We’re a bit more than two weeks away from the 2017 draft, and rumors surrounding the top of the draft figure to pick up steam in the coming weeks. Some of the latest draft chatter…
- Bill Shanks of the Macon Telegraph reports that the Braves are seriously considering North Carolina prep outfielder Austin Beck with the No. 5 overall pick. GM John Coppolella and scouting director Brian Bridges have held private workouts with Beck, who could sign an under-slot deal with Atlanta, giving the club more freedom to spend aggressively further down the draft board. The Braves went a similar route with the No. 3 overall pick last season when selecting high school righty Ian Anderson and signing him for about $2.5MM under slot. According to Shanks, the Braves have also met with other prep stars like Hunter Greene, Shane Baz, Nick Pratto and Royce Lewis, but Beck is perhaps the favorite to go with the fifth pick (Greene and Lewis are widely expected to be off the board before Atlanta’s pick).
- Baseball America’s John Manuel published his latest mock draft over the weekend and once again has the Twins selecting Vanderbilt right-hander Kyle Wright with the top overall pick. Minnesota has also considered Louisville left-hander/first baseman Brendan McKay extensively and seems to like him more as a hitter, writes Manuel, but Wright represents “the best combination of upside and modest risk.” Manuel’s mock draft is free to the public and runs through the supplemental round, so it’s an interesting look for any fan.
- In his latest inbox column, MLB.com’s Jonathan Mayo notes that the Reds seem to prefer McKay as a pitcher rather than a hitter, though he goes through a couple of different hypothetical scenarios to illustrate that it’s not a lock that Cincinnati will select McKay even if he is available with their pick. Manuel, it should be pointed out, hears a bit differently, suggesting that the Reds are leaning slightly toward McKay as a hitter and adds that Cincinnati will take either McKay or Greene.
- BA’s Carlos Collazo recently listed five high school talents whose stock is on the rise as the draft approaches and offers an explanation on each from an unnamed front office executive. Per Collazo, righty Caden Lemons, outfielder Mason House, right-hander Tommy Mace, left-hander Brendan Murphy and right-hander Jackson Rutledge have all worked their way into BA’s Top 200.
Regardless of who fits Minnesota the best, is there a consensus #1 prospect because I’m hearing several different guys
There’s pretty much a consensus top 3: McKay, Greene, and Wright, but none of them are a consensus #1 prospect.
Gore might work his way into the talk at 1-1 his name is starting to pop up more and more in minnesota media and everything
Yep, he’s been in the group of the 2-3 others. He’s been way more dominant than Greene and actually already has secondary pitches. I’d be fine if they took him too.
yea i have gore over greene now him not pitching and he is all fastball. and slider. gore has a really good fastball. and 3 other pitches that have been grading out as plus with better control then greene. plus he is a lefty. but i think i would still go wright just a safter pick that is 2-3 years closer to the majors right when the twins are expected to contend. he is also less risky with a high floor. he may not have Ace potential like greene but he has 1-2 starter potential and the twins have maybe one of those type of guys in the system.
Right. I’d go Wright too. By the time Gore or Greene are ready most of the young offense will be close to free agency. Though I know some guys are going to be getting long term deals soon.
BA seems to think Wright is going 1-1 because of the high-probability. McKay is divided because the delivery as a pitcher is so bad. Greene is the incredibly high-upside guy but high school pitchers are so risky. Royce Lewis is another name near the top, as is Gore. Obviously the HS guys might get close to slot value as they have leverage.
There is no difference in the percentage of high school pitchers and college pitchers taken in the 1st round that reach the majors.
From 1965-2008, 71% of college pitchers have made the majors as first round picks.
In the same time frame, only 57% of high school pitchers have made it.
So there’s a huge difference. I think the difference is becoming less in more recent years, but there’s still a difference. I know another report done from only 1980-2000 had nearly the same percentages then too.
As starters? As regulars? 71% of college pitchers have had a cup of coffee. 57% of high school pitchers have had a cup of coffee. They threw a pitch in at least one game.
In terms of becoming regulars in the majors there is statistically speaking no difference. From 1969-2012 the numbers came out to 20.3% vs 19.8% respectively. Less than a percentage point which is not statistically relevant. Just a handful more players in 43 years. The definition of a regular used was a player that put up a 2.0 WAR or higher in more than one season and a career WAR of 6.0 or higher.
BA says that just a tick over 50% of 1st round picks have reached reach the majors at all since 1969..
Sure, if you only count the pitchers who stay around long enough than the numbers are different but you did not say that. All you said was that there was zero difference when there actually is about a 20% difference.
I think doing what you did skews the numbers because you’re only look at successful first round draft picks. That acts like every first round draft pick who is a pitcher works out perfectly, which is far from true.
A guy who pitches even one inning in the majors is more successful than a guy who never even makes it.
If you count those players that were only up for a few innings and as relievers then you are skewing the numbers if the conversation is about successful MLB players. They are more successful than players that didn’t make it to the majors but they are not successful major league players.
Greene has two plus pitches and a curve ball that is close from what I have seen personally. He threw a half dozen FB at over 100 mph on both days I saw him pitch earlier this season, peaking at 102 on my gun. Our area scouts have said that he is the best high school player they have seen both as a pitcher and as a shortstop projecting him with 70 power, 60 field and speed, and 70 arm. Although I have only seen him twice this season and both on the mound, I would agree that I have not seen a better high school pitcher in my 33 years in the game.
The only real difference is the time it takes to develop them.
It wasn’t about successful players though. It said “There is no difference in the percentage of high school pitchers and college pitchers taken in the 1st round that reach the majors.”
“That reach the majors” is all it says. A guy that throws one pitch in the majors has reached the majors…whether he is a HS guy or a college guy. More college guys have made it.
I think high school pitchers have been more successful in that time, even though fewer have made it. I’d have to go look it up again to confirm though.
And you look at a guy like write who has 4 plus pitches with a much longer track record and potential to be a front end starter
There doesn’t seem to be because pretty much every site has said three different guys at one point or another.
Greene has the highest upside by far, but the highest risk too.
Wright has number one upside, with medium risk.
McKay is probably the safest guy with the lowest risk, but he also has the lowest upside if he’s taken as a pitcher. His bat is hard to judge, but seems to be the best college bat available.
There are a few other guys the twins are considering but they aren’t being talked about as much as these three.
Hunter Greene.
Play him at SS and as a pitcher both and evaluate him as to what he is best at. Maybe he’s the second two-way player in MLB after Otani.
Twins are stupid if they pass on Greene.
i wont be mad if they take greene but id rather have wright or gore. twins dont need a SS prospect its one of there deepest positions in the minors. they need pitching and thats what they would have greene do pitch not hit
Greene could be a 30 HR SS.
Twins are loaded with those guys?
The key is “could be.” Although I would be surprised if he ever hit more than 25 or so.
He for sure has the highest upside of any other player on the pitching side. They don’t believe he’s a 1-1 talent with the bat though. Just a first rounder (haven’t seen a projected spot if he was position only).
as a SS green would probably be ranked the twins 3rd SS prospect if twins take him they will want him to focus on pitching he is not even in the same league as Otani from the mound or the plate
Greene hit a 460 ft home run with a wooden bat in a home run derby competition at Petco Park last August at 16 years old. He then went out and consistently hit 96-97 in the game.
He has 70 power. He could be a 30-40 HR player someday, but I still think he is more valuable as a pitcher. Not many high school pitchers that hit triple digits. As far as I know, he is the only one in this draft and several scouts have him peaking at 102. I just don’t see how the Twins or Reds could pass on him. Too much potential as a starter and his floor is an elite closer ala Chapman.
He’s all potential though, that’s the problem. He reminds me of Kolek with better command but different body types. Kolek had a fastball that wowed everyone. His slider was average and his change was terrible. He wasn’t 1-1 but everyone was wowed by the FB. He’s been terrible in the minors so far.
If Greene doesn’t develop other pitches than he’s in big trouble. MLB hitters can hit a fastball. And if Chapman is all he ends up as, I would be really annoyed. A RP is a terrible outcome. It’s better than not making it, but in my eyes it’s barely better.
Tyler Kolek was a “pop-up” shortly before the draft. The Royals also once blew a high first round pick on a high school pitcher who started touching 100 six weeks before the draft.
Hunter Greene has been a known entity for two years. He could have gone in the first round last year if he were made eligible.
He’s still two months away from his 18th birthday on draft day.
No he is not. His floor is an elite closer. A guy like Chapman. Floor. His ceiling is a true Ace. Think Sale or even better.
Do we know when Greene started to hit over 100? I’m just curious in general. I only see as high as 98 from an article in November in baseball America. I know he’s been talked about for longer for sure.
I’d just prefer a guy who I know already has above average secondary pitches, which a lot of reports say Greene doesn’t. The hope is that he’d develop them. That’s why he’s not the consensus number 1. I also expect him to be more dominant on the mound than he has been if he truly looks like a man among boys. My worry is that he doesn’t figure it out or ends up as Chapman, which would be awful at 1-1.
In my eyes a RP is a terrible outcome. It’s better than complete bust, but I would trade him in a heartbeat for a SP or position player for the teams who love to give up the farm for that.
During his junior season and also in Perfect Game play. Every scouting report I have seen has said that he has a plus slider and a decent changeup. In high school you don’t need more than 2 pitches to be completely dominant. When the very worst he would be is the very best reliever in baseball or a starting shortstop with power, then that is pretty good.
Baseball America article in April: “He has shown promise with his slider and changeup and impressive command. There are varying opinions in the scouting community on Greene’s breaking pitches, though most see his slider ahead of his curveball at this point. His slider projects as a plus pitch long term and Greene’s outstanding athleticism—coupled with his being just 17 years old and a high baseball IQ—leads scouts to believe he will have no trouble developing a deep arsenal of pitches to compete at the major league level, potentially at the front of a rotation”
MLB pipeline: “He’ll throw two breaking balls, and they’ll run into each other occasionally, with some thinking he’ll focus on a slider in the future, with a chance for that secondary pitch to be at least Major League average.”
John sickles in March says plus curve (first one to say that). No mention of the slider at all. Says his secondaries should be at least average to plus with development.
The above says he does not have a plus slider right now. It says he’s projected to develop one. Again, everything I’ve read says PROJECTED to have. None have said he has it right this minute. And those are the recent articles/comments I can find from the three. If he already had at least one plus secondary pitch then there would be zero doubt. There is doubt because the hope is that he’ll develop them.
All draft picks are just potential. No one knows what they will do and if you are picking at the to of the draft you just take the best athlete available. The numbers for guys that make it to the majors and stick are very small at 20% and not that far apart between high school and college to say that its a bad thing to take a high school kid. Greene is being talked about as the very best high school player ever. Not just in this draft. He would be top 5 if he decided he would only play SS He is that good. The article you quoted from Sickels says he has a plus curveball now, so its obvious that he has 2 plus pitches, because his fastball is plus plus. Maybe its time to step back and realize that you are not going to convince that guy and the guys you quoted are not helping you in your argument. They are helping him.
Of course all picks are potential. I’d just like a guy who has the pitches now. Someone like Gore or Wright. There are plenty of guys who were projected to develop this pitch or that pitch and they fail to do so all the time. I’d like the Twins to take someone with high upside but less risk. Gore and Wright are that right now.
So far I haven’t seen anyone saying Greene going top 5 as a SS. I’ve seen first rounder, but nothing specific. If he was top 5 as a bat then I’d take him as a SS because position players tend to work out better than pitchers. I’d always go college bat/hs bat before pitchers in any draft. I haven’t seen anyone say with any kind of consensus that a bat is worthy of 1-1.
I don’t see how the articles I posted are helping him and not me. Everything I posted says PROJECTED, which means he currently does not have a plus slider. It means they believe he will develop one. And the article from Sickles is the only post I”ve seen that says he has a plus curve. Haven’t seen it since.
I’m fine with projecting that he has plus pitches in the future IF he develops them. I’m arguing that he does not have them right now, but everyone posting here seems to think otherwise though the articles I quoted all used the words potential or projected…which is all about “what could be” not “what is.” I completely agree that Greene has the highest upside of anyone and if he develops a plus to go with the FB and then another above average he’ll be absolutely ridiculous. My argument is that he doesn’t have those right now. Others seem to think otherwise, but there is zero consensus between scouts about whether he has them or not. Just because one says he has them, doesn’t mean he does. From what I’ve seen it’s either 50/50 between he does or doesn’t. That’s far from consensus.
He hit 3 balls over 450 ft in that All Star Home Run Derby. I had him as high as 98 in the game.
That is not what a floor is. A prep arm’s floor is considerably lower than an elite closer.
His floor is someone who never makes it
Twins are probably smart enough to know Otani isn’t even in the MLB. Greene throws hard but what else? Wrights a better pitcher.
ill take a guy with 3-4 plus pitches over a guy who has a plus plus fastball anyday. gore wright and baz all have way better secondary stuff. thats the difference between a reliever and a starter
70 plus fastball. 60 slider. Triple digits in high school You can count the kids available in this draft that can do that on one digit.
Wright throws 92-95 and has 2 plus pitches, his FB and his curve, and 3 other pitches that are a work in progress. He throws a 4 seam FB, a curve, slider, cutter, and change-up. He has had a mediocre college season putting up a 2.91 ERA in 14 starts and a 104/27 K/BB in 89.1 innings. Not the dominating performance you would expect from a #1 overall pick.
By contrast, Alex Faedo of Florida throws 93-95, has 2 legitimate plus pitches including a slider that is routinely described as the best in college baseball, and a change up that is above average and could develop into a plus pitch. He has put up a 2.80 ERA with 113 SO/32 BB in 96.1 IP, Faedo has dropped from being in contention for the #1 overall pick prior to his knee surgery last fall to a #8-#10 pick today.
Both of those two are 4 years older than Greene, who has two plus, plus pitches in his arsenal. 3-4 years of development in the pros will undoubtedly produce other pitches that are at least above average MLB pitches.
No one can confirm he has a 60 slider right now. There are too many reports saying that all he has is a plus fastball and may develop above average other pitches, so right now he has a plus fastball only. If he actually had a plus slider than there wouldn’t be many reports saying otherwise.
They think because of his athleticism, command and makeup that he will develop at least above average secondaries but he does not currently have them. Wright and even Gore already have them from the things I’ve read.
Baseball America, Baseball Prospectus, Jim Callis of MLB. John Sickels of Minor League Ball. All say 60 slider. It’s confirmed. They also say that they expect his changeup to develop into an above-average major league pitch. Next.
Wright has a plus FB and a plus Curve. Nothing else is plus, let alone plus plus plus like Greene’s FB.
Baseball America article in April: “He has shown promise with his slider and changeup and impressive command. There are varying opinions in the scouting community on Greene’s breaking pitches, though most see his slider ahead of his curveball at this point. His slider projects as a plus pitch long term and Greene’s outstanding athleticism—coupled with his being just 17 years old and a high baseball IQ—leads scouts to believe he will have no trouble developing a deep arsenal of pitches to compete at the major league level, potentially at the front of a rotation”
MLB pipeline: “He’ll throw two breaking balls, and they’ll run into each other occasionally, with some thinking he’ll focus on a slider in the future, with a chance for that secondary pitch to be at least Major League average.”
John sickles in March says plus curve (first one to say that). No mention of the slider at all. Says his secondaries should be at least average to plus with development.
The above says he does not have a plus slider right now. It says he’s projected to develop one. Again, everything I’ve read says PROJECTED to have. None have said he has it right this minute. And those are the recent articles/comments I can find from the three. If he already had at least one plus secondary pitch then there would be zero doubt. There is doubt because the hope is that he’ll develop them.
“His slider projects as a plus pitch” You just blew your own argument.
No one has ever said that Greene has a plus curve. Only a plus slider.
Take a look at John Sickels on May 4th in his breakdown of Greene. Take a look at BA on May 24th for Mock Draft 3.0. Both say he has a plus slider.
baseballamerica.com/draft/Hunter-Greene-2017-mlb-draft/
I apologize. Sickels said “He already has a plus curveball and commands it better than most pitchers his age.” back in March.
So he has a plus plus FB and a plus curveball according to Sickels.
4 other sources said he has a plus slider. All of those sources say he has a changeup that will develop into an above average pitch.
And he sits 96-98 and has hit 102 as a junior in high school.
cbssports.com/mlb/news/hunter-greene-possible-no-1-pick-in-2017-mlb-draft-hits-100-mph-in-latest-outing/
Baseball America – “He has an exceptionally athletic delivery with an easy finish, and he pitched mostly at 95-99 throughout the spring of his senior season, with his fastball reaching as high as 102 mph for some scouts, while others had him topping out at 101. He was throwing both a plus slider and a curveball as a senior, with his slider figuring to be a bigger part of his future.”
I can’t read this because I don’t pay for it, but it’s older than the article I quoted which said he’s only projected to have a plus slider, which means he does not have one now.
The CBS one just says quality breaking ball, which can mean anything.
Is this quote from the BA article behind a pay wall? If not, link please.
I don’t mean for this to sound rude, but you might want to look up the definition of :”project.” It means it’s what they think it will develop into. It does not mean he has a plus slider right now. So, again, it has not been confirmed that he has a plus slider right now. It says they believe he will develop one. And most sites lean that way. It’s all projection. It’s all “he could be”
They don’t say they project his fastball to be plus plus. They don’t say that because it already IS plus plus.
There are enough articles out there that question his secondaries. It’s the reason he is not the consensus number one everywhere. I’ve read articles that mention that there are some scouts who think Gore is better than Greene.
Again, it’s all over the place. You’ll get some places saying plus. You’ll get some places saying consensus. And the other half says the exact opposite. If he was without a doubt, zero articles questioning his secondaries, then he’d be the consensus and no one would mention Wright or Mckay at all at number one.
I don’t see in the BA mock 3.0 where it says plus slider, unless it’s in the video which I didn’t watch. I did a word search (control F) for the words: plus, slider and Greene in the mock. None of it led me to a sentence that said Greene has a plus slider. It just said he stopped pitching and the Padres are taking him if he’s there. The word plus was only written in the mock twice, once for Kyle Wright and once for Alex Lange.
I also couldn’t find anything else from John Sickels on May 4th for Hunter Greene. Clicked on every May 4th article on the blog.. Does he write somewhere else besides minor league ball on SB Nation?
Kinda figured you couldn’t afford it, so I quoted it above and it was updated in May for the mock draft 3.0.
Sickels said he has a plus curveball now. BA says he has a plus slider now. He has hit 101-102 with his FB which makes it plus plus.
It’s not a question of whether this kid has 2 plus pitches. It’s whether he has 3 plus pitches now since some think his curveball already is and the others say his slider is even better. That seems to depend on what game the scouts attended which shows that he is immensely talented and has 2 well developed breaking balls. He is developing a changeup that is projected to become an above average major league pitch. He is expected by nearly everyone to be in the majors by the time he reaches 20 years old.
If he is drafted as a shortstop he has been compared to a young Alex Rodriguez.
I’m done.
It says he has a 100 mph plus FB. You said he didn’t throw above 98. Just another article that shows that you are wrong.
Yeah, sorry, my firefighter salary doesn’t pay me nearly enough. I actually prefer to not spend money on things like that. I don’t have enough time to read every single thing so there’s no point in wasting money on it.
I’m just trying to figure out why this guy isn’t consensus if he has so many plus pitches already. Why are people saying Wright or McKay or even Gore over Greene if he’s such a stud? Seems to me there are definitely question marks out there since this isn’t considered a slam dunk Harper/Strasburg draft.
I said an article in November 2016 said he has only reached 98 at that time. I know he’s reached 100 since then. I just don’t know when he started reaching 100 or more. It must have been this spring and not before then.
baseballamerica.com/high-school/hunter-greene-stan…
There’s a disconnect somewhere because words like generational talent, best possible HS player ever, young A-Rod are getting thrown around a ton….yet every time I’ve seen people talk about this draft they say there is no Strasburg/Harper talent in it. I don’t see how that is possible when you throw around the those words. Those equal Strasburg/Harper talent at minimum.
How can someone who supposedly already has two plus pitches and could develop a third not be on a Strasburg/Harper level? I just don’t get it. It doesn’t add up. It doesn’t pass the smell test.
I’m a Hunter Greene fan, I just have my doubts about him. If the Twins choose him or not, I want him to succeed because it’s great for baseball. For the longest time I wanted him and only him at 1-1…but there’s too much out there that doesn’t line up. If he’s a Twin come June, great…I’ll be rooting so hard for him. I just know he has some warts right now, but his development could make that all go away…or it could prove my point.
Gore may some day have as good of a breaking ball. Right now Greene has been better and the difference in command and FB is day and night.
Wright is a college player with 3 more seasons of development. Not fair to compare where they are today. In 3 years Greene projects to be much better. Baz is not in the same class as any of the 1st 4 pitchers in the draft. Faedo and Bakauskas also rate higher. If it was my pick, I would take Rogers before Baz simply because he has a higher ceiling.
Otani has done it consistently at a high-level against superior competition, while Greene is making young men look like boys. Do you really want to spend a #1 overall pick on someone that has loads of talent, but you haven’t seen them against other talented competition? Brien Taylor anyone?
For two years Greene has dominated on the Perfect Game travelling squad baseball against all the other high school players you have seen mentioned in draft discussions. Its not pros, but neither is college ball. He has been better than the best of the best high school kids.
Do you equate that with someone that’s dominated in Asian leagues? My remark was to the original point of comparing Otani and Greene, simply because they’re both multi-dimensional, and my point is that though their skills are similar, the advance competition from Otani sets them apart.
I said what I said. He dominated the other high school players that will be taken near the top of this draft. Both with his bat and his arm.
I didn’t compare him to Otani at all.
The assumption made in that article that Beck would take a big cut at 5 is a poor one, he’ll get near slot. Anderson was going to go early teens and third instead, Beck is a tools guy that’s going top 10 regardless. Taking someone like Trevor Rodgers would be going down the Ian Anderson route
BA has beck at 26 in their latest mock. Im not sure i agree with him that low, but im not sure I would lock him in the top 10 either.
This might be the toughest year to mock that ive seen in a long time.
What’s your profession?
If he’s showing around 20-25, at best 15, I’d be willing to bet he takes below slot at #5.
Same was said last year about Anderson.
yea its an interesting draft i think after greene gore wright mckay and maybe lewis not much separates 6-20 and then 20-35
I hope that mock for the Phillies is wrong. Sounds like I’m going to struggle not to Go Postal.
My board for the Phillies 1st round:
1) Jo Adell
2) Keston Hiura
3) Mark Vientos
NO pitchers!
Faedo went into the year as a consensus top 3 pick and then only pitched very well instead of dominating against very high level college competition in the SEC. The SEC produces the most MLB players of any conference. He would be a good pick.
Padres should take him then.
The Phillies need one of the position talents I noted and the Phillies need to out-tank San Diego for that 1st pick next year which they will use to take the best position player in the draft.
Will the Phillies need one of those position players in 4 years? Probably not. So they should take the best player on the board regardless of position. if they end up with Faedo then they got a good pick.
“Will the Phillies need one of those position players in 4 years?Probably not ”
1) Are the Phillies going out of business in four years?
2) Are the Phillies already planning their ___next___ rebuild?
For your assertion to be true one of those two I listed must be true.
The Phillies are rebuilding because their lineup got old and their farm system was bereft of position talent. That’s the only reason any big market team would ever rebuild, no position talent.
The Phillies had Hamels and could have easily signed Greinke and Scherzer if they were what they needed.
A lineup is eight guys. Almost every position player is old at 30 now. Even really good ones are basically done at 35.
The Phillies will need position players in 4-5 years. Will they still have a dire need? No one can know. You are right that the best thing to do in the draft is to take the best player regardless of the position they play. You don’t know who will make it and you optimize your chances by taking the best player, not a position of need.
I see the top five like this:
1- Wright
2- McKay
3- Greene
4- Gore/Lewis
5- Beck
Just my opinion, but I’ve been solid with this thought for a few weeks now.
Adell is way better than Beck.
Austin is a tools only guy. Hit tool is not working. More of a late 1st round-supplemental pick.
College pitchers are the biggest waste in the draft.
Gore is interesting. I would definitely take him over the college pitchers.
I would love to know how college pitchers are the biggest waste in the draft. If you want to talk about backend guys that are drafted in later rounds, then sure, I can see your point. But high upside college arms (like the guys taken at the top of the draft) are not a waste at all… They have a better chance of making it than a lot of these high school pitchers that are only getting drafted that high because they can hit triple digits with their fastball.
Ever hear of Baseball-Reference? Look up the draft and go year-to-year for the 1st round and look at those top of the first round college pitchers.
Kershaw’s 2006 draft year is a fun read.
You do the same and look at all the failed high school pitchers.
Count me in the group that wants Beck at 5 for Atlanta. And he is also better than Adell (see we can both do this its fun right)?
Also, for a tools only guy, who’s tools are not working he must have absolutely amazing non-working tools. Beck finished this season batting .590/.700/1.218 with 12 home runs. He hit 3 home runs in his final playoff game and drove in all 4 of his teams runs in a 4-5 loss (vs a Vandy commit pitching).
At least put forth some effort to back up such an opinionated statement with some facts or else you just come across as a lame troll. Its cool you have an opinion different than ours, but stating an opinion as fact is lazy.
And Gore is interesting. I would want Atlanta to take him if they don’t get Beck. So Beck/Gore in that order for me but would be happy with either one. And if ATL does an underslot deal again (which I doubt they will b/c draft pool money) I would like to get Bukauskas if he would take a small cut.
i am just not sold on lewis maybe its the twins fan in me not happy about buxtons and raw tools for hs outfielders. but i am a big fan of pavin smith and shane baz he has 5 pitches all seem to be at least average or better
I agree on Baz, but cant get behind pavin smith that early. A bat first guy without big time power that is mostly limited to first base.