Draft News:

 

Tyler Jennings (@TylerJennings24) 

All Derek Curiel does is hit, hit, and hit. 

The olu baseball product hammered a fastball to the RCF gap for a leadoff triple earlier. Really clean and easy stroke from the left side, bat speed is present. He's one of the best prep bats for a reason.  LSU commit. 

 

CLICK ON -2023 MLB Draft Preview: Shortstops - 

George Lombard Jr., Gulliver Prep (FL) — 

There’s a lot to like in Lombard Jr., but there are also question marks. As far as power goes, Lombard Jr. ranks as one of the best in the class. However, given his aggressiveness at the plate in swinging for the fences, there’s also plenty of swing and miss there as well. As far as defense goes, most scouts think he has the arm to stay up the middle, but as he fills out his 6’3 frame, he’ll make the shift over to third base. 

 

Kiley McDaniel (@kileymcd) 

I spoke with projected 1st rounder Arjun Nimmala about his unique path. 

Until high school, there was some baseball but also regular trips to India to visit family, where he played cricket. 

When baseball became his focus, he jumped to the top of the class

 

Ian Smith (@FlaSmitty) 

Strawberry Crest (FL) SS Arjun Nimmala has plenty of suitors in the Top 15-20 picks, and easy to see why. Toolshed with present top of the class power and projection, all while sticking at SS. 

 

CLICK ON - A change at No. 1 - 

 The MLB Draft begins in just 10 days, and Keith Law has a new mock draft out this morning — with a new name on top: 

1. Pirates - Paul Skenes, P, LSU

2. Nationals - Dylan Crews, OF, LSU

3. Tigers - Wyatt Langford, OF, Florida

4. Rangers - Max Clark, OF, HS

5. Twins - Jacob Gonzalez, SS, Ole Miss

 

32. New York Mets — George Lombard, Jr., SS, Gulliver Prep (FL)

DOB: 6-02-2005 | Height: 6-3 | Weight: 190 

This link has come up a few times recently, although the further we get down in the draft the more uncertain it becomes who’ll even still be available at any specific pick. 

Scouting Report: 

Lombard is the son of the former Atlanta prospect, the team’s second-round pick in 1995 and now the Tigers’ bench coach, but Junior is taller, more athletic and an infielder with some real upside at the plate. He’s got a straightforward swing and quiet approach with good loft for future 65-70 power. However, despite plenty of bat speed, he has struggled with better velocity and can get locked into a single bat path. He’s a solid-average runner who’s a shortstop now, with widely varying views on whether he can stay there; some scouts think he’s a certain shortstop, while others see a move to second or center field. He’s a Vanderbilt commit. 

 

Kiley McDaniel  (@kileymcd) 

Okay let’s get ahead of ourselves and start a 2023 MLB Draft thread. 

Kansas SS Maui Ahuna is hitting over .400 with an OPS over 1.100 and emerging power; has a top two round look