2023 MLB Draft

[jaysfaithful8]

121. Landen Maroudis

 

Bats: R

Class: HS SR

Height: 6' 3"

Pick Value: $547.10k

Throws: R

DOB: 12/16/04

Weight: 190

Birthplace: USA

Calvary Christian High School in Florida has one of the deepest high school pitching staffs in the country with right-hander Liam Peterson, lefty Hunter Dietz and Maroudis. Also the club's shortstop when he isn't pitching, Maroudis entered the spring third on the depth chart, but many evaluators believed he had vaulted to the top of the list based on his performance and upside. Maroudis is a solid infield prospect, a good athlete who can swing the bat well, but his future at the next level lies on the mound. The 6-foot-3 right-hander has the chance to have an excellent three-pitch mix. His fastball had touched 96 mph early in the spring, though that velocity backed up a bit as he tired a bit thanks to his two-way duties. There's good ride and spin to the fastball, something sure to speak to the analytics fans. His changeup is his best secondary offering, ahead of the spike slurve he throws that's more of a frisbee-like slider than anything else, with some evaluators worrying a little bit about his breaking stuff due to how low his elbow is in his delivery. Committed to North Carolina State, Maroudis does a very good job of throwing strikes, and teams will certainly be interested in his fastball qualities as well as the upside that comes with his athleticism. Teams that think there could be another gear to reach once he stops hitting could be intrigued in the first few rounds.

[Jonn]

Was not expecting a High School arm. Lots of senior signs coming up. Gonna think Arjun wants in the 3.5-4m range. And this kid will want around 2 million.

[jaysfaithful8]

Maybe they reach a deal with Maroudis where he signs for less / slot value and is allowed to continue his development as both a pitcher and a shortstop?

[Spanky99]

121. Landen Maroudis

 

Bats: R

Class: HS SR

Height: 6' 3"

Pick Value: $547.10k

Throws: R

DOB: 12/16/04

Weight: 190

Birthplace: USA

Calvary Christian High School in Florida has one of the deepest high school pitching staffs in the country with right-hander Liam Peterson, lefty Hunter Dietz and Maroudis. Also the club's shortstop when he isn't pitching, Maroudis entered the spring third on the depth chart, but many evaluators believed he had vaulted to the top of the list based on his performance and upside. Maroudis is a solid infield prospect, a good athlete who can swing the bat well, but his future at the next level lies on the mound. The 6-foot-3 right-hander has the chance to have an excellent three-pitch mix. His fastball had touched 96 mph early in the spring, though that velocity backed up a bit as he tired a bit thanks to his two-way duties. There's good ride and spin to the fastball, something sure to speak to the analytics fans. His changeup is his best secondary offering, ahead of the spike slurve he throws that's more of a frisbee-like slider than anything else, with some evaluators worrying a little bit about his breaking stuff due to how low his elbow is in his delivery. Committed to North Carolina State, Maroudis does a very good job of throwing strikes, and teams will certainly be interested in his fastball qualities as well as the upside that comes with his athleticism. Teams that think there could be another gear to reach once he stops hitting could be intrigued in the first few rounds.

 

This guy will be a tough sign.

[Spanky99]

162. Connor O'Halloran

LHP

 

Ht: 6'2" | Wt: 190 | B-T: R-L

 

School: Michigan Source: 4YR

 

Commit/Drafted: Never Drafted

Age At Draft: 20.9

BA Grade:40/High

Tools:Fastball: 50. Slider: 50. Changeup: 50. Control: 55.

 

A native Canadian who spent three years with the 18U National Team in high school, O’Halloran had an up-and-down 2022 with Michigan, but showed solid swing-and-miss stuff and finished the year with 104 strikeouts in 92.2 innings. In 2023, he dominated early in the season and put together a career year, with a 4.11 ERA over 15 starts and 103 innings, as well as a 25.5% strikeout rate and career-low 6% walk rate. The 6-foot-2, 190-pound lefthander throws from a deceptive and low, three-quarter slot and is able to locate his low-90s fastball well to either side of the plate. He averaged 89-91 mph on the pitch this spring and touched 94, and will need to be able to spot the pitch with precision at the next level to keep hitters off of it consistently. His best offering is a high-spin slider in the low 80s, which boasted a 42% miss rate, and it was an equal opportunity bat-misser against both righties and lefties—though given his arm slot and sweepy shape, it should be more consistent in same-side matchups in pro ball. He mixes in a mid-80s changeup with some tumbling action that should be a key pitch for him to prevent platoon advantages in pro ball. O’Halloran doesn’t have the loudest pure stuff, but he could develop into a touch-and-feel back-end starter if he can add a few more ticks of velocity.

[Captain_Obvious]

Diamondbacks picked him up...9 picks before the Jays pick.

 

162. Connor O'Halloran

LHP

 

Ht: 6'2" | Wt: 190 | B-T: R-L

 

School: Michigan Source: 4YR

 

Commit/Drafted: Never Drafted

Age At Draft: 20.9

BA Grade:40/High

Tools:Fastball: 50. Slider: 50. Changeup: 50. Control: 55.

 

A native Canadian who spent three years with the 18U National Team in high school, O’Halloran had an up-and-down 2022 with Michigan, but showed solid swing-and-miss stuff and finished the year with 104 strikeouts in 92.2 innings. In 2023, he dominated early in the season and put together a career year, with a 4.11 ERA over 15 starts and 103 innings, as well as a 25.5% strikeout rate and career-low 6% walk rate. The 6-foot-2, 190-pound lefthander throws from a deceptive and low, three-quarter slot and is able to locate his low-90s fastball well to either side of the plate. He averaged 89-91 mph on the pitch this spring and touched 94, and will need to be able to spot the pitch with precision at the next level to keep hitters off of it consistently. His best offering is a high-spin slider in the low 80s, which boasted a 42% miss rate, and it was an equal opportunity bat-misser against both righties and lefties—though given his arm slot and sweepy shape, it should be more consistent in same-side matchups in pro ball. He mixes in a mid-80s changeup with some tumbling action that should be a key pitch for him to prevent platoon advantages in pro ball. O’Halloran doesn’t have the loudest pure stuff, but he could develop into a touch-and-feel back-end starter if he can add a few more ticks of velocity.

 

So Greg Maddux. Got it.

[TheHurl]

Diamondbacks picked him up...9 picks before the Jays pick.

I was just trying to find where he went. Thanks

[jaysfaithful8]

184. Jace Bohrofen

 

Bats: L

Class: 4YR JR

Height: 6' 2"

Pick Value: $304.70k

Throws: R

DOB: 10/19/01

Weight: 205

Birthplace: USA

 

The top position player in a deep 2020 Oklahoma high school class loaded with pitching, Bohrofen was a top-three-rounds talent who ultimately couldn't be lured away from college. He didn't hit enough to claim a regular job as an Oklahoma freshman or Arkansas sophomore, though he did perform well with wood bats in the Cape Cod League in both summers. He has been one of the most dangerous hitters in the Southeastern Conference this spring and regained his former prospect status. A left-handed hitter with a sound swing, Bohrofen has improved at making contact and driving the ball in the air throughout his college career. He tried to do too much in his lone season with the Sooners, but since has learned to let his plus raw power come naturally. He has developed a more discerning eye at the plate and his prodigious strength leads to high exit velocities, though his propensity to swing and miss in the strike zone concerns some clubs. While Bohrofen will get drafted mostly based on his offensive production, he's a decent athlete. He has fringy-to-average speed and good instincts on the bases and in the outfield corners. He's a capable defender in left or right field with an average arm.

[InsideThePark]

I don't see much if any savings so far, and there's a few guys who should be overslot. So I assume rounds 8-10 will be punts to pay for what we have so far. But I've been thinking that for 2 or 3 rounds now and they've seemingly doubled down. If they sign everyone they've picked so far... and they usually do then it's a great draft so far.

[Laika]

 

Jauron Watts-Brown looks pretty sick

 

wipeout offspeed pitch

[Laika]

162. Connor O'Halloran

LHP

 

Ht: 6'2" | Wt: 190 | B-T: R-L

 

School: Michigan Source: 4YR

 

Commit/Drafted: Never Drafted

Age At Draft: 20.9

BA Grade:40/High

Tools:Fastball: 50. Slider: 50. Changeup: 50. Control: 55.

 

A native Canadian who spent three years with the 18U National Team in high school, O’Halloran had an up-and-down 2022 with Michigan, but showed solid swing-and-miss stuff and finished the year with 104 strikeouts in 92.2 innings. In 2023, he dominated early in the season and put together a career year, with a 4.11 ERA over 15 starts and 103 innings, as well as a 25.5% strikeout rate and career-low 6% walk rate. The 6-foot-2, 190-pound lefthander throws from a deceptive and low, three-quarter slot and is able to locate his low-90s fastball well to either side of the plate. He averaged 89-91 mph on the pitch this spring and touched 94, and will need to be able to spot the pitch with precision at the next level to keep hitters off of it consistently. His best offering is a high-spin slider in the low 80s, which boasted a 42% miss rate, and it was an equal opportunity bat-misser against both righties and lefties—though given his arm slot and sweepy shape, it should be more consistent in same-side matchups in pro ball. He mixes in a mid-80s changeup with some tumbling action that should be a key pitch for him to prevent platoon advantages in pro ball. O’Halloran doesn’t have the loudest pure stuff, but he could develop into a touch-and-feel back-end starter if he can add a few more ticks of velocity.

 

I wonder if they will normalize his delivery to see if there is more velocity in there

[John_Havok]

I wonder if they will normalize his delivery to see if there is more velocity in there

 

I'd love to spend a week or two down at the lab just to see what it's all about. Like, I know generally what they do, but to just see it in action I think would be amazing.

[Carlos Danger]

Connor O'Halloran- Sounds like an Irish Pub where you can also order Muslim Virgins off the internet.

[Jonn]

Connor O'Halloran- Sounds like an Irish Pub where you can also order Muslim Virgins off the internet.

 

I was with you in the first of that. Not so much the second half.

 

Haram.

[John_Havok]

pick #214

ranked 163 by MLB

 

Nick Goodwin Kansas State (KS) USA SS R/R 4YR JR

6' 1" 205lbs

DOB:09/06/01

$238.70k slot

 

An immediate starter at Kansas State, Goodwin tied the school's freshman home run record with 10 in 2021. He never has posted big numbers for the Wildcats, though he acquitted himself well with wood bats in the Cape Cod League last summer after struggling there the year before. He could become the program's first position player selected in the top five rounds since Jared King a decade ago. Goodwin has made more consistent contact as a junior, though scouts still consider him more of a power-over-hit guy. He uses his right-handed swing to drive balls in the air to his pull side and could provide 15-20 homers per season in pro ball. He works counts and draw walks, though he could be more selective about which pitches he puts in play. With fringy speed and an arm that rates as average to maybe a tick above, Goodwin is unlikely to stay at shortstop at the next level. He has improved his defensive consistency this spring and can make the routine play, but he profiles better as an offensive second baseman or a utilityman. He made eight errors in 27 games at second on the Cape last summer.

[Carlos Danger]

I was with you in the first of that. Not so much the second half.

 

Haram.

 

You have to know our own BJMB Connor to get the joke

[John_Havok]

and then some savings picks it looks like:

 

 

 

Shaw looks mildly interesting. He's committed to Xavier University so maybe they can get him to sign.

 

https://www.timescolonist.com/sports/victoria-eagles-star-sam-shaw-projected-for-mlb-draft-in-seattle-7252565

 

 

The Major League Baseball draft, today through Tuesday in Seattle, will be of particular interest across Puget Sound and just across the border, with Victoria Eagles star Sam Shaw among the top 300 prospects. Shaw is coming off the MLB combine last month at Chase Field in Phoenix, Arizona, which was the last chance to impress scouts as a multi-faceted player who can do it all.

 

“I like being the utility guy and to use all my skills like Mookie Betts,” he told the Times Colonist.

 

“Versatility is the way the game is going.”

 

This guy has that in bunches and can play shortstop and outfield. He is also an offensive threat. Shaw is five-foot-10 and 180 pounds but can swing for the fences. He placed *second to Team Canada teammate Myles Naylor of Mississauga, Ont., in the final of the 2022 Under-18 World Cup home-run derby. Smith also hit .428 at the 2022 Wood Bat Association world championship last fall.

 

“You don’t need a big body to drive the ball because it’s mechanical — it’s how you hit it,” Shaw said.

 

Shaw grew up in Fairfield, but attended Lambrick Park Secondary because of its baseball academy and is committed to Xavier University of NCAA Division 1. Shaw plays for the Eagles of the B.C. Premier Baseball League and was in Orlando, Florida, over the spring playing at the TNXL Academy for two months of development.

 

Jeremy Pike of BVM Sports ranks Shaw as the No. 3 Canadian high-school-age player for 2023, behind top-ranked Naylor and No. 2 Eliot Cadieux-Lanoue, a Canada U-18 pitcher with the Langley Blaze of the BCPBL.

 

Baseball has been described as a cerebral game and Shaw is aware about developing both mind and body in his approach to the sport and is reading several books about meditation this summer. “It’s about self-improvement,” he said.

 

Shaw was an all-rounder, playing rep hockey on the Island alongside Matthew Wood, taken 15th overall in the first round in the 2023 NHL draft by the Nashville Predators, and Owen Beckner, taken in the seventh round by the Ottawa Senators.

 

“I’ve known all those guys since I was five years old,” Shaw said. “It was a difficult decision to leave hockey. But the decision to choose baseball came naturally to me.”

 

The choice of main sport becomes almost instinctive for all-rounders at about 12 or 13. Shaw hopes to have his choice validated over the next three days.

 

 

 

https://www.saanichnews.com/sports/generational-talent-victoria-baseball-player-eyes-mlb-draft-spot-656783

 

 

When he was six or eight months old, we would take him for walks to Beacon Hill Park, and we’d be holding him and he’d be watching the softball games and he would be so locked in,” he said. “We would try to leave and he’d start crying.”

 

Shaw started playing T-Ball with Beacon Hill Little League at the age of four. Despite his small size, he would always play up a few levels with kids who were older — and significantly bigger — than he was.

 

“He was eight, and he would be pitching against 12-year-olds in little league,” his father recounted. “These guys were close to six feet, and he was about four-foot-nothing, and he would get these guys, which is kind of incredible.”

 

Shaw is a utility player, meaning he doesn’t have one single specialty position and moves around the diamond depending on where his team needs him defensively.

 

Mitch Davidoff, Lambrick’s director of baseball operations and Shaw’s senior head coach with the Victoria Eagles, said he is a “chameleon,” both in his ability to fit into any group and his versatility on the diamond.

 

“We’ve had discussions before where we see where he fits week by week,” Davidoff said. “He says, ‘It doesn’t matter. Just put me where the team needs me.’”

 

“He’s the complete package,” Davidoff said. “You always see guys who have the skills, but they might not have the work ethic, the drive, the heart, the attitude or the professionalism. But it’s hard to pick (Shaw) apart and find anything that you don’t like about him.”

 

When Shaw was in Grade 9, a scout told him if he could run a 60-yard dash in 6.7 seconds, he would get drafted out of high school. At the time, he was more than a full second slower than where he needed to be.

 

For the next few years, Shaw trained tirelessly with the help of Adrian Kinney to shave those important milliseconds off his time. Now, he’s running the dash at 6.6 seconds.

 

“That’s the kind of work ethic he has, turning himself from an average runner into an elite runner,” his father said.

 

Shaw has also committed to play Division 1 baseball at Xavier University in Cincinnati. If the draft doesn’t work out, he will go down to play for the Musketeers in the fall.

 

Even with intense training, playing baseball in a Canadian climate comes with its challenges. Unlike in many parts of the U.S., Canadian weather prevents athletes from playing baseball outside year-round.

 

“I’m not going to be as polished as an American player,” Shaw said. “We don’t get the same number of reps or games because we’re not playing baseball for 12 months a year.”

 

But Shaw said his upbringing is a proud part of his identity, and looks forward to having the entire country behind him as he looks ahead to the upcoming draft.

 

“It’s been different, but I wouldn’t change my experience for the world,” he said. “I feel like it’s part of who I am, coming from Victoria.”

[Carlos Danger]

So just as a draft related FYI. I have some mutual friends on my FB page that had posted some pics and video from April of this year of Charlee Soto (RHP), another Florida HS kid.

 

Charlee was volunteering his time and helping out with the Rotary Club and the Miracle league. I believe the Miracle league is a league for kids with disabilities.

 

Basically, just all around praise for how good a kid he is/was and how he is very much already involved in giving back to the community.

 

Congratulations Charlee for your selection by the Twins with the 34th pick of the 2023 FYPD!

[Ehjays]

 

Blue Jays Director of Scouting Shane Farrell Breaks Down Toronto Blue Jays Drafting Arjun Nimmala

[metafour]

The Jays draft as per Prospects Live rankings:

 

#12 SS Arjun Nimmala

#51 RHP Juaron Watts-Brown

#72 OF Jace Bohrofen

#76 RHP Landen Maroudis

#107 Nick Goodwin

#200 LHP Connor O'Halloran

#211 OF Sam Shaw

[Stangstag]

The Jays draft as per Prospects Live rankings:

 

#12 SS Arjun Nimmala

#51 RHP Juaron Watts-Brown

#72 OF Jace Bohrofen

#76 RHP Landen Maroudis

#107 Nick Goodwin

#200 LHP Connor O'Halloran

#211 OF Sam Shaw

 

Seems kinda good considering the pick #s they actually had

[Jonn]

Seems kinda good considering the pick #s they actually had

 

Only time will tell but I thought they did well all things considered. One of the highest upside players in the draft. A couple decent looking college arms. A high upside high school arm and couple College Outfielders that performed very well and could potentially move fast. Alot of guys that were ranked well and performed well.

[Krylian]

The Jays draft as per Prospects Live rankings:

 

#12 SS Arjun Nimmala

#51 RHP Juaron Watts-Brown

#72 OF Jace Bohrofen

#76 RHP Landen Maroudis

#107 Nick Goodwin

#200 LHP Connor O'Halloran

#211 OF Sam Shaw

 

That's a very nice haul. Curious how the dollars get distributed.

[Boxcar]

Either way, you speak Spanish or the odds are against you

How many mlb players are one generation removed from India. Prob not many

 

Yeah cuz they all play cricket. All of them.

[Spanky99]

Yeah cuz they all play cricket. All of them.

 

Get em' Boxy.

[Daniel Labude]

Big upside with Arjun. Morales is another good one

 

Waldrep, Arjun, Morales, Schanuel

 

Id say these are our targets for the 1st pick. I dont see Waldrep still being there, but if he is, definitely see the Jays taking him

 

Had this one nailed. Glad they went with 1 of the top 2. Arjun should be a really good one with a great story. I really wanted to see the Jays make Waldrep a star with that split, but ATL is a good spot for him as well hopefully

[Terminator]

TL here, hope y'all are well. Feels weird to not be covering the draft on this forum with all my trackers and stuff for the first time in like eight years lol, but I'll still be making those BPA graphics and charts and stuff for tomorrow and sharing either via reddit or most likely Discord. Will also try to figure out a place to post a signing table/tracker after the draft. If any of you want any of that shared with you, just DM me on reddit (twistedlogicx) or add me on Discord (@sedition)! Much easier to reach on Discord.

 

 

Just got back from a vacation (Thailand). I'm not running to dust off The Sheriff's badge just yet. But rest assured, I will be monitoring this situation VERY closely.

[John_Havok]

[Omar]

 

Just got back from a vacation (Thailand). I'm not running to dust off The Sheriff's badge just yet. But rest assured, I will be monitoring this situation VERY closely.

 

He's like the proverbial old gunslinger who has buried his six shooter and now life circumstances are making him dig it out and get back into action, however reluctantly.

[Ray]

Our picks from Round 8 onward aren't even ranked on MLB's Top 250 Draft Prospects, so seems like we allocated most of our draft pool to the first 7 picks who are all Top 160-ish players, according to MLB Pipeline. That seems like a great outcome all things considered for where we picked, and missing a 2nd rounder.