Mack - More Weekly Draft Notes

 

5-21-21 - mlb

 

Michael Robertson, OF, Venice (Fla.) HS (No. 98)

 

Scouts have always liked Robertson’s plus speed and his ability to play center field very well, but there had been some questions about his offensive profile, with his ability to impact the baseball the main concern. He’s still a slasher, contact-first type, and he’ll need to add some strength and learn to turn on pitches, but he was showing enough improvement at the plate for him to climb Draft boards.

 

Mack’s spin - 

My 25^th outfielder. 

 

5-21-21 - mlb

 

Cooper Kinney, 2B, Baylor School (Chattanooga) (No. 112)

 

One of the most advanced high school hitters available, Kinney repeatedly barrels balls with a quick left-handed swing and mature approach, and he could develop average power as he gets stronger. The question is where he'll play defensively because he's a well-below-average runner with fringy arm strength, and the best-case scenario is that he becomes an adequate second baseman in the mold of Daniel Murphy.

 

Mack’s spin - 

My 6^th second baseman. 

 

5-21-21 - mlb

 

Mason Albright, LHP, IMG Academy (Bradenton, Fla.) (No. 115)

 

Albright jumped on the map as a pitchability high school lefty with strong performances at summer showcase events, showing off a good feel for throwing three pitches for strikes. He was up to 93 mph over the summer, though his stuff had backed up a bit this spring with some concern about a long arm action.

 

Mack’s spin - 

My 12^th southpaw. 

 

5-20-21 - wlbt -

 

Braden Montgomery currently ranks 60th among the 2021 draft prospects according to MLB.com, and it’s easy to see why. In 84 at bats in his senior season at Madison Central, he is hitting for a blistering .476 average with 45 RBI. He possesses power from both sides of the plate as a switch-hitter to go along with the above-average speed and defense in centerfield.

 

Mack’s spin -

 My 13^th outfielder. 

 

5-20-21 - okcfox 

 

Jackson Jobe has become a household name for baseball in Oklahoma.

 

He’s an Ole Miss commit, a Perfect Game All-American, a state champion, and, in a couple months, he’ll have a chance to add first-round draft pick to his resume.

 

From the moment Jobe threw his first pitch, Heritage Hall Head Coach Jordan Semore knew he was going to be special.

 

Jackson has a wipeout slider, a 96-mph four-seam fastball, a curveball, and an upgraded changeup in his arsenal.

 

In his senior campaign Jobe had 10 starts and finishing with a 9-0 record. He threw two no-hitters, fanned 122 batters in 52.1 innings pitched while giving up just 15 hits and one earned run to tally a .135 ERA.

 

Mack’s spin - 

Jobe keeps movong up on the board. 

I just jumped Ty Madden and now have him as the 5^th righty on my board. 

 

5-20-21 - fayobserver -

 

Kahil Watson sports a career batting average of .475 in 58 games, and he racked up 52 hits, 48 runs scored, 12 doubles, six triples and six home runs while batting .578 in his last full season in 2019 as a sophomore.

 

He was also a standout last summer on the travel baseball circuit, which was an especially crucial proving ground for 2021 prospects who had their spring junior seasons canceled due to COVID-19.

 

Mack’s spin - 

I have Watson as the 5^th SS on my board, just benind the Big 5 of Lawler, Mayer, McLain, and House. 

 

5-20-21 - mlb 

 

10. Mets: Colton Cowser, OF, Sam Houston

 

After Davis, the college bat debate is one of Frelick vs. Cowser, with Frelick providing more speed and Cowser more power.

 

Mack’s spin - 

I would be happy with Cowser though I still think (and wish) the Mets would go college pitcher here. 

 

5-19-21 - Thoughts on the Draft by:

 

Jim Callis @jimcallisMLB 

 

The top guys in the 2020 MLB Draft signed. There aren't even 29 consensus 1st-rd talents in this draft for the 29 1st-rd picks. The depth this year is after the 5th rd but nowhere near the point where I'd throw away future 1st-rd picks to sign a bunch of $300,000 players.

 

Mississippi RHP Gunnar Hoglund was going in the top 10-12 picks before his TJ & will still go in the 1st rd, probably in the 15-25 range.  He'll go ahead of LSU RHP Jaden Hill, who also had TJ

 

Chase Burns is a 1st/2nd rd HS RHP. The prep RHP demographic scares teams but I'll bet there are a few out there who will pay him. I think he goes high enough to sign.

 

Picking 12, the Mariners have to see how the MLB Draft plays out in front of them. I could see them winding up with an OF such as Colton Cowser, Sal Frelick, Jud Fabian. But if you draft on need -- which you shouldn't -- they seem pretty well-stocked with young OF.

 

With seven weeks to go, there's not much concrete intel that deep in the 1st rd yet. I've heard more pitcher than hitters & had the Cubs taking UCSB RHP Michael McGreevy when I did my last mock two weeks ago, but not sure he gets to them at this point.

 

Jackson Jobe. He might be the best pitcher in this MLB Draft. He and Kahlil Watson are probably the best players who might get to the Mariners at 12.

 

The hype around Leiter & Rocker obscured the fact that is was never just them at the top & everyone else behind them. They've been inconsistent. Mayer & Lawlar are very, very talented. Even when Leiter was dominating, there were teams who preferred the SS.

 

I've heard mostly pitchers with the Mets ... Jobe, Wake Forest RHP Ryan Cusick, Texas RHP Ty Madden. 

 

5-18-21 - reviewing the brew -

 

Gunnar Hoglund, RHP, Ole Miss

 

This would be a somewhat risky move for the Brewers, but with potentially high upside. Prospects Live, in their Mock Draft 4.0, has the Brewers selecting Gunnar Hoglund out of Ole Miss. Recently, it was announced that Hoglund had suffered an elbow injury and underwent Tommy John surgery. He’s out until the middle of next season.

 

Prior to that injury, Hoglund was a consensus Top-10 talent, and getting him at 15th overall would present good value. 

 

Hoglund has a very high floor with his strong command and solid pitch mix. He will be a starter going forward, but will the drop to 15th be good enough value for a guy who just underwent TJS? The Brewers will have to balance making safe choices to improve their farm system and taking some risks to get a chance at a top talent.

 

Mack’s spin - 

Hoglund was my early favorite at 1.10. 

I’m not as keen on college pitchers that take the TJS route. Too old to start for and then new lose two years. 

I currently have him as my 21^st righty and being picked in the 4^th/5th round.

Click here for the full list of Mack's MLB Draft Scouting Reports.