Remember... you can't have enough great players, regardless of position.
McGuire is a 6-1, 190-pound lefty out of Kentwood (WA) High School. He's a 2013 Rawlings 1st team All-American and a member of the West-All Region 1st Team. Scouts have him easily as the top defensive catcher in the upcoming draft (only one of the projected top 13 catchers in this draft comes from a college), but he's also well know for his plus pop and power potential. Clocks the 60 at 6.97, 82-MPH throw from centerfield, and a 1.83 POP (average: 2:03 seconds).
Some things written about McGuire:
link - In a class filled with prep catching talent, McGuire stands out thanks to his outstanding defense and power potential from the left side. His defensive game is impressive in all aspects as he shows a very strong arm, moves well and can block nearly anything. Perfect Game had his pop time in the 1.8 second range and he clocked in at 1.9 in the All-American Game at Petco Park on a pitch that nearly bounced. There is no question that he will stay at catcher at the next level and he could easily be a plus defender there when all is said and done. At the plate, McGuire shows good raw bat speed and a smooth, clean swing. There could be some power down the road for McGuire and while you’re definitely buying the defense first here, he has plenty of raw hitting tools as well.
link - Summary: Reese McGuire is at the top of the class in a very good class of High School catchers. He is without a doubt a first round draft pick, and for me he is a top 15 pick. He has great potential to become an impact player at the next level. He is without a doubt one of my favorites in the 2013 class.
link - McGuire is a power hitting prep catcher who has a chance to stick behind the plate for the long-term. He’s got a chance to add more power to his game as he fills out, although if he fills out too much he could force a move from behind the plate. As a left-handed hitter, he would fit well in PNC Park. The Pirates have some lower-level catching depth with Wyatt Mathisen and Jin-De Jhang, but very few lower level catchers are locks to stick at the position. An excess in catching depth is not a bad thing to have, not to mention you draft based on talent rather than need.
link - At the plate, McGuire features an open, stance from the left side and lives up to the billing with great bat speed and good, not great raw power, including some to the opposite field. He uses his quick wrists to get his bat head out in front and take a direct path to the ball, and when his timing is right, he can square up everything. McGuire swings aggressively but has solid pitch recognition and a good knowledge of the strike zone. He gets into trouble when he mistimes his step and when he loses his bat speed trying to sell out for power. He’s also an average overall runner. He projects as a very good all-around hitter who will hit for a good average and get on base, but maybe a player who will top out at 15-20 home runs. McGuire ties his game together with great intangibles, showing outstanding leadership and a determination to maximize his talents and do everything he can to help his team win.
Downside - I hate when they label a catcher as a great defensive player. Are they trying to tell us he can't hit. Also, past history has proven that drafting a high school catcher has a much higher risk than drafting a junior out of college. You simply can't project the body of a catcher over the next five years.
ETA - A typical high school player projects out in the 4-5 year range. I don't see anything different here, but I will tell you this. This guy is going to be a great major league catcher someday. I like him and I understand the Mets like him too. He would be a steal at #11 and long gone at #48.
4 comments:
You left out the most important part of the decision making equation. He has a great name.
Then again our last Reese didn't amount to much.
Reese -
This is a great catcher... not as great as 2014's Alex Jackson who the Mets will be eligible to draft... but he's the best defensive catcher in the game and also has a nice bat.
There aren't 30 great catchers in baseball.
The top 30 players on any other position are gold, but these guys are platinum. They are so valuable in future trade talks.
I have no problem if the Mets draft this kid... in the second round :)
Like you said, he won't be around...
Look, first come first served...hopefully d'Arnaud becomes a star and hopefully Pawlecki continues to hit. Eventually, one of them will be trade bait and that's a great problem. Chances are though that Travis will stick because he'll have gotten there first. Who knows, Pawlecki might just push the issue.
As far as drafting another catcher? It's a premium position and I suppose they can't be criticized for it, but I just can't imagine them passing on a good college bat. Not with their needs and current lack of options in the minors.
Remember, they picked Nimmo and Cecchini and left plenty of platinum on the board. I truly feel like I, as in me, could have picked much better the past two drafts and the system would be stronger right now. If it wasn't for trading Beltran and RA, this system would be a joke. The only real talent you can point at and thank the Alderson regime about is Fulmer and Montero, possibly Pawlecki and Nimmo, but that's still a stretch at this point.
Yes, in two years I could very well be singing a different tune, but it seems to me that their first round picks are not exciting and in the next few rounds they continue to go slot or under, when they should be taking as much talent as possible off the board.
Luckily, 2014 will bring them a top 5/6 pick, which is protected, and its much harder to leave one of those top guys on the board to take a guy who should be picked in the late teens.
IMO, I like what I see in Plawecki, but he's no Travis d'Arnaud.
This is d'Arnaud's team to lose.
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