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Darkstone42
Oh.
Top four picks are all very interesting, high upside high school players.
1. Shane Baz (12): Polished HS RHP with a 92-96 mph fastball already, touches 98, and a five-pitch mix. He sinks his fastball, throws a slider which sometimes he throws like a cutter, and has a curve and a change. His delivery is already clean, and his command is fine, but there's no deception in his delivery, so guys can get on his fastball despite its quality, so that seems like it will be a focus in his development.
I get a Taillon feel from him in terms of how advanced he already is as a high school arm. If he gets close to what Taillon seems to have become, this will be a great pick.
2C. Steve Jennings (42): Another HS RHP, but he's a lot more raw. Fastball is 89-92 and has touched 95, with a lanky build which could add some velocity. He throws a hard slider which is his best secondary pitch, and it has some upside, and he's a really good athlete. Tore his ACL playing quarterback, but was back on the mound in four and a half months, and seemed to be completely healthy.
There's more work to do with Jennings than Baz, but he's another arm to dream on.
2. Cal Mitchell (50): HS bat-first outfielder. Profiles in left, not a great arm and below-average speed, but apparently this kid is a really solid pure hitter. He tried to add power this spring, but it didn't work, and his draft stock failed, but before that, he showed the ability to hit the ball on a line to all fields, and good command of the strike zone. Before his tough spring, he was considered one of the best HS bats in the draft. Since the Pirates preach hit first in their development, they may be able to correct him quickly and get his bat back to where it was. Could be a blessing that he had a bad spring so he'd fall to us at 50.
CBB. Conner Uselton (72): HS OF, good athlete, could stick in CF defensively, plus wheels and very strong. Another HS quarterback, too. He's a little raw, but he's shown some talent for hitting, and the plus power potential and speed could make him an impact player. High risk, high reward pick which hopefully pays off. In any case, between Mitchell and Uselton, the GCL Pirates are going to have a very interesting outfield to watch thisyear.
1. Shane Baz (12): Polished HS RHP with a 92-96 mph fastball already, touches 98, and a five-pitch mix. He sinks his fastball, throws a slider which sometimes he throws like a cutter, and has a curve and a change. His delivery is already clean, and his command is fine, but there's no deception in his delivery, so guys can get on his fastball despite its quality, so that seems like it will be a focus in his development.
I get a Taillon feel from him in terms of how advanced he already is as a high school arm. If he gets close to what Taillon seems to have become, this will be a great pick.
2C. Steve Jennings (42): Another HS RHP, but he's a lot more raw. Fastball is 89-92 and has touched 95, with a lanky build which could add some velocity. He throws a hard slider which is his best secondary pitch, and it has some upside, and he's a really good athlete. Tore his ACL playing quarterback, but was back on the mound in four and a half months, and seemed to be completely healthy.
There's more work to do with Jennings than Baz, but he's another arm to dream on.
2. Cal Mitchell (50): HS bat-first outfielder. Profiles in left, not a great arm and below-average speed, but apparently this kid is a really solid pure hitter. He tried to add power this spring, but it didn't work, and his draft stock failed, but before that, he showed the ability to hit the ball on a line to all fields, and good command of the strike zone. Before his tough spring, he was considered one of the best HS bats in the draft. Since the Pirates preach hit first in their development, they may be able to correct him quickly and get his bat back to where it was. Could be a blessing that he had a bad spring so he'd fall to us at 50.
CBB. Conner Uselton (72): HS OF, good athlete, could stick in CF defensively, plus wheels and very strong. Another HS quarterback, too. He's a little raw, but he's shown some talent for hitting, and the plus power potential and speed could make him an impact player. High risk, high reward pick which hopefully pays off. In any case, between Mitchell and Uselton, the GCL Pirates are going to have a very interesting outfield to watch thisyear.