Official pre-Draft thread

[50PoundHead]

Agreed. That's why he's my #1.

I'm not following as closely this draft, but from what I've read, Lewis is my #1 as well. Safest high ceiling high school bat.

[smootness]

2080 Baseball report on Lewis: https://2080baseball.com/2017/06/201...le-infielders/

Royce Lewis, SS/CF, JSerra Catholic (San Juan Capistrano, CA)
Ht/Wt: 6’1”/185 B/T: R/R Age (as of 2017 MLB Draft): 18y, 0m

Lewis has the athleticism and the skill set to profile both on the dirt and in the grass at the next level, bolstered by double-plus speed, quick twitch actions, and a solid throwing arm. He ranges well at short and should be able to stick at the six-spot, though some clubs prefer his wheels out in center field where has shown impressive range and closing ability. Either way he is a high-value defender whose speed will also provide impact on the bases, where he shows advanced instincts, impressive aggressiveness, and the occasional sub-4.0 home-to-first time (registering as a true “80” on the scouting scale).

At the plate Lewis has good feel for the barrel and a chance to hit for both average and power thanks to explosive bat speed. As his body continues to mature he should be able to carry the fence with more regularity and has the upside of a plus hit stick that can give you 20-plus home runs a year to go with a pile of doubles and triples. Lewis rounds out the package with off-the-charts make-up, making him one of the most sought after talents in the draft class. An up-the-middle defender with a chance for impact offensive production, he should hear his name called very early on Day 1, and likely in the top five picks.

Well, that's certainly positive.

[bravesfanMatt]

2080 Baseball report on Lewis: https://2080baseball.com/2017/06/201...le-infielders/

Royce Lewis, SS/CF, JSerra Catholic (San Juan Capistrano, CA)
Ht/Wt: 6’1”/185 B/T: R/R Age (as of 2017 MLB Draft): 18y, 0m

Lewis has the athleticism and the skill set to profile both on the dirt and in the grass at the next level, bolstered by double-plus speed, quick twitch actions, and a solid throwing arm. He ranges well at short and should be able to stick at the six-spot, though some clubs prefer his wheels out in center field where has shown impressive range and closing ability. Either way he is a high-value defender whose speed will also provide impact on the bases, where he shows advanced instincts, impressive aggressiveness, and the occasional sub-4.0 home-to-first time (registering as a true “80” on the scouting scale).

At the plate Lewis has good feel for the barrel and a chance to hit for both average and power thanks to explosive bat speed. As his body continues to mature he should be able to carry the fence with more regularity and has the upside of a plus hit stick that can give you 20-plus home runs a year to go with a pile of doubles and triples. Lewis rounds out the package with off-the-charts make-up, making him one of the most sought after talents in the draft class. An up-the-middle defender with a chance for impact offensive production, he should hear his name called very early on Day 1, and likely in the top five picks.

Jeez.. did his mom write that.. Not only do I want the Braves to take him, I want to ask him out to dinner now too..

[Tapate50]

Jeez.. did his mom write that.. Not only do I want the Braves to take him, I want to ask him out to dinner now too..

It said big bat, not big rack

[Preacher]

https://2080baseball.com/2017/06/mlb...on-05-19-2017/

2080 mock draft

some Braves targets/mentions

3. Gore
4. McKay
5. Lewis
6. Kendell
7. Adell
8. Buks
9. Beck
10. Hasley
12. Baz
15. Pratto

[Enscheff]

Jeez.. did his mom write that.. Not only do I want the Braves to take him, I want to ask him out to dinner now too..

I want to collect a sample of his sperm and use it to impregnate the wife with our 2nd child.

[msstate7]

Jeez.. did his mom write that.. Not only do I want the Braves to take him, I want to ask him out to dinner now too..

Hired the Nats' writers

[Preacher]

http://www.cbssports.com/mlb/news/20...rall-to-twins/

CBS mock draft today.

Has Lewis going #3 and Gore falling to us. I'd be thrilled to land Gore.

[Enscheff]

OK, I'm done flip flopping. Gore or Lewis, whichever is available...make it happen Coppy!

[Tapate50]

OK, I'm done flip flopping. Gore or Lewis, whichever is available...make it happen Coppy!

This kinda. As long as its one of those two

[Preacher]

OK, I'm done flip flopping. Gore or Lewis, whichever is available...make it happen Coppy!

can certainly get behind that.

Its almost assured that Wright/Greene will be gone before #5..... McKay seems to be wavering just a little bit.

What if it unfolds;
1. Wright
2. Greene
3. Gore
4. Lewis
5. ?

Do you want the safer bat of McKay/Haseley or the upside of Beck/Addell.... or do you go pitching with Baz/Buks?

[Enscheff]

can certainly get behind that.

Its almost assured that Wright/Greene will be gone before #5..... McKay seems to be wavering just a little bit.

What if it unfolds;
1. Wright
2. Greene
3. Gore
4. Lewis
5. ?

Do you want the safer bat of McKay/Haseley or the upside of Beck/Addell.... or do you go pitching with Baz/Buks?

At that point I get so pissed I stop caring.

At that point the best course of action might be to under slot a Top 20 guy at 5 and get another Top 20 guy at 41. I have no clue how to pull that off, or who the targets might be though. I'm sure the subsequent BPA spin would be exceedingly tiresome.

It looks like the Braves getting a shot at Gore/Lewis boils down to McKay going in the Top 4.

[Tapate50]

I'd go baz and pay him what it takes to get him in the fold . Love what I've heard about him.

[Enscheff]

I'd go baz and pay him what it takes to get him in the fold . Love what I've heard about him.

I think that might be the best course of action.

Worst case scenario he doesn't sign and the Braves get the #6 pick next year.

Assuming the Braves pick around #10 next draft, they might be able to orchestrate the best player in the draft falling to them at 6 by going underslot at 10 and paying the pick at 6 more than any other team picking ahead of them can afford to pay him.

[Pachoo]

My fault. I didn't see him in the top 30 and must've overlooked him while skimming the rest.

Yeah, I almost didn't see him either, he was so far down the list. I think Keith Law just wants to stand out. 50 is outlandishly low for Adell. Some of the guys Law has ranked above Adell make no sense. For example, he has Adam Oviedo 4 spots ahead of Adell, whom Baseball America has ranked 134th overall and MLB Pipeline has ranked 130th.

MLB Pipeline gives Oviedo a 40 hit, 40 power bat and he is expected to have to move off SS eventually. Law has that guy ranked ahead of Adell????

[auyushu]

What vast comments have I made? I've really only said he's got a plus hit tool and plus defense. I don't know where you're seeing 50 grades on his bat, just about everything I've seen says 55 and it sounds like if anything that's might be on the low side.

As Smootness already kinda pointed out, the vast comments I was referring to was that he would be a .300 hitter, because his scouting grades don't show a .300 hitter. A .300 hitter has a potential hit tool in the 65-70 range, like Benintendi and Albies. A plus hit tool puts a guy in the .270-.280ish range, not .300+, that's a plus plus tool.

[auyushu]

Anyway, let's talk a bit about our 2nd pick. Anybody you guys like in that range? I'm narrowing in on two guys, which is why I really hope we're able to add a competitive balance pick (looking at you, Twins and Brewers). Those two are Drew Waters and Brent Rooker.

I'd love to see us go after Rooker, particularly if Gore winds up dropping to us and we take him. Waters would be great as well, but like you I see him being gone before 41.

[Pugfan]

Agreed. If he falls to the fifth pick, we have to give him serious consideration.

I agree with this as well. When he focuses on hitting and fielding only he could improve big time.

[Carp]

My top 5 in no particular order:

Wright, Lewis, Greene, Haseley, Gore. I will be very happy if we pick any of those guys.

Baz or Buks also wouldn't be a bad options. And I still feel like Jeren Kendall is better then most on here give him credit for.

[Pachoo]

If McKay can actually play RF, I'd be elated to have him at pick 5. There are pretty good odds that he has the most special bat in this draft.