230 replies to this topic

[RichardZ]

I mentioned Johnson because Bob mentioned him. There's a whole slew of guys for consideration at #32. Awesome.

I think the Law comp to Colt Emerson seems much further off than Henderson. Emerson had a fairly stable SS projection without as strong an offensive profile that he's now grown into a little. Henderson didn't and Johnson seems a little less so, but we're biased towards Gunnar today because we've seen him become that quality of SS. There was lots of questions of him becoming that guy prior to becoming that guy.

If the Orioles think they can coax the same development out of Johnson they did with Henderson, good gracious, I hope they take him.

I just don’t see this kind of report on Carter Johnson anywhere. Most draft guys talking about highest upside seem to mention Theo Gillen, Kellon Lindsey, and Tyson Lewis. Carter Johnson sounds like a safer type of HS pick.

Draft Prospects


Ranked #30 prospect in 2019 draft
The top prospect in Alabama, Henderson is a physical, 6-foot-3, 194-pound shortstop with high upside both offensively and defensively. At the plate, Henderson has the potential for an average hit tool with current above-average power that could turn into plus power down the line. His body has improved this spring, as he's grown into his 6-foot-3 frame with even more room to continue to add strength. Defensively, teams are still mixed in regards to Henderson's future. For a rangier kid without elite quickness, some scouts believe Henderson will need to move to third base, where he has plus defensive potential with solid hands and 60-grade arm strength. Others, however, have seen him handle shortstop well and believe he has enough athleticism to remain there, where he could be an average defender. To meet those aspirations, Henderson will need to shorten up some of his actions in the infield--he can get long with his throwing motion at times--and also improve his footwork and ability to throw from multiple angles. He has allowed the game to speed up on him at times, but he should at least get a chance at shortstop at the next level before moving to third base. He has enough hitting ability and power to profile well at either position. An Auburn commit, Henderson could go off the draft board at some point on Day 1.

[dude]

Bob,

 

RichardZ thinks your pick at #32 is dumb.  Live your life accordingly.

[dude]

If you want my opinion, the Orioles are going college bat.

 

Whatever they do, develop it and turn it into prospect capital.

[RichardZ]

Bob,
 
RichardZ thinks your pick at #32 is dumb.  Live your life accordingly.

Did I say that? Lol

I don’t buy the Gunnar Henderson comparisons when it comes to talent (pre-draft). That’s a lot different than saying he’s a dumb pick at #32.

Go back to examining every eligible UVA player and figuring out how we can draft each of them.

[RichardZ]

If you want my opinion, the Orioles are going college bat.
 
Whatever they do, develop it and turn it into prospect capital.

That’s certainly what their history says. Of course, they’ve never spent their first pick on RH only hitter either. I’m not sure they’re quite that dogmatic in either direction. Benge sounds like their kind of guy if he’s there. If not, I think they’ll go HS hitter here.

[dude]

ok

[RichardZ]

ok

That’s what I call a good post. Short and sweet.

[RichardZ]

Draft Combine names to know.

Nathan Flewelling, C, St. Joseph Catholic HS, Red Deer, Alb.

The combine is a perfect event for a player like Flewelling. He is a young-for-the-class Canadian prospect seen infrequently by evaluators and was not on the showcase circuit. It’s a chance for him to showcase his toolset in front of plenty of scouts and high-level decision makers. He made the most of that opportunity.

Despite his age, Flewelling’s 112.4 mph max exit velocity in batting practice was tied for second (with PA prep Chase Harlan) among the entire field of players behind only LSU’s Jared Jones (113.4). Jones will be 21 a few weeks after the draft and Flewelling has a 17.7 age on draft day. That sort of raw power production for a player of his age is tantalizing, and reinforces the 70-grade power projections scouts have put on him. Flewelling has lots of natural strength and a simple, repeatable swing in the righthanded batter’s box.

He showed well in catcher drills as well, with above-average pop times in the 1.93-1.95 second range and solid carry on his throws to the second base bag.

[BSLChrisStoner]

ESPN: Dueling MLB mock draft: Building 2024 prospect superteams

https://www.espn.com...pect-superteams

[BSLChrisStoner]

CBS Sports: Mock Draft

https://www.cbssport...-high-schooler/

 

22. Baltimore Orioles

Mock pick: 3B Cam Smith, Florida State
Slot value: $3,802,200

The O's have not taken a pitcher in the first or supplemental first round in the GM Mike Elias era and there's no reason to think that will change this year. Smith is right in their wheelhouse as a big, physical masher with legit power who is a swing adjustment or two away from being a monster. He's a candidate to come off the board much higher than this, but he's still here in our mock draft, so to the Orioles he goes.

June 13 mock pick: IF Theo Gillen, Westlake HS (Texas)

[BSLRoseKatz]

Right-handed 3B with power from Florida worked out last time, works for me lol

[RichardZ]

Right-handed 3B with power from Florida worked out last time, works for me lol

Gunnar was a SS if that’s who you mean. I liked Cam Smith before the season when he was ranked around 30. He did really well on the Cape last summer with wood bats which is always a good sign. He had a big season so most of the mocks had him gone well before #22. I think he didn’t do great in the post season so maybe he slips a little?

I’d be ok with Smith because he’s supposed to be a pretty good 3B. No talk of him not being able to stick there. We’ve never taken a RH hitter with our first pick but of course there’s Westburg, Norby, and Horvath as RH college bats that we’ve taken pretty high.

So far, I’d be disappointed with one of the catchers, although Janek sounds interesting. No defensively challenged mashers.

Smith - ok
Brecht - ok
Gillen -ok
Lindsey -ok

[makoman]

Gunnar is lefty from Alabama. Presumably Rose means Mayo.

Smith seems fine to me, but I don’t pay much attention to MLB draft stuff till it happens.

[BSLRoseKatz]

Gunnar is lefty from Alabama. Presumably Rose means Mayo.

Smith seems fine to me, but I don’t pay much attention to MLB draft stuff till it happens.

 

Correct haha

[weird-O]

We've debated this before and I should clarify. If it gets to your turn and it's clear that player X is the BPA then by all means go that direction. But I also believe that in most situations it's not that cut and dried and positional need should be a factor...a good sized one.

For what it's worth, I've never heard a baseball exec say this. If your system has 20 catchers, and the best player available is a catcher, you take that backstop, because he'll be more valuable (even is it's as a trade piece), than the lesser player who fills a need that may no longer be a need, by the time he arrives to the big club

[RichardZ]

Gunnar is lefty from Alabama. Presumably Rose means Mayo.
Smith seems fine to me, but I don’t pay much attention to MLB draft stuff till it happens.

Yeah, brain freeze on my part. My bad.

[RichardZ]

For what it's worth, I've never heard a baseball exec say this. If your system has 20 catchers, and the best player available is a catcher, you take that backstop, because he'll be more valuable (even is it's as a trade piece), than the lesser player who fills a need that may no longer be a need, by the time he arrives to the big club

Yeah, I think they all have a board where players are ranked and try to stick to BPA but I imagine the difference in ratings gets less and less as get lower down the board.

[RichardZ]

Correct haha

Yes. That was dumb on my part. Carry on. Lol

[BSLChrisStoner]

MLB Pipeline: Mock

https://www.mlb.com/...-draft-coverage

 

22. Orioles: Caleb Lomavita, C, California (No. 33)
It’s possible the O’s would love for Lomavita to be available with their next pick at 32, but he might not be there, so we’ll give him the edge over the other college hitters still available or pitchers like Cijntje or Iowa’s Brody Brecht.

[RichardZ]

MLB Pipeline: Mock
https://www.mlb.com/...-draft-coverage
 
22. Orioles: Caleb Lomavita, C, California (No. 33)
It’s possible the O’s would love for Lomavita to be available with their next pick at 32, but he might not be there, so we’ll give him the edge over the other college hitters still available or pitchers like Cijntje or Iowa’s Brody Brecht.

Obviously, I defer to their expertise but my initial feeling if they should pass on Brecht to pick Lomavita would be to puke.