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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 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 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 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
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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:
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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:
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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:
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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:
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Please use this thread to share your thoughts, links, stories, pictures and anything else on the Brewers' picks from rounds 11 through 20. Please do not start separate threads to discuss the individual picks. Use this in-draft thread to talk about the picks, similar to a game thread. Tuesday, July 13: Rounds 11-20 Time: 11 a.m. CDT | Live stream: MLB.com Round Eleven: Roc Riggio, OF, Thousand Oaks HS (CA) Round Twelve: Caden Vire, LHP, Skyview HS (WA) Round Thirteen: Quinton Low, RHP, Chatfield HS (CO) Round Fourteen: Jace Avina, OF, Spanish Springs HS (NV) Round Fifteen: Hunter Hollan, LHP, San Jacinto College North (TX) Round Sixteen: Kaylan Nicasia, SS, Champagnat Catholic School (FL) Round Seventeen: Will Rogers, C, Mounds View HS (MN) Round Eighteen: Ryne Moore, RHP, Old Dominion (VA) Round Nineteen: Carter Holton, LHP, Benedictine Military School (GA) Round Twenty: Samuel Mendez, RHP, Cisco JC (TX)
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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
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2021 MLB Draft Thread (Pre-Draft Discussion)
Eye Black replied to Eye Black's topic in MLB Draft & International Signings
Is there any chance whatsoever that Leiter somehow falls down to the Brewers pick due to signability concerns and would they actually pull the trigger. It was presumed that he was headed to Boston but if they cut a deal with McClain he could fall. Then again the Mets would surely pick him and we would almost defintely have no chance but weird things happen. If I’m reading their commentary correctly they seem to think it’s increasing likely Leiter doesn’t make it to the Red Sox pick which is why they think the rumors about McLain going #4 are now swirling. -
2021 MLB Draft Thread (Pre-Draft Discussion)
Eye Black replied to Eye Black's topic in MLB Draft & International Signings
Baseball America reporting they are hearing today that Matt McLain is in play as a possibility to the Red Sox at #4 on an under-slot deal. McLain is who they mocked to the Brewers, so that would certainly change some things with their mock if it comes to fruition. -
2021 MLB Draft Thread (Pre-Draft Discussion)
Eye Black replied to Eye Black's topic in MLB Draft & International Signings
Final Baseball America Mock Draft released. -
2021 MLB Draft Thread (Pre-Draft Discussion)
Eye Black replied to Eye Black's topic in MLB Draft & International Signings
If Cowser is available at #15 I think he’d be one of my favorite possibilities for the Brewers. My gut is that he’ll go before the Brewers first selection. -
2021 MLB Draft Thread (Pre-Draft Discussion)
Eye Black replied to Eye Black's topic in MLB Draft & International Signings
Final MLB Pipeline Mock Draft -
2021 MLB Draft Thread (Pre-Draft Discussion)
Eye Black replied to Eye Black's topic in MLB Draft & International Signings
FanGraphs Mock Draft 3.0 - Final version At the end of this mock draft they linked other non-mocked players to teams and it includes mentioning Peyton Wilson, 2B, Alabama for the Brewers. -
Please use this thread to share your thoughts, links, stories, pictures and anything else on the Brewers' selections (or other teams’ picks) from rounds 1 through 10. Please do not start separate threads to discuss the individual picks. Use this in-draft thread to talk about the picks, similar to a game thread. Sunday, July 11: Round 1 & Competitive Balance Round A Time: 6 p.m. CDT | TV channel: ESPN, MLB Network Monday, July 12: Rounds 2-10 & Competitive Balance Round B Time: 12 p.m. CDT | Live stream: MLB.com Tuesday, July 13: Rounds 11-20 Time: 11 a.m. CDT | Live stream: MLB.com. The Brewers overall draft selections in the first 10 rounds are listed below. Round One: #15 Comp Balance A: #33 Round Two: #51 Round Three: #86 Round Four: #116 Round Five: #147 Round Six: #177 Round Seven: #207 Round Eight: #237 Round Nine: #267 Round Ten: #297
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2021 MLB Draft Thread (Pre-Draft Discussion)
Eye Black replied to Eye Black's topic in MLB Draft & International Signings
I’ve heard it mentioned that Ford is also a candidate to move to centerfield which is a pretty unique skill set for someone that currently plays catcher. -
2021 MLB Draft Thread (Pre-Draft Discussion)
Eye Black replied to Eye Black's topic in MLB Draft & International Signings
I think he’ll be there when they pick, but Ty Madden scares me a bit. Baseball America had a good explanation for why he would’ve been a top five pick in the draft a decade ago, but teams are a little more cautious of his type of profile now. Madden is 6’3” and has top-tier velocity, with an ability to sink his fastball and attack hitters with a plus slider and above-average control. They point out that he’s not what teams are looking for now because while his velocity is excellent, they said “it doesn’t play nearly as well up in the strike zone as it does when he drives it down in the zone.” They also mentioned his induced vertical break on his fastball plays differently because of his arm slot. They said “Madden has an over-the-top delivery, with some spine tilt that further emphasizes his nearly 12 o’clock release point.” I hope they go a different direction with the first pick. The high school hitters that seem like real wild cards are Ford along with both Montgomery’s (Benny and Colson). I think one of those three ends up going in the top ten, and the other two might end up somewhere in the 11-20 range. The Reds draft two picks behind the Brewers and have the 4th biggest bonus pool in the draft so I also wouldn’t be shocked if they ended up with one of those three. -
For anyone with a subscription to The Athletic (or those considering one) I think this is a MUST read: How Freddy Peralta became a major organizational win for the Brewers The article outlines how Matt Kleine, now the Brewers’ vice president of baseball operations, saw the potential in Freddy Peralta on the Arizona backfields and had pushed for him to be acquired from the Mariners as far back as 2013. He kept pestering front office members via email keeping them updated on Peralta’s progress in the subsequent years leading up to this trade.

