Weekly Draft Notes

Good morning.

 

1-14-21 - BA -

 

Earlier this week, the 120 teams invited to be part of Major League Baseball’s new minor league system received their Professional Development Licenses (PDL). Now, the clock has begun on what is expected to be one of the final stages of an 18-month process.

 

The 120 teams have until Feb. 10 to decide whether to sign the PDLs and become part of MLB’s new minor league system, or decline and forge their own path.

 

If a team fails to sign within the 30-day window, MLB could opt to extend the deadline, but it is more likely to simply offer the declining team’s PDL to a different team.

 

 

1-13-21 - Joe @JoeDoyleMiLB

 

Cal RHP Grant Holman (6-6, 235) has seen his name bump up boards this winter after a loud summer/fall. FB-CB-CH, up to 93-95/t97. Been a two-way guy, leaning harder into pitching now. Solid command. Developing put-away pitch. Rd 2-4 round talent. Good, big, durable, starter body

 

 

1-12-21 - BA -

 

The Mets paid out one of the biggest bonuses of the 2019 class to land Dominican center fielder Alexander Ramirez for $2.05 million. Later in the year, they signed Venezuelan righthander Robert Dominguez, a late riser who ran his fastball up to 99 mph at 17 years old and ranked as the top pitcher signed in 2019.

 

For the upcoming signing class, the Mets seem to be taking a different approach, with no projected seven-figure signing at the moment, but a significant volume of players in the $100,000 to $600,000 bracket.

 

Two outfielders the Mets are expected to sign are Johairo Cuevas from the Dominican Republic and Gustavo Marquez from Venezuela.

 

Among pitchers, the Mets are expected to sign Dominican righthander Elian Nuñez, who throws a lively fastball that sits in the upper 80s and pairs it with a tight-spinning curveball, as well as Venezuelan righthander Enderson Arevalo.

 

Other Venezuelan players the Mets are expected to sign include shortstops Diego Mosquera and Samuel Camacaro, righthanders Lennerd Ramos and Aaron Martinez and lefthander Inmer Lobo. Dominican catcher Ruben Tatis and Dominican outfielder Sebastian Castro are also connected to the Mets.

 

 

1-12-21 - Buster Olney @Buster_ESPN

 

The Commissioner's Office sent a dictum to teams that spring training is to start on time, and clubs are taking it seriously and diving into their plans now. This does not guarantee it will go seamlessly, or will be without pauses, but the camps will open in mid-Feb., apparently

 

1-11-21 - lookout landing -

 

Benny Montgomery is one of the best power-speed threats in this years class. The physical skills mirror those of Adell four years ago. Montgomery is a sure-fire top ten talent in terms of raw tools, though his hit-ability this spring will likely determine how high his stock can soar.

 

The ceiling here is a top ten pick with the floor likely being out of reach for Seattle at pick no. 47. If the hit tool really shows out this spring, Montgomery would be the perfect type of project for the Mariners player development staff to sink their teeth into assuming they have the confidence to optimize what’s possible with this kid.

 

There’s very real superstar potential here, but whomever drafts Montgomery must have conviction and a plan.

 

1-9-21 - gators wire -

 

As a freshman at Florida, Jack Leftwich appeared in 24 games as a pitcher, making 12 starts and tossing a total of 81.1 innings, the most by a freshman at Florida since Logan Shore‘s 95.2 in 2014.

 

In 2019, Leftwich became exclusively a starting pitcher, posting a 5.31 ERA in 62.2 innings over 13 starts. He was hampered throughout the season by a blister on his pitching hand but rebounded nicely to record a 1.77 ERA over his final three outings. His high point of that campaign was a complete-game shutout at Taylor Stadium against the No. 24 Missouri Tigers on May 17. To date, this remains the lone complete game in his Gators career.

 

1-7-21 - CUBBIES CRIB -

 

Jackson Jobe, SS/RHP, Heritage Hall

 

One of the more seemingly underrated prospects within Baseball America’s top 30 draft-eligible high school prospects of this upcoming draft is a two-way star, Jackson Jobe. Standing a solid 6-foot-2, 190 pounds, Jobe packs a punch and displays a smooth delivery. He currently has a verbal commitment to Ole Miss.

 

 

Jobe was on a unique trajectory as a two-way player. His primary position started at shortstop, but soon after, the stocky right-hander moved to the mound. Most likely, he will not see the number six spot on the diamond moving forward.

 

His two strongest pitchers are his fastball, which topped out at 96 mph, and his slider carries a nice breaking bite, and per his scouting report, at Perfect Game carries a spin-rate of 3,100 rpm. To put it into perspective, Los Angeles Dodgers starter Walker Buehler posted the second-best slider spin-rate in the majors in 2020 at 2948. If Jobe can make his slider the primarily dominant pitch, he will be in business.

 

As a very talented and athletic star for Heritage Hall, Jobe put up some gaudy improvements, adding more velocity to his fastball and continuing to master his curveball and changeup, which moves towards right-handers in the box, making it a potentially strong out pitch.

 

Jobe also drives the ball with authority. His exit velocity of 92 mph, according to Perfect Game, ranked above the 90th percentile in his class. The swing is effortless. Being able to sit back on the ball patiently appears to be a strength of his, and it could translate well if he continues to work on hitting too at the next levels.