This 2020 MLB Draft is as murky as it gets in terms of reliable information available due to the pandemic. As a result, there are plenty of uncertainty and a lack of information circulating at this time when compared to previous years. However, mock drafts are still getting pumped by respectable media outlets and after I shared my thoughts on the Prospects Live mock draft reaction, I will be sharing my thoughts this time on who did the national media outlets have the Giants selecting with their first round selection in next month's draft.
The Athletic: Tyler Soderstrom, HS C, California
Perfect Game: Robert Hassell III, HS OF/LHP, Tennessee
These two, Soderstrom and Hassell III, will be on endless arguments among Giants fans today and for quite some time to come if the Giants ultimately select between the two with the former gaining better steam at the moment than the latter. The two are what I consider as the guys in my shortlist at pick 13 in the draft, along with Cade Cavalli and Ed Howard.
I have written about Soderstrom and Hassell III quite a bit on the Prospects Live mock draft reaction, so I'm going to talk about the things that I did not talk about very well on the previous post: Soderstrom's defensive potential and the difference between him and Hassell III. With MLB.com also linking Soderstrom to the Giants as a potential hometown prospect, I would also discuss someone who was kinda got lost in the mix but in my opinion is now on the mix, Pete Crow-Armstrong.
First up is Soderstrom's defensive potential. Since the start of the millenium, there are 28 HS catchers drafted in the first round (including supplemental first round), and there are only two who at least made one All-Star appearance at catcher, Joe Mauer and Devin Mesoraco. Even though there are prep catchers who actually went on to have a respectable career behind the plate like Jeff Mathis, drafting a HS catcher in the first round is like walking through hot coals. So I understand that having Soderstrom play catcher as his primary home in his pro career is most likely going to be a detriment to his developmental path.
However, to those who would want to have Soderstrom stay behind the plate, there are reports that he is refining his craft in terms of the fundamentals. In my opinion, he can be a fit there and actually be a solid defender, as his agility plays from side to side, he is relaxed on presenting the glove to the pitcher, frames pitches well, and is quick on the ball transfer when throwing to second base.
The issues with Soderstrom long-term is that his frame is still lean and a catcher needs to have that big and strong lower half to stick there. Soderstrom in time would add on to his frame but the ability to block baseballs more effectively and call his own game can only be achieved when facing live competition. There are some fans who would just say he sucks at catcher because they read that he sucks there or see the MLB.com grade on him on his glove is only at 40, they would say that there's no hope for him there or yank him out of there. For me, I see an average catcher defensively at present with potential for growth as he gets to be the starting catcher in pro ball.
If you would want to move Soderstrom out of the hell hole permanently, move him to third base. I have replied to some folks on Twitter a clip of Soderstrom from PBR on why I believe he is a fit at third base. Even though he seems to be throwing nonchalantly on the infield drill, it's obvious that there are ingredients there for him to stick at the hot corner. His footwork is gorgeous, as his shuffling his feet at a quick rate is a reflection of his quick twitch even though his straight line speed is only average at best. He does not seem to be heavy footed when in motion for the upcoming ball, and in quarterback terms, there's no heel click whenever throwing to second base or to first.
I told some that Soderstrom can be positioned on several positions like a Will Smith or Austin Barnes and expect a solid performance while being a potentially stellar hitter to the tune of Corey Seager. That's a hell of a value right there.
Now that Soderstrom's the flavor of the month it seems for the Giants, it's kind of forgotten how good Robert Hassell III is and the general consensus is that people would take Hassell over Soderstrom. It's really tough to compare both Hassell and Soderstrom in terms of their projectability because they are similar in terms of height and weight. But I feel that Soderstrom's more projectable because the hips look a bit wider and the torso can handle more muscle without losing quality, as Hassell looks to only tuck in little but I would not be surprised if I was wrong on this one.
If Hassell would like to add on more power to his game, it would likely be more on his swing like what Kyle Tucker did, utilizing his great eye-hand coordination and a refined approach to try to demolish baseballs. It could work but with his frame, I can only see an average to solid power tool at the moment. He's playing center at the moment but there's a chance that a better defender would push him out of the position as he's more solid than spectacular.
Hassell is a better athlete than Soderstrom, as he is also capable of throwing on the mound as well, throwing low-90s with average-looking secondaries, and is also a faster runner. In any draft that calls for athletic outfielders with the ability to hit and could stay in center, Hassell's the guy. But the class is deep with capable prep hitters that some of Hassell's luster is kind of lost.
Another one who was really lost in the mix but was starting to turn it on in 2020 but was cut short is Pete Crow-Armstrong, or PCA in short. It might be a blessing in disguise for the Giants that the 2020 season was cut short, as PCA's rolling with a .515 batting average with only one strikeout in 42 ABs. There are doubts last year on PCA's offensive ceiling because of his swing and miss issues on showcases and for a guy who was on the tour for so long like he is, any bad thing will get magnified quickly. For PCA to only struck out once in that many at bats tells might be an indication that the old PCA is back.
Having old PCA back is having the best prep prospect back. PCA's swing is smooth and pretty. There is a making of a solid approach on the box before the swing and miss gets magnified so he could be working his way back to a more mature approach. When PCA connects, it's loud almost every single time and the bat path allows the ball to travel deep and connect the other way. There's present strength on his frame and he could tuck in more for an above average raw power but he could use a swing tweak to better tap on his power. At the present however, he is more of a gap hitter than over the fence hitter.
What might be the most impressive tool of PCA is his defense, as he is one of a few who I am confident would stick in center field long-term. His plus raw speed gives him the range, his above average arm strength is more than enough for the position and his instincts and route running gives him the ability to make defensive gems.
That one's my report on PCA. If the old PCA is back, he is a more exciting prospect than Hassell and Soderstrom. I keep saying if the old PCA is back because I can't generate any trust on that kind of sample size and would have to believe on the 2020 tape for that. Unfortunately, I can't find new PCA tape to be fully sold. Can somebody help me get sold on PCA?
I have written about Soderstrom and Hassell III quite a bit on the Prospects Live mock draft reaction, so I'm going to talk about the things that I did not talk about very well on the previous post: Soderstrom's defensive potential and the difference between him and Hassell III. With MLB.com also linking Soderstrom to the Giants as a potential hometown prospect, I would also discuss someone who was kinda got lost in the mix but in my opinion is now on the mix, Pete Crow-Armstrong.
First up is Soderstrom's defensive potential. Since the start of the millenium, there are 28 HS catchers drafted in the first round (including supplemental first round), and there are only two who at least made one All-Star appearance at catcher, Joe Mauer and Devin Mesoraco. Even though there are prep catchers who actually went on to have a respectable career behind the plate like Jeff Mathis, drafting a HS catcher in the first round is like walking through hot coals. So I understand that having Soderstrom play catcher as his primary home in his pro career is most likely going to be a detriment to his developmental path.
However, to those who would want to have Soderstrom stay behind the plate, there are reports that he is refining his craft in terms of the fundamentals. In my opinion, he can be a fit there and actually be a solid defender, as his agility plays from side to side, he is relaxed on presenting the glove to the pitcher, frames pitches well, and is quick on the ball transfer when throwing to second base.
The issues with Soderstrom long-term is that his frame is still lean and a catcher needs to have that big and strong lower half to stick there. Soderstrom in time would add on to his frame but the ability to block baseballs more effectively and call his own game can only be achieved when facing live competition. There are some fans who would just say he sucks at catcher because they read that he sucks there or see the MLB.com grade on him on his glove is only at 40, they would say that there's no hope for him there or yank him out of there. For me, I see an average catcher defensively at present with potential for growth as he gets to be the starting catcher in pro ball.
If you would want to move Soderstrom out of the hell hole permanently, move him to third base. I have replied to some folks on Twitter a clip of Soderstrom from PBR on why I believe he is a fit at third base. Even though he seems to be throwing nonchalantly on the infield drill, it's obvious that there are ingredients there for him to stick at the hot corner. His footwork is gorgeous, as his shuffling his feet at a quick rate is a reflection of his quick twitch even though his straight line speed is only average at best. He does not seem to be heavy footed when in motion for the upcoming ball, and in quarterback terms, there's no heel click whenever throwing to second base or to first.
I told some that Soderstrom can be positioned on several positions like a Will Smith or Austin Barnes and expect a solid performance while being a potentially stellar hitter to the tune of Corey Seager. That's a hell of a value right there.
Now that Soderstrom's the flavor of the month it seems for the Giants, it's kind of forgotten how good Robert Hassell III is and the general consensus is that people would take Hassell over Soderstrom. It's really tough to compare both Hassell and Soderstrom in terms of their projectability because they are similar in terms of height and weight. But I feel that Soderstrom's more projectable because the hips look a bit wider and the torso can handle more muscle without losing quality, as Hassell looks to only tuck in little but I would not be surprised if I was wrong on this one.
If Hassell would like to add on more power to his game, it would likely be more on his swing like what Kyle Tucker did, utilizing his great eye-hand coordination and a refined approach to try to demolish baseballs. It could work but with his frame, I can only see an average to solid power tool at the moment. He's playing center at the moment but there's a chance that a better defender would push him out of the position as he's more solid than spectacular.
Hassell is a better athlete than Soderstrom, as he is also capable of throwing on the mound as well, throwing low-90s with average-looking secondaries, and is also a faster runner. In any draft that calls for athletic outfielders with the ability to hit and could stay in center, Hassell's the guy. But the class is deep with capable prep hitters that some of Hassell's luster is kind of lost.
Another one who was really lost in the mix but was starting to turn it on in 2020 but was cut short is Pete Crow-Armstrong, or PCA in short. It might be a blessing in disguise for the Giants that the 2020 season was cut short, as PCA's rolling with a .515 batting average with only one strikeout in 42 ABs. There are doubts last year on PCA's offensive ceiling because of his swing and miss issues on showcases and for a guy who was on the tour for so long like he is, any bad thing will get magnified quickly. For PCA to only struck out once in that many at bats tells might be an indication that the old PCA is back.
Having old PCA back is having the best prep prospect back. PCA's swing is smooth and pretty. There is a making of a solid approach on the box before the swing and miss gets magnified so he could be working his way back to a more mature approach. When PCA connects, it's loud almost every single time and the bat path allows the ball to travel deep and connect the other way. There's present strength on his frame and he could tuck in more for an above average raw power but he could use a swing tweak to better tap on his power. At the present however, he is more of a gap hitter than over the fence hitter.
What might be the most impressive tool of PCA is his defense, as he is one of a few who I am confident would stick in center field long-term. His plus raw speed gives him the range, his above average arm strength is more than enough for the position and his instincts and route running gives him the ability to make defensive gems.
That one's my report on PCA. If the old PCA is back, he is a more exciting prospect than Hassell and Soderstrom. I keep saying if the old PCA is back because I can't generate any trust on that kind of sample size and would have to believe on the 2020 tape for that. Unfortunately, I can't find new PCA tape to be fully sold. Can somebody help me get sold on PCA?
MLB.com: Garrett Mitchell, OF, UCLA
I have been high on Mitchell ever since he was a HS prospect, I surprised myself that the scouting report that I wrote about him when he was still a HS prospect is still pretty accurate to this day. Here's what I wrote.
"An excellent athlete, Mitchell offers true five-tool potential. Already armed with a well built frame, Mitchell offers close to above-average power potential in the left handed batter's box and can add more power if he put on more weight. The swing is clunky specifically in his loading and with the swing path but he makes his swing work thanks to his athleticism. The swing is quick even though it can get long at times. He is showing a good eye at the plate as well. With the way he swings the bat, I think he can translate his raw power in games as a double digit homer threat.
He's a plus-plus runner (6.3 seconds in 60-yard dash, under 4 seconds home to 1B) who can impact the game with his feet, with the ability to stretch singles to doubles and steal bases at a very good clip. He also have a pretty great arm that can unleash 94 MPH fastballs and will be an above-average defender at center given his tremendous speed and good outfield instincts.
Mitchell can be as good as it gets. The only hurdles that I see is that he's a Type 1 diabetic and because his swing doesn't look pretty or conventional, can he hit at the next level. I read in MLB.com that he is handling his diabetes very well and the unconventional swing reminds me of Hunter Pence."
I mean, any truers or what? I still have doubts on Mitchell's swing translating his raw power in games because the swing path is so flat (but has some loft in batting practice), almost to a point that he's just trying to get the bat head to the ball at times. However, Mitchell has proven in three years in college that he can hit for average at a high level but if you are looking for a swing painted by Picasso, go look somewhere else. The sad thing that I realize is that Mitchell might be more of a leadoff-type material rather than a five-tool, middle of the order-type superstar.
The Mitchell selection also brings up the topic of drafting college hitters, where the Giants went that road with their first round choices for the past two years. I always thought that both Mitchell and Heston Kjerstad might not be in play when the Giants are on the clock given that the teams ahead of the Giants are mocking both within the top 12 picks. But what if for argument's sake, what if Kjerstad is available for the Giants? What can he bring to the table?
For starters, Kjerstad fits that prototypical corner outfield profile, a power-over-hit college performer who can hit homers anywhere but he can get too aggressive to a fault that it results to a bunch of strikeouts. There's a big leg kick on Kjerstad's swing and there are worries about the hand circle in his load but it's not a worry for me as he has good innate timing. He's only average in the bases and in his defense at right so that limits his value quite a bit but we've seen last year that the front office doesn't mind selecting those corner profiles, either in the infield or the outfield, as long as there's enough power or on base potential to tap on.
For starters, Kjerstad fits that prototypical corner outfield profile, a power-over-hit college performer who can hit homers anywhere but he can get too aggressive to a fault that it results to a bunch of strikeouts. There's a big leg kick on Kjerstad's swing and there are worries about the hand circle in his load but it's not a worry for me as he has good innate timing. He's only average in the bases and in his defense at right so that limits his value quite a bit but we've seen last year that the front office doesn't mind selecting those corner profiles, either in the infield or the outfield, as long as there's enough power or on base potential to tap on.
If you would give me a choice between Mitchell and Kjerstad, I would select Mitchell based on his tools although Kjerstad can be a much better producer in the pros than Mitchell because of Kjerstad's power swing. However, I would still take Hunter Bishop ahead of the two because Bishop can do what Mitchell can't, that is to hit for power, and Bishop can do what Kjerstad can't, that is to have the range to play in center field.
After the two, I feel there's a sizeable gap in the college hitting crop. If there can be a shocking play that the Giants could go but would understand where they are coming from, that could be selecting Nick Loftin at 13. In last year's draft, it was revealed that the Giants could have selected Will Wilson with the 10th selection in last year's draft if Bishop was not on the board for the club.
Both Wilson and Loftin are quite alike in terms of profile and value. Loftin's play is not jaw dropping like Wilson but Loftin does everything well on the field and there's room for growth. His most important value might be his defensive versatility that would fit really well with the organization's mantra, as he played on both corner outfield and all infield spots except first base for Team USA last summer with potential to be a solid defender on all 5 spots. Loftin also has a very good track record of hitting, and in 2020 has also started to hit for power, something that the Giants also look to acquire.
There's not a lot of muscle on his frame but there's more strength than what you would expect and his instincts on defense, his internal clock, his above average arm strength, his solid speed, and his bat all fit the profile that the Athletics where Michael Holmes comes from. I mean, the Baylor green and gold uniforms would definitely make you think that Loftin is an Oakland Athletic and not a Baylor Bear.
These three that I discussed (Mitchell, Kjerstad, Loftin) are the college prospects that I am high on and should be in consideration for the 13th pick next month.
Baseball America: Mick Abel, HS RHP, Oregon
ESPN: Jared Kelley, HS RHP, Texas
It feels quite fitting to put these two together because there has been an argument on who between Abel, Kelley and Nick Bitsko could be the best prep arm of the draft class. The three is so close, I say almost of equal value but I have Abel then Bitsko then Kelley in my mind. Drafting HS pitchers is risky business and we have seen in recent times that prep arms tend to slide down because of their volatile nature and the relative safety that a college arm would bring to the table.
Like what I said in the Prospects Live mock draft reaction, Abel and Bitsko has similar stuff and overall feel for their craft at such a young age. Both Abel and Bitsko can sit in the mid-90s with life and downhill plane (Bitsko has a bit more downhill plane than Abel) on their fastball.
Bitsko beats Abel in the breaking ball, where Bitsko has shown the ability to spin and land the pitch in the strike zone consistently with great shape and with bite while Abel relies more on two distinct breaking balls, with his slider looking better than his curveball in terms of quality and consistency. On the other hand, Abel beats Bitsko in terms of refinement on their changeups in terms of confidence, quality and consistency.
What pushes Abel over the top just a bit is their projection in their frame and their mechanics. Abel frame is long and lanky but has pretty wide hips, and there's still space on his torso and thighs to tuck in more muscle, helping his stamina and in turn, help him solve a big issue of his and that's sustaining velocity deep in his outings. Bitsko's already got his body filled out and whatever his body is now is the body that he will need to sustain for the next decade.
I like Abel's mechanics more as there's more active tempo in it than Bitsko's deliberate approach. Abel definitely reminded me of Jameson Taillon when he was a prospect in terms of his mechanics where he reaches back in his arm swing while Bitsko reminded me more of a cookie-cutter prep one. Not a knock against Bitsko because he's good but there's plenty of pitchers who I saw over the years that are like him and most of them disappointed me.
There's only a small but distinct gap in between both Abel-Bitsko duo and Kelley. Kelley is next in line from the Texas fireballer factory but unlike those who came before him, he is more advanced in terms of their feel for their craft. Kelley can reach 98 MPH on his fastball with some life and there are times where it features a bit of sink which you don't exactly like.
Kelley's best pitch might be his changeup that is one of the best in the class, where he has confidence to throw it in any count against any hitter, with great fade and sink in it. Kelley has a deliberate tempo in his mechanics but it works well in terms of selling his changeup. Kelley's breaking ball is a question for me, as it is very inconsistent in terms of feel and quality. I am unsure if he can really throw a quality breaking ball. Also, there's a bit of a hitch in his arm action (his right elbow rises before his forearm moves up) that I caught in a slow motion footage that I am not sure what to think of at the moment.
After those three there's a Secretariat-sized gap where you will see guys like Jared Jones, Justin Lange, Daxton Fulton and way back there. I quite like Cade Cavalli and Reid Detmers before giving the prepsters some consideration and the financially flexible Giants can opt to draft the prepsters in the 2nd round and beyond once they decide to pay their first round selection in a bit of an underslot of a deal.
I just here for the quick scouting reports
Tyler Soderstrom - Not a fast athlete but has quick twitch with a chance to hit for a high average because of his picturesque swing and very good approach with 20+ homer potential once he fills out his frame. A catcher at the moment but has a strong arm and the footwork and intangibles necessary to become a solid to above average third baseman or as a corner outfielder.
Robert Hassell III - A two-way athlete with great athleticism both on the mound and on the batter's box but has limited projection remaining on his frame limits his power. He combines his athleticism with a mature approach and smooth swing to produce at a high average. Touching low-90s on the mound, the arm fits well in right but the hit-over-power profile fits better in left.
Pete Crow-Armstrong - There are swing and miss issues last year but if the old PCA is indeed back, there's true five-tool potential. There's projection on the frame to dream of above average power and the swing's one of the smoothest in the class with a track record for hitting for loud contact along with a solid approach on the box. Defensively, there are plenty of tools to stay at center field in the long run, with an above average arm, plus raw speed for the range, and a knack for making highlight-worthy catches.
Cade Cavalli - A former two-way player, has a prototypical pitching frame that is built for innings. The fastball can reach up to 98 MPH or higher with true four-seam action up in the zone and would compliment the pitch with a sharp curveball with knuckle-curve shape and hard bite and a slider that is distinct but breaks hard as well. The mechanics is very easy, so there's plenty of projection for command of the fastball (although it's not always the case based on experience) as well as the development of a changeup.
Ed Howard - A defense-first profile with way more than enough chops to play shortstop long-term in the Majors, with his impressive footwork, instincts, arm strength and raw athleticism to throw to stay accurate while throwing on many platforms. There are enough ingredients to become a respectable hitter or more, as there's plenty of bat speed as a result of his quick twitch and there's room for solid power on the frame. Similar to Wander Javier in terms of overall profile.
Garrett Mitchell - The profile is essentially the same back in his HS days, just a more refined and mature version. The swing is not conducive for consistent power but the barrel meets the ball with authority more often than not with a more mature approach at the plate. There's plenty of excitement in his other tools as his raw athleticism, raw speed and arm strength all grade as plus or better, the big issue ever since is the diabetes but has produced a lot in the college level and handled the condition well to ease the worries.
Heston Kjerstad - A prototypical right field profile (power-over-hit, strong arm but not a lot of speed and a decent defender) with a track record of hitting for power ever since his rookie days. There's plenty of moving parts in his mechanics like a big leg kick and a hand circle on the load, but makes it work anyways, launching homers to all fields and not just trying to pull everything.
Nick Loftin - An all-around prospect but no one true plus tool who can play almost anywhere on the field and expect a solid performance defensively with great instincts and a solid arm strength. Looked poised to produce more power in 2020 with the expense of a bit of a dip in the batting average.
Mick Abel - Projectable prep right-hander with the makings of a consistent lively fastball that reaches 98 MPH and could sit at that velocity range once filled, a solid changeup with room for improvement in terms of consistent action, a potential plus slider with sharp vertical break and the makings of a solid curve. There's a bit of a crossfire and a big arm action but throws strikes and would likely have an above-average control at maturity.
Nick Bitsko - A strong-bodied prep pitcher with the ability to throw his mid-90s fastball and a sharp curveball for strikes. A high 3/4 slot makes it easier to throw on a downhill plane consistently but the deliberate tempo in his mechanics as well as a currently (but understandable) fringy changeup knocks him back a bit.
Jared Kelley - A strong-bodied prep pitcher that reaches 98 to 99 MPH on the fastball with some ride but turns to a sinking pitch at times. The sink is not a liability because the changeup is the best secondary pitch with the potential to be a plus one when released on the same slot because of its hard tumble and has confidence to throw to any hitter at any count and could land for quality strikes. The breaking ball on the other hand lacks the refinement that the fastball and changeup has as it is slurvy at the moment with inconsistent break.
I find it more fun to read and watch other prospects rather than write them at the moment but there are a couple of pitchers that I like and they are both on completely different spectrums. The two pitchers are Luke Little and Trenton Denholm.
Little opened a lot of eyes, including mine, as he posted a video of him throwing 105 MPH on the gun. Yep. 105. That's Aroldis Chapman level. A guy that's been clocked at 102 MPH before is now throwing 105 MPH. His mechanics from the stretch does look like Chapman as well, with his arm reaching back and a long extension towards the plate.
The velocity is really nice but in the video, he missed pretty badly on the pitch and from other videos that I saw from him, his secondaries and overall control are fringy. Yes, 105 is 105. But for me, I would take the guy who can throw a bit less but would have better command, and I mean Chapman had solid control of his howitzer throughout his career.
Denholm now comes from the other side of the spectrum. If Little throws 105, Denholm throws up to 92-93 MPH at best. If Little's 6'8", Denholm is sub-6 foot. However, I am a sucker for his profile: an undersized pitcher who can only throw with an average velocity but can throw his pitches for strikes and is ultra-competitive on the mound.
Denholm only has average velocity but the changeup is a great equalizer as he throws it with the same arm speed as his fastball and tumbles late and hard, drawing not just weak contact but also swings and misses, with his curveball as another change of pace offering though it's more average to solid at best. Denholm's mechanics is very beautiful and I love the active tempo of it. He's dominated the Cape in his two years there, and pitched in the CNT training camp.
This finesse profile really sucks when you try to become a Major Leaguer in 2020 but I can't help but support him hard because I love my underdog story and this, for me, is the ultimate underdog. Any truers or what?
I hope you enjoyed reading this one. If there are any prospects that I haven't mentioned and you would like to to get an opinion from me, just leave it in the comments section or in the DMs for an expounded one. Stay safe, everyone!
It feels quite fitting to put these two together because there has been an argument on who between Abel, Kelley and Nick Bitsko could be the best prep arm of the draft class. The three is so close, I say almost of equal value but I have Abel then Bitsko then Kelley in my mind. Drafting HS pitchers is risky business and we have seen in recent times that prep arms tend to slide down because of their volatile nature and the relative safety that a college arm would bring to the table.
Like what I said in the Prospects Live mock draft reaction, Abel and Bitsko has similar stuff and overall feel for their craft at such a young age. Both Abel and Bitsko can sit in the mid-90s with life and downhill plane (Bitsko has a bit more downhill plane than Abel) on their fastball.
Bitsko beats Abel in the breaking ball, where Bitsko has shown the ability to spin and land the pitch in the strike zone consistently with great shape and with bite while Abel relies more on two distinct breaking balls, with his slider looking better than his curveball in terms of quality and consistency. On the other hand, Abel beats Bitsko in terms of refinement on their changeups in terms of confidence, quality and consistency.
What pushes Abel over the top just a bit is their projection in their frame and their mechanics. Abel frame is long and lanky but has pretty wide hips, and there's still space on his torso and thighs to tuck in more muscle, helping his stamina and in turn, help him solve a big issue of his and that's sustaining velocity deep in his outings. Bitsko's already got his body filled out and whatever his body is now is the body that he will need to sustain for the next decade.
I like Abel's mechanics more as there's more active tempo in it than Bitsko's deliberate approach. Abel definitely reminded me of Jameson Taillon when he was a prospect in terms of his mechanics where he reaches back in his arm swing while Bitsko reminded me more of a cookie-cutter prep one. Not a knock against Bitsko because he's good but there's plenty of pitchers who I saw over the years that are like him and most of them disappointed me.
There's only a small but distinct gap in between both Abel-Bitsko duo and Kelley. Kelley is next in line from the Texas fireballer factory but unlike those who came before him, he is more advanced in terms of their feel for their craft. Kelley can reach 98 MPH on his fastball with some life and there are times where it features a bit of sink which you don't exactly like.
Kelley's best pitch might be his changeup that is one of the best in the class, where he has confidence to throw it in any count against any hitter, with great fade and sink in it. Kelley has a deliberate tempo in his mechanics but it works well in terms of selling his changeup. Kelley's breaking ball is a question for me, as it is very inconsistent in terms of feel and quality. I am unsure if he can really throw a quality breaking ball. Also, there's a bit of a hitch in his arm action (his right elbow rises before his forearm moves up) that I caught in a slow motion footage that I am not sure what to think of at the moment.
After those three there's a Secretariat-sized gap where you will see guys like Jared Jones, Justin Lange, Daxton Fulton and way back there. I quite like Cade Cavalli and Reid Detmers before giving the prepsters some consideration and the financially flexible Giants can opt to draft the prepsters in the 2nd round and beyond once they decide to pay their first round selection in a bit of an underslot of a deal.
I just here for the quick scouting reports
Tyler Soderstrom - Not a fast athlete but has quick twitch with a chance to hit for a high average because of his picturesque swing and very good approach with 20+ homer potential once he fills out his frame. A catcher at the moment but has a strong arm and the footwork and intangibles necessary to become a solid to above average third baseman or as a corner outfielder.
Robert Hassell III - A two-way athlete with great athleticism both on the mound and on the batter's box but has limited projection remaining on his frame limits his power. He combines his athleticism with a mature approach and smooth swing to produce at a high average. Touching low-90s on the mound, the arm fits well in right but the hit-over-power profile fits better in left.
Pete Crow-Armstrong - There are swing and miss issues last year but if the old PCA is indeed back, there's true five-tool potential. There's projection on the frame to dream of above average power and the swing's one of the smoothest in the class with a track record for hitting for loud contact along with a solid approach on the box. Defensively, there are plenty of tools to stay at center field in the long run, with an above average arm, plus raw speed for the range, and a knack for making highlight-worthy catches.
Cade Cavalli - A former two-way player, has a prototypical pitching frame that is built for innings. The fastball can reach up to 98 MPH or higher with true four-seam action up in the zone and would compliment the pitch with a sharp curveball with knuckle-curve shape and hard bite and a slider that is distinct but breaks hard as well. The mechanics is very easy, so there's plenty of projection for command of the fastball (although it's not always the case based on experience) as well as the development of a changeup.
Ed Howard - A defense-first profile with way more than enough chops to play shortstop long-term in the Majors, with his impressive footwork, instincts, arm strength and raw athleticism to throw to stay accurate while throwing on many platforms. There are enough ingredients to become a respectable hitter or more, as there's plenty of bat speed as a result of his quick twitch and there's room for solid power on the frame. Similar to Wander Javier in terms of overall profile.
Garrett Mitchell - The profile is essentially the same back in his HS days, just a more refined and mature version. The swing is not conducive for consistent power but the barrel meets the ball with authority more often than not with a more mature approach at the plate. There's plenty of excitement in his other tools as his raw athleticism, raw speed and arm strength all grade as plus or better, the big issue ever since is the diabetes but has produced a lot in the college level and handled the condition well to ease the worries.
Heston Kjerstad - A prototypical right field profile (power-over-hit, strong arm but not a lot of speed and a decent defender) with a track record of hitting for power ever since his rookie days. There's plenty of moving parts in his mechanics like a big leg kick and a hand circle on the load, but makes it work anyways, launching homers to all fields and not just trying to pull everything.
Nick Loftin - An all-around prospect but no one true plus tool who can play almost anywhere on the field and expect a solid performance defensively with great instincts and a solid arm strength. Looked poised to produce more power in 2020 with the expense of a bit of a dip in the batting average.
Mick Abel - Projectable prep right-hander with the makings of a consistent lively fastball that reaches 98 MPH and could sit at that velocity range once filled, a solid changeup with room for improvement in terms of consistent action, a potential plus slider with sharp vertical break and the makings of a solid curve. There's a bit of a crossfire and a big arm action but throws strikes and would likely have an above-average control at maturity.
Nick Bitsko - A strong-bodied prep pitcher with the ability to throw his mid-90s fastball and a sharp curveball for strikes. A high 3/4 slot makes it easier to throw on a downhill plane consistently but the deliberate tempo in his mechanics as well as a currently (but understandable) fringy changeup knocks him back a bit.
Jared Kelley - A strong-bodied prep pitcher that reaches 98 to 99 MPH on the fastball with some ride but turns to a sinking pitch at times. The sink is not a liability because the changeup is the best secondary pitch with the potential to be a plus one when released on the same slot because of its hard tumble and has confidence to throw to any hitter at any count and could land for quality strikes. The breaking ball on the other hand lacks the refinement that the fastball and changeup has as it is slurvy at the moment with inconsistent break.
I find it more fun to read and watch other prospects rather than write them at the moment but there are a couple of pitchers that I like and they are both on completely different spectrums. The two pitchers are Luke Little and Trenton Denholm.
Little opened a lot of eyes, including mine, as he posted a video of him throwing 105 MPH on the gun. Yep. 105. That's Aroldis Chapman level. A guy that's been clocked at 102 MPH before is now throwing 105 MPH. His mechanics from the stretch does look like Chapman as well, with his arm reaching back and a long extension towards the plate.
The velocity is really nice but in the video, he missed pretty badly on the pitch and from other videos that I saw from him, his secondaries and overall control are fringy. Yes, 105 is 105. But for me, I would take the guy who can throw a bit less but would have better command, and I mean Chapman had solid control of his howitzer throughout his career.
Denholm now comes from the other side of the spectrum. If Little throws 105, Denholm throws up to 92-93 MPH at best. If Little's 6'8", Denholm is sub-6 foot. However, I am a sucker for his profile: an undersized pitcher who can only throw with an average velocity but can throw his pitches for strikes and is ultra-competitive on the mound.
Denholm only has average velocity but the changeup is a great equalizer as he throws it with the same arm speed as his fastball and tumbles late and hard, drawing not just weak contact but also swings and misses, with his curveball as another change of pace offering though it's more average to solid at best. Denholm's mechanics is very beautiful and I love the active tempo of it. He's dominated the Cape in his two years there, and pitched in the CNT training camp.
This finesse profile really sucks when you try to become a Major Leaguer in 2020 but I can't help but support him hard because I love my underdog story and this, for me, is the ultimate underdog. Any truers or what?
I hope you enjoyed reading this one. If there are any prospects that I haven't mentioned and you would like to to get an opinion from me, just leave it in the comments section or in the DMs for an expounded one. Stay safe, everyone!
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