MLB 2020 Draft

[Krylian]

Yes. It's early. But the Jays will be picking early in the 2020 draft. That's one of the few good things that will come out of this season

 

http://baseballprospectjournal.com/2020-mlb-draft-top-prospects/

[Pendleton]

 

[BlueRocky]

https://www.baseballamerica.com/stories/2020-mlb-mock-draft-way-too-early-edition

2020 MLB Mock Draft: 'Way Too Early' Edition

 

By Carlos Collazo Teddy Cahill

on June 5, 2019

 

A 2020 mock draft just one day after the 2019 edition wraps up is, of course, ridiculous.

 

We understand that. And we embrace the fact that we are crazy for attempting to project the top 10 picks for next year's draft when we don’t even know the order in which teams will be picking.

 

However, teams will quickly start to focus on the 2020 draft class—starting next week at Perfect Game’s National showcase in Arizona, which will provide a look at some of the top prospects in the high school class. And after checking out our attempt to project the top 10 picks of the 2019 draft a year beforehand . . . it wasn’t terrible.

 

We accurately picked six of the top 10 selections, and while we didn’t get a single one dead-on, we were only one spot off with Adley Rutschman (mocked No. 2, drafted No. 1) Bobby Witt Jr. (mocked No. 1, drafted No. 2), Riley Greene (mocked No. 6, drafted No. 5) and Josh Jung (mocked No. 7, drafted No. 8).

 

Of the four players who weren't drafted among the top 10 selections in the draft, two were still first-round picks (Braden Shewmake and Logan Davidson), one was picked on the first day (Rece Hinds) and the final pick (Hunter Barco) we still view as a Day 1 talent, despite his slide to the 24th round.

 

So while this isn’t even a mock draft in the real sense of the term—mocks are based on information we are hearing about which players are linked to certain teams—there could still be some value here if you want to get a head start on what is shaping up to be a deep 2020 draft class. If there’s no value, hopefully it’s at least entertaining.

 

The order in which teams pick is based on their records as of June 5, 2019.

 

1. Orioles — Emerson Hancock, RHP, Georgia

 

Hancock was outshined by fellow Georgia product D.L. Hall in high school, but the now-Georgia ace has a good chance to beat Hall’s No. 21 selection in the 2017 draft and is one of the favorites to be the first overall pick. After a middling freshman season, Hancock broke out as a sophomore and was one of the best college pitchers in the country. He has plus stuff across the board with a fastball that’s routinely in the upper 90s, a slider, curveball and a changeup.

 

2. Royals — Spencer Torkelson, 1B/OF, Arizona State

 

Over the last two years, Torkelson has been one of the most productive hitters in college baseball and established himself as the top college hitter in the 2020 class. He hit 46 home runs in his first two years of college and last summer was one of the best hitters in the Cape Cod League. He has an abnormal profile for a top pick in the draft, but his power and hitting ability are enough to overcome his defensive limitations, much like Andrew Vaughn this year. Torkelson has exclusively been a first baseman at Arizona State, but last year on the Cape showed he could play right field.

 

3. Blue Jays — Pete Crow-Armstrong, OF, Harvard-Westlake HS, Studio City, Calif.

 

The top high school position player in the 2020 class, Crow-Armstrong seems to play the game at a different speed than everyone around him. He’s a plus-plus runner and a plus defender in center field, with an advanced approach at the plate and terrific bat-to-ball skills. He’s more of a line drive hitter now and teams will be looking to see how much impact he has in the bat, but his offensive approach is as sound as anyone in the class.

 

4. Marlins — Casey Martin, SS, Arkansas

 

Martin had a sensational freshman season as the third baseman on Arkansas’ College World Series runner-up team and followed it up with another strong year as a sophomore, while also moving to shortstop. He has a good chance to stay at the position in pro ball and brings solid power and athleticism, as well.

 

5. Mariners — Patrick Bailey, C, North Carolina State

 

Bailey has established himself as the top catcher in the 2020 class. He has solid power and plate discipline as a switch-hitter to go with a sound overall skillset behind the plate.

 

6. Tigers — Asa Lacy, LHP, Texas A&M

 

Well-regarded out of high school, Lacy broke out last summer in the Alaska Baseball League and carried that momentum into his sophomore year. He may have the best changeup in the 2020 draft class and also mixes in a mid-90s fastball and two quality breaking balls.

 

7. Giants — Dylan Crews, OF, Lake Mary (Fla.) HS

 

Crews was one of a number of underclass players to make the USA 18U National team last fall, and he stands out for his hitting ability, bat speed and power at the plate.

 

8. Nationals — Cole Wilcox, RHP, Georgia

 

A draft-eligible sophomore next year, Wilcox was a part of the incredible 2017 USA 18U National Team pitching staff. It took him a bit to find his footing in college, but by the end of this spring he was thriving in Georgia’s rotation. Wilcox runs his fastball into the upper 90s and mixes in a sharp slider and changeup.

 

9. Mets — Timothy Manning, LHP, Cardinal Gibbons HS, Fort Lauderdale, Fla.

 

A polished and still projectable, 6-foot-2, 175-pound lefthander committed to Florida, Manning is one of the best lefties in the 2020 class and has good feel for a three-pitch mix.

 

10. Reds — Jared Kelley, RHP, Refugio (Texas) HS

 

A Texas commit, Kelley should be one of the top prep pitchers in the 2020 class as a physical, 6-foot-2, 200-pound righthander who’s gotten his fastball into the mid- to upper 90s and also has a promising curveball.

[BlueRocky]

https://www.google.ca/amp/s/www.mlb.com/amp/news/early-2020-mock-mlb-draft.html

 

Here's our early 2020 mock Draft

 

By Jim Callis | June 10, 2019

 

Callis on 2020 Draft prospects

It's still 12 months away, but the 2020 Draft is shaping up to be the best since 2011, when the first 11 picks included Gerrit Cole, Trevor Bauer, Anthony Rendon, Francisco Lindor, Javier Baez and George Springer. Mookie Betts and Kyle Hendricks were just two of several notable later-round steals.

 

After a 2019 Draft during which scouts bemoaned the lack of college pitchers worthy of the first round, there will be no such complaints next year. MLB Pipeline's top-rated 2020 prospect is Georgia right-hander Emerson Hancock, and two more college arms factor into our projections for the first 10 picks below. If we extended our way-too-early mock draft to 20, another half-dozen would have made it, including Auburn righty Tanner Burns, Louisville lefty Reid Detmers and a second Bulldogs righty in Cole Wilcox.

 

The Draft order below is based on standings through Sunday's games. Interestingly, four of the first five selections belong to the exact same teams that held them in 2019, with the Blue Jays the lone exception at No. 3.

 

1. Orioles: Emerson Hancock, RHP, Georgia

Teams will monitor his health closely after he missed two starts with a lat injury this spring and his command slipped afterward, but he runs his fastball up to 98 mph, has a potential out pitch in his slider and possesses two more effective offerings in his changeup and curveball. If Hancock were eligible as a sophomore this June, he would have been the first pitcher selected.

 

2. Royals: Spencer Torkelson, 1B, Arizona State

He shattered Barry Bonds' school freshman home run record with 25 homers in 2018, then went deep 22 more times this spring. The premier power prospect in the 2020 Draft, Torkelson is similar to Andrew Vaughn (this year's No. 3 overall choice by the White Sox) with maybe a bit less pure hitting ability and a little more pop.

 

3. Blue Jays: Austin Martin, 3B, Vanderbilt

Vanderbilt's JJ Bleday went fourth overall to the Marlins last week and Martin could top his teammate a year from now. He leads the Southeastern Conference in hitting (.410) and on-base percentage (.503) heading into the College World Series, a tribute to his terrific feel for the barrel, and he also has developing power and possesses solid defensive ability at multiple infield spots.

 

4. Marlins: Pete Crow-Armstrong, OF, Harvard-Westlake HS (Studio City, Calif.)

The best prospect in the high school crop, he's an advanced hitter with power potential and well above-average speed. Crow-Armstrong also plays a quality center field and performed well on the 18-and-under U.S. national team last fall as a rising junior in a lineup that included five 2019 first-rounders.

 

5. Tigers: Garrett Mitchell, OF, UCLA

His hitting ability, speed, arm and center-field defense already earn some plus grades from evaluators, and he has the bat speed to develop the same kind of power. Mitchell was the best all-around offensive player (.349/.418/.566, 32 extra-base hits, 26 steals) in a deep UCLA lineup that also featured Rockies first-rounder Michael Toglia and Cubs second-rounder Chase Strumpf.

 

6. Mariners: Casey Martin, SS, Arkansas

Martin offers an exciting power-speed combination for a player who has the quickness and arm to be an asset at shortstop, though he'll need to make more consistent contact at the plate.

 

7. Giants: Asa Lacy, LHP, Texas A&M

Lacy ranked third in NCAA Division I in opponent average (.162) and eighth in strikeout rate (13.2 per nine innings) as a sophomore, a tribute to his ability to miss bats with four pitches: a 92-95 mph fastball, a tantalizing changeup and a pair of distinct breaking balls in his curveball and slider.

 

8. Reds: Patrick Bailey, C, North Carolina State

The class of the 2020 catchers, Bailey is a switch-hitter with power from both sides of the plate as well as solid throwing, receiving and blocking skills.

 

9. Nationals: Dylan Crews, OF, Lake Mary (Fla.) HS

Crews could be a right-handed version of Riley Greene, whom the Tigers just drafted fifth overall, as a Florida prep outfielder who should hit for average and power and has improved his athleticism.

 

10. Pirates: J.T. Ginn, RHP, Mississippi State

A Dodgers 2018 first-rounder who'll be eligible again as a sophomore next year, Ginn helped pitch Mississippi State to the College World Series with his mid-90s fastball and wipeout mid-80s slider.

[BlueRocky]

https://www.latimes.com/sports/highschool/la-sp-high-school-baseball-pete-crow-armstrong-20190512-story.html

 

Here’s an article on Pete Crow-Armstrong, projected top prep bat in the class.

 

I’ve also heard some really good things about 3B Austin Martin from Vanderbilt and of course Spencer Torkelson, 1B/OF supposedly elite bat.

 

A couple sources say that the 2020 draft is a pretty strong draft, better than both 2018 and 2019. We will see, there’s still a lot of uncollected data. But it’s nice to see scouts already raving about next year (more than usual) when we for sure will have a very high pick.

 

Draft eligible pitchers we recognize from 2018 year’s draft class that didn’t sign such as Cole Wilcox and J.T. Ginn. Definitely more high-end pitching talent this time around after a bit of a pitcher drought in 2019. Early names include Emerson Hancock and Asa Lacy.

 

Mocks this early don’t mean anything, but just to browse some names over.

Edited June 17, 2019 by BlueRocky

[Boxcar]

I really hope we can out lose the Royals and get Torkelson

[Maine Jays]

Bleeping Royals one upping us again.

[BlueRocky]

The most hyped guys don’t usually end up the best players. In years where the number 1 pick busted or underperformed, guys taken afterward can turn out pretty good.

 

I’m doing an article on the Blue Jay’s past draft history and drafting top 5 vs drafting 12. And next year’s draft pick. It covers this topic that should be posted in the RadioScouts blog soon.

 

So far there’s no clear consensus no. 1 in 2020, unlike in 2019 where Adley Rutschman remained a category above the rest for like 10 months before the draft. There will be plenty of talent to choose from in the top 10 next year.

 

 

 

edit: Article here: Myth Busters: Is Tanking Worth It?

Edited June 21, 2019 by BlueRocky

[Ray]

Austin Martin's numbers are nuts:

 

.432/.514/.641

 

He's doing this in the SEC as well. Looks like he's plus defender at SS and has good speed too. That'll play.

[BlueRocky]

For sure. There’s some very exciting prospects drafted out of Vanderbilt this year, including JJ Bleday, and yet scouts can’t stop raving about 3B/SS Austin Martin, good thing he’s not draft eligible till next year when we could potentially pick him

 

I can’t gauge his ceiling, like are we talking Carlos Correa, Nolan Arenado, Dansby Swanson, or Nick Senzel? I’m not sure yet, it’s too early to tell.

[Ray]

Martin's sophomore season blows away any other college shortstops. Bregman, Swanson, Senzel never had as good of a season as Martin just did, and Martin should theoretically get better since he's heading into his Jr. season.

 

Plus hit tool that's a plus defender with speed and should move relatively quickly. Reminds me of Rendon with less game power.

[BlueRocky]

Martin's sophomore season blows away any other college shortstops. Bregman, Swanson, Senzel never had as good of a season as Martin just did, and Martin should theoretically get better since he's heading into his Jr. season.

 

Plus hit tool that's a plus defender with speed and should move relatively quickly. Reminds me of Rendon with less game power.

 

http://66.media.tumblr.com/822115f1a9c92b61a901f467176ecffa/tumblr_n4p35sJjiZ1s26dsio3_250.gif

[P2F]

I'm just going to leave this here for your Tuesday morning commute and/or poop.

 

'Myth Busters: Is Tanking Worth It?' by BlueRocky

 

https://www.radioscouts.com/post/myth-busters-is-tanking-worth-it

[Spanky99]

I'm just going to leave this here for your Tuesday morning commute and/or poop.

 

'Myth Busters: Is Tanking Worth It?' by BlueRocky

 

https://www.radioscouts.com/post/myth-busters-is-tanking-worth-it

 

Shane Baz

[Krylian]

The answer is yes.

[connorp]

What happens, in terms of a player, when a college player doesn’t sign? Do they have to wait until the next draft?

[BlueRocky]

What happens, in terms of a player, when a college player doesn’t sign? Do they have to wait until the next draft?

 

Yeah, but if a junior doesn’t sign he becomes a senior and pretty much loses leverage in bonus negotiations. Sometimes the difference is very significant (150K vs 10K bonus), it’s case by case.

[Laika]

What happens, in terms of a player, when a college player doesn’t sign? Do they have to wait until the next draft?

 

Yes. For a college junior, the drafting team loses the right to sign them although I'm not sure if this technically happens on the "signing deadline" or when they return to school. They would be draft eligible again after their senior year.

 

For a college senior, I suppose if they don't sign and don't return to school they would be a free agent, although if they don't sign it's probably because they'd rather not play baseball.

 

For a high school kid that doesn't sign and chooses to attend school the choices are basically:

- Go to a four year school and be eligible again after your junior year

- Go to a Junior College and be draft eligible the next year (draft eligible every year out of JuCo)

- Do the Carter Stewart and go to Japan!

 

I'm not sure what the options would be for the delinquent high school draftee who chooses not to sign, refuses to attend school, and does not want to sign in an international league. I'm guessing they would try to sign an independent league contract for a year and then might be a form of free agent???

[connorp]

I guess it’s a moot point as most relevant draftees are going to be juniors...but I was thinking about players with no more college eligibility, if they don’t like what they’re being offered, what’s really their leg to stand on..

 

Edit: unless it’s as njh says as they’re a FA at that point. Otherwise as Blue pointed out if they don’t sign their junior year they pretty much give up all their leverage

 

I didn’t know about some of the other stuff though (JuCo) so good answers

[BlueRocky]

I guess it’s a moot point as most relevant draftees are going to be juniors...but I was thinking about players with no more college eligibility, if they don’t like what they’re being offered, what’s really their leg to stand on..

 

Edit: unless it’s as njh says as they’re a FA at that point. Otherwise as Blue pointed out if they don’t sign their junior year they pretty much give up all their leverage

 

I didn’t know about some of the other stuff though (JuCo) so good answers

 

There’s always Korea

[TheOutsider]

Looks like the Orioles are running away with the 1st pick, losing nine in a row. I get the feeling the Jays, close as they are to #2 pick, will somehow mess up the tanking process and end up with #7 or something.

[Krylian]

Looks like the Orioles are running away with the 1st pick, losing nine in a row. I get the feeling the Jays, close as they are to #2 pick, will somehow mess up the tanking process and end up with #7 or something.

 

My life as a Leafs fan for the longest time. They can't win right, and they can't lose right either.

[Abomination]

Looks like the Orioles are running away with the 1st pick, losing nine in a row. I get the feeling the Jays, close as they are to #2 pick, will somehow mess up the tanking process and end up with #7 or something.

 

I wouldn't be at all surprised to see our young players get more comfortable in the second half, and have us go on a run that puts us outside the bottom 10.

[Krylian]

I wouldn't be at all surprised to see our young players get more comfortable in the second half, and have us go on a run that puts us outside the bottom 10.

 

I think that's a bit much. 5-7 maybe...but they basically have to play better than .500 ball to get out of the top 10.

[DigitalRock]

I wouldn't be at all surprised to see our young players get more comfortable in the second half, and have us go on a run that puts us outside the bottom 10.

 

The offense has looked better lately, bichette will be up and hopefully borucki soon.

[THANOS]

https://futurebluejays.com/2019/06/20/top-50-2020-mlb-draft-prospects/

 

 

https://futurebluejays.com/2019/08/27/how-loaded-is-the-2020-mlb-draft-class/

 

Torkelson is a fringe 60/70 grade and could get a 70 if he shows flexibility on defense and/or continues to put up Barry Bonds numbers in college. Now let’s look at the 60 graders, the ‘20 class has two in Torkelson and Emerson Hancock, while the ‘19 class had just one in Adley Rutchsman – already the ‘20 class taking the lead. Now the 55 graders, the ‘20 class has three in Austin Hendrick, Mick Abel, and Dylan Crews. While Bobby Witt Jr. is the lone 55 grade in the ‘19 class. So already that’s 5 players with a 55 or higher grade compared to the 2 in the ‘19 class. This is why getting into the top 5 is so important for the Jays. Finally onto the 50 graders, the ‘20 class has a whooping 11 players featuring Cole Wilcox, Tyler Soderstrom, Pete Crow-Armstrong, Zac Veen, Blaze Jordan, Drew Romo, and more. What’s the 2019 Class looking like? Only 6, those six being Daniel Espino, Andrew Vaughn, Nick Lodolo, C.J Abrams, Riley Greene and Nick Lodolo. Looking at the tally, that’s 16 50+ graded players to only 8 in the ‘19 class.

[Spanky99]

Still sitting in the top 5... while are young core get work in for next season.

[Boxcar]

I want Blaze Jordan, knowing absolutely nothing about him.

[Spanky99]

I want Blaze Jordan, knowing absolutely nothing about him.

 

That name is off the charts!

[Krylian]

I want Blaze Jordan, knowing absolutely nothing about him.

 

I feel he has huge bust potential. And I don't mean a 38DD like Vladdy has.