LEADING OFF: Draft deadline Friday looms for 3 1st-rounders

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A look at what’s happening all around the major leagues today:

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DEADLINE DAY

Just three of the 36 first-round draft picks are unsigned as Friday’s deadline approaches: Vanderbilt shortstop Dansby Swanson, taken by Arizona with the No. 1 selection, and a pair of Dodgers choices: Vanderbilt right-hander Walker Buehler (24th) and Louisville right-hander Kyle Funkhouser (35th).

SHIFTY TEAMS

While waiting for play to resume Friday, some numbers to think about: The 30 teams shifted on 13,298 balls in play last year, according to Baseball Info Solutions. They already have shifted on 10,262 this year, which projects to 18,749 over a full season. The highest percentage increases this year are Colorado (745 percent), Detroit (185 percent) and San Diego (172 percent).

SPEED

Cincinnati closer Aroldis Chapman has thrown 91 of the fastest 100 pitches this season, according to MLB’s Statcast, topping with a 103.92 mph offering to Minnesota’s Brian Dozer on June 29, a 103.78 mph offering to Atlanta’s Freddie Freeman on May 11 and a 103.77 mph pitch to Dozier on June 29. Other pitchers whose tosses made the top 100 are Pittsburgh’s Arquimedes Caminero (four times), Detroit’s Bruce Rondon (twice) and the New York Yankees’ Nathan Eovaldi, Cleveland’s Trevor Bauer and Cincinnati’s Jumbo Diaz (once each).

SPIN DOCTORS

The Angels’ Garrett Richards had the highest average spin rate for a two-seam fastball in the first half at 2,521 revolutions per minute, according to Statcast, and also led curveballs at 3,032. Colorado’s Rafael Betancourt topped four-seam fastballs at 2,570 and Seattle’s Carson Smith sliders at 2,695.

FILE – In this June 23, 2015, file photo, Vanderbilt’s Dansby Swanson rounds second base on his way to third on a teammate’s single against Virginia during Game 2 of the best-of-three NCAA baseball College World Series finals in Omaha, Neb. Just three of the 36 first-round draft picks are unsigned as Friday’s deadline approaches: Vanderbilt shortstop Swanson, taken by Arizona with the No. 1 selection, and a pair of Dodgers choices: Vanderbilt right-hander Walker Buehler (24th) and Louisville right-hander Kyle Funkhouser (35th). (AP Photo/Mike Theiler, File)
http://aimmedianetwork.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/22/2015/07/web1_104659869-6cf33c0df0a449c69d6982fd0665ca4e.jpgFILE – In this June 23, 2015, file photo, Vanderbilt’s Dansby Swanson rounds second base on his way to third on a teammate’s single against Virginia during Game 2 of the best-of-three NCAA baseball College World Series finals in Omaha, Neb. Just three of the 36 first-round draft picks are unsigned as Friday’s deadline approaches: Vanderbilt shortstop Swanson, taken by Arizona with the No. 1 selection, and a pair of Dodgers choices: Vanderbilt right-hander Walker Buehler (24th) and Louisville right-hander Kyle Funkhouser (35th). (AP Photo/Mike Theiler, File)

FILE – In this June 19, 2015, file photo, Vanderbilt pitcher Walker Buehler delivers against TCU in the first inning of an NCAA College World Series baseball game in Omaha, Neb. Just three of the 36 first-round draft picks are unsigned as Friday’s deadline approaches: Vanderbilt shortstop Dansby Swanson, taken by Arizona with the No. 1 selection, and a pair of Dodgers choices: Vanderbilt right-hander Buehler (24th) and Louisville right-hander Kyle Funkhouser (35th). (AP Photo/Mike Theiler, File)
http://aimmedianetwork.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/22/2015/07/web1_104659869-389dc21fa02a408380a8753489110db8.jpgFILE – In this June 19, 2015, file photo, Vanderbilt pitcher Walker Buehler delivers against TCU in the first inning of an NCAA College World Series baseball game in Omaha, Neb. Just three of the 36 first-round draft picks are unsigned as Friday’s deadline approaches: Vanderbilt shortstop Dansby Swanson, taken by Arizona with the No. 1 selection, and a pair of Dodgers choices: Vanderbilt right-hander Buehler (24th) and Louisville right-hander Kyle Funkhouser (35th). (AP Photo/Mike Theiler, File)

FILE – In this June 6, 2015, file photo, Louisville’s Kyle Funkhouser pitches to a Cal State Fullerton batter during an NCAA college baseball tournament super regional in Louisville Ky. Just three of the 36 first-round draft picks are unsigned as Friday’s deadline approaches: Vanderbilt shortstop Dansby Swanson, taken by Arizona with the No. 1 selection, and a pair of Dodgers choices: Vanderbilt right-hander Walker Buehler (24th) and Louisville right-hander Funkhouser (35th). (AP Photo/Timothy D. Easley, Fil)
http://aimmedianetwork.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/22/2015/07/web1_104659869-d66cad90634e45ecade79d42d0322d06.jpgFILE – In this June 6, 2015, file photo, Louisville’s Kyle Funkhouser pitches to a Cal State Fullerton batter during an NCAA college baseball tournament super regional in Louisville Ky. Just three of the 36 first-round draft picks are unsigned as Friday’s deadline approaches: Vanderbilt shortstop Dansby Swanson, taken by Arizona with the No. 1 selection, and a pair of Dodgers choices: Vanderbilt right-hander Walker Buehler (24th) and Louisville right-hander Funkhouser (35th). (AP Photo/Timothy D. Easley, Fil)

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