Mack’s Apples – Thomas Szapucki, Ole Miss Prospects, Justin Lewis, Francisco Alvarez, Worst No-Hitters

Fangraphs   Top 18 Mets Prospects -

        10. Thomas Szapucki, LHP

        Drafted: 5th Round, 2015 from Dwyer HS (FL)

        Age   21       Height           6’2      Weight          181     Bat/Throw   R/L

Tool Grades (Present/Future)

Fastball       Curveball     Changeup    Command

60/60              60/60             40/50            40/50

Throw out what you saw from Szapucki in 2017, as his 29 innings were sandwiched between a shoulder injury that delayed the start of his year and an elbow surgery that ended it. Szapucki’s Tommy John procedure in July probably means we won’t get a look at him until 2018 instructional league when, due to other injuries, he’ll have barely pitched as a pro. A healthy Szapucki has two plus pitches and the chance for an average third offering and command. Szapucki’s low arm slot makes it more important that those latter two attributes develop, as he’ll need them to offset platoon splits that might force a move to the bullpen if his health doesn’t force a move there first.

Ole Miss Prospects –

         

  The Ole Miss rotation is anchored by two pitchers who could both be first or second-round picks. John’s 21st-overall pick from our mock draft Ryan Rolison is a lefty with a four-pitch mix including a plus curveball. The Mariners can and should do better with their first-round pick, but if Rolison somehow lasts to their pick in the second round, they should pounce on the dependable lefty. Brady Feigl actually snatched the Friday night job from Rolison this year (also there’s a funny story about the two Brady Feigls that’s worth reading); he’s been impressive, earning Pitcher of the Month accolades from NCBWA back in February. Parker Caracci is yet another impressive pitcher in Mississippi’s stable; a mechanical change has unlocked some big velocity for the junior, who redshirted his two previous seasons, and he’s currently posting a negative FIP. Caracci profiles as a power bullpen arm with his fastball-slider combo, but might choose to return for his senior season and try to boost his draft stock even further after not playing his first two years of school.

College player stock trending up - 

Justin Lewis (Kentucky) - After giving up 11 runs to then #5 Arkansas, Lewis has pitched much better, and then on Saturday he did the unthinkable. He shut down the Florida offense - 8IP, 1H, 0ER, 3BB, 11K. This is probably the single best performance by Lewis to date. The 6’7” RHP might not go in to the top 2 rounds, but again, it’s about finding value in those early to middle rounds that can make or break a team’s draft. I’m still a believer in Lewis.

          Top International Prospects -

Francisco Alvarez | Rank: 13 Hometown: Guatire, Venezuela

Position: C   Age: 16 DOB: 11/19/2001

Bats: R Throws: R  Height: 5'11" Weight: 220 lb.Watch

Scouting grades: Hit: 50 | Power: 55 | Run: 40 | Arm: 55 | Field: 50

At 5-foot-11 and 220 pounds, Alvarez is a strong prospect with a stocky build and an offense-oriented set of tools. He has a reputation for hitting well in games, which speaks to his emerging hit tool. He also shows power now and the potential for more in the future. Like most young catching prospects, Alvarez is not known for his running ability.

The teenager's bat stands out more than his glovework at the moment, but he has also shown a good arm and solid defensive actions behind the plate. He is expected to improve on his overall defensive game once he signs with a team and receives daily instruction at a club's academy.

Alvarez's body -- and what it could look like in the future as he grows -- is a concern for some skeptical scouts. His bat has fewer critics. Combine Alvarez's hitting ability with the position he plays, and it's easy to see why the teen is one of the most coveted prospects on the market.

Alvarez is from Guatire, Venezuela, and is trained by Javier Mendoza. The Mets are the favorite to sign him.

These are the worst no-hitters  in baseball history –

       

    1. Matt Young, Red Sox vs. Indians, April 12, 1992

Unofficial: 8 innings, 2 runs, 2 earned runs, 7 walks, 6 strikeouts, 6 stolen bases

Young only pitched eight innings, so it was not an "official" no-hitter. Someone asked him after the game if he had a different word for it.

"Purgatory," Young said.