(Previous rank - research through 1-8-22)
A bunch of new stuff has come in… interviews, mock drafts, scouting reports, film, etc.
Major changes will begin with this post for this position.
1. Andruw Jones (2)
6-3 180 Wesleyan HS (FL)
Athletic ability among the best in this year’s crop.
Raw power take enormous steps in the last several months with most scouts comfortably placing plus grades.
++ speed and amazes in the field and at the plate.
Exit velocity off his bat is eye-popping.
Swing change recently now generating more power.
70-grade runner. Double-plus speed.
Five-tool potential.
Premium defensive center fielder
2. Chase DeLauter (3)
6-4 230 James Madison
2021 James Madison stat line -
26-G, 101-AB, .386/.508/.723/1.231, only 14-K, 6-HR
2021 Cape -
34-G, 9-HR, .589
Really turned scouts head at the Cape.
Physicality along with plus athleticism.
A career average in the .380s.
Some prodigious raw power
Potential to hit 40 home runs at the next level.
A ++ arm in a corner. Rangy speed. Sound fundamentals.
Clocked 6.4 second 60 at pro day
Rising on the charts every week.
Ranked at No. 3 for Perfect Game's Top 300
3. Elijah Green (1)
6-3 215 IMG Academy
Could be a plus hitter with plus-plus raw power. Already tapping into that juice in-game.
There’s not much Green cannot do.
The ball comes off his bat in a special way.
Above-average raw power and speed.
Quality center fielder with a strong arm. Five tool player.
70-runner with a 70-arm.
Swing and miss concerns.
Everyone has Green in their Top 5.
4. Brock Jones (4)
6-0 203 Stanford
2021 Stanford stat line -
56-G, 206-AB, 59-K, .311, .646-slug, 18-HR,
62-RBI
Ultra-physical, muscled-up outfielder.
Tooled up across the board.
One of the best power-speed combinations.
4-tool player. Limited arm.
Strikeout rates healthy and drew a lot of walks.
Above average runner, maybe plus.
Projected more power to come.
Played safety in 2019.
5. Gavin Cross (5)
6-3 210 Virginia Tech
2021 - VT stat line -
51-G, 203-AB, .345/.415/.621/1.036, 11-HR, 48-K
2020 -
.369, .629-slug%
Drives the ball to all parts of the field.
Exit velos are among the best in the country.
Plenty of power.
May have the best college hit tool in draft.
Will stick in right.
Above-average arm.
Has moved into the first round.
6. Dylan Beavers (new)
6-4 205 California
2021 stat line -
55-G, 211-AB, .327/.401/.630, 18-HR
One of the best players in the PAC in 2021.
Gets high marks for his hit tool and raw power.
Some loft in his swings, as evidenced by his 18 homers last season.
Patient hitter.
Plus runner with natural instincts on the base paths.
Projects in the corner.
7. Jordan Beck (new)
6-3 215 Tennessee
2021 Vols’ stat line -
67-G, 258-AB, .258/.333/.523, 15-HR
6-3 215 Tennessee
8. Paxton Kling (7)
6-2 195 Central HS (Pa.)
Stats -
42 games, .444-4-32 with a 1.218 OPS
Hits for power.
Above average hit tool.
Clocked at 106 mph off the bat.
Above-average runner.
Projects as center fielder.
Strong, physical corner outfielder w/ plenty of power.
Needs to work on swing-and-miss stats.
Projects as a corner outfielder.
9. Jud Fabian (9)
6-2 190 Florida
2021 Florida stat line -
59-G, 225-AB, .249/.364/.560/.924, 20-HR
Finished strong last year after a slow start.
Never went more than 4 games without a HR.
Strike outs are an issue.
Strikeout rates did improve as his spring progressed.
+ speed & range very well in center field.
Tools across the board are significant.
10. Cayden Wallace (new)
6-0 205 Arkansas
2021 Arkansas stat line -
60-G, 240-AB, .279, 14-HR
Hit Power Arm Field Run FV
20/40 30/55 55/55 50/50 40/40 4
+ raw power and an above average arm.
Shifted from third base to right field in college.
An average hitter w/ middle-of-the-lineup thump.
Average runner but arm will be fine in the corner.
Fringy runner.
11. Chris Newell (8)
6-2 190 Virginia
2021 Virginia stat line -
57-G, 194-AB, 75-K, 17-BB, .258, 5-HR
2020 -
.407
Projected 1st round pick out of high school.
Lackluster 2021 season (.733 OPS).
Ended up being one of UVA’s most dangerous hitters through regionals/Omaha.
Hit very well this summer in the Cape.
Needs to work on whiffs.
Strong defense in center field.
Plus outfield arm and above average foot speed
12. Justin Crawford (10)
6-2 170 Bishop Gorman HS (NV)
Level bat path and showed solid bat-to-ball skills.
Dynamic athlete with 80 speed.
6.11 60-yard time with a 1.53 10-yard split.
Prototype body with immense projection.
Covers ground many center fielders can’t get to.
Raw arm strength is currently below average.
13. Gavin Turley (new)
6-2 190 Hamilton HS (AZ)
Some of the biggest prep tools in 2022.
Plus-plus speed and arm.
Swing has plenty of physicality and natural loft. Huge bat speed.
Dynamic center-fielder.
If he hits, he's got all-star potential.
Either of the two Jones fellas, or deLauter. I do not want swing-and-miss.
ReplyDeleteI expect Druw, Jones, and DeLauter gone in the first 10 picks
ReplyDeleteBrock should be there
If not, go pitching with 1.11 a d call out either Cross or Beavers at 1.14
Sucks to know you have zero shot at the top talents. Baseball needs a lottery. Those teams that tank should go to a second division, like European soccer. I’m grumpy today.
ReplyDeleteMore outfielders? The system is full of them! Either elite elite, or just take the top two lefties; they sound good.
I think if a player can’t hit the ball consistently yet, he won’t get better as the pitching gets harder (Green). Pass.
I definitely think we need 1 OF out of the first 2 picks u less the pitchers are just can’t miss
ReplyDeleteNBA uses a lottery - baseball should, too.
ReplyDeleteLet's remember targeting draft picks by position needs now makes no sense.
ReplyDeleteThese kids are 4 years away from helping at the pro level.
Understood Mack but we don’t have a OF pipeline
DeleteWe have away kelenic and crow Armstrong
So I agree we need best players available but we don’t have OFers and we need 3 of them
So we should alway have OFers
What you want to do is increase talent depth.
ReplyDeleteThis means, right now, the system needs more starters.
I agree that adding outfielders should be a priority, especially since Boras will probably take Nimmo to free agency.
ReplyDelete1st priority - SP
2nd - OF
3rd - Catcher
4th - 1B
The way I look at it is not so much as position needs now, but get a good balanced look at the system as a whole. Balance the top 10 prospects, then the top 30, etc.
ReplyDelete3 of the current 10 ten are RHP, 3 are left side infielders, 3 are outfielders and one a catcher. That is somewhat positionally balanced, but none of 3 pitchers are at the top of the system. Two of the three outfielders are knocking on the door to the big club, the other is still in St. Lucie.
I'd like to see a top college outfielder who can move up quickly and one or two of the top left handers out of the top 4 picks. A stud catcher is always good to have. If the leftys aren't the right guys, pick the top right handed pitchers available.
I'll be interested to follow these new guys they picked up over the next few years. Also, Ramirez is a few steps ahead of them. It will be interesting to see where they go with him. Perhaps push him a bit and end the year in Brooklyn.