The A's have graduated some high level prospects recently, such as Matt Chapman, Matt Olson, Franklin Barreto, and Frankie Montas, leaving the system with less depth than it has had in recent years, and injuries have taken a toll on the pitching depth. Some of the team's top pitching prospects in A.J. Puk, James Kaprielian, Grant Holmes, and Daulton Jefferies combined to throw all of eight innings in 2018, leaving the system mostly hitting-heavy. There is a lot of high ceiling talent here, though the A's do have their share of safe bets too when it comes to hitters.
Affiliates: AAA Nashville Sounds*, AA Midland RockHounds, High A Stockton Ports, Class A Beloit Snappers, Short Season Vermont Lake Monsters, complex level AZL and DSL Athletics
*AAA affiliate will move from Nashville, TN to Las Vegas, NV in 2019
The Headliner: LHP Jesus Luzardo
21 year old Jesus Luzardo, who came over from the Nationals in the Sean Doolittle trade, is in my opinion the top left handed pitching prospect in all of baseball. The 6'1" lefty, a 2016 alumnus of Stoneman Douglas High School in Parkland, Florida, dominated the minors in 2018 by putting up a 2.88 ERA, a 1.09 WHIP, and a 129/30 strikeout to walk ratio over 109.1 innings at High A Stockton, AA Midland, and AAA Nashville, though he was hit around a bit at the last stop. He was excellent at Stockton (1.23 ERA, 25/5 K/BB in 14.2 IP) and Midland (2.29 ERA, 86/18 K/BB in 78.2 IP), but his four starts in Nashville (7.31 ERA, 18/7 K/BB in 16 IP) skewed his numbers a bit. Still, Luzardo throws in the mid 90's with very good secondary stuff, and with his advanced command, he's a truly complete pitcher with ace potential, even Rookie of the Year potential if he gets called up early enough in 2019. A's fans should be very excited over their Peruvian-American star prospect, one who could be the next Sonny Gray or better in Oakland, starting this coming season.
Outfielders/Catcher: C Sean Murphy, OF Greg Deichmann, OF Lazaro Armenteros, OF Austin Beck, OF Jameson Hannah, and OF Kyler Murray
The A's have an interesting group of outfielders, mostly towards the bottom of the system, and there is a good mix of skills down there. Most of them are fast and good defenders, though there is some power in the group and each player is pretty unique. I'll start with the catcher that I threw onto this list, 24 year old Sean Murphy. Murphy is a fantastic defensive catcher, one who can block, frame, and throw with any catcher in the minors. Any type of production at all, such as in 2017 when he slashed .250/.313/.410 with 13 home runs, would be enough to make him a valuable back-up, but this year he broke out by slashing .285/.361/.489 with eight home runs and a 50/26 strikeout to walk ratio over 73 games, mostly at AA Midland. He missed a month and a half with a broken hand, but the power he showed (he also hit 27 doubles) could actually make him a starting catcher in the majors, something that is tough to find nowadays. He probably doesn't hit for high averages or even get on base at a high rate, but with some power and that great defense, he's one of the better catching prospects in baseball. 23 year old Greg Deichmann, a 6'2" outfielder, had a disappointing first full season this year by slashing .216/.294/.417 with seven home runs and a 71/22 strikeout to walk ratio over 58 games between High A Stockton and complex ball rehab, missing a big chunk of the season with a wrist injury. He was known for his power back at LSU, but the wrist injury may have sapped some of that this year, and he'll need that power to overcome his swing and miss tendencies. He'll get another shot in 2019, where a healthy Deichmann could break out with plenty of home runs, but that hinges on his ability to make contact against pro stuff. 19 year old Lazaro Armenteros and 20 year old Austin Beck are fairly similar prospects, both joining the system amid plenty of fanfare in 2017 and showing similar skill sets while they played together at Class A Beloit this year. Armenteros slashed .277/.374/.401 with eight home runs, eight stolen bases, and a 115/36 strikeout to walk ratio over 79 games, while Beck slashed .296/.335/.383 with two home runs, eight stolen bases, and a 117/30 strikeout to walk ratio over 123 games. While Armenteros posted numbers along the lines of what you would expect, showing some power, speed, and patience, Beck's numbers didn't quite match the scouting reports. He has a ton of raw power in his quick bat, but instead of hitting a bunch of home runs, he hit 29 doubles (plus four triples), not tapping into that home run power enough. Hopefully, the power will manifest itself soon, and with his high-level defense, the 2017 sixth overall pick could be an impact player on both sides of the ball. As for Armenteros, his offensive outlook is similar but he doesn't quite play the same defense as Beck. 21 year old Jameson Hannah doesn't quite have the offensive upside as Armenteros or Beck, but the 2018 second rounder (50th overall) has a good shot to become fourth outfielder or even a decent regular. Hannah slashed .279/.347/.384 with a home run, six stolen bases, and a 24/9 strikeout to walk ratio over 23 games at short season Vermont in his pro debut. His best tool is his speed, which goes a long way on the bases and in the outfield, and he also gets on base at a high rate as an advanced hitter. He lacks power, putting pressure on his on-base ability to play up if he wants to start. Lastly, we have 21 year old Kyler Murray, perhaps the most interesting prospect in baseball. He hasn't played yet despite being drafted ninth overall in 2018, and that's because he's busy getting ready for the College Football Playoff after winning the Heisman Trophy as Oklahoma's quarterback. As you would expect, he's both raw and ultra athletic, showing great speed and the ability to make adjustments on the field. After failing to produce much at the plate during his first two years in college baseball, he broke out with a big year last year and the A's hope he can continue that upward trajectory in the minors. At this point, he shows an average bat with a tendency to swing and miss, but as he focuses on baseball alone, he should improve. Just how much he improves will be the difference as to whether he's a fourth outfielder or an impact starter, but he's an exciting prospect to have in the system. There have been rumors that he wants to go to the NFL instead, but at this point that is unlikely.
Infielders: SS Jorge Mateo, 3B Sheldon Neuse, 3B Nate Mondou, SS Kevin Merrell, SS Nick Allen, and SS Jeremy Eierman
As with the outfield, the infield features a diverse array of players that can all do different things. There's not much in terms of impact talent here, though some guys (particularly Mateo and Eierman) have the potential to develop into impact prospects down the road. 23 year old Jorge Mateo is very well known, having come over from the Yankees in the Sonny Gray deal in the midst of a big 2017 (.267/.322/.459, 12 HR, 52 SB). His 2018 was a bit of a disappointment, as he slashed .230/.280/.353 with three home runs, 25 stolen bases, and a 139/29 strikeout to walk ratio over 131 games at AAA Nashville. His aggressive approach did not hold up well against the most advanced pitching in the minors, but he did continue to show off his blazing speed and good gap power. Though he only hit three home runs, he knocked 17 doubles and 16 triples, so he's not just a singles hitter. Defensively, he looks good enough defensively to stick at shortstop, but second base or center field may be in his future due to Marcus Semien and Matt Chapman owning the left side of the Oakland infield. Another year in AAA could be all he needs to get his bat going against advanced pitching, in which case he could be a valuable starter for the A's in late 2019 or 2020, but otherwise he'll end up a speedy utility man. 24 year old Sheldon Neuse came over with Jesus Luzardo in the Sean Doolittle trade, though like Mateo, his 2017 (.321/.382/.502, 16 HR) was much better than his 2018. This year, he slashed .263/.304/.357 with five home runs and a 172/32 strikeout to walk ratio over 135 games at Nashville, looking overmatched by upper level pitching and not getting to his power nearly as often as he would have liked to. Overall he has a pretty average bat, which is okay because he's up at the top of the minors and plays a pretty good third base. He's blocked by Chapman there, though he could try his hand at second and probably ends up a utility bat anyways given his strikeout issues. 23 year old Nate Mondou had a good season, slashing .279/.356/.399 with eight home runs, ten stolen bases, and an 84/52 strikeout to walk ratio over 136 games between High A Stockton and AA Midland, though most of his production came at hitter-friendly Stockton, which is also the lower level (.291/.361/.448 vs .255/.345/.297). He's a patient hitter with a good approach at the plate, though he is just an average hitter overall and is unlikely to challenge for a starting spot, instead looking like a utility guy. 23 year old Kevin Merrell is an interesting prospect, one whose numbers haven't quite matched the scouting reports. In 2018, he slashed .291/.335/.365 with no home runs, seven stolen bases, and a 70/19 strikeout to walk ratio over 71 games between Stockton and rehab work in complex and short season ball. He's one of the fastest players in the system, possibly behind only Jorge Mateo and Kyler Murray, but that didn't translate into stolen bases at Stockton this year as he was slowed by injury. He also makes ready contact and can get on base, but again the numbers didn't quite match (he hit just .267/.308/.326 at Stockton), though he was never expected to hit for much power. 2018 was disappointing, but the A's hope he can prove himself as a high on-base, high steal utility prospect in 2019. 20 year old Nick Allen is interesting for different reasons, coming off a season where he slashed just .239/.301/.302 with no home runs, 24 stolen bases, and an 85/34 strikeout to walk ratio over 121 games at Class A Beloit. He didn't hit a lick, but that was expected because the A's drafted him for his defense, hoping the bat would develop in time. He's a superb defender at shortstop, one who can not only stick there but win Gold Gloves too. His bat is far behind his glove, and he's listed at just 5'9" and 155 pounds, so the A's will continue to work with him to develop some gap power. The lowish strikeout rate (16.6%) was nice given that pitchers were probably going right after him, so there is something to build on offensively. Lastly, 22 year old Jeremy Eierman was just drafted in the competitive balance round (70th overall) out of Missouri State, and he slashed .235/.283/.381 with eight home runs, ten stolen bases, and a 70/13 strikeout to walk ratio over 62 games at short season Vermont. He has a high ceiling with power and good defense on the left side of the infield, possibly even at shortstop, but his approach needs a lot of work for a college hitter and he might not be up in the majors for a little while. If he cuts down the strikeouts dramatically, he could be an impactful starting infielder in the long run.
Injured Pitchers: LHP A.J. Puk, RHP Grant Holmes, RHP James Kaprielian, and RHP Daulton Jefferies
As I wrote at the top, this entire group combined to throw just eight innings in 2018, yet all are good enough pitching prospects that they still seriously factor into the A's' future. I'll start with 23 year old A.J. Puk, a 6'7" lefty who was drafted sixth overall out of Florida in 2016. In 2017, his only full season, he posted a 4.03 ERA, a 1.25 WHIP, and a 184/48 strikeout to walk ratio over 125 innings at High A Stockton and AA Midland, but he underwent Tommy John surgery in April 2018 and after missing that season, he'll probably get a late start to 2019 as well. Still, when he steps back on the mound at some point next spring, he'll probably be the A's' top pitching prospect if Jesus Luzardo has exceeded rookie limits at that point. He throws in the mid to upper 90's and misses bats with a wicked slider, helping him mount up strikeouts at an incredible rate. He was supposed to spend 2018 working on his changeup and command, both of which are coming along but which need considerable work if he wants to start in the majors, so that work will be pushed to 2019. If he can take care of just one of those two, he will be a useful mid-rotation starter, and if he can take care of both, he'll be battling Luzardo for the role of #1 starter in Oakland. However, if he remains a fastball/slider pitcher only, he would be a very good late-inning reliever. I played against 22 year old Grant Holmes' former Conway (SC) High School in 2015, the year after he graduated and was drafted in the first round (22nd overall) by the Dodgers, but I'm not sure I would have wanted to face mid 90's sinkers. Holmes came over in the Josh Reddick trade in 2016 and after a pretty decent 2017 at AA Midland (4.49 ERA, 150/61 K/BB) he missed all but two games in 2018 with a shoulder injury. The good news is that he was healthy by the end of the season and made two pretty good starts at Stockton (6 IP, 3 ER, 4 H, 2 BB, 8 K), and he should be ready to go for another crack at the high minors in 2019 at 23 years old. Aside from that great sinker, Holmes throws a very good curveball and a decent changeup with just enough command to make it all work, so he's really only one adjustment away from being a major league starter. In a healthy 2019, if he can improve that command a little, he could be a #3 or #4 starter by mid-season. 24 year old James Kaprielian, yet another former first round pick (16th overall out of UCLA in 2015), came over from the Yankees in the Sonny Gray trade. Tommy John surgery wiped out both his 2017 and 2018 seasons, and he only threw 29.1 minor league innings from 2015-2016, so the fact that he is still considered a valuable prospect is a testament to his skill. Since he hasn't pitched much at all over the past three seasons, it's hard to say exactly what his stuff will look like in 2019, but back when he was healthy he sat in the low 90's with a very advanced arsenal overall, and with his great command, he already looked the part of a major league pitcher and could have moved very quickly. Indeed, in his 29.1 career minor league innings, he has a 2.45 ERA, a 0.85 WHIP, and a 36/7 strikeout to walk ratio. Once healthy in 2019, the first box to check will be making sure he's still the same pitcher he was a couple years ago, but if he is, he could be up in the majors much sooner rather than later a a mid-rotation starter. Lastly, 23 year old Daulton Jefferies is the only pitcher on this list who wasn't a first rounder, having been drafted in the competitive balance round (37th overall, just missed!) in 2016 out of Cal-Berkeley. Like Kaprielian, he has been injured nearly constantly, throwing just 20.1 innings over his three years in the minors, though he holds a 2.21 ERA, a 1.08 WHIP, and a 28/3 strikeout to walk ratio when he's on the mound. Tommy John surgery and a slow recovery has been the issue for him as well, and while his arsenal isn't quite as advanced as Kaprielian's, he still has good command of pretty good stuff and should move fairly quickly when he returns for a healthy 2019. I like Kaprielian better as a prospect, but Jefferies could still be a #4 starter, though there is significant reliever risk.
Healthy Pitchers: RHP Parker Dunshee, RHP Brian Howard, RHP Wyatt Marks, and RHP Brady Feigl
So the A's have lots of injured pitchers who could be impact starters down the road, but what do they have left in terms of guys who actually pitched in 2018? The answer is not much in terms of impact pitching talent (behind Jesus Luzardo, obviously), but there are some interesting back-end starter types and out of the players I chose to highlight, they're all 23. 23 year old Parker Dunshee was fantastic in the mid-minors this year, posting a 2.33 ERA, a 1.00 WHIP, and a 163/31 strikeout to walk ratio over 150.2 innings between High A Stockton and AA Midland, losing no effectiveness at the higher level and bringing his career minor league ERA to 1.98. His stuff is just average, as he throws a low 90's fastball with decent secondary pitches, but he commands it all very well and knows how to mix his pitches to keep hitters off balance well enough to dominate everywhere he has been. He looks like a #5 starter at this point, but these guys can sneak up on you and he shouldn't be counted out for more just yet. As a fun aside, he was teammates with Nate Mondou (see infielders section) at Wake Forest from 2014-2016, now again at AA Midland, and potentially in the future in Oakland. 23 year old Brian Howard had a great season right alongside Dunshee, posting a 2.91 ERA, a 1.11 WHIP, and a 140/37 strikeout to walk ratio over 139.1 innings at Stockton and Midland, though unlike Dunshee he was noticeably better at the lower level. Howard, out of TCU, is an absolute string bean at 6'9" and 185 pounds, using his height to make his average stuff play up. He has a similar outlook to Dunshee given his similar skills and performance, and while some would give him the higher ceiling due to his height (pun completely intended), I hesitate to project further height-related development to guys his age; I think he is what he is at this point, give or take a few mechanical adjustments. 23 year old Wyatt Marks posted a 3.30 ERA, a 1.23 WHIP, and a 159/51 strikeout to walk ratio over 133.2 innings between Class A Beloit and Stockton, blowing his good fastball/curveball combination by A ball hitters who weren't quite as advanced. His mediocre command and lack of a trustworthy changeup give him reliever risk, with his fastball and curveball not being quite good enough to make up for deficiencies on those fronts. There is still an outside shot he can make it to the majors as a starter, but as a reliever he could be fairly valuable. Lastly, 23 year old Brady Feigl (not to be confused with 27 year old Rangers minor league pitcher Brady Fiegl) was just drafted out of Ole Miss in the fifth round in 2018, and he had a successful debut in which he posted a 1.73 ERA, a 0.73 WHIP, and a 34/8 strikeout to walk ratio over 26 innings between short season Vermont and Beloit. The 6'5" right profiles as a workhorse back-end starter type, one who could move through the minor leagues fairly quickly but whose upside is limited.
Showing posts with label Kyler Murray. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Kyler Murray. Show all posts
Friday, December 21, 2018
Thursday, June 28, 2018
2018 Draft Review: Oakland A's
First 5 rounds: Kyler Murray (1-9), Jameson Hannah (2-50), Jeremy Eierman (CBB-70), Hogan Harris (3-85), Alfonso Rivas (4-113), Brady Feigl (5-143)
Also notable: J.J. Schwarz (8-233), Joe DeMers (11-323), Al Jones (25-743)
Like the Angels, the A's went heavy on college players this year, taking just one high schooler in their first 35 picks. On top of that, four of their first five picks were position players, and the first three are all known for their athleticism. They got some decent talent, but given the relative risk in the college players they drafted, I'm not so sure the upside is enough to make up for it.
1-9: OF Kyler Murray (my rank: 39)
Murray was hard to rank and is even harder to project, so while my ranking reflects poorly on the value here, this pick could make the A's look like geniuses or it could be a total bust. Murray is actually one of the best athletes in the country right now, as he is also a star quarterback. He could have been drafted in the top 50 picks out of high school in 2015, but he was also committed to Texas A&M to play quarterback as one of the top dual-threat recruits in the country. His career never materialized in College Station and he transferred to Oklahoma, where he struggled at the plate as a sophomore in the spring (.122/.317/.122, 20/13 K/BB) and then backed up Heisman Trophy winner Baker Mayfield in the fall. Then, in the spring, something turned on for him and he slashed .296/.398/.556 with 10 home runs, 10 stolen bases, and a 56/28 strikeout to walk ratio in 51 games. Based on Murray's split focus with football and year off from baseball in 2016, you would expect him to be rusty, but his big junior year was a surprise. He's just 5'11" but shows power, surprising contact (24.8% strikeout rate is high, but not astronomical given the circumstances) and plate discipline (12.4% walk rate), and great range in center field. His arm plays below average despite being a Power 5 quarterback, but as he focuses on baseball, it should improve. The A's signed him for $4.66 million, which is $101,500 below slot, but he'll get the chance to take over as Mayfield's heir to the starting quarterback position in Norman in the fall. He's also young for a college junior, turning 21 in August, so that always helps. Still, this is the ninth overall pick and guys like Brady Singer (#2 on my list), Matthew Liberatore (#3), Travis Swaggerty (#8), and Cole Winn (#9) were still available. In my opinion, Swaggerty is the same player that Murray is but with a higher floor.
2-50: OF Jameson Hannah (my rank: 48)
Another pick, another speedy college outfielder. Dallas Baptist's Jameson Hannah finished up a junior season where he slashed .360/.444/.555 with six home runs, eight stolen bases, and an even 35/35 strikeout to walk ratio. He's just 5'9", but he has a lot of Denard Span in his game. He'll never hit for power, but he has solid bat to ball skills as his 12.6% strikeout rate shows, and he can draw a walk as well, as that 12.6% rate also shows. He gets on base and plays good defense, and there's not much mystery in his profile. Think Span at best or a fourth outfielder type at worst. He signed for $1.8 million, which is $385,800 above slot. Seven games into his minor league career in the New York-Penn League, he's slashing .280/.357/.440 with a 9/3 strikeout to walk ratio; nothing unexpected there.
CBB-70: SS Jeremy Eierman (my rank: 30)
If Murray and Hannah were risers this year, Eierman was the opposite. The Missouri State star had a huge sophomore season last year (.313/.431/.675, 23 HR, 61/41 K/BB) but regressed this year (.287/.379/.516, 10 HR, 47/27 K/BB), changing his approach and selling out for home runs. Last year, his swing was short and compact and he was able to pile up home runs by barreling up the ball consistently and taking advantage of his home park's short fences. This year, his swing got long and he added more power to it, but he was unable to catch the barrel as much and that's why his power dropped. It will be interesting to see where his approach settles in pro ball, because he's not the biggest guy (6'1", 205 lbs) and might need that long swing to make his power play up with wood bats, but he also has such a high strikeout rate (18% with short swing in 2017, 24.1% with long swing in 2018) that he might never be able to adjust to the long swing. Either way, he has shown plenty of pure hitting ability and even if he goes back to the short swing, he could still succeed if his power doesn't play up. He's fast, having also stolen 21 bases this year, and he plays adequate defense at shortstop and might be able to stay there. If not, he should have no problem being an above-average defensive third baseman. Scouts love his attitude, describing him as a grinder who plays hard and wants to get better every day. He signed for $1.232 million, which is $359,600 above slot. Through seven games in the New York-Penn League, he is slashing .172/.200/.276 with a home run and a 7/0 strikeout to walk ratio, though a seven game sample means essentially nothing.
3-85: LHP Hogan Harris (my rank: 105)
Harris pitched well at the University of Louisiana-Lafayette, going 5-2 with a 2.66 ERA, a 1.41 WHIP, and a 54/30 strikeout to walk ratio in 58 innings. He's a 6'3" lefty with a stocky build, and he throws in the low to mid 90's with a good curveball and a slider and changeup as well. However, nagging injuries have slowed him down, which has hurt his command and kept him from putting up more than 67.2 innings in any of his three seasons in Lafayette. The A's will hope a pro training regimen will help him overcome those injury issues, and if he can stay on the mound consistently, his fringy command could improve enough to make him a #3 or #4 starter in a major league rotation. If not, he might be better off in the bullpen. He signed for $660,000, which is $23,800 below slot.
4-113: 1B Alfonso Rivas (unranked)
Rivas plays first base at Arizona, where he slashed .347/.429/.533 with seven home runs and a 38/28 strikeout to walk ratio in 56 games. Obviously, as a first baseman, his value is tied to his bat. With a .429 on-base percentage and a 14.3% strikeout rate, he has shown that he can get on base and that the hit tool will play up in pro ball. However, at six feet tall and with only moderate power for the time being, he's not a sure thing to reach the majors. He has strong wrists and should be able to generate more power with pro coaching, but as I said, he's a first baseman who will have to hit and hit well if he wants to be a valuable major leaguer. He signed for $446,500, which is $46,500 below slot. Through eight games in the New York-Penn League, he's slashing .259/.412/.481 with a home run and a 4/7 strikeout to walk ratio; a good start, but too early to tell anything.
Others: 5th rounder Brady Feigl may not be the only pitcher of that name in pro baseball (what an unusual name for there to be two of), but he was a valuable veteran pitcher for a very young Ole Miss team this year by going 8-5 with a 4.03 ERA, a 1.28 WHIP, and a 93/26 strikeout to walk ratio over 91.2 innings. The 6'5" righty profiles as a workhorse, one who can eat innings as a back-end starter with command and durability. 8th rounder J.J. Schwarz burst onto the scene as a freshman in 2015 (.332/.398/.629, 18 HR), but he regressed as a sophomore (.290/.397/.456, 7 HR) and as a junior (.259/.351/.444, 12 HR) before bouncing back this year as a senior (.325/.404/.601, 12 HR, 53/28 K/BB). The longtime Florida Gator star leaves Gainesville with 49 home runs and 235 RBI over 262 games, and he'll go down as one of the most productive hitters in Gator history, but we're here to talk about the future. Schwartz was drafted as a catcher and will be given every chance to stick there, though there is a good chance he ends up at first. He has big power that he generates mostly through sheer strength, though I think he could cut his strikeout rate by extending his follow through during his swing. 11th rounder Joe DeMers threw a perfect game earlier this year against UC Riverside, finishing his season 7-3 with a 2.56 ERA, a 0.94 WHIP, and a 92/20 strikeout to walk ratio in 123 innings for Washington. The 6'1" righty is listed at 240 pounds and he, like Feigl, looks like an innings-eating workhorse as a starter. 25th rounder Al Jones could have been a top two or three rounds pick out of high school in 2015, but he went to Vanderbilt instead and it hasn't quite added up yet. This year, he slashed .193/.276/.273 with a pair of home runs and an ugly 72/16 strikeout to walk ratio, really not doing much of anything for the Commodores other than playing good defense. I doubt he signs here, but he'll have to translate his raw skills to on-field results soon if he wants to get his career going.
Also notable: J.J. Schwarz (8-233), Joe DeMers (11-323), Al Jones (25-743)
Like the Angels, the A's went heavy on college players this year, taking just one high schooler in their first 35 picks. On top of that, four of their first five picks were position players, and the first three are all known for their athleticism. They got some decent talent, but given the relative risk in the college players they drafted, I'm not so sure the upside is enough to make up for it.
1-9: OF Kyler Murray (my rank: 39)
Murray was hard to rank and is even harder to project, so while my ranking reflects poorly on the value here, this pick could make the A's look like geniuses or it could be a total bust. Murray is actually one of the best athletes in the country right now, as he is also a star quarterback. He could have been drafted in the top 50 picks out of high school in 2015, but he was also committed to Texas A&M to play quarterback as one of the top dual-threat recruits in the country. His career never materialized in College Station and he transferred to Oklahoma, where he struggled at the plate as a sophomore in the spring (.122/.317/.122, 20/13 K/BB) and then backed up Heisman Trophy winner Baker Mayfield in the fall. Then, in the spring, something turned on for him and he slashed .296/.398/.556 with 10 home runs, 10 stolen bases, and a 56/28 strikeout to walk ratio in 51 games. Based on Murray's split focus with football and year off from baseball in 2016, you would expect him to be rusty, but his big junior year was a surprise. He's just 5'11" but shows power, surprising contact (24.8% strikeout rate is high, but not astronomical given the circumstances) and plate discipline (12.4% walk rate), and great range in center field. His arm plays below average despite being a Power 5 quarterback, but as he focuses on baseball, it should improve. The A's signed him for $4.66 million, which is $101,500 below slot, but he'll get the chance to take over as Mayfield's heir to the starting quarterback position in Norman in the fall. He's also young for a college junior, turning 21 in August, so that always helps. Still, this is the ninth overall pick and guys like Brady Singer (#2 on my list), Matthew Liberatore (#3), Travis Swaggerty (#8), and Cole Winn (#9) were still available. In my opinion, Swaggerty is the same player that Murray is but with a higher floor.
2-50: OF Jameson Hannah (my rank: 48)
Another pick, another speedy college outfielder. Dallas Baptist's Jameson Hannah finished up a junior season where he slashed .360/.444/.555 with six home runs, eight stolen bases, and an even 35/35 strikeout to walk ratio. He's just 5'9", but he has a lot of Denard Span in his game. He'll never hit for power, but he has solid bat to ball skills as his 12.6% strikeout rate shows, and he can draw a walk as well, as that 12.6% rate also shows. He gets on base and plays good defense, and there's not much mystery in his profile. Think Span at best or a fourth outfielder type at worst. He signed for $1.8 million, which is $385,800 above slot. Seven games into his minor league career in the New York-Penn League, he's slashing .280/.357/.440 with a 9/3 strikeout to walk ratio; nothing unexpected there.
CBB-70: SS Jeremy Eierman (my rank: 30)
If Murray and Hannah were risers this year, Eierman was the opposite. The Missouri State star had a huge sophomore season last year (.313/.431/.675, 23 HR, 61/41 K/BB) but regressed this year (.287/.379/.516, 10 HR, 47/27 K/BB), changing his approach and selling out for home runs. Last year, his swing was short and compact and he was able to pile up home runs by barreling up the ball consistently and taking advantage of his home park's short fences. This year, his swing got long and he added more power to it, but he was unable to catch the barrel as much and that's why his power dropped. It will be interesting to see where his approach settles in pro ball, because he's not the biggest guy (6'1", 205 lbs) and might need that long swing to make his power play up with wood bats, but he also has such a high strikeout rate (18% with short swing in 2017, 24.1% with long swing in 2018) that he might never be able to adjust to the long swing. Either way, he has shown plenty of pure hitting ability and even if he goes back to the short swing, he could still succeed if his power doesn't play up. He's fast, having also stolen 21 bases this year, and he plays adequate defense at shortstop and might be able to stay there. If not, he should have no problem being an above-average defensive third baseman. Scouts love his attitude, describing him as a grinder who plays hard and wants to get better every day. He signed for $1.232 million, which is $359,600 above slot. Through seven games in the New York-Penn League, he is slashing .172/.200/.276 with a home run and a 7/0 strikeout to walk ratio, though a seven game sample means essentially nothing.
3-85: LHP Hogan Harris (my rank: 105)
Harris pitched well at the University of Louisiana-Lafayette, going 5-2 with a 2.66 ERA, a 1.41 WHIP, and a 54/30 strikeout to walk ratio in 58 innings. He's a 6'3" lefty with a stocky build, and he throws in the low to mid 90's with a good curveball and a slider and changeup as well. However, nagging injuries have slowed him down, which has hurt his command and kept him from putting up more than 67.2 innings in any of his three seasons in Lafayette. The A's will hope a pro training regimen will help him overcome those injury issues, and if he can stay on the mound consistently, his fringy command could improve enough to make him a #3 or #4 starter in a major league rotation. If not, he might be better off in the bullpen. He signed for $660,000, which is $23,800 below slot.
4-113: 1B Alfonso Rivas (unranked)
Rivas plays first base at Arizona, where he slashed .347/.429/.533 with seven home runs and a 38/28 strikeout to walk ratio in 56 games. Obviously, as a first baseman, his value is tied to his bat. With a .429 on-base percentage and a 14.3% strikeout rate, he has shown that he can get on base and that the hit tool will play up in pro ball. However, at six feet tall and with only moderate power for the time being, he's not a sure thing to reach the majors. He has strong wrists and should be able to generate more power with pro coaching, but as I said, he's a first baseman who will have to hit and hit well if he wants to be a valuable major leaguer. He signed for $446,500, which is $46,500 below slot. Through eight games in the New York-Penn League, he's slashing .259/.412/.481 with a home run and a 4/7 strikeout to walk ratio; a good start, but too early to tell anything.
Others: 5th rounder Brady Feigl may not be the only pitcher of that name in pro baseball (what an unusual name for there to be two of), but he was a valuable veteran pitcher for a very young Ole Miss team this year by going 8-5 with a 4.03 ERA, a 1.28 WHIP, and a 93/26 strikeout to walk ratio over 91.2 innings. The 6'5" righty profiles as a workhorse, one who can eat innings as a back-end starter with command and durability. 8th rounder J.J. Schwarz burst onto the scene as a freshman in 2015 (.332/.398/.629, 18 HR), but he regressed as a sophomore (.290/.397/.456, 7 HR) and as a junior (.259/.351/.444, 12 HR) before bouncing back this year as a senior (.325/.404/.601, 12 HR, 53/28 K/BB). The longtime Florida Gator star leaves Gainesville with 49 home runs and 235 RBI over 262 games, and he'll go down as one of the most productive hitters in Gator history, but we're here to talk about the future. Schwartz was drafted as a catcher and will be given every chance to stick there, though there is a good chance he ends up at first. He has big power that he generates mostly through sheer strength, though I think he could cut his strikeout rate by extending his follow through during his swing. 11th rounder Joe DeMers threw a perfect game earlier this year against UC Riverside, finishing his season 7-3 with a 2.56 ERA, a 0.94 WHIP, and a 92/20 strikeout to walk ratio in 123 innings for Washington. The 6'1" righty is listed at 240 pounds and he, like Feigl, looks like an innings-eating workhorse as a starter. 25th rounder Al Jones could have been a top two or three rounds pick out of high school in 2015, but he went to Vanderbilt instead and it hasn't quite added up yet. This year, he slashed .193/.276/.273 with a pair of home runs and an ugly 72/16 strikeout to walk ratio, really not doing much of anything for the Commodores other than playing good defense. I doubt he signs here, but he'll have to translate his raw skills to on-field results soon if he wants to get his career going.
Sunday, June 3, 2018
2018 MLB Draft: Top 15 Outfielders
There are no superstars in this year's outfield class, but there is good depth, especially if you are looking for guys who can stay in center field long term. Being a center fielder is much like being a shortstop or second baseman in that pressure is taken off the bat, and on the flip side, being a left fielder means that all of the pressure is on the bat, nearly as much as if a player was a first baseman.
1. Travis Swaggerty (South Alabama)
Swaggerty opened eyes with a big sophomore season at South Alabama (10 HR, .361/.487/.567), and while his batting average dropped in 2018, he walked a lot more, added more power, and pushed himself possibly into the top ten picks. Over 57 games, he hit 13 home runs and slashed .296/.455/.526 with an excellent 38/54 strikeout to walk ratio. He generates more power than you would think for a 5'11" guy, especially with his speed. That speed plays on both sides of the ball, as he projects to stay in center field long term, taking some pressure off his bat. Add in that he's young for a college junior and won't turn 21 until August, and you have a guy with power, patience, and speed who could impact the game in a lot of ways.
2. Jarred Kelenic (Waukesha West HS, WI)
There was buzz that the Tigers could select Kelenic first overall for an under slot deal for a while, but that has faded and he looks to go somewhere in the middle of the first round, with the top ten still being a possibility. He may be the most advanced high school hitter available, one who could slot into full season ball soon and who could work his way to the majors fairly quickly. While he doesn't have a plus tool, he does everything well, showing a very advanced approach at the plate as well as some power, speed, and good defense. If he can stay in center field, he could be a left handed Adam Eaton, but even if he slides to a corner, he'll still be an impactful player for a long time. He is a little old for the class, turning 19 in July, but he's so advanced as a hitter that that shouldn't be a problem. He's committed to Louisville.
3. Connor Scott (Plant HS, FL)
If Kelenic is the unspectacular, steady player, Scott is the exciting wild card. The Tampa native is lanky at 6'4" with plenty of room to grow into his frame, and he does everything well. While his approach is not as advanced as Kelenic's, he still has a good feel for the barrel and could grow into more power. He's extremely fast and has a cannon arm, meaning he could be an above average defender in center field, so he can impact the game on both ends of the ball. He is a little bit of a bust risk, as his swing is awkward and his power hasn't developed yet, but the swing works for him and it's not too dissimilar to former teammate and Astros first round pick Kyle Tucker's. He won't make it out of the first round and has a good shot at going in the top half, and he's committed to Florida.
4. Trevor Larnach (Oregon State)
Larnach's excellent performance this spring has had him shooting up draft boards, as he has slashed .330/.452/.632 with 17 home runs to actually overshadow possible top five pick Nick Madrigal in the Oregon State lineup at times. That power is real, as he generates elite exit velocities off the bat, so it should play up with wood bats. He does strike out a lot, but he also walks a lot, showing a power/patience combination that should carry him all the way to the majors. He also swung well in the Cape Cod League for two years, and he's overall trending hard in the right direction. He could hit his way to the majors quickly. On defense though, he's mediocre and will likely have to play left field, where he has enough bat to carry him. He'll likely come off the board before Scott.
5. Greyson Jenista (Wichita State)
Alec Bohm's teammate in Wichita is a first round prospect as well, albeit not as strong of one. He looked like a first round lock after a very good summer in the Cape Cod League (3 HR, .310/.391/.401) in which he was universally praised by coaches for his work ethic and leadership as well as his performance, but a pedestrian junior season (9 HR, .309/.446/.475) has knocked him at least to the back half of the first round if not out of it. I'm still high on him and think he'll be an impact player in time, as he has an explosive swing from a 6'4" frame that will help his power play up. He also walks a lot, and if he can improve his barrel control, he should be able to put it all together and be a complete hitter. He's athletic for his size and should be able to stay in the outfield, but he may have to move to first base if he slows down.
6. Jake McCarthy (Virginia)
Jake McCarthy, whose brother Joe is currently a prospect in the Rays system, had a very good sophomore year (5 HR, .338/.425/.506, 27 SB) and was ready to build on it in 2018 until a broken wrist cut a large chunk out of his season. I still like him as a prospect, as he has a clean, explosive swing that could generate more power if he adds some loft to go along with enough speed to stay in center field. The wrist injury makes him a bit of a wild card, and he may end up as a tweener that doesn't hit quite enough to break past AAA, but I buy the upside and think he could be an every day center fielder. He's also young for a college junior, and he's unlikely to go in the first round but should be drafted shortly afterwards.
7. Jordyn Adams (Green Hope HS, NC)
Adams is a fast rising prospect who could make this ranking look too conservative when it is all said and done. He wasn't well known heading into the season, but a huge performance at the National High School Invitational in March and continued good play afterwards have elevated him to a likely first round prospect. He's a super-athlete who is committed to North Carolina not just for baseball but for football as well, showcasing top of the scale speed that should help him stay in center field no matter how his arm and glove progress. That takes pressure off his bat, which is behind his glove but could generate power and contact when it's all said and done. His swing is long and smooth, and once he gives up football, it should get shorter and more consistent, though he does do a good job of getting the barrel into the zone early. He's ranked here but will go higher than McCarthy, probably higher than Jenista, and possibly in the same range as Scott and Larnach at best, though signability will be an issue no matter where he is drafted.
8. Mike Siani (Penn Charter HS, PA)
The Philadelphia area doesn't have much going on in terms of draft prospects, but Siani is right there in the national conversation. He is fast enough and has enough arm strength to not only stay in center field, but be very good there, taking some pressure off his bat. He'll need that pressure off, because even though he has some loft in his swing and the wheels to turn doubles into triples, he has struggled to find the barrel and will take some time to develop. If it all breaks right, I honestly see some Adam Haseley in him, and he's committed to Virginia like Haseley. He's a little old for a high school senior, turning 19 in July, and is probably a second round pick.
9. Griffin Conine (Duke)
Jeff Conine's son had a huge sophomore season (13 HR, .298/.425/.546) and then hit extremely well in the Cape Cod League (9 HR, .329/.406/.537), leading to projections that he could hit his way into the top ten picks with a good junior season. That didn't happen, as he sold out for power, his swing got long, and he struck out way too much, but he began to right the ship as the season went on and brings 15 home runs and a respectable .265/.390/.559 line into this writing. He strikes out a ton, 27.3% of the time, and that alone could be his downfall in pro ball. However, if he cleans up his approach with pro coaching, he has a good shot at being a power hitting right fielder in the middle of a major league order. He's also young for a college junior, turning 21 in July, and should go somewhere in the second round.
10. Steele Walker (Oklahoma)
Walker is an interesting prospect for more reasons than just his cool name, as he has hit better than ever during his junior year at Oklahoma (13 HR, .352/.441/.606), but hasn't seen his draft stock move up all that much. He plays the game hard and plays it smart, getting the most out of his skill set despite a relative lack of loud tools, which has led to plenty of success for the Sooners, but given that description, I'd like to see a better strikeout to walk ratio than 48/31 if I'm going to take him in the first round, as some teams have shown interest in doing. He strikes me as a bit of a tweener, a player who can't quite field enough to stay in center field but who doesn't quite hit enough for left field, so he could end up a fourth outfielder, but he also plays the game in such a way that he could surprise. He is a little bit old for his class though, turning 22 in July (quite a few July birthdays in this part of the rankings, I know). He could go anywhere from the end of the first round to the back of the second round, and likely ahead of Conine and Siani.
11. Kyler Murray (Oklahoma)
While I consider Walker a slightly better prospect, his teammate Kyler Murray is perhaps the most interesting man in the draft. A potential first round pick as a Dallas area high schooler, he was instead busy leading the famous Allen High School football program as one of the top quarterback recruits in the country to Texas A&M. Things didn't work out there and he transferred to Oklahoma, where he backed up first overall pick Baker Mayfield in Norman. Meanwhile, this paragraph is supposed to be about baseball, and I'll get to that. He had to sit out his freshman baseball season at Oklahoma due to transfer rules and slashed a miserable .122/.317/.122 as a sophomore, leading to the baseball world all but forgetting about him, but he's back out of nowhere this year. In 51 games, he has ten home runs and is slashing .296/.398/.556 with a respectable 56/28 strikeout to walk ratio given the circumstances, showing plenty of speed and the athleticism you'd expect from a two sport star. His bat is coming along nicely as well, and once (if ever) he focuses full time on baseball, he should be able to cut down that strikeout rate and bump up the walk rate. There is a lot of potential to unlock here, and to top it off, he is young for a college junior and won't turn 21 until August. He has pushed himself into the first round conversation, but he will be an extremely tough sign given that he has the opportunity to take over for Mayfield as the starting quarterback of the famous University of Oklahoma offense next fall.
12. Nick Schnell (Roncalli HS, IN)
Schnell is a high ceiling outfielder from Indianapolis who does a little bit of everything. He can run and stay in center field, taking pressure of his bat, and he has added power this spring with big bat speed and a whippy bat path. He is fairly raw at the plate, and pro coaching will need to clean up that swing, but as I said, the good defense buys him slack. He looks to go somewhere in the second round and is committed to Louisville, like Kelenic.
13. Alek Thomas (Mount Carmel HS, IL)
Thomas lacks any real standout tool but plays the game well and has a higher floor than most high school hitters. His feel to hit and defensive ability are both advanced, and if he can improve his arm strength, he'll be a good center fielder. That takes some pressure off his bat, which might need it because he lacks power and could end up a fourth outfielder if he doesn't start driving the ball with more authority. He's committed to TCU and could go as early as the end of the first round.
14. Jameson Hannah (Dallas Baptist)
Hannah may only be 5'9", but he has a lot of Denard Span in him and has shown consistent gap power this spring, slashing .363/.449/.556 with six home runs, 24 doubles, three triples, and an even 38/38 strikeout to walk ratio for the Patriots. He's fast, has shown a great feel for the barrel, and should stick in center field. If he can't cut it as a leadoff guy, he'll make a solid fourth outfielder, and should go somewhere in the second or third round.
15. Parker Meadows (Grayson HS, GA)
The younger brother of Pirates rookie star Austin Meadows, Parker isn't quite the same prospect but has high upside. His left handed swing, combined with his lean 6'4" frame, is built for knocking balls out of the park, but his feel for the barrel is subpar and will need to improve if he wants to go anywhere. With his speed and arm strength, he should be able to stick in center field, buying the contact some time to come along. He's committed to Clemson, where he could emerge as a first round pick in three years. If he chooses to sign, he's a second or third round talent.
Others: Kyle Isbel (UNLV), Tristan Pompey (Kentucky), Joe Gray Jr. (Hattiesburg HS, MS), Zach Watson (Louisiana State), Ryder Green (Karns HS, TN), Nick Decker (Seneca HS, NJ)
1. Travis Swaggerty (South Alabama)
Swaggerty opened eyes with a big sophomore season at South Alabama (10 HR, .361/.487/.567), and while his batting average dropped in 2018, he walked a lot more, added more power, and pushed himself possibly into the top ten picks. Over 57 games, he hit 13 home runs and slashed .296/.455/.526 with an excellent 38/54 strikeout to walk ratio. He generates more power than you would think for a 5'11" guy, especially with his speed. That speed plays on both sides of the ball, as he projects to stay in center field long term, taking some pressure off his bat. Add in that he's young for a college junior and won't turn 21 until August, and you have a guy with power, patience, and speed who could impact the game in a lot of ways.
2. Jarred Kelenic (Waukesha West HS, WI)
There was buzz that the Tigers could select Kelenic first overall for an under slot deal for a while, but that has faded and he looks to go somewhere in the middle of the first round, with the top ten still being a possibility. He may be the most advanced high school hitter available, one who could slot into full season ball soon and who could work his way to the majors fairly quickly. While he doesn't have a plus tool, he does everything well, showing a very advanced approach at the plate as well as some power, speed, and good defense. If he can stay in center field, he could be a left handed Adam Eaton, but even if he slides to a corner, he'll still be an impactful player for a long time. He is a little old for the class, turning 19 in July, but he's so advanced as a hitter that that shouldn't be a problem. He's committed to Louisville.
3. Connor Scott (Plant HS, FL)
If Kelenic is the unspectacular, steady player, Scott is the exciting wild card. The Tampa native is lanky at 6'4" with plenty of room to grow into his frame, and he does everything well. While his approach is not as advanced as Kelenic's, he still has a good feel for the barrel and could grow into more power. He's extremely fast and has a cannon arm, meaning he could be an above average defender in center field, so he can impact the game on both ends of the ball. He is a little bit of a bust risk, as his swing is awkward and his power hasn't developed yet, but the swing works for him and it's not too dissimilar to former teammate and Astros first round pick Kyle Tucker's. He won't make it out of the first round and has a good shot at going in the top half, and he's committed to Florida.
4. Trevor Larnach (Oregon State)
Larnach's excellent performance this spring has had him shooting up draft boards, as he has slashed .330/.452/.632 with 17 home runs to actually overshadow possible top five pick Nick Madrigal in the Oregon State lineup at times. That power is real, as he generates elite exit velocities off the bat, so it should play up with wood bats. He does strike out a lot, but he also walks a lot, showing a power/patience combination that should carry him all the way to the majors. He also swung well in the Cape Cod League for two years, and he's overall trending hard in the right direction. He could hit his way to the majors quickly. On defense though, he's mediocre and will likely have to play left field, where he has enough bat to carry him. He'll likely come off the board before Scott.
5. Greyson Jenista (Wichita State)
Alec Bohm's teammate in Wichita is a first round prospect as well, albeit not as strong of one. He looked like a first round lock after a very good summer in the Cape Cod League (3 HR, .310/.391/.401) in which he was universally praised by coaches for his work ethic and leadership as well as his performance, but a pedestrian junior season (9 HR, .309/.446/.475) has knocked him at least to the back half of the first round if not out of it. I'm still high on him and think he'll be an impact player in time, as he has an explosive swing from a 6'4" frame that will help his power play up. He also walks a lot, and if he can improve his barrel control, he should be able to put it all together and be a complete hitter. He's athletic for his size and should be able to stay in the outfield, but he may have to move to first base if he slows down.
6. Jake McCarthy (Virginia)
Jake McCarthy, whose brother Joe is currently a prospect in the Rays system, had a very good sophomore year (5 HR, .338/.425/.506, 27 SB) and was ready to build on it in 2018 until a broken wrist cut a large chunk out of his season. I still like him as a prospect, as he has a clean, explosive swing that could generate more power if he adds some loft to go along with enough speed to stay in center field. The wrist injury makes him a bit of a wild card, and he may end up as a tweener that doesn't hit quite enough to break past AAA, but I buy the upside and think he could be an every day center fielder. He's also young for a college junior, and he's unlikely to go in the first round but should be drafted shortly afterwards.
7. Jordyn Adams (Green Hope HS, NC)
Adams is a fast rising prospect who could make this ranking look too conservative when it is all said and done. He wasn't well known heading into the season, but a huge performance at the National High School Invitational in March and continued good play afterwards have elevated him to a likely first round prospect. He's a super-athlete who is committed to North Carolina not just for baseball but for football as well, showcasing top of the scale speed that should help him stay in center field no matter how his arm and glove progress. That takes pressure off his bat, which is behind his glove but could generate power and contact when it's all said and done. His swing is long and smooth, and once he gives up football, it should get shorter and more consistent, though he does do a good job of getting the barrel into the zone early. He's ranked here but will go higher than McCarthy, probably higher than Jenista, and possibly in the same range as Scott and Larnach at best, though signability will be an issue no matter where he is drafted.
8. Mike Siani (Penn Charter HS, PA)
The Philadelphia area doesn't have much going on in terms of draft prospects, but Siani is right there in the national conversation. He is fast enough and has enough arm strength to not only stay in center field, but be very good there, taking some pressure off his bat. He'll need that pressure off, because even though he has some loft in his swing and the wheels to turn doubles into triples, he has struggled to find the barrel and will take some time to develop. If it all breaks right, I honestly see some Adam Haseley in him, and he's committed to Virginia like Haseley. He's a little old for a high school senior, turning 19 in July, and is probably a second round pick.
9. Griffin Conine (Duke)
Jeff Conine's son had a huge sophomore season (13 HR, .298/.425/.546) and then hit extremely well in the Cape Cod League (9 HR, .329/.406/.537), leading to projections that he could hit his way into the top ten picks with a good junior season. That didn't happen, as he sold out for power, his swing got long, and he struck out way too much, but he began to right the ship as the season went on and brings 15 home runs and a respectable .265/.390/.559 line into this writing. He strikes out a ton, 27.3% of the time, and that alone could be his downfall in pro ball. However, if he cleans up his approach with pro coaching, he has a good shot at being a power hitting right fielder in the middle of a major league order. He's also young for a college junior, turning 21 in July, and should go somewhere in the second round.
10. Steele Walker (Oklahoma)
Walker is an interesting prospect for more reasons than just his cool name, as he has hit better than ever during his junior year at Oklahoma (13 HR, .352/.441/.606), but hasn't seen his draft stock move up all that much. He plays the game hard and plays it smart, getting the most out of his skill set despite a relative lack of loud tools, which has led to plenty of success for the Sooners, but given that description, I'd like to see a better strikeout to walk ratio than 48/31 if I'm going to take him in the first round, as some teams have shown interest in doing. He strikes me as a bit of a tweener, a player who can't quite field enough to stay in center field but who doesn't quite hit enough for left field, so he could end up a fourth outfielder, but he also plays the game in such a way that he could surprise. He is a little bit old for his class though, turning 22 in July (quite a few July birthdays in this part of the rankings, I know). He could go anywhere from the end of the first round to the back of the second round, and likely ahead of Conine and Siani.
11. Kyler Murray (Oklahoma)
While I consider Walker a slightly better prospect, his teammate Kyler Murray is perhaps the most interesting man in the draft. A potential first round pick as a Dallas area high schooler, he was instead busy leading the famous Allen High School football program as one of the top quarterback recruits in the country to Texas A&M. Things didn't work out there and he transferred to Oklahoma, where he backed up first overall pick Baker Mayfield in Norman. Meanwhile, this paragraph is supposed to be about baseball, and I'll get to that. He had to sit out his freshman baseball season at Oklahoma due to transfer rules and slashed a miserable .122/.317/.122 as a sophomore, leading to the baseball world all but forgetting about him, but he's back out of nowhere this year. In 51 games, he has ten home runs and is slashing .296/.398/.556 with a respectable 56/28 strikeout to walk ratio given the circumstances, showing plenty of speed and the athleticism you'd expect from a two sport star. His bat is coming along nicely as well, and once (if ever) he focuses full time on baseball, he should be able to cut down that strikeout rate and bump up the walk rate. There is a lot of potential to unlock here, and to top it off, he is young for a college junior and won't turn 21 until August. He has pushed himself into the first round conversation, but he will be an extremely tough sign given that he has the opportunity to take over for Mayfield as the starting quarterback of the famous University of Oklahoma offense next fall.
12. Nick Schnell (Roncalli HS, IN)
Schnell is a high ceiling outfielder from Indianapolis who does a little bit of everything. He can run and stay in center field, taking pressure of his bat, and he has added power this spring with big bat speed and a whippy bat path. He is fairly raw at the plate, and pro coaching will need to clean up that swing, but as I said, the good defense buys him slack. He looks to go somewhere in the second round and is committed to Louisville, like Kelenic.
13. Alek Thomas (Mount Carmel HS, IL)
Thomas lacks any real standout tool but plays the game well and has a higher floor than most high school hitters. His feel to hit and defensive ability are both advanced, and if he can improve his arm strength, he'll be a good center fielder. That takes some pressure off his bat, which might need it because he lacks power and could end up a fourth outfielder if he doesn't start driving the ball with more authority. He's committed to TCU and could go as early as the end of the first round.
14. Jameson Hannah (Dallas Baptist)
Hannah may only be 5'9", but he has a lot of Denard Span in him and has shown consistent gap power this spring, slashing .363/.449/.556 with six home runs, 24 doubles, three triples, and an even 38/38 strikeout to walk ratio for the Patriots. He's fast, has shown a great feel for the barrel, and should stick in center field. If he can't cut it as a leadoff guy, he'll make a solid fourth outfielder, and should go somewhere in the second or third round.
15. Parker Meadows (Grayson HS, GA)
The younger brother of Pirates rookie star Austin Meadows, Parker isn't quite the same prospect but has high upside. His left handed swing, combined with his lean 6'4" frame, is built for knocking balls out of the park, but his feel for the barrel is subpar and will need to improve if he wants to go anywhere. With his speed and arm strength, he should be able to stick in center field, buying the contact some time to come along. He's committed to Clemson, where he could emerge as a first round pick in three years. If he chooses to sign, he's a second or third round talent.
Others: Kyle Isbel (UNLV), Tristan Pompey (Kentucky), Joe Gray Jr. (Hattiesburg HS, MS), Zach Watson (Louisiana State), Ryder Green (Karns HS, TN), Nick Decker (Seneca HS, NJ)
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