Mack's Mock Pick - #34 - 2B - Max Ferguson

 Max Ferguson

 

Mack's spin - 

Ferguson is now considered the top pure second baseman in the draft. 

He's a good hitter, a good fielder, and showed increase pop in last year's shoetened season. 

I have him here because every team needs a good second baseman to compliment who they have at short. Ferguson is this kind of player.

2B          6-1         180          Tennessee

2020 Tennessee stat line - 13-G, 42-AB, .333, .986-OPS, .524-slug, 2-HR 

2-18 - 21 - Joe  @JoeDoyleMiLB

 

Second base ranks for the 2021 season. A lot of these guys have versatility or project to move to 2B as professionals. The Boston College tandem of Sal Frelick and Cody Morissette lead the way, though Max Ferguson and Tyler Black are very good players. Dayton Dooney is a sleeper 

 

2-15-21 - CBS - Top 50 -

 

47. Max Ferguson, 2B, Tennessee

 

It's hard for collegiate second basemen to get onto prospecting radars: they're often at the keystone because of other deficiencies in their game, be it their range, their arms, or some combination thereof. Ferguson boosted his stock last season, moving to second on a permanent basis and hitting .333/.462/.524 with two homers and nine steals in 13 games. He's never going to hit for much power as a professional, but he does have above-average wheels and could go in the top 50 with a strong spring. 

 

1-25-21 - 247 sports -

 

A pair of Tennessee baseball sophomores — second baseman Max Ferguson and catcher Connor Pavolony — were named Monday to D1Baseball.com's Preseason All-America Team.

 

Ferguson, a versatile performer who can play several spots on the infield, was named a preseason First-Team All-American, while the steady Pavolony was named to the second-team squad.

 

The left-handed-hitting Ferguson has been a mainstay in Tennessee’s lineup the past two seasons, and he, like several teammates, was on track for a huge season before the COVID-19 pandemic cut short the 2020 campaign. He hit .333 with two homers, 12 runs scored and two home runs in 12 games. Ferguson, a Florida native, is essentially a consensus top-50 prospect heading into the 2021 Major League Baseball draft — for which he’ll be eligible since this will be his third season with the Vols. 

 

1-20-21 - D1 Baseball's top 100 College Prospects -

 

24 Max Ferguson 2B H Tennessee SEC 

 

1-14-21  -  Baseball America

 

Max Ferguson Tennessee 2B

 

Ht: 6-1 | Wt: 180 | B-T: L-R

Commit/Drafted: Never Drafted

Age At Draft: 21.9

 

A skinny, 6-foot-1, 180-pound infielder, Ferguson struggled with the bat as a freshman at Tennessee, but looked much better early in 2020, hitting .333/.462/.524 through 13 games. He doesn’t profile as a big home run hitter ever, with well below-average power, but Ferguson does have a plus tool in his running ability and can play all over the infield. After playing primarily first base in 2019, Ferguson moved to second base in 2020 and that’s where scouts think his best defensive home is long term. A chance to be an average hitter and fill in at shortstop if necessary at the next level, Ferguson will get most of his value out of his glove, a good batting average and baserunning ability. He’s stolen 13 bags for the Volunteers in 47 games and has been caught just once—good for a 92.9% success rate. 

 

ut sports -

 

2020 - SOPHOMORE

 

Played in 13 games and made 12 starts during the shortened 2020 season (COVID-19)

 

Ranked second in the SEC and 23rd nationally with nine stolen bases

 

Went 2-for-3 with an RBI in win over ETSU (3/10)

 

Went 2-for-4 with two RBI against Wright State (3/8)

 

Went 2-for-4 with a solo home run in win over Wright State (3/7)

 

Went 2-for-4 and scored two runs in win over Houston at the Round Rock Classic (2/22)

 

Went 2-3 and hit his first-career home run, while adding two RBIs in win against Western Illinois (2/16)

 

 

 

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 Max Ferguson is a 2018 MIF/SS, 2B with a 6-1 166 lb. frame from Atlantic Beach, FL who attends The Bolles HS. Tall, lean, athletic build with room to fill and physically mature also runs well. Good 60 yard sprint time recorded at 6.86 seconds. Worked out on the infield and showed good actions. Quick first step to the ball, read hops well on choppy infield, worked through the back hand, showed off arm strength and accuracy to first base. At the plate he has a square stance, stands tall, and has simple mechanics. Starts the swing with gather to rear leg, stride separates to strong launch position, with a quick lower half. Creates torque, matches pitch plane with barrel path and made solid contact driving the ball to the outfield.

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