Last year, the Orioles gave some thought to players like Bobby Witt Jr. and Andrew Vaughn, but for the most part, it was a forgone conclusion that they would select Oregon State catcher Adley Rutschman first overall, and they did. In 2020, while Arizona State first baseman Spencer Torkelson has emerged as the clear frontrunner, Vanderbilt infielder/outfielder Austin Martin remains very much in the conversation, and it's certainly an interesting one. You have two players who are similar enough to cleanly compare as fellow college position players, but different enough to contrast as guys with very different skill sets. With that, let's dive into what the thought process between these two could look like for the Tigers.
The Tigers' Position
Having to decide between two or more great players at 1-1 is a great problem to have. The current state of the system is very pitching-heavy, led by a "big three" of Casey Mize, Matt Manning, and Tarik Skubal, with Mize having been the first overall pick in the 2018 draft. Now the MLB draft is very different from its NFL and NBA counterparts for a lot of reasons, but perhaps the biggest is this: you don't draft for need. If the Tigers believed the best player available was a pitcher like Asa Lacy or Emerson Hancock, they absolutely should have drafted one of the two, regardless of how pitching-heavy the system was. But the good news for the Tigers is that Torkelson and Martin are generally considered better players than Lacy and Hancock, so they can fill easily a need while still taking the best player available.
The Case for Spencer Torkelson
Position: 1B. 2020 Stats: 6 HR, .340/.598/.780, 15/31 K/BB.
My original profile written here
Spencer Torkelson has the best bat in the class, period. Over two-plus years at Arizona State, he cracked 54 home runs while slashing .337/.463/.729 with more walks (110) than strikeouts (104) across 129 games. The power is double plus, playing to all fields, against velocity and against good offspeed stuff, and with wood bats. The contact ability is plus as well, as Torkelson is adept at recognizing offspeed pitches, getting the barrel to the ball, and keeping his strikeouts down. There is no question that he is going to hit and hit for power in pro ball and in the majors. To boot, he's young for the class and won't turn 21 until August.
While Austin Martin is a no-doubt future plus hitter, Torkelson's bat is better. The quickest, easiest, and most robust way to get ROI on your top prospect is for him to hit, and Torkelson will do that. Martin is going to provide more defensive value, especially if he can stick at shortstop, but sometimes you just have to avoid the urge to get too cute and check all the boxes. There is a generational power prospect right there for the taking; just do it.
The Case for Austin Martin
Position: IF/OF. 2020 Stats: 3 HR, .377/.507/.660, 2/10 K/BB, 3 SB.
My original profile written here
Torkelson doesn't have a monopoly on the whole "being a special hitter" thing. Martin cut his strikeout rate from 16.8% as a freshman to 10.5% as a sophomore to a minuscule 2.9% as a junior – just two K's in sixteen games. Typically, that kind of contact is reserved for slap hitters or players who otherwise just kind of spray line drives around the field with little hope for double digit home run totals, but Martin doesn't fit that profile. He is a legitimate impact hitter who doesn't settle for weak contact, driving the ball with authority to all fields and over fences. He's hit 13 home runs in 81 games since the start of 2019, all while slashing .389/.490/.614 with just 36 strikeouts. While he doesn't project to be a true power hitter and certainly not Torkelson-esque in home run output, he should be good for anywhere from 15-25 home runs annually, all while putting up high on-base percentages in the .400 range. Alex Bregman had a remarkably similar profile in college, and he hit 41 home runs in 2019.
Martin is a hitting machine while also providing significantly more defensive value than Torkelson. Having watched Martin play various positions around the diamond, scouts have seen plenty to imply he could be an above average defender at shortstop. He has been surrounded by better defenders throughout his career, so he hasn't had the chance to prove it, but regardless, Martin will be providing value on both sides of the ball. Martin is the more well-rounded player, with a real chance of providing just as much offensive value as Torkelson with defense to boot. Don't let Torkelson's power distract from the fact that Martin is a special hitter who will have no trouble putting up big numbers against major league pitching with some speed to boot.
Other Options
LHP Asa Lacy, Texas A&M: The best pitcher in the class, Lacy is 14-5 with a 2.07 ERA and a 224/68 strikeout to walk ratio over 148 innings in his career at Texas A&M. He's big, he's mean, and he's left handed, which helps make his nasty four pitch mix play up with improving command to boot. Out of all the other options beyond Torkelson and Martin, Lacy seems like the "frontrunner among the dark horses" to go first overall. While that probably doesn't mean much given that the Tigers seem to be locking in on Tork, it is a testament to Lacy's immense upside combined with very little risk. Full profile here.
2B Nick Gonzales, New Mexico State: There are some that would argue that the only difference between Nick Gonzales and Austin Martin, at least offensively, is who they've played against. He is a career .399/.502/.747 hitter with 37 home runs and more walks (89) than strikeouts (79) in 128 games at New Mexico State. He hit .432/.532/.773 in 2019 then .448/.610/1.155 in 2020, and he also won the Cape Cod League MVP to prove his bat was for real. Still, the fact that he hasn't proved it day in and day out against SEC competition like Martin has, plus slightly worse defense, means that Martin remains a little bit ahead. His most likely landing spots are either the Royals at #4 or the Blue Jays at #5. Full profile here.
RHP Emerson Hancock, Georgia: Hancock entered the 2020 season as an early favorite to go first overall, drawing comparisons to 2018 first overall pick Casey Mize after putting up a 1.99 ERA as a sophomore. His best attribute is his command, which helps his very good four pitch arsenal play up significantly. Not just a finesse pitcher, Hancock can hit 99 and all three of his offspeed pitches flash plus, giving him an extremely well-rounded profile. However, while the players listed above continued to push their stock forward this year, Hancock remained more or less in the same spot after a couple of up-and-down outings against Richmond and Georgia Tech, and some question his lack of a true, wipeout offspeed pitch. For that reason, he has fallen just behind Lacy, and he is perhaps equally likely to end up going anywhere from fourth to seventh overall. Full profile here.
OF Zac Veen, Spruce Creek HS [FL]: Veen has steadily risen throughout the past calendar year, going from a fringe first rounder to a potential top ten pick to now having his name discussed as high as #4 to the Royals. The top high school prospect in the class, Veen has tremendous power projection in his 6'4" frame, with a beautiful left handed swing that figures to tap every bit of it without selling out. While he has shown some minor swing and miss concerns, they're not a huge deal and Veen's advanced plate discipline gives plenty of hope that they will never be an issue. Still, the college bats are much more proven than Veen and he would be a stretch for the Tigers at 1-1. Full profile here.
Michiganders for the Later Rounds
It's always fun to see guys go to their hometown team, and while no Michiganders are in the running for the first round at all (the closest geographically are Ed Howard of Chicago and Dillon Dingler of Massillon, Ohio), there is a lot of talent available for their later picks.
RHP Jeff Criswell, Michigan (hometown: Portage): Criswell is the top prospect among Michigan natives, a Portage native (near Kalamazoo) turned Wolverines starter. He holds a 2.88 ERA over three years in Ann Arbor and brings a solid three pitch mix highlighted by a mid 90's fastball, a good slider, and a fading changeup. There have been some command questions and he hasn't always been the most consistent pitcher, but with that three pitch mix, a 6'4" frame, and a track record in the Big Ten, he profiles as a solid second round arm. If he's still available for the Tigers' pick at #62, he could be a good fit. Full profile here.
OF Jordan Nwogu, Michigan (hometown: Ann Arbor): A graduate of Pioneer High School just down the road from Michigan's campus, Nwogu is actually on an academic scholarship for computer engineering, not an athletic one. That hasn't stopped him from being a career .334/.430/.545 hitter with 20 home runs and 30 stolen bases over 125 games for the Wolverines, showing one of the better power/speed combinations in the class. He's big and athletic at a listed 6'3", 235 pounds, though his swing is a bit awkward and he's fairly raw on both sides of the ball. He could come into play for the Tigers' picks at #102 and #132.
2B/C Zavier Warren, Central Michigan (hometown: Southfield): A product of Groves High School between Southfield and Birmingham in the Detroit suburbs, Warren is a guy who has just hit and hit wherever he's gone. He slashed .363/.498/.571 with eight home runs as a sophomore at Central Michigan in 2019, then hit well on the Cape as well. He's actually kind of the opposite of Nwogu, as he doesn't have a ton of power or speed but he just steadily gets the job done. Warren is a very patient hitter who hits a lot of line drives and who could be a utility infielder or decent regular at the big league level. He also has a little bit of experience behind the plate, which could seriously boost his value if he ends up moving back there and sticking. Like Nwogu, he figures into picks #102 and #132 for Detroit.
RHP Mason Erla, Michigan State (hometown: Cass City): The Thumb isn't known for producing a lot of baseball players, but Mason Erla has steadily risen from the small town of Cass City, about 50 miles northeast of Flint. A fairly unheralded recruit, he was solid but unspectacular over his first three years at Michigan State and went undrafted as a redshirt sophomore in 2019. That will change in 2020, as a huge uptick in his velocity helped him post a 1.04 ERA and a 42/6 strikeout to walk ratio over 26 innings this year. He now sits in the mid 90's with his fastball and adds a solid slider/changeup combination and throws strikes with all three, though on the down side he'll turn 23 in August and might be ticketed for relief. He joins Nwogu and Warren as being in play at #102 and #132.
LHP Sam Weatherly, Clemson (hometown: Howell): Weatherly grew up in Howell, roughly halfway between Detroit and Lansing on I-96, but headed south to Clemson for college. He was a well-known recruit, but command issues kept him from really succeeding over his first two years with the Tigers. He still struggled to throw strikes in 2020, walking 14 in 22.2 innings, but he posted a 0.79 ERA and struck out 43 in that span and leapt up draft boards. His fastball sits in the low to mid 90's but his bread and butter is an exceptional slider that's among the best left handed breaking balls in the class. His command could push him to the bullpen if he doesn't start throwing more strikes, but even small improvements could make him a very effective starter. If the Tigers are going to grab him, he probably makes the most sense at pick #102 if he's still available.
OF Joey Wiemer, Cincinnati (hometown: Temperance): We'll finish off with Joey Wiemer, who grew up in Temperance, just over the border from Toledo, Ohio. He headed down I-75 for school, and he's been a bit of a conundrum for scouts ever since. Standing 6'5" with long arms, long legs, and long hair, he's hard to miss on the baseball field. He sets up with an even more outlandish batting stance with lots of hand movement and bat wiggle, and it has contributed to an unremarkable .264/.379/.408 career line with twelve home runs and 35 stolen bases over 122 games for the Bearcats. He's shown pretty good plate discipline despite everything going on in his stance and swing, and the hope is that pro coaching could help him leap forward and reach his potential. He makes most sense at pick #132.
Friday, June 5, 2020
2020 Draft Profile: Markevian Hence
RHP Markevian Hence, Watson Chapel HS [AR]
Full index of profiles here
DoB: 8/6/2002. Commitment: Arkansas.
In 1993, the city of Pine Bluff, Arkansas produced an exceptional talent in young outfielder Torii Hunter, who eschewed a commitment to Arkansas to sign with the Twins at 20th overall. 27 years later, while he won't go as high in the draft, fellow Arkansas signee Markevian Hence has a chance to follow in his footsteps and become a big league star. One of the younger players available in this class, Hence is an exciting arm with plenty of upside to tap into.
He's a bit smaller at 6'1" and with a skinny frame, but he packs a lot of punch. His fastball sits in the low 90's, but he can get into the mid 90's at times as well and there seems to be more velocity in the tank. He has great feel to spin the ball, showing both a slider and a curveball with nice bite. Both need work, but he can really snap off some good ones and both could be plus pitches. He also has a changeup, though like most high schoolers, it's an average pitch and could develop in any number of ways.
Hence throws strikes, but perhaps his most attractive asset is his quick, loose right arm. Undersized right handers often elicit a lot of reliever labels, but that natural athleticism makes him seem more like a potential Max Meyer-type of impact starter than a short reliever. Of course, he lacks Meyer's plus-plus slider, but he spins the ball well enough to project a strength in that area regardless. In that sense, he brings a lot of risk factors, but you can make a lot of valid excuses as to why those risk factors aren't as big of a deal as they seem. As a major plus, Hence won't turn 18 until August, making him very young for his class.
Hence looks like an impact starter if he can hold up under a full season's workload and refine that secondary stuff just a little bit, at least the latter of which he is clearly capable of. If he's signable away from Arkansas, which is reeling in an excellent recruiting class this year, he could just scrape that second comp round as his ceiling but more likely fits in round three or four. Personally, I look at him and then look over to Max Meyer and get excited about his future.
Fall game action
More fall game action
Full index of profiles here
DoB: 8/6/2002. Commitment: Arkansas.
In 1993, the city of Pine Bluff, Arkansas produced an exceptional talent in young outfielder Torii Hunter, who eschewed a commitment to Arkansas to sign with the Twins at 20th overall. 27 years later, while he won't go as high in the draft, fellow Arkansas signee Markevian Hence has a chance to follow in his footsteps and become a big league star. One of the younger players available in this class, Hence is an exciting arm with plenty of upside to tap into.
He's a bit smaller at 6'1" and with a skinny frame, but he packs a lot of punch. His fastball sits in the low 90's, but he can get into the mid 90's at times as well and there seems to be more velocity in the tank. He has great feel to spin the ball, showing both a slider and a curveball with nice bite. Both need work, but he can really snap off some good ones and both could be plus pitches. He also has a changeup, though like most high schoolers, it's an average pitch and could develop in any number of ways.
Hence throws strikes, but perhaps his most attractive asset is his quick, loose right arm. Undersized right handers often elicit a lot of reliever labels, but that natural athleticism makes him seem more like a potential Max Meyer-type of impact starter than a short reliever. Of course, he lacks Meyer's plus-plus slider, but he spins the ball well enough to project a strength in that area regardless. In that sense, he brings a lot of risk factors, but you can make a lot of valid excuses as to why those risk factors aren't as big of a deal as they seem. As a major plus, Hence won't turn 18 until August, making him very young for his class.
Hence looks like an impact starter if he can hold up under a full season's workload and refine that secondary stuff just a little bit, at least the latter of which he is clearly capable of. If he's signable away from Arkansas, which is reeling in an excellent recruiting class this year, he could just scrape that second comp round as his ceiling but more likely fits in round three or four. Personally, I look at him and then look over to Max Meyer and get excited about his future.
Fall game action
More fall game action
2020 Draft Profile: Yohandy Morales
3B Yohandy Morales, Braddock HS [FL]
Full index of profiles here
DoB: 10/9/2001. B/T: R/R.
Commitment: Miami.
Miami landed four huge recruits from right in their backyard between Victor Mederos, Alejandro Rosario, Yohandy Morales, and Carlos Perez, all of whom attend high school within fifteen miles of campus. Morales is the top hitter in this loaded class, one whose name was trending up when the season shut down thanks to his big raw power and improving ability to get to it. With a lot of power over hit high school bats in this class, Morales even stands out a bit with some defensive value to boot.
Morales' best tool is his raw power. At 6'4", he creates plenty of natural leverage from his long arms and legs, and with a loose swing, some natural loft, there's plenty more power to project as he gets stronger. For most of his prep career, he's had significant swing and miss concerns stemming from a noisy setup and mediocre pitch recognition. There was a lot going on in his swing, and it was hard for him to get everything in order in time to catch up to velocity or react to good breaking balls. However, this spring, he reportedly came out with a much quieter, more efficient setup and swing, and early reports said he was using it to make much more consistent contact.
If Morales' adjustments were for real, then he's taken a very tangible step forward towards his lofty ceiling as a hitter. One interesting separator on his part is his defense – he's not a plus defender by any means, but he should be a solid-average third baseman, which is in contrast to many of this year's prep power hitters that figure to be limited to first base or left field. We're looking at a ceiling of a 30 home run hitter with decent on-base percentages if he can continue to improve his pitch recognition, though with the clear risk that comes with any inability to do so from a high schooler. If he's signable away from Miami, he likely ends up somewhere in rounds three through five.
Summer game footage
Full index of profiles here
DoB: 10/9/2001. B/T: R/R.
Commitment: Miami.
Miami landed four huge recruits from right in their backyard between Victor Mederos, Alejandro Rosario, Yohandy Morales, and Carlos Perez, all of whom attend high school within fifteen miles of campus. Morales is the top hitter in this loaded class, one whose name was trending up when the season shut down thanks to his big raw power and improving ability to get to it. With a lot of power over hit high school bats in this class, Morales even stands out a bit with some defensive value to boot.
Morales' best tool is his raw power. At 6'4", he creates plenty of natural leverage from his long arms and legs, and with a loose swing, some natural loft, there's plenty more power to project as he gets stronger. For most of his prep career, he's had significant swing and miss concerns stemming from a noisy setup and mediocre pitch recognition. There was a lot going on in his swing, and it was hard for him to get everything in order in time to catch up to velocity or react to good breaking balls. However, this spring, he reportedly came out with a much quieter, more efficient setup and swing, and early reports said he was using it to make much more consistent contact.
If Morales' adjustments were for real, then he's taken a very tangible step forward towards his lofty ceiling as a hitter. One interesting separator on his part is his defense – he's not a plus defender by any means, but he should be a solid-average third baseman, which is in contrast to many of this year's prep power hitters that figure to be limited to first base or left field. We're looking at a ceiling of a 30 home run hitter with decent on-base percentages if he can continue to improve his pitch recognition, though with the clear risk that comes with any inability to do so from a high schooler. If he's signable away from Miami, he likely ends up somewhere in rounds three through five.
Summer game footage
Thursday, June 4, 2020
2020 Draft Profile: Ricky Tiedemann
LHP Ricky Tiedemann, Lakewood HS [CA]
Full index of profiles here
DoB: 8/18/2002. Commitment: San Diego State.
Ricky Tiedemann's older brother, Tai, was drafted in the eighth round out of Long Beach City College in 2016, putting up a nice season at Class A Hickory in the Rangers' system in 2019. Now his younger brother, Ricky, has a chance to beat his draft selection by a significant margin. Depending on your views on Long Beach State's Adam Seminaris, Tiedemann is probably the best left handed pitching prospect in Southern California, coming out of the same Lakewood High School that produced Mariners infielder J.P. Crawford, Braves catcher Travis d'Arnaud, Rangers infielder Matt Duffy, and longtime big league infielder Damion Easley, among numerous others. While Tiedemann is far from a finished product, there's a consensus among scouts that he has an immense ceiling.
The very first thing you will notice about Tiedemann, aside from his long brown hair, is the looseness of his operation. He's an excellent athlete at 6'4" with great body control, an exceptionally loose arm that whips in fastballs around 90, and he figures to add significant velocity with added weight and improved mechanics. He has a slider, but it's fairly rudimentary right now and would need to be fully developed by a major league team. Lastly, he throws a changeup which is probably his best pitch right now. He gets great armside fade out of it, which plays really well off of his wide arm slot and the angle he gets on his other pitches.
Tiedemann throws his share of strikes, which is a plus and shows that he's not a complete project. Once he learns to channel his strength into his pitches and really drive towards the plate, and that seems very likely given his body control and athleticism, he could go from a lower velocity guy to a power arm. The fastball and changeup especially have the chance to tunnel off each other and become true weapons, and if he can sharpen that slider a bit, you're looking at an impact starting pitcher. For yet another positive, Tiedemann is very young for the class and won't turn 18 until August, giving him all the more time to develop.
As with any high school arm, there is significant risk here, but Tiedemann's left handedness and his natural athleticism alleviate at least some of that. You definitely have to squint a little bit, but it's really pretty easy to imagine him as an impact starting pitcher once you do. He'll need to develop that breaking ball and and refine his mechanics, though I'm definitely confident in at least the latter. He probably figures to go somewhere in rounds two through four if he's signable away from San Diego State.
2020 game action
Full index of profiles here
DoB: 8/18/2002. Commitment: San Diego State.
Ricky Tiedemann's older brother, Tai, was drafted in the eighth round out of Long Beach City College in 2016, putting up a nice season at Class A Hickory in the Rangers' system in 2019. Now his younger brother, Ricky, has a chance to beat his draft selection by a significant margin. Depending on your views on Long Beach State's Adam Seminaris, Tiedemann is probably the best left handed pitching prospect in Southern California, coming out of the same Lakewood High School that produced Mariners infielder J.P. Crawford, Braves catcher Travis d'Arnaud, Rangers infielder Matt Duffy, and longtime big league infielder Damion Easley, among numerous others. While Tiedemann is far from a finished product, there's a consensus among scouts that he has an immense ceiling.
The very first thing you will notice about Tiedemann, aside from his long brown hair, is the looseness of his operation. He's an excellent athlete at 6'4" with great body control, an exceptionally loose arm that whips in fastballs around 90, and he figures to add significant velocity with added weight and improved mechanics. He has a slider, but it's fairly rudimentary right now and would need to be fully developed by a major league team. Lastly, he throws a changeup which is probably his best pitch right now. He gets great armside fade out of it, which plays really well off of his wide arm slot and the angle he gets on his other pitches.
Tiedemann throws his share of strikes, which is a plus and shows that he's not a complete project. Once he learns to channel his strength into his pitches and really drive towards the plate, and that seems very likely given his body control and athleticism, he could go from a lower velocity guy to a power arm. The fastball and changeup especially have the chance to tunnel off each other and become true weapons, and if he can sharpen that slider a bit, you're looking at an impact starting pitcher. For yet another positive, Tiedemann is very young for the class and won't turn 18 until August, giving him all the more time to develop.
As with any high school arm, there is significant risk here, but Tiedemann's left handedness and his natural athleticism alleviate at least some of that. You definitely have to squint a little bit, but it's really pretty easy to imagine him as an impact starting pitcher once you do. He'll need to develop that breaking ball and and refine his mechanics, though I'm definitely confident in at least the latter. He probably figures to go somewhere in rounds two through four if he's signable away from San Diego State.
2020 game action
Wednesday, June 3, 2020
2020 Draft Profile: Kala'i Rosario
OF Kala'i Rosario, Waiakea HS [HI]
Full index of profiles here
DoB: 7/2/2002. B/T: R/R.
Commitment: California Baptist.
Hawaii has given us players like Kolten Wong, Kurt Suzuki, and Kirby Yates, but only after they want off to college. Every year, there tends to be a couple of prospects here and there, but otherwise the islands are not a major exporter of baseball talent. In 2020, yet another "K" first name is set to try to break through in outfielder Kala'i Rosario, the top Hawaiian in the class. Armed with some of the best power in the high school class, he could be drafted high enough this year to forego a commitment to California Baptist.
Rosario can hit the ball a mile with relative ease. He packs a ton of strength into his 6'1" frame and can unload on baseballs to send them incredible distances. While there is some swing and miss in his game, it's not enough to where scouts are worried if he'll hit. It'll take some adjustment, as Hawaiian players often don't face the toughest competition back home, but he should tap his power regularly enough to be productive. His swing could be cleaned up a bit, as he tends to lean into pitches and get out on his front foot, so he'll need to learn to keep his weight back a bit. Good news is that he's fairly young for the class and won't turn 18 until after the draft, so he has that much more time to make adjustments.
Rosario is a bit of a sleeper with very high upside as a 30 or 40 home run guy, albeit one that's likely limited to left field. There is considerable bust risk because he needs so much refinement, but he could provide great value starting around the third round. If he gets to Cal Baptist, he'd be one of the best recruits they've ever landed, and he could significantly elevate his stock by hitting for three years there. He could be a cheaper alternative to a similar hitter, Blaze Jordan.
Highlight reel from fall event
Full index of profiles here
DoB: 7/2/2002. B/T: R/R.
Commitment: California Baptist.
Hawaii has given us players like Kolten Wong, Kurt Suzuki, and Kirby Yates, but only after they want off to college. Every year, there tends to be a couple of prospects here and there, but otherwise the islands are not a major exporter of baseball talent. In 2020, yet another "K" first name is set to try to break through in outfielder Kala'i Rosario, the top Hawaiian in the class. Armed with some of the best power in the high school class, he could be drafted high enough this year to forego a commitment to California Baptist.
Rosario can hit the ball a mile with relative ease. He packs a ton of strength into his 6'1" frame and can unload on baseballs to send them incredible distances. While there is some swing and miss in his game, it's not enough to where scouts are worried if he'll hit. It'll take some adjustment, as Hawaiian players often don't face the toughest competition back home, but he should tap his power regularly enough to be productive. His swing could be cleaned up a bit, as he tends to lean into pitches and get out on his front foot, so he'll need to learn to keep his weight back a bit. Good news is that he's fairly young for the class and won't turn 18 until after the draft, so he has that much more time to make adjustments.
Rosario is a bit of a sleeper with very high upside as a 30 or 40 home run guy, albeit one that's likely limited to left field. There is considerable bust risk because he needs so much refinement, but he could provide great value starting around the third round. If he gets to Cal Baptist, he'd be one of the best recruits they've ever landed, and he could significantly elevate his stock by hitting for three years there. He could be a cheaper alternative to a similar hitter, Blaze Jordan.
Highlight reel from fall event
2020 Draft profile: Blaze Jordan
1B Blaze Jordan, DeSoto Central HS [MS]
Full index of profiles here
DoB: 12/19/2002. B/T: R/R.
Commitment: Mississippi State.
If you've ever gone down a YouTube rabbit hole watching baseball videos, you've probably come across a tabloid-looking video claiming some 15 year old Is The Next BRYCE HARPER. While Jordan isn't quite that good, the video wasn't entirely an exaggeration, as he's a legitimate draft prospect with some of the best raw power in the class. Originally a member of the class of 2021, he reclassified up to the class of 2020 to be eligible this year, making him the youngest player with top 100 hopes in this draft (he won't turn 18 until December). An up and down summer makes him a relatively divisive prospect, but he remains a strong one.
As you can probably tell from all of his YouTube videos, Jordan's carrying tool is his plus to potentially plus-plus raw power. He can knock the ball just about as far as anyone in the class, having done so at showcases around the country and having won numerous national home run derbies. He hits it hard, too, posting exit velocities north of 100 on a regular basis. Not just a free swinger, though, having long shown the ability to handle older pitching to an extent. However, he slumped at times over the summer facing pitchers who could be upwards of a year and a half older than him. He's currently a third baseman working hard to stay there, but unless he significantly improves his range and adds some arm strength, he's more than likely ticketed for first base. That puts a lot of pressure on his bat to perform and it could push him to college.
Jordan also has a relatively choppy swing without a ton of loft, and smoothing him out could help him tap even more power. In a sense, he's a litmus test on how teams view age. He didn't hit particularly well over the summer, but he was a rising junior going up against mostly rising seniors, and we could all reasonably expect that he would perform a lot better a year later.
The ceiling/floor split is pretty big here. He could hit 40 home runs a year, or he could flame out in the minor leagues. That discrepancy, which is made wider because he's just so young, probably gives him a better chance of making it to Mississippi State. If he hits well there, he could be an extremely attractive prospect in 2023 who not only has an SEC track record, but who is the age of a college sophomore. As for 2020, he could go as high as the second round to a team who buys into the power and youth, though his risk/reward profile probably fits better in the third or fourth round, at which point he might just head to Starkville.
Batting practice and game action over the summer
2018 video that made him famous
Jaw dropping home runs from 2016 (he was 13 years old)
Full index of profiles here
DoB: 12/19/2002. B/T: R/R.
Commitment: Mississippi State.
If you've ever gone down a YouTube rabbit hole watching baseball videos, you've probably come across a tabloid-looking video claiming some 15 year old Is The Next BRYCE HARPER. While Jordan isn't quite that good, the video wasn't entirely an exaggeration, as he's a legitimate draft prospect with some of the best raw power in the class. Originally a member of the class of 2021, he reclassified up to the class of 2020 to be eligible this year, making him the youngest player with top 100 hopes in this draft (he won't turn 18 until December). An up and down summer makes him a relatively divisive prospect, but he remains a strong one.
As you can probably tell from all of his YouTube videos, Jordan's carrying tool is his plus to potentially plus-plus raw power. He can knock the ball just about as far as anyone in the class, having done so at showcases around the country and having won numerous national home run derbies. He hits it hard, too, posting exit velocities north of 100 on a regular basis. Not just a free swinger, though, having long shown the ability to handle older pitching to an extent. However, he slumped at times over the summer facing pitchers who could be upwards of a year and a half older than him. He's currently a third baseman working hard to stay there, but unless he significantly improves his range and adds some arm strength, he's more than likely ticketed for first base. That puts a lot of pressure on his bat to perform and it could push him to college.
Jordan also has a relatively choppy swing without a ton of loft, and smoothing him out could help him tap even more power. In a sense, he's a litmus test on how teams view age. He didn't hit particularly well over the summer, but he was a rising junior going up against mostly rising seniors, and we could all reasonably expect that he would perform a lot better a year later.
The ceiling/floor split is pretty big here. He could hit 40 home runs a year, or he could flame out in the minor leagues. That discrepancy, which is made wider because he's just so young, probably gives him a better chance of making it to Mississippi State. If he hits well there, he could be an extremely attractive prospect in 2023 who not only has an SEC track record, but who is the age of a college sophomore. As for 2020, he could go as high as the second round to a team who buys into the power and youth, though his risk/reward profile probably fits better in the third or fourth round, at which point he might just head to Starkville.
Batting practice and game action over the summer
2018 video that made him famous
Jaw dropping home runs from 2016 (he was 13 years old)
Tuesday, June 2, 2020
2020 Draft Profile: Zach McCambley
RHP Zach McCambley, Coastal Carolina
Full index of profiles here
DoB: 5/4/1999.
2020 Stats: 3-1, 1.80 ERA, 1.08 WHIP, 32/7 K/BB in 25 IP.
Zach McCambley is an interesting prospect from a smaller program, albeit one that won a National Championship in 2016. He flashed good stuff for the Chanticleers, but he was inconsistent and held a 4.34 ERA over his first two seasons against just decent competition. However, he started to rise up boards when he posted a 1.74 ERA and a 24/7 strikeout to walk ratio across 20.2 innings in the elite Cape Cod League over the summer, then kept on rolling with a 1.80 ERA and a 32/7 strikeout to walk ratio over 25 innings in the shortened 2020 season. Though reliever questions abound, he could be the first Chanticleer drafted in the top 100 picks since Jacob May went 91st overall to the White Sox in 2013.
McCambley is known for his fastball/curveball combination. The fastball sits in the low to mid 90's and gets good riding action up in the zone, while the curveball is his true strikeout pitch. It has sharp, deep, two-plane break, and he's done a better job locating it and using it to finish off strikeouts. It's a true plus pitch that will play up in pro ball and the majors, and it enabled him to get off to that strong start in 2020. However, McCambley doesn't have much of a changeup, and his command is just decent. The command could use some refining, but the changeup is likely the make or break as to whether he can cut it as a starting pitcher in pro ball.
Scouts will have to weight the fastball/changeup combination, 6'1" frame, and strong start to the 2020 season against the command and mediocre changeup. There is plenty of upside for McCambley as a potential impact starter, while there is a very good chance he ends up as a reliever. The good news is that even as a reliever, with that curve, he should be pretty effective at minimum. He probably fits somewhere in the third to fifth rounds.
Pitching in high school (I swear I saw a great, recent video on Twitter, but I haven't been able to find it)
Full index of profiles here
DoB: 5/4/1999.
2020 Stats: 3-1, 1.80 ERA, 1.08 WHIP, 32/7 K/BB in 25 IP.
Zach McCambley is an interesting prospect from a smaller program, albeit one that won a National Championship in 2016. He flashed good stuff for the Chanticleers, but he was inconsistent and held a 4.34 ERA over his first two seasons against just decent competition. However, he started to rise up boards when he posted a 1.74 ERA and a 24/7 strikeout to walk ratio across 20.2 innings in the elite Cape Cod League over the summer, then kept on rolling with a 1.80 ERA and a 32/7 strikeout to walk ratio over 25 innings in the shortened 2020 season. Though reliever questions abound, he could be the first Chanticleer drafted in the top 100 picks since Jacob May went 91st overall to the White Sox in 2013.
McCambley is known for his fastball/curveball combination. The fastball sits in the low to mid 90's and gets good riding action up in the zone, while the curveball is his true strikeout pitch. It has sharp, deep, two-plane break, and he's done a better job locating it and using it to finish off strikeouts. It's a true plus pitch that will play up in pro ball and the majors, and it enabled him to get off to that strong start in 2020. However, McCambley doesn't have much of a changeup, and his command is just decent. The command could use some refining, but the changeup is likely the make or break as to whether he can cut it as a starting pitcher in pro ball.
Scouts will have to weight the fastball/changeup combination, 6'1" frame, and strong start to the 2020 season against the command and mediocre changeup. There is plenty of upside for McCambley as a potential impact starter, while there is a very good chance he ends up as a reliever. The good news is that even as a reliever, with that curve, he should be pretty effective at minimum. He probably fits somewhere in the third to fifth rounds.
Pitching in high school (I swear I saw a great, recent video on Twitter, but I haven't been able to find it)
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