Alright, let’s talk about this Kirby Connell MLB draft thing. I kind of went down a rabbit hole with it last year.
It wasn’t about the big names, the first-round locks everyone talks about. I got curious about the other guys, the ones you don’t see mocked in fifty different places. Connell, pitching for Tennessee, caught my eye. He seemed like one of those workhorse types, always coming out of the bullpen, tons of appearances. So, I thought, okay, let’s see if I can track this specific guy’s journey through the draft process. Sort of a personal project, you know?
My Process Digging In
First thing I did was pull up his stats. Looked at his college career numbers. You see the sheer volume of games he pitched in, especially his last couple of years. That stood out. Consistency, or maybe just availability, seemed like his big thing.
Then I tried finding video. Not just the highlight reels, but actual game footage. That was tougher. For guys projected later, it’s harder to find raw, uncut stuff. You mostly get the strikeouts, the big moments. I wanted to see how he handled pressure, runners on base, that kind of thing. Spent a good few evenings clicking around, trying to piece together a picture.
- Checked out college baseball sites.
- Scoured fan forums, sometimes you find nuggets there.
- Tried searching specific game dates.
It felt a bit like detective work, honestly. And kinda frustrating. You read these little blurbs from scouting sites, but they often feel generic for guys outside the top rounds. You see things like “crafty lefty” or “good competitor,” but getting a real feel is hard without seeing more.
The Draft Days and What Happened
Leading up to the draft, I didn’t really have a solid prediction. You see so much variance in the later rounds. Could he go in the 10th? Maybe the 18th? Or maybe become a free agent signing? It’s a total crapshoot sometimes.
Then the draft actually started. Day 1 and 2 go by, mostly the expected names and the big bonuses. Day 3 is where guys like Connell usually come off the board. I found myself checking the draft tracker more often than I probably should have. It’s weirdly compelling, seeing names pop up, teams making their picks round after round.
Finally, there it was. Round 15, Milwaukee Brewers. Pick number 452 overall. When I saw it, my reaction was mostly just, “Huh, okay.” It felt… appropriate, I guess? Not super early, not undrafted. Just a solid Day 3 pick for a guy who put in the work.
What I Took Away
Looking back, focusing on one specific player like that was interesting. It makes you realize how massive the draft is, how many players are involved, and how little attention most of them get compared to the top prospects. You follow one guy, and you see he’s just one tiny piece in this huge machine.
It also showed me how much is just projection and hope, especially later on. Teams are taking chances based on specific traits, college performance, maybe something a scout saw on a good day. My little “practice” of tracking him didn’t give me any secret insights, really. It just kinda grounded the whole spectacle for me.
Getting drafted, especially in the later rounds like Connell was, is just stepping onto another ladder. Now comes the grind of the minor leagues. It’s a tough road. So yeah, that was my experience following the Kirby Connell draft situation. Just a small personal dive into one part of the big baseball world.
