Gage Jump
LHP JSerra Catholic HS (CA)
Gage Jump – LHP: From older prospect to a younger one, Gage will just be turning 18 during his draft month. A young Left Hander with a blazing Fastball that Grades as Plus (60) sitting 92-93 T95 generating a ton of Swing and Miss up in the zone with one of the better Vertical Approach Angles in the draft. With fantastic extension and drive off his back leg. Although he is a smaller pitcher, just (5’11 180lbs) he uses all of it and more and it really is an advantage. He has a Curveball with 2/7 shape that flashes Above-Average (55) and a Changeup to round out the repertoire and has starter traits if he can iron out a bit of command issues that seem to come and go from time to time.
PG -
Gage Jump, LHP, Canes National/Mets Scout Team
Jump was excellent, as he always is, at the WWBA World Championship. He punched out 13 over 8 innings (2 outings), allowing just 2 baserunners overall. The fastball peaked at 94 mph and his breaking ball is coming along in a huge way, which is what we’ve wanted to see from him on the circuit. His stock is high and rising heading into next spring.
MLB -
Gage Jump, LHP, JSerra Catholic HS (Calif.) -- One of the better lefties in the class, Jump is also an undersized southpaw who really knows how to pitch. The UCLA recruit was 91-95 mph on Sunday with a mid-70s get-me-over curve and a better 80-81 mph slider. He’s super athletic and shows tremendous competitiveness on the mound.
5 comments:
Gage Jump is a highly unusual name, and he looks like a highly desirable lefty candidate
Yeah... he is my #2 lefty in this draft.
Researching the AAA best young players that have a blocked path to the bigs.
It happens. Really good AAA young players with no clear cut path to the MLB because their parent club already has a really good young starting player ahead of them.
So they sit and wait, hoping for that player to get hurt so they can get their chance.
This is precisely where I think that there could be a whole world of opportunity and difference for a shrewd MLB organization. It's all about digging in and doing the elbow grease homework.
It can be done.
In Reality, Not Virtual
The above suggestion I just made, is almost like a second draft round for any organization, if you think about it. And there is no bonus payout to a player either. Sweet.
Sometimes drafts don't go so well.
Players sometimes may not be what their scouting report had indicated or a draftee can get injured right away and be out for awhile. Like with pitchers elbow and shoulder injuries entailing a potential two-year setback for instance.
The best media baseball reporters, trying to suggest team fixes for rosters of the team that they cover, almost always go with the veteran and established free agents as their roster suggestions. The players with like seven (or more) years of experience and 30+ years of tooth to them. In other words here, players with a track record of experience that suggests a big 3-4 year contract to the moon Alice. But are they still highly motivated once they get to that new team?
Why always the 30+ year old roster fixes with the team reporters?
Because it's an easier thing to do than research dozens and dozens of good young AAA players who actually do have their career paths blocked by a stud young player ahead of them. These players are blocked to the majors and want only to get their fair shot. But they cannot. Players that could hook up with another organization (via trade) and maybe be even allowed to play right away.
This is what I am talking about.
Exemplified
Here's an example of what most NY Mets team reporters are thinking player personnel wise.
1. Trevor Bauer - YES, he has skills. But he's age 30 for 2021, made $17.5 million in 2020 and holds a nearly 4.00 ERA career wise and a 75-64 won/loss.
2. JT Realmuto - YES, he has a nice skillset. May be the very best catcher in MLB or number two. But he's older now and will command a four year deal. He made $20.0 million in 2020. He isn't a superstar but will probably command superstar money.
3. Trevor May - This guy I like, although age 31 in 2021. 96 mph fastball reliever. Still brings the heat. He made $2.2 million in 2020. I definitely look at. But can room in the 2021 Mets bullpen be made? I think so.
4. Marcus Stroman - We have seen already. He's a really good four starter to me because he does seem to lack the killer out pitch to be one strikeout per inning. But is his heart here?
5. Mookie Betts - Already on a huge and eternal contract. I pass on.
6. Jackie Bradley - Older and has not established himself as a year in/year out batting average guy. Although a tremendous CF. Made $8.5 million in 2020.
7. James McCann - Now here's a catcher I might take a long and hard look at. Can hit for average (.289 with 7 HR's in 2020) and he made $5.4 million in 2020, and is asking for a $30.0 million package deal for three. His career batting average is .250 and he's a decent defensive catcher.
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