Guardians 2023 Mock Draft 1.0

[Tondo]

Here's a 10 round preseason mock draft:

23 INF C. Emerson (HS OH)
58 RHP J. Lee (HS CA)
62 RHP T. Hall (Southern Mississippi)
93 SS A. Anderson (HS GA)
125 CF M. Etzel (Southern Mississippi)
161 2B J. Riemer (Wichita State)
191 RHP Savacool (Maryland)
221 LHP Leguernic (HS NY)
251 CF R. Charles (UNLV)
281 RHP O. Wild (Gonzaga)
311 RHP T. Good (Charleston)

A decent mix of some on my preseason watch list. Emerson is surging up lists and could be gone at 23. Lee is a projection arm with good present stuff. Anderson a young, switch hitting SS from Georgia, so he checks all Guardians draft boxes. T. Hall is skill over stuff and from Southern Miss (Sandlin, McCarty, Stanley). Etzel is a JuCo transfer, if he performs, he'll go top 100, if not, he could be a buy low option many rounds later (Brennan). Riemer is a small school slasher who doesn't strikeout (Furman). Savacool a pitchability/performance over stuff arm with some HS pedigree (Curry). Leguernic a very very young HS projection behemoth (Hentges, Zibin). Charles an under the radar performing college CF (Kokx). Owen Wild a performing, young/class west coast arm (E. Morgan, same college). Ty Good track record SP from popular conference (CAA, Civale, Royalty, K. Kelly)

 

[Gson]

Interesting Posting.. for so early in the season..

Let's go at this a different way.. who should be draft by the Guardians by Position:

-Catcher
-Corner Infielders
-Corner Outfielders
-Middle Infielders
-Centerfielders
-Front Line SP's
-General SP's
-Relievers

about six weeks ago.. a list of Catchers was made to follow:

- Blake Mitchell Sinton, Texas*
-Kyle Teel UVa*
-Cole Carigg San Diego State
-Michael Carico Davidson University
-Zion Rose IMG Academy
-Paul Skenes LSU**

At least three of these guys could be considered viable* or viable but not likely available** for the # 23 pick.. Of the half dozen.. Kyle Teel is pretty impressive..

Are there others?

Are the non "*" guys going to be there at #'s 58/62?

Thoughts?

 

[sportscoach]

@Tondo

Is there anywhere that has the top prospects for the 23 draft listed? Aka that way I can at least start getting to know names lol

 

[Tondo]

@Tondo

Is there anywhere that has the top prospects for the 23 draft listed? Aka that way I can at least start getting to know names lol

This is the best and deepest list available:

2023 MLB Draft - Top 300 Prospects — Prospects Live

The 2023 MLB Draft is a star-studded lineup of players, and it's deep. We rank Dylan Crews, Chase Dollander, Max Clark, Walker Jenkins, Wyatt Langford, Jacob Wilson and more in this Top 300 board for the 2023 MLB Draft.

www.prospectslive.com

Mlbpipeline also has a Top 100

Top Baseball Draft Prospects

The Official Site of Major League Baseball

www.mlb.com

 

[sportscoach]

I am liking Carrigg's profile feels like a Varsho with a bit less power...

@Tondo

What's your take on Bryce Eldridge? That profile is very interesting on paper!

 

[Gson]

I am liking Carrigg's profile feels like a Varsho with a bit less power...

@Tondo

What's your take on Bryce Eldridge? That profile is very interesting on paper!

Cole Carigg has a lot to offer.. versatile and athletic..

Eldridge is that prepper that can/should go to college.. He has a good FB..he repeats his delivery.. His other pitches.. are in their infancy by comparison.. he'd be a nice grab in rounds 3-5.. meaning he should go to school..

 

[sportscoach]

Cole Carigg has a lot to offer.. versatile and athletic..

Eldridge is that prepper that can/should go to college.. He has a good FB..he repeats his delivery.. His other pitches.. are in their infancy by comparison.. he'd be a nice grab in rounds 3-5.. meaning he should go to school..

Carrigg is honestly an early target for me... I mean he knows how to play SS, CF and C plus seems to have an overall solid bat.

If we can get Eldridge in one of those rounds, should we go for the over slot likely signing?

 

[Gson]

Carrigg is honestly an early target for me... I mean he knows how to play SS, CF and C plus seems to have an overall solid bat.

If we can get Eldridge in one of those rounds, should we go for the over slot likely signing?

It depends on what you think "over slot" is.. High Schoolers want to be two comma kids.. The Guardians would essentially have to "buy" his commitment to Bama..

 

[sportscoach]

It depends on what you think "over slot" is.. High Schoolers want to be two comma kids.. The Guardians would essentially have to "buy" his commitment to Bama..

If you draft that type of profile in the first few rounds, you gotta expect the two comma...

 

[Gson]

If you draft that type of profile in the first few rounds, you gotta expect the two comma...

Agreed... so the picks and signing bonus pool has to be managed.. Without that.. this is a non-starter..

 

[Tondo]

Carrigg is interesting, he'd be a decent rd 3-5 value, but I'd aim higher in the top 2 rounds. Pro's: contact, switch hitter, age. Con's: BB/K, below avg power, defense uncertainty

And if he can answer some of those questions, he'll fall somewhere between our top pick at 23 and next one at 58. He becomes interesting as buy low option if he struggles or gets unlucky or injury. If he falls to the mid rounds, that's when CLE should select him.

I'd go after HS potential at 23 and/or 58. RHP Charlee Soto reminds me of Espino. The only college player on my radar for round 1 is RHP Will Sanders. HS CF D. Head is an over slot guy for rounds 2-3.
There's a bunch of HS pitching, might be the strength of this class. Haven't looked into B. Eldridge, he could be one of many in that range. Liked Justin Lee best from a checkbox perspective, but there are others of interest (L. McNeillie, S. Echevarria, J. Knoth, Z. Mueth, A. Keenan, E. McElvain, H. Dietz....)

 

[Gson]

Adding to the Catchers group:

- Blake Mitchell Sinton, Texas*
-Kyle Teel UVa*
-Cole Carigg San Diego State
-Michael Carico Davidson University
-Zion Rose IMG Academy
-Paul Skenes LSU**

is the Reliever's group. This group is a little trickier than catchers. If a pitcher is labeled a reliever, his bank drops precipitously. ..but, imho, that's where some guys need to focus on to become ML'ers.. Here are the RP's to look at.. most are Round 3+

Adam Hachman 17, Lefty...with a good running FB that doesn't always know where it's going. If he can be taught control, he could become much more..

George Klassen 21 U of Tenn 21 Right hander that can flat out bring smoke, i.e. the best fastball in the draft.. He has to start with the definition of control before he can be taught any..

Zander Mueth 17 R/R a big strapping lad with a five pitch mix.. If he focuses on his FB, he has the talent to become either a mid/back SP or, a high leverage RP.. He'll remind you of Blake Treinen.

Nolan McClean 21 R/R a pure & aggressive athlete on the hill.. much like Plesac but this dood has a hitter's mentality.. Has a FB/SL combination that is killer..

Tanner Hill 20 R/R a professor on the hill.. his only weapons are his brains, control ad his change up. He's the kind of polished college pitcher the Guardians like to grab in round 11 that they teach to throw harder.. In short stints.. Tanner Hill should be able to do just that..

There won't be "*" or "**" for relievers.. It makes no sense.. Comments?

 

[Gson]

Corner Infielders... have historically profiled as lesser athletes but louder tools.. These guys are typically the source of power in a lineup.. have howitzers for arms but don't pitch (anymore) and/or have somewhat limited speed on the base paths.. Many of the 3B's become 1B's... but, there are exceptions.. without further adieu...

Tanner Witt 3B, Texas 6'6" 195 It's still not certain which way he'll be drafted.. He can flat out bring a FB with riding action.. but he can also swing the lumber.. His an all around athletic guy, especially for his size. Whoever picks him.. will define his path on draft day... or, the position player pitching rules may increase his value..

Aidan Miller 6'2" 215 3B JW Mitchell HS, Arkansas; Three true outcomes guy.. more than you'd want, but certainly not without native ability. Tremendous bat speed that runs into one every now and then. Not an early draft prospect..

Yohandy Morales The "U" SS 6'4" 195 A SS now but is likely to move to his right as he's gotten bigger and stronger and faster.. A quick twitch athlete in the field with strong hot corner instincts. Loves to hit and hates to miss.. His swing is sort of cut off on the follow through making it look unfinished. Swings the bat with mean or almost angry intentions..

Braden Taylor TCU 6'1" 175 A SS now but is likely to move off the spot as he matures and fills out completely. His bat produces a LOT of hard hit balls, mostly line drives but has begun to put some loft into his swing. Walks more than he K's.. good hands & feet, surrounds the ball by anticipating..almost spooky the way he moves before the ball and bat meet.. Strong character guy..

Tre Morgan 6'2" 200 1B LSU Not a huge/power guy.. He will wow baseball mavens with some of the best hands you'll ever see in and around first base. There would be no question on that. He can really handle a bat. He would be the 55+ hit tool guy that seldom strikes out and almost too easily puts the ball in play..

Daniel Cuvet 6'4" 215 3B St Thomas Aquinas A power (and what power.. holy cow!!) over hit guy, but just barely. There is not a lot of swing and miss. He makes contact almost effortlessly.. He is quick on his feet, has a great arm and is a 'dirt rat'.. If they let him stay, he'd sleep overnight on the field for a night game..

Brock Wilken 3B Wake Forest 6'4" 225; The real odd ball corner IF'er.. he won't dazzle you with his feet or hands as he holds down a corner IF spot.. but he has the kind of arm that is exceptional and he seldom misses pitches with the lumber.. HUGE swing, too.. hard to believe he doesn't have "swing and miss" as a factor in his game.. but...

Drew Bowser 6'4" 230 3B Stanford.. He comes for one of the best prep programs & has been destined to destroy baseballs with short wooden sticks. He puts the ball in play and is very much in the same genre as Tre Morgan of LSU... This is an uber aggressive hitter and player

A lot to unpack with these guys.. FWIW, I like either Bowser/Cuvet away from the top three rounds..

 

[Gson]

Groups Summary

Catchers group:

- Blake Mitchell
-Kyle Teel
-Cole Carigg
-Michael Carico
-Zion Rose
-Paul Skenes

Reliever group.

-Adam Hachman
-George Klassen
-Zander Mueth
-Nolan McClean
-Tanner Hill

Corner Infielders...

-Tanner Witt
-Aidan Miller
-Yohandy Morales
-Braden Taylor
-Tre Morgan
-Daniel Cuvet
-Brock Wilken
-Drew Bowser

 

[Gson]

Note: It should be clear that there are guys who will not be close to being available for the Guardians to select in the bottom half of the first round.. Chase Dolander and Dylan Crews
being the primary top two in this draft..

Groups Summary

Catchers group:

- Blake Mitchell
-Kyle Teel
-Cole Carigg
-Michael Carico
-Zion Rose
-Paul Skenes

Edit: Paul Skenes has scrapped his "two way player"
pursuit and will focus on pitching, only.. With a 98
MPH heater for LSU, this might be a wise choice..

Reliever group.

-Adam Hachman
-George Klassen
-Zander Mueth
-Nolan McClean
-Tanner Hill

Corner Infielders...

-Tanner Witt
-Aidan Miller
-Yohandy Morales
-Braden Taylor
-Tre Morgan
-Daniel Cuvet
-Brock Wilken
-Drew Bowser

Corner OF'ers

Some of the guys on this list rightfully should be considered CF'ers.. but, there is enough evidence of them growing out of the spot or slowing down to make them more likely to move to either corner OF spot:

Travis Honeyman An all around athlete with developing skills as both a batsman & a fielder. He's being tried in CF for Boston College, but, eventually, he has the profile of a LF'er with better than average speed, power and hitting ability

Wyatt Langford A 6'1" 225 athletic corner OF'er from Florida.. With his repeating swing & hand eye coordination, he appears to be dissuading scouts of him being a three true outcomes player.

Cole Carrigg a 6'3" multi-position talent with corner-OF, C and SS ability. He's a switch hitter than puts the bat on the ball.. and has developing power. This is an all around talent that wins..

Jack Hurley.. a barely 6 foot CF'er that was moved to LF.. has a lot of arm, exceptionally good batting eye and mechanics. He'd be a nice "steal" in round 5-10..

Will Gasparino.. This is a true right fielder in all respects.. This guy is a tall rangy speed demon (especially when he gets going) that can get to anything in the air in CF but profiles better as a RF'er due to his throwing arm. Being 6'6" and running like a gazelle with bat speed that might best be described as a blur.. this is a formidable draft prospect that could be wearing a Flying G on his sleeve..

Eric Bitonti 6'4" 217 ..another guy in the mold of Gasparino.. he may be tall and lanky or gangly because he's so young (a trait CleFO guys love).. For as aggressive as he swings, you'd think he'd have a lot of hit and miss in his game.. just not true.. he puts the barrel of the bat on the ball. High School talent like this is worthy of a round 3 or Comp B type selection..

Walker Jenkins 6'3 216 from a HS in North Carolina.. Tremendous hand eye coordination with as much hit as power... He's never been tested against the better throwers.. so he'll be a look, watch and keep watching kind of guy..

These are the OF'ers I like in the coming draft.. w/ Gasparino and Carrigg being my faves..