Prospects Plus: My MLB Mock Draft

Doing a MLB Mock Draft is probably the hardest thing in sports to do, but over the last couple of years I've given it a shot and I will again this year. So Here we go: 

1. Diamondbacks: Dansby Swanson,SS, Vanderbilt    
2. Astros: Alex Bregman, SS, LSU
3. Rockies: Dillion Tate, RHP, UCSB
4. Rangers: Brandan Rodgers, SS, California HS
5. Astros: Carson Fulmer, RHP, Vanderbilt
6. Twins: Tyler Jay, RHP, Illinois
7. Red Sox: Daz Cameron, OF, Georgia HS
8. White Sox: Kyle Funkhouser, RHP, Louisville
9. Cubs: Garrett Whitley, OF, New York HS
10. Phillies: Kyle Tucker, OF, Florida HS
11. Reds: Walker Buehler, RHP, Vanderbilt
12. Marlins: Trenton Clark, OF, Texas HS          
13. Rays: Andrew Benintendi, OF, Arkansas
14. Braves: Carnelius Randolph, SS, Georgia HS
15. Brewers: Ian Happ, OF, Cincinnati
16. Yankees: Tyler Stephenson, C, Georgia HS
17. Indians: Nick Plummer, OF, Michigan HS
18. Giants: Alex Young, LHP, TCU
19. Pirates: Mike Nikorak, RHP, Pennsylvania HS
20. Athletics: James Kapriellian, RHP, UCLA
21. Royals: Brady Aiken, LHP, IMG
22. Tigers: Ashe Russell, RHP, Indianapolis HS
23. Cardinals: Jon Harris, RHP, Missouri State
24. Dodgers: Kolby Allard, LHP, California HS
25. Orioles: Beau Burrows, RHP, Texas HS
26. Angels: Phil Bickford, RHP, JC of Southern Nevada
27. Rockies: Nathan Kirby, LHP, Virginia      
28. Braves: Dakota Chalmers, RHP, Georgia HS
29. Blue Jays: Michael Matuella, RHP, Duke
30. Yankees: Donny Everett, RHP, Tennessee HS
31. Giants: DJ Stewart, OF, Florida State
32. Pirates: Kevin Newman, SS, Arizona
33. Royals: Cody Ponce, RHP, Cal Poly Pomona
34. Tigers: Jacob Nix, RHP, IMG
35. Dodgers: Chris Shaw, OF/1b, Boston College
36. Orioles: Ke'Bryan Hayes, 3b, Texas HS
37. Astros: Donnie Dewees, OF, North Florida
38. Rockies: Justin Hooper, LHP, De La Salle HS
39. Cardinals: Kyle Holder, SS, San Diego
40. Brewers: David Hill, RHP, San Diego
41. Padres: Juan Hillman, LHP, Canada HS
42. Indians: Scott Kingery, 2B, Arizona

Prospect Plus: Summer's Best

It's been a busy summer for Only Time Will Tell. Baseball games in three different states, two trips and ton of golf. But over the summer, I've been able to see some of the best prospects in baseball in the South Atlantic League and the Florida State League.

Here are the list of the top prospects I've seen during my travels this summer:

1. Dominic Smith, 1B, Savannah (SAL): The former Mets first round pick looks the part of major league power hitter despite just being a year out of high school. Smith is still a couple of years away but could be the power bat the Mets have been waiting for. 
2. Adam Brett Walker, OF, Fort Myers (FSL): While there is the concern of a college player still playing in the Florida State League, Walker has both the power and the speed that scouts crave. When we say him he had an inside the park home run. A week or so earlier he won the home run derby at the All Star game. 
3. JP Crawford, SS, Lakewood (SAL): The former first round pick of the Phillies really grew during his second year in pro ball. Last year he looked over matched, but now he seems like he has a solid bat to go along with his plus glove.

Prospects Plus: Marlins Austin Dean

Name: Austin Dean 
Organization: Marlins 
Team: Greensboro Grasshoppers 
Position:  Outfield  
Organizational Rank: 14th ranked prospect in the Marlins system, according to Baseball America. 
Stats vs. Lakewood Blueclaws: 0-4 Friday night. 


Positive:  He is a good hitter with very good power potential. Dean has one of the quickest bats in the Marlins organization. Dean has good bat control and is more of a line drive hitter than a home run hitter at this point, but could develop into a 15-20 home run guy, according to Baseball America. 

Negative: Has a below average arm and he is not the fast person in the world. 

Prospects Plus: Marlins Avery Romero

Name: Avery Romero 
Organization: Marlins
Team: Greensboro Grasshoppers
Position:  second base
Organizational Rank: 9th ranked prospect in the Marlins system, according to Baseball America.
Stats vs. Lakewood Blueclaws: 3-4 with two double Friday night. 

Positives: He's almost as valuable a prospect as a second or third baseman, because his bat is the real appeal here.  He has good bat speed which should give him above average power down the road.  

Negatives: Romero doesn't have a true position. Scouts don’t believe that Romero has the athleticism and quickness needed to play shortstop in the pros. Scouts do believe he has adequate talent to handle the hot corner or play second, as well as provide enough offense to play either position.

Prospects Plus: Sometimes Baseball America is right

I was looking through the Baseball America 2003 Prospects book and found Miguel Cabrera's scouting report. Its amazing to see him tapped as a star at this young age. 

Prospects Plus: OTWT MOCK DRAFT

It's almost time for the MLB Draft and the scouting staff at OTWT has been busy breaking down film on these propects. Here is our mock first round (hopefully, it will be better than last years):

•  1. Houston Astros: Mark Appel, P, Stanford
• 2. Chicago Cubs: Jonathan Gray, P, Oklahoma
• 3. Colorado Rockies: Colin Moran, 3B/1B, UNC
• 4. Minnesota Twins: Kohl Steward, P, Texas HS (pictured right)
• 5. Cleveland Indians: Kris Bryant, 3B, San Diego
• 6. Miami Marlins:Hunter Renfroe, OF, Mississippi State
• 7. Boston Red Sox: Clint Frazier, OF, Georgia HS
• 8. Kansas City Royals: Austin Meadows, OF, Geogria HS
• 9. Pittsburgh Pirates (M. Appel - unsigned): Braden Shipley, P, Nevada
• 10. Toronto Blue Jays: Trey Ball, P, Indina HS
• 11. New York Mets: Austin Wilson, OF, Stanford
• 12. Seattle Mariners: Dominic Smith, 1B, California HS
• 13. San Diego Padres:JP Crawford, SS, California HS
• 14. Pittsburgh Pirates: Nick Ciuffo, C, South Carolina HS
• 15. Arizona Diamondbacks:Ryne Stanek, P, Arkansas
• 16. Philadelphia Phillies:Robert Kaminsky, P, New Jersey HS
• 17. Chicago White Sox: Jonathan Denney, C, Oklahoma HS
• 18. Los Angeles Dodgers: Sean Manaea, P, Indiana State
• 19. St. Louis Cardinals: Reese McGuire, C, Washington HS
• 20. Detroit Tigers: Billy McKinney, OF, Texas HS
• 21. Tampa Bay Rays: Bobby Wahl, P, Ole Miss
• 22. Baltimore Orioles: Aaron Judge, OF, Fresno State
• 23. Texas Rangers: Ian Clarkin, P, California HS
• 24. Oakland Athletics: Jonathan Crawford, P, Florida
• 25. San Francisco Giants: Chris Anderson, P, Jacksonville

Prospects = Merchandise Money

First it was Jayson Hayward, then it was Mike Stanton, then Strasburg, and now Dominic Brown. What do all four have in common. These are arguably the best four prospects in baseball who have made their major league debuts this year, but besides that they have been making a ton of money for their big league clubs since the first day they walked on the field.

While people complain about the Internet, it has been a great marking tool for major league baseball when it comes to getting people ready for the next generation of stars in the game. If there was no Internet would any know about Staton or Brown, but because of it people have been able to check on them on a daily basis, which means when they came up people are wanting any type of jersey or shirt with their name on it.

The first day after Strasburg first start I order a t-shirt jersey of the stud. Despite it being the first day, the shirt was still on back order and came about five weeks later.

Then Brown made his major league debut on Wednesday night and then the fun happened. He hit an RBI double in his first at-bat, scoring Jayson Werth, and scored his first run on a fielder's choice by Wilson Valdez. He notched his second hit with a single in his third at-bat, scoring again on a double by Carlos Ruiz. So I went to the Phillies game on Thursday night and in one of the clubhouse stores there were a bunch of Brown t-shirt jerseys and people where buying them up and at $25 a piece the Phillies were making some coin.

The same thing happened to Hayward at the start of the year. Without the Internet would baseball fans be so willing to fork out money for any minor league player that comes up, I think not, but with people knowing in advance about these players they are a little more willing to spend their money and make a ton of money for their major league teams.

The Nick Johnson Era is Over, Thank God

Wow for one day I'm proud to be a Nationals fan. Why you ask, cause they did the right thing in trading often injured first baseman Nick Johnson to the Marlins for left handed prospect Aaron Thompson.

I know its not a big deal to most but to me it means something. Johnson was never going to be part of the teams long range plans, so why not move him and get a player that might help you down the road.

Thompson is the 13th ranked player in the deep fish system. The left-handed pitcher out of Houston features a fast ball that touches the low 90s, according to Baseball America.

Ok it does not sound like he is a top of the line starter, but to get a guy that can filled out the back end of the rotation is a good thing for a player that was part of future plans.