5/30/21

Mack - Weekly Draft Notes



 5-27-21 - last word -

 

RHP - Ty Madden -

 

High velocity and a good fastball-slider combination are Madden’s specialty. The same can be said for Washington Nationals RHP Max Scherzer. In fact, Scherzer and Madden have similar frames – both 6’3 tall and roughly the same weight. At his best, Scherzer averaged just under 95 mph on his fastball, and he still averages 94 mph at ager 36. Madden also operates at 93-96 mph with his fastball.

 

Additionally, Scherzer uses his slider 19.9% of the time as his second-best pitch, and his changeup at 14.2% for his third-best pitch. Although his changeup is faster on average than Madden’s, their sliders both sit in the mid-80 mph range. Scherzer is on his way to the Hall of Fame. It is unfair to say that Ty Madden will have Max Scherzer’s career, but given their similarities in size, repertoire, and power, he has the potential to dominate MLB hitters, similarly. 

 

5-26-21 - BA -

 

RHP Ty Madden -

 

The big Texas righthander is a draft archetype that goes back decades. Nolan Ryan. Roger Clemens. Kerry Wood. Josh Beckett. Jameson Taillon. The list goes on.

 

All of them seemingly cut from the same cloth as strong, powerful pitchers from the Lone Star State with big fastballs and seemingly boundless upside.

 

Ty Madden is familiar with his home state’s tradition for producing big, powerful righthanders, pitchers who, well, look like him. Listed at 6-foot-3, 215 pounds, Madden has touched 100 mph with his fastball and this spring was averaging nearly 95. The native of Cypress, Texas, a suburb of Houston, headlines the Texas rotation and has helped the Longhorns emerge as College World Series contenders this season.

 

Mack’s spin - 

Madden has settled in and is becoming a serious consideration in July’s draft. 

I Have him currently as my 3rd RHP. 

 

5-27-21 - mlb -

 

16. Marlins: Harry Ford, C, North Cobb HS (Kennesaw, Ga.)

 

The Marlins are associated with a lot of the best high school athletes, such as Ford (who can run a 6.42-second 60-yard dash and play anywhere on the diamond), Montgomery and outfielder Will Taylor.

 

Mack’s spin - 

Slowly moving up… now my 3rd catcher. 

 

5-27-21 - mlb -

 

29. Dodgers: Peyton Stovall, 2B, Haughton (La.) HS

 

Stovall might be the best pure hitter in the Draft -- college or high school -- but position questions could allow the Dodgers to grab him at the bottom of the first round.

 

Mack’s spin - 

My numero uno second baseman. 

 

5-26-21 - mlb -

 

Matt Mikulski, Fordham (No. 43)

 

Eligible a year ago, Mikulski was on the end of our Draft Top 200 as a lefty with a ton of effort in his delivery and a big reliever risk. He wasn’t drafted and he returned to Fordham to give it another try. That’s looking like it’s going to work to his benefit as he’s evolved into the second-best college southpaw in the class, streamlining his delivery and throwing more strikes. Now 9-0 with a 1.45 ERA, a .127 batting average against and a 124/27 K/BB ratio in 68 1/3 innings, teams think he might have a better chance to start.

 

Mack’s spin - 

Getting late movement, but far behind this projection. 

I have him as my 15th southpaw 

 

5-26-21 - mlb -

 

Doug Nikhazy, Mississippi (No. 67)

 

With potential top-10-overall pick Gunnar Hoglund going down with an elbow injury that required Tommy John surgery, Nikhazy has stepped up as the Rebels' ace with a career-high 13 strikeouts in his last start and double-digit whiffs in four of his last six outings. Now 8-2 with a 2.12 ERA and 107 strikeouts in 72 1/3 innings, he's a pitchability lefty who throws strikes with four pitches, the best of which are his mid-70s downer curveball and mid-80s slider/cutter. 

 

5-26-21 - clarion ledger -

 

RHP Doug Nikhazy

 

Doug Nikhazy is one of the best starting pitchers in college baseball and the ace of Ole Miss' rotation. 

 

A junior left-hander from Windermere, Florida, Nikhazy is in his third year leading Ole Miss baseball's pitching rotation. He earned All-SEC honors in 2021 and is a top candidate to earn All-America honors one year after being named a third-team All-America honoree by Collegiate Baseball and two years after being named a Freshman All-America honoree by Collegiate Baseball and Perfect Game.

 

Nikhazy has flummoxed SEC hitters for years and has a chance to lead the Rebels through the postseason to their first College World Series berth since 2014. Here are three things to know about Nikhazy.

 

Mack’s spin - 

Nikhazy has had an impressive year so far for Ole Miss. 

Current stat line as of 5-27: 13-starts, 9-2, 2.18, 78-1-IP, 114-K 

He has taken over the role as Friday starter after teammate Gunnar Hoglund went down for the year. And, let’s remember… he’s doing this against SEC competition. 

I currently have him rising to my 3rd southpaw. 

 

5-26-21 - mlb -

 

Andrew Abbott, Virginia (No. 71)

 

Abbott was also Draft-eligible last year, but didn’t go in the five-round event. He’d pitched almost entirely out of the Virginia bullpen, very effectively, since 2018, though scouts often pondered what he’d look like in a starting role (something that was talked about in 2020, but never happened). Well, he’s done it this year and has been very consistent in the rotation, with a 2.87 ERA, .217 BAA and a 126/27 K/BB ratio in 81 2/3 IP. His ability to still miss a ton of bats while cutting his walk rate down, competing very well with three pitches, gives him the chance to start.

 

Mack’s spin - 

My 8th southpaw. 

 

5-26-21 - mlb -

 

Christian MacLeod, Mississippi State (No. 74)

 

MacLeod redshirted his first year with the Bulldogs in 2018 after coming down with pneumonia but since has become one of the premier strikeout artists in the Southeastern Conference, including 90 whiffs in 66 innings this year to go with a 5-3 record and 3.14 ERA. His money pitch is an upper-70s curveball with downer break that plays well off his fastball, which ranges from 87-93 mph but stays off barrels because he commands it, tunnels it well with his curve and creates riding life.

 

Mack’s spin - 

My 6th southpaw. 

 

5-26-21 - mlb -

 

Joe Rock, Ohio (No. 75)

 

Rock didn't pitch at all last spring because he was academically ineligible but starred in summer ball and fall practice and could pass former big leaguer Dave Tobik (third round, 1974) as the highest-drafted pitcher in Bobcats history. He spun a seven-inning no-hitter against Morehead State in his second start this year and is eight strikeouts away from the school season record for strikeouts with 110 in 82 2/3 innings while going 8-3 with a 2.29 ERA. He mainly operates with a low-90s fastball that reaches 96 with riding action and a hybrid breaking ball that combines slider velocity with curveball depth

 

Mack’s spin - 

My 14th lefty.

 

 

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