Angels select RHP Landon Marceaux, LSU, 80th overall in the 3rd round

[mmc]

 

[rafibomb]

3 picks. 3 collegiate pitchers.

Edited July 12, 2021 by rafibomb

[Second Base]

Looks like Minasian had been reading my stuff. 

Three straight collegiate pitchers is EXACTLY what this organization's farm system needed. 

Edited July 12, 2021 by Second Base

[rafibomb]

This pick is very reminiscent of the Adam Seminaris pick a year ago.

[OhtaniSan]

"Part of a Team USA pitching staff that featured six 2018 first-round picks and won the 18-and-under World Cup in 2017, Marceaux was one of the more advanced high school arms in his class. He had fringy fastball and lacked projection, however, so teams weren't willing to pay him enough to divert him from a Louisiana State commitment. Three years later, he still exudes pitchability and lacks wow velocity, though now he should go around the third round. 

The scouting report on Marceaux is pretty much the same as it was in high school, with his best pitch still a solid upper-70s curveball with downer break. He has added a tick or two of velocity to his fastball, which sits around 90-92 mph, touches 94 and plays up because of some running action and his ability to command it. He also has a low-80s slider that sometimes is more effective than his curve and a fading changeup with similar velocity. 

A student of the game, Marceaux understands how to tunnel and sequence his pitches to keep hitters off balance. He pounds the strike zone by repeating his low-effort delivery and employs a high three-quarters arm slot to overcome his lack of size and create downhill plane on his pitches. He's a high-floor prospect with a good chance to become a No. 4 or 5 starter, and perhaps more than that if he can find some more velocity as a pro."

 

Fastball: 50

Curveball: 55

Slider: 55

Changeup: 55

Control: 55

Overall: 45

Per MLB.com

[totdprods]

Just now, Second Base said:

Looks like Minasian had been reading my stuff. 

Three straight collegiate pitchers is EXACTLY what this organization's farm system needed. 

Yeah, it almost doesn't even matter who they are...just fill out the org's MLB-ready pitching depth by getting solid college pitchers in as many of the first 10 rounds as possible. 

[Angelsjunky]

So you're saying that "best player available" isn't an absolute? You don't say.

[PattyD22]

I’m starting to see a trend here…

[bloodbrother]

Give me all the pitchers

[Lou]

1 minute ago, Angelsjunky said:

So you're saying that "best player available" isn't an absolute? You don't say.

Maybe he was the best player available.

[Angelsjunky]

1 minute ago, Lou said:

Maybe he was the best player available.

Or maybe "best player available" is an idea that isn't always, or even usually, followed in practice. See, "2021 MLB amateur draft."

[Lou]

Just now, Angelsjunky said:

Or maybe "best player available" is an idea that isn't always, or even usually, followed in practice. See, "2021 MLB amateur draft."

Nope.

I read it somewhere.

[OhtaniSan]

I think he could end up being a steal. He was injured his freshman year and missed most of his sophomore year due to COVID, which hurt his stock. However his Junior year he instantly became the LSU ace, I think we could see him shoot up the depth charts and prospect lists once we see more of him 

[greginpsca]

Instead of "best player available", it is "best pitcher available".

[DMVol]

42 minutes ago, Angelsjunky said:

Or maybe "best player available" is an idea that isn't always, or even usually, followed in practice. See, "2021 MLB amateur draft."

 

23 minutes ago, greginpsca said:

Instead of "best player available", it is "best pitcher available".

I think it might depend on how high a team has the "best player available" on its board.....if they really like an available SS or OF, significantly more than any available pitcher, they might change the plan....or not, maybe it is a falacy....

[sportstr44]

BASEBALL AMERICASCOUTING REPORT

Landon Marceaux

Representative: NA

Signing Scout: NA

Marceaux isn’t particularly physical, with a somewhat skinny frame (6 feet, 179 pounds), and he doesn’t light up a radar gun. He’ll pitch at 88-92 mph on most nights and that velocity has remained remarkably stable since high school. But Marceaux, a 37th-round pick of the Yankees in 2018, has a lengthy track record of success in the Southeastern Conference thanks to his understanding of the craft of pitching, mixing three pitches with plus control and command. Marceaux stepped into LSU’s rotation from day one on campus. He filled the void created by Jaden Hill’s injury in 2021, as he went 6-6, 2.40 with 10.2 strikeouts per nine innings compared to 2.3 walks per nine. When Marceaux arrived at LSU, he threw a slow, big breaking, mid-70s curveball. It was effective, but a wise hitter could spot its hump as it came out of Marceaux’s hand. He and the Tigers staff transformed it into a sharper, 11-to-5, mid-80s slider that comes out of his hand looking like his fastball. Marceaux’s fastball and slider are both average, and he has to work his fastball around the edges of the zone, as it lacks bat-missing potential in the heart of the zone, but his 82-84 mph changeup is above-average. He consistently dots the bottom of the zone low and away from lefties and down and in on righties, and he can bury it with more depth when needed. Marceaux wouldn’t seem to be projectable, but teams that believe they can help a pitcher add velocity could be very intrigued by a productive, durable pitcher with present feel and command. He projects as a back-of-the-rotation starter.

[sportstr44]

 

[John Smith]

3rd-rder Landon Marceaux signs w/

@Angels

for $767,800 (full pick 80 value). Louisiana State RHP, intelligent competitor who pounds the strike zone, downer curveball is best pitch, commands low-90s fastball well, also mixes in slider & changeup.

@MLBDraft

[Junkballer]

Thanks @John Smith for updating the draft signings.  Appreciated.

[Angel Oracle]

Possible rock solid middle innings guy in a couple of years?