Mack - More Draft Notes

 

2-24-21 - Joe Doyle @JoeDoyleMiLB

 

RHP Brody Brecht is one of the most high-octane arms in the 2021 MLB Draft class. He's also 6-foot-4, a 4-star WR commit to Iowa. But he throws 99 with a hammer. So baseball or football? What will it take to choose the diamond over the gridiron?

 

Mack’s spin -

 

This is the first I have heard of Brecht.

 

I don’t know too many four star wide receivers that choose baseball over the glitz and excitement of football.

 

I don’t expect to see him play baseball come college time. 

 

 

2-23-21 - Joe Doyle  @JoeDoyleMiLB

 

There are roughly 12,495 Division 1 college baseball players.

 

South Carolina 1B Wes Clarke has 3 more homers than 12,494 of them after 4 games.

 

Mack’s spin -

 

We speak every year about someone that comes out of nowhere and becomes an instant draft favorite.

 

This junior has now hit six home runs in the first four games of the season.

 

That will turn heads and get the notebooks out. 

 

 

2-22-21 -  First Round Arms -

 

Jordan Wicks, LHP, Kansas State (No. 27)

 

Line: 7 IP, 3 H, 0 R, 2 BB, 10 K (102 pitches)

 

Wicks matched up against Oregon State and righthander Kevin Abel on Friday and tossed a gem, striking out 10 batters (tying his career high) and walking just two over seven shutout innings.

 

Wicks showed a solid three-pitch mix including a fastball that averaged around 93 mph in the early frames, his standout changeup and a reliable breaking ball.

 

The velocity will be something to track with Wicks moving forward this spring, as he’s typically been in the 89-91 mph range in the past. Scouts would like to see him tick that up and if he can hold a fastball around 93 throughout his outings throughout the season, while maintaining his best-in-class changeup and strike throwing, it’ll be hard to see him not going in the first.

 

Mack’s spin -

 

Nice first outing. I’m hoping to see a little more velo as the season progresses. 

 

 

2-22-21 - Vinnie Cervino @vcervinoPG

 

Was able to catch a Jordan Lawlar (TX) scrimmage today and he went 1-1 with a 2B, 2BB, HBP. Thread includes some cage hacks and defensive work. He looks great physically, easy top of the draft talent.

 

Perfect Game Scout @PG_Scouting

 

Lawlar only had one hit on the evening but it was loud. Keeps his balance on a CB and smokes it to the pull side. Explosive bat speed, 4.5 turn. True five tool talent

 

Mack’s spin -

 

Lawlar has been recently projected as the 1.2 pick; however, after Monday’s outing by Vanderbilt RHP Jack Lieter, he may now go 1.3. 

 

 

2-22-21 - Carlos Collazo @CarlosACollazo

 

Hearing from scouts at the game that Jack Leiter topped out at *just* 98 mph. Either way, dotting that FB is extremely impressive.

  

Joe Doyle @JoeDoyleMiLB

 

JACK LEITER JUST HIT 100mph 

 

Carlos Collazo @CarlosACollazo

 

Jack Leiter is done after five. His line: 5 IP, 1 H, 0 R, 1 HBP, 8 K (69 pitches, 45 strikes). Really impressive outing.

 

Mack’s spin -

 

Wow. This changes everything.

 

Last year, Leiter threw a fast ball that topped at 95. This new velocity should return him to the projected 1.1-2 picks for him and his teammate, Kumar Rocker.

 

 

2-21-21 - Joe Doyle @JoeDoyleMiLB

 

Louisville CF Luke Brown is so damn fast. Just scored from second base on a sacrifice fly. It's comfortably double-plus speed and the bat is starting to come around too.

 

Mack’s spin -

 

Every draft a couple of nobodies become somebodies in their last year of school.

 

Brown may be one of them. 

 

 

2-21-21 - Brian Sakowski @B_Sakowski_PG

 

U of Pennsylvania SS Joshua Hood—one of the major Ivy League Draft targets—is in the transfer portal, assuredly as a result of the Ivy League cancellations. In the top 10 rounds on our board for 2021, quality SS with bat to ball skills and some power projection.

 

Mack’s spin -

 

This is the first I have heard of Hood.

 

We will add him to our list to look out for. 

 

 

2-20-21 - Joe @JoeDoyleMiLB

 

Boston College IF Cody Morissette went big-time today. No doubt shot. Reportedly got a good bit stronger this offseason in an effort to impact the ball more. Ben Zobrist type of player

 

Mack’s spin -

 

I have Morissette as a future second baseman.

 

Probably a third round pick.

 

 

UCLA SS Matt McLain showing off his dynamic athleticism, stretching a would-be single into a hustle double. He's a really, really good hitter and should be in play at the top of the draft.

 

Mack’s spin -

 

We have talked about McLain in length.

 

A definite top 15 pick. 

 

No video, but scout on-site tells me Miami (Ohio) RHP Sam Bachman was 94-96 today and touched 97 four times. Slider had good depth and induced a lot of swing-and-miss. Threw a handful of change-ups.

 

Mack’s spin -

 

Boy, we have written a lot about this guy recently.

 

Soaring up the board.

 

 

Two more homers for Winder-Barrow HS shortstop Brady House today. The bat speed and physicality at the plate are undeniable. Big spring ahead.

 

Mack’s spin -

 

House is a monster.

 

 

2-20-21 - Chris Clegg @RotoClegg

 

Jaden Hill pitched 4 scoreless innings in his season debut, striking out 5 and walking none. Had his fastball working up to 98 mph. His slider and change looked excellent today as well. This upcoming draft class of college arms is STACKED.

 

Mack’s spin -

 

Doesn’t seem Hill is having any trouble with his conversion to a starter.

 

 

2-20-21 - PG College Baseball @PGCollegeBall

 

Tommy Mace looked sharp tonight striking out 8 and allowing only one run over 5 frames. FB sat 92-96. Mixed in hi-80s cutter w/ big horiz at times. Got S/M and drew some ugly swings on the CB in the hi-70s

 

Mack’s spin -

Right now I have Mace as a late first or early second round pick, but that can change immediately if he has a strong 2021 season.

  

2-19-21 - Top 10 SEC Prospects -

 

9. Will Bednar, Mississippi State, P

 

While Bednar, a standout righty, will be a big contributor for the Bulldogs, MSU’s Bulldogs can’t hold a candle to the outstanding name of Bednar’s high school program in suburban Pittsburgh. Bednar went to Mars Area High School … where he pitched for the Fightin’ Planets. State will be hoping for some out-of-this-world results from Bednar in 2021.

 

Mack’s spin -

 

Another starter who’s future in this game, and in his bank account, will be determined on what he does this season.

 

Right now, I have him as a third round pick. 

 

 

2-18-21 - PG - Top HS Prospects -

 

# 6 Joshua Baez

 

6-3  220  R/R OF Boston, MA Vanderbilt

 

Physical build with standout tools; big present power & more to come; big performance at WWBA Underclass with the bat; up to 92 mph as well. The Elite tools were on displays at the PG National and pretty polished in the box too. Big raw velocity on the mound, as well, peaking at 96.

 

Mack’s spin - Lots of attention lately on Baez who swings a potent bat as well as having a super fastball.

 

I have him going forward as a everyday player.

Mack - Weekly Draft Notes

 

2-26-21 - Zorian Schiffman @zorianbaseball

 

UPDATE: From internal data, Sam Bachman (@Sam_Bachman14) of @MiamiOHBaseball has just set a new PR with a fastball at 100.8 MPH!

 

Mack’s take -

 

Bachman continues to solidify his first round picking

  

 

2-26-21 - Ian Smith @FlaSmitty)

 

I present, James Wood, destroyer of baseballs.

 

No doubt HR tonight on a 0-2 count at Globe life Field. The IMG Academy slugger is firmly placing himself into top 15 discussions.

 

Mack’s spin -

 

Wood is another prep bat that will go early one day one. 

 

 

2-26-21 - Joe Doyle @JoeDoyleMiLB

 

Another Henry Davis missile. 7-pitch at-bat results in a single rocketed into LF.

 

Davis has more homers (5) than he has strikeouts (4) in his last 19 games.

 

Mack’s spin -

 

See? O told you about this guy.

 

 

2-26-21 - Joe Doyle @JoeDoyleMiLB

 

Getting good look at Duke RHP Cooper Stinson. Easy, loose, fluid arm. Low-effort. Low-90s gas. Plenty of arm-side run and a little hop. Works in a slider that's average more often than not. Has popped a few 55s in there. High spin. Low 80s. Needs to miss more bats.

 

Mack’s spin -

Cooper will determine what round he is drafted in after this year’s stat line.

 

Right now I have him in the fourth round. 

 

 

2-26-21 - Patrick Ebert @PatrickEbert44

 

Catching up on some Super 60 impressions today, gonna start with Alabama commit Luke Holman who threw 89-91/92, 89-90 out of the stretch, high spin upper-70s curve, also threw 77-78 CH

 

Mack’s spin-

 

Tough to project. Right now, in the 3^rd-8th round range. 

 

 

2-26-21 - Patrick Ebert - @PatrickEbert44

 

Saving Braden Montgomery for last, premium/physical 6-3/205 athlete, ran 6.90 60, threw 99 mph from OF, 100 exit velos as switch hitter, easy 92-93 velo as RHP w/ short, sharp 75-77 CB, serious 2-way upside

 

Mack’s spin -

 

Some have Montgomery as a first round pick; however, I have him going in the early part of the second round.

 

 

2-26-21 - pg  -

 

Jordan Lawlar, SS, Dallas Jesuit (Texas)

 

The No.1 prep prospect in the class of 2021, Lawlar was the best player on the summer circuit and cemented himself as the consensus top high schooler in the 2021 MLB Draft. The season hasn’t started yet in Texas but we were able to catch a scrimmage look as Lawlar got four at-bats along with pregame cage work and some defensive chances.

 

The physicality jumps out right away for Lawlar who has filled out nicely over the winter offseason and has done so without losing any athleticism. He looks extremely physical with good added strength but he still runs well and moves very fluidly at shortstop. He can still run, too, as he turned a 4.5 second time rounding first base following his laser double in his final at-bat of the day.

 

The defensive skills were excellent as per usual as he didn’t get many opportunities but still showed impressive balance on a charge play in the first chance of the game. The ball comes out of the hand with easy carry and Lawlar’s plus arm is absolutely a weapon. On a play at the plate he caught a relay on the run and fired a strike right at the catcher’s mitt from about 150 feet away. Lawlar projects as a shortstop at the next level with the combination of arm strength, athleticism, and instincts to stick there for the foreseeable future.

 

When evaluating Lawlar you’re looking at a prospect who projects to have a bevy of plus tools without being worse than solid-average in any category. He’ll stick at shortstop and hit for average as well as power while potentially grading out as plus with both the hit and power tools. There is a long spring ahead for the Texas native but he certainly looks the part as the game comes extremely easy to him and there aren’t many glaring weaknesses to speak of. He’s projected to go in the top-10 of July’s draft and is certainly the favorite for the first prep prospect off the board.

 

Mack’s spin -

 

Nothing has changed here.

 

A top 3 pick.

 

 

2-26-21 - fantrax -

 

Conclusion

 

At the time of writing, there is a high probability that Brady House is a top ten overall pick in the MLB draft. Things could change between now and July, but right now, House is a top ten guy. For Fantasy Baseball purposes, House could be a legit source of power and can hit 30 plus home runs in the MLB. In FYPD drafts for this upcoming draft class, House is likely to be a hot commodity. He is off to a hot start to this high school, and if House continues this strong start, he could put himself in the conversation as one of the best prep players in the country.

 

Mack’s spin -

 

House has moved around on my flow chart.

 

I currently have him just below the Mets pick at 1.10 

 

 

2-25-21 - Joe Doyle @JoeDoyleMiLB

 

Electric outing for Kevin Abel tonight. 5 IP, 11 Ks. Allows 2 hits. 0 ER. He did hit 3 batters and walk two more. 86 pitches.

 

Changeup was *comfortably* plus. CB flashed plus on a number of occasions. 4-seam in low-90s. Worked in a slider.

 

Command was really streaky.

 

Mack’s spin -

 

Abel has always had the talent to become a star in this game, but his past injuries, that includes TJS, has caused pauses in his progress.

 

Still, one of the top 100 college players in this draft. 

 

 

2-25-21 - Joe Doyle @JoeDoyleMiLB

 

Pac-12 teams are really struggling to score runs this season.

 

That said, Washington State has themselves a bonafide slugger in 1B/LF Kyle Manzardo.

 

Kid is hitting .476/.520/.714 with a homer, two 2Bs and 1 K. Hit .435/.500/.694 in 2020 w/10 XBH in 16 games

 

Mack’s spin -

 

In November, Prospect Live had Manzardo ranked the 277^th  prospect in the league.

 

Let’s watch how this changes if he keeps up this stat line. 

 

2-25-21 - Joe Doyle  @JoeDoyleMiLB

 

Pretty good pitching matchup in Chapel Hill today. Virginia LHP Andrew Abbott takes on UNC RHP Austin Love.

 

Love was up to 95 in the first. Abbott sitting 92-93 flashing a sweeping breaking ball and and changeup 86-87. Both guys are serious MLB Draft names to know.

 

Mack’s spin -

 

I currently have Abbott as a late third or early fourth round pick.

 

One of the better lefties in a weak lefty class.