Blake Taylor-LHP
18 years old
2nd round pick 2013 MLB Draft
2013 stats: A Gulf
0-2 2.57 21 IP 13K 9BB SO9-5.6
What the experts say:
“With their second round pick in the 2013 draft
the Pirates went for the rare projectable lefty when they drafted Blake Taylor.
He’s a year younger than most high school draft picks, but has some impressive
stuff and the potential to get better as he matures. Taylor throws his fastball in the 89-92 MPH
range with good movement. He has touched mid-90s with the pitch in the past,
and could eventually get to the point where he is sitting low-to-mid 90s as a
starter. The one downside to his fastball is that he lacks command of the
pitch, leading to some control problems.”
“Overall Taylor has a good fastball with the frame
to add velocity and one day sit in the low-to-mid 90s. He has the makings of a
plus curveball to pair with that fastball. He’s going to need work on his
fastball command and changeup. Taylor is several years from the majors. He’s
got a lot of talent, but right now he’s highly projectable.”
“Simple left-handed delivery; not too many moving
parts; repeats his delivery well; lithe, athletic frame; throws easy mid-90s
heat. Great fastball velocity; clocked in the 89-93 mph range; can dial it up
to 95-96 mph when he needs to. Spins a good curveball; has potential to be an
above-average pitch at the next level; at the same time, needs to be used more;
hasn't needed much besides his fastball at the high school level; sits in the
77-83 mph range. Pitch rarely gets used; as such, it's hard to tell if the
pitch will be usable at the pro level; fastball-curve combo has rendered
changeup unnecessary for Taylor; developing third pitch will be crucial to
his development as a starter; if he fails to develop pitch, he's staring at a
career as a reliever.”
MLB Player Comparison: Brian MatuszProjection: No. 4 or 5 starter for a first-division team; more likely a successful 7th- or 8th-inning reliever.
MLB ETA: 2019
http://bleacherreport.com/articles/1651341-blake-taylor-prospect-profile-for-pittsburgh-pirates-2nd-round-pick
Why?
The Mets
are knee-deep in starting pitching-from the right side. From the portside
however other than 22 year-old Steven Matz and minor league veteran Darin
Gorski the cupboard is bare. Taylor would fit a definite Mets need, and could
someday succeed Niese as the southpaw option in the New York rotation. It’s
obvious that Alderson covets a hard-throwing left-handed SP prospect. That’s
what he sought for Davis in the winter and it makes sense that would be what he
acquired in the PTBNL from last Friday’s trade. If he is the PTBNL in the deal
then Taylor could slide into the back-end of an elite Mets staff by the turn of
the decade.
Why not?
With an ETA of 2019, Taylor is a long ways away
from actually helping the Mets at the major league level. The lefties Alderson
looked at in the offseason were all only a year or two away from the majors,
and could be plugged into the rotation by mid-season of 2015 to compliment or potentially
replace Niese. That’s not the case with Taylor. He’s not even a full-season
player in 2014 and a lot of bad things can happen between now and 2019. The
Mets have a more immediate need for southpaw starters. If he is the PTBNL Alderson
is rolling the dice in a big way and the Pirates are giving up on a highly
regarded piece of future Buc rotations. For these reasons I don’t see Taylor as
the PTBNL in last month’s Ike Davis deal.
JaCoby Jones 2B/OF
3rd Round 2013 MLB Draft
2014 Stats: A –SALL
.299-4-16
5SBs .366/.477/.842
2013 Stats: A-NYP
.311-1-10 2SBs .358/.459/.817
What the scouts say:
Even though JaCoby Jones was a well-known
commodity as a high school senior in 2009, his all-around rawness and strong
college commitment caused him to fall to the Astros in the 19th round of the
draft. As expected, Jones chose to attend Louisiana State rather than sign,
where he quickly emerged as one of the top freshmen in the country. Appearing
in 56 games, he batted .338/.395/.467 with 16 extra-base hits (four home runs),
13 stolen bases and 37/12 K/BB.Jones’ follow-up campaign in 2012 was highly scrutinized by scouts, which only amplified his season-long struggles. Overall, he finished the season batting .253/.308/.363 with 18 extra-base hits and 11 stolen bases, and fanned 41 times in 176 at-bats. And although he didn’t open eyes in the Cape Cod League last summer as many thought he would, the right-handed hitter still improved his draft stock by batting .266 with five home runs. He also showcased his robust raw power in the league’s home run derby, which he won after launching seven towering shots.
Although there’s still a considerable amount of inconsistency, Jones’ approach and secondary skills noticeably improved over the course of the 2013 season. Through 55 games, he batted .283/.382/.417 with 15 extra-base hits (five home runs), 12 stolen bases and 42/28 K/BB.
While he’s flashed first-round ability at times in each of the last three seasons, Jones’ baseball skills have simply never caught up. As a result, he’s arguably the most intriguing and risky position prospect in this year’s class. It’s going to take him significantly longer than most of his peers to develop, but the final product could be a power-speed monster.
There are a lot of different options all over the field for Jones to play. His most valuable position, if he can stick there, would be shortstop. It seems more likely that he could stick at second base if he stays in the infield. His best position is center field, which would put him up against tough competition inside the system. The position he ends up playing will partially be determined by how well he can return from his knee injury, and whether there are any lasting effects.
http://www.piratesprospects.com/2014/01/pittsburgh-pirates-2014-top-prospects-19-jacoby-jones.html
Despite being a college pick (out of LSU), the Pirates still aren't quite sure what they have in Jones. He played shortstop in Baton Rouge and played there some in the New York-Penn League last year, but he also saw some time in center field (he's only appeared at shortstop this season). A premium athlete, Jones struggles offensively at times despite solid tools. He has an aggressive approach that sometimes gets him in trouble.
http://www.mlbprospectwatch.com/mlb_prospect_watch/jacoby-jones/
MLB Player Comparison: Adam Jones
Projection: Ceiling of an occasional All-Star and 30-30 candidate if all comes together; floor of a guy who possibly doesn’t make it to Double-A; very high risk.
MLB ETA: 2017
Why?
Who wouldn’t trade for a future Adam Jones-type to
patrol the pastures of Citi Field and be a key cog in the middle of future Met
line-ups? JaCoby ones would be a great compliment to Nimmo, and imagine the fanfare
as Jones, Nimmo, and Dom Smith arrive together during the 2017 season. Sure, he’s
a high risk but how can you say no to such potential. Right now Puello is
scuffling in Vegas while the starting trio in Binghamton are off to lackluster
starts so it’s not like the Mets are loaded with high upside OF talent down on
the farm. Sure, maybe Vaughn finds his stroke, Puello gets hot and Lawley or
Taijeron put it together but none of them possess the five star tools Jones
possesses. Right now he’s tearing it up in the SAL and if he is the June addition
Jones would either slide into a starting OF slot for the Gnats or join Nimmo in
the St. Lucie OF. Also, on a team loaded with OF talent like Pittsburgh Jones
is a perfect trade chip. Sure you could say they’d be overpaying for Ike’s
services but with Meadows ahead of him, and Polanco arriving to PNC later this
summer Jones is a talented piece of OF surplus.
Why not?
I'm sure the Mets would love to add Jones. The Pirates however? First, OF glut or no OF glut why would the the Pirates trade a player they thought highly enough to draft in the second round of last year's draft for Ike Davis? Austin Meadows and Jones make a potentially dynamic one-two punch but if one of them flops you have the other to rely one. In some ways Jones is a hedge in case Meadows doesn't reach his ceiling.
Back to the Mets, maybe Alderson really only wants a lefty starting pitching prospect in return for Ike. That's the only reason I could see him not taking Jones if he was offered. Otherwise, there'd be no reason for the Mets not take Jones if he's the trade chip the Bucs offered.
I'm sure the Mets would love to add Jones. The Pirates however? First, OF glut or no OF glut why would the the Pirates trade a player they thought highly enough to draft in the second round of last year's draft for Ike Davis? Austin Meadows and Jones make a potentially dynamic one-two punch but if one of them flops you have the other to rely one. In some ways Jones is a hedge in case Meadows doesn't reach his ceiling.
Back to the Mets, maybe Alderson really only wants a lefty starting pitching prospect in return for Ike. That's the only reason I could see him not taking Jones if he was offered. Otherwise, there'd be no reason for the Mets not take Jones if he's the trade chip the Bucs offered.
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