2022 MLB Draft Thread

50PoundHead said:
I could be wrong, but I doubt Murphy is signing for #48 money (that's where mlb.com has him, but that is not relevant). If he's more than a million under slot, I'll be surprised.
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Certainly possible. I just don’t think it matters that he’s committed to ND as opposed to, say, Tennessee or UNC or Oregon St. or anybody else.
 
USMA76 said:
Not making any inferences but, as a matter of coincidence, wasn't Allard also a UCLA signee?
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He was. There have been tons of UCLA commitments who signed and went pro. I think when they say ‘because of his ____ commitment’ they basically just mean ‘This kid is more motivated to go to school than most.’ It’s not that UCLA commits are always hard to sign.
 
Same guy from the internet:

67. SP Ian (JR) Ritchie Jr., Bainbridge High School

I’m going to get bullied by a few friends of mine for having JR Ritchie so high. The fastball sits in the dead zone and he doesn’t really have bat missing stuff. There are a few standout traits here though that make him worth a second round pick.

The fastball sits 92–94 MPH and has hit as high as 97 MPH with above-average extension. Ritchie moves really well and there is velocity projection there as he grows into more strength despite a smaller frame. The fastball movement admittedly sucks. Ritchie averaged just 14.7 IVB (Non-adjusted) and 10.5 HB. The pitch sits in the dead zone and probably should get hammered. There is hope though in the form of a 5.41 release height that could still give him solid VAAs up. I also think he has some promising sinker traits if you choose to go that route.

There are technically two breaking balls but they often bleed into only one pitch and I expect that he’ll settle in as a hybrid sweeper guy sitting 80–83 MPH. His breaking balls averaged -3.1" IVB and 8.2" of sweeping action over the summer. The sweep plays up a bit from a 2.2' horizontal release and I think given the solid velo and shape it projects as above-average.

I also have the changeup listed as above-average. Ritchie Jr. kills 10 MPH on his fastball and a few hundred revolutions as well. He has 10.9" IVB which admittedly isn’t great given the fastball but he also sits at 17.5 inches of armside fade and flashes up to 20" pretty regularly. The pitch should still miss bats due to the arm speed and fade even if he lacks in depth oftentimes.

JR Ritchie throws strikes at an above-average rate and has three pitches of decent quality. There is velocity here and paired with a low release that has me higher on the fastball than the shape. The makeup is reportedly fantastic. Ritchie needs some serious work to be anything more than a #5 starter but he has upside and is also a relatively safe prep arm.
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Seems like this is the pick striker should be down on.
 
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