Draft Thoughts: Jaxson West, Tristan Smith, Anthony Hall, Anthony Silva

 

1-11-22 - https://www.prospectslive.com/prospects-live/2022/1/11/44mctulo3u48jhkfxlczgqwf2yuipr?s=03 -

C Jaxson West, Lawson Chiles (#300)

West has the ability to be a big riser in rankings this spring.  Elite bat and hand speed that will stand up to anyone in the case, and you pair that with a compact left handed swing that shows some present plus pull-side power.  Creates a ton of lift on impact. Really sound actions behind the plate with some of the best pop times in the state.

12-30-21 - https://www.prospectslive.com/prospects-live/2021/12/29/2022-mlb-draft-top-300-prospects -

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1-15-22 - https://www.baseballamerica.com/rankings/2022-mlb-draft-top-100-prospects/ -

23 Tristan Smith Boiling Springs HS, Spartanburg, S.C .LHP

Ht: 6-1 | Wt: 202 | B-T: R-L

Commit/Drafted: Clemson

Age At Draft: 19.1

Smith dominated at Perfect Game’s National showcase last summer, pitching two perfect innings and striking out every batter he faced. He’s an average sized lefthander—listed at 6-foot-1, 202 pounds—but scouts saw some of the best pure stuff from any southpaw out of his hand last summer. He has a fastball that runs into the mid 90s at best and pairs it with a sharp and biting two-plane breaking ball in the 79-81 mph range. When he’s landing that pitch it has proven to be almost unhittable for prep hitters—both in the zone as a swing-and-miss offering and as a chase pitch that draws bad swings below the zone. It’s mostly been a two-pitch offering for Smith, and for evaluators who only have history with him dating back to last summer, he’s likely to be valued as one of the best pitchers in the class. Scouts with more history have some concern about his control, as the Clemson commit has been erratic in that area previously.

                                22. Tristan Smith

Left-Handed Pitcher, Boiling Springs HS 

Smith is one of the top lefties in a loaded 2022 prep class. A strong 6-foot-2, 200 pound frame, Smith fits the profile of a future power pitcher with a rather effortless, crossbody delivery with plenty of deception. Smith’s fastball has been clocked as high as 96 MPH, usually sitting in the 90-94 MPH range. It’s an explosive pitch that comes out of a tough angle with high spin rates. His primary secondary is a sweepy slider that has primarily sat in the high-70’s that he commands well. Much like the fastball, his breaking ball has huge spin rates, reaching as high as 3000 RPM. He rounds out his arsenal with a change-up in the low-80’s that he has good feel for.

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1-15-22 - https://www.baseballamerica.com/rankings/2022-mlb-draft-top-100-prospects/ -

81 Anthony Hall Oregon OF

Ht: 6-2 | Wt: 200 | B-T: L-L

Commit/Drafted: Braves '19 (35)

Age At Draft: 21.4 

Hall is a physical, 6-foot-2, 200-pound outfielder who has a solid toolset and is coming off a strong summer in the Cape Cod League. After hitting .278/.343/.462 over his first two seasons with Oregon, he showed a better approach with Falmouth and ranked as the No. 31 prospect in the Cape after hitting .283/.382/.481 with four home runs, 15 doubles and 21 strikeouts. He needs to do a better job against secondary pitches this spring, but he is trending in the right direction from an offensive approach perspective, and he has solid pull power from the left side of the plate. Hall spent most of his time in center field for Oregon last spring, but projects better as a left fielder given his average running speed.

                        12-30-21 - https://www.prospectslive.com/prospects-live/2021/12/29/2022-mlb-draft-top-300-prospects - 

147

Anthony Hall OF Oregon 

San Diego, CA 

Hall was one of the most consistent pieces of the Oregon offense in 2021 and figures to be a mainstay.in the middle of their lineup in 2022. The body is well-levered and he's got plenty of bat speed. He's still getting stronger and some think that may eventually move him out of a corner outfield position and into a 1B role down the road. That, obviously, would put more pressure on the bat. He's still a fringy runner and can get to balls in the gap, though his average arm limits him at times. 

Hall can get into ruts where he'll strike out quite a bit, but there's an up arrow next to him name in draft circles. There's a good deal of pressure on the bat, but Hall is one of the better players in the Pac-12 for 2022.

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12-30-21 - https://www.prospectslive.com/prospects-live/2021/12/29/2022-mlb-draft-top-300-prospects - 

142 Anthony Silva SS Clark 

San Antonio, TX 

Silva is a pure shortstop with quiet, fluid actions on the dirt and an absolute cannon across the diamond. He's a good hitter with strong bat-to-ball skills who works up the middle of the field. He'll continue growing into his pro body and will begin hitting the ball harder in due time. As for now, he's a good defensive prospect with a strong ability to hit.