2020 Draft Pick Discussion, Rounds 1-5

[Warning Track Power]

While I know nothing about him or Casey Martin other than reading about them online, this just seems like another Alcides Escobar and Orlando Arcia. I would have preferred taking the higher ranked Martin and going that route.

[PDCBalla]

 

Nice video here

[Eye Black]

From Baseball America...

 

73. Freddy Zamora

Miami SS

 

Ht: 6-1 | Wt: 190 | B-T: R-R

Commit/Drafted: Never Drafted

Age At Draft: 21.6

 

Zamora was among the top tier of college shortstops in the 2020 class entering the season. If it weren’t for Arizona State’s Alika Williams, there would be an argument for Zamora as the top defender in the class, and Zamora brings more offensive upside to the table as well. Zamora hit .300/.391/.429 with more walks than strikeouts over his first two years with Miami, but a knee injury suffered in a preseason practice wiped out his junior season before it began. He had started to tap into more power in his 2019 season (going from one home run to six) and would have been right in the middle of the Hurricanes’ lineup as well as their defensive leader at shortstop. Zamora has the tools to be an impact defender at shortstop, though he showed a tendency to get a bit lazy on routine plays. If he cleaned those up, Zamora would have easy plus potential with the glove, with impressive hands, solid range and a reliable throwing arm. Zamora’s power is fringe-average, but he shows a solid understanding of the strike zone and has at least an average hit tool. He’s an above-average runner and does a nice job on the bases, going 33-for-40 (82.5 percent) in steals over his first two seasons. A solid all-around player who is likely to stick at shortstop long-term, Zamora could have easily played his way into first-round consideration if healthy and hitting well. He should slide a bit because of his injury but will still be in day one consideration thanks to very few holes in his game.

[Jenkins5]

Good write up on him:

Link: https://lastwordonbaseball.com/2020/06/09/freddy-zamora-2020-mlb-draft-profile/

 

Pure talent-wise, Freddy Zamora is at the top of the list of collegiate players coming out in the 2020 Draft. If not for his suspension to start out this past season at the University of Miami, he would be a second round prospect. The once 49th-best prospect according to MLB.com is now ranked 100th.

 

Strengths

 

It is not easy to find the future heart of a middle infield in the MLB Draft. Shortstop Freddy Zamora has the type of tools that could lead to a long and successful career as the captain of a defense. His glove is as elite as they come, which means more to his position than any other on the diamond.

 

Zamora’s greatest gift is his arm, an absolute cannon from the middle infield that will keep him on the left side. Scouts graded his arm one of the strongest in his class (60) with his fielding coming in right behind (55). At 6’1″ and 190 pounds he has decent size but excels at shortstop due to his range.

 

The 21-year-old has improved throughout his college career at the plate where scouts currently grade his hitting (50). In two full seasons at Miami, Zamora was consistent at the plate hitting a combined .300 with 24 doubles, 74 RBI, and 33 stolen bases. His numbers provide more speed than scouts give him credit for with his running grade (50).

 

Weaknesses

 

The shortened 2020 season brought extreme levels of concern to Zamora’s draft profile in two separate departments. His suspension followed by a knee injury in practice resulted in zero innings played this spring. Hurricanes’ head coach Gino DiMare explained the suspension as just a violation of team rules.

 

Despite the questions of makeup that emerged, more concerning was the news of a season-ending knee injury. Two days after the suspension, his season was cancelled due to an injury suffered in practice. Combine this with a hamstring injury in the fall and there begins to be an injury history building.

 

There are very few, if any, weaknesses to point to on the field for Zamora. There might be a lack of power (40) for a position that has become more dependent on homers in recent years. However, he has time to add strength and power to a lean build as long as he is able to keep his motor high on the field.

 

MLB Comparison

 

It is a lot more common to develop offensive skills as players progress in their careers as opposed to defensive. It is a lot easier to polish bat skills than glove instincts and arm strength. Freddy Zamora checks both of these boxes with defensive skills that coaches cannot teach.

 

This makeup is reminiscent of a former second round pick of the Atlanta Braves in 2010, Andrelton Simmons. The 6’2″, 195-pound defensive wizard has nearly the exact same dimensions at shortstop. This is a four-time Gold Glove award winner whose bat has developed throughout his career. Now with the Los Angeles Angels, Simmons has raised his average while improving upon his power and speed numbers.

 

Zamora’s contact-oriented approach makes him a tough bat to strikeout, also like Simmons. However, the strongest parallel is in their one-of-a-kind cannons that can make any throw on the diamond. This is a can’t-miss glove in the 2020 Draft that could get him selected within the first three rounds.

 

[JDBrewCrew]

Victor (MLB DRAFT)

@V2KCOVERAGE

2m

A great comp for Freddy Zamora is Jean Segura, with a better-developed hit tool and his already great defensive!Jeffmlbdraft

 

@jeffMLBdraft

7m

Zamora was a first-rounder. He got hurt, and plummeted on boards. It was clear there might have been some character concerns. He is the top defender as a shortstop in this college class.

 

Taylor Blake Ward

@TaylorBlakeWard

7m

#Brewers take a potential every day shortstop in second round with Freddy Zamora (Miami) who had his draft status falter due to ACL injury and breaking program rules

 

FanGraphs Prospects

@FG_Prospects

9m

Brewers 2nd rounder - Freddy Zamora, SS, Miami

Ranked 35th on my Board. No doubt shortstop and probably plus there, plus speed, athletic swinger with late-coming phys proj. Tore ACL prio to season.

[Eye Black]

From Perfect Game...

 

74. Freddy Zamora, ss, Miami (JR)

R-R, 6-1/190, Miami, Fla.

Previously Drafted: Never Drafted

 

Zamora entered the spring as a possible first-round draft pick with high expectations following a strong first two years at Miami and unfortunately he didn’t get the chance to perform as he tore his ACL in spring practice. He entered the season as one of the top defenders in the class as he was almost assured to stick at shortstop with excellent twitch, fundamentals, and athleticism. Zamora was to be the focal point on a championship-aspiring Hurricanes squad and showed top of the scales athleticism with an impact defensive skillset and an offensive profile that was more than simply handling the barrel. The power isn’t significant but he shows good gap power and improved his home run power from his freshman year to his sophomore year. The discipline is notable as he doesn’t strike out often and takes his walks while the speed also allows him to beat out some infield ground balls. Zamora was well known entering the season but unfortunately he didn’t have the chance to play himself into the first round; regardless he’s a significant draft talent who should still hear his name called early.

[JDBrewCrew]

MLB Pipeline

 

100. Freddy Zamora

SS, Miami

Bio

Stats

News

Video

AGE

21

BATS

R

DOB

11/01/1998

THROWS

R

HT

6' 1"

DRAFTED

Never

WT

190

Scouting Grades/Report (20-80 grading scale)

HIT

50

POWER

40

RUN

50

ARM

60

FIELD

55

OVERALL

45

Video »

 

Freddy Zamora Sr. played professional baseball in Nicaragua and his son has the chance to play at a much higher level. The younger Zamora had been a starter since he set foot on Miami's campus, and after being a glove-only type of middle infielder, improvements in his offensive game had him much higher on Draft boards as he was set to begin his junior season with the Hurricanes. That progress came to a screeching halt when he was first suspended for violating team rules before the start of the season, then suffered a knee injury in practice that will shelved him for the rest of the year.

 

At his best, Zamora has the skill set to be an everyday player at a premium position. He can be a plus defender at times, with a lot of body control, range and wing span at his disposal to go along with an easily plus arm. He's made strides at the plate to make him a more well-rounded player. He's very short to the ball with a contact-oriented approach that makes him tough to strike out, and he started showing more extra-base pop during his sophomore year, though he tailed off at the end of the year.

 

Zamora is an average runner, especially once underway, and he's shown the ability to steal bases, though he was nursing a hamstring injury this fall and will have to show there are no ill-effects from the knee injury. He can play with a low motor at times, but with his overall skill set, and he’ll now have to answer questions about his makeup, but he has the tools to be a top three-round talent.

[Eye Black]

From FanGraphs...

 

35. Freddy Zamora, SS, Miami

 

Zamora is unlikely to go as high as I have him ranked because he tore his ACL this spring and didn't play. He belongs here on talent, a pretty explosive and acrobatic runner who walked more than he struck out as an underclassman.

[3and2Fastball]

Zamora is a fantastic roll of the dice in Round 2, in my opinion. Plus plus defensive Shortstops are valuable, always.

[nate82]

Freddy Zamora= Defensive first SS with off the field issues

 

Wow seriously? He is not a defensive first shortstop.

[TURBO]

What exactly are his off the field issues?

[narwhalattack]

What exactly are his off the field issues?

 

 

For skipping class, apparently. Sounds like the concern over his makeup may be a tad overblown.

[JDBrewCrew]

Adam McCalvy

@AdamMcCalvy

1m

Word is that Freddy Zamora's suspension at Miami was for skipping class.

 

 

Guess he didn't go there to play school.....

[Eye Black]

Clayton Beeter to the Dodgers, that's a good pick for them, IMO.

[patrickgpe]

What exactly are his off the field issues?

 

 

For skipping class, apparently. Sounds like the concern over his makeup may be a tad overblown.

Yeah that’s not what I think of when they say off the field issues. Seems like a good pick

[TURBO]

Skipping class as an off the field issue?

 

Shouldn't every college athlete have that listed behind their name? Geez, what a complete non issue.

[Eye Black]

Freddy Zamora appears to have a little moxie to his game. Looking forward to seeing how his game develops in pro ball.

[3and2Fastball]

Usually when you are suspended for “skipping class”, there are some underlying attitude issues and the skipping class suspension is just an excuse the coaches use to get you out of the practice field etc... he had a knee injury going on at the same time...

 

I have no doubt that the Brewers did plenty of background work on Zamora. I think it was a great pick... and I think it’s a pick that sends a message to Turang, to a degree, to step it up with the bat...

[Warning Track Power]

I wonder why Cole Wilcox is still on the board?

[balsamlaker]

Wilcox is likely to stay on the board as a redshirt sophomore unless a team that potentially saved some money (Red Sox, Orioles, etc.) take him. I like the Zamora pick in round two. Round three, maybe Mederos (HS RHP).

[Tbadder]

Heart sunk with Beeter pick by LA. It’s like the bad old days—big teams wrap up the big players. Not sure of the injury history with ACL. If Zamora is below slot I don’t mind the pick. If thinking he might move to 3rd I don’t mind the pick. If he’s there to light a fire under their highest rated minor leaguer, that concerns me.

[Warning Track Power]

Callis is speculating everyone drafted today will sign.

[Tbadder]

I wonder if all our picks will be college players with medical concerns.

[DHonks]

I wonder if all our picks will be college players with medical concerns.

 

Not sure either really is a concern. They've had issues, but by the time the 2021 season gets going, they'll be long past them

[Yount19]

Wilcox went to SD