2019 Draft Thread

[CaliforniaRaisin]

A couple of early mock top 10s are out:

Bobby Witt Jr., SS, Heritage HS, Colleyville, Texas.
Adley Rutschman, C, Oregon State
Hunter Barco, LHP, The Bolles School, Jacksonville
Shea Langeliers, C, Baylor
Braden Shewmake, SS, Texas A&M
Riley Greene, OF, Hagerty HS, Oviedo, Fla.
Josh Jung, 3B, Texas Tech
Rece Hinds, 3B, Niceville (Fla.) HS.
C.J. Abrams, SS, Blessed Trinity HS, Roswell, Ga.
Logan Davidson, SS, Clemson

1. Orioles (19-42, .311): Bobby Witt Jr., SS, Colleyville (Texas) Heritage HS
2. White Sox (20-40, .333): Adley Rutschman, C, Oregon State
3. Royals (21-42, .333): Hunter Barco, LHP, The Bolles School (Jacksonville, Fla.)
4. Reds (22-41, .349): Shea Langeliers, C, Baylor
5. Marlins (22-40, .355): Riley Greene, OF, Hagerty HS (Oviedo, Fla.)
6. Rangers (27-38, .415): CJ Abrams, SS, Blessed Trinity HS (Roswell, Ga.)
7. Blue Jays (27-35, .435): Zack Thompson, LHP, Kentucky
8. Padres (29-35, .453): Rece Hinds, SS/3B, Niceville (Fla.) HS
9. Mets (27-32, .458): Matt Wallner, OF, Southern Miss
10. Twins (27-32, .458): Nick Lodolo, LHP, Texas Christian

[TomtheBombadil]

Hot take: Wallner's the best college bat since Bryant. Dude is an animal - .343/.468/.637 in his 587 PAs across two seasons, enough athleticism to play CF in college at 6'5" 215+.

[weis21]

Not interested until they mock the last player selected in round one.

[PackLandVA]

Not interested until they mock the last player selected in round one.

Won’t the Cubs lose their first round pick for signing Harper?

[Regular Show]

Not interested until they mock the last player selected in round one.

Won’t the Cubs lose their first round pick for signing Harper?

No. Teams won't lose 1st round picks going forward for signing FAs that receive a Qualifying Offer. So teams that are under the luxury tax threshold will lose a 2nd round pick or their 2nd highest pick. Teams that are over the luxury tax line will lose their 2nd round and 5th round pick.

I believe this is correct, but I might need to go back and check. They made a lot of weird changes in the latest CBA.

[Regular Show]

So that's nice to know that next's year class leans more towards hitters. I'm definitely going to be paying closer attention to the Cape Cod League this time.

[CaliforniaRaisin]

[toonsterwu]

Considering they seem to scout UVA ... 3 guys at UVA to watch for next year:

a) Evan Sperling - Sperling was fairly highly touted coming out of the prep ranks but had TJ before getting to UVA. Been a long road back - flashes last year, but no consistency. This year, looked a bit better before getting hurt (off the top, forget what it was). He's a big dude, at 6'6", but if he tightens up the command a bit more, could see him as a 2nd or 3rd round pick next year.

b) Noah Murdock - Here's the last big remnant from UVA's highly touted class two years ago that was eaten up by the draft (Nolan Jones, Joey Wentz, Max Kranick). And he's big - 6'8". Showed some signs this year, spinning a good breaking ball at times, but like a lot of other UVA guys this year, got hurt.

c) Cameron Simmons - Three years ago, UVA had three athletic OF's come in. The most touted entering was probably Doak Dozier, who didn't live up to the billing. Entering this year ... there was some thought that Cameron Simmons was ready to explode and was the more well thought of guy than McCarthy. There was a lot of positive thoughts. Then ... he got hurt. If he tightens up his discipline, while still displaying the athleticism to play CF and hit for power ... there's a lot to like draft-wise.

[CaliforniaRaisin]

12:49
Vander: Is Bobby Witt Jr. the clear front runner to go 1st overall right now? If so, is there much of a gap between him and whoever would be 2nd?
12:50
Kiley McDaniel: I’ll probably write something longer about this soon, but no. The 2019 prep class looks down a lot from 2018 and sounds like 2020 is also much better. Witt has the same tools but swung and missed a lot at PG National, so I’m curious to see how he performs the rest of the summer, since he hadn’t had that issue before. I’d say SS Bryson Stott from UNLV is the favorite right now, but he’s on Team USA and they start playing in a few days, so I’d like to see that team before we start lining guys up, since there’s a lot of info coming in over the next few weeks.
12:51
Kiley McDaniel: Quick 2019 prep update
12:52
Kiley McDaniel: SS CJ Abrams (GA) and SS Bobby Witt (TX) look like the top 2 guys still, RF Riley Greene (FL) and 3B Rece Hinds (FL) are probably the next two bats.
12:53
Kiley McDaniel: On the pitcher side, RHP Brennan Malone (NC) is tops right now, RHP Matthew Allan (FL), LHP Hunter Barco (FL) and RHP Quinn Priester (IL) are the next three for me at this point.

[UK]

12:49
Vander: Is Bobby Witt Jr. the clear front runner to go 1st overall right now? If so, is there much of a gap between him and whoever would be 2nd?
12:50
Kiley McDaniel: I’ll probably write something longer about this soon, but no. The 2019 prep class looks down a lot from 2018 and sounds like 2020 is also much better. Witt has the same tools but swung and missed a lot at PG National, so I’m curious to see how he performs the rest of the summer, since he hadn’t had that issue before. I’d say SS Bryson Stott from UNLV is the favorite right now, but he’s on Team USA and they start playing in a few days, so I’d like to see that team before we start lining guys up, since there’s a lot of info coming in over the next few weeks.
12:51
Kiley McDaniel: Quick 2019 prep update
12:52
Kiley McDaniel: SS CJ Abrams (GA) and SS Bobby Witt (TX) look like the top 2 guys still, RF Riley Greene (FL) and 3B Rece Hinds (FL) are probably the next two bats.
12:53
Kiley McDaniel: On the pitcher side, RHP Brennan Malone (NC) is tops right now, RHP Matthew Allan (FL), LHP Hunter Barco (FL) and RHP Quinn Priester (IL) are the next three for me at this point.

Fwiw, I had Odorizzi and Foltynewicz with higher grades than I do Priester heading into their Senior seasons

[CaliforniaRaisin]

[CaliforniaRaisin]

[CaliforniaRaisin]

And since toonster mentioned some Virginia prospects for 2019, I should mention that 2B Chase Strumpf and 3B/1B Michael Toglia of UCLA look like potential first rounders.

Also, I really like Cal 1B Andrew Vaughn.

[Regular Show]

https://2080baseball.com/draft-spotlight/rece-hinds/

Like Bobby Witt Jr., Hinds played up last summer, joining the 2018 draft class during several showcase events. His standout tool is his prodigious power from the right side, a result of equal parts bat speed and sheer strength. That strength was on display at the Under Armour All-America Game last July, as the then 17-year-old snapped his wood bat over his knee with relative ease when frustrated with his performance in the homerun derby.

I really like this kid and think his raw power is among the best in this draft class. Really easy power in that swing. Not sure exactly how good he is defensively. He won't stick at SS.

[CaliforniaRaisin]

BA top 10 HS MLB Draft Prospects for 2019: https://www.baseballamerica.com/stories ... t-preview/

1. Bobby Witt Jr., SS Colleyville (Texas) Heritage HS
2. C.J. Abrams SS Blessed Trinity HS, Roswell, Ga.
3. Riley Greene, OF Hagerty HS, Oviedo, Fla.
4. Brennan Malone, RHP Porter Ridge HS, Indian Trail, N.C.
5. Rece Hinds, 3B Niceville (Fla.) HS
6. Daniel Espino, RHP Ga. Premier Acad., Statesboro, Ga.
7. Hunter Barco, LHP Bolles School, Jacksonville
8. Matthew Thompson, RHP Cypress Ranch HS, Houston
9. Tyler Callihan, 3B Providence HS, Jacksonville
10. Jerrion Ealy, OF Jackson (Miss.) Prep HS

BA top 10 college MLB Draft Prospects:

1. Adley Rutschman, C Oregon State
2. Shea Langeliers, C Baylor
3. Josh Jung, 3B Texas Tech
4. Logan Davidson, SS Clemson
5. Zack Thompson, LHP Kentucky
6. Braden Shewmake, SS Texas A&M
7. Nick Lodolo, LHP Texas Christian
8. Will Holland, SS Auburn
9. Drew Mendoza, 3B Florida State
10. Matt Wallner, OF Southern Mississippi

[CaliforniaRaisin]

[Regular Show]

One of the best arms in the 2019 draft class. Multiple reports of him hitting triple digits during showcases.

[Regular Show]

I'm kind of shocked by how physically mature some of these kids are. I'm all in on the Rece Hinds train. He could be the next Giancarlo Stanton/Aaron Judge.

[TomtheBombadil]

Throw me on the Hinds bamdwagon, that's a loud af HS prospect

The bats seem ahead of the pitching in this draft with Wallner (LHH), Rutschman (switch), and Hinds (RHH).

[CaliforniaRaisin]

BA's top 50 Cape Cod League prospects: https://www.baseballamerica.com/stories ... prospects/

1. Andrew Vaughn, 1B, Cal
2. Spencer Torkelson, OF/1B, Arizona St (2020 draft)
3. Will Holland, SS, Auburn
4. Alek Manoah, RHP, West Virginia
5. Ryne Nelson, RHP, Oregon
6. Noah Campbell, 2B/SS, South Carolina (2020 draft)
7. Tyler Dyson, RHP, Florida
8. Matt Wallner, OF, Southern Mississippi
9. Logan Davidson, SS, Clemson
10. JJ Bleday, OF, Vanderbilt
11. Logan Wyatt, 1B, Louisville
12. Michael Busch, 1B, North Carolina
13. Greg Jones, SS/OF, UNC-Wilmington (2020 draft)
14. Kyle Stowers, OF, Stanford
15. Michael Toglia, 1B/OF, UCLA
16. Ricky DeVito, RHP, Seton Hall
17. Bryant Packard, OF, East Carolina
18. Steven Williams, Auburn (2020 draft)
19. Adam Laskey, LHP, Duke
20. Matt Canterino, RHP, Rice
21. Jesse Franklin, OF/1B, Michigan (2020 draft)
22. Blake Sabol, OF/C, Southern Cal
23. Christan Koss, SS, UC Irvine
24. Austin Bergner, RHP, North Carolina
25. Drew Mendoza, 3B, Florida State
26. David Hamilton, SS, Texas
27. Cameron Cannon, 3B/2B, Arizona
28. Kenyon Yovan, RHP/1B, Oregon
29. Hunter Gaddis, RHP, Georgia State
30. Tanner Morris, SS, Virginia (2020 draft)
31. Will Robertson, OF, Creighton
32. Erik Miller, LHP, Stanford
33. Jeff Belge, LHP, St. John's
34. Austin Langworthy, OF, Florida
35. Austin Shenton, 3B, Florida International
36. Mitchell Senger, LHP, Stetson
37. Gabe Holt, 2B/OF, Texas Tech (2020 draft)
38. Spencer Brickhouse, 1B, East Carolina
39. Andrew Daschbach, 1B, Stanford
40. Kyle Hurt, RHP, Southern Cal (draft-eligible sophomore in 2019)
41. Greg Veliz, RHP, Miami
42. Garrett Stallings, RHP, Tennessee
43. Trent Denholm, RHP, UC Irvine (2020 draft)
44. Chris Murphy, LHP, San Diego
45. John Rave, OF, Illinois State
46. Hunter Bishop, OF, Arizona State
47. Matthew Barefoot, OF, Campbell
48. Brady Smith, C/3B, Florida (2020 draft)
49. Spencer Steer, 3B/2B, Oregon
50. George Kirby, RHP, Elon

[Tim]

We will draft guys from that list. We always do.

[TomtheBombadil]

We will draft guys from that list. We always do.

Michael Toglia pls

[CaliforniaRaisin]

We will draft guys from that list. We always do.

Michael Toglia pls

He and Vaughn are my favorite college hitters.

[Cubswin11]

We will draft guys from that list. We always do.

Hopefully there’s a few left around pick 65. Because that’s where our first pick is after signing Bryce.

[Regular Show]

We will draft guys from that list. We always do.

Hopefully there’s a few left around pick 65. Because that’s where our first pick is after signing Bryce.

You don't lose a 1st round pick for signing FAs who received a QO in the latest CBA. The Cubs would still have their 1st round pick after signing Bryce Harper.

You lose your second highest pick so for the Cubs that would be their 2nd round pick.

EDIT: Double-checking this because someone always mentions this and gets it wrong. I'm right and the Cubs would lose their 2nd round pick. Milwaukee still had their 1st round pick in the 2018 draft even after signing Lorenzo Cain (who received a QO from KC).