2022 Draft Thoughts: Daniel Susac, Jordan Beck, Blake Tidwell, Cam Collier

12-30-21 - https://www.prospectslive.com/prospects-live/2021/12/29/2022-mlb-draft-top-300-prospects - 

6. Daniel Susac Catcher, Arizona 

A big, tall, switch-hitting catcher, Susac immediately brings back visions of Matt Wieters at Georgia Tech. Susac has a very good arm behind the plate, and more explosiveness and lateral mobility than most catchers his size do. But this guy will make his money with the bat. A potential plus hitter with plus power, Susac projects a middle-of-the-order impact bat, a run producer and an impact defender up the middle of the field. Susac's batted-ball data surpasses that of Henry Davis from 2021. The kid can bang.

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12-27-21 - https://www.prospectslive.com/prospects-live/2021/12/26/2022-mlb-draft-early-preview-corner-outfielder 

JORDAN BECK, TENNESSEE 

Beck fits the profile of a prototypical right-handed corner outfielder with big power, a big arm and burgeoning production as he’s grown into his matured, adult body. A 14th round selection by the Red Sox in the 2019 draft, Beck decided against Boston and instead elected for three years in Knoxville, a decision that looks to be paying off. 

Beck looks the part of the varsity quarterback. It’s a 6-foot-3-inch, 215-pound frame with a strong lower half and wide shoulders. He’s got a quiet swing with a consistent swing plane that produces big game power. That swing produced a .271/.336/.523 slash this past season, slugging 15 homers along the way. Beck’s exit velocities this season peaked north of 112 mph, encroaching on the elite category. He had a fairly average summer on the Cape, though strikeouts were more of an issue than they were on campus.

 Beck is a really good athlete in the field with above average athleticism, above average footspeed and comfortably a plus arm that projects to only get stronger. Beck is particularly comfortable around the wall and on the warning track, something not everybody on this list can claim. He’s a really good bet to stay in right field as a pro. 

With the assumption Beck’s approach and bat-to-ball skills take a step forward this spring, he’s a good bet to go early in the draft. He’s got the tools that fit the meta right now and that generally doesn’t last long.

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12-21-21 - Joe Doyle @JoeDoyleMiLB 

Armed with a 99 mph fastball and a wipeout slider, Tennessee RHP Blade Tidwell has the makings of a big league ace. He could be the first starting pitcher off the board in the 2022 MLB Draft. Tidwell spent the offseason re-shaping his fastball... 

https://t.co/oiDg9ETDg7  

12-17-21 - Perfect Game Mock Draft - 

14. New York Mets | Blade Tidwell, RHP, Tennessee 

The Mets double down on college prospects with their two first round picks, this time landing what could end up being the best college arm in the country. Tidwell is a draft-eligible sophomore and after coming on strong at the end of his freshman year, has built up quite the head of steam heading into year two. The fastball was topping out at 98 mph last year in the SEC tournament, and with an adjustment to hand speed on the slider it has the potential of the kind of long, athletic power right-handed arm the Mets have had in the past. -CO

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12-22-21 - https://www.lookoutlanding.com/2021/12/21/22847372/2022-mariners-mlb-draft-profile-cameron-collier-scouting-report - 

Cameron Collier. 

As a high schooler, Collier was expected to be a top-five prospect in the 2023 draft before electing to reclassify into the 2022 draft, withdrawing from his Georgia high school and earning his GED before enrolling at Chipola College, a Florida junior college well-known for producing draft prospects. That means instead of being one of the older prep prospects in 2023, Collier, who just turned 17 in November, will be one of the youngest prospects in the ‘22 draft. In an August Instagram post announcing his decision to reclassify, Collier thanked his father, eight-season MLB veteran Lou Collier, for his guidance, along with former big-league mentors like Marquis Grissom and Marvin Freeman. 

Like dad Lou, Cam Collier is a third baseman, although at 6’2”/210, he’s significantly bigger and stronger than his pops. His already-strong lower half leads some scouts to wonder if the younger Collier might eventually wind up a corner outfielder if his body continues to mature, but he draws praise at the hot corner for smooth footwork, a strong and accurate throwing arm, and solid defensive instincts. His defense has stood out at various showcase events, not necessarily with shiny highlight plays that blow up draft Twitter, but through capable consistency, solid fundamentals, and an innate ability to read the ball off the bat and react quickly that results in plays like this: 

12-7-21 - SF Draft Talk - Top 25 - 

2. Cam Collier 

Position: Third Base 

School: Chipola College 

Commitment: Louisville 

Collier at #2 may be considered a tab too rich but my reasoning for Collier's high ranking mirrors my reasoning for having Termarr Johnson at #1. I believe in Collier's bat and the performance and measurables back up that belief. With that said, I don't think Collier's lock on the #2 slot is secure and there's a good chance that a few college bats will surpass him by the time the 2022 draft is here. We still have to wait months before college baseball even starts, so for now Collier sits at 2. Collier will be one of the youngest players available in the 2022 draft class (he just turned 17). It’s hard to see Collier going any later than round 1 at this point. He’s committed to Louisville for 2023. 

11-17-21 - Prospects Live @ProspectsLive 

Cam Collier has a buttery, effortless swing with big raw power to all fields. Comfortably a plus arm and a top-of-the-scale competitor, Collier has tools galore. He'll be just 17 years old during the 2022 MLB Draft, and he's a popular name at the top... 

https://t.co/e8GiOsytHx  

 

                                11-11-21 - Baseball America - 

Cam Collier, still just 17, is now one of the youngest players in the draft class and has standout tools. The lefthanded hitter has a smooth swing, uses the whole field to hit and has above-average power. He also has a big arm that plays well at third base and gives him two-way potential, though his greatest upside is as a hitter.  

                        11-10-21 - Joe Doyle  @JoeDoyleMiLB 

Cam Collier has a buttery, effortless swing with big raw power to all fields. Comfortably a plus arm and a top-of-the-scale competitor, Collier has tools galore. He'll be just 17 years old during the 2022 MLB Draft, and he's a popular name at the top... 

https://t.co/uPbhQnZv9s 

                    11-1-21 - Prospect Live - Top 200 Prospects - 

41 Cam Collier 

3B

Mt Paran Christian

Austell, GA Collier comes packed into a physical frame with big strength in his lower half and core. Collier reclassified from the 2023 class into this years class and because of it will be one of the youngest player draft-eligible in June. In fact, he'll be just 17 years old and 7 months on draft day. In 2020, third baseman Blaze Jordan took a similar route. Collier is one of the smoothest players you'll find in the class. At the plate, it's effortless and fluid with an all-fields approach and big pull-side power. Collier has a bat path that big league scouts dream on. He doesn't sell out for loft and instead generates his power inducing backspin on the baseball and driving through pitches in the zone. On the dirt, Collier is certainly destined for third base where his plus arm soft hands project well for the position. Collier is a below average runner, though his money will be made with the bat and with his throwing arm.