Free Agent Signings:
Carlos Santana
Mike Minor
Michael Taylor
Ervin Santana
Top 10 Prospects:
1 Bobby Witt Jr., SS
2 Asa Lacy, LHP
3 Daniel Lynch, LHP
4 Jackson Kowar, RHP
5 Erick Pena, OF
6 Nick Loftin, SS
7 Kyle Isbel, OF
8 Khali Lee, OF
9 Jonathan Bowlan, RHP
10 Carlos Hernedez, RHP [Reply]
Having met him on a few occasions, JD will be the 70 year old guy who still believes he's 30 and acts that way. He's had a really hard time not being "the guy" anymore. [Reply]
Is Wander Franco the most highly touted prospect of all time? Initially ranked 14th in 2018 and has been the number 1 prospect in baseball for 3 years in a row now.
I'm sure that not being able to see how well others advanced or if Franco declined is pretty big reason why he's number 1, has there ever been a prospect ranked number 1 for 3 years in a row? [Reply]
Originally Posted by dlphg9:
Is Wander Franco the most highly touted prospect of all time? Initially ranked 14th in 2018 and has been the number 1 prospect in baseball for 3 years in a row now.
I'm sure that not being able to see how well others advanced or if Franco declined is pretty big reason why he's number 1, has there ever been a prospect ranked number 1 for 3 years in a row?
No because usually if you're #1 you come up quickly after that. Tampa is weird in how they handle players. [Reply]
DM places premium value on inventory - especially with pitchers. With that said, what are the most interesting roster construction issues/decisions for the Royals in ST based on who has options and who does not? (w/ the customary assumption that some of these things will just work themselves due to ST injuries and other unforeseen factors). [Reply]
Shamelessly stolen from a Royals related web site.
Starting pitchers (5) - Kris Bubic, Danny Duffy, Brad Keller Mike Minor, and Brady Singer
Trying to get there - Jackson Kowar, Asa Lacy, Daniel Lynch, and Ervin Santana
Relievers (8) - Scott Barlow, Jesse Hahn, Greg Holland, Jakob Junis, Josh Staumont, and Kyle Zimmer
Trying to make it - Scott Blewett, Ronald Bolaños, Wade Davis, Carlos Hernández, Richard Lovelady, Jake Newberry, Carlos Sanabria, Eric Skoglund, Gabe Speier, Daniel Tillo, Angel Zerpa, and Tyler Zuber [Reply]
Originally Posted by dlphg9:
Is Wander Franco the most highly touted prospect of all time? Initially ranked 14th in 2018 and has been the number 1 prospect in baseball for 3 years in a row now.
He’s the highest in the 12 years of FG I think. He looks exactly like Jose Ramirez to me in his clips. I’d guess he will come close to that when he establishes himself. He never swings and misses (4% swinging strike rare or something insane)
Originally Posted by :
I'm sure that not being able to see how well others advanced or if Franco declined is pretty big reason why he's number 1, has there ever been a prospect ranked number 1 for 3 years in a row?
Not uncommon. I think Byron Buxton was 1 or 2 a few years straight. Mauer was Twins 1 prospect for like 4 years straight as ye worked his way thru their system. Mike Montgomery was in our top 3 for about 4 years, etc [Reply]
Originally Posted by RockChalk:
Having met him on a few occasions, JD will be the 70 year old guy who still believes he's 30 and acts that way. He's had a really hard time not being "the guy" anymore.
If you have a deep love for the game, it's rather easy to feel that way!
The body just doesn't perform what the brain wants it to when the desire is so strong. [Reply]
Originally Posted by Wilson8:
Shamelessly stolen from a Royals related web site.
Starting pitchers (5) - Kris Bubic, Danny Duffy, Brad Keller Mike Minor, and Brady Singer
Trying to get there - Jackson Kowar, Asa Lacy, Daniel Lynch, and Ervin Santana
Relievers (8) - Scott Barlow, Jesse Hahn, Greg Holland, Jakob Junis, Josh Staumont, and Kyle Zimmer
Trying to make it - Scott Blewett, Ronald Bolaños, Wade Davis, Carlos Hernández, Richard Lovelady, Jake Newberry, Carlos Sanabria, Eric Skoglund, Gabe Speier, Daniel Tillo, Angel Zerpa, and Tyler Zuber
Unless he's just terrible, I expect Davis to make it. I also expect them to give Santana every opportunity to be a 6th starter, unless Lynch is just lights out in ST. The staff breakdown seems to be leaning towards 6 starters and 7 relievers once they get past the customary early-season day offs. It appears the Omaha shuttle has quite a few options for keeping the pen fresh this year. Zuber, Newberry, Lovelady and Tillo can be shuttled back and forth.
Junis and Barlow have 2 options. That makes them vulnerable to start at Omaha if they have a bad ST. [Reply]
Originally Posted by :
1. Pirates: Kumar Rocker, RHP, Vanderbilt
Rocker would join David Price (2007) and Dansby Swanson (2015) to give Vanderbilt three No. 1 overall picks, second in Draft history behind only Arizona State's four. His fastball and slider can be wipeout pitches, though he still can polish his changeup, command and delivery.
2. Rangers: Jordan Lawlar, SS, Jesuit Prep (Dallas)
The Rangers have taken reliable college bats with their last two first-rounders, but a five-tool shortstop in their own backyard will be hard to ignore. While his tools aren't quite as loud as those of fellow Dallas-area native Bobby Witt Jr., who went No. 2 overall two years ago, Lawlar is a more advanced hitter at the same stage.
3. Tigers: Adrian del Castillo, C, Miami
Del Castillo offers the best combination of power and patience in the 2021 Draft class, with more extra-base hits (39) and walks (43) than strikeouts (32) in 77 games during his first two seasons at Miami. He'll be an impact bat even if he can't stay behind the plate, which is a question.
4. Red Sox: Jud Fabian, OF, Florida
Fabian might be the most polarizing prospect among the eight players who seem to have separated themselves from the rest of the Draft class at this point. He could have the most usable power in the Draft and may stay in center field, but he also has hit just .250 with a 22-percent strikeout rate in two seasons at Florida.
5. Orioles: Jaden Hill, RHP, Louisiana State
Hill pitched just 21 2/3 innings in his first two years at Louisiana State because of a strained elbow in 2019 and the shortened season last spring. Yet he's similar to Rocker with less slider but more changeup, nearly as much physicality and better athleticism.
6. Diamondbacks: Matt McLain, SS, UCLA
The D-backs took McLain 26th overall three years ago and could finally get their man by taking him in the first round for a second time. He's a smaller middle infielder with the best bat-to-ball skills in his Draft, just like Nick Madrigal was when he went No. 4 overall in 2018, and McLain has more sneaky power along with a legitimate chance to stick at shortstop.
7. Royals: Jack Leiter, RHP, Vanderbilt
There's no shortage of scouts who prefer Leiter to his Vanderbilt teammate because they think he has a deeper repertoire, better delivery and more feel for pitching than Rocker. Draft-eligible as a second-year collegian because he'll turn 21 in April, he's small for a starter at 6 feet and 195 pounds, but could climb higher than this if he improves his control after walking eight in 15 2/3 innings last spring.
8. Rockies: Marcelo Mayer, SS, Eastlake HS (Chula Vista, Calif.)
The best pure hitter in the prep class, Mayer has drawn some Corey Seager comparisons as a bigger shortstop with power projection and the tools to stay at the position. He won't match Adrián González (No. 1 overall in 2000) as the highest pick in Eastlake history, but could catch Lawlar to be the first high schooler taken in July.
9. Angels: Alex Binelas, 3B, Louisville
Another fine Wisconsin-bred hitting prospect in the tradition of Jarred Kelenic, Gavin Lux and Daulton Varsho, Binelas has more power than any of them and rivals del Castillo as having the most lefty pop in the 2021 college crop. He may wind up on an outfield corner but fits the offensive profile there if he has to move.
10. Mets: Ty Madden, RHP, Texas
A top-three-rounds talent on a loaded Cypress Ranch HS (Cypress, Texas) club in 2018, Madden has continually gotten stronger and better at Texas. He's now dealing with a mid-90s fastball, a plus mid-80s slider and a solid low-80s changeup, not to mention a quality delivery and control.
Jim Callis is a reporter for MLB.com. Follow @jimcallisMLB on Twitter. Listen to him on the weekly MLB Pipeline Podcast.