Good morning.
I have been guilty early saying that I questioned the degree of talent there is in this draft.
So, I reached out to one of my draft buddies... Patrick Ebert, founder of The Grind Baseball. I asked Pat what he thought about the talent level in this draft and he minced no words:
"Thanks Mack. Considering there are all the players that normally would be eligible plus the college players coming back instantly makes it more loaded than usual. Throw in an expected loaded JUCO class and the prep players and we could be looking at a historic year for talent.
Check out Pat here:
t https://twitter.com/PatrickEbert44/status/1298029693741015041?s=20
Mason Black
P 20/yrs. old 6-3 210 LeHigh
Blake had a breakout performance at the 2019 Cape Cod classic. Started in their CCBL all-star game.
Three-pitch mix includes a 92-95 fastball, slider, and change. Fastball comes in as above average, but other two pitches don’t.
He has to develop better secondary pitches to make it to the pros.
2020 limited college stats: 4-starts, 1-2, 3.68, 1.14, 22-IP, 29-K
Mack projection: Pitchers like Mason really needed 2020 to be a normal year so they could have showed improved numbers and cause movement in their draft status. Now, it’s all a crap shoot.
Consensus is he is a lower 100 prospect. I have him a little lower than that (rounds 3/4) or maybe he should go back to school for his senior year.
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Noah Cardenas
C 20/yrs. old 6-1 185 UCLA
Cardenas is a very athletic behind the plate. Contact orientated swing with an inside out righthanded swing. Freshman All American in 2019. Poor showing in the Cape League.
2020 limited stat line: 38-AB, .237/.367/.289, 0-HR
Mack Projection:
This is another kid that needed a banner 2020 to help him in the draft. He is currently listed as a lower top 100 prosepct, whcih says a lot about the limited depth in this draft.
I would consider him in either the 4th or 5th round, but not earlier.
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Tyler Black
2B 20/yrs. old 6-2 190 Wright State
Black is the first second baseman we are featuring this year.
He has been a starter since his freshman year. He is a very strong hitting infielder that was beginning to make the transfer to third this season. Has the skills to play multiple positions. But… he is a bat first prospect and not particularly known for his defense.
.353/.469/.600 in his freshman year. Good control. Barrels up.
Limited 2020 stats: 13-G, 46-AB, .239/.340/.370
Mack’s Observation:
Black was having a miserable 2020 season before the season was shut down. Showed little or no power at all.
Currently projected in the 80-90 pick range.
I would pass unless he was still around on Day 3.
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Josh Baez
RHP/1B 16/yrs. old 6-3 220 Dexter Southfield HS (MA)
Incredible athlete for age with next level strength. With a bat, he’s a 60 raw power projected player though there is plenty of swing and miss potential here. His future in baseball is as a pitcher.
Very raw talent. Already hits 97.
Mack observation:
Baez is the poster boy for high risk, high reward. The safe way is to draft him as a first baseman and work with him on his strikeouts. The dice throw is to develop his mound work which looks on the surface to have at least power relief potential. But, let’s remember… he’s only 16.
I would assign two scouts and pitch a tent on his front lawn and follow him to every baseball field he goes to until draft day.
Definitely 2nd round material and a steal in the 3rd.
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Michael Morales
RHP 17 years old 6-0 180 East Pennsboro HS (FL)
Morales is one of the top Pennsylvania prep players eligible for the next draft. A very smooth delivery on the mound. Over the top release.
Fastball sits in the low 90s, plus heavy usage of his breaker. Crosscheckers report that there is plenty of room for increased velo as his frame fills out.
Projected in the 80-90 pick range (second round).
Mack observation:
I try not to get excited about prep pitchers until I see the final results of their senior year. Now, with this year’s mess, we will never see what someone like Morales would have done in a normal year.
Me? I probably would pass on prep players early in this draft and go with more established college players that have a longer track record for me to study.
I would take a second look if he is still around on day three.
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