I really would like to see us draft a position player instead of a pitcher but I'm sure the worthy 1st rounders will be gone by then. Or will they? Not too familiar with the draft specs.
It is amazing what size does to a guys projectibility and draft status. This is from my senior year of HS... I was a 5'10" 170 lb Left handed with a fastball that touched 90, but mostly worked in the mid 80's and actually decent secondary pitches. I threw two no hitters, two 1 hitters and my only loss was in the state final four to Mark Melancon(yup, him) where I was dealing with a dead arm. My teammate was a 6'4" 180ish lb left handed pitcher that topped out at 84 once in a bullpen, but mostly worked high 70's with NOTHING for secondary pitches. He pitched in 2 or 3 games in relief that season, not doing much of anything else as he was the backup 1B.... HE WAS FUCKING DRAFTED... Moral of the story, fuck all you tall people.
Seems like there should be some decent options. I am with you, the farm is loaded with arms and this FO has shown the ability to find those decent arms in other ways. I too much prefer them nabbing a position player in a valuable spot. Most specifically, the left side of the IF.
i think you draft the best player available regardless if you get pitcher heavy you can always use them in a trade but i hear what you're saying
Well, this is just for pick #20. I'm doing the same for pick #32 and #36. While all the scuttlebut has us in on College RHP and SS... I'm just highlighting who I like in the draft (this isn't predictions in any way). I learned my lesson when we drafted Chris Fuckin Reed.
I know I'm going HS heavy, but the upside on the HS crop is so much greater than College this year. #32 Taylor Trammell Gavin Lux Jared Horn Joe Rizzo Eric Lauer
Taylor Trammell HS OF MLB Scouting Report: Trammell was the Georgia Class A football offensive player of the year after rushing for 2,479 yards and 36 touchdowns last fall and could have played football in college. Instead, he has decided to focus on the diamond going forward. He has committed to Georgia Tech for baseball only and is unlikely to join the Yellow Jackets because he figures to go in the first round of the Draft. Because he has divided his time between two sports, Trammell still is learning how to recognize pitches, handle offspeed offerings and tap into his raw power. He does show some feel for hitting and his well above-average speed will help him reach base. With his bat speed and strength, he could develop average or better pop. Trammell also is figuring things out defensively, but he has the tools to be an asset in center field. He's working on improving the strength of his arm, which should be fine for center. Baseball America: Trammell made a name for himself on the showcase circuit with his blazing speed. He is a plus-plus runner in game action, with the ability to reach first base in less than 4.1 seconds after the ball comes off his bat. Trammell also shows upside with the bat; he has above-average bat speed and a sound understanding of the strike zone. Trammell made steady progress throughout the summer and fall, and has shown intriguing power this spring, with some rating it as an average tool. One of the biggest weaknesses in his game was his arm strength, and he worked hard in the offseason to improve it. What was once graded as a well below-average tool now earns 45 grades from some scouts, giving him enough arm strength for center field. Trammell is an exceptional athlete and the needle is pointing up on him. He is committed to Georgia Tech, but his strong spring performance could make him a day one pick.
Gavin Lux High School SS MLB Scouting Report: Lux won't be able to match the Draft status of his uncle Augie Schmidt, the No. 2 overall pick and the Golden Spikes Award winner in 1982 who's currently the head coach at NCAA Division III Carthage (Wis.). Nevertheless, he's a top prospect in his own right and has a chance to become the highest-drafted Wisconsin position player since the Mets popped Scott Servais in the second round 31 years ago. The second-best high school shortstop available, trailing only Puerto Rico's Delvin Perez, Lux was generating first-round buzz as the Draft approached. Because he grew up around his uncle's program, Lux has advanced instincts in all phases of the game. His tools are catching up, as he has improved his strength, swing, speed and arm in the last year. He has worked to eliminate a hitch in his left-handed stroke, which has enough bat speed and leverage to produce 15 homers per year. After previously seeming destined for second base, Lux now should be able to remain at shortstop. His arm strength and speed are at least solid -- some evaluators grade them as pluses -- and he has reliable hands. He's committed to Arizona State but figures to get drafted too early to make it to Tempe. Baseball America: In a draft lacking in true shortstops, Lux impresses because he's one of the few high school shortstops in the draft class with a solid chance to remain at the position. A quick-twitch athlete with the hands, actions and a little of the flash that shortstops often have, Lux lacks only ideal arm strength. It's solid average and it's accurate with a quick release, but many teams like to see shortstops have a plus arm. He's an above-average runner, though his feet move quickly. At the plate, Lux has a pretty lefthanded stroke that has shown improved power as he's matured and added weight and strength over the past year. The track record of Wisconsin high school draftees is sparse and rather disappointing, but Lux's smooth actions and athleticism separate him from the typical Wisconsin product. He should be a solid early-round pick who had late helium, which will make it hard for him to stick with his Arizona State commitment. His uncle, Augie Schmidt, was the No. 2 overall pick in the 1982 draft as the Golden Spikes Award winner that year.
Jared Horn High School RHP MLB Scouting Report: Napa, in Northern California, is known more for producing wine than baseball players. Horn, a strong, athletic right-hander from Vintage High School, could change all of that. Horn has been on radar screens for a while, but really saw his stock soar as the spring progressed. While other intriguing prep arms in California have been inconsistent, Horn has been impressive on a regular basis. The 6-foot-3 righty has some serious power stuff, headlined by a fastball that has consistently been up to 94-96 mph this spring. He throws two breaking balls, with the curve a bit ahead of the slider. Throwing from a higher slot, he gets under the slider at times, but when he stays on top of it, it can be a nasty out pitch. His changeup is a bit behind, but is a viable option. In addition to his stuff, scouts love the Cal commit's competitiveness and the football mentality -- he was also his high school's quarterback -- he brings to the mound. That should help him maximize his formidable raw stuff and fly off the board as early as the first round. Baseball America: Horn has added strength to his athletic 6-foot-2, 190-pound frame and has taken Northern California's prep ranks by storm this spring after pitching in the Area Code Games the last two summers. A California commit, Horn evokes comparisons physically to pitchers from Gerrit Cole to Brad Penny, and while he doesn't have Cole's upper-90s fuel at the same stage of development, he pitches with some of the aggression that marked both big league righthanders. He has energy in his delivery abut has body control and throws quality strikes with a lively mid-90s fastball that regularly reaches 96. Horn's changeup and breaking ball remain inconsistent and well behind his fastball, though his changeup has had its moments and his curveball shows proper spin and power at times.
Joe Rizzo High School 1B/3B MLB Scouting Report: Few question Rizzo's ability to swing the bat. The Virginia high school standout's size and lack of profile, however, have made him a bit of a polarizing prospect among scouts. The left-handed hitting third baseman can flat-out rake as possibly the best pure hitter in his area. He barrels balls up consistently and has some power to go along with it. Everything else, though, is a bit of a question mark. Scouts have seen Rizzo play an adequate third base, but there is far from consensus that he can stay there, meaning he'd have to move to first or perhaps to left field, though the jury is still out over whether he's athletic enough for such a move. He's under six feet tall and doesn't have much projection to him, so he kind of is what he is at this point. Rizzo does get plus grades for his makeup, which should help as teams consider him. A team that really believes the bat will profile at any corner position is the one that will take the South Carolina commit off the board early on in the Draft. Baseball America: Rizzo dazzled on the showcase circuit, especially at Perfect Game National and East Coast Pro, displaying a plus lefthanded hit tool and excellent feel for the barrel. With his stocky 5-foot-11, 215-pound frame, Rizzo shows plus raw power in batting practice that plays closer to average power in games. He's the starting shortstop at Oakton High in Vienna, Va., but scouts aren't sure where his body and defensive skill set fit best. He has experience playing third base and has worked out for teams as a catcher, although his long arm action hampers his throwing from behind the plate, and he could potentially end up at first base. A South Carolina commit, Rizzo should entice teams with his natural hitting ability but will need to find a position.
Eric Lauer College LHP MLB Scouting Report: Lauer was the best high school prospect in Ohio in 2013 -- and an all-state wide receiver as well -- but his commitment to Kent State dropped him to the Blue Jays in the 17th round. After performing well in college and leading the Cape Cod League with in strikeouts (50 in 39 2/3 innings) last summer, he has a chance to become the first Golden Flashes starter drafted in the first round since Dustin Hermanson went third overall in 1994. The 2016 MAC pitcher of the year had a spectacular junior season, allowing just three earned runs in his final 12 starts and leading NCAA Division I with a 0.69 ERA that's the lowest for a starter at that level since 1979. Lauer has four effective pitches and mixes them well. His best offerings are a low-90s fastball that reaches 94 mph and features some cutting action and nice downhill plane, and a solid 78-83 mph slider. Lauer also possesses a mid-70s curveball and a changeup with some sink and fade Lauer's athletic, effortless delivery allows him to repeat his mechanics and throw quality strikes. While he doesn't have a true out pitch or a lofty ceiling, he may have a higher floor than any left-hander in the 2016 Draft. Lauer projects as a mid-rotation starter. Baseball America: Everything has gone well for Lauer as a junior. Kent State's Friday starter has seen his velocity tick up to 90-92 mph from the 88-90 he sat in the past with a free-and-easy delivery. He's dominated the MAC this year, ranking among national leaders with a sub-1.00 ERA for most of the season and he's finished off his business degree in only three years. Lauer has dominated college hitters with a four-pitch mix. He can work his fastball in and out and up and down. He generally works down in the zone, but will elevate above a hitter's hands late in counts. He has improved his mid-70s curveball to the point where it flashes average, using it to set up a short, late 82-86 mph above-average slider. He doesn't use his changeup all that often, but it flashes average as well.
I'm going to edit the OP with profiles of all of our first day picks. Not going to bother with the profiles that have been previously posted unless we select them.
Actually the depth of HS position players is something of note. College position players are thinner but HS bats are there (perhaps even better than expected). With you on that, however don't be surprised if it's a College Shortstop or RHP for pick #20. Would hate it tbh. If it's Justin Dunn I wouldn't mind too much -- didn't cover him because I didn't think he would be there for us.
Seems like the mocks have nothing but college arms at #20, be that Sheffield, Sedlock or Zeuch, among others. Would be interesting to see what they did if they didn't go college arm as that would likely have meant a big run on college arms, and some other players falling, be they prep arms or bats, or college bats.
