Good morning.
First… who won’t be there.
Vanderbilt RHP Kumar Rocker is odds on favorite to be the first pick in the draft. It would be a shocker if he fell to the second, but that would be as far as he falls. The Mets won’t get a sniff at the nation’s best pitcher.
In no particular order, the University of Florida OF Jud Fabian, LSU RHP Jaden Hill, and Vanderbilt RHP Jack Leiter will also be gone before the Mets pick. No one has them falling as far down as ten.
There are two great catcher prospects in this draft… Wahlert HS (IA) Ian Moller and the University of Miami’s Adrian Del Castillo. I don’t have to remind you how rare it is that catchers become top prospects and, because of that, they go early. These two will also.
That’s six players gone.
Here are some names you need to memorize and place into a Google search. One could be playing for a Mets team next year near you:
SS/OF Brady House - 17/yrs. Winder-Barrow HS (GA) -
Don’t think of this guy as a shortstop. This might be the position he played in high school. This, at worst, is a third baseman in the making, but most probably, an outfielder. He has huge power potential. Lean, and additional muscle could make Mets fans forget that Kelenic guy.
SS Marcelo Mayer - 17/yrs. Eastlake HS (CA)
Has both a beautiful swing and tool-like defensive skills. Very strong arm. Compact left handed swing. Projected to stay at short which could cause the Mets to look elsewhere with this pick.
SS/OF Matt McLain - 20/yrs. UCLA
McLain was drafted in the first round out of high school but chose to go to join the Bruins instead. Playing short but projects as a future outfielder. Showed increased power in 2020.
2020 stat line - 13-G, 58-AB, .397/.422/.621, 3-HR, 19-RBI
OF Colton Cowser 20/yrs. Sam Houston State
Cowser potentially has multiple tools. Has a sweet compact swing with strong hands and wrists. He particularly is projected to tool up with his bat. Unimpressive shortened 2020 season.
2020 stat line - 14-G, 55-AB, .255/.379/.364, 1-HR, 6-RBI
OF Tyree Reed 17/yrs. American Canyon HS (CA)
This is a super projectable center fielder with power. Expected to remain in center. 70 speed. ++ defense.
Right now, offense has a ways to go, but if you are looking for a ++ centerfielder that has projectable power, this could be your guy.
Just based on this, I would pass on Cowser and Marcelo. Others look interesting, especially House.
ReplyDeleteMack- Any pitchers in the 10 spot area?
ReplyDeleteZozo -
ReplyDeleteYes.
My two favorite right now are both prep pitchers.
10.Andrew Painter, RHP, Calvary Christian (Fla.) HS
Painter currently is the top prep arm in the 2021 MLB draft class. He has a notable 6-6, 210-pound frame, repeats his low-effort delivery well, and fills up the strike zone. He has a solid four-pitch mix. He has a fastball that sits in the mid-90s and shows a solid feel for his changeup, curveball, and slider.
Painter is exactly what scouts look for in a prep right-hander. He doesn’t rely on an overpowering fastball, has consistent off-speed pitches, and above-average control for a high school pitcher.
RHP 6-4 205 Christian Bros. College HS (MO)
Talking Chop - Coming into the Perfect Game Nationals, most would have ranked Christian Little as the #1 arm in the high school class. While Little was hardly bad, others moved ahead of him because they have louder stuff. Still there is a lot to like with this athletic 6’4, 205 pounder who will still be just 17 years old on draft day. Little may be the safest of the top prep arms along with Painter, as he brings the potential for at least above average command with three plus pitches, a projectable starter’s frame, and an excellent feel for pitching. Little sits more low to mid 90s for right now, with a change that some would even call his best pitch, and the plus curve that he has tightened up in the past year. Little has been ranked at the top of his class for years, and has a long track record of success in events against top competition. It is worth noting that he is a Vanderbilt commitment, and those are almost never easy signs.
Thx buddy. I hope this the way to go for us. We need to continue to build the next best staff.
ReplyDeleteI agree with you 100% Zozo.
ReplyDeleteGood morning, Mack.
ReplyDeleteI think the Mets need to take the best pitcher available at #10.........hopefully someone like Painter. It would really bolster the lower level pitching depth and bode well for 2023-24 (we will just have to fill in with free agents until then, I guess).
Side note/observation...........with the draft limited compared to past years (along with fewer teams to staff across MiLB), it seems that Brodie's strategy of quality over quantity is a good one (so far, anyway). If this draft is as deep as you say, there should be a ton of talent available as undrafted free agents, right?
Maybe Cohen's deeper pockets will allow the team to take advantage of this surplus?
I’m banging the pitching drum too.
ReplyDeleteMike
ReplyDeleteYes... this draft will be 6 round deep in top talent.
My pick right now would easily be Painter. Line him up behind Allen, Wolf, and Ginn
I absolutely love when Mack talks draft... it’s a year away and I speculate on the future as much as the present... so here is a couple of questions for Mack.
ReplyDeleteI am always about players money and draft as assets... so Mack you have stated many times that In this time of pandemic you would choose college players in the first 3 rounds... but you want a prep kid... can you electorate now?
If the best player on the board is a Ss are you saying we shouldn’t because we currently have depth? We all know that depth is just a injury or not development away from no depth
And since we are so pitching poor are you saying we should be focused on Pitchers.
(Me personally I always want OFers cause we always need 3 of them on the field and we haven’t exactly always been great developing them)
Eddie
ReplyDelete1. I go back and forth on this prep/college thing. It all depends how much O2 they give me:)
With the loss of borth Binghamton and Kinsport, our current chips like Allen, Wolf, and Ginn all are projected to start off at the A levey, if not higher.
I now think the right thing to do here is stack up stsrters behind them.
2. "Best player available" should always rule except you an equally rated play that plays another position.
ReplyDeleteAs for SS, pipeline depth is fantastic. Try to imagine how much trade rule we would have with a new red chipper, Rosario, Gimenez, Mauricio, and let's not forget Reyes
Go best player available unless your top name on your board has the same rating as someone that plays another position
ReplyDeleteFive shortstop prospects would put us in a commanding trade position.
Eddie
ReplyDeleteThe Mets ranked in the top 5 in BA, OBP, and OPS
If they had a rotation that had an average ERA of 4.00, they would have easily won 10 more games, regardless of the poor RISP
Amazing mack. Simply Amazing. Thank you for these draft posts.
ReplyDeleteI see the Mets going college pitcher here. Makes sense to look for a fast mover to restock the upper levels:
ReplyDeleteBest scenario:
Gunnar Hoglund, RHP, Ole Miss - a top 10 pick that just might be there at 10.
Likely scenario:
Jaden Hill, RHP, LSU -
A Jaden Hill type would be great.
ReplyDeleteVelocity and health means quick help.
Remember, slower velocity David Peterson left school as a junior and still needed 2017 short ball, 2018 and 2019 before arriving in Metsville in July 2020.
A blazing high schooler might need the same amount of time. A higher velo Jaden Hill might be ready in 12 months.