Weekly Draft Notes

 

1-30-21 - Baseball America - @BaseballAmerica

 

Jordan Lawlar is the top-ranked high school prospect in the 2021 MLB Draft class entering the season.

 

Mack’s spin -

 

Ranking someone as the top of anything is always debatable.

 

Let me say this… Lawlar is the top SS, either college or high school, in this draft.

 

 

1-28-21 - ncaa -

 

Player to know: Benjamin Sems, SS.

 

Sems comes to Michigan after four years at Kansas, where he was a three-year starter and .265 career hitter. He’s a solid defender capable of anchoring the infield. If he can do that and recapture his 2019 form, when he hit .305/.414/.437 with 14 stolen bases and then was a Cape Cod League all-star over the summer, he’ll be a standout in Ann Arbor.

 

Mack’s spin -

 

Knew nothing about this guy until I read this.

 

I will keep my eyes on him throughout the season.

 

  

1-28-21 - BA -

 

Player to know: Gunnar Hoglund, RHP.

 

Hoglund came to college with a lot of hype after he was drafted 36th overall by the Pirates in 2018 but chose to attend Ole Miss instead of signing. He’s been in the Rebels’ rotation ever since and was off to a hot start in 2020. 

While classmate Doug Nikhazy was Ole Miss’ Opening Day starter in 2020, Hoglund is every bit as important to the team’s 2021 College World Series hopes and is likely to be the first of the pair drafted in June. If the Rebels are to reach their ceiling, they’ll need a strong spring out of Hoglund.

 

Mack’s spin -

 

Hogland will definitely go in the first round… probably in the 20-30 pick range.

 

 

1-28-21 - ba -

 

Player to know: Christian Franklin, OF.

 

Overshadowed by Kjerstad and Martin in the lineup, Franklin has been productive the last two seasons in his own right. In 75 career games, he’s a .301/.389/.470 hitter, and last year, he did an excellent job sliding over into center field after the departure of Dominic Fletcher. He’ll enter this coming season as the clear focal point of the Arkansas lineup, but he looks ready for the challenge. 

He has more than enough arm and speed to continue to handle center field ably, and that speed combined with strength at the plate makes him a unique threat as someone who can hit the ball out of the ballpark and swipe bases. The next step for him is to cut down on his strikeouts, and if he can do that, he has SEC player of the year potential.

 

Mack’s spin -

 

Franklin will be a first round pick. Not ours, but somebody after us.

 

  

1-28-21 - ba -

 

Player to know: Daniel Federman, RHP.

 

Federman, a fourth-year junior, is the most experienced pitcher on the Hurricanes’ roster. He’s thrown 117.1 innings over 65 career appearances, compiling a 2.76 ERA. He’s pitched as a starter, a setup man and a closer, and that versatility and experience makes him crucial this spring. 

He isn’t overpowering—he’s listed at 6 feet, 209 pounds and his cutter is his best pitch—but he throws a lot of strikes and will pitch significant innings in 2021, likely as a starter.

 

Mack’s spin -

Actually, I don’t have any information on this guy.

 

However, I will keep now keep an eye on him.

 

 

1-28-21 - kstatesports -

 

In a vote of the Big 12 head coaches, K-State left-handed pitcher Jordan Wicks was selected as the Big 12's Preseason Pitcher of the Year, the conference office announced Wednesday.

 

Wicks becomes the first Wildcat to earn the preseason award, as he and Texas pitcher Ty Madden shared the honor. Wicks was also a unanimous selection to the 2021 Preseason All-Big 12 Team.

 

Mack’s spin -

 

You know how high I am on Wicks.

 

Currently, he is my third pick as our first pick.

 

 

1-28-21 - ba -

 

Player to know: Cooper Stinson, RHP.

 

Stinson didn’t get quite as much attention as Jarvis last season, in part because Jarvis threw a perfect game and Stinson didn’t. But otherwise, Stinson’s numbers were nearly as good, and in some cases, were even better than his teammate’s. In 21.2 innings over four starts, he had a 0.42 ERA and 24 strikeouts compared to just four walks. The low walk total was a particularly welcome development after he issued 43 free passes in 54.1 innings as a freshman. 

Stinson has the frame and the stuff, including a low-90s fastball and a slider that projects to be a plus offering, to handle Fridays in the ACC, and with another step forward, Duke should have one of the best Friday starters in the conference once again.

 

Mack’s spin -

The more attention Stinson gets, the more we have an eye on him.

 

His 2021 season wil determine where and when he is drafted.

 

  

1-28-21 - ncaa -

 

Robby Martin took a different approach with his offseason, focusing on shedding bad weight and becoming leaner and more athletic. Now listed at 6-foot-3, 210 pounds, Martin is a hard-contact machine, with one of college baseball’s sweetest lefthanded swings. Look for his power numbers to spike as well in his third year at FSU. 

Albert is another instinctive natural hitter with a pretty lefthanded stroke, solid power and speed that plays in center field. He’s got All-America potential if he can avoid the shoulder issues that hampered him in the past, and he’s a perfect fit in the 2-hole behind Tyler Martin. 

The son of the head coach, Tyler might not have the big, sexy tools of some of the other guys in the lineup, but he’s a high-energy scrapper with a little whip in his swing, and he just has a knack for finding his barrel and moving the ball around the field. He also has the best plate discipline in the lineup (as evidenced by his 16-8 BB-K mark last year) and might prove to be one of the toughest outs in the ACC. He’s just a winning player and an ideal catalyst.

Mack’s spin -

 

Martin could be picked in the second round.

 

I have him in the third.

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