A three-time All-Star, Kikuchi’s logged just over 1,000 innings in the Japan Pacific League , the next highest competitive baseball league outside of the U.S. To determine how to value and draft Kikuchi, first we must evaluate what type of pitcher he’s going to be and for that we look to the past.
Post-Draft Profile: Xavier Edwards, San Diego Padres
Each year around mid-May we're inundated with information regarding the incoming draft class. Hundreds of names flash before our eyes, everyone with a different sleeper, breakout, etc. While there's no MLB answer to the Mel Kiper Jr./Todd McShay there's plenty vying for the title, myself included. We all want to be the first to suggest a name that pops. But in the big scheme of things does it matter? For example, today's subject Xavier Edwards, was not one of my early favorites. Did I like Edwards? Yes, I had him 19th overall in my first edition of my first year player drafts. Then he stole 22 bases on 23 attempts, hitting .346 across two levels of rookie ball. Now Edward's is approaching my top 5.