Mack – Draft Stuff – Early Top 10, Alec Bohm, Greyson Jenista, Jim Callis, Tom's Bats

Good morning.

Bless You Boys had an early look at what they think the top ten players will be at draft time. In no particular order –

            SS Brice Turang – compared to Christian Yelich – 6-0, 165

            RHP Brady Singer – returns to being a starter at Univ. of Florida - venomous movement on his fastball

            CF Jarred Kelenic – great arm – 6.57 runner - highest level defensive outfielder, good bat (not great)

            RHP Kumar Rocker – top prep righty -  high-90s fastball and nasty slider

            RHP Ethan Hankins – 6-7 – the ‘other’ top prep righty - fastball that tops out around 96 miles per hour

            OF Joe Gray Jr. - prep outfielder with a plus arm and defense that sits comfortably above average

            OF-1B Seth Beer – probably the best ‘bat’ in the draft, but limited defensive ability in the outfield

            2B Nick Madrigal – small, scappy player –

            C Will Banfield – a rare top 10 prep catcher – significant bat 

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            SS Nolan Gorman – most think he will transition to 3B – plus defender – good left handed bat

D1 broke out a feature on two emerging bats out of the Cape Cod League this summer –

Wichita State sluggers Greyson Jenista and Alec Bohm took the Cape by storm, quickly establishing themselves as two of the league’s most exciting players and premier prospects, then maintaining their high-level performance throughout the summer. Jenista hit .310 with three homers in 142 regular-season at-bats for Cotuit to win the league’s MVP award, as voted on by league managers, who were clearly impressed with his all-around game and presence. Bohm’s numbers for Falmouth were even louder: he finished second in the league with a .351 average while compiling five homers, 10 doubles and 28 RBIs in 154 at-bats. 

Jim Callis had his own top 10 picks –

1.     Brice Turang, SS, Santiago HS (Corona, Calif.)

2.      Brady Singer, RHP, Florida

3.      Jarred Kelenic, OF, Waukesha (Wis.) West HS

4.     Kumar Rocker, RHP, North Oconee HS (Bogart, Ga.)

5.      Joe Gray Jr. OF, Hattiesburg (Miss.) HS

6.     Seth Beer, 1B, Clemson

7.     Tristan Casas, 1B/3B, American Heritage HS (Plantation, Fla.)

8.     Luken Baker, 1B, Texas Christian

9.     Konnor Pilkington, LHP, Mississippi State

10. Nick Madrigal, 2B/SS, Oregon State

Tom’s ‘Bats’ –

            So for the sake of finding a bat with a mid-first round pick, we have these factors –

                        Turang and Kelenic will be gone before the Mets pick

                        Madrigal is a true soft hitting second baseman

                        And Beer, Casas, and Baker are projected first basemen

            This leaves –

                       

OF Joe Gray Jr. –

PG Grade: 10 - Joe Gray Jr is a 2018 OF with a 6-3 195 lb. frame from Hattiesburg, MS who attends Hattiesburg HS. Outstanding physical build, very projectable. 6.75 in the sixty, plays much faster on the baseball field. Outstanding range in the outfield, gets quick jumps and runs direct routes, laser arm strength, fields the ball easily and gets rid of it quickly, highest level defensive tools. Right handed hitter, hits from a wide base with a short swing and good extension out front, generates big bat speed and power in batting practice, game swing is less fluid and consistent but the big tools are there with more repetitions. Good student, verbal commitment to Mississippi. Selected for the 2017 Perfect Game All-American Classic.

                       

C Will Banfield –

PG Grade: 10 - Will Banfield is a 2018 C/RHP with a 6-0 200 lb. frame from Lawrenceville, GA who attends Brookwood HS. Strong athletic build, pretty mature physically. Highest level physical tools on defense, extremely flexible and athletic in his lower half, strong hands that frame mid-90's like a professional, high energy blocker, outstanding arm strength and release, 1.74 pop inn drills, regularly 1.8's in between innings. Right handed hitter, busy hand load, strong swing with some lift, strong hands, best power at present is to right centerfield, battles at the plate and will make adjustments and find the barrel, lots of power potential. Plays the game hard. Good student, verbal commitment to Vanderbilt. Selected for the 2017 Perfect Game All-American Classic.