1-16: SS Ed Howard, Mount Carmel HS (IL)
2-51: LHP Burl Carraway, Dallas Baptist
3-88: OF Jordan Nwogu, Michigan
4-117: LHP Luke Little, San Jacinto CC
5-147: RHP Koen Moreno, Panther Creek HS (NC)
This is a pretty balanced draft class for the Cubs, and I think I like it overall. There's a lot of upside to play with here, and while there is significant risk in many of the picks, I don't think it's a crazy boom/bust class overall. Of course, the two highlights of the class are Chicago native Ed Howard and 6'8" fireballing lefty Luke Little, but the other three names are worthy of intrigue as well. I'm interested to see how this class turns out.
Full index of team reviews here
1-16: SS Ed Howard, Mount Carmel HS, IL (my rank: 21)
Ed Howard is one of the most likable players in the class, having played shortstop for the famed Jackie Robinson West Little League team that went to the Little League World Series in 2014. Six years later, he's a graduate of Mount Carmel High School in Chicago's Woodlawn neighborhood on the South Side. Some guys, you just like them the more you watch them play, and Howard is one of those. A gifted, natural athlete, he glides around the field and makes everything look easy out there. He's going to stick as a shortstop with natural instincts, arm strength, and range. At the plate, he's a balanced hitter with a good approach, the ability to make consistent hard contact, and some moderate present power. It's not the flashiest offensive profile at this point, but he's still filling out his 6'2" frame and his natural bat speed and feel for the barrel project to have him hitting for more and more impact as he develops and adds loft to his right handed stroke. That might point to 15-20 home runs per season with good on-base percentages, perhaps in somewhat of a Dansby Swanson profile with a bit more consistency. With good defense at shortstop, that's an all-around great profile. He signed at slot for $3.75 million instead of heading to Oklahoma for college. Pre-draft profile here.
2-51: LHP Burl Carraway, Dallas Baptist (my rank: 84)
College relievers haven't had the most appealing track record lately, but the ease of projection and lack of necessary development always gets teams to bite early. That's the case with Burl Carraway, the top reliever in the class who should fly through the minors. The College Station, Texas native has been dominant at Dallas Baptist over the past two seasons, posting a 2.47 ERA and an 89/28 strikeout to walk ratio over 51 innings for the Patriots. In 2020, he struck out 17 of the 37 batters he faced (46%). Carraway pitches bigger than his 6' frame, using a plus mid 90's fastball that gets a ton of riding life and misses barrels consistently. He adds in a plus curveball with great depth and power, and he can go to either pitch for his strikeouts consistently. However, he's also a mediocre strikethrower, with a high effort delivery that will for sure keep him in the bullpen and which has led him to walk 31 batters in 51.1 innings in his career. He doesn't quite need to get all the way to average command to succeed in the majors, but if the Cubs want an impact reliever, they'll at least have to get him close. If he can land his pitches in the zone more frequently, he has the stuff, and not to mention the bulldog bullpen mentality, to pitch in the major in the very near future. Personally, I'm not a big fan of drafting college relievers this early not only because of the lack of ceiling, but because the floor isn't as high as it appears. Teams often find successful relievers by accident just by converting starters they found in the 14th round, so biting this early seems unnecessary to me. That said, none of this is Carraway's fault, because his stuff and mentality are legitimate. They also saved money here, as his $1.05 million signing bonus was about $390,000 below slot, allowing the Cubs to go above slot later in the draft. If it breaks right, they might have found their closer of the future. Pre-draft profile here.
3-88: OF Jordan Nwogu, Michigan (my rank: 117)
This is definitely one of the more interesting players in the draft. Nwogu had three different types of scholarship offers coming out of Pioneer High School in Ann Arbor, between football, baseball, and academic. He actually took the academic scholarship and ended up at Michigan for computer engineering, but he's just as much braun as he is brains. He's done nothing but absolutely rake for the Wolverines, slashing .334/.430/.545 with 20 home runs, 30 stolen bases, and a 96/63 strikeout to walk ratio over 125 career games, perhaps the best hitter on the surprise Michigan team that went all the way to the College World Series Finals in 2019. Nwogu is a physical beast at 6'3" and 235 pounds, showing both speed and power. He's been an extremely consistent hitter for the Wolverines, driving the ball around the field and over fences, drawing walks, and stealing bases. However, his swing is pretty awkward, as his quick hands get the barrel to the ball really quickly but he has virtually no load at all, putting his hands in somewhat of an awkward hitting position. He's made it work to this point and brings a ton of offensive upside, perhaps 20-25 home runs annually with decent on base percentages if he can improve his pitch recognition a little bit. Defensively, his plus speed gives him a chance to stick in center field, but he's not the most natural defender and might be forced over to left. The last player who hasn't signed, he's looking at a $678,600 slot value, but the Cubs only have a little under $540,000 left in their bonus pool and he might have to take a slight discount.
4-117: LHP Luke Little, San Jacinto CC (my rank: 93)
Oh boy is this a fun one. As we've all heard by now, Luke Little is a 6'8" lefty who hit 105 with his fastball during a quarantine bullpen. And that wasn't a fluke, as he's consistently hit triple digits in games and sat 101-103 in that famous bullpen session. I have to commend his catcher, because I think trying to catch that would have sent most of us to the ICU. Little's fastball isn't straight, either, coming from a crossfire delivery that gives it great angle and makes it not only hard to catch up to, but to square up. He has a slider as well that has flashed plus, but it's inconsistent and tends to play closer to average. Behind the slider are a curveball and changeup, which both need significant work. Throughout his career, Little has struggled immensely to throw strikes, as he hadn't proven he could repeat his delivery and looked very uncoordinated on the mound. In the shortened 2020 season, he showed a cleaner delivery and improved strike throwing, but there is still considerable work to be done. The good news is that he's very young for a college sophomore and doesn't turn 20 until August, which to me means he might just need time to grow into his massive body. I think it's a long shot to project him as a starter, but if he grows into his body as expected, a triple digit lefty reliever with a refined slider and better command would be a sight to behold. He signed for $492,700, right at slot value. Pre-draft profile here.
5-147: RHP Koen Moreno, Panther Creek HS, NC (unranked)
For their final pick, the Cubs went out to the Raleigh-Durham high school ranks and grabbed right hander Koen Moreno for a big over slot deal. Moreno, who checks in at 6'2", is fairly new to pitching but already shows plenty of talent the Cubs are happy to get their hands on. His fastball currently sits around 90, but he's been steadily adding velocity and he's been up as high as 94 at times. He adds a slurvy breaking ball that shows great depth and shape, but it needs to add power to be effective in pro ball. There's a changeup as well, but as with most high schoolers, you need to use your imagination to project it. The Cubs are buying Moreno's athleticism and loose arm, projecting him to add power to his stuff as he fills out, rather than letting him get to East Carolina and pitch his way to a higher draft position. He throws enough strikes to be comfortable with the stuff, and he could take some big leaps forward in pro ball once the Cubs start working with him. His $900,000 signing bonus, which bought him out of that ECU commitment, was $532,100 above slot value.
Undrafted: OF Bradlee Beesley, Cal Poly (unranked)
A product of San Leandro in California's East Bay region, Beesley has been a consistent, if unspectacular, performer for four years at Cal Poly, slashing .286/.353/.378 with four home runs, 21 stolen bases, and a 103/65 strikeout to walk ratio over 180 games. He's also hit well for two years in the elite Cape Cod League, proving his consistency further. He probably projects more as a fourth or fifth outfielder than as a starter, but he's a good runner that will stick in center field and get on base at a good rate, albeit without a ton of power. As a senior sign with great feel for the game, he could move quickly through what's left of the minor leagues.
Undrafted: SS Scott McKeon, Coastal Carolina (unranked)
McKeon is another Raleigh-Durham native, though he bounced from Brunswick CC over to Coastal Carolina and is four years older than Koen Moreno. He's done nothing but hit over two seasons with the Chanticleers, slashing .344/.407/.500 with seven home runs and a 68/29 strikeout to walk ratio over 79 games. He's got some wiry strength that was helping him tap a little more power in 2020, and while he'll never be a true slugger, the hope is that he can get close to average power in pro ball. He's a good runner that does pick up a lot of extra base hits, and while there isn't a ton of swing and miss, there's a little more than you would like out of a smaller senior sign like McKeon. He likely has the glove to stick at shortstop, which would take the most pressure off his bat and give him the best path to starting, but with Javier Baez entrenched at the position and Ed Howard coming up behind him, McKeon is more likely looking at a utility infield projection.
Undrafted: 1B/RHP Matt Mervis, Duke (unranked)
Here's a two-way player to track, even if he doesn't have a ton of upside. Mervis is a product of Georgetown Prep High School on the doorstep of Washington, DC, and he's improved considerably throughout his time at Duke. He's hit more than he's pitched, slashing .277/.378/.455 with nine home runs and a 52/29 strikeout to walk ratio over 71 games while also putting up a 1.74 ERA and a 10/6 strikeout to walk ratio in 10.1 innings over the last two seasons. At 6'4", he produces a lot of power from a quick left handed swing and was showing better plate discipline in 2020, profiling as perhaps a power hitting 1B/DH platoon type. On the mound, he shows a low 90's fastball and profiles best as a reliever, especially if he's going to keep hitting. The command is so-so.
Showing posts with label Ed Howard. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Ed Howard. Show all posts
Friday, July 3, 2020
Monday, June 8, 2020
2020 Draft Preview: Who Could the Nationals Take at #22?
As a Nationals fan, I've put a lot of thought into the direction I'd like to see the Nationals go at pick #22. Predicting who they will take is pretty much guesswork, but as fans, we can look at the most likely options, choose one to latch onto, and hope. For context, these have been the Nationals' last five first round picks:
2019: Jackson Rutledge (junior college RHP)
2018: Mason Denaburg (high school RHP)
2017: Seth Romero (college LHP)
2016: Carter Kieboom (high school SS)
2016: Dane Dunning (college RHP)
Four out of their last five first rounders have been pitchers, and three of those came from college. That's indicative of a longer trend, and if I had gone back another first round pick to 2014 (they didn't have on in 2015), we'd see UNLV righty Erick Fedde. Grabbing pitching early has long been the M.O. for the Rizzo front office, and grabbing pitchers who fall in the draft for various reasons fits even more cleanly. Denaburg fell due to arm troubles and Romero fell because, well, he got kicked out of the University of Houston baseball program, while Fedde was recovering from Tommy John surgery, as was 2012 first rounder Lucas Giolito. With that, there is one clear, clear name that fits the Nationals' draft trends under the Rizzo administration, and it's:
RHP JT Ginn, Mississippi State (full profile here)
This one fits like a glove. Ginn was a power armed prep righty coming out of the Jackson, Mississippi area in 2018, landing with the Dodgers at the 30th overall pick despite a pretty raw overall game. He didn't sign and instead headed across the state to Starkville, where he made every improvement scouts were hoping to see in his freshman season. Ginn maintained the mid 90's velocity that made him famous, but also sharpened his slider into a plus pitch, picked up an above average changeup, improved his command, and smoothed out his delivery. He could have been a top ten pick had he stayed healthy, but he blew out his elbow in his first start and went down with Tommy John surgery. The Nationals likely would have never had a shot at him without the injury, but now they can land a true impact starting pitcher in the back third of the first round.
Now, just because Ginn fits Rizzo's history in the first round, doesn't mean he's a lock or even a favorite to end up a National. He's supposedly a tough sign and would be very content heading back to Mississippi State, and there are a lot of other college arms for the Nationals to pounce on as well. Some of those include:
RHP Cole Wilcox, Georgia (full profile here)
Wilcox was considered one of the top 20-25 prospects in the 2018 draft coming out of high school in the Chattanooga area, but he was firmly committed to Georgia and fell to, coincidentally (or non-coincidentally?), the Nationals in the 37th round and didn't sign. Two years later, he finds himself in roughly the same spot draft stock-wise. He was inconsistent at times as a freshman in 2019, but overall he held his own in the tough SEC and was looking much better in the abbreviated 2020 season. A big righty at 6'5", 230 pounds, he flashes big stuff including a fastball that can approach 100, a hard slider that can flash plus, and a changeup that can do the same. He hasn't always been the most consistent pitcher, and he looks like he's still growing into that 6'5" frame, but his command was much better in 2020 and his name was trending up when the season shut down. If the Nationals took Wilcox a second time, it would be a very similar pick to their 2019 first rounder Jackson Rutledge, another big guy with velocity and some rawness in his mechanics.
RHP Cade Cavalli, Oklahoma (full profile here)
Another name that was trending up when the season shut down, it's not clear whether Cavalli will still be available when the Nationals pick at #22, but he fits the bill as a hard throwing right hander with improvements still to make. He brings a power fastball in the mid 90's in addition to two above average to plus breaking balls, and he filled up the strike zone a lot more in 2020. Coming from an excellent pitcher's frame and a clean delivery, Cavalli has it all on paper. He has a history of getting hit harder than his stuff says he should, partially owing to his tendency to leave pitches over the plate, but he's moving in the right direction. This is another guy who would be a similar pick to Rutledge with velocity and two plus breaking balls, though Cavalli's delivery is much cleaner.
RHP Slade Cecconi, Miami (full profile here)
Cecconi is yet another guy that fits the Nationals' preferences for college arms with upside remaining. He's another big right hander with good fastball velocity and three secondary pitches, though he's yet to really put it all together. The slider especially looks like a plus pitch, and his command seems to be improving, so the Nationals could easily buy into the stuff and frame at #22. To me, it might be a little bit of a reach that early in the draft, especially if a similar pitcher like Cavalli is still on the board, but his upside fits right there with the other names I've mentioned.
Others college arms: RHP Tanner Burns (Auburn), RHP Carmen Mlodzinski (South Carolina), RHP Chris McMahon (Miami), RHP Bryce Jarvis (Duke)
If I were a betting man (I'm not), I'd put my money on the Nationals taking one of those four: Ginn, Wilcox, Cavalli, or Cecconi. Even if they don't go for a college arm, I think the names that will likely be on the board here, in addition to the Nationals' history, would lead to them staying on the college side and getting a bat. Some of those options for the Nationals could be:
C Dillon Dingler, Ohio State (full profile here)
There are some who think Dingler is in the same class as NC State's Patrick Bailey, who is very likely to go in the top half of the first round. Dingler has always been a good defensive catcher, but after two solid if unspectacular seasons with the bat for the Buckeyes, he homered five times in his last four games before the shut down and sent his name rocketing up boards. His name will start to come into play around the time the Nationals' pick comes around, where he has the upside of a power hitting starting catcher who can also play above average defense behind the plate.
2B Justin Foscue, Mississippi State (full profile here)
I think Foscue might be a little bit of a reach at this point in the first round, but his name has been picking up steam and the Nationals could very well be the team to bite. He stands out more for his pure hitting ability than for loud tools, but he can certainly hit, with an excellent track record against tough SEC competition. It's more of a safe pick than one that could produce a potential star, but safety means a lot more in this draft.
SS Nick Loftin, Baylor (full profile here)
This would be a similar pick to Foscue, though I prefer Loftin as a prospect. He has better contact ability, a bit less power, and better infield defense than Foscue, and he was doing a better job of tapping his power in the shortened 2020 season. Loftin's name has been mentioned more towards the back of the first round, but he's as steady of a hitter as they come and like Foscue, he'd be a very safe pick.
C/1B Austin Wells, Arizona (full profile here)
This is the one I want the Nationals to take. Despite the Rizzo administration's love of pitching, I've always felt that they've had better luck with hitters, and Austin Wells has the most potent bat that will likely be available at pick #22. He's a career .357/.476/.560 hitter at Arizona and even hit .295/.377/.491 in the elite Cape Cod League, making it very clear that the bat is legit. That's a great combination of power and contact ability from the left side, and since he won't turn 21 until July, he's one of the youngest collegians available. The bat profiles at any position, so it's an added bonus that he has the chance to catch. The word "chance" should be emphasized, though, because he needs a lot of work back there and isn't a lock to stick. Still, I love the bat and if I were picking for the Nationals here, it would be a close call between Wells and Ginn.
Other college bats: 1B Aaron Sabato (UNC), SS Casey Martin (Arkansas), SS Jordan Westburg (Mississippi State)
SS Ed Howard, Mount Carmel HS, IL (full profile here)
While I think it's much more likely that the Nationals will go with a college player, if they were to go the prep route, I think Ed Howard is the most likely. He's a shortstop out of Mount Carmel High School in Chicago, and the former shortstop of the famous Jackie Robinson West Little League team that went to the Little League World Series in 2014. He's a glove-first prospect who will stick at the premium position, but the bat requires more projection. He shows good feel for the barrel and great wiry strength and athleticism that should help him project as an above average hitter all-around, though there isn't currently a carrying tool offensively. Either way, the glove buys the bat time.
LHP Andrew Abbott, Virginia
Lastly, the DC-Maryland-Virginia area is extraordinarily shallow this year, with only one likely draftee, but I wanted to highlight him here (as much as it pains me, a Virginia Tech alum, to write positively about a UVA player). Andrew Abbott is from Republican Grove, Virginia, a rural area about halfway between Lynchburg and the North Carolina line. He's strictly a reliever, but he's been a darn good one for the Cavaliers, striking out 165 batters to 49 walks over career 108.1 innings. He's a fastball/curveball lefty who can run the former into the mid 90's and use the latter to consistently miss bats and finish off strikeouts. His command is average, something you don't often see out of college relievers, and he's built for the late innings with a bulldog mentality on the mound. Abbott certainly won't be in play at the Nationals' first three picks at #22, #55, or #71, but while he might be a bit of a reach at #94, he would fit nicely at #123 and would provide good value if he slips to #153.
2019: Jackson Rutledge (junior college RHP)
2018: Mason Denaburg (high school RHP)
2017: Seth Romero (college LHP)
2016: Carter Kieboom (high school SS)
2016: Dane Dunning (college RHP)
Four out of their last five first rounders have been pitchers, and three of those came from college. That's indicative of a longer trend, and if I had gone back another first round pick to 2014 (they didn't have on in 2015), we'd see UNLV righty Erick Fedde. Grabbing pitching early has long been the M.O. for the Rizzo front office, and grabbing pitchers who fall in the draft for various reasons fits even more cleanly. Denaburg fell due to arm troubles and Romero fell because, well, he got kicked out of the University of Houston baseball program, while Fedde was recovering from Tommy John surgery, as was 2012 first rounder Lucas Giolito. With that, there is one clear, clear name that fits the Nationals' draft trends under the Rizzo administration, and it's:
RHP JT Ginn, Mississippi State (full profile here)
This one fits like a glove. Ginn was a power armed prep righty coming out of the Jackson, Mississippi area in 2018, landing with the Dodgers at the 30th overall pick despite a pretty raw overall game. He didn't sign and instead headed across the state to Starkville, where he made every improvement scouts were hoping to see in his freshman season. Ginn maintained the mid 90's velocity that made him famous, but also sharpened his slider into a plus pitch, picked up an above average changeup, improved his command, and smoothed out his delivery. He could have been a top ten pick had he stayed healthy, but he blew out his elbow in his first start and went down with Tommy John surgery. The Nationals likely would have never had a shot at him without the injury, but now they can land a true impact starting pitcher in the back third of the first round.
Now, just because Ginn fits Rizzo's history in the first round, doesn't mean he's a lock or even a favorite to end up a National. He's supposedly a tough sign and would be very content heading back to Mississippi State, and there are a lot of other college arms for the Nationals to pounce on as well. Some of those include:
RHP Cole Wilcox, Georgia (full profile here)
Wilcox was considered one of the top 20-25 prospects in the 2018 draft coming out of high school in the Chattanooga area, but he was firmly committed to Georgia and fell to, coincidentally (or non-coincidentally?), the Nationals in the 37th round and didn't sign. Two years later, he finds himself in roughly the same spot draft stock-wise. He was inconsistent at times as a freshman in 2019, but overall he held his own in the tough SEC and was looking much better in the abbreviated 2020 season. A big righty at 6'5", 230 pounds, he flashes big stuff including a fastball that can approach 100, a hard slider that can flash plus, and a changeup that can do the same. He hasn't always been the most consistent pitcher, and he looks like he's still growing into that 6'5" frame, but his command was much better in 2020 and his name was trending up when the season shut down. If the Nationals took Wilcox a second time, it would be a very similar pick to their 2019 first rounder Jackson Rutledge, another big guy with velocity and some rawness in his mechanics.
RHP Cade Cavalli, Oklahoma (full profile here)
Another name that was trending up when the season shut down, it's not clear whether Cavalli will still be available when the Nationals pick at #22, but he fits the bill as a hard throwing right hander with improvements still to make. He brings a power fastball in the mid 90's in addition to two above average to plus breaking balls, and he filled up the strike zone a lot more in 2020. Coming from an excellent pitcher's frame and a clean delivery, Cavalli has it all on paper. He has a history of getting hit harder than his stuff says he should, partially owing to his tendency to leave pitches over the plate, but he's moving in the right direction. This is another guy who would be a similar pick to Rutledge with velocity and two plus breaking balls, though Cavalli's delivery is much cleaner.
RHP Slade Cecconi, Miami (full profile here)
Cecconi is yet another guy that fits the Nationals' preferences for college arms with upside remaining. He's another big right hander with good fastball velocity and three secondary pitches, though he's yet to really put it all together. The slider especially looks like a plus pitch, and his command seems to be improving, so the Nationals could easily buy into the stuff and frame at #22. To me, it might be a little bit of a reach that early in the draft, especially if a similar pitcher like Cavalli is still on the board, but his upside fits right there with the other names I've mentioned.
Others college arms: RHP Tanner Burns (Auburn), RHP Carmen Mlodzinski (South Carolina), RHP Chris McMahon (Miami), RHP Bryce Jarvis (Duke)
If I were a betting man (I'm not), I'd put my money on the Nationals taking one of those four: Ginn, Wilcox, Cavalli, or Cecconi. Even if they don't go for a college arm, I think the names that will likely be on the board here, in addition to the Nationals' history, would lead to them staying on the college side and getting a bat. Some of those options for the Nationals could be:
C Dillon Dingler, Ohio State (full profile here)
There are some who think Dingler is in the same class as NC State's Patrick Bailey, who is very likely to go in the top half of the first round. Dingler has always been a good defensive catcher, but after two solid if unspectacular seasons with the bat for the Buckeyes, he homered five times in his last four games before the shut down and sent his name rocketing up boards. His name will start to come into play around the time the Nationals' pick comes around, where he has the upside of a power hitting starting catcher who can also play above average defense behind the plate.
2B Justin Foscue, Mississippi State (full profile here)
I think Foscue might be a little bit of a reach at this point in the first round, but his name has been picking up steam and the Nationals could very well be the team to bite. He stands out more for his pure hitting ability than for loud tools, but he can certainly hit, with an excellent track record against tough SEC competition. It's more of a safe pick than one that could produce a potential star, but safety means a lot more in this draft.
SS Nick Loftin, Baylor (full profile here)
This would be a similar pick to Foscue, though I prefer Loftin as a prospect. He has better contact ability, a bit less power, and better infield defense than Foscue, and he was doing a better job of tapping his power in the shortened 2020 season. Loftin's name has been mentioned more towards the back of the first round, but he's as steady of a hitter as they come and like Foscue, he'd be a very safe pick.
C/1B Austin Wells, Arizona (full profile here)
This is the one I want the Nationals to take. Despite the Rizzo administration's love of pitching, I've always felt that they've had better luck with hitters, and Austin Wells has the most potent bat that will likely be available at pick #22. He's a career .357/.476/.560 hitter at Arizona and even hit .295/.377/.491 in the elite Cape Cod League, making it very clear that the bat is legit. That's a great combination of power and contact ability from the left side, and since he won't turn 21 until July, he's one of the youngest collegians available. The bat profiles at any position, so it's an added bonus that he has the chance to catch. The word "chance" should be emphasized, though, because he needs a lot of work back there and isn't a lock to stick. Still, I love the bat and if I were picking for the Nationals here, it would be a close call between Wells and Ginn.
Other college bats: 1B Aaron Sabato (UNC), SS Casey Martin (Arkansas), SS Jordan Westburg (Mississippi State)
SS Ed Howard, Mount Carmel HS, IL (full profile here)
While I think it's much more likely that the Nationals will go with a college player, if they were to go the prep route, I think Ed Howard is the most likely. He's a shortstop out of Mount Carmel High School in Chicago, and the former shortstop of the famous Jackie Robinson West Little League team that went to the Little League World Series in 2014. He's a glove-first prospect who will stick at the premium position, but the bat requires more projection. He shows good feel for the barrel and great wiry strength and athleticism that should help him project as an above average hitter all-around, though there isn't currently a carrying tool offensively. Either way, the glove buys the bat time.
LHP Andrew Abbott, Virginia
Lastly, the DC-Maryland-Virginia area is extraordinarily shallow this year, with only one likely draftee, but I wanted to highlight him here (as much as it pains me, a Virginia Tech alum, to write positively about a UVA player). Andrew Abbott is from Republican Grove, Virginia, a rural area about halfway between Lynchburg and the North Carolina line. He's strictly a reliever, but he's been a darn good one for the Cavaliers, striking out 165 batters to 49 walks over career 108.1 innings. He's a fastball/curveball lefty who can run the former into the mid 90's and use the latter to consistently miss bats and finish off strikeouts. His command is average, something you don't often see out of college relievers, and he's built for the late innings with a bulldog mentality on the mound. Abbott certainly won't be in play at the Nationals' first three picks at #22, #55, or #71, but while he might be a bit of a reach at #94, he would fit nicely at #123 and would provide good value if he slips to #153.
Saturday, April 4, 2020
2020 Draft Profile: Ed Howard
SS Ed Howard, Mount Carmel HS [IL]
Full index of profiles here
DoB: 1/28/2002. B/T: R/R
Commitment: Oklahoma
If you remember back to 2014 when Chicago's Jackie Robinson West team went to the Little League World Series, Ed Howard was the shortstop. Now, he has a commitment to Oklahoma in hand as the clear-cut top high school prospect in the Midwest, currently at the same Mount Carmel High School that produced Diamondbacks top prospect Alek Thomas two years ago. He's a really interesting prospect with a combination of upside and floor, but at the same time, he's one you really have to close your eyes and dream on because he's far from a finished product.
Howard is 6'2" with an extremely athletic frame that gives him all sorts of upside. He's a glove-first prospect that will no-doubt stick at shortstop, which buys his bat a ton of time to develop. Even if it never really does develop, the defense gives him a great floor as a utility infielder as long as he hits just a little bit. For that bat, the imagination has to come into play a little bit. He shows good bat speed from the right side and is on a positive trajectory, making consistent contact against advanced pitching despite coming from a cold weather state. There's not a ton of present power, but he hits the ball hard and some added loft could do wonders. You always like to see when an athletic kid like this is on a positive trajectory, and it seems like a lot of people around the industry have a good feeling about him.
Howard's upside could develop in a number of ways, though it seems the most likely is that of a slick fielding shortstop who could be a valuable, all-around bat. That likely projects out to home run totals in the teens with plenty of doubles, though his speed does play closer to average than you'd expect from a top defensive shortstop. The lack of present power likely drops him out of the front half of the first round, but he has a good chance to go anywhere from the middle to the back half of the round. He's committed to Oklahoma.
Summer footage
Full index of profiles here
DoB: 1/28/2002. B/T: R/R
Commitment: Oklahoma
If you remember back to 2014 when Chicago's Jackie Robinson West team went to the Little League World Series, Ed Howard was the shortstop. Now, he has a commitment to Oklahoma in hand as the clear-cut top high school prospect in the Midwest, currently at the same Mount Carmel High School that produced Diamondbacks top prospect Alek Thomas two years ago. He's a really interesting prospect with a combination of upside and floor, but at the same time, he's one you really have to close your eyes and dream on because he's far from a finished product.
Howard is 6'2" with an extremely athletic frame that gives him all sorts of upside. He's a glove-first prospect that will no-doubt stick at shortstop, which buys his bat a ton of time to develop. Even if it never really does develop, the defense gives him a great floor as a utility infielder as long as he hits just a little bit. For that bat, the imagination has to come into play a little bit. He shows good bat speed from the right side and is on a positive trajectory, making consistent contact against advanced pitching despite coming from a cold weather state. There's not a ton of present power, but he hits the ball hard and some added loft could do wonders. You always like to see when an athletic kid like this is on a positive trajectory, and it seems like a lot of people around the industry have a good feeling about him.
Howard's upside could develop in a number of ways, though it seems the most likely is that of a slick fielding shortstop who could be a valuable, all-around bat. That likely projects out to home run totals in the teens with plenty of doubles, though his speed does play closer to average than you'd expect from a top defensive shortstop. The lack of present power likely drops him out of the front half of the first round, but he has a good chance to go anywhere from the middle to the back half of the round. He's committed to Oklahoma.
Summer footage
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