Mack's Draft Prospects - #1 - SS - Jordan Lawler

 

Jordan Lawler

Mack's spin - 

We have spent all of this season letting the two Vanderbilt starters, Kumar Rocker and Jack Leiter, go back and forth as the first and second pick in this draft.

Both have showed they are human these past couple of weeks, but Lawler truly hasn't.

He is a bonefide 5-tool player that is very special.

Right now... today... he is the top prospect in this draft.

 

SS      6-2     185      Dallas Jesuit HS (TX)

 

 5-6-21 - MLB - 5-6 Mock Draft-

 

1. Pirates: Jordan Lawlar, SS, Jesuit Prep (Dallas)

 

As a five-tool high school shortstop from the Dallas area, Lawlar draws comparisons to Bobby Witt Jr. (No. 2 to the Royals in 2019), who had louder tools but a less polished bat at the same stage of their careers.

 

 4-29-21 - Baseball Prospect Report mock 3.0 -

 

2. Texas Rangers: Jordan Lawlar, SS, Dallas Jesuit (Texas) HS

 

The Rangers are incredibly high on Lawlar, and it doesn’t sound like they will pass on him if he’s available. Lawlar is a five-tool player who remains the top prep prospect in this year’s draft, despite California prep shortstop Marcelo Mayer moving up draft boards.

 

 4-26-21 - mlb.com mock draft -

 

2) Rangers: Jordan Lawlar, SS, Jesuit Prep (Texas)

 

Lawlar remains the top prep player on most boards and is still definitely in the mix to go No. 1 overall. Texas has gone college bat in the first round the last two Drafts, but there isn’t one who fits here.

 

 4-22-21 - pipeline podcast mock -

 

2) Rangers (Mayo): Jordan Lawlar, SS, Jesuit Prep (Texas) -- Callis taking Leiter made this easier as I feel Lawlar’s the next best player in the class right now as a five-tool player at a premium position.

 

 4-19-21 - TTF - Mock 2.0 -

 

2. Texas Rangers: Jordan Lawler, RHP/SS, Jesuit Prep HS (TX)

 

There’s a lot to like about Lawler. Big shortstop that does just about everything right, but isn’t elite in one skill. Texas needs to inject some star power into their system, and Lawler is a good start. He’s a shortstop in the mold of a Carlos Correa type.

 

 4-2-21 -  Through The Fence -

 

4. Boston Red Sox: Jordan Lawler, RHP/SS, Jesuit Prep HS (TX)

 

Many are debating whether Lawler should become a top-three selection. I don’t think he should be, but pending on how he develops his senior year this season, he could make some noise at the top of the draft. There’s a lot to like about Lawler. Big shortstop that does just about everything right, but isn’t elite in one skill.

 

 3-30-21 - Prospects Worldwide -

 

2. SS Jordan Lawlar | School: Jesuit College Prep HS, TX | Commit: Vanderbilt | B / T: R / R | Ht: 6’2 | Wt: 185lbs | Age: 19

 

Lawlar shows off a rare polished skill set for an HS Shortstop with the ability to stick at a premium position. Showing 4 Above-Average to Plus Tools, with just the Power grading lower as the lone League-Average grade. And the Power has been showing up early in spring with several HR to CF. One of the few players in the entire class that has legitimate 5 Tool potential if he can tap into more consistent power. Smooth, comfortable in all aspects of the game with a Jeter-like approach and bat control in the box. A near-lock for the Top 5 with 1.1 considerations. Similar to Xander Bogaerts.

  

3-12-21 - top hitters in draft -

 

#2. Jordan Lawlar, SS

 

Drawing comps to former first-rounder and current Royals prospect Bobby Witt Jr., Lawlar is a five-tool shortstop from Texas that’s currently committed to NCAA powerhouse Vanderbilt. However, Commodore fans will most likely miss out on the prep phenom as BA has him pegged as the second-best player in the ’21 class, behind only pitcher Kumar Rocker (a current Vandy product). At 6-2, 185 pounds, the speedy Lawlar is expected to stick at short as a pro, and with an already above-average hit and power tool, this is a player capable of eventually developing into one of the game’s most complete players.  

 

 3-12-21 - top 50 HS players  -

1. Jordan Lawlar, SS, Dallas Jesuit HS, Dallas

 

A Vanderbilt commit, Lawlar has the athleticism, range, and hands to stick at shortstop. He's a plus-plus runner with above-average arm strength. He's also a potentially above-average hitter with above-average power.

 

 2-27-21 - top hs players -

 

Jordan Lawlar – Possibly the best overall player in the class, Lawlar boasts impressive tools and feel for the game. He projects as an above-average hitter who should grow into above-average power, and he’s currently a plus runner. He also shows the range and hands to stick at shortstop.

 

 2-26-21 - pg  -

 

Jordan Lawlar, SS, Dallas Jesuit (Texas)

 

The No.1 prep prospect in the class of 2021, Lawlar was the best player on the summer circuit and cemented himself as the consensus top high schooler in the 2021 MLB Draft. The season hasn’t started yet in Texas but we were able to catch a scrimmage look as Lawlar got four at-bats along with pregame cage work and some defensive chances.

 

The physicality jumps out right away for Lawlar who has filled out nicely over the winter offseason and has done so without losing any athleticism. He looks extremely physical with good added strength but he still runs well and moves very fluidly at shortstop. He can still run, too, as he turned a 4.5 second time rounding first base following his laser double in his final at-bat of the day.

 

The defensive skills were excellent as per usual as he didn’t get many opportunities but still showed impressive balance on a charge play in the first chance of the game. The ball comes out of the hand with easy carry and Lawlar’s plus arm is absolutely a weapon. On a play at the plate he caught a relay on the run and fired a strike right at the catcher’s mitt from about 150 feet away. Lawlar projects as a shortstop at the next level with the combination of arm strength, athleticism, and instincts to stick there for the foreseeable future.

 

When evaluating Lawlar you’re looking at a prospect who projects to have a bevy of plus tools without being worse than solid-average in any category. He’ll stick at shortstop and hit for average as well as power while potentially grading out as plus with both the hit and power tools. There is a long spring ahead for the Texas native but he certainly looks the part as the game comes extremely easy to him and there aren’t many glaring weaknesses to speak of. He’s projected to go in the top-10 of July’s draft and is certainly the favorite for the first prep prospect off the board.

 

 2-22-21 - Vinnie Cervino @vcervinoPG

 

Was able to catch a Jordan Lawlar (TX) scrimmage today and he went 1-1 with a 2B, 2BB, HBP. Thread includes some cage hacks and defensive work. He looks great physically, easy top of the draft talent.

 

2 -18-21 - PG - Top HS Prospects -

 

1 Jordan Lawlar

 

6-2  185  R/R SS Irving, TX Vanderbilt Jesuit College Prep

 

High level athlete up the middle; above average run tool; short, repeatable RH swing with lots of barrel and jump coming off; stood out at 16u WWBA. A PG National standout with excellent defensive actions and the body and swing that project big, but already showing in game production.

 

 2-15-21 - CBS - Top 50 -

 

2. Jordan Lawlar, SS, Dallas Jesuit HS (TX)

 

The most commonly used comparison with Lawlar is to Bobby Witt Jr., a fellow Texan who was drafted second by the Royals in 2019. As with Witt, Lawler's upside should obscure his relative seniority (he'll turn 19 before the draft). He has the requisite hands, arm strength, and footwork to remain at the shortstop position for the long haul. At the plate, he marries a quick bat with a frame that bodes well for future plus power. Lawlar's boosters believe he could possess five tools that grade as above-average or better at his peak, making him a regular (and plausible All-Star) at a premium position. It's a strong year for high-school shortstops, and Lawlar currently looks like the best of the bunch.

 

1-26-21 - BA -

 

2. Jordan Lawlar, SS, Dallas Jesuit HS

 

Areas To Improve: Handle velocity at the plate, become a more nuanced defender

 

We’re in the nitpicking range, but none of the players in the 2021 draft are perfect. Lawlar has a case as the best pure hitter in the prep class along with Marcelo Mayer, but some scouts want to see him do more damage against upper-end velocity at the plate even after he was one of the best performers with the bat last summer. Additionally, Lawlar is a strong defender but the most critical evaluators will talk about how he gets away with things because of his athleticism, so improving his internal clock, footwork, angles and other granular defensive details could make him an even more well-rounded player.