2021 Draft News & Speculation

Squire 2021-05-19 12:25:35 UTC #101

New MLB Pipeline Top 200 came out yesterday - https://www.mlb.com/prospects/draft/

New Top 5 is
1. Marcelo Meyer
2. Jordan Lawler
3. Jack Lawler
4. Henry Davis
5. Kumar Rocker

andyb 2021-05-19 13:29:56 UTC #102

More on how teams are approaching the draft. The draft league is really not getting good players, in many cases they are getting the types of players that typically go undrafted. Also a reminder of the increased supply of mid-level prospects this year as there are lots more players hanging around that did not get drafted last year or sign a $20K NDFA contract. Rounds 10-20 should be much deeper this year as a result.

Squire 2021-05-19 15:17:12 UTC #103

Good article. Thanks for posting that. We really need Barber to be above average at his job.

zambonir 2021-05-19 15:26:53 UTC #104

I feel like the name of the Draft League is just a scam really. Originally they had talked about having an indy League where a very small number of players would be guaranteed an MLB contract, presumably with some kind of reality show component, and I feel like that is still what this is, except now you've got everyone who might have previously been drafted 21-40 (not counting unique bonuses or novelty picks) in the mix too.

Seems like they either already know you're worth taking or you can just as easily get a UDFA deal while staying in a colllege league or even going pro. If you're not already from the NE why even relocate to Trenton or State College for eight weeks?

gmwannabe 2021-05-19 15:40:14 UTC #105

I'm in on Petty or Painter in the first round. keep adding to the stable (small at that) of young starters. Then take hitters from there on. love painter's size and projection. a little worries on Petty's size, but has a heckuva an arm. Roy oswald was not that tall either.
gm

fish 2021-05-19 16:43:47 UTC #106

In MLB Pipeline's most recent 'not a mock draft' where they pick guys in the order that they like them, Matt McClain was picked at #13. He doesn't have the tools that I'd want (and he's injured), but the list highlights for me that there could be some exciting guys left at #13. One guy left available in that theoretical was Texas RHP Tyler Madden- I love that guys stuff and delivery. He seems to be running into a wall recently that a lot of the top guys are after missing last season.

One guy working is way back up the list is U. of Florida center fielder Jud Fabian. After starting the year with a 43% strikeout rate during his first 107 ABs, he's made some changes to reduce it to 21% over the last 84 ABs. He's done well in two summers of wood bat collegiate leagues, and if he's not leading D1 in homers, he's close.

I know you don't draft for need, but if they don't go after an arm, I'd really like to see them start to get some OFs who can impact the ball and play center. Fabian at this point seems to be a Joc Pederson clone- but a centerfielder who can put up Pat Burrell like numbers with 800 ops and .240 batting average, I wouldn't be upset by that right now.

The perfect guy for them is Boston College CF Sal Frelich- that guy has polish, tools, and is a sparkplug, but he won't be there for them.

fish 2021-05-19 16:45:54 UTC #107

I think Petty is a guy that everyone looks at and comes away thinking- "I love that arm...he's going to blow out". I'd bet he gets taken by a team that has multiple picks or pushes money down to him in the second round.

Squire 2021-05-19 17:03:56 UTC #108

In this year more than most, one or two teams 1-12 are going to go off the board a bit I think.

Also, Jud Fabian has some of the most bizarre college stats this year I can recall seeing.
.267 BA, 37BB, 64KK (on 191ABs), 10 doubles, 20 homers. He's back climbing the rankings.

Squire 2021-05-20 02:28:11 UTC #109

I don't have strong opinions for this draft. I'm currently leaning arm. If Madden got to us that would be fantastic but that doesn't seem likely. I'd be considering Hoglund on an underslot if I could swing that. I also like the writeups for both Wicks and Painter.

fish 2021-05-20 03:28:25 UTC #110

Wicks is interesting- they say his coaches are making him throw his slider more than his change, which is his best pitch. The mlb pipeline guys have said there are some who think he has more velo in the tank, and if he can get to that it would make him a great pick.

andyb 2021-05-20 15:58:26 UTC #111

Did not see this linked, but MLB did a mock also and they had us going for Wicks:

Squire 2021-05-20 16:28:21 UTC #112

It will be interesting to see who the gurus have us "connected to" I am pretty sure NOBODY had us connected to Abel last year. I think they had us on Cavalli, Soderstrom, Crow-Armstrong, Bitsko.

fish 2021-05-20 19:42:36 UTC #113

And the joy of having a second round pick again!

schooldoc 2021-05-20 21:06:49 UTC #114

I know you don't want to force it, but it would be great to have a high-end LHP starting pitcher prospect in the system again like Wicks.

andyb 2021-05-20 21:33:35 UTC #115

I also like a LHP who already has a good change. That means they are starting with something that can get RH hitters out and they'll have a few years to work on their breaking stuff to get LH hitters out. Hamels never had a really good curve until after a few years in the majors, but the fastball and change and command got him to the majors by themselves.

fish 2021-05-21 01:32:38 UTC #116

He’s a real competitor on the mound too with lots of emotion. He’s got a strong build. He hides the ball really well- there’s some motion that should probably get smoothed out. Maybe he peaks as a 4th starter, and maybe that’s not so bad.

Squire 2021-05-27 02:17:39 UTC #117

Latest Callis mock gave us Bennie Montgomery, OF from Red Land HS, PA. Said we are not wedded to any demographic and connected us with:

College Hitters - Frelick and Cowser
College Pitchers - Madden, Wicks and Cusick
HS Hitters - Montgomery
HS Pitcher - Anthony Solemeto

fish 2021-05-27 03:20:36 UTC #118

Frelick would be a dream come true for me, though I like all those guys except Cowser.

andyb 2021-05-27 17:24:49 UTC #119

Law gives us Montgomery too though alludes they might be thinking under slot to allow for a 2nd round overpay in HS SS Jonathan Vastine.

fish 2021-05-27 18:46:24 UTC #120

There should be too much talent available at their pick this year to look for an underslot, especially for a guy in the second round that doesn't figure to be worth a first round pick.