Mack - 2021 Draft Targets: Eliot Turnquist, Ian Moller, James Woods, Josh Hood, Max Delbec

Eliot Turnquist

  RHP   6-0   190   Ball State

 

2020 stats at Madison College (JUCO): 1-ST, 0-0, 0.00, 1.50, 4-IP, 8-K, 4-BB

A small but very athletic righty, Turnquist impressed in his lone three-inning appearance this summer. He repeats his delivery well, throws strikes and leaned heavily on a picturesque plus curveball. It’s not overpowering velocity, but he’s on the shorter side and looks to have a flatter angle that helps his fastball stay on plane when he works up in the zone. Ball State has churned out a handful of interesting pitching prospects in recent years. Turnquist, an incoming JUCO transfer, might be next.

 

Mack observation - Another pitcher we just haven’t seen enough of. 

I can’t see me considering him in the first five rounds. 

 

Ian Moller 

C   17/yrs.   6-1   200   Wahlert HS (IA)   

 

 Very simple approach with a bat in his hands. Clean right-handed swing. Has power and more to be developed. Creates a very good bat speed. Ball comes off the barrel hard. 7.72 runner. 

Comfortable and flexible behind the plate. Blocks cleanly. Strong arm with clean release. Should stick. 

Highest level catching prospect. 

30 runner 

 

Mack observation - 

Moller will be a top 10 pick, probably in the 7-10 range. Right now, the Mets are targeted to draft here. 

In my opinion, Moller would be the best person in this draft for the Mets to pick if he is still on the board when they pick. Don’t misunderstand me… prospects like Kumar Rocker would be at the top of the list, but he’s going 1.1, probably to the Red Sox. 

He potentially has more talent than any college pitcher that would be available here and, along with Francisco Alvarez sort of locks up this position for up to a decade. 

 

James Woods 

OF   17/yrs.   6-6   230   Olney HS (MD)

 

This is a very big dude with immense power. Strong lower half of body. Quick hands. Needs refinement but huge loud tool potential. LHH. 6.70 in the 60. 

Strong arm from right. Shows lots of range in the field.

 

Mack observation: 

This guy will not be around after the first two rounds. You can wait and pray he’s still there when it is your turn to pick in the second, or you can roll the dice and take a shot with a first rounder. 

I have him on my short list in the first round.  

 

Josh Hood 

SS   20/yrs.   6-1   185   Pennsylvania 

 

Freshman All-America in 2019. One of the top Ivy League players in the past recent years. Freshman stats: .331/.411/.580. 

Above average plate discipline. Only average pop which concenrs many. If he doesn’t have it at Ivy League levels, how is is going to develop int in the majors. 

Still… he can hit. 

Limited 2020 stats:  8-games, 38-AB, .263/.256/.342, 0-HR

 

Mack observation: 

An immediate red flag comes up when you are talking about players that play in sub-par divisions. The talent levels here are far lower that the top colleges in baseball. 

Hitting .263 in the Ivy League is a bad sign. Hitting .263 if you play for Florida still shows talent because you are hitting against the top pitchers in college baseball. You are not doing that in the Ivy League. 

For that reason alone, I pass here. 

 

Max DeBiec 

RHP/1B   17/yrs.   6-7   195   O’Dea HS (WA) 

 

Showing a very strong upside. Hitting 97. Hitting 97 (92-94 sit with sink) and being 6-7 is scary good. ++ 55 change. Also, a slide and a curve. Working on a cutter. 3/4 arm slot. 

7.12 runner. Also has big power potential as a first baseman. Crushes balls. 

A strike thrower. Needs to work on fastball spin.

 

Mack observation: 

An interesting conundrum. Do you draft him as a pitcher or a hitter? 

Baseball hasn’t had much success with players this tall. Sure, their was Randy Johnson and a few others, but most of these trees fall in the forest while they are trying to reach for the sky in the minors. 

Someone will pick him in the first two rounds. I will pass here. I have enough people in sick bay.