Mack - Prospect Report

10-16-22 - 2023 MLB Draft: an early look at the ACC

http://dugoutedgebaseball.blogspot.com/2022/10/2023-mlb-draft-early-look-at-acc.html?m=1&s=03 - 

7. 3B Jake Gelof, Virginia.

Bat: R. Throw: R. 6'1", 195 lbs. Born 2/25/2002. Hometown: Rehoboth Beach, DE.

2022: 21 HR, .377/.477/.764, 3 SB, 49/41 K/BB in 58 games.

Zack Gelof hit .316/.396/.478 with 16 home runs over a three year career at UVA, then went to the A's in the second round of the 2021 draft. Two years later, his brother Jake has a chance to beat his draft position, now that he's coming off a monster sophomore season in which he set the UVA school record for RBI (81) and finished near the top of the school leaderboards in multiple other stats. 

He loves to turn on the ball and can do so virtually anywhere in the zone, not having to wait for that middle-in fastball to crank one. ACC pitching did not faze him one bit, as he hammered virtually everything thrown at him and had opposing managers circling his name in the lineup. Despite the big numbers, he wasn't always the most consistent hitter and lost his approach at times, but those highest on the Delaware native may be willing to write that off as an underclassman just being a young hitter. 

There is also some swing and miss present in his game, as he ran an 18.7% strikeout rate this past spring, but he's pretty patient too and overall it's not a major concern. He has the look of a 25+ home run hitter with solid on-base percentages that can hit in the middle of a major league lineup if everything breaks right and he gets more consistent at the plate. 

He's also a solid defender at third base that should be able to stick there, providing additional value all around. There are many similarities to Yohandy Morales on this list, though Morales is bigger, more athletic, and had a better summer.

 

10-5-22 - Jupiter Uncommitted Gems: Part 2 - https://www.perfectgame.org/Articles/View.aspx?article=21312&s=03 - 

Alex Urias, OF, Cumming Ga.

Class of 2023 | PG Rank: 500

TG D-Backs Scout Team 

A right-handed hitting outfielder that swings the stick, Urias incorporates a compact stroke with zone awareness and barrel control to all fields while in the box. A left-handed thrower, he provides versatility on the defensive side with good routes in the outfield and athleticism around the bag as a secondary first baseman. A solid addition to any program looking for a hitter that fills multiple roles. 

 

9-7-22 - https://www.prospectslive.com/prospects-live/2022-mlb-mock-draft-n78w7-st9r4-wa35p-2n5ls-8addg -

 

15. Boston Red Sox

Eric Bitonti, Infield, Aquinas 

The Red Sox have gone so incredibly heavy on California prep shortstops in recent years that, at this point, it’s almost impossible to ignore. Bitonti is more of a power-first infielder with tremendous bat-speed. He may end up at third base or in left field, but you’re buying the bat here. Bitonti will be just 17 years old on draft day, so models will continue to value him very highly.

 

9-19-22 - Top 20 college prospects for '23 Draft -

https://www.mlb.com/amp/news/top-college-prospects-for-2023-mlb-draft.html - 

18. Paul Skenes, RHP, Louisiana State

One of college baseball's best two-way players last year at Air Force (10-3 with a 2.73 ERA and a 96/30 K/BB in 85 2/3 innings, .314/.412/.634 with 13 homers), Skenes is the best 2023 prospect in LSU's crazy-deep transfer class. He has a brighter future on the mound with a riding 93-95 mph fastball that tops out at 99, a power mid-80s changeup and a firm upper-80s changeup that shows flashes of becoming a solid third offering. 

 

10-19-22 - https://www.prospectslive.com/prospects-live/2022/1/15/2023-mlb-draft-prospects-fx4td?s=03 - 

2023 MLB DRAFT - TOP 200 PROSPECTS - 

3. Jacob Gonzalez

Shortstop, Ole Miss

 Gonzalez almost never strikes out, and he makes a ton of contact as well. This kid has fantastic eyes at the plate and can anchor any lineup he’s thrust into. His batted-ball values have been loaded too. Really loud. 

He's got juice to the pull-side and only projects to develop more as he ages and works to understand what he's capable of. Some scouts question the swing mechanics at the next level as Gonzalez has a tendency to throw open his hips at times, but his production has never wavered against premium college stuff. Defensively, it's a solid average glove with an above average arm, though his size may ultimately shift him to third base. 

Gonzalez isn't a burner and probably won't be a base-stealer as a pro, but he’s a very good athlete.