Mack - Draft Thoughts: Tucker Toman, Zach Johnson, Mason Neville, Termarr Johnson, Ian Richie Jr.

 

8-11-21 - Shooter Hunt @ShooterHunt 

‘22 INF Tucker Toman (SC) has been relentless at the plate this week. Lines this single in his first AB of the final day & is staring down double digit hits on the week. 

Less handsy w/ simpler setup from the right side. Fluid/athletic. Same results

                 Joe Doyle @JoeDoyleMiLB

 This looks pretty good. A month ago I was concerned Toman was getting too disconnected as a RHH and may need to ditch it entirely. Still more power as a LHH, but he can certainly work with this from the right side. He's been killing the ball at ACG.

 Mack's spin - 

Toman really made his mark this summer on off-season ball.

He is showing both adequate defense to stick on third and quite the pop with a bat in his hands.

LSU commit.

Right now I have him as my 10th 3Bman; however, I have the feeling he will move up on that list before draft day.

 

8-10-21 - press herald- 

LHP Zach Johnson 

In less than a year, Zach Johnston has gone from relative unknown in baseball circles to being invited to an elite showcase tournament for underclass high schoolers. 

Johnston, 17, who was 5-2 with a 0.66 ERA in an All-State junior season at Greely High, will be among a select group of 175 players in the classes of 2023 and 2024 from across the United States who will play later this week in the Area Code Underclass Games at Loyola Marymount University in Los Angeles. The Area Code Games are an invite-only event, that starts with regional tryouts.

Mack's spin - 

This is the first paper I have on Johnson.

Reads great but not enough to make my board yet. 

  

8-10-21 - Shooter Hunt @ShooterHunt

 ‘22 OF Mason Neville (NV) giving a glimpse at some of his loud tools & athleticism. Barrels up this one for a loud double to right center. 5-tool upside.

 Mack's spin - 

Early reports is he has a little more to go go re: hitting. Max exit speed 83.

Impressive 6.28 60 time and threw 92 MPH from the outfield

He's not on my board yet.

 

 8-8-21 - BA  -

 Termarr Johnson, 2B (Georgia)

 Johnson is a bit of a unique profile, as a shorter, 5-foot-10 infielder who is probably better suited for second base and also close to physically maxed out with a strong and muscular 180-pound build. He’s the best second base prospect in years, at least going back to Nick Madrigal in 2018, and that’s comparing a prep Johnson to a college Madrigal. If you compared Johnson to Madrigal when both were at the same level Johnson is now, it’s an entirely different tier of hitter in favor of Johnson.

 Mack's spin - 

Johnson continues to be my top shortstop and comes off my board as 1.2 on draft day.

 

 8-5-21 - Prospects Live 

 Ian Ritchie Jr.

 Washington’s own Ian Ritchie Jr. has long been a name to know on the 2022 circuit, but he’s added some flair to his stuff this year. Last summer, he primarily featured a fastball, slider, and change-up, but he’s added a curveball and a two-seam fastball to his repertoire recently and showcased both of them at PG National. He primarily sat in the low-90’s, touching 94 MPH with late run on both fastballs. The curveball and slider have distinct shapes, with the curveball in the high-70’s with good shape and the tighter slider in the low-80’s with good bite. The change-up has gotten better, with the velocity in the low-80’s and has good fading action. It’s a projectable frame for the UCLA commit at 6’2”, 185 pounds, too. There’s likely more in the tank here.  

Mack's spin - 

Everybody is going to fall in love with Richie before his name is called on Day One.

He's my 4th RHP and could move up from there.