Prospect Live is considered one of the top draft sites on the net and Joe Doyle is their slam dunk draft writer there.
We caught with Joe in August to ask him 10 questions, in general, and a few related to the Mets.
Mack - With the draft just 20 rounds this year and just five rounds last year, why have teams not signed more undrafted players?
Joe - A combination of reasons. First off, by minor league contraction, 30+ organizational positions were eliminated from need. There's simply not a need for as many players as usual. Secondly, players that aren't seniors aren't going to sign for $20k (the cap). They'd rather go back to school and bet on themselves.
Mack - In your opinion. What are some of the teams that ‘won’ this past draft?
Joe - The Pirates were the clear winners of the 2021 draft. Tons of upside. Safety and up-the-middle impact in Davis. That was an awesome draft. Once again, the Tigers cleaned up as well. Ty Madden was a good value where they got him. Loved Dylan Smith before the draft. Throw in Jackson Jobe and deep sleepers like Jordan Marks and Austin Schultz and I think they did well for themselves.
Mack - Joe, I consider the 2022 draft being pretty deep. Do you? And under that premise if you do, do you think the Mets made the right decision to give up a potentially superstar Kumar Rocker for a 1.11 prospect in 2022?
Joe - We'll see. I think the depth of college position players is going to be hugely important. That demographic looks strong. High school pitching looks great too. I'd like to see more college pitching rise to the top.
I don't think the Mets did the right thing by forfeiting Rocker, especially without any backups plans as over-slots late in the draft.
The Mets fumbled the draft.
Mack - LHP Frank Mazzicato skyrocketed up the draft and looked, to me, to be the late minute surprise in the 2021 draft. Any idea on a dark horse first rounder this year?
Joe - Mozzicato didn't really pop until February 2021, so we're still way, way out from that sort of pop-up skyrocket. That said, keep an eye on Andrew Healy from Glen Mills, PA.
Mack - The Mets drafted and signed pitchers Mike Vasil, Christian Scott, Carson Seymour, Dominic Hamel. And Calvin Zeigler. Do you see any future pro rotation pieces here?
Joe - I like Hamel the most of the group as a potential future starter. Ziegler might ultimately have the best stuff. Vasil, Scott, Seymour and Ziegler all have their own respective hurdles should they hope to start at the highest level.
Mack - Is the addition of 3B Cam Collier in this draft a ‘big deal’ and do you have him currently as your top defender of third?
Joe - Certainly a big deal. We like Collier in the first round at Prospects Live. I'm not sure if he's the top defender at third base. Still pretty early for that distinction, but on the prep side, he's in the conversation.
Mack - You mentioned in your first mailbag that you consider the talent for college pitching thin in 2022, while high school pitchers are deep. Can you share with us the names of the HS and Prep starters we might see being picked in the first three rounds?
Joe - *points in the direction of the Top 100 players** --
https://www.prospectslive.com/prospects-live/2021/7/24/2022-mlb-draft-top-100-prospects
Mack - We never see much ink being written about second basemen. Jace Jung is obviously number one here, but could you give us five other second basemen to keep an eye on?
Joe - Surely. Robert Moore at Arkansas, Joe Lampe at Arizona State, Brooks Carlson at Samford, Jacob Blas at Arizona and Jared Poland at Louisville
Mack - I have Kevin Parada, Logan Tanner, and Hayden Dunhurst as my top three catchers here. Am missing anyone?
Daniel Susac is almost assuredly a better offensive prospect than Tanner or Dunhurst. Matt Wieters kind of player. Keep an eye on Johnathan French at Clemson and Jimmy Crooks at Oklahoma
Mack - this is a sort of a draft question and, being a Mets writer, I’m curious of your opinion on the current Mets talent in the minors and the range where they would rank in the league.
Joe - I love the top of the Mets system. Mauricio is a personal favorite of mine. Baty is an intriguing bat as well. Alvarez, obviously a monster. That said, the org. lacks depth and that needs to be addressed in the coming drafts.
8 comments:
Great observations. Out of the prospect “weeds” elite players will arise, and it is nice to get Joes view on them and on the Mets’ current pitching and hitting prospects. Wonder why he didn’t also mention Vientos.
Great questions, too, BTW.
Thanks Tom.
Joe is one of the best if the prospect gurus.
Next week I have another... Brian Recca of SF Draft Talk
The biggest question is why we blew it (the FO mess is my guess) and hopefully that gets corrected this year. Any opinions?
Also does anyone know why the Rocker deal collapsed?
Blew what?
The Rocker mess is never discussed by any of the parties involved.
Good stuff Mack. thanks for keeping the future in the present.
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