Mack's Mock Pick # 44 - OF - Levi Usher

 

Levi Usher

Mack's spin - 

Usher is  a defense first speedster with a powerful arm that would play at any of the three outfield positions.

His question is his bat which, as you see, is off to a horrible start this season.

He started this mock season in the top 20 picks of the draft and he has quietly slipped into the second round.

 

OF     6-1     195     Louisville

 

 2021 stat line as of 3-15:   15-G, 51-AB, .216, 1-HR

 

2-15-21 - CBS - Top 50 -

 

44. Levi Usher, OF, Louisville

 

Usher is a good athlete with a loose body and a scattershot statistical history. He hit .411/.484/.571 in 16 games with the Cardinals last season, but that run was bookended by stints in the wooden-bat Northwoods Leagues, where he produced a .261/.337/.373 line in 46 games. Usher can run and throw, yet that won't be enough to keep him in the first round unless he puts concerns about his bat to rest. 

 

1-20-21 - D1 Baseball's top 100 College Prospects -

 

18 Levi Usher OF H Louisville ACC 

 

1-14-21  -  Baseball America

 

Levi Usher

 

Louisville OF

 

Ht: 6-0 | Wt: 210 | B-T: L-R

Commit/Drafted: Angels 2019 (37)

Age At Draft: 21.1

 

A toolsy, multi-sport athlete in high school, Usher spent a season at Kirkwood (Iowa) JC, where he hit over .400 and stole 36 bags. He brought that loud toolset to Louisville in 2020 and started strong with the bat, hitting .411/.484/.571 with two home runs and 11 stolen bases through 16 games. Usher is an explosive runner and has plus arm strength that should allow him to fit in right field, and he probably has the toolset to play center as well. Offensively, he’s continued to refine his approach but he occasionally pulls out and gets rotational, which can create issues—particularly against lefthanded pitchers, who he has struggled against, albeit in a small sample. Usher’s statistical performance across a few levels of college ball is impressive, and he has the tools to match, but scouts will want to see him prove his hitting chops over a full season against ACC pitching to get a better feel for his actual hit tool. He’ll also need to stay healthy, as he’s dealt with leg and foot injuries in the past. 

 

12-26-20  -  Baseball Prospect Journal Mock Draft 1.0 -

 

22. Chicago White Sox: Levi Usher, OF, Louisville

 

Usher has an impressive set of tools. The left-handed hitter has notable bat speed with some pop in his bat and an ability to hit for average. He also has above-average speed that he uses on the base pads and defensively in the outfield. Usher can play all three outfield positions. 

 

12-23-20 - Joe (@JoeDoyleMiLB) Tweeted:

Louisville OF Levi Usher is one of the best outfielders in the 2021 class. The tools are loud. There's power there, and the hit and run tools both grade out very well. He's a centerfielder at the next level.

  

12-3-20  -  Perfect Game combined their picks for the first two rounds in this mock draft  -

 

26. Minnesota Twins | Levi Usher, OF, University of Louisville | (2/55) Hunter Goodman, C, University of Memphis

 

Minnesota takes Levi Usher with their first pick, hoping to see his college success transfer to the pros. Usher projects as a solid corner outfielder with a big arm and loud hit and power tools. The Twins were excited to see Hunter Goodman still on the board when it came time for their second-round pick. Goodman has really impressed scouts during his time at Memphis and in the Cape Cod League. He has spent time at LF, RF, C, and 1B over the past two years, and shows a physical frame with obvious strength and plenty of juice in the bat. -Cade Schares

 

Cervino’s Take: Levi Usher offers a unique profile for a college bat given his lack of track record and enormity of the tools but his upside is immense. Hunter Goodman is more of a traditional Twins pick given the bat-first profile and massive power as he’s one of the best small school prospects on the board this year. Both hitters have potential for very big springs and could boost their stock as the spring plays out.

 

 

11-19-20 -  draftsite

 

1.19

 

Levi Usher OF Louisville

 

robmorrison14's comments: A high risk, high reward pick for Toronto. Given they seem to be heading in the right direction it might be a great time to take that risk. Great defensive CF and can easily steal 30-40 bases a game if his progress pays off. 

 

11-11-20 - Prospects Live Top 300 Prospect List -

 

17. Levi Usher - OF

 

Bio:

 

Height: 6-1

Weight: 195 lbs

Hits/Throws: L-R

Hometown: Fairfax, IA

School: Louisville

 

One of the most tooled up players in the college class, Usher went the JUCO route before matriculating to Louisville. In his Cardinals debut he slashed .411/.484/.571 with a pair of homers in the shortened 2020 campaign. A quick twitch athlete with plus plus wheels, a strong throwing arm and elite bat speed Usher is an exciting prospect on both sides of the ball. Squarely in the same conversation as guys like Wilson, Cowser and Martin. 

 

11-9-20 - Ian Smith Mock 1.0 -

 

19. Toronto Blue Jays

 

The Pick- OF Levi Usher • Louisville

 

            6’1” • 195lb

 

One of the most intriguing players in this year’s class falls to Toronto here. A true center fielder with plus to double plus arm strength and an above average glove. Usher can change the game with his speed, successful on 47 out of 50 stolen base attempts in his college career including 11 in 16 games in 2020 at Louisville. Really sound left-handed swing that shows present gap power to all fields and a plus hit tool. Might be the most tooled up player in the entire college class.