock would catch this summer and either hit or not hit – which would determine his assignment next spring.
There is a nice article on Tony Cruz in the Springfield (MO) newspaper today.
http://www.news-leader.com/article/20090615/SPORTS02/906150358/1002/sports/Cruz-catches-on-behind-the-plate
Looks like 32 of 50 players have signed….but surprisingly Stock’s names not on the list as Luhnow indicated it would be. Interesting.
http://stlouis.cardinals.mlb.com/news/press_releases/press_release.jsp?ymd=20090615&content_id=5340632&vkey=pr_stl&fext=.jsp&c_id=stl
Glad to see Calhoun’s name on that list.
Add Stock to the list: http://yourenotagolfer.mlblogs.com/archives/2009/06/cardinals_agree_to_terms_with.html
I’m a little disappointed we didn’t take Robert Stack instead.
Too soon HL, too soon.
Ughhhhhhhhh 2 years later, just realized that we passed on first round talent and top prospect Wil Myers and signed Stock. Both play the same position.
Myers is playing the outfield for Northwest Arkansas in AA. Royals say he is no longer a prospect at catcher.