OK,
here are picks 21-33. Most of the projections here are mine,
with 14/14 scouting. Where I note another author or helper, the
projections mentioned could be from higher or lower levels. Enjoy.
#21 to Los Angeles - Adam Dale, 3B: My projections (14) showed Grade A 3B defense and a good enough hitter to play everyday at the ML level; the modified view after seeing currents is more of a free-swinger but still good-to-really good-3B D. His speed/base-running skills certainly won't hurt. It would be a real bonus if his range reached 80-82 so he could be a full-service 3B/2B/CF utility man, but I don't think he'll quite get there. Nice player at 20. GRADE: ground-ball single.
#22 to Cincinnati -Daniel Barkley, SP: My guess is this guy would've gone a bit sooner if he wasn't one of those "Probably won't sign guys", as he projects to be as good as a #3 starter, likely more a 4 or 5, and a 4-season LR at the worst. Projections suggest solid ML-level control and vL, a 60-ish vR, but 4A to AAA pitches. An interesting note: my scouts projected a GB/flyball of 100. Does that mean no one ever hits a flyball? As he apparently intends to return to college, it might be worth making a note of for 2-3 seasons down the road. GRADE: Gapper For A Double If He Signs, Type D Next Year If He Doesn't
#23 to Philadelphia - Solly Burch, SP:
I had this guy at #10 on my board, seeing splits projects of high 70's,
but I had a real concern with those 3,4 and 5 pitch ratings. Much like
Querecuto, I was disappointed with his currents, as I'd like to see HS
P's start with splits at least in the mid 50's. And, those last 3
pitches look pretty bad indeed. On the plus side, he is a high-schooler
with very good makeup (starting at 85), so with good coaching we can
expect impressive ratings improvements. GRADE: Home Run...even with my reservations about him, to pick up a competent ML starter at #23 in any draft
is a pretty big accomplishment. In this one, let's just say that he's
better than quite a few of the players selected before he was.
#24 to Florida - Mark Post, RP (report by top): Mark Post projects as an effective left-handed setup man with plus
control and effectiveness against left handers (though no elite skills)
and no real weaknesses except velocity. His stamina/durability should
support 70-80 innings. His
currents are a little worrying, but my advanced scouts see him as
basically the same pitcher as my draft scouts do so I am sure he’ll get
reasonably close to his projections. At #23 he’s a sure fire ML’er
which is just fine at this point of the draft. GRADE: Groundball Down The RF Line For A Sliding Double.
#25 to Boston - Wiki Quintanilla, RP: Poster boy of this class of the "Pitches vs Splits" Debate. My scouts see a future with splits in the 50's but pitches of 96 and 74. That probably translates to a ceiling at AAA or maybe a 4A stint as a cheap arm for a rebuilding team. There's some chance that his vR could develop more, as it's starting at 43. Can't give a terrible grade for a 4A player at this point...GRADE: Sacrifice Bunt.
#26 to Hartford - Will Newman, CF (report by top): Will Newman projects to be an aspirational CF.
If he hits defensive projections he’ll be an effective ML’er. If not,
he’ll be a rangy LF’er. At bat he should be able to give you a
.350-.370 OBP. However, with only so-so contact, power, and baserunning
his OBP will have to be his
calling card. Again, if he can play CF effectively that is fine.
However, his low makeup makes me worry. At LF, that is a substandard
bat. His floor is a AAAA player. At pick #26 Hartford wasn’t likely to
get an all-star and they did not get one. GRADE: getting a 4A player this late isn't too bad but isn't worth a whole lot. Sacrifice Fly.
#27 to Columbus - Leslie Wyatt, SS: Scouted as a "super-defender", he's also going to do a little damage at the plate - he might get as high as 60 power and 86 or so eye. The biggest knock on his bat is chronic trouble with righty pitching, but hey, we're talking about the 27th pick. His range and arm strength might touch low 90's; glove and accuracy won't reach those levels but should still be in SS territory. All-in-all, I really think Columbus hit the jackpot here...a really good all-round SS at pick #27...GRADE: Home Run.
# 28 to Pawtuckett - Hansel Lewis, SP: Intriguing stuff with those two sizzling
pitches and the obvious downside of a DUR that will top out in the 6-8
range. I think that makes him at best a 1-inning reliever...not room
for too many of those on 11 or 12-man ML staffs. I'm really straining
here, but maybe there's a role with a playoff team where you keep him in
AAA forever and only bring him up for the playoffs...he could probably
start one game each playoff series. He hasn't signed yet so I'm grading purely off projections, but if he falls the usual bit short of projections he'll still be a ML pitcher. GRADE: Double Off The Wall.
#29 to Oakland - Weldon Bailey, SS: Decent bat for a defensively-oriented IF, especially against lefties, with pretty fair contact and on-base skills. If he could make it to 84/84/84/84 on the defensive ratings, he'd be pretty damn valuable as either a starting SS or a 4-position super-utility man (bonus points for switch-hitting and bunting ability), but he's just not going to get there. Still, he can fill a role as a 3B/2B/RF utility and have a ML career. GRADE: "Groundball With Eyes Into Short Left".
#30 to Texas - Shane Hegan, RF: Definitely will have a RF's glove and arm but sadly not the bat - hitting splits are going to top out in the high 30's or maybe 40. So, the ceiling for him is probably AAA. That's not a terrible miss, but there are still a few players available who will have some kind of ML role. GRADE: Well-Hit Flyout To CF.
#31 to Montgomery - Elrod Parkers, SP/LR (no projections, only current ratings): At best, he's probably going to have control and splits in the low 60's; he could have a pair of ML pitches, though, so the optimistic case is he has a few seasons as a LRB or 4 guy that helps a rebuilder keep the payroll down. If you expect a more limited development path, he's a career AAA pitcher. GRADE: Line Drive Right At the 3B.
#32 to Montreal - Lloyd Petterson, 2B: My scouts (14) see a Glove of 89 and an Eye of 86 in his long-term future, giving hope for some kind of ML career. His range and arm accuracy, at best, will even fall short of 3B caliber, and the rest of his hitting ratings don't measure up to COF or 1B standards. GRADE: Squibbing Infield Hit, because if everything goes right, he might have a couple of turns in the sun as a backup somewhere.
#33 to Tacoma - Sam Michalak, 2B: Better shot at the Majors than Petterson, because his defense will certainly be 2B caliber, and his range - already at 75 - could reach the 80's or even 90. Like Petterson, his best offensive strategy will be to crouch, crowd the plate and hope for a walk, as he will have little power and pedestrian splits. Also like Petterson, the Majors are not a sure thing...it will depend a lot on MiL playing time and coaching, and the situation of Tacoma's ML roster in 4 seasons or so. GRADE: Broken-Bat Flare Into CF For A Single
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