Author: Harris Yudin

Sports Info Solutions 2019 MLB Mock Draft

The Sports Info Solutions video scouts recently conducted a two-round mock draft in conjunction with SIS’ college draft prospects series, which featured scouting reports on each of the top 50 draft-eligible Division I players. Below is the first round of picks, along with a brief explanation on why each pick makes sense for that team. While expected draft position is taken into account, picks are more so based on each team’s recent draft strategy, farm system composition and overall competitive outlook over the next few years.

Full coverage:
Catchers
Corner Infield (Part 1)
Corner Infield (Part 2)
Middle Infield (Part 1)
Middle Infield (Part 2)
Outfield (Part 1)
Outfield (Part 2)
Left-Handed Pitching (Part 1)
Left-Handed Pitching (Part 2)
Right-Handed Pitching (Part 1)
Right-Handed Pitching (Part 2)

Round 1

Pick Team Slot Value Player Position School
1 Orioles $8,415,300 Adley Rutschman C Oregon State

The Orioles are currently undergoing a long and complicated rebuild, and Rutschman is the best overall player. He is an extremely rare plus-hitting, plus-fielding catcher.

Selected by Joe Hirsch

Pick Team Slot Value Player Position School
2 Royals $7,789,900 Andrew Vaughn 1B California

A safe pick for a franchise that is trying to expedite their rebuild. Vaughn should move quickly through the minors and complement the college pitchers the Royals took in the first five rounds last year.

Selected by Dominic Asta

Pick Team Slot Value Player Position School
3 White Sox $7,221,200 Bobby Witt Jr SS Colleyville Heritage HS

Bobby Witt Jr. is widely considered to have the highest upside of any prospect in this draft. He is projected to be a five-tool player, making him the ideal choice for a White Sox team looking for the future face of their franchise.

Selected by Thomas Maguire

Pick Team Slot Value Player Position School
4 Marlins $6,664,000 JJ Bleday OF Vanderbilt

Bleday is coming off a fantastic season in which he led Division I with 25 regular season home runs . He is arguably the best hitter available at this point in the draft, and makes sense for a rebuilding Marlins team.

Selected by Kory Reinsfelder

Pick Team Slot Value Player Position School
5 Tigers $6,180,700 Josh Jung 3B Texas Tech

The Tigers are in dire need of an offensive presence in the system, so they jump on the most proven college bat on the board. Jung could even be an under-slot candidate.

Selected by Shawn Larner

Pick Team Slot Value Player Position School
6 Padres $5,742,900 Hunter Bishop OF Arizona State

With JJ Bleday gone, the Padres should go with the other elite left-handed-hitting college bat in Hunter Bishop. He is a high-upside player who could move fast and complement San Diego’s plethora of right-handed bats.

Selected by Quinn Ireland

Pick Team Slot Value Player Position School
7 Reds $5,432,400 Nick Lodolo LHP TCU

Lodolo is arguably the most major league-ready arm in the draft, and he projects to be a top-of-the-rotation starter. The Reds also lack left-handed pitching depth within their farm system.

Selected by Brandon Phillips

Pick Team Slot Value Player Position School
8 Rangers $5,176,900 CJ Abrams SS Blessed Trinity HS

The super-athletic shortstop gives Texas a future building block and eventual replacement for Elvis Andrus. Texas has taken prep players with their last four first-round picks.

Selected by Grant VanLiew

Pick Team Slot Value Player Position School
9 Braves $4,949,100 Jackson Rutledge RHP San Jacinto JC

If neither Bleday nor Bishop fall, the Braves should look to add to their pitching depth. With some of the best all-around stuff in the draft, Rutledge has front-of-the-rotation upside.

Selected by Brandon Tew

Pick Team Slot Value Player Position School
10 Giants $4,739,900 Bryson Stott SS UNLV

With Brandon Crawford in his age-32 season, the Giants should be looking for his replacement. Stott’s advanced approach at the plate should allow him to rocket through the Giants’ system.

Selected by Bryan Guo

Pick Team Slot Value Player Position School
11 Blue Jays $4,547,500 Riley Greene OF Hagerty HS

The Blue Jays have been connected to several college arms, but can’t pass on Greene’s upside if he falls to 11. He has arguably the most advanced bat in this year’s high school crop.

Selected by Sam Danes

Pick Team Slot Value Player Position School
12 Mets $4,366,400 Alek Manoah RHP West Virginia

By trading away last year’s first-round pick for big league veterans, Brodie Van Wagenen proved that he is going with a win-now approach. Manoah has a bright future as either a mid-rotation starter or a late-inning reliever.

Selected by Harris Yudin

Pick Team Slot Value Player Position School
13 Twins $4,197,300 Zack Thompson LHP Kentucky

Even with an elbow injury in his past, Thompson’s command and polished repertoire should be appealing to a Twins team that lacks talented left-handed pitching in both the majors and minors.

Selected by Oscar Kwon

Pick Team Slot Value Player Position School
14 Phillies $4,036,800 Corbin Carroll OF Lakeside HS

Carroll is one of the top-rated players left on the board. The Phillies could give him time to develop while they are pretty set at the big league level for the next few years.

Selected by Matt Noskow

Pick Team Slot Value Player Position School
15 Angels $3,885,800 Brett Baty 3B Lake Travis HS

Billy Eppler has chosen a promising, young bat with his first pick in each year he’s been with the Angels, and that trend could continue this year if Baty, who has an advanced bat for his age, is available at 15.

Selected by David Mandelberg

Pick Team Slot Value Player Position School
16 Diamondbacks $3,745,500 Will Wilson SS NC State

Offensive-minded college shortstop provides an immediate boost to a struggling farm system. The Diamondbacks have the largest bonus pool in the draft, and this allows them to go over slot on their next pick at No. 26.

Selected by Glen Mueller

Pick Team Slot Value Player Position School
17 Nationals $3,609,700 George Kirby RHP Elon

The Nationals have mostly gone college in the first round this decade. Washington’s top three starters will all be older than 30 by this August, and the front office should look to shore up that rotation with a potentially quick-mover like Kirby.

Selected by Corey Eiferman

Pick Team Slot Value Player Position School
18 Pirates $3,481,300 Shea Langeliers C Baylor

An elite defensive catcher, Langeliers is a low-risk selection with the 18th pick. With Francisco Cervelli nearing free agency and Elias Diaz proven to be a shaky defender, the Baylor backstop is a great fit for the Pirates.

Selected by Logan Boling

Pick Team Slot Value Player Position School
19 Cardinals $3,359,000 Kameron Misner OF Missouri

Local kid with immense potential and tools. Cardinals have the player development staff to help Misner reach his potential.

Selected by Justin Stine

Pick Team Slot Value Player Position School
20 Mariners $3,242,900 Jack Leiter RHP Delbarton HS

One of the best prep arms in the draft, Leiter is a very high-risk, high-reward pick. He could be tough to sign away from Vanderbilt, but he would bolster a farm system that lacks starting pitching depth.

Selected by Kerby Callison

Pick Team Slot Value Player Position School
21 Braves $3,132,300 Quinn Priester RHP Cary-Grove HS

Priester is a cold-weather arm with lots of potential and upside. The TCU commit has fewer signability concerns than some of the other high school arms in this draft.

Selected by Brandon Tew

Pick Team Slot Value Player Position School
22 Rays $3,027,000 Brennan Malone RHP IMG Academy

High-upside pitcher who fits the mold of what the Rays like to develop. IMG is close to Tampa, so they are definitely very familiar with him. They also have enough bonus money to sign him away from his commitment to North Carolina.

Selected by Noah Gatsik

Pick Team Slot Value Player Position School
23 Rockies $2,926,800 Matt Wallner OF Southern Miss

Rockies need to find replacements at the corner outfield positions in the next couple of years. Wallner is a big, powerful college bat who would thrive at Coors Field.

Selected by Chris Glahn

Pick Team Slot Value Player Position School
24 Indians $2,831,300 Gunnar Henderson SS Morgan Academy HS

The Indians have shown a recent tendency to draft high school players early. Cleveland has a great track record developing infielders, and Henderson has the arm and athleticism to move all around the infield.

Selected by Max Glasser

Pick Team Slot Value Player Position School
25 Dodgers $2,740,300 Kody Hoese 3B Tulane

Dodgers take their third college bat in the first round in the last four years. Hoese adds an impact power bat to a farm system devoid of bats at the upper levels.

Selected by James McIntyre

Pick Team Slot Value Player Position School
26 Diamondbacks $2,653,400 Matthew Allan RHP Seminole HS

While the Diamondbacks have not taken a prep pitcher in the first round since 2014, it is hard to pass on a pitcher of Allan’s caliber this late in the 1st round.

Selected by Daniel Sarna

Pick Team Slot Value Player Position School
27 Cubs $2,570,100 Braden Shewmake SS Texas A&M

Cubs continue their trend with a college bat. Shewmake may not stick at short, but he has the versatility and hit tool that the Cubs love.

Selected by Mitch Glessner

Pick Team Slot Value Player Position School
28 Brewers $2,493,900 Seth Johnson RHP Campbell

Johnson adds a much needed arm to a farm system that has been depleted of starters in recent years. He is new to pitching and has a surprising amount of upside for a college arm.

Selected by Kyle Saathoff

Pick Team Slot Value Player Position School
29 Athletics $2,424,600 Greg Jones SS UNC Wilmington

A’s take another college shortstop early in the draft. Jones has some of the best speed in the draft and should start at SS long-term.

Selected by David Salway

Pick Team Slot Value Player Position School
30 Yankees $2,365,600 Michael Busch OF/1B North Carolina

The Yankees seem to be using the best available approach over the past few years. Busch is reliable, consistent and versatile, and his power would play up in the small confines of Yankee Stadium.

Selected by Stephen Marciello

Pick Team Slot Value Player Position School
31 Dodgers $2,312,000 Josh Wolf RHP St. Thomas HS

A strong spring has pushed Wolf into round 1 consideration. Tough sign for the Dodgers, but an over-slot deal is certainly possible here.

Selected by James McIntyre

Pick Team Slot Value Player Position School
32 Astros $2,257,300 Daniel Espino RHP Georgia Premier Academy

Power arm with a plus breaking ball and potential average-above average changeup, all of which can all benefit greatly from from Houston’s proven ability to develop pitchers.

Selected by Sales Pinckney

COMPENSATION ROUND

Pick Team Slot Value Player Position School
33 Diamondbacks $2,202,200 J.J. Goss RHP Cypress Ranch HS

Selected by Glen Mueller

Pick Team Slot Value Player Position School
34 Diamondbacks $2,148,100 Rece Hinds 3B IMG Academy

Selected by Daniel Sarna

COMPETITIVE BALANCE ROUND A

Pick Team Slot Value Player Position School
35 Marlins $2,095,800 Jimmy Lewis RHP Lake Travis HS

Selected by Kory Reinsfelder

Pick Team Slot Value Player Position School
36 Rays $2,045,400 Keoni Cavaco 3B Eastlake HS

Selected by Noah Gatsik

Pick Team Slot Value Player Position School
37 Pirates $1,999,300 Graeme Stinson LHP Duke

Selected by Mark Lyman

Pick Team Slot Value Player Position School
38 Yankees $1,952,300 Logan Davidson SS Clemson

Selected by Stephen Marciello

Pick Team Slot Value Player Position School
39 Twins $1,906,800 Ethan Small LHP Mississippi State

Selected by Oscar Kwon

Pick Team Slot Value Player Position School
40 Rays $1,856,700 Chase Strumpf 2B UCLA

Selected by Noah Gatsik

Pick Team Slot Value Player Position School
41 Rangers $1,813,500 Evan Fitterer RHP Aliso Niguel HS

Selected by Grant VanLiew

June 3, 2019

2019 Top 50 College Baseball Draft Prospects

Sports Info Solutions’ Dominic Asta and Harris Yudin compiled their consensus top 50 NCAA Division I prospect rankings for the 2019 MLB draft class. Links direct to scouting reports for each of the 50 prospects. Also be sure to check out the SIS Mock Draft.

Ranking	Name	Position	School
1	Adley Rutschman	C	Oregon State
2	Andrew Vaughn	1B	California
3	Hunter Bishop	OF	Arizona State
4	Nick Lodolo	LHP	TCU
5	JJ Bleday	OF	Vanderbilt
6	Josh Jung	3B	Texas Tech
7	Bryson Stott	SS	UNLV
8	Alek Manoah	RHP	West Virginia
9	Kameron Misner	OF	Missouri
10	Shea Langeliers	C	Baylor
11	Logan Davidson	SS	Clemson
12	George Kirby	RHP	Elon
13	Zack Thompson	LHP	Kentucky
14	Michael Busch	1B/OF	North Carolina
15	Braden Shewmake	SS/3B	Texas A&M
16	Will Wilson	SS	NC State
17	Seth Johnson	RHP	Campbell
18	Logan Wyatt	1B	Louisville
19	Kody Hoese	3B	Tulane
20	Ryne Nelson	RHP	Oregon
21	Matt Canterino	RHP	Rice
22	Matt Wallner	OF	Southern Miss
23	Isaiah Campbell	RHP	Arkansas
24	John Doxakis	LHP	Texas A&M
25	Greg Jones	SS	UNC Wilmington
26	Michael Toglia	1B/OF	UCLA
27	Josh Smith	SS	LSU
28	Nick Quintana	3B	Arizona
29	Chase Strumpf	2B/OF	UCLA
30	Noah Song	RHP	Navy
31	Drew Mendoza	3B	Florida State
32	Matt Cronin	LHP	Arkansas
33	Brady McConnell	SS	Florida
34	Cameron Cannon	2B/3B	Arizona
35	Drey Jameson	RHP	Ball State
36	Ethan Small	LHP	Mississippi State
37	Dominic Fletcher	OF	Arkansas
38	Kyle Stowers	OF	Stanford
39	Ryan Garcia	RHP	UCLA
40	Bryant Packard	OF	East Carolina
41	Ryan Zeferjahn	RHP	Kansas
42	Will Holland	SS	Auburn
43	Aaron Schunk	3B/RHP	Georgia
44	Zack Hess	RHP	LSU
45	Tommy Henry	LHP	Michigan
46	Will Robertson	OF	Creighton
47	Erik Miller	LHP	Stanford
48	Zach Watson	OF	LSU
49	Spencer Brickhouse	1B	East Carolina
50	Tyler Baum	RHP	North Carolina

June 3, 2019

2019 Top College Baseball Draft Prospects: Right-Handed Pitching (Part 2)

Leading up to the 2019 MLB Amateur Draft, Baseball Info Solutions has been publishing a series of position-by-position scouting reports from our Video Scouts for the top-50 collegiate draft prospects. This is the last of the position previews. Each player is graded by the 20-80 scouting scale, given a comprehensive evaluation, and assigned a floor and a ceiling comparison, which indicate–if a player makes the Major Leagues–the range of the type of player into which he can develop.

Full coverage:
Catchers
Corner Infield (Part 1)
Corner Infield (Part 2)
Middle Infield (Part 1)
Middle Infield (Part 2)
Outfield (Part 1)
Outfield (Part 2)
Left-Handed Pitching (Part 1)
Left-Handed Pitching (Part 2)
Right-Handed Pitching (Part 1)
Right-Handed Pitching (Part 2)

This post covers the remaining right-handed pitchers in our top 50. These six possess far less upside than that of the first group of righties, but should still come off the board within the first four rounds on draft day.

Ryan Zeferjahn, Tyler Baum and Ryan Garcia project as middle to back-end rotation pieces if they can each develop a better changeup. Zack Hess is all but guaranteed to end up in the bullpen, where he has the makings of an impact late-inning guy. Noah Song and Drey Jameson have exciting stuff and dominant college numbers, but pitching in weaker conferences could affect their draft stock.

Drey Jameson, RHP
Ball State University (SO, 2019)
R/R 6-00, 165 lbs
Date of Birth: 08/17/1997

Fastball- 60 (65) Curveball- 50 (55) Slider- 45 (50) Changeup- 45 (55) Control- 40 (45)

Written by Harris Yudin

Analysis
Drey Jameson has been terrific in his short time at Ball State, dominating MAC hitters over the last two years. In 2019, the draft-eligible sophomore posted a 3.05 ERA with 136 strikeouts (fourth-most in Division 1) and 29 walks, drawing immediate attention with six no-hit innings against Stanford in his season debut.

At just 6 feet and 165 pounds, Jameson’s small frame is a bit concerning, especially since there is some effort in his delivery. He uses his whole body through the delivery, finishing towards first base and generating velocity with an incredibly quick arm. While he repeats his mechanics fairly well, his release point can be inconsistent, and he often ends up spiking the ball well before the plate.

Jameson’s plus fastball sits in the mid 90s and can sniff triple digits. He elevates it up in the zone, getting hitters to chase the heater up and away where they can’t catch up to it. He throws two distinct breaking balls- a curveball in the upper 70s and a tight slider in the mid 80s. The curve is the better of the two pitches right now, and is used to successfully mix speeds and change a hitter’s eye level. He can front door it to righties for strikes and bounce it in the dirt to get chases, but will occasionally leave it over the middle of the plate. The slider is more of a get-me-over pitch right now, and lacks the sharp break of a swing-and-miss breaking ball. A power changeup is Jameson’s fourth offering. Although it doesn’t have a ton of fade, he throws it with good arm speed and decent velocity separation from his fastball, giving it the potential to develop into an above-average major league pitch.

All of his secondary pitches flash plus at times, but there is a lot of work to be done on all three. His command of all four pitches can be shaky, and he sometimes loses the strike zone. That said, he has displayed poise and composure on the mound, working out of jams by trusting his arsenal.

Outlook
Jameson’s raw stuff has allowed him to dominate weaker competition in college, but he will need more consistency and better command in order to retire big league hitters. While he has shown that he can go deep into games — at least 100 pitches in 10 of his 15 starts — his size and mechanics raise concerns about his long-term durability. His velocity and secondary stuff could play up in the bullpen, however, where he profiles as a high-leverage option.

Projection: Undersized right-hander with significant upside but a profile of a late-inning reliever.

Ceiling: Roy Oswalt
Floor: David Robertson
Draft Expectation: Rounds 2-3

Ryan Zeferjahn, RHP
University of Kansas (JR, 2019)
R/R 6-05, 225 lbs
Date of Birth: 02/28/1998

Fastball- 60 (65) Slider- 55 (55) Changeup- 40 (50) Control- 40 (45)

Written by Mitch Glessner

Analysis
As a former 37th-round pick out of high school, Ryan Zeferjahn looked to climb further up draft boards after a solid junior season at the University of Kansas. The second-team All-Big 12 selection in 2018 provides a powerful combination of a mid-90s sinker, power slider and developing changeup. As the Jayhawks’ Friday night starter, Zeferjahn went 5-2 in 15 starts, posting a 3.97 ERA with 107 strikeouts in 88.1 innings.

Zeferjahn commands a solid presence on the mound with his big, 6-foot-5 frame. While he has the promising makeup in his arsenal of a future starting pitcher, the biggest question has been the consistency of his control. His 4.5 BB/9 looks looming, but his 10.9 K/9 gives reason to be highly optimistic of his potential if his control improves. When he is commanding his fastball at his best, Zeferjahn eats up innings while maintaining velocity and arm action deep into games.

His first step off the rubber sets up the slow tempo in his wind up. While it may cause concern for consistency in his delivery, he repeats the motion and tempo consistently and comfortably. His slow first step and high three-quarters arm slot combine for very good deception in his sinker that will sit 92-94 mph and top out at 96. His slider is his preferred wipeout pitch, sitting in the low to mid 80s. He doesn’t shy away from throwing his slider behind in counts, and has the ability to add and subtract depth to the pitch. He provides consistent arm action in his changeup, which can be an even better pitch than his slider when he has the feel for it. At low to mid 80s velocity, it is a hard changeup that disappears with good tumble. Zeferjahn’s calm demeanor and strong lower half allow him to go deep into games with the ability to rear back for 96 whenever he wants as a starter. However, he consistently throws more strikes with higher fastball command from the stretch. He is quick to the plate at 1.41 seconds, and doesn’t lose any arm action or velocity. At times he looks more comfortable working from the stretch, where his delivery becomes more compact.

Outlook
If Zeferjahn can show continuous improvement in his ability to throw strikes, he could become a regular No. 3 or No. 4 starter. With his fallback being a solid, mid- to late-inning bullpen role, he gives many teams good reason to take him anywhere from the second to third round of this upcoming draft.

Projection: Back-end starter with control issues or a back-end reliever with power fastball-slider combination.

Ceiling: Brad Keller
Floor: Kyle Crick
Draft Expectation: Rounds 2-3

Noah Song, RHP
Naval Academy (SR, 2019)
R/R 6-04, 200 lbs
Date of Birth: 05/28/1997

Fastball- 60 (65) Slider- 50 (55) Curveball- 45 (55) Changeup- 40 (50) Control- 50 (55)

Written by Dominic Asta

Analysis
Noah Song has been the most dominant pitcher in Division 1 baseball the past two seasons. He led all of Division 1 with 161 strikeouts in 94 innings for Navy in his senior season. He was not drafted last season because of his strong desire to return for his senior year and graduate. He is an extremely polished starter with a four-pitch mix and power velocity. The major drawback for major league teams will be the fact he must complete two years of service in the Navy before he can pitch professionally. This current U.S. Department of Defense policy, implemented in 2017, means Song will be 24 years old before starting his baseball career. He has the talent and polish, however, to entice teams to take a chance on him in the first five rounds and be patient for his arrival in the majors.

Song has a large, lean frame with good athleticism. He operates with an easy, simple delivery from the first base side of the rubber. He throws from a three-quarters arm slot with minimal effort. He shows some stride inconsistency, landing at different points on the mound, which makes him throw from different release points at times, but this should be easily cleaned up at the professional level. Song shows confidence on the mound, with a good pickoff move and the ability to control the run game, as well.

His fastball explodes out of his hands and sits mid 90s with flashes of upper 90s. He has great arm-side run and on his two-seam fastball. He backs righties off the plate with it and even backdoors it for strikes. His slider features good tilt and lateral break with cutterish movement at times. The pitch sits 83-86 mph with the potential for upper 80s. The shape and break of the pitch are not consistent, and he struggles to throw it for strikes at times. His curveball is thrown less frequently than his slider, but flashes above- average potential. The pitch has serious depth and drop to it with 12-to-6 movement and sits mid 70s. He has confidence in the pitch to throw it in any count and the ability to backdoor it to lefties. Song’s changeup, like his two-seamer, has good arm-side movement and similar arm speed to his fastball. He does not throw it very often, but will break it out a handful of times to keep lefties honest. He is very hard to barrel up with his fastball movement and his extreme velocity range. Song has average control at the moment, and projects for slightly above-average control in the future. When he misses, it is usually low in the zone, and he only allowed 11 home runs in his college career with a 1.04 WHIP.

Outlook
Song has dominated the Patriot League in his college career with 428 strikeouts in 334 innings. He has had similar success, albeit in a small sample size, against stiffer competition in the Cape Cod league. He has pitched 18 innings over the past two summers in the Cape with 18 strikeouts and a 3.00 ERA. He has the talent and stuff to be a first round-pick this season, but won’t be drafted that high due to his military requirement. Teams with a sizable bonus pool should be interested in drafting Song and hopeful that after his military service he can return to the mound without too much rust.

Projection: Front-line starter potential with great velocity and four future above-average pitches.

Ceiling: Jack Flaherty
Floor: Luke Hochevar
Draft Expectation: Rounds 3-5

Ryan Garcia, RHP
UCLA (JR, 2019)
R/R 6-00, 180 lbs
Date of Birth: 01/24/1998

Fastball- 50 (55) Slider- 50 (55) Curveball- 50 (55) Changeup- 40 (50) Control- 50 (55)

Written by Will Hoefer

Analysis
An undersized righty from UCLA, Garcia has improved on a stellar sophomore year and carved up the Pac-12 in 2019. Sporting a conference-best 1.42 ERA among qualified starters, he boasts an impressive combination of strikeouts (11.96 K/9) and control (2.84 BB/9).

Garcia, who arrived on campus as a two-way player and was quickly told to stick to the mound, pitches with the ease of a shortstop using his plus arm to zing a routine throw across the diamond to first base. Working out of a high three-quarters arm slot, he has a good down-mound stride with very easy and fluid mechanics throughout his delivery to the plate. He generally commands his fastball to the black, and his occasional misses are up and out of the zone where a hitter can’t do serious damage. He can hang a breaker from time to time, but shows, on average, 55-grade command across all four of his offerings.

The Bruins’ ace features four pitches, three of which project to be above average. The fastball sits in the low 90s and can touch 94, with good arm-side run and rise. His slider has a sharp hook and will occasionally flash plus depth, and his curveball is a big, 12-6 breaker that also occasionally flashes plus. These are both above-average secondaries, and will usually be deployed against right- and left-handed hitters, respectively. Filling out Garcia’s arsenal is a changeup, which has decent depth and fade but can get a little firm at times. There’s still advanced feel and location, though, which helps bump it up to a 50-grade offering.

Outlook
Garcia’s overall polish, which comes from his clean and easy delivery, is the definitive quality that has pushed him up draft boards. He lacks any sort of projection on his stuff, and the slight frame could scare some teams off if they don’t think he can hold up pitching 150 innings year after year. But neither of these things disqualify Garcia from being developed as a starter, as his combination of stuff, command and ability to handle a college starter’s workload project well to a role in the back of a major league rotation.

Projection: Back-end major league starter with above-average command.

Ceiling: Jeremy Guthrie
Floor: Javy Guerra
Draft Expectation: Rounds 3-4

Tyler Baum, RHP
University of North Carolina (JR, 2019)
R/R 6-02, 180 lbs
Date of Birth: 01/14/1998

Fastball- 55 (60) Curveball- 50 (55) Changeup- 45 (50) Control- 50 (60)

Written by Harris Yudin

Analysis
Baum followed a stellar freshman showing with a disappointing sophomore campaign, but has righted the ship in 2019, transitioning back into Carolina’s Friday night role midseason. The 6-foot-2 righty managed a respectable 3.91 ERA with 82 strikeouts and 22 walks on the regular season. He has thrown over 200 innings across his three years at Carolina, including extensive postseason experience.

Working mainly out of a low three-quarters arm slot, Baum has a clean delivery with no wasted motion and quick, fluid arm action. He hides the ball fairly well, and can mess with a hitter’s timing. He is a bit undersized, with a medium frame, but he’s very athletic and should be able to pack on some weight in pro ball.

Baum’s fastball typically sits in the low-to-mid 90s with heavy arm-side run, but he can reach back for 95 or 96 to put hitters away. He maintains velocity throughout the game, but could likely throw even harder if he were to work out of the bullpen. He alters his arm slot to throw an 11-5 curveball that sits in the upper 70s. The hammer is his best secondary pitch, and it projects to be above-average at the major league level, with good two-plane break. He also employs a mid-80s changeup that, while not an out pitch, has decent fading action and good velocity separation from his fastball.

Baum is more command over control right now, but has made strides with regards to throwing strikes, cutting his walk rate down from 11.2 percent as a sophomore to 6.8 percent as a junior. When he’s on, he can paint the corners with fastballs, using all edges of the zone to steal strikes and get hitters to chase. He pitches with emotion and isn’t afraid to attack up in the zone with two strikes.

Outlook
With three average offerings, solid command and above-average durability, Baum has the potential to be a workhorse mid-rotation starter at the next level. That said, if the changeup doesn’t develop enough, he could have a strong future as a multi-inning reliever, where his velocity could play up more consistently. Regardless, his track record in the ACC will make him appealing early on Day 2.

Projection: Reliable right-hander with two potential plus pitches and mid-rotation upside.

Ceiling: Jeremy Hellickson
Floor: Josh Fields
Draft Expectation: Rounds 3-4

Zack Hess, RHP
Louisiana State University (JR, 2019)
R/R 6-06, 220 lbs
Date of Birth: 02/25/1997

Fastball- 60 (70) Slider- 50 (60) Changeup- 30 (40) Control- 30 (40)

Written by David Salway

Analysis
Zack Hess has had an up-and-down career at LSU. He started as a late-inning reliever for the Tigers, en route to their runner-up finish in the College World Series. In that CWS, he appeared in five of their seven games, recording three saves with 11 strikeouts in seven innings. Since the 2017 season, Hess has struggled as a starter, posting a 5.05 ERA in 2018 and a 4.70 ERA thus far in 2019. This year he has 78 strikeouts in only 67 innings, but has managed just a 1.63 WHIP and a .288 opponents’ batting average. He was relegated to the LSU bullpen on May 1 of this season.

Despite being one of the largest pitchers in this draft, coming in at 6 feet 6 inches and 220 lbs, Hess struggles to use his lower half on a consistent basis. While he has shown the ability to ramp his fastball up to 96 on multiple occasions — and has even touched 98 — he will typically sit between 90-93 mph. He throws from a three-quarters arm slot and does a decent job of repeating his mechanics, but can at times lose his release point and extension at the end of his delivery. He has pretty fluid arm action, but is susceptible to short arming, especially when he is struggling within a game. Hess uses his height to his advantage, getting good downhill plane on his fastball and extension at times. However, there are some mechanical issues that can arise anytime he is getting hit around or cannot find the zone.

Hess exclusively uses a three-pitch mix, mostly throwing fastball and slider, with an occasional changeup. He will use this pitch mix differently depending on his role. As a starter, he will utilize the changeup more often, while throwing his fastball in the lower 90s. When coming out of the bullpen, his fastball will sit in the mid 90s and he will throw fewer changeups. He struggles to command his fastball, often leaving it up in the zone, and will often lose control completely. His slider is by far his best pitch of the three. It has sharp, downward movement with tight spin. He has the ability to throw it in the zone for strikes, but also in the dirt in two strike counts. It is a plus pitch to pair with his slightly above average fastball. His changeup is a work in progress, but sits 8-10 mph off of his fastball, around 82-84. It is currently a below-average pitch, with small potential for growth. There is little arm-side fade and he leaves it up in the zone too often. He does have the ability to throw his changeup for strikes, but will need to command it low and away to lefties to have any success playing off of his other two offerings. The development of a changeup will determine whether he will be a starter or reliever in the future.

Outlook
Hess has seen his stock decrease rapidly over the past two seasons. While he has the potential to put it all together, he will most likely top out as a reliever. He has the arm talent to get by as a starter and will be given an opportunity to do so in the minors, but should ultimately end up in the bullpen, where his combination of a mid 90s fastball and devastating slider will play up.

Projection: Middle reliever with the possibility of becoming a high-leverage bullpen piece.

Ceiling: Tyler Clippard
Floor: Chad Sobotka
Draft Expectation: Rounds 3-4

Other right-handers to keep an eye on:
Alec Marsh, Arizona State University
Ryan Pepiot, Butler University
Andre Pallante, UC Irvine
Tyler Dyson, University of Florida

May 31, 2019
2019 Top College Baseball Draft Prospects: Right-Handed Pitching (Part 1)

Leading up to the 2019 MLB Amateur Draft, Baseball Info Solutions will be publishing a series of position-by-position scouting reports from our Video Scouts for the top-50 collegiate draft prospects. Each player is graded by the 20-80 scouting scale, given a comprehensive evaluation, and assigned a floor and a ceiling comparison, which indicate–if a player makes the Major Leagues–the range of the type of player into which he can develop.

Full coverage:
Catchers
Corner Infield (Part 1)
Corner Infield (Part 2)
Middle Infield (Part 1)
Middle Infield (Part 2)
Outfield (Part 1)
Outfield (Part 2)
Left-Handed Pitching (Part 1)
Left-Handed Pitching (Part 2)
Right-Handed Pitching (Part 1)
Right-Handed Pitching (Part 2)

This post covers the first half of a deep crop of right-handed pitchers– 12 in our top 50, several more just barely missed the cut. All six pitchers mentioned in this piece could come off the board in the first two rounds on draft day.

Alek Manoah, Seth Johnson, Matt Canterino and Ryne Nelson all possess electric, mid-to-upper-90s fastballs and one plus breaking ball, but inconsistency and unpolished third pitches make each of them a candidate to end up in the bullpen. George Kirby and Isaiah Campbell have more refined repertoires, and while they lack the raw tools of the other four, their stuff plays up due to superior command.

Alek Manoah, RHP
West Virginia University (JR, 2019)
R/R 6-6, 260 lbs
Date of Birth: 01/09/1998

Fastball- 65 (70) Slider- 60 (65) Changeup- 45 (55) Control- 50 (55)

Written by Quinn Ireland

Analysis
Alek Manoah has seen his stock gradually rise, from a big-bodied guy with plenty of potential to a dominant arm who is soaring up draft boards. In 2018, he showed flashes of brilliance that have been on display week in and week out this season. He has compiled a 1.85 ERA for the Mountaineers with 135 strikeouts in 102.1 innings. Manoah has pushed himself into top-10 pick consideration in the upcoming draft, and should definitely be one of the top college arms selected.

A 6-foot-6, 260-pound specimen, Manoah boasts a three-pitch arsenal with at least his fastball and slider as plus pitches. He sits at around 94-96 mph, and his command has shown vast improvement from last year. His fastball plays up a tick, as well, as a result of his long stride. It jumps on the batter and has excellent tilt to boot. The slider is used as a strikeout pitch against both left- and right- handed batters, albeit with differing styles. This year, he is using the slider as more of a front door pitch against righties, and has mainly thrown it back foot to lefties. This unique style has led to an uptick in strikeouts and more consistency from the right-hander. His changeup is still under development, and while it has shown flashes, he is going to have to get comfortable throwing it a lot more in order to succeed after college. It has the potential to be slightly above-average, but right now is mostly a change-of-pace pitch that catches hitters off guard.

Since he scrapped the windup and started throwing exclusively from the stretch, Manoah’s command and composure have both seen swift improvements. Concerns over stamina and moving to the pen have seemingly been put to rest because of his sheer dominance this year, although a move to the pen could fast track him to the majors.

Outlook
Manoah will not make it out of the first round, and will probably hear his name called within the first 15 picks. His dominance of solid Big 12 competition has made teams take notice of his talent, and a lot of teams are going to have to take a long, hard look at the power right-hander from West Virginia on draft day.

Projection: No. 2 starter with big strikeout numbers and All-Star potential.

Ceiling: Josh Johnson
Floor: Adam Ottavino
Draft Expectation: Top-15 Pick

George Kirby, RHP
Elon University (JR, 2019)
R/R 6-04, 200 lbs
Date of Birth: 02/08/1998

Fastball- 55 (65) Curveball- 50 (55) Slider- 45 (50) Changeup- 50 (55) Control- 55 (60)

Written by Dominic Asta and Harris Yudin

Analysis
George Kirby has been the most dominant starter in a very impressive Elon rotation this season. He has posted eye-popping numbers over his last two seasons, including a 2.75 ERA across 81.1 innings with 107 strikeouts and just six walks as a junior– his 17.5 strikeout-to-walk ratio was the best in all of Division 1 by a wide margin. He has very few, if any, red flags, and should become the first first-round pick in Elon baseball history.

Kirby has a large, projectable frame with room to add weight and strength. He has a smooth, repeatable delivery with short, compact arm action. He throws from a three quarters arm slot and gets good extension with his long limbs. He gets most of his power from his upper body, and does not utilize his lower body in his delivery as much as he could.

Kirby features a four-pitch mix with an above-average fastball, a changeup and two distinct breaking balls. He commands his fastball to both sides of the plate and has good arm-side run on the pitch. He operates mostly from 91-94 mph, but will flash 95-96 in shorter outings. He gets most of his strikeouts on his fastball, often challenging hitters up in the zone. Kirby should be expected to add velocity once he fills out and adds strength to his big frame. His changeup is his most reliable secondary pitch, thrown with fastball arm speed. It flashes good arm-side fade, and he will throw it to both righties and lefties. His curveball and slider will show above-average potential at times, but are not consistent with break and shape. The curveball, which comes in around the upper 70s, looks to be the better of the two pitches at this time, while the tighter, mid-80s slider has proven more erratic. Despite not currently having a plus secondary pitch, Kirby’s stuff plays up due to his control of the strike zone and command of all four pitches.

Outlook
Kirby has faced weaker competition over the last few years than most of the other college arms in this draft class. However, he dominated the Cape Cod league in 2018, allowing just two earned runs across 15 innings on the summer, striking out 28 batters and walking just four. As long as he can continue to build up his secondary pitches as he gains experience against tougher opponents, there shouldn’t be concerns about Kirby remaining a starter at the next level. He has mid-rotation upside, and could hear his name called within the first 20 picks of the 2019 draft.

Projection: Mid-rotation command artist with developing breaking balls.

Ceiling: Rick Porcello
Floor: Trevor Cahill
Draft Expectation: Round 1

Seth Johnson, RHP
Campbell University (JR, 2019)
R/R 6-01, 200 lbs
Date of Birth: 09/19/1998

Fastball- 65 (70) Slider- 55 (60) Curveball- 45 (50) Changeup- 45 (55) Control- 50 (55)

Written by Noah Gatsik

Analysis
Seth Johnson is one of the most interesting prospects in the draft. He was a shortstop his first two years in college, but made the transition to a full-time pitcher in the fall of 2018. Since he has only been focusing on pitching for less than a year, he is not as advanced as most college-level pitchers, and is more of a project. However, he is one of the best pure arm talents, and has as high of a ceiling as any pitcher in this draft. In 59.1 innings pitched this season, Johnson has posted a 4.55 ERA with 28 walks and 76 strikeouts.

Johnson has a medium frame and a strong lower half. He is very athletic and fields his position very well. He displays a smooth and very repeatable delivery out of a three quarters arm slot that looks effortless. He throws on a downhill plane with impressive loose and free-easy arm action. He generates above-average extension and has a very relaxed finish. He also shows above-average deception while throwing all his pitches out of a similar release point.

Johnson’s fastball is electric. He routinely sits in the 92-95 mph range, often hitting the mid-to-upper 90s and topping out as high as 98. The ball really explodes out of his hands and gets in on hitters quickly. He throws a heavy ball that has some tailing action. It is not just a flat fastball that relies solely on speed. He shows an advanced feel to elevate his fastball to generate a lot of swing and miss. His slider is his best secondary offering. He throws it hard — typically in the mid 80s — with sharp, downward movement. He also throws more of a looping curveball that shows 12-6 tendencies with a reported velocity range of 78-83 mph. His development of a changeup is going to be what dictates his future. It shows signs of developing into a plus pitch, with late fade and sinking action with reported velocity ranging from 83-86 mph.

He actually displays far better control than one would think for someone who has been a full-time pitcher for less than a calendar year and also has the type of arm Johnson possesses. He likes to attack hitters and is frequently in or around the zone. When he misses, he tends to miss up with his fastball and down and out of the zone with his secondary pitches. His command is what he needs to work on the most. Fortunately, logic would dictate that as he gets more experience pitching, as well as help from professional coaching staffs, he will be given all the tools necessary to develop the command to take that next step as a pitcher.

Outlook
Johnson really is one of the most intriguing players in this draft class. He displays the arm talent and raw stuff to develop into a potential front-line starter. He also has a pretty safe floor as a reliever, where his plus velocity would play up and he can focus on being just a two-pitch pitcher. He is more of a project than most college arms, but if he’s able to reach his full potential, he can end up being the steal of this draft.

Projection: Mid-rotation starter with flashes of ace potential and a floor of an effective reliever.

Ceiling: Ben Sheets
Floor: Luke Jackson
Draft Expectation: Rounds 1-2

Matt Canterino, RHP
Rice University (JR, 2019)
R/R 6-03, 222 lbs
Date of Birth: 12/14/1997

Fastball- 50 (55) Slider- 55 (60) Curveball- 50 (55) Changeup- 40 (50) Control- 50 (55)

Written by Dominic Asta

Analysis
Matt Canterino has been in the Rice rotation since the beginning of his freshman year. He has proven to be very durable, throwing over 90 innings and improving his ERA each season. He has dominated opponents while pitching in Conference USA, and looked even better pitching against great competition in the Cape Cod League this past summer. He features a four-pitch mix and solid control. With a thin crop of college arms in the draft, Canterino stands out for his solid, raw stuff and big, durable frame. He has the chance to sneak into the first round, but will certainly be gone by the end of the second round.

Canterino has a thick, durable frame with a strong lower half. He uses a funky, repeatable delivery with a high three-quarters arm slot. His delivery has an interesting hitch before he delivers to the plate. As he brings his stride leg up, he jerks his hands and leg away from his body before he separates his hands, pauses and strides towards the plate. With these mechanics, Canterino has a long arm circle and good explosion off the mound. He repeats his unique mechanics well, keeping balance over the rubber and his upper body in sync with his lower body, while also adding some deception. Teams may try to tinker with his mechanics by increasing his arm speed or having a more direct path to home plate in order to increase his velocity.

Canterino operates with a low-90s fastball with the ability to bump the velocity to the mid 90s at times. He has a big, mid-70s 12-to-6 knuckle curve with which he will often start at-bats. He struggles with snapping it off consistently and will leave the pitch up in the zone. When he commands it well, it has serious depth and break, making it a great asset. The development of his mid-80s slider this season has given him another great weapon for the future. The pitch has very tight spin and looks like a true cutter at times. He can show more lateral movement on the pitch, and can also throw it in the upper 80s. Canterino effectively uses his slider on the inside part of the plate to lefties, and has more consistent command with it than he does his curveball. He has a seldom-used changeup that he will flash a handful of times a game to keep the hitters from sitting on his fastball. The pitch is below average at this point, and he does not show a good feel for it. The development of this pitch will be key in determining how high of a ceiling he will have.

After walking 49 batters in 96 innings his freshman year, Canterino has greatly reduced his walk numbers the past two seasons, walking only 23 batters in 99.1 innings this season. He has better command of his fastball and slider at this point, and while his delivery may never allow him to have plus plus control, he should be able to develop above-average control of all of his pitches.

Outlook
Canterino has shown the ability to be a workhorse-type starter while also dominating in college. He has held opponents’ batting averages to below .200 every season at Rice, accumulating 348 strikeouts in 289.1 innings in the process. He has pitched very well against stiff competition in the Cape Cod League, generating a 2.59 ERA with 29 strikeouts in 24.1 innings for the Falmouth Commodores. His funky, high-effort, delivery and an underdeveloped changeup could be red flags for some teams, but Canterino has proven his delivery works and his pure stuff is good enough to get hitters out at any level.

Projection: Mid-rotation arm with promising breaking stuff and a floor of an effective long reliever.

Ceiling: Matt Cain
Floor: Joba Chamberlain
Draft Expectation: Rounds 1-2

Isaiah Campbell, RHP
University of Arkansas (RS JR, 2019)
R/R 6-04, 225 lbs
Date of Birth: 08/15/1997

Fastball- 60 (65) Cutter- 55 (60) Curveball- 50 (55) Splitter- 50 (55) Control- 55 (60)

Written by Dominic Asta

Analysis
Isaiah Campbell has shown flashes of dominance in his time at the University of Arkansas. He has also dealt with elbow injuries that forced him to redshirt his sophomore season after only 0.2 innings. He had an up-and-down 2018 that ended in 75 strikeouts over 69.2 innings. He had an impressive start against Florida in the College World Series last year that showed his top-of-the-rotation potential. He was drafted in the 24th round in the 2018 draft, but decided to come back for his redshirt junior year. Campbell has produced a 2.37 ERA and 100 strikeouts in 95 innings this season. His superb 2019 season and his durability has helped solidify him as a top-three round draft pick.

Campbell is a big-bodied, athletic, 6-foot-4, 225-lb righty that has strengthened his body from last season. He has a smooth delivery with some lean back in his motion, a big leg kick, and a high ¾ arm slot. Campbell repeats his delivery well and gets good downhill extension. He has a long arm circle and a direct path to home plate. Campbell could increase his velocity by throwing with a stiffer front side at the next level.

Isaiah features an exciting four-pitch mix that includes a low-to-mid-90s fastball that maintains velocity deep into his starts. Campbell should be capable of adding a couple of ticks to his fastball velocity, which he has thrown up to 98 mph, by adding strength to his large frame.Campbell can throw his fastball into the mid 90s and will command it low in the zone and challenge hitters up in the zone with it. He also has a curveball in the high 70s and a cutter/slider in the mid 80s.His cutter has become a great weapon to lefties and has tight spin on it. His curveball has 11-to-5 movement with big break and he will drop it for strike one to start at-bats. He has added a splitter to his repertoire this season and it flashes the potential to be an above average pitch in the future. The pitch is thrown mostly to lefties and shows some late diving action to it. Campbell has the stuff and frame to be a power pitcher at the next level with an above average fastball and cutter as well as a big curveball and developing splitter. He will mix his pitches well and control the strike zone when he is dealing. He has shown improved command in 2019 with a 1.71 BB9 and only three home runs allowed.

Outlook
Campbell has shown flashes of his potential against some of the best competition in the country. He has alleviated concerns about his health and durability in 2019 with a healthy season. It will be hard to pass on Campbell in June if he continues to dominate the SEC with his impressive four-pitch mix and his ability to throw them all for strikes. Isaiah Campbell has the upside of a No. 3 starter at the major league level and a floor of an effective late-inning reliever.

Projection: No. 3 starter with flashes of dominance with a late-inning reliever floor.

Ceiling: Josh Beckett
Floor: Tommy Hunter
Draft Expectation: Round 2

Ryne Nelson, RHP
University of Oregon (JR, 2019)
R/R 6-03, 184 lbs
Date of Birth: 02/01/1998

Fastball- 65 (70) Cutter- 55 (60) Curveball- 45 (50) Changeup- 40 (45) Control- 40 (50)

Written by Harris Yudin

Analysis
Ryne Nelson has largely worked out of the bullpen during his time at Oregon, totaling just five starts over three seasons– four of them coming in 2019. He also played shortstop for the Ducks, but struggled mightily at the plate, and has since given that up to focus on pitching full-time. As a junior, he managed just a 4.29 ERA with 104 strikeouts and 41 walks across 65 innings, pitching mostly out of the ‘pen but often handling multiple frames in an outing.

Nelson has a large frame and a long, athletic build, throwing from a three-quarters arm slot. While there is some room for physical maturity, there probably isn’t much left in the tank in terms of velocity, which he mainly generates from his exceptional arm speed and loose, whip-like arm action. His delivery is clean and repeatable, and he uses his length to get great extension toward the plate. The ball explodes out of his hand, making it hard to pick up from such a short distance.

Headlined by one of the best fastballs in the draft class, Nelson’s repertoire also features two breaking balls and a changeup. His fastball sits 95-97 mph and can hit triple digits, and he has shown the ability to maintain velocity beyond his first couple of innings. He likes to attack up in the zone with his four-seam, which has a ton of late life, and bury a less common power sinker in the dirt. His best secondary offering is a hard, sharp cutter that has proven to be a legitimate out pitch. It has late break away from right-handed hitters and can jam lefties up and in. He throws a big curveball with 12-6 movement and a ton of depth. While it is not currently much of a swing-and-miss pitch, it does play pretty well off his high fastballs, allowing him to change a hitter’s eye level. Additionally, he’s broken out an occasional changeup that is passable against college hitters terrified of the fastball, but has little fade to it and will require a lot of work in order to become even an average major league pitch.

Concerns surrounding Nelson begin with his below-average command and control. He misses a ton of bats with both his fastball and his cutter, but sometimes struggles to hit his spots and can get hit hard as a result. He has yet to display the ability to consistently pound the zone, and while this is something he can improve upon in pro ball, he is unlikely to ever be much of a strike-thrower. Nelson is unafraid to attack all hitters, exhibiting a strong competitive streak and pitching with emotion.

Outlook
Control issues and lack of a refined third (or fourth) pitch likely point to a future in a big league bullpen, but developing into a starter hasn’t been ruled out as a possibility. In order to get there, Nelson will need to transform from a thrower into a pitcher with the help of a professional player development staff. Amidst an underwhelming junior campaign, first-round aspirations have turned into what could possibly be a wait until Day 2, but Nelson still possesses the raw tools and upside to be an impact pitcher at the next level. Regardless of whether a team is willing to give him a shot as a starter or decides to use him strictly in the bullpen, he would certainly benefit from some kind of established, consistent role.

Projection: High-upside arm with two plus pitches and serious control issues.

Ceiling: Mike Foltynewicz
Floor: Brad Lidge
Draft Expectation: Rounds 2-3

Other right-handed pitchers to keep an eye on:
Kyle Brnovich, Elon University
Evan McKendry, University of Miami
Garrett Stallings, University of Tennessee
Levi Stoudt, Lehigh University

May 29, 2019
2019 Top College Baseball Draft Prospects: Left-Handed Pitching (Part 2)

Leading up to the 2019 MLB Amateur Draft, Baseball Info Solutions will be publishing a series of position-by-position scouting reports from our Video Scouts for the top-50 collegiate draft prospects. Each player is graded by the 20-80 scouting scale, given a comprehensive evaluation, and assigned a floor and a ceiling comparison, which indicate–if a player makes the Major Leagues–the range of the type of player into which he can develop.

Full coverage:
Catchers
Corner Infield (Part 1)
Corner Infield (Part 2)
Middle Infield (Part 1)
Middle Infield (Part 2)
Outfield (Part 1)
Outfield (Part 2)
Left-Handed Pitching (Part 1)
Left-Handed Pitching (Part 2)
Right-Handed Pitching (Part 1)
Right-Handed Pitching (Part 2)

This post covers the remaining left-handed pitchers in our top 50. There is certainly less to dream on with this group than with the previous four pitchers, but all three should still be valued on draft day.

Tommy Henry and Erik Miller lack the upside and consistency to realistically develop into front-line starters, but they have both displayed the skills to make it in the major leagues, whether at the back-end of a rotation or in the bullpen. Matt Cronin has been a reliever all throughout college, and projects to be a reliable, late-inning option at the next level.

Matt Cronin, LHP
University of Arkansas (JR, 2019)
L/L 6-02, 200 lbs
Date of Birth: 09/20/1997

Fastball- 60 (65) Curveball- 55 (60) Control- 50 (55)

Written by Dominic Asta

Analysis
Matt Cronin is a 6-foot-2, 200-lb power left-handed reliever at the University of Arkansas. He has been one of the most dominant relievers in the country in his first three years in college, recording 129 strikeouts in 91 1/3 innings over that span. He set a school record with 14 saves last season, and has been the primary closer for the Razorbacks again in 2019. He has posted a 2.13 ERA in his junior season with 39 strikeouts in only 25 1/3 innings. Although Cronin projects as a reliever at the next level, teams will be enticed by his power stuff, and he should be the first reliever drafted.

Cronin has a muscular build with a thick lower half and looks bigger than his listed weight. He throws from an over-the-top arm slot with good arm speed and considerable effort in his delivery. He hides the ball well with his deceptive delivery and finishes with a stiff front side. He uses his powerful lower half to generate velocity, and has a high leg kick and recoil in his delivery. He has the tenacity and demeanor you regularly see from successful relievers at the professional level.

He attacks hitters with a fastball that sits 92-96 mph and a mid-to-upper-70s, 12-6 curveball with tight spin. Cronin racked up 11.0 strikeouts per nine innings last season, and has increased that number to 13.9 this season using his lethal, two-pitch mix. He relies predominantly on his fastball and is unafraid to challenge hitters on the inside part of the plate. His curveball is used infrequently, but it has the makings of an above-average pitch with good movement and depth. Hitters are routinely fooled by his breaking ball when he decides to throw it.

Cronin has shown average-to-above-average control of his pitches, posting a 2.6 BB/9 in his sophomore season. He has struggled with his control at times in 2019, but continues to limit hits and strikeout plenty of batters. He has issued 14 walks in 25.1 innings this season, and may need to quiet his delivery if he wants to improve his command. He will be limited to the bullpen at the next level because of his lack of a third pitch and the effort in his delivery, but he has regularly pitched more than one inning in his Razorback career, and could have a future as a multi-inning weapon out of the bullpen.

Outlook
Cronin may have limited draft value because of his reliever projection, but with his track record of domination and his success as a closer, he should be an appealing option for teams looking for a quick mover through the minors. He has the upside of an elite closer if he can improve his control. Cronin should not need much time in the minors to polish his craft, and with the current trend of bullpen usage in Major League Baseball, he could push himself into the second round in the draft.

Projection: All Star-caliber closer with extreme strikeout numbers.

Ceiling: Sean Doolittle
Floor: Jonny Venters
Draft Expectation: Rounds 2-3

Tommy Henry, LHP
University of Michigan (JR, 2019)
L/L 6-03, 205 lbs
Date of Birth: 07/29/1997

Fastball- 55 (60) Slider- 50 (55) Changeup- 50 (55) Control- 60 (60)

Written by Shawn Larner

Analysis
After posting a 3.09 earned run average as a sophomore in 2018, Tommy Henry carried that momentum to begin his junior season and caught the eye of many with his complete game, one-hit shutout with 13 strikeouts in just his second start. He continued to dominate throughout February and March, but opponents have gotten to him a bit more in April and May, perhaps due to a dip in velocity. He finished the season with a 3.69 ERA, striking out 95 batters and walking just 21 across 85 1/3 innings.

Henry, a pretty tall and long southpaw, uses a high-three-quarters arm slot to drive the ball downhill. His delivery could be smoother, but it is not something that he struggles to repeat, and he even creates a little deception with his length and by hiding the ball.

Henry attacks hitters with his fastball early and often. Early in the year, it was sitting 90-92 with some run and even touched 94. As the season has gone on, he has been sitting 88-90, which could be a slight cause for concern. He has a capable, two-plane slider that ranges from 78-82 to pair with that fastball, and also mixes in some fading changeups at 80-82 with good arm action that could develop into a strong weapon.

Outlook
Overall, Henry has very good control but sometimes lacks command in the zone. His tendency to leave a pitch over the middle or a little elevated can get him in trouble. He has reduced his walk rate every year in college, so perhaps there is still time to harness the command. Being left-handed helps his chances. Even if starting doesn’t work out, he could be a useful arm out of the bullpen.

Projection: Innings-eater with good control but no true out pitch.

Ceiling: Mike Minor
Floor: Dan Jennings
Draft Expectation: Rounds 2-3

Erik Miller, LHP
Stanford University (JR, 2019)
L/L 6-05, 240 lbs
Date of Birth: 02/13/1998

Fastball- 50 (55) Slider- 55 (60) Changeup- 35 (50) Control- 35 (45)

Written by Will Hoefer

Analysis
Erik Miller, a lifelong Cardinals fan out of De Smet Jesuit High School in St. Louis, has developed into an integral part of the Stanford Cardinal rotation in the past three years. As a junior in 2019, he posted a 2.93 ERA with 80 strikeouts and 36 walks across 67 2/3 innings.

Miller is a big, imposing mound presence with a physically matured, XL frame. He throws out of a high three-quarters arm slot, generating good extension and easy velocity. His delivery is repeatable and smooth, but he will need to show the ability to make in-game adjustments.

The big lefty has added 20 pounds since arriving on campus in Palo Alto, which in turn has bumped up his fastball from the low 90s into the low-to-mid 90s. It’s a lively fastball with good rise, and Miller has gotten it to touch 97. It’s an above-average heater that he pairs with a plus slider that drops out of the sky with impressive depth and sweeping, two-plane movement. His changeup is still developing, but Miller demonstrates good feel for the pitch and it will flash above-average depth.

The main area of concern for Miller at the moment is his fastball command. He will often leave his front shoulder open and the fastball sails on him. He will then make a concerted effort to close his shoulder and overcompensates, spiking the pitch into the dirt. Miller needs to work effectively in the top of the zone with his fastball, as it enhances his primary swing-and-miss secondary pitch, the slider. Otherwise, the walks are going to continue to add up (4.7 BB/9 in 2019) and Miller will have to move to the bullpen.

Outlook
Miller has some of the best raw stuff of the lefties in this draft class, but his command issues are more problematic than the top-tier arms. Significant reliever risk has caused his stock to drop and moved him out of first-round discussions, but there is No. 4 starter upside for a club that believes they can fix Miller’s upper half mechanics and establish a consistent release point.

Projection: Back-end starter with command issues and potential future in bullpen.

Ceiling: Sean Manaea
Floor: Will Smith
Draft Expectation: Rounds 2-3

Other left-handed pitchers to keep an eye on:
Graeme Stinson, Duke University
Mason Feole, University of Connecticut
Jack Dashwood, UC Santa Barbara
Chris Murphy, University of San Diego

May 24, 2019
2019 Top College Baseball Draft Prospects: Left-Handed Pitching (Part 1)

Over the next month leading up to the 2019 MLB Amateur Draft, Baseball Info Solutions will be publishing a series of position-by-position scouting reports from our Video Scouts for the top-50 collegiate draft prospects. Each player is graded by the 20-80 scouting scale, given a comprehensive evaluation, and assigned a floor and a ceiling comparison, which indicate–if a player makes the Major Leagues–the range of the type of player into which he can develop.

Full coverage:
Catchers
Corner Infield (Part 1)
Corner Infield (Part 2)
Middle Infield (Part 1)
Middle Infield (Part 2)
Outfield (Part 1)
Outfield (Part 2)
Left-Handed Pitching (Part 1)
Left-Handed Pitching (Part 2)
Right-Handed Pitching (Part 1)
Right-Handed Pitching (Part 2)

With 31 position players already covered in previous posts, this next installment focuses on the top tier of left-handed pitchers. There are only seven lefties in our top 50, but they have all done enough at the college level to warrant being drafted in the first four or five rounds.

This group is headlined by two likely top-15 picks, with two other guys who should come off the board early on Day 2. Nick Lodolo has the most upside of any college pitcher in this class, but he still has a lot of development left ahead of him. Zack Thompson, John Doxakis and Ethan Small are more floor over ceiling, but are all coming off of a 2019 season in which they dominated SEC competition.

Nick Lodolo, LHP
Texas Christian University (JR, 2019)
L/L 6-06, 185 lbs
Date of Birth: 02/05/1998

Fastball- 55 (65) Slider- 55 (65) Changeup- 45 (55) Control- 50 (55)

Written by Harris Yudin

Analysis
Despite being drafted 41st overall by the Pittsburgh Pirates in 2016, Nick Lodolo decided to put off professional baseball in favor of a career at TCU. He flashed moments of brilliance over his first two years in college, but allowed his ERA to inflate over 4.00 both seasons. He has enjoyed a breakout junior campaign, however, and even with a couple of rough outings in Big 12 play, he still managed a 2.18 ERA across 91 innings over the regular season, compiling 113 strikeouts with just 19 walks in the process. His 5.95 strikeout-to-walk ratio led all Big 12 pitchers with at least 50 innings pitched.

Operating out of a low three-quarters arm slot, Lodolo has a unique but smooth delivery that he repeats surprisingly well– he has made significant strides in this area over the last three years. He has an athletic build and a lean, wiry frame — a combination that oozes projectability — and he uses his length to get good extension and deception, the latter more so against lefties.

Lodolo’s repertoire is headlined by a low-to-mid-90s fastball with late life. He has touched 96 on occasion, and given his frame, he is expected to pack on at least 20 pounds over the next few years, which should allow him to add a couple of ticks. His best secondary pitch is a wipeout breaking ball that he manipulates and can tailor to the current situation and batter, getting both called strikes and chases against both lefties and righties. He throws it with a cutter grip but calls it a slider, and the fact that he can change its shape and use it in different ways suggests a possibility of turning it into two separate pitches at the next level. He also works in a rare changeup, mostly to righties in an effort to keep them off-balance, and while it is largely a work in progress, he has flashed the potential to develop it into at least an average offering.

Lodolo’s control is mostly good, but it can get away from him at times, particularly with the fastball. He commands each of his pitches pretty well, but the command will need to catch up to his stuff if he wants to maximize his overall arsenal. He has a habit of taking too long to settle in, often struggling in the first inning, but even when he doesn’t have his best stuff or is let down by a subpar TCU defense, he has demonstrated the ability to keep his composure and stay level-headed.

Outlook
Lodolo is widely considered the top arm in the 2019 draft class — albeit a relatively weak class, pitching-wise — and while he has the raw tools to back it up, he has a long way to go to reach his full potential. If he can turn that changeup into an above-average major league pitch and command all of his pitches more consistently, the talented lefty could one day find himself atop a big-league rotation. On the other hand, failure to make these improvements would likely lead to a future in the bullpen, where he has the fastball-slider combination to be an electric late-inning option.

Projection: Potential front-line starter with two plus pitches and inconsistent command.

Ceiling: Madison Bumgarner
Floor: Andrew Miller
Draft Expectation: Top-10 Pick

Zack Thompson, LHP
University of Kentucky (JR, 2019)
L/L 6-03, 225 lbs
Date of Birth: 10/28/1997

Fastball- 55 (60) Slider- 55 (60) Curveball- 50 (55) Changeup- 50 (55) Control- 45 (55)

Written by Kyle Price

Analysis
Thompson is a three-year starter for Kentucky, coming out of the bullpen his freshman year in addition to being a mid-week starter. Injuries have been a concern for the Wildcats’ lefthander since coming out of high school, when he failed a post-draft physical for a shoulder issue after being drafted in the 11th round by the Rays. He also missed two months of his sophomore season due to an elbow injury that didn’t require surgery. He overcame any injury concerns in 2019, tossing 90 innings across 14 regular season starts and displaying the ability to consistently go deep into games– he’s thrown at least six innings in 12 of those starts, including two complete games. In addition to the increased workload, Thompson has been pretty dominant as a junior, striking out 130 batters with a 2.40 ERA and a .184 batting average against.

Thompson has a medium, athletic build with a strong lower half that generates good drive towards the plate. He has a high three quarters release point and finishes bent over his lead leg, typically following through facing third base. His delivery is very smooth and repeatable, which is why he is able to go deep into games while maintaining velocity and movement, and should translate well into a lengthier season at the pro level.

Thompson features a solid, four-pitch mix with a fastball, slider, curveball and changeup. His fastball and slider work very well off each other, with his fastball topping out at 96 mph but sitting 91-93 with good run. His slider is another plus pitch that can be cutterish at times in the low-to-mid 80s, and could ultimately develop into two different pitches. His curveball, like his slider, has a very good spin rate, is very loopy but doesn’t play as well off his fastball. He mostly uses his changeup to keep hitters off-balance, and he has the potential to develop it into a fourth above-average pitch.

Besides injuries, control is Thompson’s biggest concern, as walks have been an issue throughout his career at Kentucky. While he was able to get a lot of hitters to chase and create swings and misses in college, hitters at the next level should be able to lay off some of those pitches, draw more walks and increase his pitch count.

Outlook
Thompson might be the most polished left-handed pitcher in this draft, and could have the highest floor. However, his frame and build have little room for growth, which could limit his ability to add velocity and break to his pitches. He seems to have put the injuries behind him, and his biggest concern is his control, but that should improve as he makes his way to the majors. At worst, he should be a back-end starter, but he has the makings to be a very solid number two.

Projection: Future mid-rotation starter with four potential above-average pitches.

Ceiling: Jon Lester
Floor: Tyler Anderson
Draft Expectation: Top-15 Pick

John Doxakis, LHP
Texas A&M University (JR, 2019)
L/L 6-04, 215 lbs
Date of Birth: 08/20/1998

Fastball- 50 (55) Slider- 50 (55) Changeup- 45 (55) Control- 55 (60)

Written by Dominic Asta

Analysis
John Doxakis has excelled in his role as the Aggies’ Friday night starter this season. He has posted a 2.01 ERA and 96 strikeouts in 89.2 innings as a junior, besting his sophomore year numbers of a 2.70 ERA and 92 strikeouts. Doxakis has shot up draft boards this season by dominating in SEC play and increasing his strikeout numbers. With the potential for three above-average pitches and good control, he should hear his name called in the first couple of rounds in the upcoming draft.

Doxakis has a large frame with a strong lower half and room to add weight. He has a repeatable delivery and a low three-quarters arm slot. He works quickly through his windup with a high leg kick and a drop-and-drive delivery towards the plate. He keeps good balance over the rubber and is consistent with his stride and plant foot. He starts in the middle of the rubber and strides directly towards home plate, creating good extension.

Doxakis works his fastball in the upper 80s and low 90s with great arm-side sink. He may only have average fastball velocity, but the pitch plays up because of the movement and his unique arm slot and extension. He has the frame and strength to project an increase in velocity on his fastball, which flashed mid-90s as a reliever his freshman year. His slider is his strikeout pitch, and has great depth and late action. He throws the pitch mostly in the low 80s, but can manipulate the velocity and shape. He has the ability to throw the slider for strikes and also back-foot the pitch to righties for strikeouts. His changeup is a work in progress that flashes above-average potential with good fade, thrown with the same arm speed as his fastball. He does not throw it very often, but it has good velocity separation from his fastball, sitting mostly 81-84.

Doxakis controls all three pitches well and pounds the strike zone consistently. He decreased his BB/9 from 2.8 last season to 2.2 this year, and limited opponents to only four home runs in almost 90 innings of work. He works quickly and has great tempo on the mound. There are some concerns with his delivery and low arm slot, leading some to project him as a future bullpen arm. He has proven to be very durable in college, through, with a repeatable delivery and above-average control. He should be able to remain a starter at the professional level

Outlook
Doxakis is young for his draft class. He will be only 20 years old when the draft occurs in June. He does not have the raw stuff to be a front-line starter, but he has a high floor, and the frame and pitchability to be a reliable starter. He pitches with tenacity and toughness on the mound and is a great competitor. If he can add a few ticks to his fastball, he has the potential to be a solid mid-rotation guy at the next level. If he is moved to the bullpen in pro ball, he has shown increased velocity in shorter outings in the past.

Projection: Back-end rotation arm with flashes of dominance and a floor of an effective reliever.

Ceiling: Alex Wood
Floor: Tony Watson
Draft Expectation: Rounds 2-3

Ethan Small, LHP
Mississippi State University (RS JR, 2019)
L/L 6-03, 214 lbs
Date of Birth: 02/14/1997

Fastball- 50 (55) Curveball- 45 (55) Changeup- 40 (45) Control- 55 (60)

Written by John Todd

Analysis
Ethan Small is a two-year starter for Mississippi State, having made 15 relief appearances in his 2016 freshman campaign and missing all of the 2017 season after undergoing Tommy John surgery the previous summer. He bounced back in 2018 to make an SEC-high 18 starts as the Bulldogs’ number two, leading the team in strikeouts and ERA, and was taken by the Arizona Diamondbacks in the 26th round of the MLB Draft that summer. Small returned to school, however, and has since raised his level of play again, just two years removed from surgery. So far this season, the left-hander is second in the country in K/9 and WHIP, at 15.2 and 0.78, respectively, through 13 starts.

Small has a medium, slightly wiry frame with decent athleticism, some muscle in his lower half, and upper body strength growth potential. He has a full-circle delivery, showing the ball well behind his body before getting to his overhand. He has a cross-body finish well toward third, ending with his back to the plate. He pitches hunched over and lacks some lower body extension to the plate. Despite a bit of lankiness and a long-limbed finish, he has repeatable arm actions and clears out his elbow and body well, limiting elbow stress. Small will vary his windup in advantageous counts occasionally, keeping hitters off-balance by mixing in a full-stop in his leg kick. He has shown, on numerous occasions, a high level of competitiveness, self-confidence and visible passion when challenged by opponents.

He relies heavily on a high-80s-to-low-90s fastball, mixing in a curve and changeup with decent separation. Despite the low overall velocity, Small gets good carry on his fastball and induces a high number of swings and misses. He pounds the zone and shows impressive command to both sides of the plate. The curveball doesn’t always bite consistently, but he controls it well, and it has shown flashes of being a two-plane, hammer-breaking pitch. He doesn’t have a great feel for throwing his changeup for strikes, but he keeps it down and changes eye levels.

Small is a rhythm pitcher who attacks batters and doesn’t waste pitches. He runs on adrenaline and pumps his velo up on out pitches. He’ll need to improve on his ability to getting hitters to chase out of the zone with his offspeed offerings moving forward.

Outlook
Small has made serious improvements in his two years as a starter, suggesting he’s just beginning to scratch the surface of his potential, but his ceiling may be capped by a lack of plus tools. He has two future average offerings with plus control and makeup. Small will win at the next level with his ability to consistently throw strikes from the left side and pitch with command and an attack-minded approach. He should continue to develop as a starter as he works on his offspeed pitches, and projects as a back-end guy with a ceiling of a No. 3. At the very least, though, he could be a high-end left-handed arm out of the bullpen, where he can maximize his velocity in shorter outings and prioritize his two pitches that consistently miss bats.

Projection: Reliable, back-end starter with above-average command and some upside.

Ceiling: Barry Zito
Floor: Brett Cecil
Draft Expectation: Rounds 3-4

Other left-handed pitchers to keep an eye on:
TJ Sikkema, University of Missouri
Brandon Williamson, Texas Christian University
Ben Brecht, UC Santa Barbara
Jake Agnos, East Carolina University

May 21, 2019
2019 Top College Baseball Draft Prospects: Outfield (Part 2)

Over the next month leading up to the 2019 MLB Amateur Draft, Baseball Info Solutions will be publishing a series of position-by-position scouting reports from our Video Scouts for the top-50 collegiate draft prospects. Each player is graded by the 20-80 scouting scale, given a comprehensive evaluation, and assigned a floor and a ceiling comparison, which indicate–if a player makes the Major Leagues–the range of the type of player into which he can develop.

Full coverage:
Catchers
Corner Infield (Part 1)
Corner Infield (Part 2)
Middle Infield (Part 1)
Middle Infield (Part 2)
Outfield (Part 1)
Outfield (Part 2)
Left-Handed Pitching (Part 1)
Left-Handed Pitching (Part 2)
Right-Handed Pitching (Part 1)
Right-Handed Pitching (Part 2)

This post covers the second tier of our top-ranked outfielders for the upcoming MLB Draft in June. Though there are no first-rounders here. All four should be drafted within the first five rounds.

Unlike some of the guys from the previous group, none of these outfielders possess much of a power-speed combination, but they should all provide one or the other to whichever team drafts them. Matt Wallner and Will Robertson are small-school right fielders with impressive power. Kyle Stowers has played all three outfield positions but fits best in left. Zach Watson has the best speed of the group, and is the only true center fielder.

Matt Wallner, OF
University of Southern Mississippi (JR, 2019)
L/R 6-05, 220 lbs.
Date of Birth: 12/12/1997

Hit- 35 (45) Power- 50 (55) Run- 45 (40) Arm- 55 (55) Field- 50 (45)

Written by Will Hoefer

Analysis
Wallner, an immense corner outfielder with easy plus raw power, has gotten off the mound and focused solely on hitting in his junior year at Southern Miss. The numbers are down a little bit in 2019, but a third straight season with a chance at an OPS greater than 1.000 is still a very impressive feat. Wallner is currently batting .293/.405/.585 with 15 home runs and a 16 percent walk rate.

Swing and miss is likely to be an unavoidable consequence of Wallner’s lengthy stroke at the plate, and there’s a long leg kick load that could stand to be shortened up in a effort to polish timing issues. However, he does have solid hands, plus bat speed and a strong command of the strike zone, with plenty of loft generated on contact. Getting to that impressive raw power more consistently, whether it be through adjustments in hand position, closing his stance or smoothing out the rhythm of his lower body, will be the key to how far Wallner can go as a pro.

On defense, Wallner moves decently in right and has strong instincts in the field. Though he’s likely to lose a step due to his size and turn into a below average runner as he gets older, Wallner has the requisite arm strength and accuracy to stick in right field. It’ll be important for him to maintain the leanness of his body, as any additional loss of lateral quickness could move Wallner to first base and put additional pressure on his bat.

Outlook
Wallner has some of the best raw power in this draft class, with 50 home runs in his college career, and there’s an advanced enough eye and approach to mitigate the whiffs. With a full-time role, expect at least 20 homers annually with fringe-average on-base skills that are depressed by a low BABIP and a high strikeout rate.

Projection: Defensively-capable right fielder with above-average arm strength and power.

Ceiling: Jay Bruce
Floor: Garrett Jones
Draft Expectation: Rounds 2-3

Kyle Stowers, OF
Stanford University (JR, 2019)
L/L 6-3, 200 lbs
Date of Birth: 01/02/1998

Hit- 40 (50) Power- 45 (55) Run- 50 (50) Arm- 40 (40) Field- 55 (60)

Written by Mitch Glessner

Analysis
After a stellar sophomore season — in which he was an All-Pac 12 honorable mention — and a great summer in the Cape Cod League, Kyle Stowers entered the 2019 season as one of the top outfielders in his class. He was named to the Golden Spikes Award Preseason Watch List and Baseball America preseason first-team All-America. He struggled out of the gate in his junior campaign, but has hit .326 with a .966 OPS and five home runs in Pac-12 conference play. Stowers’ unorthodox but effective hitting ability combined with solid outfield play makes him an intriguing draft prospect.

Stowers stands very tall at the plate with a narrow base, and his hands start around chest height. A slight bat wiggle and long stride provide his load and timing, while his hands raise and separate. Mechanically, the swing itself looks much like Joc Pederson’s. While there are inconsistencies in his timing, his explosive hands can rip the barrel through the zone for solid contact even when his body is not in sync. He takes a very short path to the baseball and controls the barrel on both high and low pitches.

Stowers will run into trouble when his timing isn’t exceptional. His narrow base and long open stride can sometimes trigger his lower half too early in his swing. He will bail out with his body when he is fooled by off-speed pitches. With some mechanical adjustments, his inconsistencies can be ironed out at the next level.

Stowers has played a majority of his junior campaign in center field, with some action in left field, as well. He possesses very good outfield instincts, consistently makes good reads and has good first-step quickness, allowing him to cover a good amount of ground. He is not the fastest player in terms of pure running speed, but has shown that he can play every day in the outfield based on his instincts. The only concern for Stowers in the outfield is his arm. He has a very short circle, almost like an infielder’s, which does not produce much arm action, and his ball does not retain a lot of carry in its flight. His arm isn’t the strongest, but he can make it work by getting the ball out quickly and accurately to his target.

Outlook
Stowers does have the potential to be an every day contributor at the major league level, but he will have to make mechanical adjustments to be more consistent, and broaden his approach by going the other way, considering the prevalence of shifting in today’s game. His glove will play in the outfield, although he will likely move to left field.

Projection: Starting left fielder with good power and inconsistent hit tool.

Ceiling: Colby Rasmus
Floor: Jeremy Hermida
Draft Expectation: Rounds 2-3

Will Robertson, OF
Creighton University (JR, 2019)
L/L 6-02, 210 lbs
Date of Birth: 12/26/1997

Hit- 40 (50) Power- 55 (60) Run- 50 (45) Arm- 50 (50) Field- 50 (55)

Written by Dominic Asta

Analysis
Will Robertson was lightly recruited out of high school, but has become one of the best college outfielders while at Creighton. He has shown impressive power in college while playing in TD Ameritrade Park, a ballpark with huge dimensions. He is hitting .294/.388/.567 with 11 homers and 16 doubles in his junior season, and performed quite well in the Cape Cod League this past summer, batting .300/.380/.435 with four home runs and 11 doubles. Robertson has played exclusively right field for Creighton in his three years as a starter. He stands out for his immense raw power and his production in college and Cape Cod.

Robertson has a strong, muscular build with average athleticism. He has a wide-crouched, open stance at the plate, and his leg kick helps to square his shoulders and get his front foot down. He holds his hands chest level and brings them back in his load while using his lower half well to drive the ball. He has a level swing and a quick bat that produces great pull-side power and line drives. His stance and swing mechanics are reminiscent of Kyle Schwarber. Robertson does not use the opposite field consistently and may need to adjust his stance and be more upright to use the entire field. He has kept his strikeout numbers down in college, with strikeout rates of 14 percent last season and 17 percent this season. Robertson does not walk at a great rate, either, posting walk rates of 8 and 9 percent the last two seasons.

Robertson has been a right fielder his entire college career and has enough speed and range to stick there, but his arm is only average and would fit better in left field. He gets good reads and takes efficient routes in a big right field in his home ballpark. Robertson is an average runner with mostly 4.2-4.3 times from home to first. He has only stolen five bases in his college career and should not be a stolen base threat at the next level.

Outlook
Having flown under the radar coming out of a small Missouri high school, Robertson has had to consistently prove doubters wrong. He opened eyes in the Cape Cod League last summer and has backed his performance up with another impressive year at Creighton. His powerful lefty swing and ability to play in right field will be very attractive come draft day.

Projection: Solid corner outfielder with future 25-home run power.

Ceiling: Geoff Jenkins
Floor: Brad Hawpe
Draft Expectation: Rounds 3-4

Zach Watson, OF
Louisiana State University (JR, 2019)
R/R 6-00, 164 lbs
Date of Birth: 06/25/1997

Hit- 35 (45) Power- 35 (45) Run- 70 (70) Arm- 45 (50) Field- 60 (65)

Written By Max Schell

Analysis
Zach Watson is one of the fastest and most decorated players eligible for the for the 2019 MLB Amateur draft. In 2017, he was named Baseball America’s No. 1 pro prospect in the Northwoods League. In the summer of 2018, he was a member of Team USA’s collegiate team, leading the team in runs scored. He has been LSU’s starting center fielder for each of the three seasons he has been in Baton Rouge. At LSU, he has been named 2017 Freshman All-SEC, 2017 Freshman All-American, 2018 SEC All-Defensive Team and 2018 ABCA Gold Glove Team.

Watson has a slightly open batting stance at the plate with his feet just further than shoulder-width apart. He has a quick, but large leg kick in his swing and has very fast hands. At times he will get burned on the inside fastball because he gets his front foot down right as or after the pitcher releases the ball. He hits to all fields, and can do so with power, as well. Speed is the best part of his game. He has a chance to beat out almost any ground ball. He has good stolen base numbers in his collegiate career, with 36 steals in 45 attempts.

With a similar build to Billy Hamilton, it would be beneficial to him to add some weight via the weight room. This would help his power numbers, and could have him hitting close to 20 home runs per season. The other aspects of his game he needs to work on are knowing when to steal and reading and understanding the opposing pitchers’ moves. With Watson’s speed, he should be a 35-stolen base threat each season as a professional. He needs to develop better pitch recognition in order to get on base and utilize his speed more. He has totaled 124 strikeouts to only 46 walks over his career at LSU.

Outlook
Watson currently has two major league-ready tools with his speed and fielding. If he can prove that he can hit professional pitching and put some serious effort into the weight room, he could become an above-average, everyday center fielder in the majors. Watson is more of a risky pick, though, with the adjustments he needs to make while he develops his baseball instincts.

Projection: Everyday center fielder with massive stolen base potential.

Ceiling: A.J. Pollock
Floor: Peter Bourjos
Draft expectation: Rounds 4-5

Other outfielders to keep an eye on:
Jake Mangum, Mississippi State University
Tommy Jew, UC Santa Barbara
John Rave, Illinois State University
Pat DeMarco, Vanderbilt University

May 17, 2019
2019 Top College Baseball Draft Prospects: Outfield (Part 1)

Over the next month leading up to the 2019 MLB Amateur Draft, Baseball Info Solutions will be publishing a series of position-by-position scouting reports from our Video Scouts for the top-50 collegiate draft prospects. Each player is graded by the 20-80 scouting scale, given a comprehensive evaluation, and assigned a floor and a ceiling comparison, which indicate–if a player makes the Major Leagues–the range of the type of player into which he can develop.

Full coverage:
Catchers
Corner Infield (Part 1)
Corner Infield (Part 2)
Middle Infield (Part 1)
Middle Infield (Part 2)
Outfield (Part 1)
Outfield (Part 2)
Left-Handed Pitching (Part 1)
Left-Handed Pitching (Part 2)
Right-Handed Pitching (Part 1)
Right-Handed Pitching (Part 2)

This post covers the first five of our top college outfielders for the 2019 MLB Draft. This group of outfielders has some high-end, first-round talent and a couple of underrated players in our eyes. All five of these players should have a future in the outfield, with three being center fielders.

JJ Bleday and Hunter Bishop have battled all season for the Division I home run lead and will compete for a top-10 draft selection as well. Kameron Misner has the look and talent of a top-10 pick, but meager production in conference play has made him slide down draft boards. Dominic Fletcher and Bryant Packard own the most consistent college numbers of the group, but lack the size and upside of the other three.

Hunter Bishop, OF
Arizona State University (JR, 2019)
L/R 6-05, 210 lbs
Date of Birth: 06/25/1998

Hit- 50 (60) Power- 60 (65) Run- 65 (60) Arm- 55 (55) Field- 55 (60)

Written by Matt Noskow and Kerby Callison

Analysis
Hunter Bishop has exploded onto the draft scene this year, competing for the Division I lead in home runs and slugging over 1.000 for most of the year. He struggled last season at Arizona State, batting only .250/.352/.407 with five home runs and an alarming 30 percent strikeout rate before breaking out this season. Bishop is currently hitting .366/.492/.814 with 22 home runs and 11 stolen bases. His monstrous junior season seems legit, but his lack of a track record of college success and struggles in the Cape Cod League should still worry MLB teams.

His breakout and climb up draft boards can be credited to his swing change in the fall. Previously, he had too many moving parts, which caused him to swing and miss at a high rate, but now he takes a more direct path to the ball, which has unleashed his bat speed and led to more power and a refined approach at the plate– he has cut down on his strikeouts and increased his walk total this season. Bishop has increased his walk rate from 11 percent last season to 17 percent this year. His strikeout numbers have fallen dramatically from a 30 percent strikeout rate to 22 percent in his junior season. Most of Bishop’s power is to his pull side, but he can hit to all fields. He has shown vulnerability to breaking balls outside the zone, but his refined eye has given pitchers fits this year as his plate selection has improved dramatically.

Though he has never played center field exclusively, Bishop has shown the ability to be a well above average defender. He has plus range and covers ground very quickly. His arm is average, but should play well enough with the rest of his defense for him to project as a very good center fielder in the future.

Outlook
Bishop has great power potential as a pro and could be one of the better defensive center fielders as well. He has certainly cemented himself as a first round pick with an eye-popping junior season. His swing adjustment has allowed him to make enough contact to tap into his considerable power and he has handled center field well. Bishop has long had impressive tools and upside, but with little production to back the hype. His junior season has shown what Hunter Bishop is capable of and should make him a top ten selection in the upcoming draft.

Projection: All-Star caliber center fielder with 30-home run potential.

Ceiling: Cody Bellinger
Floor: Michael Saunders
Draft Expectation: Top-10 Pick

JJ Bleday, OF
Vanderbilt University (JR, 2019)
L/L 6-03, 205 lbs
Date of Birth: 11/10/1997

Hit- 55 (60) Power- 55 (60) Run- 50 (50) Arm- 55 (60) Field- 50 (55)

Written by Matt Noskow

Analysis
JJ Bleday has been a solid starter for two years for Vanderbilt. He has been a consistent force in the middle of the Commodores’ lineup, and has also produced well in the Cape Cod League. Over 249 plate appearances as a junior, he has crushed a Division 1-leading 23 home runs with an OPS north of 1.200.

Bleday possesses great tools at the plate that should make him a quick riser through any system. He has a slightly open stance with a moderate leg kick, and exhibits very good pitch recognition and situational hitting awareness. His natural power is to his pull side, but he has shown the ability to drive the ball to the opposite field. His ability to generate power is evident, with a quick swing and the ability to transfer load to power.

At six-foot-three and 205 pounds, Bleday has ideal size to play a corner outfield spot long-term. He has average to below-average speed, but his strong arm makes up for a lack of range.

Outlook
Bleday will likely be one of the top college bats drafted this year. He has an interesting profile with potential to further develop the power side of his offensive game. His plate approach is one of his biggest strengths, and should lend itself well to a quick rise through the minors. Despite being limited to a corner outfield spot, Bleday should be viewed as a high-floor prospect who could hear his name called within the first 10 picks of the 2019 draft.

Projection: Everyday corner outfielder with plus power and all-star potential.

Ceiling: Carlos Gonzalez
Floor: David Peralta
Draft Expectation: Top-10 Pick

Kameron Misner, OF/1B
University of Missouri (JR, 2019)
L/L 6-04, 219 lbs
Date of Birth: 01/08/98

Hit- 45 (55) Power- 55 (65) Run- 60 (60) Arm- 60 (60) Field- 55 (60)

Written by Dominic Asta

Analysis
Misner dominated for Missouri in 2018, batting .360/.497/.576 in 34 games before a broken foot caused by a foul ball ended his season. He played mostly left field and first base in his first two seasons, but has primarily been a center fielder in 2019. He has an imposing frame, standing six-foot-four with a strong, lean build. He was previously drafted in the 33rd round out of high school and his draft stock has exploded since arriving at Mizzou. He has exciting tools across the board, with a power-speed combo that stands out. Misner has dominated non-conference opponents in 2019, but has only posted a .222/.347/.323 line in SEC play. He is an enigma because he has the look and tools of an impact player, yet has not backed it up with his performance.

Misner has a wide, slightly open stance at the plate with his hands at his head. He utilizes a toe tap and uses his above-average bat speed and leverage to drive the ball to all fields. He has struggled with his timing and getting his foot down in SEC play. He has great plate discipline and consistently works the count full. He has a great idea of the strike zone and will take his fair share of walks. Misner has drawn 52 walks on the year and should continue to produce high on-base numbers at the next level.

Many college pitchers are unwilling to challenge him with fastballs, and he sees a steady diet of breaking balls and changeups away. He takes advantage of the opposite field, and can easily turn on pitches and drive them out of the ballpark. His long limbs and slight uppercut can cause his swing to become a bit long and creates a hole in his swing at times. He has struggled with fastballs up in the zone and changeups down and away. His patient approach can occasionally hurt him, as he passes up hittable pitches early in counts. He could help himself by being more aggressive earlier in his at-bats. Misner is just beginning to tap into his power potential, and has the frame and swing to hit 25-plus homers a year. Kameron has displayed some prodigious power this year with great pull-side power and even some homers to the opposite field. He has posted impressive isolated power numbers of .216 and .215 the last two season.

Although Misner is new to center field, he has taken to the position quite well and flashes great potential at the position.. His speed, athleticism and long strides give him above-average range, and his arm is more than capable of handling center, but his reads and routes could use work. With an above-average arm and good speed, Misner can easily handle the corner outfield spots and would be above average in either spot. He also has experience at first base, where his athleticism is not appreciated as much. Misner has rare speed for a player his size. He has used this speed and baserunning ability to steal 49 bags in his college career. He will continue to be a threat on the basepaths at the professional level.

Outlook
Misner has an extremely exciting combination of power, patience, speed, and versatility. He has the potential to be a 20-20 player and is just beginning to tap into his considerable raw power. He should be a high on-base player with exceptional plate discipline and the ability to play all outfield positions as well as first base. Although Misner has not performed well in conference play this year, he has too much potential and talent to slip out of the first round.

Projection: All-star center fielder with 20-plus homers per year and high on-base numbers.

Ceiling: Josh Hamilton
Floor: Max Kepler
Draft Expectation: Round 1

Dominic Fletcher, OF
University of Arkansas (JR, 2019)
L/L 5-10, 185 lbs
Date of Birth: 09/02/1998

Hit- 45 (55) Power- 50 (55) Run- 50 (50) Arm- 55 (55) Field- 55 (60)

Written by Dominic Asta

Analysis
Dominic Fletcher is a small and muscular five-foot-ten, 185-pound outfielder from the University of Arkansas. He has surprising pop for his size, hitting 12 homers as a freshman and 10 homers last year. He is currently power over hit and does not project to be an above-average contact hitter. Fletcher is performing at a high level in his junior season, hitting .332/.394/.570. He has proven to be a more than capable defender in center field and has shown consistent power in his college career.

Fletcher has an upright stance with a whippy bat, loose hands, and an aggressive approach. He can mash fastballs with his good bat speed, but he has a tendency to pull his head off breaking balls and swing over them. Fletcher has produced 30 home runs and 44 doubles in his three seasons at Arkansas. His power and approach is mostly to the pull side, but is able to use the opposite field when he keeps his hands back and tempers his aggressive approach. He gets the most out of his small frame by using his strong forearms and quick hands to attack pitches. He has improved his plate discipline in his junior year, raising his BB% from 7 percent to 9 percent, but doesn’t project to be a high on-base percentage player at the next level.

There are differing opinions on whether Fletcher can play center field because he does not have prototypical speed for the position, but his first-step quickness, instincts and route efficiency should allow him to comfortably stick in center. He has shown the ability to track fly ball from gap-to-gap and make highlight-reel plays. His plus arm would also play well in right field, as he led the Razorbacks in outfield assists his sophomore year. Fletcher has average speed home to first, but is faster at max effort. He has only three stolen bases at Arkansas and should not be a threat at the next level.

Outlook
Fletcher has the potential to be a 15-20-home run center fielder with an above-average arm and solid defense. He has made improvements in his plate discipline and increased his power in his junior season. While Fletcher has little to no projection left, he gets the most out of his frame, has good pop and should stick in CF. He could push himself into the second round if he impresses in SEC play and continues to prove himself in center field.

Projection: Capable center fielder with good pop and arm strength.

Ceiling: David DeJesus
Floor: Gerardo Parra
Draft Expectation: Rounds 3-4

Bryant Packard, OF
East Carolina University (JR, 2019)
L/R 6-03, 200 lbs
Date of Birth: 10/06/1998

Hit- 55 (60) Power- 45 (50) Run- 50 (50) Field- 50 (50) Arm- 45 (50)

Written by Harris Yudin

Analysis
Packard is one of the more polished hitters in college baseball. He as an excellent feel for the strike zone and a matured plate approach, and while he can be a bit aggressive, his bat-to-ball skills prevent him from racking up many strikeouts– 30 across his first 199 plate appearances in 2019. As of May 13, he has posted a .367/.447/.586 slash line with six home runs.

Packard stands with his knees slightly bent and his feet squared to the pitcher, employing a small leg lift that helps him maintain his balance. He keeps his hands inside and delivers a short, compact stroke with a smooth swing path and good bat speed. The left-handed hitter sprays the ball across the whole field, utilizing the gaps, smashing line drives up the middle and taking pitches away down the third base line. He displayed more power as a sophomore, and there could be more to come given his frame.

Although he has just average speed and isn’t likely to be too much of a base-stealing threat, Packard is an above-average baserunner due to his attentiveness and aggressiveness. He has proven capable in the outfield, with good instincts and an ability to track the ball well, but is likely limited to left field given his middling range and arm strength.

Outlook
Packard doesn’t possess the upside of many other college hitters, and that will likely affect his stock on draft day. However, his advanced feel for hitting could allow him to advance quickly through the minors. He should hit for a high average at the next level, with 20-homer power within reach.

Projection: Bat-first corner outfielder with strong offensive profile but limited upside.

Ceiling: Corey Dickerson
Floor: David Murphy
Draft Expectation: Rounds 4-5

Other outfielders to keep an eye on:
Ryan Olenek, University of Mississippi
Matt Gorski, University of Indiana
Matthew Barefoot, Campbell University
Peyton Burdick, Wright State University

May 13, 2019
2019 Top College Baseball Draft Prospects: Middle Infield (Part 2)

Over the next month leading up to the 2019 MLB Amateur Draft, Baseball Info Solutions will be publishing a series of position-by-position scouting reports from our Video Scouts for the top-50 collegiate draft prospects. Each player is graded by the 20-80 scouting scale, given a comprehensive evaluation, and assigned a floor and a ceiling comparison, which indicate–if a player makes the Major Leagues–the range of the type of player into which he can develop.

Full coverage:
Catchers
Corner Infield (Part 1)
Corner Infield (Part 2)
Middle Infield (Part 1)
Middle Infield (Part 2)
Outfield (Part 1)
Outfield (Part 2)
Left-Handed Pitching (Part 1)
Left-Handed Pitching (Part 2)
Right-Handed Pitching (Part 1)
Right-Handed Pitching (Part 2)

This post covers the second half of our middle infielders. Though none of these players should be drafted in the first round, the group offers an exciting mix of toolsy shortstops and a high-floor second baseman. All of these middle infielders are projected to be drafted between the second and fourth rounds.

Each one of these players has played the majority of his time this season at shortstop. Cameron Cannon is the only player to be projected as a second baseman. Greg Jones and Will Holland are future shortstops with the best speed of the group. Brady McConnell has the largest build and power of the bunch, while Josh Smith is the smallest but best pure hitter.

Josh Smith, SS
Louisiana State University (JR, 2019)
L/R 5-10, 172 lbs.
Date of Birth: 08/07/1997

Hit- 45 (60) Power- 35 (50) Run- 50 (50) Arm- 50 (50) Field- 50 (50)

Written by Mitch Glessner

Analysis
A former 38th-round pick out of high school, Smith began his collegiate career in 2017 with high expectations. He exceeded those expectations by earning Freshman All-American honors, playing in 71 games for the Tigers. After missing most of the 2018 season due to injury, Smith has made a strong case to be one of the first shortstops taken this upcoming draft, posting a .348/.444/.525 batting line this season.

Smith holds the bat vertically and stands with a slightly open stance in his setup. Normally he has roughly a six-inch stride with a small leg kick involved. With two strikes, he will get lower to the ground and take away his stride for a more simplified approach. He will also do this when facing pitchers who rely on their off-speed stuff. Smith possesses rare talent in his ability to utilize his hands in his swing. He is able to use his hands so well because of how far back he keeps them. They start back, and remain behind the rest of his body as he initiates his swing. This allows him to keep the barrel in the hitting zone for a long time and spray the ball to all fields. Power is not Smith’s biggest strength, but he does drive the ball on pitches low in the zone. He has a flat bat plane, which results in a lot of line drives and a high contact rate. He takes an aggressive approach early in counts, and has the ability to become a pest by dragging out at-bats when behind in the count.

In the field, Smith has an above-average arm that plays well at shortstop. His quick transition out of the glove and good internal clock make up for his average foot speed. He consistently makes accurate throws with good carry. He has the range to stick at shortstop and is better moving to his left on balls up the middle.

Outlook
What makes Smith so attractive is his natural swing with flashes of power despite being slightly undersized. He should be able to tap into more of his raw power as he gets stronger. The learning curve at the next level should not be a problem given the natural instincts he has on both sides of the ball. Smith has the skills and makeup to be an above-average major league shortstop.

Projection: Everyday shortstop with well-rounded skill set and elite intangibles.

Ceiling: Jason Kipnis
Floor: Eric Sogard
Draft Expectation: Rounds 2-3

Greg Jones, SS
UNC Wilmington (SO, 2019)
B/R 6-02, 190 lbs.
Date of Birth: 7/24/1997

Hit- 35 (45) Power- 40 (50) Run- 70 (70) Arm- 55 (55) Field- 50 (55)

Written by Will Hoefer

Analysis
Greg Jones is a draft-eligible sophomore out of a mid-major program, but has gotten opportunities to see ACC pitching in 2019 due to UNC Wilmington’s proximity to major programs like UNC and NC State. Early in the year, Jones was more inclined to utilize legitimate plus-plus speed to generate his offensive output. He had a controlled, compact stroke from both sides of the plate that he kept flat to generate as much line drive and ground ball contact as possible.

Later in the season, Jones showed a more concerted effort to try and get to his above-average raw power. It was, and still is, very much a work in progress; he had trouble planting his back leg to drive the ball, and the increased length of his swing exacerbated his issues with hitting advanced breaking balls. Still, he has flashed plus bat speed and used his hands better of late, generating more loft on contact.

Defensively, Jones looks every bit like a guy who can handle shortstop. He has smooth and quick lateral movements and enough arm strength to make the throws he needs to make. He sometimes looks like he lacks urgency when making plays, but there’s nothing attitude- or effort-wise to suggest this will be any sort of issue.

Outlook
On tools alone, Jones is easily a top-10 talent. However, he’s very raw offensively and will be a project for any team that takes him in this year’s draft. There’s star potential here if Jones can stick the landing with the adjustments he’s making in the batter’s box, with a floor of a bottom-of-the-order middle infielder who sprays the ball and causes havoc on the basepaths.

Projection: High-upside speedster with raw offensive tools and an ability to stick at short.

Ceiling: Adalberto Mondesi
Floor: Jonathan Villar
Draft Expectation: Rounds 2-3

Cameron Cannon, 2B/SS
University of Arizona (JR, 2019)
R/R 5-10, 196 lbs.
Date of Birth: 10/16/1997

Hit- 45 (55) Power- 40 (45) Run- 50 (50) Arm- 50 (50) Field- 50 (55)

Written by Dominic Asta

Analysis
Cameron Cannon is a compact 5-foot-10, 196-lb. middle infielder at the University of Arizona. He is in the midst of an outstanding junior season, hitting .370/.462/.587. Cannon has been moved around the infield this season, playing both second base and shortstop. He is a capable defender at either spot, but will most likely end up at second base long term. He has had a very impressive college career and has a ton of experience with wood bats, playing each collegiate summer in a different wood bat league. He is a contact hitter with sneaky power and the ability to play multiple positions. This tool set should get him selected in the first three rounds in June’s draft.

Cannon sets up deep in the batter’s box and leans heavily on his back leg. He has a wide, low stance and a small toe tap as he loads for the pitch. He has a quick bat and an uppercut swing that produces a good deal of fly balls and line drives. He uses his lower body and great hip rotation to explode on the ball and spray line drives gap to gap. He currently leads the country in doubles and should grow into close to average power at the next level. Cannon excels at putting the ball in play, as he has struck out in less than 12 percent of his plate appearances this year (which is higher than his minuscule 8.4 percent last season). He is a selective hitter at the plate and is willing to take walks if he does not get his pitch. He currently has 74 walks compared to 58 strikeouts in his college career. He has the makings of a great contact hitter with doubles power and low strikeout numbers.

Cameron has played all over the infield throughout his college career. He has played mostly second base and shortstop at Arizona, but played third base in the Cape Cod League this past summer. He has made a concerning number of errors this season and will most likely be moved off of shortstop at the next level. He possesses an accurate arm, but not the type of zip you want to see at shortstop. He has solid arm strength that plays better at second or third, and his great footwork and sure hands allow him to play those positions adequately. Cannon does not have great speed out of the box and is consistently 4.4-4.5 from home to first. He is a bit quicker when he is underway and at full effort.

Outlook
Cameron Cannon has solid tools across the board and a track record of success with wood bats. He has a high floor and the ability to play multiple positions in the infield. He is a good defender at second and third base, while also being capable of filling in at shortstop. He has the swing mechanics and plate coverage to hit for average and mostly doubles power. Based on his skill set, Cannon should be drafted in the first few rounds.

Projection: Strong-hitting second baseman with solid tools and a high floor.

Ceiling: Mark Ellis
Floor: Gordon Beckham
Draft Expectation: Rounds 3-4

Brady McConnell, SS
University of Florida (SO, 2019)
R/R 6-03, 195 lbs.
Date of Birth: 05/24/1998

Hit- 45 (60) Power- 45 (60) Run- 55 (50) Arm- 60 (60) Field- 50 (60)

Written by Harris Yudin

Analysis
Brady McConnell is one of the tougher collegiate players to project considering he has less than one full season of college experience under his belt. The draft-eligible sophomore totaled just 22 plate appearances as a freshman, but has enjoyed a terrific 2019 campaign in his first — and perhaps last — real taste of college ball. Across 204 plate appearances this season, the Gators’ shortstop has slashed .360/.415/.602 with 12 homers and five stolen bases, driving in 40 runs and scoring 42 more. His 1.017 OPS as of May 8th puts him fifth in the SEC.

McConnell displays an open stance at the plate, utilizing a small leg lift towards the plate as the pitch approaches. He waves his bat around pre-pitch, but keeps his head and body quiet throughout his smooth, uppercut swing. He uses a quick bat and strong lower half to generate big raw power, and there is plenty of room for more power projection as he fills out over the next couple of years.

A notorious fastball hitter, McConnell will often jump on the first pitch. He can get jammed on inside pitches, and occasionally makes the decision to swing too late. While he does have a tendency to chase breaking balls low and away, he has flashed the ability to get down and drive them. An overall aggressive hitter, he could benefit from being more selective and trying to draw more walks.

The 21-year-old possesses above-average speed that he uses to his advantage on the basepaths and in the field. He has a quick reaction time and gets a good jump on stolen base attempts, but can be overly aggressive at times.

Defensively, McConnell flaunts solid range both up the middle and in the hole, and can track down fly balls in the shallow outfield. He has good instincts charging in, and uses his soft hands to eat up hard-hit balls. He has a knack for making highlight reel-type plays, but can occasionally get complacent and make avoidable errors. He has an incredibly strong arm, with the ability to throw on the run and across his body, although he has a habit of double clutching before making a throw. While there are no concerns about McConnell’s ability to stick at shortstop for the immediate future, a move to third base — where he could be a plus defender — isn’t out of the question if he were to bulk up and lose some of his mobility.

Outlook
McConnell has off-the-charts tools and athleticism, but a limited college track record by age 21 — plus the possibility that he could choose to return to Gainesville — may hurt his draft stock a bit. Whichever team pulls the trigger on the sophomore, however, could be getting a cornerstone-type infielder at a great price. McConnell has some of the highest upside in this class, but has to go a very long way to reach it.

Projection: Potential five-tool shortstop with All-Star upside but limited track record.

Ceiling: Troy Tulowitzki
Floor: Trevor Plouffe
Draft Expectation: Rounds 3-4

Will Holland, SS
Auburn University (JR, 2019)
R/R 5-10, 180 lbs.
Date of Birth: 04/18/1998

Hit- 30 (40) Power- 35 (40) Run- 60 (60) Arm- 60 (60) Field- 50 (50)

Written by David Salway

Analysis
Will Holland is a 5-foot-10, 180-lb. shortstop from Auburn University who has had an up-and-down college career. During his freshman campaign in 2017, he was a below-average hitter, but the cornerstone of Auburn’s defense. Between 2017 and 2018, he made a huge leap on offense, hitting .313 with a .530 slugging percentage thanks to 12 home runs and 18 doubles, to go along with a .406 on-base percentage. However, he has regressed in the 2019 season, with his batting average and slugging both down over 100 points year over year.

He has quick bat speed, but has a lot of swing and miss in his game. Holland is a patient hitter at the plate and will draw walks at an above average rate. He has a small load and can occasionally get lazy in his lower half, leading to a lack of contact or weak contact. When he does make contact, he is prone to popping the ball up due to his uppercut swing. While this could lead to the possibility of more home runs, he struggles with pitches low in the zone. So far in 2019, Holland has struck out 23 percent of the time, up seven percentage points from 2018.

On defense, Holland is one of the best current-tool shortstop prospects in the draft. He is quick, shows great range and flashes a plus arm. The Auburn SS is prone to making errors, typically with the glove, which is average. However, his arm can make up for his lack of soft hands and tendency to not move his feet to get in proper position. Holland’s movements are smooth and he makes playing SS look easy compared to his peers. Occasionally, he will lack effort and it will seem as if he is not giving it his all, but more often than not he is able to perform as one of the premier defenders in the SEC.

Outlook
Holland will likely top out as a utility player, with the possibility of becoming a Quad-A type of middle infielder. If he reaches his full potential, though, he could become an MLB regular at SS, with the prospect of 10-15 HR per year to go along with above-average defense.

Projection: Defense-first middle infielder who will need to maximize his hitting ability to become an impact player.

Ceiling: Orlando Cabrera
Floor: Taylor Featherston
Draft Expectation: Rounds 3-4

Other middle infielders to keep an eye on:
Christian Koss, UC Irvine
Grae Kessinger, University of Mississippi
Michael Massey, University of Illinois
Chris Cornelius, University of Missouri

May 9, 2019
2019 Top College Baseball Draft Prospects: Middle Infield (Part 1)

Over the next month leading up to the 2019 MLB Amateur Draft, Baseball Info Solutions will be publishing a series of position-by-position scouting reports from our Video Scouts for the top-50 collegiate draft prospects. Each player is graded by the 20-80 scouting scale, given a comprehensive evaluation, and assigned a floor and a ceiling comparison, which indicate–if a player makes the Major Leagues–the range of the type of player into which he can develop.

Full coverage:
Catchers
Corner Infield (Part 1)
Corner Infield (Part 2)
Middle Infield (Part 1)
Middle Infield (Part 2)
Outfield (Part 1)
Outfield (Part 2)
Left-Handed Pitching (Part 1)
Left-Handed Pitching (Part 2)
Right-Handed Pitching (Part 1)
Right-Handed Pitching (Part 2)

This post covers the first half of a group of 10 middle infielders, with the second half to follow later this week. As was the case with the corner infielders, all 10 of these players should hear their names called early — perhaps even in the first three rounds.

Four of these five infielders were predominantly shortstops in college, but only two are likely to stick at the position. Bryson Stott and Logan Davidson have a clear future at short, while Will Wilson projects as a second baseman and Braden Shewmake could really play anywhere but catcher. Chase Strumpf, the only second baseman of the bunch, figures to stay at the keystone, but could also find himself playing the outfield. Additionally, each of these players has surprising pop for the middle infield position.

Bryson Stott, SS
UNLV (JR, 2019)
L/R 6-03, 200 lbs.
Date of Birth: 10/06/1997

Hit- 55 (60) Power- 50 (55) Run- 55 (55) Arm- 55 (55) Field- 50 (55)

Written by Dominic Asta

Analysis
Bryson Stott is the headliner of the shortstop position for the 2019 college draft class. He is in the midst of a fantastic junior season at UNLV. He has answered the questions about his lack of power this year by hitting 10 home runs so far. Stott has a strong, large frame that fits with the growing size of current MLB shortstops. He has average to above-average tools across the board, and some projection left in his power and fielding tools. He has a track record of success with wood bats in the Northwoods League and Cape Cod League. He should be the first college shortstop drafted, and has the chance to be the highest UNLV player drafted since Matt Williams went third overall in 1986.

Stott uses a wide, open stance with his hands at his head. He has an opposite-field approach and great power to left field. He keeps his hands back at the plate, which allows him to utilize the opposite field, and has great feel for barreling pitches. He excels at making contact, and has kept his strikeout rate to 6 percent last season and 14 percent this year. He has begun to pull more balls, increasing his home run totals in 2019. He led all of college baseball with 30 doubles last season and is beginning to turn more doubles into home runs. He is a patient hitter who has produced a 20 percent walk rate and a .494 on-base percentage in 2019. Stott hit a total of five home runs his first two years at UNLV, but has doubled that amount this year and has been driving the ball more frequently. He has a level bat plane which produces mostly line drives right now, but has the frame, strength and bat speed to have above-average power at the next level.

He is not the most agile athlete at shortstop and struggles with first-step quickness. He has an above-average arm and makes accurate throws to first base. Stott is strong around the bag and looks smooth turning double plays. He doesn’t have great range, but he looks stronger to his right side on the backhand. He has above-average speed out of the box, routinely posting sub-4.2 second times from home to first. Stott has been a successful base-stealer in college, swiping 31 bags in 38 attempts. He has enough speed and baserunning ability to steal double-digit bases at the next level.

Outlook
Stott is an offensively-polished shortstop with average to above-average tools across the board. Some question his defensive future, but he should be able to stick at his current position with hard work and development. He shows the ability to make highlight-reel plays, and his strong arm will help him stay there. His power is developing to go along with an above-average bat.

Projection: All-Star-caliber shortstop with above-average tools across the board.
Ceiling: Corey Seager
Floor: Stephen Drew
Draft expectation: Top-10 pick

Logan Davidson, SS
Clemson University (JR, 2019)
S/R 6-03, 190 lbs.
Date of Birth: 12/26/1997

Hit- 40 (50) Power- 50 (55) Run- 55 (55) Field- 50 (55) Arm- 60 (60)

Written by Dominic Asta

Analysis
Logan Davidson was a highly sought-after prep player who comes from strong baseball bloodlines — his father, Mark Davidson, played six seasons in Major League Baseball. He burst onto the college scene with a fantastic freshman year at Clemson, hitting 12 home runs and producing an .861 OPS. He has an exciting combination of speed and power that has resulted in 40 home runs and 36 stolen bags so far in his college career, but has struggled with strikeouts and does not have a good track record with wood bats in two summers in the Cape Cod League. Davidson should still be a first-round pick though, based on his college production and exciting tools across the board.

Davidson has a tall, lanky frame with long limbs and room to add weight. The switch hitter has similar swings from both sides of the plate, with bent knees and quick hands, but has a little more power and a smoother swing from the right side. He will drop his hands too much in his pre-swing load, which causes his barrel to not stay in the strike zone. His swing can get a bit long and loopy, mostly from the left side, which makes him late on pitches and contributes to his concerning high strikeout numbers — he has produced a strikeout rate over 20 percent in each of the last two seasons.

A great athlete with above-average speed, Davidson possesses the ability to stick at shortstop. He has greatly improved his defense since his freshman year, and will have to continue to develop defensively because of his big frame. His strong arm allows him to make plays deep in the hole and on the run, and would profile well at third base. He is also a good enough athlete to handle a corner outfield spot. That athleticism and speed should allow him to steal 20-plus bags at the next level, and his long strides allow him to be faster once he is going max effort.

Outlook
Teams should be wary of Davidson and his hit tool. His track record with wood bats is concerning, as are his strikeout numbers. He will need to get stronger physically to handle the transition to wood bats and better pitching. He should be able to stick at shortstop because of his athleticism and arm, but his power would play well at the hot corner. Davidson’s exciting combination of power, speed and switch-hitting ability should make him a first-round pick.

Projection: Switch-hitting shortstop with 20-20 potential.

Ceiling: Ian Desmond
Floor: Brad Miller
Draft expectation: Round 1

Braden Shewmake, SS
Texas A&M University (JR, 2019)
L/R 6-04, 190 lbs.
Date of Birth: 11/19/1997

Hit- 55 (60) Power- 45 (50) Run- 55 (50) Arm- 50 (55) Field- 50 (55)

Written by Harris Yudin

Analysis
Braden Shewmake has been one of the more consistent college hitters over the last three years, managing an .869 OPS with 21 home runs and 29 stolen bases over that span. Following a slow start to his junior campaign, the Aggies’ shortstop has picked up the pace, hitting .333 over his last 192 plate appearances.

A wiry frame and unconventional swing mechanics allow Shewmake to stand out from the crowd. He stands open at the plate and deep in the batter’s box, taking a long stride towards the mound. He uses his long arms to get good extension and cover the whole strike zone, showing excellent hand-eye coordination and the ability to spray the ball to all fields. He displays solid plate discipline — 53 walks and 65 strikeouts throughout his collegiate career — but does have a tendency to chase some left-on-left breaking balls. At times, he can pull his body out and drop his hands, producing a flat swing.

Shewmake is certainly hit over power, and is likely to maintain that profile as he moves towards pro ball. There is a reasonable expectation that he could bulk up and develop some more power, but the fact that he’s only packed on about 10 pounds since arriving in College Station is mildly concerning — as is his inability to replicate his freshman season home run totals (11 in 2017, 10 combined in 2018 and ‘19).

While he doesn’t necessarily have blazing speed, Shewmake is a threat on the basepaths, demanding immediate attention from opposing pitchers. His long strides, good instincts and aggressiveness allow him to take extra bases and swipe a decent amount of bags.

Defensively, Shewmake shows good range both up the middle and in the hole. He has an above-average arm, but is inconsistent with his throws, occasionally rushing and throwing off-balanced to first. He is capable at shortstop, but may outgrow the position, and is more likely to end up at either second or third base. There’s even an outside shot that he lands in the outfield, where his athletic ability could shine.

Outlook
Shewmake’s body type, swing and uncertain defensive future could make any team hesitant to pull the trigger on draft day, but he offers a steady track record of production and above-average athleticism wherever he plays in the field. He could develop into a player with double-digit homers and steals, and profiles similarly to Luis Gonzalez, who, despite being known for his late-career power surge and postseason heroics, was a contact hitter with moderate power and speed for the first half of his career.

Projection: Well-rounded, everyday major leaguer who could provide defensively versatility.

Ceiling: Luis Gonzalez
Floor: Ryan Flaherty
Draft Expectation: Rounds 1-2

Will Wilson, SS/2B
North Carolina State (JR, 2019)
R/R 6-00, 184 lbs.
Date of Birth: 07/21/1998

Hit- 40 (50) Power- 45 (55) Run- 40 (40) Arm- 45 (50) Field- 50 (50)

Written by Mitch Glessner

Analysis
After receiving numerous accolades as a freshman and sophomore, Will Wilson has garnered plenty of attention at the top of NC State’s lineup in his junior campaign. The 2018 second team All-American climbed up draft boards after hitting .307 with 15 home runs as a sophomore. His combination of raw power and solid glove work in the middle of the field makes for an intriguing skill set as the 2019 draft approaches.

Wilson is a bat-first middle infielder. He stands straight up in the box with lower hand position around chest height. He finds his rhythm and timing with a slight hand wiggle and a high leg kick, and will shorten up his leg kick and overall movement when hitting with two strikes. He is a natural low-ball hitter, and is at his best when hunting pitches middle-away in the zone.

Raw power is Wilson’s biggest strength at the plate. His hands are quick, but he tends to let his shoulders dominate his rotational swing. His bat path can get long, leaving him susceptible to velocity on the inner third. He will fight for extension on the inner third which can lead to early hand roll. Wilson occasionally lacks aggression to hunt pitches that play to his strengths middle-away. He is at his best when he attacks middle-to-outer-third pitches, and when he is aggressive with those areas of the plate, he is one of the most dangerous hitters in the country.

Wilson provides a smooth glove in the middle of the field. He has soft enough hands to adjust for bad hops, and does a really good job of getting around the ball consistently. He prefers to throw on the run rather than with his feet planted to compensate for what he lacks in arm strength. Due to the lack of carry on his throws, he will likely move to second base at the next level.

Outlook
Wilson’s glove is talented enough to allow him to play everyday at second base at the professional level, and there’s no denying the raw power in his bat. Finding the ability to translate the raw power into game power, while making solid consistent contact, will be vital in his development as a professional.

Projection: Low-ceiling middle infielder with limited athleticism but above-average power.

Ceiling: Rich Aurilia
Floor: Sean Rodriguez
Draft Expectation: Rounds 1-2

Chase Strumpf, 2B
UCLA (JR, 2019)
R/R 6-01, 191 lbs.
Date of Birth: 03/08/1998

Hit- 50 (55) Power- 50 (55) Run- 45 (45) Arm- 45 (50) Field- 50 (55)

Written by Quinn Ireland

Analysis
Chase Strumpf burst onto the national scene as a sophomore at UCLA by being in the top 100 nationally in basically every important offensive statistical category. An All-American in 2018, Strumpf posted a slash line of .363/.475/.633 with 12 home runs and 23 doubles. The numbers from his current season are down, which was expected given that his BABIP last year was over .400, but he still owns an impressive line of .311/.452/.509.

Strumpf’s strongest tool is his advanced approach at the plate. With almost a walk per game, he has a very keen eye that should lead to a high on-base percentage, regardless if he ends up hitting for a high average. That being said, he is an excellent hitter who should at least be average at the next level with decent power, to boot. His power has increased greatly since his days as a freshman, and he should develop into at least a plus power hitter– he has the potential to be a consistent 20-homer bat in the pros.

He will never be a speed demon, but Strumpf has been known to swipe a base or two and should be able to reach most of the balls hit his way in the field. An excellent fielder at second base, his profile lends well to either the keystone or left field, where he would probably be a slightly below-average fielder but his arm would play better.

Outlook
Strumpf, who hits third for the top-ranked UCLA Bruins, is one of the top college bats — and probably the top second baseman — in the 2019 class. A bit of his sparkle has worn off because of the slight regression this year, but that should not shy teams away from a guy who could be a spectacular everyday player with on-base skills, power and a solid glove.

Projection: Bat-first second baseman with utility player potential.

Ceiling: Aaron Hill
Floor: Logan Forsythe
Draft Expectation: Rounds 2-3

Other middle infielders to keep an eye on:
Ethan Paul, Vanderbilt University
Tanner Morris, University of Virginia
Cam Shepherd, University of Georgia
Tyler Fitzgerald, University of Louisville

May 6, 2019

Pick	Team	Slot Value	Player	Position	School
1	Orioles	$8,415,300	Adley Rutschman	C	Oregon State

Pick	Team	Slot Value	Player	Position	School
3	White Sox	$7,221,200	Bobby Witt Jr	SS	Colleyville Heritage HS

Author: Harris Yudin

Round 1

COMPENSATION ROUND

COMPETITIVE BALANCE ROUND A