Mack - Weekly Draft Notes

 

6-2-21 - fanbuzz -

 

SS - Jordan Lawler

 

Lawlar has been on Jesuit Prep’s varsity team since he was a freshman, but he really broke out in 2020. Before the pandemic disrupted his season, he hit .485 with a home run and 13 RBI.

 

The shortstop has continued the torrid pace in 2021. Through May, he slashed .425/.552/.713 and has been a leader on both sides of the field. His bat speed is impressive for a hitter his age, as is his blend of speed and defense.

 

Mack’s spin - 

Lawler still sits on the top of my shortstop chart. 

Frankly, right now, be sit also at 1.1. 

 

6-2-21 - fish stripes -

 

C - Harry Ford

 

The Miami Marlins went all pitchers in the 2020 MLB Draft, so it would not be surprising if they prioritized the top available hitters this year when it’s their turn to pick. The catcher position is also the Marlins biggest need this draft.

 

Harry Ford is the second-ranked catcher and the top high school catcher in the draft class. On MLB Pipeline, Ford is the 13th-ranked prospect in the 2021 prospect class. On Perfect Game, Ford is the 13th-ranked player and the second ranked catcher in the country.

 

The Marlins need to consider selecting a catcher early in the draft and Harry Ford would have a great addition to the Marlins farm system if he’s available. The Fish seem to be targeting some of the top high school prospects and Ford is one of them. I wouldn’t be surprised if the Marlins draft Harry Ford in the first round if he’s available.

 

Mack’s spin - 

I currently have Ford bypassing Adrian Del Castillo as my second catcher on my board. 

 

6-1-21 - Joe Doyle @JoeDoyleMiLB 

 

12 games, 3 homers for Kahlil Watson.

 

Tyler has been to three games.

 

He's seen three homers.

 

Mack’s spin - 

Watson has quietly move up my SS chart, bypassing Brady House and Matt McClain. 

 

6-1-21 - motor city bengals -

 

Ryan Bliss –

 

Bliss gets dinged for his size (5’9, 165), arm strength, and lack of power projection, but he’s been an outstanding performer in college and he has a knack for coming up with big hits. He has the hands and range to be a plus defender at second base, and he’s added some loft to his swing to maximize his pop. He’s likely a 2nd-3rd rounder, but he could sneak into the comp range.

 

Mack’s spin - 

Second base is never a deeply talented position in drafts. Most future pro second basemen were shortstops in school. 

Bliss is 5^th on my current list. 

 

6-1-21 - motor city bengals -

 

Trey Sweeney –

 

 Sweeney has been one of the biggest risers among college infielders this year. He doesn’t play great competition at Eastern Illinois, but he’s been hitting like crazy. Lots of pre-swing movement may ultimately affect his hit tool, and most project him to move to third base, but he’s got plenty of room to fill out (6’4, 200) and add the requisite power to profile at the hot corner.

 

Trey Sweeney’s numbers this year - He’s hitting .415/.539/.756 with 11 homers. He has 33 walks compared to 20 K’s.

 

Mack’s spin - 

Wow! 

With this stat line, I just moved him up to my 5^th third baseman. 

 

6-1-21 - myplaneview -

 

Matt McLain, SS, UCLA

 

UCLA shortstop Matt McLain is easily the highest-rated prospect that will be hitting the field in Lubbock this weekend. McLain is ranked No. 12 on MLB.com’s top 200 prospect board and was recently the No. 11 selection in ESPN’s mock draft. He was the 25th overall selection in the 2018 MLB Draft by the Arizona Diamondbacks before opting to head to UCLA. 

 

McLain was second on the Bruins with nigh home runs on the year, also hitting 10 doubles, a pair of triples and driving in 28 runs. He has, however, committed a team-high seven errors on the year, though he has a 96.2 fielding percentage.

 

The UCLA prospect had plenty of preseason attention, garnering preseason first team All-American nods from Baseball America – which also named him the preseason Pac-12 Player of the Year –  Collegiate baseball, Perfect Game and D1Baseball.

 

Most recently, McLain has had four multi-hit games over his last seven contests.

 

6-1-21 - motor city bengals -

 

Matt McLain –

 

An unsigned first rounder in 2018, McLain shook off a rough freshman season at UCLA and was off to an outstanding start in 2020 before the season was canceled. He started slowly again this year but was really picking things up when a broken thumb cost him about three weeks in May. He doesn’t wow with any of his tools, but he has a chance to stick at short and be an average-or-better hitter, and he should go in the first 15 picks.

 

Mack’s spin - 

My 5^th SS on my board.

 

 6-1-21 - myplaneview -

 

JT Schwartz, 1B, UCLA

 

Schwartz has been the Bruins’ most consistent presence at the plate. The left-handed first baseman leads UCLA with a .405 batting average, which also lead the Pac-12 and was 14th in the country. He also ranks first in runs batted in with 41.

 

MLB.com has Schwartz as the 158th prospect for the 2021 draft.

 

Mack’s spin - 

Currently my 4^th first baseman