6/1/12

Draft Notes 5-31-12 – Kevin Gausman, Corey Seager, Tom Murphy, Mark Appel

Kevin Gausman

Kevin Gausman has been through this before. But this time, he's much more prepared, both physically and mentally.  Gausman was a fairly highly regarded prospect as a Colorado high schooler in 2010. But he was a fastball pitcher with poor command, below-average secondary stuff and a rail-thin build. In addition, a commitment to Louisiana State and the fact he'd be eligible for the Draft again in two years made it almost certain that he'd go on to college.




Corey Seager, 3B, Northwest Cabarrus HS (NC) - Class: HS Senior -  Hometown: Kannapolis, North Carolina   Height/Weight: 6-4/190   Born: April 27, 1994  Seager is the younger brother of Kyle Seager, who is in the midst of a breakout season with the Seattle Mariners. Like his older brother, Corey, has the perfect combination of polish and impressive raw talent.


Kevin Goldstein –

Q - What is the main factor between Carlos Correa and Devin Marrero in your opinion?
A - WAY better hit/power.

                         


The bar for being a productive catcher in the major leagues is low. It's not low in that it's still very, very hard to play baseball at that high a level, but it's lower for catchers than for lots of other positions. Which is why you can re-calibrate expectations for catchers. A guy who profiles with average power at other positions becomes above-average for a catcher. The flip side of that is that a guy who has to move off the position can go from being a great prospect to an average one with one small switch in positions. Why is this relevant? Because Tom Murphy could be one of the best catchers in the draft, but he's not really one of the best hitters. He's got good power, but may not be able to make great contact consistently in the majors. He's good defensively, and has a good chance at sticking with catching in the future.




4. Mark Appel, RHP, Stanford - Who he is: There are three big college arms in this draft, and Appel is generally seen as the best. He certainly passes the sniff test, due to a 6-foot-5 power frame and a 93-95 mph fastball that can touch 98. His breaking ball is a bit of a hybrid, but is effective and misses plenty of bats, and his changeup is average. He's excellent, but for some, he lacks the wow factor of a potential 1-1 pick. One scout commented, “The parts are greater than the sum,” as he can be surprisingly hittable at times. Draft skinny: Currently the favorite to go No. 1 to Houston, but not yet a lock. He should get through the minors quickly, but he's also the top prospect being advised by Scott Boras, and teams are unsure as to what those negotiations will be like under the new rules.


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