Mack’s Apples - Shane McClanahan, Devin Mesoraco, J.T. Realmuto, Nolan Gorman, Matt Liberatore

Baseball America’s  Top 500 Prospects –

    

       5  (Last: 4):  Shane McClanahan  4YR LHP  School: South Florida

Ht: 6-2 | Wt: 188 | B-T: L-L | Committed/Drafted: Mets '15 (26)

Scouting Report: The top college lefthander in the 2018 draft class, McClanahan possesses some of the best raw stuff of any draft-eligible player in the country led by a fastball that can reach 100 mph. That number would have seemed absurd after seeing McClanahan prior to his senior season at Cape Coral (Fla.) High, when he was throwing a mid-80s fastball. But McClanahan went through a massive growth spurt around that time, going from 5-foot-6 to the 6-foot-2 he’s currently listed at and touched 94 mph at times during the spring of 2015. Three years later, and through his first 10 starts of the 2018 season with South Florida, McClanahan is regularly in the mid- to upper 90s with his fastball and has used that pitch to help him lead the country in strikeouts per nine innings (15.02), with 94 strikeouts in 56.1 innings. At just 188 pounds with a lean frame that could still add more weight, McClanahan doesn’t get that sort of velocity with a huge, muscular build but instead with a lightning quick arm out of a low, three-quarter slot in a delivery that some scouts describe as high-effort. In addition to his fastball, McClanahan has a mid-80s changeup and a slider, both of which project as plus pitches down the line although the changeup is currently more consistent than the breaking ball. McClanahan isn’t without warts, however, as he already had Tommy John surgery, which sidelined him during the 2016 season, and is regularly erratic to the plate. McClanahan has a history of being more of a thrower than a pitcher at this point, with more than five walks per nine innings through his first 10 starts in 2018. Durability will be a question mark with McClanahan as well, as many college pitchers around him on draft boards have a much longer track record of performance and summer history. Still, the pure stuff he offers from the left side is a rare commodity and one that teams at the top of the first round will likely pounce at given the opportunity this June. McClanahan offers the potential of a top-of-the-rotation southpaw if everything breaks right and he improves his control and command. Assuming good health, a worst-case scenario for McClanahan would likely be taking on the role of a shutdown reliever.

Rotographs on Devin Mesoraco –

         

   Mesoraco has been healthy all season, but has only recorded 45 plate appearances and has done nothing with them. This makes him a pure “close your eyes and cross your fingers” recommendation. We know injuries have crushed him. We also know that he was once a pretty good offensive prospect, with solid plate discipline, and real power potential. Those skills paid dividends in 2014, but never again. Though you could argue that he did earn some positive value back in 2013 in deep leagues.

He now has the best opportunity he has had in a while to play every day and turn his career around. The Mets have no one else worthy of giving at-bats too, which is why they made this desperation move to begin with. Fantasy owners in deep leagues in dire need of a second catcher (I’m sure that’s many of you) should absolutely take a shot here like the Mets are doing. There’s little downside and we know what the ultimate upside is, even if the likelihood of him achieving it is infinitely slim.

Jon Heyman on possibility of trading J.T. Realmuto –

      

     2. J.T. Realmuto, Marlins C. The Mets absolutely need a catcher (even after acquiring Devin Mesoraco), and this is easily the best one. Many insiders – including some with the Mets – doubt they have enough to make a deal. And now, with Miami playing better than expected so far and the Marlins a continuing target for criticism following their extreme fire sale, who knows if he gets traded at all? The one thing the Mets have going for them is the paucity of contending teams needing a starting catcher. Best bet: Mets. Others: Brewers, Phillies.

Top MLB Draft prospects  on collision course in Arizona high school playoffs on collision course in Arizona high school playoffs –

        

         Mountain Ridge faces Mountain View on Friday night at Diablo Stadium at 6:30. Pitcher Matt Liberatore will try to help lead Mountain Ridge to the state championship game. Liberatore is 6'5" and armed with a 95-mile-an-hour fastball. He's also on every pro scout's radar.

          

On the other side of the bracket sits Sandra Day O’Connor. Third baseman Nolan Gorman’s power is becoming the stuff of Arizona legend. Gorman crushed a 459-foot home run in the MLB All-Star Game in Miami last summer and hit 18 home runs in batting practice. He’s also named after a Hall of Famer, Nolan Ryan.