The Kumar Rocker/Jack Leiter/Jaden Hill sweepstakes

[rafibomb]

11 minutes ago, Fourts said:

With our recent good streak, was now hoping for a lottery.  Oh well, so who's the best pitching prospect in the #7-10 range?  especially from the college ranks.  Reality is that it's way too early to talk mock draft stuff unless you are in the top 2-3.  Hopefully we get a full season of HS and college ball to properly evaluate. 

Even if you are in the top 2-3 you can never be too sure. I remember Emerson Hancock was the consensus #1 guy for a long time but ended up being picked up #6 overall by the Mariners.

[rafibomb]

Here are the top 15 college prospects thus far in the 2021 draft:

https://www.mlb.com/news/2021-mlb-draft-top-college-prospects

1. Kumar Rocker, RHP, Vanderbilt
Rocker was lights out at the end of the 2019 season, throwing a 19-strikeout no-hitter in the NCAA super regionals and winning Most Outstanding Player honors at the College World Series as Vanderbilt won the national title. The son of former NFL defensive lineman Tracy Rocker, he wasn't as dominant during his brief encore, though he is still a 6-foot-4, 255-pound right-hander with a mid-90s fastball that can hit 99 mph and a slider that's a wipeout pitch at its best. His changeup, delivery and control all could use improvement, but he's the clear favorite to go No. 1 overall next June.

2. Jud Fabian, OF, Florida
Fabian graduated a semester early from high school so he could join the Gators in the spring of 2019, and he has acquitted himself well with wood bats in the Cape Cod and Florida Collegiate leagues the last two summers. A rare bats-right/throws-left guy, Fabian's bat speed and strength produce power to all fields, and he draws a healthy amount of walks, though he has some swing-and-miss issues at times. He's a solid-to-plus runner who should be able to stick in center field.

3. Matt McLain, SS, UCLA
McLain turned down the D-backs as a first-round pick in 2018 and struggled as a freshman, but he has performed very well since in the Cape Cod League, as a sophomore and with the National Baseball Congress World Series champion Santa Barbara Foresters this summer. As a smaller middle infielder (5-foot-11, 170 pounds) with perhaps the best bat-to-ball skills in his college class and flashes of well-above-average speed, he's similar to Nick Madrigal, who went fourth overall in the 2018 Draft. He has more sneaky power, a stronger arm and a better chance to stay at shortstop than Madrigal did.

4. Adrian del Castillo, C, Miami
Del Castillo combines power and plate discipline better than anyone in the 2021 college pool, having provided more extra-base hits (39) and walks (43) than strikeouts (32) in 77 games during his first two seasons at Miami. Scouts are sold on his left-handed bat and power, though his fringy arm strength and receiving will have to improve if he's going to remain behind the plate.

5. Jaden Hill, RHP, Louisiana State
Hill has worked just 21 2/3 innings in two years of college because he missed most of his freshman year with an elbow strain. While he lacks track record, he does offer an enticing combination of physicality (6-foot-4, 233 pounds), athleticism (He was a three-star quarterback recruit in high school), a fastball that sat in the upper 90s when he came out of the bullpen last spring and a nasty mid-80s slider.

6. Jack Leiter, RHP, Vanderbilt
Some evaluators like Leiter more than his teammate Rocker because he has a deeper repertoire (a 90-95 mph fastball, two distinct quality breaking balls, and a solid changeup he barely used as a freshman) and a better feel for pitching. He's a bit undersized for a starter at 6 feet and 195 pounds, and scouts would like to see the son of two-time All-Star Al Leiter add some velocity and pound the strike zone more consistently.

7. Alex Binelas, 3B, Louisville
Another in an increasing number of top prospects coming out of the Wisconsin high school ranks, Binelas slammed 14 homers as a freshman but played just two games last spring before needing surgery to repair a broken hamate in his right hand. He rivals del Castillo as the best lefty power hitter in the college crop and has the strong arm needed for the hot corner, but there are some swing-and-miss concerns and his lack of quickness may push him to right field or first base.

8. Colton Cowser, OF, Sam Houston State
The first Sam Houston State player to make the U.S. collegiate team, Cowser could surpass former All-Star Glenn Wilson (18th overall, 1980) as the highest pick in Bearkats history. He has a knack for barreling the ball from the left side of the plate, developing power, solid speed and the instincts to remain in center field.

9. Ethan Wilson, OF, South Alabama
Wilson broke a South Alabama freshman record with 17 homers while hitting .345/.453/.686 in 2019, and there's debate as to which tool is better -- his hitting ability or his left-handed power. He's an average-to-solid runner with fringy arm strength, so he'll likely remain in left field when he transitions to pro ball.

10. Jonathan Cannon, RHP, Georgia
Cannon is the next strong-armed pitcher from a Georgia program that saw Emerson Hancock (Mariners) and Cole Wilcox (Padres) sign for a combined $9 million this summer. He didn't allow a run in 11 2/3 relief innings last spring, sitting in the mid-90s and showing signs of a plus slider and changeup, and there's plenty of projection remaining in his 6-foot-6, 207-pound frame.

11. Ty Madden, RHP, Texas
Cowser's best friend and his teammate at Cypress (Texas) Ranch High, Madden cracked Texas' weekend rotation as a freshman and saw his stuff tick up as a sophomore. He has a strong 6-foot-3 frame and throws strikes with four pitches, the best of which are a 92-97 mph fastball, a mid-80s slider and a low-80s changeup with fade.

12. Henry Davis, C, Louisville
Davis had a breakout if brief sophomore season, hitting .372/.481/.698 with twice as many walks as strikeouts in 14 games last spring, while continuing to show off a plus arm behind the plate. He has displayed more offensive upside at Louisville than former first-rounder Will Smith did, but he's not nearly as advanced a receiver and will need to clean up his defense.

13. Sal Frelick, OF, Boston College
Gatorade's Massachusetts High School Football Player of the Year in 2017, Frelick also starred in baseball and hockey as a prepster. While he's not overly physical at 5-foot-9 and 175 pounds, he could have three plus tools in his bat, speed and center-field defense, and he might develop average power.

14. Steven Hajjar, LHP, Michigan
After missing Michigan's surprising run to the 2019 College World Series finals because he blew out the anterior cruciate ligament in his right knee playing pickup basketball, Hajjar returned last spring to entice scouts with a projectable 6-foot-5 frame, good extension in his delivery and the makings of a solid three-pitch repertoire. He sits in the low 90s with his fastball and backs it up with an improving curveball and a sinking changeup.

15. Christian Franklin, OF, Arkansas
Franklin comes with more upside and more risk than the other position players on this list. He's a center fielder with plus raw power, speed and arm strength, and while there are some questions about his bat, he cut his strikeout rate from 28 percent as a freshman to 19 percent last spring.

[tdawg87]

8 minutes ago, rafibomb said:

Here are the top 15 college prospects thus far in the 2021 draft:

https://www.mlb.com/news/2021-mlb-draft-top-college-prospects

1. Kumar Rocker, RHP, Vanderbilt
Rocker was lights out at the end of the 2019 season, throwing a 19-strikeout no-hitter in the NCAA super regionals and winning Most Outstanding Player honors at the College World Series as Vanderbilt won the national title. The son of former NFL defensive lineman Tracy Rocker, he wasn't as dominant during his brief encore, though he is still a 6-foot-4, 255-pound right-hander with a mid-90s fastball that can hit 99 mph and a slider that's a wipeout pitch at its best. His changeup, delivery and control all could use improvement, but he's the clear favorite to go No. 1 overall next June.

2. Jud Fabian, OF, Florida
Fabian graduated a semester early from high school so he could join the Gators in the spring of 2019, and he has acquitted himself well with wood bats in the Cape Cod and Florida Collegiate leagues the last two summers. A rare bats-right/throws-left guy, Fabian's bat speed and strength produce power to all fields, and he draws a healthy amount of walks, though he has some swing-and-miss issues at times. He's a solid-to-plus runner who should be able to stick in center field.

3. Matt McLain, SS, UCLA
McLain turned down the D-backs as a first-round pick in 2018 and struggled as a freshman, but he has performed very well since in the Cape Cod League, as a sophomore and with the National Baseball Congress World Series champion Santa Barbara Foresters this summer. As a smaller middle infielder (5-foot-11, 170 pounds) with perhaps the best bat-to-ball skills in his college class and flashes of well-above-average speed, he's similar to Nick Madrigal, who went fourth overall in the 2018 Draft. He has more sneaky power, a stronger arm and a better chance to stay at shortstop than Madrigal did.

4. Adrian del Castillo, C, Miami
Del Castillo combines power and plate discipline better than anyone in the 2021 college pool, having provided more extra-base hits (39) and walks (43) than strikeouts (32) in 77 games during his first two seasons at Miami. Scouts are sold on his left-handed bat and power, though his fringy arm strength and receiving will have to improve if he's going to remain behind the plate.

5. Jaden Hill, RHP, Louisiana State
Hill has worked just 21 2/3 innings in two years of college because he missed most of his freshman year with an elbow strain. While he lacks track record, he does offer an enticing combination of physicality (6-foot-4, 233 pounds), athleticism (He was a three-star quarterback recruit in high school), a fastball that sat in the upper 90s when he came out of the bullpen last spring and a nasty mid-80s slider.

6. Jack Leiter, RHP, Vanderbilt
Some evaluators like Leiter more than his teammate Rocker because he has a deeper repertoire (a 90-95 mph fastball, two distinct quality breaking balls, and a solid changeup he barely used as a freshman) and a better feel for pitching. He's a bit undersized for a starter at 6 feet and 195 pounds, and scouts would like to see the son of two-time All-Star Al Leiter add some velocity and pound the strike zone more consistently.

7. Alex Binelas, 3B, Louisville
Another in an increasing number of top prospects coming out of the Wisconsin high school ranks, Binelas slammed 14 homers as a freshman but played just two games last spring before needing surgery to repair a broken hamate in his right hand. He rivals del Castillo as the best lefty power hitter in the college crop and has the strong arm needed for the hot corner, but there are some swing-and-miss concerns and his lack of quickness may push him to right field or first base.

8. Colton Cowser, OF, Sam Houston State
The first Sam Houston State player to make the U.S. collegiate team, Cowser could surpass former All-Star Glenn Wilson (18th overall, 1980) as the highest pick in Bearkats history. He has a knack for barreling the ball from the left side of the plate, developing power, solid speed and the instincts to remain in center field.

9. Ethan Wilson, OF, South Alabama
Wilson broke a South Alabama freshman record with 17 homers while hitting .345/.453/.686 in 2019, and there's debate as to which tool is better -- his hitting ability or his left-handed power. He's an average-to-solid runner with fringy arm strength, so he'll likely remain in left field when he transitions to pro ball.

10. Jonathan Cannon, RHP, Georgia
Cannon is the next strong-armed pitcher from a Georgia program that saw Emerson Hancock (Mariners) and Cole Wilcox (Padres) sign for a combined $9 million this summer. He didn't allow a run in 11 2/3 relief innings last spring, sitting in the mid-90s and showing signs of a plus slider and changeup, and there's plenty of projection remaining in his 6-foot-6, 207-pound frame.

11. Ty Madden, RHP, Texas
Cowser's best friend and his teammate at Cypress (Texas) Ranch High, Madden cracked Texas' weekend rotation as a freshman and saw his stuff tick up as a sophomore. He has a strong 6-foot-3 frame and throws strikes with four pitches, the best of which are a 92-97 mph fastball, a mid-80s slider and a low-80s changeup with fade.

12. Henry Davis, C, Louisville
Davis had a breakout if brief sophomore season, hitting .372/.481/.698 with twice as many walks as strikeouts in 14 games last spring, while continuing to show off a plus arm behind the plate. He has displayed more offensive upside at Louisville than former first-rounder Will Smith did, but he's not nearly as advanced a receiver and will need to clean up his defense.

13. Sal Frelick, OF, Boston College
Gatorade's Massachusetts High School Football Player of the Year in 2017, Frelick also starred in baseball and hockey as a prepster. While he's not overly physical at 5-foot-9 and 175 pounds, he could have three plus tools in his bat, speed and center-field defense, and he might develop average power.

14. Steven Hajjar, LHP, Michigan
After missing Michigan's surprising run to the 2019 College World Series finals because he blew out the anterior cruciate ligament in his right knee playing pickup basketball, Hajjar returned last spring to entice scouts with a projectable 6-foot-5 frame, good extension in his delivery and the makings of a solid three-pitch repertoire. He sits in the low 90s with his fastball and backs it up with an improving curveball and a sinking changeup.

15. Christian Franklin, OF, Arkansas
Franklin comes with more upside and more risk than the other position players on this list. He's a center fielder with plus raw power, speed and arm strength, and while there are some questions about his bat, he cut his strikeout rate from 28 percent as a freshman to 19 percent last spring.

I don't see any scrappy middle infielders.

[ukyah]

i'll be happy with jon cannon. that's a big projectable power pitcher from an A+ program.

[Slegnaac]

2 minutes ago, tdawg87 said:

I don't see any scrappy middle infielders.

There is a Catcher at the 12 spot.

[tdawg87]

2 minutes ago, Slegnaac said:

There is a Catcher at the 12 spot.

Sounds like Taylor Ward the Sequel.

I'm in.

[ten ocho recon scout]

3 hours ago, ukyah said:

i'll be happy with jon cannon. that's a big projectable power pitcher from an A+ program.

Just for the name alone.

[ukyah]

33 minutes ago, ten ocho recon scout said:

Just for the name alone.

definitely wasn't lost on me.

[rafibomb]

Among the pitchers on MLB's top 100 prospect list, only 13/31 were drafted inside the top 10. Even if we don't pick in the top 10 next season, finding high-quality pitching prospects for our organization should not be a problem.

[Inside Pitch]

On 9/22/2020 at 6:22 PM, tdawg87 said:

I don't see any scrappy middle infielders.

That was Stoneman era -- now it's toolsy OFers.   But he may be gone now too.

[tdawg87]

6 minutes ago, Inside Pitch said:

That was Stoneman era -- now it's toolsy OFers.   But he may be gone now too.

We need some toolsy pitchers like Bauer.

[Inside Pitch]

14 minutes ago, tdawg87 said:

We need some toolsy pitchers like Bauer.

Teheran turned out to be kind of a tool, does that count?

[Angel]

Funny, we finally go on a winning streak and the lottery talk is dead, it won't happen until we actually tank.  I also called the Angels buttercup this season, I said 2 games back so let's see how good I am with my predicting ability.

[Stradling]

15 minutes ago, Angel said:

Funny, we finally go on a winning streak and the lottery talk is dead, it won't happen until we actually tank.  I also called the Angels buttercup this season, I said 2 games back so let's see how good I am with my predicting ability.

We’ve read your stuff, the answer, not good. 

[rafibomb]

The highest we can pick next season is 8th and the lowest is 12th. 

8	Washington	25-34	.424	6.0	Won 2	6-4
9	Colorado	26-33	.441	7.0	Won 1	4-6
10	LA Angels	26-33	.441	7.0	Lost 2	6-4
11	NY Mets	26-33	.441	7.0	Lost 2	4-6
12	Seattle	27-32	.458	8.0	Won 2	5-5

[tdawg87]

57 minutes ago, rafibomb said:

The highest we can pick next season is 8th and the lowest is 12th. 

8	Washington	25-34	.424	6.0	Won 2	6-4
9	Colorado	26-33	.441	7.0	Won 1	4-6
10	LA Angels	26-33	.441	7.0	Lost 2	6-4
11	NY Mets	26-33	.441	7.0	Lost 2	4-6
12	Seattle	27-32	.458	8.0	Won 2	5-5

I'd be ok with the 8th pick.

[tdawg87]

That said, we'll end up with the 12th because Angels.

Yeah whatever it's not a big difference shut up Blarg.

[Docwaukee]

2 hours ago, rafibomb said:

The highest we can pick next season is 8th and the lowest is 12th. 

8	Washington	25-34	.424	6.0	Won 2	6-4
9	Colorado	26-33	.441	7.0	Won 1	4-6
10	LA Angels	26-33	.441	7.0	Lost 2	6-4
11	NY Mets	26-33	.441	7.0	Lost 2	4-6
12	Seattle	27-32	.458	8.0	Won 2	5-5

If the WAS beats the Mets, and KC beats detroit, and we lose, we'll all have the same record.  We also need Col to beat Az.  That would leave WSH, NYM, KC and LAA all tied at 26-34 for spots 7-10.  So I think we could theoretically get the 7th spot with some help.  Unless I'm not doing this right.  

[rafibomb]

2 minutes ago, Dochalo said:

If the WAS beats the Mets, and KC beats detroit, and we lose, we'll all have the same record.  We also need Col to beat Az.  That would leave WSH, NYM, KC and LAA all tied at 26-34 for spots 7-10.  So I think we could theoretically get the 7th spot with some help.  Unless I'm not doing this right.  

I had to look it up and the googles told me that if there is a tie in the standings, the tiebreaker goes to the team with the worse 2019 record which KC has on us. Tbh this is the first time I've paid attention to or looked up tiebreakers for the draft so I could be wrong.

[Docwaukee]

31 minutes ago, rafibomb said:

I had to look it up and the googles told me that if there is a tie in the standings, the tiebreaker goes to the team with the worse 2019 record which KC has on us. Tbh this is the first time I've paid attention to or looked up tiebreakers for the draft so I could be wrong.

got it.  what you've mentioned makes sense.  

the one nice thing about expanded playoff is that it did add some interest to the end of the season yet losing a couple games at the very end leaves us with a pretty solid draft position.  I guess that's fine when your team is mediocre.  But if we do end up having some better seasons sometime soon, I'd rather not have to chance being eliminated by some .500 team.  

[SlappyUtilityMIF]

Definitely, picking a Catcher! Who will then be moved to SS...

[tdawg87]

Does Mathis have a kid yet?

[Lou]

1 hour ago, tdawg87 said:

Does Mathis have a kid yet?

2

[Angels in 2030]

Got to admit. Rooting for LADs today...one day.  No need for us to win.  Doesn’t hurt dodgers.  It could hurt our draft spot.  Win does nothing.  

[jordan]

If all scores hold right now, there could be 5 teams with exact same record including the Angels. Will be a tie for the 7th pick. Anyone know how they break a tie for draft order?