Despite the MLB draft being limited to five rounds instead of my beloved 40 rounds, this still has opening day vibes. The 2020 draft is the first ‘normal thing’ since March for the sport of baseball. I’m going to tell you about some of my thoughts and give you my own analysis on a few of these first round draft picks.
Pick #1 Detroit Tigers – Spencer Torkelson, 3B / ASU – This guy has some major power and was selected as a third baseman which was kind of weird. He was originally listed as a first baseman but nobody cares about where he can play on the field. He can hit BOMBS. All I have to say is that he broke records that had Barry Bonds name on it.
Pick #2 Baltimore Orioles – Heston Kjerstad, OF / ARK – I originally had Kjerstad going 8th overall to the Padres just because it would be a nice addition to their young outfield and eventually replacing the aging Tommy Pham, BUT Orioles need anything, so it will be fun to see him and Adley Rutschman (last year’s 1st overall) develop together. Kjerstad rakes and has the goodest doggo in the league.
Pick #4 Kansas City Royals – Asa Lacy, LHP / Texas A&M – First off, Asa Lacy has a Major League name with a Major League style of play to match. He stands at 6’4” but has a 6’9” stride making it hard for batters to pick up on his pitches. He’s developed a nasty slider in college ball and already pumps gas.
Pick #5 Toronto Blue Jays – Austin Martin, SS / Vandy – Martin dropped to pick number five after being projected to go second overall. I do not like this pick for the Blue Jays, not that he’s a bad player, he’s arguably the best player in the draft, but because the Blue Jays infield is already stacked with some TALENTED young guys that have an abundance of experience with the MLB. Maybe you can mold him into a full time outfielder. I like this guy, kid from Vandy with some swagger, but we’ll see what the Jays do with him. He was also a former teammate with Bo Bichette who is currently a shortstop for the Jays.
Pick #7 Pittsburgh Pirates – Nick Gonzales, SS / NM State – Ben Cherington’s first draft pick with his new team was a good one. Gonzales blew up in college. He wasn’t scouted very highly in high school and walked onto New Mexico State’s baseball program. He hits everything he swings at — not that much of an exaggeration — and had an OBP of .502 in his 128-game college career. Mitch Keller might be knocked down to the number 2 prospect in the pirates organization.
Pick #9 Colorado Rockies – Zac Veen, OF / Spruce Cedar HS – The second high school player to be taken in the draft behind Robert Hassell III (#8 Padres). Veen has the potential to be a 5-tool player. I know it’s very early to say that for an 18-year old kid, but this kid is a tree with a power bat…. IN COLORADO. He struck gold.
Pick #11 Chicago White Sox – Garrett Crochet, LHP / Tenn – The second coming of Chris Sale, or at least that’s what the White Sox are hoping for. He has very similar mechanics and banks on the two-pitch fastball & slider combo. I can see him being promoted to the bigs fairly soon. A young rotation with him and Koepch could be will be dangerous.Also Crochet is the epitome of a tough guy whilst pitching with a broken jaw.
Pick #13 San Francisco Giants – Patrick Bailey, C / NC State – Joey Bart is punching the air right now. This pick makes ZERO sense. The Giants picked Bart second overall in the 2018 MLB draft. Patrick Bailey is a solid switch-hitting that is a prowess behind the plate, but this pick is a doozy. BAT FLIP KING THOUGH.
Pick #17 Boston Red Sox – Nick Yorke, 2B / Archbishop Mitty HS – The Red Sox don’t have a second round pick due to their punishment handed down from the MLB, so they compromised and picked a 3rd rounder in the first round.
Pick #20 Milwaukee Brewers – Garrett Mitchell, OF / UCLA – Mitchell has some wheels. MLB pipeline had him #6 on Baseball America. He has a 70 grade run and a 60 grade hit. This kid reminds me of a Whit Merrifield playing style.
Pick #23 Cleveland Indians – Carson Tucker, SS / Mountain Pointe HS – This was one of the more fun picks. Carson’s brother is Cole Tucker, shortstop for the Pirates. With Carson’s connection to the MLB, he has been able to work with Cole and other Major Leaguers during this pandemic. Indians still have that Lindor superstar, but one day Carson will be there.
Still no Blaze Jordan, soon though. Soon.
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