2021 Official Draft Pick Selection/Signing Thread

[Eye Black]

This thread will be used to post all Brewers draft picks in order of their selection, as well as details of the picks.

 

A moderator will update the picks and player profiles. If you have comments/links about a player, please post them in the appropriate discussion thread.

 

Bold indicates the player has signed.

 

1 (15). Sal Frelick, OF, Boston College

1 (33). Tyler Black, 2B/3B, Wright State

2 (51). Russell Smith, LHP, TCU

3 (86). Alex Binelas, 3B, Louisville

4 (116). Logan Henderson, RHP, McLennan CC (TX)

5 (147). Ethan Murray, SS, Duke

6 (177). Carlos Rodriguez, RHP, Florida SouthWestern State College (FL)

7 (207). Tristan Peters, OF, Southern Illinois University

8 (237). Zack Raabe, 2B, Minnesota

9 (267). Brannon Jordan, RHP, South Carolina

10 (297). Wes Clarke, C/1B, South Carolina

11 (327). Roc Riggio, OF, Thousand Oaks (CA) -- WILL NOT SIGN

12 (357). Caden Vire, LHP, Skyview HS (WA)

13 (387). Quinton Low, RHP/1B, Chatfield HS (CO)

14 (417). Jace Avina, OF, Spanish Springs HS (NV)

15 (447). Hunter Hollan, LHP, San Jacinto College North (TX) -- WILL NOT SIGN

16 (477). Kay-Lan Nicasia, SS, Champagnat Catholic School (FL)

17 (507). Will Rogers, C, Mounds View HS (MN) -- WILL NOT SIGN

18 (537). Ryne Moore, RHP, Old Dominion

19 (567). Carter Holton, LHP, Benedictine Military School (GA) -- WILL NOT SIGN

20 (597). Samuel Mendez, RHP, Cisco JC (TX) -- WILL NOT SIGN

[Eye Black]

ROUND 1 (15th overall): Sal Frelick, OF

 

(Photo: Boston College Athletics)

 

Height: 5’9”

Weight: 175

B/T: L/R

School: Boston College

Year: Junior

DOB: 04/19/2000

 

SCOUTING REPORT:

 

MLB Pipeline:

Scouting grades: Hit: 60 | Power: 45 | Run: 70 | Arm: 50 | Field: 55 | Overall: 55

 

In 2019, a core of talented freshmen served notice that Boston College could very well be a force to be reckoned with in the ACC and a frequent destination for scouts leading up to the 2021 Draft. At the center of that group is Frelick, an undersized but athletic outfielder who batted .367/.447/.513 in a freshman year shortened by a knee injury. After not hitting well during the brief 2020 season, Frelick was one of the better offensive performers in the college ranks in 2021 to move him up Draft boards.

 

Frelick was a three-sport star in high school, playing football, hockey and baseball at a high level. That athleticism is a big part of his game, with his easy speed helping him defensively and on the basepaths. Offensively, he has a strong history of making contact and getting on base. He walked more than he struck out in 2019 and '20 combined and has very impressive bat-to-ball skills along with plus bat speed, pointing to future potential as a plus hitter. He’s deceptively strong with good extra-base ability, and he could eventually get to average power from the left side of the plate.

 

The 5-foot-9 Frelick has played mostly right field at Boston College, though he did see some time in center in 2019 and even played some shortstop last summer. He was in in center full-time in 2021, and thanks to his plus makeup, he worked to make good adjustments and prove he should be able to stay there long-term, and the Golden Spikes Award semifinalist was named ACC Defensive Player of the Year as a result of those efforts. Teams considering him early in the first round certainly will believe he can remain up the middle.

 

Perfect Game:

A multi-sport standout during his prep days who actually won the Massachusetts Gatorade Player of the Year award in football his senior year, Frelick has done nothing but thrive since arriving on campus, going from relative unknown to potential first round pick, to just about a lock inside the top-10. The Boston College center fielder thrived this spring as he continued to show some of the best bat-to-ball skills in the draft on a regular basis, rarely swinging and missing while still showing easy plus speed that can effect a game both on the bases and while covering a vast amount of ground to either gap in the outfield.

 

Baseball America:

Hit: 60 | Power: 40 | Run: 70 | Field: 60 | Arm: 50 | BA Grade: 55

 

Undrafted out of high school, Frelick emerged as one of the most exciting players in college baseball, combining a mix of explosive athleticism and speed at a premium position with high contact skills and strong game performance. Frelick is a quick-burst athlete who accelerates fast into 70-grade speed, consistently getting home to first in 4.0 seconds from the left side and sometimes a tick under. An infielder in high school, Frelick moved to the outfield and played primarily right field his first two years, but he handled center field in 2021 and showed strong instincts that improved throughout the season en route to becoming the ACC defensive player of the year. His speed translates to good range in center field, where he has a fringe-average arm with good accuracy. Frelick hit .359/.443/.559 in 2021, showing a simple, direct swing from the left side without much movement. At 5-foot-9, he has a small strike zone and mostly stays within that zone, with good hand-eye coordination to make frequent contact, even on times when he does chase. Frelick does a good job of going with where the ball is pitched, with quick hands, and he's able to pull inside fastballs up and in while also sending pitches on the outer third to left field. Frelick has some sneaky power for his size, with the ability to drive the ball out pull side when he gets a pitch up in the zone, but it's more occasional pop that plays below-average in games. Frelick doesn't get off his best swings on pitches down in the zone, but his bat-to-ball skills and elite speed help him beat out infield hits. Frelick is one of the safer college hitters in the draft, with a chance to be a dynamic sparkplug who hits at the top of a lineup and plays good defense in the middle of the field.

 

FanGraphs:

A Massachusetts multi-sport prep standout (he was the Gatorade POY in football as a quarterback, as well as a lauded hockey player), Frelick emerged last spring playing outfield and putting up huge numbers for Boston College. He has several catalytic qualities already and might hit for more in-game power later as his swing and approach evolve. Right now Frelick is a slap-and-slash hitter who'll occasionally show you low-ball power. He has good vertical plate coverage and can catch pitches near the top of the zone. It takes projecting on some elements of Frelick's offense to see him as an impact regular, but so much of his skillset is either new or changing (he's also played some second base) and we're betting on late development here because of the multi-sport, Northeast background and time lost due to a 2019 knee injury/surgery.

 

The Athletic (Keith Law):

Frelick looks like a future MLB leadoff hitter, with a strong eye, high contact rates, and above-average speed. He’s shown he can generate enough power from his 5-foot-10 frame to make hard contact, albeit probably without much power. He moved to centerfield this year and has shown enough to be a plus defender there.

 

Frelick, a true center fielder with a short swing that should make him a high-contact hitter even with the wood bat in pro ball -- but he's got enough strength to drive the ball for doubles power and avoid getting the bat knocked out of his hands by velocity. The Brewers have really pivoted towards valuing defense in the last year or so, and Frelick fits that philosophy well.

 

Prospects Live:

Frelick has been a standout on one of the best Boston College teams in recent history. Possesses plus bat speed, double-plus foot speed, and the ability to cover tons of ground in centerfield. Disciplined hitter with a short left-handed stroke and a knack for the barrel. Frelick has begun showing a little more pop in-game this year. Archetype is still being established, but some evaluators liken the finished package to a Brian Roberts type of player. Regardless, he's a true centerfield prospect and the hit tool is real. It's a pretty high floor despite some impact questions surrounding the bat. Scouts would like to see a little action at second base this spring. If/when that happens, that versatility and skillset will only improve his value, especially in a draft year lacking many advanced second base prospects. Frelick is a good bet to get popped in the top 20 picks.

 

LINKS:

 

 

VIDEOS:

 

 

 

 

[Eye Black]

COMP A ROUND (33rd overall): Tyler Black, 2B/3B

 

(Photo: Wright State Athletics)

 

Height: 6’2”

Weight: 190

B/T: L/R

School: Wright State

Year: Junior

DOB: 07/26/2000

 

SCOUTING REPORT:

 

MLB Pipeline:

Scouting grades: Hit: 60 | Power: 45 | Run: 50 | Arm: 50 | Field: 50 | Overall: 50

 

The son of Canadian sports broadcaster Rod Black, Tyler was a talented hockey defenseman before leaving the ice to focus on baseball. The 2019 Horizon League freshman of the year, he slumped during the shortened 2020 season but has rebounded to establish himself as one of the best left-handed college bats in the Midwest. He could give Wright State its fourth position player drafted in the top four rounds in the last five years, following Sean Murphy (Athletics, 2016), Peyton Burdick (Marlins, 2019) and Seth Gray (Twins, 2019).

 

Black masterfully controls the strike zone from the left side of the plate, making regular hard contact while drawing plenty of walks. He has enough bat speed, strength and leverage in his 6-foot-2 frame to produce 15 homers on an annual basis. He made a good impression by doubling in two at-bats off potential No. 1 overall pick Kumar Rocker of Vanderbilt on Opening Day and by drawing seven walks in five games against Southeastern Conference opposition to start the season.

 

While he possesses average speed, Black has the instincts to steal and take extra bases when given the opportunity. He played second base as a freshman before moving to third base in 2020, and now he's back at the keystone following surgery on his throwing shoulder. His arm is merely average so he fits better at second, where his quickness and hands are assets with turning the double play.

 

Perfect Game:

Black was a popular name heading into the 2020 campaign thanks to his Horizon Freshman of the Year season and he had gained acclaim for his pure hit tool along with sneaky power from the left side. Of course, the 2020 season never happened but Black still made his mark right away with a couple of high profile SEC matchups in the early part of the 2021 season.

 

Black made his exclamation mark on the season, and on his draft stock, with two home runs in the Knoxville Regional that almost culminated in an upset of the No. 3 national seed Tennessee. He finished the season hitting .383 with 13 home runs and notched 39 walks to only 25 strikeouts on the season.

 

He did everything he had to do and more to excel and hit the benchmarks of a first round bat from a mid-major school. Black, along with Ethan Wilson, has worked himself back into first round consideration by proving that the bat is real and that the shoulder is healthy from surgery he had a couple of years ago. He isn’t a shortstop but the bat should more than play at second or third base long term and he’s an exciting offensive prospect.

 

Baseball America:

Hit: 55 | Power: 45 | Run: 45 | Field: 45 | Arm: 45 | BA Grade: 45

 

Black was a talented three-sport athlete who played football, hockey and baseball back in Canada. He had a loud freshman season with Wright State in 2019, hitting .353/.469/.600 with more walks (38) than strikeouts (18). Black entered the 2021 season as a sleeper candidate after a disappointing 13-game stretch in 2020, because scouts believed in his hitting ability and strike-zone discipline. Black lived up to those expectations this spring, although he admittedly plays in an extremely hitter-friendly conference and home park. Black posted a .383/.496/.683 slash line with a career-best 13 home runs while continuing to manage the strike zone at an impressive rate, with 39 walks to 25 strikeouts. Black has a big leg kick to start his swing but keeps his hands quiet and steady in his load before firing through the zone with impressive hand speed. He has a pull-heavy approach, and this spring did a tremendous amount of damage on pitches on the inner third. Black has an offensive-driven profile and while he’s played both second and third this spring, scouts see him more likely winding up at second base at the next level. He’s a fringy runner and defender, with below-average arm strength after undergoing surgery on his right shoulder to repair a labrum tear in 2020. Teams who buy into his bat could take him somewhere in the second- or third-round range after a strong 2021 campaign.

 

FanGraphs:

A big performer from a smaller school, Black has shown enough against good competition early and late in the season to provide more comfort to scouts in a high selection. With an outstanding feel for the strike zone, Black waits for pitches to drive and then does just that, showing average power from the left side with a mechanically sound swing that produces a lot of contact. His approach can waiver from patient to passive at times, and he’ll need to add some aggression to game as a pro. A lack of twitch and a fringy arm limit him to the right side of the infield, but the team who selects Black is doing so because of the bat.

 

The Athletic (Keith Law):

The Canadian-born Black has emerged as one of the best college position players in the draft class and could push himself into the late first round, as he’s hitting .387/.500/.650 this year, still showing great plate discipline but now with more power. He’s played all over the infield but second base is his most likely landing spot.

 

Prospects Live:

Black is a pro hitter. Black has the skills to fit multiple positions on the infield, but it's his bat and not his defensive versatility that will make him and intriguing follow on draft weekend. After slashing .353/.469/.600 his freshman year, Tyler went out in 2021 and showed his freshman year was no fluke slashing .383/.496/.683, walking more than he struck out (39 BB, 25 K). Black shows an advanced approach at the plate and good control of the barrel with discipline beyond his years. His strong hands and above average power allow him to profile as a bat-first second baseman. At 6-foot-2, 190-pounds, Black may have a little more projection in front of him. He follows a recent trend of high-upside position players drafted out of Wright State early in the draft (Sean Murphy, Athletics, Peyton Burdick, Marlins). Check out the Prospects Live conversation with Tyler here.

 

 

LINKS:

The Athletic: Baseball has been in Tyler Black’s life since he was born. Now he’s heading to the Milwaukee Brewers

 

VIDEOS:

 

[Eye Black]

ROUND 2 (51st overall): Russell Smith

 

(Photo: TCU Athletics)

 

Height: 6’9”

Weight: 235

B/T: L/L

School: TCU

Year: Senior

DOB: 09/10/1998

 

SCOUTING REPORT:

 

MLB Pipeline:

Scouting grades: Fastball: 55 | Slider: 45 | Changeup: 55 | Control: 60 | Overall: 60

 

Named the outstanding pitcher at the 2016 Area Code Games, Smith lasted 38 rounds in the next year's Draft because of his commitment to Texas Christian. He served as the Horned Frogs' midweek starter as a freshman but Tommy John surgery and the pandemic limited him to just 21 innings over the next two seasons. He has looked better than ever in 2021, becoming one of the most efficient strike throwers in college baseball and working his way into the first three rounds.

 

Smith's fastball plays significantly better than its ordinary velocity (89-93 mph, peak of 95) because he commands it so well and creates difficult angle, plane and extension with his extra-large 6-foot-9 frame. His mid-80s changeup can be a plus pitch with fade and sink at its best. While his low-80s slider isn't as effective as his other two offerings, it has shown improvement and he mixes it in at opportune times.

 

After issuing a walk every two innings as a freshman, Smith has given out a free pass less than once per start ever since. He keeps his long limbs in sync with an easy delivery that he repeats well. His ability to locate his pitches where he wants gives him a high floor as a likely No. 5 starter.

 

Perfect Game:

Smith really broke out in terms of his strikeout potential during the season, proving to be one of the more consistent starters for the Horned Frogs. He’s a huge left-hander with a low-90s fastball and a plus changeup along with a quality slider for a third pitch. It’s a starter profile with a strong strike-throwing history along with the experience and performance.

 

Game Specific Scouting Report - Lanky lefthander Russell Smith got the start for the Horned Frogs in the first game of the second day of the event and was superb during his time on the bump. The southpaw went a little over five innings with six strikeouts and only allowed one run, a home run in his final inning of work. He finished with just the one run allowed and a ton of weak contact as he filled the zone up and was in command from the first pitch of the game.

 

Smith is a massive lefthander, listed at 6-foot-9 and 235-pounds, and he has excellent physicality and repeats his mechanics very well for someone his size. There is some funk and deception to the delivery with exaggerated side steps, rhythm, and dipping of shoulders but it's all synced up remarkably well. He strides well with his lower half and the arm stroke comes through relatively compact and from a three-quarters slot.

 

The lefthander filled it up from the first pitch of the game as the first inning was a nice microcosm of what was to come. He threw about ten pitches and got two weak ground ball outs on changeup followed by a three-pitch strikeout to end the frame. The fastball sat 90-93 mph and he held his velocity well throughout. There's plus angle on the fastball given the extreme crossfire lower half landing that Smith employs and it allowed for some poor swings by lefthanded hitters.

 

Both the changeup and the slider were solid pitches for Smith who went to the slider often. The changeup shows good sinking life and arm side fade, though he did have the tendency to drop slot at times on the pitch, and was a neutralizing agent against righthanded hitters. The slider played to hitters of either handedness and got a good amount of chases running away from lefties. There's a strong arsenal as well as a track record of success and the strikes to give him a good shot at starting at the next level.

 

There are a lot of options for the Horned Frogs on an experienced pitching staff and Smith turned in an excellent performance. He should undoubtedly be a key cog in the rotation for the foreseeable future and gives the Horned Frogs another talented veteran to rely upon as the season gets underway.

 

Baseball America:

Fastball: 50 | Slider: 50 | Changeup: 55 | Control: 55 | BA Grade: 45

 

A 38th-round pick of the Cubs out of high school in 2017, Russell Smith is not what you might think. Watch a massive (6-foot-9, 235 pounds) long-levered lefty and you would expect big stuff and little idea of where it’s going. With such a massive frame it would understandably take quite a while for Smith to grow into his delivery. But that’s not him. Smith doesn’t have big stuff—he can touch 94-95 mph but he will generally pitch at 90-92. But he has a very smooth, repeatable delivery with solid body control. And Smith’s fastball plays well up in the strike zone with good vertical movement. It sets up his above-average 82-85 mph changeup which he commands extremely well. Smith throws his changeup almost always down and away to righthanded hitters and he rarely misses his spot. It’s a quality creator of ground balls, but it’s good enough to get some swings and misses as well. His average slider is somewhat sweepy, but he will bury it with two strikes. Smith missed the 2019 season recovering from Tommy John surgery, but he’s otherwise been reasonably durable. Smith seems more likely to be a relatively low-ceiling draft pick, but one who also has a very good chance to be a big leaguer. Whether that role is as a big lefty middle reliever or a back-of-the-rotation starter, his ability to consistently throw three pitches for strikes and attack four quadrants of the strike zone make him a valuable pro prospect.

 

Prospects Live:

A huge, 6-foot-9-inch southpaw, Smith was drafted in the 37th round in 2017 by the Cubs. He'll be 23 for the draft, but he's had such a good year for the Horned Frogs he's really ascended his stock. His command has been very good in 2021, a rarity for guys his size. The fastball is a low-90s offering, but could add a few ticks if he lands in an eventual bullpen role at the next level.

 

 

LINKS:

 

 

VIDEOS:

 

[Eye Black]

ROUND 3 (86th overall): Alex Binelas, 3B

 

(Photo: Louisville Athletics)

 

Height: 6'3"

Weight: 225

B/T: L/R

School: Louisville

Year: Junior

DOB: 5/26/2000

 

SCOUTING REPORT:

 

MLB Pipeline:

Scouting grades: Hit: 45 | Power: 55 | Run: 45 | Arm: 50 | Field: 45 | Overall: 50

 

The state of Wisconsin has cranked out a slew of talented position players in recent years, most notably Jarred Kelenic, Gavin Lux and Daulton Varsho. Another product of the Badger State, Binelas slammed 14 homers as a Louisville freshman after declining to sign when he dropped to the Nationals in the 35th round in the 2018 Draft. He played just two games in 2020 before breaking the hamate bone in his right hand but still entered this year as a potential top-15 pick, only to bat .155 with one homer in the first month of the season.

 

The product of strength and bat speed, Binelas' solid left-handed power began to return in April, when he homered six times in a seven-game span. He uses the entire field and doesn't chase many pitches out of the strike zone, though he doesn't have a history of hitting for high averages. He draws a decent amount of walks but he's a streaky hitter who falls into prolonged slumps when his timing gets off at the plate.

 

Binelas also lacks an obvious defensive home. He began the season at third base but most scouts don't like his hands, footwork or funky throwing motion, and he also has looked rough at first base after moving there in mid-March. Though his speed plays as fringy in games, he recorded plus 60-yard dash times on scout day in the fall, so his best option may be left or right field.

 

Perfect Game:

Binelas entered the season as a potential first round pick but got off to a slow start which hindered his chance of going in the first round. He’s still a talented slugger with plus raw power but his strikeout issues were notable throughout the season. With his left-handed power and track record throughout his career there’s still a lot to like here though he’ll likely be locked at first base in pro ball.

 

Game Specific Scouting Report - Heading into the 2021 season, Binelas was thought to have been the top draft prospect on a very talented Louisville team but scuffled mightily in the early goings of the season. The 6-foot-3, 225-pound left-handed slugger has excellent size and physicality and despite playing third base early in the season, he’s moved over to first base for the forseeable future.

 

Binelas came into the weekend hitting in the .210s and though he hit some balls hard and took much better at-bats than he had been early in the season, he had just one hit to his name in the three-game set. There’s still a good amount of swing-and-miss to his game which is tough for a bat-first profile, but he was taking better at-bats, fighting off tough pitches, and hitting some balls hard despite just one landing for him.

 

He has big raw power and the ability to generate impact with his strength but features a short and inside swing. Binelas can create some leverage to the pull side when he lets the barrel eat and gets extended through contact, but in batting practice he showed mostly a sprayed line drive approach in showing off the hit tool, working both sides with liners and repeating the swing well.

 

There’s minimal hand load and good rhythm in the box, from a lower hand set, as it’s nice and easy in his repeatable swing. Binelas’ swing is compact and he turns over the inner half well and in-game action he showed the ability to impact the ball to the opposite field as well, smoking a 100+ EV lineout to the track in left field. At first base, Binelas isn’t much of a vacuum, with more deliberate movements at first and not much arm strength to boot, but he did play third base earlier in the year and wasn’t bad at it. At the end of the day it’s a bat-first profile and Binelas had more of a track record than any third-year prospect entering the year with .307/.396/.651 slash and 14 home runs as a true freshman. He’ll have to improve his pedestrian numbers and get more back to his 2019 stats in order to recoup his round-one status, but he appears to be on the right track.

 

Baseball America:

Hit: 45 | Power: 65 | Run: 40 | Field: 45 | Arm: 45 | BA Grade: 45

 

Binelas entered the 2021 season as one of the better in-game power hitters of the 2021 class, with a chance to go in the top half of the first round. He has slid down draft boards after getting off to an extremely slow start with the bat and moving across the diamond from third base to first. He went 2-for-31 during the first eight games of the season and around the halfway point was hitting just .212/.317/.424. He did have a stronger finish and hit .256/.348/.968 with 19 home runs, but teams have struggled to look past how lost he looked at the plate early, in addition to a 22% strikeout rate. Binelas does have massive raw power out of a strong, 6-foot-3, 225-pound frame and he distributed his homers from the left-center gap to the right-center gap, with some scouts assessing his raw power as 70-grade. While his career average won’t look great, Binelas’ power output and walk rates are impressive and scouts who like him appreciate his plate discipline and all-fields approach. Teams entered the year hoping he would prove his ability at third base—where he’d shown stiff actions and fringy glovework—but now he’s a likely first baseman. Some scouts think he might be athletic enough to handle left field. Binelas did have a massive, three-homer game against Clemson in the ACC Tournament, which could have swayed evaluators back to his preseason hype, but it seems safe to say Binelas raised more questions than he answered this spring.

 

FanGraphs:

Binelas' triple slash line as a freshman (.291/.383/.612) put him in this draft class' first round mix, even though he doesn't have premium physical tools. His peripherals (a 20% strikeout rate, twice his walk rate) were not as dominant, and scouts were eager to see if Binelas could repeat or improve upon his 2019, but a wrist injury and COVID-19 limited him to just two games in 2020. Then he struggled early in 2020 before getting hot for about a month in the middle of the college season, and then again during conference tournament play. Binelas is short to the ball and has big, majestic power but his swing is fairly grooved. He struggles with fastballs up and away from him and has a somewhat scary strikeout-to-walk ratio for a corner infielder. He doesn't have an especially projectable frame and though he's worked to get himself in better shape than he was in as a freshman, Binelas projects to first base for most scouts. He looks like a corner platoon bat that could move quickly.

 

The Athletic (Keith Law):

Binelas couldn’t buy a hit early in the season but he’s been better in conference play, with 70 raw power, though still a low walk rate and not enough average (.287) given his contact rate.

 

Prospects Live:

Missed the start of the shortened season after undergoing Hamate surgery after posting a monsterous freshman campaign. Binelas has significant raw power, but he's had trouble getting into it at times in 2021. Binelas is an average defender at third base with an average throwing arm, though he's received a bulk of his playing time in 2021 at first base. There's some stiffness in his athleticism and he may be forced to first base at the pro level. Binelas profiling as a first baseman certainly hurts his profile a bit, but the struggles with the bat have been a bigger detriment to his draft stock in 2021.

 

 

LINKS:

 

 

VIDEOS:

[Eye Black]

ROUND 4 (116th overall): Logan Henderson, RHP

 

(Photo: TBD)

 

Height: 5'11"

Weight: 194

B/T: R/R

School: McLennan CC (TX)

Year: JC Freshmen

DOB: 03/02/2002

 

SCOUTING REPORT:

 

MLB Pipeline:

Scouting grades: Fastball: 50 | Slider: 50 | Changeup: 60 | Control: 55 | Overall: 40

 

A true freshman, Henderson pitched McLennan (Texas) CC to the second Junior College World Series championship in school history. He took MVP honors at the Series after winning two eight-inning starts, striking out 14 against Florence-Darlington (S.C.) Tech in the first round and 17 against Central Arizona in the finals. That capped a season in which he led all national juco pitchers in strikeouts (169) and innings (97 2/3) while ranking second in strikeout rate (15.6 per nine innings) and third in ERA (1.66).

 

Henderson's out pitch is a plus changeup that arrives in the low 80s with tumble and fade. His fastball sat at 88-92 mph for much of the spring but picked up a couple of ticks of velocity and topped out at 95 at the Junior College World Series, and it dodges barrels thanks to high spin rates that produce plenty of armside run. He also can spin a mid-70s curveball with better shape than power.

 

Though Henderson throws three pitches for strikes and creates deception with a short arm action, he's also an undersized right-hander with no projection remaining. Analytic teams may be more impressed with his fastball than radar guns are, but clubs may want to see how he fares against better competition. He could return to McLennan or follow through on a commitment to Texas A&M if he doesn't sign this summer.

 

Perfect Game:

Henderson was the NJCAA Division 1 pitcher of the year and finished with the most strikeouts (166) and a 1.66 ERA. The Aggie commit throws three solid offerings with plus command/control and works all four quadrants of the zone well. His fastball sits in the low 90s but with solid hop and plays well at the top of the zone. His deceptive changeup has been regarded as a plus pitch with late depth. He also throws an average curveball in the mid-70s. The top JuCo prospect in the country will definitely be intriguing to big league teams possible as early as rounds 3 or 4 in the draft and it might be a bit of a surprise now if he ends up on campus in College Station now this fall.

 

Baseball America:

Fastball: 50 | Curveball: 50 | Changeup: 60 | Control: 60 | BA Grade: 50

 

Normally the best pitching prospects in junior college baseball have a fire-breathing dragon of a fastball. That was the case for Luke Little, Nate Pearson, Jackson Rutledge and Antoine Kelly. Henderson is a different kind of pitching prospect. He’s maybe 6-feet tall, and while he can touch 94 mph, he generally sits at 90-92. But his high-spin rate fastball gets swings and misses up in the zone and he has three average or better pitches that all play up thanks to his plus control and command. The NJCAA Division I pitcher of the year, the true freshman led NJCAA Division I with 166 strikeouts and was third with a 1.66 ERA. He threw a seven-inning perfect game in late April and struck out 31 while allowing one run in 16 innings in two NJCAA World Series starts as he helped McLennan to the national title. Henderson’s plus mid-70s changeup is a weapon with excellent deception and late drop. He’ll use it against righties and lefties and is comfortable pitching in and out. He also throws his fastball to all four quadrants of the strike zone with plus control. His mid-70s curve is an average offering as well and like everything else he throws, he commands it well. Henderson is committed to Texas A&M and he could make an immediate impact if he heads there, but his advanced feel, plus control and solid three-pitch package could entice a team to take him in the third or fourth round.

 

Prospects Live:

Short-arm hurler with explosive fastball and stiff, firm slider. 91-93/t94 with more velo coming. Has flashed feel for a CH. Future leveragable bullpen role.

 

LINKS:

 

 

VIDEOS:

Facebook Video: Link

[Eye Black]

ROUND 5 (147th overall): Ethan Murray, SS

 

(Photo: Duke Athletics)

 

Height: 6'0"

Weight: 200

B/T: R/R

School: Duke

Year: Junior

DOB: 05/13/2000

 

SCOUTING REPORT:

 

MLB Pipeline:

A .296/.397/.429 hitter with 10 steals this spring, Murray stands out more for his instincts than his physical ability and projects as a utility man at the big league level. He's overly aggressive with a right-handed swing that gets too long and has fringy speed, with his solid arm grading as his lone better than average tool

 

Perfect Game:

Murray doesn’t pack a lot of punch but he does pick it fairly well at shortstop with good arm strength and speed too. Evaluators think there’s a better chance to stick at short compared to his ACC peers but unfortunately for Murray it’s a hit over power profile from the right side with not a ton of juice behind it either. There’s a good opportunity to improve stock if he comes back and improves his impact or power numbers but he’ll be a glove first prospect at the next level.

 

Baseball America:

Hit: 45 | Power: 40 | Run: 45 | Field: 50 | Arm: 55 | BA Grade: 40

 

It’s a bit surprising that Murray went under the radar out of high school considering he played on the same team as highly-touted Clemson catcher Adam Hackenberg. Murray put himself squarely on the map after hitting .305/.391/.445 with five home runs and starting all 58 games at shortstop in a 2019 Freshman All-American season. He slumped a bit in the shortened 2020 season before having a strong summer in the Coastal Plain League, and this spring Murray managed a solid .297/.397/.440 slash line. While Murray has exclusively played shortstop with Duke, scouts wonder if he will be an everyday shortstop at the next level. He has solid hands and above-average arm strength for the position, but he’s a below-average runner and some scouts think his defensive actions are just light enough that he’d be better served playing all over the infield and outfield as a super-utility type. Listed at 6 feet, 200 pounds, Murray has below-average power but he swings with intent and takes massive hacks trying to do damage. That has led to some swing and miss in his game and an 18% whiff rate this spring. A team that thinks Murray has a chance to be an everyday shortstop could take a shot at him somewhere in the middle of Day Two.

 

Prospects Live:

Murray is the type of player that is a sum of his parts rather than someone buoyed by one loud tool. At the plate, Murray has surprising pop for his size, but generally sticks to an all-fields gap mentality. He's got a sound approach and generally puts the ball in play a lot. Murray won't steal you many bases as he's fringy in the speed department. This is the type of player that sticks around for a decade simply because he knows how to play the game and contribute in more ways than one.

 

LINKS:

 

 

VIDEOS:

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ROUND 6 (177th overall): Carlos Rodriguez, RHP

 

(Photo: Florida SouthWestern Athletics)

 

Height: 6'0"

Weight: 180

B/T: R/R

School: Florida SouthWestern State College (FL)

Year: JC Freshmen

DOB: 11/27/2001

 

SCOUTING REPORT:

 

Perfect Game:

Storied as a prep from a young age all the way through his graduation, Rodriguez went to the JUCO ranks and was successful this spring posting both a strong earned run average and good strikeout numbers. At 6-foot there’s some obvious size concerns from a projection standpoint, but the stuff already shows well. The fastball is regularly in the 92-94 mph range, peaking around 95-96, and he gets a good deal of life to it generating ride up in the zone from his lower release height. He’s got three off-speed pitches that he’ll sequence together in high-leverage situations, but the slider has been the go-to for him spun well in the low-80s with sharp two-plane bite. The delivery has all the right pieces in terms of athleticism, arm speed and ability to repeat and he’s been consistent in commanding good stuff so it’ll be interesting to see where he’s taken in this draft.

 

Prospects Live:

Long levers and whippy arm, added good weight over the past calendar year. Fastball jumped this year bumping 95. Slider/Changeup both lag behind, but have flashed average, especially the breaking ball.

 

 

LINKS:

 

 

VIDEOS:

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ROUND 7 (207th overall): Tristan Peters, OF

 

(Photo: SIU Athletics)

 

Height: 6'0"

Weight: 180

B/T: L/R

School: Southern Illinois University Cardondale

Year: Junior

DOB: 02/29/2000

 

SCOUTING REPORT:

 

Perfect Game:

A very under-the-radar JUCO prospect recruited to SIU by since-departed recruiting coordinator Nick Magnifico, now at South Alabama, Peters had a huge spring in terms of performance, slashing .355/.463/.548 with 20 doubles, 14 swipes, and 46 walks to just 28 strikeouts. Peters is lauded for his bat-to-ball skills and barrel adjustability, with some seeing a solid-average hit tool long term, to go along with below-average overall power that should still come with plenty of doubles. He’s a plus runner with good instincts in the outfield, though his arm strength limits him to center or left field. He’s seen as a potential fourth outfielder at the big league level who can play all over the outfield in spurts and handle the bat.

 

 

LINKS:

 

 

VIDEOS:

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ROUND 8 (237th overall): Zack Raabe, 2B

 

(Photo: Minnesota Athletics)

 

Height: 5'10"

Weight: 180

B/T: R/R

School: Minnesota

Year: Junior

DOB: 08/18/1999

 

SCOUTING REPORT:

 

Perfect Game:

A performance bat whose profile is based on the strength of his hit tool, Raabe was excellent this spring for a bad Minnesota team, slashing .315/.407/.532 with only 17 strikeouts. Some scouts see a future solid-average hit tool with some on-base ability here, though it’s a flatter swing without a ton of home run power and he’s limited to 2B in professional baseball, so while the profile is limited, there’s a good hit tool here and that should get Raabe taken somewhere mid-day 2 of the draft.

 

Baseball America:

Raabe is an undersized second baseman with big league bloodlines who has carried the lineup at Minnesota. The 5-foot-10, 180-pound infielder has an unbelievable approach at the plate with a hitter’s vision, incredible bat-to-ball skills, and solid strike zone awareness. He carried the incredible start he was off to last season into this year until running into a slump down the stretch. Raabe finished the season with a .315/.407/.532 slash line with six homers, 20 walks and 17 strikeouts, but some scouts surmise that the pressure of hitting over .400 for half the year with little help from the rest of the lineup caused his dropoff. His tools are limited, but he flashed some more power this year. He’s defensively average and limited to second base, with an OK arm and a below-average run tool. The 21-year-old has a tough profile but he can really rake.

 

Prospects Live:

Raabe had a big sophomore year batting close to .500 in the abbreviated campaign. He's got a good arm for second base and hands that are more than capable of making the routine plays. He draws high marks for his plate discipline,. Raabe may lack long-term big league tools, but he's certainly got the profile to play ball and bounce up and down for a very, very long time.

 

 

LINKS:

 

 

VIDEOS:

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ROUND 9 (267th overall): Brannon Jordan, RHP

 

(Photo: Gamecock Central)

 

Height: 6'2"

Weight: 190

B/T: R/R

School: South Carolina

Year: Junior

DOB: 03/19/1999

 

SCOUTING REPORT:

 

Perfect Game:

Jordan became a fixture for the Gamecocks after transferring to Columbia by way of Cowley County Junior College. He’s an athletic right-hander who competes in the strike zone nicely while his slider is his go-to secondary pitch. The operation is fairly clean and Jordan’s numbers weren’t spectacular on the season, though he made all of his starts this spring and showed competitiveness and moxie on the bump. The consistency of strikes were a concern this season as he had typically filled the zone up in the past. There’s obvious reliever question marks given the inconsistencies this season but there’s still upside here.

 

Baseball America:

Jordan had some interest as a top-five-round pick in the shortened 2020 draft, but he wound up going undrafted and made it back to South Carolina for his second season with the program after transferring in from Cowley County (Kan.) JC in 2019. Jordan was lights out for the Gamecocks in 2020, posting a 1.71 ERA over four starts, but his control backed up this spring and he managed just a 4.58 ERA over 15 starts and 72.2 innings. He still struck out batters at a decent clip (12.1 K/9), but his walk rate jumped from 3.9 BB/9 to 5.9 BB/9. Jordan has a four-pitch mix but primarily works off of his low-90s fastball and low-80s slider. The fastball has touched 95 mph at its peak and scouts like how it plays in the zone, while his slider flashes plus potential, but he doesn’t consistently hit on the pitch. When he throws a good one, it shows hard tilt in the 83-85 mph range and creates ugly swings from opposing batters from either side of the plate. Jordan also throws a slower curveball with more 12-to-6 shape and a seldomly used mid-80s changeup. The changeup has shown interesting tumbling life at times, but it’s tough for scouts to fully evaluate it with how often he’s thrown the pitch. Jordan was less consistent from start to start this season than scouts expected and there are starter/reliever questions given his strike throwing this year.

 

 

LINKS:

 

 

VIDEOS:

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ROUND 10 (297th overall): Wes Clarke, C/1B

 

(Photo: South Carolina Athletics)

 

Height: 6’2”

Weight: 236

B/T: R/R

School: South Carolina

Year: Junior

DOB: 10/13/1999

 

SCOUTING REPORT:

 

Perfect Game:

Clarke took the college baseball world by storm to start the 2021 season, seemingly homering in every other at-bat across the first few weeks of the spring, then cooling off considerably. He ended up with a slash line of .271/.428/.663 with 23 home runs and 50 walks, though he struck out 73 times. Clarke’s power is the draw here, easily plus from the right side of the plate, though the power comes more from strength than bat speed, and it’s tough to project that type of profile out to the big league level. He’s likely to be a 1B-only in pro ball, and should hit for a lot of power through the low minors with the ceiling of a bench power bat at the highest level.

 

Baseball America:

No hitter in college baseball was off to a better start this spring than Clarke, who homered eight times in his first six games of the season and finished the year tied for first in the nation with 23 home runs—along with Florida State catcher Matheu Nelson. Clarke has plenty of strength in his 6-foot-2, 235-pound frame and a track record of hitting for power at South Carolina and in summer collegiate leagues. Clarke has the natural strength and hand power to hit balls out of the park from pole to pole and will occasionally mis-hit balls or just get under pitches that he’s still able to drive over the fence. Power is clearly Clarke’s calling card, but it did come with a 28% strikeout rate this spring. That’s notable, but probably not a deal-breaker because Clarke is more than capable of drawing a walk and his 19.5% walk rate was among the best of all SEC hitters. Clarke was a much better hitter against fastballs this spring than breaking or offspeed offerings, and because of that some scouts wonder what sort of hitter he’ll be at the next level when pitchers can more consistently throw those pitches for strikes. He hammered fastballs and had no problem with 93-plus mph velocity, but there are scouts who think he has below-average bat speed, and his numbers steadily declined throughout SEC play—with 15 of his 23 homers coming against non-SEC teams. Clarke has a limited defensive profile and will probably be suited for just first base in pro ball. He’s caught infrequently at South Carolina, but the industry doesn’t seem to view him as a candidate to play there in pro ball.

 

Prospects Live:

Immense power surge in 2020, blasting 8 homers in just 16 games and that absolutely carried into 2021. Hit tool certainly has question marks around it, but Clarke has a good arm and more athleticism than most first basemen. He also serves as a backup catcher at South Carolina and could serve as an emergency catcher at the next level. Could end up having the trajectory Pete Alonso had in 2016.

 

 

LINKS:

 

 

VIDEOS:

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ROUND 11 (327th overall): Roc Riggio, OF

 

(Photo: Hans Gutknecht, Los Angeles Daily News/SCNG)

 

Height: 5'9"

Weight: 178

B/T: L/R

School: Thousand Oaks HS (CA)

Year: HS Senior

DOB: 06/11/2002

 

SCOUTING REPORT:

 

MLB Pipeline:

Scouting grades: Hit: 55 | Power: 50 | Run: 40 | Arm: 50 | Field: 45 | Overall: 45

 

In the summer of 2019, Riggio played on a scout team against what would eventually be USA Baseball’s 18-and-under national team as a tune-up for Team USA before international competition and arguably was the best performer on either team at the time. An alum of Team USA himself -- he hit .480 for the 15U team that won gold in the Pan Am Games in 2017 -- Riggio was not as impressive this summer as he had been previously, but he did impress with how he swung the bat during his high school season this spring.

 

Riggio is about his left-handed bat. He has a knack for barreling up the baseball and making loud contact with excellent bat speed. He has gotten stronger and has legitimate power, especially to the pull side, that should only increase as he continues to mature. Riggio is a real grinder who clearly loves to hit.

 

Beyond that, however, are some question marks. Riggio doesn’t run all that well, often opting out of running 60-yard dashes at events, and it’s unclear what his defensive home should be. He’s played both second and the outfield, with scouts feeling he’s probably better suited to be an offensive-minded second baseman than a center fielder. Hitters do find a way into the lineup and a team that believes enough in the bat will sign the Oklahoma State recruit and figure out where to put him.

 

In the summer of 2019, Riggio played on a scout team against what would eventually be USA Baseball's 18-and-under national team as a tune-up for Team USA before international competition and arguably was the best performer on either team at the time. An alum of Team USA himself -- he hit .480 for the 15U team that won gold in the Pan Am Games in 2017 -- Riggio was not as impressive this summer as he had been previously, but he did impress with how he swung the bat during his high school season this spring. More than anything, Riggio is about his left-handed bat. He has a knack for barreling up the baseball and making loud contact with excellent bat speed. He has gotten stronger and has legitimate power, especially to the pull side, that should only increase as he continues to mature. Riggio is a real grinder who clearly loves to hit. Beyond that, however, are some question marks. Riggio doesn't run all that well, often opting out of running 60-yard dashes at events, and it's unclear what his defensive home should be. He's played both second and the outfield, with scouts feeling he's probably better suited to be an offensive-minded second baseman than a center fielder. Hitters do find a way into the lineup and a team that believes enough in the bat will sign the Oklahoma State recruit and figure out where to put him.

 

Perfect Game:

Riggio is a fun player to watch in that he plays angry with his hair on fire and gets the most out of his tools. He’s undersized and has some defensive profile concerns, as he’s not fast enough to play center field, doesn’t have the arm strength for right field, and isn’t viewed as having the hands/actions to play second base either. This creates worry for the profile, obviously, but the concerns are alleviated by the fact that Riggio can mash, and does it for power, too. The lefthanded hitter has present average raw power and gets to a fair bit of it in game with a direct, quick stroke that covers the plate and allows him to use the whole field. Position-less prep bats are tough to draft, but Riggio has enough potential value in his bat to justify it. Committed to Oklahoma State, Riggio’s profile is perhaps most comparable to recent Cowboy Kaden Polcovich, who was a fourth rounder in 2020 out of OSU.

 

2020 National Showcase Report - Roc Riggio is a 2021 OF/C/MIF with a 5-9 175 lb. frame from Simi Valley, CA who attends Thousand Oaks. Compact athletic build with good present strength. 7.33 runner, plays faster than his sixty time. Good fundamentals in the outfield, clean approach through the ball with good glove position out front, gets on top of his throws well from an over the top arm slot. Also worked out in the middle infield with quick and active footwork and a similar over the top arm slot. Left handed hitter, hits from an open stance with a short, high contact swing approach, controlled swing the worked the middle to opposite field consistently, has shown more power in his swing approach in the past.. Good student, verbal commitment to Oklahoma State.

 

Baseball America:

Riggio teamed with Maxwell Muncy to make Thousand Oaks (Calif.) High a premier destination for scouts this spring. Muncy led the team in most offensive categories, with Riggio right behind him. Riggio is undersized at 5-foot-9, 175 pounds, but he is strong in his frame and has a natural feel for hitting. He has loose hands, grinds out quality at-bats and has a good feel for the barrel. Riggio can occasionally get too big in his swing and be too pull-heavy, but at his best he shows the approach and contact ability to be a potentially above-average hitter. Riggio has bulked up considerably in an effort to try and hit more home runs and started taking more aggressive swings this spring. Some evaluators think he can get to average power in time, but most think he’ll have below-average power once he starts swinging a wood bat. Riggio’s best position is “hitter” and he faces a lot of questions defensively. He doesn’t move well enough to play center field with speed that ranges from below-average to average and his hands and actions are stiff at second base. He has spent time in right field, but his fringe-average arm doesn’t fit there either. Riggio’s lack of a position complicates his future outlook, but his natural hitting ability from the left side has teams interested. He is committed to Oklahoma State.

 

Prospects Live:

Strong athlete in an undersized but pitbull like frame. Quick left handed swing with strong hands and over the fence power already. Looks to be primarily a second baseman but has played outfield as well. Riggio really struggled early on this summer, but has had a few good weeks now. Riggio is an Oklahoma State commit and one of the top players in a strong California Prep class.

 

 

LINKS:

 

 

VIDEOS:

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ROUND 12 (357th overall): Caden Vire, LHP

 

(Photo: Andy Buhler, SBLive)

 

Height: 6'6"

Weight: 170

B/T: L/L

School: Skyview HS (WA)

Year: HS Senior

DOB: 09/09/2003

 

SCOUTING REPORT:

 

Perfect Game:

Vire is a classic projection left-hander with a smooth delivery, 6-foot-5 frame, and the stuff to dream on. The fastball lives in the upper-80s with explosive life and there’s good feel for a sweeping slider too.

 

MLK East Scout Notes - Southpaw Caden Vire (2021, Vancouver, Wash.) got the start for Baum Bat NW and missed a good deal of bats during his time on the mound. The combination of fastball quality, extension, and location allow Vire to dominate with the pitch in almost any count. He’s a gangly and uber-projectable 6-foot-5, 175 pounds that generates a ton of extension down the mound with a whippy arm action. The fastball explodes late in the zone and plays well up to garner a good bit of swings and misses. The Arizona State commit used mostly fastballs, in the 85-88 mph range, in the early going and unveiled the slider the second time through the lineup and it showed good potential. The pitch worked right around 78-79 mph and showed good sweeping action with late break. There’s obvious upside for Vire and he’ll be a projection pick for scouts as he continues to trend upwards in terms of velocity.

 

Prospects Live:

Quick arm and consistent mechanics for a long, lanky body. Fastball shows some ride and a little arm-side run. Up to 90 with a sharp slider. Good projectable body that's shown athleticism and balance on the mound. Really young for the class. Won't be 18 on draft day.

 

 

LINKS:

 

 

VIDEOS:

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ROUND 13 (387th overall): Quinton Low, RHP/1B

 

(Photo: Dennis Pleuss/Jeffco Public Schools)

 

Height: 6' 6"

Weight: 215

B/T: L/R

School: Chatfield HS (CO)

Year: HS Senior

DOB: 09/05/2002

 

SCOUTING REPORT:

 

Denver Post:

The 6-foot-6, 215-pounder features a fastball he can pump up to 96, as well as a wipeout slider and changeup. The two-way player is solid defensively and can mash, as he hit .492 with nine homers this spring. Low’s committed to Santa Clara, although the tea leaves indicate there is a good chance he signs with Milwaukee.

 

 

LINKS:

 

 

VIDEOS:

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ROUND 14 (417th overall): Jace Avina, OF

 

(Photo: Andy Barron/RGJ)

 

Height: 6' 2"

Weight: 180

B/T: R/R

School: Spanish Springs HS (NV)

Year: HS Senior

DOB: 06/06/2003

 

SCOUTING REPORT:

 

Perfect Game:

Avina had a good spring and got himself onto draft radars by showing off a projectable bat, good athleticism, and above-average arm strength with middle-of-the-diamond projection. He’s got a clean stroke with above-average bat speed and scouts are optimistic about his bat to ball skills, but there isn’t a ton of power there yet and scouts are also split as to where he’ll end up defensively.

 

Baseball America:

Avina impressed scouts this spring out of Spanish Springs High in Sparks, Nev., and brings a solid all-around tool set to the table. He’s a good athlete with plenty of twitch in his 6-foot-1, 185-pound frame and scouts think he has a chance to be an above-average hitter, though he hasn’t faced the best competition so that evaluation is tough and is perhaps split amongst the industry. Some teams really like his swing and think he’ll have a chance to get to an above-average hit tool in the future with a few tweaks that will let him elevate the ball more consistently. Avina has a chance to stick in the middle of the field somewhere, whether that’s at shortstop, second base or center field. His arm is also strong enough that it might become plus in the future. He’s committed to Nevada and could blow up if he makes it to campus, but there’s plenty of interest in him inside the top-10 rounds if he’s signable.

 

Prospects Live:

Scouts love the frame and twitch of Avina, as well as his potential to stick at shortstop long-term. Some evaluators have thrown above average grades on his raw power, ability to run as well as his arm strength. That said, it's a fringy hit tool with some quirk to it that leads some to doubt whether he'll ever tap into the impact he naturally has in his raw tools.

 

 

LINKS:

 

 

VIDEOS:

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ROUND 15 (447th overall): Hunter Hollan, LHP

 

(Photo: TBD)

 

Height: 6' 5"

Weight: 195

B/T: L/L

School: San Jacinto College North (TX)

Year: JC Freshmen

DOB: 03/05/2002

 

SCOUTING REPORT:

 

MLB Pipeline:

 

Perfect Game:

 

Baseball America:

 

 

LINKS:

 

 

VIDEOS:

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ROUND 16 (477th overall): Kay-Lan Nicasia, SS

 

(Photo: TBD)

 

Height: 6' 2"

Weight: 176

B/T: S/R

School: Champagnat Catholic School (FL)

Year: HS Senior

DOB: 04/10/2002

 

SCOUTING REPORT:

 

MLB Pipeline:

 

Perfect Game:

 

Baseball America:

 

 

LINKS:

 

 

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ROUND 17 (507th overall): Will Rogers, C

 

(Photo: Pioneer Press)

 

Height: 6' 1"

Weight: 215

B/T: R/R

School: Mounds View HS (MN)

Year: HS Senior

DOB: 02/19/2003

 

SCOUTING REPORT:

 

Baseball America:

Rogers is a catcher with some power who has impressed scouts with interesting traits and some triple-digit exit velocities off the bat. There’s a chance he doesn’t stay behind the plate, which could potentially relegate him to becoming a righthanded-hitting first baseman, but he’s been garnering increased attention of late. He’s committed to Arizona State and could get there, but there’s enough to like in the bat for someone to take a chance on him.

 

Prospects Live:

Physical, strong bat with good, durable catchers body. Short to the ball and has very good bat speed. Already physically matured. Below average runner.

 

 

LINKS:

 

 

VIDEOS:

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ROUND 18 (537th overall): Ryne Moore, RHP

 

(Photo: TBD)

 

Height: 6' 4"

Weight: 210

B/T: R/R

School: Old Dominion

Year: Senior

DOB: 11/27/1998

 

SCOUTING REPORT:

 

MLB Pipeline:

 

Perfect Game:

 

Baseball America:

 

 

LINKS:

 

 

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ROUND 19 (567th overall): Carter Holton, LHP

 

http://www.georgiadugoutpreview.com/gallery3/var/albums/2021-Class-4A-state-championship-series/010%20-%20Benedictine%20pitcher%20Carter%20Holton%20throws%20in%20Game%202.jpg?m=1621570999

(Photo: TBD)

 

Height: 5' 11"

Weight: 195

B/T: L/L

School: Benedictine Military School (GA)

Year: HS Senior

DOB: 09/04/2002

 

SCOUTING REPORT:

 

MLB Pipeline:

Scouting grades: Fastball: 55 | Curveball: 55 | Slider: 55 | Changeup: 55 | Control: 50 | Overall: 45

 

Benedictine Military School (Savannah, Ga.) has produced a pair of big leaguers in Hawk Harrelson and Mike Fitzgerald, but the Cadets have never had a pitching prospect of Holton's caliber. He has repeatedly dominated on the showcase circuit and can flash four plus pitches, though he comes with relief risk because of his size. He's the best pitcher in Vanderbilt's recruiting class, but may be more signable than a typical Commodores recruit and could land in the top three rounds.

 

Holton ran his four-seam fastball up to 96 mph last summer at the Perfect Game All-American Classic and usually favors a two-seamer that sits in the low 90s with sink. He has two distinct breaking balls, with scouts slightly preferring his upper-70s slider to his mid-70s curveball, and both pitches have been more consistent this spring. He also has a low-80s changeup with some sink and keeps hitters off balance by mixing his pitches.

 

Holton is doing a better job of staying more under control and pitching with less effort than he did last summer. He has some crossfire in his delivery that adds deception, especially against left-handers. He has a quick arm and throws all of his pitches for strikes, so the only real concern about him remaining a starter is his 5-foot-11, 195-pound frame.

 

Perfect Game:

Holton is one of the first names out of the mouth’s of the prep hitters in this class when asked “who was your toughest at-bat against on the summer circuit?” which speaks volumes, even if the scouting doesn’t always echo that. Holton is an undersized lefty who had a good-not-great spring, and seems more likely to head to Vanderbilt than not at this point, but the quality of the stuff when he’s right is very strong. He works into the mid-90s, is one of the fiercest competitors in the class, and has shown flashes of both an above-average slider and changeup with fair strikes. Vandy fans should be truly excited if this kid gets to campus in Nashville.

 

2020 National Showcase Report - Carter Holton is a 2021 LHP/1B, OF with a 5-11 175 lb. frame from Guyton, GA who attends Benedictine Military. Medium athletic build with good present strength. Tall on his back side with a good hip turn over the rubber, compact quick arm from a 3/4's to extended 3/4's arm slot, creates good angle through the zone, has some energy through release, full body delivery. Worked consistently in the low 90's with his fastball, has been up to 96 mph at other Perfect Game events, attacks the zone with his fastball. Tends to slow his body and arm on his curveball, gets some spin when on top of it. Showed some confidence in his change up. Good athlete with a strong arm who has had incredible performance numbers throughout his career. Very good student, verbal commitment to Vanderbilt. Named to play in the Perfect Game All-American Classic.

 

Baseball America:

Holton might be a player who goes a bit under the radar as one watches him walk to the mound, thanks to an undersized, 5-foot-11, 195-pound frame. As soon as he starts pitching, though, it’s hard not to like him. Holton showed impressive stuff from the left side last summer to go along with a competitive demeanor on the mound and an advanced approach to pitching. Holton mostly sat in the 90-94 mph range last summer and has been in a similar spot this spring, touching 95 and occasionally getting to that peak velocity late in games. He throws both a curveball and a slider, but the pitches blend together at times in shape and aren’t always easily distinguishable. His best breaking ball looks like more of a curveball, with 1-to-7 shape and good vertical bite. Holton also throws a changeup, which is more of a solid offering right now. Holton’s entire arsenal plays up because he does a nice job sequencing, changing speeds and attacking hitters with tempo while changing eye-level. He hides his arm pretty well behind his body, even though at times his arm stroke is a bit longer than scouts would prefer. While nothing is plus at the moment, it’s not hard to see an entire pitch-mix of above-average offerings with solid control. Holton is a Vanderbilt commit, but in a matchup with Bubba Chandler in the Georgia playoffs he stole the show in front of a good mix of scouting directors—so despite limited physical projection, he might not make it to campus.

 

Prospects Live:

Fastball is really starting to tick up as he's gotten older and stronger. Now 94-96 with decent command. 84 mph CH is best offering flashing 55 at times. Slider at 81 with lots of run, but doesn't yet tunnel well -- breaking ball made huge strikes throughout the summer. Holton is plenty athletic on the mound and all of his stuff is ticking up. His trajectory could get him into the first round in 2021. Holton has been a very popular name in prep circles as having the nastiest stuff in the class, at least from a batters box point of view.

 

 

LINKS:

 

 

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ROUND 20 (597th overall): Samuel Mendez, RHP

 

(Photo: TBD)

 

Height: 6' 7"

Weight: 185

B/T: R/R

School: Cisco JC (TX)

Year: JC Freshmen

DOB: 02/26/1993

 

SCOUTING REPORT:

 

MLB Pipeline:

 

Perfect Game:

 

Baseball America:

 

 

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