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Posted
If anyone is interested every South Alabama game is streamed through ---> JagNationTV.com

 

South Alabama (11) plays Auburn (18) tonight at 6.30pm.

 

Correction. Game is at 7.30pm. Anyone going to watch?

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Posted

Thanks for all the recap and links J4L. You da real MVP.

Who do you like other than Swaggy T here? Curious. How about on the 2nd round? I know he is a catcher but I am hoping for Naylor, because why not? haha

Posted
Thanks for all the recap and links J4L. You da real MVP.

Who do you like other than Swaggy T here? Curious. How about on the 2nd round? I know he is a catcher but I am hoping for Naylor, because why not? haha

 

I really like Madrigal too, sucks he broke his wrist.

 

So much will change over the course of the season with the rankings and the stocks of these guys, i'm just starting to dive into it all myself so i don't really have strong opinions on anyone yet.

 

Usually we don't have a draft thread till like 1 day before the draft so hopefully we can generate some discussions with this thread. Looks like a real exciting draft class.

Posted
I really like Madrigal too, sucks he broke his wrist.

 

So much will change over the course of the season with the rankings and the stocks of these guys, i'm just starting to dive into it all myself so i don't really have strong opinions on anyone yet.

 

Usually we don't have a draft thread till like 1 day before the draft so hopefully we can generate some discussions with this thread. Looks like a real exciting draft class.

 

Yeah totally fair! Still have a lot of time. I recall early last year Gore wasn't in the top 20 discussion, Schawrtz had top 10 hype, and Warthmoth/Pearson weren't rank in the top 50 to start.

The class does look exciting, I am liking what I am reading more than last year #notascout

Posted

Ok. T-Swag comes up bottom of the 8th with 2 outs and a man on first. South Alabama is down by one. (7-6)

 

 

They IBB him. Boo. Next guy flies out.

 

T-Swag 2-2, 3 BB

Posted

Welcome to the first Draft Tracker of the 2018 season.

 

Baseball America has done versions of the draft tracker in the past, but we're bringing the feature back this season on a more regular basis.

 

The goal of this recurring feature (which will happen on Thursdays every other week, alternating with draft chats) is to keep you aware of some of the major movement of draft prospects over the course of the season. Whether that's a top player slipping, a pop-up prospect jumping higher onto boards or a player's stock falling because of injuries, the goal of the draft tracker is to give regular information on the extremely fluid nature of the draft as we progress towards the BA 500.

 

One thing to point out is that it is still extremely early in the season. While pointing out trends is helpful to get an understanding of the draft picture, all of the players listed have plenty of time to make adjustments and change directions as the season progresses.

 

 

Let's jump in.

 

Stock Rising

 

Travis Swaggerty | OF | South Alabama

 

Over and over again, we hear that college bats will inevitably rise up draft boards as the spring season begins. Once again, that's the case and perhaps the highest profile player to start trending upward is South Alabama outfielder Travis Swaggerty.

 

After going undrafted out of Denham Springs (La.) High in 2015, Swaggerty has performed at a high level each year with the Jaguars in the Sun Belt Conference, hitting .331/.459/.493 over his first two seasons and also impressing with USA Baseball's Collegiate National Team last summer with a .328/.449/.406 line with a wood bat.

 

Through nine games this season Swaggerty is off to a torrid pace, hitting .367/.587/.767 with three home runs and three doubles in nine games. Prior to this spring, power was perhaps the only area of Swaggerty's game that could be reasonably criticized. While it's still early, if the increased power is as real as it appears to be, Swaggerty will more than likely go at the top of the first round rather than in the back half.

 

"He showed some of the best hands that I've seen in this year's college crop," said one scout who's seen Swaggerty this season. "Athleticism to stick in center field. It's top half of the first round talent, perhaps better."

 

 

 

 

Mason Denaburg | RHP | Merritt Island (Fla.) High

 

Denaburg's performance in front of a large group of scouting directors during his first outing of the season pushes him near the top of a deep high school pitching class. His second outing of the season wasn't as sharp as his first, but he can get his fastball up to 97 mph and has shown tremendous improvement with breaking ball that was plus during his first start of the year.

 

Denaburg offers significant upside and room for improvement as well, as a former two-way player who is only now starting to focus exclusively on pitching. As one of the more athletic arms in the class, he should have the ability to continue making adjustments and refining his game as progresses and logs more innings.

 

 

 

 

Carter Stewart | RHP | Eau Gallie High, Melbourne, Fla.

 

Stewart was largely in Denaburg's shadow at the PBR event that the two righthanders both threw at two weeks ago, as his breaking ball wasn't as consistent as it's been previously. Still, evaluators see the pitch as a plus-plus pitch down the line (if it isn't there already) and his velocity has taken a massive jump since the 88-92 mph range that he found himself sitting in most of the summer.

 

Scouts say that Stewart has touched as high as 98 mph recently, which completely changes the grades penciled into his scouting reports. While last summer Stewart had one of the best breaking balls in the class with a below-average fastball that could project as average or better down the line thanks to his frame and athleticism, it sounds like he now has two future 70-grade offerings.

 

That sort of stuff combined with his advanced ability to throw strikes--evidenced by his ability to manipulate and spot a breaking ball that most prep pitchers would struggle to control--and the projection he still has in a 6-foot-6 frame that can add more weight has him shooting up draft boards.

 

Trevor Larnach | OF | Oregon State

 

Larnach's current production (.556/.667/.1.111, 4 HR, 3 2B) is unsustainable throughout a full season, but he's taken an obvious step forward with his game and has surpassed his previous college home run total (three homers over 88 games in two seasons) in just six games during his junior year. It's not all that unusual for hitters to improve their power during their junior season, but Larnach is exceeding all expectations.

 

While Larnach should come back down to Earth--or even within the stratosphere--at some point in the near future, he'll get seen as often as any player in the country playing alongside Cadyn Grenier and (in a few less games now) Nick Madrigal, with a chance to move well within the top two rounds thanks in part to a down year for the college bats.

 

Stock Falling

 

Nander De Sedas | SS | Montverde (Fla.) Academy

 

The toolsy Florida shortstop entered the spring as a member of the first team on BA's preseason high school All-America team, but one who still had questions about the polish of his bat. While Montverde has played just a handful of games to this point, some evaluators with multiple looks at De Sedas this spring have left with more questions than they came with.

 

He's facing less than elite high school pitching and hasn't barreled those arms at the level you'd expect of a top-of-the-first-round talent. Additionally, evaluators have been less than impressed with his defensive play at shortstop whereas last summer and fall, he showed all the tools to signify he could stick at the position. Those impressions, combined with some concerns about him outgrowing the middle infield in the future have caused his stock to dip a bit.

 

The raw talent and ability is still there, and it's early, but De Sedas will need to start showing it more this spring to re-establish himself with the elite players of this class. He'll have a chance to do so against talented arms in the next few weeks.

 

 

 

 

Jeremy Eierman | SS | Missouri State

 

Eierman's draw is as a potential middle of the order bat with a chance to stick at shortstop. So far this season, Eierman hasn't hit much yet, let alone for power. In six games vs. Texas Southern, Lamar and Central Arkansas, Eierman has hit .130/.259/.217 with no home runs, eight strikeouts and two walks.

 

Decision makers are likely not overreacting too much at this point, and many have yet to see him play, but he'll get a decent crowd of scouts during weekend No. 3 as Missouri State heads to Greenville, N.C. to play St. Joseph's, East Carolina and Pepperdine. A good showing there would help him ease a slight fall that's coming on the heels of a poor showing with USA Baseball's Collegiate National Team (.125/.182/.225, 10 K, 2 BB) last summer.

 

On the Mend

 

Nick Madrigal | 2B | Oregon State

 

The top college hitter in the class will be out of Oregon State's lineup for a significant period of time after reportedly breaking his wrist last weekend on a slide into home plate. While unfortunate, this news shouldn't change Madrigal's draft stock much at all, as a player who has developed an extremely impressive track record of hitting at a high level. He was off to another strong start this season, while also showing some power out of the gate.

 

Ethan Hankins | RHP | Forsyth Central High, Cumming, Ga.

 

Hankins left one of his first starts this spring with shoulder tightness and got the injury checked out to find no tears in the shoulder. He'll go through some physical therapy and the hope is that he could return in the next few weeks.

 

This injury is a bit more concerning than Madrigal's, but for now it shouldn't drop the electric righthander much. If he goes through his PT and comes back as the same caliber pitcher he was for the entirety of last summer he'll right back in the conversation as one of the first players off the board, with the talent to potentially become the first high school righthander taken 1-1.

 

Slade Cecconi | RHP | Trinity Prep High, Winter Park, Fla.

 

Cecconi hasn't thrown yet this season and is dealing with an undisclosed injury according to multiple sources, though it doesn't sound like a major setback and he could be on the mound again in the next couple of weeks.

 

Teams looked forward to getting to know Cecconi better this offseason, but have faced obstacles in doing that to this point. Cecconi has the talent to match up with the best arms in the high school class with a fastball that's been up to 96 and a plus slider, but has pitched less frequently than most of them as well. His first outing could end up being at the highly-scouted National High School Invitational event in Cary at the end of this month.

 

Read more at https://www.baseballamerica.com/draft/2018-draft-tracker-swaggerty-denaburg-larnach-helping/#XBS1pAuOKptbXEvW.99

Posted
Everyone get on board the T-Swag bandwagon!

 

Iunoo man, if Carter Stewart can throw 98 and have the best curveball in the draft that is pretty tempting! :P

Posted

BA updated their rankings. They did the top 300, but I won't post all 300 names unless someone wants me too.

 

T-Swag shooting up the board.

 

____

 

1. RHP Brady Singer | R-R | 6-5 | 180 | Florida | Blue Jays ’15 (2)

 

2. LHP Shane McClanahan | L-L | 6-1 | 173 | South Florida | Mets ’15 (26)

 

3. LHP Matthew Liberatore | L-L | 6-5 | 200 | Mountain Ridge HS, Riverdale, Ariz. | Arizona

 

4. RHP Ethan Hankins | R-R | 6-6 | 215 | Forsyth Central HS, Cumming, Ga. | Vanderbilt

 

5. SS Brice Turang | L-R | 6-1 | 165 | Santiago HS, Corona, Calif. | Louisiana State

 

6. 3B Nolan Gorman | L-R | 6-1 | 210 | Sandra Day O’Connor HS, Phoenix | Arizona

 

7. LHP Ryan Rolison | R-L | 6-2 | 195 | Mississippi | Padres ’16 (37)

 

8. RHP Casey Mize | R-R | 6-3 | 208 | Auburn | Never Drafted

 

9. SS/2B Nick Madrigal | R-R | 5-7 | 160 | Oregon State | Indians ’15 (17)

 

10. OF Travis Swaggerty | L-L | 5-11 | 180 | South Alabama | Never Drafted

11. RHP Jackson Kowar | R-R | 6-4 | 170 | Florida | Tigers ’15 (40)

 

12. RHP/C Mason Denaburg | R-R | 6-3 | 190 | Merritt Island (Fla.) HS | Florida

 

13. OF Jarred Kelenic | L-L | 6-1 | 196 | Waukesha (Wisc.) West HS | Louisville

 

14. RHP Carter Stewart | R-R | 6-6 | 200 | Eau Gallie HS, Melbourne, Fla. | Mississippi State

 

15. RHP Kumar Rocker | R-R | 6-4 | 240 | North Oconee HS, Bogart, Ga. | Vanderbilt

 

16. RHP Logan Gilbert | R-R | 6-5 | 195 | Stetson | Never Drafted

 

17. LHP Ryan Weathers | R-L | 6-2 | 210 | Loretto (Tenn.) HS | Vanderbilt

 

18. SS Nander De Sedas | B-R | 6-1 | 190 | Montverde (Fla.) Academy | Florida Stata

 

19. C Joey Bart | R-R | 6-3 | 220 | Georgia Tech | Rays ’15 (27)

 

20. OF Tristan Pompey | B-R | 6-4 | 200 | Kentucky | Twins ’15 (31)

 

21. OF/1B Greyson Jenista | L-R | 6-4 | 240 | Wichita State | Never Drafted

 

22. RHP Tristan Beck | R-R | 6-4 | 165 | Stanford | Yankees ’17 (29)

 

23. 3B Alec Bohm | R-R | 6-5 | 240 | Wichita State | Never Drafted

 

24. OF Griffin Conine | L-R | 6-1 | 195 | Duke | Marlins ’15 (31)

 

25. C Will Banfield | R-R | 6-0 | 200 | Brookwood HS, Snellville, Ga. | Vanderbilt

 

26. RHP Sean Hjelle | R-R | 6-11 | 215 | Kentucky | Never Drafted

 

27. SS Jeremy Eierman | R-R | 6-0 | 195 | Missouri State | Never Drafted

 

28. 1B/3B Triston Casas | L-R | 6-4 | 238 | American Heritage School, Plantation, Fla. | Miami

 

29. OF Steele Walker | L-L | 5-11 | 190 | Oklahoma | Never Drafted

 

30. RHP Mike Vasil | L-R | 6-4 | 210 | Boston College HS | Virginia

 

 

Read more at https://www.baseballamerica.com/draft/2018-top-300-mlb-draft-prospects/#5U6gHiFdcbbrTL5B.99

Old-Timey Member
Posted

For you (you know who you are).

 

[TABLE]

[TR]

[TD=class: chat_time, bgcolor: #CECECE]12:39[/TD]

[TD=class: chat_desc]Ron Swanson’s Mustache: How much has Travis Swaggerty helped his stock in the first few weeks of the season? Think he could be in play for ATL at 8?

 

 

[/TD]

[/TR]

[/TABLE]

[TABLE]

[TR]

[TD=class: chat_time, bgcolor: #CECECE]12:39[/TD]

[TD=class: chat_desc]Kiley McDaniel: He’s one of the guys that’s moving up. More than a few teams have him in the top 10. Could be a fit there.

 

 

[/TD]

[/TR]

[/TABLE]

 

[TABLE]

[TR]

[TD=class: chat_time, bgcolor: #CECECE]12:42[/TD]

[TD=class: chat_desc]Mike: If Travis Swaggerty continues to hit anywhere near this level the rest of the way (OBP + more pop), does he sneak into the discussion at the top of the draft?

 

 

[/TD]

[/TR]

[/TABLE]

[TABLE]

[TR]

[TD=class: chat_time, bgcolor: #CECECE]12:43[/TD]

[TD=class: chat_desc]Kiley McDaniel: Probably not the top 5, but I could see him going 6-10

 

[/TD]

[/TR]

[/TABLE]

Posted
For you (you know who you are).

 

[TABLE]

[TR]

[TD=class: chat_time, bgcolor: #CECECE]12:39[/TD]

[TD=class: chat_desc]Ron Swanson’s Mustache: How much has Travis Swaggerty helped his stock in the first few weeks of the season? Think he could be in play for ATL at 8?

 

 

[/TD]

[/TR]

[/TABLE]

[TABLE]

[TR]

[TD=class: chat_time, bgcolor: #CECECE]12:39[/TD]

[TD=class: chat_desc]Kiley McDaniel: He’s one of the guys that’s moving up. More than a few teams have him in the top 10. Could be a fit there.

 

 

[/TD]

[/TR]

[/TABLE]

 

[TABLE]

[TR]

[TD=class: chat_time, bgcolor: #CECECE]12:42[/TD]

[TD=class: chat_desc]Mike: If Travis Swaggerty continues to hit anywhere near this level the rest of the way (OBP + more pop), does he sneak into the discussion at the top of the draft?

 

 

[/TD]

[/TR]

[/TABLE]

[TABLE]

[TR]

[TD=class: chat_time, bgcolor: #CECECE]12:43[/TD]

[TD=class: chat_desc]Kiley McDaniel: Probably not the top 5, but I could see him going 6-10

 

[/TD]

[/TR]

[/TABLE]

 

Who are you feeling in this draft so far?

Old-Timey Member
Posted (edited)
Who are you feeling in this draft so far?

 

From everything that I know so far, I like Hankins and Gorman a lot (obviously), as well as Denaburg and Jenista. But honestly, I like Seth Beer. I don't care if he's a 1B only, his bat is goddamn absurd. I'm also keeping an eye on whether or not Kumar Rocker and Brice Turang continue to tumble down the rankings - that could be interesting.

 

Edit: Swaggerty, too. Lots of early helium.

Edited by P2F
Posted
BA updated their rankings. They did the top 300, but I won't post all 300 names unless someone wants me too.

 

T-Swag shooting up the board.

 

____

 

1. RHP Brady Singer | R-R | 6-5 | 180 | Florida | Blue Jays ’15 (2)

 

2. LHP Shane McClanahan | L-L | 6-1 | 173 | South Florida | Mets ’15 (26)

 

3. LHP Matthew Liberatore | L-L | 6-5 | 200 | Mountain Ridge HS, Riverdale, Ariz. | Arizona

 

4. RHP Ethan Hankins | R-R | 6-6 | 215 | Forsyth Central HS, Cumming, Ga. | Vanderbilt

 

5. SS Brice Turang | L-R | 6-1 | 165 | Santiago HS, Corona, Calif. | Louisiana State

 

6. 3B Nolan Gorman | L-R | 6-1 | 210 | Sandra Day O’Connor HS, Phoenix | Arizona

 

7. LHP Ryan Rolison | R-L | 6-2 | 195 | Mississippi | Padres ’16 (37)

 

8. RHP Casey Mize | R-R | 6-3 | 208 | Auburn | Never Drafted

 

9. SS/2B Nick Madrigal | R-R | 5-7 | 160 | Oregon State | Indians ’15 (17)

 

10. OF Travis Swaggerty | L-L | 5-11 | 180 | South Alabama | Never Drafted

11. RHP Jackson Kowar | R-R | 6-4 | 170 | Florida | Tigers ’15 (40)

 

12. RHP/C Mason Denaburg | R-R | 6-3 | 190 | Merritt Island (Fla.) HS | Florida

 

13. OF Jarred Kelenic | L-L | 6-1 | 196 | Waukesha (Wisc.) West HS | Louisville

 

14. RHP Carter Stewart | R-R | 6-6 | 200 | Eau Gallie HS, Melbourne, Fla. | Mississippi State

 

15. RHP Kumar Rocker | R-R | 6-4 | 240 | North Oconee HS, Bogart, Ga. | Vanderbilt

 

16. RHP Logan Gilbert | R-R | 6-5 | 195 | Stetson | Never Drafted

 

17. LHP Ryan Weathers | R-L | 6-2 | 210 | Loretto (Tenn.) HS | Vanderbilt

 

18. SS Nander De Sedas | B-R | 6-1 | 190 | Montverde (Fla.) Academy | Florida Stata

 

19. C Joey Bart | R-R | 6-3 | 220 | Georgia Tech | Rays ’15 (27)

 

20. OF Tristan Pompey | B-R | 6-4 | 200 | Kentucky | Twins ’15 (31)

 

21. OF/1B Greyson Jenista | L-R | 6-4 | 240 | Wichita State | Never Drafted

 

22. RHP Tristan Beck | R-R | 6-4 | 165 | Stanford | Yankees ’17 (29)

 

23. 3B Alec Bohm | R-R | 6-5 | 240 | Wichita State | Never Drafted

 

24. OF Griffin Conine | L-R | 6-1 | 195 | Duke | Marlins ’15 (31)

 

25. C Will Banfield | R-R | 6-0 | 200 | Brookwood HS, Snellville, Ga. | Vanderbilt

 

26. RHP Sean Hjelle | R-R | 6-11 | 215 | Kentucky | Never Drafted

 

27. SS Jeremy Eierman | R-R | 6-0 | 195 | Missouri State | Never Drafted

 

28. 1B/3B Triston Casas | L-R | 6-4 | 238 | American Heritage School, Plantation, Fla. | Miami

 

29. OF Steele Walker | L-L | 5-11 | 190 | Oklahoma | Never Drafted

 

30. RHP Mike Vasil | L-R | 6-4 | 210 | Boston College HS | Virginia

 

 

Read more at https://www.baseballamerica.com/draft/2018-top-300-mlb-draft-prospects/#5U6gHiFdcbbrTL5B.99

 

I have the #2, #16, #17 (soon) picks in BORED. Your best is #22 (soon).

 

Make me a wise offer so you can land T-Swag.

Posted
I have the #2, #16, #17 (soon) picks in BORED. Your best is #22 (soon).

 

Make me a wise offer so you can land T-Swag.

 

CC Sabathia could be yours!

Posted

GLENDALE, Ariz.--Spring training games are in full swing as the Cactus League opened last week. As the major leaguers work to get in shape, one of Arizona's top high school players looked in mid-season form. Mountain Ridge High (Glendale, Ariz.) lefthander Matthew Liberatore lived up to his billing on Wednesday in front of nearly 150 scouts, cross-checkers, scouting directors and front office personnel. Liberatore is one of two highly touted prospects (along with infielder Nolan Gorman) in Phoenix that will be heavily scouted this spring.

 

The 6-foot-5 lefty was impressive from the first pitch to the last. His loose arm, easy three-quarter delivery and smooth mechanics drew comparisons ranging from Cole Hamels to Steve Avery. His first pitch clocked in at 92 mph. He generally sat at 92-93 and touched 95 on a few pitches early in the game. As the outing wore on into the middle innings, he settled in at 90-91 as he continued to cruise through the opposing lineup. His competitiveness ramped up in the 7th inning after the opposition managed to get a runner to third base who then successfully stole home. After some chirping from the opposing bench, he reached back for 94 and 95 mph before dropping a 73 mph curveball for a strikeout to end the game.

 

Liberatore showed good depth on his 73-74 mph 12-to-6 curveball. He flashed an 84 mph changeup, but his fastball and breaking ball were so dominant that he barely used it. He has a real good frame and still some projection to his already plus fastball.

 

One NL scout noted, "His fastball when down really has plus run and sink to it. I also liked that if he flies open or rushes a little he has the ability to correct it the next pitch."

 

An AL scout was impressed with "his easy delivery, ability to repeat, ability to reach back and get a little extra when he needed it. Pretty impressive performance."

 

ADVERTISING

 

The lefthander pitched seven innings, giving up just three hits, one earned run with one walk and 14 strikeouts to earn the complete game win while throwing around 90 pitches. In addition, he hit a batter and picked off a baserunner.

 

Head coach Artie Cox said after the game that he's impressed with "his competitiveness, his preparation, the time he puts in to get ready to pitch. He has a great work ethic and is a leader not just by example but by keeping guys up in the dugout, keeping players in the game."

 

"We stressed that it's just another game when you're between the lines," Cox said, referencing the 100+ scouts and personnel in the stands. "We had a scrimmage last week with probably 45-50 scouts there so that helped from a preparation standpoint. Once he threw the first pitch for a strike, I felt like he was going to be OK.

 

"As good as he was today, he's been even better. There have been times where his curveball has been sharper and he's been able to throw it in any count for a strike. He's a pretty special player."

 

The amateur draft is still three months away but one thing is for sure, scouts will pack the stands when Liberatore makes his starts this spring.

 

Therron Brockish has more than 20 years of experience as a college coach and as an amateur scout. He served as an assistant coach at Wayne State, Ball State and Arizona Christian and as head coach at Iowa Western CC, and he worked for six years as an area scout with the Philadelphia Phillies, signing big leaguers Jason Donald, Tuffy Gosewisch and Lou Marson during that time.

 

 

Read more at https://www.baseballamerica.com/draft/elite-draft-prospect-liberatore-impresses-early-season-outing/#AAXdx3jYrZBO9vcF.99

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