Weekly Draft Notes

 Weekly Draft Notes

 

Good morning.

 

Forbes had a great article on the new direction major league baseball is developing prospect development. It’s a must read for all draft geeks -

 

The transformation of the Appalachian League into a 10-team, college summer wood bat league beginning in June epitomizes Major League Baseball’s bold vision for prospect development. A 54-game regular season schedule will be played under the watchful eyes of Major League Baseball and USA Baseball. Instead of waiting to achieve upperclassmen status and hopefully earning an invitation to play in the prestigious Cape Cod Baseball League, the Appalachian League will provide rising college freshmen and sophomores with access to elite coaching, highly competitive ball games, and advancements in technology that will aid in their overall development.

 

12-15-20  -  mlb -

 

Hitters -

 

Hit: 60 -- Jordan Lawlar, SS, Jesuit Prep (Texas); Matt McLain, SS, UCLA; Adrian Del Castillo, C, Miami; Marcelo Mayer, SS, Eastlake High School (Calif.); Colton Cowser, OF, Sam Houston State; Sal Frelick, O, Boston College; Daylen Lile, OF, Trinity High School (Ken.)

 

Power: 60 -- Jud Fabian, OF, Florida; Brady House, 3B, Winder-Barrow High School (Ga.); Izaac Pacheco, 3B, Friendswood High School (Texas); Josh Baez, Dexter Southfield High School (Mass.)

 

Run: 70 -- Benny Montgomery, OF, Red Land High School (Pa.); Lonnie White Jr., OF, Malvern Prep (Pa.); Will Taylor, OF, Dutch Fork High School (S.C.); Michael Robertson, OF, Venice High School (Fla.)

 

Arm: 70 -- Henry Davis, C, Louisville; Josh Baez, Dexter Southfield High School (Mass.)

 

Field: 60 -- Benny Montgomery, OF, Red Land High School (Pa.); Lonnie White Jr., OF, Malvern Prep (Pa.); Max Ferguson, 2B, Tennessee; Christian Franklin, OF, Arkansas; Noah Cardenas, C, UCLA

 

Pitchers

 

Fastball: 70 -- Chase Petty, RHP, Mainland Regional High School (N.J.); Mason Black, RHP, Lehigh

 

Curveball: 65 -- Seth Lonsway, LHP, Ohio State

 

Slider: 65 -- Kumar Rocker, RHP Vanderbilt; Jackson Jobe, RHP, Heritage Hall High School (Okla.)

 

Changeup: 65 -- Jordan Wicks, LHP, Kansas State

 

Control: 55 -- Ty Madden, RHP, Texas; Andrew Painter, RHP, Calvary Christian Academy (Fla.); Jordan Wicks, LHP, Kansas State; Gunnar Hoglund, RHP, Mississippi; Josh Hartle, LHP, Reagan High School (N.C.); Anthony Solometo, LHP, Gloucester Catholic High School (N.J.); Christian MacLeod, LHP, Mississippi State; Pete Hansen, LHP, Texas; Michael Morales, RHP, East Pennsboro Area High School (Pa.); Gage Jump, LHP, JSerra Catholic High School (Calif.); Nick Nastrini, RHP, UCLA

 

12-15-20  -  Press Of Atlantic City -

 

Mainland Regional High School senior Chase Petty finds himself ranked among the top prospects for the 2021 Major League Baseball First Year Player Draft.

 

MLB.com released its list of 2021 top prospects Monday night and the right-handed pitcher checked in at No. 22. The 6-foot, 185-pound Petty has wowed scouts this summer and fall with a fastball that has hit 100 mph on the radar gun.

 

Petty is a possible first-round pick. He has verbally committed to attend the University of Florida on an NCAA Division I scholarship. The MLB draft will be held July 11-13.

 

12-15-20  -  York Dispatch -

 

A York County baseball player could be drafted in the first round of the 2021 Major League Baseball draft.

 

That’s according to rankings released Monday by MLBPipeline.com.

 

MLBPipeline.com released its list of the top 100 national prospects for the 2021 Major League Baseball draft, which is set for July.

 

Red Land High School senior Benny Montgomery is listed No. 21 on that list. Last year, 37 players were picked in the first round, including competitive balance selections.

 

The 6-foot, 4-inch, 200-pound outfielder recently signed a letter of intent to play NCAA Division I baseball for the University of Virginia.

 

Still, depending on where he is drafted and the money he is offered, Montgomery could opt to sign with a major league organization this summer.

 

12-15-20  -  247 sports -

 

MLB.com unveiled their Top 100 Draft prospect for 2021. A current Florida State player, as well as a commitment, made an appearance on the list.

 

FSU outfielder Robby Martin checks in at No. 51 on the list. The scouting report on him is below:

 

A solid high school player in the Tampa area, Martin hit the ground running when he got to Florida State after the Marlins took him in Round 37 of the 2018 Draft. The outfielder was named to multiple Freshman All-American teams after hitting .315/.398/.449 in 2019, and he was batting.324 as a sophomore before the shutdown following an unproductive, albeit brief, turn in the Cape Cod League. Martin made up for some lost time by continuing to hit well in the Florida Collegiate League, hitting .313 over 19 games while playing alongside fellow Florida college outfield prospect Jud Fabian.

 

The left-handed hitter has added a lot of muscle to his 6-foot-3 frame since joining the Seminoles. He’s been more hit over power to date, with more doubles pop than over-the-fence power. He does make consistent hard contact and could reach average power in the future.

 

Martin has only manned outfield corners during his time in college, with a slightly above-average arm that plays well in either spot. He lacks the pure speed to play center and scouts aren’t sold on his overall defense, thinking left field is likely his best spot at the next level. Behind Adrian Del Castillo and Martin's summer ball teammate Fabian, Martin is the next best college bat in Florida, and it’s that bat that will get him drafted in the top few rounds.

 

FSU shortstop commitment Edwin Arroyo checks in at No. 52, right behind Martin. The scouting report on him is below:

 

One of the younger players in the 2021 Draft class, Arroyo quickly established himself as the best player from Puerto Rico on the summer showcase circuit, including picking up a pair of hits at the Perfect Game All-American Classic. The potential up-the-middle player will get the chance to be evaluated more closely in the spring, when he comes to Florida to attend Central Pointe High School for his senior season.

 

Arroyo offers an intriguing package of athleticism, defense and offensive potential, though he has a ways to go to get there. A switch-hitter, who is a bit better from the right side of the plate, Arroyo has good contact skills, and while he lacks current strength, he does have the chance to grow into some extra-base pop. Defensively, Arroyo has every chance to stick at shortstop, with plenty of arm strength, good hands and easy actions at the premium position.

 

Arroyo can actually throw with both hands and has pitched left-handed. That doesn’t necessarily impact his Draft stock, but does point to some intriguing athleticism in the Florida State recruit. If he can add some strength and perform well against better competition in Florida in the spring, his stock could soar.

 

12-15-20  -  pbj -

 

RHP Jake Misiorowski has the present size, strength and frame to suggest that he’ll be a projectable RHP. He has a very good feel for two pitches presently with a two-seam fastball that ranges between 88-91 consistently and a slider that shows good sharp late break and is his best current swing-and-miss offering. The curve currently is behind the other two offerings, especially in terms of command (it’s almost as though he tries to overspin the pitch). However, it does have a noticeably different shape than his slider. That gives the pitch hope taht he can develop it in the future since the breaking balls do not blend and get slurvy.

 

Currently starts from the left side of the mound with a high full leg kick and a directional fluid delivery to the plate coming from a three-quarters arm slot. Pretty good athleticism on the mound, fields his position well, and has quick reactions.

 

Overall, he has a good feel for two pitches, with the potential to develop a third pitch in his curveball. His pitch arsenal, projectable frame, delivery, and ability to make adjustments suggest he has a future as a potential starter as he enters the minor leagues.

 

12-14-20  -  Prospects Live @ProspectsLive

 

Carter Holton is, quite literally, the "toughest at-bat of anyone in the class" according to several of the top bats in the class. A big, deceptive fastball and a power 12-6 curve, Holton figures to be in-play on day one next July.

 

 12-14-20 - Joe @JoeDoyleMiLB

 

2021 MLB Draft prospect Braden Montgomery getting in some work with the Kelenic family and Hitters Baseball. Montgomery is one of the better pure hitters (a switch-hitter too) in the class, and is a legit prospect on the mound too.

 

 Sam Houston State University OF Colton Cowser is a bit of an enigma in scouting circles. We're all still trying to figure how high the ceiling is. 6-3, 200. 55 runner. 60 raw, 50+ game. 50+ hit. Good bat speed. Can play CF. Swing tinkerer. Short to the ball. Old-school player

 

 

12-15-20  -  Ian Smith  - @FlaSmitty

 

There might only be a handful of 70-grade pitches in the ‘21 MLB Draft,  and RHP Jackson Jobe (OK) may own one of them with his SL. High spin(3000-3200rpm) that sits in the low 80s w/ more to come. Tight shape with hard, late horizontal break. Plus command in any count

 

 12-16-20  -  mlb -

 

Q: What's your take on outfielder James Wood?

 

Jonathan Mayo: For Wood, it’ll be him having to show that the player who was as good as any high school position player over the first halve of the summer is who he is, not the one who showed too much swing-and-miss in the second part of the showcase circuit. Those who saw him late didn’t think he was a first-rounder, let alone one who belonged near the top.

 

12-16-20  -  mlb -

 

Q:  If Kahlil Watson shows out over the course of this draft cycle, how high could he rise in this Draft class?

 

Mayo  -  With Watson, it’s more a concern with his volatile on-field behavior than anything, with tremendous tools and the ability to play shortstop. In both cases, we think they’re going to perform enough to belong or we wouldn’t have put them in the top 15.

 

 

12-18-20 - D1Baseball @d1baseball

 

Not only is Luke Waddell a disciplined on-base machine at the top of the GT baseball lineup, but he’s an ultra-dependable defender at SS.

And @lucas_wadd07 is the glue guy, the energy guy, & the guy who never stops running his mouth!