2021 MLB Draft / College Baseball Thread

[LL3]

Callis and company have the Tribe back on Joe Mack in their latest mock, but still listing other familiar alternatives....
23. Indians: Joe Mack, C, Williamsville East HS (East Amherst, N.Y.)
The Indians have an affinity for prep hitters (Ford, Mack, Stovall) but also could opt for an arm (McGreevy, Gavin Williams, Petty). Mack's season started late and his performance slipped early when he dropped his hands too much at the plate, but his hands and stock are both on the rise now.

Mock Draft: Top prospects starring in CWS

The College World Series is in full swing and teams are scouting those games more than ever now that the Draft has been moved to July. It's difficult to move the needle much this late in the calendar, but there have been several pitching performances of note. Jack Leiter reinforced

www.mlb.com

 

[DickyLeftridge]

Callis and company have the Tribe back on Joe Mack in their latest mock, but still listing other familiar alternatives....
23. Indians: Joe Mack, C, Williamsville East HS (East Amherst, N.Y.)
The Indians have an affinity for prep hitters (Ford, Mack, Stovall) but also could opt for an arm (McGreevy, Gavin Williams, Petty). Mack's season started late and his performance slipped early when he dropped his hands too much at the plate, but his hands and stock are both on the rise now.

Mock Draft: Top prospects starring in CWS

The College World Series is in full swing and teams are scouting those games more than ever now that the Draft has been moved to July. It's difficult to move the needle much this late in the calendar, but there have been several pitching performances of note. Jack Leiter reinforced

www.mlb.com

I don’t know how you look at those options—Bieber Jr, a 6’6” 100 mph thrower who can spin a curve, a HS pitcher who ticks the upper 90s already, and a slap hitting HS Catcher—and take the catcher.

McGreevey, Williams the ECU tank, the Wake Forest tank who touches 102, the big New Jersey lefty, or Petty, in that the order please. They come away w another slap hitting HSer I’m going to be steamed.

 

[daddywags]

Don't know much about draft prospects but I don't understand taking a high school catcher with our first pick.

 

[LL3]

I don’t know how you look at those options—Bieber Jr, a 6’6” 100 mph thrower who can spin a curve, a HS pitcher who ticks the upper 90s already, and a slap hitting HS Catcher—and take the catcher.

McGreevey, Williams the ECU tank, the Wake Forest tank who touches 102, the big New Jersey lefty, or Petty, in that the order please. They come away w another slap hitting HSer I’m going to be steamed.

Joe Mack would not be my guy in this scenario, but it s not because he is a "slap hitter"....plenty of 18 year olds develop more power/strength. I like a number of the pitchers, better.

 

[DickyLeftridge]

Joe Mack would not be my guy in this scenario, but it s not because he is a "slap hitter"....plenty of 18 year olds develop more power/strength. I like a number of the pitchers, better.

It’s ok to like the big shiny tools. It’s become dogma that flame throwing pitchers and monster power hitters are for rubes. And the refined, astute baseball fan appreciates something less. That’s how you get an army of slap hitters and soft tossers.

Proud rube here. Give me that GAS.

 

[LL3]

Don't know much about draft prospects but I don't understand taking a high school catcher with our first pick.

I'm not endorsing this selection, but high end catchers are rare. I'm still excited about Naylor's possibilities...happy we drafted him.

 

[biggie4]

Well, Covid has hit the College World Series with a vengeance.

 

[sportscoach]

Don't know much about draft prospects but I don't understand taking a high school catcher with our first pick.

You also have to factor in how willing a guy is to sign... If we can get Mack for under slot value and get another guy in the second round who fell because of signability, we could overslot that player and get both signed... What we did with Benson and Jones... Jones was suppose to go higher but teams stayed away from him cause they thought he wasnt gonna sign... There isnt just top talent, but getting them to sign as well...

I want a catcher this draft personally... I feel like our depth there isn't very good overall.

 

[Gson]

...I want a catcher this draft personally... I feel like our depth there isn't very good overall.

The BPA over rides all w/r to the MLB draft..

The catching talent in the Indians system is in the lower levels.. The cubboard is not bare..but it could use some restocking.. A name you might consider for a backstop: Matheu Nelson.. interesting offensive minded catcher.. third round or beyond.. btw..

 

[sportscoach]

The BPA over rides all w/r to the MLB draft..

The catching talent in the Indians system is in the lower levels.. The cubboard is not bare..but it could use some restocking.. A name you might consider for a backstop: Matheu Nelson.. interesting offensive minded catcher.. third round or beyond.. btw..

It mostly does, but I personally don't think Benson was the best available player at the time via analysts and whatnot. He also signed under slot as well... It's hard to say, but i feel like it's BPA of the players you feel like you could sign...

You aren't the only one who has stated to wait on the catchers... But personally I would have no qualms with an early catcher but I can see it not happening...

 

[Gson]

It mostly does, but I personally don't think Benson was the best available player at the time via analysts and whatnot. He also signed under slot as well... It's hard to say, but i feel like it's BPA of the players you feel like you could sign...

You aren't the only one who has stated to wait on the catchers... But personally I would have no qualms with an early catcher but I can see it not happening...

When Will Benson was drafted.. he was considered a top 40 talent in an otherwise "deep" draft.. He is what is now described as a "boom or bust" prospect... very loud tools.. power, arm strength, speed.. hitting with power and a great glove potential.. He had a good idea of what the strike zone was.. He was comp'd to a guy like Jason Heyward... this, as a very young 18 year old. He just hasn't panned out or progressed as fast as what was thought he could.. It was what I'll call a slight reach by the Indians so they could spread some of that first round ca$h around to: Nolan Jones with their next pick?....

A third round pick or beyond is exactly that: waiting.. I like both sides of the ball for Matheu Nelson's. His profile & projection.. is as a strong young man who has both bat speed and strength.. but, most importantly.. he has very quick feet.. soft hands.. blocks the ball very well and a pop time under 2 seconds to almost elite level.. A strong and getting stronger accurate arm will be plus when he is fully developed.. and that shouldn't take long.. he'll be a fast mover in the Indians system..

 

[CalBuckeyeRob]

Callis and company have the Tribe back on Joe Mack in their latest mock, but still listing other familiar alternatives....
23. Indians: Joe Mack, C, Williamsville East HS (East Amherst, N.Y.)
The Indians have an affinity for prep hitters (Ford, Mack, Stovall) but also could opt for an arm (McGreevy, Gavin Williams, Petty). Mack's season started late and his performance slipped early when he dropped his hands too much at the plate, but his hands and stock are both on the rise now.

Mock Draft: Top prospects starring in CWS

The College World Series is in full swing and teams are scouting those games more than ever now that the Draft has been moved to July. It's difficult to move the needle much this late in the calendar, but there have been several pitching performances of note. Jack Leiter reinforced

www.mlb.com

I hate drafting catchers high. Too many don't hit well enough to make a difference or their defense can't allow them to hold the position.

 

[Tondo]

2 weeks left, time for CLE mock 3.0

23 RHP Andrew Painter FL HS, 18.3yo
Painter is 6'7 and was once considered a top 10 lock, but HS pitching always drops (Bitsko, Hankins etc). This is CLEFO taking a shot at a FOR arm. 4 pitch arsenal with 3 above average to plus projected pitches with at least avg control. Despite his size, he's athletic and repeats his delivery well already. He won't come cheap here, possibly demanding full slot or slightly above, but he'd be worth the risk.

Round 2 (58) LHP Gage Jump CA HS, 18.3yo
After taking a 6'7 righty, it's a 5'10 prep lefty, makes perfect sense, right? Jump is considered super-athletic and very competitive, two traits, along with age, that appeal.

Comp Round 2 (69) OF Aaron Zavala (Oregon), 21.0yo
PAC-12 POY, lopsided BB/K ratio, pure LH hitter, very high floor corner OF. Checks a lot of boxes and comes in under slot here. Zavala is probably my favorite college bat and might be off the board despite mostly 3rd round rankings (75-100). He's tremendous value here or the pick before.

Round 3 (95) SS Cameron Cauley TX HS, 18.5yo
Good hitter, tough out. Profile reads like a mix of Tyler Freeman and Ernie Clement. There are some nice HS SS in this class and I'm sure they'll add at least one of them. Cauley is considered 2nd tier, but he's one of the best hitters with plus makeup. I'll take that.

Round 4 (125) CF Denzel Clarke (Cal St. Northridge), 21.2yo
After a high floor HS pick, here's a rare risk/reward high ceiling college bat. Clarke is actually Josh and Bo Naylor's cousin. Very toolsy player, power/speed combo in CF. Loud performance past two years, but also high K%. There's a lot of Will Benson in his profile, usually not my type, but for moderate 4th rd money, I'm up for the gamble and roll the dice.

Round 5 (156) RHP Luke Albright (Kent State), 21.6yo
It's time for college pitchers. They'll probably add one before this, but Albright is a 6'4 righty with a 4 pitch repertoire and lengthy track record of performance. Deemed competitive on the mound, he's your typical CLE college arm with even more upside left.

Round 6 (186) RHP Chad Dallas (Tennessee), 21.0yo
Only 5'11, but another dogged competitor. Velo range from low 90a as starter to high 90s as reliever, plus cutter he just recently added and stellar K/BB ratio. I smell a CLE selection, possibly a couple of rounds earlier even.

Round 7 (216) RHP Gordon Graceffo (Villanova), 21.2yo
6'4 small school college righty with good command, solid repertoire, sinking FB/change combo, very competitive, young, track record, K/BB ratio darling. Stop me if you read this before. Had two strong Cape Cod starts recently, so he's probably moving up on boards.

Round 8 (246) RHP Nick Maldonado (Vanderbilt), 21.0yo
Vandys Closer, two way background, athletic and good command especially for a reliever, has arsenal to start, but 6'1 and warrior mentality fits in a pen role. He's young, a r-FR, so he'll probably demand a bit more than slot maybe, but we'll worth it, if you get back Karinchak 2.0

Round 9 (276) C Lucas Torres PR HS, 17.11yo
Raw catcher from Puerto Rico, flashed some exit velo in the draft combine, has a plus arm, is very young. The tools are there, could be signable for moderate sum considering Alabama State commitment.

Round 10 (306) OF River Town (Dallas Baptist), 21.11yo
Too cool a name not to draft, but also pretty impressive power/speed and even K/BB. Only one season of Div1 college, came over from JuCo, thus flying under the radar a bit. Similar to Micah Pries.

 

[Gson]

2 weeks left, time for CLE mock 3.0

23 RHP Andrew Painter FL HS, 18.3yo
Painter is 6'7 and was once considered a top 10 lock, but HS pitching always drops (Bitsko, Hankins etc). This is CLEFO taking a shot at a FOR arm. 4 pitch arsenal with 3 above average to plus projected pitches with at least avg control. Despite his size, he's athletic and repeats his delivery well already. He won't come cheap here, possibly demanding full slot or slightly above, but he'd be worth the risk.

Round 2 (58) LHP Gage Jump CA HS, 18.3yo
After taking a 6'7 righty, it's a 5'10 prep lefty, makes perfect sense, right? Jump is considered super-athletic and very competitive, two traits, along with age, that appeal.

Comp Round 2 (69) OF Aaron Zavala (Oregon), 21.0yo
PAC-12 POY, lopsided BB/K ratio, pure LH hitter, very high floor corner OF. Checks a lot of boxes and comes in under slot here. Zavala is probably my favorite college bat and might be off the board despite mostly 3rd round rankings (75-100). He's tremendous value here or the pick before.

Round 3 (95) SS Cameron Cauley TX HS, 18.5yo
Good hitter, tough out. Profile reads like a mix of Tyler Freeman and Ernie Clement. There are some nice HS SS in this class and I'm sure they'll add at least one of them. Cauley is considered 2nd tier, but he's one of the best hitters with plus makeup. I'll take that.

Round 4 (125) CF Denzel Clarke (Cal St. Northridge), 21.2yo
After a high floor HS pick, here's a rare risk/reward high ceiling college bat. Clarke is actually Josh and Bo Naylor's cousin. Very toolsy player, power/speed combo in CF. Loud performance past two years, but also high K%. There's a lot of Will Benson in his profile, usually not my type, but for moderate 4th rd money, I'm up for the gamble and roll the dice.

Round 5 (156) RHP Luke Albright (Kent State), 21.6yo
It's time for college pitchers. They'll probably add one before this, but Albright is a 6'4 righty with a 4 pitch repertoire and lengthy track record of performance. Deemed competitive on the mound, he's your typical CLE college arm with even more upside left.

Round 6 (186) RHP Chad Dallas (Tennessee), 21.0yo
Only 5'11, but another dogged competitor. Velo range from low 90a as starter to high 90s as reliever, plus cutter he just recently added and stellar K/BB ratio. I smell a CLE selection, possibly a couple of rounds earlier even.

Round 7 (216) RHP Gordon Graceffo (Villanova), 21.2yo
6'4 small school college righty with good command, solid repertoire, sinking FB/change combo, very competitive, young, track record, K/BB ratio darling. Stop me if you read this before. Had two strong Cape Cod starts recently, so he's probably moving up on boards.

Round 8 (246) RHP Nick Maldonado (Vanderbilt), 21.0yo
Vandys Closer, two way background, athletic and good command especially for a reliever, has arsenal to start, but 6'1 and warrior mentality fits in a pen role. He's young, a r-FR, so he'll probably demand a bit more than slot maybe, but we'll worth it, if you get back Karinchak 2.0

Round 9 (276) C Lucas Torres PR HS, 17.11yo
Raw catcher from Puerto Rico, flashed some exit velo in the draft combine, has a plus arm, is very young. The tools are there, could be signable for moderate sum considering Alabama State commitment.

Round 10 (306) OF River Town (Dallas Baptist), 21.11yo
Too cool a name not to draft, but also pretty impressive power/speed and even K/BB. Only one season of Div1 college, came over from JuCo, thus flying under the radar a bit. Similar to Micah Pries.

Hmmm....

Painter.. has the kind of body that could be useful as a high leverage reliever (a la Andrew Miller ) or he could mature into a beasting four pitch monster.. The athleticism you've pointed out says not to discount the latter.. He'd be a fine selection in the mid to late first round or a bargain in the Comp A round.. Either way.. if he's wearing a Cleveland jersery in August.. that would be a good thing..

Little guys like Jump.. aren't worthy of such high consideration.. imho..

Zavala is a good prospect.. with more than enough upside to become an everyday major league outfielder.. He's easy to like for that reason..

w/e to the first three.. Meatloaf says.. 2 out of 3 aint bad...

 

[macbdog]

2 weeks left, time for CLE mock 3.0

23 RHP Andrew Painter FL HS, 18.3yo
Painter is 6'7 and was once considered a top 10 lock, but HS pitching always drops (Bitsko, Hankins etc). This is CLEFO taking a shot at a FOR arm. 4 pitch arsenal with 3 above average to plus projected pitches with at least avg control. Despite his size, he's athletic and repeats his delivery well already. He won't come cheap here, possibly demanding full slot or slightly above, but he'd be worth the risk.

Round 2 (58) LHP Gage Jump CA HS, 18.3yo
After taking a 6'7 righty, it's a 5'10 prep lefty, makes perfect sense, right? Jump is considered super-athletic and very competitive, two traits, along with age, that appeal.

Comp Round 2 (69) OF Aaron Zavala (Oregon), 21.0yo
PAC-12 POY, lopsided BB/K ratio, pure LH hitter, very high floor corner OF. Checks a lot of boxes and comes in under slot here. Zavala is probably my favorite college bat and might be off the board despite mostly 3rd round rankings (75-100). He's tremendous value here or the pick before.

Round 3 (95) SS Cameron Cauley TX HS, 18.5yo
Good hitter, tough out. Profile reads like a mix of Tyler Freeman and Ernie Clement. There are some nice HS SS in this class and I'm sure they'll add at least one of them. Cauley is considered 2nd tier, but he's one of the best hitters with plus makeup. I'll take that.

Round 4 (125) CF Denzel Clarke (Cal St. Northridge), 21.2yo
After a high floor HS pick, here's a rare risk/reward high ceiling college bat. Clarke is actually Josh and Bo Naylor's cousin. Very toolsy player, power/speed combo in CF. Loud performance past two years, but also high K%. There's a lot of Will Benson in his profile, usually not my type, but for moderate 4th rd money, I'm up for the gamble and roll the dice.

Round 5 (156) RHP Luke Albright (Kent State), 21.6yo
It's time for college pitchers. They'll probably add one before this, but Albright is a 6'4 righty with a 4 pitch repertoire and lengthy track record of performance. Deemed competitive on the mound, he's your typical CLE college arm with even more upside left.

Round 6 (186) RHP Chad Dallas (Tennessee), 21.0yo
Only 5'11, but another dogged competitor. Velo range from low 90a as starter to high 90s as reliever, plus cutter he just recently added and stellar K/BB ratio. I smell a CLE selection, possibly a couple of rounds earlier even.

Round 7 (216) RHP Gordon Graceffo (Villanova), 21.2yo
6'4 small school college righty with good command, solid repertoire, sinking FB/change combo, very competitive, young, track record, K/BB ratio darling. Stop me if you read this before. Had two strong Cape Cod starts recently, so he's probably moving up on boards.

Round 8 (246) RHP Nick Maldonado (Vanderbilt), 21.0yo
Vandys Closer, two way background, athletic and good command especially for a reliever, has arsenal to start, but 6'1 and warrior mentality fits in a pen role. He's young, a r-FR, so he'll probably demand a bit more than slot maybe, but we'll worth it, if you get back Karinchak 2.0

Round 9 (276) C Lucas Torres PR HS, 17.11yo
Raw catcher from Puerto Rico, flashed some exit velo in the draft combine, has a plus arm, is very young. The tools are there, could be signable for moderate sum considering Alabama State commitment.

Round 10 (306) OF River Town (Dallas Baptist), 21.11yo
Too cool a name not to draft, but also pretty impressive power/speed and even K/BB. Only one season of Div1 college, came over from JuCo, thus flying under the radar a bit. Similar to Micah Pries.

I'm all for drafting a River Town and a Gage Jump, hell, I'd probably use picks 1 and 2 on those. Sounds like the makings of the plot of a 70s movie, Gage Jump at Old River Town'.