Stephen Guilbert has taken over the lion share of the draft
coverage here, but I still have a couple of cents to throw in once in a while.
First, here are the players I have ranked by position so
far. The names highlighted in red are what I grade in the "A"
category, or, can't miss pros. Names highlighted in blue are what I grade in
the "B" category.
This list will change, especially once the season starts.
I'll update it again around the 10th of February
A few observations,
especially to Mets fans:
•this is a moderately
talented draft... nowhere as good as last year
•you're going to see
possibly 20 high school players picked in the first round
•this might the last
time you see this high concentration of high school players being drafted in
the first round
•the new draft rules
favor high school players to stay in college
•IMO, there are 11
great players in this draft... naturally, the Mets pick 12th
•My Mets picks at
this point are below the list of players.
RHP:
1. Lucas Giolito
2. Mark Appel
3. Kevin Gausman
4. Lance McCullers
5. Walker Weickel
6. Taylore Cherry
7. Duane Underwood
8. Michael Wacha
9. Chris Beck
10. Cody Poteet
11. Joey Gallo
12. Lucas Sims
13. Jake Barrett
14. Clate Schmidt
15. Ty Hensley
16. Jake Cosart
17. Kyle Zimmer
18. Brady Rodgers
19. Kayden Porter
20. Marcus Stroman
21. Mitchell Traver
22. Kyle Hansen
23. Branden Klein
24. Nolan Sanburn
25. Freddie Avis
26. Nathan Kirby
27. Alex Rash
LHP:
1. Max Fried
2. Hunter Virant
3. Brian Johnson
4. Rock Rucker
5. Matt Smoral
6. Max Foody
7. Lex Rutledge
8. Andrew Heaney
9. Austin Fairchild
10. Taylor Rogers
1B:
1. Keon Barnum
2. Christian Walker
2B:
1. Tony Renda
2. Tommy Coyle
SS:
1. Deven Morreno
2. Carlos Correa
3. Gavin Cecchini
4. Addison Russell
5. Kenny Diekroeger
6. Jesmuel Valentin
7. C J Hionjosa
8. Javier Valentin Diaz
9. Nolan Fontana
10. Chris Taylor
3B:
1. Rio Ruiz
2. Trey Williams
3. Stephen Piscotty
4. David Thompson
5. Richie Shaffer
6. Joey Gallo
7. Carson Kelly
8. Corey Oswalt
9. Corey Seager
OF:
1. Byron Buxton
2. Victor Roach
3. David Dahl
4. Nick Williams
5. Albert Amora
6. Travis Jankowski
7. Jesse Winker
8. Lewis Brinson
9. Adam Brett-Walker
10. Jeremy Baltz
11. Courtney Hawkins
12. Skye Bolt
13. Rhett Wiseman
14. Tyler Naquin
15. Jameis Winston
C:
1. Mike Zunino
2. Stryker Trahan
3. Peter O'Brien
3. Peter O'Brien
4. Austin Maddox
5. Josh Elander
5. Josh Elander
6. Alex Bregman
7. Nelson Rodriguez
Mack's Picks:
12th pick overall - I'm the first one to tell you that you
should always draft the most talented player available at the time your pick
comes up. I don't this time. My pick would be catcher Stryker Trahan. He
currently projects as a Josh Thole with a ++ arm. There is a chance for more
pop, but I don't care. I would be doubling up with my first two picks, both
going catcher.
35th pick overall - IMO, the next best catcher available is
Miami senior Peter O'Brien, who was reinstated by the NCAA this past week. He was a big star at Bethune-Cookman, but transferred to Miami to be able to be closer to his ailing mother. In 2011, he hit .304, 14-HR, 69-RBI and was a 3rd round pick by Colorado.
66th pick overall - LHP Lex Rutledge will probably still be
available here and I'd scoop him up while he's still falling in the mocks for
no apparent reason.
69th pick overall - Nothing like a local boy from the
Johnnies. My pick would be OF Jeremy Baltz out of St. John's.
Follow my advice, and you get four more B-A prospects for
John Sickles to rank.
The Thole comparison doesn't really leave me excited about Stryker.
ReplyDeleteThis list of A B and whatever...don't agree with at all ESPECIALLY the pitchers. Don't think your top will move too much but those guys you have in black...dude I have been keeping up with several of them this fall. for example one guy has hit 98, added a change up that rivals his CB, and dropped the baby fat...this list will look a lot different come draft day.
ReplyDeleteI'm with you Justin...I pick best available, without a doubt. Go get the player who has the greatest chance to be great. When he develops, he might be my fourth best outfield prospect who could end up someone else's best prospect after I trade him for a major league ready catcher who is better then the Josh Thole prospect with a ++arm I chose to pass on. Draft the best, draft the best. Nothing bad can come of having depth at any position. That's when you trade the lower guy on the depth chart for someone who strengthens a weaker position in your system or on your team. Look what the Reds just did when they had depth at catcher. They made a trade, and brought back a great pitcher. If I had three bryce harpers and a chance to draft a fourth...do I pass? No. That fourth Harper could get me Jesus Montero plus another prospect once he develops, and now I've taken the risk out of drafting for a current need and hoping he worked out. Everyone has their own theory on drafting . Probably one of the best debate topics in sports.
ReplyDeleteIMO...
ReplyDeleteJosh Thole has maximized his abilities and has earned the job he is currently holding down; however, I share the same opinion that Joe Giraldi has about catchers... the defensive skills outweight the offensive ones.
I might have not represented Trahan well in this post. He's a good hitter:
Scouting Report:
Stryker Trahan is a catcher with legitimate lefthanded power. One of the things that jumps out about Stryker is the amount of athleticism he brings to the position.
Trahan is known for his power and overall hitting ability. He has a short stroke with excellent bat speed. Trahan has good plate discipline and makes solid contact consistently. He also brings good speed to the table, running 60′s from 6.54 to 6.67.
Offense is Trahan’s calling card, but he has the tools needed to succeed at catcher, as well. He moves well behind the plate and has a strong arm. Reported pop times for Trahan range from 1.85 to 2.01. Should he be needed to move from catcher in the future, right field would be his most likely landing spot.
Trahan’s combination of lefthanded power and athleticism should land him in the upped half of the first round of the draft.
Now, with that report mack, I'd be happy with him
ReplyDeletePG came out with their colege catcher rankings today:
ReplyDelete1 Mike Zunino Florida- Zunino is absolutely the complete package for the Gators. He's got the defense, consistent bat and power all in one.
2 Josh Elander - TCU - Elander is one of the fastest rising players in college baseball after hitting .333 with five home runs and 38 RBIs last season.
3 Peter O'Brien Miami (Fla.) -
O'Brien spent three seasons giving headaches to MEAC opponents. Now he puts his big bat on display for the ACC arms.
4 Ronnie Freeman Kennesaw State
Freeman would've found himself on one of the three AA teams if not for O'Brien. Hit .392 with 10 homers, 52 RBIs for KSU in 2011.
5 Kevin Plawecki Purdue Plawecki has had an outstanding career for the Boilermakers and hopes to finish things off by guiding his team to the postseason.