2022 First Entry Draft.. A hitters paradise !!

[Gson]

We're about 8 weeks away (July 17th) from the First Entry Draft, also known as the Rule IV draft.. or Amateur draft. There are many mocks being presented.. MLB Pipeline & Jim Callis has his up with the following observation:

".....position prospects occupy the top eight spots with nary a college pitcher to be found in the first 18 slots. Teams could spend each of the top 10 picks on hitters, something that never has occurred in Draft history, and there may not a be a college arm among the first 15 selections for the first time since 1969...."

The MLB Pipeline Top 150 are at this link: https://www.mlb.com/prospects/draft...6LcIP10GCKXCrSTcFDPTpvLhX&bt_ts=1651001433325

Should be an interesting draft.. The Guardians first pick is at # 16, overall.. There will be a player worthy of that slot available.. Who will it be?

For my money, I like Daniel Susac C or Kevin Parada C ..with a flyer of Kumar Rocker if both of these backstops are gone..

 

[sportscoach]

Well first off, I don't know the signability of guys...

SS Brooks Lee or RHP Dylan Lesko would so be my first choice, but I don't think either will make it to 16 sadly... Temarr Johnson would be my top high school hitter (70 potential hit tool, @CATS44 I think you are drooling for that lol)

OF Cross or DeLauter make a ton of sense, C Cisco is likely the top C on my board... OF Crawford could be also a solid pick (16 may be too high for him though)... There is a bunch of pitchers on the list that don't stand out from each other with the quick reference.

From the mock drafts I have seen, Cam Collier has been the favorite for Cleveland at 16...

 

[CDAV45]

Moved for Coach

 

[sportscoach]

@CDAV45

what type of player are you wanting in the draft if you had a choice?

 

[Tondo]

I was hoping for J. Holliday at 16, but looks like he hit his way into the top 10.

Like: J. Berry, C. Delauter, C. Collier.

Collier is the age pick, some risk, but won't be worse than Benson and chance he's the next K. Hayes.
Also somewhat like HS LHP B. Barriera, but not fully sold and doubt they'd draft a HS arm this high. Profile reminds me of Justus Sheffield

Don't like: D. Beavers, Parada, Susac (thanks for confirming my hunch, Gson).

Parada is not a C, good bat, but where will he play? Susac is better overall, because he has a good chance to stay at C, but the BB/K scares me. Wouldn't gamble a 1st rd pick on that. Beavers not enough hit.

Edit: mid rd favs

OF Tres Gonzalez - Georgia Tech
LHP Trey Dombroski - Monmouth
LHP Pete Hansen - Texas
RHP J. Cannon - Georgia

Give me those in rounds 3-6 and I'm happy.

 

[Gson]

@sportscoach

Couple of things...

Mock drafts that select for the Cleveland franchise.. are typically biased toward "..how Cleveland goes cheap..." in the draft.. It's a well earned reputation, FWiW..

Johnson, Lesko, Lee, & de Lauter should all be gone by the time the Guardians select at # 16... (nos. 37 and 54 also.. after that & it's a crap shoot on who's left/available...) The top three are typically the most important for drafts

Gavin Cross, otoh.. could be there.. he's a good prospect.. not without warts.. He's got some swing and miss to a non-power hitters profile.. he's not a burner.. he's not a defensive gem at any position (corner OF, 1B, other).. he's not right handed.. he's not a lot of things.. He's the kind of pick that Cleveland makes to "save" money for later choices.. Here is the MLB scouting report video:

2022 Draft: Gavin Cross, OF | 04/26/2022

Gavin Cross landed on the All-ACC First Team in 2021 after putting up a 1.035 OPS and was arguably the best hitter with USA Baseball

www.mlb.com

The one thing Cross has going for him w/r to the Guardians.. he's an OF'er..

 

[Gson]

I was hoping for J. Holliday at 16, but looks like he hit his way into the top 10.

Like: J. Berry, C. Delauter, C. Collier.

Collier is the age pick, some risk, but won't be worse than Benson and chance he's the next K. Hayes.
Also somewhat like HS LHP B. Barriera, but not fully sold and doubt they'd draft a HS arm this high. Profile reminds me of Justus Sheffield

Don't like: D. Beavers, Parada, Susac (thanks for confirming my hunch, Gson).

Parada is not a C, good bat, but where will he play? Susac is better overall, because he has a good chance to stay at C, but the BB/K scares me. Wouldn't gamble a 1st rd pick on that. Beavers not enough hit.

Edit: mid rd favs

OF Tres Gonzalez - Georgia Tech
LHP Trey Dombroski - Monmouth
LHP Pete Hansen - Texas
RHP J. Cannon - Georgia

Give me those in rounds 3-6 and I'm happy.

What is it about these soft tossing lefties? Sauers, part deaux?..

 

[Gson]

New news: MLBTr has a note that Dylan Lesko.. one of the top if not thee top pitcher in this year's draft class) had tommy john surgery performed yesterday..

Here's the link: https://www.mlbtraderumors.com/2022/04/mlb-draft-dylan-lesko-tommy-john-surgery.html

Doesn't change things for some teams.. should for others..

 

[sportscoach]

@sportscoach

Couple of things...

Mock drafts that select for the Cleveland franchise.. are typically biased toward "..how Cleveland goes cheap..." in the draft.. It's a well earned reputation, FWiW..

Johnson, Lesko, Lee, & de Lauter should all be gone by the time the Guardians select at # 16... (nos. 37 and 54 also.. after that & it's a crap shoot on who's left/available...) The top three are typically the most important for drafts

Gavin Cross, otoh.. could be there.. he's a good prospect.. not without warts.. He's got some swing and miss to a non-power hitters profile.. he's not a burner.. he's not a defensive gem at any position (corner OF, 1B, other).. he's not right handed.. he's not a lot of things.. He's the kind of pick that Cleveland makes to "save" money for later choices.. Here is the MLB scouting report video:

2022 Draft: Gavin Cross, OF | 04/26/2022

Gavin Cross landed on the All-ACC First Team in 2021 after putting up a 1.035 OPS and was arguably the best hitter with USA Baseball

www.mlb.com

The one thing Cross has going for him w/r to the Guardians.. he's an OF'er..

I think there is a difference between goes cheap and goes for who we know will sign... I mean it feels like they have better luck outside of their top pick lately lol

At 37, I would definitely lean towards Crawford if he's available... Cannon seems interesting as well since he is supposed to be good with his control...

C Brady Neal could be interesting if we go for catcher in round 2-3 area... LHP Trey Dombroski I think is Cleveland bound in rounds 3-4...

New news: MLBTr has a note that Dylan Lesko.. one of the top if not thee top pitcher in this year's draft class) had tommy john surgery performed yesterday..

Here's the link: https://www.mlbtraderumors.com/2022/04/mlb-draft-dylan-lesko-tommy-john-surgery.html

Doesn't change things for some teams.. should for others..

If he's there at 16, take him...

 

[sportscoach]

Let's see here... my mock would kind of be for me...

16) 3B Collier (unless Lesko falls)
37) OF Crawford
54) RHP Cannon
92) C Neal
121) LHP Dombroski
5th) OF Jace Grady
6th) Ben Joyce

Lol may be dreaming on the last two but I think I could be happy with that

 

[CDAV45]

@CDAV45

what type of player are you wanting in the draft if you had a choice?

Well, I would never pass up a SP prospect like Williams, but I would prefer a big college bat with good contact and walk rates.

 

[Gson]

Well, I would never pass up a SP prospect like Williams, but I would prefer a big college bat with good contact and walk rates.

So.. a guy like Austin Riley or Nolan Gorman?..

 

[CDAV45]

So.. a guy like Austin Riley or Nolan Gorman?..

Yeah

 

[CDAV45]

Pilkington with a bad night for Columbus.

 

[CDAV45]

LT Allen with 5IP, 5 SO and 0 ER.