Mack – Draft News – Garrett Crochet, Jack Eder, John McMillon, Bobby Miller, Tyler Soderstrom

https://prospectinsider.com/mlb-draft-prospects-rankings-veen-bailey-asa-lacy-torkelson/        -

13. Garrett Crochet, LHP — Tennessee

Crochet could land in the top 10 and might be the No. 3 college starter in terms of projection, but he made just one start in 2020 and is lasted three-plus innings. He’s battled a bit of a shoulder issue, though a back injury is what kept him out until March. It’s not considered serious enough at this point to knock him too far down clubs’ boards.

But they’re going to want to see him throw, even if it’s via video with radar readings, and if any more concerns pops up, all bets are off for Round 1. When he’s right, Crochet is up to 99 mph, but will need to clean up his command and find more consistency with his slider.

The changeup was plus last season and at 6-foot-6 and 220 pounds, Crochet fits the bill as a frontline arm from a physical tools standpoint.

Crochet might be an under-slot play in the Top 5 if the back and shoulder concerns and washed away. 

 

https://athlonsports.com/mlb/2020-mlb-draft-top-50-college-prospects            offered up their list of their top 50 college prospects that will be available in the 2020 draft.

34. Jake Eder, LHP, Vanderbilt

https://vucommodores.com/roster/jake-eder/ - 2020 shortened stats: 4-starts, 1-1, 3.60, 20-IP, 27-K

https://www.sny.tv/yankees/news/5-prospects-yankees-could-target-with-first-round-pick-in-2020-mlb-draft/313401376 - Again, we find the Yankees picking a prospect out of the Top 30. But when you take a look at what the Yankees need in their farm system, it's left-handed pitchers. And Eder, coming out of the highly-respected Commodore system, fits the bill.

At 6-foot-4, 220 pounds, Eder had a big change from 2018 to 2019, pitching to the tune of a 2.98 ERA over 39.1 innings (19 appearances) with four saves. He played in a bullpen role instead of starting like he did in 2018, but he reverted back to getting the ball to start games in 2020 before the season was cut short.

In four starts, he had a 3.60 ERA with 27 strikeouts to nine walks over 20 innings pitched. Eder has a plus-fastball that has maxed out at 95 mph, and the Yankees could certainly work on his secondary stuff as well. Their top prospects are all right-handers. Getting a lefty involved down the road should be a priority.

 

 

https://www.baseballamerica.com/stories/top-25-seniors-we-want-to-see-in-college-baseball-in-2021/        -

9. John McMillon, RHP, Texas Tech

The hard-throwing McMillon has done a little bit of everything for the Red Raiders throughout his career, but he has been at his best as a key reliever, as he was for all of a 2019 season that saw him limit opponents to a .201 batting average, and throughout 2020, when he struck out 20 in 9.1 innings.

McMillon has proven to be a poster boy for the Texas Tech pitching staffs of the last few years, which have emphasized putting the best arms in high-leverage spots rather than being married to pitchers slotted into rigid roles, and he should continue to pair nicely with fellow righthander Micah Dallas moving forward.

 

 

https://www.mlb.com/news/prospects-raising-mlb-draft-stock    

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Bobby Miller, RHP, Louisville (No. 48 to No. 26, up 22 spots)

Miller began to come on as a starter during the 2019 postseason, highlighted by nearly no-hitting East Carolina in the super-regionals, and continued to make strides during the fall and again this spring. He carved up hitters with a mid-90s fastball and a slider/cutter and a splitter/changeup in the mid-80s, and he did a better job of throwing strikes in his four starts this spring.

 

 

https://www.cbssports.com/mlb/news/2020-mlb-draft-ranking-top-25-position-players-and-how-scouts-executives-view-these-hitters/ -

          12. Tyler Soderstrom, C, Turlock (HS)

A prep catcher hasn't been selected in the top-20 since 2015, when the Cincinnati Reds picked Tyler Stephenson 11th overall. Soderstrom might change that this year. The key word is "might," as there's disagreement on whether he should remain behind the plate. Soderstrom has a strong arm, but he's a work-in-progress in other ways. Besides, his offensive upside is such that moving him to another position could free up his bat and hasten his arrival. Wherever Soderstrom's future employer decides to play him, he ought to come off the board early.