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12/30/21

RIGHT NOW… the Top 13 RHPs in the 2022 Draft (UPDATED)



(research through 12-28-21)


1. Dylan Lesko (1)

    6-3      170     Buford HS (GA)

93-96, T99 FB (1900-2300 rpm) , + 78-81 change (2700-3000mrpm), slider, curve

Change is one of the best seen in years.

Card is full of pluses, from his athleticism to mechanical operation.

Projected SP1  -  Vandy Boy commit 

 

2. Peyton Payette (3) 

    6-1     175      Arkansas

        2021 stat line -

15-G, 11-st, 1-2, 4.02, 56-IP, 67-K

93-95, T99 FB.

Hi-80s change.

++ 80 curveball averages north of 3000 RPM… an elite spin rate.

Elite arm.

An elite arm speed & sharp breaking ball.

Injured part of last season.

Projected SP2 

 

3. Brock Porter (2) 

6-4      220     Orchard Lake St. Mary’s (Mich.) HS

52-G, 52.2-IP, 81-K, 0.91 WHIP

99-FB.

++ 76-78 change with 1400 rpm spin rate.

77-79 curve.

Cold weather pitcher - Projected SP1

High ¾ slot.

Athletic and projectable with huge arm speed.

Clemson commit 

 

4. Blade Tidwell (4) 

Tennessee

2021 Tennessee stat line -

18-starts, 10-3, 3.74, 97.2-IP, 90-K

Draft-eligible sophomore.

Many believe is the best college arm in the country.

93-95 fastball, tops off T 99.

Sharp low-80s slider.

Low-80s change-up with fade.

 

5. Landon Sims (5) 

    6-1      205      Mississippi State

2021 stat line -

25-app, 5-0, 1.44, 56.1-IP, 100-K

An incredible 4-Ks per game as a reliever.

Had 100 total strikeouts-- roughly four per game-- while allowing only nine runs scored on 29 total hits.

No more dominant reliever in college.

94-95, T98 FB, 80-89 slider

Projected starter/closer 

 

6. Ian (JR) Richie (6) 

    6-2     185      Bainbridge HS (WA)

92-95, T97 FB, mis-80s slider, hi-70s curve

Slider showing flashes of a plus pitch with sharp bite.

True three-pitch mix.

Slider with late, sharp bite.

Solid combination of polish and upside to the mound.

Projected SP1 - UCLA commit

 

7. Andrew Dutkanych (7) 

    6-3     200     Brebeuf Jesuit Prep

42 2/3 innings pitched, 63 strikeouts, 1.17 WHIP

Top Indiana prep arm in years.

93-96 fastball that never drops below 90.

Fastball has excellent backspin and life up.

Mid-to-upper 80s hard slider with late tilt.

Upper 70s curveball.

Low 80s change-up that has occasional late fading action.

Draft him early, or over-slot, of he’s off to Vandy. 

 

8. Kumar Rocker (8) 

    RHP     6-5      245     ???

2021 Vanderbilt stats -

20-staters, 14-4, 2.73, 122-IP, 179-K, 39-BB

Mets drafted with 10th pick in 2021

92-95 FB, T-98

Graded as high as ++ by evaluators in the past.

Health going forward is a major question.

Has begun a throwing program.

Heading to Indy ball. 

 

9. Walker Ford (9) 

    6-3     195     McAdory (AL.) HS

Reclassified from 2023 draft.

Soaring up the charts.

90-95-FB, T-97 (2,400-2,600 RPM range).

Big 12-6 curve.

81-82 slider.

 3/4 arm slot, plunging movement.

 

10. Nazier Mule (10) 

    6-3      205      Passaic County Tech (NJ)

70 games, .364-2-55 with a 1.004 OPS

Top 10 shortstop prospect as well.

Turned only 17 in October.

Fastball starts sitting at 99, tops 100.

Short, low 3/4 arm slot.

Immense arm speed.

Sharp SL in the low-80s.

Probably #1 2-way prospect in this draft.

 

11. Javier Santos Tejada (new) 

    5-11      180     Georgia Premier Academy

Walked into Jupiter this summer as an unknown and started tossing 98 mph fastballs.

78-80 curve ball. 2600 spin rate.

Last 3 outings at big events, going 6 innings striking out 14 and allowing 1 hit.

Needs to work on control.

Look for him to start off as a closer.

Sort of a sleeper choice of mine.

 

12. Henry Williams (new) 

    6-5      195     Duke

2021 Duke stat line -

8-G, 6-starts, 3-3, 3.65, 1.27, 37-IP, 45-K

Missed 2 months last year with injury.

FB 90-93 MPH w/late run - 2,500 RPM spin rate.

81-85 slider with tight spin.

Good command of both pitches.

CU - high 2,300 RPM spin rates. 85-87 w/sink.

Plenty more projection.

Friday starter this coming season for the Blue Devils. 

 

13. Bryce Osmond (new) 

    6-3      175      Oklahoma State 

FB              CB               SL              CH        Command FV

50/55 45/55 40/50 40/40 45/55 5 

2021 Oklahoma State stats -

13-G, 10-starts, 2-5, 7.42, 57-IP, 67-K, 33-BB

2021 summer in Chatham -

1-2, 4.21, 26-K, 11-BB, 21.1-IP.

Big fastball touching 96.

Firm  83-86 slider.

Changeup in development.

Struggling to find consistency.

8 comments:

  1. Mack, I'd love any of the top 11 - except # 8. We were engaged and broke up - time to play the rest of the field.

    ReplyDelete
  2. Well my question is any shit at landing 2 of this list? One in the first and one in the second? Or is that a pipe dream?

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. There is a remote chance at 1.11.

      The bats will go first and there might be only one pitcher picked in the first 10 picks.

      Delete
  3. A qusetion about Rocker and signings in general: If he pitches independent league, which is 'professional', would he then become an 'unrestricted free agent' and be available to sign with any team that calls?

    What keeps him in the draft? My guess is that he still has college eligibility remaining?

    ReplyDelete
  4. Eddie, I don't see why not? We actually have 2 first rounders, but we could certainly go pitcher and bat in the first round and one of these guys should still be around in early round 2, since catchers, lefties, and position players will be getting drafted. Mack has the best handle on that, as of now, though. Happy New Year.

    ReplyDelete