2020 Official Draft Pick Selection/Signing Thread

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This thread will be used to post all draft picks in order of their selection, as well as details of the picks, which we will add to in the coming days.

 

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 (20).

2 (53).

3 (92).

4 (121).

5 (151).

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ROUND 2 (53rd overall): Freddy Zamora, CF

 

(Photo: Miami Athletics)

 

Height: 6'1

Weight: 189

B/T: R/R

School: Miami

Year: Junior

DOB:

 

SCOUTING REPORT:

 

MLB Pipeline:

Scouting grades: Hit: 50 | Power: 40 | Run: 50 | Arm: 60 | Field: 55 | Overall: 45

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

Perfect Game:

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

 

2080 Baseball:

 

 

Baseball America:

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

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Fangraphs:

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

 

 

The Athletic (Keith Law):

 

 

Prospects Live:

 

 

CBS Sports (R.J. Anderson):

 

 

LINKS:

 

 

VIDEOS:

 

 

 

 

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ROUND 3 (92nd overall): Zavier Warren, C/SS

 

(Photo: Central Michigan Athletics)

 

Height: 6'0

Weight: 190

B/T: S/R

School: Central Michigan

Year: Junior

DOB: 01/08/1999

 

SCOUTING REPORT:

 

MLB Pipeline:

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

 

Central Michigan hasn't had a position player taken in the first five rounds since 1980, but that drought will end this year. Warren impressed with his hitting and on-base ability in the Mid-American Conference last season, then established himself as a quality prospect by doing the same in the Cape Cod League. He spent some time behind the plate for the Chippewas this spring, adding to his intrigue.

 

A switch-hitter with a quick, sound swing from both sides, Warren makes line-drive contact with ease. He's more of a gap-to-gap hitter than a home run threat, though he did set a school record with 22 doubles last year. He's not afraid to work deep counts in the pursuit of walks, and plays quicker than his fringy-to-average speed thanks to aggressiveness on the bases.

 

Warren's future defensive home is in question because his so-so range and funky arm action aren't suited for shortstop. His solid arm could help make him an asset at third base (where he played on the Cape) if he shows enough power to profile there, or he could wind up as an offensive second baseman. There are mixed reviews on him as a catcher, his high school position, though he has the hands, arm and athleticism to possibly make it work with more experience.

 

Perfect Game:

Perhaps this draft’s most intriguing versatility piece, Central Michigan’s Zavier Warren doesn’t really have a defined position moving forward, but rather than be a detractor from the profile, it’s actually in his benefit. Warren OPS’d 1.080 for CMU’s ’19 regional club and then continued his hot hitting through the Cape Cod League season, earning him high marks from scouts for his hit tool from both sides of the plate as well as his defensive versatility. He’s played mostly the left side of the infield and caught some, and some scouts think he might be best served to convert full time behind the plate, while others see him as a potential 3B/2B/OF type of chess piece. The hit tool projects above average and he’s got some punch in his bat, though most scouts seem to believe the in-game power projection to be average at best. Regardless, Warren’s bat and versatility give him major league upside.

 

2080 Baseball:

 

 

Baseball America:

Warren is an instinctual player who brings a lot of defensive versatility and reliability to the table. He entered Central Michigan as a catcher, but logged time behind the dish, at third base and first base as a freshman. In 2019 a need opened at shortstop, and he’s been a reliable defender at the position, though he isn’t a true pro shortstop prospect. Warren played third base in the Cape Cod League over the summer, where he hit .315/.396/.443 with three home runs and eight doubles. Warren doesn’t have a real standout tool but is solid across the board and has a pretty and consistent swing from both sides of the plate. He has solid power, but it plays more in the gaps for doubles (he set the single-season Central Michigan record with 22 doubles in 2019) than true over-the-fence power. That could create problems with how he profiles at the hot corner, though scouts have said he’s athletic enough to return to catching at the next level, and if he can handle the defensive grind there, his bat all of a sudden looks extremely impressive. Warren has just average speed, but he’s an instinctual baserunner who is 17-for-18 in stolen base attempts over his collegiate career.

 

FanGraphs:

Plus arm, can play any IF spot, average speed, switch hitter, feel for the game, contact approach, some lift from the left side, where he's more natural.

 

The Athletic (Keith Law):

Yes, Warren played shortstop this spring for CMU and also caught four games, while he played third base for Bourne on the Cape last summer, so you might say he’s versatile. He’s probably a utility guy rather than a regular given his below-average power — he doesn’t lack strength but his swing is so short that he doesn’t get to drive the ball — but his ability to play so many positions, and to produce some on-base value as a switch-hitter, should make him a third- or fourth-round pick.

 

Prospects Live:

 

 

CBS Sports (R.J. Anderson):

 

 

LINKS:

 

 

VIDEOS:

 

 

 

 

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ROUND 4 (121st overall): Joey Wiemer, OF

 

(Photo: Cincinnati Enquirer)

 

Height: 6'5

Weight: 215

B/T: R/R

School: Cincinnati

Year: Junior

DOB: 02/11/1999

 

SCOUTING REPORT:

 

MLB Pipeline:

Scouting grades: Hit: 40 | Power: 45 | Run: 60 | Arm: 70 | Field: 55 | Overall: 40

 

Cincinnati's best prospect since Ian Happ was a Cubs first-rounder in 2016, Wiemer offers some of the best tools in the 2020 college crop but little track record of doing damage at the plate. He has a big league body (6-foot-5, 215 pounds) and three tools that grade as plus or better, yet he's a career .264/.379/.408 hitter for the Bearcats and slugged just .354 with wood bats in the Cape Cod League last summer.

 

Wiemer's bat speed, strength and leverage give him plus raw power from the right side of the plate, but he's still figuring how to translate it into production. He utilizes a big leg kick and he has an uphill, max-effort swing and timing issues that lead to a lot of groundball contact. He probably will need to overhaul his stroke at the next level, though he does show some patience at the plate.

 

Wiemer has plus speed and an aggressive nature on the bases, showing a knack for stealing bags. He has well above-average arm strength and has hit 98 mph on the mound, though a lack of control undermined him when Cincinnati briefly tried to use him as a closer this spring. He has played left field for the Bearcats, though his quickness and arm would suggest he can handle any outfield assignment.

 

Perfect Game:

A very physical, toolsy prospect; Wiemer was a pretty solid two-way prospect coming out of high school in the extreme southern part of the state of Michigan, and did have some two-way time at Cincinnati, but he’s viewed mostly as a bat for draft purposes. He’s got excellent size and athleticism for that size, with plus speed and a plus arm giving him enticing defensive projection, be it in right field or center field. Offensively he’s got plus righthanded raw power as well as bat speed, but he’s never shown that type of power in game situations, and scouts are wary of the hit tool projection as well. Regardless, a guy with Wiemer’s tools, physicality, and athleticism is always a sought-after commodity.

 

 

2080 Baseball:

 

 

Baseball America:

Wiemer is a toolsy outfielder who raised his draft stock with a strong summer in the Cape Cod League but has consistently underwhelmed as a hitter with Cincinnati in the American Athletic Conference. Listed at 6-foot-5, 215 pounds, Wiemer has a collection of plus tools, including his raw power, arm strength and running ability. He hasn’t been able to successfully tap into that power at the plate, thanks to a noisy swing that has plenty of moving parts—enough that scouts have compared him to Hunter Pence. He has an open setup with lots of bat waggle above his head and a high leg kick, which all lead to timing issues. Over three years with Cincinnati, Wiemer hit .264/.379/.408 with 12 home runs and 35 stolen bases. When Wiemer is on base, he’s an instinctual and smart runner and his speed and arm strength (he’s gotten into the mid-90s on the mound) give him the ability to play all three outfield positions. Wiemer’s toolset is better than where he’s ranked, but the questions about his hit tool are significant.

 

Fangraphs:

Lanky athlete has huge tools (plus bat speed, raw power, arm strength and straightline speed) and is sorta like Hunter Pence, could jump into the first round with a loud spring, but some scouts have 40 or 45 grades on the bat, but there's a little bit of Hunter Bishop here as well. Also is into the mid-90's on the mound.

 

 

The Athletic (Keith Law):

 

 

Prospects Live:

 

 

CBS Sports (R.J. Anderson):

 

 

LINKS:

 

 

VIDEOS:

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ROUND 5 (151st overall): Hayden Cantrelle, SS

 

(Photo: Louisiana-Lafayette Athletics)

 

Height: 5'11

Weight: 175

B/T: S/R

School: Louisiana-Lafayette

Year: Junior

DOB: 11/25/1998

 

SCOUTING REPORT:

 

MLB Pipeline:

Scouting grades: Hit: 40 | Power: 45 | Run: 60 | Arm: 70 | Field: 55 | Overall: 40

 

Cincinnati's best prospect since Ian Happ was a Cubs first-rounder in 2016, Wiemer offers some of the best tools in the 2020 college crop but little track record of doing damage at the plate. He has a big league body (6-foot-5, 215 pounds) and three tools that grade as plus or better, yet he's a career .264/.379/.408 hitter for the Bearcats and slugged just .354 with wood bats in the Cape Cod League last summer.

 

Wiemer's bat speed, strength and leverage give him plus raw power from the right side of the plate, but he's still figuring how to translate it into production. He utilizes a big leg kick and he has an uphill, max-effort swing and timing issues that lead to a lot of groundball contact. He probably will need to overhaul his stroke at the next level, though he does show some patience at the plate.

 

Wiemer has plus speed and an aggressive nature on the bases, showing a knack for stealing bags. He has well above-average arm strength and has hit 98 mph on the mound, though a lack of control undermined him when Cincinnati briefly tried to use him as a closer this spring. He has played left field for the Bearcats, though his quickness and arm would suggest he can handle any outfield assignment.

 

Perfect Game:

An interesting, toolsy middle infielder; Cantrelle gained a fair bit of publicity over his first two seasons on campus and added a very good summer 2019 on the Cape to his resumé. He’s an athletic, twitchy switch-hitter with good contact skills and speed, though he got off to a very rough start in 2020, which is important to note. He’s a talented defender in the middle infield and looks capable of playing both shortstop and second base, which aids in his overall utility profile, since the bat doesn’t look quite impactful enough at the highest level to be an everyday regular.

 

2080 Baseball:

 

 

Baseball America:

 

The coronavirus shutdown came at an extremely inopportune time for Cantrelle. After two strong seasons at Louisiana-Lafayette, he looked somewhat lost at the plate in the early going this spring. Cantrelle was hitting .136/.320/.237 in 17 games. But there is reason to write that off as a rough month in an otherwise solid college career. After looking somewhat overmatched for much of the summer of 2018 in the Cape Cod League, he showed a much better approach and a more controlled swing in 2019. Playing shortstop and second base for Harwich, he finished ninth in the league with a .315 average. While he played more second base than shortstop with Harwich, Cantrelle projects as an average shortstop defensively in pro ball and an above-average defender at second. He has average arm strength but is an accurate thrower. He isn’t big, (5-foot-11, 175 pounds) but he is a plus runner. He swiped 28 bags in 32 tries as a sophomore and 19 in 21 attempts in the Cape last summer. From either side of the plate, the switch-hitting Cantrelle is a top-of-the-order table setter, but he shows 40 power from the left side. His righthanded swing is generally more of a contact-oriented approach. Cantrelle’s awful spring clouds his status, but he had a lengthy resume of success before that and teams like his baseball IQ. He lacks flashy tools, but a team who relies strongly on a player’s Cape Cod League performance could be enticed in the fourth or fifth round.

 

FanGraphs:

Hit-first, plus-running middle infielder has performed well on the Cape. Ryan Freel type with wide base of tools that are mostly above average other than fringy raw power, gap game approach.

 

 

Prospects Live:

 

A switch hitting speedster who likes to swing early and often.

 

Cantrelle has a leadoff profile with an aggressive approach at the plate. He’ll swing a lot and he’ll miss a lot, but the most interesting part is that he walks quite a bit too. In 135 games at Louisiana-Lafayette he struck out 122 times and walked 90. At the plate he has quick hands.

In looks that the Prospects Live staff got, it was noted that his power shows through more from the left side of the dish and that he will profile better defensively as a second baseman. He’s for sure a plus runner with the instincts to match on the basepaths.

 

A slow start in 2020 saw his average well below the Mendoza line won’t do much for his stock, but there are some tools there for a team to get a guy that could sit atop their lineup.

 

 

LINKS:

 

 

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