Seems like there have been some questions about Swaggerty's swing lately and a potential hitch that is scaring teams some -- think I read that in someone's chat this week, but I can't remember who. That said, Longenhagen just said two days ago that they would change their mock to put Swaggerty at 2 right now. Seems pretty unlikely that we'd have a shot at him anyway, but I agree. Would way rather have him than another HS arm.
2018 MLB Draft Thread
- Thread starter CJ9
- Start date
Seems like there have been some questions about Swaggerty's swing lately and a potential hitch that is scaring teams some -- think I read that in someone's chat this week, but I can't remember who. That said, Longenhagen just said two days ago that they would change their mock to put Swaggerty at 2 right now. Seems pretty unlikely that we'd have a shot at him anyway, but I agree. Would way rather have him than another HS arm.
MLB Pipeline's mock: https://www.mlb.com/news/projections-for-all-30-first-round-draft-picks/c-274577288?tid=151437456
"8. Braves: Shane McClanahan, LHP, South Florida
Last year, the Braves went the college arm route and were thrilled to have Kyle Wright available for them to take. McClanahan is a lefty with power stuff that will play at the next level. High school bats like Kelenic or Arizona-area third baseman Nolan Gorman also get brought up, as do the top two prep arms already off the board in this mock."
"8. Braves: Shane McClanahan, LHP, South Florida
Last year, the Braves went the college arm route and were thrilled to have Kyle Wright available for them to take. McClanahan is a lefty with power stuff that will play at the next level. High school bats like Kelenic or Arizona-area third baseman Nolan Gorman also get brought up, as do the top two prep arms already off the board in this mock."
Another scenario where 1 of the 4 best college bats is available and the Braves go pitching.
I would have a hard time being happy with that pick in that scenario.
Maybe I'll be more excited about the non-Mize pitchers as more info is released.
India is also starting to get interesting.
I wouldn't expect that to be the case. I don't really like any of them. McClanahan has big reliever risk because his command sucks, and he's already had TJ. I've seen him pitch a few times and have no interest in him at 8.
msstate7
Well-known member
India scares me some. He obviously has been great this season, but not so much his first 2 years. His slugging this season (.839) is almost the sum of his freshman (.440) and his sophomore (.429) years. I watch sec baseball a good bit, but not close enough to know if he changed his swing or something. His babip this season is .448 after being .351 freshman year and .308 his soph year. You obviously are smarter than me at scouting stats... any of that a red flag or just natural progression?
I'm a Florida fan and have watched India a lot. It's an approach change. He's talked a lot about being more selective and using the entire field instead of the dead pull guy he was for the first two years, and he's in better shape/stronger now than his first two years. He had a few smaller injuries last year that hurt his progress, too. He has been a well known guy since he was a sophomore in HS, but he made it clear he was going to Florida and wouldn't be signing out of HS unless it was really high.
He's interesting in that he has handled shortstop well as an emergency guy. Dalton Guthrie was one of the best defensive shortstops in the country during India's first two years, so there was no need for him there. Early this season, Deacon Liput was suspended and all-world freshman Brady McConnell got hurt. India filled in capably at short when both were out, but he returned to third when Liput came off suspension. He's passable at shortstop, just doesn't have the elite range that make him a no brainer there. But with the way the game is going with shifts and defensive positioning, that might not be a huge deal anymore.
Either way, India is an elite defender at third. Arm strength, athleticism, glove -- it's all there. It all comes down to how you project the bat as to whether or not we should consider him at 8. I'm admittedly biased, but I think the breakout is real.
No idea. I suspect BABIP in college is a bit like BABIP in MiLB in the sense that good hitters can sustain marks that are a bit higher than we are used to seeing at the MLB level due to inferior defenses. However, I'm confident .448 is unsustainable anywhere.
MLB teams aren't looking at his 1.388 OPS when the consider drafting him. They are looking at contact rates, pitch recognition, swing mechanics, swing speed, and exit velocities (somehow). Those are all things that can be improved upon between the ages of 20 and 21, so maybe he legitimately got better.
I'm not one of those guys who sits there trying to scout players from grainy video and pass myself off as an expert, so I'm not passing any prep prospect evaluation off as my own. I just read what I can from sources I consider competent, and formulate my opinions off that. I'm not Fat Ben trying to make myself sound like a scouting guru from the comfort of my couch.
Pretty much what I have been expecting.
2:35
Fleer: What names are the braves connected to with the 8th pick of the draft? Is AA going to change their previous draft strategy of going pitcher heavy?
2:35
Kiley McDaniel: Hearing mostly prep/power arms there, so seems like it’ll be more of the same, but that is a question the industry is also wondering
2:35
Fleer: What names are the braves connected to with the 8th pick of the draft? Is AA going to change their previous draft strategy of going pitcher heavy?
2:35
Kiley McDaniel: Hearing mostly prep/power arms there, so seems like it’ll be more of the same, but that is a question the industry is also wondering
bravesfanMatt
Steve Harvey'd
MadduxFanII
Swallowed by Mark Bowman
CJ9’s India take is a good one. Bondsian slugging percentage notwithstanding, I don’t think anyone looks at India as a huge power prospect. He doesn’t have the body or swing for that.
That said, he hit .303/.367/.440 as a freshman, and if everything breaks right for him I could see him being that sort of hitter in the pros.
Add in plus-plus defense at third, the ability to capably fill in at short and positive contributions on the bases, and he could be a real solid, well-rounded player.
That said, I suspect eighth is still a little too high for India, unless the front office REALLY wants an advanced bat.
That said, he hit .303/.367/.440 as a freshman, and if everything breaks right for him I could see him being that sort of hitter in the pros.
Add in plus-plus defense at third, the ability to capably fill in at short and positive contributions on the bases, and he could be a real solid, well-rounded player.
That said, I suspect eighth is still a little too high for India, unless the front office REALLY wants an advanced bat.
Keith Law mock: http://www.espn.com/blog/keith-law/insider/post?id=8328
He gives us Gorman at 8 and says he’s heard about the connection a few times. Interesting. Not a huge fan.
Every other HS bat is still available and Carter Stewart is the only HS arm gone in this scenario.
He gives us Gorman at 8 and says he’s heard about the connection a few times. Interesting. Not a huge fan.
Every other HS bat is still available and Carter Stewart is the only HS arm gone in this scenario.
Is Kumar, John Rockers son
I don't know much about him, but why has he slipped so much in mocks?
The stuff may not have regressed, but it looks like it probably hasn't progressed like hoped.
joke?