Stephen Guilbert: 2012 Draft- Players 26-30

2012 Draft- Players 26-30

This is the last of my top-30 composite write-up. These are the guys you hope slip a few spots and are around by the Mets supplemental pick. I am confident some will do just that. Given the depth of this draft, the abundance of Mets top-100 picks should produce an exciting class of players to add to the system.

In this group of five we have two promising lefties the Mets will be praying stick around until the supplemental, a high school righty who has hit 98 MPH, a dominant college closer transitioning to a starting role, and a former top high school catcher looking at the draft for the second time a couple years older and as a college athlete:

#26- LHP Matt Smoral – Solon High School (OH)

Why ranked #26: Big, projectable lefty with good two-pitch combo and a high ceiling. Scouts love his height and figure he can add on to his low-90s fastball and dominate as a front-of-the-rotation starter down the road.

Why the Mets would draft him: As I have written before in regards to Max Fried and Brian Johnson, the Mets need an exciting lefty in their system. Smoral has a great ceiling and if he adds some velocity to that fastball like scouts project he will, he will make a nice left-handed youngster to climb the ranks with Juan Urbina as the left-handed foils to the righty attack of Tapia, Fulmer, Mazzoni, and Morris et al in the low minors.

Throws: Four-seam fastball (low 90s) and a breaking ball that looks like a slider but it could be a flat curve from the ¾ arm slot. Still trying to make sense of his breaking pitches but Smoral’s young and has plenty of time to figure that out.

Ceiling: Top of the rotation and imposing southpaw

Trivia: One of my favorite draft blogs to read is When the Giants Come to Town (http://whenthegiantscometotown.blogspot.com/) and the writer of that blog likens Smoral to Madison Bumgarner and I think that is a legitimate comparison. Smoral has a lot of work to do on his secondary pitches but at times the breaking ball looks good and the fastball is already plus. His asset, especially considering his age, is his poise and control. I like this kid. He is projected to go in the bottom half of the first round but if he has a poor spring and slips to the supplemental or second rounds, the Mets could get a steal.

#27- LHP Hunter Virant – Camarillo High School (CA)

Why ranked #27: Hunter is another impressive high school lefty in this draft. While he often gets ranked behind Fried and Smoral, I would put him in the same class. He throws three pitches well and changes speed with deception. A lot to like about Virant and he has quite a ceiling. 

Why the Mets would draft him: Baseball America has Virant as their #22 high school prospect and I think that is a bit low. Hopefully teams will pass on him and he will be available in the supplemental round although I do not think the Mets will reach for him at #12. The great thing about Virant is his ceiling. He is incredibly athletic as he also plays outfield and first base and has a draftable bat in its own right. However, he will be drafted as a pitcher. I can see Virant shooting up draft boards with a strong spring. He would be a great lefty to have in the system and I’m rooting for him to be around by the supplemental.  

Throws: Fastball (low-90s, has hit 96). A good, tight curve and a strong change. ¾ slot pitcher with good deception on his delivery which allows him to change speeds, which he does effectively.

Ceiling: This is tough. My gut says #2 southpaw. Interested to see what Mack thinks.  

Trivia: Hunter is also committed to UCLA to play college ball. Imagine a rotation at UCLA featuring Giolito, Fried, and Virant. At least one, if not all three, of these guys will certainly choose to go pro but just imagining that rotation for two years is scary.

Mack - I really like Hunter as sup 1 pick.

#28- RHP Marcus Stromen – Duke University Blue Devils

Why ranked #28: One of the true dominant relief pitchers in the college game last year will get a chance to prove his durability as a starter this spring for Duke. Despite his 5’9” frame, Stromen dials it up to the mid-90s with his heater and features a wicked slider that is an MLB-ready pitch already and could be a plus offering to complement his fastball at the next level.

Why the Mets would draft him: Some teams will look at Stromen and see a quick-to-the-majors reliever with a future as a closer and draft him as such. The Mets will not look at Stromen with pick #12 and I do not think he will be around much longer after that. However, Marcus will get a chance to start this spring and if he turns some heads, Sandy might take another risk. He has a great arsenal and will fall further than he should because of his size.

Throws: Four-seam fastball (low to mid-90s), one of the best sliders in the draft.

Ceiling: Closer or a starting pitcher with a truly unknown ceiling. Check back in mid-spring to see how he is doing as a starter.

Trivia: In Stromen’s 2010 Cape Cod league debut, Marcus struck out 32 batters in 25 innings. He walked 3, allowed 10 hits and 0 runs. That is quite a way to put yourself on the map. 

Mack - I'm just not a guy that wants to go RP with one of the first four picks. Especially someone that's 5-9. If I did, I would take the South Carolina kid.

#29- RHP Lucas Sims – Brookwood High School (GA)

Why ranked #29: When you are 17 years old and throwing 98 MPH, you have something special. When you complement that with two off-speed pitches that also show promise, it only adds to a package that suggests a first round choice.

Why the Mets would draft him: If the Mets have their heart set on Lance McCullers and he gets taken before #12, the Mets might look at Sims, another South Eastern player with a huge fastball and a high ceiling. Personally I hope Sims falls to the supplemental and if the Mets pick up Max Fried at #12 and Sims with their next pick… that could be the future 1-2 atop the Mets rotation someday.

Throws: Four-seam fastball (mid-90s, can touch 98), 12-6 curve (mid 70s), low-80s change with promise.

Ceiling: Late-inning reliever or top of the rotation pitcher. Sims still has some work to do but he certainly has electric stuff. If it develops, he could be an ace. Some team will take that risk likely in the late first round. 

Trivia: Lucas is committed to Clemson University.

Mack - I like this kid as the sup 1 0r 2nd round pick, not the 12th overall. He might not still be around.

#30- C Austin Maddox – University of Florida Gators

Why ranked #30: I have to be honest…this is where the composite rankings end but I wanted to profile Austin Maddox, a catcher by trade who has not gotten much playing time at the position in Florida because consensus top-10 pick Mike Zunino has held that spot. However, this season, Maddox should get the chance to catch and show the country what he can do. Given his track record and if he has a strong spring, Maddox could skyrocket up the draft boards as one of the top catchers available.

Why the Mets would draft him: The Mets need a catcher in a bad way and Maddox has the chance to prove he can stay there long term. He played at third and DH for the Gators and some believe he could stick at third at the next level if need be. He has a cannon for an arm but is quite slow of foot. Even so, he has strong actions defensively and will not be a liability in the field. The Mets would draft Maddox in the first round if they think he can be a catcher long term. He has been clocked at 90 MPH from catcher to 2^nd and 94 off the mound. However, out of high school, scouts said his footwork needed help. The bat is the true calling card, though. Last year, he hit .373 with 7 HR and 34 RBI in 26 games in a strong division.

Tools: Strong throwing arm and a true plus bat for average and power. Squares up well and hits everything. Great skills with the bat and although he does not walk much, has a good sense of the plate. It seems like Maddox simply likes hitting more than walking but I will bet he will walk more as a professional. 

Ceiling: Middle of the order catcher and one of the better offensive catchers in the game.

Trivia: Because of signability issues, Maddox fell to the Rays in the 37^th round when he was drafted out of high school in 2009.

Mack - this is important... Maddox did not lose his catching job at Florida. It was taken away from him an given to Mike Zunino. Maddox plays multiple positions (pretty decent pitcher too), but he's still one of the top 4 catchers available in the draft

--Stephen